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UTSC leads the way

By Andrew on April 26th, 2010

Originally written for the issue published September 17, 2009.

Since 2007, UTSC has been offering a variety of lectures and opportunities for students aiming to be inspired by some of Canada’s most influential people, and it appears as if the appropriately titled “Leadership Development Program” is poised to continue growing. More and more students are taking advantage of these opportunities each year, and with that more workshops, lectures, and seminars are being offered in response. “Inside the Leader’s Circle” was designed in 2008 to explore the experiences and insights of notable Canadians through intimate interviews, while “Dialogues” is a brand new addition to the program this year that features presentations and discussions concerning subjects shaping the local community.

The remarkable success of the Leadership Development Program is owed in no small part to the high profile speakers the Department of Student Life is able to procure through its partnerships with affiliates such as Random House of Canada, and indeed it is the long list of notable names that gives the program its appeal. A sort of snowball effect is in play where big crowds draw big names, and it is this reason, coupled with the invaluable efforts of the program’s partners, that allows people like Elizabeth May and Peter Mansbridge to make appearances alongside other professionals.

Engaging and challenging the audience has always been the goal of the Leadership Development Program, and this is a goal consistently well met. According to Drew Dudley, the program’s coordinator, 95% of students walk away eager to recommend it to their friends with 90% using the words either ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ to describe the experience. “Their (the students) support is what keeps us moving forward,” says Drew Dudley in our correspondence, “And as long as they continue to come out to hear the speakers, we will continue working as hard as we can to bring them here.”

Visit http://studentlife.utsc.utoronto.ca/leadership/ for details regarding the Leadership Development Program, including a full list of speakers, workshops, and events.

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UTM introduces web apps

By Andrew on April 26th, 2010

Originally written for the issue published September 17, 2009.

UTM students who don’t quite have the firmest grasp over their campus lives now have a leg up over their St. George and Scarborough campus counterparts. Recently the IT team in the UTM office of the Registrar has released several web based applications for use on most internet-capable smart phones such as the Blackberry or iPhone. These applications allow UTM students to manage their timetables, access campus maps, and be reminded of important dates and contacts.

“These web applications are not what are commonly referred to as ’apps’ which are small, downloadable programs for specific hand-held devices, such as an iPhone or Blackberry,” says Cesar Mejia, the person in charge of the IT team that developed these programs for the UTM Registrar’s office. “Instead, these web applications have been designed to work on the small screens found in most hand-held devices. They draw upon live information in university databases.”

While this batch of web-based applications may well be the first time that such a program has been instigated at our University, this isn’t an entirely new concept as several Ivy League schools in the US boast similar tools for their students. Closer to home, however, there isn’t any definite word on whether or not these tools will be made available for use by all UofT students. “The information is only relevant to UTM students for now,” continues Cesar in our correspondence. “In the future these applications could easily be expanded to all UofT students.”

Since a considerable amount of interaction between students and the university is conducted online, the tools offered by Cesar Mejia and his team appear to be simply an extension to accommodate the needs of the students. I am told that there are plans to expand these cell phone applications as is necessary, but whether that means more tools or service expansion (or both) remains to be seen. Above all else, these applications were developed to help students help themselves.

UTM Students can access these applications from their phones at m.utm.utoronto.ca.

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Gambling Addiction II

By Andrew on April 26th, 2010

Originally written for the issue published March 12, 2009.

What does Parkinson’s disease and gambling addiction have in common? A lot more than you might think as researchers at the Montreal Neurological Institute may have proven. The connection between the degenerative disorders that afflict sufferers of Parkinson’s disease and the common twitchy and neurotic drug abuser seems farfetched, but would you believe that what causes relief for one illness could be the trigger for the other?

The symptoms of Parkinson’s disease such as tremors, stiffness, and an introverted disposition arise from a dopamine deficiency. To alleviate these ailments, doctors often prescribe dopamine supplements. Though too much dopamine can have adverse neurological effects for the patient and can create changes in personality, typically manifesting as compulsive shopping, hyper-sexuality, and gambling addiction.

“In some instances, Parkinson’s disease patients become addicted to their own medication,” said Alain Daghar, a neurologist at the MNI who is a member of the research team that took note of this trend. “With Parkinson’s disease, you give a drug to increase dopamine in order to relieve symptoms. Some people get overdosed, and one of the effects appears to be the development of addictions, especially pathological gambling.”

The convenient solution to a gambling Parkinson’s disease patient is simply to monitor dopamine use in order to ensure that they don’t receive too much of a good thing. But what’s far more interesting is that there appears to be an adverse chemical connection occurring in the brain from excessive gambling. If a person is unable to tear themselves away from their poker chips, there might be a medical treatment in the cards to help.

Still, it must be said that to use a chemical cure for a problem that is not inherently chemical seems like an extreme measure. The vice of a gambling addict is not a needle sticking out of their vein that directly destroys a person’s chemistry; it’s a compulsion to play just one more hand or give that one-armed-bandit just one more pull. In fact the core mechanic of gambling is one that can be identified in many sports, hobbies, and even video games. All activities in their purest form rely on one basic hook: learning (and eventually mastery) through repetition. But while the principle in sports and hobbies is seen primarily as skill building, many see it as alien or bizarre in video games and gambling. After all, when was the last time someone was chastised for proudly announcing their addiction to basketball or music?

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Gambling Addiction I

By Andrew on April 26th, 2010

Originally written for the issue published March 5, 2009.

“How is it possible that a person can be addicted to nothing?” This is a fairly common, albeit jazzed-up, sentiment echoed by colleagues of mine. It’s a perplexing idea raised by the ever increasing number of gambling addicts in this world; people who are addicted to the thrill of bright lights, tumbling die, and risking their entire fortunes on a face down card. But can problem gambling really be considered a clinical addiction? As medical centers worldwide pour more and more research into the issue, far more people are inclined to accept that it is.

With the advent of online casinos and poker tournaments, more people are able to both discover and access gambling opportunities conveniently and anonymously. As a greater number of people become gamblers, it’s only reasonable to expect that the number of problem gamblers increases along side it. As both those numbers climb, the credibility behind gambling as a mental disorder does with it.

Many rehabilitation institutions now accept problem gamblers, and even offer a handy list of clues to help people identify gambling addiction within themselves or a loved one. These criteria are largely the only thing problem gambling has in common with its bigger siblings, drug and alcohol abuse. Clues such as “neglected responsibilities”, “long unexplained absences”, and “sudden mood swings/outbursts of anger” are all characteristics of not only problem gambling but problem drinking and drug addiction as well, according to top Canadian and British rehabilitation centers. Of those three addictions, many people gloss over gambling as being comparatively insignificant, and who can blame them? As far as many people are still concerned, being addicted to gambling is nonsense.

The World Health Organization only recognized gambling as a mental health disorder back in 1996, which means that it’s relatively new and peculiar for many people. Considering this fact, we still have yet to figure out exactly what type of problem gambling addiction is, let alone how to go about fixing it. A large part of this has to do with how problem gambling is perceived. Instead of being identified as its own separate issue worthy of special attention, gambling addiction often gets shoehorned into where it doesn’t belong. It can purportedly be treated at the same facilities as alcohol and drug abuse, but those facilities aren’t adequately staffed and stocked to deal with the issue. Only recently has due attention been paid to the subject.

Gambling addictions are difficult to diagnose and even harder to treat, and the chief reason for this is because gambling addictions are not identified by a clear vice or substance like alcohol or drugs. The typical procedure for curing addiction is usually to avow the problem, and be supervised and encouraged by counsellors. With regards to gambling addiction, only the principle remains the same. Problem gambling isn’t as easy to identify as the residual scent of alcohol on someone’s breath. Signs of gambling dependency are largely subtle enough that it takes weeks of missing paycheques and significant financial losses before a person even becomes suspicious that gambling addiction might be the culprit.

Of all the possible addictions, gambling is surely one of the trickiest and most peculiar. It’s currently the subject of much interesting debate in the medical world, and will likely remain as such for years to come.

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U of T Film Festival (Event Coverage)

By Andrew on April 26th, 2010

Originally written for the issue published March 12, 2009.

The annual U of T Film Festival began this past Monday and will be running until Saturday March 14th, proudly showcasing the talents of Toronto filmmakers for the eighth consecutive year. I had the opportunity to watch the short films that will be aired on the closing nights of the event, and the catalogue is an impressively diverse sampling of many different filmmaking genres, techniques, and styles.

Thursday night features the second batch of open call student submitted short films, the first of which ran on Monday night. Of the films on display, the middle of the selection proved to be the most engaging. “Keeping the Bees” is a documentary exploring the causes and effect of human dependency on honey bees, while “Boyfriend Latte” examines the relationship between a sassy female executive and the latte she’s romantically involved with. “Shikashika” also offered a highly enjoyable look at how a popular confection is enjoyed in the Peruvian Andes, and the hilarious computer animated “Resume on Demand” finds a powerful overlord looking for a career change.

Friday night’s schedule features the Shitty Film contest, which honours terrible films with terrible prizes. The movies on display are deliberately awful, completely disregarding the conventions of fine filmmaking in favour of a quick, cheap laugh. “Rocky 2009” and “Lampreydator” both clock in at under a minute and utilize sloppy production for comedic effect, while “Suggested Opening for $20000 Pyramid” might be considered laudable for its potential to induce seizures. The Spotlight on Cinema Studies Students follows immediately afterwards, and features material from the Cinema Studies Program at Innis College. Of the four films on display, “The Vintage Thinker” manages to impress with its peculiar style, kinetic narrative, and highly effective music selection.

Saturday ends the festival with the Hart House Film Board Gala; two separate collections of short films arranged for two 70 minute screenings. These are the best short films of the event and all are vying for the affections of the Film Board jury and cash prizes. Part 1 starts strong with a feud between street performers in “2 Kings” and the satirical “Generico presents: The Recession Proof Professional,” but quickly tapers into tedium with films that lack a distinct objective and are somewhat insipid. Part 2 is a markedly stronger lineup which begins with the 37 minute long “Donors,” a film that puts a novel twist on the vampire medium, and does so with noticeable flair. “There’s Always Hope” is a short joke with a solid punch-line, “Silence of the Lambs Sweded” is identical to the 1991 classic with all the boring bits cut out, and “My Beloved Monster and Me” is an animated comedy that appears to be designed entirely in Garry’s Mod.

A special call went out on the U of T Film Festival website for entries into the 1st Annual Sweding Contest. “Sweding” is a term derived from the 2008 film “Be Kind Rewind” that essentially means to poorly parody a popular film within the smallest budget and running time possible. Unfortunately, it appears that only filmmakers Matthew McGrath and Nicole Bauzin answered the call as only “Silence of the Lambs Sweded” makes an appearance in the festival. “I don’t know what we’ll end up doing with the Sweding contest,” said Festival Director Rick Palidwor. “I guess in the end it just comes down to poor promotion. We might try it again next year, we might not.” If the turnout of the contest’s inaugural year is any indication, the possibility of a 2nd Annual Sweding Contest seems dubious. It’s also quite tragic since “Silence of the Lambs Sweded” is immensely enjoyable and precisely the type of film I would love to see more of.

All films are being shown at Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Ave. There are two screenings per night at 7:00 and 8:30, except on Friday where the feature is scheduled to being early at 8:00. Tickets are $5 for students/seniors, and $8 for general admission, except for the CINSSU sponsored Free Friday Films.