Its officially day 2 of a Snow Day as the Great Snow Storm grace us with a generous pile of snow (except for Windsor for some weird reason). As someone who grew up in Quebec City, this is what I call winter, not that powder stuff that melts within an hour that many from Toronto may be familiar with. For once I’m glad U of T decided to cancel all in-person classes, so I can stay in doors and watch the snow fall outside with a cup of a mocha.

Anyways, we have a pitch list! In case you are unfamiliar of how it works, here is the rundown:

You get to scan through the list below and pick your top three pitches and fill out the V3 Registration form where you will share your vision for the pitch. You also get a chance to pitch your own pitch if none of the ones we offer fit your fancy.

Just note that the last day to register is this Friday January 21st 2022. Additionally, if you do decide to grace us with your contributions, you have until January 28th to write your articles. If you are more of a visual contributor, we will be calling for visual pieces ideally January 28th.

With all of that info out of the way, here is the list! Happy writing!

V3 Pitch List

1. Innis/Student Life:
   1. Black History Month: This edition of the Herald will be published in February AKA Black History Month. There are so many directions you can go with this piece. Some ways I would go about this pitch include (1) a written tribute to iconic Black historical figures (someone that comes to mind is feminist author bell hooks, who we lost in late 2021) or (2) an interview series with notable Black Innis College Black alumni. If you are interested in the latter, I have connected with the Innis administration that we could use to make that happen!
   2. Seasonal Depression Strikes Back! [POTENTIAL PERSONAL ESSAY]: In our beautiful northern hemisphere country, the seasonal depression is real… and long… UGH I MISS SUMMER! This piece could be either a personal essay or how-to guide on how you experience and cope with seasonal depression. This piece will be especially important for international students who might be experiencing cold and 3:30PM sunsets for the first time. 
   3. Do Online Labs Teach us Anything? [OPINION PIECE]: While many school activities resumed in-person learning, many lowerclassmen (particularly in life sciences) have been working in online labs for over two years now. Are these learning simulations effective? What is the cost of these labs (both financially and education-wise)? Any alternatives? This piece would be best suited for someone in first or second year, but all are welcome!
   4. Virtual Communities in the Academic Space: Whether you love or hate online school, there is no doubt that students have gotten very creative with building virtual communities throughout the Omicron pandemic. From Discords to virtual study sessions to simulated virtual classrooms, how have you found community through this yo-yo of online school? Have you enjoyed this social aspect or has it made making friends and participating in school harder?

2. Arts and Culture
   1. NFT and Innovations in Digital Art:  Non-fungible tokens (or NFTs) have been the latest craze amongst celebrities and art critics, with some selling for millions of dollars. So what are NFTs (seriously, I still have no clue) and are they the future of digital art? What are the sustainability factors?
   2. Oscars Review and Predictions: The 94th Academy Awards are fast approaching and the people need to know: who are the frontrunners to snag the top titles? I am cheering for my lomls Kristen Steward and Andrew Garfield, but that is besides the point. This pitch gives you an excuse to watch some great films and make your predictions for the films and performances that deserve to win.
   3. The Revolution of Television: Let me take you back to a mere thirty years ago in a television history: single-cam sitcoms were all the rage, live studio audiences were doing the absolute most, and honestly I’m not sure what else was going on, I wasn’t alive yet. However, what I do know is that mainstream television has been revolutionized, especially in the era of abundantly wealthy streaming services with cinematic production power. How has television evolved? What are the effects of streaming services, the pandemic, etc.? What shows do we have to look forward to in 2022?
   4. This Just In: Books are Trendy Again: If you are like me, then you are very familiar with the world of book social media. The aesthetic pages by candlelight, the floor to ceiling bookshelves, the intellectual snobbery – I’m obsessed to say the least. But, people have a lot of opinions on book social media, particularly regarding the trend cycles of books and what books get hyped up versus what stories are snubbed. This is an article for book lovers who want to dive into this world and share your opinions on the matter.
   5. School’s in Session at Euphoria High: While it is still in its infancy, HBO’s Euphoria has become a cultural phenomenon over the past couple of years, particularly for Gen Z. With its new season freshly dropped, the Euphoria love has been reignited with new Tiktok fashion and makeup trends; however, other conversations around the show, particularly its content warnings and its intended audience (despite being a ‘teen’ show), have also been making their rounds. Where do you land?
   6. Will you be my Valentine?: Calling all the cynics and hopeless romantics! February means that Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Depending on your POV, this could make you swoon or projectile vomit. I would love to have TWO WRITERS pick up this piece and face off on their different perspectives. Is it love? Is it capitalism? I don’t know, but I wanna find out!

3. Sports
   1. What defines an ‘elite’ athlete?: On January 3rd, the Ontario Government declared that all gyms/sporting facilities would be closed in light of the surge in Omicron cases, unless you were an elite athlete. To much outrage, college athletes were not given the title of elite and, therefore, forced to shut down. There are many directions you could go with these piece (perhaps some interviews with Innis athletes/coaches), but you can find more information on the topic here.
   2. Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics Coverage: At the time of writing, the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics are going forward in February and there is a lot to catch up on. Whether you would like to speak on the politics of this year’s Olympics, the standout players to watch out for, medals predictions, or all of the above, I am all ears!
   3. The Ghost Game Phenomenon: What is the ghost game phenomenon? How are professional players impacted by the loss of a cheering crowd? An insight on sports psychology and how crucial human interaction is in the sports industry.

4. Politics
   1. The Collapse of Toronto’s Shelter System: In a devastating new development, experts predict that Toronto’s Shelter System is due to collapse/already collapsing because of staff shortages, frigid weather, and the raging omicron variant. Cover this story and ponder: What are the implications of a collapse? Is the city doing enough? Does Toronto’s shelter system have a history of fragility? How can we help the crisis? And other questions you may have.
   2. Canada’s Anti-Vax Tax Conundrum: A recent poll revealed that the majority of Canadians would back an anti-vaxx tax. Quebec has announced that it will be imposing a fine on the unvaccinated without medical exemptions. Does it violate charters of rights and freedoms? Feel free to speak on this issue with an ethical/analytical lens.
   3. Russia and Ukraine: Foreign Policy Analysis at a Boiling Point: Something on the minds of foreign policy experts and average Joes alike is what will happen if Russia actually invades Ukraine. I would love to see this piece written through both historical and contemporary lenses.
   4. Catching up with the Afghanistan Crisis: Foreign policy experts have declared that the crisis in Afghanistan will not be resolved anytime soon. What does life look like there now, five months after the Taliban’s takeover (particularly for women)? How many refugees have managed to escape? Are world powers, like Canada, still offering aid or have they grown complacent? 
   5. An Audit of Western Democracy: Following the first anniversary of the insurrection on Capitol Hill, Joe Biden has recently announced that he will be putting forth a series of voting reform bills aimed at restoring American democracy. This proclamation, of course, has been met with outrage, particularly from the GoP. This series of events begs the question: Is America’s democracy falling apart? Are voting reforms going to save it? If America’s democracy is doomed, are the other Western democracies strong enough to survive?

5. Science and Tech
   1. mRNA Vaccines: A Silver Bullet?: The success of the mRNA vaccine with COVID means that it is now being tested on other viruses and health conditions. What are the other illnesses that may be contained or prevented by the progress made with this new, formidable technology? 
   2. Sexism and Inequities in Healthcare: According to recent UofT study, female patients are more likely to die in surgery if they are operated on by men. This study opens the door to the very important conversation about sexism in healthcare, particularly how that sexism impacts marginalized women and femme-identifying people. A historical perspective would be cool to see on this piece.
   3. The Beginning of Climate Migration: We have known this would happen for years and it seems the process of climate migration to North America has finally begun. Who is migrating? Why are they migrating? How will this affect Canada? What are the future implications?
   4. The Daily Doomscroll: CTV News recently reported on a study that found that Canadians spent more time on their phones per day in 2021 than in 2020. This study also broke down the apps that were most popular. What does this data say about the Canadian lifestyle? What are the implications of rising screentime for businesses, human health, politics, etc.?
6. Creative:
   1. Satire – Pitch your Own!
   2. Fiction – Whether its poetry, short stories, a personal essay, a photo essay, whatever! We want to hear it!

Columns

1. Changemakers Corner
   1. From its founding in the late 60s to now, Innis College is largely defined by its powerful, fiery, and influential staff and student body. Within our community, there are so many amazing individuals who are doing incredible work both inside and outside of the UofT campus and this column strives to highlight and celebrate this work. Whether they are faculty or student, conduct an interview and write a profile on someone who you believe belongs in the Changemakers Corner. Let’s start off the school year by lifting up our community!
2. Break the Snooze Button
   1. This column is a play on the phrase “Stop sleeping on _____”. This is a hub for media recommendations that our Innis Contributors believe are being slept on. This is an opportunity for a quick little contribution (100-200 words) on either a book, TV show, movie, or musical artist.
3. What’s Cooking?:
   1. This one goes out to all the lovebirds out there: what is the meal one should make for a romantic night in for their significant other on Valentine’s Day?
   2. All other recipes you’ve been digging lately are encouraged.
4. Beats by Innis:
   1. I love New Years, because it allows me to reflect and figure out ways that I can improve and be my best self. What is a playlist that gets you productive, gets you hyped up for the day, and gets you so excited you might even enjoy your green juice in the morning?
   2. Any other themed playlists are absolutely welcome:)

Don’t see anything you like? Create your own pitch in the Google Form option:)

Happy Writing!