The QS 2017 Best Student Cities 2017 recently named Montreal the best city in the world for students. While this is certainly reason for McGill and its students to celebrate, it is also an opportunity to reflect on the university’s relationship with the predominantly French city that it is situated[Read More…]
Editorial
McGill administration must support the independence of student societies
On Feb. 17, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Executive Committee released a statement requesting the resignation of Igor Sadikov from his positions as a director and as an Arts representative to the SSMU Legislative Council. The request comes after Sadikov tweeted “punch a zionist [sic] today,” which the[Read More…]
Winter 2017 SSMU General Assembly Endorsements
Motion Regarding Policy Against Ancillary Fee Increases: “Yes” Ancillary fees are non-opt-outable fees that are charged to students to fund various student service units, including Student Services, Athletics and Recreation, the World University Services Canada (WUSC) Student Refugee Program, Access McGill, and Athletics Facilities Improvement. Current estimates from the university[Read More…]
Students must hold representatives accountable through appropriate channels
A tweet from Arts Representative to the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Igor Sadikov, reading “punch a zionist today,” has been subject to intense controversy for inciting violence against Zionist students. Thus far, the debate surrounding the tweet and, in particular, Sadikov’s interpretation of Zionism, has been understandably divisive[Read More…]
Disrupting mourning students is no way to protest Trump
On Feb. 1, the McGill International Student Network (MISN) held a rally entitled “United We Stand #NoHate” in order to “reflect [MISN’s] support for the Muslim community” in light of the troubling “recent events” around the world. The event was widely understood as a reaction to the Trump administration’s travel[Read More…]
Editorial: SSMU’s lack of transparency and lagging support leave new ISGs in limbo
On April 7, 2016, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Services Review Committee changed the status of Organic Campus, the Players Theatre and other student services within SSMU’s structure. In a similar restructuring move on May 24, 2016, SSMU revoked the club status of the McGill Outdoors Club (MOC).[Read More…]
McGill must demonstrate why it matters for millennials
Last week, McGill Principal and Vice-Chancellor Suzanne Fortier attended the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland on behalf of McGill—the only Canadian university invited. In an article for The Montreal Gazette, titled “Why Davos Matters for Millennials,” Fortier discussed the purpose of her trip and the message she[Read More…]
Political conversation must break echo chambers at McGill in 2017
On Jan 12, Conservative Party of Canada leadership candidate Kellie Leitch spoke at a meet-and-greet on Peel St., co-hosted by the Conservative Association at McGill University. In response, members of the Montreal community, including McGill students, staged a peaceful protest. While divisive, both the event and the protest are essential[Read More…]
Editorial: Report on systemic discrimination in McGill faculty reveals the need for action
Last month, the Ad Hoc Working Group on Systemic Discrimination—commissioned by the Joint Board-Senate Committee on Equity—released a comprehensive report based on a survey of tenure-track and tenured faculty at McGill. The report gave a glimpse of the ongoing forms of discrimination, such as racism and sexism, that permeate the[Read More…]
Discussing racism beyond Queen’s
Last week, photos surfaced online of a costume party at Queen’s University in which students dressed as various stereotypes of other nationalities and cultures. White students were photographed dressed as incarcerated Mexicans, Buddhist monks, Viet Cong guerillas, and other stereotypical outfits at the event. Queen’s Principal Daniel Woolf and other[Read More…]
