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Art, Arts & Entertainment, Poetry, Theatre

‘OPTIMISTA: Amour/Love’ shares the power of love through art

by Dana Prather on

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Love is in the air and on people’s minds throughout February, making it the perfect theme for the non-profit arts organization Yellow Pad Sessions’ (YPS) OPTIMISTA event on Feb. 11. OPTIMISTA: Amour/Love was the third iteration in a unique series of multimedia art events that feature keynote speakers, films, and visual art related to the evening’s chosen theme. Organized by YPS co-founders Grace Sebeh Byrne and Patrick Byrne with the help of co-curators Siam Obregón and Max Holzberg, the event celebrated the individuals whose stories express the hope and resiliency of the human spirit. 

 Held at QUAI 5160, Verdun’s waterfront culture house, dreamy tones of red and pink lighting helped transform the large, modern space into a relaxed, intimate environment. Guests were invited to sip on their choice of cocktail or mocktail while perusing several paintings by Hannaleah Ledwell before the evening’s performances began. 

A graduate of Concordia’s Studio Arts program, Ledwell is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice currently focuses on physicality and memory, topics that were palpable in her exhibit Anthromorphe. A quintet of large canvases, Anthromorphe presents a woman’s form in a variety of abstract poses and contortions to evoke how different experiences of love, be it with a lover or with oneself, manifest in the body. Under the event’s Valentine’s-inspired lighting, the forms’ blue shadows and yellow highlights transformed into a palette of rich reds and mauves, making its themes of love and passion all the more visceral. 

Attendees were then ushered into the space’s grand theatre to listen to a performance by Laur Fugère, an acclaimed vocalist and voice coach whose prior credits include leading roles in Broadway shows such as Les Misérables and Cats. Though no show tunes made an appearance, Fugère’s performance was nothing short of stunning. Sitting onstage surrounded by candlelight, she calmly played a variety of metal singing bowls while harmonizing with haunting vocals. Together, this proved a powerful combination that resonated throughout the space to form an ethereal soundscape. 

Fugère’s rich vocals were later accompanied by projections of sweeping tundra landscapes and snowstorms, serving as the perfect segue into poetry readings from keynote speaker Joséphine Bacon. An Innu poet, translator, and filmmaker from Pessamit, Bacon is a widely-esteemed artistic figure whose poetry has made her a Compagne of the Order of Arts and Letters of Quebec as well as a finalist for the prestigious Governor General’s Award. Upon entering the stage, Bacon resonated warmth and wisdom as she began reciting a curated selection of poems from her numerous collections. Notably, she chose to read each verse of the poem in French and Innu-aimun, Bacon’s first language, despite a majority francophone audience. 

“Innu is an endangered language nowadays,” Bacon said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “I work very hard, and I keep so much hope in my heart that in reading [my poems in Innu-aimun] Innu children will give respect to their language and take pride in it.” 

To reinforce this message, Bacon was then joined onstage by two Innu youths who posed her questions about love and what it means to her. 

The evening closed with a screening of Je m’appelle humain, an award-winning documentary that traces Bacon’s life. The film visualizes the stunning imagery of Bacon’s poetry and included several of her poems as narration throughout. 

In spite of the hardships she’s experienced from the ongoing effects of colonialism in Canada, including her decade-long experience in a residential school and her time as an unhoused person in Montreal after aging out of the system, Bacon still has an uplifting view on the topic of love. 

“Love is beyond one meaning. In fact, it has countless definitions. It just never includes violence.”

LICM
Opinion

Winter 2023 SSMU referendum endorsements

by The McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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The McGill Tribune Editorial Board presents their endorsements for the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Winter 2023 referendum questions. 

Creation of the Legal Essentials Plan Fee: Yes 

The Tribune endorses a “yes” vote for this $30 per-year opt-outable fee that would finance legal support, provided by Studentcare, “for housing, employment, academic, and human rights disputes, small claims support, and civil mediation” for SSMU members. As lawyers can be expensive, this fee bridges a critical gap in access for students—for example, aiding international students who may need to hire immigration lawyers. Further, the motion notes that a contract regarding the provision of these services from Studentcare has already been signed by the SSMU Executive Committee; a majority “no” vote would mean SSMU was in violation of the said contract. Those who do not deem these services necessary can simply opt out.

Creation of the SSMU Grocery Fee: Yes

When SSMU ran a pilot of its new Grocery Program in late 2022, all 200 spots were filled, demonstrating students’ need for increased access to groceries on campus. This $1 opt-outable fee would help combat the pervasive problem of food insecurity at McGill by funding the program for the next five years. As such, the Tribune votes “yes” to the creation of a Grocery Fee.

Arab Student Network (ASN) Fee Renewal: Yes

The ASN creates spaces for Arab students at McGill to come together, celebrate Arab culture, advocate, and network by hosting events such as barbecues, ski trips, and its annual Arab Fest. The Network, which aims to foster a more inclusive and equitable university environment for Arab students, also publishes the Mubtakaran Journal, which showcases Arab students’ artistic work and poetry. The Tribune endorses a “yes” vote for this $0.50 opt-outable fee because the ASN’s important community work is a necessity on campus.

Plate Club Fee Renewal: Yes

The Tribune votes “yes” to renew the $0.14 opt-outable fee that enables Plate Club to lend out reusable dishware, limiting waste and contributing to sustainability efforts on campus. (The Tribune adds that our office is in desperate need of a reusable fork supply.) 

Student Space Fund Fee Renewal: Yes

The Student Space Fund would allocate money for furnishing and maintaining student spaces around campus. Although the motion regarding the referendum question is somewhat vague about what exactly the fund would be spent on, upgrading furniture in the University Centre is one of its aims. Since the $1 fee is opt-outable, the Tribune endorses this fee so that students can choose whether they wish to financially support upgrades student spaces. 

Black Students’ Network (BSN) Fee Renewal: Yes

The Tribune votes “yes” to renewing the BSN’s opt-outable $1 fee. The BSN works to make McGill’s campus a safer, more inclusive, and more equitable space for Black students by fostering community, organizing events, compiling scholarship and employment opportunities, doing advocacy work, and much more. It is crucial that the BSN fee is renewed so that the organization can continue its essential work; creating a campus where Black students can find community and flourish.

Environment Fee Renewal: Yes

The Tribune supports the continuation of this $1.25 opt-outable fee that would enable SSMU to continue funding sustainability initiatives around campus through funds allocated by its environment and funding committees. 

Daily Publication Society (DPS) Fee Renewal and Increase: Yes

In solidarity with fellow student publications, one of which is the only francophone student outlet on campus, the Tribune votes “yes” to the DPS’ $1.50 proposed non-opt-outable fee increase. The DPS has not asked for a fee increase in 15 years and the additional funds would go toward compensating staff across two weekly newspapers, the Daily  and Le Délit, meeting higher operational costs due to inflation, and expanding their coverage. The Tribune hopes that the DPS will allocate some of these additional funds to round out the Daily’s editorial staff and resuscitate the annual journalism week (formerly known as J-Week) mentioned in their referendum question. 

ECOLE Fee Renewal: Yes

The Tribune supports the renewal of the $2.00 opt-outable ECOLE fee, without which the sustainability project would cease to exist. Not only does ECOLE support student research by providing an opportunity to apply theories in the field, but it also seeks to make the McGill campus a more sustainable place. Students can participate in the wide range of events hosted by ECOLE, like game nights, used bookstore crawls, and meditation & mindfulness circles, all of which make campus a healthier, more fruitful space. 

Student Support Fee Renewal: No

Though we understand that Student Support has provided three helpful services to students on a trial basis over the past year—Grammarly, Calm, and Udemy—the Tribune cautions against voting to uphold a partnership with a for-profit company that has demonstrated a lack of transparency. When the company was named FundQi, students at Carleton overwhelmingly voted against maintaining their student union’s partnership with the organization after a drastic proposed fee increase of $95. The Tribune trusts SSMU to find another way to provide access to these vital services, which can be important for those who do not speak English as a first language.

Midnight Kitchen Fee Increase: Yes

The Tribune strongly supports the proposed $4.65 increase to Midnight Kitchen’s opt-outable fee. Midnight Kitchen is a non-profit and student-run organization that works to combat food insecurity—a pressing issue at McGill—by providing vegan and nut-free meals free of charge to the community. The organization has said that it plans to expand its service and serve more students each week if the fee increase is approved. Notably, the referendum motion states that Midnight Kitchen currently works on approximately a fifth of the operating budget of People’s Potato and Loaded Ladle, analogous organizations at Concordia and Dalhousie. While the increase may seem large, student-run, affordable food sources are essential and students can choose to opt out. 

Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) Fee Increase: Yes

The MSA provides a range of services for Muslim students on campus, such as a weekly prayer space, weekly Friday prayer, a student-run Islamic library, and much more. The association has held events such as MSA Frosh, Eid al Fitr and Eid al Adha celebrations, and lectures. The Tribune supports the increase of MSA’s opt-outable fee from  $0.99 to $1.55 to help the organization put on more community events and better serve Muslim students at McGill. 

Referral Services Fee Increase (Queer McGill and Eating Disorder Resource & Support Centre): Yes

The Tribune votes “yes” to increasing the opt-outable Referral Services Fee by $1.11 to allow Queer McGill and the Eating Disorder Resource and Support Centre to meet demand and fund expanded operations. If passed, Queer McGill plans to use the fee increase to close a nearly $9,000 budget gap and redesign the group’s website, among other endeavours. The Eating Disorder Resource and Support Centre plans to use the fee increase to translate all materials into French in compliance with Bill 96 and to finance an expanded staff.

Mental Health Fee Increase: Yes

The Mental Health Fee funds advocacy, outreach, and initiatives related to mental health at McGill. A fee increase would also allow for more total hours to be dedicated to the SSMU Mental Health Committee’s work by providing more funds for staff salaries in line with inflation and minimum wage increases. In the absence of reliable mental health services run by the university and taking into consideration the severity of the mental health crisis across university campuses, the Tribune supports the Mental Health Fee becoming non-opt-outable and going from $0.40 to $0.75.

Safety Services Fee Increase: Yes

The Tribune votes “yes” for the non-opt-outable Safety Services Fee to be increased from $4.32 to $5.65. This increase would allocate more funds to DriveSafe, a free service where volunteers drive students home safely between the hours of 11 p.m. and 3 a.m., and the McGill Student Emergency Response Team (MSERT), which is a volunteer first responder team that serves the McGill community for free. DriveSafe would use its extra $1 to curb rising operating costs due to inflation, which has resulted in rental cars and food being more expensive. MSERT would use its extra $0.33 to purchase equipment, hire more instructors, and ultimately offer more first aid courses, which it says have long waitlists. 

Creation of IRSAM Fee: Yes, with reservations

The International Relations Students’ Association of McGill (IRSAM)—a non-for-profit that holds special consultative status to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations—calls itself the university’s largest student group. The Association has numerous portfolios, including the McGill Model United Nations Assembly, Flux: International Relations Review, McGill International Review Online, and the IRSAM Youth Advisory Delegation. Because the new fee would be opt-outable, the Tribune endorses a “yes” vote, but is concerned that a fee levy to support the group would disproportionately benefit students studying  international relations. If a fee is established, the Tribune urges IRSAM to make transparency and outreach to the entire McGill community a key tenant of its operations in order to ensure its operations benefit all, not just the few hundred IRSAM members. 

Ratification of the Board of Directors Members 2022-2023: Yes

As per section 6.5 of the SSMU Constitution, a majority “yes” vote would formally ratify the Board of Directors, which oversees the “legal, financial, and operational affairs” of the Society. 

Nomination of the Auditor for 2023 Fiscal Year: Yes

SSMU must appoint an auditor yearly, both by law and according to its own constitution. A majority “yes” vote would confirm FL Fuller Landau LLP—who has already served as SSMU’s auditor—as the auditor for the 2023 fiscal year.

Plebiscite Question: Bar Milton-Parc Solidarity Cooperative: Yes

A plebiscite question is non-binding but seeks a general consensus on student interest in a new initiative potentially undertaken by SSMU. The Tribune endorses a “yes” vote, which would show interest in SSMU investing five per cent of its Capital Expenditure Reserve Fund (CERF) in the Bar Milton-Parc Solidarity Cooperative, a community space on Avenue Parc. Investing in this project is worthwhile because it would mean investing in the notion of a solidarity economy. Further, students would benefit from a memorandum of understanding that would establish preferential treatment for McGill student groups looking to book event space and a solidarity meal program to help combat food insecurity in Milton Parc. 

Editorial, Opinion

SSMU executive candidate endorsements 2023-24

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President

Alexandre Ashkir

Endorsement: Yes, with reservations to Alexandre Ashkir

Alexandre Ashkir, U3 Arts, worked for SSMU as Speaker of the Legislative Council for two full terms before running for SSMU President. In addition to his role on Legislative Council, Ashkir currently sits on SSMU’s Board of Directors, giving him extensive knowledge of the Society’s inner workings, what it does well, and what it does not. He plans to reform SSMU policies and regulations, improve SSMU’s communications with students and student organizations to increase transparency, and provide more support to the vice-president (VP) Finance so that student clubs and services can operate efficiently. 

Unfortunately, Ashkir’s record of communicating with the student body is dotted with inconsistencies—he can be unresponsive, leaving students and student media confused about important procedures and regulations. He must remember that the role of SSMU President requires constant communication, not only with his team but with his community if he is to gain and hold on to students’ trust.

VP Internal

Leila Espinoza

Espinoza, a U1 Philosophy and Political Science student, wants to restore Francophone Affairs to the VP Internal portfolio. One focus of her platform is improving interactive feedback from the student body through polling, messaging, and feedback forms on SSMU social media accounts and listservs, in addition to upgrading bilingual accessibility. Espinoza plans to consult about accessibility, Indigenous affairs, sexual violence concerns, and advocacy while planning events in addition to maintaining an open line of communication with student group executives.

Jon Barlas

Barlas is a U4 Cognitive Science student who wants to improve accountability and transparency at SSMU, and in his words, “improve significantly” upon previous VP Internal Cat Williams’ term. His main priority is to revamp SSMU’s student-facing image and bolster outreach through video communications—with the help of TVM student creatives—and targeted social media advertising. Planning alternative, accessible events for Frosh is a pillar of his campaign, in addition to specifically increasing first-years’ engagement with SSMU. Though he does not speak French, Barlas says that hiring a Francophone Affairs Commissioner would be a top priority. 

Endorsement: Yes to Jon Barlas 

Though both candidates are enthusiastic about the role, Barlas shows a more complete understanding of the VP Internal portfolio and seems deeply committed to growing student engagement through fresh methods. Espinoza’s focus on Francophone Affairs and increased accessibility is excellent, but her platform could have benefitted from more action and less feedback. Barlas’ healthy criticism of SSMU as a “grey-slabbed corporate face” is complemented by a drive to transform it, and for that, he earns the Tribune’s endorsement. 

VP University Affairs

Lalia Katchelewa

Endorsement: Yes to Lalia Katchelewa

Lalia Katchelewa, a third year Arts student, recognizes that SSMU’s efforts to increase food security and provide free menstrual products are crucial projects that the VP University Affairs will need to monitor to ensure their continued development. She knows that maintaining a working relationship with the McGill administration on issues like food security will be crucial if SSMU is to provide tangible solutions. However, Katchelewa has limited experience working in student government and has only served as a club finance coordinator for eight months. This lack of experience does not dampen Katchelewa’s enthusiasm to step into a role where she can advocate for underserved students at McGill. She looks forward to tabling around campus so that she can meet constituents face-to-face and let students know that she cares. The Tribune endorses Lalia Katchelewa for VP University Affairs and hopes that she upholds her promise that “advocacy for equity and representation of minorities whether linguistic, ethnic, of gender or sexual orientation,” will remain her focus while in office.

VP External

Liam Gaither

Endorsement: Yes to Liam Gaither

Current VP External Val Masny has made great strides to strengthen community ties at McGill and build new bridges with communities around McGill such as the Kanien’kehà:ka Kahnistensera (Mohawk Mothers). Gaither hopes to reinforce the relationships that Masny fostered by redirecting SSMU resources so that grassroots movements on campus can flourish. In the same vein, Gaither wants to encourage the use of print media, like posters and zines, to make social movements more accessible to all students. Though his experience in student government is very limited, Gaither demonstrates a clear understanding of the VP External portfolio and the ability to keep up with campus conversations. The Sustainability, Science, and Society student says he will wait to begin training for the VP External role before establishing a list of priorities because he wants to hear what SSMU employees working under the VP External portfolio believe is important, further proving that his team-oriented attitude would make him a quality successor for Masny.

VP Finance

Alice Fang

Endorsement: Yes to Alice Fang

As a U2 nursing student, Alice Fang has a clear understanding of the need for proper health and dental insurance, including mental health coverage—a key part of the VP Finance portfolio. She feels that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed many of the gaps in health and wellness services offered by SSMU and plans to conduct a full audit of SSMU finances to identify where spending can be cut and what funds can be redistributed according to student needs. Fang is no stranger to finance: She worked with the current VP Finance over the last year in her capacity as the VP Finance of the McGill Nursing Undergraduate Society and served as the organization’s Chief Revenue Officer in 2021. Fang is enthusiastic about taking on the responsibilities of SSMU VP Finance and seems to truly have the needs of students at heart. Student clubs and services will benefit from a VP Finance dedicated to the efficient rollout and close monitoring of funds to ensure they are allocated appropriately.

VP Student Life

Nadia Dakdouki

Endorsement: Yes to Nadia Dakdouki

Nadia Dakdouki, U4 Science, worked closely with the current VP Student Life as Clubs Representative during the 2022-23 school year. Dakdouki’s main goal is to engage the student body in student politics SSMU activities. She noticed that the pandemic led to a decrease in student engagement everywhere, and seeks to rectify this by increasing the visibility of SSMU student clubs and activities. Under her tenure, Dakdouki says that event tabling and in-class announcements will become a more common sight around the downtown campus. She also wants to hear student opinions on SSMU event planning through in-person surveys, which she said was successful during her role as Clubs Representative. The candidate promises to make herself accessible to student concerns through regular office hours and face-to-face meetings.

With experience as an executive on the Muslim Students’ Association and involvement with the Science Undergraduate Society, Dakdouki is a prepared, enthusiastic candidate with an intimate understanding of the central role that clubs play in student life. If she succeeds in engaging student feedback, Dakdouki will likely excel at serving student needs. 

VP Sustainability and Operations

Hassanatou Koulibaly

Endorsement: Yes to Hassanatou Koulibaly

Hassanatou Koulibaly is currently serving as VP Student Life and has proven her ability to engage the student community, follow through on commitments, communicate with the student body through student media, and weather the storm of an executive role with grace. Koulibaly is well aware of the challenges that come with revitalizing a portfolio with little institutional memory, but plans to address this right away with a thorough review of the mandate and existing governance documents. She demonstrates a keen understanding of all forms that sustainability takes at McGill—economic, social, and environmental—and aims to tackle them with equity at front of mind. One promising initiative is a workshop and sustainability-oriented revamp of Minicourses.

 
It’s rare to see a SSMU executive return for a consecutive full-year term, but we can think of no better person for the job than Koulibaly. The Tribune endorsed Koulibaly with reservations last year due to little SSMU experience, but now, her term as VP Student Life will make her an indispensable part of the 2023-24 executive team.

The Editorial Board’s Endorsement Process:

In order to present the most informed endorsement decisions possible, select editors and managing editors reached out to every candidate for additional information about their campaign and examined each platform in detail. The endorsements are the product of an Editorial Board vote. In order to earn the Tribune’s endorsement, a candidate had to receive a majority vote. Reservations could also be appended to any “Yes” endorsement with the approval of a majority of editors. Any questions or concerns about our editorial process or its outcomes should be directed to [email protected].

Editorial, Opinion

Three meals a day keep the protests away

by The McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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Fifteen dollars for a box of raspberries. Eleven for a slice of pizza. Eight for a package of popcorn. This is the reality for students eating at McGill cafeterias. On March 7, Let’s Eat McGill, a collective of concerned student activists, held an assembly to discuss and mobilize around the food affordability crisis at McGill. The campus-wide uproar illustrates the difficulties exorbitant food prices cause for students and demonstrates that McGill must support student-led initiatives while also using the vast fiscal resources at its disposal to end the food crisis on campus. 

High food prices have extensive, detrimental effects on McGill students. Many students are unable to eat three meals a day, resulting in food insecurity, which is associated with increased physical and mental distress, such as higher rates of binge eating and other eating disorders. On top of rising rent and intense class schedules, this physical and mental toll on students has dire economic implications: Students are often forced to pay over $20 for a single meal at the university they pay thousands of dollars in tuition to attend. 

McGill directs most of its food services to students living in traditional and hotel-style residences. With the exception of Solin Hall and the MORE Houses, students are forced to pay for a $6,200 meal plan, which the Food and Dining Services website reiterates still does not cover all meals for the academic year. Students hoping to live in residence encounter a coercive system where they must decide between forgoing the traditional residence experience or paying incredibly high prices for a meal plan that fails to cover three meals a day.  To end this continued coercion, students must be given an opt-out option from the meal plan if they choose to live in residence and want to have control over their own nutrition. 

The crisis students face at the Macdonald campus epitomizes the university’s indifference toward student well-being. Despite providing fresh and sustainable produce for all of McGill, students at Macdonald campus are currently stuck in a food desert after the only grocery store in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue shut down. Over 600 students must now take a McGill-chartered shuttle scheduled once a week to go to the nearest grocery store a few towns over. With the discovery of asbestos in several of the campus buildings, this crisis intensified and decreased the number of on-campus eateries to only one of two, The Ceilidh, whose restaurant closes at 3 p.m.

It is unacceptable that McGill offers nothing more to Macdonald campus students when the nearest grocery store is accessible only by shuttle bus or car. Shuttle buses do not make up for the university’s negligence. If McGill does not immediately ensure that all dietary needs are met, then students should not be allowed to live there. 

In response to student outcry, the university recently announced plans to implement an “all-you-care-to-eat” (AYCTE) model, that will allow students to enter cafeterias for a flat rate and eat as much as they wish. Not enough information has been made available, however, about how the system would function or the plan’s prices. Without addressing costs, the AYCTE will not tackle the main problem facing students: Unreasonable pricing.

McGill must follow the lead of universities across the country willing to put their money into the needs of students. Concordia University and the University of British Columbia have both subsidized rising food costs amidst inflation and are funding student-run grocery stores and cafés. Meanwhile, food prices at McGill are sometimes 200 per cent higher than those of neighbouring grocery stores and restaurants.

McGill blames inflation for the high food prices and argues that the costs are out of its control. This argument, however, does not hold up when McGill has an almost $1.9 billion endowment fund. Although it may upset shareholders, the university must use its immense wealth—much of which is student tuition funds—to subsidize food prices.

Apart from dipping into its endowment fund, McGill must also highlight student-led initiatives instead of outsourcing to private companies. Students have created innovative ways to combat the crisis such as Midnight Kitchen, a collective providing cheap meals to students that deserves to have its fee increase pass during the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Winter referendum. Like Concordia, McGill should fund student-led initiatives and prioritize students in decision-making because they know how to feed themselves—if only their university would let them. 

Arts & Entertainment

Montreal gives us chills—in more ways than one

by Ella Buckingham on

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Content warning: Descriptions of graphic violence

The idea of ghosts has been haunting humankind since ancient times. It comes from the theory that the human body and spirit are separate entities, and the spirit continues to linger on Earth after a person dies. 

Haunted buildings and attractions advertising their spooky history are also sources of entertainment for many who like to experience the mystery and allure of the unknown. Aside from sightings of ghosts, signs of a haunting include eerie noises, strange smells, winds that knock objects over, and more. And as Donovan King, teacher, actor, and the owner of Haunted Montreal knows well, Montreal is chock-full of these signs from beyond the pale.

“A paranormal encounter is not something that fits within the scientific norms, [it is] something that is unexplainable […] like reading someone’s mind or levitation,”  King said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. 

The city of Tiohti:áke, or Montreal as it is known today, was founded in 1642 by Paul de Chomeday de Maisonneuve, and Jeanne Mance, but the land and its surrounding areas have historically been the home of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabeg peoples as well as many other Indigenous peoples for at least 12,000 years. After the first Europeans arrived in 1535, Montreal became a centre of the fur trade and has been an economic, industrial, and cultural hub ever since. But with this violent and unsettling past, the city’s wealth of traumatic history has yielded no shortage of paranormal baggage. With over 150 recorded ghost stories overall, Montreal is the most haunted city in Canada—possibly even North America, though many others eagerly claim that title. 

A Little Dose of Death

If you’re trying to kill time before a movie at Cinema Banque Scotia or passing through to see a Canadiens game at the Bell Centre, you might wander through the stately Dorchester Square or its southern counterpart, Place du Canada. Today, with easy access to Ste. Catherine and other bustling downtown streets, the square is a favourite for community gatherings, protests, and rallies, including the Unity Rally in 1995. It seems to be a popular meeting place for both the living and the dead: Over the years, there have been rumours of paranormal activity, occurring most frequently after nightfall. Uneasy feelings, mumblings of prayers, and round objects, possibly so-called “ghost orbs,” hovering throughout the square have all been reported. 

Formerly the Sainte-Antoine Cholera Cemetery from 1799 to 1854, the square’s grounds today include an estimated 70,000 skeletons laying underneath the lush lawns and well-trodden sidewalks, many of which are buried in unmarked mass graves. During the cholera epidemic of 1832, an estimated 9,000 people died, many of whom were laid to rest here. 

However, due to the heavy doses of opium being prescribed to cholera patients at the time, some, simply in an opium-induced coma, were accidentally buried alive. Years later, during an excavation of the square, workers found coffins that had sustained damage to the inside as the victims fought to claw their way out. In Place du Canada, where a number of human remains have been discovered, people have experienced an abnormally high number of medical emergencies, including panic attacks, strokes, and heart attacks. 

 A Lost Piece of History

Fortunately, nothing as morbid has happened (as far as we know) at the next stop on the tour: McGill’s Redpath Museum. With construction being completed in 1882, the Redpath Museum is the oldest building in Canada built to house a museum. It contains vast collections relating to the fields of paleontology, zoology, mineralogy, and ethnology, articles of which are used daily in research projects and university courses. In an interview with The McGill Tribune, Sara Estrada, one of the educators at the Redpath Museum, explained the museum’s place in history. 

“We have very special pieces that are unique and you cannot see anywhere else, for example, [a] letter from Darwin to Sir Dawson,” Estrada said.

She added that you can even see fossils in the exterior limestone of the building, but as far as she knew, no remnants of the past had come back to life in the museum. Due to the museum’s affiliation with McGill as well as its reputation as a world-renowned site of study, I should clarify that the following story has not been confirmed by anyone working at the Redpath Museum—but is a notable one nonetheless.

Of all the rumours heard about this place, the story of George the Silverback Gorilla wins the “Best Redpath Museum Myth” award. Back in the 1930s, the museum acquired George, for cultural and educational research purposes. In the 1950s, a group of McGill students disguised in lab coats entered the museum and approached the director, explaining to the trusting man that a professor required George for research purposes. Unaware of their true intentions, the director agreed. The next day, George was found on top of the Three Bares Fountain, completely relieved of his genitalia. Upon George’s return to the museum, visitors, children in particular, have become frightened by a disembodied growling emanating from the silverback, perhaps calling for the return of his genitals. Interestingly, the stolen parts were never found.

A ghost on the wall

The final stop on this tour lands you, the reader, at the corner of Rachel and St. Laurent, to a local favourite that has been serving up bluegrass nights and ghostly tales for decades. This is Barfly—and yes, that was a Guy Fieri reference. The bar’s music volume will suddenly increase when certain songs, such as “Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon, are played. Employees have said they feel rapid rises or drops in temperature and have noticed a shadowy gentleman in a striped top who disappears before they can tell who it is, according to Haunted Montreal. Barstools have also been flung around after they were put up, suggesting someone doesn’t want the bar to close for the night. Even though this description could refer to most Plateau residents, these hauntings are overwhelmingly attributed to a former owner, Gary Sharp. Sharp owned the place, then called G. SHARP, in the late 1980s. A neighbourhood personality, he would often keep the bar open all night. Tragically and very suddenly, he died of a heart attack, but it is very possible his spirit is still keeping the place he loved company. 

A story to tell

Weaving new stories with ancient legends into the category of ghost stories keeps the spirit of this genre of storytelling alive and meaningful. 

“Ghost stories are a type of folklore that often complement [a] city’s history. We have a lot of activist material woven through [our ghost] stories. We are bringing issues to light such as LGBTQ+ issues, feminism, [and] post-colonialism […] along with other forms of oppression that can be challenged through this type of storytelling,” King told me.

To King, ghost stories are one of the oldest storytelling traditions of humankind, dating back to prehistoric times. While the truth of these stories lies only in the hearts of the people who tell them, there is value in recognizing how the past affects the present. Examining spooky tales them allows us to remember the trauma of the past so that humanity as a whole may learn from them and never repeat it. If ghost stories such as these help people imagine and internalize history, then the telling of them becomes all the more important. Also, if we ever forget them, our campfire stories would be all the less exciting.

Know Your Athlete, Sports

Know Your Athlete: Isabel Sarty

by Eliza Lee on

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February was a busy month for varsity swimmer Isabel Sarty. At the RSEQ provincial championships over the weekend of Feb. 3, the Martlet won gold in her three individual and three relay events and was named RSEQ female athlete of the year. Later that month, she competed at the U Sports championship, earning a bronze medal in the 50-metre fly. 

These achievements are only a few drops in the pool of Sarty’s exceptional six-year varsity swimming career. During her undergraduate degree at Dalhousie University, Sarty won a total of 20 provincial Atlantic University Sport (AUS) medals and broke the AUS records for women’s 50 and 100-metre frees. Outside of the pool, Sarty completed a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience at Dalhousie and began a master’s in neuroscience at McGill in 2021, all while dominating in the water. 

This season, one of the swimmer’s proudest achievements was breaking her personal records in some of her strongest races. Sarty noted that improving her best time by 0.09 seconds in the 100-metre free—her favourite race—at the RSEQ championship was a highlight of her season. These new personal records came as a welcome surprise to Sarty, given that her fastest swims were from 2020, immediately before the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to her training. 

“[I] never thought that I would get back to the shape that I was in undergrad,” Sarty told The McGill Tribune. “Now I’ve had the busiest schedule of my life so far, and the fact I could still swim better than I have in all the previous years was just such a personal accomplishment.”

Sarty’s interest in swimming began when her parents enrolled her in lessons at a public pool in her hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her parents saw swimming as a practical skill first and foremost, given that the family grew up beside the Atlantic Ocean. The sport came naturally to Sarty, who joined a summer swim team at the same pool at just six years old. She noted that these formative experiences instilled in her a love of swimming that has endured throughout her varsity career.

 

“My parents kind of fostered this idea that as long as you just work hard and have fun, then that’s all that matters [….] Since I started in a type of swimming that was relaxed […] it’s always been a part of my life that’s an outlet instead of a big stressor.”

– Isabel Sarty to the mcgill tribune

Sarty believes the positive atmosphere that her teammates and coaches fostered at McGill has kept the sport fun throughout her training. From competitions to pottery painting sessions to a trip to Puerto Rico for training camp over the winter break, team outings have been a memorable part of Sarty’s McGill swimming experience. The sense of camaraderie among the team was an important source of motivation for Sarty, especially given her busy schedule.

“If it wasn’t a fun environment to go to, I would not be walking down to the pool every day, and every morning,” Sarty said. “The support and happiness I feel at the pool has been […] life-changing.” 

The U Sports competition marked Sarty’s final varsity swim meet, as she plans on graduating this coming summer. But she stressed that the memories of her teammates and what she’s learned along the way will endure long after her final practice at Memorial pool. 

“I think [swimming] has really helped me […] in terms of goal setting, and just knowing that I can always push the limits of my goals,” Sarty said. “If I set my sights on something that might seem a little bit lofty or be a little bit far-fetched, I know that if I work hard and do the right steps and just stay really committed to my goals, swimming’s taught me that I know I’ll get there.”

Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

Creed III: This is only Round One

by Simi Ogunsola on

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I never really understood why directors were called storytellers until I watched the first Creed film. Somewhere between the gut-wrenching words of Meek Mill, Adonis’s (Michael B. Jordan) fingers tangled in Bianca’s (Tessa Thompson) braids, and the sweat, blood, and tears hitting the floor, I was completely transported. Watching the film felt like director Ryan Coogler was sitting in front of me, pulling me to the edge of my seat with everything he found beautiful in life. The second movie had a similarly enchanting feel, so I was more than intrigued (and I’ll admit, a little concerned) to hear that the third Creed film (the ninth installment in the Rocky franchise) would be helmed by a new director: The film’s star, Michael B. Jordan.

The movie picks up with world heavyweight boxing champion Adonis Creed three years into his retirement, still waiting to find his rhythm outside of the ring. He doesn’t know what to do with himself—he still has a little bit of the competitive bug and a whole lot of anger. Add in an uncomfortable surprise from his past, a battle to confront his own emotions, and a challenge he can’t back away from and––well, you might as well just cue a fierce training sequence set to J. Cole and Kehlani.

I’m Nervous, I’m Excited, but I’m Nervous

Creed III felt kind of…fast? At first, viewers are introduced to characters in scenes set with a kind of pump-fake conflict to make the real conflict that much more intense. I’ll admit, it worked; but once the main conflict was established, it felt like we rushed right through solving it. I mean, had my 10 p.m. bedtime alarm not gone off in the middle of the theatre, I would have mistaken the final fight for only more build-up. The movie’s run-time was just under two hours, but had they drawn out the big confessions or let those side-by-side training scenes run just a tad longer, the ending would have been a real knockout—pun intended.

Mental Health Matters

Looming even larger than I-can’t-look-away-from-the-tank-that-is-Jonathan Majors was the theme of pain and buried emotions. The entire film seems to ask, “how do you just talk about it?” The Rocky franchise included the overarching theme of “you vs. you,” which Creed III seems to pick up and shine its own light upon.

One Time for the Girliesssss

Going against the conventions of sports films, there were women in this film: Not just at parties, or signalling the changes between rounds, but in the sparring rings, holding up the pads and pushing champions to their limits. They stood, immovable, in the way of plans to just bottle pain up and try to forget it. Most of all, they were there, waiting at the end of a long line of legends, confident and ready to become the next one.

Can You Hear Me Now?

On the note of representation, the film also invited hearing viewers into the deaf community through Amara (Mila Davis-Kent), the daughter of Adonis and Bianca. It cleanly cuts through the stigma often associated with deaf people by presenting her not as an afterthought, but as a complex character with her own subplot. The film said, “here is Amara, she’s deaf… what about it?” In one scene that stuck with me, Adonis and Bianca were teaching a houseguest two American Sign Language phrases so that they could greet the young girl. In a way, they were teaching the audience, too, and lowering that barrier of entry.

Like with Coogler’s entries, the movie felt like an invitation into Jordan’s mind. The struggles highlighted and people given voices throughout the film felt like a beautiful, genuine glimpse at how he sees the world. Boxing fans, movie buffs, and MBJ fans alike will be delighted by the delivery of such a potent message through the knockout movies we all love. 

Arts & Entertainment, Pop Rhetoric

Jena Malone does not owe us the name of her assaulter

by Millie Roberts on

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This past week, The Hunger Games actress Jena Malone posted a photo on Instagram taken after wrapping up the last entry of the franchise, Mockingjay: Part Two. The photo, in which Malone is standing in a field in the French countryside, was captioned with a statement detailing her sexual assault by a coworker on The Hunger Games set. Malone stated that she is working to “reclaim the joy and accomplishment [she] felt” upon concluding filming of the franchise despite the pain she associates with it. 

The post incited a whirlwind of online discussion, with many offering heartfelt well-wishes and applauding her strength, but some members of the public expressed criticism. To them, without disclosing the name of her assaulter, Malone is complicit in shielding them from accountability. 

One Instagram user commented, “Hiding/protecting a violator only leaves them unaccountable and open to offend others. Call their name, and keep it moving.” 

This position comes from the hope that publicly naming sexual predators present in the film industry will make workplaces safer for women. Keeping their identity a secret only protects them from consequences, right?

While this stance might hold some moral integrity in theory, in practice, past cases show otherwise. Despite facing multiple sexual abuse allegations, Woody Allen continues to make films to this day. Marilyn Manson is currently suing Evan Rachel Wood for defamation after she accused him of sexual abuse. Harvey Weinstein is the exception, not the rule—and while Weinstein may be in jail, Rose McGowan claims that some of her projects were dropped, such as one with Amazon Studios, after she came forward against him. 

To come forward against an abuser does not guarantee substantive action, and—especially for women—it opens a new mode of discourse to be shamed and blacklisted. 

Take the defamation lawsuit between actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard—and its new and dangerous legal precedents. Heard penned an essay for the Washington Post in 2018, two years after their split, in which she detailed her experiences with domestic violence and the ways that her professional and personal life were affected by telling her story. Although she does not mention Depp by name, based on her previous restraining order filed against him for abuse, it is clear who she was talking about. In 2019, Depp sued Heard for $50 million over the article, claiming that Heard was in fact the perpetrator, rather than the victim, of abuse. What resulted was years of legal proceedings, with Heard ultimately losing the trial and settling her appeal out of court. 

The court of public opinion grants little mercy. Heard faces unparalleled online vitriol to this day. Seemingly uninterested in the complexities of abusive relationships and the evidence provided in court by either person, as well as Depp’s loss in a U.K. libel lawsuit decided by a singular judge, supporters of Depp rallied unflinchingly behind him. What took place was a wave of mass misogyny to steadfastly place Depp on a pedestal and Heard at the stake. 

Evidence that pointed to flaws in Heard’s case was broadcast across the internet, whereas evidence against Depp did not make headlines. A deeply personal case of domestic violence transformed into a public spectacle. The trial was live-streamed, and Johnny Depp fan accounts and Amber Heard hate accounts proliferated. Those who “suffered” in silence since the inception of the #MeToo movement finally had a scapegoat: An imperfect victim, a woman who could be vilified as a liar—regardless of whether Depp had lied, too. 

Malone’s post exemplifies how survivors can face scrutiny for almost every possible action and inaction. In the act of naming her perpetrator, Malone puts herself at risk of the same vilification and online abuse faced by so many women who publicly come forward against their abusers. After the Depp-Heard case, women who speak out against their abusers are not only publicly reviled but now face a legal precedent of a possible defamation lawsuit. Not only is Malone morally unobligated to inform the public on such a personal issue, but the material consequences of doing so would be increasingly devastating. 

Montreal, News

Montreal performers, singers, and activists celebrate International Women’s Day

by Oscar Macquet on

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Montrealers took to the streets on March 8 to celebrate International Women’s Day and protest in solidarity with women’s movements across the world. The demonstration began at Roddick Gates, after which a group of marchers traversed the downtown streets, stopping in front of Quebec Premier François Legault’s office and the United States Consulate General.

For the 22nd year running, the march was organized by Femmes de Diverses Origines (FDO), a grassroots network dedicated to uniting various women’s movements across Quebec. Prior to FDO’s march, the McGill Iranian Student Association (MISA) held a demonstration in solidarity with the uprisings against the Iranian government. The protests in Iran and worldwide were sparked by the murder of Jina (Mahsa) Amini in September 2022 at the hands of the country’s morality police for violating hijab laws. 

(Ghazal Azizi/ The McGill Tribune)

Wearing a white dress and a flower crown, Mandana Zandi circled the audience, turning a mirror towards demonstrators and fellow performer Reza Azarpour. In a post-performance interview with The McGill Tribune, Zandi explained that they hope their performance art symbolizes women, non-binary, and queer people’s struggles.   

“We wanted to express the plight of being a woman, and have a deity, a women’s protector, who is placed in a realm where earthers aren’t able to comprehend her,” Zandi explained. “The goddess is trying to help the human embrace her plights, from childbirth’s pain, menstrual cycle and societal oppression […] to transcend them. [….] All of us have an inner God that connects us to the universe, and if we listen to our inner self, no power can abuse us.”

 

(Ghazal Azizi / The McGill Tribune)

MISA’s vice-president Finance then concluded the association’s protest with a speech listing the demands of the Iranian Scholars for Liberty collective, a network focused on uniting diaspora Iranian academics in solidarity with the Women, Life, Freedom (Jin, Jiyan, Azadî) movement. 

“We, the Iranian Scholars for Liberty and collaborators, stand by women and nonbinary people in Iran and Afghanistan,” they said. “Let us acknowledge [their] bravery by amplifying their righteous demands […] to immediately repeal all forms of discriminating laws and act against […] women and nonbinary people, including execution of all nonbinary and women’s rights activists.”

The FDO then began their event with a speech by Cherie Jacobs from Quebec Native Women, followed by a surprise performance from the Raging Grannies that protestors welcomed with laughter and cheers. 

More featured speakers took to the microphone, such as Virginie Mikaelian from Fédération des femmes du Québec and Chantal Ismé, Monique Dauphin’s daughter—Dauphin was a Haitian activist for migrant workers who recently died in a fire at her Montreal residence. Noa*, a member of the Palestinian Feminist Collective, then took the stage to speak on the intersectionality of women’s movements with the fight against colonialism, capitalism, and racism. 

“Coming here as a Palestinian woman is important: Without the liberation of Palestinian women from all these systems of oppression, there can be no liberation of Palestine, period,” Noa told the Tribune in an interview. “People don’t associate feminism with anti-colonialism, anti-capitalism, anti-imperialism, but the reality is that they are intimately linked.”

As demonstrators marched towards Premier Legault’s office, a colourful array of national flags, banners, and pink smoke bombs dotted the procession. Chants such as  “women, united, will never be defeated” echoed in the streets, while political music like Shervin Hajipour’s Baraye filled the silence in between. (Hajipour won the 2023 Song For Social Change Grammy, and the song has been an anthem of Iranian protests.) 

When they arrived at Legault’s office, speakers protested Bill 21, which bans public sector workers from wearing religious symbols. Demonstrators also condemned the Quebec government’s treatment of asylum seekers and migrant workers at Roxham Road. 

( Ghazal Azizi / The McGill Tribune )

Marie Boti, FDO’s spokesperson and a founding member, reflected on the legacy of International Women’s Day, which began as Working Women’s Day, with the Tribune.      

“Amazing speakers are here with us today to talk about Indigenous resistances, anti-racism, anti-islamophobia, anti-poverty, local and international feminist solidarity,” Boti said. “We want to keep up the militant tradition of International Women’s Day [….] We want to shake things up and make a change.” 

*Noa’s name has been changed to preserve their anonymity.

This piece was updated at 1:55 p.m. on Nov. 14.

Sports

Mirror mirror on the wall, will Red Bull once again conquer all?

by Zoé Mineret on

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As the lights went out in Bahrain and the 2023 Formula 1 season got underway, fans flooded the stands to watch this year’s batch of drivers and cars perform on the track. With lots of speculation about who will win the World Championship, The McGill Tribune compiled a handy prediction guide to help you keep up with the race.

Which teams are the top challengers of the season?

Despite Red Bull’s reduced wind tunnel time, a result of their 2022 cost cap breach, the Austrian team had an easy one-two finish in Bahrain with Max Verstappen taking first and teammate Sergio Perez snagging second. The perfect finish is a telltale sign that Red Bull’s domination is far from over and that their recipe for success is just as effective as last season. The Tribune predicts that Red Bull will easily win the Constructors’ Championship.

On the other hand, Ferrari’s poor strategy over the past eight years—complemented by a number of driver errors—left the former championship-winning team unable to compete for titles. But Ferrari is once again a top contender, with new leadership setting the Italian team on what appears to be the right track to attain multiple podium finishes this year.

However, the Tribune regrets to inform Ferrari fans that 2023 is not the year for their team to regain its former glory. Despite its great car design, the SF-23 is no match for Red Bull, and the Scuderia will probably be second in the Constructors’ Championship. 

Fernando Alonso’s third place and Lance Stroll’s sixth place finish in Bahrain confirm that Aston Martin’s changes in both car design and engineering have paid off. The team can confidently expect to sit on top of the midfield. Fans of Alonso and Aston Martin can also expect multiple podiums from the Spaniard and riveting driving from both pilots. However, do not be fooled by reports that Aston Martin can win the Championship. The team’s performance promises to be exciting, yet insufficient to challenge Red Bull for the title: The Tribune’s crystal ball foresees exhilarating battles with Ferrari. 

Which drivers should fans look out for?

After proving to fans in 2022 that he’s still got it, Double World Champion Alonso’s move from Alpine to Aston Martin is proving to be the right one as he is finally in a podium-finishing car. As the most experienced driver on the grid, Alonso’s love for competition is known by all teams and drivers. The combination of his passion and his car’s abilities are sure to make him a top driver this season. 

Fans who also enjoy battles at the back of the field should look out for Haas’ Kevin Magnussen and Niko Hülkenberg driver pairing. The American team has done a complete 180 from its 2021 strategy: The 2021 team consisted of a pair of F1 rookies, but transitioned to two experienced drivers for its 2023 pairing. This combination will surely bring in some finishes in the points department, especially as Haas finished eighth out of 10 in the Constructors’ Championship in 2022, bringing in additional funding. 

Which teams have it wrong?

Lewis Hamilton’s P5 finish and George Russell’s P7 finish in Bahrain show that Mercedes can still fight for podiums and be a strong team in 2023. But this is not the standard of competition expected of Mercedes––a team that has dominated F1 for the past decade. Mercedes is a team that should fight for pole positions and championship wins. Instead, it looks like the team still hasn’t found the right combination to bring them back up to their standard of performance.

McLaren also had disappointing results in Bahrain, with a P17 finish for Lando Norris and a Did Not Finish for rookie Oscar Piastri. The team’s performance has slowly declined since the 2020 season when they finished P3 of the Constructors’ Championship. Their results in Bahrain are not only indicative that the team will be unable to rise to the top of the midfield, but also that they have completely missed the mark in terms of car design for this season. 

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