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a, News

Residents seek to save Parc Oxygène from development

by Chesley Ju on

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On Sept. 3, residents of the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough expressed their concerns for preserving of green space in the neighbourhood at a conference and question and answer session with the borough’s mayor, Luc Ferrandez. Debate on the topic centered around the preservation of Parc Oxygène, a privately -owned alleyway that has been serving as a park for over 20 years.

Parc Oxygène was originally an alleyway used by motorists as a shortcut through the residential neighborhood bordered by Prince Arthur street and Pine Avenue. Although members of the neighborhood protested that this use of the alleyway was dangerous, the city did not act in response to these claims. In 1989, the alleyway was converted into a park, which residents of the community currently take care of.

In the past few years, a condominium proposal as well as multiple construction ideas—including parking lots and small residential housing—have been suggested to replace the park area. As a long-time resident of the area surrounding the park, Norman Nawrocki has been very active in the fight to preserve one of the area’s only remaining green spaces. He explained that residents are attempting to save the park from development by requesting that the city purchase the land and declare it an official park.

“It is a community-created green space;  [it] has been this [way] for 23 years, and needs to be preserved as such,” he said. “The greater interests and rights of the community take precedence over the rights and interests of a private developer.”

Some community members, however, were skeptical of the claim that private developers threaten the park. One community member, who asked only to be identified as Clement, said he believes the park will not be dramatically developed due to space constraints.

“I would be very surprised if a condo went up in that area, whether it is or isn’t an official city park—at most maybe a parking space, or small housing [developments], but no condo,” he said. “The space is too tiny.”

Ferrandez argued that the costs of purchasing the piece of land is not worth the investment.

“[There is a] six million dollar price tag on such a small urban space,” Ferrandez said. “[The space is] so small that [it] might not be sufficient to guarantee legal paperwork with which to present enough evidence for saving the park.”

He also stated that, as mayor, he could not take action to save Parc Oxygène.

“The mayor simply cannot get involved in a legal battle between private developers and members of the community,” he said. “It isn’t my place, and that’s all I have to say on the matter. We cannot legally sustain a project like Parc Oxygène.”

Nawrocki expressed disagreement, and argued that the benefits of the green space for the borough are substantial enough that the mayor should step in to save the park.

“It provides a public space for people— including McGill students— to hang out in and socialize, enjoying the trees, flowers, birds, bees, peace, and fresh air,” he said. “It has a history and is now an important part of the local community.”

Kira Page, a member of the Quebec Public Interest Research Group McGill (QPIRG), explained the importance of the issue to McGill students, many of whom reside in the area near the park. She said QPIRG has worked together with Nawrocki for some time to raise awareness of the issue.

“Over the last several years, McGill students have been attending events to help save the park, helping spread the word about Parc Oxygène, […] all the while learning about the history of the neighbourhood we study in,” Page said.

a, Science & Technology

Vulnerability to alcoholism linked to the brain’s reward system

by Krishanth Manokaran on

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(McGill Tribune)While long-term alcohol use has been known to have various effects on the brain, including memory impairment and nerve damage, a more recent study suggests there might be another effect to add to that long list. Those who are vulnerable to alcoholism also experience a larger dopamine (reward system) response when consuming a large drink, as found in a study conducted by Marco Leyton, a researcher at the Mental Illness and Addiction axis at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC).

“Dopamine is a chemical made in the brain. When released in the part of the brain called the striatum, it activates a circuit that fosters interest in natural rewards,” explained Leyton. “We need a system like this to survive both as individuals and as a species. Dopamine activation stimulates our interest in food, the opportunity to have sex, and plays an important role in motivation.”

According to Leyton, a sip of alcohol activates the brain’s dopamine system in two ways. Alcohol acts pharmacologically in the dopamine cell-body region, where it removes the inhibitory input on the cells— similar to releasing a brake— causing an influx of dopamine. Once people have some experience with alcohol, environmental cues associated with drinking can also fire-up the dopamine system, suggesting that this system has conditioning effects. “Some people might be especially sensitive to developing these [conditioned] effects,” added Leyton.

For the study, researchers recruited 26 social drinkers aged 18 to 30 in the Montreal area. The subjects at higher risk of alcoholism were then identified based on personality traits and having a lower intoxication response to alcohol—they did not feel as drunk, despite drinking the same amount as the other subjects.

Each participant then underwent two positron emission tomography (PET) brain scan exams after drinking a fairly large serving of either juice or alcohol (about three to four drinks in 15 minutes).

“The PET scans are to compare the brain scan signals obtained when people drink juice versus alcohol,” Leyton explained. The difference between the two scans is the change in dopamine release.”

The analysis indicated that people categorized as “high-risk” for alcohol-use problems experienced a large dopamine response after drinking the alcoholic beverage; this effect did not occur in the people categorized as “low-risk” for alcohol-use problems. Since dopamine triggers the brain’s reward system, subjects who experienced a higher release were positively reinforced for drinking and therefore were at a higher risk for alcoholism. These findings were subsequently published this January in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

“Still, there are a number of issues that need following up,” said Leyton. He explained that, since this study is the first report of an altered dopamine response to alcohol consumption in people at risk, the study will need to be replicated.

“While both of these are well-established indices, it will be important to learn whether the brain dopamine response also predicts which individuals will go on to develop an alcohol-use disorder,” Leyton explained.

He believes it is likely that many pathways in the brain lead to alcoholism and looks to further investigate whether this dopamine response to alcohol contributes to one specific pathway or many.

a, Opinion

Editorial: PQ overstepping its bounds with ban on religious symbols

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Last Wednesday, Sept. 4, the Parti Québécois (PQ) marked its one-year anniversary of minority governance. Over the past year the government has had various troubles, including, most prominently for this editorial board, the party’s complete duplicity on university tuition, first freezing tuition increases and then enacting harsh budget cuts. However, it seems as if the PQ has found itself a distraction from the year’s  political missteps.

In late August, news was leaked that the PQ government was considering enacting what it called a “Charter of Quebec Values.” Chief among the provisions is a set of restrictions on provincial government employees wearing various religious symbols while at work. Much of the early coverage framed the provision as a means of capitalizing on the “integration” wedge issue, already awakened by the debate earlier in the summer over an attempt by the Quebec Soccer Federation to ban the wearing of Sikh headwear during matches in the province. That attempt was quickly abandoned after receiving justified repudiation from all quarters, including an official statement from FIFA that torpedoed the provision’s rather dubious justification of player safety.

“Restricting religious freedom […] is a losing proposition for immigrants and also for Quebec itself.”

It might be just as well that the PQ wants to drive these wedges back into the electorate. Polling shows that the actual issue of sovereignty—ostensibly the PQ’s raison d’etre—is at best a politically dormant proposition. These attempts to assert control over religious and cultural minorities, which have the added side benefit of stirring up federal-provincial friction, do well in polls with significant parts of the Quebec electorate, even in the face of opposition from quarters normally supportive of sovereignty.

Despite the popular support it enjoys in some quarters, the current Charter of Quebec Values is a decidedly ill-considered project. Forcing government workers to choose between their jobs and their religion, particularly in situations where observing a religion presents little, if any, disruption to the work environment, is the kind of pernicious intrusion on individual rights that has no place in a free society. This restriction, which would function as a de facto bar from employment for individuals of certain religious groups, raises serious questions on the Charter.

On a more practical level, restricting religious freedom—in a manner that will inevitably have a disparate impact on mostly nonwhite, non-Christian religious practitioners, is a losing proposition not just for immigrants to the province but also for Quebec itself. The province has long been losing population to the rest of Canada, and with relatively low birth rates, immigrants have long been counted on to stem the province’s population decline.

By instituting such a policy, Quebec risks losing valuable contributors to society. For example, increases in hospital wait times are being threatened if Sikh and Muslim doctors are driven out of practicing while observing their religions.

This editorial board believes  that to create such an environment of hostility to outsiders—be it based on language, ethnicity, or religion—will only make this province less appealing to newcomers, including McGill students. From the board’s vantage point, multiculturalism is not, as Premier Marois seems to view it, a failed social policy precipitating violence, but rather, one of the guiding values not only of this institution and its student body, but also of this nation. We hope that Marois will stop pandering to baser instincts of provincial public opinion and instead look at the bigger picture.

a, Science & Technology

The science of chemical warfare

by Jennifer Lee on

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As members of the international community condemn the horrific chemical attacks on the suburbs of Damascus, Syria that began Aug. 18, the past few days have cast a spotlight on the mechanisms behind chemical warfare. The recent series of events in Syria have reopened an analysis as to what exactly makes chemical weapons so much more immoral than those employed in conventional artillery warfare.

 

Why the distinction between ‘chemical’ and ‘conventional’ arms? 

Chemical agents conjure a certain psychological terror among civilians in part due to the entirely indiscriminate nature of gas attacks, and the fact that often no smell, sight, or even sound precedes the victim’s imminent death. If not a clean death, the sheer physical brutality of chemical maiming is cruel and usually carries long-term generational and environmental effects.

Often referred to as the ‘poor man’s weapon of mass destruction,’ critics, such as political scientist Dominic Tierney claim Western powers are quick to condemn the use of chemicals due to the vast array of powerful and expensive conventional arms these countries hold at their advantage.

“In fact, people likely die more quickly and in less pain from sarin poisoning than if they bled to death from a shrapnel wound,” said Stan Brown, a chemistry professor and chemical weapons expert at Queen’s University in an interview with the National Post.

Still, there is a remarkably low technological and monetary barrier preventing rogue actors from obtaining chemical weaponry in very large quantities. Many technologies, equipment, and materials used throughout the world for civilian purposes can easily be gathered to produce and manufacture chemical weapons agents, and there lies its greatest threat. An artillery shell the size of a suitcase full of sarin gas is lethal enough to kill an entire football stadium of civilians—a much greater effect than explosives of equivalent size.

By understanding the biological mechanisms of these chemical agents, research quickly illuminates why and how chemical weaponry pose such a threat.

 

Sarin gas

Widely suspected as the chemical employed in Damascus last week in the killing of 1,500 civilians, sarin gas affects the nerve endings of victims’ muscles through the nervous system. Eyewitness’ accounts of the recent attacks relay harrowing images of children running from their houses, convulsing, and gasping for breath before collapsing to the floor. Typically, sufferers experience frightening symptoms, such as foaming at the mouth and violent full-body convulsions. At high enough doses, sarin ultimately results in asphyxiation.

Under normal conditions, nerve cells release the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, a molecule that transmits signals from neurons to cells, to stimulate the muscle. The neurotransmitter crosses a tiny gap, known as a synapse, binding to the surface of adjacent muscle cells in order to excite the tissue and facilitate muscular movement. Then the enzyme acetylcholinesterase quickly degrades the acetylcholine in the synapse to prevent overstimulation of the cell, and relax the muscles.

The chemical compound, sarin, inhibits acetylcholinesterase. Therefore, when sarin gas enters the nervous system, it prevents acetylcholinesterase from degrading acetylcholine. A dangerous build up of acetylcholine can occur within minutes, resulting in a continual excitatory response in the muscles. This stimulation causes muscle seizures and impairs the respiratory system, ultimately resulting in respiratory arrest and the victim’s death.

In addition to its use in Damascus, sarin gas was employed in Iraq by Iraqi military forces against the Kurds in the 80’s, along with a number of cult terrorist attacks in Japan in the 90’s in an effort to bring down the government and install the group’s founder as the ‘emperor’ of Japan.

 

Mustard gas

Sulfur mustard carries an odor resembling that of mustard plants or horseradish; it is a potent vesicant—a chemical agent that produces blistering on exposed skin and mucosal membranes.

Often, mustard gas is used medicinally in wart removal. However, ingestion of even a very small amount of the compound can be fatal, leaving soldiers and civilians with painful internal and external disfigurations.

Upon entering the body, the chemical reacts with the water surrounding the body’s cells and loses a chloride ion, leaving behind an ion intermediate that reacts quickly with a number of enzymes and proteins on cell surfaces. Since this chemical process occurs most quickly in warm, moist conditions, the mucous membranes, eyes and respiratory tract are the most affected areas of the body. However, much is still unknown about the exact mechanism of tissue injury. The chemical can also mutate nucleotides—organic molecules that form the basic building blocks of DNA; this explains the long-term carcinogenic properties of mustard gas.

Since its first use in World War I, documented mustard gas use includes the Iran-Iraq war in 1984. In recent weeks, French intelligence has accused the Syrian Assad regime of having stockpiled 1,000 tonnes of both sarin and mustard gas, but this claim is still under much contention.

a, Sports

Fall team previews: part II

by Mayaz Akanm Ben Carter-Whitney, Remi Lu & Wyatt Fine-Gagné on

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Redmen rugby

Entering yet another season as the defending RSEQ champions, the Redmen (1-0-0) have something of a dynasty to uphold. Last year came right down to the wire as the team forfeited the first half of its otherwise undefeated season due to an ineligible player, but came roaring back to win the rest of its games. The icing on the cake was beating cross-town rivals Concordia in the final, securing a seventh consecutive RESQ title.

Although a sizeable number of players from last year’s roster were lost to graduation, expectations for McGill are lofty. Fortunately, the team is showing no signs of loosening its grip on what has been, in the last decade, McGill’s championship to lose. A strong contingent of returning starters, including last year’s MVP Cameron Perrin, will seek to step forward both on the field and in the locker room to make sure that a winning culture remains.

Head Coach Craig Beemer also returns for his sixth year at the helm, bringing with him an incredible 66-6 coaching record. Beemer has expressed confidence both in this year’s squad and in the continued depth of developing talent in McGill’s program.

The Redmen shrugged off any remaining fears of a championship hangover on Friday, opening their season with a 7-5 win over the Sherbrooke Vert et Or. McGill’s next challenge will be the Montreal Carabins (0-0-1) as the teams take to Stade CEPSUM on Sept. 15.

 

Marlet rugby (Sarah Papadopoli / McGill Tribune)

New Head Coach Matthew Stephens steps into his first role as a CIS head coach. His main challenge will be to coax consistency out of a squad that has lost in the RSEQ semi-finals five straight years. Too often last year, the Martlets, “stooped to the level of another team or let [the opponent] control the game,” according to starting-wing Deanna Foster.

Foster, a sophomore political science major, commented that the team is trying to “play the game to our strengths,” by “exploiting the whole field[…] because we are fast and have the skills to[…]send the other team a message in the first 10 minutes of the game.”

Emily Barber, a junior hooker, says the team is intent on not following in the footsteps of its predecessors. “The biggest challenge[…]is remaining focused and committed to getting better each and every game of the season,“ Barber said.

Luckily for Stephens he welcomes back a skilled crew from last year’s team, including standouts Barber, Brianna Miller, and Caroline Suchorski, all of whom hope to build off of a successful summer spent representing Team Canada in international play.

The trio highlights a veteran core that looks to improve on last year’s tumultuous season. Miller, a fly-half who earned All-Canadian and RSEQ Player-of-the-Year honours, will lead a group of backs that should light up the scoreboard on a consistent basis.

The shift in outlook has so far proven to be successful as McGill (1-1) blew out the Sherbrooke Vert et Or 48-12 to kick off the RSEQ season. If Stephens can help the squad achieve its vast potential, the Martlets have a chance to win the RSEQ championship and emerge as a dark-horse candidate at Nationals.

 

(Mike King / McGill Tribune)Redmen lacrosse 

The Redmen Lacrosse season ended with a poetic finish, in which McGill captain Jishan Sharples scored the game-winning goal against the University of Western Ontario to win the previously elusive Baggataway Cup. Sharples, who had once planned to attend Western Ontario, decided instead to take his talents to McGill. The team finished with a 9-1 overall record to end atop the Eastern Conference, setting a lofty precedent for this year.

The Redmen (2-0) enter the season with a roster filled both with youthful talent and hardened veterans. Though the team has lost Sharples; all-time leading scorer Ryan Besse; and All-Canadians Kyle Robinson and Jeff O’Neil, the Redmen still have a good number of veterans to help anchor the team. Furthermore, McGill has a young and exciting group of rookies and sophomores whose development will provide excellent depth for a squad with championship aspirations.

McGill’s success last season stemmed from its team-first mentality and outstanding offensive and defensive cohesiveness. The veteran presence on the team will continue to keep the offence composed, hopefully maintaining the spectacular Redmen passing game. The fresh young talent adds an explosive component that can complement and enhance last season’s team dynamic.

The season has so far been promising for McGill, with statement victories against the Trent Excalibur and Queen’s Gaels. The games have shown the strength of the Redmen depth at midfield, with the McGill players wearing down the opposition and gritting out tough games. Standout goalie and third-year philosophy major Riley McGillis, has continued his unparalleled performance around the league, validating his 2011 Goalie-of-the-Year award.

An examination of the CUFLA this season shows that McGill has a good chance of repeating as champions. As it stands right now, the Western Conference is wide open, but it is safe to say that the East will be McGill’s to lose.

McGill plays its home-opener at Molson Stadium against the Concordia Stingers this Saturday, Sept. 14 at 6:00 p.m.

 

Redmen Baseball(Benjamin Gordon / McGill Tribune)

The 2012 season saw the McGill Redmen (1-1) reach the CIBA National semifinals before falling to eventual champions St. Clair College.

Entering his second year at the position, Head Coach Jason Starr has high hopes for his squad. While the team lost a few key veterans in the off-season, its core remains largely intact.

This season represents a transition year in terms of leadership, with players such as sophomore Tyler Welence taking a more prominent role both on and off the field. The Redmen should also benefit from the return of former CIBA All-Canadian Channing Arndt, who spent the past two years at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee.

This year’s rookie class is one of the strongest in recent memory. With a few players slated to be key contributors, and more than a few prospects in the mix, the depth and talent on this team should match any Redmen team of the past few years.

Third-year starting pitcher Elliott Ariganello is not shy about goals for the team.

“We definitely have big expectations this season. We have a few additions to the rotation and a solid line-up, top to bottom. We’re certainly looking to play for a National Championship.”

A strong start to the season is more important than ever as the traditionally strong Northern Conference will become even more difficult with the addition of a team from the Université de Montréal. Unlike many teams in their inaugural seasons, the Carabins should be quite competitive. Cross-town rivals Concordia have also improved with a solid rookie-class of their own.

A tough conference will mean the Redmen may face multiple obstacles on the road to repeating last season’s success. However, despite the stiffer competition, the Redmen have enough potential that, when healthy, a national championship is a realistic possibility.

a, News

Fortier begins term as principal

by Sam Pinto on

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On Sept. 5, Dr. Suzanne Fortier began her five-year term as McGill’s principal and vice chancellor, succeeding Principal Heather Munroe-Blum, whose term ended on June 30. Fortier is the 17th person—and the second woman— to fill the position.

“Dr. Fortier was selected based on her outstanding scholarship, commitment to academic excellence, and demonstrated ability to lead McGill,” states the email to the McGill community on March 5 announcing her appointment. “She is well known as a leader and passionate advocate of higher education and research in Canada and internationally, and has demonstrated success in building collaborative partnerships.”

A two-time alma mater of McGill, Fortier previously held the position of president of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Other positions she has held include vice principal (Academic) at Queen’s University, as well as membership on the boards of the Canada Foundation for Innovation, Genome Canada, and the Canada Research Chairs.

On her first day on the job, Fortier sent an email to the McGill community in which she expressed excitement and enthusiasm for returning to McGill.

“I have greatly benefited from my education at McGill,” she wrote. “It opened doors that I could not even have imagined as a young woman growing up in a small Quebec village, from working with a future Nobel Prize laureate to being the president of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.”

Fortier has posted a schedule on the McGill website of all of her public appearances at McGill events over the next few months. One of the first events she attended was the Shaughnessy Cup football game against Concordia last Friday. Wearing a Redmen jersey, she posed for a photo with the football team while holding the trophy after McGill’s 32-19 win.

Other upcoming events that Fortier plans to attend include the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Activities Night, a lunch organized for the entire McGill community, and an International Student Services Reception for new international students.

In anticipation of their new relationship, Secretary General of the Post-Graduate Students Society (PGSS) Jonathan Mooney expressed confidence that his working-relationship with Dr. Fortier would be a productive one.

“I hope to work with Mme. Fortier on Board [of Governors] and Senate to enhance opportunities for critical discussion and engagement at these governing bodies,” he said. “My goal is to build a relationship characterized by transparency and trust so that we can collaborate freely on issues of common interest.”

a, Arts & Entertainment

The sounds of OAP

by Jacqui Galbraith on

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Over the past two weeks, you’ve probably run into nearly everyone you’ve ever met in Montreal at Open Air Pub (OAP), a beloved campus fixture that seems to define the beginning of each school year. Cheap food, plenty of beer, and live music keeps OAP secure in its status as the place to be every September for McGill students—and the lineup never disappoints. Featured below is a glimpse at some of the bands you’ve been listening to, just in case you feel like updating your playlist.

 

ALEXEI MARTOV

Comprised of two brothers from Boston and an Aussie, Alexei Martov features  a “heavier blues rock, sort of psychedelic rock,” in the words of lead singer Martin Bradstreet. Jonah and Matthew Dorsman both studied at McGill— environmental and international development, respectively— and met Bradstreet at Gerts a few years ago. The band has been playing together since 2010, and you may recognize them from their OAP debut last year. When asked about their experience playing, Bradstreet commented that “winning the crowd over is a bit harder, but on the other [hand], you know everyone’s having a good time regardless. As long as you’re playing good music […] you don’t have to win them over […] you just have to not play terribly.”

 

APACHE KINGDOM

Apache Kingdom features the musical talents of Jesse Smith, Andrew Assaf, Marc-Andre Cloutier, and David Leblanc— the the latter of which is an English Literature major here at McGill. The band became involved with OAP through McGill’s music network, according to Leblanc. “Café Racer played at OAP Lite [last spring], and my friend Myles [who’s in that band, gave me] the contact info. It was really a word of mouth type thing. I contacted Neil [Den Toom, head manager and music manager] two days before OAP started, and we got the gig. It was super last minute but it all worked out.” Of the experience, Leblanc notes, “The biggest challenge was reeling people into the music because no one at OAP goes to listen to music.”

 

BODYSHAKES

Philosophy majors Aidan O’Shea and Gintas Norvila, cognitive science major David Whitmey, and international management major Jeremy Singer— otherwise known as BODYSHAKES— are all students at McGill. With a self-described “garage blues rock” style, BODYSHAKES has been playing together since November of 2011, and has played OAP twice now. “OAP as an experience is so different than what you would get going to Gerts, which is also on campus and mostly student populated,” says Singer. “OAP […] always comes at a time of year where people are really looking forward to seeing each other […] and you don’t always get that freshness […] anywhere else. That’s probably why it’s the best place on earth.”

 

CAF… RACER

Concordia student Josh Grant, McGill Engineering student ‘Myles from home,’ who chooses to go by his stage moniker, and Shawn Forbes, are collectively known to the McGill community as ‘Café Racer.’ “We actually played OAP Lite in April,” Myles explains. “It’s a totally different kind of vibe. The school year’s done and a lot of people are leaving. It’s almost like a farewell kind of thing. Whereas OAP, you can’t walk around for five minutes without seeing some sort of glorious [reunion].” His advice for future OAP performers? “You have to learn covers, and you have to learn covers people are going to know. You need to do that early, and you need to do that throughout your set.”

 

DAS BLANKOUT 

Native to Montreal, Das Blankout also got involved with OAP through a McGill referral. After playing together for about a year, Matt Burghardt (vocals and guitar), his sister Kim (bass guitar), and friend Pat Bilodeau (drums), were excited to take on an opportunity like OAP. “We’ve pretty much just played bars, so it’s quite different,” Burghardt comments. At OAP, a lot of people are there to socialize more than anything else.”

 

 

GENERAL GENERAL

Another returning act to OAP is General General, comprised of McGill Arts students Wyatt Fine-Gagné, Ben Carter-Whitney, Landen Moore, and Llewellyn Littlemore. The band has been playing together for the past two years, and Fine-Gagné describes their music as “Indie folk rock; probably heavier on the rock end of things.” Of their two experiences at OAP, he says, “The first year we played it was […] the first week of OAP, and it was way less crowded. We played a short set [during the second week this year], and so it was pretty packed because once everyone’s actually back [for] classes, OAP gets a lot [more full].”

 

KILLAWAIL

Musicians Benji Miu, Dizzy Velvet, Sarah Supersingle Dion, Josh Michaud, and Sebastien Fournier had their first OAP experience this past week. Mostly hailing from Montreal— Miu is from Australia originally — the band plays ‘garage soul’ music; but from the sound of it, they won’t be doing so again at McGill any time soon. “All the kids just kind of stand there and don’t move around much. I was expecting like crazy freshmen stuff,” Miu explained. “I wouldn’t do it again,” he says. “I don’t think I can; I got kicked out for urination. I was [doing my thing] and [a manager kicked me out]. She said that I could never come back, and I said ‘That’s okay, I’m not [going to] come back anyway.’ As a band you should do things for [two] of three reasons: money, fun, or exposure. You [have to] tick two of those boxes, and I suppose we ticked one of them.”

 

LITTLE STELLA

An Ottawa-based band, Little Stella played both OAP and Divan Orange on their most recent trip to Montreal. Ryan Tansley, Zach Ledgerwood, James Siwanowicz, and Jeff Watkins first heard about OAP from their manager, who studied at McGill. “He said ‘you guys should play this, [because] it’s awesome,’ and we said ‘Okay, sounds good,’” recalls Tansley. “To be honest, we weren’t expecting such a big event, so we were pretty excited when we got there.” Tansley didn’t notice such a big difference in terms of venue. “The difference is the crowd involvement. In a club, they’re there to listen to the band; at OAP we’re sort of in the background I guess. Otherwise it’s just playing— same thing.”

 

M…NAGE

Toronto-born, Los Angeles-based Ménage is comprised of the Ferreira siblings: Bela, Gabriel, and Basilio Fernando. “We use a bass player when we’re in Canada named Stacey Shopsowitz, and he, I believe, is the McGill connection. I think his Canadian band mates are McGill students, and he kind of introduced Ménage to McGill,” says Fernando. On the pros and cons of OAP, Fernando notes that it’s “probably the venue where everyone is in the best mood ever. It’s just a really great atmosphere. I think it’s cool to be part of the beginning of someone’s university life, or be kind of like the soundtrack of that. The hardest thing about playing at OAP is outshining the beer tent. [Actually], the hardest thing about playing Montreal is having to leave Montreal.”

 

PABLO

Montreal-born Pablo made his OAP debut this September. “I’ve heard a lot of things about OAP here and there, but I was definitely told that it was a great party,” he comments. “I thought it was really well organized, and everyone looked after us. There was nothing but good vibes about it, and I hope we helped along and brought our own good vibes too.” Playing with Peter Colantonio, Tyler Moulton, and Tristan Giardini, Pablo gave his take on the event: “It’s definitely more of a kind of social get-together than maybe a gig. One has to know the difference. I’m just really happy we were invited to be a part of that party. I did see a couple of people dancing though, so I guess we didn’t do that bad [….] We didn’t get any beers thrown at us.”

 

THE SOUND APPROACH

Originally from Lacolle, Quebec, a small town right on the U.S. border, Stephen Feeny; Patrick Pret-Bellware; and Philip Dehm, a McGill law student, have been playing together since high school. This is their second year at OAP, an experience they were happy to repeat. “I think there’s a good vibe [at OAP],” Dehm says. “People aren’t really there for the music […so they] are having a good time whether or not they’re paying attention to you. It’s fun playing in those scenarios because there’s not really any pressure on you as a performer.” Dehm also commented on the nature of the event itself, noting that “the staff is chill. They’re all young people, and it’s for charity so it’s a good feeling to be part of it. It’s always a chill environment when university kids get together.”

 

TEAR AWAY TUSA

Another out-of-town act, Tear Away Tusa were new to the OAP scene this year. Shane Rodak, Sam Schwartzbein, Ely Weisbrot, Adam Kurgat-Nikov, Erin Tusa, and Danny V. “used to play with a band called the Thundermonks [who also played at OAP this year] in downtown Toronto,” says Weisbrot. “We saw a video of them playing OAP, and it looked like a really hype scene.” Rodak adds, “We’re used to playing A, at night, and B, sort of in grungy, hole-in-the-wall type venues. It was great to be out in the daylight on a nice day [where] everyone [was] just hanging out and loving the weather, and sort of feeding off that energy.

Full disclosure: members of General General— Fine-Gagné and Carter-Whitney— write and edit for the Tribune, respectively.

a, Arts & Entertainment

Jenn Grant sets off into the wild

by Lauren Wildgoose on

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It takes a lot to ruffle Jenn Grant’s feathers. The singer-songwriter from Nova Scotia seems to take everything in stride, whether it is her upcoming show in Montreal or her future collaboration with Ron Sexsmith. Despite being a longtime fan of Sexsmith’s, Grant speaks nonchalantly about being approached by the Juno award-winner to perform together on tour this October.

“I don’t know what it’ll be like yet,” she says of taking the stage with Sexsmith, but feels that the new songs she will be performing on their tour will “lend themselves well to his audience.”

The closest she comes to gushing was on the topic of Sexsmith accepting her offer to sing on a previous record in 2007. “I felt like I was having an out-of-body experience,” she laughs.

Grant’s apparently unshakable confidence didn’t develop overnight, however.

“I was born to do music,” Grant says. “But it took me 10 years to be comfortable enough to start singing in front of people. It was scary at first.”

Never one to sit idly by, Grant put those years to good use pursuing other artistic aims. A woman of multifaceted talent, she studied painting, drawing, and sculpture at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) while building confidence as a musician. Indeed, her eye for visual art has made her mindful of all aspects of the concert experience. On her tour this fall, installation-based pieces by fellow Nova Scotian artist Charley Young will serve as a backdrop to Grant’s haunting voice. “I think they’ll enhance our performance and make the show more beautiful for the audience.”

Grant is entering an exciting new era in her career, a time of both independence and collaboration. She is breaking off amicably from the team she has worked with for the past seven years to make a fresh start and forge her own creative path.

“I’m working independently for the first time now. It was a challenge making that decision, but it’s been a positive move for me. I get bored, I like a little [variety].” She hasn’t left teamwork entirely in the past, however. One of her recent collaborations is a side project with Canadian musicians Charles Austin and Graeme Campbell, called AquaAlta.

“I’m part of something, rather than leading it, and it’s expanding my writing abilities,” she remarks. Grant’s latest album, The Beautiful Wild, is looser and more eclectic than her previous work, with a layered, Canadian indie tone. “There are a lot of organic sounds in it,” Grant says, also pointing out her experimentation with new instruments such as the sitar: “That was totally new for me.” The lyrics on the album follow a similar vein. “I was using a new writing technique. It was a much more sporadic writing experience. I was writing songs really quickly and every day; it was a rush.” Her advice for aspiring musicians? “Go see a lot of live music, support your community, collaborate with people, and don’t be afraid to take risks.”

Jenn Grant performs in Montreal Sept. 14 at 9 p.m. at Quai des Brumes (4481 St. Denis). Admission is $15.

a, News

New Deputy Provost outlines his objectives for five-year term

by Erica Friesen on

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On Sept. 1, Ollivier Dyens officially began his five-year term as McGill’s second Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) (DP (SLL)). Created in 2005, the DP (SLL) position aims to improve student life at McGill and to act as a liaison between the senior administration and students. Last week, the Tribune sat down with Dyens to discuss his goals for the year and his approach to the portfolio.

 

McGill Tribune (MT): What kind of challenges does McGill present in contrast to your previous position as Vice Provost (Teaching and Learning) at Concordia?

Ollivier Dyens (OD): A different culture, different mission. The perception of McGill within the community is extremely strong. In all the universities I’ve attended and seen and worked in, I’ve never seen a place where there’s so much faith in the institution as there is here. I’m not saying there are no problems, I’m just saying people have a sense of the McGill community as a strong community, and people believe in that community. This is why we probably have issues once in a while—because everyone cares about McGill.

 

MT: What are your goals for your five-year term?

OD: I really want to put the emphasis on making the campus an interesting and stimulating learning environment, where you can apply some of your knowledge and where we can also do community outreach programs. The first thing we need to do is to really clearly establish the narrative of “student life and learning,” because I don’t think it’s really clear. What exactly do we offer students? That would be the first goal for the year—principles, sort of a strategic plan, and then the following year we can start building these things. I want SLL to provide a very supportive environment so you can focus on the classroom, but I also want this environment to be an extension of what happens in the classroom. So some of the theoretical knowledge you get in the classroom, you can apply some of it through projects on campus that might have an outreach aspect to them.

 

MT: Could you give an example? 

OD: There are some websites out there where people host problems or issues—usually they’re related to engineering problems or issues—[and] the community says ‘ok, we’ll try to figure this out’ and they post a solution. I can imagine something [at McGill] where the community could post some of the issues they’re having. Students could get together from different faculties and try to tackle that issue. The way I see it, the ultimate goal of an institution such as ours is to improve the community. The rest is all a means to that.

 

MT: This position has received some negative attention in the past. Do you have any plans for turning around that perception?

OD: I’m not going to talk about the past because I wasn’t present. All I can say is that my goal for this year and the following years is to create intellectual partnerships with students. Moving forward, all I can say is that I’ve promised two things to the student unions—respect and transparency. Once in a while we’ll probably not agree on things, but they’ll get my full respect and we’ll explain to them clearly why our position is the current one. My experience is that when you’re transparent about what your own constraints are, negotiations are much easier because people understand that you’re not trying to do anything negative, you’re just working with what you have. Those constraints can be financial [or] legal in nature, government restrictions, or budget cuts, but we have to deal with what we’re getting.

 

MT: Is there anything you plan on changing about the way that this position is run?

OD: It’s a complex institution, so it’s too early for me to tell. The objective for me is to develop a coherent narrative including all the community, so the dialogue needs to be constant. I will be present at as many events as possible. Katie [Larson, Students’ Society of McGill University president] and I have decided we would try to do the rounds of all the residences at lunch or at breakfast and meet with the students, because in my position I need to know what the student body is thinking. The students who are just focusing on their classroom experience, they’re not going to talk to their student union because they don’t have time for that. I’ll try to be there as often as possible for them to tell me what those issues are.

 

—This interview has been conducted, condensed, and edited by Erica Friesen.

a, Sports

Around the water cooler

on

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In case you were too busy waiting in line for beer at OAP to notice that a new semester has started, here’s what you missed this past week in the world of sports …

Major League Baseball – In only his third start of the season, Giants’ starting pitcher Yusmeiro Petit went 26 outs without surrendering a baserunner. Sporting a Bond villain moustache and cackling maniacally  as he stepped up to bat, pinch-hitter Eric Chavez finally looped a single off of Petit with the count full and two outs in the ninth inning to ruin the 28-year-old right-hander’s dream performance. Chavez, now San Francisco’s public enemy No. 1, seemed to be channeling some deep resentment, since his long-time ball-club, the Oakland Athletics, are suddenly relevant after his departure. Petit will now have to salvage a career that has otherwise been reminiscent of watching paint dry. It also cannot be confirmed whether Petit’s Wikipedia page existed prior to his near-perfect outing.

 

NCAA Football – Powerhouse programs USC, Texas, Florida, and Notre Dame all lost on the same weekend for the first time in over 35 years. Coincidentally, the quartet represent four of the most hated football teams in the United States. For USC and Texas, the losses against lowly Washington State and BYU, respectively, will certainly renew calls for both head coaches to be fired. Florida’s loss represents the second straight week in which a Top 15 Southeastern Conference (SEC) lost to a program in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Riots are sure to break out across the football-crazed South if a non–SEC team becomes the team of destiny and hoists the BCS National Championship. Lastly, Notre Dame fans are wishing that the calamitous past eight months would disappear, much  like Manti Teo’s girlfriend.

 

U.S. Open – This weekend played host to an outstanding weekend of men’s and women’s single tennis. Highlight games included the men’s semi-final, on Saturday which pitted ninth-seed Stanislas Wawrinka against the world’s No. 1 seed, Novak Djokovic. The surprise Wawrinka, who defeated UK deity Andy Murray, pushed Djokovic all the way before finally conceding the match to him after three gruelling hours. Rafael Nadal had less trouble against Richard Gasquet despite a surprise second-set effort by Rafa’s seasonal training fodder. Women’s tennis witnessed Serena Williams attempt to become the oldest woman to win the U.S. Open. The mainstream tennis media had a field day discussing Victoria Azarenka’s record as the only woman to beat Williams in her last 17 WTA finals. Alas, the media could not protect against Williams’ old-school game as she won her 17th Grand Slam title.

 

NASCAR – The lively, diverse, and  international NASCAR community…the NASCAR community…ahem, a collection of rich corporate Home Depot and Gilette clients, witnessed a disastrous and controversial Saturday night at the Richmond International Raceway. Ryan Newman lost out to the 12th and last berth to Martin Truex Jr. after his teammate, Clint Bowyer, spun out with seven laps left while Newman was leading. Speculation erupted as to whether Bowyer intentionally sabotaged Newman’s chances at the last spot, given that Newman and Truex finished with a tiebreaker at the end of the regular season. Gentleman Newman took the high road, blaming his pit crew for the loss, despite the back-room high fives that were sure to have happened in the Truex mansion over new Shick razors. Oh, and Carl Edwards won the race.

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