Student Life

Hey Pitches! VOL58 Issue 3 Pitch list is Out!

by admin

The Innis Herald V58 E3 Pitch List by the Creative Team!

Reserve pitches by Midnight on Tuesday January 10 via the Pitch Pickup Form: https://forms.gle/ksxzLauDDFKXG6og6 

Submit pieces by Midnight on Friday January 20

cheers to: (1) UofT-centric/Innis-centric content; (2) satire/sarcasm; (3) valentine’s/romance vibes

STUDENTS AND SERVICES (100-700 words)

Student Life (Photographic Pieces, Written Work, or Video Visions) 

  • Scholar Stories: Anecdotes and randomness 
    • Midterms Squirms, Finals Spirals – Do you feel burnout? Do you have study tips? How do your midterm seasons go or how do you handle finals — honestly?!
    • Are Food Trucks Worth the Good Bucks – Around UTSG, you are bound to see a food truck from Sid Smith to Bahen. Thoughts on the money laund- oops!… I mean the infamous pasta truck? Thoughts on the immense pollution along St. George Street? Thoughts on one specific food truck or every single food truck?
    • Research the Research – UofT ranks high in research performance, yet there is much to research about the research university itself. Time to explore! 

i. consider: history and prestige behind facilities, discover how “tradition” (and a bit of pretentiousness) is entrenched in UofT’s culture, question the importance to preserve tradition at UofT or rather confirm its bygone era

ii. inspiration: mysteries of Massey College, hidden gems, obscure facts such as the former home of Sir John A. Macdonald, etc.

  • The Rational and Irrational of the International – Calling all international students to speak about being an international student, both the good and the bad

i. consider: diversity in Toronto and the GTA 

ii. inspiration: applications, housing, scholarships, etc.

  • Tough Love from Tinder to Tutorial – Is it really hard to find love at UofT? Do you want dating experience, but can’t seem to get it on campus? Do you have dating experience, yet wish you hadn’t?  Vent, rant, tell us your stories and opinions!

i. consider: dating at UofT and its reputation from subreddit posts to first-hand experience, dating in university vs. high school

ii. inspiration: the Aphrodite project at UofT (https://aphrodite.global/), storytimes of dates, relationship, advice, etc.

  • Long Distance/Breakup Blues as a Student – Are you either 1) in a long distance relationship, 2) have had to deal with a breakup while juggling school/work/ extracurriculars, or 3) had to endure a long distance breakup? How are you getting through it, especially around this Valentine’s Day when we’re bombarded with romantic propaganda? Feel free to treat this like a diary entry <3
  • College-Centric
    • CINSSU: ITH shoutout, institute updates, the February and March FFF schedule, etc.
    • ICSS: promotions and events 
    • IRC: residence life advertisements 
    • Club Space: posters and announcements
    • The Innis-ider: cover happenings around Innis as well as the broader community via short summaries of what went down or long write-ups of descriptions, opinions, and possibly interviews

i. consider: student involvement such as ICSS or staff involvement such as OSL

ii. inspiration: the expansion project, etc.

  • Campus-Centric
    • Gyms, Swims, Basketball Rims – Do you know someone who sighs after one flight of stairs? Do you know someone who is an intense gym bro? Are you one or the other… possibly both? Let’s take a look at exercise and sports on campus 

i. consider: the Athletic Centre and its offerings, recreational sports, personal goals and the outcomes

ii. inspiration: intramural teams, MoveU program, beginner-friendly workout guide, etc.

  • Architecture and Beauty of UofT… or Lack Thereof – Have you visited every single UofT library? Have you tasted food from all the UofT cafeterias? Take us on a journey to examine the 130 acres of land across campus and explore every crook-and-nanny of one building or multiple buildings 

i. consider: places as big as frats to spots small as washrooms

ii. inspiration: traditional facilities versus modern renovations, etc.

School Services (Photographic Pieces, Written Work, or Video Visions)

  • Campus Opportunities – Co-Curricular Record, Work Study Program, mental health support navigation, University of Toronto Students’ Union… share some opportunities 
  • Learning Abroad & Exchange Programs – Summer abroad or study, research, and professional experiences abroad, etc. 

SERIOUS AND SOURCES (200-700 words)

Arts and Culture (Photographic Pieces, Written Work, or Video Visions) 

  • I Indulge In… – We all have guilty pleasures, what’s yours? Beyond its pages, has a novel captivated your attention? Behind its sitcom laugh track, has a show impacted your emotions? Because of its lyrics, have songs on an album felt as if they compiled a soundtrack to your life? 

i. consider: your personal experience connecting to some form of media 

ii. inspiration: the series BoJack Horseman being the reason I started therapy (red flag, I know)

  • Criticisms, Compliments, and Conversations – The TV and theatre or movies and music fields are constantly changing and we want the details about the most special happenings within the scene. Whether it be about a play you watched or those problematic Netflix releases, fill us in!

i. consider: trending topics or underrated underdogs

ii. inspiration: Award shows from Grammy nominations to Oscar predictions, etc.

  • Bias, Bias Wrecker, Stan? – K-Pop has been constantly expanding in the Western music society and yet there are still a lot of terms and misconceptions about K-Pop itself. Why do guys wear makeup? Do they lip sync? What are all these terms? Talk to us about your favourite K-Pop artists, concepts and era! Teach us all about K-Pop and more.

i. consider: trending kpop songs and the different eras of K-Pop (1st/2nd/3rd/4th gen)

ii. inspiration: the love for K-Pop; fans’ dedication (i.e. buying albums, streaming)

  • (TAKEN) The Evolution of Social Media – Over the past couple of years, there has been a push to make social media (specifically Instagram) more “casual” – even influencers and celebrities are posting photo dumps and ostensibly less curated posts. But is this really the case? Can social media ever really be casual, or is it all just a farce? Is it freeing to post more casually, or does even that come with a certain level of curation? Are platforms that force you to be more “genuine” (i.e. BeReal) actually just making the “social media mindset” more pervasive in your life?

 i. consider: pros and cons of Instagram vs. BeReal, the role of social media in today’s age

  • Is It a Fit or Is She Just Skinny?: With the re-emergence of certain fashion trends (low-rise, extreme cut-outs, etc.), some have prompted the question of if these trends were inherently made for skinny people, adhering to traditional beauty standards and excluding plus-sized individuals. Are some outfits/clothes only considered appealing and fashionable because the person has a model-esque figure? 

 i. consider: the concept of “body-checking” in GRWM/fashion TikToks

 ii. inspiration: the “model off-duty” look (and the idea of casual elegance and effortless appeal that it exudes), the “That Girl” aesthetic, Brandy Melville’s one-size-fits-all

Sports (Photographic Pieces, Written Work, or Video Visions)

  • The Toronto Teams – Talk about the Toronto Raptors having a 50% chance of making the playoffs, Toronto Blue Jays hitting Spring Training on February 25, and Toronto Maple Leafs being well… Toronto Maple Leafs

i. consider: tackling updates about one team or all teams 

ii. inspiration: trade rumours such as OG Anunoby, historical statistics, etc.

  • NBA News – The National Basketball Association is a professional North American basketball league with constant changes, popular players, and tactical teams. The current champion is Golden State Warriors (shoutout Poole and Curry) and our residential roster is Toronto Raptors (shoutout Barnes and GTJ). Report updates regardless of such covering games or people (shoutout coaches and benches)

i. consider: events and standings

ii. inspiration: the 72nd NBA All-Star Game scheduled for February 19th, March Madness, etc.

Politics (Photographic Pieces, Written Work, or Video Visions)

  • Black History Month – Likewise Canada, recognize February as a time for Canadians to celebrate achievements, contributions, and engagements of Black Canadians and Black communities who, throughout history, have impacted the culture of Canada into the nation it is 

i. consider: significance and timeline

ii. inspiration: abolitionists and allies, figures such as Mifflin Wistar Gibbs, etc. 

  • Governmental, Political, and Lawful – From local mayor decisions to global UN bodies, politics define the state of the world. Take a glimpse of those in power and the effects on people

i. consider: parties and policies 

ii. inspiration: Indigenous rights, decrease of affordability, etc. 

  • Doug Ford and the New Year… What Can We Expect From Him? – It’s 2023, a brand new year with brand new goals. However, it seems that in 2022, Doug Ford and his government hasn’t done much for Ontario (besides making a large part of the population laugh and confused about the bee incident). So, what can we expect from him this new year and will he be able to fulfil all the promises he made when elected? 

i. consider: promises he made in the past, comments and actions he’s taken

ii. inspiration: Rise of news of Doug Ford on News Channels & Premier election in 2024

Science and Tech (Photographic Pieces, Written Work, or Video Visions) 

  • It’s Not Rocket Science… or Is It?: Let us review the science field and take a peek at what scientists have been up to. Cover this story to examine notable scientific updates (and show off your knowledge) 

i. consider: climate, environment, medicine

ii. inspiration: global warming, discoveries, etc. 

  • Life in the Digital Age: Let us review the technology field and take a peek at what the industry has been up to. Cover this story to examine notable technological updates (and show off your knowledge)

i. consider: AI, screen addiction, machines 

ii. inspiration: Twitter run by Musk, privacy regulations, etc. 

CREATIVE (0-700 words)

Artwork (Photographic Pieces, Written Work, or Video Visions)

  • (TAKEN) Poetry or Lyrics — Put on display your experiences and emotions 
  • (TAKEN) Comic — Produce a panel and story-tell via a strip of illustrations 
  • (TAKEN, accepting more) Photography — Shoot and send your original pictures be it scenery, portraits, wildlife, or whatever catches your eye. Reach out and offer to capture an image of request for E3 

Literature (Photographic Pieces, Written Work, or Video Visions)

  • Short Story
    • Non-fiction or fiction 
    • Satire 
    • CYOA
  • Essay
    • Non-fiction or fiction
    • Personal

INTERACTIVE (0-200 words)

Small, Simple, Somewhat Stupid – The Herald wants to hear what you have to say

  • Less than 50 Words – February 15 is National Flag of Canada Day — if you had the chance to change the Canadian flag, what would its new version look like? Why so? Extra points if you provide a hand-drawn sketch
  • Quote of the Month – Submit a comedic college student quote(s) by students for students
  • Zodiac Section – Astrology readings (be sure to disclaim if accurate or satire)

Puzzles — Creations for the community to solve

  • Crossword, wordsearch, sudoku, riddles, jokes, etc.

COLUMNS (50-700 words)

  1. 2023 Predictions 
  2. Regardless of a focus within the college, an emphasis on the campus, or an analysis beyond either, what are your psychic visions telling you? Will Trudeau stick around, will inflation soar, will the Leafs have good luck?
  1. Changemakers Corner
    1. From its founding in 1964 to its standing in 2022, Innis College is largely defined by its members — the powerfully influential and influentially powerful staff and students. Within Innis, there are countless individuals who have done, are doing, or plan to do incredible work both inside and outside of the UofT campus. This column strives to highlight and celebrate such work. Whether they are faculty, alumni, or students, go interview a profile who you believe belongs in Innis’ “hall of fame”
  2. Letters to the Editor 
    1. Dear Reader: This is your opportunity to write an open letter to the Editor-in-Chief of the Innis Herald. Pitch your latest big idea. Share a fun anecdote. Tell the EIC about a book you read or a new recipe you failed. Write a love confession, or an angry rant. Send a joke you found funny (or not). Roommate almost burn down the house? Tell us about it! Make an interesting observation on campus? Tell us about it! Have an obsession about racoons and want a platform to express your love for the fuzzy friend-shaped fauna? TELL US ABOUT IT! Shower the Herald in praise or give us some not so constructive criticism. Tell us what else you want to see in the Herald, or maybe what you don’t want to see more of. Ask a question (only if you want a non-sincere response). From the EIC: I am very bored. Please write to me. Please. I am very bored. PS: Please deliver written letters, signed and sealed, to room 108 at Innis College while emails may be sent to exec.herald@gmail.com
  3. 6ix in the 6ix
    1. Is it pollution from TTC vehicles? Can it be the aura of maple syrup in the air of local stores? Or is it CO2 emissions from Drake’s private jet in the sky? Whatever it is, there is always something special in the Toronto air. Torontonians, native or not, should explore the very city they call home and visit your seasonal recommendations to landmarks such as The Beaches for Winter Stations or suggestions of events to participate in such as the Winter Glow at Toronto’s Black Creek Pioneer Village. This seasonal column lists six current significant opportunities to take part in around the 6ix
  4. (TAKEN) What’s Hot, What’s Not
    1. Is it in, is it out? Is it a hit, is it a miss? The effect of cancel culture and its consequences are real and live in the flesh. These side by side lists show us a series of words about how we will look, act, and have fun tomorrow — keep up
  5. What’s Cookin’: Recipes  
    1. What’s Cookin’ February Edition — Whether you’re celebrating the beginning of a new relationship or cozying up with your long-term partner, sharing a meal together is a great way to show your love. These recipes are delicious enough to impress your lover, yet simple enough for you to cook together at home on those cold February nights! Or, if you’re celebrating Black History Month, shedding light on an international cuisine is a great way to show culture. These recipes are delicious, foreign, and easy to follow along.
  6. Rates and Reviews Report
    1. Are you a film buff? A bookworm? A concertgoer? All of the above? Report your rates and reviews that can range from the latest video game you played, or a newly released album you listened to on repeat, to that tv show you couldn’t bring yourself to finish. This column reports what you have been up to and how down you are for it.
  7. (TAKEN)Taste Test Time
    1. If you crave a guilty pleasure around campus and need a sign to give you the go ahead to order it, look no further. Do you enjoy a certain drink or a specific food? Are you willing to travel around or on campus in order to taste along with test flavours as well as spots for such a drink or food? This column ranks a drink or food of your choice — judge the yumminess, aesthetic, price, all of them in combination… your call!