Campus Life / en Pikachu sightings, rumours of Jigglypuff: Pokémon GO at the University of Toronto /news/pikachu-sightings-and-rumours-jigglypuff-pokemon-go-university-toronto <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Pikachu sightings, rumours of Jigglypuff: Pokémon GO at the University of Toronto</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2016-07-20-pokemon-go-uoft.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=askyKdRi 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2016-07-20-pokemon-go-uoft.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=ev_loJDV 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2016-07-20-pokemon-go-uoft.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=zpm7TtZT 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2016-07-20-pokemon-go-uoft.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=askyKdRi" alt="photo of girl playing Pokemon Go"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>lanthierj</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2016-07-20T13:19:16-04:00" title="Wednesday, July 20, 2016 - 13:19" class="datetime">Wed, 07/20/2016 - 13:19</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">(photos and Storify by Romi Levine)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/romi-levine" hreflang="en">Romi Levine</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Romi Levine</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/pokemon-go" hreflang="en">Pokemon Go</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/pokemon" hreflang="en">Pokemon</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/gaming" hreflang="en">Gaming</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/campus-life" hreflang="en">Campus Life</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/students" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/current-students" hreflang="en">Current Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/future-students" hreflang="en">Future Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/utm" hreflang="en">UTM</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/utsc" hreflang="en">UTSC</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-arts-science" hreflang="en">Faculty of Arts &amp; Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/geography-and-planning" hreflang="en">Geography and Planning</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">Red, Blue or Yellow team? Come for class, stay to hunt pocket monsters</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>It’s hard to avoid getting caught up in Pokémon GO mania – whether you jumped on the bandwagon after (or even&nbsp;before) the app’s official Canadian launch on Sunday, or passed by countless groups of people glued to their phones, flicking at strange cartoon monsters on their screen.&nbsp;</p> <p>“It’s kind of like Fitbit for geeks,” says <strong>Vicky McArthur</strong>, assistant professor at University of Toronto Mississauga Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology.</p> <p>“It gets you out the door to try to find new Pokémon and gets you exploring your own neighbourhood in ways you wouldn’t otherwise have done.”</p> <p>She says the longstanding Pokémon brand is what gets people to download the game, but the clever augmented reality interface is what keeps people hooked.</p> <p><strong>Don Boyes</strong>, associate professor, teaching stream, in Թϱ's&nbsp;department of geography and planning, is an expert on geographic information systems (GIS). Boyes tweeted:&nbsp;“PokemonGo is a great example of a #GPS-based location service&nbsp;– I'll be covering this in my fall #GIS classes!”</p> <p>The game has been a huge success for app maker Niantic Inc., and for part-owner Nintendo – whose stock has gone through the roof since its debut. And this month, Nintendo is set to bring in even more cash with the release of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.pokemongo.com/en-us/pokemon-go-plus/">Pokémon GO Plus</a>&nbsp; – a $35 device that makes it easier to catch those pesky Pokémon.</p> <h2><a href="/news/pokemon-go">Read more about the game</a></h2> <p>Almost everyone on their phones at the downtown Toronto&nbsp;campus of Թϱ&nbsp;seems to be playing Pokémon GO – often huddled around PokéStops – locations where players can download items that’ll help them on their quest – and lures, a stop that attracts Pokémon, and in turn, those hunting them.&nbsp;</p> <p>“It’s a lot of fun. My whole family is playing with the exception of my mom. It’s a lot of fun to play with your friends and battle,” says <strong>Justin Alzamora</strong>, who starts his first year at Թϱ in the fall.&nbsp;</p> <p>“The augmented reality is good – you feel like you’re in the game. And it’s fun because everyone has a phone and everyone can play it.”</p> <p>Alzamora (pictured below) came to campus for his Victoria College orientation, but stayed to hunt Pokémon – at least until his phone runs out of battery.&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="photo of Justin playing Pokemon Go" class="media-image attr__typeof__foaf:Image img__fid__1509 img__view_mode__media_original attr__format__media_original" src="/sites/default/files/2016-07-20-pokemon-Justin-embed.jpg" style="width: 750px; height: 498px; margin: 10px;" typeof="foaf:Image"></p> <p>Contrary to the app’s naysayers who say it’s antisocial, many students around campus praise Pokémon GO for being a great way to meet people.</p> <p>“I’ve definitely met people that I wouldn’t have otherwise met or come across – going to parks, going to the next PokéStop – there’s always somebody there on their phone,” says <strong>Faith Wyatt</strong>, a student at the Faculty of Applied Science &amp; Engineering’s DEEP summer academy.&nbsp;</p> <p>She says there’s even a rumour mill – people whispering about rare Pokémon sightings.&nbsp;</p> <p>“I’ve heard rumours of a Jigglypuff in our last class and apparently there was a Pikachu,” she says.&nbsp;</p> <p>Թϱ students have even banded together to create a Pokémon GO club – and it’s officially recognized by ULife, says the club’s founding member, <strong>Peter Zhou</strong>.</p> <p>At University of Toronto Scarborough, students were&nbsp;gathering IRL (in real life) on Wednesday for a meet up to lure and catch Pokémon.&nbsp;And lots of Թϱ Scarborough&nbsp;students have taken to Twitter to tweet about their hunts for the elusive digital creatures.&nbsp;</p> <p>“The real reason why I chose utsc was bc I predicted that there would be lots of pokestops there,” tweeted a UTSC student who goes by @chibiisenpai on Twitter.</p> <p>Pokémon are also popping up at University of Toronto, Mississauga where Doug Lu, career development officer, marketing and communications and media at the UTM career centre, has been enthusiastically trying to catch ‘em all.&nbsp;</p> <p>“We are going out and we’re meeting a lot of fun people and we’re all experiencing the game,” he says. “[the campus] is lit up with PokéStops. I actually came on the weekend – it’s embarrassing.”<br> Lu says the app could be a handy tool to get students to come to campus events.</p> <p>“If this game is still going on in September, we were joking that we’re going to put up a lure module outside of one of our career fairs,” he says.&nbsp;</p> <p>And he doesn’t see players losing interest any time soon.&nbsp;</p> <p>“I don’t know if this game is going to run dry any time soon. It’s red hot,” says Lu.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="storify"><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="no" height="100%" src="//storify.com/UofT/pokemon-go-takes-over-u-of-t/embed?border=false" style="width:100%; height:480px;" width="100%"></iframe><script src="//storify.com/UofT/pokemon-go-takes-over-u-of-t.js?border=false"></script><noscript>[<a href="https://storify.com/UofT/pokemon-go-takes-over-u-of-t" target="_blank">View the story "Pokémon Go takes over Թϱ" on Storify</a>]</noscript></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Wed, 20 Jul 2016 17:19:16 +0000 lanthierj 14704 at Employment equity survey at Թϱ includes new questions, language /news/employment-equity-survey-u-t-includes-new-questions-language <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Employment equity survey at Թϱ includes new questions, language</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>lanthierj</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2016-07-08T12:14:15-04:00" title="Friday, July 8, 2016 - 12:14" class="datetime">Fri, 07/08/2016 - 12:14</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">The Greater Toronto Area is one of the most diverse urban regions in the world (photo by Ken Jones, Թϱ Scarborough)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/employment-equity" hreflang="en">Employment Equity</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/diversity" hreflang="en">Diversity</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/campus-life" hreflang="en">Campus Life</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-staff" hreflang="en">Faculty &amp; Staff</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">Employee questionnaire to serve as starting point for survey of student population</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The University of Toronto is seeking more information about the diversity of its faculty and staff with a new voluntary survey sent to more than 27,000 employees at the beginning of July.&nbsp;</p> <p>The updated employment equity survey is the first revision of the questionnaire in a decade and the result of more than a year of consultations. It includes new language as well as new questions designed to increase the university’s understanding of the makeup of its workforce and highlight areas where recruiting efforts need to be improved.&nbsp;</p> <p>“The language was old-fashioned and it was about time it changed,” said <strong>Angela Hildyard</strong>, vice-president of human resources and equity.&nbsp;</p> <p>Թϱ is one of the first universities to collect such detailed information about staff and students, she said. Without it, there is no way for the university to know the extent to which faculty and staff reflect the community and the students they serve. &nbsp;</p> <p>Such information will be valuable, she said, in targeting recruiting efforts and tailoring support to groups of employees.</p> <p>“I am so pleased that the university is able to do this,” Hildyard said.&nbsp;“We should be proud.”</p> <p>This is an important step, she said, if you believe, as the university does, that equity and diversity are linked to excellence.&nbsp;</p> <h2><a href="/news/u-t-named-one-canada-best-diversity-employers">Read more about diversity about Թϱ</a></h2> <p>Hildyard stressed that the information will be held apart from employee records and will not be used to create or fill quotas. &nbsp;While new job applicants will be asked to complete the survey, the information will not be available to those doing the hiring, she said.&nbsp;</p> <p>Among the many changes to the survey is the ability for respondents to self-identify according to their gender and gender identity, rather than presenting them with a choice of male or female.&nbsp;</p> <p>In response to feedback, the survey also offers two terms - “racialized persons / persons of colour” – in place of “visible minority” and allows respondents to self-identify as an Indigenous/Aboriginal person of North America. It also includes questions on visible and non-visible disabilities and allows respondents to self-identify with multiple ethnic backgrounds and racial identities. Several questions allow respondents to pick more than one answer, to indicate that they choose not to answer, or to write in a response.&nbsp;</p> <p>Hildyard said response to the university’s employment equity survey has traditionally been in the 80 per cent range and she is hoping to meet or exceed that target with the new survey, which began arriving in the inboxes of all staff and faculty on July 4. The first report based on the new data is expected next year.</p> <p>The employee questionnaire also will serve as a starting point for a planned survey of the university’s student population.&nbsp;<strong>Sandy Welsh</strong>, Թϱ’s vice-provost, students, said the university is committed to collecting demographic information on its student population.&nbsp;</p> <h2><a href="https://www.thestar.com/yourtoronto/education/2016/07/09/u-of-t-gets-personal-with-staff-to-track-race-gender-data.html">Read more about the employee equity story in the Toronto Star here</a></h2> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Fri, 08 Jul 2016 16:14:15 +0000 lanthierj 14630 at New policy for student organizations /news/new-policy-student-organizations <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">New policy for student organizations</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>lanthierj</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2016-06-24T15:08:50-04:00" title="Friday, June 24, 2016 - 15:08" class="datetime">Fri, 06/24/2016 - 15:08</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Student associations and clubs during Frosh Week (photo by Johnny Guatto)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/students" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/undergraduate-students" hreflang="en">Undergraduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/campus-life" hreflang="en">Campus Life</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">Putting more power in student hands, creating forum for students to discuss and resolve disputes</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>University of Toronto students will get a new forum to resolve disputes with the societies that represent them, under a new policy for student organizations.&nbsp;</p> <p>The changes, approved by Governing Council on June 23, are outlined in the new Policy on Open, Accessible and Democratic Autonomous Student Organizations, and are the result of more than two years of consultations.&nbsp;</p> <p>The policy confirms the principle of the autonomy of campus groups and student societies, describes principles to guide their open, accessible and democratic functioning, and establishes a complaint and resolution process to respond to conflicts that cannot be resolved at the society level.</p> <p>“These changes put more power in the hands of students,” University of Toronto Vice-President and Provost <strong>Cheryl Regehr </strong>said. “We heard from students that they want additional measures to make sure the student societies that represent them are acting in an accountable and democratic way.”&nbsp;</p> <p>The University collected about $38 million in fees from students on behalf of student societies in 2015-16. In return, it requires that student societies operate in an open, accessible and democratic fashion.&nbsp;</p> <p>The policy creates a new student-focused body – the University Complaint and Resolution Council for Student Societies&nbsp;(CRCSS) – that will consider cases when all internal avenues for settling a dispute within a student society have been exhausted. The chair of the council will be appointed by the University Affairs Board of Governing Council and will assemble panels made up of the chair and four students to hear cases as they arise. &nbsp;</p> <p>A summary of all the council’s decisions will be posted online to bring more transparency to the way disputes between students and their societies are addressed.&nbsp;</p> <p>Vice-Provost, Students, <strong>Sandy Welsh</strong> stressed that the changes are designed to respect the autonomy of student organizations. &nbsp;</p> <p>“The creation of this council will give students an important new forum to discuss and resolve disputes,” she said.&nbsp;</p> <p>Governing Council heard arguments both for and against the change from student leaders.&nbsp;</p> <p>Leaders from the University of Toronto Mississauga Student Union, the Association of Part-Time Undergraduate Students, the Թϱ Graduate Students’ Union and Scarborough Students’ Union spoke against the move, saying it will infringe on their ability to represent student interests.&nbsp;</p> <p>Leaders from the University of Toronto Students’ Union, the Engineering Society, the UC Lit, Victoria University Students Administrative Council and New College Student Council spoke in support of the change, with several noting that if students associations conduct themselves in an open, democratic and accessible manner, there will be no need for the new council. &nbsp;</p> <p>Welsh noted in her presentation to governing council that the new policy does not change the existing authority of the provost’s office or give it more power. &nbsp;As is the case under the existing Policy for Compulsory Non-Academic Incidental Fees, the provost will retain the power to withhold fees as a final measure if a student society is not acting in an open, accessible and democratic manner or is not following its constitution. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p>That long-standing policy is not changing, she noted.&nbsp;</p> <p>Under the new policy, a five-member CRCSS panel convened to hear a complaint will consider informal mediation, whenever possible and appropriate.&nbsp;The panel may also determine no further action is required, issue a reprimand, recommend changes be made by the society or recommend to the Provost that fees be withheld.&nbsp;</p> <p>The chair of the new council will serve for a two-year term and can be University of Toronto faculty, staff or alumni. Student members for a panel will be drawn at the chair’s discretion from a pool of students appointed by each student society and must be registered in a degree program at Թϱ. Panel members will change with each case, and one student member will always be drawn from the four representative student committees: the University of Toronto Students’ Union, the Association of Part-time Students, the Scarborough Student’s Union and the University of Toronto Graduate Students’ Union.</p> <p>The new policy includes two sections. One sets out principles for the functioning of both campus groups as defined by the Policy on the Recognition of Campus Groups and student societies, defined as those for which the university collects fees under the Policy for Compulsory Non-Academic Fees. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>The second part of the policy is devoted to the complaint and resolution process for student societies and the establishment of the CRCSS. &nbsp;This section applies only to student societies for which the university collects fees on their behalf.&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Fri, 24 Jun 2016 19:08:50 +0000 lanthierj 14456 at Student Life, Divison of /node/8749 <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Student Life, Divison of</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>sgupta</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2016-01-07T15:47:19-05:00" title="Thursday, January 7, 2016 - 15:47" class="datetime">Thu, 01/07/2016 - 15:47</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-url field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">URL</div> <div class="field__item">http://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-above clearfix"> <h3 class="field__label">Tags</h3> <ul class="links field__items"> <li><a href="/news/tags/campus-life" hreflang="en">Campus Life</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-campus field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Campus</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/6953" hreflang="en">St. George</a></div> </div> Thu, 07 Jan 2016 20:47:19 +0000 sgupta 8749 at How would you like to see Թϱ's downtown campus transformed? /news/how-would-you-see-u-ts-downtown-campus-transformed <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">How would you like to see Թϱ's downtown campus transformed?</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>sgupta</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2015-09-29T07:51:34-04:00" title="Tuesday, September 29, 2015 - 07:51" class="datetime">Tue, 09/29/2015 - 07:51</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item"> Թϱ wants to know which of four design proposals you think would create the most pedestrian-friendly and welcoming environment (photo by Johnny Guatto)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/arthur-kaptainis" hreflang="en">Arthur Kaptainis</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Arthur Kaptainis</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/more-news" hreflang="en">More News</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/st-george-campus" hreflang="en">St. George campus</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/landscape-landmark-quality-innovative-design-competition" hreflang="en">Landscape of Landmark Quality Innovative Design Competition</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/landmark-committee" hreflang="en">Landmark Committee</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/community" hreflang="en">Community</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/cities" hreflang="en">Cities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/campus-life" hreflang="en">Campus Life</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">All are invited to view presentations, submit feedback to online survey</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Which proposal best addresses the principle of improved pedestrian experience? Which best addresses the principle of enhanced green space?</p> <p>You can have your say on these and other central questions raised by the Landscape of Landmark Quality Innovative Design Competition.</p> <p>Four teams have submitted their ideas on how to revive and restore the historic core of the St. George campus. You can <a href="http://landmark.utoronto.ca/design-competition/all-entries/">view the images online</a>&nbsp;or in a poster display on the main floor of the J. Robert S. Prichard Alumni House at 21 King's College Circle.</p> <h2><a href="http://landmark.utoronto.ca/design-competition/all-entries/">View the four design teams'&nbsp;proposals here</a></h2> <p>The exhibition opened&nbsp;on Sept. 29 and continues through Oct. 2. Opening hours are from 8:45 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Computer terminals will be available so viewers can provide immediate comment on the project.</p> <p>“We want your help, your advice,&nbsp; in selecting the proposal that will change the physical landscape of the University,” <strong>Scott Mabury</strong>, Թϱ vice-president of operations and co-chair of the Landmark Committee, said after a public presentation by all four competing teams Monday night in Convocation Hall. “Please give us your feedback.”</p> <p>The Landmark website includes descriptions, goals, an historic overview and documentation related to the project, including the Open Space Master Plan of 1999 and St. George Campus Master Plan of 2011.</p> <p>There is also information about the four teams: KPMB Architects + Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates + Urban Strategies; DTAH + Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates; Public Work;&nbsp;and Janet Rosenberg &amp; Studio + architectsAlliance + ERA Architects. Each has a list of subcontractors and collaborators.</p> <p>The online survey combines multiple choice questions with space for individual comment.</p> <h2><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/14kWuF7NRyVyaZ4Z8UWPdDgZNbgz2MYskajZTMQqlPtM/viewform">Take the Online Survey here</a></h2> <p>After public input has been collected and considered, an evaluation committee including representatives of the Landmark Committee and university operations will choose a winner. This team will consult with the university to prepare a comprehensive design. An announcement is expected in November. (<a href="http://news.utoronto.ca/plans-st-george-campus-get-public-viewing">Read more about the competition here</a>.)</p> <p>Before and after images submitted by the four design teams include:</p> <h3>BEFORE: Sir Daniel Wilson Quad at University College (DTAH)</h3> <p><img alt="photo of a &quot;before&quot; image of Sir Dan's Quad at University College" src="/sites/default/files/2015-09-29-DTAH_Before.jpg" style="margin: 10px 25px; width: 625px; height: 409px;"></p> <h3>After: Sir Daniel Wilson Quad at University College (DTAH)</h3> <p><img alt="&quot;After&quot; photo of Sir Daniel Wilson quad" src="/sites/default/files/2015-09-29-DTAH_After.jpg" style="margin: 10px 25px; width: 625px; height: 409px;"></p> <h3>BEFORE: King's College Circle looking north (Public Work)</h3> <p><img alt="&quot;Before&quot; photo of King's College Circle looking north" src="/sites/default/files/2015-09-29-PublicWorks_Before.jpg" style="margin: 10px 25px; width: 625px; height: 404px;"></p> <h3>AFTER: King's College Circle looking north (Public Work)</h3> <p><img alt="&quot;After&quot; image of King's College Circle looking north" src="/sites/default/files/2015-09-29-PublicWorks_After.jpg" style="margin: 10px 25px; width: 625px; height: 404px;"></p> <h3>BEFORE: King's College Circle, west side (KPMB)</h3> <h3><img alt="&quot;before&quot; photo of King's College Circle near Con Hall" src="/sites/default/files/2015-09-29-KPMB_Before.jpg" style="margin: 10px 25px; width: 625px; height: 404px;"></h3> <h3>AFTER; King's College Circle west side (KPMB)</h3> <p><img alt="&quot;After&quot; image of KPMB's design for west side of King's College Circle" src="/sites/default/files/2015-09-29-KPMB_After.jpg" style="margin: 10px 25px; width: 625px; height: 404px;"></p> <h3>BEFORE: King's College Circle looking northeast (Janet Rosenberg &amp; Studio)</h3> <p><img alt="&quot;Before&quot; photo of " src="/sites/default/files/2015-09-29-JRS_Before.jpg" style="margin: 10px 25px; width: 625px; height: 267px;"></p> <h3>AFTER: King's College Circle looking northeast (Janet Rosenberg &amp; Studio)</h3> <p><img alt="&quot;After&quot;image by JRS" src="/sites/default/files/2015-09-29-JRS_After.jpg" style="margin: 10px 25px; width: 625px; height: 271px;"></p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-picpath field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">picpath</div> <div class="field__item">sites/default/files/2015-09-29-leadImage-.jpg</div> </div> Tue, 29 Sep 2015 11:51:34 +0000 sgupta 7305 at Moon a no-show, but the Թϱ eclipse viewing party goes on /news/things-looking-u-t-lunar-eclipse-viewing-party <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Moon a no-show, but the Թϱ eclipse viewing party goes on</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>sgupta</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2015-09-24T08:13:36-04:00" title="Thursday, September 24, 2015 - 08:13" class="datetime">Thu, 09/24/2015 - 08:13</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">(Above photo by Lorne Bridgman courtesy Թϱ Magazine)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/arthur-kaptainis" hreflang="en">Arthur Kaptainis</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Arthur Kaptainis</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/top-stories" hreflang="en">Top Stories</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/lunar-eclipse" hreflang="en">lunar eclipse</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/dunlap-institute-astronomy-astrophysics" hreflang="en">Dunlap Institute for Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/community" hreflang="en">Community</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/cities" hreflang="en">Cities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/campus-life" hreflang="en">Campus Life</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/astronomy" hreflang="en">Astronomy</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">Big crowds at moon-watching events on downtown, Scarborough campuses</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Thousands of aspiring moon-watchers crowded the front campus Sunday night to see the last total eclipse visible from Toronto before Jan. 20, 2019.</p> <p>Unfortunately, cloudy weather also materialized, leaving&nbsp;the multitudes&nbsp;imagining what the event might have looked like.</p> <p>“Managed to take a single capture during a 10sec break in the clouds,”&nbsp;tweeted one astrophotographer from a parallel gathering at the University of Toronto Scarborough.</p> <p>“Well done," tweeted another. "Nothing but cloud and light for me.”</p> <p>Despite the weather, visitors stayed to chat with University of Toronto&nbsp;astronomers and take part in activities and games. Some&nbsp;brought moon cakes and set up their own telescopes on the lawn. (<em>Photo below by Chris Sasaki, the Dunlap Institute for&nbsp;Astronomy&nbsp;&amp; Astrophysics</em>)</p> <p><img alt="photo of people with telescopes" src="/sites/default/files/2015-09-30-lunar-eclipse-telescopes.jpg" style="width: 625px; height: 400px; margin: 10px 25px;"></p> <p>The Dunlap Institute for Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics originally planned a public event at the observatory atop the McLennan Physical Laboratory building on Huron Street. But more than 13,000 expressions of interest on the institute’s Facebook page led the organizers to move the party to the wide open spaces of King’s College Circle.</p> <p>Weather reports leading up to the event&nbsp;were promising.</p> <p>“It’s very exciting to know that so many people are interested in astronomy,” said <strong>Michael Reid</strong>, the Dunlap director of public outreach. “We’ve been building toward bigger and bigger events over the past few years.</p> <p>“We were fortunate to reach so many people through the Transit of Venus at Varsity Stadium event in 2012. This is another great opportunity.”</p> <p>Organized in partnership with the department of astronomy and astrophysics and Science &amp; Engineering Engagement, the event offered Torontonians the opportunity to see the eclipse through telescopes, consult with Թϱ astronomers on the science of the process and get advice on how to photograph the event.</p> <p>An Oculus Rift virtual-reality headset and the WorldWide Telescope program were also available – conveniently, under the circumstances. (<em>Photo below by Chris Sasaki, Dunlap Institute for Astronomy &amp; Astrophysics</em>)</p> <p><img alt="photo of students using Oculus Rift headset" src="/sites/default/files/2015-09-30-lunar-eclipse-oculus-rift.jpg" style="width: 625px; height: 400px; margin: 10px 25px;"></p> <p>While lunar eclipses are not extremely rare events, this one was visible across Canada at a convenient time of night and a comfortable time of year.</p> <p>Adding interest was the fact that the&nbsp;Sunday eclipse involved a “supermoon” – the closest and thus marginally the largest of the year – and a harvest moon, the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox, which fell on Wednesday.</p> <p>The moon was entirely within the earth’s shadow from 10:11 p.m. to 11:23 p.m. – a generous 72 minutes of totality. Partial eclipse began at 9:07. The reverse process, as the moon emerged from the umbral shadow, ended at 12:27 a.m.</p> <p>Judging by the Dunlap Twitter feed, diehard eclipse fans who stayed past midnight got a few glimpses of the reluctant celestial celebrity. (<em>Photo below: Lorne Bridgman courtesy Թϱ Magazine</em>.)</p> <p><img alt="photo of front campus during the lunar eclipse event" src="/sites/default/files/2015-09-30-lunar-eclipse-embedded.jpg" style="width: 625px; height: 400px; margin: 10px 25px;"></p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-picpath field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">picpath</div> <div class="field__item">sites/default/files/2015-09-30-lunar-eclipse-lead-photo.jpg</div> </div> Thu, 24 Sep 2015 12:13:36 +0000 sgupta 7299 at Improving the walking – and learning – environment at Թϱ's downtown campus /news/improving-walking-and-learning-environment-u-ts-downtown-campus <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Improving the walking – and learning – environment at Թϱ's downtown campus</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>sgupta</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2015-08-06T11:15:22-04:00" title="Thursday, August 6, 2015 - 11:15" class="datetime">Thu, 08/06/2015 - 11:15</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Students, staff, faculty and tourists chat, study and even shoot hoops at Willcocks Commons – the portion of Willcocks St. closed to traffic (photo by Johnny Guatto)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/arthur-kaptainis" hreflang="en">Arthur Kaptainis</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Arthur Kaptainis</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/community" hreflang="en">Community</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/cities" hreflang="en">Cities</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/campus-life" hreflang="en">Campus Life</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/more-news" hreflang="en">More News</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">How open spaces, pedestrian-friendly streets can enhance a “beautiful and important space” in the City of Toronto</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>An end to parking on King’s College Circle? Pedestrians only on Devonshire Place?</p> <p>These and other dramatic improvements to the St. George campus are among the options being studied for inclusion in a new strategic document that will be submitted to the city in fall 2015.</p> <p>“This is the next step from the 2011 Master Plan,” said <strong>Christine Burke</strong>, director, campus and&nbsp;facilities planning. “It will create an understanding with the city, our neighbours and all people for whom the downtown campus of the University of Toronto is a beautiful and important space.”</p> <p>Like the Master Plan, the Secondary Plan – a municipal document that identifies land use and growth objectives in a specific part of the city&nbsp;– will reflect the importance of heritage, open spaces and environmental priorities but also allow for flexibility in building and reorganizing the space used by University divisions as they evolve.</p> <p>“What we are doing now, in consultation with the city and other stakeholders, is evaluating the goals and priorities that should be incorporated into City policy,” Burke said.</p> <p>While approval of the Secondary Plan ultimately resides with the City of Toronto, it will be developed in consultation with stakeholders, including campus groups and neighbourhood representatives. Crucial input is expected from the Թϱ Landmark Committee, which has solicited proposals from four competitive teams of urban designers and landscape architects on how to enhance the historical centre of the St. George campus.</p> <p>Among the priorities foreseen is improving the walking environment west of St. George St. and creating a “heart” for these problematic city blocks, according Pino Di Mascio, a partner in Urban Strategies Inc., which has been retained by the University as a consultant.</p> <p>“Clearly, Huron St. needs to be rethought,” he told a meeting of Թϱ Principals, Deans, Academic Directors and Chairs on June 24. “We need better pedestrian amenities, better landscaping.”&nbsp;</p> <p>Di Mascio said the success of Willcocks Commons – the portion of Willcocks St. closed to traffic – and the redesigned stairs of Sidney Smith Hall have made this stretch of St. George St. more amenable to the pedestrians who continue to dominate the campus.</p> <p>Russell St. and Devonshire Place (the latter now flanked by the Goldring Centre and Varsity Stadium) are other logical candidates for seasonal pedestrian-only designation, Di Mascio said. It might also be possible to extend Willcocks Commons to Spadina Ave.&nbsp;</p> <p>The intersection of St. George St., Harbord St. and Hoskin Ave., anchored by the Robarts Library, is inevitably a crossroads of pedestrian traffic, Di Mascio noted.</p> <p>“Do we need on-street parking on Harbord and Hoskin?” he asked. “Does it add anything to the University?”</p> <p>One reason for the imperfect development of the west sector of the St. George campus, Di Mascio added, was the expectation in the 1960s and 1970s that Spadina Ave. would become the Spadina Expressway. University structures were built accordingly, with architecturally inexpressive (not to mention inaccessible) western façades.&nbsp;</p> <p>The areas east of St. George St. are widely agreed to be beautiful and pedestrian-friendly.&nbsp;</p> <p><img alt="aerial view of Hart House" src="/sites/default/files/2015-08-07-HartHouseAerial_wide.jpg" style="width: 635px; height: 357px; margin: 10px 20px;"></p> <p>Nevertheless, there are potential improvements to be considered, including the end of parking on King’s College Circle and Tower Road and new strategies for pedestrian flow across Queen’s Park.</p> <p>While Թϱ officials foresee no rise in overall enrolment, a higher proportion of graduate students (and international students who live on campus) will have a significant effect on space and its use. Graduate studies entail more laboratories, seminar spaces, conference facilities and office space for faculty.</p> <p>Other needs include improvements to the “edges” of the campus where pedestrians (and the public) gain access to the University, particularly College St and the intersection of Bloor St. and Spadina Ave. On campus, is widely accepted that ground-floor entrances should be vibrant and welcoming, and that architectural quality in general is an important element in a positive learning environment.&nbsp;</p> <p>Despite these fixed priorities, the Secondary Plan must allow the University to be efficient and adaptable as it responds to changing academic needs over time.</p> <p>“We don’t know what new programs will emerge,” Burke said. “It is in the nature of learning, research and collaboration for new directions to develop.”</p> <p>In a question period following the June 24 briefing, Dr.<strong> Avrum Gotlieb</strong>, vice-dean, research and international relations, recommended that the plan include a statement communicating the University’s academic mission.</p> <p>Other suggestions arising in question period concerned the clear expression of accessibility as a priority and the need to factor in the construction of new high-rise downtown housing into any consideration of public access to the St. George campus.</p> <p>“This is a document with many parts, reflecting the complexity of the St. George campus and the University itself,” said <strong>Scott Mabury</strong>, Թϱ vice-president of University operations. “Everyone involved is determined to make it as clear and comprehensive as possible.”</p> <p><img alt="graphic showing how people get to campus" src="/sites/default/files/2015-08-06-SecondaryPlan-info.jpg" style="width: 625px; height: 417px; margin: 10px 30px;"></p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-picpath field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">picpath</div> <div class="field__item">sites/default/files/2015-08-07-willcox-commons.jpg</div> </div> Thu, 06 Aug 2015 15:15:22 +0000 sgupta 7193 at Campus safety, sexual violence and the University /news/campus-safety-sexual-violence-and-university <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Campus safety, sexual violence and the University</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>sgupta</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2015-07-17T06:25:09-04:00" title="Friday, July 17, 2015 - 06:25" class="datetime">Fri, 07/17/2015 - 06:25</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Vice-President and Provost Cheryl Regehr</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/terry-lavender" hreflang="en">Terry Lavender</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Terry Lavender</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/features" hreflang="en">Features</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/provost" hreflang="en">Provost</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/campus-life" hreflang="en">Campus Life</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>“It is the goal of the University of Toronto to do everything possible to create an environment where students, staff and faculty can feel safe to learn, work and live.”</p> <p>Those are the words that greet visitors to <a href="http://safety.utoronto.ca/">the University of Toronto’s safety website</a>, and Թϱ stands behind them, says Vice-President and Provost <strong>Cheryl Regehr</strong>.&nbsp;</p> <p>One particular aspect of campus safety that concerns Regehr is the prevention of and response to sexual violence.&nbsp;</p> <p>(Visit <a href="http://safety.utoronto.ca/">safety.utoronto.ca</a> for more information on&nbsp;programs and services.)</p> <p>A presidential and provostial committee on sexual violence is&nbsp;soliciting feedback from students, faculty and staff across the University as it works to develop recommendations on preventing and responding to sexual violence. (<a href="http://safety.utoronto.ca/sexual-violence-committee/have-your-say/">You can find a confidential, anonymous survey here</a>.)</p> <p>Regehr&nbsp;sat down recently with Թϱ writer <strong>Terry Lavender </strong>to discuss the University’s sexual violence supports and programs.</p> <hr> <p><strong>Can you tell us something about your own interest and expertise in this area?</strong><br> The issue of sexual violence is one that I have been deeply interested in for many years. In the 1980s I was the director of one of the three hospital-based sexual assault care centres in Toronto, and consulted to a newly developed one in Parry Sound. As part of that, I was engaged not only with services for victims of violence, but also preventative education. I produced the film called "Lindsay's story: education for date rape prevention” which was used by public health offices in high schools across the country. I was also a social worker on the forensic unit of the former Clarke Institute, now CAMH [Centre for Addiction and Mental Health], where I worked on the sex offender treatment program. In that work, I conducted assessments for the courts of both those who were accused of sexual violence and those who were victims of sexual violence.</p> <p>My academic research over the last number of years has also included issues of sexual violence, looking at the experience of victims of sexual violence in the court system, and looking at issues of recovery from rape trauma. Sexual violence continues to be an issue that is deeply disturbing and is horrifying for those who have been through the experience.</p> <p><strong>What specifically is the University of Toronto doing?</strong><br> We have five components that we’ve focussed on over the years. The first component is preventative education. A second component is crisis services for those who have been recently assaulted. We have risk management services so if there is any ongoing risk to either a particular victim or people in general in our community, we can address that risk. We have counselling services that we provide both here on campus and through links that we have with community agencies. We also have a process for investigating and adjudicating reports of sexual violence that come forward if the accused is a member of our community.</p> <h3><a href="http://news.utoronto.ca/safety-sexual-violence-information">Find&nbsp;more&nbsp;information on programs and services</a></h3> <p><strong>Many of Թϱ’s students are away from home, experiencing the freedom and responsibilities of adulthood for the first time. How do the University’s sexual violence initiatives take this into account?</strong><br> It begins with a good orientation and a positive environment. Our Orientation leaders and our residence dons are well-trained in these kinds of issues. But prevention doesn’t end with Orientation. The preventative education programs here at Թϱ focus on a large number of issues, such as respect for one another, which is required of all members of our community. Students also learn how to pay attention to personal feelings of discomfort, so each person, as they’re in a situation that’s unfamiliar, can learn to respect their own feelings of discomfort and act upon them if possible.&nbsp;</p> <p>We also work to build community, so that if any member of our community thinks that another member of the community is at risk for whatever reason, they are able to help one another.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>What is Թϱ doing in general to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors?</strong><br> The education and outreach that we provide is certainly an important part of building a strong, healthy community. We couple this with a variety of safety programs, for example, the <a href="http://www.utm.utoronto.ca/campus-police/safety-programs/walksafer">WalkSafer</a>, <a href="http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/police/u-t-scarborough-patrol">Scarborough Patrol</a>, and <a href="http://www.campuspolice.utoronto.ca/safety/walkSmart.htm">WalkSmart </a>programs assist students, staff and faculty to safely navigate our campuses and the closest transit stops after-hours. We have our campus police who are on regular patrol and are able to assist should people make reports of any kind of suspicious activity.&nbsp;</p> <p>Our residence dons and our deans of students are trained in responding to sexual violence. We also are continuing to speak with faculty and teaching staff so we all know how to recognize safety needs and refer students and colleagues to the appropriate services.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>There’s growing consensus that sexual violence is a community concern, not just an individual one. Is Թϱ doing anything regarding bystander awareness?&nbsp;</strong><br> There are a lot of programs in this area that come out of our health promotion service teams on all three campuses. We have educators who facilitate workshops on bystander training and building healthy relationships – how to help friends who might be in relationships that are unsettling or unsafe. We have Special Police Constables who do outreach and work with the <a href="http://www.communitysafety.utoronto.ca/about-us.htm">Community Safety Office</a> on bystander training. We try to engage the community so that they know how to recognize when something isn’t right and what resources they can access in the situation. We also have <a href="http://www.askfirst.utoronto.ca/">the Ask First campaign</a>; this is mainly directed towards first-year students who are in Orientation, but it’s also provided to students throughout the year.</p> <p><strong>What about campus communities that might have particular needs and concerns, such as the LGBTQ community, international students or the disabled?</strong><br> We have various equity offices around the university that provide specialized service so people who choose to go to specialized services can do so. Certainly, the work that we do in Orientation and other places addresses some of the challenges that individuals from different communities might be facing and the perceptions that they might have that are based on their own experiences of exclusion.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Are you working with colleagues from other colleges and universities on this issue?</strong><br> Absolutely. We have three representatives on the Council of Ontario Universities sexual assault working group – myself, Andrea Carter [director of high risk] and [Trinity College Provost] Mayo Moran. We’re working across the sector on how we can learn best practices from one another and provide advice to one another when one organization has an approach that’s better. It is an opportunity to learn from one another and to support students across all institutions.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Is there anything further you’d like to say about Թϱ’s supports for victims of sexual violence?</strong><br> Anyone who is a member of our community who has experienced violence, including sexual violence, should be aware that there are many avenues for them to receive support. People can disclose their needs to any number of people including the various specialized support services that we have and these services will assist in addressing what supports are required.</p> <p>I think it is important to draw a distinction between disclosure and reporting. We recognize that if someone has experienced sexual violence, telling another person can be at times, overwhelming. It can often feel like you lose what little control you may have. There is a difference between reporting and disclosing. People have the choice about whether to report or disclose. When people <strong>disclose</strong> that they’ve been assaulted, they’re looking for support and they’re looking for someone to help them think through the various options they have. When they <strong>report</strong>, that sets in motion a process where they are looking to have some sort of action taken.&nbsp;</p> <p>Here at the University, people can report to our campus police, and to the metro police. They can also report to many other members of our community who may involve the formal reporting mechanisms. When someone reports, that’s starting a process where an investigation may take place.&nbsp;</p> <p>If the individual is looking for support, and they don’t want to become involved in a process where there’s an investigation, then they are welcome and encouraged to come forward as well. There are confidential supportive offices that can take disclosures (such as the Community Safety Office, counsellors, and health professionals). While a disclosure will not lead to an investigation the victim will be informed of their options and ways in which they can be supported (such as accommodations, housing needs, and counselling resources). Our goal is that whomever a victim discloses to will be helpful, and, if a victim chooses to report, then we will provide support as they go through that process of investigation.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-picpath field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">picpath</div> <div class="field__item">sites/default/files/2015-07-17-provost_2.jpg</div> </div> Fri, 17 Jul 2015 10:25:09 +0000 sgupta 7147 at Sharing the best cherry blossom moments at Թϱ /news/sharing-best-cherry-blossom-moments-u-t <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Sharing the best cherry blossom moments at Թϱ</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>sgupta</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2015-05-05T08:36:29-04:00" title="Tuesday, May 5, 2015 - 08:36" class="datetime">Tue, 05/05/2015 - 08:36</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">More than 2,000 people have liked this photo on Instagram (so far) by Թϱ staff member Sarah Khan</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/sarah-khan" hreflang="en">Sarah Khan</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Sarah Khan</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/our-community" hreflang="en">Our Community</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/top-stories" hreflang="en">Top Stories</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/social-media" hreflang="en">Social Media</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/instagram" hreflang="en">Instagram</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/environment" hreflang="en">Environment</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/community" hreflang="en">Community</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/campus-life" hreflang="en">Campus Life</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">Photographers celebrate the sakura </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p> Even though each blossom lives between four and 10 days,&nbsp;the annual flowering of sakura (or cherry blossom) trees draws millions of tourists to destinations around the world.</p> <p> In Washington, D.C., park rangers tend to more than 3,700 cherry trees. Their peak bloom was in April, and tourists&nbsp;were able to see the elusive cherry blossoms&nbsp;on <a href="http://www.nps.gov/cherry/cherry-blossom-bloom.htm">ranger-led walks,&nbsp;from paddle boats and&nbsp;via a cherry web cam</a>. In Japan, where the tourist association publishes <a href="http://www.jnto.go.jp/sakura/eng/index.php">a map showing when flowering has begun</a> across the country, peak bloom came earlier than normal&nbsp;– and petals are already falling. But&nbsp;in Toronto's High Park, where <a href="http://www.highparknaturecentre.com/high-park-cherry-blossom-watch/predicting-peak-bloom/">the nature centre has been counting down the days</a>, the showiest display is&nbsp;expected between May 7 and May 9.</p> <p> And at the University of Toronto? Students, staff, faculty and community members have already been capturing the display and sharing the results on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. The above photo has already received so many "likes" on social media&nbsp;it is close to rivalling <a href="http://news.utoronto.ca/convocation-2014-best-social-media-moments-week-two">last year's Convocation marriage proposal photo</a>.</p> <p> If you would like to add your photos to the collection, use the hashtag #UofT.</p> <p> Below, you can scroll through some of this year's&nbsp;highlights:</p> <p> &nbsp;</p> <div class="storify"> <iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="no" height="750" src="//storify.com/UofT/u-of-t-s-cherry-blossoms-2015/embed?border=false" width="100%"></iframe><script src="//storify.com/UofT/u-of-t-s-cherry-blossoms-2015.js?border=false"></script><noscript>[<a href="https://storify.com/UofT/u-of-t-s-cherry-blossoms-2015" target="_blank">View the story "Թϱ's Cherry Blossoms 2015" on Storify</a>]</noscript></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-picpath field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">picpath</div> <div class="field__item">sites/default/files/2015-05-05-cherry-blossoms.jpg</div> </div> Tue, 05 May 2015 12:36:29 +0000 sgupta 7000 at You saw it on Instagram, now learn the story behind the "shaggy dog" building /news/you-saw-it-instagram-now-learn-story-behind-shaggy-dog-building-0 <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">You saw it on Instagram, now learn the story behind the "shaggy dog" building</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>sgupta</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2014-09-19T11:42:32-04:00" title="Friday, September 19, 2014 - 11:42" class="datetime">Fri, 09/19/2014 - 11:42</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Instagram by Valentin Pereda (with text by Jon Horvatin)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/dominic-ali" hreflang="en">Dominic Ali</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/kristina-doyle" hreflang="en">Kristina Doyle</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Dominic Ali &amp; Kristina Doyle</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/features" hreflang="en">Features</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/students" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/campus-life" hreflang="en">Campus Life</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/back-school" hreflang="en">Back to School</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/architecture" hreflang="en">Architecture</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p> <em>Incoming University of Toronto students might not realize it yet, but they’ll be attending classes in and around some of Canada’s most spectacular architecture. </em></p> <p> <em>One of the best places to see some of these storied buildings across three campuses is on the Թϱ Instagram account. These visually striking and even quirky buildings comprise some of the favorite subjects of Թϱ Instagrammers. But who built them and why are they an important part of the history and landscape of the Greater Toronto Area?</em></p> <p> <em>For answers, writer <strong>Dominic Ali</strong> turned to the man who wrote the book about the Թϱ’s campuses:&nbsp;<strong>Larry Richards</strong>. A&nbsp;professor emeritus and former dean of the Թϱ’s John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, Richards is also the author of University of Toronto: The Campus Guide published by Princeton Architectural Press.</em></p> <p> <em>Below, Richards's expert commentary is illustrated by Թϱ Instagrammers. Our thanks to all the talented photographers who agreed to let us use their images here.</em></p> <div class="storify"> <br> <script src="//storify.com/UofT/you-saw-it-on-instagram-now-learn-the-story-behind.js?header=false&amp;border=false"></script><noscript>[<a href="https://storify.com/UofT/you-saw-it-on-instagram-now-learn-the-story-behind" target="_blank">View the story "You saw it on Instagram, now learn the story behind that "shaggy dog" building" on Storify</a>]</noscript></div> <div class="storify"> <iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="no" height="750" src="//storify.com/UofT/you-saw-it-on-instagram-now-learn-the-story-behind/embed?header=false&amp;border=false" width="100%"></iframe><script src="//storify.com/UofT/you-saw-it-on-instagram-now-learn-the-story-behind.js?header=false&amp;border=false"></script><noscript>[<a href="https://storify.com/UofT/you-saw-it-on-instagram-now-learn-the-story-behind" target="_blank">View the story "You saw it on Instagram, now learn the story behind that "shaggy dog" building" on Storify</a>]</noscript></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-picpath field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">picpath</div> <div class="field__item">sites/default/files/2014-09-09-instagram-back-to-school.jpg</div> </div> Fri, 19 Sep 2014 15:42:32 +0000 sgupta 6473 at