39 MB - University of Toronto Magazine

15-19 rev 3/7/05 3:49 PM Page 16New&NotablePHOTOGRAPHY: PASCAL PAQUETTESujany Krishnalingam,a materials science and engineeringstudent, sold ribbons in theBahen Centre in January to help raisefunds for tsunami victimsTsunami Relief EffortsFlags flew at half-mast on January 10 as the university communitycame together at memorial services on all three campuses to grievefor victims of the December 26 tsunami disaster.Students quickly mobilized to organize tsunami relief efforts. Of themany undertakings, MBA students at the Rotman School of Managementarranged a lunchtime fundraiser; law students set up a donation booth tocollect funds; and members of the Tamil Students’ Association held a basketballtournament at Hart House to raise money for Sri Lankan victims.At the University of Toronto at Scarborough, a coalition of campus groupslaunched the UTSC Tsunami Relief Fund, holding events such as an eighthourdance-a-thon in the student centre. At the University of Toronto atMississauga, the Tamil Students Association and the Sri Lankan StudentsAssociation partnered to create the Ribbons for Rescue campaign.Gwen Agboat, a first-year student in social sciences at UTSC, pledgedto match whatever her fellow students could raise, up to $10,000. Agboat,who entered university as a mature student, had savings set aside for schoolbut says “given the situation, we have to do as much as we possibly can.”Students met the challenge, raising $25,000 for the Red Cross, most ofwhich was matched by the Canadian government.The University of Toronto Earthquake Relief Network, a universitywidecommittee of students, staff and faculty, is looking at long-termways to help rebuild devastated areas. Committee member SaswataDeb, a first-year medical student, remarks that “the immediate monetaryeffort by the university community has been incredible.” But, he pointsout, “even when the urgency of the crisis has passed, hundreds andthousands of lives have been affected – the need is still there.”– Lisa Rundle and Sue ToyeContinued from page15Social commentary is an importantelement of calypso, says Lall. When themusic first emerged, it carried subtleor satirical criticisms of political partiesin Trinidad and Tobago (calypso’s birthplace),and then became more blatantand wide-reaching.The music’s globalinfluences are part of what attractsLall.The Island of Trinidad is populatedby many different peoples – African,Indian, Spanish, French, Portuguese –and the music, with its steel-pan drums,sitars, tablas and keyboards, reflectsthat, he says. He likens the effect to abouquet of flowers gathered fromaround the world.“If you took one out,you’d have a different bouquet,” he says.When Lall was 12, he and his familyemigrated from Trinidad to Canada.After singingcalypso in a highschool talent showat 16, he developedan interest inperforming. Lallsang each year atCaribana (the largest Caribbean festivalin North America), and, at age 18,won “most promising artist” from theOrganization of Calypso PerformingArtists. After he finishes his part-timestudies in music and Caribbean studiesat U of T, Lall plans to become a musicteacher, as well as continue writingand performing.Lall has been a co-host since theshow began eight years ago, but knewthe program had really made it whensoca icon David Rudder agreed to performat its fifth-anniversary bash. Afterthe show’s 10 th anniversary, Lall plans toleave to give someone else a chance.Asked if he yearns to have his Fridayevenings back, he laughs.“This is therapyfor me.To come here and just playmusic is something I love to do.” Headds,“Besides, I’ve got little kids –they get up early!” – Lisa Rundle16 UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO MAGAZINE PLEASE GO TO WWW.NEWSANDEVENTS.UTORONTO.CA