Margins Magazine - Volume 3 Issue 1

MARGINS
MARGINS
IN CONVERSATION WITH:
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE
NETWORK (UTERN)
By Alexa DiFrencesco
“University exposes you to different lenses, and they’re all connected to the environment.”
Executives Leeza [they/them] and Raymond [he/him, they/them] believe The University of
Toronto Environmental Resource Network is the must-try form of self-care.
Sky-scraping trees, a humid wind, the backdrop of a deep summer sky; these are all components
of the extraordinary landscape that University of Toronto student Raymond Dang invites me
to envision. On the Friday evening of our Zoom call, I’m looming as part of this paradise by
residing in a backyard gazebo whose loose netting curtains a flowered garden. The sun is transforming
into fiery red hues as I invite Raymond and their colleague, Leeza Gheerawo, into what is to become a
conversation amongst friends rather than a formal interview.
“You get to experience this because we’ve created these spaces,” Raymond prods, referencing my
surroundings. “But we can’t do that any longer. We won’t have this resource if we keep abusing it. [The
environment] is a health issue, a gender issue, a housing issue; every possible issue you could name.
Most importantly, it’s our issue. We have to deal with any effects that we make. Better now than later.”
The effects Raymond addresses are becoming increasingly evident: Torontonians are predicted to see
51 days a year above 30 degrees Celsius by 2050 and 77 by 2100, as opposed to the current average
of 16 (Mortillaro, 2018). The manner in which people respond to this issue is a personal choice;
nevertheless, Raymond and Leeza believe they have the perfect approach; The University of Toronto
Environmental Resource Network (UTERN), which Raymond and Leeza are Networking Executive
Liaison and University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) Representative of, respectively. The two
describe their organization as a “funding body”, stating that their favourite part of their work is its
accessibility.
“UTERN receives funds from all three [University of Toronto] campuses,” Leeza explains. “Folks
who do pay – [a 25 cent fee, which is automatically included in incidental fees amongst each campus
(University of Toronto, 2019)] – can access all our services. We have funding initiatives programs, and
we’re also a networking hub for any students who are interested in sustainability and environmentalism.”
Given the average student’s course load, extra-curricular activities and involvement in the workforce,
it’s palpable that volunteering with UTERN may be perceived as overwhelming. While Raymond
admits that activism is oftentimes demanding, they clarify that a hands-on role hasn’t left them drained.
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