News and Politics

Criteria for acceptance into the Coburn Fellowship Award eased In a December 2024 meeting, the Victoria University Senate approved amendments to the Coburn Fellowship Award. According to Victoria College, the changes involve expanding criteria for applicants. Previously, applicants were required to be students enrolled in Victoria College and studying fine arts or the humanities. The

A discussion with Professor Joseph Carens on the ethics of immigration As we plunge into 2025, federal elections loom over Canada where immigration is a heated topic of debate in political arenas. Unsettling levels of inflation and unemployment have been pinned on the governing Liberal Party’s laxed immigration policies. Often perpetuating racism and xenophobia, anti-immigration

An overview of Vic’s Fall 2024 Caucus Administrative Reports Registrar Yvette Ali started the caucus with a report on the recent move of their office to the third floor of the Goldring Student Centre. When asked about the impact of recent government policies on international student visas, Ali stated that the percentage of international students

Canada introduces new immigration measures that impact UofT’s international student community On November 12, Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, made a statement regarding the new measures taken by the federal government to reduce the percentage of temporary residents in Canada from 6.5 percent to 5 percent by 2026. This was prompted by the government’s desire

A snippet into The Strand’s interview with President McEwen on recent Vic and student affairs. Why do you think Victoria College finds it so difficult in maintaining a supportive environment, and what steps has it taken create a supportive environment for students? Mental health is a challenge not specific to UofT. The Canadian health care

Doug Ford’s plans to remove bike lanes and its reception During a speech on October 17, 2024, Ontario Premier Doug Ford confirmed that the province plans on removing existing municipal bike lanes on major thoroughfares, specifically targeting Yonge Street, Avenue Road, College Street, Harbord Street, and Bloor Street. Ford plans to enact these plans under

A cover of the new mural at Cat’s Eye painted by Sophia Paez; covering its significance in this student space Artist Sophia Paez painted a new mural at The Cat’s Eye. The mural depicts an abstract image of a cat, which is a reference to the name of the student space. The mural represents the

A look into the high laundry rates at Victoria College Some students consider laundry an odious, unavoidable chore. For Vic students, it is also expensive. Recently, students have noticed a significant increase in laundry prices on campus, with a single load now costing around $5.25. In September 2021, a wash and dry would total to

An overview of Vic’s recent deal with Executek International and the future of campus security As Vic students settle into the 2024/2025 academic year, the college continues to implement new programs and campus strategies. This includes a contract with a new campus security firm. Upon its prior security contract expiring on July 31, 2024, Victoria