THE VARSITY September 8, 2026
The University of Toronto’s Student Newspaper Since 1880
Vol. CXLVII, No. I
v
VISITING PROFESSOR DAVID LAGZIEL FACING BACKLASH NEWS FOLLOWING X POST post made in response to recent protest against professorship at u of t CELESTA MANIATOGIANNI News Editor Visiting economics Assistant Professor David Lagziel is facing backlash following a comment posted on X in response to calls for his winter course — ECO351: Special Topics in Economics: Israeli Economy — to be cancelled. Lagziel’s comment — posted September 2 and translated by Grok from Hebrew — reads, “There are people who just need a hug. To the head. With a bat.” The post was made in reply to another X user who was reacting to Lagziel’s post on an email campaign against him: “This is definitely the way to show that they have a serious interest in you and that they’re not just some hug-deprived brats looking for attention.” The post has since been removed, and Lagziel’s X profile has been made private.
In a statement to The Varsity, a spokesperson for the university stated, “We are aware of the social media posts. University of Toronto policies and practices will be applied where appropriate and as necessary.” The policies and practices in question were not specified. In September 2025, U of T placed Professor Ruth Marshall on leave following a tweet responding to a post about Charlie Kirk’s death. In a statement made to The Varsity at the time, a spokesperson for the university wrote, “The University took immediate action upon learning of the concerning social media posts of a University of Toronto professor.” The Varsity reached out to Lagziel for comment on September 3 but did not receive a response. CONTINUED ON
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PSYCHOPATHY IS MORE COMPLICATED S C I E N C E THAN WE THOUGHT
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an interview with utm professor rasmus rosenberg larsen on psychopathy diagnoses DARYA LEVITSKY, MASHIYAT AHMED Varsity Contributors The psyche of psychopaths has captured public interest for centuries, as seen through books, movies, and TV. It has also been the focus of psychology researchers, among them UTM Associate Professor Rasmus Rosenberg Larsen.
In his new book, Psychopathy Unmasked: The Rise and Fall of a Dangerous Diagnosis, Larsen presents a rebuttal to longstanding research behind psychopathy and explores its impact on the judicial system. In an interview with The Varsity, Larsen spoke about his new book and explained why he believes psychopathy may not be a distinct disorder. He highlights how this diagnosis shapes offenders’ outcomes in the criminal justice system.
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