Dear Friends of Massey,
It has been a delightful first week as Acting Principal of the college, as I had a chance to reconnect, in a deeper way, with elements of the community that are familiar, and the many new activities that Principal Des Rosiers set underway. There was the Massey of always: people from diverse disciplines, and diverse backgrounds meeting, thinking, eating, talking and laughing. Learning about the new programs, there is a thoughtful breadth of ethics and science, literature and law; now broadcast on the internet for impact beyond the orange brick walls. The week’s experience was a rush of pleasure in the company of Junior Fellows excited to be here, and Senior Members enthusiastic to interact and contribute.
I also met a good portion of the staff and felt and heard their dedication to all making the mission fly. This vibrant version of the College rests on the legacy of Roberston Davies, Patterson Hume, Ann Saddlemyer, John Fraser and Hugh Segal, upon whose shoulders Principal Des Rosiers made a magnificent work.
If there is one thing I would urge you to do, it is to come here and eat, and to do it in the company of Junior Fellows. You can do just that with a tiny bit of technology underneath the ‘Massey is Lunch’ link, which lets you pick a date to come, and our Massey is Lunch co-chairs will arrange Junior Fellows to dine with you. Or, you can just come and sit down at the table where any member sits and introduce yourself! I hope to see you here soon.
Also, the latest episode of The JCR: A Massey Podcast “Making Cancer More Survivable” is out now.
Junior Fellow Pranjal Tiwari, a PhD student in Physics, speaks with Junior Fellow Otuto Chukwu, a PhD student in Public Health Policy at the University of Toronto, about public health policy surrounding cancer treatment and the challenges of early detection. Otuto Chukwu’s research is looking at how pharmacists could help the medical system detect cancer sooner.
You can listen on your favourite podcast platform or here.
Pictured Above: Robbie Steele, Josiah Lamb, Heywot Tadesse, Marie Chatlain, Nelly Matorina, David Fernández (not pictured: Aditi Maheshwari)
We are delighted to announce the incoming cohort of Printing Apprentices who will be working in the Bibliography Room this semester. Our new Apprentices will be joining continuing BHPC Printing Fellows Emily Lin-Mei Crawford and Robbie Steele, and our Bookbinding Apprentice, J Hughes.
We received a record number of applications; thank you to everyone who applied. As a result of increased interest, we will be re-opening Massey Apprenticeships for the upcoming fall semester. A call for applications will be going out in March 2024.
The Massey Printing Apprentices:
Aditi Maheshwari is pursuing a research Master’s in Computer Engineering focusing on machine learning for cybersecurity of the power grid. She completed her undergraduate degree in Engineering Science, majoring in Robotics with an AI minor.
Nelly Matorina is a PhD candidate in Psychology studying the role of sleep and dreaming on memory. She is also an interdisciplinary artist and writer with recent shows at Modern Fuel Artist-Run Center and SAW Video.
Heywot Tadesse is in the second year of her PhD in History. Her main research interests include early modern slavery through the Atlantic world, the development of nutrition science, and the perception and impact of the Little Ice Age.
The Book History and Print Culture Apprentices:
Marie Chatlain is a first year PhD student in English. Her research considers how disability intersects with form and genre, examining how literary representations of disability are used to construct genre in utopian and dystopian literature from the long nineteenth century.
Josiah Lamb is a first year PhD student in English. Her research is primarily focused on exploring the relationship between early modern women and cryptography, with the intention to challenge the archival biases prevalent today and unearth the ways women have been communicating in secret and slipping under the radar from the early modern period until today.
This year David Fernández, the Department Head of Rare Books and Special Collections at Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, will be working with the College Printer to pursue research-creation projects in letterpress, linocut, and woodcut printing.
APPLICATIONS
Applications for 2024-2025 William Southam Journalism Fellowships are now open. Please help us spread the word.
Link to applications is here, deadline is March 31 at midnight ET.
A reminder that applications for prospective new Junior Fellows are open. If you know of a promising graduate student who would benefit from all that is Massey – please invite them to apply.
Link to Applications, deadline is January 31.
A reminder to returning Junior Fellows that the deadline to reapply is March 1.
Nominations for the 2024 Henry G. Friesen International Prize in Health Research are now open.
The Friesen Prize is awarded annually by Friends of CIHR to an internationally renowned health scientist for their singular contributions in research and health research policy.
More information here. Deadline is February 16 at 5:00pm ET.
UPCOMING EVENTS
January 24 | 4:00-6:00pm
2024 Jack McClelland Writer-in-Residence Reading and Reception with Shyam Selvadurai
Massey College and the University of Toronto’s Department of English present the Jack McClelland Writer-In-Residence reading. Shyam will read from his latest novel Mansions of the Moon. Register here.
January 25 | 5:00-6:00pm
Massey Dialogues – A Crisis in Affordable Housing (Part II): Lessons from Residents
This panel will draw upon the experiences of residents to ask how well efforts to address affordability have worked and what can be done to make them more effective. Particular attention will be paid to Regent Park, where a long-term transformation of the city’s oldest and largest public-housing development is underway. We will be joined by Walied Khogali Ali (Co-Chair of the Community Benefits Oversight Working Group and Regent Park Social Development Plan), Mary Henkelman (Founding Member, Regent Park Neighbourhood Association), Farhana Islam (Massey Alum and Regent Part resident), Nicki Ward (President, City Park Co-Operative Apartments Inc.). Moderated by Drew Kaufman (Massey Alum). RSVP
January 25 | 5:00-7:00pm
Quadrangle Society Reception
All members of the Quadrangle Society are welcome to attend a reception and talk with Justice Nathalie Des Rosiers examining criminal justice in the 21st century. Come and reconnect at Massey! RSVP
January 26 | 6:00pm
Clarkson Laureate High Table
On behalf of Madam Clarkson and myself, the entire community is warmly welcomed to celebrate our 2024 Clarkson Laureates (Junior Fellows Thomas Ayouti, Sara Maqsood and Michael O’Keefe and Senior Fellow Dr. Samir Sinha) and their accomplishments at a special High Table celebrating public service. There will be contra dancing following the High Table. All levels of experience welcome. RSVP here by January 24 at 6:00pm.
January 30 | 5:00pm
Massey Loves to Read – Just Once, No More
Join the special panel discussion on the themes from Senior Fellow Charlie Foran’s latest book. We will look at relationships between men, specifically between fathers and sons. Joining the panel will be Junior Fellow Alum Divas Kapur and Senior Fellow Michael Valpy (moderator). RSVP.
January 31 | 11:45am-2:00pm
Reflecting on the CBC Massey Lectures Lunch
Professor Maydianne Andrade, University Professor, Biology at U of T and Canada Research Chair will discuss Richard Lewontin’s 1990 lecture Biology as Ideology: The Doctrine of DNA. RSVP.
February 1 | 1:00-2:30pm
Massey Dialogues: Understanding Substance Use Disorder and Stigmas and Workshop on Naloxone Training
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is a growing public health issue. We will explore the challenges faced by individuals with SUD in seeking help, delve into the associated barriers and stigmas, and discuss the crucial role of advocacy and public policy in improving the current state in Canada. Our panel of experts are Dr. Tianna Costa, Clinical Pharmacist at CAMH, Dr. Michael Chaiton,Senior Scientist at CAMH’s Institute for Mental Health Policy Research and Senior Fellow Akwasi Owusu-Bempah.
Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a naloxone training workshop at the end of the session. RSVP here.
February 5 | 8:00pm
Book Club – In the Upper Country by Kai Thomas
Join us to discuss the winner of the 2023 Atwood Gibson Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize with presenter Anthony N. Morgan. RSVP. Be sure to attend the formal dinner beforehand (email the Porter by Feb 2).
February 7 | 6:30pm
Alumni Dinner: 1975-1985 Cohort
join the next Alumni Dinner as part of formal dinner in Ondaatje Hall. Alumni from 1975-1985 are invited to gather and everyone is invited to join. RSVP
February 7 | 8:00pm
Music Salon: Disruptor Conductor
Disruptor Conductor features Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, in conversation and performance. Daniel is a passionate communicator who works to expand the boundaries of orchestral music, creating inclusive environments for LGBTQ2S+, neurodiverse, incarcerated and African diaspora audiences. RSVP
February 8 | 4:30-6:30pm
Celebrating Gimaa Laforme
The Massey community is invited to share in celebrating Gimaa Stacey Laforme’s many years of service to his community, and his achievements as Chief of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. The reception will feature readings from his anticipated second poetry collection, Love, Life, Loss, and a little bit of hope, as well as the launch of his new foundation, the Sacred Trust Foundation. RSVP
COMMUNITY NEWS
IN MEMORIAM
It is with sadness that I report that three members of our community passed away last week:
Quadrangle Society Member Judi Cohen, you can read her full obituary here, Hans Dickie (JF 1964-1966) – full obituary here and Chris Twigge-Molecey (JF 1969-1970) – full obituary here.
Please join me in sending heartfelt condolences to their many family, friends and loved ones.
NEWS
- Senior Fellow Dimitry Anastakis of History comments on a possible Honda electric vehicle plant in Canada. (CBC radio)
- The University of Toronto has appointed Senior Fellow Randy Boyagoda as the first ever provostial adviser on civil discourse. You can listen to Randy talking about the appointment on CBC’s Here and Now.
- Alum Jack Cunningham discusses South Africa accusing Israel of genocide. (Global radio)
- Senior Fellow Miriam Diamond leads a group of academics working to regulate PFAS as toxic chemicals. (CBC radio, Part 2)
- Senior Fellow Anthony Feinstein receives continued coverage for his book on psychological trauma and conflict journalism. (CTV: The Social)
- 2022-2023 CBC / Radio-Canada Fellow Omayra Issa has joined CPAC’s on air team.
- Senior Fellow Akwasi Owusu-Bempah is quoted in the Toronto Star on the City of Toronto’s Policing budget. Read it here.
- Senior Fellow Fahad Razak discusses the state of COVID-19. (CBC radio: Ontario Today) (CBC radio)
- Junior Fellow Leighton Schreyer’s essay The Closeted Curriculum has been published in Academic Medicine and a reading of the essay is now available on the Academic Medicine Podcasts. Listen to it here.
- Senior Fellow Neil Seeman has published a new poem in the Times of Israel. Read it here.
- Senior Fellow John Sewell quoted in the Toronto Star.
- Senior Fellow Samir Sinha quoted on CTV News.
- Senior Fellow Armine Yalnizyan gives some economic predictions to Canadian News Media.
I hope to see you soon,
Jonathan Rose
Acting Principal, Massey College
