THE VARSITY STUDENT HANDBOOK VOL. XXXV LETTER FROM 21 Sussex Avenue, Suite 306 Toronto, ON, M5S 1J6 THE EDITOR Phone: 416-946-7600 thevarsity.ca YOU’VE ARRIVED. are part of the journey; take advantage of the resources to help you along the way, Editorial Board Your first steps on campus are the beginning from your college registrar to the many Editor-in-Chief of a journey. As in any adventure, there will available accessibility services (p. 21). Put [email protected] Danielle Klein be frustrations, excitement, and — whether yourself out there; join a club; make a few Handbook Editor they be the product of an amazing night mistakes. Soon enough, the confusion and Samantha Relich [email protected] out or a procrastinated term paper — some uncertainty of the first few months will Production Manager sleepless nights. fade into memory, and you will discover [email protected] Catherine Virelli Perhaps the most remarkable things that you really can do this. Managing Online Editor about starting university are the opportu- This guide is the product of our discoveries Shaquilla Singh [email protected] nities available to you and the chances you and journeys, and we hope it helps you find Design Editors have to push your boundaries and shape your own niche. It’s far from comprehensive, Kawmadie Karunanayake your experiences. You may be an aspiring but, hopefully, it will serve as a launch pad for Mari Zhou [email protected] scientist (p. 16), or maybe your dream is your own investigation — compiled by stu- Photo Editor to finally take centre stage (p. 14). You can dents who, not too long ago, felt just like you. Jennifer Su [email protected] achieve your fitness goals (p. 18), or become The next four years will not be perfect, but Senior Copy Editors a student politics buff (p. 9). But dont stop with any luck, you’ll walk into Convocation Lucy Genua there; when campus starts to seem a little Hall at your graduation with memories you’ll Rose Tornabene [email protected] stifling, take a break from the books and keep for a lifetime — including a few drunk- News Editor discover the diversity of Toronto (p. 12). en ones you would probably rather forget. As James Flynn [email protected] I would be remiss if I said that it’s going you begin your adventure, remember that Comment Editor to be easy. I spent my own first year feel- this place is yours to explore, to shape, and Alec Wilson [email protected] ing a little lost in the throngs of students to call your home. Arts & Culture Editor and, as a commuter, felt distanced from Sarah Niedoba [email protected] campus life. You’ll find yourself caught in Science Editor the flow of student traffic on St. George Samantha Relich Jasleen Arneja [email protected] Street, wondering whether you’ll ever feel Handbook Editor Sports Editor like more than a number. These struggles 2014–2015 Elizabeth Benn [email protected] Illustration Editor Julien Balbontin [email protected] Video Editor Jamieson Wang [email protected] Contents Web Developer Eric Bannatyne [email protected] September checklist 3 U of T St. George 4 Contributors U of T Mississauga 6 Jasleen Arneja, Elizabeth Benn, James Flynn, Emma Kikulis, Danielle Klein, Sarah U of T Scarborough 7 Niedoba, Samantha Relich, Anjum Sultana, Who’s who on campus 8 Catherine Virelli, Jamieson Wang, Kristen Wantuchowicz, Alec Wilson Campus issues to watch this year 9 U of T pros and cons 10 Copy Editors and Fact Checkers Jasleen Arneja, Lucy Genua, Emily Katz, Advice to first-years 11 Jennifer Liu, Sarah Niedoba, Samantha Relich, Rose Tornabene, Catherine Virelli, Exploring Toronto’s student-friendly spots 12 Alec Wilson Arts and culture at U of T 14 Designers Photographers Science beyond the lecture hall 16 Mubashir Baweja, and Illustrators Derek Chan, Julien Balbontin, Get active on campus 18 Kawmadie Brittany Gerow, Karunanayake, Denis Osipov, Meet the Varsity Blues 19 Shaquilla Singh, Samantha Relich, Campus health resources 20 Dwayne White, Leslie Seto, Ann Mari Zhou Sheng, Jennifer Equity & accessibility services 21 Su, Jamieson Wang, Shijie Zhou Streeters: Frosh week memories 22 Cover Design Julien Balbontin, Special thanks Campus contacts 23 Mari Zhou, Shijie Sarah Niedoba, Zhou Shaquilla Singh, Aaron Tan September checklist By Samantha Relich | Illustration by Brittany Gerow Buy a calendar and write down all of your due dates and Go to a Thursday pub night run by your college, and exam dates. Realize now that you’ll plan to get every- wake up the next day terribly hung over for your Fri- thing done with time to spare, but will end up with at day class. Vow to never schedule classes on Friday least one all-nighter; don’t worry, we’ve all been there. for the rest of your university career. Run — don’t walk — to get your textbooks. Used copies Get the number of a peer in each tutorial or class. sell out quickly, and you don’t want to be stuck paying You will inevitably miss or come late to lecture at full price — or, even worse, be stuck waiting for the feared some point during the year. Whether your absence second shipment of books that takes forever to show up. is because of a faulty alarm clock, transportation Check online and at the discount bookstore before spend- delay, or a concert you just have to attend, you’ll ing big bucks. feel a lot better knowing you’ve got a back-up plan. Join a club, or at least give something a try. The school While downtown in the wee hours of the morning, year gets hectic fast; take the free time you have now to enjoy the mysterious drunk-food specialty that is check out some extracurricular options that will help St. George street meat. you de-stress and make friends. Enjoy the campus greenery. It disappears quickly, and Walk into Convocation Hall early to get a prime when you’re locked in Gerstein Library in a blizzard, seat. Realize that, although you might feel very you’ll need fond memories of frisbee in King’s College small in a crowd of 1,000 students, U of T is filled Circle to keep you going. with endless possibilities. Get moving! With tons of options for all activity levels, U of T’s gyms are a great place to get fit, meet friends, and burn off all that ill-conceived poutine. Check out The Varsity in print or online at thevarsity.ca to stay up-to-date on all the happenings on and around the university. New issues are on stands across U of T’s three campuses every Monday. Participate in tutorial; it will show your TA or professor that you care, and will make you feel like more than just a number. Do your readings. But actually. THE VARSITY Student Handbook 2014 3 University of Toronto St. George Campus By Emma Kikulis avigating the 65 hectares of St. George campus can be daunting, and in the first week of classes you’ll Ndoubtlessly find yourself standing on a street corner or in a maze-like building wondering where your tutorial room is. The campus is home to many libraries and student spaces for studying and socializ- ing, and provides options for quick meals and coffee to grab during the 10-minute break (or, likely, jog) between classes. Here is a sampling of where to study, eat, caffeinate, and socialize on campus — but there are countless more options for you to explore downtown. The Junior Common Room in University College. SHIJIE ZHOU/THE VARSITY Where to Study Robarts Library Earth Sciences Library Shaped like a giant peacock — or turkey, On the second floor of the Earth Sciences some might say — Robarts library is where Centre, you’ll find Noranda, the Earth Sci- you (and hoards of your peers) will un- ences Library. You can enjoy the high ceil- doubtedly spend time cramming for finals ings of the round room from the ground and writing term papers. Offering 24-hour floor or climb up to the individual desks study space during the busiest times of the on the overhanging second floor. It’s a year, the 13 floors provide ample space and quiet haven to review your PowerPoint privacy to do your work. slides and try to decipher your scribbled lecture notes. Gerstein Library Indoor Bamboo Gardens Gerstein Library is a spot for very serious studying — make a sound in the quiet study Located in the Donnelly Centre for Cellu- area at your own risk. Also known as the Sci- lar and Biomolecular Research, the indoor ence Information Center, Gerstein is usually bamboo gardens are a mellow place to hit frequented by life sciences students. Located the books. The atrium is the ideal spot to on King’s College Circle, Gerstein is a conve- meditate and try to pretend that you don’t nient study space across from your first-year have a final essay due the next day. Convocation Hall classes. Where to Relax Shore & Moffat Library The bamboo gardens. SHIJIE ZHOU/THE VARSITY Located on the second floor of the John H. The Cat’s Eye Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, Philosopher’s Walk and Design, the Shore & Moffat Library is Although difficult to locate, the Cat’s the perfect place to find the motivation to Eye in the Goldring Student Centre at The Philosopher’s Walk is a quiet, tree- finish a project or put the last touches on Victoria College is a good spot to relax lined path connecting Bloor Street West your ARC221 schematic.