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Editorial, Opinion

Self-determination, not colonial intervention

by The McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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Content Warning: Mentions of sexual and colonial violence

Amidst endemic gang violence, fuel blockades, and a cholera outbreak in Haiti, the United Nations (UN) Security Council is considering a military intervention to support the Western-backed central government. Foreign incursions have already begun, with Canada and the United States sending military equipment to Haiti on Oct. 15. These measures have been met with widespread condemnation and protests from Haiti to Montreal. The West’s military intervention in Haiti’s internal affairs is consistent with its legacy of vicious and sustained colonialism, which is what led to the country’s unlivable conditions in the first place. The effects of colonialism transcend borders, extending to impact the Haitian diaspora through systemic racism, including in Quebec and in Montreal. The Canadian government must end its violent interventions and actively listen to Haitian voices in conversations about what is best for their country. 

Haiti was the first Caribbean country to gain independence after its overthrow of French rule in 1804, and the first country to permanently abolish slavery. While independent for over 200 years, Haiti remains a brutalized target of Western colonialism. The U.S. violently occupied the country in 1915, and it was forced to pay a debt to France until 1947, continuing an economic legacy of French exploitation. More recently, in 2004, a UN military intervention, which included Canadian soldiers, committed widespread rape and sexual abuse and brought a cholera epidemic to the country that killed nearly 10,000 people. The UN faced repeated calls from the Haitian population to leave, but the operation persisted until 2017.

These actions from the West are not coincidental; they serve to reinforce imperialist power and interests. In 2004, Canada supported a coup against the democratically-elected leader of Haiti, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, which caused violence and instability in the country. Canada’s recent play for intervention is yet another attempt to exert Western control over Haiti’s politics and economy, and it must be stopped before Haiti’s cycle of suffering at the hands of colonialism is repeated.

Western political manipulation surrounding intervention extends beyond military campaigns and applies to self-purported “humanitarian” aid as well. The West’s conception of aid is not charitable; it provides development assistance in exchange for political influence and dominance, reinforcing power dynamics created during colonization. Canada and the West get acclaim for sending “aid” to countries such as Haiti, but then get to dictate how they are supposed to develop, who their leaders should be, and on what terms they can intervene. Aid should never be a political strategy to obtain dominance and control, and its current conception must be reworked to prioritize the self-determination of the recipient countries.

There are approximately 74,000 Haitians living in Quebec, mostly in Montreal, and as is often the case with Black communities in North America, they are subjected to over-policing, educational inequities, racist barriers to child-care, and severe immigration restrictions. These factors make it difficult to immigrate, and once in Canada, many are unable to receive permanent residency and are deported. Poor labour conditions and economic exploitation of Haitian workers in Canada further exemplify that Black immigrants are seen primarily as commodities by the Canadian immigration system. 

Haitians in Montreal have a long tradition of resistance against injustices. During the 1970s and 1980s, there was unfaltering Haitian-Canadian activism, including the movement against the deportations of Haitian Canadians and the Haitian taxi drivers’ battle against discrimination. It is time to recognize that the façade of Quebec and Canada as welcoming and humanitarian is a lie. The Canadian government must work to reform the immigration process and to eliminate systemic barriers for the Haitian community. A first step is creating an expedited immigration process for Haitian immigrants and refugees, similar to the one created for Ukrainians immediately after the war. The lack of a similar system highlights a racist double standard and shows that the Canadian immigration system does not prioritize Black lives.

The McGill administration also has a hand in the ongoing oppression of the Haitian community. McGill participates in the economic segregation of Montreal by raising rents in the surrounding area—forcing low-income communities such as Haitians out of neighbourhoods adjacent to campus. Additionally, professors have failed to give proper attention to the crisis in Haiti, despite it being a focal point in the history of the fight against colonialism and white supremacy. While much of the educational onus falls on professors, other lecturers such as teaching assistants also have the power to guide discussions in conferences and get students thinking critically. Without appropriately addressing the colonial crisis, the burden of education will unfairly fall on Black and Haitian students. As future leaders, McGill students have a responsibility to learn about the harms of imperialist intervention and fight to ensure it does not continue in Haiti.

Arts & Entertainment, Theatre

Another day, another vampire slay

by Aimee DeLong, Suzanna Graham on

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Imagine if a teenaged Wattpad author wrote the classic 1897 novel Dracula. Now, imagine that this sexy retelling is actually funny. This is the concept behind the Segal Centre’s newest play, Dracula: a Comedy of Terrors. Co-written by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen, the play features five brilliant actors who collectively assume over a dozen roles—and make it look easy. While the basic plot of the novel is unchanged, Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors raises the melodramatic stakes. Sexy vamps, special effects, and slapstick comedy brighten up the gothic stage, making this the perfect show to delight in this spooky season. 

The play follows Jonathan Harker (Colin Simmons), a nerdy 19th-century realtor who sells multiple London properties to the exceptionally thirsty Count Dracula (James Daly). After seeing an image of Harker’s beautiful fiancée Lucy (Naomi Ngebulana), Dracula decides he must attend the couple’s engagement party at Lucy’s family mansion, a transformed mental asylum that employs—yet underpays—the patients who live there. Here the play introduces Lucy’s father, Dr. Westfeldt (Ellen David) and sister Mina (David Noël), who, despite her luscious ginger beard, deserves love just as much as the more conventionally beautiful Lucy. Hijinks ensue as a love rhombus unfolds—because every character is a sucker for a sexy shirtless vamp. 

When thinking of the hottest undead bloodsuckers around, a few key players come to mind: Edward Cullen, Spike, and Damon Salvatore. Now, thanks to Greenberg and Rosen, an underdog has joined the ranks—the fangtastic Count Dracula. The play cleverly caters to the audience by displaying Daly’s washboard abs, leaving both characters and audience members alike down for the Count. While his dashing performance was undoubtedly a highlight, Dracula is not the only eligible bat-chelor making his rounds in Whitby, England. The timid Harker shares some intimately hilarious moments with his fiancée, Lucy, including one involving a cheeky candle-related innuendo. 

Meanwhile, the play does not shy away from adapting to the times. The scenes are filled to the brim with allusions to present-day pop culture, like Uber drivers and The Beatles. Moreover, the production leans into contemporary gender roles by having Lucy hold the reins in her relationship with Harker. The couple pushes each other to be their best selves and is ultimately able to resolve their relationship issues without any bad blood. Another notable decision was making Dr. Van Helsing a woman instead of a man, adding nuance to the character with subtle feminist subversion. 

Wigs and physical comedy, though, are the true MVPs of the play. Due to the bite-sized cast, each actor projects their talents through costume and wig changes that cloak their previous personas. David Noël is a particular sucker for quick changes. He seamlessly switches from cougar sister Mina to Van Helsing, a stoic and matriarchal German doctor who understands the high stakes of vampire slaying and upholding feminist values. But as Van Helsing tends to Mina amidst a mysterious illness that makes her go batty, the audience asks—how can one actor play two characters at the same time? Fear not! A ginger wig attached to a pillow and strategically placed fake arms cover up any visible discrepancies. 

The actors zhoosh up their performance with montage magic and jester tricks. As the characters journey across Europe, they use common modern objects like hobby horses and Axe body spray—signifying the foggy air surrounding their weary travels. The faux fog is incredibly convincing, and the audience can almost smell the high-school locker room stench. To explore Dracula’s chambers, Harker leads the group down several flights of stairs, using the classic mime trick that fully deserved the giggle the audience gave it. All in all, the play is a delightful romp that sinks its teeth into the absurdity and drama that is missing from the original novel.

With incredible acting and an unprecedented comedic angle, this stage production of Dracula: A Comedy of Horrors is not one to be missed. The work that both cast and crew infused into the play is clearly not in vein. So sit down, Buffy—this production is already a slay.

Dracula: a Comedy of Terrors is running at the Segal Centre from Oct. 23 to Nov. 13. Student discounts are available.

McGill, News

Judge grants injunction to halt New Vic construction in historic win for Mohawk Mothers

by Jasjot Grewal on

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A Quebec Superior Court judge, Justice Gregory Moore, granted the Kanien’kehà:ka Kahnistensera (Mohawk Mothers) an interlocutory injunction on Oct. 27, after a two-day court hearing for the Mothers’ ongoing lawsuit against McGill over potential unmarked Indigenous graves on McGill’s New Vic site. This injunction will effectively halt all archeological work for approximately four months. 

An interlocutory injunction is a court order that prevents a party from performing certain actions until the final decision in a case has been made. In this case, McGill is still allowed to perform maintenance work on the site, but is prohibited from conducting any further excavation. Arkéos, the archeological firm hired by McGill, had begun excavation without the Mothers’ consent on Oct. 12.

In an interview with The McGill Tribune, anthropologist and associate of the Mothers, Philippe Blouin, emphasized that the Mothers’ win is a historic achievement that establishes an important legal precedent. 

“It’s the first time in Canadian history that Indigenous people won without lawyers. This will be jurisprudence for future cases,” Blouin said. 

The two-day hearing saw arguments from both the Mothers and McGill, as well as Independent Special Interlocutor Kimberly Murray. The Mothers gave a presentation on the historical background of the case and recounted their past efforts. Mohawk Mother Kahentinetha also criticized McGill’s communication with the Mothers, which she described as negligent. 

“The only information we get is from McGill University’s Instagram photo-ops,” Kahentinetha said in court. 

Kahentinetha told the Tribune that during the proceedings, she voiced her frustration with McGill’s constant dismissal of the Mothers and their methods for handling the court case. Now that the judge has granted the injunction, she is looking forward to non-hostile discussions with McGill in the future. 

“We told them that we feel like we are being silenced,” Kahentinetha said. “We explained our frustration with the way we thought we were being mistreated, but it was basically a misunderstanding between us. And now, we’re going to be able to explain to them how we operate, which is very exciting.” 

McGill’s attorney, Doug Mitchell, debated with Murray and the Mothers over whether the Superior Court of Quebec was the appropriate setting for adjudicating this case. The Mothers countered that they had exhausted all channels outside of the court to express their concerns, and argued that the courtroom was their last resort.

“[The Mothers] filed another affidavit [on] the first day of the hearing that showed all the different steps that they already took to try to voice their concerns,” Blouin said. “It was taken into account with the final report of the [Office de consultation publique de Montréal].”

On the second day of the hearing, the Court established that it had the responsibility to act in an honourable way toward Indigenous peoples as stipulated by the honour of the Crown constitutional principle. The principle outlines that the government must “act with honour, integrity, good faith, and fairness in all of its dealings with Indigenous peoples.” 

In anticipation of the hearings, Divest McGill, a student-run environmental justice group, held events to mobilize the McGill community in support of the Mothers. One of the events was a protest outside of the Palais de justice de Montréal on Oct. 26. About 30 people attended, with some individuals inside the courthouse watching the hearing, while others watched the live stream from outside. Maya Garfinkel, U4 Arts and Divest organizer, believes that students must bear witness to McGill’s litigation in order to hold the administration accountable for its actions. 

“McGill’s strategy, as with many issues that McGill faces, has been to sweep things under the rug. So in order to combat that strategy of erasure, we need to do the opposite,” Garfinkel said in an interview with the Tribune. “We need to raise awareness and bring people into the fold who may not be aware of what is happening otherwise.” 

On Oct. 25, Divest held a movie screening in support of the Mothers, showcasing Kanehsatake, 270 Years of Resistance, a film about the Oka Crisis, or the Kanesatake Resistance—a confrontation between members of the Mohawk Nation and the city of Oka, which called in the Canadian army after trying to expand a golf course into a Mohawk burial ground.

“It is ultimately a story of resilience, and we want to take that message of resilience forward as we continue to act in solidarity with the Mohawk Mothers and the Indigenous peoples in resistance across Turtle Island,” Garfinkel said.  

Edna Isabel Mameanskum, a protestor and member of the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach, was present for the hearing, and condemned McGill’s alleged desecration of graves. She believes that the Canadian legal system is not built for handling issues regarding unmarked Indigenous graves, as there is no previous jurisprudence entailing how to deal with mass burial sites on unceded land. 

“I felt obligated to be here because everyone needs a proper burial. Why would you just go and move the bodies of children, especially children,” Mameanskum said in an interview with the Tribune. “I was inside and […] lawyers said they’re not qualified to make these kinds of decisions because their laws are white laws. He said we’re here because of colonialism. It really hit me [….] I felt chills.” 

Following his decision to grant an emergency injunction, Justice Moore commended Mohawk traditions of mediation. He encouraged both parties to uphold those principles instead of adversarial litigation. 

“He said that these talks should be inspired perhaps by the way discussions happen in the Longhouse and Mohawk tradition,” Blouin said. “The Mohawk Mothers are not opposing McGill per se. They respect their educational vocation, but […] this is a question of the land there. If McGill is standing on unceded land, it has to be dealt with in a respectful manner.” 

Kahentinetha emphasized that the long-standing Indigenous decision-making process should be of interest to all parties. She recounted a time when she taught members of the McGill community about the approach and the importance of constructive debating. 

“When we taught it the first time at McGill, we were there for a whole day,” Kahentinetha said. “We explained it to them, and gave them a problem to work on. They loved it. They said ‘this is the best decision-making system I’ve ever seen.’ This is not adversarial. This is one where people learn to understand each other. And in the end, people can become friends.”  

The Mothers celebrated their win, but quickly returned to preparing for the collective discussions in four months. In the next hearing, which has yet to be scheduled, all parties will collectively determine the most effective and ethical archeological practice for performing work in a way that is respectful to the land and the potential remains.

“We have four months to work out some kind of agreement on each side, so that we understand each other, what we’re trying to do, and just how this is going to be carried out,” Kahentinetha said. “We really want to start a good dialogue. That’s what we’re working towards, a peaceful dialogue with McGill.” 

McGill is also preparing for the collaborative discussions. McGill media relations officer Frédérique Mazerolle outlined McGill’s next steps after the court-ordered excavation postponement in an email to the Tribune. 

“The archaeological fieldwork […] is completed and the intervention did not lead to any archaeological discovery,” Mazerolle wrote. “Following the court decision this week, granting a short-term injunction to the defendants, McGill will examine the decision thoroughly over the coming weeks and will reach out to the special interlocutor to discuss ways of meeting the concerns that were raised.” 

The Mothers urge students to continue to peacefully support their case. In fact, student activism may have made a difference in the Mothers’ case, according to Garfinkel. 

“I was struck by the mentions of student activism and student voices even in the courtroom,” Garfinkel said. “For example, the Mohawk Mothers were able to leverage the fact that many students had spoken out against the issue during their statement in court, making it clear that […] there are many in McGill’s public, including in the student body, who oppose the way the project has been moving forward. It was clear that this statement had weight in the courtroom and we were proud to have contributed to that possibility.” 

The Mothers hope that their win will mark a new era of reconciliation at McGill.

“Real progress can be made from here. It’s wonderful that we’re going to do this,” Kahentinetha said. “No more stress, no more fear, none of that. Can you imagine that after [500 years], we’re now going to be taken seriously?” 

Sports

McGill swim teams finish first at second Quebec Cup

by Eliza Lee on

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McGill Swimming hosted the second Quebec Cup league swim meet of the RSEQ season at Memorial Pool on Oct. 29. Both the Martlets and Redbirds teams finished first in their respective men’s and women’s divisions, allowing McGill to beat out the teams from the University of Ottawa, Université de Laval, Université de Montréal, Université de Sherbrooke, and Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. The McGill team secured first place by an impressive margin with a total of 1,058.5 points—293 points ahead of second-place University of Ottawa. 

After narrowly coming in second place just 76.67 points behind UOttawa at their first meet on Oct. 7, the Redbirds’ win came as a welcome surprise to the team. 

“[The win] was pretty unexpected, I would say. But I think we’re going to keep that ball rolling going through the season,” said Redbirds captain Eric Pelletier in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “We have goals to win the RSEQ banner and to place well at USports.”

The Martlets relay teams were more of an expected success. The teams dominated at the meet, placing first in both the 4 x 100-metre free and the 4 x 100-metre medley relay. The Martlets also swept the top four spots on the ranking of multiple-medal athletes, with fourth-year Daphné Danyluk and second-year Isabel Sarty tying for first with three gold medals each. Third-year Elizabeth Ling and second-year Cailin McMurray earned the third and fourth most medals, respectively. 

Sarty, a master’s student in neuroscience, had a particularly successful meet, and was named the swimmer of the meet by the Quebec Cup and athlete of the week by McGill Athletics, in addition to earning gold medals in both of her individual races and the 4 x 100-metre free relay. Sarty’s 2:02.94 finishing time qualified her for the USports championship, and even more impressive was her 25.89 seconds 50-metre free finish that qualified her for nationals. 

Sarty saw being at the McGill home pool as a factor in her success at the meet. She specifically noted the energy that came with the rambunctious audience and teammates. 

“I think that really fed into my motivation for my races, and it really helped my confidence,” Sarty told the Tribune. “The team was so close to each other, and there was so much cheering, and I was able to have my friends and family here to watch.” 

Head coach Peter Carpenter attributed the team’s outstanding results to the swimmers’ dedication and hard work over the season thus far, especially in the face of adversity.

“I think […] they’ve worked extremely hard in the past little while, and [they’ve been] fighting through illness,” Carpenter said. “They’ve managed to push through, so I’m super proud of them.”

The swim team’s next meet is on Nov. 18 at the University of Ottawa. 

Moment of the meet:

In the final event of the evening, the men’s 4 x 100-metre free relay,  McGill and UOttawa were neck and neck throughout the race. In the final 50 metres, the Redbirds pulled ahead and won the race to thunderous cheering from their teammates and the crowd.

Stats corner:

The Martlets won the women’s division with 597 points, easily out-distancing second-place Ottawa with 319.5.

Quotable: 

“To be honest, our men, we were more looking at second place as being a more likely result and they managed to win, so that’s a huge, huge result for us.”– Head coach Peter Carpenter on the Redbird’s success

Science & Technology, Science Rewind

 School of Computer Science celebrates 50 years of groundbreaking research and exemplary leadership

by Athina Sitou on

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McGill’s School of Computer Science (SOCS) made the most of their 50th anniversary by celebrating notable alumni, students, and professors through an eclectic selection of activities on Oct. 21 and 22. Networking events and featured talks complemented undergraduate and graduate research presentations focused on various computer science (CS) topics, followed by an open coding challenge that concluded the two-day event.

The McGill Tribune sat down with SOCS director Mathieu Blanchette and SOCS co-director of undergraduate affairs Brigitte Pientka to discuss the School’s past achievements, present challenges, and future goals.

Blanchette highlighted alumnus Alan Emtage, BSc ‘87 and MSc ‘91, for his pivotal role in the creation of the world’s first web search engine, Archie. McGill awarded Emtage an honorary doctorate for his significant contributions to the development of the Internet, as well as his commitment to making his work freely available so that anyone could benefit from it as quickly as possible.

“The thing that I’m the most proud of is that this School has trained more than 10,000 students, [many of whom] have gone on to impact society [in various ways and have] contributed to making Montreal a hub of research and development in artificial intelligence,” Blanchette said. 

Pientka described the development of the SOCS as truly remarkable. From a nascent department with just a handful of professors, it has grown into a world-class teaching institution with more than 2,400 students, representing 30 per cent of the students in the Faculty of Science, according to Pientka.

“Our student population has changed a lot. Computer science is not a fringe kind of thing anymore for really techy people [….] It’s for everybody,” Blanchette said.

Women, however, make up a minority of the “everybody” that the SOCS director is referring to. At McGill, the proportion of CS undergraduate students who identify as women amounts to just over 35 per cent. SOCS is rightfully proud of this percentage, which is significantly higher than the average 20 per cent at many North American universities.

Pientka’s experience as an undergraduate CS student in the early 1990s was strikingly different than that of a woman’s today. The professor shared that she would only spot four to five women in a CS class of 400 students and that she did not have any real role models due to the utter absence of female professors. 

One of Pientka’s favourite moments of the 50th anniversary celebration was a talk by alumna Carla Brodley, BSc ‘85, which centered on ways to extend participation in CS beyond the typical white, male population. Brodley is a world-renowned artificial intelligence (AI) researcher and the Dean of Inclusive Computing at Northeastern University. 

Brodley’s academic path exemplifies the versatility of the programs offered at SOCS. For instance, she had initially chosen an English major, but she switched to economics before finally settling into CS after an introductory programming course lured her in. 

On Oct. 21, Brodley presented various strategies SOCS could implement to further increase accessibility in CS for women.

“The next step is to increase the participation of [women]  in the master’s program and [to figure out] how to fund them because a lot of them are international students,” Pientka said.

The SOCS’s enrollment has skyrocketed in recent years and has attracted an increasing number of individuals who have been traditionally underrepresented in the field, particularly women, by offering different pathways into CS such as through the Faculty of Arts, interdisciplinary programs like Computer Science and Biology, and through the highly accessible 200-level computer programming courses.

Pientka also stressed that additional resources from the university would allow SOCS to continue their exemplary work in a more sustainable manner.

“It would be important that McGill recognizes the importance of computer science, in society and economy, but also for the students,” Pientka said.

Campus Spotlight, Student Life

Word on the Y: Spooky stories that will keep you up all night

by Julie Jacques on

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While Halloween itself has officially passed, the Halloween spirit continues to thrive on McGill’s downtown campus. In a city as old as Montreal, there are bound to be some spooky spectres floating around and frightening citizens. Or, if you’re more into ghost stories, there are bound to be some rumours of spectres. For example, you may have heard that fur trader Simon McTavish’s ghost roams Mount Royal, or that the halls of the Allan Memorial Institute, formerly Ravenscrag, (seriously, Ravenscrag?), are haunted by the exploited victims of the notorious MK-Ultra experiments. How about friends and family members who swear they’ve seen the ghost of a loved one, or psychics who are a little too on the nose? The McGill Tribune asked students to share spooky stories they think can only be explained through supernatural means. 

Dreadful Doll 

“At my tenth birthday party, a bunch of girls and I were in my basement, and there’s this doll that I have that hangs on the ceiling and doesn’t move. It started swinging on its own, so we were all freaked out and started screaming. I don’t know if I believe in ghosts, but it was probably a ghost.”

– Laura Gervais, U2 Science 

Visions of the Future 

“I went to a psychic with my sister when she was 16 and I was 13. When I tell you it was the most specific reading of my life, I’m not kidding. It all came true. The psychic told me I would get an injury on my right knee, and two years later, I had to quit gymnastics because of a gym injury. She was spot-on! She also predicted my sister would get proposed to when she was 24. She’s 24 now and her boyfriend, who she never told about this, gave her a promise ring for her 24th birthday. It wasn’t just [any] ring either––it was his grandmother’s engagement ring. We initially went [to the psychic] as a joke, but I’m convinced that she was the real deal.”

– Karine Faingold, U2 Arts 

Pet Cemetery?

“I’ve never experienced anything ghostly, but one of my friends told me about how she was walking her dog near a cemetery, and her dog started barking and freaking out. She turned around and saw three headstones, and she swears to me that around the headstones, she saw three spirits talking to each other and mingling. She says they noticed her dog and turned to look at her.”

– Alexandria Sasso, U1 Arts 

Datamatch Horror Story 

“One time, I got ghosted by a girl who knew too much about the Unabomber. That’s pretty spooky, I would say.”

– Alex Barbeau, U2 Science

Sitcom Scare 

“One time, my parents were out for dinner pretty late, so I was home alone. I kept hearing these weird noises, so I went down to the living room to investigate, and when I got there, the TV just turned on by itself. I was confronted by the Golden Girls loudly blaring through the house, and it scared the crap out of me. To this day, I’m convinced it was the ghost of one of the Golden Girls telling me to keep their ratings up.”

– Mia DiMatteo, U2 Arts

A Voice from Beyond

“When I was about 12, I was home alone and thought I heard a voice––for some reason, I thought it was my dead grandmother’s voice, even though I never met her. I ignored it at first but then it started saying my name, so I started to panic. I called my mom and the voice got louder so I started screaming and my mother started panicking too. Needless to say, I ended up going over to my neighbour’s house to escape the voice of my dead grandmother.” 

–Jessica Gearey, U2 Arts

McGill Recommendations, Student Life

Which winter boot are you?

by Joy Sebera on

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Did you all enjoy the brief intermission of 20-degree weather last week? Well, too bad—we’re back to our regularly scheduled programming. Remember that the temperature drop means that we’re barreling toward the moment no one has been waiting for: Winter. 

Yes, winter is coming, and it’s important to be prepared when the harsh cold arrives (and inevitably overstays its welcome). Some of the most essential items to invest in are winter coats, gloves, hats, and, of course, winter boots. If you’re new to Montreal and don’t have boots, or if you do have boots and you’re looking to upgrade, look no further because The McGill Tribune has you (and your feet) covered.

Music

Music majors march to the beat of their own drum (literally), and anyone sporting Moon Boots would be no exception. These out-of-this-world boots are certainly more of a statement than others, but if you’re going to be wearing the same pair of shoes for the next six months, you might as well showcase your creativity and personality. The Moon Boots come in multiple colourways, as well as tall and short versions, giving you the freedom to style your shoe any way you want. In fact, the unique shape of each shoe is designed such that the right and left shoe are interchangeable, and you can even mix and match the colours.

Management

Business majors are most likely to keep up with what’s up in trends—and probably the stocks, too. While puffer jackets have been a staple for the past few years, puffer boots are only now starting to make an appearance, and there’s no better time to make an investment than before a trend hits the mainstream. North Face’s Nupste Mules are the perfect choice. While they do exist in a high-rise version, we all know Desautels students don’t leave Bronfman and don’t have to brave the cold between classes, so what’s the point?

Engineering

For our engineering friends, Columbia’s Ice Maiden Boots perfectly balance comfort and structure. The rigid framework with a square-toe shape provides good support while the cushioned lining ensures comfort and warmth. These boots are a serious and sensible choice for the engineering student who spends a lot of time on their feet and in distress.   

Bio/Life Sciences 

For those long treks up to McMed and/or Stewart Bio braved every day by biology and life sciences majors, Line Ski Booties are a mountain climber’s dream. These boots have a mouldable foam insole that will provide comfort for long walks up and down the hill. With Michelin outsoles (yes, like the tire brand) and cinch laces to secure your feet, there’s no need to worry about slipping.

Boot grips are not necessarily required for these stompers, but why not? Might as well bring an oxygen tank in case of altitude sickness. 

Political Science/International Development Studies

Don’t worry, we can’t forget about our fellow Arts students. The ever-popular and, at this point, classic Doc Martens would be a great choice for such popular majors as poli sci and IDS. Originally a British brand, Doc Martens’ reach around the world exemplifies the boot industry’s globalization. And if this model is not to your taste, the boots come in other varieties including low-rise and fur-lined boots. There is even a vegan equivalent, which is a more sustainable choice and can help us all march one step closer to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Know Your Athlete, Martlets, Sports

Know Your Athlete: Marika Labrecque

by Anoushka Oke on

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After five years with the Martlets varsity hockey team, sixth-year centre Marika Labrecque took her athletic prowess to the next level and joined the varsity golf team.

Originally from Lac-Etchemin, a small town near Quebec City, Labrecque chose to attend McGill both because of its educational and athletic prospects.

Labrecque has played hockey since she was five years old. Growing up playing on boys’ teams, Labrecque made the transition over to girls’ hockey when she was 15, playing for the Honey Bees du Sud in the Ligue de Développement du Hockey M18 AAA du Québec. Before kicking things off with the McGill Martlets in 2017, Labrecque also played two seasons for the Dawson College Blues, where she logged 22 goals and 32 assists in the 45 games she played. After graduating with a physical education degree in 2021, Labrecque returned for her fifth year of eligibility as a School of Continuing Education management student. Over the course of her four seasons with the Martlets, Labrecque has consistently been one of the top four scorers on the Martlets—she has totalled four goals and one assist over 12 games so far this season. 

While hockey has been a lifelong passion, golf is a newer affection for Labrecque. She was briefly introduced to golf in elementary school through an after-school program that transported students to a golf club where they received lessons. Outside of that, however, she didn’t play much when she was younger. Like many others who found a new love for the game over the COVID-19 pandemic, the sport piqued her interest mainly over the past two summers.  

“At the beginning of the year, I sent a message to the coach and just [scheduled] a practice with them, just to see—in comparison to the other girls—where I was at,” Labrecque said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “I really love golfing, so I just wanted to see if maybe I have a chance [….] I just wanted to try a practice with them, but I made the team.”

Despite no overlap between varsity seasons, with golf wrapping up at the beginning of October and hockey just getting started, Labrecque finds that being a dual-sport athlete to be a demanding feat.

“After a weekend of golf—we played three rounds—my back was hurting so much,” she said. “I have back problems with hockey, but after turning like 200 times […] it was more difficult to play hockey Monday morning after that. Golf is not intense, but it is so demanding for our bodies at the same time.”

The golf season was an exciting opportunity for Labrecque, offering her access to a whole new level of competition.

“With golf, I’ve never played against really good players,” she said. “I play with and against players at Lac-Etchemin, but with so many girls that are so good [at McGill], it was so nice to play with them and compete with them. It just shows me that I still have stuff to learn in golf, and playing with them—with so many good players—was the best thing for me.”

Outside of school, Labrecque cannot get enough of sports. Even with a packed schedule, she appreciates that sports give her an opportunity to be competitive. She plays tennis in the summer, and also trains for triathlons. She enjoys being on the water, and one of her favourite things to do in Lac-Etchemin is to go boating with her friends.

This year, the Martlets will be a relatively young roster consisting of seven first-years and eight second-years. With the 2022-23 season serving as Labrecque’s sixth with the Martlets, she is a seasoned veteran well-versed in the ins and outs of RSEQ hockey. Labrecque hopes the team can grow and learn from one another, and looks forward to the remainder of a promising final season as a Martlet.

Formula One, Sports

Red Bull’s cost cap breach and the FIA’s lack of transparency

by Zoé Mineret on

More in Formula One:

On Oct. 10, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) released its findings from an investigation into possible 2021 cost cap violations. Aston Martin was found guilty of a procedural breach after providing inaccurate financial documentation to the FIA. Red Bull was found guilty of both a procedural breach and a minor financial overspend, representing less than five per cent of the cost cap.

In 2021, the FIA set the cost cap at $145 million in an attempt to reduce the gap between teams that were able to spend several hundred million and teams who could barely reach the cost cap. For example, Haas spent a total of $80 million for the 2020 year while Mercedes spent $450 million and even had to fire some employees to meet cost cap regulations.  

This spending gap between teams has proven to have major consequences on the perceived fairness of races. Max Verstappen, who races for Red Bull, won the 2021 Driver’s Championship. He controversially snatched the win in the final race of the season by overtaking Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in the last lap. In light of FIA’s conclusion that Red Bull had breached the cost cap, coupled with the contentious win, fans were quick to anger, rushing to Twitter to express their frustration with Red Bull’s disregard for the rules. Some fans even went as far as to suggest that the 2021 title should be stripped from Verstappen and given to Hamilton.

But fans aren’t the only ones upset about this perceived injustice. McLaren’s team principal Zak Brown wrote a letter to the FIA and F1 chiefs stating that any breach of the financial regulations constitutes cheating, provoking a fervent defence from Red Bull’s principal, Christian Horner. Mercedes’ team principal Toto Wolff declared that Red Bull’s breach could not be qualified as minor, explaining that even a $500,000 overspend could heavily influence the outcome of a championship.

On Oct. 28, the FIA announced that Red Bull would receive a $7 million USD fine and a 10 per cent reduction in wind tunnel time, which is used to perfect aerodynamic testing. While Horner has denounced the punishment as draconian, Wolff declared that one of the most significant consequences for Red Bull would be the reputational damages to the team.

However, the Red Bull cost cap situation reflects the FIA’s larger problem with accountability. The lack of clarity in the FIA’s original announcement of the cost cap breach provoked more than two weeks of speculation about what really happened: How severe was the cost cap breach, and why did Red Bull overspend to this extent?

The murky dealings within the FIA have consistently put drivers’ lives at risk and in some cases have proven to be fatal. During this year’s Japanese Grand Prix, Alpha Tauri driver Pierre Gasly almost collided with a crane on the track deployed to retrieve Carlos Sainz’s damaged car. The dangerous racing conditions were almost identical to the environment Formula 1 driver Jules Bianchi lost his life in after hitting a crane on the track during the Suzuka Grand Prix in 2015. The FIA’s investigation of the accident qualified Gasly’s driving as “reckless,” seemingly absolving themselves of any blame. Although the FIA’s investigation also recognized that the deployment of cranes on the track potentially should be delayed, they did not acknowledge their failings in ensuring the drivers’ safety.   

The FIA’s constant lack of accountability makes the sport less enjoyable for fans. Having to continuously question the decisions of a sport’s governing body distracts from the breathtaking races and the intricate mechanisms of the vehicles. When the focus is taken away from the beauty of the sport and turned to the FIA’s regular shortcomings, it leaves fans disappointed and disheartened. If the FIA continues to brush serious concerns regarding their provision of safety and fair judgment under the rug, it will undoubtedly push people away from the sport.

Arts & Entertainment, Pop Rhetoric

Pop Dialectic: To binge or not to binge?

by Aimee DeLong, Charlotte Hayes on

More in Arts & Entertainment:

Since the dawn of time, many great conflicts have arisen—from religious crusades to World Wars. The most polarizing? Whether streaming services should release episodes every week or all at once. While the introduction of platforms like Netflix boasted users’ ability to binge new content rather than wait, many have returned to staggering the release of episodes. The McGill Tribune weighs in: Which is better?

Same service, different font — Aimee DeLong

Whether it is online shopping or scrolling through social media, Gen Z, unlike older generations, has become accustomed to immediate access to everything. Since there seems to be an ever-growing laundry list of things we can access in a matter of seconds, why stop at Netflix?

Largely, the appeal of streaming services is the ability to watch whatever you want, whenever you want—from comfort shows to streaming services originals. When watching a high-stakes show like Stranger Things, access to the entire season on-demand prevents the anxieties of cliffhangers from lurking in and consuming people’s minds. The return to the week-by-week model of releasing episodes raises the question of why we bothered giving up cable in the first place.

We cannot deny that these media companies, despite critiques of instant gratification, formed their identities in competition with cable. Conversely, they now find themselves doing exactly what these broadcasting corporations do—release content weekly and drop periodic promo material. With the binge model, individuals retain freedom of choice, streaming content in a way that fits their needs. Meanwhile, with the week-by-week release, viewers must tune into the show as quickly as possible to avoid being bombarded with spoilers online. If you don’t watch the latest episode of popular Disney+ shows like She Hulk the moment it comes out, Instagram will be sure to shove the plot in your face with painstaking detail. 

In the end, people will choose the method of watching television that works best for them. Yet, forcing the weekly release schedule on streaming services revokes choice, rendering any platform virtually identical to cable. I’m not telling you to watch all seven years of New Girl in one sitting—I’m just telling Netflix to stay in its lane. 

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! — Charlotte Hayes

To compete with Netflix, legacy media companies are keeping or reinstating weekly episode drops for original content. HBO Max (or Crave) has kept the weekly release model for on-air HBO shows and its exclusive streaming content. Subscribers don’t have to wait until a show has wrapped its season to have access to it digitally, and can synchronously log on to watch as it airs live on television. It’s nothing revolutionary, but the power of the weekly release model lies in its simplicity of access and appeal to community anticipation. 

The week-to-week model is precisely the return to form we need. This model brings back water-cooler conversations, a quintessential element of media consumption. Weekly releases afford fans the opportunity to discuss shows as they progress, enjoying every episode rather than the larger, season-wide discourses. Instead of rushing through a show and dodging spoilers on your Twitter timeline, viewers can watch and take in an episode––its theories, designs, elements, and gags––on its release day. 

Shows made for the binge model can feel rough and unpolished as showrunners scramble to keep up with the unrelenting demand of younger, chronically online audiences. In an ironic twist, the hyper-connectivity of the internet is cheapening the experience of watching our favourite shows on these digital platforms. It strips all the enjoyment out of every episode, reducing the experience to simply a race to find out what happens first. In this way, the binge model feels distinctly pro-consumption and very anti-art. 

The weekly release model has been in place for years—it’s what makes television such an exciting medium, distinct from film. Showrunners intend their art to be seen and savoured at every interval. The weekly model is not only better for the viewer, but for their community connections. 

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