If you use Hotmail or the Window’s mail system then this shouldn’t be a whole new world for you. In fact it’s exactly like the Window’s Live emailing system… because that’s what it is. But for those who would like to get some information here’s a screenshot:

Let’s go through this!

1. This is your list of mail! Yay!
2. Here you find the different folders you can organize your mail into. You can create folders to organize yourself!
3. Reply, reply all, or forward. Other actions are there too.
4. You get your own calendar! And contact list! And tasks to keep yourself organized!
5. This is the interesting part: online messaging. If another friend is online at the same time then they should appear online. It seems I don’t have many friends since no one is ever online on this thing.

For more information about PARTY FOR A CAUSE, visit their facebook page.

While it may only be the beginning of February, the storm is already brewing. The Varsity has already published a few articles about the UTSU, and even has a weekly column dedicated to the upcoming election just for the sole purpose of keeping us updated. Sadly, if last year’s election turnout is any indication, few people care what really happens. Why? Well, we all say U of T has no school spirit. I really hope that this year we can prove that wrong and perhaps get some dialogue going about something that actually concerns all the undergrads on campus. I’m not just saying this to sound corny and important– UTSU elections actually matter!

Before I get down to it, I want to be very clear that right now I have no particular side I’m writing for. Everything I am saying here is meant to be presented in the most critical and objective way possible. If it appears otherwise, please accept my apologies.

Today, I’m writing about the potential opposition slate, Stop The Salaries. Campaigning hasn’t started yet, but even keeping that in mind, I say “potential” because, as of right now, I really don’t see them gaining much momentum. Why? Well…

1. Their Premise

As a union, UTSU is supposed to look out for our rights and interests. According to Stop The Salaries, our executives have not only cut spending on services, but they have also given themselves a fancy $100,000 raise.

That is basically the whole premise the Stop The Salaries. We are paying a group of elite students and getting nothing in return. Seems valid. Year after year, U of T students are subject to higher and higher tuition and fees. Your regular Joe isn’t going to see where the money is going, or how it’s being used. Even campus club executives, who deal with the UTSU and club funding on a regular basis, can feel the frustration when they see their club funding decrease year by year. As a general whole, it feels like we’re paying more and getting less, and the most logical explanation is that the UTSU are high rollers and that is that.

Current UTSU president Danielle Sandhu has already explained in a response published in The Varsity that the executive board members did not receive any raise, as any salary increases have to be passed by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors are college and undergraduate faculty representatives that we elect along with the president and vice-presidents. The thing is that this is true. Regardless of what Stop the Salaries says, sources say that salaries haven’t been in meeting agendas for the past two years. By basing their whole premise and campaign on something that isn’t true, they have shown that they are taking the easy way out.

2. The Easy Way Out

(┛◉Д◉)┛彡┻━┻

It’s a trend, I think, that when we find something unsatisfactory about the incumbent, we immediately go “rah rah rah” over funding and how the money is spent. Students are no different. We want to know where our money goes, probably more so that your average voter because a good chunk of us are on student loans. It wasn’t until I took on an executive position in my own club that I saw just how quickly money is used up. For an organization as big as UTSU, it would seem logical that their budget would be much harder to balance.

I’m getting off topic… My point is simple: by saying that the UTSU is misusing student funding, they are basically saying “UTSU SUCKS BECAUSE IT DOES.” The “misused funding” slogan is old school. We hear it all the time. Even their explanations are subpar. If you take a look at their website, their “evidence” for the hikes and cuts are too simple. Anyone who has worked with million dollar budgets (that much is true) would know that one line doesn’t usually tell you the whole story. Again, Danielle did a very thorough job going through the budget, line by every contested line.

What I’m looking for are concrete criticisms. Okay, so UTSU is bad. Why?

Is there something wrong with current services?

Are they neglecting or marginalizing any groups on campus?

Is there a fundamental difference in ideology or is Stop the Salaries just there for the sake of being anti-UTSU?

How can you do better?

3. What can they do better?

(I’m seriously on a segue roll here.)

Varsity associate news editor Simon Bredin is starting a column this week covering UTSU elections. Despite a momentous opposition slate campaign in 2008, Bredin discusses how every opposition that had run against the incumbency (which is really what it is) loses steam with each progressive year. Why is that?

The fact that UTSU has been around for so long tells may tell us a few things:

• Perhaps the student body is so passive that, as long as someone is there to take care of things, we don’t really care who it is.
• If it’s not that the student body doesn’t care, then it’s because they don’t know, which is just as bad.
• What if UTSU incumbents are actually doing something right? People only notice something is wrong when it is blatantly obvious. Unless a campus wide scandal with a chasm as soul sucking as Con Hall classes erupts, people are going to go for what they know.

Stop The Salaries has to have a platform that is far-reaching, progressive, and realistic. Maybe it’s just me, but Stop The Salaries seems to have been established for the sake of opposing UTSU. If their purpose is to be the new governing body of our campus, they have to go beyond just being an anti-UTSU slate whose sole purpose is to oppose the current office.  They must come up with better campaign methods and introduce changes that actually matter to students.

Since I was in my pre-UofT years, I’m going to have to take Simon’s word for it and go with his explanation as to why the 2008 Change slate was very close to running the election. He said that the biggest reason why 2008 Change was so close to winning is because they had a very experienced team. There needs to be a team in which every single person knows what they’re doing. Stop The Salaries of 2012 has to remember that they’re running against a well-oiled machine that has executive members and officers that have been in the game for a long time.

Last year, executive board candidates of United For Action (which is the name of the incumbent slate) ran virtually uncontested. The opposition slate equivalents were disqualified and voter turnout was dismal. Stop The Salaries must be careful and not commit the same mistakes as its predecessor. They must also have a well-built and solid team.

However, the one thing they must do in order to even stand a chance against the incumbent slate, whoever they will be, is promote, promote, promote. Be strategic. Don’t just resort to traditional methods. The benefit to this is twofold:

1. Depending on their strategy, they can be perceived as being more in touch with the student population
2. More people will be aware of elections, which will give students a more representative vote.

If Stop The Salaries does it right, they might be able to tap into a pool of votes that never really bothered to participate before.

Yes. Promote until Anthony Dodson has something to sing about again.

Of course, it may just be too early to tell. We don’t know who’s going to be running for what, but something tells me that Brett Chang and current Trinity Representative Michael Scott (infamous for his need to motion for clause-by-clause voting during board of director meetings) will be there. There is no real platform yet from anyone. Hell, we don’t even know who from the current executive board and board of directors are going to be rerunning. A lot of things are still up in the air.

As students and members of the student body, keep yourselves informed. I’m really glad that The Varsity is starting a weekly column covering the elections this year. If we want better services, want better representation, and want a better campus, it is our responsibility to know.

As always, I want to know what you think. Comment below! Any critics ready to rip those panties into shreds? I really have to stop laughing at my own jokes.

If you’re up for it, run for the election. Nominations open Monday, February 13. Visit the UTSU website to learn more about how you can be nominated. Being nominated doesn’t mean you necessarily have to run with a slate.

Now, I know it’s a little odd to be discussing other universities on a U of T blog, but the recent controversy at the University of Western Ontario has evoked some concerns and questions for me about the U of T image. For those of you who have yet to hear of the changes happening to our notorious rivals, here is an update. This week, University of Western Ontario students were informed by their president, Amit Chakma, that UWO is no more.  Instead, the university has officially changed its name to ‘Western University’. Additionally, the university has released their new ‘visual identity’, changing their symbol from the well-known purple building to a newly designed (darker purple) crest.  The school representatives claim that the name change and the new visual identity was decided upon based on student, faculty, and alumni interviews about the Western image.  It’s assumed that the changes are meant to revive the Western image and create a more marketable institution internationally.

The change has been controversial among the student body at the former UWO. Questions about the necessity of the change, the effectiveness, and financial waste have been points of concern for Western students.  It’s estimated that the new transformation has cost over  $200,000 – money better spent elsewhere, perhaps?

WHO: United Nations Development Program at UofT

WHAT: Their first general meeting

WHEN: Thursday, January 26, 2012 from 3-5pm

WHERE: Hart House South Dining Hall

For more information go to: http://www.facebook.com/events/212639118825261/

This is a case of the more things change, the more they stay the same. In the late 1940s, you could go to the Bank of Nova Scotia on the northeast corner of Spadina and Bloor, and then cross the street to buy some candy. In 2012, you can do the same thing!

What kind of community do you want to live in?

The Green Dot campaign aims to create a community that doesn’t tolerate violence, one that cares about others, and supports a safer campus for everyone.

A Green Dot is any action that reduces the risk of power-based personal violence like sexual assault, partner abuse, and stalking. U of T is the first to implement the Green Dot strategy in Canada, and is supported by many different partners across the three campuses in student health services, campus safety, and beyond. Developed by Dr. Dorothy Edwards at the University of Kentucky, Green Dot is grounded in research that looks at the bystander effect, and why people do not get involved. Green Dot training helps students identify their personal obstacles in becoming an active bystander, and teaches specific skills to help students those obstacles, while staying safe themselves. The three Ds – Direct, Distract, or Delegate – are the skills students learn so that they can help their friends or acquaintances when they see the risk of violence.

The first annual Green Dot week, January 16-20, 2012, will showcase Green Dot and give students a chance to learn more.

Why a Green Dot? We start with the experiences of violence in our students’ lives – the red dots. A student has sex with another student when they are drunk and can’t give consent. A student is abused by a boyfriend or girlfriend, whether gay or straight, or stalked after a breakup. A red dot is an act of power-based personal violence, or choices to tolerate‚ justify, or perpetuate violence. The solution is the green dot – the individual choices that people make to do something – anything – to help others and make our community safer. A reactive green dot is pulling a friend out of a high-risk situation; a proactive green dot is striking up a conversation with a friend about how much this issue matters to you. What’s your Green Dot going to be?

To learn more about Green Dot and upcoming events, visit www.greendot.utoronto.ca.

Don’t agree? How many times have you heard ‘I’ve got a class at Con Hall’, only to hear it be answered with a collective groan?

Bring up ’Med Sci‘ to a Life Sci student, and chances are they will remember the Macleod Auditorium.

Someone says ‘I’m going to be at Robarts‘, and you know that they’re in (literally) for the long run.

Mentions of Hart House brings about tender feelings of good food, a slight fear of gargoyles, and that creepy picture in the basement – at least for me.

All Vic students know Old Vic, and I would venture to guess that they remember it fondly. The rest of us recall it enviously, because it’s not every day we can say that our college is a pink castle.

And you’ve got to admit that the light-up bubble classrooms inside the Pharmacy Building are hella cool.

But I digress.

There are buildings on campus that we can’t help but notice and learn about, simply because we already hear about them all the time. But there are some places that we don’t know about that can be just as interesting. A good chunk of us have discovered little pockets of architectural treasure. Take blogUT photographer Jimmy‘s gorgeous interpretation of Knox College, for example. In the summer, the courtyard is probably one of the few places at U of T where it is peaceful. If you ever go into the Great Hall of Hart House, take the time to look at all the coats of arms on its walls, and the verses linings the banister above. Of course, these are all just landmarks. Notables. Places we may (now) know and (will maybe) frequent.

I don’t think that U of T only has these noticeable notables, though. I mean, when I checked my schedule for this semester, I saw a building code I didn’t recognize: BI. I did a quick search on the U of T Map, and found out that it was named after Federick Banting, best known for his research on insulin with Charles Best (whose namesake building is right beside it). Just like that, I felt this sense of history. I’m going to be walking into history! I bet we all know that we’re stepping into a piece of history the moment we walk into U of T, but to be just two doors down from discoveries of the past? Yeah. That’s pretty awesome. And I bet, with a bit of searching, I’m not the only one who feels that way.

So here is my lesson to you, UTian: Make good use of our online map, not just to find your buildings, but also to learn more about our campus. Even if it doesn’t initially peak your curiosity, it will definitely give you something to think about as you sit in class staring at the wall. Not that I’m saying we do that. Nope. Not at all.

Factory Theatre
Location: 125 Bathurst Street (at Queen)
Cost: Pay-what-you-can
Caveat: Only on Sunday matinees, only certain shows, available only one hour before curtain, not guaranteed
The first company in Toronto dedicated exclusively to Canadian pieces, many a play premiered at Factory has gone on to enter the Canadian canon. 2011’s highlights included Ronnie Burkett’s breathtaking puppet show Billy Twinkle and a revival of the classic The Rez Sisters, one of many in a series of ‘colour-blind’ productions by director Ken Gass. Pay-what-you-can tickets are sold one hour before curtain, but are only for certain shows and only ever on Sunday. It’s always a good idea to call ahead to see if there are tickets still available and, if there are, to buy them: you may witness the birth of the next Canadian classic.

Theatre Passe Muraille
Location: 16 Ryerson Avenue (At Bathurst and Queen)
Cost: Pay-what-you-can
Caveat: Only Saturday matinees, only certain shows, available only at box office, not guaranteed
One of Toronto’s oldest and most innovative theatre companies, Passe Muraille often appeals to students due to their productions’ willingness to take risks and stray from tradition. Sunday matinees are pay-what-you-can at the box office, but get there early before they’re sold out. In 2012, be sure to check out the premiere of the theatrical adaptation of Marina Nemat’s Prisoner of Tehran.

TOtix / hiptix
Location: Yonge-Dundas Square / online
Cost: Varies
Caveat: Varies
TOtix is Toronto’s answer to New York’s TKTS, a service that offers discounted tickets to plays throughout many of the city’s theatre companies. Their website is updated weekly with new discounts, but many are for one date only and sell fast, so be sure to check regularly. Some discounted tickets are available only in person at their box office at Yonge-Dundas Square.
Hiptix is a service for students aged 15 – 29 that can be accessed through TOtix. It offers severely discounted tickets for shows across the city – usually $5 plus tax, but occasionally up to $15. This is the cheapest way to get tickets to plays at companies that do not otherwise offer student prices or more accessible tickets, and should be taken advantage of in the fullest. The sales record or receipt of any purchase made through TOtix should be printed out and brought with you to the theatre, along with the credit card with which you paid for them and valid ID.

Soulpepper Theatre Company
Location: Young Centre for the Performing Arts in the Distillery District
Cost: $5
Caveat: Available only one hour before curtain, not guaranteed, requires ID (21 and younger)
Soulpepper is one of Toronto’s fastest growing theatre companies, and for good reason: their productions are consistently excellent. 2011’s highlights included a brilliant production of Death of a Salesman and the world premiere of Double Bill: e.e. cummings in Song / Window on Toronto, as well as setting a Canadian record by mounting nine simultaneous shows in June. Rush tickets are only $5 for students (compared to $60 prepaid full price tickets) and require presentation of a valid student ID. Most shows will not be sold out, but some, such as 2010’s A Christmas Carol, are sold out for their duration. Productions to check out in 2012: Kim’s Convenience, Speed-the-Plow, Endgame, and the triumphant return of Death of a Salesman.

Hart House Theatre
Location: Hart House
Cost: $10
Caveat: Requires valid student ID, only Wednesday evenings, not guaranteed unless purchased online through uofttix
Located in the centre of our fair St. George campus, Hart House Theatre’s annual mix of Shakespeare, contemporary drama, and Broadway musicals draws in a nice crowd of students, alumni, and the theatre-going public at large. Student tickets are $10 on Wednesdays, but only $15 on other days of the week if you can’t make it for the full discount. 2011 hits included Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Macbeth; 2012 will see Cabaret and The Night of the Iguana.

Tarragon Theatre
Location: 30 Bridgman Avenue (at Bathurst & Dupont)
Cost: $12
Caveat: Only on Sunday matinees and Friday evenings, only certain shows, available only one hour before curtain at box office, not guaranteed
Fans of the Oscar-nominated Incendies might be fascinated to know that its English-language premiere occurred at our very own Tarragon Theatre, located in a renovated cribbage-board factory just north of the old midtown rail-road tracks. Tarragon mounts about as many original plays as it does established, so don’t be surprised to see experimental pieces nestled in among the classics on its calendar. $12 rush tickets are available for most shows on Fridays and Sundays one hour before curtain, but they go quickly. In 2012, look for the English-language premiere of The Small Room at the Top of the Stairs.

Canadian Stage Company (CanStage)
Location: 27 Front Street East / 26 Berkeley Street
Cost: $12.50
Caveat: Requires ID (29 and younger), not guaranteed unless purchased online
The only company on this list that offers guaranteed student-discount tickets for pre-order, CanStage is also one of the largest theatre companies in Toronto. Their two locations – the massive Bluma Appel Theatre on Front Street and the smaller Berkeley Street Theatre – offer shows simultaneously, so there’s always a selection. When ordering online, simply enter the code you receive upon registration in the promotional codes box and all prices will be reduced to $12.50. 2011 highlights included Another Africa and Red; 2012 will bring, among others, Beckett: Feck It! and the 2011 Pulitzer Prize-winning Clybourne Park.
CanStage also offers pay-what-you-can tickets to Monday performances beginning at 10:00 AM on the day of. Availability of these tickets is subject to change.

In a city as large, diverse, and artistic as Toronto, naming every theatre company is a nearly-impossible task. Those mentioned above are some of the city’s largest (excluding DanCap and Mirvish, which are notoriously student-unfriendly) but there are many more: Obsidian Theatre Company, Clay and Paper Theatre Company, Necessary Angel Theatre Company, Harold Green Jewish Theatre Company, Acting Up Theatre Company, Studio 180 Theatre Company, Second City Comedy Club, Buddies in Bad Times Theatre Company, Nightwood Theatre Company, and many more. Some of them offer student discounts to select shows and some do not, but all offer exceptional programming and are worth checking out if you are able.