Last weekend, what was meant to be a three-and-a-half-hour Via Rail trip between Montreal and Quebec City turned into a disastrous 10-hour ordeal. Due to the train breakdown, passengers were stranded mid-tracks with no food, water, or access to a toilet for hours on end. This delay is just one[Read More…]
Commentary
Sowing the Seeds of Health: Macdonald campus practices should spread to downtown
As the Fall term begins, so does the reality of budget-conscious student eating, considering the lack of fresh produce on students’ plates. Whether that is due to their longevity or expense, many students encounter barriers when buying fruits and vegetables. But what if quality fruits and vegetables are more accessible[Read More…]
Feeling lonely? Montreal researchers recommend sex robots as an antidote
One of my all-time favourite films, Her, follows Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix), a lonely divorcée who finds himself falling deeply in love with the virtual assistant on his phone. When it premiered in 2013, it seemed like an outlandish sci-fi fantasy; who would want to date a computer program? Yet, here[Read More…]
American students should be grateful for McGill’s rigid grading policies
In the past decade, there has been a massive uptick in average university grade point averages (GPAs) in the United States (most notably) but also in countries such as the United Kingdom. This data became especially alarming after university reports identified top U.S. universities such as Yale and Harvard as[Read More…]
Overcoming opioids: Methadone and Montreal’s path to recovery
Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Québec’s rate of overdoses and opioid addiction skyrocketed. With a record number of overdoses in 2023 and rising concerns around addiction and drug use in Montreal, the search for a solution to this epidemic has become increasingly urgent. Replacing one addiction with another[Read More…]
McGill’s policy on social injury leaves few options for protesters
On March 28, McGill’s Provost and Executive Vice-President (Academic) informed the campus community via email that “some protestors and picketers again attempted to disrupt University activities” and that “police made at least one arrest and the university has chosen to press charges.” Reports suggest the disruptive actions were carried out[Read More…]
McGill is a union campus
Alongside the consistent mobilization of students across university campuses, union activity at McGill regularly demanded the community’s attention this semester. The newly formed Association of McGill Law Professors had a one-day strike in February. McGill Arts Professors announced their successful unionization last week. Most prominently, the Association of Graduate Students[Read More…]
Being a recreational musician at McGill is almost impossible. It shouldn’t be.
My first semester at McGill marked my 12th year playing the violin, and I auditioned for the Classical Music Club as soon as I knew whom to email. I was placed in a trio with a flutist and a pianist and we were told to rehearse in a room on[Read More…]
Why we need to reconsider Quebec’s subsidization of private schools
Amid the François Legault government’s contentious policy decisions, including recent tuition hikes, Quebec’s substantial financial backing for private schools raises significant concerns for equal access to education across the province. This policy, whereby the majority of independent private schools receive subsidies from the government for each student, not only undermines[Read More…]
McGill’s Student Accessibility and Achievement is not achieving its goals
McGill’s Student Accessibility and Achievement (SAA) program consistently faces criticism for not providing thoughtful support tailored to student’s needs and not adequately addressing the diverse range of student challenges. Forty per cent of Canada’s university students self-identify as having a disability, which raises the question: Are students truly receiving the[Read More…]
