Alchemy spring / summer 2015

1

Alchemy Sheridan’s Faculty of Humanities and

Social Sciences Newsletter spring / summer 2015

Welcome to the condensed Spring/Summer 2015 issue of Alchemy. We hope that you are finding the nicer weather and quieter campus rejuvenating (despite all the construction and displacement!), and that you are able to enjoy whatever vacation time you’re able to carve out for yourself these lovely months. While reflective, in its brevity, of said quieter campus (and emptier cubicles and offices), this issue of Alchemy continues to testify to the vibrancy of FHASS’s cultural, pedagogical, and academic spirit. Please continue submitting your stories, notes, accomplishments, milestones, and observations as you have more time to reflect, plan, and prepare for the fall. Please consult the ‘Submissions’ tab on our webpage for specific submission details and dates for our future issues. Keep your news, ideas, and articles coming, and check out the online version of Alchemy at http://fhass.wordpress.com/. Finally, Alchemy graciously salutes its two outgoing Associate Editors, Sarah Sinclair and Mikal Austin Radford, for their hard work over the past year. We also welcome new Associate Editors Jennifer Phenix and Glenn Clifton into the fold. Thanks Sarah and Mikal, and welcome Jennifer and Glenn!

Table of Contents: spring/summer 2015 From the Dean’s Office ….1 Features ….1

(article by Kirsten Madsen and Janet Shuh) Student Spotlight .…2

(featuring 2014-2015 FHASS award-winners) Milestones .…4 Faculty & Staff Spotlight .…6

(featuring Tina Moscato, Shoilee Khan, Janet Shuh, and Mikal Austin Radford) Cool Stuff …11 The Hub …11

(featuring Robyn Read’s CWRT15389 student Walter Carrera)

From the Dean’s Office Celebration. Preparation. Anticipation. These three words characterize FHASS’ 2015 Spring/Summer semester. This term we held our annual FHASS Student Awards ceremony, saw our English as a Second Language and General Arts and Science students graduate, hired exceptional new faculty and staff, and began planning for an active and exciting 2015-16 academic year. As we look forward, there is already an anticipatory buzz around who this academic year’s Sheridan Reads author might be; we are working on the next series of Film for Thought; and FHASS’ faculty and staff are eager to further engage our community in Oakville, Mississauga, and Brampton so that we may continue our tradition of bringing Sheridan’s unique creative and intellectual discourse into the larger public domain. Finally, we have started planning for PEQAB’s site visit for our Creative Writing and Publishing degree, which we expect would take place sometime in November.

As you can see, by any measure, this coming academic year should prove to be stimulating and fruitful, and I look forward to witnessing FHASS’ continued success.

Has Malik Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

* * *

Features

Sheridan Knowledge Mobilization – Collaboration in the Child

& Youth Sector* By Kirsten Madsen and Janet Shuh

In partnership with Peel Region’s Child and Youth Initiative, Sheridan’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Office for

Photo: Has Malik

Alchemy spring / summer 2015

2

Undergraduate Research hosted an inaugural Community Research Café on April 17, 2015 at the Davis Campus. The event provided a venue to showcase research while facilitating meaningful community connections for the over 90 participants in attendance. The forum brought together diverse external community partners and Sheridan staff, faculty (from the Faculties of Animation and Design, Applied Health and Community Studies and Humanities and Social Sciences) and students alike. The overarching goal of this event was to contribute to innovative service solutions that will positively impact children and youth in Peel community.

The morning panel session featured innovative projects and spurred insightful conversations focused on opportunities – both present and future. More than 25 poster presentations showcased projects and programs on a wide range of topics from early childhood education, youth violence and cyberbullying to name just a few.

The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and participants found the program and insights to be both useful and applicable to their community

agencies and educational institutions. Anonymous survey feedback from participants and audience members lauded the event’s "[i]nnovative and collaborative ways to build partnerships between community partners, educational institutions and researchers to facilitate dialogue and promote social change," while praising the event’s organization and recognizing the “[e]xcellent facility and staff.” One respondent noted "I learned of all the important and diverse forms of research being done, and how it could possibly pertain to the work I specifically do."

Panel participants at the Research Café.

Photo: Karen LeMoine via Twitter See more photos from the event at: https://www.dropbox.com/sc/yr3hgdkpbpuy2d7/AACtz9sTPghGlYBdYLCY20FSa *a version of this article was included in the event report submitted to the Sheridan Undergraduate Research Office.

* * *

Student Spotlight

Celebrating Student Success: 2014-2015 FHASS Student Awards

FHASS held its annual Student Awards Ceremony at Macdonald-Heaslip Hall on Sheridan’s Trafalgar campus on June 8, 2015. The well-attended event brought administration, faculty, staff, students, and their families together to recognize student success from the 2014-2015 academic year and celebrate excellence within and beyond FHASS. After Dean Has Malik’s welcoming remarks the evening’s keynote speech

Alchemy spring / summer 2015

3

was delivered by Sheridan alumna Athra Walied, a graduate of Sheridan’s ESL and Paralegal programs. Athra went on from Sheridan to graduate with her BA in Social Sciences from York University in 2013. She is currently a manager at Evergreen College and is working toward her Master’s in Public Policy and Administration at Ryerson University.

Keynote speaker Athra Walied. Photo: Jessica Hinchliffe

Special guests including individual award sponsors, donors, and representatives from Nelson Education Ltd. and Pearson Education Canada, helped our FHASS program coordinators acknowledge and reward the excellent academic and personal growth demonstrated by students in Sheridan’s English, General Education, General Arts & Science, Humanities & Social Sciences, Creativity & Community Service, ESL, and Breadth programs. FHASS would like to acknowledge all the donors of these academic awards, especially William (Bill) Adcock, Dr. Mark Deighton, Nelson Education Ltd., Pearson Education Canada, Sheridan Alumni, and Debora Vazquez.

As with each iteration of these awards, the winning work and effort of the recipients of this year’s awards (listed below) represent the culmination of hard work, perseverance, self-improvement, and success at the heart of academic study and the human desire for knowledge and

experience that lies at the very heart of our discipline. Congratulations to everyone involved!

English (Julie Morris, Co-ordinator) Nelson Award of Excellence in Composition & Rhetoric: Jade Armstrong Nelson Award of Excellence in Composition & Rhetoric: Karliegh Ivens Pearson Award of Excellence in Essential Communication Skills: Erin Harvey Pearson Award of Excellence in Essential Communication Skills: Madison Johns General Education (Jessica Pulis, Co-ordinator) Award of Achievement: Shaniel Lewis Nelson Award for Online Studies: Mehreen Shahid General Education Award of Excellence: Brittany Noseworthy

Stephanie Samboo (Associate Dean), Julie Morris (English Co-

ordinator), Linnea Nord (Nelson Education), and Karliegh Ivens (Award Recipient). Photo: Jessica Hinchliffe

General Arts and Science (Sherri Steele, Co-ordinator) Nelson Award of Excellence – Health Profile: Sarah Tuninga Debora Vazquez Academic Achievement Award: Nichola Lawrence Pearson Award in Excellence in Principles of Psychology: Himanshu Shamsukha Pearson Award in Excellence in Principles of Psychology: Braden Summerhayes General Arts and Science Award for Academic Scholarship: Maaha Misbah College Profile Academic Achievement Award: Sarah Snow College Profile Academic Achievement Award: Maryam Ali Heather Adcock Memorial Award: Himanshu Shamsukha Heather Adcock Memorial Award: Kathleen Olejnik Dr. Mark Deighton Award for Excellence in Human Biology: Zora Jovic General Arts and Science Award of Excellence for 1-Year University Profile Certificate: Jamie Hilts General Arts and Science Award of Excellence for 1-Year University Profile Certificate: Ryan Lewis

Alchemy spring / summer 2015

4

English Language Studies (ESL) (John Iveson, Interim Co-ordinator) Award of Excellence: Dina El Jaroudi Award of Excellence: Donika Selmanaj Jura Seskus Award: Elena Antonova Kirova

General Arts and Science Student Award Winners (L-R): Jaime Hilts, Hasan Malik (Dean), Janet Shuh (Associate Dean), Zora Jovic, Maaha Misbah, Maryam Ali, Sarah Snow, Ryan Lewis,

Himanshu Shamsukha. Photo: Jessica Hinchliffe Breadth (Sean McNabney, Acting Associate Dean) Pearson Award in Excellence in Psychology: Ahmad Shihab Pearson Award in Excellence in Psychology: Clara Cheung Humanities and Social Sciences – Excellence Award: Mike Damaschin Humanities and Social Sciences – Highest Achievement Award: Patricia Michele Zaremba Creativity and Community Service (Sean McNabney, Acting Associate Dean) Dr. Mark Deighton Award for Excellence in Active Citizenship: Carmen Anaya-Sandoval Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences – Alumni Award in Creativity: Erik Blohm-Gagne Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences – Alumni Award in Creativity: Patricia Michele Zaremba

Sean McNabney (Associate Dean) and Ahmad Shihab (Award

Recipient). Photo: Jessica Hinchliffe

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (Has Malik, Dean) FHASS – Alumni Award for Excellence in Research: Grace Ednie FHASS – Dean’s Award of Excellence: Mitchell Wells

Hasan Malik (Dean), Grace Ednie (Award Recipient), and Jennifer Deighton (Advancement Office). Photo: Jessica

Hinchliffe

* * *

Milestones

We at Alchemy would like to offer a quick recognition of the retirement of two long-time pillars of Sheridan’s FHASS community, Professors Anita Agar and Gail Benick. We offer them our sincere gratitude for their service, leadership, and collegiality within the Faculty, and wish them both the best for their respective retirements.

*

Congratulations to long-time FHASS Professor and writer, the aforementioned Gail Benick, who released her novella, The Girl Who Was Born That Way, earlier this spring. Published by Inanna Publications, the book was launched

on April 29, 2015 at Supermarket Restaurant and Bar in Toronto. Promotional information and availability available in the publisher’s official press release:

Inanna Publications and Education Inc. is proud to announce the release of: The Girl Who Was Born That Way by Gail Benick ISBN no. 978-177133-213-2/ 128 pgs. / $19.95 / April 2015

Photo: Gail Benick

Alchemy spring / summer 2015

5

http://inanna.ca/index.php/catalog/girl-who-was-born-way/ "Survivors of the Lodz ghetto, the Berkowitz family is renamed Berk, “with the flick of an immigration officer’s pen.” But assimilation to North American culture is nowhere near that simple, especially for one daughter born with Turner’s Syndrome, a condition which renders her visibly different from her peers. Commonplaces of 1950s girlhood become the vehicle for this meditation on identity and difference. In the voice of her young protagonist, Gail Benick maintains an exquisite tension between poignancy and wit,

depicting a life where each day brings collisions between outer confidence and inner trauma, between boundless opportunity and irretrievable loss." —Maria Meindl, author of Outside the Box: The Life and Legacy of Writer Mona Gould, the Grandmother I Thought I Knew To purchase your copy today, please call our office at 416-736-5356, send us a fax at 416-735-

5765, email us at: inanna@yorku.ca or write to us at 210 Founders, York University, 4700 Keele St. Toronto, ON M3J 1P3. *Online orders are available through our secure web store at the book page link above: Canadian orders: please add 5% gst. Postage in Canada is $8.00 per book. U.S. orders: please add $15.00 for postage and handling. International orders: please add $20.00 for postage and handling.

For review copies, author interviews, publisher interviews, or more information, please contact Inanna Publications and Education Inc. at 416 736 5356 or email Renée Knapp, Publicist and Marketing Manager at Inanna, at reneeknapp@inanna.ca.

*

Professor Tony Falikowski made excellent, industrious use of his recent sabbatical. First, on February 25, 2015, he was an invited guest on Eldon Taylor's nationally syndicated radio podcast program, Provocative Enlightenment. Taylor is a New York Times bestselling author who has had people like Linda Evans, Lindsey Wagner, George Noory,

and Joan Borysenko on previous programs. The topic was Tony’s book, Higher Reality Therapy: Nine Pathways to Inner Peace. The conversation went so well, Tony has been invited back in the fall to continue the discussion.

Screenshot: Tony Falikowski

Next, he was invited to submit an article which was published in Volume 10 (March 15, 2015) of Philosophical Practice, a refereed journal of the American Philosophical Practitioners Association based in New York. The article was a critical discussion of the conventional reality therapy developed by William Glasser. The title of the article is: "Reality Therapy's Concept of Basic Needs: A Psycho-Philosophical Critique." In it, Tony points out the arbitrary and unvalidated nature of Glasser's motivational theory as well as its internal logical inconsistencies and conceptual incoherence. Finally, Tony has kept up with his research and work on a new book to be entitled Let's be Reasonable: A Basic Guide to Rational Thinking. He hopes to have the first rough draft complete by the end of August. Well done, Tony!

*

Professor Nicolette Little (aka The English Mechanic) has been awarded a United Way GenNext Top 20 Under 40 award. According to the Oakville Chamber of Commerce’s The

Photo: Nicolette Little

Image: Innana Publications

Alchemy spring / summer 2015

6

Business Advocate Online, “[t]he 2nd annual awards night took place in April to honour individuals who have given back to the community through volunteering, giving, or active engagement in a cause. Nicolette has been a strong voice in the fight against violence against women both at Sheridan College and Peel and Halton shelters, and Halton Women's Place in particular.” Nicolette, who was offered an Ontario Graduate Scholarship to pursue her PhD studies in Gender, Feminist, & Women’s Studies at York University, helps organize and spearhead Oakville’s annual Hope in High Heels event and FHASS’s Holiday Hamper Drive for the Halton Women’s Place. She will be starting her PhD in the joint York/Ryerson Communication and Culture program in September. Congratulations, Nicolette, on this well-deserved recognition. Check out the announcement here: http://www.uwoakville.org/news-events/gennext-top-20/2015-nominees/

* * *

Faculty & Staff Spotlight

Tina Moscato, FHASS Operations Manager

I came to Sheridan in May of 2011, as the Office Manager and Executive Assistant to the V.P. of HR & Organizational Development. What I bring to my new role as Operations Manager in the Faculty of

Humanities and Social Sciences is a background in human resources management, budget development and tracking, operational and administrative strengths as well as project management skills. In the short time that I have been in FHASS, it has been extremely busy and I welcome this wonderful growth opportunity with a fresh perspective. I have enjoyed meeting some wonderful people thus far and hope to continue to meet more.

Prior to joining Sheridan, I worked in various industries within various roles, but by far coming to Sheridan has been the most rewarding experience to date in my career. Everyone is so welcoming. The teaching and learning environment brings so much enthusiasm and knowing that I get to go to Sheridan daily where I love doing what I do is amazing.

Academically, I have recently completed an Honours Human Resources Management Certification at Humber and I am currently completing the Project Management Certification at Sheridan.

On a personal note, I have one son who is currently enrolled at Sheridan. I enjoy staying active through a number of passions like hot yoga and other activities such as roller blading, hiking and skiing. I hope to travel more in the future to magnificent places.

Tina Moscato answers Alchemy’s Proust

Questionnaire: Favourite virtue: Integrity. Most overrated virtue: Honesty, because it is so misunderstood… Most important lesson I learned in kindergarten: Do you really want to me to remember that far back?! LOL! Most important lesson I’ve learned this year: Stay open to the possibilities. My favourite qualities in a student: Enthusiasm to learn. My favourite qualities in a teacher: The power to inspire students to do better and find their passion. Moment in my life I’d like to re-live: When I was raising my son. My idea of perfect happiness: Being true to yourself so that you can feed your soul, because that will feed the rest of your life and those around you.

Photo: Tina Moscato

Alchemy spring / summer 2015

7

My idea of complete misery: My ex-husband might explain why he is my ex. Can I say that?! LOL! In my opinion the secret to success is: Truly loving your inner self, so that you can give back to those around you in a positive and authentic way. My favourite word: Authentic and Lovely. I know that’s two, but I just love them both. My least favourite word: Having someone tell you to STOP when you are speaking. My favourite quotation, motto, or phrase: The Golden Rule: You should treat others as you would like others to treat you. The word/phrase/expression I overuse in life: “It is what it is.” If I weren’t an administrator I’d be: A dancer. The talent or skill I wish I had: Playing the piano. Language I’d love to be able to speak: Given that I am of Italian heritage I would love to be able to speak it fluently (I was never able to master it as a child). A country/place I’d like to visit: So many… Egypt, Australia, South American, Africa, Switzerland, Spain, France, just to name a few. On my bucket list: All of the above places!

My favourite historical, literary, or cinematic character(s): Moses – for the determination of believing in the impossible, and making it possible. My favourite food/meal and drink: My mom’s veal – OMG, every bite just melts. My favourite painter/artist: I had the pleasure of standing in the presence of the Statue of David many years ago; what an experience and feeling to be next to this massive piece of History. So, I would have to say Michelangelo. My favourite singer/musician and song: I don’t really have a favourite singer—I like so many, but if I had to pick just one for all time, it would be Barbra Streisand. However, Adele would be a wonderful choice for a more contemporary female

singer. Song: again, so many to choose from, but how about John Legend’s “All of Me”? Train’s “Drops of Jupiter” also comes to mind. And Prince’s “Purple Rain” (I know I am dating myself.) I am a sucker for great a love song. My guilty TV/film/gaming pleasure: Shark Tank, but also, because they are written and acted extremely well, The Big Bang Theory, Frasier, The Good Wife, Scandal, Chicago Fire, Chicago PD and a few others.

*

Professor Shoilee Khan (Communication and Literary Studies)

Shoilee Khan received her MA in English Literature from the University of Toronto and her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Guelph. She began teaching at Sheridan in 2010 and currently teaches a variety of courses with the School of Communication and Literary Studies. She loves that teaching allows her to not only share her love of literature, but also to demonstrate how stories can create movements of change in our individual lives. Her most rewarding lessons are those that create a foundation for students to interact with a piece of literature and experience moments of discovery and realization that are surprising and revelatory for both students and professors. Shoilee is also a writer of fiction and creative-nonfiction and most recently was a participant in the 2015 Banff Writing Studio where she worked on re-writing her current project, a novel that takes place in post-liberation Bangladesh. Connecting with other writers and sharing the ups and downs of the writing life has proven to be both invigorating and self-affirming and she hopes to continue work on this project this summer and fall. You can find Shoilee’s previous work in magazines and journals, including Adbusters, Room Magazine, The New Quarterly, and Other Voices. Shoilee recently began the Couchto5K journey, which seeks to transform couch potatoes into avid runners. She’s midway through her challenge and will enthusiastically accept tips from joggers and runners willing to offer wisdom! She looks forward to bringing her experience in

Alchemy spring / summer 2015

8

literature, creative writing, (and potato transformation!) to the classroom and hopes to help her students use reading and writing as tools for meaningful analysis and engagement in academia and beyond.

Photo: Shoilee Khan

Shoilee Khan answers Alchemy’s Proust Questionnaire:

Favourite virtue: Kindness. Most important lesson I’ve learned this year: Fear = Thinking + Time. My favourite qualities in a student: Curiosity and gusto. My favourite qualities in a teacher: Patience, empathy, and little pocketfuls of wisdom. My idea of perfect happiness: Grass, sky, book, and a cheese sandwich. In my opinion the secret to success is: Quiet, focused, informed perseverance. My favourite word: Volition. My least favourite word: The expression “It could be worse.” My favourite quotation, motto, or phrase: “It’s never too late to be what you might have been.”

The talent or skill I wish I had: Mathematical prowess. On my bucket list: Bathe an elephant. My favourite food/meal and drink: Traditional Bengali fried bread (paratha) with slow-cooked turmeric potatoes. My guilty TV/film/gaming pleasure: Say Yes to the Dress.

*

Associate Dean Janet Shuh (School of Social and Life Sciences)

Prior to joining Sheridan as a faculty member in 2004, Janet held successive corporate policy roles within the Ontario Public Service, lastly serving as the Executive Policy Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Corrections and Community Safety. After eight years teaching theoretical and applied criminology at Sheridan, Janet transitioned into her

current Associate Dean role where she provides academic leadership to the General Arts and Science Program and social and life sciences faculty and curriculum. Janet has a Bachelor of Social Science (Criminology) from the

University of Ottawa and a Master of Arts

from the Interdisciplinary School of Criminology at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia.

As an engaged member of the Sheridan community, Janet provides leadership on various committees, including: Administrative Policy, Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities, Senate Academic Policy, and the Student Success and Advancement. Janet is passionate about promoting academic integrity at Sheridan and beyond. She is an active member of the International Centre for Academic Integrity (ICAI), in addition to the recently formed Canadian and Ontario AI Consortiums. Janet has presented at numerous AI conferences specifically on the role that policy can play as one tool to shift academic

Photo: Janet Shuh

Alchemy spring / summer 2015

9

culture. Janet’s PhD research, at the University of Toronto (OISE), will explore the theoretical and practical connections between the commodification of knowledge and academic integrity.

Janet is the current Chair of the Ontario Colleges Liberal Arts and Sciences Council (OCLASC) where she supports provincial efforts and strategies to further General Arts and Science programs and liberal studies curriculum across the province. When not at Sheridan Janet loves to cook, spend time with her two children and pug Lucy, “be” in nature, hike, paddle and beachcomb.

Janet Shuh answers Alchemy’s Proust Questionnaire:

Favourite virtue: Kindness – there should be more of it in the world. Most overrated virtue: Prudence – drives ego and self-inflatedness. Most important lesson I learned in kindergarten: Never let a guinea pig out of its cage. A friend and I decided to take Bert and Ernie, the resident Kindergarten pets, out for a carpet play. Ernie went missing – never to be found. What would Bert do without Ernie? Most important lesson I’ve learned this year: Always, no matter what, make time for those you love. It will charge you up for interacting with those who you don’t love. My favourite qualities in a student: Inquisitiveness, a yearning to know more. My favourite qualities in a teacher: Inspirational, passionate and leaderful. Moment in my life I’d like to re-live: Placing 2nd, in the coxed four, for Leander Boat Club at the Schoolboy Regatta. My idea of perfect happiness: Spending time with three (or four) generations of my family on the shores of Lake Huron. My idea of complete misery: Playing video games in a dark, dingy basement. In my opinion the secret to success is: Build, and invest in, strong working relationships.

My favourite word: Sunshine. My least favourite word: Hate. My favourite quotation, motto, or phrase: None – I generally dislike repeating others as it feels disingenuous to me. The word/phrase/expression I overuse in life: “Pick your battles” – it’s pragmatic but unfortunate advice. If I weren’t a teacher/administrator I’d be: A real estate agent in NYC. The talent or skill I wish I had: The ability to play the violin – well. A country/place I’d like to visit: Anywhere in Scandinavia – maybe Finland or Sweden? On my bucket list: Travel the world. My favourite food/meal: Lobster … need I say more? My favourite painter/artist: Monet and Rothko. My favourite singer/musician and song: Blue Rodeo – “By the Side of the Road.” This song was played on special request, from my significant other, at a Massey Hall Blue Rodeo concert. Lead singer Jim Cuddy prefaced the request, commenting that he had “never heard of anyone having this song as their first at a wedding … but what a rocking wedding that must have been!” My guilty TV/film/gaming pleasure: Mad Men, even in syndication if that is all I can get.

*

Professor Mikal Austin Radford, (Religion, Philosophy, and Culture) To quote the Bards of San Francisco, “What a long strange trip it’s been.” From his beginnings in Halifax as the son of a Navy Commander, to the family’s move to Toronto during the 1960s where he discovered the spiritual insights of Aldous Huxley (thanks Dad) while trying to recreate his own Kerouac’s Dharma Bums (hey, The

Alchemy spring / summer 2015

10

Fountainhead didn’t do it for me), to a rather eclectic undergraduate experience at Wilfrid Laurier University (Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Geography and Radio Arts), Mikal came to the academic field in a very round-about way.

“After completing my General B.A. at Laurier, I was given a chance to apprentice at a community newspaper north of Toronto. The idea of becoming a professor wasn’t

in the cards at that time;

however, after several years as a reporter/ photographer for the community newspaper and then 10 years at the Toronto Star Newspaper, I was given a fantastic opportunity to return to the newly developed Religion and Culture Department of Wilfrid Laurier University, and in 1991 started my Honours B.A. and Masters Degrees.” As an undergraduate Mikal’s primary focus of study was the relationship between South Asian religious, philosophical, and mystical traditions. His Honours thesis, titled Sallekhana: The Ritual of Holy Death in the Archaic and Contemporary Jaina Community, was a study of the philosophical foundations underlying the Jain ritual of fasting to death. Switching gears for his Master's degree, Mikal's field of study broadened to include mystical traditions within First Nation cultures (with a particular focus on the Ghost Dance), and the Gnostic traditions and their connection with the Thomas Christians of India. The title of his Master’s thesis was Origins of the Thomite Tradition: The Acts of Thomas and the Genesis of Indo-Oriental Christianity. Mikal joined the PhD program in Religious Studies at McMaster University in 1999. His PhD dissertation, titled Did the Tirthankaras Cross These Oceans? Boundaries, Frontiers and the Negotiation of Transnational Identity Within the Jaina Community of Toronto, is an examination of this community and their particular concerns over transnational religious identity formation. Mikal’s current interests include media and religion, religion as political instrument, and he has begun to research

the field of Neolithic death rituals and associated architectural structures from the Eastern Mediterranean to the Black Sea region to the Indus Valley.

Mikal Austin Radford answers Alchemy’s Proust Questionnaire:

Favourite virtue: Socratic Humility. Most overrated virtue: The importance of Self. Most important lesson I learned in kindergarten: More fun than Nursery School. Most important lesson I’ve learned this year: Dealing with a loved one who has Alzheimer’s, and realizing that neither of you recognize each other. My favourite qualities in a student: Curiosity. My favourite qualities in a teacher: Encouraging curiosity Moment in my life I’d like to re-live: Continue with learning the bassoon. My idea of perfect happiness: Getting to complete the ‘Bucket List’. In my opinion the secret to success is: Looking at the glass as being half full, and to continue striving onward despite any setbacks (and should madness follow, ‘go with it’). My favourite word: Osmosis. My least favourite word: Any acronym used in place of a word(s) - LOL My favourite quotation, motto, or phrase:

Before Enlightenment, I chopped wood and carried water.

After Enlightenment, I chopped wood and carried water. If I weren’t a teacher I’d be: An archaeological site tour guide. The talent or skill I wish I had: To construct the most divinely perfect sentence.

Photo: Mikal Austin Radford

Alchemy spring / summer 2015

11

Language I’d love to be able to speak: For the immediate future: Greek and Turkish A country/place I’d like to visit: The entire Silk Road On my bucket list: Too many, but see above destination to get a clue about some of that list.

My favourite historical, literary, or cinematic character(s): Peter Sellers as Chance, the Gardener in Being There. My least favourite historical, literary, or cinematic character(s): Howard Roark in The Fountainhead. My favourite food/meal and drink: Near Eastern/Eastern Mediterranean. My favourite painter/artist: Hieronymus Bosch My favourite singer/musician: Infected Mushroom (from Israel) The most embarrassing song/album in my iTunes or music collection: “The Best of Ultimate Spinach” My guilty TV/film/gaming pleasure: Big Brother Canada and The Amazing Race (Canada/US).

* * *

Cool Stuff FHASS Professors Ian Williams and Robyn Read were recently featured as part of Brick Books year-long Celebration of Canadian Poetry 2015. Overseen by Brick publisher Kitty Lewis, the celebration consists of weekly blog posts by readers, writers, editors, publishers, and other cultural workers on the poems and poets they admire, are moved by, and want to share with the rest of the world. Read the interview with Robyn and Ian here: http://www.brickbooks.ca/week-25-ian-williams-presented-by-robyn-read/

www.brickbooks.ca

*

A reminder to those of you teaching and researching in the literary arts: The deadline to submit panel proposals for next year’s ACCUTE (Association of Canadian College and University Teachers of English) conference at the University of Calgary (May 28-31, 2016) is fast approaching. Panel proposals must be submitted by August 15, 2015. For more info on submission guidelines, please visit http://accute.ca/accute-conference/

* Check out the spotlight on FHASS Professor Jaime Ginter, “Reading the Bones,” in the June 23, 2015 edition of Sheridan’s Curiosities blog: http://curiosities.sheridancollege.ca/reading-the-bones Well done, Jaime!

* AAAL Call for Proposals The 2016 conference of the American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL) will be held at the Hilton Orlando Hotel in Orlando, Florida. Proposals are invited for individual papers, posters, roundtable discussions, and colloquia, particularly those having to do with the practical uses of applied linguistics research and pedagogy. Proposals to be accepted beginning June 1, 2015; the deadline for proposal submission is 11:59 PM on August 19, 2015 (EDT; UTC-4). For more information visit http://www.aaal.org/events/event_details.asp?id=636616 and follow the AAAL on Twitter (@aaal16confteam) for all the latest 2016 conference news.

* * *

The Hub (work + play) After enrolling in Professor Robyn Read’s Introduction to Creative Writing class in January 2015, Sheridan Interaction Design student Walter Carrera uncovered his long-lost passion for narrative storytelling; thanks in large part to his experience in CWRT15389GD with Dr. Read, Carrera went on to submit his work to the Sheridan Writing Contest, and his story, “The Mystery of the S” was awarded first prize!

Alchemy spring / summer 2015

12

Check out the winning announcement here: https://firstyearconnections.wordpress.com/2015/03/23/congratulations-to-our-sheridan-writing-contest-winners/ and enjoy Walter’s story below. About Walter Carrera: I am a 21-year-old Interaction Design student, and an aspiring writer. As a kid I imagined myself being as famous as J.K. Rowling, and set out to write short stories and poems. Growing up, I began to distance myself from

that dream, frustrated with the English language. I knew however, that I had to create; to imagine and bring to life. Thinking that I had it all as a design student, I found an opportunity to get back into writing. Creative writing class with Robyn Read has brought back a flood of stories into my mind. I had the pleasure of sharing my work

with my class, learning how to improve and be

comfortable receiving feedback. “The Mystery of the S” is one of the stories I am very proud of. I thank professors Robyn Read and Karen Kachra, my friends and family, and my fiancé for their support.

The Mystery of the S By Walter Carrera

Getting off the bus, I stepped out onto the curb with a bag hanging on a shoulder. A large letter S, standing on the pavement, greeted me with glowing colors. I wasn't the only one who noticed. Several students walking towards the school pointed at it and took pictures. “Is this new?” I heard a young girl ask another. “I never saw this on the tour,” she continued. It must be, I thought, as I began to unfold the schedule in my hands. I looked at it intently, and then pulled up a map of the campus on my phone. Right, the lecture hall, I said to myself. Off I went, and as I passed the S-shaped structure, I touched it. It went a shade of red. “Well it's nice to meet you too,” I said.

In the hall, several rows of seats were positioned as in the theatre. I decided to take a place in the middle row. At the front, a man finished pulling out papers from a messenger bag. “I am professor Samuels, and welcome to your first lecture,” he

greeted. The buzz among the seated students had yet to die down. I could already see my peers becoming well acquainted with one another. I merely focused ahead, careful not to lock eyes with anyone. The professor continued, “I'll start with a bit about myself.” He went up to his computer and suddenly the large screen behind him had an image projected onto it.

“I am an Industrial Designer, and have been working in this industry, as well as other design related fields for, oh, about 20 years now.” Several of his slides on the screen depicted some of his contributions to the world of design. Only one peeked my interest, of which he cared to explain. “This, I worked on with a team. We designed a Smart Rotating Closet.” The volume of the room dropped drastically. The professor noticed this and grinned as he went on. “Its connection to the Internet allows it to know the weather.” Another slide came up and showed technical drawings. I found myself at the edge of my seat. “So say that it's below 0 degrees Celsius, and you don't have time to find the appropriate clothes for the weather conditions.” An animation on the screen did the rest of his explaining.

I was baffled by the idea. The closet would change around and give you the clothes you needed! Genius, I thought, until something else came to my mind. I shot my hand up. “A question?” He asked. “What if you're coming home, and want to change back to shorts?” I could feel many eyes on me as the professor replied, “Ah, good question.” A click on his computer and the screen changed once more. “When you come back in to put away your clothes, it will then switch back to indoor wear.” Loud whispers could be heard in approval. I nodded as he looked up to me. He turned his attention to the class again, “Ok, now that you know a little about myself, I would like you to get to know each other.” I sighed, and then turned towards my classmate.

I got to know my partner well. Selena, she told me her name was. Much like myself she had come to Sheridan College for its new and unique design course. “I'm honestly so happy I came here,” she told me. “My parents wanted me to go to University for a degree in Computer Science. I told them no, that I wanted a College life, even if that meant only getting a diploma.” I shared her feelings. There was no way I would go for theory. I wanted something more hands-on. “But then I found out there are degree programs here too!” Her

Photo: Walter Carrera

Alchemy spring / summer 2015

13

widened eyes complimented her big smile. I reciprocated it. It was then I realized I hadn't even begun to introduce myself.

“Alright class, time's up!” My partner and I turned our heads toward the professor. “Before we leave today, I want to let you in on a secret,” he said. The sounds of the students died down once more. The professor paced around as he continued, “I'm sure most of you have seen the very large S shape at the front of the school.” Ah, my glowing companion, I remembered. How is that a secret? The professor stopped in his tracks. “Do not touch it! I've been advised that it has the ability to remember the person who does.” Several whispers ensued, and a student spoke out, “Is it dangerous?” I suddenly did not feel well. “No,” Samuels replied, “but it is meddlesome, and you might regret it.” I looked at Selena sternly, only to find her looking as equally uncomfortable as I did.

Outside of class, Selena and I stood in the hallway as our classmates passed by. “You touched it too, didn't you?” She asked. I nodded slowly. “What do you think it will do to us?” I shrugged, I wasn't too sure myself. “Well, I'm sure it's nothing bad, or else they would have removed it,” she assured herself. I finally spoke, “Yeah, or at least put caution tape around it.” She agreed with me. “Where are you off to now?” She asked. “Give me a sec,” I replied. Then, I pulled out my schedule. I had nothing else for the rest of the day and I showed her. “Same here,” she told me. “Let's eat first and then we can go back home,” she suggested. “Alright,” I told her, “name's Wally by the way.”

The cafeteria was much larger than I imagined. Glass panes along one wall allowed the sun to illuminate the whole of the area. Large white tables were filled with people seated around them, conversing as they ate. After a bit of searching, we found ourselves a spot for two. “You have lunch?” She asked as I made to open my bag. I pulled out a ham sandwich and a juice box. “This is all I've got,” I told her. She smiled, and took out a large canteen from her own bag. “Chicken soup for me,” she said wiggling the canteen. We ate our food silently, glancing around the cafeteria, and sometimes at each other.

Once done with my food, I pulled out my phone. “My bus leaves in 8 minutes,” I let her know. “Mine as well,” she said, “you take the 46?” “Yeah, that's it!” I told her. “Well then we have a

bus to catch,” she said, as she packed up. We made our way to the front of the school, in a hurry. As we stepped out on the pavement where the large S display continued to glow. I looked at Selena, who looked concerned. We stopped walking. “Something wrong?” I asked. She thought for a while longer. Then, she said, “When I touched it, I wished that I would make a friend today.” She took a few steps toward it as in a daze. “It went a shade of red after that, as if it heard me.” I stood behind stuck to my place. She turned around, “do you think it's a wish granter?” I shrugged, uncertain. “Come on, we'll miss the bus,” she added.

As we climbed on, and sat down, the bus began to roll away. I looked back at the S shape, which suddenly turned from its many shades of blue, to a shade of red. It must be, I thought, as I made my way back home with my new friend.

* * *