Tuesday, June 7, 2022

Why it takes more than talent to succeed

By Adam McGuire. This is an excerpt of an article originally published in the Spring 2022 issue of Waterloo Magazine.

It might seem strange to talk about Tre Ford’s talent, if only because the conclusion is so evident: of course Ford (BA ’22) has talent. He’s arguably the most talented player in the history of the Warriors football program.

The awards and accolades speak for themselves: Ford graduates this year with every school passing record and was twice named MVP of the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) conference. Ford became the first Warrior — and first Black quarterback from any school — to claim the prestigious Hec Crighton Trophy as the most outstanding university football player in Canada. Most recently, Ford was named the top male university athlete in Canada by U Sports.

Ford’s talent is obvious because he had an opportunity to develop it as a quarterback at Waterloo – along with a tireless work ethic and desire to perfect his craft. But historically, those leadership opportunities are less likely to be afforded to Black athletes.

Now, Ford is working to prove himself as a quarterback in the NFL or CFL. Ford was recently selected by the Edmonton Elks in the first round of the CFL draft. Ford has also been invited to rookie mini-camps for the Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants. Eventually, he’s hoping to become a football coach, where he can give other Black athletes those opportunities.

“It’s about, 'Who is in those roles of power?’ Quarterbacks often understand the game a little more, and they make good coaches. But if there are mostly white quarterbacks, that leads to mostly white coaches,” Ford says. “We need more Black people in roles of power to give those chances. It’s all about everyone getting the same opportunity to show what they can do.”

Systemic racism in sport and society

In that sense, football is a microcosm of life. The barriers placed in front of Black quarterbacks in football are like the ones Black, Indigenous and racialized people face in academia, industry and politics. Talent is supposed to be the currency of a true meritocracy, but there’s a problem with the equation: talent can be limited by the opportunity to exhibit it.  

Success happens at the confluence of talent, opportunity and preparation. But sometimes, the opportunity tributary is dammed up and rerouted to benefit the dam-builders. It’s a self-perpetuating system designed to advance those who have had the greatest opportunity to succeed – not necessarily those with the most talent.

Dr. Christopher Stuart Taylor is a history professor and the University’s associate vice-president of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-racism who taught courses on Black history as part of the Arts First program at Waterloo. He earned a master’s degree and a PhD specializing in migration and ethnic relations. Taylor's research and teaching uses Critical Race Theory and Black Feminist Theory to uncover the “hidden histories” of race in Canada – including the history of race and racism in sport.

“In football, if you’re fast and you’re Black, you’re either a wideout, or a cornerback,” Taylor says. “For a very long time, Black people couldn't be quarterbacks. They may have had physical talent, but people didn’t think they had intellectual talent. This parallels how Black people were – and are – seen in society.”

Turning the Waterloo football program around

Back in 2017, Tre and his twin brother Tyrell (BA in progress), who would become an all-star cornerback for the Warriors, were being heavily recruited out of A.N. Myer Secondary School in Niagara Falls, Ont. (During the 2022 CFL draft, Tyrell was drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.)

But Tre was looking for more than athletics and academics; he wanted a chance to play quarterback. While some higher-profile programs wanted to convert Tre to a different position, Waterloo head coach Chris Bertoia (BA ‘05) knew he was a quarterback. “I told him he would be a quarterback for us, and that he and Tyrell were going to turn our program around,” Bertoia says.

“It was a big part of my decision,” Ford adds. “I wanted to play quarterback, and ‘Bert’ was willing to give me that opportunity.” With the Ford brothers and other star recruits, Waterloo won more games in their five-year career than in the ten years prior to their arrival.

For Bertoia, who was hired in 2015, the Ford brothers were critical to helping rebuild a football program that hit its lowest point in 2010, when the University suspended team operations for a year following an investigation into performance-enhancing drug use. The Warriors’ return to glory was helmed by a Black quarterback, and Taylor says that fact should not be lost on a society that still unjustly relates drug use to race.

“Black athletes in Canada have always had a target on their backs as probable ‘cheaters’ of their sport,” Taylor says. “Having a Black quarterback and other Black athletes bring the program back to relevance after the transgressions of white athletes sends a signal to the institution of sport that Black people do maintain the integrity of the sport.”

Read the rest of the article in Waterloo Magazine

School of Optometry and Vision Science releases annual report

The School of Optometry & Vision Science’s 2021-2022 annual report is now live. 

Compiling the School’s major achievements over the past year, this report reflects all the ways in which the School is working to achieve its overall strategic vision to “help people see.”

"I am proud to share with you the extraordinary accomplishments of the 2021/2022 academic year at the School of Optometry & Vision Science across our core missions: teaching, research and patient-centred care," writes Director Stanley Woo. "In our classrooms, in our labs, and in our research labs, our award-winning faculty continue to be leading experts in their fields. Ranked globally amongst the top 5 Optometry schools in research impact, our research programs have continued to thrive as we forged significant collaborative partnerships over the past year – across campus and abroad. Bringing together the best and brightest scientists, UWOVS is home to two world-class eye and vision research centres and boasts one of the largest vision science graduate programs in North America."

The report includes examples of research impact, academic excellence, patient-centred care, and donor contributions.

Read more at https://uwaterloo.ca/optometry-vision-annual-report/

Waterloo wins 2022 CCAE Prix D'Excellence awards

Every year, the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) hosts the Prix d'Excellence awards to celebrate outstanding achievements in alumni affairs, public affairs, communications, marketing, development, advancement services, stewardship and overall institutional advancement.

This year, Waterloo has won:

• Silver – Marketing and Undergraduate Recruitment’s 2022 National Viewbook for 'Best Printed Brochure, Newsletter or Flyer'

The Viewbook is the University of Waterloo's introduction to prospective students and provides a great overview of programs, co-op, admission requirements, student life, finances, and more. To request a copy of the viewbook, visit https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/request-brochures. 

• Bronze – Athletics and Recreation’s Varsity Giving Challenge for 'Best Fundraising Initiative'

The Varsity Giving Challenge took place in September 2021. Varsity alumni, parents, family, friends and fans were invited to participate in the campaign.

Online talk about digital disinformation and democracy tomorrow

A message from the Waterloo Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute.

Digital disinformation is adversely impacting liberal societies. It spreads in less visible digital spaces, which ultimately undermines our democracy.

To learn more, join UWaterloo Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute for their next event, CPI Talk: Digital Disinformation and Democracy. This Zoom webinar will be held on Wednesday, June 8 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. (EST).

Hosts Bessma Momani and Shelly Ghai Bajaj will discuss:

• how disinformation flows and spreads on direct messaging and private chat applications.
• why they are important digital spaces to study
• the broader political and social implications of disinformation.

Please register at: http://bit.ly/3Fe9lgJ

Since CPI Talks focuses on cybersecurity and privacy topics that concern the general public, CPI invites anyone to join, such as high school students and non-Waterloo staff. Attendees do not need prior knowledge to attend.  

Dr. Bessma Momani is a full Professor in the Department of Political Science, Interim Associate Vice-President of Interdisciplinary and Sponsored Research, and senior fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation. Shelly Ghai Bajaj is a Postdoctoral Fellow working with Dr. Bessma Momani on projects relating to democracy, disinformation, and identity politics and the digital sphere.

Board of Governors meets today and other notes

The University's Board of Governors meets today at 1:30 p.m. on Microsoft Teams. Among the agenda items:

• Approval of faculty sabbaticals and other leaves;
• A motion to approve changes to the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) Administered fees, which include WUSA membership fees, the Grand River Transit UPASS fee, the UG Student Capital Program fee; among others;
• A motion to approves changes to the Graduate Student Association (GSA) administered fees;
• A motion to approve the Institute for Quantum Computing's annual report and the corporate plan prior to submission to the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED); 
• A motion to approve the filing of the actuarial valuation report as at 31 December 2021 with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA);
• A motion to approve an amendment to the University of Waterloo Pension Plan for Faculty and Staff, which raises the nominal pension cap from $3,400 per year of service to $4,000; the pension cap under the plan grows by one-third (1/3) of the percentage increase in the Average Industry Wage, calculated on an annual basis, and with the increases in the Income Tax Act limit in recent years the $3,400 cap was reached in 2022. This amendment will allow pensions to be earned up to the Income Tax Act limit, or $4,000 plus indexation.

The Board will also receive the 2020-2025 Strategic Plan Thematic Spotlight on Research prepared by the Office of the President, which provides an overview of the Advancing Research for Global Impact theme of the University's strategic plan.

The President's Report also includes updates on the PART Report.

You can read the full agenda package on the Secretariat's website.

Not sure how to start that assignment? The peer tutors at the Writing and Communication Centre (WCC) can help. Visit WCC for in-person drop-in appointments at Dana Porter Library on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m.

Evening and weekend appointments are an option, says the WCC. "Need some inspiration? Book a virtual evening or weekend appointment and work with our peer tutors on any aspect of your writing." Appointments are available Monday to Thursday from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  

While we're on the subject, the Writing and Communication Centre (WCC) is calling all grads, postdocs, and faculty to connect with their peers and make progress on their writing at the Hybrid Writing Café. Sessions are held online and in the SLC Grad lounge on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and Wednesdays from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.