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Gus Cousins Spotlight

Baseball Joe Mastromatteo

Sidearming and student politics: The Gus Cousins story

When on the mound, Rams pitcher and second year RTA Media Production student Gus Cousins throws a fastball, a changeup, and a slider. 

"Although my slider is a serious work in progress," says Cousins. 

A self-proclaimed "baseball nut," Cousins has been playing baseball for 12 straight years. 

"My summers have revolved around it so much that I don't know what ... I'm going to do with my life if I'm not playing baseball," he said with a quick smile from his home in Toronto's Riverdale neighbourhood. 

"Out of all the knowledge I have in my head, way too much of it is baseball. I'm just gonna keep going until I can't."

After playing youth baseball in East York, Cousins was immediately drawn to the Rams' blue and gold.

"Both my parents went through the Media Production program when they were in university at Ryerson," he revealed, although he said his own interest in film and television production spurred his choice to come to RTA. 

Dabbling in multi-camera production, plot-driven media, and even sports writing, the second-year is "trying to keep as many doors open as possible" in RTA. 

Cousins has even tried his hand in front of the camera as an actor. 

"I'm not a theatre kid," he clarified. "I have done no acting courses, I don't think I'm overly great at it. But it's fun (and) I enjoy it."

He was in an episode of The Umbrella Academy, though his scene was cut. He's also slated to appear in a CBC comedy show releasing next winter. 

"I don't have lines in it, but I'm in a good three or four scenes. That was fun," he added casually.

The pitcher's athletic passion with the Rams has only continued to grow. 

"Six, seven, or eight years before coming to Ryerson, I always went to Rams men's hockey games," said Cousins. "It was a streetcar ride away."

Cousins recalled attending a game before COVID-19 where Mattamy Home Ice was filled with Rams fans. 

"It was just so fantastic. I'm like 'Oh my God, this place is packed.' Everyone seemed to be a big fan even though it's just student athletics. It was just so much fun to be a part of." 

Seeing the passion of the Rams' fans helped encourage Cousins to try out for the baseball team. However, when he made the team, he had to make an adjustment to his game. 

"The Ryerson team came and they were like, 'Okay, we'll put you on the team. But we're gonna make you into a full time sidearmer.' A submariner."

Cousins credits the Rams' coaching staff for helping him lower his release point throughout the season. 

Meanwhile, he keeps his heritage in the back of his mind, as Cousins is half Indigenous. 

"My native band is out in Saskatchewan and it's called 'Carry the Kettle' First Nation," he said. "I know of very few ball players who have an Indigenous background. In all honesty, I doubt many people out in Sask know I play ball - I'm not super close with many of them. But it's for sure something I think about, it's kind of cool being one of the very few to play in university, on any team, as an Aboriginal student."

Now in the off-season, Cousins turned his attention towards running as an independent candidate in the 2022 RSU election. After becoming convinced that he could bring genuine improvement to the student union, he formed his campaign in just 48 hours.  

When the election came, Cousins won by a landslide. Come May 1st, he'll officially take over as a Director's Representative for The Creative School. 

He recalled the day he heard the election news very vividly. 

"I was at a bar near College and Bathurst with a couple of my friends, and my phone was dying."

He received a call from a friend on his campaign team and ran outside to take it. "I didn't think it would actually happen," he revealed after hearing the results. "It was very fun and exciting."

Cousins spoke at length about his attitude towards the upcoming term, emphasizing the transparency he seeks to bring to the RSU and its operations. He also discussed further collaboration with course unions and restoring trust in the student government. 

The second-year also hopes to head a committee for environmental sustainability, while encouraging open communication with students. He also said he has a lot to learn. 

"I'm very much still learning the job. I went into it saying 'I don't know a ton,' and I plan on learning a lot." Nevertheless, Cousins is enthusiastic about taking over on May 1st. 

"I will answer the questions. I will do interviews. I will do whatever you guys want. Because I'm on your side."

Cousins is still finishing just his second year as he looks forward to returning to campus fully. Despite his adventurous first few semesters, he preaches modesty on and off the mound. 

"I've run my campaign and, as I tell people in general, I'm not some big shot. I'm just a dude who's trying to keep it going."
 
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Gus Cousins

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Players Mentioned

Gus Cousins

#10 Gus Cousins

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