Margins Magazine - Volume 3 Issue 1

MARGINS
MARGINS
There are so many First Nations Peoples here.’”
Raymond elaborates upon their statement by introducing me to Ceteris Paribus, a Latin phrase which
means ‘all things equal’ (Amadeo, 2019): “Economic circumstances are going to get worse because
the environment is getting worse. It’s a lot of damage put onto marginalized communities. It creates a
lot of disasters in our infrastructure. We can’t say we’re healing every time we go into the environment
if Indigenous people are being dispossessed from their land in the sake of pipelines. We can’t say that
water is a human right if FNMI [First Nations Métis Inuit] groups in northern Ontario aren’t getting
the drinking water they deserve. Self-care is just an opportunity to self-reflect; the environment is the
gateway to the realization that there is a world beyond you, a wonder beyond your existence.”
If the environment is one’s portal to a more colossal realm as Raymond suggests, UTERN is, without
doubt, the gateway drug to this understanding. Pertaining to the composition of such a drug, visibility,
legitimacy and capacity are described as its key ingredients. Raymond clarifies: “Visibility in the sense
that we established the first Instagram; UTSC [@utern.utsc] was actually the first account. We reached
out to other clubs, we got them to participate in the environmental working groups so leaders on
campus can establish connections. Legitimacy was establishing us as a funding medium that people
can access, but not just funding, but as a resource they can come and take whenever they need. As for
capacity…I’m going to have to graduate at one point. I have to find a successor. Leeza, my successor
today, felt like the perfect candidate to continue establishing stakeholder groups, to continue working
on constitutional reforms, to offer more representation for UTSC in every funding decision and every
equity decision.”
Their statement makes sense, as Raymond has self-identified as a ‘rickety, old person’ on a handful of
occasions during our interview. The future aspirations of their successor are, simply, common to that
of the average person: “My dream is to be a sustainable mom – you know, like, ‘We’re going to the
bulk store’ – but my family will be educated about the issues happening. We’re going to fight for what’s
right; living in different places, learning about their environmental issues.”
Being seated in my parents’ backyard, I’m surrounded by my youth. I am accompanied by a powerless
feeling; dreams such as these seem ways away from becoming attainable. Leeza embodies a reminder
that I do better; that I actively participate to create an intact climate for my future self. “We’re almost
at the age where we can be creating policies; we’re creating youth forums and youth groups and we’re
making an impact. [UTERN] is so broad; we’re open to any ideas you have. Come pitch them.”
To learn more about UTERN’s activism and ambitions, visit their website at http://utern.org/wp/.
WORKS CITED
Amadeo, Kimberly. “Ceteris Paribus Simplifies Economics.” The Balance, 10 July 2019, www.
thebalance.com/ceteris-paribus-definition-pronunciation-and-examples-3305723.
Mortillaro, Nicole. “Here's What Climate Change Could Look like in Canada | CBC News.”
CBCnews, CBC/Radio Canada, 31 Oct. 2018, www.cbc.ca/news/technology/climate-changecanada-1.4878263.
“Weblogin Idpz: University of Toronto.” Weblogin Idpz | University of Toronto, 2020, acorn.utoronto.
ca/sws/#/invoiceAndNetCost/invoice.
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Visual Credits: Ray Hennessy