Krisha Ravikantharaja

Four reasons U of T loves today's Google doodle

krisha — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 16:55:43 +0000

Four reasons U of T loves today's Google doodle

krisha Fri, 08/11/2017 - 12:55

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Today's Google doodle celebrates the forty-fourth anniversary of the birth of hip hop

Krisha Ravikantharaja

Author legacy

Krisha Ravikantharaja

Topic

City & Culture

UTSC

Sociology

Why does U of T love today's Google doodle on the birth of hip hop? Check out these four reasons:

An ethnography of an open mic workshop for rappers in South Central

Jooyoung Lee is an assistant professor of sociology and the author of Blowin’ Up: Rap Dreams in South Central, which stems from Lee's own experiences with an open mic workshop in South Central Los Angeles. In the book, Lee explains how these experiences informed his understanding of rap culture, and its intersections with race and violence.

StageKeep: an app that assists chorographers plan routines

Recent grad and competitive hip hop dancer Alex Villamil developed StageKeep, an app that allows choregraphers to visualize their routines while considering the rhythm of the music and the performance space. The goal: to overcome the challenges of limited rehearsal times and dancers separated by distance.

Villamil worked with U of T computer science alumnus William Mak, and the app was developed at U of T Scarborough's The Hub accelerator.

Hip hop in the classroom

Interested in taking a course? How about Rap Poetics, an English course looking at the form and rhetoric of rap lyrics, which is taught by Andrew Dubois at U of T Scarbrough.

Lee, mentioned above, has also previously taught Sociology of Hip Hop, a course which looks at hip hop through a sociological lens.

U of T Drizzy

Of course, no list of U of T hip hop connections is complete without mentioning @uoftdrizzy. The Instagram account imagines the adventures of rapper Drake as a student at U of T.

Photo by @uoftdrizzy

Read a U of T News interview with @uoftdrizzy

Mark Canada Day with U of T

krisha — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 17:00:24 +0000

Mark Canada Day with U of T

krisha Fri, 06/30/2017 - 13:00

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Canadian flags flank the entrance of University College at U of T (photo by Lisa Lightbourn)

Krisha Ravikantharaja

Author legacy

Krisha Ravikantharaja

Topic

Across the country, young and old will be marking Canada Day in different ways this year – by celebrating its many successes, drawing attention to its painful shortcomings and, most importantly, reflecting on what it truly means to be Canadian.

In the week leading up to Canada's 150th birthday celebrations, protests at the nation's capital have been reminders that while there is much to celebrate, there is considerable work that still needs to be done.

In an Op-Ed in the Toronto Star, U of T's Charles Pascal, a professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), and Suzanne Stewart, an associate professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, argue that there would be more to celebrate if the nation connected its 150th birthday bash with a more promising future and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

Throughout the year, U of T has been exploring these themes for Canada 150 – from artist Kent Monkman's take on Confederation with the Shame and Prejudice: A Story of Resilience exhibit to symposiums and conferences exploring the ethics of celebrating Canada 150, CanLit's relationship with Indigenous communities, the controversial Louis Riel opera, the sesquicentennial's relationship to the TRC and a public event in Ottawa featuring author and U of T alumnus Margaret Atwood and poet and U of T Professor George Elliott Clarke talking about the role of religion. Many of these events, along with research projects and cultural initiatives were supported by U of T's Canada 150 Fund.

For Saturday, there's a wide range of activities planned by the U of T community to mark the day – ranging from a carillon concert to an aerial drone light show.

Here are a few of the things to check out:

For the musically inclined

Listen to the bells at the Carillion Recital at Hart House's Soldier's Tower, which features alumnus Roy Lee. You’ll have the chance to hear the world debut of the youth category winning entry for the House of Commons’ Chime In, Canada! sesquicentennial composition competition.

Scott Allan Orr, a U of T alumnus, was the winner in the open category of the competition. His composition will premiere at the Peace Tower in Ottawa on Canada Day.

(Photo by Makeda Marc-Ali)

For the stargazers

If astronomy is more your thing, make your way to U of T Scarborough for the Guided Solar Walk and Observatory that models what the night sky would have looked like at the time of Confederation.

For the visual artists

If you find yourself in Calgary, visit the Glenbow Museum to check out Monkman’s exhibit. The Art Museum at the �ؿ�ζSM partnered with Monkman for the large-scale show, which debuted at U of T in January and is now travelling around the country.

For the history buffs

Get a quick history lesson at Queen’s Park with the Canada by Treaty exhibit. Co-curated by Heidi Bohaker, an associate professor of history, Laurie Bertram, an assistant professor of history, and James Bird, an undergraduate student, the exhibit combines maps, paintings and photos to illustrate how Canada was formed through legal agreements with Indigenous peoples.

(Photo by Diana Tyszko)

Want more history? The Struggle and Story: Canada in Print exhibit at the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library presents the tumultuous journey Canada has taken in its attempt to become a more peaceful and inclusive nation through a collection of historical documents.

An illustration of Louis Riel in the magazine, Canadian Pictorial & Illustrated War News, is among the documents in the Struggle and Story: Canada in Print exhibit (photo by Romi Levine).

The U of T Libraries has also created U of T Showcase, 150, an interactive online timeline which highlights some of the unique holdings at the campus archives and special collections from the past century and a half.

For the poets…and for everyone else

If you find you have a few minutes to sit quietly and reflect, read Parliamentary Poet Laureate George Elliot Clarke’s Anthem for Liberty’s Champions. In the poem, the U of T professor of English highlights the “[u]nsung champions” who have made the sesquicentennial possible.

Canadian Geographic also invited Clarke to pen a piece of prose about the stonework at the parliament buildings in Ottawa to run alongside a series of photos by Toronto photographer Peter Andrew Lusztyk.

For the fireworks futurists

As an alternative to the Canada Day fireworks displays, watch one of Arrowonics' choreographed drone ballets light up the night sky.

Arrowonics is a company spawned from the lab of Professor Hugh Liu at the Insititute for Aerospace Studies at U of T. The company CEO is Everett Findlay, one of Liu’s former graduate students.

Catch one of Arrowonics' drone aerial night shows at Ontario Place in Toronto or at White Oaks Park in London, Ont., this weekend.

Learn more about U of T and Canada 150

#UofTBTS16: Introducing U of T’s Class of 2020

krisha — Fri, 16 Sep 2016 13:53:05 +0000

#UofTBTS16: Introducing U of T’s Class of 2020

krisha Fri, 09/16/2016 - 09:53

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(Photo courtesy Grace King)

Krisha Ravikantharaja

Author legacy

Krisha Ravikantharaja

Topic

Subheadline

Incoming first years are ready to make their mark

From an aspiring filmmaker to an environmental activist, a musician who loves math and a student who has already been recognized for his stellar research, U of T's incoming Class of 2020 is something special.

U of T News writer Krisha Ravikantharaja spoke to four first years who are all recipients of U of T’s National Scholarship, a program which is marking its 30th anniversary at the university. While they share an academic enthusiasm toward the next four years, these students are a reminder of the wide array of interests and experiences the Class of 2020 is bringing with them.

Grace King’s decision to pursue a double major in environmental studies and anthropology is motivated by her belief that effective activism requires a humanistic approach, or rather putting a face to statistics.

When she returned from an expedition to the Arctic in the summer before her final year of high school, King (pictured above) started the Arctic Awareness Program, a program where she used her own experience to “shift the way children were thinking about climate change and culture in the north.”

Last year, King’s program reached nearly 1,000 Grade 4 to Grade 5 students in Newfoundland.

King was also the leader of the mental health and awareness committee at her high school, and spearheaded a project called Paint it Positive. Over Easter break, the committee painted two washrooms with a mural installation that covered up violent and hurtful comments on the stalls.

“We wanted to see what happens when you try to replace destruction with self-expression. Above the mirrors, we wrote things like, ‘You are worthy’ and ‘You are appreciated,’” she said.

What are you looking forward to most at U of T?
I’m looking forward to the beauty of just being a sponge. This time is so special because I get to be here for the main purpose of sitting in a classroom where people who have dedicated their professions to some passion of learning that makes them feel something are able to provide me with enrichment for my brain and allow me to expand it, and I think that’s something that we take for granted too often.

What are you looking forward to about going to school in Toronto?
I miss the coast already, but Toronto is bustling, and it’s very alive. Yesterday, I went to my first class, and I am just watching all these humans just walking everywhere. Everyone’s got somewhere to go. I think that can be a very cool thing. Toronto’s got so much happening.

Why did you choose U of T?
I was attracted to U of T also because it has such a such a strong foundation for education students in social sciences and humanities. I was influenced to choose it for how it might shape and shift my opportunities as an activist. I think 'my thing' is taking climate change awareness and turning it into something that people can access more. I’m hoping I can shake things up a bit when it comes to the activism scene here.

Born and raised in Victoria, B.C., Nathan Kuehne comes to U of T with more experiences as a researcher in life sciences than the average first year. In Grade 9, Nathan was selected to represent British Columbia at the Canada-wide science fair where he was inspired by the work of other students across the country. When he returned to Victoria, he worked in a medicinal chemistry lab at the University of Victoria.

In Grade 11, he developed an at home test for phenylketonuria (PKU). Kuehne explains that if you have PKU, your body can’t metabolize protein because of an amino acid called phenylalanine. Because there is no cure, patients must avoid eating protein, and monitor how much phenylalanine is in their bloodstream. The current method requires that patients send a blood sample to a lab, making it hard to self regulate and including a week-long waiting period. Nathan’s alternative was a a machine that uses a urine sample.

“After a quick filtration it’s automated by turning a device, a colour change is produced which indicates to the patient how much phenylalanine is in their body so they can self-regulate and self-correct their diet.”

Kuehne went on to present this research at the Canada-wide science fair, and was then invited to present it at TEDxVictoria. In Grade 12, he was selected to be a member of Team Canada at the international science fair which took place in Phoenix for a project which applied the underlying chemistry of his previous research.

Watch Kuehne's TEDx talk

What are you nervous about?
Making new friends: when you know the same people for twelve years you get so comfortable that being in a brand new place with brand new people for four years and having to cultivate all those new relationships is something that is exciting, but also nerve-wracking.

What are you looking forward to about going to school in Toronto?
Being in a big city like Toronto, there’s so much to do and so much to take in. The city is so diverse. Enjoying the city is one of my top priorities.

Why did you choose U of T?
The research being done here is unbelievable. Being at Canada’s largest research institution has so many opportunities. Participating in research is amazing so I’m excited to try and make that happen.

Rebecca Moranis is pursuing a double degree in two seemingly unrelated topics – music and mathematics. While she received her ARCT diploma for piano from the Royal Conservatory of Music in the summer of 2015, her musical passion lies with the flute. This past year, she played with two orchestras: the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra, the latter of which did a tour to New York last summer, which included a concert at Carnegie Hall.

Moranis also started ballet lessons when she was three, and has been studying with Opera Atelier for eight years. She was invited to rehearse for Alcina, one of Opera Atelier’s operas in the summer of 2014, and was thereafter kept on as a performer. Rebecca has also starred as a background dancer in multiple episodes of the television show, Reign.

Moranis was selected to be part of a team that would compete in an international Harvard-MIT Math Tournament, and has tutored math at the �ؿ�ζSM Schools for the past five years.

“I love sharing math with younger students. I’m inspired to do that because a faculty member here at U of T, Lindsey Shorser, has been a role model to me.

“[As a woman,] sometimes you feel like you can’t be as vocal, and it’s hard to prove yourself. [Shorser] has shown me that it’s possible. Representation is so important, and that’s what I hope to do for the girls that I tutor. I want to show them that math is cool, and you can be a girl and not have to hide the fact that you’re intelligent.”

What are you looking forward to most at U of T?
I’m most looking forward to research opportunities, especially because U of T is known for having a stellar research program. I’m looking forward to being able to do research projects that combine music and math, and seeing how I can weave them together like looking at the science of how we perceive music, and the mathematics and patterning of composition.

What are you looking forward to about going to school in Toronto?
I love this city – it’s my favourite city in the world. I love the culture, and the opportunities to appreciate art that are available like music, ballet and going to galleries. The community of Toronto is so open to different kinds of arts.

Why did you choose U of T?
I’ve been studying flute with Nora Shulman for the past two years. She plays with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and teaches at the Faculty of Music. I was partly drawn to stay at U of T because I could keep studying with her. I’ve improved tremendously because of her.

Ben Sprenger has come to U of T with the plan to combine his interests in engineering and filmmaking. From an early age, Sprenger wanted to be an actor, and even attended acting classes. As he became older though, he wanted to star in movies, and so he made his own with the assistance of a sometimes unwilling younger brother.

Eventually, Sprenger became more interested in being behind the camera, and developed his knowledge of lighting, sound, editing, and writing. He hopes to continue his filmmaking endeavours in first year.

“The great thing about being in university is that there’s so many more people that have the same interests as you, and are willing to put in time and work," he said. "I think it will be nice to find people to collaborate with through the Hart House Film Board.”

Sprenger was selected as a semifinalist for the Los Angeles Cinefest for his most recent short film — a mocumentary —When Food Goes Bad, which has been Sprenger’s most labour intensive film to date.

Watch Sprenger's mocumentary

What are you looking forward to most at U of T?

I’m looking forward to opportunities outside of the classroom more than anything to extend my education like opportunities for research and design projects to enrich my experience and develop skills I can use later on.

Is there anything you’re nervous about?
I have typical first-year concerns about not being able to do well in university, but I keep telling myself it’s something everyone goes through so I think I’ve been good at staying level headed and not too stressed out.

What are you looking forward to about going to school in Toronto?
Toronto is such a huge film hub. It’s got a ton of things filming here, TIFF, and this huge film culture of filmmakers from Toronto who stay in the city and make films here and want to mentor other younger filmmakers. I would love to be involved in the film industry.

What’s something you want to do before you leave U of T?
My sister is in second year at U of T for life sciences, and in her first year, she did a research project with another student where they developed a proposal, applied for funding, and they were able to go to Burma. If there’s some way we could work on a research project together, I think that would be quite the family bonding experience.

Why did you choose U of T?
It’s a fantastic university that’s right here in Toronto where I’m from. I chose engineering at U of T because they emphasize creativity so much. Even in first year, there’s a design course that applies our learning to solve real-life problems.

#UofTBTS16: Keeping U of T students healthy

ullahnor — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 18:50:00 +0000

#UofTBTS16: Keeping U of T students healthy

ullahnor Wed, 09/14/2016 - 14:50

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U of T's Health and Wellness Centre is located on the second floor of the Koffler Student Services Centre (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Krisha Ravikantharaja

Arthur Kaptainis

Author legacy

Arthur Kaptainis and Krisha Ravikantharaja

Topic

Watching friends struggle with stress, family problems and mental illness without anyone to talk to led Faraz Honarvar to get involved with U of T student clubs focused on mental health.

Karen Young, a psychology and health studies student at U of T Scarborough, started Minds Matter Magazine devoted solely to mental health issues because she saw a real need out there for not only students, but also faculty, staff and alumni.

With a growing focus on mental health research as well as services across the university, there are many supports for students who may be dealing with what may feel like insurmountable challenges.

Students can access counselling services across all three campuses: on the downtown Toronto campus at the Health & Wellness Centre in the Koffler Student Services Centre; at U of T Scarborough's Health & Wellness Centre and at U of T Mississauga's Health & Counselling Centre.

Along with these centres, many faculties host their own programs. The Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education launched the Mental Health and Physical Activity Research Centre (MPARC), which is dedicated to the promotion of mental health through exercise.

The personal encounter is important: U of T’s Reid Locklin on the canonization of Mother Teresa

lavende4 — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 19:29:43 +0000

The personal encounter is important: U of T’s Reid Locklin on the canonization of Mother Teresa

lavende4 Mon, 09/12/2016 - 15:29

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Solemnity mass organized at Mother Teresa's Tomb. Mother House during the observation of Mother Canonizations and death anniversary (Photo by Saikat Paul/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Krisha Ravikantharaja

Author legacy

Krisha Ravikantharaja

Topic

Global Lens

Religion

St. Michael's College

Mother Teresa

More than 100 000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square last Sunday to hear Pope Francis’ proclamation that Mother Teresa had been canonized as Saint Teresa of Kolkata. The cause for her canonization was led by none other than U of T alumnus Father Brian Kolodiejchuk, who joined the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa, as a priest.

Reid Locklin is an assistant professor of Christianity and the Intellectual Tradition at U of T. His research interests focus on issues in Comparative Theology and Hindu-Christian Studies. U of T News spoke with Locklin about the significance of canonization in the modern era and the controversy surrounding Mother Teresa .

This interview has been edited and condensed for brevity and clarity.

What does sainthood signify in the Catholic Church?

There are four ways of approaching this question. [The first is that] in the letters of Paul in the early Church, he will refer to the Christian community as a community of saints so the idea is that all Christians are called to be membered among the saints [because] sainthood designates the state of grace given to Christians by Christ. In a certain sense, sainthood is very normal [because] in Christian theology it’s what all Christians are called to be and so it’s precisely unextraordinary — except that in the Christian understanding, the grace of Christ is extraordinary. It’s the ordinary extraordinary, if I can put it that way.

The second way has to do with [the fact that] what’s extraordinary in this case is not sainthood itself, but the explicit public recognition of somebody as having achieved this goal. The significance of recognizing some people as saints is precisely to remind ourselves that the Christian community includes all Christians throughout the world, and those who have died. In the Christian self-understanding, it’s all one community.

Number three is that if we are members of community with those who have died, then one of the purposes of recognizing them is also to help us become saints ourselves so one of the purposes of canonizing a saint is to provide a model you can follow.

[Finally,] in canonizing somebody, we are able to seek intercession from them, to seek that they might represent me before God [and] advocate for me to God. This [fourth component] tends to get a lot of focus and it is an important part as stated in the Catholic Church, but it’s one of four pieces.

How does the process of canonization occur?

The first step toward canonization is to be declared venerable which means there’s a recognition in the Church that somebody is a person of heroic virtue. The next step is beatification [where] they become blessed, and that happens after one miracle is attributed to them. In the case of Mother Teresa, her first miracle [was] the healing of a woman in Kolkata who had a tumour. Beatification means that there name is added to the liturgical calendar, veneration and/or seeking intercession from that saint is appropriate, but usually occurs in more local contexts.

The move to canonization happens generally when there’s a second miracle that can be reliably attributed to the intercession of the saint, and then veneration of that saint is publicly commended to all Catholics so it becomes a public aspect of the Church’s life. There was a miraculous cure of a Brazilian man suffering from brain abscesses, and that was the second miracle that was accepted in the case of Mother Teresa.

There are exceptions. Some people are canonized because they are martyrs so if they died because of their faith, they can sometimes be canonized without miracles, and sometimes the need for a miracle is waved. [Mother Teresa’s canonization] was a little unique in the sense that normally you have to wait five years [after a prospective saint’s death] before you start a cause, but John Paul II waved that. Other than that, her process was quite ordinary.

What’s important here is that in none of these distinctions — whether it’s venerable, blessed, or sainthood — do we believe that a change has happened on the part of the person. Mother Teresa wasn’t changing. What was changing was our recognition, and how confident the Church feels in advocating that she is treated as one of the saints.

Who does the process of canonization involve?

Normally, there is a person called the postulator [who] comes out of either the Diocese or the religious institute that the person was associated with. In the case of Mother Teresa, the postulate came from the Missionaries of Charity. In fact, it was a Canadian {and U of T alumnus], Father Brian Kolodiejchuk, who also edited some of her writings, and was a priest in the order that she founded. It’s the job of the postulator, and the Diocese or the religious institute to gather the evidence, and to take it to the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints [the Vatican committee which deals with canonization] to make the case.

It’s a legal process essentially [because] you have a legal team that comes from the local unit that then has to go to court. In some cases, it’s literally like a court. The term ‘devil’s advocate’ actually comes from the canonization process because the Vatican will actually appoint somebody to try to discredit the case that’s being made for the cause for a particular saint in order to increase the rigour of the process to make sure that it is just.

What is the significance of Mother Teresa’s canonization and canonization more generally to the modern Church?

I think that what’s distinctive about Mother Teresa is that the centre of her life was presence to those who were poor. She did provide help, but the help was of a very local kind and many people criticized her for this because she didn’t address the systems that create inequality. She acknowledged this, and said there are other people who are better able to do this. In an era where we emphasize professionalization and technocrats who come up with policy solutions, we can’t forget the importance of the one to one encounter and being present with those who are suffering. I think that is important for our modern period where we want to reduce everything to numbers and policy. I don’t want to take anything from the importance of that work, but we can never lose sight of the fact that at some point we have to encounter those who we are talking about. Without that encounter, we end up instrumentalizing people, and treating them as other than people.

It’s just a coincidence Mother Teresa reached the stage of canonization under Francis’ pontificate but a lot of people have commented that it really was poetically significant because the centre of his pontificate is mercy and how Christ is primarily a figure of mercy to sinners and to all people in whatever situations of suffering they’re in. Certainly, poverty has been one of his major themes.

Mother Teresa has been proclaimed ‘Saint Teresa of Kolkata.’ Does her canonization have any specific significance for India?

I think that the effects Mother Teresa had have already taken place. She was made an honorary citizen of India, she received the Bharat Ratna Prize. Even the current Prime Minister honoured her and celebrated her canonization.

What this means for India is up to India to decide. [Another] criticism has been that in being “Saint Teresa of Kolkata” sometimes the only image people have of Kolkata is of grinding poverty. That’s one face of Kolkata — especially because of global inequities that affect the global south — but also one face of most cities. Kolkata has also been one of the centres of intellectual life in India for over 300 years. I think there’s a risk of looking at Kolkata only through the image of Mother Teresa, we don’t see the other faces of Kolkata which like Toronto is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world.

Mother Teresa was from Europe so one way of thinking about her is in a typical colonialist way: she was a European who went to “save” India. I think we’ve often thought about Europeans sending missionaries to India, and that’s part of the colonialist project and lots of people — including me — are critical of that. But the Missionaries of Charity movement she founded is an Indian movement now, and it sends missionaries to Canada and Europe.

#UofTBTS16: First day of school brings nerves and excitement to students and profs alike

krisha — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 18:56:57 +0000

#UofTBTS16: First day of school brings nerves and excitement to students and profs alike

krisha Mon, 09/12/2016 - 14:56

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Eric Vanhauwaert is looking forward to participating in intramural sports (all photos by Krisha Ravikantharaja)

Krisha Ravikantharaja

Author legacy

Krisha Ravikantharaja

Topic

Our Community

Back to School

#UofTBTS16

Undergraduate Students

The first day of school is usually a combination of nerves and excitement. As classes begin at the �ؿ�ζSM, students and faculty across all three campuses are navigating the campus, meeting new people, and setting goals for the school year ahead. U of T News reporter Krisha Ravikantharaja talked to some of them.

First-year student Sarah Hanson sat in Sid Smith waiting for her first university class, ever. In her case, it was "Histories of Violence."

Hanson, who hopes to study book and media studies, was excited about all of the possibilities the university has to offer.

“I like the bigger campus, and the looser reins university offers [compared to high school],” she said.

Fellow frosh Eric Vanhauwaert is studying chemistry. In addition to learning to manage all the changes that come with university life, he is looking forward to participating in intramural sports.

For returning students, they've already been through the drill. Some are using their experience to help newcomers to campus. Others, are hoping to focus this year on some of the campus activities and offerings they were unable to participate in during their first year.

Pier Angeli Taruc, a third-year life science student, and Celina Tran, a recent graduate of the molecular genetics program, both remember getting lost during their first days on campus. So, this year both are working at the ASKme booth at King’s College Circle to make other students’ first week a little smoother.

“Most people have been asking how to get to their classes, Tran said. “Once we make eye contact, they’re usually fine coming over and asking questions.”

#UofTBTS16: Are you a U of T student with a question? Check out askastudent

krisha — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 13:59:33 +0000

#UofTBTS16: Are you a U of T student with a question? Check out askastudent

krisha Mon, 09/12/2016 - 09:59

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Aska prefers to remain anonymous (Photo by Chiao Sun)

Krisha Ravikantharaja

Author legacy

Krisha Ravikantharaja

Topic

Subheadline

An anonymous blog with a sassy voice has been answering questions for U of T students since 1999

They're known as aska, the online persona of the writer(s) of askastudent, a blog that has been answering questions submitted by future and current �ؿ�ζSM students for a decade and a half.

Known for its lighthearted tone and helpful responses, the blog primarily serves as a resource for future and current students about academics and student life at the university. But aska has become accustomed to receiving (and answering) queries about anything and everything.

U of T News asked aska a few questions about what it’s like to lead a double life, what students can expect when they submit a question, and any advice they have for incoming students.

What are your names?

aska 1: People call me aska, people call me askastudent, people call me S O U L D E S T R O Y E R, but seriously, I can’t tell you my real name. This is Hannah Montana levels of serious, and I don’t need people to know about my Miley Cyrus side.

aska 2: I prefer to go by “Your Excellency” but it hasn’t really caught on in my social circles.

So what exactly can you disclose?

aska 1: I can tell you that askastudent is a work-study position at Innis College at the UofT. The idea that sparked askastudent is a simple but powerful one: what if students had the tools to communicate openly and honestly about questions relating to the university? askastudent is our answer to that question.

In 1999, the first year that askastudent ran, it was actually a phone service (yep! We’re THAT OLD – aska would be entering Grade 12 now if they were a person). After year one, we switched to an online blog and never looked back. Right now there are two askas, but that’s not always the case. There have actually been fifteen askas since 1999, and it’s a legacy we’re proud of. Previous askas are now film producers, actors, UofT staff, journalists and more.

Our trademark sassy tone is partially a result of the collective student voice that askastudent has naturally developed, and partially a free therapy session for me, personally.

aska 2: Yeah, what aska 1 said. Askastudent is a great place to find people who are in the same boat as you. We’ve amassed thousands of questions since 1999 and it’s likely that someone else has worried about the same thing as you. I think another purpose of askastudent is to convey a sense of JLaw-level relatability and to bring a human touch to advice as opposed to cyborg generated information. I didn’t say that. That was a joke. We don’t have cyborgs yet.

What are the most frequently asked questions?

aska 1: Colleges, colleges, colleges. People are always asking my advice about which college on the downtown campus they should be in. It puts me in an awkward spot because I have no unbiased way of answering that question. I try to explain that there is no ‘best’ college, and it’s all down to personal preference.

aska 2: I’ve only been aska for a couple of months, but so far I would say that the most frequently asked questions are: How do I make friends if I’m an international student or commuter? How do I come back from a bad semester and stay motivated? How do I get into my subject POst in second year if I don’t have enough credits? I’m on a waitlist for residence or a class, will I get in? If we were psychic, we’d probably get a lot more page views.

How long does it typically take to answer a question?

aska 1: If I could write without interruption, I could probably answer a question in an hour flat – research, writing, adding funny pictures, and all. However, aska also works at a front desk, and so it can sometimes take a whole day to get through one question with all the other tasks we do.

aska has the benefit of knowing a lot about U of T just from working at a U of T office, but I do often have to go on Google odysseys or call other offices for help if I don’t have the answer to a question. (I find I’m always calling the UTSC registrar’s office. Sorry, UTSC.)

aska 2: It really depends on my touring schedule. I try to answer questions as soon as I can, but it’s really nice to have another person to answer questions while I’m away touring with my ABBA tribute band.

In terms of how long it takes me to write each answer, I try to do a lot of research and put a lot of effort into making the response as well-informed as possible. It can take a while. A lot of the times, I’ll consult my colleagues for help if I’m not sure how to respond. Believe it or not, we don’t actually know everything!

Can every student expect to hear back from you?

aska 1: We answer every question, and we try to answer within two weeks’ time. askastudent is definitely not an urgent hotline, so if you have a question you need answered that same day, or even within the week, DEFINITELY consult your college registrar’s office for assistance.

aska 2: If they contain super private information, we tend to not post the question on the blog and answer it over email instead. Again, it really depends on my band’s touring schedule. We’re HUGE in Stockholm.

Are there any questions that stand out?

aska 1: We do have a category called ‘odds are that won’t be asked again’ and another called ‘weirdness,’ which catch most of the bizarre questions.

My all-time favourite question, though, is from this Grade 9 student, who was afraid they wouldn’t get into U of T Engineering because they accidentally lit their Axe body spray on fire at school and got suspended for three days. Seriously, just read it. It’s worth your time.

aska 2: Looking at the 'weirdness' category is always a fun surprise. When we say you can ask us anything, we really do mean it, so I guess we’re kind of asking for some weird ones. On the other hand, hardcore keeners always stand out because I’m the complete opposite and can’t imagine what it would be like to have that mindset.

What’s your #1 piece of advice for incoming first years?

aska 1: As a breakthrough star in failure, my advice is: don’t be afraid of failing. It’s natural to be nervous, but try to embrace the uncertainty ahead. There’s nothing you can’t bounce back from. If you don’t get into the program of your dreams, you can try again or find something else that’s a better fit for you. Try to do right by yourself and learn from your experiences, even if other people are telling you you’re not doing the ‘right’ thing because you’re not going the doctor/lawyer/engineer route.

aska 2: Sleep, eat, go to lecture, and don’t forget to have a life. Try to find a balance between work and play, and you’ll have a great time at U of T.

Why should students submit questions?

aska 1: The university is great at providing information, but making the information fun is a way to make it more accessible to people. That’s my pedagogical justification for why I link to so many Sonic the hedgehog memes in my posts.

You should ask us questions if a) you have a question that’s not too urgent and b) you don’t mind being teased a little bit for the good of the website. I hope people understand that it’s all in good fun, and remember that we’re all on this wild U of T adventure together.

aska 2: I just want students to know that there are people out there who care and that you’re not alone. Even though this is technically a job, we do actually enjoy helping people who feel lost. I try to make sure that the asker feels like their question is valid and that I am leaving them with as much information as possible. We genuinely hope that we have helped in some way, shape or form.

Students should write to us if they want to hear advice from an honest, student perspective. Please don’t give up hope if we take a while to respond. After all, we are students too. (Or in my case, an international tribute band pop star). We are trying our best and you will definitely get a response from us eventually.

Don’t hesitate to share our posts, comment on them, like or follow! We love praise.

Those looking to submit a question to aska, can email askastudent.innis@utoronto.ca, or send a message to their tumblr inbox.

#UofTBTS16: Selfies with the president and other back to school social media highlights

lavende4 — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 16:22:08 +0000

#UofTBTS16: Selfies with the president and other back to school social media highlights

lavende4 Fri, 09/09/2016 - 12:22

Cutline

Students giving a shout-out at U of T Scarborough orientation (Photo by Ken Jones)

Krisha Ravikantharaja

Author legacy

Krisha Ravikantharaja

Topic

Our Community

Back to School

#UofTBTS16

As students, faculty, and staff across all three campuses gear up for another year at the �ؿ�ζSM, here are just some of the social media posts that show the growing excitement and preparation for #UofTBTS16

Undergrad researcher: Jordana Lowe

krisha — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 14:24:57 +0000

Undergrad researcher: Jordana Lowe

krisha Fri, 09/09/2016 - 10:24

Krisha Ravikantharaja

Author legacy

Krisha Ravikantharaja

Topic

Our Community

Undergrad Research

Students

Subheadline

“You contribute, you’re actively engaged, and you get to meet so many incredible people”

“I wanted to have a research experience during my time here, but to be honest, I didn’t expect to like it nearly as much as I did. I just thought it was something everyone should do and I would just get in and get out.”

Jordana Lowe graduated in June with a double major in physiology and molecular genetics, and she is the first to admit that at the beginning of her undergraduate career, she looked at research as something she felt she needed to check off to say she had done.

But Lowe was quick to change her mind.

Lowe’s first experience came in the summer of 2014 in the form of an Undergraduate Student Research Award from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada in Brian Cox’s systems biology lab where she worked on a bioinformatics project on the evolution of the placenta.

Lowe recalls her first days in the lab.

“The first couple weeks were difficult,” she says. “It was a lot of hitting my head against the wall trying to get the script to run and not truly understanding what I was doing, so the satisfaction of when things started to come together was wonderful.”

Lowe attributes a large part of her growth to her supervisor, Cox.

“I’m grateful that he took the chance on me because I came into it with no independent research experience, particularly doing a bioinformatics project, and he gave me an incredible amount of guidance on a day to day basis that helped me succeed.”

In addition to giving her some background in programming, Lowe says that her first lab experience has helped her to hone her critical thinking skills, allowing her to think outside of the box to come up with different ways to answer the questions she investigates.

Lowe says that her first taste of research that summer changed her perception of research as “stuffy and repetitive,” and she completed a project in the same lab during the following school year.

This time, Lowe’s work focused on testing a reporter for trophoblast stem cell fate.

“The process of changing cell types tells you a lot about the gene networking behind determining one cell type, but first, you need to see if the cells have successfully been converted.”

Lowe explains that traditional methods to test for cell fate do a screen of the gene expression of these cells, but are less efficient than using a ‘reporter.’

“I was testing a fluorescence reporter. The idea is that if you’ve successfully converted to the right cell type, the cell will fluoresce. Then you can start working backward to figure out how you got there and what that means for the cell’s underlying biology.”

After completing the yearlong project, Lowe began working with Mikko Taipale last summer as part of the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program in the department of molecular genetics on a project looking at fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma - a type of liver cancer. She’s back working in Taipale's lab on the project this fall.

“It was only relatively recently that they were able to do genomic screens on these patients and their tumours, and figure out that in this type of cancer, there is a deletion in the genome that results in the production of a fusion protein. My project was specifically looking at how this fusion protein plays a role in the development, progression or maintenance of this cancer.”

Entering with a base understanding of research techniques, Lowe reflects that she was able to broaden her skills as well as gain confidence in her abilities as a researcher under Taipale’s guidance.

Lowe has had an abstract published in the journal Placenta, and has presented at several poster fairs at U of T where summer research students showcase their research.

Being involved in the health care community through research has reinforced that Lowe wants to pursue a career in medicine, but also made her realize that she aims to remain a collaborator in research.

“I think people often see research and clinical medicine as being quite separate, but in molecular genetics, for instance, many labs are integrated right into the hospitals so you really are working in a setting where there’s a lot of room for collaboration between physicians and researchers.”

Lowe emphasizes that research experience allows for a much better ability to see the strengths and weaknesses of previously published research undergrads read about in class.

“When you’re learning just in a classroom setting, it’s hard to truly understand what it all means, especially when you’re doing things like critically evaluating research that’s already been published.”

Lowe is thankful for the skills that she learned in the lab, and for supervisors like Cox and Taipale who invested time in being mentors to her.

But most of all, she says she is grateful for the community she found through research.

“You hear a lot of undergrads talk about U of T being this huge place and not feeling like they belong, but being in research, you feel like you’re part of what makes the university great.”

“You contribute, you’re actively engaged, and you get to meet so many incredible people.”

#UofTBTS16: New international students get U of T welcome at Pearson Airport

ullahnor — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 19:09:41 +0000

#UofTBTS16: New international students get U of T welcome at Pearson Airport

ullahnor Wed, 08/31/2016 - 15:09

Cutline

U of T student Kevin Ledda (centre) and grad Quratul Ayn (right) answer questions for new international student Julianne Tito (left) at Pearson Airport (Photo by Johnny Guatto)

Krisha Ravikantharaja

Author legacy

Krisha Ravikantharaja

Topic

City & Culture

Back to School

welcome booth

International Students

Undergraduate Students

Centre for International Experience

The �ؿ�ζSM booth and a student who could speak Tagalog drew Julianne Tito to the university’s welcome stand at Pearson Airport.

The incoming first-year, who is Filipino, had just arrived in Toronto, a city she has never visited.

But Tito soon discovered that there was no reason to worry. When the family she’s staying with arrived to pick her up, the friendly student at the booth who was answering her questions on commuting and orientation let out a big laugh.

“Oh my God, you’re staying with them,” Kevin Ledda said. “This is so funny. I’ve known them for years. It just goes to show you how small the world actually is.”

And so played out just one of many scenes unfolding at U of T’s welcome booths at Pearson International Airport. This is the second year U of T has set up student-staffed welcome booths at Terminals 1 and 3. With approximately 5,000 new international students coming in this year, the booths play an important role as the first point-of-contact for students flying into Toronto for the first time. The booths, which are open daily from 8 am to 10 pm, have 18 student greeters this year, speaking 19 different languages, including Mandarin and Tamil. They're eager to give newcomers their first welcome to Toronto, while providing directions to campus, information on Back to School activities and practical advice on clubs and T-cards.

“It’s really helpful to have a booth like this as an international student,” Tito said. “It’s useful to find people right at the airport who go to your school, and can tell you more about it.”

Krisha Ravikantharaja

Four reasons U of T loves today's Google doodle

An ethnography of an open mic workshop for rappers in South Central

Read more about Lee

StageKeep: an app that assists chorographers plan routines

Read more about Villamil and StageKeep

Hip hop in the classroom

U of T Drizzy

Read a U of T News interview with @uoftdrizzy

Mark Canada Day with U of T

For the musically inclined

For the stargazers

For the visual artists

Read more about the exhibit here

For the history buffs

For the poets…and for everyone else

For the fireworks futurists

Learn more about U of T and Canada 150

#UofTBTS16: Introducing U of T’s Class of 2020

Watch Kuehne's TEDx talk

#UofTBTS16: Keeping U of T students healthy

Read more about KPE's IMPARC initiative

Read more about Trinity College's counselling initiative

Read more about U of T's commitmment to student mental health.

The personal encounter is important: U of T’s Reid Locklin on the canonization of Mother Teresa

#UofTBTS16: First day of school brings nerves and excitement to students and profs alike

Read more about student tools like ASKme booths

#UofTBTS16: Are you a U of T student with a question? Check out askastudent

#UofTBTS16: Selfies with the president and other back to school social media highlights

Undergrad researcher: Jordana Lowe

#UofTBTS16: New international students get U of T welcome at Pearson Airport

Read more about U of T's booths at Pearson and its warm welcome for international students