Category: Portfolio

A selection of my works.

Store manager who survived Kenya’s Westgate Mall attack won’t return to work

Fatima Abdul-Rahman is pleased the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, is reopening this weekend. But, after barely surviving the attack at the mall, she doesn’t want to work there anymore. When Al-Shabaab terrorists attacked the Westgate nearly two years ago, they killed 67 people and injured more than 175 others. Abdul-Rahman was one of those… Continue reading Store manager who survived Kenya’s Westgate Mall attack won’t return to work

Rod Stewart ‘knew it was seal’ says shop owner of photo with rock star in controversial coat

It’s the kind of publicity a small business owner dreams of. Rock star walks into your store, puts on one of your coats. Pictures are taken. Images are then sent around the world. That’s what happened to shop owner Darren Halloran this weekend. He took a photo with Rod Stewart wearing one of his coats at his St.… Continue reading Rod Stewart ‘knew it was seal’ says shop owner of photo with rock star in controversial coat

Man tracks down the remains of his grandfather, a lost hero of WWII

A 72-year-old mystery was solved recently when Clay Bonnyman Evans found the remains of his grandfather, Lt. Alexander Bonnyman Jr, a WWII war hero lost since the Battle of Tarawa. Evans has been living with the legacy of his grandfather since his whole life. “I grew up with that medal of honour on my family’s… Continue reading Man tracks down the remains of his grandfather, a lost hero of WWII

Peter Robinson Townhouses sold again

The Peter Robinson Townhouses, located on George St near Parkhill, were sold in March of 2015 to a local property owner who has several holdings in other heritage buildings. The PR Townhouses were the primary residences for the former Peter Robinson college. They were designed by renowned Canadian modern architect Bill Lett and are a… Continue reading Peter Robinson Townhouses sold again

Trent students exhibit work at 2015 SPARK Photo Festival

These photos are just two of the hundreds you could see at the SPARK Photo Festival The SPARK Photo Festival is opening this week and will feature the artistic contributions of many Trent students through collaboration between the festival and the Trent Visual Arts Network (TVAN). This is the third year of the festival and… Continue reading Trent students exhibit work at 2015 SPARK Photo Festival

University bookstores and how to undermine them

As we come to the end of the year, buying schoolbooks is one of the last things on our minds. But thinking ahead to next year, Arthur decided to look into the question of how exactly Trent’s bookstore works, and why book prices are set so high. Currently, Trent University has a contract with Follett,… Continue reading University bookstores and how to undermine them

University bookstores and how to undermine them

As we come to the end of the year, buying schoolbooks is one of the last things on our minds. But thinking ahead to next year, Arthur decided to look into the question of how exactly Trent’s bookstore works, and why book prices are set so high.

TPSA membership overwhelmingly approves TCSA merger

The Trent Part-time Student Association (TPSA) passed its referendum to merge with the Trent Central Student Association (TCSA) with an 84% vote in favour. This merger has been in the works since the beginning of the school year and incorporates the two student associations into one. The merger will be substantially implemented over the summer… Continue reading TPSA membership overwhelmingly approves TCSA merger

Board members talk about racist acts and implicit bias in the TCSA

Recent events at the Trent Central Student Association (TCSA) have elicited a conversation about racial discrimination in the student organization. At the last two Board of Directors’ meetings on March 1 and February 8 there were points raised about prejudice inside the organization and its effects. In particular, protest of the motion to impeach Vice… Continue reading Board members talk about racist acts and implicit bias in the TCSA

Hijab in philosophy and perception

The hijab, a symbol of religious commitment and modesty in Islam, has become a symbol of political conflict. Hijab wearers (hijabis) in Canada are often met with hostility and ignorance. The Trent Muslim Student Association’s (TMSA) event Hijabi Diaries aimed to combat unawareness about the philosophy behind headscarves in Islam and to change some of… Continue reading Hijab in philosophy and perception

Gender and municipal politics: Women in City Hall

It is a definitional aspect of democracy that all citizens are represented in government. Historically and continuing into contemporary times, men are drastically over-represented in the Canadian government at all levels. The politics of gender are visible in our political system in many ways: first, in the proportion of women representatives in legislative bodies; second,… Continue reading Gender and municipal politics: Women in City Hall

How to get something done at Peterborough City Hall

Originally published: http://www.trentarthur.ca/how-to-get-something-done-at-peterborough-city-hall/ Say you have a great idea for Peterborough. It’s a very reasonable project or policy that would vastly improve the quality of life for residents of the city. It’s something that would fall under the purview of the municipal government, (e.g. improving sidewalk accessibility). How would you go about getting it done?… Continue reading How to get something done at Peterborough City Hall

Divestment Week campaign sparks political controversy for OPIRG

Ontario Public Interest and Research Group (OPIRG) Peterborough has been the site of many controversies and incidents over the past few weeks, largely stemming out of controversial topics like boycott and divestment sanctions, particularly those sanctions geared toward Israel. The week of January 26, OPIRG hosted a series of workshops, debates, lectures, and films called… Continue reading Divestment Week campaign sparks political controversy for OPIRG

Part-Time Student Association sets its sights on merger with TCSA

The Trent Part-Time Students Association (TPSA) will be holding an online referendum between March 9 and 12 to seek an answer from part-time students as to whether or not they want to merge with the Trent Central Student Association (TCSA). As it stands now, the TPSA and TCSA offer students services separately and to different… Continue reading Part-Time Student Association sets its sights on merger with TCSA

Queering the bro: Arenalodge exhibition on at Artspace

Bro-ness: “Men that trust each other and are able to be relaxed with each other,” according to Will, one half of art team Kris & Will. “The problem is that American masculine bro-ness is often misogynistic and homophobic. Those things are bad, obviously. So we are trying to investigate those bro rituals in a way… Continue reading Queering the bro: Arenalodge exhibition on at Artspace

Membership votes to rescind boycott of Israeli apartheid

At the annual general meeting (AGM) held January 29, Trent Central Student Association (TCSA) members voted to rescind the “Boycott and Divestment from Israeli Apartheid” policy resolution. The policy was adopted in the TCSA’s 2013 AGM and stipulated that the TCSA would condemn the apartheid in Israel, and participate in an academic, cultural, and consumer… Continue reading Membership votes to rescind boycott of Israeli apartheid

Trent announces new interdisciplanary Masters of Education

In July 2015, the School of Education and Professional Learning at Trent will be welcoming the inaugural class of graduate students who will be completing a Master’s of Education program (M.Ed.). The Master’s of Education is a two-year part-time program that is geared toward professionals of various fields looking to further their career into the… Continue reading Trent announces new interdisciplanary Masters of Education

East bank tipi desecrated for third time since September

What should have been a celebration of Indigenous culture at the Haudenoshaunee Social was marred by the discovery of the east bank tipi’s desecration. On November 18, members of the First People’s House of Learning (FPHL) and the Trent University Native Association (TUNA) discovered that this sacred space had been used as a venue for… Continue reading East bank tipi desecrated for third time since September

Big changes coming to Part Time Student Association

At present, certain concerns about the governance of Trent’s Part Time Students Association (TPSA) have led to discussions about new directions for the organization in order to provide better support for Trent’s growing part time student community. Currently, an executive board governs the organization, and executive director Helen Wallis looks after the day-to-day operations. However,… Continue reading Big changes coming to Part Time Student Association

Precarious Peterborough: Living on the edge of poverty

Originally published: http://trentarthur.ca/precarious-peterborough-living-on-the-edge-of-poverty/ The number of people living precariously in the city of Peterborough and in Canada has been growing in the past few decades. To live precariously is to live without certainty of income and without the security of self that comes with it. It is a sociological and political term that is used… Continue reading Precarious Peterborough: Living on the edge of poverty

Deliberating Dissent lecture gives a lesson in political action

On November 17, Dr. Barbara Falk of the Royal Military College of Canada gave a public lecture entitled, “Deliberating Dissent: From Fighting Words to Radical Action”. It was an introduction to dissent as a mode of political engagement and the historical legacy of dissent. It addressed five questions: 1) What is dissent? 2) What is… Continue reading Deliberating Dissent lecture gives a lesson in political action

The Peterborough Red Cross turns 100

This year, the Peterborough branch of the Canadian Red Cross is celebrating its centennial. The organization has devoted 100 years of service in Peterborough to humanitarian efforts worldwide, nationally, and locally. The international organization has existed for over 150 years and is founded on the basis of seven principles: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service,… Continue reading The Peterborough Red Cross turns 100

Trent University’s legacy in municipal politics

The municipal election on October 27 surprised me in its attempted outreach to post-secondary students. There were several events held on campus by various student organizations, and furthermore, there were candidates who were actively calling on and catering to the student vote. While not unprecedented, this year the push for students seemed persuasive. There was… Continue reading Trent University’s legacy in municipal politics

Moving where the students are: Trent’s push into online courses

The nature of work has changed in university life to embrace the digital tools at our disposal. The Internet provides a vast resource for academic research and forums for discussion. And while most acknowledge the facility it provides for research in academics, the question remains and is currently being meted out as to what presence… Continue reading Moving where the students are: Trent’s push into online courses

Moving where the students are: Trent’s push into online courses

The nature of work has changed in university life to embrace the digital tools at our disposal. The Internet provides a vast resource for academic research and forums for discussion. And while most acknowledge the facility it provides for research in academics, the question remains and is currently being meted out as to what presence a university should have online.

Photo Essay: History is written underfoot in the Avenues

The Avenues is a neighbourhood of Peterborough that is host to a wealth of history and culture. The name ‘the Avenues’ refers to the series of small residential roads that run between Bolivar and Charlotte Street. In the architecture of the homes as well as in the infrastructure of the streets, Peterborough’s history is laid… Continue reading Photo Essay: History is written underfoot in the Avenues

Trent University: Architecture of scholarship and community

If you have set foot on the Trent University Peterborough campus, odds are that you have noticed its singular aesthetic. Whether you love it or hate it, or just can’t navigate all those damned stairs when trying to get home from the Ceilie, one has to admit that Trent looks nothing like any other university.

Trent’s highest honour

Each year, Trent University gives honorary degrees to those individuals who have contributed to the life of the university, the Peterborough area, or to society as a whole. This year’s convocations featured a diverse range of individuals who represent many of the university’s core values. In the 2014 Convocation, Trent University bestowed honorary degrees on Joseph Boyden, Wade Davis, Shelagh Grant, Richard Johnston and David Patterson. Read some of the interviews with the honorees in this article.

In Response to #SochiProblems

I’ve been keeping tabs on the #SochiProblems tag on Twitter and have been noting with some amusement the issues that athletes, journalists, and others have been having with the Olympics facilities in Sochi, Russia. Still, something was causing me some consternation.