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Meet the Execs

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Tre Mansdoerfer – President

What have you done this summer?

“I spent time working on new initiatives, improving our internal documentation/structures, and finding space for student groups on campus. Regarding new initiatives, I reached out to over 70 student body presidents across Canada and the US to learn about what initiatives they have at their schools [….] Our internal documentation was severely outdated, I spent time collecting and verifying numerous sessions of the Board of Directors and Legislative Councils from previous years [….] Finally, [VP Student Life Sophia Esterle and I] spent significant time finding building space on campus. Working with [campus groups…], we are hoping to mitigate the impact of not having a SSMU building.”

What are you working on now?

“Two of [SSMU’s new] committees include the Fall Reading Week Committee and Governance Reform Committee [….] We’re hoping to engage on the fall reading week conversation more seriously than what was done in previous years [….We’re working on] the Governance Reform Committee, which VP University Affairs Jacob Shapiro has committed significant time to. We’re hoping to critically evaluate SSMU’s governance structures and work on reforming the structure of groups like the Board of Directors.”

What challenges do you foresee this year?

“The biggest challenge for this year is the building closure. Not having a building significantly hurts clubs, services, and operations such as Gerts. Knowing this, [Sophia Esterle and I] have spent a lot of our time […] helping groups get additional space on campus. We’ll continue to put our time into helping out clubs and services as much as we can so that student life on campus is not severely impacted.”

 

Sophia Esterle – Vice-President Student Life

What have you done this summer?

“I took on a lot of the communication with both our clubs and within SSMU, [and also with our banks]. [We’ve been looking] to find space, and I’ve coordinated with all of our student groups to [hear] their needs [….] I also worked […] to clean up our list of clubs and make sure we had an updated list of everything, and also worked […] on the new interface/login system they are developing for clubs. Finally, [I worked on] Activities Night. The change of locations was quite a challenge, [and,] this year [,] I attempted to organize it a bit more by assigning tables and publishing a set floor plan with all of the groups, as well as creating an entirely new layout and organization of the tables [….] I hope everyone enjoyed the event!”

What are you working on now?

“Right now, my main priority is building space. I want to make sure that as many groups as possible can function and be successful this year. We also have mental illness awareness week at the end of the month […] being organized for the first time, which is very exciting. Additionally, I’ve been working with Rez Life to set up an event in residences centered around mental health throughout the year.”

Creative, McGill, News

McGill Tribune Weekly News Update | Ep.1

by Tristan Surman & Calvin Trottier-Chi on

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This week, Managing Editor Calvin Trottier-Chi talks us through some of the most important news on campus!

Senate’s vote to support divestment from fossil fuels, increased discrimination and harassment claims, calls to rename the McGill Redmen, and classes being cancelled due to the Quebec Election!

Stay tuned for more, next Thursday.

Campus Spotlight, Student Life

The making of OAP: More than beer and barbecue

by Zoe Yalden on

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From Aug. 27 to Sept. 7, the sloping field behind the Roddick Gates once again transformed into McGill’s Open Air Pub (OAP). OAP, the university’s biannual student-run barbecue, is a major logistical challenge handled by a small army of engineering students.

This year, the scene at OAP was one of controlled chaos. Lower Field was redolent with the aromas of food trucks, and the endless beer and barbecue from the nearby tents. Behind the scenes, volunteers coordinated with the university, secured the necessary liquor permits, transported beer and food, organized cooking and clean up, and a thousand other tasks that make McGill’s biggest weeklong party a reality. The dedicated volunteers say that they donate their time to McGill to make a difference.

Students stream into OAP throughout the event’s 11-day run, generating revenues for the Engineering Undergraduate Society (EUS). Profits from the Fall semester go toward funding various engineering clubs and design teams. According to OAP managers Malcolm McClintock (Engineering U5) and Austin L’Ecuyer (Engineering U5) it takes a group effort between volunteers and university groups to host the event.

“We work with McGill in a lot of ways to make this event happen, but it is run by the EUS,” McClintock said.

This year, the organizers aimed to promote inclusivity for everyone to feel welcome. McClintock pointed to practical measures that have been taken to open OAP to a wider audience.

“Over the past few years, the managers have been focusing on ways to introduce alternative activities to OAP for people who choose not to drink,” McClintock said. “We included a variety of non-alcoholic [beverage] options, from iced tea to kombucha. We’re also putting more focus [on] having day events [….] We want OAP to be an event with drinking, not for drinking.”

The coordinating team worked to better cater to McGill’s diverse community with a wider array of musical offerings. According to L’Ecuyer, they also wanted to introduce a greater variety of entertainment at the event, after criticism that there was too much homogeneity at last year’s OAPhorum.

“We’re always exploring ways to include a wide range of musical genres and performers,” L’Ecuyer said. “We’re actively aware of the demographics of our performers. We try our best to include marginalized groups, so that everyone has a chance to show off their talents. We’re always looking for ways to be more inclusive, [and] we try and work in new feedback every year.”

To the organizers, their efforts to broaden OAP’s appeal have elevated the event from a casual social celebration to an important community-building event. According to L’Ecuyer, the event has recently evolved to reflect this inclusive spirit.  

“[OAP is] a place where all McGill students, graduates, alumni, and new students alike, can enjoy food, beer, and music,” L’Ecuyer said. “Every year we try and integrate new McGill groups into OAP because this is a place for the students [run] by the students.”

Football, Men's Varsity, Sports

Redmen football overtaken by Stingers 33-26

by Stephen Gill on

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On Sept. 15, the McGill Redmen (1-2) faced the Concordia Stingers (2-1) for the 50th annual Shaughnessy Cup. The Redmen gave their crosstown rivals a run for their money, but ultimately lost 33-26.

The first half saw limited offence from both sides. McGill struggled to move the ball across the field, sustaining only two drives of over 20 yards. Meanwhile, Concordia had more success in their end, but faltered in scoring range: The Stingers put up just three points on as many trips into Redmen territory. Much of McGill’s defensive strength came from its eight sacks, thanks to strong play up front and in the secondary.

“Whenever you can get sacks, that means you covered well in the back end, [because] the quarterback didn’t have anybody open, and vice versa,” Assistant Coach Joe Hagins said. “[If] you can get there [quickly, it] means you don’t have to cover as long.”

Despite both offences’ ineffectiveness, each side still racked up points. Soon after Concordia took a safety to open scoring, second-year defensive back Chris Mbiya blocked a field-goal attempt, scooped it up, and scampered 64 yards for a touchdown to end the first quarter up 9-0. Later, McGill recovered a fumbled punt return at the Concordia 40. The offence took it from there, moving the ball into the end zone in five plays, bookended by key receptions from second-year running back Daniel Adesegun.

The timely offensive spurt gave the Redmen a commanding 16-3 lead after the extra point, but McGill did not get to enjoy that lead a single play longer; Concordia took the ensuing kickoff to the house for a 107-yard touchdown. After forcing a McGill safety, the Stingers had closed the gap to 16-12 before halftime. That kickoff return proved to be the turning point in the game.

“I think if that return doesn’t happen, we make some plays,” Hagins said. “The defence had great momentum, and [on] offence, we were starting to get rolling, but they took that and just rode that high the rest of the first half, into the second half, until the end.”

With the new half came steadier offensive play from the Stingers, who finished three long drives with touchdowns. The Redmen’s defensive performance was noticeably different from one half to the other.

“First half, I think we did well,” fourth-year linebacker Kamba Katchelewa said. “We tried to put a lot of pressure on them and create confidence. The second half, we kind of slowed down and didn’t play to our standard, and it hurt us on the scoreboard.”

Although McGill scored just 10 points in the second half, the offence began to look more promising. The team’s best series took just three plays to drive 66 yards into the end zone.

“We could’ve done it all game long, but on this drive, everything was on point,” fifth-year receiver Remi Bertellin said.

Unfortunately for McGill, the offence had trouble holding its rhythm, and couldn’t sustain its lead or close the gap once Concordia pulled ahead in the fourth.

“We were on top, we just didn’t make that play to put the game away or make that play to put us in a position to put the game away,” Hagins said. “They made that play to keep it close and that play to overtake us.”

McGill will now turn its sights to a Sept. 23 matchup with the Université Laval Rouge et Or (3-0) at Stade Peps in Quebec City.

 

Moment of the game

Third-year receiver Jeremy Sauvageau paired a twisting, 34-yard grab with a subsequent 29-yard catch-and-run to set up fourth-year receiver Jacob Dwinnell for a toe-dragging touchdown in the back of the end zone.

Quotable

“We played consistently, but didn’t make the plays we needed to make, and that was the difference today [….] We’re a really young group, so they made the plays, [and] we didn’t make the plays.” – Assistant Coach Joe Hagins on the team’s youth

Stat corner

McGill’s eight sacks came from seven different defensive contributors.

Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

From the Viewpoint: The resilient whimsy of stop motion animation

by Charlie Mascia on

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This spring, to the beat of drums and the barks of strays, Wes Anderson released his second animated film, Isle of Dogs, nine years after his first, Fantastic Mr. Fox. Both use the century-old technique of stop motion animation. Though I enjoyed both films immensely, I knew nothing of the laborious technique behind their distinct aesthetic, until The McGill Tribune sent me to the community-focused Festival Stop Motion Montreal.

Ten years since its inception, Festival Stop Motion Montreal is thriving. The three day event was organized around the screening of more than 50 films hailing from around the world. The festival also offered seminar classes and interactive exhibits for experimentation with stop motion. This year’s guests included Tim Allen, the animator who brought Isle of Dogs to life, and Dale Hayward, who helped animate The Little Prince (2015).

The stop motion technique is simple in theory: Animators move objects incrementally, and photograph each change in position. To create the sense of movement, the images are played in a sequence, then stitched together in post-production. The process is painstakingly slow, and, typically, 12-24 images account for only one second of film. This process is inexplicably complex for a film like The Empire Strikes Back, where the Hoth battle scene includes dozens of different stork-like ATAT figurines assaulting the rebel base at once.

Despite the charm and beauty of stop motion films, the increased efficiency of computer-generated imagery (CGI) technology threatens to render the artform extinct. The festival’s success, with seven categories of films and multiple premieres, is a notable indicator of stop motion’s resilience in the face of CGI. In an interview with the Tribune, Festival Director, Érik Goulet explained how stop motion is adapting to recent breakthroughs.

“[Stop motion] is already interacting with new technologies,” Goulet said. “From digital cameras for faster capture to ease animator feedback, to 3D printing to speed up the process of lip syncing, and finally VR for more stop motion interactive storytelling.”

The festival emphasized these innovations with its installment of a “Virtual Reality Garden,” in which VR stations enabled festival-goers to explore stop motion animated worlds interactively with Oculus headsets.

I had never appreciated the difference between stop motion and CGI, but, after viewing the screenings, it became apparent to me that the former lends itself to radically more evocative imagery. Texture, colour, and movements feel more enchanting. Each film had such individual flair and sentiment; they would have lost their artistic imperfection and distinct aura had they been animated with CGI.

The festival featured a variety of fantastic, and sometimes head-scratching, independent and professional films. Negative Space, directed by Max Porter and Ru Kuwahata, was my favorite production, a five-and-a-half minute tour de force in storytelling and design. Focusing on a father-son bond, the film follows the life of a small child and his meaningful ritual of packing his father’s suitcase. The story is moving, and the imagery is surrealist: A road becomes a zipper and the inside of a suitcase becomes the playground of a young boy, splashing around in the packed clothes that lap like waves around his body. Independent productions like The Moon’s Milk, directed by Ri Crawford, and Así son las Cosas, directed by Juan Pablo Zaramella, were also festival highlights.

At the festival’s end, I was lucky enough to run into special-guest Allen. We talked Wes Anderson, Star Wars, and what makes stop motion animation so inexplicably special. 

“CGI can be more realistic, or even completely lifelike, but stop motion accepts the imperfection and appreciates the fantasy, and somehow it feels more realistic and more emotionally true,” Allen said.

McGill, News

Number of harassment complaints double in 2017-18

by Nina Russell on

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McGill announced that Sinead Hunt has been appointed to the position of Senior Equity and Inclusion Advisor (SEIA) in an email to the student body on Sept. 9. The SEIA acts as a first contact for students attempting to report instances of harassment or discrimination on campus. The number of complaints increased in recent years; according to the Annual Report on Harassment, Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Prohibited by Law, released on Sept. 12, there were 78 complaints were filed in the 2017-18 academic year, significantly surpassing the historical average of 33 complaints per year over the previous five years. Of the 78 complaints filed during the 2017-2018 academic year, 26 were filed on the grounds of harassment, 11 on sexual harassment, 12 on discrimination, and 12 were filed as mixed. Nine of these cases proceeded to investigation and formal resolution, while the rest were withdrawn, did not advance beyond initial inquiry, or were resolved informally.

Last year’s report recommended increasing the number of assessors from 10 to 12 and increasing the amount of training they receive, as well as outlining a specific role for the SEIA within the Policy.

“The number of Assessors will be elevated to 12 in 2017 in view of an increase in the number and complexity of the complaints noted in recent years,” the report reads. “During 2017-2018, Assessors will attend training sessions on: the mental health impacts of harassment, best practices in investigation of complaints, recent legal developments related to discrimination and of reasonable accommodations, the meaning and impact of unconscious bias, and basic mediation skills and principles.”

A Yale Law School graduate, Hunt has worked to advance human rights causes in Sub-Saharan Africa and advocated on behalf of children with disabilities in California. As well as acting as a contact for students, her role is to oversee the implementation of McGill’s Policy on Harassment, Sexual Harassment, and Discrimination Prohibited by Law.

The policy, which was initially ratified by the McGill Senate in Dec. 2005 and came into effect Apr. 2006, aims to reduce harassment by ensuring that the university’s policies are proactive in creating an equitable environment. It also outlines procedures for addressing discrimination when it occurs. As part of the latter goal, the SEIA position was created to assist students in reporting discriminatory behaviour and oversee responses. The SEIA works with twelve assessors, who are McGill staff members appointed by the Senate to investigate and mediate complaints.

“In my role, I receive and respond to any questions relating to the Policy,” Hunt wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune. “Individuals can contact me by phone or email to discuss, in a confidential manner, any questions or concerns that they may have relating to subject matter covered by the Policy. I also conduct intake where an individual wishes to proceed with a complaint under the Policy, which may proceed by informal resolution, i.e., mediation, or through a formal investigation, which is conducted by an assessor.”

In the past year, student frustration with the McGill administration for failing to adequately address allegations of sexual misconduct, particularly with regards to teacher-student relationships, culminated in an open letter addressed to the administration and a student walkout last April. Following this, to address issues relating to harassment and inclusion more generally, McGill’s Task Force on Respect and Inclusion in Campus Life released a report in Apr. 2018 outlining recommendations to better promote respect on campus.

The report outlines how the policies in place can be improved, while acknowledging that policies are not sufficient to foster tangible change in the campus culture.

“While cognizant of current discussions about sexual violence on our campuses, we note that significant efforts have been mobilized in the past few years to create and implement policies, services, workshops and campaigns on consent and sexual assault awareness and prevention,” the report reads. “This includes the […] Policy on Harassment, Sexual Harassment, and Discrimination Prohibited by Law (2017) [….] Policies are not a substitute for necessary changes to institutional culture and practices. This is where community trust and relationships are crucial.”

Features

Montreal: La belle ville de movie dorks

by Dylan Adamson on

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“We were shown, as in some strange phantasmagoria, scenes from different places in France. First there was the arrival of a train at the Lyon-Perrache station […] you could clearly see each individual. It was most lifelike: you really were at the station. The train left and everything disappeared […] And the sea? We saw it, not immobile, but rolling its waves. It was most striking. ‘How refreshing!’ cried a jocular fellow.”

So reads the only surviving document of North America’s very first film screening. On Boul. Saint Laurent, on June 27, 1896, a bewildered La Presse writer sat in an invite-only crowd of equally-bewildered French-Canadians, in one evening inaugurating the illustrious traditions of Montreal cinema, industry events, and film dorkery.

Montreal has long served as the capital of a national film industry working outside of the Hollywood monopoly. The Palace Theatre screening was merely the beginning of motion pictures’ complex history in Montreal.

Louis Minier, the Canadian franchise holder for the Lumière brothers’ newfangled “Cinematograph” machine, along with his assistant, Louis Pupier, held the premiere at 974 Boulevard St-Laurent. For fin de siècle Montrealers, the present-day Chinatown address was the site of the glamorous Palace Theatre, housed in the now burned-down Robillard Building.

Art, Arts & Entertainment

‘Resplendent Illuminations’ showcases centuries old opulence

by Keira Seidenberg on

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Softly lit walls and echoes of medieval chamber music provide the backdrop for a history-buff’s dream-come-true in the Montreal Museum of Fine Art (MMFA)’s current exhibition, Resplendent Illuminations. The show, which runs until Jan. 6, exhibits the work of centuries-old craftsmen in a sizable collection of books of hours.  

One of the most widely distributed forms of literature in the Middle Ages, books of hours are Christian devotional texts, named for their prescription of specific prayers to be performed at designated hours of the day. Notable prayers within the books include the hours of the Virgin Mary, the Holy Spirit, and various other saints. Critics and historians have lauded books of hours for their ornamental design and lettering, as their aesthetic beauty and lavish materials are meant to convey piety.

The books of hours displayed in Resplendent Illuminations date from the 13th to 16th centuries and are drawn from a variety of personal and private collections, including McGill University’s rare books collection. While many of the books are shown in their entirety, several of the artifacts have survived only as single sheets due to the passage of time. Many of the books pages are also warped, likely by water, or due to poor-quality paper.

Still, the delicate lines and elaborate patterning reveal the painstaking care that conservators and historians have taken to preserve the medieval works. Many of the pages on display are devoted to scenes of religious lamentation or Christian religious imagery. Each book is framed either by architectural backgrounds showcasing early attempts at linear perspective, or by tangles of bright flowers and tracing vines. When looking from a specific angle, the works gleam; careful brushstrokes of gold leaves shimmer, accentuating lettering and framing religious figures.

Stepping away from the MMFA’s graphic prints and suspended sculptures was a staggering  experience; both the space where the works were displayed and the attention they demanded were enough to temporarily distract from the realities of present-day. The books of hours had a resounding immediacy, showcasing the artist’s hand in a way often absent from polished prints. Peering into the long cases filled with books was awe-inspiring. It’s easy to imagine the production of the ornamental books and the reactions they inspired.

Amidst the clutter of ancient artifacts in many medieval exhibitions, illuminated manuscripts such as the books of hours are often overlooked. It takes a patient eye to appreciate the intricate floral designs and detailed facial expressions. Modern technological advancements mean we are often desensitized to the history of process and production. Resplendent Illuminations is a deliberate reminder of the craftsmanship once demanded to produce even a single page of a book, and the age old relationship between Christianity and the visual arts.

 

Resplendent Illuminations runs until Jan. 6, 2019. Tickets are available at https://www.mbam.qc.ca/en/exhibitions/on-view/resplendent-illuminations/

Student Life

Full-time student, part-time employee

by Katherine Willcocks on

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McGill students find employment for all sorts of reasons: Paying bills, accumulating spending money, or gaining valuable field experience. While working during the school year helps boost  financial independence and time-management skills, it comes with its share of challenges.

For many students, taking on a job while still in school opens the door to new opportunities. Mikhaela Neelin, BSc. ‘18, worked 20-hour weeks during her undergraduate career so that she could live independently and still be able to travel. Working while in school provided Neelin with enriching experiences that, otherwise, would have been out of reach.

“It allowed me to go on long trips during my bachelor’s degree, including McGill’s Africa Field Study semester in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania,” Neelin said.

Despite these benefits, Neelin had to make certain sacrifices when she first started working during the academic year.

“I loved getting to explore so much of the world without [going] into debt, but I was often distracted from my studies and could not be as involved in gaining practical lab experience as I would have liked to be,” Neelin said. “I had to stop running on the track team because of time conflicts, and my grades suffered as I juggled all of my commitments. It’s a question of priorities, and mine were more about experiences than they were about grades.”

During this time, Neelin learned to develop her time-management and schedule-making skills to balance her academic and professional responsibilities.  Though Neelin is proud of her practicality as she adjusted to life as a working student, she cautions that taking on too much can affect one’s friendships and community-building opportunities. In her experience, balancing part-time employment with full-time studies puts a dent in a person’s spare time, which can make it difficult to connect with friends.

“I woke up very early, and free time was next to nonexistent,”  Neelin said. “My answer to ‘want to hang out’ was almost guaranteed to be ‘I’m busy,’ and ‘Netflix and chill’ was an idea I only heard about in memes.”

Angela Novaković (U2 Sciences) thrives on her busy schedule. Last year, she worked around 13 hours a week at the McLennan Library, volunteered as a French tutor and in Dr. Tomislav Friščić’s chemistry laboratory, and juggled a 15-credit course load. To manage the demands placed on working students, Novaković prioritizes academics, while still remembering to take care of herself. She never studies after midnight and generally manages to fit in seven hours of sleep every night. The key to the work-life balance is just that—balance.

“You’ll have fun, and [working through school] is going to help you organize yourself in a better manner,” Novaković said.

Working a part-time job while studying full-time can seem daunting, but it can become a social activity, which may also help develop a professional network. As young workers, making the right connections can give students a leg up on their competition when preparing to enter the job market full-time. According to Novaković, the connections made on campus can also benefit a person’s mental health and academic life.  

“By studying and working on campus, I have met new people who have become like a family to me,” Novaković said. “It allowed me to share and receive tips and tricks about classes that I took or was about to take.”

Novaković also highlighted the importance of enjoying one’s part-time job, noting that it helps reduce stress by creating a welcome break from academic pressure. At the library, she had fun with her coworkers and found completing tasks as simple as finding the proper reference book for a student’s course rewarding. Ultimately, Novaković recalled a sense of pride in giving back to the McGill community.

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