Feminist nun’s controversial 17th century letters translated
Iconic feminist nun Arcangela Tarabotti’s translated letters are being released by the University of Toronto early next year.

Tarabotti, a Venetian-born rebel Benedict nun, was forced into a convent at the age of 11 — a custom for rich Italian families. This experience led her to pen six controversial books denouncing the Italian patriarchy, such as “Paternal Tyranny” and “Convent Life as Inferno.”
Meredith Ray, a University of Delaware Italian professor and co-editor of the book, told to the Toronto Star that Tarabotti refused to crumble under criticism to write her novels and braved the risk of execution.

Following the U of T release, the Toronto Centre for Reformation and Renaissance Studies and the publishing house Iter: Gateway to the Middle Ages, have decided to publish “Arcangela Tarabotti: Letters Familiar andFormal,” an English-translated compilation of Tarabotti’s letters.

— Marie-Violette Bernard
With files from the Toronto Star.

University of Toronto tops world rankings
The University of Toronto is currently the top university in Canada, placing first in the country and 19th worldwide, according to the annual Times Higher Education ranking.

Though ranked 17th last year, U of T is maintaining its lead over UBC and McGill that are further behind at 22nd and 28th. Based on categories like quality of teaching, research, citations, industry income and international outlook, U of T’s comprehensive score is down 0.4 per cent from last year’s scores.

The University is still the sole Canadian school to hold a top 20 spot in what The Globe and Mail called the “most influential global rating systems.”

“I am delighted to see our dedicated faculty, and those of many sister institutions, recognized for their inspiring teaching and world-leading research,” said U of T’s President, David Naylor, in a university-issued press release. U of T has maintained its top 20 status for two years.

— Jennifer Gosnell
With files from The Globe and Mail and Times Higher Education.

Zombies injured on Resident Evil set
Twelve actors dressed as zombies were taken to several Toronto hospitals with non-life threatening injuries last Tuesday after suffering a fall from a raised platform on the local set of Resident Evil: Retribution.

Injuries ranged from bruising to cracked ribs, but paramedics who responded to the accident call had difficulties differentiating between legitimately injured actors and those who were simply in costume.

Describing the scene of the accident, police Sergeant Andrew Gibson said, “It did kind of catch us off-guard when we walked in.”

“I was trying to figure out where the blood was coming from and what blood was real blood,” recalled EMS responder Nicole Rodrigues.

The Ministry of Labour has initiated an investigation into the accident.

— Mayce Al-Sukhni
With files from the Toronto Star, BBC and CBS.