THE VARSITY
The University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880
January 6, 2026
Vol. CXLVI, No. 13
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Maud Menten and the women science forgot
ChienShiung Wu, the first lady of physics
Shining a light on marginalized pioneers
Wu disproved a foundational belief of modern physics
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THE VARSITY
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U of T mourns Shivank Avasthi Memorial to be set up on campus by friends Ella MacCormack News Editor
The concrete steps behind UTSC’s humanities wing leading towards the valley will soon become a place of remembrance for Shivank Avasthi. On December 23, 2025, Avasthi was killed in a shooting in the Highland Creek Valley immediately next to campus. That day, UTSC was under lockdown from 4:29–5:32 pm. No arrests have been made. A spokesperson for the university wrote that, “Toronto Police have advised this is an isolated incident and there is no ongoing threat to the University of Toronto community.” Avasthi was a third-year life science student, powerlifting club executive, and cheerleading team member whom friends remember for his kindness. The memorial will be set up later in the week as more students return from winter break. “Our plan is to put it by these steps, and just set up a little makeshift memorial where people can place flowers and items he liked in memory of him,” one of his friends wrote to The Varsity. Campus organizations shared tributes on social media remembering Avasthi. U of T Powerlifting Club wrote in an Instagram post, “Your smile had a way of lifting everyone around you, and your presence made the UofT Powerlifting community feel like a true family. We are incredibly grateful for the time we shared with you and for everything you gave to our team, both inside and outside the gym.” “Your kindness, energy, and spirit will never be forgotten. We were privileged to have you as part of our family, and your impact will stay with us forever. You will be deeply missed and always remembered,” the post continued.
“This is a time of great sorrow in our community and one of unimaginable loss for Shivank’s loved ones.” COURTESY OF TORONTO POLICE SERVICE
UTSC Cheerleading also commemorated Avasthi, writing on social media, “Shivank lit up practice and brought up everyone’s spirits with his encouragement and support. He brought a smile to anyone’s face when you talked with him, and as a team we were so lucky to have him. Rest easy, Shivank.” On December 25, 2025, Principal Linda Johnston wrote in an email to UTSC, “This is a time of great sorrow in our community and one
of unimaginable loss for Shivank’s loved ones. The University has contacted Shivank’s family to express our deepest condolences and to offer support. We have also offered supports to UTSC community members who we know were connected with Shivank through campus groups and to those who have reached out to us.” On January 3, the Toronto Police Service wrote to The Varsity that they had no new updates at this time.
How U of T discrimination and harassment complaints were resolved last year And how that might change under the new proposed policy Ella MacCormack News Editor
approval by June. The report also proposes clear steps to improve the complaint pathway.
From July 2024 to June 2025, 250 complaints of discrimination or harassment were received at U of T. Of these, 158 have been resolved, 65 remain in progress, and 27 have been discontinued. This process is governed by U of T’s Statement on Prohibited Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment, which outlines the university’s rights and responsibilities when addressing physical and verbal harassment. This does not include harassment based on sex and gender, which is instead managed under the Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment. Under the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act, U of T must annually report on the implementation of anti-racism and antihate policies. This data only involves formal complaints made to the university. This does not encompass all instances of discrimination or harassment, and early-stage resolutions to complaints are not logged. This year, the discrimination and harassment annual report came to the Governing Council (GC) alongside a report reviewing the university’s statement. It recommends establishing a new policy based on the statement, which the university currently aims to bring to the GC for
Who filed complaints Among the formal complaints recorded, 43 were filed by students against faculty members. This was followed by 37 staff-to-staff complaints, 33 student-to-student, 31 students-to-staff, and 26 faculty-to-faculty complaints. A smaller number of complaints involved staff-to-faculty and faculty-tostaff. Discrimination and harassment complaints overwhelmingly involved verbal, online, or written comments and exchanges. Other incidents reported also included classroom interactions, academic decisions like grades and tenure, management decisions like hiring and discipline, and unwanted physical contact. Many complaints cited multiple protected grounds under Ontario’s Human Rights Code. Race appeared in 110 complaints, followed by ethnic origin in 66, creed in 39, disability in 28, gender expression in 31, and place of origin in 27. Of the Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism categories, antisemitism accounted for 37 complaints, anti-Black racism for 33, Islamophobia for 24, ableism for 23, anti-Asian racism for 17, and antiIndigenous racism for 11. After receiving a complaint, the university decides the next steps, which can include informal resolution, investigation, or no action against
the respondent. If no action is taken against the respondent, the complainant is offered support. This can include mental health or community safety support, or, in some instances, the university system changing itself. Formal complaint outcomes and investigations Following the initial assessment of the complaint, 86 cases were resolved between parties without an investigation, 73 proceeded to investigation, and 55 found no grounds for action against the respondent. After an investigation, 33 cases found that allegations were substantiated, and eight found that no allegations were substantiated. The most common outcome was restorative action between parties, then no disciplinary action taken against the respondent, then disciplinary, corrective, or remedial actions. 65 cases are currently in progress, including 30 investigations, and 27 have been discontinued. The process is discontinued if the university does not have jurisdiction, if the complainant voluntarily withdraws, or if the respondent or complainant leaves the university. 16 of the 250 complaints involved law enforcement. Report and consultations on process In early 2025, the university commissioned a review of the Statement by Co-Chairs Brenda
thevarsity.ca/section/news Cossman, Professor of Law and Associate Dean of Research for the Faculty of Law, and Caroline Rabbat, former Director of High Risk, Faculty Support & Mental Health for the Faculty of Arts and Science. To review the Statement’s strengths and weaknesses, Cossman and Rabbat held inperson and online consultations, including 45 closed consultation sessions, eight open sessions, an online survey, and emails with written feedback. Cossman and Rabbat’s report goes over their findings, which culminated in the major recommendation to replace the Statement altogether. Cossman and Rabbat wrote that the statement has “outlived its usefulness,”
JANUARY 6, 2026 and its “outdated language and references to offices that no longer exist diminish its relevance and credibility.” They recommended incorporating the existing Statement on Prohibited Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment, and Statement on Human Rights into one formal policy. Consultations found that where a statement can feel “aspirational and culture-setting,” policies are perceived as providing “actionable guidance and enforceability.” The report also recommended improving clarity — such as the relationship between different university policies and establishing definitions — and simplifying the pathways for complaints.
The proposed framework for the formal pathway includes five stages: intake, institutional assessment, investigation, decision or outcome, and restoration and repair. At intake, the report recommended clearly identifying the office where formal complaints can be made. To improve this stage, it is recommended to establish a Human Rights office for students to create one clear entry. At institutional assessment, the Vice-Presidential or Vice-Provostial Office would assess if the alleged conduct breaches policy, and whether it will proceed to investigation. This same office would decide the outcome after the investigation in consultation with appropriate divisions, such as Human Relations or Labour Relations, as relevant.
The outcomes of all formal discrimination and harassment complaints this past year. ELLA MACCORMACK/THEVARSITY
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The report stated that investigations are often traumatic for complainants, respondents, and witnesses, so the proposed restoration and repair stage includes traumainformed support, facilitated discussions, apology and amends processes, and restorative circles. Noted recommendations also include prohibiting reprisals, identifying appropriate time limits for reporting and for resolving complaints, and establishing pathways for appeal after the outcome decision. The report also focused on education and promotion of the new policy and the use of a centralized system to track data and report outcomes. Trevor Young, Vice-President & Provost, and Kelly Hannah-Moffat, Vice-President, People Strategy, Equity & Culture, wrote in the letter of acknowledgement attached to the report that they were pleased to announce the university will “begin working towards the implementation of the recommendations based on further consultation with the U of T community and discussion with partners across our three campuses.” In the meantime, existing university policies and statements will continue to guide discrimination and harassment complaints. The university has a web resource for complaints and concerns about discrimination and harassment at people.utoronto.ca/ inclusion/complaints/.
U of T not worried about new international student permit limit New study permit target cut in half starting 2026 Ella MacCormack News Editor
According to a Governing Council (GC) presentation on December 11, 2025, the reduced international student permit targets are “unlikely to affect U of T.” This is in response to the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, which decreases the federal government’s target for new international students by about half, from 305,900 to 155,000 permits. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) plans on issuing 408,000 total study permits in 2026, which includes the new study permits as well as 253,000 permit extensions for current and returning students. The cap on international students was first imposed in January 2024, and since then, the number of active study permit holders has dropped from over 1,000,000 to about 725,000 by September 2025. Joseph Wong, U of T’s vice-president, international, told U of T News in an interview that
The Varsity Newswire Ella MacCormack News Editor
US captures Venezuela’s leader Nicolás Maduro — Caracas, Venezuela Early January 3, explosions and low-flying planes were seen in Caracas — Venezuela’s capital — killing at least 40 civilians and military personnel. Venezuela’s leader, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife were seized from his compound by the US military. They were brought to Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center prison under charges including narco-terrorism conspiracy and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. Later that day, President Trump said in a Mar-a-Lago press conference, “We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” and, “We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the
the university is “moving ahead with the same intake plan we had before the federal budget announcement, and our teams continue to provide robust support to students preparing their study permit applications.” According to the GC presentation, the approval rate for U of T international student study permits from 2022–2024 was 88 per cent, which was significantly higher than the national average of 54 per cent. According to Wong, this is the highest approval rate of international study permits across institutions in Canada. PALs at U of T For 2026, Ontario is allocated 104,780 Provincial Attestation Letters (PALs) — documents confirming a student position is allocated for in the province’s study permit limits, which are now required for most international students applying for study permits, but they do not guarantee approval. Ontario’s study permit maximum is 70,074 — only 67 per cent of
badly broken infrastructure, the oil infrastructure and start making money for the country.” On the same day, Prime Minister Mark Carney wrote on X, “Canada has not recognized the illegitimate regime of Maduro since it stole the 2018 election,” but that Canada supports a democratic, peaceful, Venezuelan-led transition process. Carney added, “Canada calls on all parties to respect international law.” In January 2019, Canada did not recognize Maduro as the legitimate president after the “fraudulent and anti-democratic elections held on May 20, 2018, the Maduro regime is now fully entrenched as a dictatorship.” Following the 2024 elections, Canada formally recognized opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia as the president-elect of Venezuela. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre wrote on X, “Congratulations to President Trump on successfully arresting narco-terrorist and socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro, who should live out his days in prison.” Professor Joseph Wong will continue as VicePresident, International until 2031 — Simcoe Hall On December 11, Professor Joseph Wong was reappointed as Vice-President, International
the maximum PALs — to account for rejected applications. U of T consistently uses all of its provincially allocated PALs and has received additional letters beyond its base allocation in previous years. In 2024, U of T was initially allocated 10,713 and received a total of 12,338 PALs, according to the Toronto Star. Comparatively, public universities across Ontario used 82 per cent of 35,460 allocated PALs, and public colleges used 55 per cent of
189,416 allocated PALs in 2024. Schools can opt to return unused PALs to be redistributed, which includes a total of 10,500 PALs in 2024. Effective this year, IRCC announced that master’s and doctoral degree students do not need to submit PALs. However, international graduate students are still capped under the study permit limit.
Outside Simcoe Hall, Governing Council’s meeting grounds, in January. CHLOE WESTON/THEVARSITY
for a second term, extending his tenure to span from April 2021 to December 2031. He currently teaches courses in the Department of Political Science and the Munk School of Global Affairs. In the memorandum announcing his reappointment, Melanie Woodin wrote, “Professor Wong has earned a reputation as a collaborative, respectful leader, who leads with authenticity, personal warmth and scholarly rigour.” In 2017, Wong was appointed the first-ever associate vice-president and vice-provost, international student experience, and he was previously the director of the Munk School’s Asian Institute from 2005–2014. Too late for late work after January 7 — Registrar Offices After January 7, instructors cannot grant any further extensions for fall coursework without a term work extension petition. This Wednesday is also the last day to submit the petition, which requires a personal statement and supporting documentation explaining why the work could not be completed before the deadline. While waiting for a decision on the petition, students are expected to continue working on the term work. If it is approved, the term work will be expected on short notice.
Hinton Chair in AI established with $10 million funding from Google — Simcoe Hall On December 3, 2025, U of T established the new Hinton Chair — named after Professor Emeritus and Nobel laureate Geoffrey Hinton — supported by a $10 million donation from Google, which was matched by the university for a total of $20 million. Hinton said in the announcement, “I am encouraged that the Hinton Chair in Artificial Intelligence will support the next generation of AI research in the same vein, allowing ideas of great promise to germinate for the benefit of all humanity.” After years of delay, Line 6 of the TTC opens — Finch West Station On December 7, Line 6 Finch West of the TTC opened after $3.5 billion worth of construction, beginning in 2019. The line connects to Line 1 at Finch West station, and now spans more than 10 kilometres and 18 stops to Humber Polytechnic’s north campus. After public criticism of the LRT’s speed, the Toronto City Council approved a motion on December 16 to improve the traffic signals along the line.
Opinion
Janurary 6, 2026 thevarsity.ca/category/opinion opinion@thevarsity.ca AHMED HAWAMDEH/THEVARSITY
My 2026 resolution is to choose love The necessity of low-conditional love and reciprocity in a culture of disposability Nghi Nguyen Varsity Contributor
After just shy of a lifetime, I have finally started accepting my mother and her love. When you grow up feeling unloved by the family and culture that raised you, you start searching for love elsewhere. This seems true for many of my queer friends, whose families rejected their core beings and desires, and who now search for safety and intimacy in other queer, often disabled, often leftist — outcasts. The search for love happens among those who accept you exactly as you are, with ease and undying support. And yet, I have been disposed of by expartners and friends who share nearly all of my identity labels. They abandoned me the very first instance I hurt them — when they realized the lens through which I looked at the world was never the exact same colour as theirs. But my mother, who does not believe in my gender identity, and who has hurt me in ways I am not sure I can ever heal from, has never let go of me. So, I have been questioning the idea of easy love — love without great disappointment or conflict, lost tempers or moments of carelessness — and arrived at the conclusion that such a thing does not really exist. Deep, intimate love is patient, tolerant, and enduring; it makes room for pain, hurt, forgiveness, and change. Because all humans are intensely and inexorably fallible. The people who were ‘like me’ agreed with me, but they did not accept or tolerate me. Not when they realized the social deficits caused by my upbringing and autism would be a problem for them, too. Their love was conditional on my absolute agreement, and the moment I disagreed, I was out of their lives.
The antithesis of conditional love is unconditional love, I thought, but my friend Ayesha qualified it more precisely: one’s love should have a low degree of conditionality, and a high degree of acceptability. There is certainly a line that can be crossed for one’s love to break, but for me, that line is very, very distant, and moves further away when I feel grateful for and indebted to a person. Relationships are built of gratitude, responsibility, and reciprocity. It is thanks to Robin Wall Kimmerer’s teachings of “gift thinking” that I have found the language to describe the deeply profound and spiritual concept of hiếu, which clinically translates from Vietnamese to “filial piety.” I would translate hiếu as “gratitude.” Kimmerer writes in her book Braiding Sweetgrass, “Cultures of gratitude must also be cultures of reciprocity. Each person… is bound to every other in a reciprocal relationship… If an animal gives its life to feed me, I am in turn bound to support its life… [D]uties and gifts are two sides of the same coin.” When my parents and relatives say that I “have hiếu” for visiting them, they are saying that I am performing my duties as a daughter, which shows my gratitude for the gift of my life. A gift that included feeding me for 21 years, and of giving up a culture and language so I can succeed with new ones. To me, this is the gift of love. When we love people, we gift them time, attention, love letters, and bubble teas — to build a relationship of reciprocity. We become dutiful to each other. When I am sick and my loved one cooks soup for me, my gratitude motivates me to return the favour when they are in need. To burn a bridge is to set fire to your gifts and relinquish accountability.
I have considered going no-contact a few times with my parents, because they have caused me so much pain. Yet, because of their gifts, I cannot run away from my responsibilities. Not easily. Last September, I called my mother and sobbed uncontrollably to her, “You have to accept this about me. This [my queer freakness] will not change.” She drove five hours north to pick me up, then five hours down, and cooked dinner. My mother accepts something she does not agree with. She loves someone she cannot understand. And her love, before, has been destructive. It has taken me years to understand that my mother’s transphobia came from a place of love and believing she knows what’s best for her child. That when she insisted that I grow out my hair or wear feminine clothing, she did so because she did not want me to face the social rejection that, to her, defined trans people’s lives. My past friends and partners dismissed my lack of malicious intent because, they explained, the hurt had already been done. I do not appreciate this approach. While good intentions cannot undo hurt, they inform the conversations we have after. It is not outrage but understanding that makes room for productive change. I believe that someone who intends to love you, yet has hurt you, is very likely willing to learn how to care for you in the ways you appreciate. Oftentimes, our loved one hurts us by invalidating us in some way. I think many queer people are sensitive to invalidation, that we feel disagreement or rejection fractures our sacred safe spaces. But absolute agreement is rarely honest. Kai Cheng Thom writes in I Hope We Choose Love: A Trans Girl’s Notes From the
End of the World, “I have come to believe that strong relationships… contain the capacity for complexity and tension: That in a loving place, I am able to hear a friend disagree with me and know that they still care for me… That there is enough trust between us that our differences will not shatter us.” It has caused me great pain that my family has never affirmed my gender, but I have become secure enough in my identity that I do not need their validation. Sometimes, I need — though I do not necessarily want, because it hurts — for my friends to tell me I’m wrong, or that I am reacting disproportionately. I need their help in grounding my emotions or clarifying my perspective. In Thom’s words: “I don’t want to be validated. I want to be loved.” We must move towards a culture of indispensability, which is a culture of duty. I am not suggesting that we remain in toxic or abusive relationships. I am urging us to be accountable, to effectively navigate conflict, and to consider carefully when we want to cut ties, because there is a stark difference between leaving someone and disposing of them. I am urging us to accept and love people in all their flawed complexity, to value people over ideas, and to love authentically. When the community of people who share our marginalized identities and lived experiences is particularly small, we must hold onto each other and keep each other safe. Those who understand you most intimately have the capacity to inflict hurt, and, too, the most enormous capacity to love you. Nghi Nguyen is an interdisciplinary artist, and is a fourth-year student studying English and environmental biology.
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JANUARY 6, 2026
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In the rubble, innovation becomes infrastructure The AI race raises hard questions about how science is funded in times of crisis Kazim Abro Varsity Contributor
When a crisis hits, it disrupts the basic systems required for society to function — such as hospitals that sterilize medical equipment, electricity that remains stable, clinics that follow up, and supply chains that can deliver resources. In that context, the role of science and innovation shifts. It becomes less about novelty and more about continuity; keeping people mobile through evacuations, ensuring access to clean drinking water, and preventing healthcare systems from collapsing. I believe that within this context, science and innovation cease to be categorized as ‘breakthroughs’ and become more like basic infrastructure. Innovation replaces the destroyed practical systems that have been in place for years. Nowhere is that shift clearer than in disability and rehabilitation. Rehabilitation determines someone’s ability to return to school, work, or regain independence –– aspects of life that are now considered a luxury in places like illegally occupied Palestine. We are currently seeing a crisis of science in conflict zones like Gaza, where researchers are innovating, not for breakthroughs or new research, but to essentially keep their world moving. However, the role of crises in science is now colliding with mass investments in AI research in what is known as the global ‘AI race’ where countries are competing to develop the best AI technologies. Countries are now allocating a staggering amount of resources to remain competitive in a race where scale and strategic advantage matter as much as social benefit.
A 2025 Forbes column on the AI race argues that the competition hinges heavily on electricity, potentially accounting for 20 per cent of global electricity strain on grid capacity by 2030–2035. This implies that AI has the potential to cause a strain on state resources. Stanford’s AI 2025 index reports that in 2024, global private investments in generative AI reached $33.9 billion, and corporate AI investment reached $252.3 billion. When governments and private companies pour that much investment into AI, they dedicate energy, infrastructure, and policies to funding research. The International Energy Agency projects global electricity demand from data centres will more than double by 2030, with AI driving most of the surge. That footprint matters because it turns innovation into a competition over energy systems. In December 2025, Reuters reported that surging AI data centre demands are keeping older and less environmentally friendly peaking power plants –– a type of power plant that only runs during peak demand for electricity –– in parts of the US, raising concerns about heavy pollution burden in communities in the vicinity. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated in a September 2025 report that at least 41,844 people require long-term rehabilitation due to injuries inflicted by Israeli forces, almost double the 22,500 people in July 2024. With over 5,020 limb amputations alongside a surge of major burns and spinal cord injuries, there is a major demand for long hours of care, consistent medical followups, and repeated fittings –– the kind of care that is inaccessible in a conflict zone. Rehabilitation in Gaza is now a field where long-term harm accumulates quietly, with 6,000
EMMA CERVINKA/THEVARSITY
Palestinians amputees, many of whom face delays in prosthetic fitting, limited access to physical therapy, and equipment shortages that can turn survivable injuries into lifelong disability. We see citizen innovation in people like 23-year old Yasser Alostath, who turned to engineering to develop simple, low-cost prosthetics for amputees in Gaza. ‘Simple’ and ‘low cost’ can sound like limitations, but in conflict zones, they can be the difference between a device existing and the complete destruction of supply chains. When hospitals barely function, innovation becomes less about optimizing performance and more about rebuilding the core fragments of the medicare industry step-by-step, even if that comes through locally produced citizen innovation to adapt to scarcity. How should resources be better allocated? The answer doesn’t have to be AI against humanitarian engineering. I believe that a more effective approach is to insist on a portfolio of investments that creates room to fund advanced AI, but prioritizes crisis-ready science. These investments must be conditioned to require the improvement of
the common good; deployable tools for healthcare, disability supports, and humanitarian response. Canada recently committed $42.5 million to expand AI compute infrastructure at U of T. Investments like this can be paired with an equal seriousness about humanitarian scientific innovation. There needs to be dedicated funding for assistive technology that treats rehabilitation as essential health infrastructure, especially in crises where disability is not a side effect, but a central, long-term reality. Ultimately, science’s function in times of crisis goes beyond simple invention; its purpose is to prevent society from declining below a certain level of human potential. If we can mobilize billions for the strategic AI investment race, we can treat prosthetics, rehabilitation, and assistive devices as core innovative practices — not inspired afterthoughts once the damage is done. Kazim Abro is a fourth-year undergraduate student double-majoring in new media and media and communication — journalism stream at the University of Toronto Scarborough.
Nepal’s Gen Z protests show why youth voices matter When politics stops working, Gen Z turns protest into power On September 9, 2025, after protests swept Nepal, Interior Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned, and within 24 hours, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli also stepped down. Subsequently, the social media platform restrictions that sparked the protests were lifted by the government.
SIMONA AGOSTINO/THEVARSITY
Ishmul Malik International Affairs Columnist
forces institutions to address issues that have been neglected for a long time.
I have seen how older generations often perceive Gen Z as a generation that complains too much, being relentlessly outspoken about everything from politics to workplace culture to global justice issues. But I believe that it is this ‘complaining’ that became the force that overthrew an oppressive and unresponsive government in Nepal. In an era when demonstrations and protests are often dismissed as ineffective and inconvenient, Nepali youth are showing that collective action can shake the foundations of corrupt power.
Police crackdown and social media restrictions Tensions escalated when police intervened for crowd control and safety. Violence erupted as protesters and police confronted each other in the streets of Kathmandu, marking a turning point in the protests. 19 protesters were killed, and hundreds were injured after police used guns, rubber bullets, and tear gas. Instead of deterring the demonstrators, the violence intensified the protesters’ resolve. The government-imposed restrictions on major social media platforms, including Facebook, X, and YouTube, were justified by officials as a measure to prevent misinformation. For a generation that relies on digital platforms to share information, the restriction of social media felt like a direct attempt to silence dissent. International media outlets have framed the protests as backlash against restrictions on social media platforms. But those on the ground reject this narrative, stating that the real cause is widespread corruption and abuse of power. For young people facing high unemployment and a political system seemingly ignoring the everyday struggles of citizens, the ban felt, to me, like an affront to both freedom of voice and expression.
A political system that failed its youth This September, a wave of protests filled Nepal’s streets, with citizens demanding accountability and change. The Nepali youth were protesting for change from the corrupt political ruling class and the socioeconomic issues they refused to address. Protestors demanded accountability from their government, as they failed to effectively address rising youth unemployment, inflation, housing insecurity, and shrinking economic opportunities. What people might refer to as complaining was, in fact, a disapproval of systems that had let them down. Gen Z in Nepal questioned and organized against injustice instead of accepting or adjusting to it. This collective desire for change
Gen Z protests Dubbed the “Gen-Z protests” by mainstream commentators, the movement reveals the growing political influence of young people. When young people demand accountability, governments reduce the protests to chaos and complaining. Nepali youth are not protesting because they are young; they are protesting because the political system has consistently failed them, and they wish for a better present and future for themselves. When governments stagnate, institutions fail, and censorship rises, the streets become the only genuine democratic platform. I believe youth protest culture is powerful because it shows that the people are no longer passive. It represents a generation that rejects apathy and recognizes the power of collective action. Protests remain one of the few ways through which citizens can force their voices into political systems that resist change. I think that many people overlook the goal of protests of disrupting the everyday practices that allow injustice to go unchecked. Protests serve as a reminder that some people’s comfort often relies on the discomfort of others. Nepal’s turning point The youth-led protests show how pressure can question authority and demand accountability. It has caused an interim government, led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, Nepal’s first woman to hold the post, to take the helm. From Sri Lanka’s economic protests to Iran’s youth-led resistance and student movements across South Asia, Nepal joins a growing list of countries where youth-led movements have disrupted entrenched political orders. Gen Z’s willingness to challenge authority is a break
from narratives of political disengagement often imposed on young people. Nepal has reshaped the political landscape of the entire country. As of late October 2025, the Supreme Court of Nepal had not issued an interim order against the dissolution of parliament and the establishment of an interim government. Some challenged the interim government’s legitimacy in court, arguing that the dissolution of parliament violated constitutional norms, but the legal challenge has not halted the transition. Following Karki’s lead, President Paudel accepted her advice to dissolve the lower house and set a new election date for March 5. If the reforms follow suit, governments will be forced to address the corruption that has persistently undermined the trust of citizens and act in the best interests of the people they are supposed to represent. If these changes take hold, the Gen Z protests in Nepal will be remembered not merely as a revolt but as the start of a more responsible and accountable political era. More than a moment In multiple countries, youth-led movements are targeting structural failures, such as economic inequality and censorship, and expressing frustration with decades of political stagnation. The protests in Nepal are part of a broader global direction, where younger generations, especially after years of systemic failure by governments, are uniting not just for single issues but for systemic change. Gen Z may be accused of ‘complaining too much,’ but youth in Nepal showed that public pressure can still foster political change, even against strong and resistant institutions. It is not a rare instance; it is proof that coordinated and passionate voices can dictate the direction of politics in the future. Ishmul Malik is a second-year student at the University of Toronto Scarborough studying journalism and political science. She is an International Affairs columnist for The Varsity’s Opinion section.
Business & Labour
January 6, 2026 thevarsity.ca/category/business biz@thevarsity.ca
Why do graduates with the same college major have different salaries?
Zhou received the inaugural Rising Star Award from the Chinese Economic Society for her work. IRISA ZHOU/THEVARSITY
Irisa Zhou explores how major-industry mismatch may play a part Saya Alvares Varsity Contributor
Many university students wonder how much money they will make after they graduate. Students even often choose their major based on predicted salary outcomes. However, according to a recent paper by Irisa Zhou, a PhD candidate in the Department of Economics, this way of thinking misses something important. Her 2025 paper “Learning the Major-Industry Mismatch” investigates a deceptively simple question: if students study the same subject, why do their career and income trajectories diverge so dramatically? Job uncertainty Zhou’s interest in this topic is partly shaped by her own academic path. As an undergraduate at McGill University, she entered university unsure of what she wanted to study and relied on common assumptions about different majors to decide on her major. After realizing her first program wasn’t the correct fit, Zhou turned to economics. She eventually chose to pursue graduate studies, partly because she thought everyone needs a graduate degree to succeed. However, she also realized that the additional training associated with a PhD is a great way to establish credibility. Information frictions and major-industry mismatch At the core of Zhou’s research is the idea of information frictions. Information frictions
describe the gap between what students know when making career decisions and what they would need to know to choose well. Students rarely have clear information about what different jobs actually involve, how their skills translate across industries, and how career paths unfold over time. As a result, many graduates enter roles that are poorly matched to them and only learn this through costly trial and error, often after years in the labour market. This information gap plays a central role in what Zhou calls major-industry mismatch. While a university major provides a broad set of skills, industries value and reward those skills very differently. Two graduates with the same major might choose two different industries to join, but one industry may be better suited for the skills associated with this major. In turn, the earnings associated with each sector may be very different. Findings from Zhou’s paper One of the most striking findings in Zhou’s paper is that the variation in earnings observed between graduates with the same major can be just as large as the variation observed between graduates across different majors due to the major-industry mismatch. She compared economics and library sciences in her study, which are the highestearning and lowest-earning college majors in the US, respectively. Despite this, there is still significant overlap in the distribution
of earnings between the two fields. This dispersion is not driven primarily by differences in ability. Instead, Zhou finds that it reflects how quickly individuals learn whether they are well matched to their industry. Zhou demonstrates this relationship by using LinkedIn as a source of variation in access to information. By making job postings, skill requirements, and alumni career paths openly visible to students at a low cost, LinkedIn helps reduce information frictions. Comparing cohorts before and after the widespread adoption of LinkedIn in Canada, Zhou finds that the latter cohorts perform better in the labour market. These graduates are more likely to sort into industries that better match their skills and interests, while earlier cohorts face higher levels of mismatch. For example, graduates with access to LinkedIn spent four fewer months on average in the first industry they worked in than those without — this indicates that the availability of information about an industry being better for them enables them to move more quickly to this industry. This contrast supports Zhou’s central claim that reducing information frictions improves career matches and helps explain why graduates with the same major can experience very different earnings outcomes. How this related to university students For U of T students, Zhou’s research offers a different way of thinking about majors and
Is ‘buy now, pay later’ a trap for students? What to consider before clicking the BNPL option Audrey Kim Associate Business and Labour Editor
For many students, balancing expenses such as tuition, rent, groceries, and transportation alongside non-essential goods can feel financially burdensome — especially amid high youth unemployment rates, where one in five young people is unemployed in Toronto. This pressure has pushed some students to use, or at least consider, Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services as a way to access purchases immediately without paying the full cost upfront. What is BNPL? This past holiday season, online shoppers were increasingly likely to encounter a “Buy Now, Pay Later” option at checkout, often appearing just below the cart’s estimated total. BNPL is a financing option that allows consumers to split purchases into smaller, typically interest-free payments over a short period. Its recent rise in popularity has been led by fintech providers such as Klarna, Sezzle, Afterpay, and Affirm. The evolution of BNPL While BNPL services may appear new to consumers accustomed to cash, debit cards, or credit cards, the underlying concept is not novel and predates the 2010s. Earlier installmentbased payment models — most notably layaway — were widely used throughout the twentieth century. Layaway required customers to make a deposit followed by smaller payments, with ownership of the product granted only after full payment. During periods of economic hardship, such as the Great Depression, these models allowed credit-constrained households to continue purchasing goods despite limited cash. Although the widespread adoption of credit cards in the mid-to-late twentieth century largely displaced layaway, BNPL has reemerged as a digitally integrated alternative to traditional credit. Unlike
layaway, BNPL allows consumers to receive goods immediately while deferring payment, financing purchases ranging from essential items such as groceries to non-essential goods and experiences. BNPL’s rapid growth BNPL has grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry with strong growth projections, with user adoption accelerating following the COVID-19 pandemic. Within 18 months of launching in Canada in February 2022, Klarna gained 640,000 active customers and processed over two million orders. The expansion has been further reinforced by the entry of established payment companies. For example, in November, PayPal announced plans to expand its BNPL services into Canada through partnerships with major retailers, including Home Depot and Ticketmaster. Is it too good to be true? BNPL’s popularity has been driven largely by its accessibility, particularly among consumers with limited access to traditional credit. Unlike credit cards, BNPL approval processes are quick and minimally restrictive, typically relying on basic verification factors such as age, income, and credit history. A small pilot study commissioned by the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada found that BNPL services — like other forms of credit — may be helpful for certain consumers when used responsibly, offering a costeffective way to finance
purchases and help smooth household finances during periods of financial uncertainty. However, consumers must be aware that BNPL is ultimately a loan or debt agreement rather than just a payment method to spread out their costs over a specific time period. BNPL providers are increasingly making larger amounts of revenue from late fees charged to users missing scheduled payments. In 2024, Klarna reported approximately 254 million USD in revenue from late fees, representing a 28.3 per cent increase from the previous year. BNPL is fundamentally not a cost-free alternative if used by those unprepared to pay each installment by their deadline. BNPL usage among university students BNPL’s zero-interest framing and ease of approval make it particularly attractive to university students. According to Payments Canada, Canadians aged 18–34 are among the most frequent users of BNPL services. This trend
future salaries. While students often feel pressure to choose the ‘right’ program early on, her findings suggest that outcomes depend far less on the name of a degree than on how well students understand their options and what the best match for their skills might be. Access to information plays a critical role in shaping early career decisions. Being able to see what graduates with similar backgrounds actually do, whether through alumni networks, job postings, or online platforms like LinkedIn, helps students form more realistic expectations about different industries. The earlier students learn where their skills fit, the easier it is to adjust the course before becoming locked into a path that does not suit them. coincides with broader increases in debt among younger consumers, with Gen Z experiencing about a 30 per cent surge in consumer debt last year, the highest growth of any age group. Spending among younger BNPL users is concentrated in categories such as clothing, food, and electronics, which are typically considered non-essential purchases. Together, these patterns raise concerns about impulse spending, overspending, and the normalization of debt for everyday consumption. For many, BNPL poses a real danger as it warps the perception of one’s actual purchasing power. For students managing multiple expenses and financial responsibilities for the first time, BNPL can quickly shift from a convenient payment option to a financial trap. Missed payments and accumulating late fees pose a real risk. For example, it can result in a lower credit score. Moreover, while individual fees may appear small, they can add up quickly, with students spending more than they realize. For students considering BNPL, it is vital to read the fine print, understand repayment timelines, assess all options, and consider whether taking on another payment plan makes sense given their current financial situation.
Canadians aged 18–34 are among the most frequent users of BNPL services. AUDREY KIM/THEVARSITY
Arts & Culture
January 6, 2026 thevarsity.ca/section/arts-and-culture arts@thevarsity.ca
“For us by us:” The intersection of music and radical literature What we can learn from Noname and Solange or university courses on race will not free the Black mind to the point of revolutionary change. But, maybe, with time and growth, the collective efforts of Black bookworms will.
Josephine Graham Black Arts Columnist
The more criticism that artists with apolitical attitudes receive from the general public, the more I appreciate artists who promote progressive values — not so much by making placating social media posts or annual charity donations, but by creating, organizing, and circulating educational content. I am particularly fascinated by a link between music and radical literature: our critical reading skills can be translated to how we appreciate lyrics. Musicians can carry us from record to manifesto. In light of politically vocal sellouts like Nicki Minaj and Snoop Dogg, who choose to entertain the MAGA crowd in complete disregard for the well-being of their Black community, which artists are for the people, and specifically for their people? Noname’s international book club After following African American rapper Noname’s journey for years, I emailed her in April 2025 with an interest in starting a Toronto chapter of her international book club. To my surprise, this new chapter was already in motion. More shockingly, the response email was signed “Fatimah,” the government name of my favourite rapper. Noname Book Club launched its Toronto chapter in May 2025. The club features texts like Assata Shakur’s Assata: An Autobiography, Aimé Césaire’s Discourse on Colonialism, and Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower. From life stories to theory to fiction, Noname seeks to educate, connect, and empower the Black diaspora.
The relationship between literature and music is critical to the Black radical tradition. ERIKA OZOLS/THEVARSITY
Not only had Noname assumed political responsibility in her lyrics, large-scale organizing, community fostering, and the education of 1,500 incarcerated book club members, but she had also taken the time to reply to my email. This is what separates one famous political activist from the next: getting personal with the audience that funds the activism, and with the people one seeks to uplift. Saint Heron Community Library African American musician Solange Knowles launched the Saint Heron Library in September 2025. According to her Instagram post announcement, the library provides free access to “primarily rare, out of print, and 1st edition titles by black & brown authors” across America. Operating on an honour basis that all texts borrowed and shipped out will
be returned within 45 days, the Saint Heron Library offers the luxury of education to all socioeconomic classes. The founding of Saint Heron Library invokes the affirmations in Knowles’ pro-Black anthem “F.U.B.U,” which exclusively addresses the global Black community, acknowledging specific racial pains and consoling listeners. Saint Heron credits a team of entirely Black collaborators, effectively making the library “for us, by us.” Saint Heron Library does not hide educational material behind a paywall. It does not create elitist educational and class divides. It does not spotlight white authorial superiority. It is not a branch of a larger, whiter, liberal literary project. As Audre Lorde said, “the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house.” Black History Month features at the municipal library, white-authored texts about Blackness,
At the intersection of music and literature The relationship between literature and music is not new, but a dynamic I’d position as critical to the Black radical tradition. Gilbert Scott-Heron, one of the inspirations behind the name “Saint Heron,” folded his political ideologies into both his discography and his literary works. He navigated revolutionary politics on his record, Pieces of a Man, and his novel, The Nigger Factory. Similarly, Harlem Renaissance legend Langston Hughes balanced songwriting, poetry, playwriting, and novel writing. Hughes collaborated with composers to create operas, musicals, and oratorios throughout his lifetime, incorporating the Black experience into his works. Hughes established jazz poetry, where he composed his poems in the rhythm and improvisational style of jazz. Music and literature can originate from the same mind, exist in the same piece of art, and interact with each other on multiple levels. The music talks to the literature, and the literature talks to the music. I think it’s important to note that we do not need to rely on the rich, famous, or successful to lead us. However, I think it is important to evaluate the political beliefs of the artists we support. Noname’s Book Club and Saint Heron Library are exemplary, well-publicized literary projects that spread knowledge on egalitarian terms. Projects like these stimulate Black readership, offer a site for intellectual discourse, build community, and make reading more accessible.
It’s for remembrance: A Hamnet review Memory as a salve to grief Juliet Pieters Lead Copy Editor
In September 2025, the film adaptation for Hamnet, a 2020 New York Times Best Seller by Irish novelist Maggie O’Farrell, made its Canadian Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The film was directed by Chloé Zhao and co-written by Zhao and O’Farrell, starring Jessie Buckley as Agnes Shakespeare and Paul Mescal as William Shakespeare. The film is a semi-biographical account of the couple’s early life and the death of their son Hamnet. The film’s leads have been praised highly by critics, with both Buckley and Mescal forecasted to be front-runners for best actor and actress at this year’s Academy Awards. Despite these exquisitely talented stars, the most heartwrenching performances, at least in this writer’s humble opinion, come from the children of Agnes and William — Susanna (Bodhi Rae Breathnach), Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe), and Judith (Olivia Lynes). What moves me is the young actors’ vivid portrayal of sibling bonds and closeness, a theme which is particularly explored between Hamnet and Judith. From birth, twins Hamnet and Judith exist as a duo and function as two halves of a whole. There is even a scene portraying the two swapping clothes and trying to act as the other to confuse their parents and older sister. The audience does not see Hamnet and Judith apart from one another until Judith contracts the bubonic plague, and is bedridden
in the attic. From this point, they are separated until Hamnet sneaks up to the attic to stay with a dying Judith and eventually asks death to take him instead, trading his life for hers. The fancy of their twinhood is broken. Buckley delivers a guttural performance of Agnes’ desperation to save her son and her refusal to let him go. Agnes struggles with her inability to save her son from death, and must confront the limits that her gifts as a herbalist and healer can have in the face of death. As he reconciles with the end of his life, Hamnet repeats the mantra instilled by his father — “I will be brave.” Hamnet watches the scene of his death: his mother’s frantic attempts to save him, and Judith’s cries to him. He calls out to his mother and rubs his hands together as if he still holds herbs outside in the garden. Hamnet uses the memory of his mother teaching and grinding herbs to ground him, taking bravery from it. At this point in the film, I was beginning to believe that a pack of tissues should come with the purchase of a ticket. A source of grief for Hamnet’s family is the knowledge that their memories of him are all they have left. After Hamnet’s death, Judith comes up to the attic and wants to stay for the preparations of his burial. Agnes allows this and brings Judith to see her brother. Judith becomes agitated at seeing Hamnet and argues that the body on the table is not his because it “doesn’t look like him.” Reader, I have no shame in telling you that this scene sent me over the edge; I was a puddle. Judith’s memories, and what the audience has seen of Hamnet, portray him as
Agnes is grounded in nature; she is a herbalist and imparts her knowledge of herbs to William and their children. COURTESY OF AGATA GRZYBOWSKA CC TIFF
active, always moving, smiling, talking, but the body on the table is cold and still. Philippa Sheppard, a lecturer and undergraduate instructor in U of T’s Department of English, spoke about Hamnet at a lecture for Victoria College Alumni on December 10, 2025. She stated that grief was a dividing factor for the characters in the book and the film, particularly highlighting Agnes and William and their different expressions of grief. William spends most of his time in London isolated from his family working on his play Hamlet. Agnes does not understand her husband’s grief or exactly how to cope with her own. She repeatedly questions why Hamnet’s name is used in William’s play, Hamlet; what does this play about a cynical Danish prince have to do with her son? Sheppard, however, does not believe that Shakespeare expresses grief for his son in Hamlet. Instead, Hamlet is an expression of healing.
This healing is done through remembrance; Sheppard draws attention to the pivotal line in Hamlet, the plea uttered by the ghost of Hamlet’s father that haunts Hamlet throughout the play: “remember me.” William memorializes Hamnet by having the player in his production of Hamlet mirror his son — Hamnet’s blond hair, the clothing he wore, and his affinity for swordplay. For Agnes, Hamnet is memorialized in their old house, where he died, and which she refuses to leave. If Hamnet is about healing from grief, then it is fitting that the story ends with the perseverance of love and memory over grief — “remember me.” Hamnet carries the message that memory has a power over grief, a power to provide love and happiness.
8
THE VARSITY
arts@thevarsity.ca
ARTS & CULTURE
The subject and the person Jeff Wall’s survey at MOCA reshapes the subject Bushra Azim Boblai Associate Arts and Culture Editor
The survey at MOCA is Wall’s first major Canadian exhibition in 25 years. BUSHRA AZIM BOBLAI/THE VARSITY
Vancouver-born photographer Jeff Wall is renowned for framing his pictures in a style that combines the aesthetics of Old Master paintings and illuminated commercial advertising signage. His meticulously staged photographic stories are a sharp study of human interaction and space. Thus, the awkward social dynamic of the opening night of the Jeff Wall Survey exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto (MOCA) could have fittingly been choreographed by Wall himself. After stumbling through badly-lit, narrow residential streets, upon entering the exhibit, I was greeted by an uninspired, dull crowd, standing stationarily in their corners, talking only among themselves, while a DJ played disconnectedly. Art show opening nights in Toronto are usually fun. You meet interesting people and get to hear the artist talk. Man at a Mirror (2019).
COURTESY OF JEFF WALL CC WHITE CUBE GALLERY
But at this one, the crowd consisted primarily of wealthy donors who looked bored to be there. Additionally, the only art that seemed to be on display was nine circular portraits of children with a backdrop of clear blue skies — a collection cloyingly dubbed Children. Because the rest of the floors were closed for most of the preview, and a lack of direction or itinerary, I left the preview disappointed. I later found out through posters advertising the exhibition plastered all across TTC lines, how large and varied this survey — an exhibition that presents a prominent artist’s works over a long career — of Wall’s body of work actually was, and I returned to give it another chance. The survey at MOCA, open until March 22, is Wall’s first major Canadian exhibition in 25 years. It aims to showcase how extensively Wall’s work from across his 40-year-long career has influenced contemporary photography. The survey spans three floors. The first floor displays Children, which was the focus of the exhibit’s opening night. The second and third floors feature more interesting works than what the lobby Volunteer (1996).
COURTESY OF JEFF WALL CC ARTSY.NET
Art show opening nights in Toronto are usually fun. You meet interesting people and get to hear the artist talk. BUSHRA AZIM BOBLAI/THE VARSITY
has to offer. These floors showcase the full extent of Wall’s visionary thinking. Man at a Mirror (2019), for instance, is a striking study in colour placement. The left half of the picture has muted colours with its beige walls, brown desk, white lamp, and mirror. Facing the mirror on the right is a man in a striking green t-shirt with jeans that meld into the blue of the curtains behind him. The man’s stiff, unsure stance in front of the curtains brings into question whether he is even the main subject of the piece, or just another prop adding to the story. Volunteer (1996) –– an 87 ⅕ by 123 ⅕ inch long gelatin silver print –– is a beautiful portrait of the motion of ordinary tasks. In the photograph, a man in a flannel shirt is caught mid-mop at a community centre. There’s a sinkette in the back right corner, piled high with dishes and children’s stuffed toys tied to a pipe. There is so much work to be done, but the look of devotion in the volunteer’s face perseveres through time. Wall’s decision to make the simple devotion of a community volunteer the focus of the picture illustrates his skill. He is able to capture the depth of emotion in a stranger while incorporating the context of their surroundings. In Front of a Nightclub (2006).
COURTESY OF JEFF WALL CC PHOTO-THEORIA
Forest (2001) is a black-and-white print that raises so many questions. A shot of a clearing in a deciduous forest with camping supplies and a pot with clouds of steam wafting up from it clearly points to active use. But when you look closer, you see a figure of a woman abandoning the site that she presumably had a hand in creating. Why is she leaving? Where is she going? The viewer is forced to accept that they will only be given fragments from the full story. The Flooded Grave (1998–2000) is a beautiful ground-level shot of a freshly-dug grave filled with rainwater. Starfish and coral occupy the water in the grave, but everything else in the graveyard is typical. This surrealist aspect makes Wall’s photography transcend the expectations one has for subjectbased photography. Here, the subject is not a person but the absence of one. A place for death is subverted with the unexpected presence of vibrant marine life. The best piece in the show for me was In Front of a Nightclub (2006), which showcases Wall’s ability to read the way people interact with each other and their surroundings. The picture centres a young woman in a green tracksuit jacket standing
Forest (2001).
COURTESY OF JEFF WALL CC PHOTO-THEORIA
out on the street, looking at a nightclub, and the crowd around it. The photograph, which is 7 feet long and 12 feet wide, is a marvel. The lighting is soft in such a way that you cannot tell whether the scene was shot at dawn or dusk. People are both leaving and entering the club. The small indifferent ways that strangers interact with each other create the drama and the story. We can sense the hesitation of the young girl as she contemplates the sight in front of her, before she decides whether to join the fray or not. Wall captures the uncertainty of youth and our human desire to be incorporated into a group. Wall likes to create documentary-like images of everyday moments, but puts a magnifying lens on the complex emotions they might hold and evoke. Although his subjects are posed, we are presented with works created with a masterful presentation of the tension in the minutiae of human interactions. Wall makes us reexamine our everyday actions and intentions, and how much importance we give ourselves in our own narratives. Even Wall’s photographs without human subjects have the
heavy expectation of human behaviour haunting them. This survey presents a Canadian photographer who has truly mastered creating a conversation between his subjects and his settings. Missing out on this showcase would be a true loss for any photography and art aficionado. Catch the show before it closes in March! The Flooded Grave (1998–2000).
COURTESY OF JEFF WALL CC PHOTO-THEORIA
Science
January 6, 2026 thevarsity.ca/category/science science@thevarsity.ca
The myth of meritocracy
ROSALIND LIANG/THE VARSITY
Examining a culture of marginalization in science Pranasha Amabella Jo Varsity Contributor
James Watson, widely renowned for his discovery of the DNA double helix alongside Francis Crick, for which they won a Nobel Prize in Medicine, passed away on November 6, 2025, at 97 years old. A giant in the field of genetics and hereditary biology, his scientific career and legacy have, in recent years, come under massive scrutiny as Watson and Crick’s discovery rested on uncredited research. Instead, many, including Watson himself, would later concede the indispensability of physical chemist Rosalind Franklin’s data. Franklin had been analyzing the crystalline and paracrystalline forms of DNA, the distinct structural states exhibited by DNA when observed through X-ray diffraction. Watson, who made numerous consistently sexist and racist remarks across his career, published an autobiographical account of his and Crick’s findings in 1968. In it, he described his first encounter with Photograph 51, a photograph of DNA’s paracrystalline structure by Franklin. Unbeknownst to Franklin, her work had been co-opted by Watson. By Watson’s account, he ‘immediately recognized’ DNA’s double helix, whilst Franklin, who had been analyzing the image for months, had not. Here, Watson implies that he, a novice, had triumphed over a skilled chemist like Franklin, leading to his discovery. However, the infamous photograph could only have revealed that the form of DNA was helical in nature, a claim that was already accepted. In a 1969 letter to Science, Max Perutz, Crick’s supervisor, revealed it was shortly after Watson saw Photograph 51 that Perutz handed them an informal report of the activity of the King’s Medical Research Council (MRC) unit in London, which Franklin had joined in 1951. Franklin’s contributions to the paper were instrumental in forming Watson and Crick’s model of DNA. By not giving due credit to Franklin, Watson and Crick’s actions actively played into the systemic discrimination against women, who have historically been marginalized, through the erasure of their contributions and intellect. It would take years for anyone to question Watson’s account, and for the true significance of Franklin’s contributions to come to light.
Franklin’s story forces us to confront the true nature of ‘merit’ in the face of field-wide marginalization, and brings into question how to reconcile the legacy of previously indubitable scientific ‘greats.’ An imperial and colonial footprint Franklin’s experience was far from unusual. Scientific discovery is shaped by patriarchy and colonialism as the story of Achmad Mochtar demonstrates. Born in 1891, Mochtar was a prolific Indigenous Indonesian doctor and researcher. After studying malaria with Wilhelm Schüffner, who discovered Schüffner’s dots — the characteristic red stippling present in infections of certain strains of malaria — Mochtar obtained Schüffner’s recommendation and pursued his doctorate at the University of Amsterdam. There, he disproved existing research and theories on yellow fever, and contributed significantly to advancements in leptospirosis study, specifically the zoonotic strain causing the disease in humans. His work in tropical diseases would contribute immeasurably to vaccine development and public health measures in the following decades. Then, Mochtar joined Jakarta’s acclaimed Eijkman Institute in 1937, and published 25 research articles between 1929–1942, until the year he became the institute’s first Indigenous director. That same year, he became a senior executive of the Medical Academy. His career was prolific, yet it unfolded in a system of largely illusory meritocracy, leaving his recognition contingent on the approval of those in power. The fragile nature of Mochtar’s influence was made clear when he and most of his team were arrested in October 1944. There had been mass casualties of romusha — a Japanese word meaning ‘unskilled worker’ that was reclaimed by the Indonesians to mean ‘slave worker’ — who had received a typhus, cholera, and dysentery vaccine. Japan had occupied the archipelago for three years at the time, oppressing the native Indonesian population. They blamed Mochtar for these deaths, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. An investigation by the University of Oxford in 2010 would reveal Mochtar’s arrest and subsequent proceedings to be a scheme to cover for failed medical experiments by the Japanese. The Imperial Japanese Army tortured Mochtar and his team for months, resulting in the death of
one of his colleagues. In an effort to spare the rest of his team, Mochtar agreed to sign a confession stating he had placed purified tetanus toxin in the vaccines administered to the romusha victims. Achmad Mochtar was beheaded by Japanese forces on July 3, 1945, his body crushed by a steamroller, and his remains discarded, alongside eight of his colleagues, into a swamp well. His work and legacy would be forgotten for the next six decades. Many historians and researchers speculate that had Indonesian independence occurred 45 days earlier, rather than on August 17, 1945, Mochtar would’ve been the country’s first Nobel laureate, for his remarkable work in tropical diseases. Mochtar’s story exemplifies the very systemic marginalization that warps any attempt at an objective scientific meritocracy. Modern legacies Unlike Rosalind Franklin and Achmad Mochtar, systemic marginalization in science is not an issue lost to the annals of time. The power systems that existed then remain pertinent in how science’s current Western-centric view of our field alienates researchers of a non-Eurocentric background. Scientists attempting to integrate Indigenous knowledge, like traditional Chinese medicine, are continuously dismissed, ridiculed, and excluded from ‘legitimate’ scientific discourse. Racial and religious minority groups face pay discrimination, garner less professional respect, and endure micro and macroaggressions throughout their careers. The #BlackintheIvory movement on Twitter, where Black scholars took to social media to share their experiences in academia, revealed the disrespect marginalized populations experience. One molecular biologist tweeted about their
Miss who? Remembering Maud Menten and the women science forgot Shining a light on marginalized pioneers Ungku Zoë Anysa Varsity Contributor
If you ever find yourself on the St. George campus, you have most likely zoomed by the double helix sculpture created by Ted Bieler in 1971, standing prominently by the Medical Sciences Building. The Helix of Life pays homage to the discovery of the structure of DNA — a groundbreaking milestone for which researchers James Watson, Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins received a Nobel Prize in 1962. However, James Watson’s recent passing — marred by the sexist and racist remarks he made throughout his life — reminds us that the story is not so straightforward. Watson’s fame eclipsed Rosalind Franklin, whose role went far beyond Photograph 51. Franklin was the chemist and X‑ray crystallographer who produced that famous diffraction image, an X‑ray pattern that revealed DNA’s helical structure. Her expertise in X‑ray crystallography, a technique that uses X‑rays to map the atomic arrangement of molecules, also drove major advances in understanding
Maud Menten was a pioneer for women in chemistry, medical research, and academia. UNGKU ZOË ANYSA/THE VARSITY
coal, graphite, and the structure of viruses. If her name feels familiar, it may be because her cousin, Ursula Franklin, is commemorated at U of T with a street near the Physics Department, recognizing her appointment as University Professor in 1984. Franklin was the
first woman to receive this title at the university, which came a full 142 years after the first professorships began at U of T in 1842. The erasure of women in science also marked Canadian scientist and U of T alumnus Maud Menten’s career. Frederick Banting, who
experience being physically blocked from a faculty mailroom for ‘not looking like they work there.’ Trans researchers also continue to be targeted by pseudoscientific movements. These movements not only go beyond dictating what topics they study are ostensibly academically permissible, but also seek to rob trans researchers of affirmative care and rights, including having their chosen name appear on publications. Even now, revisionist accounts misframe Franklin as undeserving of due credit — for example, by perpetuating the misconception that she had not yet disseminated Photograph 51 and only Watson appreciated its significance — rather than a scientific discoverer in her own right. However, this framing ignores the gendered epistemic structures under which she worked. Franklin did not apprehend the structure of DNA before Watson and Crick, partly because she was working on her own, excluded from the world of informal exchanges in which Watson and Crick were immersed. Also, Watson and Crick routinely cited Wilkins as the more senior member of the MRC before Franklin, with Wilkins repeating much of Franklin’s work. In fact, Franklin contributed several key insights to the discovery of the double helix, such as how DNA could specify proteins. Science promises an objective meritocracy, but Franklin and Mochtar’s stories remind us that too often recognition is dictated by privilege, bias, and historical circumstance. As Omar El-Akkad, a post-colonial journalist and activist, writes in his book, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This: “one day, everyone will have always been against this.” But that imagined future does not absolve us of our current ignorance. The only path to reconciling the legacies founded on our history of marginalization is to ensure we do better than the past we condemn. co-discovered insulin at U of T in 1921, became Canada’s first Nobel laureate. But while both scientists pursued research wherever they could and worked to advance their fields, Menten’s innovations earned her no prizes. These stories remind us that the history of science is not only about breakthroughs, but also about who is remembered for them. Similarly, the Helix of Life may symbolize discovery, but it also challenges us to ask: whose names are missing from the spiral, and how might we honour those whose brilliance was overlooked? Remembering Maud Menten and her scientific circle Menten’s most enduring scientific achievement came in 1913, when she and Leonor Michaelis, a German biochemist and physician, published a paper on an important equation in enzyme kinetics. The Michaelis–Menten equation, which describes the rate of enzymatic reactions, remains a cornerstone of biochemistry and is still taught in classrooms today. It even became central to my own second‑year Research Opportunity Program (ROP) project with Professor Al‑Amin Dhirani, comparing glucose oxidase kinetics against the MichaelisMenten model. Yet, this breakthrough was only one part of her expansive career. Menten studied a wide range of medical problems, including
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streptococcal infections — illnesses caused by Streptococcus bacteria that can lead to conditions like strep throat and scarlet fever, along with immune changes during pregnancy, how adrenaline affects the blood, and how blood chemistry shifts in cancer and other diseases. She also explored the chemical makeup of muscle and how salts are distributed in nerve cells. As later scholars have noted, her research helped reveal how the body’s cells and chemicals work together in health and disease, forming key foundations for modern medical science. Menten was not alone in breaking barriers at U of T. In 1903, her close friend and lab mate, Clara Benson, became one of the first two women to earn a PhD at a Canadian university. Benson was also the first woman to receive a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry at U of T in 1899, while Menten received her undergraduate and doctorate degrees in 1904 and 1911, respectively. Benson’s doctoral thesis was supervised by William Lash Miller, a Canadian chemist who is the namesake of U of T’s Lash Miller Building.
The thesis was on reaction rates in complex solutions, which is the study of how quickly chemical reactions proceed when they occur in mixtures containing many interacting components. Together, Benson and Menten formed a remarkable pair of pioneers who supported each other in a field that often excluded them. But Menten was more than a brilliant biochemist; she was, by all accounts, a vibrant personality. She was remembered by her colleagues as a talented polyglot who painted, climbed mountains, and even drove cars at a time when few women did. Despite systemic barriers that kept her from faculty positions, she carved out a long career in pathology at the University of Pittsburgh after completing another PhD in biochemistry and an MD, leaving behind scientific breakthroughs and a reputation as a woman who lived life on her own terms. Despite the gradual toll of arthritis, Menten continued her work with determination. Born in 1879 in Port Lambton, Ontario, she returned to Canada later in life and carried out oncology research at the British Columbia Medical Research Institute until her passing in 1960.
Today, her name endures primarily through the Michaelis–Menten equation, but her broader story is rarely told. In Canada, she has been commemorated with a provincial plaque by the Ontario Heritage Trust, acknowledging her pioneering role in medicine and biochemistry, located near the entrance on Queen’s Park Crescent West. Her legacy also lives on through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Maud Menten New Principal Investigator Prize, which supports early‑career scientists. These honours ensure her name is not forgotten, but they remain modest compared to the transformative impact of her work. Much like Franklin, her discoveries were often overshadowed or attributed to male collaborators. Remembering Menten challenges us to examine how scientific history is written and whose achievements are preserved. By amplifying her story, alongside contemporaries like Benson and Franklin, we not only correct historical injustices but also inspire future generations to pursue science with independence and creativity.
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The first lady of physics Chien-Shiung Wu disproved a foundational belief of modern physics Zia Owens Varsity Contributor
How could an alien be taught to distinguish left from right using the laws of physics? For decades, modern physics had a simple answer: it couldn’t. Since our alien has no knowledge of human conventions, it can’t describe how objects are oriented by using the terms left and right. Equipped only with the laws of physics, the alien would not be able to understand the concepts of ‘left’ and ‘right,’ because they are just tools to describe the spatial relationship between objects rather than a fundamental property of matter. Let’s show our alien two scenes: a ‘real’ one on the left and its mirror reflection on the right. How can the alien distinguish between these two scenes? Physical phenomena like electricity and gravity can’t be used to distinguish left from right because in a mirror these forces behave the same. The question remains: what experiment can be done that would identify one scene as inherently ‘left-sided’? The notion that no such experiment existed was a core tenet of an early twentieth-century faith in subatomic symmetry, also known as parity. An experiment displays parity when it produces the exact same outcome in a real setup, as it does in the mirrored version; an observer cannot distinguish between them. Take for instance, a symmetrical vase: when reflected or turned, it will appear the same to our alien observer.
Franklin’s crystallography was central to uncovering DNA’s structure, yet her recognition lagged behind Watson and Crick. Benson, among the first women to earn a PhD in chemistry at U of T, remains little known outside the exam rooms of the building that bears her name. Menten, whose equation transformed biochemistry, was long dismissed as ‘Michaelis’s assistant.’ Reflecting on their stories forces us to confront how easily contributions can be minimized, forgotten, or absorbed into bolstering the reputations of those in power. And while research has changed, the echoes of these patterns remain. Women and researchers from marginalized communities still face disparities in funding, authorship, recognition, and leadership, with their work often held to higher standards and their successes scrutinized more closely. Remembering figures like Menten, Benson, and Franklin helps build a scientific culture where underrepresented voices are visible and valued in real time, not rediscovered decades later. It also challenges us to ensure that today’s scientists, regardless of gender, background, or identity, receive the credit they deserve as they shape the future of discovery.
Despite being enshrined in decades of research, this theory was shattered in 1957 through the experimentation of Chinese-American particle physicist Chien-Shiung Wu at Columbia University.
alongside her colleagues on February 15, 1957: “it is the courage to doubt what has long been established and the incessant search for its verification and proof that pushes the wheel of science forward.”
The Wu experiment Wu designed and executed an experiment that questioned — and then disproved — the infallibility of parity. After freezing a sample of cobalt-60 nuclei so their north and south poles were aligned, she studied the directions of emitted electrons as the nuclei gained or lost energy. In the past, electromagnetic processes had been shown to conserve parity. But the release of electrons is a radioactive decay process that was untested at the time. Wu observed that these electrons were typically emitted opposite the nuclei’s magnetic axis. If parity were conserved, both directions should witness roughly equal emission. Yet the left-handed direction opposite the axis was favoured “by a margin of roughly 1 in 10,000” — according to an article published in September 2022 by the Advancing Physics Society. If our alien recreates this experiment, it will see most electrons being emitted towards the left-handed ‘real’ scene, allowing for an accurate identification. These results shocked the physics world, the majority of which was anticipating data that would confirm their pro-parity bias. Yet in the words of Wu, who broke the news of parity nonconservation
“The biggest mistake in the Nobel Committee’s history” Although her work proved the mind-boggling fact that an object and its mirror image can be governed by different physical laws, her name isn’t found in the annals of Nobelists or even the pages of introductory physics textbooks. The 1957 Nobel Prize went to Wu’s male theoretician colleagues, Tsung-Dao Lee and Chen-Ning Yang, despite roughly two-thirds of physics Nobels being granted for experimental work such as hers. Her exclusion was met with immediate condemnation. Physicists Wolfgang Pauli and Robert Oppenheimer, the latter of whom frequently sought her advice during the Manhattan Project’s feverish efforts to develop the nuclear bomb, were among the leading voices calling for her recognition. Jack Steinberger — a Nobel laureate in particle physics — repeatedly called it the “biggest mistake in the Nobel Committee’s history.” The exact circumstances of Wu’s sidelining have been a longstanding topic of debate. Officially, a candidate cannot win a Nobel for work done in that award cycle’s calendar year.
Lee and Yang achieved their theoretical results on December 27, 1956; as Wu confirmed her experiments after the new year had passed, she was automatically disqualified from the 1957 prize. However, she was nominated — and once again overlooked — 26 times in subsequent years. “Although I did not do research just for the prize,” she wrote in a letter to Steinberger, “it still hurts me a lot that my work was overlooked for certain reasons.” Researchers and science writers throughout the decades have speculated that those reasons predominantly included her identity as an Asian woman — which undeniably made it difficult for her to obtain work, especially after the events of Pearl Harbour. Even her renown among colleagues such as Nobel Prize-winning nuclear physicist Ernest Lawrence — who dubbed her the “most talented experimentalist he had ever known” — was not sufficient to break through the centuries of bias that plague science even to this day. Having been raised by parents who were simultaneously teachers and women’s rights advocates, Wu remained a staunch advocate of women in STEM, stating, “There is only one thing worse than coming home from the lab to a sink full of dirty dishes, and that is not going to the lab at all.” As the accolades she should’ve received cannot be bestowed posthumously, I believe the best way to honour Wu’s legacy is to appreciate the fascinating science of parity violation that she dedicated her life to, and which earned her the title “First Lady of Physics.”
Sports
January 6, 2026 thevarsity.ca/section/sports sports@thevarsity.ca
2026 FIFA World Cup preview Could Canada make a mark in this year’s World Cup on their home soil? Jean Patrick Vidad Associate Sports Editor
Third time’s the charm, as the saying goes. For the Canadian men’s soccer team, hosting duties automatically qualify them for a slot at the quadrennial FIFA World Cup, making this year’s participation their third appearance in the tournament’s slate after 1986 in Mexico and 2022 in Qatar. Canada’s performances in their first two World Cups were nothing out of the ordinary and even considered lacklustre as they haven’t managed to clinch a win in any of their matches. Besides that, the team only scored a single goal, courtesy of star defender Alphonso Davies, in a forgettable 4–1 loss against Croatia in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup. Does Canada have what it takes to achieve more than just a win at the world stage? Taking a look at their last year’s campaign could bring more insights on what the Canadian hopefuls should expect from this team in the next six months leading up to the World Cup. One step back, two steps forward Despite dealing with gut-wrenching losses throughout 2025, Canada cultivated a team culture that sets them apart, forging an identity of their own. The team kicked off the year with a demoralizing exit from the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Nations League after Mexico blanked them in a 2–0 semifinal shutout. Aside from losing the semifinals, Davies was sidelined after he tore his ACL in the third-place match against the US. Nonetheless, the team went on with a shorthanded roster, eager to make a statement. Canada breezed into the summer with utmost confidence that their seemingly formidable group could produce results on the field, even when pitted against the best teams in the region, and
deliver a golden performance at the Gold Cup, a biennial CONCACAF championship tournament. Fate would have it another way, as the 106th-ranked Guatemalan team pulled off a major upset against Canada in a penalty
victory, Canada notched their third straight win against European teams. Before achieving this feat, they also managed to draw Colombia 0–0 in front of a New Jersey crowd that highly favoured the South American SIMONA AGOSTINO/THE VARSITY
shootout loss that brought back memories of the program’s dark ages. With a year left before the World Cup, this misstep proved that the Canadians had more questions than answers at hand. But if these last few months indicate anything, it is that Canada carved out a unique identity for itself as a strong defensive team, reinforcing the belief of a nation, rallying behind their banner. Canada ascended to their highest rank in FIFA history, reaching 26th place in September, moving down just a spot by the end of the year, thanks to their strong closeout in international friendlies. The team finished their last six matches with five clean sheets, including a 1–0 win against Wales, courtesy of Derek Corenlius’s free kick. With this
team. Despite failing to convert on offence, the Canadian booters stepped up on the defensive end. With an atmosphere that almost felt like the World Cup, and the Canadians showcasing their cohesive defensive play, it was a telltale sign that they are up for the real deal. A perfect storm This year’s FIFA World Cup is the largest in history, with 48 teams contending for the elusive trophy and the mantle of world champions. The tournament will take place in three host countries, the US, Canada, and Mexico, across 16 cities. Each of the three countries will play its group matches in its home country.
The City of Toronto, in partnership with the Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) company, announced the completion of their phase one improvements for BMO Field, which will be hosting six World Cup matches. The aforementioned phase added 50-foot-by30-foot video boards on each corner of the field. The city will also spend $123 million to bring in 17,000 temporary seats, LED stadium lighting, pitch and player spaces upgrades, and broadcast refinements, among other improvements. The TTC, according to CEO Mandeep Lali, developed a plan to transport fans to and from the stadium and the Fort York National Historic Site, where a FIFA Fan Festival will be taking place. The agency also added that there will be dedicated bus lanes along Dufferin and Bathurst to help transport fans. The city anticipates hosting more than 300,000 visitors, opening more than 3,500 jobs for the World Cup, creating a perfect storm for businesses in one of the world’s most culturally diverse cities. The road ahead The group draws are done, and Canada has learned their opponents for the initial fixtures. The team will be facing the UEFA playoff A winner first before heading to Vancouver, BC, for their next two games against Qatar and Switzerland, respectively. This scenario proves to be one of the best cases for Canada, as Qatar is the only team that finished below them in the last World Cup, and they will carry their newfound confidence to the match against Switzerland after their recent success against European teams. However, anything is possible in the World Cup. Besides that, the team still won’t know their first opponent in the World Cup until March, when the group stage has finished, and it will more than likely cost them more time for planning. Canada has the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of hosting the World Cup with arguably the best generation of players to have ever represented the country. For them, simply making it is no longer an indication of success. Whether it is nabbing their first win in the World Cup or advancing further in the knockout rounds, the goal is clear: to put Canadian soccer on the map on home soil.
Opinion: Gambling culture is ruining sports Online sportsbooks are teaching fans to treat gambling as a hobby Ashley Thorpe Varsity Board Member
In recent years, sports gambling has shifted from an unconventional hobby to a mainstream pastime. This development has been fuelled by widespread legalization, aggressive advertising, and mobile betting apps that make wagering on sports simple and accessible. While supporters argue that sports gambling is harmless entertainment or a beneficial source of government revenue, reality depicts a far more troubling story. Mounting financial losses, compromised athletic integrity, academic decline, and growing hostility toward athletes show that the consequences of sports gambling greatly outweigh its perceived benefits. Consequences of gambling Cardus reports that Ontario sports gamblers lose an average of $283 per month per sportsbook account, which equates to nearly $3,400 per year. As economic uncertainty grows and a recession looms, one might expect the popularity of sports gambling to decrease as people tighten their wallets and anticipate a need to save. Instead, participation is rising, suggesting that betting is becoming a harmful compulsion for many individuals. These financial losses disproportionately affect young adult men, who are often targeted by promotions, ‘risk-free’ bets, and constant live sports advertising.
The gambling epidemic is even beginning to harm athletes themselves. Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were indicted for manipulating pitches to allow themselves, as well as those in their inner circles, to place ‘sure-fire’ bets with guaranteed winnings in November 2025. Those involved reportedly paid Clase a $5,000 stipend for arranging rigged pitches. This figure becomes especially disturbing when considering Clase’s $20 million MLB contract. Clase has been one of the best relief pitchers in MLB, finishing third in Cy Young voting during the 2024 season, a feat that has not been achieved by any other reliever since 2008. With a promising career and a significant amount of financial security, Clase’s decision to gamble highlights how dangerous sports betting has become. When athletes are willing to compromise the integrity of the game, the legitimacy of professional sports is at risk of being destroyed. Additionally, legalized sports gambling has changed how fans interact with players. Athletes across professional leagues report that some fans now see them as financial tools rather than people. A survey conducted by The Athletic from February to May 2025 found that 78 per cent of interviewed MLB players said that legalizing betting has worsened fan behaviour. Players reported receiving threatening, violent, and racist messages when betting outcomes are affected. New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson echoed this sentiment in a New York Post article,
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saying, “The worst things you’re thinking of, it’s worse than that.” Similarly, about half of NBA players believe that league ties to sportsbooks are hurting the game. When leagues prioritize gambling revenue over player well-being, they are normalizing harassment and hostility. The harms of sports gambling extend far beyond professional athletics, particularly affecting university and college students. Research published in the Journal of Gambling Studies found that online gambling and sports betting are associated with lower academic achievement in undergraduate students. Students who gambled frequently were more likely to have lower grade point averages, miss classes, spend less time studying, and fail courses at higher rates when compared to non-gamblers. The research also reviewed the connection between gambling, mental health struggles, and substance abuse, all of which further sabotage academic success. These discoveries challenge the idea that sports gambling is a harmless activity, especially on university campuses, where betting has become increasingly normalized and nearly unrestricted.
When costs outweigh benefits In my opinion, the rapid expansion of legalized sports gambling has outpaced society’s ability to manage its consequences. While sportsbooks and professional leagues profit from sponsorships and advertising deals, athletes and fans are forced to bear the financial, emotional, and academic costs associated with online sportsbooks. The normalization of gambling has ruined ethical boundaries for athletes, fuelled harmful fan behaviour, and created addictive habits among students. Sports have always been a source of entertainment, community, and inspiration in society. However, when every play is tied to a financial outcome, I believe the integrity of competition and the well-being of those involved become compromised. As research continues to link sports gambling to financial loss, academic decline, and psychological harm, it becomes increasingly difficult to justify its constant promotion. Rather than expanding access to gambling and advertising it frequently, policymakers and professional leagues should reconsider their role in endorsing an industry that profits at the expense of public safety.
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Last line of defence: What the Leafs can learn from their goaltenders Halfway through a rough season, Toronto’s goalie performances can offer a few ideas of where and how the team can find success Cameron Ashley Varsity Contributor
Entering the new year tied for second-last in the Atlantic division, the Toronto Maple Leafs are not where they were this time last year. On the ice, the team has struggled to find consistency in their game, resulting in blown leads, a bottom-ten power play success rate, and the firing of an assistant coach Marc Savard on December 22, 2025. Dealing with injuries and inconsistent performances, a reliable game-day lineup and strategy that could give the team a needed boost in the standings and the confidence that comes with it is yet to be found. Despite the current predicament, Toronto’s goaltending hasn’t fallen into the dominant narrative surrounding the team. As of December 30, 2025, ESPN showed a goaltender as the Leafs’ top performer in just over a quarter of games played. This is particularly interesting considering that the bulk of these valuable performances have come from the Leafs’ second and third
SIMONA AGOSTINO/THE VARSITY starting goalies, Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby. On a team where the focus often seems most on the individual performances of the top-line offence, Toronto’s goaltending displays some of its reliable depth in positions other than forward. Toronto’s goaltenders have faced similar issues to the rest of the team, particularly with injuries. On November 11, 2025, in a game against the Boston Bruins, Anthony Stolarz exited with an undisclosed injury, being placed on the injured reserve (IR) indefinitely. At this point, Woll, the regular second starting goalie for the Leafs, was still making In the midst of this, Hildeby, a 24-year-old conditioning starts after missing most of goaltender who has mainly played with the October attending to a personal matter. American Hockey League’s (AHL) Toronto Marlies,
appearing in only six major league games last season, was given charge of the crease. Since his first start on November 9, 2025, he’s posted a 0.910 per cent save average, 11th overall in the NHL amongst goalies who have played in 12 or more games in 2025–2026. Woll made his first Leafs start of the season on November 15, 2025, against the Chicago Blackhawks. Since then, Hildeby and Woll have split their starts almost equally. Woll himself has put up the NHL’s third-best save average, 0.912 per cent, in the 15 games he has played, earning his first shutout of the season in a 4–0 win over the New Jersey Devils on December 30, 2025. Both Woll and Hildeby are homegrown talents, playing in the Leafs’ minor league system before taking on their current major league roles with the team. Both are players who developed their skills in the minor leagues and were gradually offered opportunities to play in the NHL as they improved. If the Leafs can shift focus towards player development, building a strong team based on potential and where they see consistency and practiced playmaking in both their current roster and minor league affiliations, they can form a sturdier foundation for winning, not just this year but in the future as well. Raw talent is something the Maple Leafs have no shortage of. But to win and to win consistently, they need a team that — up and down the lineup — is confident that they can rely on each other’s performances.
Catching up with Varsity Blue alumnus Jett Alexander Alexander shares ambitions after U of T and his NHL debut Ella Tsotsos Varsity Contributor
For many student-athletes, the dream is to compete in their sport at the highest level. But this dream is rarely achieved in actuality. Jett Alexander, a former goalie for the University of Toronto’s Varsity Blues hockey team, is one of the few whose dream came to fruition. On April 8, 2023, during his second year of undergrad at U of T, Alexander made his debut as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs in a game against the Montreal Canadiens. He signed a oneday amateur tryout contract with the team, and served as an emergency backup goalie with 1:10 minutes left in the period. “The feelings were exactly what you’d imagine. Nerves followed by more nerves. The most excited I’ve ever been while also the most nervous all at the same time. I was lucky I didn’t have too much notice, the longer I knew ahead would have made it all the more nerve-racking,” Alexander wrote to The Varsity about his experience. Although Alexander has since graduated from U of T, The Varsity took an opportunity to follow up on his pursuits following his hockey career and NHL experience, and learn more about his path to the NHL. He is currently pursuing a career in firefighting and is very excited to enter this next chapter. Journey to the NHL Alexander shared that Men’s Varsity Blues Hockey head coach Ryan Medel assisted in achieving this dream. Medel has served as the head coach of the Men’s Varsity Blues team since June 2017. He was awarded Ontario University Athletics (OUA) West and U SPORTS coach of the year in the 2019–2020 season, and most recently was named OUA West coach of the year for the 2024– 2025 season. Medel explained that Toronto Maple Leafs Assistant General Manager Brandon Pridham had contacted him about the possibility of Varsity Blues goalies serving as emergency backup goalies (EBUGs) several years ago. EBUGs are players who are not a part of the roster, but help out during practices and step in for games when needed, typically in situations where the team is short on goalies. From here, the connection between the Leaf organization and U of T continued to grow.
The Varsity Blues program equips its studentathletes for success by providing resources such as education, training, and time management support to help enhance each player’s development. “For players who are looking to make the jump to professional hockey while playing in U SPORTS, I think the biggest challenge is just having a shared focus on your school work in addition to the daily grind of practicing and playing throughout a sevenmonth season. Time management and looking after your body are critical during this time,” wrote Medel in an email exchange with The Varsity. Time as a Varsity Blue and beyond Before playing as a Varsity Blue, Alexander played the majority of his minor career in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), playing for the North York Rangers. Towards the end of his minor career, he played in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), playing for the Prince George Spruce Kings. He then signed with the Blues for the 2020– 2021 season. In the 2022–2023 season, Alexander had three shutout games and a save percentage of .918 during the postseason for the Blues. He played 20 regular-season games and two playoff games in the 2023–2024 season, during which he recorded a season high of 46 saves. “Jett was a critical part of our group during his time with us. He worked extremely hard and took his game to a new level as a Varsity Blue,” wrote Medel. “He was well-liked by his teammates and coaches, which made the opportunity he got with the Maple Leafs even more fitting.” While Alexander had arrived in the big leagues, he shared the valuable lessons learned during his time at U of T playing as a Varsity Blue. “My time as a Varsity Blue was some of the most memorable years of my life,” wrote Alexander. His time at U of T allowed him to appreciate his sport and learn how to become a team player, something that also applies to other areas of his life. Alexander’s advice for future Varsity Blues and other prospective student athletes is to “just enjoy every day as much as you can [because] it goes by [quickly]. Even the really stressful times like exams and the grind of the season can lead to some of the most fun stories,” emphasizing the value in continuing to “play the game you love as long as you can.”
Alexander made his NHL debut when he served as an emergency backup goalie for the Toronto Maple Leafs. NHL.COM/THE VARSITY