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Commentary, Opinion

McGill Quebec Studies: Maintaining an international university’s local roots

by Grace Gunning on

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The existence of McGill’s Quebec Studies Program is currently up for debate, due to its low registration rates. It may seem logical to cut a niche program that does not attract many students. Quebec Studies is particularly specialized—it is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on a specific locality, and because of this, it does not attract the high number of students that a broader, more popular department can. With enrollment low, the continuation of this program might seem like an unnecessary financial burden for the university. But, McGill would be remiss to cut the department, as doing so would further alienate the school and its students from Quebecois culture, politics, and history. If anything, McGill should take steps to further promote this program and grow its enrollment, because it serves as a method of communication between the University and its unique locality.

There is a marked disconnect between many McGill students and the province they live in. On campus, the lack of knowledge about the Milton-Parc Community is representative of this—students, who are transient figures by nature, often forget the history of the space they are living in. The divide between students and Montreal residents also exists along language lines. As an anglophone institution with only 20.3 per cent of its students speaking French as a first language, McGill is an uncomfortable locus point for language tensions. This is a part of the university’s legacy. In 1969, Quebec passed Bill 63, which established French as a language of education in Quebec alongside English, after massive demonstrations advocating for the officialization of the French language in the province.

One of these demonstrations took place at McGill, as francophone students demanded that the school’s official language be changed to French. The Quebec Studies program must remain as a way for the university to look critically at its role in flashpoint moments such as this, and to ask crucial questions about the intersections between education, elitism, and language in a given community. The program allows students to look at not just the university—but also the province itself—with a self-reflective, critical lens. This is possible because the program is an interdisciplinary field, where students can study Quebec’s culture and politics today alongside its history.

Universities often have to face the problem of their status within their locality: Students are ephemeral, often highly-privileged figures, with an innate disconnect from the wider context of the places they live in.

Beyond its contributions to academic discourse in Quebec, the program provides a bridge between students and the wider Montreal and Quebec communities. Its special status as an affiliate of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Montreal allows its students to create positive ties with the city beyond the Roddick Gates. With this unique structure, the program seeks to integrate students into Quebec by providing them with local internships, connecting them with other universities, and potentially even encouraging them to stay in the province after graduation to further contribute to its communities. The Quebec Studies Program actively counters the effects of the “McGill bubble,” by establishing deep roots between its students and the province.

Universities often have to face the problem of their status within their locality: Students are ephemeral, often highly-privileged figures, with an innate disconnect from the wider context of the places they live in. Avoiding the typical university “bubble” is especially important at a school like McGill, which has historically contributed to local tensions as a massive, primarily anglophone institution within a French province. Even if enrollment in the Quebec Studies program is low right now, the program should be kept open as a sign of respect and engagement with the province it is situated in. Moreover, further efforts should be taken to promote and express its value to students. The Quebec studies program is essential because it offers a different paradigm of the university experience—one defined not by transience, but by deep connection with and understanding of the place and culture students find themselves in.

 

 

Grace Gunning is a U3 History major, occasional artist, and columnist for The McGill Tribune. She enjoys climbing, gardening, and cheesy 80's sci fi.

 

@mcgilltribop | [email protected]

 

 
Features

The art of the steal

by Calvin Trottier-Chi on

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Classic scams like Nigerian princes in need of financial assistance and unexpected cruise tickets can seem childishly blatant, but they obscure an undercurrent of more threatening and manipulative exploitations. Over the summer, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police alerted people of an increase in fraudulent calls exploiting a duty so banal that citizens are often ignorant of its intricacies: Income tax returns.

 

Mary,* an international student at McGill University, was the victim of such a scam. Amid essay deadlines and caffeine-fueled sleep deprivation, she received a voicemail on Nov. 16. The call was from a Canadian number and the caller claimed to be an agent at the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), the government body that administers taxes nationally.

 

“The message said I was being investigated for tax evasion,” Mary said. “I’ve never had to file for taxes, but I thought it might’ve been a bureaucratic misunderstanding. Then [the agent] said there [was] a warrant out for my arrest, that they would come to the house in an hour, and if I didn’t pay the sum in total I would get arrested. So obviously I got extremely scared and I just couldn’t think clearly.”

 

The caller was quick to legitimize herself, providing Mary with a case number, transferring her to various superiors, and citing government legislation. She then concluded that Mary owed the CRA $4,200.83 and cited criminal charges to impose restrictions upon her.

 

“She set up this thing she called a protocol,” Mary said. “[…The] protocol basically had two rules. The first rule was [that] I could never hang up the phone […] because it would seem like I was evading the government. The second rule […] was that I couldn’t tell anyone that this was happening. She said if I told anyone what I was being investigated for or that I was under investigation, they would also be under investigation for collusion.”

Editorial, Opinion

Student mental health needs admin support, not “hygiene de vie”

by McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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In an Nov. 21 interview with the McGill Reporter, Ollivier Dyens, Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning), shut down the possibility of a Fall reading week in the foreseeable future, despite 71.5 per cent of students declaring support for the break in an April 2015 Enrolment Services survey. In the absence of a reading break, he explained that students can mitigate mental health challenges by practicing good “hygiene de vie”—literally, “life hygiene.” According to Dyens, this means eating and sleeping well, staying active, exercising good time-management, and avoiding unhealthy substances like coffee, cigarettes, and unprescribed Ritalin. He failed to mention any support systems available at McGill, nor the magnitude of the mental health crisis on campuses.

While the “hygiene de vie” practices described by Dyens are certainly healthy, equating these habits with comprehensive mental health treatment strategies misunderstands the mental health challenges that university students—and particularly McGill students—face. Mental illnesses are complex, and often uncontrollable without professional treatment; presenting a laundry list of self-care tips as solutions to mental health issues trivializes the struggles of the brave people who endure them. More concerning, however, is the apparent disconnect between McGill students and the administration on mental health that Dyens’ comments illustrate. Reducing the mental health epidemic on campus to issues such as poor time management or too much coffee only perpetuates the stigma surrounding mental illnesses, and what they really consist of.

A mental health crisis is erupting on Canadian campuses. In a 2016 survey by the National College Health Assessment of 44,000 Canadian undergraduate students, 64.5 per cent of respondents had experienced severe anxiety, and 44.4 per cent indicated feeling so depressed that it was difficult to function. Now, more than ever, university administrations need to understand the unique pressures on students and provide adequate support for those struggling with mental health issues. So far, McGill has not made the grade. With the cuts to the university’s eating disorder program earlier this semester, long waitlists for counselling appointments, and the persistent lack of accessible, effective mental health services at McGill, students face an unwelcoming environment and an administration they feel isn’t listening to their needs.

 

Reducing the mental health epidemic on campus to issues such as poor time management or too much coffee only perpetuates the stigma surrounding mental illnesses, and what they really consist of.

Dyens was correct in acknowledging that students are responsible for their own mental health, but he was wrong in presenting this as a choice. Moreover, he was wrong to present simply maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle as an obvious, catch-all fix. Students suffering from mental illness are forced to cope with these challenges every single day, which makes it difficult for them to function properly or lead healthy lives. For students with eating or sleeping disorders, having a meal or getting enough rest are challenges in and of themselves.

It is key to recognize the role that McGill’s campus environment plays in sparking and exacerbating mental health issues. From the demanding academic environment, to the fast-paced social scene, to the pressure to be involved in extracurricular activities—not to mention the unwelcoming job market awaiting graduates—stress is inherent to student and McGill culture. There is a perception at McGill that in order to fit in, students must work themselves thin. The ‘work hard play hard’ dynamic prevails, leaving students to feel that there’s little room for self-care.

To lessen these stresses, dismantle this toxic culture, and help students fulfill their academic potential, the McGill administration must demonstrate an accurate and comprehensive understanding of mental health. This requires communicating in supportive and productive ways that show students the university cares and is receptive to student feedback. Furthermore, condescending students by telling them to practice “hygiene de vie” as a solution to anxiety only places further pressure on a demographic that already places extreme pressure on itself to succeed at university. The McGill administration should instead focus on providing the education and support necessary for students to be healthy and happy.

Every time a crucial service is scaled down, or a member of the administration expresses careless or insensitive views regarding mental health, students suffer as a result. Per its own description, the Student Life and Learning Office exists to “support students inside and outside of the classroom.” To that end, it is insufficient to divert attention to the logistics of implementing a Fall reading week, or offer self-care tips, in lieu of providing adequate—and desperately needed—resources: In the last three years, the number of students seeking mental-health or counselling services on campus has increased by 57 per cent. When it comes to responding to student mental health concerns, members of the McGill administration must demonstrate a better understanding.

@mcgilltribop | [email protected]

Instagram, McGill, News

McGill announces its 2018 Rhodes Scholars

by Jackie Yao on

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On Nov. 20, the McGill community celebrated Alexander Lachapelle, Medical Doctorate and Master of Surgery, and Clare Lyle, U3 Science, who were selected to be the University’s 143rd and 144th Rhodes Scholars. One of the most prestigious scholarships in the world, the Rhodes Scholarship funds postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford for exceptional students across North America. The McGill Tribune spoke to both Rhodes recipients about their accomplishments, plans at Oxford, and projects they hope to complete in their final year at McGill.

Alexander Lachapelle

Lachapelle, who is currently pursuing his Doctorate of Medicine and Master of Surgery, is a representative for several medical associations, where he looks into how health policies are developed and what steps can be taken to improve patient care. The Terry Fox Humanitarian Award scholar has served on the executive board of the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME), and has also represented the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations (IFMSA) as its Liaison Officer.

Beyond his knack for health policy, Lachapelle’s main passion is technological innovation. Over the past academic year, he moved to New York City to intern at Imagen Technologies, a startup that applies artificial intelligence software to devices for medical diagnostic error prevention. For Lachapelle, working with machine learning to improve patient outcomes and diagnosis was an enriching glimpse into the future of healthcare.

“Although there are definitely lots of challenges in implementation, I think that if we can harness the power of these technologies, there would be a huge amount of potential to prolong life and improve patient health,” Lachapelle said.

While at Oxford, Lachapelle hopes to bridge connections between machine learning and healthcare. He plans to return to Montreal after receiving his post-graduate degree.

“I think Montreal has a really unique environment to learn medicine in,” Lachapelle said. “The diversity of people you meet here, both patients and healthcare professionals, is unrivaled probably anywhere else in the world.”

Clare Lyle

When Lyle, U3 Science, is not busy working toward her Joint Honours Math and Computer Science undergraduate degree, she spends her time working as the Director of HackMcGill and as the Vice-President Academic of McGill’s Computer Science Undergraduate Society (CSUS).

Lyle, who was also one of 34 Canadian students selected in 2014 for the Loran Scholarship—an undergraduate scholarship valued at $100,000—became interested in theoretical computer science after working at McGill’s Reasoning and Learning Lab. At the lab, Lyle looked into how statistics can predict algorithm behaviour.

In the summer of 2016, Lyle was an Explorer Intern at Microsoft, where she worked on a machine learning classifier for customer feedback. The following summer, she interned at Oxford, where she studied artificial intelligence and its implications for policy and society.

“I looked at public opinion on AI, implications of AI on security, [and] both cyber and national security,” Lyle said. “[This included] how governments can use AI either for military purposes or, if there is a dictatorship, how it can use machine learning to control what people are saying and detect dissent.”

Lyle, who plans to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in computer science at Oxford, was drawn to the university for its interdisciplinary analysis of technology on society. She intends to spend her last year at McGill preserving institutional memory for the student clubs in which she’s involved.

“I’ve been gradually easing people into more leadership positions in the organizations that I’ve been involved in, such as HackMcGill,” Lyle said. “Instead of me doing the agenda, I’ve been doing a rotating weekly agenda master so that everyone is familiar with how to write an agenda and how to run a meeting.”

Clare Lyle served as Online Editor at The McGill Tribune in the 2016-2017 academic year.

Hockey, Know Your Coach, Martlets, Sports

In conversation with Katia Clement-Heydra

by Wasif Husain on

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In her first year with the Martlet hockey team, forward Katia Clement-Heydra was named RSEQ rookie of the year, tallying 26 points to help her team capture their third national championship. After such a successful rookie campaign, Clement-Heydra only got better, ultimately cementing herself as one of the most talented players in Martlet history. She spent all four seasons top-three on the RSEQ points leaderboard and was twice named a first-team conference all-star. To top off her illustrious McGill career, Clement-Heydra was awarded the Brodrick Trophy (Canadian Interuniversity Sport female hockey player of the year) in her senior year after leading the Martlets to her second national championship.

Clement-Heydra is no stranger to success, and her many accomplishments at the university level set her up to transition smoothly into the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (CWHL) in 2015. The CWHL has been around since 2007, and Clement-Heydra was drafted in the league’s ninth season by Les Canadiennes de Montréal. She sat down with The McGill Tribune to discuss her path to the pros.

“McGill prepared me well for the [CWHL],” Clement-Heydra said. “[At McGill], we played a quick game, which was quite structured, and that was a style that was needed in the league.  [As a Canadienne], you are playing against women now, who are much stronger, who skate faster and move the puck quicker. It does feel you have to start again. You’re like a baby, but playing at McGill helped a lot.”

In Clement-Heydra’s first year, the Canadiennes franchise went through a rebranding process that included affiliation with the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens, who now provide resources and marketing support to Les Canadiennes. Furthermore, they adopted the Habs’ classic branding, which helped to popularize the women’s game in Montreal.

“I think in the past three years in Montreal the [women’s] game has grown,” Clement-Heydra said. “The deal with the Habs helped a lot.”

She highlighted the importance of encouraging girls’ involvement in hockey and similar sports from an early age, in order to foster interest throughout their lives.

“Ringette is still [a big sport] in Montreal and getting girls to play hockey [and similar sports] will help grow the game,” Clement-Heydra said. “I think a lot more girls feel welcome to the play and see that they can go places playing hockey.”

The CWHL has also come a long way in 10 years in terms of paying players, attracting top talent, and expanding as far as China with two inclusion of the HC Kunlun Red Star and the Vanke Rays.

“The league has more parity than it ever has had,” Clement-Heydra said. “The expansion of the league has helped attract higher-end talent.”

Even after winning a Clarkson cup—the trophy awarded to the CWHL champions every year—this past season with the Canadiennes, she still appreciates her time at McGill.

“The first year at McGill was a dream come true, winning a championship all without losing a game that year,” Clement-Hydra said. “We had a veteran team with Olympians […. But] winning a championship in my fourth year was very rewarding, especially by winning in double OT. It made it better that we lost in the RSEQ finals that year and still came back [to win nationals]. We really earned it that year.”

Clement-Heydra has played with many great players over the years, but four specific teammates have stuck out to her over her career.

“I [have] loved playing with Charline Labonte and Ann-Sophie Bettez who both play on the Canadiennes with me after playing together at McGill,” Clement-Heydra said. “Also Cathy Chartrand, who is on the Canadiennes, and Gabrielle Davidson, who I played with on the Martlets.”

Alongside this contingent of prestigious Martlet hockey alumni, Clement-Heydra has continued to impress in the CWHL. At such a formative point in the league’s short history, she is hopeful that the CWHL will continue to drive development of women’s hockey.

“I don’t doubt that the women’s game will continue to grow, especially with all the success we have had internationally,” Clement-Heydra said. “People take notice and that will only lead to better things for women’s hockey.”

Martlets, Men's Varsity, Sports

Selective success: A McGill recruiting story

by Patrick Beacham on

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When Peter Smith was a McGill athlete in the 1970s, team-building on both Redmen and Martlet teams looked very different than it does today. Now head coach of the Martlet hockey team, Smith remembers a varsity program that was in stark contrast to the recruiting culture of NCAA universities south of the border.

“Back then [in the 1970s], for a lot of teams, there were many more ‘walk-ons’ chosen for rosters from tryout situations […] than recruited players,” Smith said. “Now, although there are exceptions, most of the athletes on varsity teams are highly recruited.”

Recruiting techniques have changed over the past 40 years at McGill and in Quebec more broadly, with the system now falling more in line with the NCAA’s system of attracting talent in the United States by scouting at big tournaments and appealing to star athletes. Like most NCAA schools, McGill offers multiple scholarships for top-tier athletes and has won numerous championship titles over the years—all while maintaining rigorous academic standards. However, wide disparities exist in the support McGill teams are given from McGill Athletics. Often times, McGill’s uncompromising academic standards and limited resources for athletes put its sports teams at a competitive disadvantage in the race to pick up Quebec talent.

McGill’s ability to recruit top talent is reduced because it does not have the financial means to make the lucrative offers that many other schools can. The athletic scholarships available to incoming freshmen range from $1,000 to $6,000, though the maximum award for Canadian students is $3,500. Furthermore, most McGill teams don’t have any financial aid at their disposal to offer athletes. Yet, scholarships only apply to a few sports, and many other universities are able to table more sizable offers. Comparable schools like the University of Toronto (UofT) offer up to $4,500 to athletes, a more attractive offer for some Canadian students. Université Laval, a Canadian sports powerhouse and local rival, can muster Quebec talent for its Rouge et Or teams with awards reaching up to $10,000.

“I know that Laval is strong,” Fourth-year Redmen runner François Jarry said. “If you’re putting in 15 to 20 hours a week, then [money is] probably a key factor [in choosing a school] because you don’t have time to work.”

McGill does, however, make up for some of its shortcomings by leveraging its academic reputation to attract players. As it consistently ranks among Canada’s top universities, McGill has a standard to uphold. Admissions requirements are higher than at any other university in the country. A CEGEP student needs an R score—the measure used by university admissions to rank Quebec students—of at least 25 or 27 to even be considered for McGill, while scores can be as low as 19 at Concordia.

“Student athletes who get into McGill get in through the front door,” Smith said. “Certainly, for our team, that narrows the field definitely. I’ll go watch a game and with [an opposing] team with 16 players on it, [and] there might be four players that have the academic marks to be able to get into McGill, so that’s where we start.”

Even the University of Toronto’s requirements, with an R score somewhere in the mid-20’s, are less contingent on an applicant’s grades. Universities like Concordia and Laval are far more lenient. As a result, competitors—both in terms of academics and location—can recruit on the periphery of McGill’s admissions and accrue more homegrown talent. Not having to rely on international or exchange students makes teams much more secure.

“It’s a good contrast to make between Laval and McGill because [Laval is] very sports-based,” Jarry said. “It’s harder for McGill to recruit sometimes because […] some people […] don’t have the grades.”

Alex Pantis, a second-year Redmen rugby player, attests to the strain McGill’s academic requirements put on McGill teams. Concordia’s ability to recruit athletes who don’t meet McGill’s admissions standards puts the Stingers ahead in team-building, and it showed during this year’s rugby season: Concordia’s rugby team went on to beat McGill in both of their regular-season matches as well as in the RSEQ semifinal.

“Concordia had a very strong team and we’re looking to get back [into championships] next year,” Pantis said. “It’s not like we look at not being able to recruit as the main reason why we can’t [compete] but it’s also a real reason as to why we couldn’t compete with Concordia this year. [Around] 10 of their 13 [RSEQ all-stars] were from Quebec, and those were guys they recruited and brought to Concordia, whereas we had five guys [on all-stars] and only two of us were from Quebec.”

Pantis was one of McGill’s two Quebecois RSEQ all-stars. Jarry is similarly from Quebec. Their accounts as homegrown student athletes highlight McGill’s shortcomings in recruiting. In regards to his experience as a rugby recruit, Pantis stated that the greatest problem seemed to be a lack of consideration for potential McGillians with recruit status.

“[In my experience], it’s just a flag on your application that basically says you’re a recruit that they want for a certain sport, and that’s it,” Pantis said. “It’s very minimal, like if you’re equal to another person like to the hundredth or thousandth decimal, they’ll add […] a plus [to your application], but it’s same standard if you’re part of the environmental club at your high school [….] You can’t [be promised] anything.”

A lax attitude toward prospects in sports such as rugby does immense harm to McGill’s recruiting power. If an applicant’s recruit status ultimately means little in the admissions process, then it can be difficult for prospects to build any kind of identity as a future Martlet or Redmen during preliminary trials with varsity teams. This time of year is also the crucial period when decisions are rolling in from most schools. Prospective McGillians on the edge of the academic bubble are forced to grapple with the uncertainty of their admission status while fighting to establish their place on a McGill team. Meanwhile, those same prospects already have the option to cement their places among teams at rival schools like Concordia because they will most likely get in. By the time the admissions office at McGill communicates a decision, it is often too late. The prospective talent has already walked off to another school.

“Other schools have the liberty to offer [potential athletes] stuff on the team like ‘come to this school because we can get you on the team, we can do this,’” Pantis said. “And [with] McGill, it’s like ‘if you get into the school.’ So people don’t have a chance to buy in fully to McGill Athletics because they don’t have the chance to really wrap their heads around the idea of coming here.”

McGill may not have the resources or incentive to expand its scholarship program, as all universities have a plethora of other priorities to tackle. In the absence of financial means, it touts academic prestige as a recruiting tool to compensate for losses in the monetary battle. This strategy has been effective in some cases, but McGill’s concentrated focus on stringent academic standards and a select few teams prevents it from being the sports powerhouse that it could be. If McGill wishes to bridge its competitive gap in team-building, it must extend financial support to all varsity teams, and recruit status needs to convey a sincere sense of belonging to athletic prospects.  Otherwise, McGill will continue to watch exciting talent wear its opposition’s colours.

This article has been updated to provide more context regarding Pantis' personal experience with recruitment.

McGill, News

Political Science Students’ Association hosts inter-party debate

by Julia Métraux on

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On Nov. 21, the Political Science Students’ Association held a debate between the McGill chapters of Canadian political parties: Conservative McGill, Liberal McGill, New Democratic Party (NDP) McGill, and Young Greens McGill.

Representatives from these groups shared their views on drugs, immigration, Indigenous affairs, climate change, and economic policy. For each topic, representatives responded to prompts on how their parties address the presented issues, followed by a debate between the representatives. Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) Legislative Council Speaker Husayn Jamal moderated the event.

The first part of the debate focused on drug policy—specifically on marijuana legalisation and the fentanyl crisis. Conservative McGill senior member Nikolas Dolmat argued that the legalisation of marijuana puts public safety at risk.

“The government is rushing marijuana legalisation despite the cries from scientists [and] law enforcement officials saying that there are not adequate harm reduction strategies in place,” Dolmat said during the debate. “We have ‘Mothers Against Drunk Driving,’ but what about ‘Mothers Against Dope Driving?’”

Unlike the Conservative Party, the NDP supports the legalisation of marijuana. NDP McGill member Kiana Saint-Macary cited Portugal's decriminalization of drug possession as an example of progressive drug legislation that she hopes will take form in Canada.

“We think that it’s inherent that the legalisation of marijuana is accompanied by the blanket pardon of past offenders,” Saint-Macary said. “We think the decriminalization of all drugs is particularly important because addiction is a health and social justice problem.”

During the immigration portion of the debate, students discussed the recent increase in Haitian immigration from the United States. According to NDP McGill member Josh Werber, it is crucial that Canada reevaluate the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement.

“The current political situation in the United States is such that we must revise our immigration policies,” Werber said. “As tens of thousands of Haitian immigrants, who are lost without their temporary protection status, flee across the Canadian border, risking their lives, it is cruel for us to ignore their plight and apply this outdated agreement.”

The debaters also gave their parties’ perspectives on Indigenous affairs. Dolmat applauded former prime minister Stephen Harper’s reconciliation efforts, highlighting his official apology for residential schools in 2008. In response, Diamond Yao, U2 Arts and Science,  a supporter of Young Greens McGill, said this was not enough. She referenced Amnesty International’s Stolen Sisters report, which details continued marginalization of Indigenous women that predated and followed Harper’s apology.

“It’s not enough to close down residential schools, because the oppression of Indigenous women is rooted in systemic oppression, such as social and economic marginalization,” Yao said. “This has pushed a disproportionate amount of Indigenous women into dangerous situations that include extreme poverty, homelessness, and prostitution.”

Debaters from all four groups agreed that the federal government must work toward mitigating the effects of climate change. Werber expressed disappointment in both the previous Conservative and current Liberal government in handling global warming.

“Despite being the 38th largest country by population, we’re the 10th largest emitter of carbon in the atmosphere,” Werber said. “Justin Trudeau went to [the] Paris [Summit] and came back with the same standards set by the Conservative government and that does not cut it.”

The final topic of debate was economic policy. Liberal McGill faced criticism from NDP McGill, Young Greens McGill, and Conservative McGill over the current Liberal government’s failure to support young Canadians and families. NDP McGill and Young Greens McGill recommended that the government increase social support and welfare for low-income Canadians, while Conservative McGill favoured increasing benefits for all Canadians. In response, Liberal McGill Director Jack Martin highlighted recent changes the Liberal government made to support these two groups.

“We increased the working income tax benefit very recently to make sure that we’re supporting working Canadians,” Martin said. “We just announced that we’re committing to build a hundred thousand social housing units, increasing childcare, [and] increasing homeless aid.”

 
Martlets, Sports, Volleyball

McGill Martlet volleyball downs Sherbrooke Vert et Or in straight sets

by Ender McDuff on

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We came, we saw, we conquered. This was the mood in the Love Competition Hall on Nov. 24, as the McGill Martlet volleyball team (8-2) dismantled the cross-river Université de Sherbrooke Vert et Or (2-7) in three sets. McGill’s success was centered around an aggressive, punishing offence that tallied 37 kills on the night. A stifling defensive showing—especially in the final set—complimented the Martlet attack, allowing them to conquer the Vert et Or in decisive fashion.

The McGill faithful erupted early as fourth-year Emilie Matte de Grasse served an ace—the first of a five-point string to open the game. The Vert et Or fought back, tying the game twice and even taking the lead midway through the set. However, the Martlets quickly found a winning formula, setting repeatedly to second-year Claire Vercheval, who registered a game-high 12 kills. McGill finished off the first set with another five-point run to a comfortable 25-18 scoreline.

The Martlets were unable to maintain a lead in the beginning of the second set, where the midpoint saw McGill down 12-8, their largest deficit of the night.

“Volleyball is a game of momentum, so it’s normal that sometimes you just slow down a little bit,” Martlet Head Coach Rachele Beliveau said. “But at the same time, the downs cannot [last] forever, so we have to regain the momentum and then be strong after that.”

The Martlets kept their composure to tie the set at 12 after an ace from second-year Rowan Fletcher. This was the final challenge the Martlets faced, and they ran away with the rest of the set. A hammer down the right side by Vercheval ended the stanza 25-20.

McGill’s performance in the third set was even stronger. After dropping the first point, the Martlets regained control, preventing any final pushback from Sherbrooke. With two false sets in a row from second-year Martlet setter Catherine Duchaine, the Vert et Or were on their heels. This set the stage for fifth-year Erika Cournoyer to hammer down the biggest kill of the night, leaving fans from both teams in awe. The crowd remained abuzz until the final blow was driven down the right flank by Vercheval, ending the set 25-14.

Beliveau was quick to praise her team’s effort.

“Intense, aggressive, quick movement, [and] good defence,” Beliveau said. “We worked a lot on defence recently, [and] I saw a big difference. And as [we] calmed down, we were more in control of the game, and we started to play with more confidence.”

Cournoyer, who had six kills on the night, reiterated her coach’s sentiments on the team’s mindset throughout the game.

“We were very calm, and we were in control of what we were doing,” Cournoyer said. “We were pretty confident, so that’s what got us to stick together.”

The Martlets rounded out the weekend with a 3-2 win against the Laval Rouge et Or (6-3) on Nov. 26, and the two wins place them in a tie for first place with the Université de Montréal Carabins (8-1). The two powerhouses will face off to begin the new year on Jan. 12 at Love Competition Hall.

 

 

Moment of the Game

The night’s top play came from second-year Martlet setter Catherine Duchaine, who hammered two consecutive Sherbrooke sets down the heart of the Vert et Or defence in the final set.

 

Quotable

“I think we just came out strong,  […] veni vidi vici.” – Fifth-year Erika Cournoyer

 

Stat Corner

In McGill’s dominant third set, the Martlets spiked home 13 kills, with their strong defence only allowing six kills by the opposing Vert et Or.  

McGill, News, SSMU

McGill administration conducts investigation into divisive SSMU GA

by Andras Nemeth on

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On Oct. 25, McGill University announced the launch of an investigation into whether anti-Semitism was present at the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Fall General Assembly (GA). The announcement, sent via email to students and staff, was a response to allegations of religious prejudice at the GA when three of 10 members of the SSMU Board of Directors (BoD) were not ratified, one of whom—Noah Lew—was Jewish.   

Former McGill professor of Education and ombudsperson Spencer Boudreau is the lead investigator looking into the allegations. Since the beginning of November, he has interviewed all of the SSMU executives and other student representatives present at the Fall GA.

In an interview with The McGill Tribune, SSMU VP External Connor Spencer explained her initial concerns that the inquiry lacked authenticity and integrity.

“A conversation that we were having was [that] there’s a direct conflict of interest for one institution to be investigating another institution,” Spencer said. “It’s very weird for McGill to be investigating SSMU, especially [given] last year, when [the administration threatened] to cut our funding around this issue. There was an initial pessimism as to what the point of the investigation was, and whether or not there was going to be bias in the investigation because of how the administration handled [the Sadikov investigation] last year.”

However, as the inquiry has progressed, Spencer has found her concerns to be somewhat abated.

“Everyone was wary when McGill launched the investigation as to its intent and scope […] but I think the folks that have spoken to [Boudreau] are feeling a little more reassured,” Spencer said. “It seems like he is legitimately trying to figure out whether the claims of anti-Semitism are true.”

The Oct. 25 email also announced the creation of the Principal’s Task Force for Respect and Inclusion in Campus Life. The Task Force will operate independently of the investigation, broadly examining freedom of expression, respect, and inclusivity on campus, and make recommendations for university improvements in these realms in a final report on April 27, 2018.

Dean of Science R. Bruce Lennox and Associate Professor of Law Nandini Ramanujam, co-chairs of the Principal’s Task Force on Respect and Inclusion in Campus Life, spoke at a press conference on Nov. 21 about preparations to launch the Force’s operations in the Winter term. The Task Force, which will include both graduate and undergraduate students, will attempt to evaluate the state of respectful debate on campus by conducting campus-wide surveys of students, faculty, and campus organizations. Based on the surveys’ results, the Task Force then intends to delegate specific working groups, host a town hall meeting, and draft a list of concrete recommendations for the university.

“The overlap between respect and inclusion is respectful debate, respectful discussion, and I think the Venn diagram of those two entities is where we're going to operate,” Lennox said. "How does one apply the concepts of freedom of expression in an academic environment?”

Lennox clarified that, although the Task Force was announced alongside the investigation, this timing was coincidental, with the Task Force not exclusively concerned with anti-Semitism or particular groups or events.

“There was a coincident announcement of an investigation into [the Fall GA], and there was an announcement that a task force would be struck, whose definition was not specific at that time,” Lennox said. “But the task force did not arise from that event, it’s been an ongoing discussion [….] We will assure you that this isn’t about an incident or a crisis, it’s about who we are as an institution.”

Ramanujam also sees the Task Force as an effort to address McGill’s long-standing interests in inclusivity. According to Ramanujam, it is the product of an ongoing conversation among faculty members that dates back generations.

“I see our work not as reactive but proactive,” Ramanujam said. “We are all a part of the collective university space, the Faculty of Law has been talking a great deal for a long time about safe spaces, inclusive spaces, respectful spaces, and […] so I see this [Task Force] as something that is neither the beginning or the end of this process.”

With the goal to alleviate any concerns over inclusivity on campus, Lennox is confident that McGill suffers from no extraordinary challenges in cultivating a culture of inclusion and respect compared to other universities. She hopes that the University can take a leadership role in providing space for safe discussions.

“[University] is where our society expects people to be able to express their point of view, to debate it, and to listen, so that as a construct has incredible value,” Lennox said. “We have a tremendous leadership responsibility, and I think McGill in particular, because of who McGill is, with diversity in our student population, our staff, our faculty, [is] in a sweet spot for dealing with this challenge.”

 

Science & Technology

Les Olympes de la Parole introduced to North America

by Selin Altuntur on

More in Science & Technology:

On Nov. 15, the University Women’s Club of Montreal (UWCM) launched the first ever North American rendition of “Les Olympes de la Parole,” an academic competition that aims to engage young women in both local and global issues of gender inequality.

Les Olympes de la Parole was first launched in 2001 by the Association Française des Femmes Diplômées des Universités first launched Les Olympes de la Parole in 2001, an event that is now organized in multiple countries around the world. The competition was named after Olympe de Gouges, a French playwright and activist who was executed for treason in 1793 because of her work.

At the official launch of the competition, Saôde Savary, president of the UWCM, spoke to the importance of implementing "Les Olympes de la Parole" in Montreal.

“The UWCM believes it is now time for Canadian girls to join the global conversation to empower their voices, to support policies that foster a gender equal society and start paving the way for all the girls in North America,” Savary said. “Addressing gender inequality is a complex issue that requires multiple perspectives in order to create sound solutions.”

Several teams of students from Villa Maria College, The Study, and Sacred Heart School of Montreal will be spearheading their own projects centered around a common theme: How improved access to information technologies can empower young Indigenous women in Canada. Speaker Deidre Kahwinehtha Diome, Chair of the Kanawake Combined School Committee, emphasized how much she valued the acknowledgement offered by the UWCM toward her community.

“So often, there is a feeling of alienation that […] Indigenous people are alone in their struggle,” Kahwinehtha Diome said, “[But] when [the UWCM] decided [they] were going to launch this new initiative, Les Olympes de la Parole, [… they] chose [the] topic to be about us, people like me who are working in the trenches every day. And what that felt like to me, was caring, was compassion, was recognition for me and the struggle of all of our people.”

The UWCM invited representatives from all three secondary schools to speak at the launch of the competition. Maria Di Scala, a social studies teacher at Villa Maria, emphasized that today’s students are responsible for creating innovative solutions to issues of gender equity and access to technology.

“Olympe de Gouges herself is a prime example of what Villa Maria has always striven to do, to provide our students with the tools to critically reflect upon social injustices, particularly gender [inequality], and to use their passion and unique position as simultaneously oppressed and privileged in crafting creative and effective solutions,” Di Scala said. “De Gouges […] proved that the ultimate recipe to female empowerment is the combination of education, voice and perseverance.”

Students at The Study have witnessed firsthand how improving access to modern technologies can improve the learning experiences of young women and men. The Study is partnered with a sister school in Nicaragua, where seniors participate in a community service trip and raise funds to provide the school with laptops and printers. Two students from The Study, Mia Strack Van Schyndel and Delila Farias, spoke about the barriers significant to learning experiences.

“We realized that the best way to understand the challenges that Indigenous girls are facing is to speak directly to these women,” Van Schyndel said. “We [met] with Mayor [Madeleine] Redfern, the first female mayor of Iqaluit [….] She brought to our attention that first and foremost, the largest hurdle in regards to new technology is the lack of access to a reliable, affordable Internet connection. As it stands, the only Internet connection [in Iqaluit] is available through satellite, which is slow, unreliable, and expensive [….] This leaves many remote communities in the country not only physically isolated, but socially as well.”

Farias echoed Van Schyndel’s sentiment. She highlighted how the UWCM’s initiative could benefit Indigenous students living on reservations.

“The bridge that this project will build between us and the indigenous women in certain regions of Canada could potentially open numerous doors and offer them opportunities that would not otherwise have been offered,” Farias said.

 

The UWCM will host a gala on April 6, 2018, where the three winning teams of Les Olympes de la Parole will be announced. The projects led by these teams will be put in motion by the UWCM, with the help of the schools involved.

 

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