WHOSE STORIES GETTING KIDS TO THE TRUTH SAVED IS THERE A FIX DO WE TELL? THINK CRITICALLY MY LIFE FOR FAKE NEWS?

Spring 2020

“The real downside of privilege is that we get a narrow view of life”

Mary Anne Chambers Policy-maker and philanthropist

SPEAKING THE TRUTH IT MATTERS NOW, MORE THAN EVER WHOSE STORIES GETTING KIDS TO THE TRUTH SAVED IS THERE A FIX DO WE TELL? THINK CRITICALLY MY LIFE FOR FAKE NEWS?

Spring 2020

“Canada could one day look a lot like what my ancestors envisioned”

Jesse Wente Indigenous journalist and storyteller

SPEAKING THE TRUTH IT MATTERS NOW, MORE THAN EVER WHOSE STORIES GETTING KIDS TO THE TRUTH SAVED IS THERE A FIX DO WE TELL? THINK CRITICALLY MY LIFE FOR FAKE NEWS?

Spring 2020

“Just because we move around differently doesn’t make us less capable”

George Alevizos Actor and advocate for people with disabilities

SPEAKING THE TRUTH IT MATTERS NOW, MORE THAN EVER THE TRUTH-TELLERS Eleven University of grads who speak up for what they believe in

THE POLICY-MAKER – P. 21 Mary Anne Chambers

THE MEDICAL OFFICER – P. 22 Dr. Eileen de Villa Jesse WenteTHE STORYTELLER – P. 22

THE HISTORIAN – P. 24 Afua Cooper GeorgeTHE ACTOR – P. 25 Alevizos COVER PHOTOGRAPHS SHOT EXCLUSIVELY FOR UOT MAG LUIS MORA LUIS MAG UOT FOR EXCLUSIVELY SHOT PHOTOGRAPHS COVER

1 AUTUMN 2018 THE CITIES WE NEED THE ADVOCATE – P. 25 Daniela Drandic

THE POET – P. 26 Michael Prior

THE ENVIRONMENTALIST – P. 26 Emily Hunter Dr. Riam ShammaaTHE SPORTS DOCTOR – P. 28

THE SCIENTIST – P. 29 Katharine Hayhoe

THE JOURNALIST – P. 29 Habiba Nosheen 20 epitomize the expression, “You theexpression, epitomize ifyou will never fightforthe truth.” lose They may always not have butthey to won theirperspective, people

T SPRING 2020ISSUE THETRUTH for changes at their workplace or questioned aprevailing attheirworkplace orquestioned for changes view. haveSome government policy, criticized have others pushed anddifferent ways. thetruth in important gradspursue 11 hese T aking a Taking a Stacey GibsonandScottAnderson IT TAKESCOURAGE TO SPEAK UP FOR WHAT PHOTOGRAPHS BY Stand HAVE DISCOVERED, AS THESE ALUMNIAS THESE YOU BELIEVE IN THE TRUTH-TELLERS TEXT BY Luis Mora

PHOTO CREDIT HERE 1. The Policy-Maker

Mary Anne Chambers (BA 1988 UTSC) served in the Legislative Assembly of from 2003 to 2007. She supports the Imani Academic Mentorship Program at UTSC, which aims to inspire Black students in grades 7 to 12 to pursue post-secondary education.

“There is a tendency to think that because we mean well, we will do well. But how we define ‘meaning well’ is influenced by what we understand to be true – and this is shaped by our experiences, our social circles, our work and, cru- cially, whom we listen to. Decision-makers need to appre- ciate how public policy will affect different communities and indi- viduals. We can do this through a willingness to listen to as many different voices as we can – from the broadest possible spectrum of society. Only then can we get the full ‘truth’ of the potential impact of our decisions.”

“The real downside of privilege is that we get a narrow view of life”

MAGAZINE.UTORONTO.CA 21 22 city’s most vulnerable it also protects our from this virus spread, not only protects you of illness. Staying home don’t have symptoms stay home, even if they United States, need to of Canada, including the from anywhere outside returning from travel if you have to. People if you can and only leave distancing and stay home need to practice physical to work together. We all virus spread, but we need opportunity to slow this Toronto still has the spread of COVID-19. communities from the our families and our ourselves, our friends, responsibility to protect We all have a Torontonians rightnow? to communicate to feel you mostneed What “truth”doyou briefings about the pandemic. She answered have become familiar with Dr. Eileen de Villa officer of health, who is holding daily public (MHSc 1994, medical MD 1998), the city’s

SPRING 2020ISSUE THETRUTH In recent weeks, many Torontonians the questions below in late March. The MedicalOfficer 2. through its hotline responding to the public media briefings and its website, doing daily is constantly updating Toronto and health officials. and federal governments from local, provincial, latest recommendations environment and of the aware of the changing ensures that people are the public as facts. This based information to up-to-date, evidence- We provide credible, about thepandemic? misinformation How doyou combat by COVID-19. to be severely affected groups are more likely Evidence shows these chronic health condition. elderly and those with a residents: people who are and on social media.

“M ancestors envisioned.”ancestors could oneday likewhatmy alot look me imaginethatCanadaIt makes are incredibly encouraging. Peoples withIndigenoussigns ofsolidarity Butrecent perfect. not ation isstill inthefuture.greater effect Thesitu andwillhave effect real aneven think thisisalready having avery I Peoples. Indigenous about schools taughtyears in – inwhat isbeing shifta – huge even five in the last different. We’ve something it be seen beyond ourwillto Itisnot havestant. country.a reimagining of what is Canada as require afundamentalrethink and is thekeyto it.Itwill moving past ofthis andunderstanding edgment Islandin2020.Turtle Acknowl on here Peoples truth forIndigenous dians believe. Butit’s auniversal and it’s Cana thetruththatmost not have Canadians most taught, been the truththat Thisisnot themselves. never gave uptherightto govern the originalnationsonthisland who is a member of the Serpent Indigenous Peoples’ experience in Canada. He is the executive about the recent Wet’suwet’enthe about River First Nation, talked to us Canada is not the air; is not it’sCanada a con not which supports and develops which supports Jesse Wente (BA 1996 Innis), director of the Indigenous Screen Office in Screen Office Toronto, protestsof and the truth Indigenous storytellers. The Storyteller actually not Canada because because Canada not actually what we nowis callCanada all,of almost uch, if not 3.

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PHOTO CREDIT HERE PHOTO CREDIT HERE THE END

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“Canada could one day look a lot like what my ancestors envisioned” 23

a fuller version of the “truth.” sode from different pointsofviewto create importance oflookingatahistorical epi experience alsohighlighted, yet again,the diverse andinclusive campus.For her, the nated inrecommendations to create amore a horror story,” says Cooper. them, essentially, sothey would leave. “Itwas ugees’ rations bymore thanhalf–starving as awhite person’s colony, sohecuttheref in .Dalhousiesaw Nova Scotia British Crown hadpromised aplacefor them 1812 to the tropical colonies, even though the to deportBlackrefugees from theWar of yielded disturbingtruths.Dalhousiehadtried ada, but a deep dive into archival documents about theBlackexperienceinAtlantic Can- back in order to move forward.” led thescholarlyprobe. “We neededto look fundamentally anti-Black,”says Cooper, who memorate its bicentenary, yet its founder was sie. “Theuniversity was gearingupto com focus was theschool’sfounder, Lord Dalhou anti-Black racism attheinstitution.Amajor who launched an official investigation into members brought the issue to the president, Muslim students.Cooperandotherfaculty 24 at Dalhousie University who specializes A Cooper’s three-year investigation culmi As ahistorian, Cooperalready knewalot Afua Cooper (BA 1986 New College, MA 1991, PhD 2000) is a professor

SPRING 2020ISSUE THETRUTH in African Canadian Studies. University directed atBlackand racist incidentsatDalhousie eral few years ago, there were sev The Historian 4.

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PHOTO CREDIT HERE PHOTO CREDIT HERE it having about to be and a recentDiscovery theatre young people with disabilities. Hudson & Rex . He is also part Rehabilitation Hospital’s Dear the fact that they’re that fact the “If casting directors directors casting “If focuses on ending stigma for play arole they are good for of instead EverybodyCampaign, which people and wepeople and live with a disability to to with adisability around differently differently around because we movebecause Men, and guest-starred on production of of Holland Bloorview Kids Kids of Holland Bloorview (BA 2019 UTM) has acted our lives and weour lives and then that breaks breaks that then doesn’t make us in episodes of in awheelchair,in we’re everyday It shows: Look, fall in love. in fall Just hire somebody down stigma. less capable.” less George Alevizos The Actor 5. A Few Good Star Trek:

without anesthetics. painful procedures done in maternity care: and harmful practice one facet of disrespect campaign, focusing on lying. It reignited our hospitals’ – like she was doesn’t happen in our tosaid her, ‘This The minister of health without anesthetics. miscarriage procedure and having a surgical table gynecological of being tied to a and told her story stood up in the house member of parliament media in Croatia. media and traditional of stories all over social There were thousands during maternity care. rights were violated stories about how their women to share their In 2014, we invited #BreakTheSilence? What is and safe maternity care. Below she talks about Daniela Drandic (BA 2003 UTM) is head of the reproductive rights program at RODA (Parents Then, in 2018, a in Action), Croatia’s largest parent advocacy the group’s #BreakTheSilence campaign. group. Drandic advocates for respectful The Advocate

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6. accepting that anymore. women are not want to give anesthetics, about why they don’t if doctors make excuses is very important. Now, Just saying these things they’re not in power. change things because a chance to speak or group that doesn’t have it’s any marginalized it’s not just women; in these stories – and there is an innate power Women are realizing important? Why is this campaign that cultural wiring. We need to rewrite in many countries. This is a problem it during childbirth. mother, you can handle pain: If you’re a good and should, tolerate belief that women can, The problem is the using anesthetics? Why aren’t doctors

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LIMITED. REPRODUCED BY ARRANGEMENT WITH THE PUBLISHER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. PUBLISHED BY &STEWART, MCCLELLAND A DIVISION OF HOUSE CANADA PENGUINRANDOM EXCERPTED FROM BURNINGPROVINCE BY MICHAEL PRIOR. COPYRIGHT ©2020 MICHAEL PRIOR. 26 the family friend said, an equal and opposite erasure. How, over the fire, forever measured by the Old. For every measure, every bird in Shakespeare. New worlds brought by a man who spent his life importing South, starlings rustle through the cedars: split then doubled. I’ve stared into a funhouse pane and seen my mixed face both to like molten glass. To think that reflections creasing under the weather The poplars across the bay shimmer and sway, summers here since I first learned to swim. Wildroses, horsetails, wind’s cobwebs over water: Pastoral liquidated to help pay for the construction of internment family mythology, says Prior (MA 2015), and, along with (McClelland & Stewart). “The sort of truth sort that “The (McClelland & Stewart). poems because of their race. This episode looms large in his World War. Their families’ were properties seized and the emotional terrain of his own mixed-race identity, camps. They were from cut off many opportunities

internment in during the Second inspired his new book of poetry, of experience,” says Prior. “They ask complicated tell is not the truth of information but the truth SPRING 2020ISSUE THETRUTH who were Japanese-Canadian, weresubject to questions in beautiful and memorable ways.” wonder and North, Michael maternal Prior’s grandparents, the rocks are choked with millwort. look back—the way Jap The Poet , not Japanese. 7. mirror once meant Burning Province

How do you get people to society that still meets our needs. we can live in a low-impact the planet’s resources, and that competition with each other for to show that we are not in destructive narratives. I try storyteller these who disarms I consider an activist to be a the environment beyond repair. serve us when it leads to damaging equals wealth. But this doesn’t narratives tells us that happiness One of our most dominant thatobscure thetruth? How do you counter narratives This is the art of campaigning. online petitions to student strikes. drives people to act – from It’s this truth isn’t enough anymore. is happening. But simply sharing evidence to show that an injustice I know starts with independent Every environmental organization What tactics do you use? the people creating that world. the world we want and about a story about solutions – about to empower others to act is to tell For me, the most effective way to move the public into action. is “crisis,” which has mostly failed The narrative around this issue such asclimate change? “truths,”focus onimportant is an environmental activist and storyteller. She is the director and producer of The Environmentalist Emily Hunter (BA 2011 UTSC) how The Next Eco-Warriors. and author of the book a short documentary,a short you communicate which 8. Activism 2.0,

PHOTO CREDIT HERE “For me, the most effective way to empower others to act is to tell a story about the world we want and about the people creating that world” cian – was a medical resident incian –was resident amedical treating cosmetic doping because, dopingbecause, cosmetic treating and forrecognizing guidelines at U of T.medicine didafellowship inmaa, whoalso andsteroids,”mones says Sham including insulin,thyroid hor mone and medicationabuse, ture, there are sixmonthsofhor pic “For Instagram that beautiful and suicidal tendencies.rage suchasparanoia, issues, logical kidneyfailure andpsychoarrest, Cardiachallmarks of steroid use: Online Fitness Culture. through Steroids, Addiction and Kill: ADoctor’sCan Journey inhis newbook, industry thefake-fitness ous truthsabout fit waslooking trumping media: portrayed stars onsocial to emulatedesire the“fakefitness” dopingwas tocosmetic tied the growth. muscle to boost stances steroids hormonalsub andother of intheuse wereers knee-deep taught him: many of the gym-go traininghadnot what hismedical learned gym. He soon at a local lifting weights he began , Dr. Riam Shammaa’s new book, 28 Addiction and Online Fitness W His book includes medical includes His book Shammaa reveals thedanger thatmuchofthis He realized Looks Can Kill: A Doctor’s truths behind faketruths fitness Journey throughSteroids, The SportsDoctor

Culture, reveals the ugly SPRING 2020ISSUE THETRUTH sports medicine physi medicine sports and– a U of T lecturer hen Dr. RiamShammaa 9. fit. being fit. Afew Looks Looks

------steroid users. Likeany steroid users. addiction end to surrounding the stigma late it is too tobefore save a life. the dots connecting – start ers andoth well coaches asparents, he says,–as itisvitalthatdoctors Shammaa also wants toShammaa also putan - appear strong. appear to desperately so they are trying want when to admit weakness, it are vulnerable:Theydonot whoare experiencing the people concern,hesays,tal health and issue, thisisamen or body-image -

PHOTO CREDIT HERE PHOTO CREDIT HERE

“For that beautiful Instagram picture, there are six months of hormone and medication abuse” “T you there is a night- energy. And I can tell transition to clean the future where we on fossil fuels versus continue to depend the future where we the difference between climate change. I study is as soon as possible. But the time to stop and we’re not dead. don’t have lung cancer have emphysema, we for decades. We don’t of cigarettes every day been smoking a pack in thein next few years, “The choices“The we make now, and It’s the same with It’s the same the United Nations Champions of the Earth. ask her is One of the most frequent questions people University. She was recently named one of (BSc 1994 Victoria) is the director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech Climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe of like we’ve and no. It’s kind he answer is yes “Is it too late to save the Earth?” Below, she answers. The Scientist

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do in the next few years, we make now, and failure.choices The we will ensure our late and we do nothing, But if we decide it’s too very much not too late. our capacity to adapt. overwhelm us far beyond where the changes Or there is the future they come we’re ready. resilience so that when for them and build adapt to them, prepare impacts, but we can there are significant There is the future where and-day difference. So in that sense, it is matter.” do matter”

MAGAZINE.UTORONTO.CA objective truth.” there actuallyissucha thing asan ism grounds us.Itreminds usthat hold people in power to account. out whathappened.Itneedsto ism needsto domore thanjustfind an audience,investigative journal meaningful, andto resonate with ism to getto thetruth.But to be all oftheevidenceavailable to me.” is knowing I’ve vetted a story with rate. Whathelpsmesleepatnight with aresponsibility to beaccu stories aboutpeople,butitcomes “It’s aprivilegeto beableto tell whose production company, In a‘post-truth’ world, journal - We needinvestigative journal is an Emmy Award–winning teenager’s attempt to bring a global audience. In 2013, she accused of raping her. Akelo Media, specializes in documentaryin films for (BA 2005 New College) to justice the four men investigative journalist Outlawed she directedshe film the The Journalist about a Pakistani Habiba Nosheen Habiba Nosheen 11. in Pakistan,

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