Artificial intelligence (AI) developers are no longer satisfied with programs that play checkers and optimize search engine results, and have moved toward loftier ambitions such as diagnosing leukemia and probing the creators’ inner emotions. Humans often perceive AI as being inherently superior to their own minds, completely free of earthly[Read More…]
Author: Zoe Karkossa
University should not be financially debilitating
The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) is one of many university student unions taking part in Debt-Free Degree, a campaign organized by the University Students’ Council at Western University and the Undergraduates of Canadian Research-Intensive Universities coalition. The campaign’s goal is to advocate for financial accessibility within post-secondary institutions.[Read More…]
Team building is essential to the success of first-year athletes
Team building is often regarded as trivial and little more than a way to “get to know people.” Sure, icebreakers can become repetitive, but there is a valid reason for the constant emphasis on team synergy, especially in sports. The reason is pretty simple: Teams that know and understand each[Read More…]
Our friend, Alex Trebek
Every weekday at 7:30 p.m., Jeopardy!’s title credits flash across the television screen. Three contestants and a family friend walk out onto the floor to an enticing crescendo, their names announced by legendary narrator, Johnny Gilbert, as they receive a well-deserved standing ovation from the studio and at-home audiences. Half[Read More…]
Switch banks: It may save the planet
The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) recently became Canada’s first major financial institution to refuse to invest in fossil fuel drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). RBC’s new policy comes after the U.S. government’s controversial decision to open some of the refuge for oil and gas development, to[Read More…]
RIDM filmmakers return to their roots to heal wounds from the past
This year, the Rencontres Internationales du Documentaire de Montréal (RIDM) documentary film festival looks a little different. Tuning in from home, viewers pay for a pass to view a series of documentaries, running from Nov. 12 to Dec. 2. RIDM has curated a catalogue of eight distinct sections, each featuring[Read More…]
Kasia Van Schaik’s literary talents bridge separate spheres
Kasia Van Schaik, also known by her pen name Kasia Juno, is a McGill doctoral candidate whose work focusses on environmentalism, feminism, and physical spaces. Her writing has been featured in popular journals, including The Los Angeles Review of Books and The Best Canadian Poetry Anthology. Currently, Van Schaik straddles the[Read More…]
McGill’s Indian Student Association moves Diwali celebrations online
Diwali, the festival of lights, is a major cultural event for Indian communities around the world. During the five-day celebration, families illuminate their households with oil lamps and candles and come together to worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Traditionally, the McGill Indian Student Association (ISA) would host[Read More…]
How to combat digital eye strain
With the new reality of remote learning, many students are constantly staring at screens. Spending the day focussed on Zoom classes and meetings may leave some students feeling extra tired or dizzy. Although extended use of digital devices will not permanently damage your eyes, they can still cause bothersome symptoms[Read More…]
Femme Fatale demonstrates the resilience of femme-identifying filmmakers
From narrative films to political documentaries to abstract and surrealist productions, the Femme Fatale Film Festival has something for every type of film lover. The festival offers young women and femme-identifying filmmakers a means to showcase their work in an inclusive and empowering space. Festival director Astrid Mohr, U2 Arts,[Read More…]