With care, gratitude and hope—thank YOU
With gratitude, The Medium section editors reflect on their journey and offer words of encouragement to readers and future writers.
News
My favourite part of being News Editor was seeing the articles come together. I remember attending events with writers, watching as they zipped from interviewee to interviewee, taking note of every little thing.
All year, writers would run their ideas by me and ask for advice on how to cover events properly. It was awesome to see all the genuine passion and care behind each article, and witness that translate into well-crafted stories that were a blast to read.
Working in this role has encouraged me to be more confident. After seeing so many new and returning writers eagerly step up to contribute to the news section, I felt like I owed it to them to be more confident in my work and leadership. I’d like to think that my leadership was key to building such a strong team behind the news section, and inspiring writers to consistently put out amazing work—shoutout to my associates Prekshaa Surana, Natalie Ramadan, Laila Alkelani, and Diana Fu!
Campus newspapers like The Medium are important because they keep a record of everything that matters to students. We’re not just spewing information—we’re ensuring that the events and voices we cover will be remembered. We’re also giving a platform for community members to leave their mark on the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM), whether writers, interviewees, or key informants.
University can be such a fleeting part of our lives. Most of us are only in UTM for a few years. And once we graduate, so many of the things we did and worried about as students suddenly won’t matter anymore. So, it’s great that The Medium lets us leave behind something that lasts.
I can’t wait to see all the fantastic work The Medium will do in Volume 53!
— Aaron Calpito, News Editor (Volume 52)
Opinion
I crossed paths with The Medium at the end of my first year when I stashed a copy of the 2021/22 Medium Magazine, Out With The Old—now neatly stored with a collection of newspaper issues I’ve since contributed to—into my school bag. Then, the prospect of writing for the publication was a thrilling endeavour; to be elected as an editor felt delusional.
Becoming the Opinion Editor for Volume 52 has been an honour that I will carry with me as a writer, activist, and lover of anything literary-related. So, to my writers, thank you for trusting me with your thoughts and stories. To the readers, thank you for your endless support. To my team, thank you for your advocacy for student journalism and virtuous coverage on campus and beyond.
I would also like to extend my deepest gratitude to the opinion editors who have come before me. To Kareena Kailass, Aya Yafaoui, and Mashiyat Ahmed, thank you for platforming my voice even when censorship fell heavily on the publication.
Student journalism has always been a cornerstone of journalistic integrity. This is particularly true today, for our stories continue to be threatened by an algorithm that feeds on misinformation and disinformation. Working in journalism, even as a one-time contributor, is an honour that should not be taken lightly. Not when we bear the same label that Taj al-Sir Suleiman, Anas Al-Sharif, Maryam Abu Daqqa—and thousands of others—were murdered for.
Do not think of your contributions as a careless means of campus involvement. Not when you stand as an essential participant in rewriting our history.
And as always, happy writing!
— Yasmine Benabderrahmane, Opinion Editor (Volume 52).
Features
To the readers and writers of The Medium—thank you for allowing me to serve as your Volume 52 Features Editor.
I stepped into this role with nothing but a passion for writing. Your contributions, ideas and readership made clear to me that my responsibility is to encourage open, sincere and critical conversations that are so often lacking in this society.
Journalism exists for the people. It exists to remind us of the importance of compassion and understanding that is fundamental to a peaceful society. Whether you participated as a writer, a reader, or an interviewee, your engagement has created a space for a critical yet respectful exchange of ideas. This is especially important in a society that promotes isolation and hegemonic narratives.
Being Features Editor has shown me how to appreciate each individual in a new light. All your efforts to express yourself captured the essence of courage and dedication. So, thank you for trying something new and picking up the pen in a small community, while still giving the best you can.
The Medium may not be a grand place, but it’s one of the places where hopeful ideas begin. Your ideas matter; don’t push them aside because you think they are insignificant. They are important. Cultivate them and don’t be afraid to let experiences, dialogues and writing enrich them.
It was an honour to serve as your Features Editor. And as always, have fun writing!
— Gisele Tang, Features Editor (Volume 52)
Arts & Entertainment
My favourite part of being the Arts & Entertainment section editor was seeing my creative vision for each issue come to life.
Ever since I started writing for The Medium four years ago, I’ve always enjoyed the experience of seeing each article develop from just a pitch to a completed piece, ready for publication.
As a section editor, I had the chance to take that further and shape each issue and pitches per my vision. This role inspired me to seek out the variety of arts-related activities on campus. As The Medium shifted to being more UTM-focused, it made me realize just how much creative passion there is in our departments and our Blackwood gallery.
Thus, I was inspired to help artists on campus receive the attention they deserved. To me, this is the significance of campus journalism—the chance to give attention to the talented and passionate community on campus, making art in all forms.
Additionally, it gives aspiring journalists and writers a platform to express themselves and share their voices. I also learned more about the collaborative nature of writing and everyone’s unique ideas.
Being on the other end and working as a section editor taught me the efforts and communication required to work with writers and shape their ideas. I want to give a big thanks to my two associates, Emma Catarino and Diana Varzideh, for their invaluable work in helping the arts & entertainment section this volume.
And to all our readers and writers, your voice and input are unique, and I encourage you to keep sharing them and engaging with campus journalism.
— Yusuf Larizza-Ali, Arts & Entertainment Editor (Volume 52)
Sports & Health
Stepping into the role of Sports & Health Editor halfway through the school year was an absolute privilege gifted to me by the previous editor, Joseph Falzata. It only took me a few weeks to feel the strong chemistry that this masthead has built. I received great article suggestions from Aaron Calpito (News) and Gisele Tang (Features) that aided my transition from an associate to section editor.
My time in this role has taught me the importance of collaboration in the writing process. Listening to ideas from writers, brainstorming artwork with the design team, and communicating pitches with the masthead are all critical steps in the publication process that are impossible to be carried out alone.
Campus journalism has provided me a platform to not only share my talents as a writer, but also inform students about the amazing sports teams and health organizations on campus. Following the tri-campus soccer team on the road to their championship title was an exhilarating experience as both a fan and a writer. The pride I feel towards UTM has grown exponentially thanks to my experience collaborating with writers, organizations, and sports teams on campus.
Thank you to all the writers who made my transition seamless. It’s been a pleasure reading about your amazing sporting achievements and healthy habits. A huge thank you to all the readers who help make campus journalism thrive.
Let’s keep this great momentum going into Issue 53 and beyond!
– Tyler Medeiros, Sports & Health Editor (Volume 52)
Associate Opinion Editor (Volume 50) — Yasmine is a third-year student, majoring in History and Anthropology. Her writing is best described as sometimes sarcastic, sometimes radical, and always an excuse to bring up her heritage (and colonialism). She hopes her work with The Medium will inspire conversations, debates, and a path to abandon our deeply rooted stubbornness. In her spare time, Yasmine enjoys reading, knitting, arguing with uncles on politics, and fangirling.