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a, Arts & Entertainment

The Glass Menagerie: Great Depression, great escapism

by Ira Halpern on

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The extent to which Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie is autobiographical will always remain ambiguous. The play, however, looks undeniably inward, casting its spotlight on tensions that emerge within the four walls of a house. This memory play, told from the perspective of Tom Wingfield (nicknamed “Shakespeare”), who reminisces over his adolescence in Depression-era St. Louis, is currently being performed by McGill’s Players’ Theatre.

The absence of a father informs the relationships between Tom, his mother Amanda, and his sister Laura. It causes Amanda’s desperation to find a “gentleman caller” for her limping daughter Laura, who she fears will otherwise wind up alone as well. It also forces Tom to step into his father’s role as breadwinner for the family. Lest the audience forget the father, his portrait hanging on the wall, reminds the audience of his absence by intermittently lighting up.

With the exception of this gimmicky touch, director Rowan Spencer has chosen to play a subtle hand. Spencer noted that his initial intention for the set was to show a dilapidated living room covered in sheets, which would gradually be uncovered throughout the performance to reveal the set pieces. But in the end, he chose a more minimalistic approach: the walls of the set are fragmented, perhaps alluding to the fragile nature of memory, or the characters’ lives. Yet, the set does not draw attention to itself—it remains a backdrop. Spencer’s conservative approach to the production as a whole is commendable. He brings out the poetry of Williams’ work, rather than superimposing his own.

This intimacy is suited to a small theatre, and especially fitting a student production where all but one of its characters are young adults. Andrew Cameron plays Tom with an appropriately heavy dose of sarcasm and teen angst. Arlen Stewart plays the painfully shy Laura; her relationship with her mother and awkward chemistry with the other characters are appropriately cringe-worthy, but occasionally they weigh down the pace of the play. Jim O’Connor, the “gentleman caller” that Laura finally receives, is audacious, complete with a set of grandiose and lofty ambitions; but James Kelly’s performance incorporates enough of a human touch to prevent him from becoming a mere caricature.

Amanda is the only character who is not a young adult, but Ingrid Rudie’s performance is spot-on. It is appropriately over-the-top, with a Mississippi cadence that will ring in your ears even after the lights come on. Though, as Tom mentions, her character is certainly no “sphinx.” Amanda plays the role with nuance; though assertive, she is also insecure. Even in her cheeriest moments, we often sense that she is trying to refrain from crying.

A central tension in The Glass Menagerie is entertainment versus reality: Tom escapes from his mundane life to the adventure offered by the movies; meanwhile, Laura lives in a fantasy world with her little glass dolls. This production of Williams’ play offers escapism done well. Melodrama is a difficult feat to pull off: overdo the weepy factor, and the play is no longer believable; not enough emotion, and we are no longer invested. Like Laura’s glass dolls, when it comes to melodrama, there is a fine line between illusion and illusion shattered. The cast and crew have demonstrated excellent taste, and ensured that at least one illusion—the play itself—remains intact.

 

The Glass Menagerie runs Jan. 30-31, Feb. 1-2, at 8 p.m., Players’ Theatre (3rd floor SSMU building). Student tickets $8.

 

A still from the vivid, beautiful Adam and Dog. (tumblr.com)
a, Arts & Entertainment

Short in length, but with long-lasting delight

by Chris Liu on

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Every year, popular media whips up a great hullabaloo over the Oscars. However, it’s important to keep in mind exactly which aspects of the awards generate buzz: Who is leading in the Best Picture race? When will the next Harvey Weinstein temper-tantrum be? Is Bjork wearing a swan around her neck?

But sometimes, the side dish is better than the entrée.

As predictable as the parade of snobs and snubs may be, an equally reliable aspect of the Academy Awards is that ‘minor’ categories will be overlooked. This is particularly true for the ‘shorts’ categories—live action, animation, and documentary—which not only serve as important launching pads for future auteurs, but often feature talent and artistry that rival, if not best what is offered by the Best Picture slate.

Cinema du Parc will be screening this year’s Oscar-nominated animated and live action short films, and while there is no mind-boggling ‘must see’—Logorama (2009), anyone?—the diversity and imagination represented in the selections practically guarantee that something will catch your fancy. If not, have no fear—they’re shorts after all, and are thus decidedly quicker and less painful to sit through than the latest Adam Sandler film to which you were dragged by friends (or so you claim).

The shortest short is in the animated category, with PES’ Fresh Guacamole clocking in at just under two minutes. In creating the titular dish out of everyday objects such as light bulbs and baseballs, PES demonstrates not just narrative imagination but also technical skill, as transformations are accomplished with wizard-like alacrity. Similarly light-hearted is David Silverman’s Maggie Simpson in “The Longest Daycare” which follows the adventures of the youngest Simpson at the Ayn Rand Daycare Center, and features an escape sequence reminiscent of Indiana Jones, accompanied by a brilliant-as-usual score from Hans Zimmer.

Timothy Reckart’s Head Over Heels, in which an elderly couple navigate life together while holding completely opposite world views—one lives on the ‘floor,’ the other, the ‘ceiling’—benefits from a delightful premise, though the claymation is a little rough around the edges (it’s no Wallace and Gromit). And the current frontrunner in the race—take note, all those participating in Oscar pools—is John Kahrs’ Paperman, which has gotten a big boost in name recognition thanks to its studio Walt Disney Animation. This is not to detract from the short’s excellence, which unites a saccharine tale of love with a new animation technique that gives more control to artists and animators.

The clear personal favourite, however, is Minkyu Lee’s Adam and Dog. It is difficult to put a fresh spin on a story as old as Genesis, but Lee accomplishes this confidently, through brilliant Miyazaki-like animation. The lushness of the Garden of Eden is captured in breathtaking textures—every still could be a watercolour masterpiece. The power of the storytelling is particularly formidable when one considers that the film is absent of dialogue; here, Lee’s virtuosity speaks for itself.

The live action category features a Canadian entry, Quebecker Yan England’s Henry. The short shares many similarities with Michael Haneke’s Amour, nominated for Best Picture and practically guaranteed to win the Best Foreign category. In addition to being shot in French, the two each portray aging musicians as they struggle with mortality, and the physical and mental decline that inevitably comes—though Henry is decidedly more sentimental. Don’t expect a statuette for England however; a win would be a long shot, despite Canada’s strong overall record in the shorts categories throughout the years.

Other nominees include Bryan Buckley’s Asad, a snapshot into the life of a young Somali boy as he struggles for survival in a war-torn country, with a cast entirely comprised of Somali refugees. Tom Van Avermaet’s Death of a Shadow possesses several strengths: a high-concept sci-fi premise, a beautiful steampunk-inspired production design, and the star power of Matthias Schoenaerts (Bullhead; Rust and Bone). But the short that hit home personally was Sam French’s Buzkashi Boys, a universal tale of hope and aspiration, set in the impoverished strata of Afghan society and framed through sport (Buzkashi is the national sport of Afghanistan; think polo, but replace the ball with a goat carcass). Under French’s lens, Afghanistan looks stunningly beautiful, even if evidence of the country’s tumultuous recent history is apparent in every shot. In a perfect world, Buzkashi Boys would leave the Kodak next month with gold.

Our world is far from perfect, however, and strong buzz surrounds Shawn Christensen’s Curfew. The writer and director also plays the lead role, as a twenty-something whose life is, quite literally, saved by the chance call of his estranged sister and his sassy niece. This category has rewarded films that situate effervescent, often nihilistic humour in bleak contexts, so Curfew seems perfectly poised to take the crown.

To an extent however, who will win the statuette is a pointless enquiry; every one of these shorts displays merit, talent, and artistry—and each deserves much more attention than they will inevitably earn.

The 2013 Academy Award Nominated Shorts start Feb. 1 at Cinema du Parc (3575 Avenue du Parc).

a, Music

The Joy Formidable: Wolf’s Law

by Leyang Yu on

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The century-old Wolf’s Law says that our bones can adapt themselves to carry increasingly heavier loads over time; the more stress we place on our bones, the more resistant they become to these external pressures. There seems to be no better testament to this theory than Welsh band The Joy Formidable, who have played alongside the likes of Muse and the Foo Fighters, and made notable appearances at Glastonbury, Reading, and Leeds. The title of their sophomore album is an apt description of their sound, which has endured the test of time to evolve into something remarkable with this second release.

After extensive touring in recent years, the effects of being on an international platform are evident in The Joy Formidable’s music; Wolf’s Law is lyrically saturated with political references. The aggressive, rhythmically captivating “Maw Maw Song” alludes to consumerism, whereas “The Leopard and the Lung” is a tip of the hat to Kenyan environmental, and women’s rights activist Wangari Maathai. There are occasional fitful bouts of soul-searching, such as in “Tendons,” an emotionally-charged track that captures vocalist Ritzy Bryan’s relationship with bassist Rhydian Dafydd. Though most of the album follows a single, unrelenting trajectory, Bryan’s vocals shine through on slower tracks, such as “Silent Treatment” and “The Turnaround.”

Through the course of eleven tracks, The Joy Formidable have shown themselves capable of living up to their album’s name. Rather than caving into the excitement and hype surrounding Wolf’s Law, the band has emerged sounding more promising and resilient than ever before.

Mural on boulevard St-Hélène by artist Hell-P
a, Features

FEATURE: Bringing art to the streets

by Sara Espinal Henao on

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Our Lady of Grace, done in 2011 by A’Shop
Our Lady of Grace, done in 2011 by A’Shop

Louis-Philippe and I agreed to meet at a café on Masson Street to talk about art. As he reached over the table to take a sip from his cup of hot chocolate, I couldn’t help but notice his hands; they had traces of paint all over them.

Louis-Philippe is a street muralist. At his young age—23 years old—he has already been commissioned to create three wall paintings in both Longueil and Montreal. His most recent work, a mural that extends 50 x 24 square feet on boulevard St-Hélène, is a dynamic display of colours and figures inspired by Hip-Hop culture that tells the story of urban life.

Being a street artist is not an easy job, and it is often misunderstood. Lying on the verge between scorn and praise, this form of art has always been controversial. It chooses borrowed and often illegal canvases that are vulnerable to the same vandalism of which it is accused. It has the streets as its gallery, frequented by thousands of stern and often disapproving critics that demerit its artistic value. And it’s creations  are irremediably bound to fade away under the intemperate Canadian weather, or be eventually destroyed to give way to new blank walls, disappearing without a trace.

Yet, when asked why he had chosen to do street art over a more conventional genre, Luis-Philippe answered with conviction: “To bring colour to the city, to create a reaction, whether it is good or bad. You want your work to be seen, and [you want] art to be on the streets … because that’s where it belongs.”

Artist Hell-P painting a mural in Longueil (hellp-art.com)
Artist Hell-P painting a mural in Longueil (hellp-art.com)

Not long ago, street art, like graffiti, was seen as a delinquent activity that had to be eradicated. Crusading against this form of expression, the City of Montreal spent $3.3 million in the year 2008 alone to clean graffiti and street art from 150,000 square metres of street wall.

However, in recent years, the city has progressively changed its approach. In cooperation with several partners, it has invested in the creation of artistic murals for all Montrealers to see, hiring, on some occasions, the same artists that were once deemed as vandals.

One such partner is MU, an independent, not-for-profit organization created in 2006.  In French, the word “Mue” means “rejuvenation through the shedding of an old skin,” and that is precisely the organization’s mission. It supports and promotes public art in the greater Montreal region through the creation of murals in local communities.

This new approach to street art follows the example of Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Project, which aimed at doing just the same: encourage artistic expression, and use local talent to bring new life to the most neglected urban spaces of the city.

“It became not only about taking out things, but about producing things; about being active and progressive, and integrating the notion of embellishment [into social policy],” said Emmanuelle Hébert, McGill alumnus and co-founder of MU. “The MU’s mission is about creating an open air gallery in Montreal, and democratizing art by bringing [it] to the streets. No matter where you are, if you’re in Montreal you should be able to see art.”

Mural on boulevard St-Hélène by artist Hell-P
Mural on boulevard St-Hélène by artist Hell-P

Not only is this enterprise trying to support art and local artists in Montreal, it also seeks to promote social change and community involvement in the city.

“When you start embellishing, acting, and doing something nice, it is the igniter to something else. The citizens see their own neighborhood differently. They are proud of it. They get more involved with the community,” Hébert said.

When asked what the biggest challenge had been to the development of such bold initiative, Hébert  answered without hesitation: “to convince people [that we had what it took to succeed]. It didn’t exist [in Montreal]. It was innovative, unheard of, so it was very bold.”

The project was nothing short of ambitious, and Hébert and her associate did not have any experience in the field of visual arts. “We were not from the art world. We knew nothing about murals. The first time, we showed up with a book from Philadelphia and said, ‘this is what we want to do.’”

Yet, their drive and dedication earned the trust of its sponsors.

Interior mural done for a new SIMONS store in Quebec in 2012 by A’Shop
Interior mural done for a new SIMONS store in Quebec in 2012 by A’Shop

“People believed [in it]. They believed in us. They realized we were committed, [and that] we had a clear vision. And we delivered,” said Hébert.

With the cooperation of the private sector, as well as various organizations and government programs, the project has turned out to be a big success.  To date, MU, has created 40 murals, and 35 other-smaller scale community works.

When I grow up, I want to be a kid, done in NDG in 2012 by A’Shop
When I grow up, I want to be a kid, done in NDG in 2012 by A’Shop

The murals’ creators come from many disciplines of the visual arts. Yet, they share a common commitment to creating something for their community. “We work with people who have studied art, or who did scenography. [but also with people] who did their practice in the street. These are [people] that started as graffiti artists, but that developed their own ‘language’ over the years. we don’t have any preconceptions,” Hébert explained.

The legalization of urban spaces for street artists has paid off, as it has given  these artists the opportunity to showcase their talent and counter the negative connotation that street art had acquired over the years in the community. Among these artworks, is the renowned “Our Lady of Grace,” a five storey masterpiece  displayed at the corner of Madison and Sherbrooke Street West in N.D.G. This breathtaking piece of art was A’Shop’s creation, a Montreal-based collective of artists that combine graffiti art and urban aesthetics into their artwork. Year after year, the collective has renewed its commitment to creating open-access art for the Montreal community, and their work currently embellishes multiple spots throughout the city.

What future awaits Montreal’s street artists? When talking about graffiti art, Emmanuelle sees it as an inherent part to today’s culture, as an artistic expression, and as something with the potential for great social change.

“When you look at art history, you realize that the mural is the oldest form of art. People have always wanted to express themselves in public settings … Street art started as an underground culture that has now come into the galleries. [It] is a big trend in contemporary art.” Hébert  said. “A can, like a pen or an airbrush, is a medium. [More than about how you say it,] it is all about what you want to say.”

 

Click to see the full feature!
Click to see the full feature!

 

a, Sports

Around the Water Cooler

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In case you were too busy a) being a victim of a helmet-to-helmet hit from Bernard Pollard; b) doing carnival; or c) Lennay Kekua, here’s what you missed this past week in the world of sports …

COLLEGE FOOTBALL — Last week, we told you about how the world became obsessed with Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron’s girlfriend. Now the world seems to have latched onto the romantic interest of his BCS Championship foe Manti Te’o from Notre Dame— well, sort of. In one of the most bizarre stories in recent sports history, it was revealed that Heisman Trophy finalist Te’o was the subject of a hoax involving a long distance girlfriend named Lennay Kekua who he claimed to be in a relationship with over the past year. This fake girlfriend “passed away” in September, and Te’o dedicated his season to her. According to major sports news outlets, Te’o was totally tricked into believing he had a girlfriend—they spoke on the phone, sent pictures to each other, but neither met in person nor used Skype—because, you know, using Skype doesn’t really make sense in the year 2012, especially when your girlfriend gets in a car accident and then develops leukemia. According to ESPN, the hoax was set up by Te’o’s acquaintance Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, who created this fictional girl and her elaborate story. Te’o was the subject of countless interviews this week and denies that he was involved in the prank. Whether you believe Te’o or not, it’s safe to say that this story is a little weird. No, actually, it’s super weird.

CYCLING — The Te’o hoax wasn’t the only major sports scandal story from this past week, as Lance Armstrong, the most successful cyclist in the sport’s history, finally admitted his use of performace enhancing drugs (PEDs) in a two-part interview with Oprah, who seems ready to seize the mantle of exclusive emotional sports interviews from Bob Costas. The news is unsurprising after the Union Cycliste Internationale decided to strip Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles in 2012. While Armstrong spearheaded the Livestrong Foundation, which has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for cancer research and victims, his reputation has been tainted for some as a result. Armstrong vehemently denied using PEDs throughout his career and condemned those that accused him. His legacy is now one of the most polarizing in sports. If only Armstrong were the mastermind behind the Te’o prank … we think the Internet would instantaneously combust.

HOCKEY — The lockout-shortened NHL season got underway this past weekend, as puck heads around North America took in the first slate of games. The veterans stole the show on Saturday, as 40-year-old Jaromir Jagr and 42-year-old Teemu Selanne each tallied four points, while 39-year old Alexei Kovalev added three points in his opener. The Los Angeles Kings finally lifted their Stanley Cup banner, but failed to impress in opening their title defence, as the Chicago Blackhawks dominated them 5-2. The Detroit Red Wings got off to a pretty horrible start as well and are looking like they miss Niklas Lidstrom after being crushed by St. Louis, 6-0. Montreal was buzzing on Saturday night, as the Habs opened up against their bitter rivals, the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs prevailed 2-1 in a fairly sloppy contest. After a 48 hour debate about which street should host the Stanley Cup parade, the Leafs lost to the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday. All returns to normal.

NFL FOOTBALL — There will be no brotherly love in the Super Bowl this year. The San Francisco 49ers, led by Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, will battle the Baltimore Ravens, led by Head Coach John Harbaugh—their parents are probably pretty happy. The 49ers advanced after overcoming a 17-0 deficit to defeat the Atlanta Falcons. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick leads a dynamic offence that is flanked by one of the premier defences in the league. Baltimore heads to the title game after taking down the mighty New England Patriots in a result that few saw coming. The Ravens contained the potent Patriots offence and received offensive contributions led by quarterback Joe Flacco, who has silenced his critics on this impressive postseason run. Just a quick heads up: brace yourself for the brother narrative, as it will be played on loop for the next two weeks.

a, Sports

Point Counterpoint

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The 2013 National Baseball Hall of Fame election took place on Jan. 9. For the first time since 1996, no players were voted in, despite players like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens being up for induction. Many baseball analysts believe that this trend may continue as more players, who played during the steroid era become eligible for induction. Two contributors weigh in on the controversial decision … 

For Decision

The 2013 National Baseball Hall of Fame election came to a quiet conclusion last week. Labelled as perhaps the most contentious and controversial election in baseball history, the event finished without an inductee for only the second time in four decades and for the eighth time since 1945.

While controversy always surrounds an election that produces no winner, this year’s event was especially dramatic given the players involved. Steroid-tainted superstars Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens were both eligible for the first time, yet each received fewer than 40 per cent of the vote—a rather low percentage, despite the allegations pressed against them.

Clemens, one of the top pitchers in MLB history by any statistical measure, finished the election with only 37.6 per cent of the vote, despite receiving the seven Cy Young award seven times. Clemens finished his career third all-time in strikeouts, including an astounding 292 strikeouts in 1997, to go along with an ERA of 2.05.

Bonds, the all-time leader in home runs and one of the greatest hitters in MLB history, finished with an astounding low 36.2 per cent of the vote.

Though their performances certainly speak for themselves, and though it is quite possible that their calibre of play will never again be matched, it would be wrong to vote for these players—and other players who have been associated with performance enhancing drugs—into the Hall of Fame.

In an era of baseball where players are becoming increasingly aware of the availability of ergogenic aids, allowing these players to enter the Hall would send a welcoming message to those who knowingly seek to bend the rules of the game.

Players and fans alike both recognize that the use of these substances violate MLB policy. Why should players who openly violate the regulations be welcomed into the most prestigious and respected realm of baseball? If a player knowingly defiles the integrity of the sport, the sanctions for these actions must be severe.

When the best players of an era are not allowed into the Hall of Fame, it will undoubtedly erase the players’ relevancies in baseball history. However, it is necessary to use this opportunity to set the tone for the future and to establish that, those who unabashedly undermine policy will be punished accordingly.

Athletes like Ben Johnson, and more recently, Lance Armstrong, have had to come to terms with the harsh realities that present themselves when rules are broken. If the MLB does not take this opportunity to defend the anti-doping regulations of the sport, I fear that the legitimacy of the league will remain in question in the future.

— Justin Simon

Against Decision

I’ve visited the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown several times, and revere it for its unvarnished history of the sport. However, the Baseball Hall of Fame voting this year has made a mockery of all that Cooperstown stands for, namely that the game’s best players—blemishes and all—were not voted into the Hall.

This year’s ballot had it all—the gritty converted catcher Craig Biggio, who collected 3000 hits in a long and distinguished career; fierce sluggers Mike Piazza and Jeff Bagwell, with their offensive numbers that every team coveted; the speedy Tim Raines, a man that enthralled a generation of Montreal Expos fans; and last but not least, the otherworldly Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds, who have solidified themselves among the all-time greats after dominating the MLB for the entirety of their careers.

Instead of recognizing these achievements, the Baseball Hall of Fame voters astonishingly elected nobody to the Hall this year, depriving these players of the proper honour they deserved, and shortchanging fans that make their pilgrimage to the Hall of Fame induction ceremony every summer. What was the reason for this shortsighted decision? Laziness, idle speculation, and dumb superstition.

Biggio will get into the hall eventually, but did not this year because he is not considered  ‘first ballot’ Hall-of-Famer material, which is incredibly silly.

Piazza and Bagwell never tested positive for taking performance-enhancing drugs, but since they were muscular sluggers in the steroid era, their reputations have been tarnished in the eyes of some voters. On the basis of this unempirical thinking, all baseball fans are voided from commemorating these two great careers, which is a shame.

Clemens didn’t get in mainly because of Brian McNamee’s discredited testimony, which accused Clemens of taking HGH and steroids—an allegation that was never proven in court. And even if McNamee’s allegations were true, Clemens won over 300 games and won more Cy Young awards than any other pitcher in the history of the game. To leave him out of the Hall would be analogous to erasing history.

Similarly, Bonds did not get into the Hall despite never testing positive for performance enhancers. Like Clemens, Bonds was also the pre-eminent star of his era, setting the MLB record for home runs in a career and in one season, while stealing bases and takeing a pitch like nobody else. But because of the allegations against him, and the fact that he came across as surly and unlikable, he’s being punished. On the other side of a similar coin, Raines has been penalized for using cocaine in the ‘80’s—why that should be held against his stellar career, is again, a question left unanswered.

It’s pretty clear to see that the Baseball Hall of Fame voters are corrupt and unaccountable. Put all of these men into the Hall, and let knowledgeable baseball fans explain the circumstances of these players’ careers to their parents and kids. By not doing so, the Hall of Fame voters have infantilized and shown contempt for legions of baseball fans all across the world.

— Joshua Freedman

Winner: For Decision

The National Baseball Hall of Fame exists to celebrate the game’s best players. If it were to induct players who violated the rules, then the league’s legitimacy and integrity are put into question. Therefore, those surrounded in the steroid scandal have no place in Cooperstown this time around.

a, Sports

Sports Briefs

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Basketball: Redmen 68, UQAM 42, Redmen sweep Weekend Bouts – Bibeau, Mitrovich lead charge

It was quite a weekend for the McGill Redmen hoopsters, who won a pair of close games against tough divisional foes. Starting in Lennoxville on Friday against the top-ranked Bishop’s Gaiters, the Redmen put in a motivated effort to come away with a 63-60 win. Simon Bibeau, back this year after a devastating knee injury, led the team with 17 points. The team then followed up with a 68-42 shellacking of the UQAM Citadins at home on Saturday. This time, Serbian sensation Aleksandar Mitrovich rose to the top, leading all scorers with 14 points and four steals.

With the wins, McGill moves to the top of the RSEQ and will likely return to a national top 10 ranking when the list is released next week.

Quebec Cup 4, Mediocre results for Swim Teams at Quebec Cup 4 – Bielby, Eid earn first place finishes

McGill’s swim teams hit the water at Laval University on Saturday for the Quebec Cup 4. Competing against five other universities across the province, both teams faltered for the first time all year, finishing third in both the men’s and women’s disciplines.

The third place finish is not particularly striking, as McGill won only two races all meet. Both were claimed on the men’s side, as veteran Steven Bielby placed first in the 400m individual medley, and freshmen Sami Eid won the 200m backstroke. The duo then added to their tally with a bronze in the 4×100 relay.

On the women’s side, the lone bright spot was Kathleen Caldwell, who guided the team to one silver and two bronze finishes.

The teams will look to rebound when they take part in the RSEQ Swimming Championships, again taking place at Laval on Feb. 9 & 10.

Basketball: Martlets 75, Concordia 44, Sylla, Him-Lazarenko shine for Martlets – McGill moves into tie for first in RSEQ

In what was a good week for McGill basketball, the Martlets also added a pair of wins themselves—first against Bishop’s Gaiters and then over the Concordia Stingers.

Coming off a double-double in last week’s contest, rookie Miriam Sylia continued her hot streak against Bishop’s, tallying 17 points and 10 rebounds. The winless Gaiters did little to worry the skilled Martlets, who came away with a decisive 66-51 victory.

It was a similar story on Saturday, as the Martlets routed the division-leading Stingers, 75-44. This time, fourth-year centre Anneth Him-Lazarenko notched a double-double.

The offensive success is an encouraging sign for the Martlets, who move into a tie for first place with Concordia in the RSEQ. This recent surge should bode well, as the team enters the closing half of the season.

Soccer: Martlets, Redmen SWAP – Coaches in program shake-up

A big shake-up to the men’s and women’s soccer teams was announced by McGill Athletics this past week. Effective immediately for the indoor campaigns and into the next outdoor season, interim Redmen Head Coach Jose Valdes and veteran Martlet Head Coach Marc Mounicot are switching roles. This moves Valdes over to the Martlets, where he was an assistant coach for 11 years under Mounicot. Mounicot will lead the Redmen, a team that slotted a 0-12 record in 2012 after ineligible player sanctions.

The move is a curious one—Valdes only took over the Redmen head coaching job last year, while Mounicot found much success with the Martlets, having guided them to an overall 222-72-54 record over 15 years. In a statement on the McGill Athletics website, Executive Director Drew Love cited a desire to move the programs in different directions.

The Redmen scored twice on the power play in the first period. (Luke Orlando / McGill Tribune)
a, Sports

Redmen fill seats, net in victory

by Tom DiNardo on

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With thunderous chants of “McGill once, McGill twice” echoing in McConnell Arena, the McGill Redmen faced off against the No.6  ranked UQTR Patriotes for the annual Management Carnival Game on Jan. 16. Riding a continuous tidal wave of enthusiasm from the students, McGill managed to prevail in an exciting 4-2 victory.

From the opening faceoff, it was immediately apparent that both teams were determined to put up a tough fight. The two squads got tangled up almost immediately, as off-setting roughing penalties were called just thirty seconds into the game. The game’s physicality did not abate throughout the first period, as ten penalties were called in the initial frame alone.

“Both [teams] have players that played against each other all our lives,” third-year forward Benoit Levesque said. “We’ve got a lot of players [from Montreal], and it’s always been a big rivalry. Tonight was no different.”

McGill’s special teams effort was key in their first period success. UQTR received two penalties with just under six minutes remaining, granting the Redmen a great opportunity to take the lead. Right winger David Rose capitalized in front of the net for McGill’s first goal. The Redmen tallied another goal shortly after, thanks to first-year defenceman Guillaume Monast’s slap shot, which flew past UQTR goaltender Marc-Antoine Gelinas.

The Redmen offence was relentless in the first period—they maintained control of the puck in the Patriotes’ zone with hard, fast play, and dominated the boards on puck cycles. Aggressive attacks coupled with a fantastic showing from fifth-year goalie Hubert Morin left the Redmen with a 2-0 advantage at the end of the frame.

Unfortunately, McGill was unable to keep up the same level of play in the second period. The Patriotes came out looking energized, and took advantage of the Redmen’s fatigue to control the pace of the game. Midway through the second period, Patriotes’ forward Tommy Tremblay scored to cut McGill’s lead to one. Although the Redmen picked up their pace towards the end of the period, a shot by the Patriotes’ Emmanual Boudreau found the back of the net, after being redirected off of a McGill blueliner to tie the game.

Redmen Head Coach Kelly Nobes was not pleased with his team’s effort in the second period.

“We got a little bit caught in the second period, not moving our feet and not skating. And when we’re not moving our feet … we’re reacting instead of dictating what’s happening,” Coach Nobes said after the game.

With the game knotted up entering the final frame, the Redmen picked up their pace. Quick off the faceoff, Levesque broke away from the Patriotes defence and dished the puck to centre Marc-Olivier Vachon, who buried home a quick goal to give McGill the lead just a minute in. For much of the rest of the period, the puck went back and forth, with most offensive attempts thwarted by airtight defence on both ends. In a last-ditch effort to equalize, the Patriotes pulled Gelinas to add another skater with three minutes left in the period. Redmen right-winger Max Le Sieur capitalized on the empty net to increase the lead to 4-2, sealing the win for the Redmen.

The Patriotes were victorious, in the last meeting between the squads a few months ago, coming away 3-1, but Nobes stressed his team’s positive  development since then.

“We’ve evolved a ton since then. This is such a young team. The season is a process of getting better every day,” Coach Nobes said.

The Redmen won their fourth straight game on Friday night, on the road against the Ottawa Gee-Gees. They will take on the Patriotes for the final time in the regular season in Trois-Rivières on Jan. 22.

No team can stop McGill’s first line this season. (McGill Athletics)
a, Sports

Martlets make it 13 straight in rout of Gee-Gees

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After hanging on to a tight 4-3 win against the Montreal Carabins the night before, the McGill Martlets took the ice again on Saturday afternoon against the faltering Ottawa Gee-Gees at McConnell Arena. The Martlets, riding a 13-game winning streak, dominated the contest 6-1 in a lopsided affair and remain in first place atop the CIS standings. McGill was led by third-year forward Katia Clément-Heydra, who tallied a record breaking hat-trick, and continues to build on her breakout season.

McGill got off to a quick start when Clément-Heydra and second-year star Mélodie Daoust combined with second-year defenceman Brittney Fouracres on a goal, just under two minutes into the game. The two teams went on to play a fairly even first period from there, with the Gee-Gees Cindy Laurin converting on a power play at the midway mark of the period to tie the game at 1-1.

However, the dynamic of the game quickly shifted in favour of the Martlets, as both teams entered the second period. More specifically, Clément-Heydra took over the game with a three-goal scoring run, all tallied within the span of 118 seconds. The hat-trick marks a McGill school record. As a result of the Martlet surge, Ottawa was forced to play from behind for the remainder of the period. The Gee-Gees began playing urgently and physically, which was reflected in the five consecutive penalties called against them in the frame. The Martlets finished the period with a 4-1 advantage.

Ultimately, the Gee-Gees never recovered from Clément-Heydra’s ruthless scoring rub, and remained scoreless throughout the rest of the contest. Daoust added the fifth Martlet goal—her CIS-leading 16th of the season—seven minutes into the third period. Second-year centre Erika Pyke put the game away, as she tallied McGill’s last goal on the power play with five minutes remaining in game, sealing the 6-1 victory.

The Martlets have played incredible hockey all season long to stay atop the CIS rankings for the seventh consecutive week—in addition to remaining undefeated in RSEQ conference play.

A healthy mixture of veteran presence and youth has been crucial for the team’s success. Much of this can be credited to the unbelievable talent on McGill’s top line, composed of Daoust, Clément-Hydra, and Leslie Oles. Daoust sits atop the CIS in points (39), with Clément-Hydra (31) and Oles (27) being fourth and seventh overall, respectively. All together, the trio has combined for 97 points in only 13 contests, which is made even more remarkable by the fact that the second-placed points-getter, Amanda Parkins from Guelph, has played in 21 games. Furthermore, the leadership and steady hand of Head Coach Peter Smith, in his 12th season as coach of Martlets, has kept the team focused throughout their dominating efforts. So far, no team in Canada seems to have an answer for this group of women.

The Martlets will look to continue their torrid pace in Ottawa this week, as they face both the Gee-Gees and the Carleton Ravens in a back-to-back beginning on Jan. 25. McGill returns home to battle the Montreal Carabins on Feb. 1.

Both The McGill Daily and Le Délit will be affected by the upcoming referendum. (Simon Poitrimolt / McGill Tribune)
a, News

Campaigning begins for Daily Publication Society

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Campaigning began last Friday for the existence referendum of the Daily Publication Society (DPS), which includes both The McGill Daily and Le Délit. Polling is scheduled to run between Jan. 23 and Jan. 31, when the results will be announced.

The referendum question asks students to support the DPS’s existence, which is established through its Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the university. An MoA details the contractual relationship between a student group or association and McGill, and covers arrangements such as lease space and the collection of student fees.

McGill requires that Independent Student Groups hold a referendum once every five years. To be declared valid, voter turnout during the referendum must reach five per cent of the DPS’s members (all graduate and undergraduate students at McGill). Otherwise, the DPS constitution mandates that another referendum must be held before the MoA can be renewed.

According to Faraz Alidina, the DPS’s chief electoral officer, the referendum question underwent a “rigorous tripartite approval process” in order to ensure that the question is “constitutional, interpretable, fair, and appropriate,” and that the administration will accept the results. This means that the DPS Board of Directors, the office of the Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning), and Elections DPS have all examined and approved the question.

“The McGill Daily and Le Délit [provide] a forum for students to express their opinions and keep informed of important campus events,” the referendum question reads. “A free and critical press is essential to a vibrant campus society and a healthy democracy.”

Although most student groups run referenda through the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU), the DPS decided to run its referendum independently. DPS Chair Sheehan Moore is also the Chair of the “Yes” committee—an official group that campaigns on campus for students to vote in favour of the DPS’s existence.

“Since we’re not a SSMU organization, and since our membership exceeds that of SSMU, it doesn’t make much sense to ask our existence question through them,” Moore said.  “The campaign procedures and voting system are very similar to SSMU’s, and there’s the added benefit that we’re able to poll not just undergraduates, but also our graduate student members.”

Although a “No” committee has not been formed to campaign against the referendum, some students oppose the continued existence of the DPS. Greg Frame, U3 arts, said he intends to vote “no” on the referendum.

“I don’t think the McGill Daily, at present, succeeds in starting an earnest conversation between people of different political or philosophical beliefs, [and] regularly compromises nuance in favour of ideological coherence,” he said. “I believe that news is a public good, and absolutely should be publically funded; but the McGill Daily seems much more committed to promoting a political ideology, rather than dispassionately informing the student body and beginning a debate.”

According to Moore, the DPS already makes itself accountable to students by holding annual meetings, which are open to all members of the DPS.

“Existence referenda were created recently by the administration in the name of ‘accountability,’ but in fact, all these do is derail the time and resources of student groups that are already accountable to students,” Moore said.

Frame said he has spoken with people who have been to DPS meetings, but doesn’t think they are the correct venue to voice his concerns.

“There’s a sentiment on the Daily editorial staff—as far as I’ve been able to glean—that makes the articulation of a broader viewpoint very difficult,” he said. “It’s not something that can be changed at a meeting.”

Students can vote using an online voting system. The link will be sent out on Jan. 23.

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