On The Record Podcast

In February, Russia invaded Ukraine. Cities have fallen, bombs have been dropped on hospitals and homes, and economic sanctions have sent inflation soaring.  Those following closely say peace talks might help, but regardless: the after-effects of this war might linger for years. 

Guests in order of appearance:

Support for students and community members affected by the crisis in Ukraine can access support from Ryerson University here.

Related Stories:

Ukrainian students react to the Russian invasion

Ukrainian who spent time at Ryerson now making Molotov cocktails and fortifying roads

Ukrainian-Canadian community reacts to war in homeland

The Ryerson Students’ Union (RSU) has been mired in controversy after controversy, especially over the past three years. In this episode of the On The Record podcast, your hosts, TJ Dhir and Thomas Desormeaux, take a look at the student union’s fraught history.

Two former members of RSU’s Board of Directors have strong opinions about the executive committee’s activities during their tenure on the board, as does a former On The Record reporter covering the RSU beat. However, the president-elect of RSU hopes to instil and inspire change in an organization that seems to regularly make headlines for all the wrong reasons.

RSU Bylaws

2022 RSU Election Nomination Package

David Jardine, former Board of Governors’ student representative, RSU

Marina Gerges, president-elect, RSU

Paula Tran, former reporter, On The Record

Olivia McLeod, former Faculty of Communication and Design director, RSU

Eye Confirms RSU Credit Card Statements Shoeing Food, Club, Clothing Purchases Totalling Thousands

RSU Board Member Impeached

Both parties in RSU elections found breaking election bylaws

Students Using RSU Food Box Program Allege they felt ‘Pressured’ to Vote for Adapt by VP Operations Candidate

RSU closes down on-campus print shop without providing a reason why

RSU elections inaccessible, criticize candidates and students

RSU CRO calls Campaigning in Residence ‘Common’ Contradicting 2011-22 Election Email

RSU election results: Independent candidate Marina Gerges wins bid for president

Marina Gerges says she is ready to rescue the RSU

Finances have become a major talking point in the era of COVID-19, with many Ryerson students facing tough decisions about their education and some businesses near campus worrying about their viability. In this episode of the On The Record podcast, your hosts, TJ Dhir and Thomas Desormeaux, examine two issues: tuition costs and the plight of small businesses.

Some Ryerson students say they are not being supported adequately by the school, and are calling for tuition fees to be decreased. Meanwhile, the quality of education has decreased, according to the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) and the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS). On The Record reporter Fiona O’Flynn reports on what students have said online and how they are taking action.

Those who own or operate small businesses have also been feeling the effects of the pandemic. Some stores have had to close their doors due to capacity restrictions and what they say is a lack of government support. Some have had to make other changes. On The Record reporter Emma Moore reports on how the Silver Snail comic book store decided to make a move out of Ryerson’s neighbourhood and back to its old home in Trinity-Bellwoods.

Change.org petition to lower Ryerson tuition fees for online semesters

OCUFA survey illustrating declining education quality

Details about the COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant

Fiona O’Flynn – reporter, On The Record

Emma Moore – reporter, On The Record

Demand for lower tuition continues despite return to in-person classes

The Silver Snail moves from Yonge Street after 9 years

On the final episode of Centre Scope’s first season, host Manuela Vega speaks with senior editor Asmaa Toor, managing editor Kirti Vyas and chief editor Abhi Raheja about the past year — and what it was like to work with predominantly racialized reporters and editors, remotely during COVID-19 and during calls for change in the Ryerson School of Journalism. The editors also discuss some of their favourite stories of the year and what Canadian media can expect from the Ryersonian’s latest cohort.

Host: Manuela Vega

Co-hosts/Reporters: Simran Singh, Meara Khanna and Giulia Fiaoni

Mixers: Manuela Vega and Simran Singh

Executive Producer: Manuela Vega

Stories mentioned:

Centre Scope hears from two reporters on health and wellness, with special attention to culture, for the “Prescribing Perspectives” special edition.

Host Simran Singh speaks with managing editor Kirti Vyas about her piece “Dismantling cultural appropriation within the health and wellness industry,” which examines how yoga, among other cultural practices, has been appropriated — predominantly by middle class, able-bodied, white women — and removed from its religious and spiritual context. Vyas also tells Simran about the women of colour in the industry who are working to make the practice more inclusive and true to its original purpose. Simran later speaks with features editor Pia Araneta about her article on the importance of cultural competence in mental health care. Araneta explains how people from different backgrounds can form varied understandings of mental health, making it even more important to have culturally specific resources.

Host/reporter: Simran Singh

Co-hosts/Reporters: Giulia Fiaoni and Meara Khanna

Mixers: Manuela Vega and Giulia Fiaoni

Executive Producer: Manuela Vega

In this submission to Centre Scope, managing editor and reporter Kirti Vyas, and podcast producer Meara Khanna focus on health and wellness. This episode examines the cultural appropriation of different religious and spiritual practices that originated in Indigenous and South Asian cultures, including yoga.

The episode is a supplementary audio component to Vyas’s April 14 article, “Dismantling cultural appropriation within the health and wellness industry.”

After voting for the Ryerson Student’s Union election ended Friday, March 19, evidence of broken bylaws by both running parties — Adapt and For the Students — surfaced. Just before voting ended, Ryersonian reporter Frank Quaranta broke the story of an RSU presidential candidate who said she was unfairly disqualified. Host Giulia Fiaoni speaks with Quaranta and Ryersonian reporter Marin Scotten about why some election results may be called into question.

Read more about the RSU election fallout in Rosie Leonard and Brooke Houghton’s timeline.

Host/reporter: Giulia Fiaoni

Co-hosts/Reporters: Simran Singh and Meara Khanna 

Mixers: Manuela Vega and Meara Khanna 

Executive Producer: Manuela Vega