Commemoration of Shivank Avasthi set for Thursday, January 22 — Meeting Place, UTSC

Junia Alsinawi, Deputy News Editor

This Thursday, January 22, from 2:00–4:00 pm, a commemoration will be held at the Meeting Place at UTSC in honour of Shivank Avasthi, a student killed in a shooting at Highland Creek Valley on December 23, 2025.

There will be a book of condolences at the commemoration, the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union (SCSU) and the UTSC Cheerleading Club wrote in an email sent to UTSC students, and “close friends of Shivank will also share reflections and memories that speak to his remarkable spirit.”

Susan Christoffersen appointed Presidential Advisor on Innovation Investments — Simcoe Hall

Junia Alsinawi, Deputy News Editor

Effective January 1, Susan Christoffersen will serve as Presidential Advisor on Innovation Investments, a newly created position. In the appointment announcement, U of T President Melanie Woodin wrote that in this role, Christoffersen will “identify ways in which the University can strengthen our innovation ecosystem” through venture capital investments and facilitating student-managed investment funds. These initiatives will bring new revenues and establish the university as a “hub of economic growth and innovation for the country.”

Christoffersen has served as the Dean of the Rotman School of Management since 2021, and she will remain in this role until June 30, when her term ends. Woodin wrote that as Dean, Christoffersen guided the school “out of the pandemic and into a period of dynamic transformation,” leaving “a lasting impact on Rotman that will benefit future generations of students.”

Ontario government takes action in response to low EQAO results — Queen’s Park

Arunveer Sidhu, UTM Bureau Chief

The Ontario government has announced the formation of a new advisory board in response to the assessment results for the 2024–2025 school year, released by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) on December 3, 2025. Mathematics remained an area of concern this year as only 51 per cent of grade 6 students and 58 per cent of grade 9 students met the provincial standards for mathematics. Although this was a slight improvement from the previous two years, nearly half of the students are not meeting provincial standards.

The new advisory board will review student assessment approaches to determine the cause of the poor results, along with strategies to circumvent the low pace of improvement. The government is also continuing their review of school board governance, citing its “longstanding concerns” with what it claims is “dysfunctional trustee performance that has too often diverted boards from prioritizing student achievement.”

Health Minister says US health institutions no longer dependable — Ottawa

Junia Alsinawi, Deputy News Editor

In a December interview with The Canadian Press, Health Minister Marjorie Michel said that she “cannot trust” US health institutions as a “reliable partner,” ending decades of agreement between the two countries on public health policy. 

Michel acknowledged that the US “can be reliable on some stuff,” but pointed to US Secretary of Health RFK Jr.’s vaccine policy as a particular point of concern. This echoes a strong wave of opposition to the new US vaccine policy from US and Canadian scientists and medical professionals alike, who worry about the public health consequences and the spread of vaccine misinformation.