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192.2 | FEBRUARY 2022

THEONTARION.COM

P4 Small businesses vs. the pandemic: How The Bookshelf is coping with COVID-19 restrictions

P 13 - 21 Valentine's special: Crafts, self-care tips, recipes, and more!

P9 The industrial sound of trees: Using plant biodata to make music

P 10 & 11 The best films of 2021

FEB. 2022 TABLE OF CONTENTS

NEWS 3.

Meet the Guelph boutique owner uplifting others through art and fashion

Small businesses vs. the pandemic: How The Bookshelf is coping with COVID-19 restrictions

ON the Radar

6 & 7.

Stalking Awareness Month: A look at stalking and its adaptation to the online world

Ever-changing COVID-19 policies at U of G leave students feeling divided

The industrial sound of trees: Using plant biodata to make music

ARTS & CULTURE 10 & 11. The best films of 2021 12.

A white-man’s school?: Early Black students and staff at the U of G

VALENTINE'S SPECIAL 13.

Celebrations of love across the world

14 & 15. Five crafts to celebrate Valentine’s Day 16.

Staff recommendations for the season of love

17.

Endearing yet hilarious U of G-themed Valentine’s Day cards

18.

Five ways to show yourself some love

19.

Gift ideas to show your significant other you love them

20. 21.

Three fun drinks to enjoy this Valentine’s Day Three aphrodisiac recipes to put you in the mood for love

SPORTS & HEALTH 22.

Three delectable Chinese dishes to celebrate the Lunar New Year

23.

Five tips for staying active in lockdown

24.

Healthy habits to incorporate throughout your online work day

OPINION 25.

The Ontarion Inc. University Centre Room 264 University of Guelph N1G 2W1 ontarion@uoguelph.ca Phone 519-824-4120 Editorial: x 58250 Advertising: x 58267 Accounts: x 53534

FUN STUFF 28.

February To-Do List

29 & 30.

Fun Pages

CONTRIBUTORS

Executive Director Aaron Jacklin

Renee Alkass Prabhjot Bains Graham Burt Rachel Fioret Anchitaa Ghag Montez Chana Lorel Danielov Katelynn Huong Chen Chen

Business Coordinator Lorrie Taylor Marketing Manager Patrick Sutherland Circulation Director Salvador Moran

Special thanks to Kira Alexanian for the cover art

Administrative Assistant Jaidyn McCrae-Wilson

EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief Ellyse McGarr Staff Reporter Eleni Kopsaftis Editorial Assistants Emily Bray Alyssa Marks

Six ways to bring the vacation to you

26 & 27. Effective ways to overcome procrastination

OFFICE STAFF

PRODUCTION STAFF Multimedia Content Creator Nicolas Buck Graphic Designer Brubey Hu Web Developer Waqas Bakht

BOARD OF DIRECTORS President Alex Lefebvre

Correction notice: Barbara Salsberg Mathews can be found on Instagram @maddysmom_4u. Our previous issue 192.1 misspelled her username.

Chair of the Board Miguel Mabalay Vice President Finance Anne O’Keefe Vice President Communications OPEN POSITION Staff Representative Nicolas Buck

DIRECTORS Tasha Falconer Josh Szweras Taelor Reid Rachel Tudor

The Ontarion is a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors. Since The Ontarion undertakes the publishing of student work, the opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of The Ontarion staff and Board of Directors. The Ontarion reserves the right to edit or refuse all material deemed sexist, racist, homophobic, or otherwise unfit for publication as determined by the Editor-in-Chief. Material of any form appearing in this newspaper is copyrighted 2022 and cannot be reprinted without the approval of the Editor-in-Chief. The Ontarion retains the right of first publication on all material. In the event that an advertiser is not satisfied with an advertisement in the newspaper, they must notify The Ontarion within four working days of publication. The Ontarion will not be held responsible for advertising mistakes beyond the cost of advertisement. The Ontarion is printed by Hamilton Web Printing.

NEWS

THEONTARION.COM

6 | STALKING AWARENESS

4 | SOUND OF TREES

9 | THE BOOKSHELF

Meet the Guelph boutique owner uplifting others through art and fashion Denise Mansur is using her shop to boost up-and-coming artists and promote ethical clothing production EMILY BRAY

or Denise Mansur, art is about more than just aesthetics; it’s about providing people with a space to express themselves and giving them the tools to thrive. This is reflected in all facets of Mansur’s downtown boutique, Ms. Meri Mak, where BIPOC art is spotlighted and ethical sourcing is top priority. Ms. Meri Mak opened its doors for the first time in the summer of 2021. Since then, it has become a local favourite amongst lovers of art and fashion in Guelph. The shop features a diverse collection of art pieces, clothing, accessories, and even handmade children’s dolls. There is something for nearly everyone who walks through the door. Better yet, shoppers will know that there’s no buyer’s remorse here, as they’ll be supporting a shop committed to improving lives within the Guelph community and beyond. Ms. Meri Mak is dedicated to showcasing and supporting small visual artists and fashion designers who wouldn’t normally have the opportunities to get their work exhibited—namely artists of colour. Mansur works with both lo-

cal and international BIPOC artists to help them gain exposure for their creations. She displays their work in the store where customers can view and purchase it. Mansur says that her desire to spotlight BIPOC art was heavily influenced by her mother’s experiences in the world of art and fashion. Despite being a talented artist and designer, Mansur’s mother never had any opportunities to have her work seen and appreciated. “Seeing her dealing with that is what motivated me to work with artists of colour, especially when it comes to showcasing art in the store,” said Mansur. “I think it’s important because [artists of colour] don’t really have that platform. We either don’t know how to access it or people are just not interested in it.” “A lot of times when it comes to people of colour—especially women of colour—their art doesn’t get showcased. Sometimes it does for Black History Month, and then the interest kind of goes away. But in my store, it will always be here, and people will be able to purchase it and support the artists.” Mansur’s efforts are clearly

Ms. Meri Mak "is a safe space for everyone" within the community. CREDIT: DENISE MANSUR

paying off, as she’s successfully helped small up-and-coming artists such as Jaihan Dean (@jn_cd on Instagram) get their work noticed. Three of Dean’s original art pieces were bought by customers while on display in the boutique. However, Mansur’s commitment to uplifting and supporting others doesn’t end with her promotion of small artists. She’s also dedicated to supporting ethical fashion production and reducing exploitation in the fashion industry—an issue that she believes many people don’t pay enough attention to in our current era of fast fashion and hyper-consumption. Mansur references the popular fashion retailer Shein as an example of how normalized human rights abuses have become within the fashion industry. Earlier this year, Shein was the subject of a report by Swiss human rights watchdog Public Eye, which revealed that workers at a Shein production factory in Guangzhou, China were being subjected to inhumane working conditions that violated Chinese labour laws. The report also showed that workers were receiving meager pay for 75-hour work weeks. Yet even after this exploita-

Denise Mansur's love for art and fashion began at a young age and was heavily influenced by her mother, a student of the Toronto School of Art and Design. CREDIT: DENISE MANSUR

tion was made public, the company has continued to earn millions of dollars in sales every month. Worse yet, Shein is just one of the many fast fashion corporations that have been dominating the industry in recent years. “When it comes to companies like Shein, yeah you’re getting a deal, but you’re exploiting someone to get that deal,” she said. “I think we really need to start humanizing art and fashion and clothing production.” According to Mansur, this begins with providing artists, designers, and workers with proper compensation for their work. Mansur does this at Ms. Meri Mak by working directly with artists to set prices. “I’m not just marking up a t-shirt 85 per cent to make a profit. When you come in [to Ms. Meri Mak], you know that that t-shirt has been designed by an artist and that the artist is being paid fairly for it.” Mansur also works with ethical international producers such as Mama Trade, an organization that supports mothers and widows in Ghana by providing them with the opportunity to sell their work at fair prices. The women are paid a living wage to make items such as handbags and natural bodycare products, which are then sold in the boutique. When buying Mama Trade products, customers know that “the person that made this is actually getting a fair wage, and their life is being changed by this.” “This is not a situation where

they’re being paid three dollars to produce a bag,” said Mansur. “When you buy a bag here for 100 dollars, you know that 50 of those dollars are going to the person who actually made it, which changes everything for them. Their kids can go to school and they can have a good quality of life.” Overall, Mansur emphasizes the importance of stopping to think about our purchases and prioritizing quality and humanity over quantity. As for the future of Ms. Meri Mak, Mansur plans to continue building up the shop as a positive force within the community. As a Black-owned, woman-owned, and LGBTQ+ friendly business, Ms. Meri Mak is setting a vital example for aspiring artists and entrepreneurs both within Guelph and beyond. “It’s important for me to have this store,” Mansur said. “I get so many messages from people telling me that they’re so inspired [by Ms. Meri Mak]. My presence here is really important.” “I want to grow Ms. Meri Mak into a community where everyone feels safe and everyone understands that this is a place that has zero tolerance for any type of hate or bigotry. I want to be a welcoming space that’s known in Guelph—for everyone to know Ms. Meri Mak, what it is, and what it stands for.”

Instagram: @msmerimak TikTok: @msmerimak1

FEB. ISSUE | FEB. 202 2

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Ben Minett is the owner of The Bookshelf. He says that it's been discouraging to see big corporations thrive, while small businesses bear the brunt of pandemic-related economic loss. CREDIT: BEN MINETT

Small businesses vs. the pandemic: How The Bookshelf is coping with COVID-19 restrictions Owner Ben Minett talks about diversifying products and offering alternatives to in-store shopping to help alleviate the pressures of COVID-19 RENEE ALKASS

n Jan. 5, the Ontario government returned to a modified Step Two of its Roadmap to Reopen. Capacity restrictions and other social-distancing measures were once again placed on indoor businesses in the hopes of slowing down Omicron, the newest variant of the COVID-19 virus. The highly contagious Omicron variant poses a challenge to Ontario communities, and Premier Doug Ford stated that the transition back into Step Two would give the province “more opportunities to deliver vaccines to all Ontarians.” The recently-revisited Step Two measures were put in effect until Jan. 26, but were subject to change based on any new public health developments. The measures included a 50 per cent capacity limit placed on all indoor retail settings. Additionally, businesses were required to ask employees to work remotely whenever possible. Indoor event spaces were asked to close completely, and a pause was placed on indoor dining. Finally, all indoor concert venues, theatres, and cinemas were asked to temporarily cease operations. Small businesses all over Ontario have been impacted by these ongoing restrictions and closures. Ben Minett, owner of The Book-

shelf, feels lucky that he has been able to operate parts of his business during the pandemic. The Bookshelf is a bookstore, restaurant, and cinema. Since opening in 1973, it has become a staple downtown spot for many in the Guelph community. Minett told The Ontarion that the bookstore portion of his establishment has carried the business through these challenging times. However, he also says that running The Bookshelf has gotten progressively more challenging the longer the pandemic lasts. Closing the cinema and restaurant again in January was frustrating, but he understands why they needed to do so. In order to continue promoting sales, The Bookshelf team has been diversifying their products as all of the staff contribute to the store's curation. Their unique selection includes books by Guelph-based authors, as well as many local-interest titles such as regional hiking guides. “We have also tried our best to focus our titles on some of the ideas that are driving our current social reality,” Minett said. These titles include, but are not limited to: climate change, racial justice, gender politics, post-capitalist ideology, epidemi-

ology, and educational reform. Additionally, The Bookshelf also sells wine from Canadian, Italian, and French sources, and stocks many game and puzzle products. The Bookshelf instituted its first COVID-19 plan in March of 2020, and since then Minett and his staff have continued to make alterations to the store to ensure the safety of their customers. With the evolving changes in Public Health policies, Minett notes that The Bookshelf team has been doing all they can to make their store a safe place. “We have installed MERV-13 air filters throughout the building, and all of our staff are vaccinated,” he said. The store also offers free same-day delivery in Guelph, as well as curbside pick up, in an effort to be as accommodating as possible to customers. Minett says that although it was expensive for them to deliver instock items, they viewed the extra costs as the reality of doing business during the pandemic. “It has made it possible to compete with Amazon, who deprioritized books during the pandemic,” he said. Some Guelphites have turned to The Bookshelf to fulfill their shopping needs rather than

online giants such as Amazon. Customers have found that doing business with a local retailer has its perks during a pandemic— namely, quicker and friendlier delivery service. “Many customers [have] stated that we were faster than Amazon,” Minett said. However, competing with major retailers still has been far from easy for The Bookshelf, as well as for many other smaller companies. “It's been discouraging to see corporations thrive, while small businesses bear the brunt of pandemic-related economic loss,” Minett said. He feels that more needs to be done to support these businesses, especially in the industries that have been hit the hardest by COVID lockdowns, such as food services. According to Statistics Canada, “small businesses make up 98% of all employer business in Canada.” As of 2021, roughly one third of small businesses with 1 to 100 employees were expected to see a decrease in sales and profitability. To help combat this, Ontario developed a small business relief grant in January 2022, which offers $10,000 to all businesses that were forced to close due to the recent public health guidelines. Additionally, a cost rebate program has been developed that will support small businesses by paying a portion of their property tax and energy costs. Both this program and the grant need to be approved via application. Eligible businesses include: restaurant and bars, performing arts and cinemas, museums, meeting or event spaces, and more.

Minett notes that The Bookshelf has utilized the Ontario COVID-19 small business support grant, and the cost rebate program. These grants, Minett states, have been very helpful within his business. However he still feels that more help needs to be given to those in the customer service industry. “We need to try our best on an individual, municipal, provincial and federal level to help,” he said. Currently, The Bookshelf employs 10 staff members, but before the pandemic they employed 30. Minett mentions that the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) was also very helpful in 2020. “We would like to see something similar in 2022 to help us compensate staff for hours lost to isolating and [dealing with] symptoms,” he said. He also says that “the federal and provincial governments could have made different decisions that could have helped [his business] more.” However, he does not blame government officials for not being able to operate his business at full capacity; he blames COVID-19. As Canada enters year three of dealing with COVID-19, Minett feels that “the pandemic has taken away many of the things that inspire people and give them a sense of cultural connectivity.” However, he is nonetheless appreciative of the community that continues to support The Bookshelf, and he hopes that this feeling of connectivity can be brought back to his store and to the Guelph community in the near future.

Amid COVID-19 restrictions, The Bookshelf is offering same day delivery and curbside pickup to be as accommodating as possible to its customers. CREDIT: BEN MINETT

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ON THE RADAR MEDICAL-GRADE MASKS TO BE REQUIRED ON CAMPUS The University of Guelph has updated its mask requirement and will only be allowing medical-style masks on campus. According to the update, which was published on U of G’s news website on Jan. 19, medical masks must “fit tightly to the face without gaping, and completely cover the nose, mouth, and chin.” The decision was made in consideration of the Omicron variant’s higher rate of transmissibility. Research from Health Canada suggests that medical masks provide better protection against the COVID-19 virus. As such, cloth masks will no longer be considered acceptable on campus for the time being. The University will provide medical masks for those who must be on site in January and February, and such masks are

also available for purchase at the U of G Bookstore. Additional information on the distribution of masks will be “available soon.” U of G will review these requirements at the end of February and will provide an update as needed.

PANDEMIC RESTRICTIONS TO TAPER OFF AS OF JAN. 31 As healthcare indicators begin to slowly show improvement, Ontario will begin easing pandemic health measures at the end of the month. A news release from the provincial government states that if “concerning trends” remain absent by Jan. 31, the province will increase social gatherings to 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors. Capacity limits in food and drink establishments, retailers,

shopping malls, cinemas, gyms, and many other spaces will be raised to 50 per cent. Ontario stepped back in its Roadmap to Reopening on Jan. 5 due to the Omicron variant, but there has since been “signs of stabilization” in the health care system. These include test positivity rates falling, less hospital admissions, and length of stays shortening. If these health trends continue to show improvement after January, more easing of restrictions can be expected in February and March. Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 will continue to be needed in existing settings until at least March 14. Alongside the news of restrictions being slowly lifted, Ontario will be giving businesses that are subject to closure a $10,000 grant in February as part of the COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant. Applications for the Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program were also opened Jan. 18 and will offer up

to 100 per cent rebate on property tax and energy costs.

U OF G PUBLIC VACCINATION CLINIC CLOSES AFTER ADMINISTERING 9,000 DOSES The University of Guelph’s on-campus public COVID-19 vaccination clinic closed on Jan. 21 due to the increased availability of vaccines within the Guelph community. According to a U of G news release, the clinic initially opened to boost vaccination rates within the community and increase the public’s access to third doses, which are being used to combat the recent surge of COVID-19 cases caused by the Omicron variant. However, now that many Guelphites have had their chance to receive a booster and

doses are becoming more accessible at other locations in the city, the U of G clinic is closing its doors. The clinic has administered vaccine doses to about 9,000 people since it opened on Jan. 4. The clinic was staffed by approximately 55 volunteers— including university staff, faculty, and community members— who contributed nearly 1,000 volunteer hours this month. Many were returning volunteers who had also helped with the first campus vaccination clinic in 2021. Although the clinic has closed to the public, U of G faculty, staff, and students will still be able to access COVID-19 vaccinations on campus through Student Health Services.

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FEB. ISSUE | FEB. 202 2

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Stalking Awareness Month: A look at stalking and its adaptation to the online world A conversation with Guelph Wellington Women in Crisis on stalking, its portrayal in popular media, and how to support victims ALYSSA MARKS

anuary marks Stalking Awareness Month, an annual event that serves to recognize the victims of stalking and educate the public about the crime itself. This year, as methods of stalking adapt to the world of remote communication, it is important to be aware of the signs that this unwanted behaviour is taking place. Stalking is a form of unwelcome attention, harassment, or other actions directed towards a person that would cause reasonable fear and a potential threat to their safety. It is illegal in Canada under the criminal harassment provisions of the Criminal Code. Stalking Awareness Month was created in 2004 by the National Center for Victims of Crime, an American nonprofit organization based out of Virginia. By raising awareness about the crime, the event is intended to facilitate the development and implementation of interdisciplinary stalking response efforts. Interest in research regarding stalking has increased significantly in recent years, especially with the proliferation of social media and other related technologies that potentially make stalking easier to accomplish. Stalking behaviours can include repeated or unwanted phone calls, text messages, or engagement over social media, unwanted gifts, threats towards the victim or their family members and friends, impersonating others online, spreading false information about someone, consistent visual or physical closeness such

as waiting for someone outside of their place of work or school, following someone, or watching them from a distance. Anyone can be a victim of stalking, but women are much more likely to encounter stalking than men. Statistics Canada reports that approximately 62 per cent of stalking victims are women. Furthermore, 74 per cent of perpetrators are men. In light of statistics such as these, professionals and researchers have characterized stalking as a gender-based crime. Additionally, members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community are more likely to be victims of stalking than heterosexual and cisgender individuals. The likelihood of victimization further increases for people of colour in the 2SLGBTQ+ community. “There comes a lot of fear and danger when it comes to lack of visibility. And that can be someone who is racialized, Indigenous, or a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community,” said Jensen Williams, public educator for Guelph-Wellinton Women in Crisis. “And with that lack of visibility... often comes fear and targeting. So with a crime like stalking, we see that disproportionate impact on marginalized communities, whether that be women, queer folks, trans folks, or people of colour.” The majority of stalking victims are stalked by someone who is known to them, typically a former or current intimate partner. Stalking by intimate partners of-

Character Joe Goldberg frequently displays stalking behaviours in the hit Netflix series You. Unfortunately, social media feedback to the series romanticizes stalking and undermines its severity. CREDIT: NETFLIX

ten occurs in addition to partner violence and may be a signal that other forms of abuse are also occuring. Stalking is also often used as a tactic to gain control and impose coercion in a relationship. “Stalking can occur in intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and even human traffiking. We know that sexual violence rates amongst students are very

We have seen an increase in online violence, and an increased use of social media throughout the pandemic. — Jensen Williams

high. One in five university students will experience some form of sexual violence while they’re at university, and that can include stalking as one of those behaviours,” said Williams. According to a study published by the National Centre for Disease Control in the United States, 18-to-24-year-olds encounter the highest rates of stalking amongst adults. This age demographic comprises a significant proportion of student populations at college and university campuses. Williams adds that a danger worth raising awareness about, particularly for young people, is thinking that stalking is part of a normal relationship. Controlling behaviours, such as reading a partner's private messages, can be mistakenly interpreted as flattering rather than unnecessarily invasive. Due to

the normalization of stalking behaviours through popular culture (i.e. TikTok trends, TV shows, romantic comedies), and lack of education services, these potentially abusive behaviours are not identified as harmful, but as a normal part of a relationship. Williams also said that the ways in which stalking is portrayed through popular media, along with the public feedback of these TV shows and movies, undercuts the severity of stalking, minimizes these behaviours, and in some cases even romanticizes them. The social media response to the hit Netflix series You is a prime example of this romanticization, Williams said. You is a psychological thriller that follows character Joe Goldberg and his unhealthy obsession with a romantic interest. This fixation eventually leads to extreme

ISSUE 192 . 2 | NEWS

THEONTARION.COM

With our work, school, and social lives transitioning to online platforms during the pandemic, stalking behaviors have followed suit. CREDIT: PEXELS

One in five university students will experience some form of sexual violence while they’re at university, and that can include stalking as one of those behaviours. — Jensen Williams stalking, emotional manipulation, kidnapping, and murder. Users on social media have expressed their attraction to and romantic fantasies about Joe, writing things like, “oh I wish someone loved me as much as Joe,” or “he’s so devoted.” Williams said this is obviously problematic as it glamorizes stalking behaviours. “For young people, and stu-

dents in particular, we know that dating and relationships are a part of our everyday lives, so we need to be cautious and critical of how these behaviours are presented. I would say that the media has definitely played a role in glorifying them,” Williams said. With the increase of online presence during the COVID-19 pandemic, stalking behaviours

are expected to evolve and respond to the increase in remote communications. Though there hasn’t been much data published yet about the amount of online stalking occuring during the pandemic, pre-pandemic studies show that “30 per cent of stalking incidents were happening online…We have seen an increase in online violence, and an increased use of social media throughout the pandemic,” Williams said. “It also takes away from in-person opportunities for stalking. Say you are being stalked by someone in the workplace and that workplace is shut down, and you are working from home. That can then translate to that stalking moving to the form of email, or social media messages.” According to Williams, it is likely that online forms of stalking have increased throughout the pandemic. Therefore, support services ought to reflect this change. This can be achieved by updating education plans and safety resources, as well as supports, planning, and privacy protections.

This would help members of the public identify what stalking may look like and how to respond and seek support if they or someone they know is victimized. In regards to supporting victims of stalking, “the key thing to always start with is to believe the victim,” said Williams. It is important to let the victim know that the potential stalking behaviours that they are experiencing are not okay and to label it as unhealthy or offensive. Williams adds that another important point in supporting the victim is to focus on the wrongfulness of the perpetrator’s actions rather than critique the victim’s response. In their response, one can also encourage the victim to document the incidents through screenshots or a document log that indicates when and where the situation occurred and what exactly happened. Furthermore, “following [the victim’s] lead is what would be most helpful for them in this moment, and helping them connect to resources that can be of support, frequently checking in with them, identifying unsafe spaces in

the community, and who can be reached out to to expand support.” A balanced combination of listening to the victim, believing and validating their experiences, helping them access resources, checking in on them, and encouraging them to document stalking behaviours, is the best way to be an inclusive and effective supporter.

For those who may be experiencing stalking, or those who may know someone who is experiencing stalking, Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis has a 24-hour phone line that is available to provide support, resources, and information regarding stalking. Feel free to contact them at: 519-836-5710 OR 1-800-265SAFE (7233). Or, visit their website: gwwomenincrisis.org

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THE ONTARION

Students have taken to social media to express their frustrations with U of G’s $200 residence adjustment. CREDIT: NICOLAS BUCK/THE ONTARION

Ever-changing COVID-19 policies at U of G leave students feeling divided Students and community members are split on whether the U of G made the right decisions with winter 2022 course delivery and residence policies ALYSSA MARKS

niversity of Guelph students have expressed concerns with the university’s updated winter 2022 semester COVID-19 policies. In mid-December, the school announced that there would be a remote start to classes for the first two weeks of the winter semester. In accordance with this, students living in residence were asked, if possible, to delay their return to campus until after the two week period on Jan. 21. Students in residence who complied with this request and waited until Jan. 21 to return to campus were told that they would receive adjustments to their residence fees. A total flat rate of $200 would be credited to their student financial account. Students returning to residence prior to Jan. 21 would not receive the $200 adjustment to their residence fees. This has been a big point

of contention amongst residence students. U of G community members have taken to online platforms such as Instagram and Reddit to express their disappointment in the school’s residence adjustment fee policy. Students have communicated their concerns with the amount of the residence refund, claiming that $200 was insufficient and does not reflect the true cost of the delayed residence movein. For some students, the $200 flat rate is only half of the cost of residence fees for the two-week delay period. “I feel that this refund of $200 is offensively inadequate. This amount is actually less than what residence costs per week! It shows the school is willing to take advantage of students, many of whom are likely suffering financially due to the pandemic,” said Ellie Bolton, a first-year arts and

science student living in residence. Online, students wrote that in addition to the $200 adjustment only covering roughly half of the true cost of residence for two weeks, the flat rate does not reflect the scale of residence fees across different residence halls and room types (i.e. single, double, or triple). For instance, a single room in Johnston Hall is more costly than a triple room in South Residence, yet the adjustment does not take this into consideration. “While I know that these are trying times and the university is doing its best to keep us safe, COVID-19 is not an excuse for compensating us this insubstantial amount. Especially when our tuition costs and other fees are not being adjusted,” said Leah Vanderbyl, a first-year environmental science student living in residence. The Ontarion reached out to

the U of G for comment on students' concerns with the residence adjustment. It stated that the $200 was not meant to be a refund that reflects a specific formula, but a benefit for students who delayed their return to campus. “The $200 adjustment was in recognition of the changing circumstances and is outside of the Residence Contract. It was not intended to be a refund or calculated on a pro-rated formula,” said Pat Kelly, a U of G Residence Life representative. “It is also a benefit granted only to students in residences; students in an off-campus lease may not have received the same consideration.” Kelly went on to note that the adjustment may be unique to the U of G community alone. “To our understanding, many institutions across Ontario are not providing such adjustments to residence fees. However, we felt it was important to do so.” Kelly also said that residence remained opened for students wishing to return to campus on the initial move-in date. It was up to the students on whether they accepted the opportunity for the $200 adjustment, or returned to campus on the original date.

In-person classes to resume Jan. 31 While students were expressing their frustration with the $200 adjustment, U of G announced that in-person classes would resume on Jan. 31, and that

the tuition deadline would be extended to Jan. 23. This gave students the opportunity to request a full tuition refund in light of the recent announcement of winter 2022 course delivery. Thoughts on whether the university made the right decision in resuming in-person classes on Jan. 31 are mixed amongst students. Some agree with U of G’s decision, some believe the school should have adopted a hybrid approach, and others argue that online learning should have been extended for the entire duration of the winter 2022 semester. With the U of G community’s high vaccination rate, some have said that in-person learning poses only a minor threat to community health and is unlikely to contribute much to potential hospitalizations and severe cases of COVID-19. With this, they believe that the pros of in-person course delivery outweigh the cons. One user on the r/uoguelph subreddit wrote, “[the U of G is] now essentially acknowledging COVID as endemic and that we've done all we can to make it safe; cases are no longer the metric by which we make decisions.” Other U of G community members have discussed the toll that remote learning has taken on both academic and social life. “Socially, online school is incredibly difficult. Students have almost no chance to connect with their peers. [T]his is even more of an issue for students in residence, as they have heavy restrictions when it comes to social interactions,” Bolton said. Some students have advocated for a hybrid approach to the winter 2022 semester, arguing that the university should provide options for at-risk students and faculty. These concerns take into account the potential rapid spread of COVID-19 throughout classrooms, and how this will affect students’ participation and attendance in class. Another r/uoguelph subreddit user wrote, “what happens if someone gets [COVID-19]? Are they just expected to miss lectures for [two] weeks?” Other community members insist that online course delivery should be extended until COVID-19 cases subside. This is in the hopes of protecting vulnerable students, staff, and faculty, and avoiding the stress caused by repeated shifts in the U of G’s COVID-19 policies. U of G COVID-19 policies and course delivery instructions continue to be updated in light of public health developments. For more information on the winter 2022 semester COVID-19 policies, keep up to date with U of G news releases and top stories.

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Alia Miroshnichenko’s experience in symphonic and industrial sounds will extend to nature when she utilizes the harmonies from plant biodata to create music. CREDIT: ALIA MIROSHNICHENKO

The industrial sound of trees: Using plant biodata to make music With the help of the Guelph Arts Council, Alia Miroshnichenko will be creating a series of musical compositions with plant data from the Arboretum ELENI KOPSAFTIS

ave you ever wondered what Mother Nature’s voice would sound like if she had one? If so, Alia Miroshnichenko and her plant-based music might just be for you. Alia Miroshnichenko―also known as Alia Synesthesia―is a multi-instrumentalist artist who creates industrial, neoclassical, and symphonic music. According to her website, Miroshnichenko’s compositions “defy genre” and she is known for her “mezzo-soprano vocal tone and experimental distorted cello technique.” On top of her impressive musical experience, Miroshnichenko has a PhD in digital media and communications and culture from York University. She also holds two degrees in English and theatre studies, along with an MA in early modern literature from the University of Guelph. Miroshnichenko’s fascination with music began when she was young.

“I was exposed a lot to symphonic and classical music when I was growing up and so when I became a teenager I started seeking out how symphonic music was used in modern contexts to bring that bridge of relation,” she told The Ontarion. It was at U of G that Miroshnichenko began delving into different sounds. While she completed her MA, she and three other women started an industrial band called SlutMother. Their work was featured on Guelph radio, but due to the “brash” nature of their name, many networks

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and festivals were hesitant to mention the band’s participation in events. As a result, the band eventually dissipated. Since then, Miroshnichenko has been experimenting with unconventional methods of music-making, such as harnessing plant biodata to create new sounds. Using sensors, she measures the soundwaves of water flowing through plant veins and uses that biometric data to create harmonies and note combinations. Then she builds the rest of the music on top. She sent a sample of a composition to the Guelph Arts Council (GAC) and received the Research and Renewal award which “creates opportunities for local creatives to engage with archives, collections, and resources in developing research-based art projects,” according to a GAC news release. “I was super happy because I actually didn't know how the committee would look at the pro-

posal,” said Miroshnichenko. She explains that the concept was very academic in nature and was therefore not a “classic” arts proposal, causing her to feel unsure about how it would be received. According to the GAC release, the funding attached to the award will allow her to further delve into biodata music and create a series of compositions which seek to “rediscover the connection between the Guelph community and its plant-based life.” Miroshnichenko plans to use plant life in the U of G Arboretum to pursue her newest project. The Arboretum is a 400-acre collection of gardens, walking trails, woodlands, wetlands, and meadows. It was established in 1970 and is home to over 2,000 types of woody plants, making it the perfect place to host research activities for U of G students. In addition to being an important space within the U of G community, Miroshinichenko also feels a personal connection

to the Arboretum. She says that she likes the Japanese garden there and will often visit to go look at the frogs. She also highlights how many plants and trees in the park have been donated from all around the world. “I always thought that this is something very unique and interesting about the Arboretum which is really different from other parks. It's not just a park, it’s a museum of community connections. That's what made me really interested in exploring that further,” said Miroshnichenko. Miroshnichenko’s project will be released to the public in July 2022. In the meantime, updates on the project will be communicated through GAC’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, on their website at guelpharts.ca or on the project site at arborealopera.com. Miroshnichenko’s other content can be found on most music platforms, as well as her website, aliasynesthesia.com.

ARTS & CULTURE

13 - 21 | VALENTINE'S SPECIAL

12 | EARLY BLACK STUDENTS

Best films of 2021 From classic musicals to fantasy epics, binge these stunning films to revisit 2021’s best movies PRABHJOT BAINS

ast year marked the beginning of a healing period for the film industry. Yet instead of it being a slow and confident journey back to normalcy, it was assuredly rapid and fleeting. Periods of outright closure were bolstered by barren release schedules. At the beginning of 2021, it felt COVID-19 was sounding the death knell on filmgoing experience. However, out of the blistering and vapid heat of summer came news of a glorious bounty of cinematic treasure. Fall marked the end of two years of postponements and delays, sparking a movie season that will be difficult to replicate as each week of the last three months of 2021 greeted this critic with an experience that probed the mind and thoroughly investigated the heart. While the pandemic loomed heavy over our lives, the hearth of cinema provided a profound respite that made it possible to think of a near future where this current reality of lockdowns and distancing will be nothing more than a bad memory. Yes, this list of great films contains a heavy number of endof-year releases, but that only further emboldens them to usher you into 2022 as they provide moments that stay with you long after the credits roll, inducing a sense of wonderment and comfort that help to define what it means to be alive. Here is the best that 2021 had to offer.

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11. Dune (Denis Villeneuve, USA) The quintessential fantasy epic of our times was also an exercise in delayed catharsis. Dune is an incomplete masterpiece that stings you with its lack of finality. In a cast full of greats, scope is the biggest star in Dune, resulting in arguably the greatest blending of a cinematic landscape and soundscape that has ever been put to screen, enveloping the audience in its all-encompassing splendor as it leaves you enraptured and unfulfilled in its concluding moments. It’s a film that will unfortunately be judged on the merits of its eventual continuation. As of now, we are left with a masterwork that needs time to be fully appreciated as a true great.

10. Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy (Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Japan) The wheel keeps spinning in Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s transcendent film where missed connections, fateful chances, and regretful romances take centre stage and paint the world with profound melancholic brushstrokes. Constructed as an episodic triptych, each chapter details the titular wheel with extended scenes that allow both its characters and its themes to be delivered with emotional precision. Hamaguchi strives to make clear that one moment can be both emotionally splendid and utterly painful and that as life forges on, we remain ever trapped within the wheel. Yet, this reality is never made out to be dire. Instead, it's rendered as a prosaic fantasy that transforms modernity into an enchanting and empowering place, where sooner or later fortune will favour you.

9. The Card Counter (Paul Schrader, USA)

7. The Green Knight (David Lowry, USA)

The Card Counter continues Paul Schrader’s winning streak of complex, cynical, and harrowing character studies that not only detail the inner machinations of the protagonist but also comment on the current state of American culture and politics. Schrader has been committed to exploring characters in this way since Taxi Driver (1976) where he tackled American alienation and the ubiquity of violence, post-Vietnam, through the perspective of a deranged and damaged cabbie. This time around, Schrader sets his sights on the legacy of America’s “war on terror” which he explores through William Tell, a professional gambler who travels across the country winning big by counting cards, a skill he picked up during a ten-year stint in prison for his part in the atrocities at Abu Ghraib. As audiences delve deep into Tell’s reflections and moral quandaries, they too will grapple with one fundamental question, how can one fully reckon with their past and atone for a sin that is truly unforgivable?

“Now off with your head.” This classically harrowing closing line is transformed into something life-affirming by the visual and thematic splendor of The Green Knight. The famous 14th century medieval tale of honour, fame, and chivalry is rendered a more spiritual, ethereal, and eerie fable, where the typical swords and sorcery is no match for the complex battle of the mind. As Gawain continues his journey to seek out the titular knight, it becomes clear that the real obstacles are his own weaknesses, temptations, and doubts, as they manifest themselves into visual feasts that captivate our imaginations while they penetrate the soul of our hero. It's rare that a film so confident graces our screens, translating even the most traditional of tales into an experience that is innately human and emblematic of our current struggles to be remembered well past the conclusion of our own quests.

8. The French Dispatch (Wes Anderson, USA) Is this the most Wes Andersonian film of all time? Yes. Is that a bad thing? No. The French Dispatch embodies the filmmaker’s idiosyncrasies and quirks with a panache that is both technically marvelous and deeply heartfelt. Anderson is sometimes accused of trading narrative heft for quirky set pieces and characters, and while The French Dispatch is certainly ingrained with a singular eccentricity, it never forgets to imbue its story with human emotion and a passion for its subjects. Following a specific foreign bureau of the fictional Liberty Kansas Evening Sun, The French Dispatch creates four distinct stories that weave an intricate tapestry that is packed to the brim with details that are hard to appreciate in a single viewing. Anderson’s trademark wit and symmetrical shot compositions create an enchanting tribute to the zenith of magazine journalism, and it’ll make you fawn over a time you never knew you wanted to live in.

6. West Side Story (Steven Spielberg, USA) 2021 was the year of resurgence for the American musical. From the raucous neighbourhood of In the Heights, to the personal struggles of an artist in Tick Tick… Boom (2021), the cinematic musical was in full bloom this year. However, the one that will go down as a masterpiece will undoubtedly be Steven Spielberg’s enchanting and grandiose remake of West Side Story. While no one was clamoring for another cinematic rendition of this storied play, Spielberg pulled off something truly remarkable by revitalizing this story and injecting it with modern fervor, making this version of the classic play definitive. While the 1961 adaptation will undoubtedly retain its classic status, Spielberg’s artistry and construction of the various musical set pieces shines with the spectacle of technicolour as the sweeping pans, lavish wide shots, and majestic choreography will make you swoon every time Tony cries out for Maria. It’s a breathtaking cinematic experience that showcases the raw power of musicals. While the need for something refreshing and ground-breaking is important for the future of film, sometimes

a masterful hand is needed to remind us of the classical form and its magical ability to elevate even the simplest of stories.

5. Licorice Pizza (Paul Thomas Anderson, USA) Paul Thomas Anderson has always had a fascination with Los Angeles in the 1970s. He broke out with a stylistically bold exploration of the city’s porn industry in Boogie Nights (1997) and then dove headfirst into a murky detective story in Inherent Vice (2014). But Licorice Pizza marks the first time where his storytelling ambition results in a laidback free flow of singular moments, in which he aims to draw us into the dreamy, hazy, and turbulent world where this film’s central romance resides. Gary and Alana’s dynamic is one that is simultaneously endearing and peculiar, with Alana ten years older than the driven and boastful Gary. Their dynamic interplay of pushes and pulls amid the 70s waterbed craze, gasoline crisis, and the “pinball ban” creates a palatable sense of time and place. The euphoric tides of their dreamlike romance enrapture the eyes and captivate the heart while coasting you along to the next moment. It’s the quintessential hangout movie of the year as we run with these characters towards a sense of purpose, comfort, and pleasure, even though the ultimate destination might not be clear.

4. The Power of The Dog (Jane Campion, New Zealand) A revisionist western for the ages, The Power of The Dog upholds the traditional majesty of the American frontier while deconstructing the wild hearts that populated it. It's an experience that explores the inner turmoil of all its characters with a poignant subtlety, building great momentum

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1. Drive My Car (Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Japan)

Despite having all the makings of a classic romcom, The Worst Person in the World delivers a uniquely enrapturing tale of love and life going by too quickly. CREDIT: NEON

towards a conclusion with such cathartic force that it redefines everything that has come before it. Phil Burbank is brought to life with a career-defining performance by Benedict Cumberbatch, whose bitterness, jealousy, and penchant for emotional torture heighten the exquisitely-layered themes of desire, grief, and hatred that bubble to the surface. Jane Campion’s majestic direction transforms the raw beauty of New Zealand into hauntingly picturesque 1925 Montana where traditionally invisible emotions become wholly visible, laying bare an unparalleled entry point into the fractured souls of these characters.

3. Parallel Mothers (Pedro Almodóvar, Spain) Only the truth, no matter how painful it is, can allow life to blossom and move forward with the certainty that it will get better. With Parallel Mothers, Almodóvar’s reverence for all things maternal reaches a political boiling point. The story of two women whose lives are forever entwined the moment they give birth, simultaneously at the same hospital, serves as a melodramatic backdrop for a nuanced confrontation between Spain’s fascist past and the horrors of the Franco regime. After giving birth in 2016, Janis becomes a compulsive liar, manipulating her loved ones to shield them, and ultimately herself, from an unbearable truth. This echoes what Spain itself has been doing for the better part of 45 years as the “Pact of Forgetting” made it

easier to move on and avoid a brutally honest confrontation with the regime’s violent past. The genius of Almodóvar lies in how he can craft an engrossing melodrama full of enthralling revelations and emotional catharsis while emboldening it with political and philosophical underpinnings. This is a film that not only evocatively addresses the very nature of historical truth but also the roles we play in facilitating lies that supposedly make it easier to exist.

2. The Worst Person in The World (Joachim Trier, Norway) Joachim Trier’s jubilant, spellbinding, and enchanting The Worst Person in The World follows Julia, a woman who is caught in a quarter-life flux that is forcing her to choose between the ecstasy of dreams and the starkness of reality. A plot that has all the makings of a generic rom com is transformed into something luminescent as Trier renders the familiar trappings of love, heartbreak, and relationships obsolete by making a sharp, provocative, and poignant observation on the millennial ethos and this generation’s headfirst battle with time. Structured as a 12-chapter story with a prologue and epilogue, the film has a tight focus of a few years but is astonishingly all-encompassing in its emotional scope. Trier presents us with a portrait of a life that goes by too fast, leaving us wishing that time would stand still, much like it does for Julia in the greatest scene of the year.

Hamaguchi’s second masterwork of the year has a hypnotic quality that makes three hours pass by seamlessly. A feeling of vulnerability persists as you ponder how easily you fell prey to its melodic pace. Drive My Car is a somber and beguiling meditation on sorrow and its ability to have us ruminating on the secrets of our loved ones in order to fully accept the roles we’re destined to play. By interweaving Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, Hamaguchi depicts the refractional relationship between life and art, rendering a pervasive vision of life after grief. The film centres around a playwright who accepts a residency in Hiroshima after the death of his wife. While it sounds far from riveting, what makes Drive My Car the greatest film of the year is that it’s insistent on delivering emotional and psychological revelations rather than dramatic ones. It forces you to look inwards before being able to process the external, as a character notes “If we hope to truly see another person, we have to start by looking within ourselves.” The film makes us contemplate how we too would cope with the secrets lurking behind our loved ones’ eyes—would we dwell on the unknowns or make peace with the mystery?

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 SELECTIONS FROM ARCHIVAL AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

A white-man’s school?: Early Black students and staff at the U of G During the early 20th century, the institutions that would later form the U of G accepted Black students when others wouldn’t—but they also accepted racist language and stereotypes GRAHAM BURT | ARCHIVE ASSOCIATE Content warning: Please be advised that the following article examines racial stereotypes and contains racist language.

n a 1937 article in the OAC Review, an early campus magazine published by and for Guelph students, an unnamed Macdonald Institute graduate was tasked with predicting what she thought life would be like a decade into the future for students of the Macdonald Institute, the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC), and the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC)—the three colleges that in 1964 would join to form the University of Guelph. Besides predicting that students 10 years in the future would be promiscuous, lazy, and incessant cigarette smokers who struggled with even the most basic cooking lesson on boiling water, the writer also prophesied about what the dining hall on campus would look like:

the May 1891 issue of the OAC Review reported, “is to have negro waiters in the dining hall.” The reason given for this consideration? The “darkies,” unlike the white student waiters, would “leave off speaking to the girls” and stop causing trouble. In February 1910, an article appeared in the OAC Review describing a minstrel show put on by OAC students. After the performance, guests were given “a display of what the negro waiter really should be” as “members of the dusky race flew around [the room], laden with sandwiches and coffee.” These Black waiters, employees of the university, were subjected to racist platitudes and construed as life-long servants.

They still ate [lunch] at the dining hall, and while it appeared the same from [the] outside, inside it was vastly different. There were numerous small tables and two girls and two boys sat at each one. Negro waiters in tuxedos rushed around and saw that everyone was served with exactly what they wanted.

It is difficult to know with any certainty how many Black students attended the Macdonald Institute, the OAC, and the OVC during the early history of the institutions. With that said, Macdonald Institute appears to have had no Black students before 1930, and the OAC had only a few, at the most. One of the students was Joseph Raphael Vignale who graduated from the OAC in 1923. Born in about 1898 in Trinidad, he immigrated to Canada in 1914. His graduation bio, written in the yearbook by his peers, gives

Black servers were indeed employed at the university’s dining hall during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. However, as one can see in the excerpt, the writer uses racist language, which reflects not only her own intolerant attitudes, but also those of much of society at the time. As we near Black History Month, examining the experiences of early Black staff and students in accounts such as this one helps us gain a better understanding of what the Black experience was like on campus.

Joe Vignale the pugilist

Joe is a pugilist [boxer] of note, and a well-developed athlete. His chief difficulty seems to be to convince the fellows that he is not always joking. A remarkable habit of slipping away to Toronto and forgetting to return is one of his noted characteristics. A Canadian winter is, like too much study, one of his pet aversions. It is difficult to surmise how someone was treated or accepted on campus based on a mere paragraph in a yearbook. Nonetheless, it is striking to see the contrast of the light-hearted yearbook bio on one hand and the subjugation of Black waiters and the harmful and bigoted remarks written by staff and students in the OAC Review during the same period on the other. A plethora of appallingly racist comments, ‘jokes,’ depictions, and anecdotes are sprinkled throughout the student-published OAC Review. Professor T. D. Jarvis argued in a 1912 article that African Blacks were unintelligent and “one of the most uncontrollable beings in civilization.” In the fall of 1918—right before Joe Vignale enrolled at the OAC—an editor of the OAC Review, describing an initiative to revamp the magazine, wrote: “We have set a high mark and mean to attain it, being just as determined as the negro who was bent on changing his color by drinking buttermilk, who said, ‘I am resolved to bleach or bust!’”

W. D. McCoy, F. D. Booker, and the OVC

Black waiters on campus

The hiring of Black waiters in the dining hall was first considered in the spring of 1891. “A step that is receiving the serious consideration of the [university] authorities,” a column in

us some idea as to his character and personality:

Joseph Raphael Vignale

Between 1900 and 1930, at least 10 Black students attended the OVC. Two of the earliest Black students to enroll at the college were Wesley Deer McCoy and Felix Delno Booker. According to Randal Jelks in African Americans in the Furniture City (2005) and Scott Gelber in Court-

Wesley Deer McCoy

rooms and Classrooms: A Legal History of College Access, 1860-1960 (2016), McCoy and Booker had attended the Kansas State Agricultural College together before enrolling in a two-year program in the Veterinary Department of the Grand Rapids Medical College (GRMC) in Michigan in 1907. Both McCoy and Booker successfully completed their freshman year at GRMC. Upon returning to the college in the fall of 1908 to register for their second year, they were denied admittance, apparently in an effort to appease a number of their white peers who had dropped out in protest to McCoy and Booker’s presence on campus. To prevent more students from leaving, and to protect the “peaceful decorum” and “financial viability” of the college, GRMC turned McCoy and Booker away, reported Jelks and Gelber. McCoy and Booker hired an attorney who successfully argued in a circuit court that it was illegal for GRMC, a quasi-public institution, to discriminate on the basis of race. A few days after the ruling, dozens of McCoy and Booker’s white classmates marched out of their classes, burned effigies of McCoy and Booker in the street, and, according to Jelks and Gelber, viciously chanted, “This is a white man’s school” and “Lynch ‘em if they don’t keep out.” GRMC appealed the circuit court decision and the case was brought before the Michigan Supreme Court, where the verdict was overturned. The court ruled that the college was a private institution and could therefore discriminate as it pleased. McCoy and Booker were permanently

barred from the GRMC campus by order of the court solely because of the colour of their skin. In early October 1910, McCoy and Booker travelled to Toronto (where the OVC was located until it moved to Guelph in 1922). How they were accepted and treated at the OVC and in the community is not definitively known. Dr. Booker graduated in 1912, and Dr. McCoy graduated the following year. Dr. McCoy’s yearbook bio, written by his peers, describes him as being “a capable, energetic student.” Given what we know about anti-Black racism at that time, we can assume that they experienced some level of injustice, discrimination, and prejudice. Their graduation from the OAC and OVC was a testament to their courage and perseverance. This Black History Month, let us reflect on the stories of Black students and staff—past and present—at the University of Guelph. Let us acknowledge the fact that while the university’s founding institutions did accept Black students when many American schools would not, they simultaneously allowed and participated in the promulgation of racial bigotry. And by looking at the injustices of the past, let us continue to strive for justice and equality for all.

Photos courtesy of Archival and Special Collections: Joseph Raphael Vignale (b. 1898) (OAC 1923 Yearbook, RE1OACA0195) Wesley Deer McCoy (1880-1937) (Torontonesis 1913 Yearbook, RE1OVCA0058)

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'S 1 E IN 13-2 T EN PGS L VA IAL C E P S

Celebrating friendship in Nordic Europe According to Time Magazine, Friendship Day was originally aimed at children in school who would make crafts and cards for their friends. However, this celebration of friendship and love has become popular amongst all ages in Finland and Estonia. Citizens celebrate by sending cards and spending time together, and similarly to romantic holidays, it is common to go out for dinner with friends. This day is the second most popular card-giving day in Finland.

Traditional festivities in China

In South Korea, couples visit Namsan Tower in Seoul to attach locks onto a fence. This is just one of the many ways people around the world celebrate their love for each other. CREDIT: MAX PIXEL

Celebrations of love across the world Love holds a special cultural value wherever you go! RACHEL FIORET

n Canada, Valentine’s Day is a popular celebration of love through the gifting of chocolate and flowers or fancy dinners. As shown through many modern rom coms, expectations for the day often include going all out for the person you love. Celebrating love is important in many cultures around the world, and for some, a day of love holds significant cultural value. Read about how love is celebrated across different cultures in Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia!

History of Valentine’s Day This modern celebration has a unique history, and its association with love has developed over hundreds of years. According to History.com, there are conflicting legends about who St. Valentine was and why the story became linked to a celebration of love. These legends date back to the ancient Romans. The most popular story claims that St. Valentine was a priest in 3rd century Rome. During this time, Emperor Claudius II outlawed young men to marry because he believed single men were better at war. However, Valentine continued to marry young couples in secret.

Valentine’s Day later became the Catholic Church’s way of honouring St. Valentine, but this took centuries to develop simultaneously with themes of love. In the Middle Ages, western European societies believed that Feb. 14 started the mating season for birds, which might explain why the day came to be associated with lovers. Valentine’s Day also falls around the same time as the ancient Roman holiday of Lupercalia, a Feb. 15 fertility festival that featured romantic matchmaking amongst its many celebrations.

South Korea: Valentine’s Day every month Why have Valentine’s Day once a year when you can have it once a month? According to Fodor’s Travel, in South Korea, love is celebrated on the 14th of each month, and every month has a specific focus on how to celebrate. On Feb. 14, it is tradition for women to give gifts to men. Then, a month later on March 14, the men return the favour. March 14 is a popular day in South Korea, and History.com states that it is referred to as White Day. However, for people who are not in a relationship, Black Day is cele-

brated on April 14. Black Day celebrations include getting together with fellow singles and eating black noodles. Other notable days for romance throughout the year include May 14, which is Rose Day, and June 14, which is Kiss Day. Public displays of affection are not common in South Korea, so on Kiss Day the social norms are not in effect. A popular destination for couples who celebrate love is Seoul’s N Seoul Tower, or Namsan Tower. The fence circling the tower is used by couples and families to attach locks on as a way of demonstrating their love.

National Chocolate Day in Ghana

Ghana is one of the largest cocoa producers in the world, so it makes sense that they turned the day of love into a National Chocolate Day. The Ghanaian Times states that this tradition began in the early 2000s as a way to encourage more Ghanians to eat local chocolate, and so on Feb. 14 people gift it to their loved ones. According to MyJoyOnline.com, the Ghana Tourism Authority partnered with chocolate producers to donate cocoa and COVID-19 protection supplies to the Ghana Medical Association in honour of the day in 2021.

The Miao people in China celebrate the Sister’s Meal Festival in the third month of the lunar calendar, states Chinahighlights.com. A celebration of love and spring, the festival is considered to be the oldest Valentine's Day in Asia. During this festival, women will participate in a variety of crafts that make use of rice and flowers (typically these crafts involve dyeing the rice red, yellow, blue, and white) to represent the changing season. When these crafts are finished, they are beautifully wrapped and given to the men, sometimes with hidden meanings in them. The women dress in silver crowns and jewellery, and the men look across the villages to find someone to date.

Summertime lovin’ in Brazil Dia dos Namorados (“Lovers’ Day,” “Day of the Enamored,'' or “Boyfriends’/Girlfriends’ Day”) is celebrated on June 12, states Brazilianexperience.com. The day is celebrated in June to coincide with Saint Anthony’s Day on June 13, as Brazilians believed Saint Anthony “blessed young couples with a prosperous marriage.” Couples offer their significant other gifts such as flowers and chocolates, and they also usually have dinner together. Meanwhile, special nightclub, bar, and cinema events are usually scheduled for single people.

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A Welsh alternative: St. Dwynwen’s Day Wales has a unique tale behind the day of love, which is why they have a different name and date for the celebration than most other European countries. Historic-UK.com states that Dwynwen lived in the 5th century, and was one of the prettiest of King Brychan Brycheiniog’s 24 daughters. She fell in love with a prince, however she was forbidden from being with him, as her father had already arranged her marriage to someone else. Dwynwen prayed to fall out of love with the prince, so an angel froze him in a block of ice before giving Dwynwen three wishes. Dwynwen wished to unfreeze the man, to help all future lovers have their hopes and dreams achieved, and for herself to never marry. For this, she became the patron saint of love, and her day is celebrated on Jan. 25 every year. A common tradition on St. Dwynwen’s Day is for men to give women hand carved wooden spoons!

South Africa’s special tradition South African society has a unique tradition which makes this day engaging for many young people. According to HuffPost, women wear hearts with the name of their significant other or love interest on their shirts (literally a form of wearing your heart on your sleeve). When the women go out in public, the men can see if anyone is interested in them and decide whether to further pursue a relationship. This event is sometimes referred to as Lupercalia, to honour the ancient Roman festivities.

The most popular day in the Philippines to get married The Philippines has taken Valentine’s Day to a whole new level. The country has designated Feb. 14 as the day of mass weddings, which are done through a public service with the government. Kate Springer from Time’s newsfeed reports that during the mass weddings, huge groups of people will get married at the same time. Couples pick the theme of their wedding and are then grouped with others for the ceremony. This event appears to be well received by citizens, because many of them would not be able to afford to get married otherwise. The government support has turned this day into a cultural and social event, because so many people have the same wedding date!

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Five crafts to celebrate Valentine’s Day These simple, easy, and fun do-ityourself crafts all feature the classic symbol of love—the heart ANCHITAA GHAG

elebrating Valentine’s Day is not just about eating chocolates or listening to love songs! Valentine’s Day, the loveliest day of February, is a wonderful opportunity to engage your creative side. These heart-shaped crafts can be given as gifts or used as festive decorations for your home. Perhaps you could include a handmade rose-scented bath bomb when gifting someone a rose bouquet, or offer a collection of red, white, and pink heart-shaped bookmarks to that one person you know with an overflowing bookshelf. Whether you are an experienced crafter or have never done a do-it-yourself project before, these ideas are a simple and easy way to invoke feelings of love and romance!

BATH BOMBS

Inspired by Sarah Walk via Tell Love and Party

• • • • • • • • •

1 cup baking soda 1/2 cup citric acid 1/2 cup Epsom salt 1/2 cup corn starch 2 1/2 tbsp coconut oil 3/4 tbsp water 2 tsp. essential oil(s) (optional) Food coloring (optional) Heart shaped molds (or any mold of your choice)

• • • • •

2. 3.

4. 5. 6. 7.

In a bowl, whisk the baking soda, corn starch, Epsom salt and citric acid. In a separate bowl, mix the coconut oil, water, and essential oil(s). Gradually add the wet mixture to the dry mixture a few drops at a time. It is important to go slow or the dry mixture will fizz up. If using food coloring, mix in a few drops using gloves to prevent stained hands. Press the mixture into your mold of choice. Let dry for 24 hours and remove carefully from mold. Your bath bombs are now ready to use or gift to others!

Colorful craft paper Scissors or heart-shaped punch Letter stamps and stamp pad or pen/marker Hole punch Bakers twine

Directions: 1.

3. 4.

Using the heart-shaped punch, punch hearts in the colorful paper in several different colors. If using scissors, draw heart shapes on the colorful paper and cut them out. Write with a pen or stamp out letters (with letter stamps and stamp pad) using conversation heart sayings, like “Be Mine” and “Love.” Using the hole punch, punch two holes on the top of each heart. String the hearts together with the bakers twine using the two holes on the top of each heart. Voilà! Your garland is ready to hang!

Trace a heart shape onto the sheet of styrofoam. You can make this as big or small as you would like. Using a serrated bread knife, electric turkey carver or jigsaw, cut out your shape from the styrofoam sheet. Pull or cut the faux flowers from the stems (if present). Use the hot glue gun to attach the flowers directly onto the styrofoam heart. You can use different colored flowers for separate sections of your heart for a rainbow or ombre effect. Trace an arrow shape on the

5. 6.

balsa wood or strong cardboard. You can make this as big or small as you would like. Divide the arrow into a head and a tail. These will go on opposite sides of the heart. Cut pieces of glitter paper and hot glue the paper onto the arrowhead and arrow tail. Stick the finished arrowhead and arrow tail on opposite ends on the heart, diagonally. Your arrow should look like it is going through the heart. Glue the cup hooks onto the top of the heart “humps.” Tie the fishing line onto both hooks and hang from the ceiling.

HANGING FLOWER HEART

Directions: 1.

Directions:

Materials:

Inspired by Kim West via A Girl and A Glue Gun

Materials:

For the most adorable garland, string together some red and pink paper hearts this Valentine’s Day! CREDIT: ANCHITAA GHAG

CANDY HEARTS GARLAND

Inspired by Laura Gummerman via A Beautiful Mess

Materials: • • • • • • • •

Faux flowers Hot glue gun Sheet of styrofoam Serrated bread knife, electric turkey carver or jigsaw 2 cup hooks Clear fishing line Balsa wood or strong cardboard Glitter paper

Get literary with some easy-to-make heart bookmarks. CREDIT: ANCHITAA GHAG

HEART-SHAPED BOOKMARKS Via Martha Stewart

Materials: • • • •

Heavy card stock paper Decorative paper (wrapping or origami paper) Utility knife Glue stick

Directions: 1.

Draw a template heart shape onto a piece of paper, approximately 1.5 inches wide. Cut out the template heart shape using a pair of scissors or a utility knife.

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3. 4.

5. 6. 7.

Trace this heart shape onto the heavy card stock paper. Draw a smaller heart shape on the template heart shape. This should be approximately 80 percent of the original template. Cut out the smaller heart. Trace the now smaller template heart shape onto decorative paper. Cut out both the heavy card stock paper heart and the decorative paper heart. Glue the decorative paper heart to the centre of the cardstock paper heart using a glue stick. Let dry completely. Cut the bottom edge of the inner heart using the utility knife. You should cut through the cardstock beneath the “V” of the decorative inner heart. Done! To use the bookmark, slip the page of the book you wish to bookmark between the outer and inner heart through the “V” cutout.

STACKED HEARTS CANDLE

Inspired by Heidi Gustad via Hands Occupied

Materials: •

Soy wax flakes or leftover wax from old candles Red candle dye Tabbed candle wicks Double boiler, or a pouring pot and a regular pot Rose candle fragrance (optional) Wax paper Baking sheet Skewer Heart-shaped cookie cutters

• • • • • • • •

Directions: 1.

ICONS BY FLATICON

These stunning candles are perfect for a romantic candlelit dinner with your partner. CREDIT: HEIDI AT HANDS OCCUPIED

The Ontarion is always looking for passionate and creative volunteers to join our team of reporters, copyeditors, photographers, and illustrators. No experience needed!

Add a few drops of red candle dye to the candle wax flakes. Put this mixture in a pouring pot. Into a regular pot, add about one to two inches of water. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Place the pouring pot containing the mixture into the regular pot. Ensure that the pouring pot is elevated by the water and is not directly touching the base of the regular pot. Melt the wax in the pouring pot, stirring occasionally.

Add any fragrance and stir. Take the pouring pot off the stove. 6. Place a sheet of wax paper onto the baking sheet. 7. Pour the wax onto the baking sheet. You should have approximately one centimetre layer of wax. 8. Let cool slightly until the wax layer is just warm (soft enough to cut but not runny). 9. Using the cookie cutter, cut out heart shapes from the wax layer. Leave these shapes on the baking sheet. Poke a hole into the center of each heart using a skewer. Leave to cool completely. 10. Once completely cool, break the hearts away from the wax layer. The leftover wax can be melted again to form another batch. 11. String the hearts onto a wick using the holes in the center of the hearts. Trim the wick, if required.

For more information visit theontarion.com/volunteer

FEB. ISSUE | FEB. 202 2

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free, which I think makes it a great choice for my fellow broke students. - Emily There are several translated iterations of If Not, Winter: Fragments of Sappho, all of which are equally stunning versions of the classic Greek poet's work. - Eleni

Books

The Lore Olympus series. It’s a romance-focused graphic novel retelling of the Hades and Persephone myth that’s perfect for readers who love a slow burn. What’s extra cool about it though is that it was originally published online and can still be read for

Cozy up with a friend or S.O. for a night of rom coms, love songs, and romantic poetry. CREDIT: PEXELS

Journey to the Heart by Melody Beattie. It isn't a typical romance or fiction novel, it includes daily mantras or meditations based on gratitude, self-love, and compassion. The Valentine's season is about more than just romantic love, it's about love for yourself and all around you, and I think that Journey to the Heart perfectly embodies that! - Alyssa

Staff recommendations for the season of love Music, films, and books—The Ontarion has you covered! THE ONTARION

ager to set some lovey-dovey vibes this Valentine’s? So are we! Check out this awesome list of recs from The Ontarion staff. Create a new playlist, settle in for a night of rom coms, or cozy up with some romantic poetry. This recs list is sure to set the tone for your favourite romantic holiday!

“Doom Days” by indie-pop band Bastille and its theme of love as a grounding force is an apt love song choice for Valentine's Day this year. - Eleni Kopsaftis, staff reporter “About Her Eyes” by Jerry Jeff Walker. The lyrics, along with the melodic symphonies, are a really beautiful declaration of love! - Alyssa Marks, editorial assistant “Time After Time” by Cindi Lauper. This song has accompanied countless prom slow dances over the decades and still holds up! And besides, who doesn't want a little nostalgia these days? - Patrick Sutherland, marketing manager

Songs "Lovers Rock" by TV Girl and "(Only) About Love" by grentperez. It's impossible not to lose yourself in a romantic daydream while the sun-drenched indie-pop track “Lover’s Rock” plays. “(Only) About Love,” on the other hand, is a gentle, Sinatra-inspired ballad perfect for dancing around the kitchen with family and friends. - Emily Bray, editorial assistant

Movies If you want a funny yet amazingly heartfelt take on the love triangle trope, The Half of It (2020) is the way to go! - Eleni My favourite movie to watch around Valentine's Day is Little Women (2019). It shows romantic and familial love, both of which I think are fitting for this time of year. - Alyssa

The Shape of Water (2017). I’m not usually big on romantic movies, so it was the sci-fi aspect of this one that piqued my interest! I was completely intrigued and moved while watching the unlikely relationship between the human main character and the mysterious and impressive Amphibian Man blossom on screen. - Ellyse McGarr, editor in chief I’ve seen He's Just Not That Into You (2009) several times. It is a light and humorous rom com with multiple storylines discussing relationships. Great film to watch alone, or together with friends and loved ones. - Brubey Hu, graphic designer

The Half of It is a great film if you’re a sucker for romantic tension and hilarious shenanigans. CREDIT: NETFLIX

Little Women is a film that celebrates familial love as well as romantic love. CREDIT: SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT

Moulin Rouge! (2001). OK, so this movie has some sad parts, but nothing beats singing along to an extravagant campy musical with that special someone. - Patrick

ICONS BY FLATICON

Sometimes you have to get through the sad scenes to enjoy the extravagance and timelessness of films such as Moulin Rouge. CREDIT: FANDANGO/MOVIECLIPS CLASSIC TRAILERS

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Endearing yet hilarious U of G-themed Valentine’s Day cards Cut these cards out and share them with the ones you love most

to:

ALYSSA MARKS

an’t find the right words to ask someone to be your valentine? We’ve got you! Share these cards (which incorporate your fav U of G places and person!) with your friends, S.O., or latest Tinder hookup. Regardless of whether you’re a sappy-romantic or a V-Day nihilist, these charming little notes of endearment are guaranteed to bring smiles to your loved ones’ faces.

i would walk to war memorial and back for you <3 to: from:

what if we kissed in front of rozh???

🙈😳

to:

are you creelman hall? because you're all i ever think about ;)

from:

i'll share my bob's dog with you to: from:

roses are red, aggies drive john deeres, if i save you a seat on my tractor, will you go to dollar beers?

from: to: from:

FEB. ISSUE | FEB. 2022

THE ONTARION for these options, make sure you eat something during the day.

Five ways to show yourself some love

Internalise some self-love

Take a bath, get dressed up, eat some delicious food, and practice mindfulness this Valentine’s Day You don’t have to focus only on your significant other this Valentine’s. Make some time for yourself too! CREDIT: PEXELS

ELENI KOPSAFTIS

roduct advertisements for Valentine’s Day have inevitably offered you plenty of options to treat your significant other this February, but whether you’re single or going steady, you deserve to treat yourself too. The following is a list of easy and indulgent ways to show yourself some love. You can also try these ideas with a partner or some friends and family.

Take a bubble bath Turn down those LEDs, fill up your bathtub, and light some candles for a cozy bath experience. Your ideal bath can include anything from bubbles and loo-

fahs to salts and oils. If you have a tray or dry space near the tub, feel free to bring some wine, a book, and even some snacks with you. When you’re done, dry yourself off with the softest towels you own and get dressed into something clean. If you’re looking for Valentine-themed bath products, check stores like Bath and Body Works and Lush.

Get all dolled up Treat yourself to a look that’ll make you feel good! If makeup and nail care are things you enjoy, you can start with those. Whether you use simple lines and colours or create elaborate designs, make sure to have fun with it. If you enjoy doing your own nails and makeup, prep some space at home with bright, natural lighting, something cozy to sit on, and music you enjoy. Alternatively, you can visit local stores that offer nail and facial services. Next, dress into something you love. Whether it’s a formal piece that you save for occasions or a unicorn onesie, wear what makes you feel special and confident.

Treat yourself to a Valentine’s Day meal At the end of your self-care day, make sure you’ve eaten some tasty and nourishing food. You can lean into the theme of red, pink, and purple by cooking with meats and vegetables of those colours. For dessert, heartshaped cookies and chocolate dipped strawberries are classic Valentine’s treats that you can find recipes for online. Cooking not your thing? Order some takeout instead. Some pizza restaurants make heartshaped pies on Valentine’s Day! Don’t forget that eating is a crucial step for self-care, so even if you don’t have the time or money

It’s one thing to practice selfcare, and it’s another to internalise it. One method of gradually internalising self-care is writing out positive comments about yourself, such as ‘My feelings are valid,’ or ‘I am talented.’ If you have trouble coming up with affirmations, look online for some prompts. TaylorsTracks.com has plenty, including “What am I proud of myself for?” and “What is the best compliment I’ve been given?” For a little extra help, look for guides and activities that focus on self-love. Yoga with Adriene is a YouTube channel with plenty of affirming yoga routines, such as a 10-minute yoga video for self-care. For a less active way to internalise some self-care, try listening to podcasts. The FeedSpot blog has a top 100 list including The Self Love Breakfast Club, and The Self Love Experience. You’ve got lots of love to give this Valentine’s Day; make sure you save some of it for yourself!

Do you like... Working with others to solve problems? Learning a new set of skills that will help you in the future? What about contributing to a non-proﬁt behind the scenes?

Then you might be just the person we are looking for to

JOIN OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS The work that our volunteer Board of Directors does is exciting, rewarding, and has an impact in your community! Check out theontarion.com/volunteer to get a better idea of what it’s like to volunteer with us.

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Gift ideas to show your significant other you love them From cuddly cushions to tasty treats, these simple yet lavish gifts are sure to set the mood this Valentine’s Day MONTEZ CHANA

Sometimes, the best and most romantic gift can be as simple as a soothing bath. CREDIT: UNSPLASH

or this Valentine's Day, gift your special someone a special something! There are a few easyto-find and low-cost gifts your significant other is sure to love. For starters, a box of treats is a classic. I’m talking about chocolate, candy, and even fruit, something that satisfies their sweet tooth. Think heart-shaped gummies or a box of chocolates wrapped in a red ribbon. You can even include a hand-written love note to make the gift feel that much more special. Next, what’s a cozier way to show your loved one you care? How about with cute stuffed animals, soft throws, and huggable pillows! You can use them when

you and your partner are cuddling up on the sofa or in bed. Try winding down on your new pillows and setting the mood by sharing a nice bottle of wine with your partner. According to Medical Daily, drinking wine can arouse feelings similar to those produced by the oxytocin hormone—happiness, love, and relaxation. For a more cost efficient gesture, prepare a romantic bath for your loved one. This can be an excellent way to get those sparks flying while also relaxing and easing any muscle tension. Get creative and add flower petals, romantic music, soft lighting, candles, and anything else you think of that

will help set the mood for you and your loved one. Another great idea is candles, but not just any old candles. Aphrodisiac candles help arouse all sorts of feel-good chemicals in the brain, according to an article by Byrdie magazine. Ignite your passion, desire, and love for one another by incorporating scents of lavender, rose, vanilla, and sandalwood into your Valentine’s Day celebrations. Aphrodisiac candles can set the mood while you and your partner enjoy that bottle of wine and romantic bath. Check online or, if you’re in a candle shop, don’t shy away from asking the clerk about their romantic options.

Music. Smiles. Hot Dogs.

WE’RE HIRING!

For 23 years, Bob has made it his mission to serve up good food and good times to U of G students. Whether you're in need of a quick meal or a just friendly face, come say hi to Bob at his hot dog stand just east of Branion Plaza.

WE H AV VEGA E OPTIO N NS!

We are hiring for these positions: Editor-in-Chief Marketing Assistant (work-study) Graphic Designer Digital Content Creator Part-time Bookkeeper (coming soon!) EMAIL PATRICK@THEONTARION.COM TO LEARN MORE OR APPLY! THEONTARION.COM

BOB’S DOGS Come see for yourself why Bob's Dogs is a U of G Tradition

SPORTS & HEALTH 23 | TIPS FOR STAYING ACTIVE

22 | CHINESE DISHES

Three fun drinks to enjoy this Valentine’s Day

SHIRLEY TEMPLE

Ingredients:

• • • • Shirley Temple.

Steps: 1.

hat better way to get into the Valentine’s Day spirit than making some sweet, colourful, and decadent drinks? It’s a perfect way to have an enjoyable night from your own home while trying something new. Whether it's a hot beverage you enjoy or something more refreshing, here are three recipes that you can easily make yourself.

PURPLE VIRGIN MOJITO Adapted from Nawai-li Holistic Cuisine Serves 4

Ingredients: • • • • • •

1 litre natural lemonade 4 tsp blue matcha 1 bunch of mint 1 lemon A few blueberries Crushed ice

each glass. Mix it all together. Let infuse for 5 minutes. Decorate with a few blueberries and a mint leaf. The mojito is ready!

Adapted from Culinary Hill Serves 8

From mojitos to coffee, stir up something sweet to sip on ARTICLE AND PHOTO BY NICOLAS BUCK

24 | HEALTHY HABITS FOR ONLINE WORK

Ice 2 litre bottle lemon-lime soda 12 ounce bottle of grenadine Maraschino cherries

Steps:

Wash lemons and mint. Cut the lemons into slices of 5 millimetres then cut them into 4. In a mortar, crush the quarters of lemons with fresh mint. Reserve a few mint leaves for decoration. Divide the lemon-mint mixture in the bottom of the glass. Fill half the glass with lemonade. Add the ice cubes until the glass is full. Add 1 tsp of matcha blue to

2. 3.

Fill a glass with ice, then add 2 tbsp of grenadine. Top with 8 ounces of lemon-lime soda. Garnish with maraschino cherries.

Steps: 1.

2. 3. 4.

Heat milk in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk briskly to create foam. Brew espresso and pour into 4 cups. Pour in milk, holding back the foam with a spoon. Spoon foam over the top. In order to create a heart design, tilt the cup towards the milk you are pouring in, and pour directly in the centre. When the cup is almost full, straighten it, and then as you are pouring the milk in the centre, slowly start dragging your pour to the edge of the cup.

CAFE LATTE

Adapted from allrecipes Serves 4

Ingredients: • •

2 cups milk 1 ⅓ cups hot freshly brewed dark roast espresso coffee

These are three quick recipes that you can have fun making while showing off your artistic skills to your loved ones. Enjoy your drinks and have a happy Valentine’s Day!

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Scan to check out programs starting in May and September!

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Rather than cook something that only looks good, whip up some of these recipes to get you and your significant other feeling good!

Three Aphrodisiac recipes to put you in the mood for love You can thank the vitamins and antioxidants later

CHILI CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY EMILY BRAY

ot sure what to whip up for an at-home date with your boo this Valentine’s Day? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. These three vegetarian recipes look refined and taste great. Plus, they all have a naughty secret…They’re made with aphrodisiacs, which makes them the perfect libido-boosting treats to snack on during the most romantic day of the year!

BALSAMIC FIG TOAST Figs have been recommended as a natural aphrodisiac for centuries, possibly because of their connection to the biblical story of Adam and Eve. According to HuffPost, science has shown that the high concentration of antioxidants, flavonoids, and polyphenols found in figs can lead to feelings of relaxation and well-being when consumed. Regularly snacking on figs can therefore improve your sex life by helping you fight off stress, the number-one libido killer. This Mediterranean-inspired recipe combines sweet figs with savoury goat cheese and peppery arugula to create a snack that tastes even better than it looks. Pull a couple of these fancy bad boys out during a picnic date and your crush will be so impressed that they’ll instantly fall in love with you (probably).

Ingredients: • • • • • • • •

2 slices of sourdough bread 2 figs, thinly sliced ⅓ cup goat cheese ¼ cup arugula 2 tsp balsamic vinegar 4 tsp olive oil 1 sprig fresh basil Salt and pepper

Steps: 1.

3. 4.

5. 6. 7.

Toast the bread slices to your personal taste. Drizzle them with about 1 tsp olive oil each. Spread the goat cheese evenly over both slices of bread. The easiest way to do this is by crumbling the cheese over the top and pressing it down into the bread with the backside of a spoon. Arrange the arugula and fig slices over the goat cheese. Strip the basil leaves from their stem and finely chop them. Sprinkle the chopped basil over the top. Drizzle the toast with balsamic vinegar and the remaining 2 tsp of olive oil. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

OVEN ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH WALNUT CREMA

Adapted from A16: Food and Wine by Nate Appleman and Shelley Lindgren

minutes, or until the onion is golden brown and fragrant. 5. In a food processor, blend the sautéed onion, the walnuts, 1 tbsp water, 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Gradually add 3 tbsp olive oil as the food processor runs. Blend until smooth. To make the asparagus: 1. Preheat your oven to 500 F. 2. Lightly coat a rimmed baking sheet with olive oil. 3. Spread the asparagus in a single layer on the baking sheet. Drizzle them with olive oil and sprinkle a pinch of salt evenly over them. 4. Roast the asparagus for 8 minutes, until they are tender when pierced with a fork. To serve: 1. Evenly spoon the crema across the bottom of a serving plate. 2. Arrange the asparagus spears on top. 3. Sprinkle parmesan cheese and drizzle about 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar over the top. 4. Serve immediately, preferably while the asparagus is still warm.

I know, I know—asparagus isn’t exactly the first thing that jumps to mind when trying to think of a sexy food. However, asparagus actually contains a number of chemicals found to stimulate sex hormone production. The vegetable is also chock-full of vitamin E, which can improve blood and oxygen flow to the…um, you know. This recipe tries its best to make asparagus sexy by incorporating more refined flavours like walnut and balsamic. The end result is a delicious (and healthy!) side dish perfect for pairing with your favourite entrée.

Adapted from “Hot Chili Pepper Truffles” by Sue Lightfoot Moran Chocolate has been associated with romance since the time of the Aztecs, and today it is one of the most commonly exchanged gifts between lovers. This makes sense given that the treat contains the chemicals tryptophan and phenylethylamine, both of which help to stimulate feelings of happiness and arousal in the brain.

These truffles combine the mood-boosting effects of chocolate with the endorphin kick given by hot chili peppers to create a delicious treat guaranteed to spice up your life in more ways than one.

Ingredients: • • • •

½ cup heavy cream ¼ tsp cayenne chili pepper 1 cup dark chocolate chips ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder for rolling

Steps: 1.

4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9.

Put the cocoa powder into a shallow bowl or onto a plate. Heat the heavy cream until it comes to a simmer. You can do this in a saucepan on the stove, or in a heat-safe bowl in the microwave. Add the chocolate chips and chili powder directly into the hot cream. Let sit for about 5 minutes, until the chocolate is melted. If the chocolate does not melt properly, heat it for 15 seconds in the microwave. Stir the mixture until it is smooth. Cover the mixture with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. It should harden enough to be scoopable with a spoon. Using a melon baller or spoon, scoop up a small amount of the mixture. Roll it between your hands until it is a smooth ball. Roll it in the cocoa powder until it is evenly coated. Voilà—you now have a truffle! Repeat this process for the remainder of the truffles and store them in the refrigerator when you are finished. Can be served chilled or at room temperature.

Ingredients: • • • • • • •

1 bunch of asparagus (about 10-15 spears) ½ cup walnuts ¼ cup diced red onion ¼ cup parmesan cheese 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar Olive oil Salt and pepper

Steps:

To make the crema: 1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the walnuts and blanch for about 10 minutes (Blanching the walnuts removes their bitter flavour). 2. Drain the walnuts and set aside. 3. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. 4. Add the diced onion to the pan and sauté for about 1-2

Since asparagus stimulates the production of sex hormones, this oven-roasted asparagus with walnut crema makes an undeniably sexy Valentine’s dish.

FEB. ISSUE | FEB. 202 2

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Ingredients:

Three delectable Chinese dishes to celebrate the Lunar New Year

•

• • • •

These dishes will warm and cheer you up this winter season

• • • •

BRUBEY HU

ince moving from China to North America, I never really get to experience the Lunar New Year the same way as I did in my hometown. It isn’t an official holiday in Canada, so I don't have the day off to celebrate it with my family. However, I learned to make three traditional Lunar New Year dishes when I was in undergraduate studies, which truly ease my homesickness during this time of the year. Dumplings are always delicious regardless of the ways you cook them, and braised fish is one of my favourite dishes because its smell reminds me of home. Hot pot is simple and interactive, and lets you choose whatever ingredients you’d like to eat. Share these dishes with your friends and loved ones when it is safe to do so!

2. 3.

4. 5.

DUMPLINGS (JIAO ZI) Dumplings, or Jiao Zi in Chinese, is a classic lucky dish widely seen at dinner tables on Lunar New Year’s Eve, especially in Northern China. Families usually wrap the dumplings together in the afternoon of the Eve using ground meat and finely chopped vegetables as the filling. Here is a recipe from my grandpa. Feel free to choose a meat option that you enjoy!

Ingredients: • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Ready-made dumpling skins 500 g of ground meat (pork, chicken, or beef, your choice) 1 raw egg 5 shiitake mushrooms 120 g of corn 120 g of carrot A stem of celery (add or reduce as you like) 50 g of chopped green onion 15 g of chopped ginger 3 tbsp of light soy sauce 2 tbsp of dark soy sauce 3 tbsp of oyster sauce 3 tbsp of cooking wine 2 tbsp of sesame oil 2 g of salt 2 g of five-spice powder Pinch of sugar

Dipping sauce:

Steps: 1.

7. 8.

Mix all the sauces and spices together. Marinate the ground meat with the mixed sauce in a big bowl for at least 20 minutes. Finely chop carrot, shiitake mushroom, corn, and celery into small pieces, and then add them to the bowl. Add a raw egg into the bowl and mix everything together. Let’s start making the dumplings! To assemble, add approximately 1 tbsp of filling to the center of a dumpling skin. Using your fingers, lightly coat half of the inside skin with water. Fold the skin over the filling and seal the edges with pleats. It might take a bit of time to get familiar with the wrapping process, but you will get there eventually. Repeat with remaining dumpling skins and filling. Boil a large pot of water and add 1 tsp of salt. Add the dumplings to the boiling water, and stir to make sure the dumplings don’t stick to the pot. When the dumplings float, add a cup of cold water to the pot and wait for the water to boil again. Take the dumplings out of the water and add whatever garnish you like. Voilà! Eat them with light soy sauce or black vinegar.

BRAISED FISH (HONG SHAO YU) I grew up in a seaside city in China. Fish is a must-have dish at my family table on Lunar New Year’s Eve. In Chinese, fish is pronounced “Yu”, which is a symbol of abundance and prosperity. Although there are many different ways to cook a whole fish, my recipe opts for a savory flavour and doesn’t take too long to make.

Ingredients: •

• •

1 whole fish of any kind (around 400 grams) 1 green onion 3 slices of ginger

Meat/protein in thin slices (e.g. lamb, pork, beef, tofu, bean curd) Seafood (e.g. shrimp, mussel, clam, fish in slices, scallop) Meatballs and/or fishballs Leafy vegetables (e.g. lettuce, bok choy, watercress, napa cabbage) Root vegetables (e.g. potato, sweet potato, lotus root, daikon, pumpkin) Mushrooms (e.g. black fungus, oyster mushroom, enoki mushroom) Noodles or vermicelli Hot pot seasoned soup base Water or ready-made broth

Whether you fill your dumplings with beef, pork, or chicken, this Jiao Zi recipe is sure to keep you feeling cheery. CREDIT: PEXELS

• • • • • • • • • •

5 cloves of garlic 3 dry chilis 8 Chinese peppers (optional) 4 tbsp of cooking wine 4 tbsp of light soy sauce 1 tbsp of dark soy sauce 30 g of vegetable oil 2 g of sugar 2 g of salt 1 tbsp of starch

Clean the fish with water, and then absorb the excess water with paper towel. Make 2 thin cuts on the back of the fish, which will help the meat absorb the broth. Heat a pan and then add the vegetable oil. Wait for the oil to heat up and then add in the slices of ginger and the fish. Use medium heat to cook the fish until golden on both sides. Add garlic and dry chili and keep frying. Switch to low heat. Add cooking wine, light and dark soy sauce, salt, and sugar, then add boiling water to cover the fish. When everything in the pan is boiling, add green onion. Switch to medium heat, cover the pot with a lid, and braise for 5 minutes. Switch to low heat, braise for another 10 minutes. Take the fish, garlic, chili, and ginger out of the pan and place on a plate. Add starch to the broth, and boil with high heat until the broth is reduced and becomes slightly thick. Pour the broth onto the fish. Done!

Steps:

2. 3.

4. 5.

7. 8.

New Year’s Eve, my family members chat and sit around a table that has a simmering pot at the centre surrounded by a wide variety of raw food such as meat and vegetables. The feeling of continuous steam on my face and the delicious smell from the boiling pot lingers in my mind. You will need a tabletop stove/ burner and a round stainless steel pot that has enough depth to hold a good amount of broth and food. You can get all the ingredients listed here from an Asian market or any other big supermarket. There is also a wide range of soup base flavours from different brands you can choose from—Satay, tomato, numbing spicy, etc. Mix and match your choices!

Alternate the ratio to your preference • 3 tsp of light soy sauce • 1 tsp of black vinegar • 1 tsp of oyster sauce • Chopped chili • Chopped green onion • Chopped garlic • White sesame • Chopped cilantro • Pinch of sugar • Chili oil

Steps: 1.

3. 4.

Have all the raw food cleaned and prepped for boiling. Place the stainless steel pot on the tabletop stove/burner. Make the hot pot broth in the pot by mixing the seasoned soup base and water or readymade meat/vegetable broth. When the broth is boiled, add raw food as you go. Take out the cooked raw food and eat with dipping sauce. Enjoy!

EFFORTLESS HOT POT FOR SHARING (HUO GUO) Chinese hot pot is an interactive dish for sharing. Every Lunar

Celebrate the Lunar New Year with friends and family and enjoy an easy yet delicious Chinese feast! CREDIT: UNSPLASH

ISSUE 192 . 2 | SPORTS & HEALTH

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During lockdown, use simple equipment such as weights and yoga mats to bring the gym to you. CREDIT: PEXELS

Five tips for staying active in lockdown Curating a workout routine that fits you is the key to sustaining motivation and discipline, even during a pandemic LOREL DANIELOV

ife in lockdown during the winter is challenging enough as is, much less while trying to maintain a workout routine. This is especially true when you lack the motivation that studios, gyms, or even being outdoors once brought you. Maybe you miss the social aspect of being a regular member at a gym. Or maybe you’re longing for summertime, when the sun is shining and the temperature is above 20 degrees. For some, exercising outdoors can feel more like a chore than an accomplishment when the weather starts to drop below zero. It's been scientifically proven that working out assists with maintaining physical and mental health. For many, working out improves quality of life by reducing stress and anxiety—two feelings that have been common throughout the pandemic. By staying motivated, you can take charge of your well-being and regain control over your life in lockdown.

Here are five tips for incorporating motivation and discipline into your lockdown workout routine.

1. Accept your circumstances Pandemic restrictions and cold weather might make starting or restarting a workout routine feel daunting, but the sooner you accept your circumstances, the sooner you can begin achieving your goals. During a worldwide pandemic, your attitude is one of the few things that you can control. A positive and understanding outlook will give you a clear perspective and allow you to problem solve under any conditions thrown at you. If gyms are closed, any exercise is better than none at all, even if that means exercising inside your home. Keep in mind that maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle will prepare you for when gyms and other resources reopen.

2. Stick to a schedule Creating a schedule is one of the most valuable measures you can take to lead a more restorative and active life. It encourages consistency and progress by showing you your workout goals and how you can achieve them. Organize yourself using a calendar to track your workouts. This allows you to curate a routine that realistically aligns with your current day-to-day life and fitness goals. When creating a routine that works best for you, be mindful of any health factors, responsibilities, and personal affairs that may interfere with your exercise schedule. Being conscious of anything that may disrupt your schedule is important to factor in before you begin your routine. Sensibility is equally as important to creating a successful schedule. If you start small with your workout routine in accordance with where you are physically, you have an opportunity to adjust to the changes at a slow pace, which will gradually build up your tolerance to exercise. This is essential, because when you have realistic goals that you can properly meet, you are building momentum, which will allow you to move on to more difficult goals down the line. A crucial point in developing an effective workout schedule is picking a time that works right for you. Some people prefer to exercise in the mornings because exercising can energize you and

help you start your day off right. Others prefer the evening to relieve stress from the day and bring their energy levels back up. The time of day that you workout is dependent on your schedule and your goals, so adjust your routine accordingly.

4. Keep your workouts fun Closed gyms give you the opportunity to be creative with your workouts. Try integrating things you enjoy into your exercises. For example, listen to your favourite songs, watch your favourite TV show, or listen to an interesting podcast. If you need a more guided workout, take advantage of online exercise classes and find a fun one that works for you.

3. Bring the gym to you With any space available, small or big, you can create an athome gym using household items. Instead of using weights, you could substitute them with cans, boxes, and books. Also be sure to make use of what’s around you in your space. For example, to build up endurance you could start by using the wall for exercises like push-ups. From there, use a couch, table, or stairs, and then move to the floor.

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5. Reward yourself After your workout routine, remember that you know yourself best. If you need a rest day, then have one. If you find yourself not sticking to your schedule, remember that it is never too late and you can always get back on track. Lastly, celebrate every milestone, regardless of how big or small, because getting back into exercising and adapting to change can be challenging. Thank yourself for putting in the work! Since many of us are still spending lots of time on Zoom calls or quarantining in our homes, it is normal to feel discouraged, and remembering to exercise can sometimes slip our minds. By trusting yourself and following a plan, you can always find ways to be active, even in lockdown.

FEB. ISSUE | SPORTS & HEALTH

THE ONTARION

Avoid sitting in that uncomfortable chair all day; get moving! Walk, march, or dance around your home office to keep your body in motion throughout the day. CREDIT: PEXELS

Healthy habits to incorporate throughout your online work day Spending hours online has negative effects on our focus and health, but luckily, there are ways to mitigate them ELENI KOPSAFTIS

ven after two years, the pandemic still seems hellbent on keeping us from attending anything that’s away from our screens. However, after all of this time spent on our tablets and computers, it’s time we start considering and countering the effects of these increased hours online. A registered kinesiologist, Kathy Somers has been teaching relaxation and stress management skills since 1983. Somers runs the Stress Management and High Performance Clinic in Guelph as well as several workshops at the university. During an interview with The Ontarion, Somers explained that the increased time online has many detrimental effects on the body that pertain to focus, engage-

ment, tension, and health. For one, constantly being online means we’re often sitting for most of the day, especially for those of us who work and study remotely. “The body is built to move,” explained Somers. “If I am sat in front of my screen for six hours a day, that puts me at risk for cardiovascular problems in the future and maybe even some cognitive decline.” One might think an easy solution to this would be to stand instead. The popularity of the standing desk is subsequently considered to counteract the negative effects of constant sitting, but Somers explains that this can just lead to different problems such as knee pain. The trick here is to incorpo-

rate some movement throughout the day. Somers suggests that every 30 minutes you stand up and move around, whether it be pacing, marching, or dancing. Doing so is better for longevity than the single bout of exercise per day, says Somers. And if you do consider the standing desk, try to alternate between sitting and standing rather than staying put in one position all day. Also, make sure the position you are in is a stable one. Avoid uncomfortable chairs that don’t offer good back support, and make sure you're positioned in a way that doesn't cause bodily strain while you’re at the computer. To do so, Somers’ blog says that “the top of your screen should be in front of you at eyebrow level so your eyes will be

in a slight downward gaze while reading the screen,” and that you should “position your keyboard so your forearms are parallel to your legs, a few inches above your waist.” This will help prevent any additional aches and pains to your neck and wrists. By being online so much, our focus and engagement are also negatively affected. Students and faculty alike are well aware of the dreaded ‘Zoom fatigue’ by now, and among other things, it’s exacerbated by the aforementioned strain on our bodies. Somers says that when people meet in person, “normally we’ll have a lot of nonverbal communication to go off of, and that’s very very hard if I’m in a class and I don’t even see anybody

… So when we’re on screen, we feel unconsciously that we should always be looking at the person we’re talking to, so there’s all this energy, this focus, on processing the information that I’m seeing from you on the screen, and this can drain us.” Ironically then, it is our increased focus that causes us to be less engaged in the long run. When we are focused for long periods of time, this also makes us susceptible to eye strain. Have you noticed a mild burning sensation in your eyes that eases when you close them? While actively scanning a screen, the eyes blink less often which can cause irritation in the long run. Further, the eyes are built to look at things at long distances. When looking at things that are up close, like a screen, the eyes are tense. Somers suggests the 20-20-20 rule; every 20 minutes, look at an object that’s 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This will give your eyes the opportunity to relax during the workday. Another way to combat this issue is to blink every time you click your mouse or select a hyperlink so that you can lubricate your eyes. Lastly, Somers recommends unplugging at the end of the day to mitigate the problems associated with frequently being online. If you’re engaging with social media or videos at night, your attention is piqued and isn’t being primed for sleep. Additionally, the blue light that’s emitted by screens prevents the brain from producing melatonin, the chemical that tells your body to sleep. You can try unplugging at night by turning your phone off before bed and even leaving it in another room. If the idea of being offline for over an hour is too daunting, try turning off your phone only 20 minutes before you go to sleep. Once you’ve adapted to that, try 30 minutes, then 40, and so on until you reach the timeline you’re aiming for. Overall, the trick to staying healthy and engaged while working or studying remotely is to be mindful of the amount of time you’re spending in front of screens and subsequently being aware of what your body is built to do. Take the time to straighten out your posture, close your eyes, move around, and most importantly, spend time away from your screen.

Somers runs a wellness blog at Stress Smart which features additional tips for relaxation. She will also be running a free workshop on Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. about coping with increased hours online for U of G community members.

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OPINION

26 & 27 | OVERCOMING PROCRASTINATION

Six ways to bring the vacation to you Don’t let being stuck at home stop you from getting a much-needed escape from reality KATELYNN HUONG

ith the ongoing pandemic, your travel plans for reading break may have been dashed, leaving you feeling trapped at home. Some of us may be more accustomed to spending our breaks on a beach rather than in our childhood bedrooms, and as a result many of us are yearning for a vacation. However, a staycation might be just the thing to fill this travel-shaped hole in your heart. Try out some of these tips to relieve stress and boredom in the comfort of your own home.

Redecorate Vacations always offer a change of scenery when we want to escape our typical day-to-day life. Even if you can’t physically be in a different country during your break, some new decor can be just the thing to emulate the destination you’re longing for! For example, if you’d much rather be in Hawaii, go out and buy some island decor to decorate your room or home with! Think leis to drape across windows, tiki cups for drinks, fake tropical plants, and colourful tiki torches or lanterns. Most of these items can be found at the dollar store, so you can have fun on a budget.

Host an indoor picnic Another perk to a vacation is digging into new and delicious foods with your friends or family. As a fun alternative, try having an indoor picnic with your loved ones. Each of you could make a different cultural dish you’ve never had before or stick with a favourite. If you can’t cook (like me), order from a restaurant to share with everyone. Before you lay out everything to eat, place a picnic blanket down on the floor or on your dining table. Feel free to bring board games too and let the fun begin!

Explore virtually If what you miss about vacationing is being able to explore a new environment, do not fear! Virtual tours are abundant online and usually free. There is a website called Window Swap that will transport your desktop to the view of another person’s window across the world. With the press of a button, you could witness scenic, panoramic views of London, England. Another option to check out is the Discovery channel on YouTube, where you can find Discovery TRVLR. This series of virtual reality videos allows you to experience different places and activities. You could check out a mountain top sunset in Bolivia or meditate with a Buddhist monk in Vietnam!

Have a spa day All these ideas sounding like a lot so far? Maybe the reason vacationing appeals to you is because it gives you an opportunity to slow down and do some self care, such as visiting a spa at an all-inclusive resort. Dedicating a day at home solely to pampering yourself is a great substitute. Painting your nails, massaging your face with an ice roller, and applying a face mask and hair mask will give you that same refreshed feeling, all achievable in the comfort of your own home. Try making a tropical drink for yourself to enjoy as well, and put on some calming island music to help you relax!

Try stargazing Another calming at-home activity is simply basking in the beauty of the night sky. Nothing is more peaceful than doing some nighttime stargazing! Transport yourself to the sky over reading break—no airplane required—by bundling up, grabbing a chair and heading outside at night. You can also invest in a laser star projector if the weather is too cold for you or if you’re more of an indoors kind of person. Amazon sells many versions of these galaxy lights that can transform your ceiling into a pretty night sky. I have one from the company BlissLights, and I am obsessed with it.

Take a trip down memory lane For a slightly tweaked version of the indoor picnic, incorporate some slideshow presentations into your evening. You’ll find that a travel slideshow night makes for a very entertaining and nostalgic activity during your staycation! Before coming together, each person in your family or group of friends makes a slideshow filled with images of a vacation they once took, along with explanations of their favourite places and events. Everyone can also bring a souvenir they bought while on their trip to show the group. Reminiscing about the wonderful experiences and sharing them together might even teach you something new about each other! A staycation is a fun, affordable, and relaxing way to spend your reading week break. Even after two years of living with COVID-19, these strange times still feel daunting, and it can be frustrating to be cooped up all of the time. Just keep in mind that the most important part of your vacation is putting aside time for yourself to do what you love, whether that be learning about new cultures or simply spending time with your loved ones.

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Even if you think you can push that assignment back to the last minute, you probably shouldn’t. Avoid the stress and get started by breaking down those big projects into smaller steps. CREDIT: UNSPLASH

Effective ways to overcome procrastination The most important part of approaching a new task is simply getting started CHEN CHEN

rocrastination is one of the biggest study concerns among college and university students. We’ve all had the experience of pushing off important tasks until the very last minute. Despite procrastination being stressful, we continue binging on Netflix series, browsing YouTube videos, or cleaning excessively. This often results in having to rush through tasks or pull all-nighters to complete our work right before the deadline. This is never any fun! So, without further ado, here are some of the most useful and scientifically proven strategies that can help you overcome procrastination.

1. The Pomodoro Method The first is the Pomodoro Method, which uses a timer to divide work into short intervals. The Pomodoro Method was developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. The word ‘pomodoro’ means ‘tomato’ in Italian. Cirillo used a kitchen timer shaped like a tomato to time his

study, and therefore, the method was named after the tomato kitchen timer. Usually, you set a time to study for 25 minutes, followed by a five to 10 minute break. After three to four Pomodoro sessions, you will take a longer break of 25 to 30 minutes. The Pomodoro Method works because it helps us to get into the ‘zone’ quickly and stay focused. We often procrastinate on tasks because it’s painful to get started, and the thought of having to work on the project for a long period of time is dreadful. The Pomodoro Method solves this problem by breaking down work into smaller sessions of 20 to 25 minutes. As a bonus, usually after the first Pomodoro session, you will have a clear idea of what steps you need to take next for your task. In addition, this method also helps us to put in quality work. We only have a limited attention span. After working on a subject for a certain amount of time, we can no longer absorb new information from the subject and therefore it makes the study session less effective. The Pomodoro Method counters this issue by allowing us to only work for

2. Breaking down big projects into smaller steps

short intervals and stop before our absorption limit is reached. When we come back from the session break, we can look at the study material with a set of new eyes. It’s helpful to diversify your study sessions by studying different subjects subsequently. For example, you can study chemistry for the first Pomodoro session and switch to Biology for the next. In this way, you can actively use different parts of your brain to process the new information and allow your brain to consolidate the memories from the previous subject. There are many free apps for Pomodoro timers, for example, Be Focused, Tomato Timers, or Forest. Find one that works for you!

Time management is also a crucial method to overcome procrastination. We tend to procrastinate on tasks that are lengthy and complex in nature. The more difficult it is to interpret the task, the more likely that we are going to procrastinate. Therefore, it’s important that we manage our tasks by breaking them down into small, manageable subtasks, so that we can have a better understanding of what needs to be done and where to get started.

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ple:

Consider the following exam-

One of the assignments for your class is to write a 2,000-word essay on a historical figure’s leadership style using two leadership theories taught in class. At the beginning, you may find it difficult to get started. The deadline is not approaching until the end of the semester, you haven’t learned the theories yet, and you don’t know which historical figure you should choose. You may postpone the task until the last minute if you don’t have a plan in place. Instead, you could break down the task into smaller, actionable steps and create an overview of the assignment: • Step 1 - Research and identify a historical figure • Step 2 - Identify two leadership theories taught in class • Step 3 - Learn about the two theories • Step 4 - Use the theories to analyze and interpret the historical figure’s leadership style • Step 5 - Write first draft • Step 6 - Do more research • Step 7 - Write second draft When you approach a big project, try to spend the first few

ISSUE 192 . 2 | OPINION

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Pomodoro sessions analyzing your project and breaking it down into smaller chunks. You will find the tasks much more manageable and have a sense of direction on where to get started.

3. Focus on the process, not the product When we direct our attention to the outcome of the project (i.e., the polished paper) instead of the process, we are more likely to procrastinate. That’s why procrastination is best subverted by focusing on the process, not the product. For example, when we are given a big assignment, such as completing a term paper, if the first thing we do is think about every single piece of work required (i.e., a complete literature review, citations, data analysis, and conclusion), we may feel discouraged. However, just like with Rome, term papers or any big projects are not built in a day. Just like with any project, we usually have a first draft—the imperfect draft—and then work from there. It’s totally OK to start with an imperfect draft. The important

thing is to get started. Therefore, the working process is where we should direct our attention. Whenever we catch ourselves feeling afraid that we won’t be able to put together the perfect product, remind ourselves that we should focus on the process and the here and now.

4. Positive self-talk Whichever of the above methods you use, make sure to utilize positive self-talk. When I’ve procrastinated, I find myself saying negative things like “I have to do project XYZ, but I don’t really want to do it,” or “I should exercise, but I hate doing it!” Negative self-talk often suggests a sense of victimhood in that you don’t want to do something, but you are forced to do it.

According to Dr. Neil Fiore in The now habit: A strategic program for overcoming procrastination and enjoying guilt-free play (2007) these are not languages of empowerment. Fiore suggested that instead of doing negative self-talk, we can change our mindset by changing the internal dialogue to reflect a tone of autonomy and control: You always have a choice, and nobody is forcing you to do anything. You could choose to not work on the project or not exercise, and bear the consequences of maybe losing a few marks or feeling tired, which is totally OK. Alternatively, you could choose to do the task because you know it will be good for you, and it will contribute to your overall health and larger goals in life. For example, I can say to myself, “I’m choosing to do project XYZ because I like the subject and I want to do it well. I could always choose to not do it because I don’t want to.” Adopting empowering internal dialogue can increase our motivation and sense of control in doing the tasks. When you catch yourself doing negative self-talk, try to change it to a more positive tone that suggests autonomy. Here are some examples from Fiore:

Negative Self-talk

Positive Self-talk

I have to do something…

I choose to…

I must finish…

When can I start?

This project is too big and difficult

I can take one small step

I must be perfect

I can be perfectly human

I don’t have time to play

I must take time to play

Overcoming procrastination can help us become more productive and efficient. Try these four approaches and see if you can turn your procrastination habit around. Also, remember that the most difficult part of completing a task is getting started. Once you’ve been working on some-

thing for a while, the overall task is usually not as difficult as you thought it would be. I personally find the four approaches helpful, and I hope you do too!

Suggested resources: Learning how to learn: Powerful mental tools to help you master tough subjects. https://www.coursera.org/ learn/learning-how-to-learn Pychyl, T. A. (2013). Solving the procrastination puzzle: A concise guide to strategies for change. TarcherPerigee.

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FEBRUARY TO-DO LIST Disclaimer: The events listed are happening as of Jan. 26, 2022.

Fe bru ary SU N M O N TU E WE D TH U

JAN 28

FEB 5

FEB 12

Three Conversations: Land in Practice/Practice in Land By: Arts Everywhere Festival This program includes three conversations with three different artists, an opportunity to learn from artistic and life practices influenced by the natural world and guide towards wise relations and eldership. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. / Zoom / Free

Gryphons World Tour: South America By: International Student Connections Connect with your fellow Gryphons from across South America in this virtual learning event. Local students will be given the opportunity to share their experiences at UofG with international Gryphons while also learning about their peers’ home countries and cultures. Participants can expect to meet UofG students living in Brazil, Chile, Venezuela, Columbia, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Paraguay, and more! 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. / Microsoft Teams / Free

Couples Boutique Pop-Up By: The Creative Market You won't want to miss out on this adorable event! Bring your partner out for an evening of shopping and fun that will involve over 40 local vendors, on-site couples’ photography, and the opportunity to win a grand prize. The first 30 people to arrive will also receive a free Valentine’s-themed goodie bag! 4 to 10 p.m. / Victoria Park East Golf Club / Free

JAN 29 Big Ideas in Art and Culture: Alex Pentek By: Arts Everywhere Festival Alex Pentek presents a talk named “Challenging Collection Remembrance,” which addresses challenges and approaches to sculptural memorialization while discussing his own experiences in working in politicized contexts. 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. / Zoom / Free

FEB 15

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FEB 4 ROASTED: A Drag Roast Featuring Calypso Cosmic By: Doll Haus Events Join host Karma Kameleon and special guest Calypso Cosmic for a special drag queen roast. The queens will compete against each other to deliver the shadiest roast before putting on a show that you won’t want to miss. 8 to 11 p.m. / The Grand Guelph Banquet and Event Centre / Tickets at $16.93 – $27.54 via eventbrite.com

FEB 11 Valentine’s Date Night Market By: Luna Events Canada Support local by shopping for unique gifts for yourself or the loved ones in your life. Make a date night by stopping by the Valentine’s Date Night Market which includes over 40 local vendors. The first 30 guests will receive a free Valentine’s gift bag. 6 to 10 p.m. / Victoria Park East Golf Club / Free

SAT

FEB 25 - 26

FEB 16

Thinking Together in the Present By: Arts Everywhere Festival This conversation with Simon(e) van Saarloos and Matthew Stadler addresses topics such as historic memorialization and settler colonialism. 2 to 4 p.m. / Zoom / Free

FRI

Black-Owned Market By: Guelph Market Come out and support local Black creators and artisans and Blackowned small businesses. 12 to 6 p.m. / University of Guelph UC Courtyard / Free

The Beaches with The Blue Stones By: Guelph Concert Theatre Canadian group the Beaches blend brash garage pop with glam rock flash and girl group attitude. Their 2017 debut album, Late Show, made enough of a splash to win them a Juno Award. 7 p.m. / Guelph Concert Theatre / Tickets at $40.75 per person via ticketmaster.ca

Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre By: The GrandWay Events Centre Stop in at the GrandWay Events Centre in Elora for Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre with a Diamonds, Death, and Second Chances Theme. This interactive performance takes place during a three-course meal. As an audience member, you will observe the evidence presented and attempt to determine the perpetrator and motivation behind the crime. Costumes are optional but encouraged! 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. / The GrandWay Events Centre, 7445 Wellington County Rd 21, Elora / Tickets at $79.10–$84.75 per person via eventbrite.com

FEB 26

FEB 25 Mystic Night Market By: Luna Events Canada Drop by the 3rd annual Mystic Night Market to shop for all your witchy needs. Visit with over 40 local vendors, artists, magick practitioners, and more! 6 to 10 p.m. / Victoria Park East Golf Club / Free

Gryphons World Tour: The Middle East By: This virtual event will connect local UofG students to their fellow Gryphons living in the Middle East. Local students will be given the opportunity to share their experiences at UofG with international Gryphons while also learning about their peers’ home countries and cultures. You can expect to hear from UofG students from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, Lebanon, Iran, and more! 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. / Microsoft Teams / Free

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BOB’S DOGS CROSSWORD CONTEST For your chance to win two Bob’s dogs and two pops, just complete an EASY crossword, snap a picture, and send it to puzzles@theontarion.com by Feb. 21 at 3 p.m. Winners and anyone else who fills in the crossword correctly are announced in each issue. Winners can arrange a physically distanced pickup of their voucher by emailing the same address.

Kelly Ward!

Last issue’s winning puzzle was submitted by We also received correct submissions from Abby Wick and David Wee. Better luck next time!t

26 34

1–Repair shop fig. 4–Animal life 9–First son of Adam and Eve 13–___-wop 14–Brown-furred aquatic carnivorous mammal 15–Computer shortcut 16–Amuse 18–Playground retort 19–"Circle of Friends" author Binchy 20–Lip cosmetic 22–Like a Humvee in Baghdad? 25–Ms. Fitzgerald 26–Continental cash 28–Federal soldier in the Civil War 32–Norse goddess 35–Short letters 37–Brewers need 38–Jack of "Rio Lobo" 40–Now you ___... 42–Horse's gait 43–Lover of Juliet 45–Stalks 47–Buckeyes' sch. 48–Yellowish brown pigment 50–Racetracks 52–"Clueless" catchphrase 54–Charms 58–Wrist band 62–Perfidious 63–Send payment 64–Resisting 67–Signs 68–Paris subway 69–100 yrs. 70–Album unit 71–That is to say.. 72–Prior to, to Prior

Down 1–Excess fluid in an organ 2–Echolocation 3–Tribal emblem 4–Precede 5–Court fig. 6–Tony-winning Hagen 7–Singer Sedaka 8–Army leader? 9–Percussion instrument 10–Broadway opener 11–Camaro model 12–Breakfast area 15-Misplace 17–Bacchanalian cry 21–Thickness 23–Cupid's counterpart 24–Spoils, with "on" 27–Take care of 29–Corn syrup brand 30–Those, to Juan 31–Caesar’s accusation 32–Word on a towel 33–”The Time Machine" people 34–Hobbling 36–Sift 39–Minatory 41–Certain Fed 44–Beginnings 46–Applies haphazardly 49–Feel poorly 51–Brown-bag stuff 53–Physicist Enrico 55–In reserve 56-Stream of water 57–Part of an act 58–Warner ___ 59–San ___, Italy 60–Prayer ending 61–Abound 65–Canonized Mlle. 66–Tax-deferred nest egg

Down

29 33

45 48

54 58

46 49

Across

62 65

47 51

Across

42 46

28 36

18 20

1–Greek portico 5–Small batteries 9–Stem 14–Ages and ages 15–Struck, old–style 16–Hermit 17–Falsehoods 18–Unclothed 19–Threepio's pal 20–Warm soft cotton fabric 22–Habituate 23–Anger 24–Defer 25–Reef material 29–Govt. security 32–Sayings 34–Subject to collapsing, maybe 39–Carson's successor

40–Scout unit 42–Peek–___ 43–Exposed 45–Tranquil 47–It beats rock 49–Stratum 50–Enclosing band 54–Put ___ fight 56–Opposed to cation 57–Inflexible 63–___ say more? 64–Country singer McEntire 65–Jack of "Rio Lobo' 66–Devoured 67–Affirm 68–___ kleine Nachtmusik 69–As a companion 70–Metallica drummer Ulrich 71–Actor Connery

1–Ego 2–Labor 3–Ripe for drafting 4–Org. 5–"Lou Grant" star 6–Lucky charm 7–White House staffer 8–Editor's mark 9–Use lavishly 10–Yankee manager Joe 11–Conductor Dorati 12–Ninth-century pope 13–Danish coin 21–The world's longest river 24–Paces 25–Give a ring 26–Concert halls 27–Hindu queen 28–Yes, there is ___! 30–Nary a soul 31–Lacto-___ vegetarian 33–March honoree, briefly 35–Yuri's love 36–Comply with 37–Top-rated 38–Active one 41–Agent, briefly 44–Employment vacancy 46–Enthusiasm 48–Eraser 50–Capital of Crete 51–Actor Ryan 52–Mislead 53–Water-repellent cloth 55–Orchard fruit 57–Russian range 58–St. Petersburg's river 59–Poor grades 60–Would ___ to you? 61–Granny 62–Feds

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ISSUE 192 . 2 | FUN STUFF

SUDOKU ANSWERS FROM ISSUE 192.1

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FUN STUFF | FEB . 202 2

1–Opposed 5–Wand 10–Word form for "ten" 14–Mindy of The Facts of Life" 15–The end of ___ 16–LAX guesstimates 17–Gillette product 18–First-stringers 19–Tombstone name 20–Temporary stop 22–Spire 24–Joy Adamson's lioness 27–___ keine Nachtmusik 28–Sweet wine 32–Principle 35–They appear before U 36–___ I can help it! 38–Actress Taylor 40–Elie! Saarinen's son 42–Pays to play 44–Costly 45–Garbage 47–Pianist Claudio 49–Colo. dock setting 50–Bridges 52–Worker 54–Surf sound

hard CROSSWORD

21–Joie de vivre 23–Cabinet dept. 25–Greek portico 26–MetLife competitor 28–TV horse 29–Consumers 30–Throat problem 31–Brit's bottle measure 33–Foe 34–Fluff, as bangs 37–Physicist Enrico 39–Harpers Bazaar illustrator 41–Musical instruments 43–Drains 46–Nautical speed unit 48–It parallels a radius 51–Subordinate ruler 53–Furry swimmers 55–Gaucho's rope 57–Olympian Devers 58–Slender 59–Hwys. 61–Voting group 62–What ___ mind reader? 63–Tattled 64–Alphabet trio 66–Curvy letter 67–Fr. holy woman

56–"___ She Lovely?" 57–Sparkle 60–Ready to hit 64–James of "The Godfather 65–Gives a 9.8, say 68–Red Muppet 69–Actress Merrill 70–This is only ___ 71–Muddy up 72–Lodge members 73–Dated 74–Great quantity

Across

Down 1–Put ___ on (limit) 2–___ chance! 3–Drive–___ 4–Momentarily 5–Bleat of a sheep 6–Hill insect 7–Summer shirts 8–Use a soapbox 9–Carte blanche offer 10–Intensified 11–List-ending abbr. 12–Feel concern 13–Egyptian cobra

THE ONTARION

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The Ontarion - 192.2

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Meet the Guelph boutique owner uplifting others through art and fashion