The Ontarion - 196.3

Pathway Programs AT U OF G

TABLE OF CONTENTS

3. Get ready to vote in your Central Student Association election

4 & 5. Eight female activists you should know

6. Appreciating the queer in nature

7. Check out the new and improved Cannon website made by Guelph students, for Guelph students

8. Career advisors: A resource made for students

9. Finding ways to improve quality of life with Dr. Lisa Duizer

ARTS & CULTURE

10. There’s a place for everyone Out on the Shelf

11. Grandson of Bob Marley climbing up charts Love in the UC

12. Arpit’s Music Review: american dream by 21 Savage

13. Ducktails, Drive-ins, and Broken Hearts

14. Get inspired at the next Guelph Poetry Slam “I Gotta Know” Guelph pop-rock band Animal Boy’s next move, and you do too

15. Ontarion Book Review: Outspoken: My Fight for Freedom and Human Rights in Afghanistan by Sima Samar with Sally Armstrong

SPORTS

16. Mood boosters for March

18 & 19. FEATURE STORY:

20. A student’s guide for easy and accessible healthy living

21. The rise of sports betting

22. ‘She’s Got Game’ initiative reaches fundraising goal

23. How to survive a friendship breakup

24. Gryphons athletes featured in new ad campaign

25. Gryphons volleyball photos

26. T

28. 100 years of College Royal: New experiences and growth

Get ready to vote in your Central Student Association election

Here’s a breakdown of the winter 2024 general elections and an introduction to your executive candidates

CARLOTA SOUSA

Each year, the executives and directors of the Central Student Association, (CSA), are elected for one office term from May 1 to April 30. The winter 2024 general elections are currently underway to elect the executives and directors for the 2024-2025 academic year.

The CSA’s Board of Directors is composed of up to 35 people made up by both elected and appointed members. The elected members of the Board of Directors consist of four full-time executive paid positions: one President, one Vice-President (VP) of Student Experience, one VP Academic, and one VP External. Also elected are 14 part-time director volunteer positions, two from each college.

The rest of the winter 2024 general elections schedule consists of the campaign period which occurs from Feb. 26 to March 1 and the candidate’s debate which happens on Feb. 29 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the UC courtyard. Then the voting period takes place from March 4 to March 8 until 11:59 p.m., followed by the ratification of candidates on March 27. The voting for the winter 2024 general elections will be held by the CSA through hybrid in-person polling stations throughout various locations on campus.

For more information on the individual executive and director duties, the voting locations, and executive bios, visit www.csaonline.ca/elections.

The Executive Candidates

Hartej Singh – Candidate for CSA President

“Dear fellow students, I am thrilled to announce my candidacy for CSA President for the 2024/25 term. My campaign is centered around your needs and concerns. I am committed to fighting against unjust fee increases, advocating for policies to make education more affordable, and working to enact new laws that will ease the challenges students face. As your voice, I will address international student issues and actively work towards resolving the housing crisis on our campus. Together, let's create positive change and make our university experience better for everyone. Your support means the world to me, and I am eager to serve as your advocate for the coming year. Let's build a brighter future for our student community! Vote for progress, vote for change. Thank you for your trust and support!”

Daythan von Schwerin – Candidate for VP Student Experience

“Hello fellow Gryphons! My name is Daythan von Schwerin and I'm a 4th year about to graduate in Neuroscience. I'm very excited to be a candidate for the VP of Student Experience within the CSA. Over the last two years, I've had extensive interactions with a lot of hobby clubs within the university and have been an executive in both the Tabletop Games and Anime club this year. During this time, I've played a strong organizational role in making sure events and growth happened within the clubs. I know that my experience will translate very well into making me effective in organizing and running events for the CSA. I'm running for this position because I've loved my time as a student in Guelph and I'm hoping to provide an even better experience for the

students yet to graduate.”

Simran Kalra – Candidate for VP Student Experience

“Hello fellow students, I am Simran Kalra, your candidate for VP-Student Experience. As an international student and person of colour, I've felt the quiet struggle of being overlooked. Yet, I'm driven to change whispers of neglect into shouts of action and inclusion. Serving on the Board of Governors, CSA Director at Large, the Senate’s Honours and Awards Committee, and the University Finance Committee, I've championed inclusivity and tirelessly worked to ensure every student, especially the marginalized, feels supported. Electing me promises a campus rich in support, opportunity, and a sense of belonging for every student. I pledge to boost your career and experience through dynamic events, ensure fair funding allocation for student groups, advocate for affordable housing, expand study spaces, and enhance mental health resources. Your voice is my priority, let’s build a future where everyone thrives. Choose wisely, VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE WHO STANDS FOR ALL.”

Bawneet Singh – Candidate for VP Student Academic

“As the Vice President Academic of the Central Student Association at the University of Guelph, I, Bawneet Singh, have dedicated the past year to enhancing our academic community. Recognized for my advocacy for inclusivity and diversity, I've been involved in ongoing talks about late-night study spaces and more clarification on academic misconduct documents. Moreover, I have advocated for several students in their academic misconduct cases and helped them pave the way for an appeal. My role as a 3rd-year computer engineering student and my experiences as a facilitator and res-

idence assistant have fueled my commitment to improving student well-being, academic rights, and financial support. Seeking another term, I aim to solidify our progress and further champion the true Gryphon spirit, ensuring every student's success.”

Natalie Wilkinson – Candidate for VP External

“Hey Gryphons! I'm Natalie Wilkinson, and I'm excited to run for CSA VP External for the 2024-2025 academic year. With a background in non-profit work, I understand the importance of effective advocacy and ensuring your needs are met for an enriched CSA experience. Having served as the Vice President of Internal Affairs for one year on the College of Biological Science student council and contributing to the 2023-2024 CSA Board

of Directors, I bring a comprehensive understanding of student affairs. My three years of involvement in various leadership positions within residence life further enhanced my ability to advocate for your needs. I'm not just offering experience but a commitment to bridge that experience with a genuine passion for student advocacy. Your voice matters, and as VP External, I pledge to champion your concerns effectively. Choose Natalie: Your Voice, Your Choice for VP External!”

Additionally, you can find the candidate bios for the directors at csaonline.ca/elections/ w24-general-election/w24candidatebios.

Editor’s Note: Candidate bios were first featured on csaonline.ca

Eight female activists you should know

Throughout history until present day, these women have challenged the status quo and have changed the world for the better

PAULA HENRY-DURU & FATIMA ASKARY

Sylvia Rivera

Born in 1951 to a Puerto Rican father and a Venezuelan mother, Rivera was a Latina-American activist who advocated heavily for the rights of gender-nonconforming and transgender people. For many years she identified herself as a drag queen, then later identified as transgender. In 1969, a gay bar named Stonewall Inn in Manhattan was raided by the police, and 17-year-old Rivera was a key participant in the uprising that followed. A year later she co-founded a group called Street Transvestite Action Revolution-

aries, (STAR) with Marsha P. Johnson, another prominent figure in the gay rights movement. STAR aimed to support members of the gay and trans community in New York City. Although she passed away in 2002, Rivera’s legacy lives on and is immortalized in the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian.

Jaha Dukureh

Jaha Dukureh is a Gambian activist who fights against child marriage and female genital mutilation, (FGM), in Africa. A survivor of FGM, and forced into child

marriage at 15, Dukureh founded a nonprofit organization called Safe Hands for Girls in her adult years to support and protect young girls who are at risk of FGM. She became a US citizen in 2015 and was appointed as the Regional United Nations Women Goodwill Ambassador for Africa in February 2018. In this role she investigated the prevalence of FGM in the United States which led to the summit to end FGM at the United States Institute of Peace. In Gambia, she played a role in the government’s ban on FGM, and has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts.

Chalifoux was the first Métis woman to serve as a Canadian senator to which she was appointed the role in 1997. She is also known for her tireless advocacy for Indigenous rights, women’s rights, Métis housing issues, and Métis culture protection which she fought for in and outside of her role as a senator. Chalifoux married a soldier at a young age, whom she eventually divorced, and later had to seek help from social services in 1958 while raising her four children alone. Her children were subsequently taken from her in the Sixties Scoop, and she had to finish her high school education and work two jobs in order to get them back, which she eventually did in 1965. She served as a member, director, and founder to numerous organizations, particularly in Alberta, that supported Indigenous women, children and families. Chalifoux also served as an Elder for Nechi Institute and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology before she passed away at 88 years old.

Greta Thunberg

Greta Thunberg is a 21-yearold Swedish environmental activist who has challenged the world to think more about climate change and what role we can play in slowing its effects. She gained recognition in 2018 when she began skipping school to sit outside the Swedish parliament

in order to push the lawmakers to address climate change. She held up a sign saying “Skolstrejk för Klimatet,” which translates to “School Strike for Climate.” Her strike lasted for approximately three weeks leading up to the Swedish election in September 2018, and although she started alone, Thunberg was soon joined by many others. Her protest grew to international proportions and soon thousands of students in countries such as Canada, France, and the United States participated in their own strikes. She has since been asked to speak at several climate events around the world, and even traveled to a UN event in New York City on an emissions-free yacht. In addition to climate change, Thunberg raises awareness about autism spectrum disorder., which

she herself has been diagnosed with.

Ruby Bridges

At the age of six, Ruby Bridges made history as the first Black child to enter a segregated all-white school in the South in November 1960. She was escorted to William Frantz Elementary School every day by federal marshals, who defended her from crowds of protestors shouting racial slurs and threatening her life. Despite strong opposition from staunch segregationists, Bridges completed her education and graduated from a desegregated high school. In 1999, she published her memoir Through My Eyes and established The Ruby Bridges Foundation to promote tolerance and an equal future

for all. She remains an activist for racial equality and continues to share her story through her writing. Her most recent book is a children's story titled I Am Ruby Bridges: How one six-year-old girl's march to school changed the world.

Coretta Scott King

The name “King” is possibly the most well-established in the world of activism and the Black Lives Matter movement, but it wasn’t only Martin Luther King Jr. who championed the rights of Black Americans. After his death in 1968, it was his wife, Coretta Scott King, who led the civil rights movement. She created her own legacy of advocating for the rights of Black people with nonviolence, as well as for the rights of women. She traveled around the world to bring awareness to the issue of racism in the United States. She also established The King Center, an institute dedicated to advancing her husband’s legacy.

Zainab Salbi

Zainab Salbi is an Iraqi-American activist who launched Women for Women International, a human rights organization dedicated to helping women in conflict zones move from poverty to economic prosperity and stability. Under her leadership, the foundation has helped more than 550,000 women across 17 conflict affected countries. She

launched a talk show in 2015 called Nida’a Show created to uplift and inspire Arab women, alongside several other shows she has created over the years such as #MeToo, Now What? and Through Her Eyes with Zainab Salbi, both made to uplift the voices and perspectives of women. Salbi has been named as one of the top 25 women changing the world by Oprah Winfrey. She is also the recipient of the TIME100 Impact Award for all her work to address women’s rights issues.

Tawakkol Karman

Tawakkol Karman is a Yemini human rights activist. She has a long career in journalism and has protested for press freedom. She co-founded an organization called Women Journalists Without Chains in 2005 to advocate for women’s rights, the freedom of expression, and democratic rights. In 2007, she participated in mass protests calling for an end to the government of Alī Abdullah Allāh Ṣāliḥ, the president of Yemen. She became a leader of the resistance movements against the Ṣāliḥ regime and staged a sitin protest at Sana’a University that lasted for months. For her work protesting the corruption and poverty in Yemen, she received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011. She is the first Arab woman, first Yemini, second muslim woman, and one of the youngest people to receive this award at the age of 32.

Appreciating the queer in nature

A new LGBTQ2+ group is appreciating the outdoors with cheer and charm

There is a new group in Guelph that is looking to introduce the weird and wonderful magic of the outdoors as a means for queer community building.

Organizers Desmond Amy and Jaye Crawford light up with “Big cheesy grins” whenever they talk about the events they run with Queers in Nature.

Queers in Nature is a “nice, no-pressure space to hang out,” according to Amy, where “Queer folks can get together outside, look at some mushrooms, flip some rocks, and learn about some stuff.”

Queers in Nature began as HIV/ AIDS Resources and Community Health, (ARCH), programming during the COVID-19 pandemic as a safer way to spend time with others. Since then, they have branched out on their own and hold monthly events, such as hiking, birding, and outdoor yoga.

“There’s a mutual excitement that happens when we’re outside,” explained Crawford. “Every event is so freaking cute. Full of lovely people and [a] tender community.”

Some highlights from past Queers in Nature events have included watching a porcupine nap in a tree, a quest for fern identification, and empowering many shy people to come out of their shells.

“It’s different than a bar scene,” Crawford said. “It's where the quiet queers go.”

“By the end of it everyone is so amped from spending time in a relaxed environment,” Amy added.

Being outside with a supportive community provides a plethora of benefits. “You kind of take that pressure off yourself, you get the opportunity to self-regulate," Amy said. "Getting to do that with people who

are part of your community is the cherry on top. It’s this very beautiful community care.”

“Experiencing wonder and awe, it calms your nervous system down,” Crawford agreed. “At a time when shit’s fucked for Queer and Trans people, getting some intentional time in nature can help so much. You can kind of put things aside, flip over a log with cool salamanders underneath, and take that moment to just get lost in a world that is kind of crashing around us.”

Queers in Nature events are intentionally accessible, free, and open to all. They offer rides and hiking gear to participants.

“We try and make it so that there’s an option for anyone to feel comfy coming. I want everyone in our community to be able to come hang out with us,” said Amy.

The group is ideal for anyone who is new to Guelph, shy, looking to make new friends, or is just generally excited to spend some time outdoors.

“It’s hard to make friends as an adult,” explained Amy. “People are so ready to welcome you with open arms in this group.”

Crawford pointed out the affirming nature of queer ecology.

“Nature is so queer. I just learned about a slime mold that has 872 sexes," Crawford said. "We’re a part of this, it’s amazing!”

“Nature has always been queer. Here we’re being more intentional about it,” Amy added.

Queers in Nature can be found on Eventbrite and Instagram @queerz.in.nature. Amy and Crawfordwould love you to “Come hike with us!”

Check out the new and improved Cannon website made by Guelph students, for Guelph students

The CSA and the Guelph Campus Co-op worked in concert to revamp thecannon.ca

The Cannon website is an online community created in 2002 for Guelph students. It is owned equally by the Central Student Association, (CSA), and the Guelph Campus Co-operative. Students can go to The Cannon to buy and sell items, like textbooks, and to look at housing rentals.

“It hadn’t been updated in a long time, there were a lot of bugs,” said campus co-op representative on the CSA, Naomi Amayaevbo. “We needed to blow off the dust from the old website and make it more accessible for students.”

As a real estate co-op student herself, this project was a personal goal for Amayaevbo. This project was also important for CSA president Shaima Alam. Alam came into the school year wanting to upgrade the website to make it better for future CSA executives and students.

“For the first time in a long time, the CSA has a campus coop representative, which is me,” Amayaevbo said. “The website was a big part of president Shaima’s goals, and a project campus co-op wanted to take on.”

With a shared goal to improve the website and the hous-

ing crisis in full swing, the CSA and Guelph Campus Co-operative thought it was the perfect time to set this project in motion and found an opportunity to collaborate. The housing crisis was what led the campus co-op to upgrade the website since it is such a needed resource in these difficult times.

“Co-op was invented to provide affordable housing to students. The original mission statement of the Campus Co-op was to help U of G students with their housing situations,” Amayaevbo said. “The Cannon is the best way of achieving that at this time. Everyone here at the co-op wants to do their part in helping students navigate the housing crisis.”

Key collaborators of the website revamp include promotions coordinator Emma Bradley who worked with web designers Barking Dogs to redesign the website, CSA president Shaima Alam, Student Experience coordinator Jack Fisher, VP of Student Experience Mckenna Williams, and Campus Co-op representative Naomi Amayaevbo.

thecannon.ca has its classifieds divided into housing, textbooks, and other. You can post

your own housing to sublet your room, or to help roommates find a new roommate. You can sell physical or digital copies of textbooks. Other items such as mattresses, bed frames, lamps, whiteboards, or anything else you think another student may need or use can be sold here.

“It’s basically a Facebook Marketplace for Guelph students, which makes it a lot more safe,” said Amayaevbo. “The motto of the co-op is ‘By students for students,’ so it was just one of those things that [was] part of our legacy. We wanted and needed to make it better.”

One of the biggest improvements for thecannon.ca was to make it more accessible to mobile devices, so it is now easy to access and navigate on your phone. Another key improvement is the ability to streamline your search for housing. You can now filter your search by number of rooms, price range, features, and housing type. These housing options can be viewed in a grid, map, or table format.

You now can see information about the housing before even selecting the listing. The address, cost, date posted, five to six lines

of information, and pictures are clearly visible before selecting, so now you can browse without having to click on listings repeatedly to see the information. Utilities such as parking, laundry facilities, cooking facilities, and others are also shown at the top of each listing with icons to narrow your search.

Not only is thecannon.ca more visually accessible, but it is also more visually appealing. Blue and turquoise colours have been added to the former burgundy theme to represent the Campus co-op. Blue icons represent housing, brown represents textbooks, and turquoise represents all other content.

The Cannon website provides information about upcoming CSA and Campus Co-op events or important news. The Campus Co-op runs the co-op bookstore located in the basement of Johnston Hall. Both physical and digital copies of textbooks are available here for a cheaper price than the campus bookstore. The co-op bookstore is accessible through the website via a direct link. With over 1000 website visits in the first month of their hard launch, students seem to be enjoying the new and im-

proved Cannon website.

“I’m happy that we were able to get it all done before the academic year was over, that was the goal. As people are starting to look for housing for the next coming semester and summer, we wanted to have it ready for them to have that opportunity to use it when they need it,” Amayaevbo said.

“We wanted to get it done as soon as possible and we’re just happy and excited that it's out there and working. If there’s any bugs, we’re fixing it as soon as we can and we’re hoping more students can use it and get excited about it too.”

Be sure to visit the new website at thecannon.ca.

Career advisors: A resource made for students

The Ontarion met with Coordinator of Student Programs Brittney Ogilvie to learn how career advisors can help you

Career advisors help students navigate the confusing world of career exploration. Since each program allows for a multitude of pathways, Brittney Ogilvie, Coordinatior of Student Programs explained “each college has a designated career advisor who has specialized knowledge on career development and typical further education pathways for students within that college.”

You can find the career advising services located in the Experiential Learning Hub behind Rozanski Hall.

Online Resources

In order for a student to make the most out of their first appointment with a career advisor, Ogilvie said, “I strongly recommend students check out our Courselink resource, which can be a great starting point for job search and career planning re-

search, before meeting with us. This helps us make the most of our time together and get into really detailed conversations, rather than talking about more general concepts.”

Students can access the Courselink resource in four easy steps:

1. Login to Courselink using your central login ID.

2. From the homepage select the Self-Registration Tab.

3. The list of courses is in alphabetical order. Select “Career Advising from the Experiential Learning Hub” to register.

4. The course will now be added to your homepage on Courselink for you to access.

Take some time before your appointment to explore the many virtual resources the career services department has to offer. Career advisors offer webinars as well,

which cover topics related to students’ future career explorations. The recordings are from prior workshops held by department members. Students can register for upcoming workshops on Experience Guelph.

Another helpful section of the Online Learning with Career Advisors website is the “Career Tool Kit.” The tool kit contains tip sheets with accessible information pertaining to career planning, research, preparation, and further education opportunities.

Peer Helpers

Another resource for career advisement is a Peer Helper. Peer helpers are students who volunteer to help other students. There are over 25 departments with Peer Helper teams across campus. As it states on their website, Peer Helpers at the University of Guelph can provide support for resumes, cover letters, mock interviews, and LinkedIn profiles. Appointments can be virtual or in person.

"Our Peer Helpers staff a front desk on Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.,” Ogilvie said.

Most Peer Helper positions require commitment of at least two semesters, with approximately five to ten hours of work per week. If you’re looking to get involved, available positions are posted on Experience Guelph.

Ogilvie explained the few different Experiential Learning, (EL), appointment types, “an EL Opportunities meeting is where students can learn more about hands-on courses and ways to get involved on campus.”

Another appointment type is called Start Here, where “meetings are meant to orient students to our services if they have never met with us before and aren’t sure how we can help,” Ogilvie continued.

“We also offer a program called PrePAIR where students can sign up to be matched with a Peer Helper and meet multiple times over the semester, rather than a single appointment. Email us at elhubpeer@uoguelph.ca for more details on these opportunities.”

Meetings are booked ahead of time using Experience Guelph.

As fourth year and graduation are a busy time, Ogilvie suggests attending employer events and job fairs on campus and online as soon as you can. With these events, students have the opportunity to get to know what employers are looking for.

“Employers want to meet with students – that’s why they travel to be a part of career fairs. Few students put in a lot of effort for these events, so the students those employers do meet who have researched

the company ahead of time become very memorable,” Ogilvie said.

After graduating from the University of Guelph, students have access to career services and advisors for one year after their convocation.

Career Development

Career development is an ongoing process. Advisors aim to help students focus on what they want to do with their degree rather than what they can do with their degree.

“Treat career exploration like a scientist exploring a hypothesis,” Ogilvie said.

Advisors help students expand their experience through test driving different opportunities like co-ops, work study, volunteer experiences, and internships.

“You can read about karate, but that doesn’t mean you will like or be good at doing karate,” Ogilvie said. In turn, “Because you’re taking classes doesn’t mean you will like working in that field.”

The Experiential Learning Hub and Career Services help students test out career ideas while they are still in school. “University is an accumulation of experiences that help you learn about yourself, what you like, and don’t like,” said Ogilvie

“It’s unrealistic to expect 20-year-olds to pick one job title that they’re going to do for the rest of their life.”

To conclude, Ogilvie provided the best piece of advice she has received. At her first job, she was working as a cashier. She made a mistake on a return and her supervisor said, “Very few mistakes are permanent.” Expanding on this Ogilvie said, “If you do, or if you don’t, [it] isn’t a mistake… During career planning appointments, I often hear phrases like ‘I don’t want to make a mistake’ or ‘I’m afraid of making the wrong decision’ and the students feel a lot of pressure to have their career all figured out right now. To these students, I remind them that career decisions aren’t permanent and that career development is almost never a perfectly straight, linear path forward.”

When meeting with advisors, be honest about your story, what you have prepared, and your potential pathways. Be open to the idea of plans changing or rerouting. It is important to understand that you are not alone. There are many others feeling similarly to you. The Experiential Learning Hub and Career Services are departments designed to help students find their direction(s) and create plans to get there. Follow @expguelph on Instagram for Career Advisor takeovers, live Q&A’s, and more.

Finding ways to improve quality of life with Dr. Lisa Duizer

Dr. Duizer tackles her career journey and research, conducts an explanatory demonstration of the field of sensory evaluation of foods, and offers her opinion on the lauded-and-hated Starbucks creation, Oleato

Did you know that the University of Guelph is the number one post-secondary institution in Canada for food science? U of G has a long history in food science research, dating back to the turn of the 20th century, based in the manufacturing of dairy products such as ice cream and powdered milk.

If you’ve ever taken a food science class, you’ll know there is a 140-year-old food science building across from the main campus on Gordon Street, covered in ivy and proudly labelled DAIRY. Inside, you’ll find faculty who care deeply about all aspects of food production, right down to the mechanics of the packaging and the way that food is processed in your mouth. The latter topic is spearheaded by Dr. Lisa Duizer, who teaches a handful of food science courses at the 3000 and 4000 level, as well as holds the role of Food Science Department Chair. The Ontarion sat down with Duizer, a U of G alum, to discuss her career and her research.

Duizer’s area of expertise is called sensory evaluation of foods, which focuses on how people consume foods and their resulting perceptions. This type of sensory research is used commercially in a number of ways: to evaluate certain products against one another, such as comparing two competitors,or to judge a product against itself before and after a change in ingredient composition.

In a mini-demonstration, Duizer explained how a sensory evaluation professional would do this, with the example of two similar candy products made by different companies: Good & Plenty, a candy-coated licorice snack manufactured by Hershey, and Mike and Ike, a glazed gummy candy manufactured by Just Born (who also produces Hot Tamales).

These are two products with very similar lists of ingredients and very similar nutrition facts labels, yet both are completely different eating experiences.

To prepare for a sensory evaluation and to learn the most you can about a product, according to Duizer, you should ask questions that allow you to know exactly what the products are that you are going to have people evaluate. You may want to know, in general, how much consumers like these two products in comparison to one another. In this case, you would do a consumer panel. You may also be looking for a sensory profile of the two candies.

“If I wanted to understand what the sensory profiles were I would do a training panel where I would ask people to come in and train them to perceive the different sensory properties in these products, such as the sweetness of the Mike and Ike . . . I would get them to put [the candy] in their mouth and dissect it,” Duizer said.

While the average consumer might use subjective adjectives to describe these candies, such as good, bad, or somewhere in between, sensory evaluation professionals train panellists to distinguish between characteristics such as gummy, chewy, sticky, and tooth-packing.

When deciding what you want to learn about a product during sensory evaluation, it’s also important to consider the requirements of each kind of test.

“The difference between a consumer panel [and a trained panel] is that I would need 100 or more consumers [that have previously eaten the product]. A trained panel is just picking ten people who are really good at tasting and describing. And really, that’s what sensory evaluation is

about … picking the right kind of panel for the right reasons,” Duizer said.

Duizer’s research in sensory evaluation is centred around improving the aging population’s experience with food, especially those in long-term care homes and those struggling with dysphagia, a difficulty with swallowing. Much of her recent work is with modified texture foods, which she describes as, “Either minced or pureed, [when] the structure of the product is gone, so that people can safely consume it without choking on it.”

One of Duizer’s primary goals is to improve the overall nutrition of foods for older people on a modified texture diet by working with everything from adding vitamins and minerals to soup, to hiding nutrients in normally non-nutritional foods.

“To me, that is really exciting research because it has direct impact. If you can find food that people like, and you can find food

that has good nutrition, then you actually have a product that people will eat, which will improve the quality of their life,” Duizer said.

Duizer didn’t always know that she was going to end up working with elderly people, or even that she would end up in sensory evaluation at all. Duizer graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Science in applied human nutrition from U of G in 1990. She also did her masters in food science here before obtaining her PhD in New Zealand.

“I got into my nutrition degree and a couple years in, I realized that what I wanted was the food part,” Duizer said. “I didn’t want to know what was happening in my body, I wanted to know what was happening with the food. I came across this professor teaching sensory evaluation in my third year, and I could just get it, I just understood it. She accepted me into the masters of food science, and that’s how I started

down that path. It wasn’t until I actually started working here as a professor that I came full circle and started applying my nutrition background with food science.”

When asked how she decided to apply for the position of Food Science Chair in 2019, Duizer noted that it “seemed like it was time, you know? It seemed like a good time in my career to actually take a role that allowed me to contribute more to the university than being just an academic.”

Finally, we asked Duizer for her professional opinion on the new-and-outlandish Starbucks line of olive-oil-infused drinks, Oleato, which has been all over social media in recent months with mixed consumer reviews.

“The olive oil changes the mouthfeel of the coffee, it makes it smoother, which I think is because of the oil. It is a nice addition if you are looking for a very velvety mouthfeel to your coffee, but it also leaves an olive oil flavour in your mouth,” she said.

ARTS & CULTURE

There’s a place for everyone Out on the Shelf

Guelph’s queer library offers year-round events and hundreds of titles

On 10 Carden St., Out on the Shelf (OOTS) exists as a safe space to explore queer literature and meet new people. As Guelph’s only queer library, OOTS has been building their collection of titles since the early 2000s.

“We have books and zines, fiction and nonfiction, and educational resources,” said Ans Lepage, marketing chair at OOTS. “The collection is meant to be trans and polyamory supportive and sex-positive.”

OOTS prides itself on being a positive space where everyone is free to be themselves. Lepage remembered a visitor leaving a note in the library, which read, “Visiting from Texas where my school banned all queer literature – this is so healing. Thank you.”

“I just think that’s really beautiful,” Lepage said. “That’s what we

want to do.”

Lepage described that being in a library full of queer literature is inspiring, especially since much queer knowledge and history gets erased or lost.

“Being able to walk into a space and see physical evidence of people like you, of your history, of queer people that came before you and lived lives and recorded their knowledge and made art — it makes me feel whole,” they said.

Alongside showcasing queer history and literature, OOTS also brings together Guelph’s queer community. They’re the parent organisation of Guelph Pride, which hosts Winter and Spring Pride events. Preparation for this year’s Spring Pride is already underway, with events planned for June 6-16, 2024.

Lepage said that events like

genres and skill levels welcome. If you’ve got a tale to tell, this club happens every first Monday of the month at 6 p.m.

If you prefer reading, bring your latest novel to the OOTS Book Club. Here, you’ll chat about books and get new recommendations. It’s less structured than a typical book club, and it happens every third Thursday of the month from 7-9 p.m.

Another artsy event is the Queer Crafting Group. Every second Monday of the month at 7 p.m., you can bring in crafts like crochet, drawings, or embroidery and chill with music and conversation.

If you’re just looking to chat and meet new people, come out to Guys Social Group on the last

Monday of every month at 7 p.m.

Lepage described that “guys” is an inclusive term, and if you feel like it’s appropriate for you, you’re welcome at Guys Social Group.

And if you’d prefer to stay cosy at home, OOTS offers an online Gaymes Night on Zoom. It’s every third Tuesday of the month starting at 7 p.m., and the link is always posted on their Instagram page.

Since OOTS is entirely volunteer-run, they’re always looking for new volunteers to open the library or help with events. And if you’re interested in checking out the OOTS collection, their library is open on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. and weekends (you can find more info on their Instagram @ootslibrary).

these help provide safe spaces for queer people.

“I think it’s so important for queer people to have spaces where we can relax and be ourselves and meet each other,” Lepage said.

“This has been a tough year to be queer and trans, and so spaces where we can have that respite and joy and find resources and community are really important,” they added.

Lepage also explained that OOTS offers five year-round programs where you can meet other queer people and make new friends. Each event is free and drop-in style, with schedule changes and updates posted on the OOTS Instagram, @ ootslibrary.

Most recently, OOTS’ newest addition, Queer Writing Club, was made to share stories and collaborate on writing. It’s casual, with all

Grandson of Bob Marley climbing up charts

A tribute to reggae music and Bob Marley himself, YG Marley is living up to the family name

It’s not every day that a member of the Marley family releases music, so when they do, you know it’s a big deal.

Even though it was released back in December 2023, “Praise Jah in the Moonlight” by YG Marley continues to gain popularity as the song reaches new heights on the Billboard Hot 100 list. With this being his first debut, YG Marley seems to be following in his grandfather’s footsteps and keeping the family legacy alive.

Grandson of Bob Marley and son of Lauryn Hill, YG Marley had music coursing in his veins before he was even born. So it was

no surprise when the song “Praise Jah in the Moonlight” dropped and was immediately adored by the public. The song even credits all three family members as the songwriters, showcasing the family unity that underscores the track.

“Praise Jah'' is a tribute to reggae music, sampling the 1976 song “Crisis” from Bob Marley himself, which sets the stage for YG Marley’s fresh interpretation of the genre. The song also features outro vocals from none other than Hill. On her recent Mrs. Lauryn Hill: Miseducation of Lauryn Hill Special 25th Anniversary Tour, Hill brought out YG Marley

to sing his newest song and the crowd went wild.

Fans and the internet were left searching for this song that Marley played. The excitement and anticipation surrounding the song were already at a high before it was even released.

Within weeks of its release, the track broke into the Billboard New Zealand Songs chart, landing at number three. It’s safe to say Marley not only exceeded expectations, but is already leaving his mark on the music industry and living up to the family name.

The lyrics of the song delve into themes of spirituality, love,

and resilience against adversity. The song opens with a quote from Bob Marley:

“They say the sun shines for all, but in some people world, it never shine at all.”

The song serves as a call to embrace spirituality and gratitude, recognizing the higher power that guides and sustains us.

It’s clear YG Marley carries his mother's and grandfather's musical talent and has a bright

love in the UC

career ahead of him. His song “Praise Jah in the Moonlight” is a powerful testament to his skills as a songwriter and singer. The song's popularity marks a significant continuance of the Marley family's musical tradition in addition to a promising beginning to his career. One thing is certain as we anticipate more songs from YG Marley: Bob Marley's legacy lives on in his grandson's music.

Arpit’s Music Review: american dream by 21 Savage

21 strikes an equilibrium between his dazzling celebrity status and his tumultuous past

2

1 Savage, the British-American “Feature Killer,” and the guy who can “do something” for Drake, has served people his brand-new album american dream. This is his latest album since Her Loss, the joint album he did with Toronto's very own Drake. Overall, american dream is 21 Savage’s third studio album, a follow-up to his previous album, i am > i was, still one of the most brilliant albums that has been released in recent years. American dream was announced during 6 God Drake's It's All a Blur Tour back in July 2023.

american dream touches on the themes of the suffering and the grief of losing your friends to gang violence, chasing the “American dream,” and, of course, killing rival gang members. 21 Savage sounds focused and mature in the tracks. The album feels like a breath of fresh air amongst the bloated hiphop albums that were released in the past two or three months.

The first track is a sweetly spoken speech given by 21 Savage's mother where she describes her struggles while raising her family, and how the whole family faced numerous challenges after they immigrated from the United Kingdom to the United States. It's a really sweet prelude of a mother who is extremely proud of her son's accomplishments.

One single off the album “redrum,” is definitely a highlight.

21 takes shots at former Young Stoner Life, (YSL), rapper Gunna for betraying his own and confessing about killing ops without showing any remorse. Meanwhile, the song production goes crazy with samples from the Brazilian track “Serenata do Adeus.” Definitely worthy of a save for the song library.

The next track “n.h.i.e” (short for “Never Have I Ever”) unites 21 Savage with Doja Cat for their first collaboration. Although the track is solid, some of the bars are outlandishly funny. For example, "I'll pop at his ass, he a pimple," is a wild thing to say. On top of that, Doja Cat uses the word "adlib" for the adlib, which is like breaking a fourth wall in music.

“Pop ur shit” is an energy packed, trap-laced track produced by none other than Metro Boomin. Seeing Metro Boomin credited as a contributor for the track despite only having the producer credits indicates that Metro Boomin has become a household name in hiphop. Young Thug provides his bars as a feature. Although he doesn't sound enthusiastic, Metro Boomin recovers everything with his majestic production. The world deserves a Metro Boomin composed movie soundtrack at this point!

Then comes the hidden gem of the album, “letter to my brudda.” The track is an emotional exploration of 21 Savage's journey with betrayal, loyalty, and the dangerous

lifestyle he has been consuming ever since he was a teen. But most importantly, 21 Savage resonates with the pain of Young Thug. In 2022, Young Thug, Gunna, and 26 others were indicted for their affiliation to YSL Records. The indictment alleged that YSL members committed violent crimes such as murder and armed robbery. 21 Savage sympathizes with Young Thug's hustle because of how near impossible it is for people like them to come up on top without having a sinister past.

Bars such as, "I know ain't nobody perfect, but what's the point in makin' it out if all they do is cuff ya?,” “Sometimes we be forced to make decisions that we don't even wanna make, it be about survival," and "At the end of the day, we be havin' good hearts, they just be in bad places, I guess that's life, though," showcase how far 21 Savage has matured as an artist and how crucial his pen game is. In the second verse, he seeks forgiveness for all of the sins he has committed in his past and reflects on his success. The raw and honest lyricism with a combination of the soul sample generates a powerful listening experience. The sampling in this track reminds me of something old Kanye would make. 21 Savage seems to be making a small tribute to the soul-chopping Kanye.

Metro Boomin appears again with two more astronomical pro-

CFRU's Monthly Top 10 albums

6.

7.

ductions, “dangerous” and "néenah.” Both Travis Scott, who has been killing it with his features recently, and Lil Durk provide their best craft in their respective track features. 21 Savage’s evil bars about how he likes to murder his rivals, especially the bar, "I know Virgil probably lookin' down like, ‘Damn, he is back on that shit,’" are hilarious.

The album starts to wind down after this point. Tracks such as “prove it,” “should've wore a bonnet,” and "just like me” are pretty solid. However, the last two tracks feel underwhelming in both departments of lyricism and production. Featured artists just do their job, nothing special or impressive. Some of the bars feel like something Drake would do. For example: "No love handles, but she love the way I handle her," "I asked her body count, she sent the GIF of me and Cole," and "Fry me a bitch like I'm from Kentucky" are just straight-up stupid.

Nevertheless, the album delivered what you would expect from 21 Savage. The postlude at the end of the last track “dark days” is the victory lap of the album as 21 re-

ceives a blessing from his mama for getting everything he had hoped for. On top of that, Savage advises the listeners to stay as far away as possible from the street lifestyle, as he has faced his darkest days pursuing that life. Mariah the Scientist’s soothing and beautiful vocals provide an emotional layer to this track american dream is reminiscent of 21 Savage's past of extreme gang violence, the chaos in his everyday life, losing his closest family members and friends, regrets of every action he took, and the consequences he had faced for feasting on a dangerous lifestyle. Some of the tracks still have those cold bars that 21 Savage spits like venom. So, any time you're going to bench press, glute bridge, or deadlift with more than 200 pound weights, put on some of the bangers off this album, and you won't be disappointed.

Overall, american dream is 21 Savage at his most vulnerable and invincible than he has ever been before.

SCORE: 80 / 100, 4 /5

BEST TRACK OF THE ALBUM: “LETTER TO MY BRUDDA”

Ducktails, Drive-ins, and Broken Hearts

In his tell-all take on the decade, retired U of G professor Hank Davis shows how the ‘50s rocked (and rolled)

In the 1950s, young New Yorker Hank Davis picked up a guitar and found a lifelong passion. Gone was the age of his parents’ “big-band music” – rock and roll was born, and it was wild and free. By day, Davis was a studious Columbia-bound student, by night, he booked gigs through the city and penned songs sent to radio.

“Going into school the next day, and having all the kids go… ‘Your song was played on the radio last night’... that was an amazing experience,” Davis said.

After realizing he wouldn’t become a “teen idol,” Davis pursued his passion for psychology. As a retired U of G professor, Davis said that performing music primed him to be comfortable in front of an audience.

“I was teaching them the hard content of psychology, but I was doing it like a performer,” he said. “And I think they really appreciated that.”

Davis is proof you don’t have to choose just one avenue in life. He’s continued his passion for music by writing magazine articles, doing interviews, and getting into production work. Over the years, he’s connected with some of his heroes, like blues singers LaVern Baker and Rosco Gordon, guitarists Charlie Rich and Les Paul, and hit-maker Frankie Laine.

“Oh my god, the man was a megastar,” Davis described. “There I was, sitting in my house in the woods in Canada, just talking to Frankie Laine like we were old pals.”

As an interviewer, Davis’ prior study of psychology allows him to ask more meaningful questions.

“When you’re asking them stuff that goes deeper, they think, ‘Oh, yeah, I never thought of that before,’” Davis explained. “And then you end up with much more insight into the music.”

After 40 years of interviews, projects, and research, Davis said to himself, “You know, I got a lot of stuff here.” Now, his book Ducktails, Drive-ins, and Broken Hearts dives into

‘50s music and the music industry. It’s a raw, real perspective on this time period.

In the ‘50s, everything was made more palatable with string instruments and chaster lyrics. This was because pearl-clutching parents feared their children would become “juvenile delinquents.”

“The whole scene got sweetened – and I want to make it clear that my book is not a sweetened look at ‘50s music,” Davis said. “I tried to be very real and talk about what was going on in the business.”

Ducktails, Drive-ins, and Broken Hearts has 38 self-contained chapters which focus on different artists or aspects of the music industry. His love for ‘50s music shows through each page as he discusses the rise and fall of stars. Davis explains topics like politically incorrect music, the 1500 recordings of “Unchained Melody,” and why everyone covered everyone else’s songs.

Davis says its short chapters make it a “great bathroom book.”

“It’s just the perfect length,” he explained. “Unless you have dysentery, in which case you'd probably go through the whole book in a few days.”

Even without dysentery, Davis wanted to read the book all in one sitting. He had to limit himself to two or three chapters a day, and he was really sad to finish it.

“I almost wanted to go back and start reading it again,” he said. “I hope that's the reaction that people have.”

By looking into ‘50s music, you can discover vintage tracks and connect more with history. Davis described that the ‘50s “isn’t just any decade” – at this time, music broke free of its constraints and became full of passion and musicality.

Also, because music is so dynamic, it’s interesting to see the influence older music has on present hits. For example, rap and hip-hop stem from early rhythm and blues.

“It’s all connected,” Davis said. “Nobody wakes up one morning, whether it's in 2024

or 1954, and says, ‘I'm going to invent a genre today.'”

He added, “There's connections all over the place. If you don't see them, or hear them, that's because you haven't looked hard enough. It's not because they're not there.”

For example, Davis mentioned that Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent, and Chris Isaac were inspired by ‘50s star Elvis Presley. Furthermore, Graceland, the “Home of Elvis Presley,” has an exhibit that shows the impact the King of Rock and Roll has had on modern artists, such as Shawn Mendes, Carrie Underwood, Post Malone, and Kasey Musgraves.

Davis himself loved Elvis and the rockabilly genre.

“A lot of music that I love was released on a tiny Memphis label called Sun Records,” he said. “And they were amazing… they discovered Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis.”

He added, “If the latest Sun record came out, I would go running to the record store and say, ‘Give it to me, I want it.’ I didn't say ‘Who is it by?’ I didn't say, ‘What was it called?’ Because I knew it would be authentic, passionate music.”

In collaboration with Sun Records, Davis put out projects like the woman-led box set “Memphis Spells.”

“People were astonished by it because Sun Records… is like the ultimate testosterone label,” he said. “And we went and found all these records that had been recorded by

women.”

He added, “We revealed the whole other side of what had been going on at Sun Records, which was a nice thing to do. I felt like I was paying back to my love for Memphis music by making this discovery and putting it out there for a new generation.”

Generations to come can appreciate Davis’ Ducktails, Drive-ins, and Broken Hearts. He meticulously uncovered the ‘50s, from the writings in yellowing magazines to the linear notes on deleted albums. Davis worried that this interesting, worthwhile content would “disappear into the ether.” He loves the spirit of ‘50s music – the emotion captured in each track, the honesty and authenticity of self-produced music.

You can use the modern invention that is the internet to find Ducktails, Drive-ins, and Broken Hearts on Amazon or through the publisher, SUNY Press. From there, you’ll get to flip through the pages and go back in time.

Get inspired at the next Guelph Poetry Slam

“Somebody might be there that night that needed to hear what you have to say and you just don’t know it yet,” said featured poet, Ikenna “Open Secret” Onyegbula

Every third Saturday of the month, Guelph Spoken Word provides a stage for residents to express themselves through poetry and spoken word. Whether you are an avid lover of poetry or have just been getting into the scene, the Guelph Poetry Slam, (GPS), community is the place for you.

There are two sections of the event in which you can participate: the open mic or the poetry slam competition. However, if you prefer being a critic, you can also participate as a judge for the slam competition. If you prefer something less competitive, the open mic is a bit more easy-going because there is no cash prize and anyone can enter no matter the genre of their work.

For the slam, you just need two poems – one for each round – that are under three minutes in length.

The scoring system is set up by random audience members who score each person's poem out of ten. The three poets with the highest scores advance to the second round and the poet with the highest combined score wins!

“The idea is that the people pick what poetry they are enjoying rather than academics or selected juries,” explained Beth Anne Ellipsis, co-founder of Guelph Spoken Word.

Ellipsis also advised newcomer poets,“You don't need to memorize your poem, you can read it from your phone, notebook, or piece of paper, but try to practice beforehand either by yourself or with a friend – your dog or cat will do too.” This allows you to pace yourself and ensure that you stay inside the three-minute window, since you

“I Gotta Know” Guelph pop-rock band Animal Boy’s next move, and you do too

Fierce, fun, and honest, Animal Boy’s music is a sure listen for fans of relatable lyrics and skilled instrumentals

Animal Boy is an indie pop rock group from Guelph that is making a name for themselves in music. Tommy Davies, Marty Brown, Mo Christiano, and Brad Matthews make up the group, all hailing from small towns in Ontario (except Matthews, a Guelph native) and now reside in Guelph.

Davies, the lead guitarist and vocalist, describes taking inspirations from different genres. He has shifted genre in his own music from what was once described as being indie-surf. Davies lists artists such as Lucy Dacus and

Courtney Barnett as songwriting influences, and describes his goal of doing more narrative-style songs in the future. Animal Boy’s thoughtful and honest lyricism invokes the tumultuous transitional processes in a young person’s life to drums by Christiano, guitar by Davies and Brown, and bass by Matthews.

On the origins of Animal Boy, Davies looks back on making recordings in his dorm room at the University of Guelph, which he hopes have been wiped from the internet. However, he recog-

lose points if you exceed the time given.

But don’t let these guidelines make you nervous. Although the idea of strangers scoring your poetry can initially seem scary, Kate Wallace, a poet who performs in the open mic section, spoke to the integrity of the GPS community.

“The audience is so supportive,” they said. “There is a lot of respect and credit given for the fact that you are sharing something really personal and no matter how it comes out, it is always met with a positive response. If you forget what you’re saying, people wait for you, they cheer you on. It’s a really supportive audience, always.”

The Guelph Poetry Slam is an excellent opportunity for anyone who has been wanting to share their craft, connect with other

poetry lovers, and end their evenings feeling inspired. This event not only offers Guelph residents a space to feel comfortable and welcome while sharing their works of literature, it also extends their arms to poets outside of Guelph through their Featured Poet portion of the night.

Ikenna Onyegbula, a featured poet from last month's slam, says that his favourite thing about performing at poetry slams is the connection.

“It’s in meeting people and talking to people, so to me, that's the beauty of this whole thing, sharing your viewpoints is just a bonus,” he said.

Onyegbula has been performing poetry since 2008 and has gone on to perform across North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. His advice to beginner poets is “to just believe in yourself, find your voice – which is a task in and

of itself – but find your voice, find where you are the happiest and then be there as long as possible, because when you find your voice you are okay with criticism, you are okay with not everyone vibing with you.”

The Guelph Spoken Word organization prides itself on connecting with its community.

“We celebrate people as they walk their poetry journey… Wherever that is for them,” Ellipsis said. “Our shows are a mix of people trying poetry for the first time, nationally acclaimed professional spoken word artists, and everyone in between.”

If you still feel a little hesitant about taking the stage but still would like to be involved in the event, Guelph Spoken Word is always looking for volunteers to help out. You can contact them at bethanne@guelphspokenword.com for more information.

something, and saying, this is the best that we can do.”

At 14, Davies was in his first band. By his first year of university, he was collaborating with different musicians to try to make something work. Finally, he ended up finding a group of people who he shared a kind of musical “subconscious telekinesis” with. Their most recent album, My Love is a Terror, came out in 2023 within the indie genre, and Davies explains the biggest difficulties that come with putting together a new project.

“One hundred per cent, getting it done,” he says. “The actual logistics of putting a stamp on

Davies notes the barriers created by a tendency towards artistic perfectionism, which must be put aside in order to make new music. In his words, “The real calculation should probably be either we release nothing or we release something with this tiny perceived flaw that no one is ever going to notice.”

Two songs from the band’s most recent project that Davies is most proud of are “Red Giant pt. 1” and “Red Giant pt. 2,” a pair of songs that perhaps best represent Animal Boy’s musicality, creativity, and lyricism. For new listeners, he recommends listening to

“Liar Liar,” their most popular song. Excitingly, Davies reveals that the band is currently working on a new EP, that will likely be coming out this year, titled Curse. Davies’ personal favourite place to perform is Jimmy Jazz in downtown Guelph for the audience engagement, and he remarks on the overall positive experiences he has had performing. Animal Boy performed on Feb. 24 with Excuse Me and Cigar Club in Guelph Underground, and they’re sure to have more appearances throughout Guelph. You can also follow Animal Boy on Instagram @animalboymusic, and listen to their album My Love is a Terror on any streaming platform.

Ontarion Book Review: Outspoken: My Fight for Freedom and Human Rights in Afghanistan by Sima Samar with Sally Armstrong

The inspiring tale of one woman's quest for gender equality

FATIMA ASKARY

Sima Samar is unlike most people in many ways. She has fought tooth and nail to become a medical doctor in Afghanistan when the odds were stacked against her. As she proclaims herself, “I have three strikes against me – I am a woman, I speak for women, and I am a Hazara – the most persecuted ethnic group in Afghanistan.”

Despite this, Samar has made immense progress in the fight for women’s rights and education in the country. She has established the Shuhada Organization, which has operated over 100 schools and over a dozen hospitals and clinics dedicated to serving women and children in Afghanistan. Samar served as the first Chairperson of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, established in 2002, and since 2019, she sits on multiple panels on the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level.

This memoir chronicles Samar’s story, from her childhood living in Jaghori to her teenage years in Lashkar Gah, up to present- day Afghanistan. Her love of education came from realizing that most girls her age were not permitted or too poor to attend school. Knowing this, she was determined to get her education no matter what.

When a marriage proposal arrived from a man that

promised to fulfill her dreams, Samar said yes and moved to Kabul to attend medical school. Under the brutal political regime and fighting, she became a doctor, revolutionary, and mother. After losing her husband to the pro-Russian regime, she moved to Quetta, Pakistan, where she established her first hospital for women and extended her pursuits as an activist and advocate for women’s health.

Sally Armstrong, a distinguished Canadian journalist and Samar’s collaborator on this project, spoke to The Ontarion about her relationship to Samar and the importance of this novel.

Armstrong had met Samar after hearing about her efforts to defy the Taliban regime. She was interested in writing a story about Samar but had difficulty getting into contact with her. Armstrong explains how she flew to Lahore, Pakistan and then was told to fly to Quetta to write this story.

“I flew to Quetta and I got off the plane, walked into the arrival’s lounge and a woman was walking towards me,” Armstrong said. “And she was smiling, and she put out her

hand, and she said, ‘You must be Sally. I’m Sima Samar, I believe you’ve been looking for me.’”

From there on, Armstrong and Samar had kept in close contact over the years and came to know each other as good friends. After years of working together, Armstrong encouraged Samar to put her story into words.

“She has a remarkable story to tell,” Armstrong said. “Sima knew what was going on behind the scenes, she had the backstory, and I said, ‘Sima, you have to tell this to the world, you have to let people know.’”

She emphasized the importance of sharing Samar’s story.

“I think Sima’s book is the truth of what it’s like to be a girl in a place like Afghanistan, and it’s a book of what happens when you deny half of your population,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong also discusses the impact of Samar’s story on the current generation.

“Sima loves talking to young people,” she said. “She sees young people as the ones who will pick up the truth.”

Armstrong added, “Her story is a cautionary tale, and I think university students are the best ones to pick up on cautionary tales.”

As university students, many of us take our education for granted. We may even see

it as a burden rather than a privilege. This memoir was an apt reminder of the immense privilege and power of an education.

Through sheer willpower and perseverance, Samar has worked to help those who are the most overlooked in war: women. What seems the most amazing is her ability to work in impossible circumstances and still produce successful outcomes. The clear love and pride for her country is evident as she recounts her struggles to establish a better future. From negotiating business with the Taliban to walking 10 hours on foot to help a woman in labour, Samar has incredible strength in the face of adversity.

Samar writes about the harrowing medical cases she received as a doctor with little equipment and support. These stories perfectly showcase her dedication to helping women under the strict and oppressive laws of the Taliban. In Samar’s words, these stories and anecdotes are told in frank, straightforward terms: this is the way things were and this is how I dealt with it. For her, no challenge is too big or too hard, it’s only a matter of how.

Her story – of resilience, bravery and hope – serves as inspiration for any woman that has ever felt defeated or deterred from her dreams. For me, reading Samar’s words felt like a call to action to continue standing up for those who are consistently silenced and ignored.

Mood boosters for March

Feeling a bit down lately? Here are four simple ways you can boost your mood

CARLOTA SOUSA

Every now and then you might find yourself in a sad mood and that’s okay. You also might not know why you feel sad and that’s also okay. But it doesn’t mean you can’t try and do some things that might help you feel a bit better. So here is a quick and simple guide of four things you can try to help you put some pep back in your step.

1. Laugh

We don’t always realize how long it has been since we’ve had a good laugh. If it’s been a while for you, then try watching your favourite funny YouTube video, movie, TV show, or comedian. If you’re looking for a recommendation, my go-to is The Office because it never fails to help me find the humour in things.

Another fool-proof method that should guarantee at least a chuckle is a good joke or pun. Let’s give it a try: Why did the newspaper bring a ladder to the party? Because it wanted to reach

the top stories! Okay here’s one more: The newspaper reporter loved keeping track of birds. You could say it was her “tweet” of the trade.

Hopefully you let out a little laugh (or maybe a grunt) but either way remember, the goal is to laugh or smile, even if it’s just a little bit. And if you did find our jokes funny, then I guess you could say that The Ontarion has an “ink-credible” sense of humour.

2. Read (or listen to) a book

Sometimes all we need is a healthy break from reality and there’s no better way to do that than by getting lost in a good book. You could re-read your favourite book or maybe start one that you’ve been meaning to get to for a while. But if you don’t know what to read, then check out The Ontarion’s last few issues (and this issue!) for our book reviews. Maybe one of those will spark your interest.

If you’re stuck on where to find books, you can head to the Guelph Public Library, or go on their website and use their digital library to access their free eBooks and eAudiobooks. You can also find affordable books at thrift stores like Value Village and Goodwill.

3. Get some fresh air

This might not sound like the most appealing option while it’s cold outside, but even spending just a couple of minutes outdoors can help bring you some relief. You can start small like standing outside for a few minutes, taking in your surroundings by acknowledging your senses, and focusing on some deep breathing. You can also go big and bundle up for a walk around your neighbourhood, or to a park, or nearby coffee shop. The key is to try and make the experience as enjoyable for yourself as possible, like listening to music, an audiobook or podcast, or bringing a friend (human or

dog) along with you. Nature can be a great way to help ground us in stressful times, even if it’s cold outside.

4. Doodle or journal

Grab a piece of paper, a pencil, and let your hand roam free! It can be relieving to do a fun activity without putting any pressure on yourself. That’s why doodling and journaling are such great activities because you get to decide how much energy you want to put into it. You don’t have to doodle anything specific, you can just let your hand glide as you draw shapes and lines. If you want to try something different, you can try drawing with your eyes closed or with your less-dominant hand and see what you create!

Many people have also found themselves feeling better after they spend some time journaling, even if it’s just for a few minutes. You could write the first thoughts that come to your mind or use a journal prompt if you’re looking

for some guidance. Some common prompts include asking yourself “How am I feeling today?” or “What are some positive things that happened today?” Remember that there is no right answer to these questions, journaling is a time for you to express your thoughts and feelings without over analyzing or judging them.

We have all at some point felt a bit down and the best you can do is to try out some things that might help you boost your mood until those less enjoyable feelings pass. However, if you find that after a while you aren’t feeling any better or are feeling worse, it would be best to seek help from a mental health professional to get the support you deserve. The University of Guelph offers counselling services to students, which can be found at: wellness. uoguelph.ca/counselling. Additionally, the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health website has mental health resources for the Guelph community.

Pathway programs at the University of Guelph: A walkthrough

From speaking with Navitas to partnering up with Lovely Professional University, the University of Guelph is exploring their options for international recruitment

TAYLOR PIPE WITH FILES FROM OLIVIA STRUTT & PAULA HENRY-DURU

On Jan. 17, a town hall meeting was held at the University of Guelph to provide insight and get feedback on their potential partnership with Navitas, a private international student recruitment company.

Pathway programs have become increasingly popular among Canadian universities as they look to internationalize their campuses. With universities like McMaster and Toronto Metropolitan University, (formerly Ryerson) signing on, even the University of Guelph is looking to expand their international recruitment through these programs.

On Feb. 5, following vocal opposition from faculty and some students, a senate meeting was held where it was revealed that the university had paused its talks with Navitas.

At the same meeting, the senate approved a partnership with Lovely Professional University, a private university in India for a pathway program into the University of Guelph’s agricultural college.

Government Cuts

On Jan. 17, 2019, the Ontario government measures to reduce university tuition by ten per cent and freeze tuition at its current level for domestic students.

This helped students save an average of $660 on tuition during the 2019-2020 school year, according to a press release from the provincial government.

This pre-pandemic tuition freeze has continued on for five years.

“By freezing tuition for another year, we are saying yes to ensuring that students have access to affordable, high-quality post-secondary education,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities in a release from March 2022.

In November 2023, a blue-ribbon panel of experts called on the Ontario government to lift the tuition freeze.

“As time goes on, this situation is ever more likely to pose a significant threat to the financial sustainability of a major part of the province’s postsecondary sector. Higher rates of price inflation in the last two or three years exac-

erbate this threat,” the panel said. The report explains that in 20212022 Ontario’s university funding worked out to $11,471 per student, compared to the Canadian average of $20,772 per student.

The government-commissioned panel recommended that tuition be raised by five per cent in the 2024-2025 academic year, and a two percent increase in tuition in the year following, along with additional tuition raises in line with the federal inflation rate.

In addition to tuition freezing and reducing costs, the government also scrapped a number of grants to students and universities. Losses from university amount to just over $1.1 billion.

“No province has underfunded postsecondary education more, and no province’s institutions have found so many ways to raise money from private sources,” says a report titled The State of Post-Secondary Education in Canada in 2023.

Record inflation is another one of the reasons why universities and students have been struggling in light of these tuition freezes.

In 2023 the annual inflation rate was 3.9 per cent. The year prior had an inflation rate of 6.8 per cent, the highest in 40 years. This affects the day-to-day costs for families, students and the university.

On Dec. 5, Charlotte Yates released an open letter to the university community about the lack of government funding and how it affects the University of Guelph.

“To weather this storm, we have undertaken several shortterm measures,” the letter reads. “These include a 5.5 per cent reduction to our base operating budget, reducing services and leveraging our reserves — none of which are long-term sustainable practices.”

In addition to the tuition freeze, and rising inflation, declining enrolment has also been a factor with multiple universities across the province.

Many of these institutions have increased their enrolment of international students to make up for the loss in domestic tuition fees. International students pay up to three times more in tuition

compared to their domestic counterparts, according to Stats Canada.

Universities like Wilfrid Laurier, Toronto Metropolitan University and the University of Manitoba have partnered with an international student recruitment firm, Navitas, to help ease the financial strain.

Navitas

Navitas’ business model is to recruit international students who typically wouldn’t qualify for Canadian universities. These students would study through a Navitas-run program using campus space. They would have the opportunity to complete their degree at the partnered university, should their grades be sufficient.

According to Navitas’ website, it’s partnered with over 300 universities worldwide. They also list 28 universities as part of their international pathways program. Navitas uses the campuses of these universities to teach their students and in turn gives the universities royalties for using their space and branding.

In a meeting of the Board of Governors at the University of Manitoba, who has partnered with Navitas, conservative estimates said the university is poised to receive $100 million in funding from their partnership with Navitas over the first decade of their partnership.

In a letter to the board of governors from the University of Guelph Faculty Association, (UGFA), Faculty expressed their concerns about the possible partnership. Their letter cited concern for the quality of education the students would receive, the outsourcing of teaching, the university’s reputation and the wellbeing of the students in these programs.

“The University’s commitment to internationalization and EDI [Equity, Diversity and Inclusion] will be undermined and tainted by this initiative, as its principal requirement is the ability to pay high fees,” they said in their open letter.

They also expressed worry about students and their families possibly being exploited as well as creating segregated international groups and how the agreement

would affect the overall strain on campus facilities and resources. Navitas is a private company owned by equity firm, BGH Capital, whose primary purpose is to generate profit for its shareholders.

Faculty also got the chance to voice their concerns about Navitas at a town hall meeting held in Peter Clark Hall on Jan. 17.

Associate vice president academic, Byron Sheldrick, spoke with faculty members about how the program would possibly work.

“Our overall goal, though, is over the next several years to increase our intake from what now is about 270 a year to maybe 400 to 500 over the next five years,” he said during the presentation.

Faculty members and students raised concerns about the partnership with Navitas and questioned the financial aspect of the program.

“These are real people trying to have real educational experiences that will lead to success. I don't see this leading to success,” professor Andrew Hamilton-Wright said during the meeting.

History professor Karen Racine also voiced her opinion.

“International Student Recruitment isn't going to be the solution to our problems,” Racine said.

Nate Broughton, University of Guelph student and one of two Central Student Association, (CSA), board representatives for College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, brought the issue to the CSA’s attention. He said he was optimistic about the acknowledgement of opposition.

“I would like to think that, at least at some level, they took notice of the amount of opposition that they were facing, and heard the students and faculty and everyone else on campus that was saying this is not a good idea,” said Broughton, speaking in his role as a student.

Sheldrick also mentioned there are different approaches to working to internationalize campus. One of the programs he mentioned during the town hall was an admission pathway between a private university called Lovely Professional University, (LPU), located in Phagwara, India, and the Ontario Agricultural College, (OAC).

LPU

In a news release posted on Feb. 12, the university announced its partnership between LPU and the OAC to the public.

The university did not confirm when talks of a partnership with LPU began.

However, on Feb. 19 2023, an LPU Instagram account posted photos of U of G president Charlotte Yates visiting the campus in India. The post said that Yates attended LPU to “discuss opportunities for students and faculty.”

LPU is owned by the Lovely Group in India, which is run by Ashok Mittal, a businessman and former politician. Lovely Group operates businesses spanning different industries that are grouped into Indian sweets, auto dealerships, education, packaged food, hospitality and others, in addition to Lovely Professional University.

“It is shocking that, while facing strong opposition to their Navitas initiative, the administration did not think to mention to the UGFA or the University community that there were separate discussions with LPU,” said Kunze in an email to the UGFA membership.

Kunze also mentioned in his email “unlike Navitas, LPU is at least a degree-granting university that is considered by university ranking systems.”

Jessamine Luck, manager of stakeholder communications for the University of Guelph, said in an email the “pathway will start in fall 2025 with an initial cohort of five to 10 students and this number will slowly grow over time according to program capacity.”

Luck said that the program follows a similar process as the degree pathway for students with an associate diploma in agriculture at U of G’s Ridgetown campus who wish to apply their credits toward a bachelor of science (agriculture) degree.

She did not comment on exact similarities or differences between the programs.

Broughton said the differences between LPU and Navitas did change his perspective.

“I think that on one hand, it is a little bit different,” he said. “It is … an accredited institution,

which is ranks in… university rankings. It's more reputable than Navitas in that sense.”

Luck explained further.

“Its agriculture program is accredited by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research,” Luck said. “As part of the pathway development process, U of G faculty have rigorously assessed LPU’s agriculture program curriculum to ensure consistent academic standards between the two universities.”

Both Navitas and LPU are technically 2 + 2 pathway programs, but work differently.

LPU is a private university, whereas Navitas is a company that is hired to recruit students.

Navitas does not have its own campus, but it uses existing space at their partnering universities. However, LPU is an accredited university with a campus that students will attend for the first two years of their program.

Navitas agrees to pay the university for their space, whereas with Lovely Professional University it is a “memorandum of understanding” agreement.

However, they both work to outsource international student recruitment to financially benefit the universities they partner with.

Student Cap & New funding

On Jan. 22, the federal government announced a cap on how many international students post-secondary institutions were allowed to take in.

“In light of the recently announced cap on international students, further discussion on a potential partnership with Navitas has been paused until we have a more accurate picture of what international student recruitment will look like in Ontario,” Luck said.

Broughton said that he hopes the pause on talks with Navitas are permanent.

“I'm happy that they've paused discussions for the time being. Hopefully that is a kind of permanent pause,” he said. “I guess it will depend on what the interpretation of these regulations looks like.”

On Feb. 26, in response to the blue-ribbon panel’s recommendation the provincial government announced almost $1.3 billion in funding for post-secondary institutions that are struggling due to underfunding.

The funding will be distributed over the next three years. According to the Ontario government’s press release, “the government is continuing to evaluate the blue-ribbon panel’s advice and is working with postsecondary sector partners to create the right conditions to help students access and succeed in postsecondary education.”

A student’s guide for easy and accessible healthy living

Tips and resources to make caring for our bodies easier

Consistently caring for our bodies through movement, nutrition, and connection can feel impossible when piled on top of the other countless demands of student life.

Navigating healthy eating and physical activity guidelines as a student is like walking through a maze of contradictory advice, with the worst of it coming from social media. There is pressure to do everything perfectly, like only buying organic produce and working out five times a week. But with limited time and financial resources, students need clear and accessible options for healthy living.

Consider this a student’s guide to saving money, eating well, and moving often — since doing things imperfectly is better than not at all.

Fitness

Exercise can be easy to forget when school gets busy. It’s difficult to plan time-consuming workouts and gym memberships or class passes can be obscenely priced. But students have a lot to gain from consistent physical activity. According to the World Health Organization, physical activity increases learning and thinking skills, reduces negative

mental health symptoms, and of course, improves overall wellbeing.

At U of G, students are lucky to have access to the Guelph Gryphons Athletics Center, (GGAC). All full-time and part-time undergraduate students and fulltime graduate students taking on-campus courses in the current semester can participate in dropin recreation, intramurals, fitness on-demand, and clubs for free.

To take it up a notch, consider purchasing an NRG pass. This gets you into the Fitness Centre and brand-new NRG Zone, a reduced sensory, small-scale fitness studio in the GGAC. The NRG Zone has scheduled drop-in times, including dedicated women’s-only hours, and is a great resource for students looking to start a new fitness routine without feeling intimidated in the bustling Fitness Centre.

“The GGAC truly epitomizes the power of place. It is somewhere that students can take care of their physical fitness and mental wellness through exercise and fitness, as well as through social connection,” said Sarah Mau, Associate Director of Programming & Facilities in the Department of Athletics.

“It is a place where students can develop a sense of belonging

to campus and create lifelong friendships through sport and recreation, as well as build self-efficacy through learning new skills or refining existing ones,” she said.

Perhaps the best perk of the NRG pass is access to a loaded schedule of group fitness classes, including cycle, strength, TRX, and even yoga and pilates options. Programming runs seven days a week, making fitness easy to squeeze into a busy schedule. Some classes start as early as 7 a.m. (Wednesday’s Sunrise Cycle) or finish as late as 9:30 p.m. (Monday’s STRONG Nation).

Group fitness is often underrated and provides an opportunity to connect to other students. The motivation of a group fitness class is hard to beat. Plus, NRG programming is run by knowledgeable instructors, so you can truly let your brain turn off from school and work for an hour as you’re guided through relaxing or fiery fitness programs.

Healthy Eating

Eating nutritious diets to fuel our busy lives can be costly and time-consuming. Luckily, there are plenty of resources to help.

The U of G Food Market is

an excellent source for accessible, fresh produce. The market was launched in 2022 as a joint initiative between the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute’s, (CESI), Guelph Lab, the Arrell Food Institute, the Sustainability Office, Hospitality Services, and The SEED Guelph. It has since grown to operate twice a week, with regular Thursday markets taking place on the main U of G campus and Wednesday markets in the community housing residences.

Aside from the ease of purchasing fresh produce right on campus, the market follows a sliding-scale pricing model. After having their selection rung up, customers can choose to pay somewhere along a scale of fullprice or deeply discounted, which is usually about 30 to 50 per cent below grocery retail prices.

Attending the market is also a great way to try new foods, since there is a range of weekly offerings that reflect “Diverse tastes, cultures, and cuisines on campus” according to the CESI website.

Another strategy to dodge grocery prices is by utilizing apps such as Too Good To Go and Flashfood. Too Good To Go allows you to buy discounted “surprise bags” of food from local restaurants, bakeries, and retailers.

The food from these apps is surplus that hasn’t been sold by its best-before date, though it’s still perfectly good to eat. This means customers are helping divert food from landfills, an economic and environmental alternative to getting takeout.

However, picky eaters and those with food allergies should be warned, since there is no option to choose what goes in the bag and foods might contain aller-

gens. But it can be of great value.

Flashfood operates on a similar model. Grocery stores can offer products nearing their best-before dates at a deeply discounted price, then customers can browse options on the app, head into the store, and pick up their order from the store’s dedicated Flashfood Zone.

There are a few participating locations in Guelph including some Zehrs and No Frills stores. But the secret for both apps is to check back often since availability is limited and the best food can get picked up quickly.

Other ways to save money on groceries include shopping sales and coupons — which can be found on apps like Flipp — or taking advantage of student discounts and promotions. Some grocery stores offer discounts or rewards specifically for students, like Metro and Zehrs.

If you’re looking for more

To find more information on healthy eating tips, recipes, and “myths,” check out the Student Nutrition Awareness Program at U of G on Instagram, @ SNAPUofGuelph. Otherwise, the Student Wellness Centre is rich in educational resources that are accessible both online and in-person.

Overall, taking care of our physical health through nutrition and exercise is key to both shortand long-term wellbeing. Students, although faced with barriers like affordability and time constraints, can especially benefit from a healthy diet and regular physical activity. By getting thrifty and utilizing student-specific programs, Gryphons can access all the benefits of physical wellbeing for a lower cost.

The rise of sports betting

Betting on sports has never been simpler, but is it too easy?

Chances are if you have watched a sports game in the past six months, one major thing will have stuck out to you and that's the extreme number of gambling ads littered within the programming. Whether it's as simple as a small graphic placed in the bottom corner displaying the live betting odds or a commercial with an enticing sign-up bonus, there's a guarantee that whether you like it or not sports betting will be shown to you.

Many of these gambling advertisements are slipped in so effortlessly by the commentators that one hardly even realizes they are being targeted. In fact in the Premier League, England’s highest football league system, there were over 3,500 instances in one game of on-screen gambling-associated logos, according to Marketing Beat.

One of the main tactics with which these companies lure people in is by enticing them with too-good-to-be-true offers, such as betting $5and receiving $200 in bonus bets, or signing up with sites such as Fanduel where they will credit a no-sweat bet (money back if the bet loses) up to $1000 plus free bonus bets.

These promotions are almost always linked to a refer-a-friend scenario, much like a pyramid scheme where the more people you recruit benefits your account with some sort of free bonus bet or credit Meanwhile, the clientele of the sportsbook grows and grows. The issue with these bonus bets for most individuals is that once they feel the addicting taste of winning, they will continue to play. Eventually, once they run through the bonus bets, they have a desire to chase that high, which can result in scenarios where people overextend themselves and lose more than they wanted to or can.

University of Guelph professor Sunghwan Yi’s research focuses on self-control in gambling.

“It's not like going to the casino, you can gamble anytime,” he said.

Online sports betting is unlike past gambling where people would have to travel to an offi-

cial casino to gamble. Nowadays gambling is available at the tip of your fingers 24/7. The markets offered range from traditional sports leagues such as the NBA, Premier League, and NFL down to ping pong in Japan. There is no lack of markets to bet on for games close to home.

The Super Bowl game between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers this year had 50 million Americans expected to bet on the game with approximately $16 billion anticipated to be gambled through legal or illegal bookmakers or friends, according to the Wall Street Journal

The props one can bet on at the Super Bowl range from who will score the first touchdown to which team will win the game to how long will the anthem be, how many times will Taylor Swift be shown, what colour Gatorade will be thrown on the winning coach, and many others. This wide variety of betting markets means that there was no lack of opportunities to put your money on something whether it be an in-game prop or novelty.

Much of Yi’s research is on how unsuccessful people are in sticking to their gambling limits, what makes it hard to stick to them, and what variables or personality traits make it harder to stick to their limits in the gambling space. Yi first began his research in 2008 when he started to research how people would feel after losing a big amount, and specifically the difference between shame and guilt.

His research found that people who tend to experience guilt try to limit their gambling to avoid making the same mistakes.

People who experience shame often feel their gambling is completely out of control and that there is something about themselves that has been tainted. He said they often feel like there is not much they can do about this problem.

Many of his other studies revolved around similar subject areas with a current study showing that when people experience stress they are a lot more likely to violate their self-imposed limits.

What his research found was that negative stress accumulated throughout the day and in an attempt to cope with it, people would begin to drink or gamble. Some go over their gambling limit in an effort to deal with the negative effects they have.

All of these factors, the prevalence and ease, enticing bonuses, and stress-relief are all key con-

tributors to the rise of gambling, especially in University students who are prime sportsbook targets.

One worrying fact for Yi when speaking on youth gambling is how habits are built.

“Late adolescence to early adulthood is the shaping era for many people and the habits you acquire will go a long way,” he said. “It's very difficult to shed

these habits so in a way we are very worried, once you have been hooked to gambling in your early twenties, it's very hard to get out of it.”

If you’re worried about your sports gambling habits, try putting a limit on yourself. Never gamble more than you can afford to, and remember it’s all about having fun - not making money.

‘She’s Got Game’ initiative reaches fundraising goal

Brisson, Leis & Associates

Judith A. Brisson, O.D. P. Lynne Leis, O.D.

Reita Thomas-Parel, O.D. Violet Zawada, O.D. Jianchang (Iris) Shen, Optometrist

The initiative ensures women athletes get opportunities for development, recognition and scholarships

TAYLOR PIPE

AUniversity of Guelph initiative has reached its $2.5 million fundraising goal.

The “She’s Got Game” initiative helps to ensure women athletes get opportunities for scholarships, development and recognition.

“We are thrilled to reach this milestone, a goal that we set out six years ago to achieve when the program was little more than a vision,” said Scott McRoberts, U of G’s director of athletics, in a press release.

sport through equity and inclusion. Given our rich history of powerful women who have made a difference both on and off the field, we deeply appreciate the importance of this initiative.”

To date, the program has raised over $2.5 million and supported 550 athletes with various scholarships.

At the 2024 She’s Got Game gala, McRoberts announced increased support for women through 51 named scholarships.

Exams available in English, French, Polish, Mandarin and Cantonese.

The initiative is built on three pillars: fundraising, policy and engagement. In 2018, the program was poised to receive $250,000 in funding from then-U of G provost, Charlotte Yates.

Current U of G provost Gwen Chapman has continued to build on that and will be committing $50,000 per year over the next five years for a total of $250,000.

“The hard work and generosity of so many has made this incredible achievement possible,” said Dr. Charlotte Yates, U of G president and vice-chancellor, in the release. “By investing in our Gryphons, we contribute to our goals of transforming university

“We cannot overstate our gratitude to all of the donors who stepped forward to support this initiative,” says McRoberts. “That so many have helped us reach this milestone in six years is a powerful statement of support for our women’s programs and student-athletes.”

McRoberts also said the Department of athletics will continue working on the solid foundation that the She’s Got Game initiative has created over the past six years. He added that the department hopes “to continue to fundraise for women’s sports and attract the best and brightest student-athletes and foster gender equity as we develop world class athletes, scholars and citizens.”

How to survive a friendship breakup

You said you’d be friends forever. What now?

Breakups are well-documented.

There are singles like Taylor Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble” or “You’re Losing Me,” that scene in Legally Blonde where Elle throws chocolates at her TV, and classic lines like “It’s not you, it’s me.” I’d bet there are as many love stories as there are tales of exes tearing apart teddy bears and setting fire to old photographs.

But when friendships end, it’s a different story. You might have grown up together, pretending you were royals, outlaws, or superheroes. In high school, you might have shared pizza and the latest gossip in the cafeteria. Or perhaps you met during O-Week, where you hit up events together to grab as much free swag as you could.

Friendships form in many ways, but each one leaves a mark on us. Like the saying goes, “You’re a product of the five people you spend the most time with.” You spend lots of time with friends, sharing secrets, feelings, and memories. And they’re there for you through thick and thin –until things change.

Throughout life, there’s a couple ways friendships can shift. Here’s a survival guide to a friendship breakup, in four steps (sorry, but these are neither quick

nor easy).

Dealing with the initial blow

Friends grow apart for different reasons, like clashes in values, long distances, and changing lives. If your friendship has felt off lately, it’s important to talk to your friend about your feelings. What you perceive as anger towards you might be something completely different: it’s possible your friend is dealing with personal issues, overwhelming assignments, or just life in general. Good communication is key to strengthening your friendship, and what doesn’t kill your friendship makes it stronger.

However, sometimes a friendship is just over – to quote Lana Del Rey, “When you know, you know.” Maybe they’ve been lying, showing toxic behaviour, putting your friendship on the back burner, or cutting you off entirely. In these cases, it’s time to accept that you need some space.

Many feelings can arise when a friendship ends, like confusion, rejection, anger, sadness, or loneliness. It’s like the stages of grief: someone important in your life is gone. That’s why it’s important to take time to recharge and refocus on yourself.

Prioritizing self-care

Now is the time to be your own bestie – taking out your feelings on your friend will only make things worse. Instead, let loose to your journal or in your Notes app, or write a letter to your friend and set it aflame instead of sending it. If that’s not your style, go to the gym and sweat off your anger or try something creative like painting, baking, or dancing. You could even try something new if your hobbies remind you of your former friend. Now’s the time to explore.

Another thing that helps is listening to music, and there’s a playlist out there for every emotion. Music has this magical way of expressing exactly what you feel. For example, when I feel angry, I blast “Limp” by Fiona Apple, “Dead to Me” by Kali Uchis, “Poison Poison” by Reneé Rapp, or “Backstabber” by Kesha. Give these ones a try or find songs that work for you.

Finally, realize your own selfworth. You’re too good to be in a friendship that’s been letting you down. Spend time with yourself, whether it’s taking yourself out to coffee or enjoying a walk through nature. Think about the things you like about yourself, the things

that make you, you. It’s important to be content in your own company, because you spend all your time with yourself. You’re your own best friend, so treat yourself like it.

Treasuring the time you spent together

Ouch. You’re looking through old photos of you together, reading through texts from a few months ago. It stings to look back on the better times, but it’s hard not to dwell on the past.

Once some of the initial anger and sadness has worn off, think of your friendship for what it was. Nostalgia can blind us from what really happened – reflect honestly about your relationship. Maybe there were already some problems, or maybe you were also in the wrong. Think of this as a learning experience. A friendship breakup can be a reminder to set boundaries, to set higher standards for yourself, or to be more empathetic towards your friends.

Eventually, you should get to a place where you can treasure the good memories made with the person, but where you can also acknowledge what went wrong. This gives you a good basis to make better friends in the future.

Forming new friendships

I hate to be cliché, but there’s many other fish in the sea. Try to be open-minded – even though a new person won’t be exactly like your last friend, everyone has something unique to offer. Maybe they do a really funny Shrek impression. Maybe they bake mouth-watering cupcakes. They might have the exact same hobbies as you – you’ll never know until you get out there.

It’s hard to make friends, and you might wonder if people will ever “get” you as much as your old bestie. Start small, just chat up the person next to you in class or join a new club. Everyone feels a bit awkward sometimes, but once you get to know other people, you can build new friendships and move on.

Just like with any breakup, healing is a journey. You’re allowed to feel sad that you’ve lost a friend – One day, this will all be in the past, and you might even see them in public without immediately wincing. But for now, blast the sad songs and take their pictures off your walls. Maybe give the photos ugly mustaches if that works, I don’t know. There’s new friends waiting for you, no matter how hard it is to leave the old ones behind.

Gryphons athletes featured in new ad campaign

You may see your fellow classmates in places like the mall, the athletics centre or on campus TVs

If you find yourself walking around the University of Guelph campus or Stone Road Mall you may notice some new posters as a part of the new “Stay True” Campaign.

"The 'Stay True' Brand Campaign in Partnership with the University of Guelph is a collaborative effort aimed at engaging our community of shoppers both at Stone Road Mall, on campus and beyond," says Christina Magee, Marketing Manager of Stone Road Mall.

The campaign is centred around the “Stay True” brand which emphasizes authenticity and community connection. It launched on Feb. 21 and features Guelph Gryphons athletes exploring who they are as athletes and in everyday life.

“Our goal was to create a dynamic campaign that blends retail promotion with community engagement, sparking interest while fostering local pride and connection,” said

campaign creator Brian Kennedy. Kennedy said the main purpose of the ads were to “highlight the exceptional talent nurtured at the University of Guelph and showcase their contributions to the community.”

One of these exceptional athletes Mallory Stephens was among the first individuals chosen as a part of this campaign. Stephens is a 5th-year biomedical engineering student at the University of Guelph and plays for the women's lacrosse team.

Stephens described her vision of staying true as being unapologetically herself, constantly growing and never compromising.

In regards to the shoot itself, Stephens explained her first reaction was feeling “really excited.”

“I was modelling in my lacrosse stuff which makes me feel confident,” Stephens said. “I have been playing lacrosse since I was twelve, and then to also be framed in a

way where I can look pretty and have a style too was great… showing I can be attractive in my sport and with makeup on.”

People will be able to find Stephens' as well as the other varsity athletes' pictures around both campus and Stone Road mall for a limited time.

Both Magee and Kennedy look forward

to continuing working with the university on future projects.

“Our ongoing connection with the University of Guelph remains a priority," said Magee. "Looking ahead, we're eager to involve more talent in future initiatives, exploring deeper collaborations to amplify the 'Stay True' brand.”

GRYPHONS VOLLEYBALL

The Barbie movie… an antimen agenda or the epitome of white feminism?

With talk of sexist jokes and award show snubs, I wonder what Barbie was made for

ALYSSA CUNNINGHAM

Barbie showed that life in plastic isn’t always fantastic. PHOTO PROVIDED

Since the release of Greta Gerwig's film Barbie, there has been a significant discourse on what the movie was trying to promote and its portrayal of female empowerment. Ultimately, the subjectivity of the film varies greatly on who it is being perceived by. For instance, when I went to see Barbie with my mother and sister, I walked out of the theatre being left with a mix of emotions.

I felt nostalgic about seeing a movie centred on one of my childhood toys, validated by America Ferrera’s monologue on the impossible expectations of a woman, but most prominently, I was overjoyed that I was able to experience this movie in a theatre full of strangers who all collectively agreed to show our appreciation for Barbie through our pink-coloured clothes.

However, with any movie, there is bound to be criticism and backlash. A group of people (predominantly men) took the film’s rendition of “Barbie Land” a bit too seriously (I’m talking to you, Piers Morgan and Ben Shapiro). There has been this growing misconception that Barbie is rooted in misandry and “Is an assault on not just Ken, but all men” – a direct quote from Piers Morgan, everybody. I truly believe that anyone who has this opinion watched the first 20 minutes of the movie and then shut it off after their fragile masculinities got too hurt.

Essentially, in the opening act of the movie, it is shown how Barbie Land is a matriarchy where

all of the Barbies hold positions of power and relevancy. There is Doctor Barbie, President Barbie, Nobel Prize Winner Barbie, etc. All of the Ken’s in Barbie Land are just Ken, and they live for Barbie's love and affection. In a very amplified and satirical way, Gerwig illustrates how the gender roles and expectations in a patriarchal society would look like if the roles were reversed.

Eventually, when Barbie and Ken travel to the real world and experience how society functions in a patriarchal system, Ken realizes how advantageous it is to him and decides to bring that societal system over to Barbie Land. Ultimately, the Ken’s end up turning on each other due to the patriarchal system forcing expectations on them and negatively affecting their mental health. Therefore, Gerwig was not promoting men as the villains in Barbie, but patriarchy as a whole.

Now, that is only a small tidbit of what Barbie was trying to express. And who would I be if I wrote an opinion piece on Barbie and only focused on Ken and overshadowed the impactful meaning of Barbie– oh wait, I know! I would be comedian and host of the 2024 Golden Globes, Jo Koy. Somehow Koy was able to piss off every person in the audience with his subpar jokes – and no, don’t accuse me of not being able to take a joke because, guess what? I wish it was Ricky Gervais who hosted the show but we can’t always get what

we want, now can we?

What was supposed to be a night dedicated to celebrating last year's successes in the film industry turned into one that was excessively sexist. For example, instead of introducing the films that are nominated for cinematic box office achievement with equal intent, Koy went on to say that “Oppenheimer is based on a 721-page Pulitzer Prize winning book about the Manhattan project and Barbie is on a plastic doll with big boobies.”

I understand that as a host for an award show, you need to keep the audience's attention, but any joke that needs a punchline which degrades an entire group of people will never be okay. There was no need to belittle Barbie to uplift Oppenheimer when later in the evening Barbie won in that category and made history by achieving the biggest debut ever for a film directed by a woman. However, instead of focusing on how Barbie was a billion dollar grossing film that empowered a multitude of women, Koy reduced it to make a titty joke.

Koy went on to dig himself into an even bigger grave by joking that “The key moment in Barbie is when she goes from perfect beauty to bad breath, cellulite, and flat feet.” To be quite honest, I don't find these jokes offensive –for starters, they're not funny, but they’ve also just become so tiring. Women have heard these kinds of jokes a million times over and they are always the same, but it's moments like these that highlight the

very reason Barbie was invented. Women shouldn’t have to fight to have their achievements acknowledged while constantly being represented as something less than.

Although I do believe Barbie intended to break down societal barriers and promote female empowerment, it was only skimming the surface. One of the main points of Barbie was to uplift ALL women’s voices, not just the voices of white women. The way people reacted to Barbie, specifically Gerwig and Margot Robbie, not winning in their respective categories at the Golden Globe Awards solidified that many people’s perceptions of womanhood are very shortsighted.

Despite the award ceremony beginning on a rough note with Koy's speech, it was a sensational night for recognizing the accomplishments of women of colour in the film industry. Actresses such as Ali Wong, Ayo Edebiri, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph triumphed in their categories by each bringing home a Golden Globe. However, the media was in a frenzy the following day over the apparent Barbie snub. A multitude of people went on social media to express their opinions that: “Greta and Margot should’ve won,” or “This is exactly why Barbie was made.” So many people were intently focused on Gerwig’s and Robbie’s accomplishments being so-called “overlooked” that the very well-earned awards given to women of colour were insanely overshadowed.

Lily Gladstone made history by being the first Indigenous woman to receive a Golden Globe, as well as the first Indigenous woman to be nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Oscars, but the majority of news outlets could only talk about the losses for Gerwig and Robbie.

When it comes to the celebration of women's achievements, there has been a recurring pattern of women of colour being excluded in the matter. This was made very apparent when a TikTok by creator @addiekingg went viral for celebrating womanhood at the Golden Globe Awards. The video showcased celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence, Selena Gomez, and Taylor Swift cheering on other women during the award show, however it is very evident in the video that the women of colour who were in attendance were left out.

When looking at the response from the recent Golden Globes, it becomes apparent that our collective understanding of womanhood and femininity must evolve to encompass the diverse experiences and contributions of all women. The narrative around the Barbie snub is only a small contribution to the systemic oversight of the recognition and achievements of women of colour. Only by amplifying and celebrating the voices of marginalized communities can we truly achieve equality and representation in the entertainment industry and beyond.

Feminism

doesn’t recognize all

women

A look at the exclusionary side of feminism

Growing up I proudly wore the title of “feminist” as if it were a name-tag spread across my chest. I am no longer sure if that statement still applies. While I still care and advocate for women’s rights, I’m not sure if feminism is for me since it does not give all women the same level of support.

I don’t remember a time when I was not aware of the difference in treatment between men and women. As a child, I always noticed the little things. Being raised in a traditional South Asian household, I quickly caught onto the fact that my male relatives did not have to follow the same rules and guidelines my elders enforced on me and my other female relatives.

These experiences led me to claim feminism as my own.

Because why shouldn’t women be treated equally to men? For years, I loved feminism. I adored it when my teachers would talk about women's movements and the barriers we as a gender have overcome and challenged over the years. In those moments, I felt pride at the fact that I was grouped into the category of these powerful and exceptional women. And while that sense of pride is still there, it has somewhat diminished, because the women and movements my teachers focused on did not include women like me.

I remember in grade four learning that women had to fight for the right to vote and it was not until around the 1920s that Canadian women received this right. But it was not until years later that I learned (on my own because my teachers didn’t talk about it) that this newfound right at the time only belonged to white women. I think that was one of the first realizations I had that when it came to discussions about feminism, marginalized women were ignored.

As I grew up, I began to no-

tice other places where marginalized women were left out. One of the most noticeable things was that when it came to TV shows and movies, women of colour, like most people of colour, played two-dimensional characters and were only really used if a white character needed them. While there have been many strides made towards better representation of women of colour in media, as a child, the most popular heroines were always white. Not only that, but when I would see a character who was a woman of colour, harmful stereotypes were always at play. Stereotypes that mocked cultures and made the characters undesirable. As if women of colour were only used when their “flaws” could uplift their white counterparts in comparison. The characters of colour lacked the depth and attention that white characters received.

However, this does not just exist in entertainment media. Political media pays more attention to political issues and movements when a white woman is the face of it. I was in grade eight when I first heard about the #MeToo movement, which aimed to support all survivors of sexual assault and abuse. Although the #MeToo movement was important and something that needed to be done, it still failed to acknowledge the unique obstacles that people of colour must overcome in those situations. For example, women of colour, especially Black women, are less likely to be believed when it comes to sexual assault accusations due to harmful stereotypes that portray them as “promiscuous” and “provocative,” whereas white women are portrayed as “fragile” and “pure.” Many movements have the goal of supporting all kinds of women, however, they fail to realize that there needs to be more attention and equitable resources for marginalized women in order for them to be treated

at the same level as white women.

Overall, feminism does not recognize all women. Women from marginalized communities do not receive the same support and attention as the majority. This is not to say that feminism is not a good thing. Feminism has allowed many women to come together and fight for their rights and passions. The only issue is that it does not acknowledge, ap-

preciate, or include all women.

Over the years, there have been articles and journals that regard the intersectionality of feminism and look at the divide within feminism. However, we still lack awareness on these issues. We often forget that not all women experience the same challenges to the same degree. Of course, there are still barriers and issues white women are fighting to overcome today. How-

ever, there are many more for marginalized women due to racism and prejudices, and uss being left out of the conservation only adds to it. While I can not confidently speak for all marginalized women, I can say that women of colour are ignored and neglected. As a woman, I love feminism. As a woman of colour, however, I struggle to. Because how can I be a feminist when feminism continues to exclude me?

100 years of College Royal: New experiences and growth

A look back on the traditions and tales of College Royal's past

The Ontario Agricultural College, OAC, has always been effective at establishing a strong sense of community. It is a place where people of all backgrounds can learn about agriculture and apply that knowledge to develop their future careers. Another notable trait of the OAC is knowing how to have a fun time. No event combines that sense of community, knowledge, and fun more than the College Royal.

On March 16 and 17, the University of Guelph will be hosting its 100th College Royal Open House. An entirely open and free event, the College Royal is an opportunity for the OAC students to share their experience with the wider student community, and the City of Guelph. According to The College on the Hill, way, way, back in 1924, when student teams from the OAC lost in two straight animal judging competitions, they decided to create one of their own.

Starting as a livestock judging competition and grain display in the Bull Ring (when it housed

actual bulls instead of coffee), College Royal evolved over the years into the massive event we know and love today. Each year, this entirely student-run event includes a diverse array of activities, from the College Royal Ball to dairy farming exhibits, dog shows, and square dancing. Truly, the College Royal has something for everyone.

Vet students might be interested in the annual Teddy Bear Surgery station, where you can help local children’s stuffed animals get well. Others might want to learn how to square dance with friends. Feel free to jump in!

You may find a hidden talent like former OAC student Graham Burton who recalled, “We won one year. I am not sure how we got involved in that, but someone asked us, and we decided to do it.”

Awards and other prizes are important at the Royal and the competition has been fierce among students throughout its history.

“I remember being a contestant at College Royal in 1949,” said

Jack Pos, former professor at U of G in an oral history interview in 1999. “I did not realize at the time that I was competing as vigorously as I was.”

Even events like bubble soccer have awards for the winner, and who knows, this year it could be you.

One major highlight that all visitors need to attend is the College Royal Ball. The Guelph University Centre is decorated into various themed rooms with music where people can let loose with their friends or meet new people. It really is a bucket list event. Everyone remembers their time at the ball, including former animal bioscience student Steve Larmer, who described the College Royal Ball as “the event of the calendar year.”

Trying new things is the spice of life, even when it does not always go according to plan. The College Royal itself has experienced a fair share of difficulties over the years. One major example was the almost

permanent cancellation of the College Royal Ball due to the “Great Coat Check Fiasco.”

One year, pea coats were extremely popular, and most students at the Ball brought one. By the end of the night 3,000 pea coats ended up in coat check, but they were not numbered, and had zero personal identifying features.

The clubs helping with the Ball compete for the opportunity to raise funds, with a popular option still being the coat check.

Despite staying until 6:00 a.m. the following morning, organizers could not figure out whose coats were whose, angering attendees. The following year, the Ball was canceled over the fiasco. Luckily, the College Royal Ball managed to recover, and will be held on March 9 this year.

Today, the fiasco has become just another funny story, and the organizers have learned from past mistakes. Besides, the University of Guelph is all about learning, and the College Royal is the place

to do it. In the famous words of former Dean Clay Switzer, “don’t let classes get in the way of your education.”

The College Royal prides itself on the sense of community it has been able to develop. People of all backgrounds and ages can come together to learn or see something they have never seen before. Its exhibits allow students to learn what other programs and departments at the university are learning about. A history major has no clue what an engineering major does, but the Royal provides an opportunity to experience that.

If you are looking to meet new people, show off a talent, try new things, or just want something to do on a cold March weekend, make it a priority to visit the upcoming College Royal. You will not regret it. Check out the College Royal Society website to see what events and opportunities it has to offer. Or just turn up and see for yourself, but maybe leave the peacoat at home, just in case.

BECAUSE WE ASKED...

Who’s a woman that you look up to?

“Maryam Mirzakhani, who is the first woman who has won the Fields Medal. And she’s Persian, and I’m Persian… She actually went to the same high school I went to.”

Kimia Mehrafshan 2nd year, Arts and Science

“My mom. She’s a bright light, she’s a lighthouse to everyone around her.”

Jonah Greenhut 2nd year, Arts and Science

“My mom. She’s my best friend, she’s been through so much in having to deal with three children… She's my hero.”

Jorja Hall 3rd year, Marketing Management

“My grandma because she was extremely intelligent and she lived by her values strongly. And she used her talents to do something she believed in.”

Haidi 4th year, Ecology

“I look up to my mom, because she really knows how to live her life to the fullest and she’s really appreciative of all the people around her.”

Vincent Tran 3rd year, Biomedical Toxicology

“I really admire my mom because she is badass and confident and I want to be more like her.”

Illyria Volcansek 2nd year, Arts and Science.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

The Ontarion has been around since 1951 and we’ve witnessed some pretty historic moments. This is a new feature that will focus on noteworthy articles pulled from our archives that are of interest to our readership today.

We’re currently in the process of fully digitizing our archives and creating a searchable directory. If you’d like updates on when this project is complete, sign up for our newsletter by emailing info@theontarion.com

MARCH TO-DO LIST

FRI MARCH 1

Empowerment Through Self-Defence with SHAC

• 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

• Athletics Centre Rm 242

• Join the Student Health and Advocacy Centre for a free self-defence lesson

• Bring proper shoes and gym attire

• Requires registration before attendance: https:// gryphlife.uoguelph.ca/ event/257690

MON MARCH 4

Board Games Break with OCL

• 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

• UC Rm 390

• Play board games with Off-Campus Living

THURS MARCH 7

Vet Vitals

• 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

• Online

• Get a glimpse into the life of a veterinarian

• Learn about different options for veterinary medicine

Admission for non-members of The Guelph Student Mentorship Society is $5

Movie Night feat. Just Mercy

6:30 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.

MCKN Rm 113

• Join Guelph Correctional Service Volunteers for a viewing of Just Mercy

• Drinks and popcorn with be supplied

SAT MARCH 9

College Royal Ball

9:00 p.m. - 3:00 a.m.

UC Courtyard

Enjoy a night of music, dance, and entertainment $37 per ticket

TUES MARCH 12

safeTALK Suicide Prevention Training

• 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

• Location will be sent to attendees prior to event

• safeTALK is an alertness training and certification that prepares participants to become a suicide-alert helper

Recommended for individuals with on-going relationships with people who have mental health issues

WED MARCH 13

Water Taste Testing Event

• 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

• Thornbrough Atrium

• Test your skills at guessing different brands of water based off taste alone

Managing Low Appetite

2:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m.

• JTP Rm 2259

• Learn about how stress and anxiety may cause low appetite

• Gain strategies on managing low appetite

College Royal Hockey Night

2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

• Gryphon Centre Arena Gold Rink

• Watch Guelph Aggies face-off on the ice against Ridgetown Aggies

• $5 admission, all admissions will be donated to the Farmer Wellness Initiative

THURS MARCH 14

Managing Failure

• 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

• UC

• Join Registered Social Worker Victoria Fritz for a discussion on managing failure

• Learn how to reframe your relationship with failure and gain strategies to foster a positive mindset

Métis Games with Alicia Hamilton

• 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

• Athletics Centre Rm 3212

• Learn how to play Métis games from a Métis Knowledge Keeper

FRI MARCH 15

College Royal Outdoor Games

1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Johnston Green

Participate in logging competitions and tug-of-war Bring a team of six

MON MARCH 18

Mindful Cooking

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Anita Steward Memorial Food Lab

Join the UofG Eating Disorder Awareness Society for a mindful cooking class

• Learn how to make nourish bowls

THURS MARCH 21

World Poetry Day Open Mic

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Join the Guelph Poets Society for a night of poetry and creativity

• Pizza will be provided

A Classic Canvas Event: Stress Buster Paint Night

• 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

• UC Rm 443

• Take a night off of studying to participate in fun paint night activities

STOP Worrying

• Gain techniques on how to curb worrying and address pitfalls that get in the way

• 2 hour online workshop from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

FRI MARCH 22

Legally Blonde: The Musical

• Friday, March 22: 7:00 p.m.10:00 p.m.

• Saturday, March 23: 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

• Sunday, March 24: 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

War Memorial Hall $20 per tickets ($15 with student card)

THURS MARCH 28

Arts and Drafts

• 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

• Silence Sounds, 46 Essex St.

• $2/PWYC entry fee

Join The English Student Society for an arts showcase featuring performers and vendors

FRI MARCH 29

FAN SOFAM Formal

• 8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

• Peter Clark Hall Unit 216

A masquerade formal for students in or around the School of Fine Art and Music

• Listen to live student bands

• $5 entry

ONGOING EVENTS

BEGINS MON MARCH 4

Decreasing Headaches

Gain skills to decrease stress-related tension and migraine headaches, and learn how to better cope with headache pain

• 4 session program

• Meet online weekly on Mondays from 7:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.

BEGINS WED MARCH 6

Take the Stress Out of IBS

• Gain tips on how to decrease IBS symptoms and regulate digestion using diet and stress management

• 5 session program

• Meet online weekly on Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

BEGINS TUES MARCH 19

Anxiety Skills and Strategies

• Gain techniques to decrease the uncomfortable sensations of anxiety

• 3 session program

• Meet online weekly on Tuesdays from 7:00 p.m.8:00 p.m.

THE ONTARION'S CLUB OF THE MONTH

Club Name: Rotaract Club

Club Mission: We work together to develop leadership and professional skills among our members via community volunteering and fundraising projects both on and off campus. We also strive to help members improve their networking skills both with other students and Rotary members throughout Guelph and the surrounding areas. We host a gala at the University each year to raise money for a local organization. Last year we raised over $3000 for Food & Friends and this year we are supporting Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Guelph. Fun Fact: The word Rotaract is a combination of Rotary and Action. How can others get involved: Come to our weekly meetings held in UC room 222 on Wednesdays at 6pm. You can also follow our Instagram @rotaractguelph or join our email list Rotaract@uoguelph.ca for information and updates on our upcoming events and fundraisers!

If you want to be the next club of the month, email tpipe@theontarion.com

PETS OF THE MONTH

MEET LEO!

Breed: English Pointer

Photo: Hayley Smith

Age: 6

Fun Fact: Leo's favourite toy is an empty egg carton

MEET PICKLES!

Breed: Shipoo

Photo: Nadine Lamothe

Age: 13

Fun Fact: Pickles is a "Walmart Greeter" who barks at everyone who comes to the door

MEET KURT!

Breed: African Pygmy Hedgehog

Photo: Ally Loopstra

Age: 9 months

Fun Fact: Kurt's favourite thing to do is arrange his plants in a little nest to sleep in

MEET CASSIE!

Breed: American Bully

Photo: David Hallyburton

Age: 1

Fun Fact: Cassie likes wearing t-shirts around the house

19–Cross

20–Capital

24–Precious

30–Hates

50–___ Jima

51–Kabuki kin

52–Shut in

56–Growth

60–Ship's backbone

61–Layers

63–As well as 64–Suffix with exist 65–Bert's roomie

66–Slay

67–Insect-repelling chemical

68–Orchestra section

69–Cong. meeting

21–Hi-___

23–Acquire

26–On ___-to-know basis

27–Heavy metric weight

28–Guides

29–Dawn

30–Struck out

31–Pago Pago locale

32–Informs

33–Slip

36–Abner's adjective

42–Frying pan

43–Cock

44–Nasal cavities

45–Decapitates

47–Tango need

49–Red or White follower 52–Barely managed, with "out"

53–Hawaii's state bird

54–Gospel singer Winans

55–Dublin's land

56–Like Death Valley

57–Gin flavoring

58–Egyptian goddess

59–Juniors, perhaps

62–Opposite of WSW

BOB'S DOGS CROSSWORD CONTEST

For your chance to win two Bobs dog’s and two pops, just complete the crossword, snap a picture, and send it to puzzles@theontarion.com by Mar. 21 at 3 p.m. Winners are announced in each issue and can arrange a pickup of their voucher by emailing the same address.

Last issue’s winning puzzle was submitted by Gilles Stephany!

7–Gidget

9–Tried

Avneet

Community.

It's just one word but it represents so much. For over 70 years The Ontarion has acted as a platform for community members to report the news, share their storie s, and connect with each other We hav e also been a space where anyone can contribute and make their voice heard.

Come join us as we embark on the next 70 years and continue to connect one another through journalism and storytelling All are welcome

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