As we flipped through past issues, we found a whole lot of things we just had to write down and repeat. In the print edition they peek in from the bottom of the pages. Here you have them all collected in one place.
September 19, 1974: “I don’t know anything about administration. My general approach to life is to be somewhat pragmatic about things. Being a scientist, I believe if you understand the problem you can solve it.” Principal E.A. Robinson interviewed by Medium II on his appointment.
October 10, 1974: “The Canadian Indian wants a better deal from the Canadian people. Unfortunately, we hear about these claims mostly connected to incidents prompted by only a few instigators who […] draw unfavourable attention to Indian causes and we tend to become indifferent to their demands.”
October 31, 1974: “You know so many of us, once a ragtag bunch. […] We might have been lovable if we had had the good luck of being a failure.” Sports essay on the need to expand Erindale College’s athletics and give teams a chance to play.
November 10, 1974: “Only after considerable discussion did a special Nomenclature Committee, set up by the Erindale College Council, settle on [campus titles],” says a Medium II reporter. These titles included “South Building” (formerly “Main”), “North Building” (formerly “Preliminary”), and “the Pub” (formerly “the Watering Hole”).
November 28, 1974: A story on the creation of the Harold Sonny Ladoo prize, which is still active at UTM, is accompanied by a touching account of Ladoo’s life, immigration, education at Erindale College, and early death at 28 years old.
January 30, 1975: “It was gravel most of the way, and that’s hard on the old feet.” Quote by Kathy Wistowsky, a 19-year-old student who walked over 14 miles from her home near Royal York to Erindale College as a protest against the inadequacy of Mississauga Transit. She saw only six busses pass her during the four hours that she walked. Would she do it again? “I don’t know. I really don’t know.”
February 6, 1975: Professor Josef Skvorecky, a renowned writer at Erindale College, gives an interview on his novels. “If we have real respect for something we express it best in art by absolute realism,” he says.
February 27, 1975: “This last brand [of condoms] should be of particular importance to Erindale students, as it is sold in the vending machines on campus. ‘Non-Stop’ should be avoided as its possibility of leakage is high.”
March 20, 1975: “‘It is a lot of bull [that men don’t cry],” says trainer Blackwell. “You should have seen the men’s varsity hockey team two years ago when they lost to St. George in the final. I’ve never seen so many grown men cry.’ ” An investigation of the roles of men and women, particularly in sports.
March 27, 1975: “Impressions of the night.” Headline of a “ride-around” article in which operations manager Mark Brown spends an evening with Peel Regional Police’s Sgt. Young, who is “typical of the new university-educated police officer”. An ad is run on the back page. A constable’s salary ranges from $10,669 to $15,611.
October 10, 1978: Medium II runs a story on the U of T Faculty Association’s outrage at a report that proposes freezing the number of tenure positions. The Faculty of Arts and Science was at 80% tenureship, with 10% more in the tenure stream.
October 12, 1978: Bob Dylan plays at Maple Gardens; an article in Medium II calls it a “surprising jolt to the senses… he flicked in and out of the spotlight with a devilish smile on his face”. He closed the night with the classic “Forever Young”.
April 10, 1979: “Students want Quebec in Canada.” Front-page headline. A Canada-wide poll of university students run by Canadian University Press at Medium II’s request reveals that 85% of students agree, 6% disagree, and 9% are undecided.
September 11, 1980: “The name of the paper is Medium II … We don’t have any specific purpose, or if we do we’re certainly not aware of it but we do try and inform and/or entertain.” An introduction to the publication for froshies.
October 2, 1980: “Concerning the article published in the Varsity about the rising concern of attacks on women (at St. George), I […] encourage the women of Erindale College to take an interest in being able to defend themselves and avoid such happenings on our campus.”
October 23, 1980: “My God, I find it impossible to do any [studying in the cafeterias] where I’m surrounded by empty coffee cups, discarded newspapers, apple cores, ashtrays filled beyond their brims and numerous other affronts to order and cleanliness.” Letter from Stephen Welford.
October 30, 1980: “Crack a pack of Colts along with the great outdoors.” One of many ads for cigarettes that were once common (and legal) in the media.
November 20, 1980: “ECSU accepts sex ed centre. Turnaround of original decision.” Headline and subtitle on the front page. Barb Smith, its coordinator, “expects most people to use the phone-in service”.
November 20, 1980: Teenage Head plays at the pub. Later, R. Eastman of Medium II interviews them (“Sure, [he can ask us questions] if he has a bottle of rye with him”). A caption asserts that most Medium II staffers stayed home and watched Dallas.
November 27, 1980: “Chili is the big seller right now in the pub. Every day Angelo makes up a huge pot of chili from a recipe he concocted a long time ago.” Charming description of pub fare.
January 15, 1981: The Erindale College Athletics and Recreation Association institutes a new rule for all intramural sports whereby any player caught fighting in a game will be banned from playing for at least one year.
January 22, 1981: A huge photo and in-depth article titled “Requiem for a Common Man” by Rick Harrison commemorate John Lennon, killed on December 8, 1980.
September 17, 1985: “Parents were […] voicing their concerns about their children sharing a classroom with an AIDS child. […] Doctors are not quite sure how the disease is transmitted [but] if the parents of children with AIDS have not contracted the disease, and the healthcare workers of a child with AIDS have not either, then the risk of a healthy child sitting beside an AIDS child in a classroom cannot be that great.”
September 17, 1985: Medium II runs an ECSU ad for the addition of late-night shuttle bus service and for the “Lottuition” lottery, in which the first prize is tuition—a value of $1,215.
September 24, 1985: Atari advertises a $600 word processing system, including a disk drive with “127K RAM storage per disk, enough for more than 100 pages of text”. It produces “typewriter-like, elite (12- pitch) typeface”.
November 26, 1985: Medium II runs an interview with two students who’ve created a “So You Wanna Be a Head Banger” kit, on sale for $14. The kit recommends that you have long, unwashed hair, resent everyone, do lots of drugs, and compensate for the fear you may be gay by acting especially macho. Later in this volume a lot of space is given to praising gay activism and coming out.
February 4, 1986: “The Erindale College Council has listed the construction of an astronomical observatory for this campus as its second major private funding campaign behind library enhancement. […] The cost of the project is estimated at between $350,000 and $500,000.” Professor John Percy proposed it and said that the college has always needed an observatory.
April 30, 1986: Medium II splits from ECSU, whose portfolio it fell under, and is incorporated as Medium II Publications (the name the company still bears). An agreement signed with ECSU recognizes the need for editorial independence and assures the sale of all equipment from ECSU to Medium II for $1.
September 12, 1989: “Oh my God, what are these people doing? They must be crazy.” Attributed to UTM pub manager Uwe Stoetzel watching slam dancing (moshing) at a Teenage Head concert.
October 17, 1989: Editor-in-Chief Norman Saunders runs a front-page apology for an article on an exhibit of nude photos, writing that they “facilitate the use of female images as an object of male gratification”. Multiple letters condemn the apology. “Censorship is wrong because it hinders knowledge,” writes the arts editor. One columnist defends it, pointing out that readers can’t choose they see before they see it.
November 7, 1989: The Erindale College Student Union plays a football game against the staff of medium II and wins, 36-35. “It was possibly the greatest game ever played by two most talentless teams.”
November 14, 1989: “The Rock Lab, also known as the Moon Lab due to the fact that it housed the first rocks back from the moon, is located on the road to the principal’s house. The lab has an illuminated moon crescent outside it that looks like ‘Mac Tonight on a stick’.”
January 30, 1990: “Buy a modem and interface intimately with other user-friendly people all over North America!” Headline of an article that explains the brand-new Internet in detail, including instructions on how to send “electronic mail”.
February 6, 1990: “Erindale is proud of [Roberta] Bondar, for she provides some physical proof that not all university grads are still working at Tim Hortons.”
February 13, 1990: “The Pond Scum’s mascot, Eddie the Algae, was one of the numerous forms of bacteria and plant life in the stands cheering on the Scum. Unfortunately, the upright mammal part of the food chain was conspicuously absent from the pool gallery.” Coverage of a water polo game.
March 13, 1990: Sven Spengemann—today listed as a democracy expert on banners around campus and last seen running for Liberal MP in Mississauga—writes a letter in his capacity as an Erindale College Student Union member, saying, “I urge the medium II to stop bullshitting the students of Erindale College.”
March 14, 1990: Over 300 students protest the administration’s decision to close the South Building from midnight to 6 a.m. due to vandalism. “We’re not living amongst angels in this community,” says principal Desmond Morton. Talks result in the Erindale College Student Union agreeing to staff the building from 11:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. Morton says that if students have time to protest, they have time for this.
March 20, 1990: “There is one thing the police do good… They give tickets… They do a good job on that… Am I right?… I just want to say that they can find a car in the bushes, under snow, and they will give it a ticket.”
October 10, 1991: A body is found less than a kilometre from UTM grounds after months of decomposition. The Medium runs a rare full-colour photo and invites tips to help the police identify it.
1995: The name Medium II is changed to The Medium. Timothy Speck’s year is marked by significant changes, including bringing the paper back from the “tabloid” quality he felt it had sunk to and bringing its finances into the black for the first time in years. Meanwhile, at the end of Speck’s second term, Dom Mochrie and cartoonist Ryan Duquette steal some fake snow used in a movie being shot at UTM and dump it on his desk.
September 25, 2000: “Vamoosed! Campus Police rescue stolen moose.” Headline.
September 4, 2001: “The new beach volleyball court (located beside the outdoor basketball courts by the North Building) was installed by the same people who installed the courts at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.”
September 12, 2011: An op ed by Amir Ahmed takes a critical look at comments by Stephen Harper to the effect that Islamism is the greatest danger to Canada. “When Harper says ‘Islamism’, people hear ‘Islam’. They think ‘Muslims’,” he writes. “I believe these words will legitimize discrimination.”
February 6, 2012: “Shouting ‘fuck fees’ won’t result in budget changes to fix the province’s deficit.” Op ed by Stefanie Marotta on the importance of policy-focused student groups instead of protest-focused ones.
Bonus Round
These are snippets that we couldn’t fit into an already jam-packed magazine, but still thought readers might enjoy.
October 10, 1974: “Erindale’s pub has applied for a license which would allow it to sell liquor as well as beer.” First line of a story that also notes the 300-person capacity of the pub and a price increase owing to vandalism. “People don’t have respect for this place,” says manager Peter Smith.
November 21, 1974: “Some’s okay. But I really don’t have much contact with the females because my field is science and chemistry. There is only one girl in my class.” Poignant (in retrospect) answer to an utterly unpoignant Talking Heads question: “What do you think of the females at Erindale?”
February 6, 1975: Medium II editor-in-chief Gregg-Michael Troy reports under a pseudonym on the phasing out of patrolman Alvin Charles’s position. He had gotten no complaints in his four and a half years, and asked why he was being laid off, he replied, “Maybe Mr. Nanivati is mad at me.” Charles had been offered other positions but refused because they paid less; a month later he was hired as caretaker without a salary reduction. The manager of the physical plant “expressed some surprise at Medium II investigating administrative decisions, and stated that the paper was getting into areas where it didn’t belong”, wrote Troy.
January 16, 1975: “High marks in arts and science could be justified.” Headline of an editorial protesting the university’s “assault on inflation” of grades. Erindale College’s average had risen to the low 70s but should have remained in the mid-60s, said the university. One writer argues that better teaching accounts for the increase.
January 30, 1975: “Perhaps what this campus really needs is a good kick in the ass. And there is quite a good possibility that your paper can provide it.” A letter from the chair of the student council that quickly turns sour: “You get to say everything and do nothing. […] What the hell are we, your parents, nicely spoon-feeding beer down your greedy throats?”
March 27, 1975: Peter Bogdanovich of the “New Hollywood” movement (director of The Last Picture Show) gives an interview to Medium II, discussing his work and what it’s like to work with Burt Reynolds, Orson Wells, and Barbra Streisand.
October 10, 1978: “Gay and out of touch? Call GAYLINE: 791-6974, weeknights 7:30 – 10:00 pm.” Classified ad.
October 10, 1978: An article titled “Hammer & Cycle” describes the creation of the Socialist Cycling Club. Quotes attributed to Desmond Morton, then associate dean of the humanities, imply that Canada must catch up with Sweden in fitness and social reform.
April 10, 1979: “Police were called in to quell the approaches of a suspected rabid fox last Thursday. The beast was blown to smithereens.”
April 10, 1979: “The Erindale Pub should exist to serve the needs of the student population … by providing an atmosphere conducive to relaxation for all students. The strip performance was embarrassing and humiliating for many of the women present…” Letter to the editor.
October 23, 1980: “War Measures Act necessary?” Headline of an article on Pierre Trudeau’s famous use of the act to penalize the Front de Libération du Québec kidnappers. The reporter argues that it was really a blow against separatists.
October 30, 1980: “The Erindale Warriors got more than physically battered when they lost to Seneca 63-0 last week [in football]. That’s right, 63-0. Number 54, seen here sitting down on the job, is none other than our own illustrious ECSU president, Rene Papin.”
January 29, 1981: “Ontario’s Ministry of Colleges and Universities has announced that government grants and tuition will both increase by 10 per cent at the province’s universities next year … universities can increase tuition fees by a further 10 per cent at their own discretion.”
March 26, 1981: “Hi, we’re presidential candidates for ECSU! There’s some really important issues in this election and as soon as we find out what they are… we’ll tell ya…” Text of an editorial cartoon lampooning the “unpleasant” yearly elections.
September 24, 1985: “Governing Council met on Thursday. The major topic of discussion was the U of T’s stance on divestment in South Africa. President Connell has said in the past that ‘it is not for me or government council to engage in political action’.”
November 19, 1985: “There’s an old saying among English faculty members the world over: ‘Unless he’s a stiff, he’s not worth the bother.’ One of the great yet not alive authors is the very not alive Virginia Woolf…”
January 28, 1986: David Wilcox plays the Blind Duck, “was his usual crazy self”.
November 7, 1989: “It has always been recognized by the student population of Erindale that we need a Student Centre… Any action taken by students today will not benefit any of us. Future generations of Erindalians, however, will no doubt thank us.”
January 30, 1990: “Oh, wow!!! Have you ever gazed at Norman Saunders from afar and wondered what it would be like to actually meet medium II’s Editor-in-Chief in person? Well, now’s your chance! If you are the first person in our offices on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m., you will have the opportunity to go out on a date with our esteemed Colonel! (No substitutions allowed.)” Front-page ad. An ad the next week expresses disappointment that nobody took him up on the offer.
February 13, 1990: The Labatt’s Road Scholarship driving program comes to the South Building’s parking lot. The medium II editor-in-chief took part and drove into one of the instructors in a defensive driving exercise, but luckily only bruised the instructor’s leg because “I decided to turn at the last moment before I creamed him.”
March 6, 1990: Dr. Robert Ryckman, Erindale College’s director of athletics, was terminated after the university’s auditing team discovered he had misappropriated funds from ECARA, the predecessor of the UTM Athletics Council. ECARA said in a statement that they “will not be bullied by anyone but the students”.
March 13, 1990: “A haircutting salon is only one of the many possibilities being discussed for Erindale’s new Student Centre.” It was years before the Crossroads Building was turned into the Student Centre, and it never did get a barbershop.
September 10, 1991: “I laughed, I cried—it was better than Cats.” Attributed to a froshie who had been to a hypnotism show during Orientation.
October 10, 1991: “Ms. Susan Elizabeth Whelan: Word has it that you are once again happily in love with a certain gentleman named Tim. Why is it that the family is always the last to know?” A classified ad in the Medium.
November 4, 1991: “The pub was broken into … Access was gained through the manager’s office window. Six bottles of vodka, one bottle of rye, and one bottle of Scotch were reported missing, each valued at approximately $30.”
September 29, 1993: The Erindale Studio Theatre officially opened. “If you haven’t seen the inside of the theatre space just yet you should drop by sometimes—it is quite impressive.”
January 10, 1994: “Quote of the week: ‘I’m not exactly known for my intellect.’ Tamara Wickens, sports editor, reflecting on why certain things just don’t come out right when she speaks about feminism.” Wickens had written that members of an intramural hockey team called “Chicks with Sticks” were degrading themselves.
March 14, 1994: “I know myself how to handle responsibilities effectively and … review things in a logical manner, sort of like Spock.” ECSU candidate explaining why he’s running for a position.
September 4, 2001: “I’ve come to know Mark as a person who works very hard.” Erindale College Student Union president Erin McKinlay on the bright-eyed young Mark Overton’s promotion to dean of student affairs after four years as registrar.
September 4, 2001: A source of interest for ecology students but frustration for groundskeepers, the non-native periwinkle is reported encroaching on UTM’s forested areas.
September 4, 2001: “Disgusting. It’s disgusting that UTM shut the door on about 80 senior residence students who deserved to live on campus. But what can you do? Residence has a policy.” The opening of an editorial by Adam Giles.
January 1, 2002: “Principal McNutt delivers another close-eyed speech to the Erindale College Council last Thursday. He made it clear that ECC is only advisory to him, so he may decide to implement the parking fee increases.” Caption for article on ECC proposing a 20% increase related to cuts in funding from the province.
February 4, 2002: “Despite the student arguments, delays, walkouts and the engineers’ marching band, U of T’s full-time undergraduate students have gained a trial membership with the Canadian Federation of Students.” First line of the lead story. CFS’s practices were later to become a major source of controversy.
March 30, 2009: “At the CCIT polling station on Thursday, several student voters were interviewed by the Medium, and the most commonly cited reason for voting UTM Movement was because my friend told me to or those people campaigning over there told me to.” Article on student union elections.
October 31, 2011: “I’m going to a work party as the 1% that the Occupy protesters are against.” Response to a Talking Heads question about Halloween activities.
January 9, 2012: “The cause of the fire that destroyed the Argonauts’ training facility on the UTM campus on December 24 remains undetermined.”
