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Science & Technology

How e-Health can help new and expectant dads

by Kate Lord on

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Post-partum depression is frequently associated with mothers, but up to 18 per cent of men also report depressive symptoms during their partner’s pregnancy or in the months after birth. A decline in mental health attributed to the transition into parenthood can be found across genders for similar reasons, according to Deborah Da Costa, a researcher in the division of Clinical Epidemiology at the Research Institute-Montreal University Health Center (RI-MUHC) and an associate professor in McGill’s Department of Medicine.

“Both men and women go through an important transition as they enter the parenting role,” Da Costa wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune. “There are changes to personal identity, the couple relationship, work-life roles, etc. While most people can adjust well, some have a more difficult time.”

The internet holds many resources from many sources about pregnancy and parenting. However, a new study from the RI-MUHC found that most of the information available online is tailored to mothers, leaving expectant fathers without valuable resources to combat stress and ease the emotional burdens of becoming a parent.

“There is a lack of ‘father-friendly’ information that is easily accessible to expectant and new fathers,” Da Costa wrote. “It’s important that the information be credible and match [paternal] needs. More than half the fathers in our study felt the information [online] was unhelpful and 3 in 4 told us it wasn’t tailored to fathers.”

The RI-MUHC study investigated the areas of the parental transition that are of greatest interest to expectant or new fathers, including infant and child care, maintaining a work-life balance, improving sleep, managing stress, and supporting and improving their relationship with their partner. The study gathered information used to inform HealthyDads.ca, a prototype website that promotes the mental health of fathers and provides them with targeted parenting and pregnancy-related information.  

Along with the help of future studies, HealthyDads.ca also aims to incorporate specific topics that are particularly pertinent to gay men who are new or expectant fathers.

“[These topics] might include some of the challenges and benefits related to their selected pathways to parenthood (such as surrogacy, adoption, fostering) and how to cope with concerns or experiences related to discrimination and stigma,” Da Costa wrote. [These experiences] can impact them individually, as a couple, and as a family.”  

Websites like HealthyDads.ca, which provide health-related information without the active participation of a health professional, are a type of care often referred to as ‘e-Health.’ This new wave of technology and internet-based activity revolutionizes the way that patients interact within the healthcare system.  

“E-Health can play a very important role in removing some of the barriers to seeking and receiving help at the individual, provider and system levels,” Da Costa wrote. “E-Health is far-reaching (95% of Canadians under the age of 55 have access), easily accessible (24/7), [and] anonymous mode of delivering mental health information and evidence-based strategies to improve mental health.” 

The benefits of e-Health reach far beyond the fields of mental health. E-Health can be seen in the rise of telemedicine, where patients can connect remotely with medical professionals for diagnostic purposes through the use of technology—as well as in the increased use of smartphone apps and text messaging to receive health-related information and diagnoses. Even the enormous popularity of fitness bands, particularly those that monitor steps, heart rate, and sleep patterns, are evidence of the e-Health revolution.

“[E-Health] will have an extremely important role as part of a stepped care approach,” Da Costa wrote. “[However,] I don’t think it should replace more formal methods, particularly in more severe cases of emotional/psychological problems.”

Off the Board, Opinion

Growing pains

by Daniel Freed on

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Until this year, my university career had mostly consisted of evading responsibility and exhibiting a never-ending lack of foresight. Entering the Fall 2017 semester, however, I decided it was time for a change. Taking the biggest step I felt capable of, I bought a plant. Weighing in at approximately five pounds and standing at six inches tall, my brand new aloe plant would, theoretically, serve as a daily reminder that I was a functioning adult and member of society.

Miraculously, the plan worked. While tending to it was relatively easy and not at all time-intensive, it absolutely served its purpose. My mom had warned me that raising an aloe plant was difficult, and that even if I stayed on top of it, the plant would likely die alarmingly quickly. However, I was proud to prove her wrong. Every day, rain or shine, the plant’s leaves glistened as if it didn’t have a problem in the world.

This success, I would find out about a month into my venture, was because my plant was actually made of plastic.

When this discovery originally came to light, my rising sense of self-confidence crumbled to pieces; I felt overwhelmed with shame and embarrassment. I felt as though my tiny leafy friend had bitten my feeding hand. As I emptied the ever-rising pool of water from the bottom of my vase into my sink, I couldn’t help but feel as though my future in the world of adulthood was bleak at best.

Yet, in retrospect, this visceral reaction was foolish. Today, several months later, I look back at my journey with the plant fondly. If, in buying a plant, my goal was to learn a lesson, then a lesson I learned. University—and this stage of young adulthood we find ourselves in—is a time to learn from our mistakes.

As we navigate the landscape of higher education and newfound freedom, we inevitably face innumerable choices: Should you take an 8:30 a.m. class on a Friday? Should you add guac to your Quesada order? Should you swipe right? Should you buy your first plant? Although it’s easy to see each of these choices as lasting and impactful, it’s important to remember that, more often than not, their outcomes don’t matter.

I felt as though my tiny leafy friend had bitten my feeding hand.

What matters, rather, are the learning process and emotional growth that go into making each of those choices. It’s making a novel decision and understanding it as exactly that—new, untested, and, by extension, far too often bound for failure. Whether that Tuesday at Café Campus brings you an unforgettable night, or whether you end up freezing in line the entire time, ultimately, it’s not the end result that you carry with you moving forward. While my plant may have been artificial, my efforts and my care for it were not. I can proudly say that I learned a lot about responsibility, adulthood, and the deceptive realness of plastic along the way.

Since the tragedy of my precious, plastic aloe plant, I’ve bought a new one. This one, a much larger specimen that hangs from the ceiling in my kitchen, I can say with about 99 per cent certainty is real. Truthfully, there are things about this plant, much like my plastic plant, and even plants in general, that I will never understand. I haven’t watered it in weeks, yet I routinely check its soil and find it damp. While disorienting, I take this in stride. And, like so much else, I have no doubt that even if I slip along the way, this new voyage will turn into a valuable learning experience for me nonetheless. After all, these are not only the mysteries of botany, but the mysteries of growing up.

 

 

Daniel Freed is a U3 Cultural Studies and Communications student, and the Design Editor at The McGill Tribune. He is currently the proud father of a thriving, animate aloe plant.

 

@mcgilltribop | [email protected]

 

 

 
Basketball, Men's Varsity, Sports

McGill Redmen basketball fall to Concordia Stingers in Pots and Pans game

by Miya Keilin on

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McGill Redmen
58

Concordia Stingers
70

On Nov. 18, McGill’s Martlet and Redmen basketball teams faced off against their Concordia rivals in the annual Pots and Pans double-header. After cheering the Martlets to a commanding 93-66 victory over the Concordia Stingers, the crowd excitedly whacked their pans to inspire the men’s side, hoping for a McGill sweep. When the final buzzer went off, the Stingers topped the Redmen 70-58, but the raucous crowd never quit. Fifth-year guard and Redmen team captain Dele Ogundokun highlighted the immense support that the Pots and Pans games bring every year.

“We’ve had […] successful pots and pans [games] over the last two [years], great support from the community and the student body,” Ogundokun said. “We expected a great turnout and it was another one today.”

The Redmen scored first in the first quarter, ending a minute and a half of scoreless play, but it took another few minutes before either team started heating up. Every basket McGill scored was quickly countered by Concordia, with the back-and-forth quarter ending 19-15 in McGill’s favour.

Scoring was tough to come by to start the second quarter, too. The Stingers eventually found their footing, taking advantage of the Redmen’s offensive struggles and weak defensive play to dominate the quarter and take the lead. However, fourth-year centre Noah Daoust broke McGill’s scoreless streak to give the Redmen new energy toward the end of the quarter, allowing the Redmen to ultimately the game back up heading into the half.

Early in the third quarter, McGill fell behind but their aggressive defence kept the deficit small. Ogundokun gave the Redmen their first lead since the beginning of the second quarter with a three-pointer. But, after playing a strong final minute, Concordia claimed a 46-41 lead going into the fourth.

McGill came out hot to start the final quarter but cooled off quickly, letting Concordia pull away. The Redmen struggled to find a way to slow the Stingers’ offence and with less than two minutes to play, McGill was down by nine. That deficit proved insurmountable. Offensive woes and defensive missteps haunted the Redmen throughout the rest of the game, allowing the scoring margin to grow. Head Coach David DeAveiro plans to use the lessons from Saturday’s game to improve his team’s adaptability.

“I thought we struggled today, offensively, and a large part of that was [Concordia’s] defence,” DeAveiro said. “They went small on us and they were switching us [….] We’ll go watch video and we’ll get better.”

Following their loss against the Stingers, the Redmen fell to 2-1 in league play and now share first place in the RSEQ with Concordia and Laval. They look to reclaim sole ownership of the top spot in their upcoming game at Bishop’s on Nov. 25. Catch Redmen basketball at home again on Jan. 6 against the UQAM Citadins.

 

Moment of the Game

Down two with just seconds remaining in the second quarter, fourth-year guard Avery Cadogan raced down the court and tied up the game with a huge dunk as the buzzer went off.

 

Quotable

“I don’t think we played our best game today and they were really good [but] sometimes that’s basketball [….] You’ve got to face a little adversity if you want to be a national champion.” – Head Coach David DeAveiro

 

Stat Corner

The Redmen shot 22-56 (39 per cent) from the field and 5-21 (24 per cent) from three.

Album Reviews, Arts & Entertainment, Music

Album Review: Gucci Mane – ‘Mr Davis’

by Leina Gabra on

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Gucci Mane has been busy since his release from prison in May 2016. On top of his autobiography, clothing line, and marriage to Keyshia Ka’oir, Mane released five full–length musical projects in the last year and a half. The most recent of these is the long-awaited Mr. Davis, a star-studded album that delivers both Mane’s usual slew of instant party anthems, and a commentary on the good and bad sides of stardom.

This 17-track project is carried by the dark, entrancing beats crafted by star producers including Metro Boomin, Southside, and Nav, allowing listeners to enjoy a combination of powerful drum kicks and catchy hooks by Gucci and his notable slew of features. At times, the supporting hooks and verses from industry favorites like Migos, The Weeknd, Big Sean, and Nicki Minaj outshine Gucci Mane lyrically, especially in instant hits such as “I Get The Bag,” “Lil Story,” and “Make Love.”

Despite this, all of the songs on Mr. Davis feature amusing metaphors and beats that are sure to be party favorites for months to come. Standout single “I Get The Bag” includes a catchy hook and a danceable beat that come together to create a musical gem perfect for Gucci Mane and Migos fans alike.

Not veering far from his usual content, much of Gucci Mane’s lyrics in Mr. Davis concern money, parties, and self-congratulation. However, Gucci Mane also reflects on the struggles he experienced prior to stardom, including his incarceration and drug abuse in “Work in Progress (Intro)” and “Made It (Outro).” He also looks into his future, conveying his loyalty and love for his wife in “We Ride.”

Mr. Davis shows two sides to Gucci Mane: A rich rapper living lavish, but also a changed man who established his own business and is settling down with his wife. Supported by a talented group of producers and other artists, Mr. Davis signifies a triumphant Woptober for Gucci Mane.

 

Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

Rap loses its rockstar

by Domenic Casciato on

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On the night of Nov. 15, Gustav Åhr, known by his stage name Lil Peep, was found dead inside his tour bus outside of a venue in Tucson, Arizona. He was set to perform in the second to last stop on his Come Over When You’re Sober tour, a 68-day tour spanning Europe and North America. First responders reported he appeared to have been killed by a Xanax overdose, but online forums quickly ignited with the rumour that Peep had been sold drugs laced with fentanyl, a powerful–and often deadly–opioid. Anyone familiar with Peep’s music was aware of his struggles with drug dependency, but the too-early death of the 21-year-old rapper was nonetheless disturbing and shocking for his fans across the world.

In the few years since Peep rose to prominence, he cultivated a deeply loyal, passionate fan base, and left a lasting impression on rap music. Largely credited by critics and fans alike as the pioneer of emo-influenced rap, Lil Peep was able to achieve a seemingly contradictory blend of modern trap machismo and early-90s alt-rock sappiness in hits like “Star Shopping” and “Crybaby.” Peep’s signature sound—angsty guitar strumming, rumbling 808 bass, trap-style drums, and remarkably catchy hooks—has been emulated by a long list of mainstream artists, including Drake, Post Malone, and Lil Uzi Vert. Peep’s influence was international; his following in Russia rivaled his American fanbase, and he even moved to London in June to deepen his connection with European fans.

Peep was on the come up, having gained the attention of a number of rap superstars, made appearances for labels at Paris Fashion Week, and hinted at plans to launch his own clothing line. Peep had only released his debut album, Come Over When You’re Sober, Pt. 1, in August, and its most popular song, “Awful Things,” neared 20 million views on YouTube in the days before his death.

 

Although his cultural innovations are not to be discounted, Peep will also be remembered as a warm and accessible presence in rap. In a genre typified by emotional detachment and toughness, Peep wrote songs about his emotional vulnerability and troubled relationships, while still hosting mosh pits at every show. His emotional subject matter balanced his braggadocio in such a way that, when he spit bars about expensive cars and drugs, it came across as playful rather than tasteless. His music was a home for many, and as alt-rock and emo faded into obscurity, Peep carved out a space where his fanbase—mostly composed of teens undergoing the sombre and occasionally depressing trials of adolescence—could feel welcome and understood.

Peep touched many with his music and presence. Vigils were held in many cities; artists including Post Malone, Diplo, and Pete Wentz offered their condolences following Peep’s death; and actress Bella Thorne, Peep’s ex-girlfriend, posted videos to her Instagram story mourning him. Although not noted as a champion of LGBT+ rights, Peep came out as bisexual amid a culture not known for its social tolerance, and his close relationship with fellow rapper iLoveMakonnen defied rap’s rigid social norms—much like Peep’s music.

Peep’s death has triggered an important culture-wide conversation about the glorification of drug abuse in rap music. Lil Uzi Vert, who is often credited alongside Peep with the creation of emo-trap, announced, in the wake of Peep’s death, that he has chosen to become sober.

Peep’s grapple with depression was heavily reflected in his lyrics. Although it is important to acknowledge the real and serious consequences that drug use can carry, the framing of this conversation around Peep’s death perpetuates victim blaming. Drug abuse in rap, Peep’s notwithstanding, is symptomatic of a larger struggle with mental health within the culture, and excluding it as a topic in these discussions following Peep’s death puts the culture at risk of losing more of its artists.

 

Editorial, Opinion

When educators are undervalued, everyone loses

by McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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On Tuesday, Nov. 21, hundreds of thousands of Ontario college students returned to class as the province’s five-week college faculty strike finally came to an end. The 12,000 college faculty—including professors, instructors, counsellors, and librarians—had been on strike since Oct. 16. After all that, it’s hard to say who won. The striking faculty and College Employer Council never reached a deal, and it was provincial back-to-work legislation that ultimately put an end to the strike.

The immediate losers of the strike are clear: The some 500,000 students who lost a month’s worth of class. That meant losing a month of paid tuition, and of class time that could potentially result in delayed graduation. Students had no seat at the bargaining table, and virtually no power over the outcome, yet they were the most directly affected by the strike. It’s not hard to see why some students wanted to assign blame. While some called for solidarity between students and their striking professors, others criticized the faculty members who walked out of classrooms in the first place.

This apparent rift between student and faculty interests, and the events that produced the strike, point to a deeper problem for post-secondary institutions and students alike: Although education is seen as an essential service, and teachers in it as service providers, educators do not receive the correspondingly essential respect and benefits for their work. Moving forward, it is essential that post-secondary institutions have the necessary channels to address faculty grievances before reaching breaking points. This will help improve working conditions for educators and, correspondingly, the quality of education their students receive. Moreover, students and administrators must critically revisit the value they currently assign their teachers.

The striking faculty members’ key demands—increased job security through more full-time jobs, as well as control over course content and teaching methods—are absolutely valid. Prior to the strike, part-time contract instructors—who, in addition to being paid less, don’t enjoy the job stability of full-time or tenured professors—made up 70 per cent of the Ontario college workforce. The faculty union’s core demand to get that proportion down to 50 per cent was a response to the majority of Ontario college teachers currently being in precarious, low-paying job situations. That is something worth striking over, for both teachers and their future students.

 

Although education is seen as an essential service, and teachers in it as service providers, educators do not receive the correspondingly essential respect and benefits for their work.

However, whatever future classes have to gain from more full-time professors and teaching assistants makes little difference to the students who were out of class for a full month. Of course, the point of any strike is to highlight the value of a service, by taking that service away. This necessitates negative consequences for users of the service in question—in this case, students. The irony is that in reality, student and faculty interests ought to align, not conflict, because the demands that faculty were striking over stand to benefit students in the long-run.

The more fundamental and ingrained issue underpinning the strike is the way that students and schools currently view teachers’ work. Frequently, faculty put in extra and often unpaid time and energy to help students succeed. Discounting after-hours help or a Saturday-morning email response as merely part of the job description undercuts all of the professional and, often, emotional labour that come with being an educator. When that unfairness becomes institutionalized in the form of short-shrift contracts or inadequate pay, and reaches a point at which educators feel they have no other option, they respond through the only effective means of negotiation left to them—they go on strike.

As part of the Ontario government’s intervention, colleges have been directed to refund the most financially-affected students, using savings from the striking faculty’s unpaid wages. This is a necessity, but it is also a retroactive band-aid solution to a deeper problem. To prevent future students from becoming collateral damage in another long-winded strike, it is essential that post-secondary institutions—whether it is an Ontario college, or a university like McGill—have adequate complaint and response mechanisms for over-burdened or dissatisfied faculty. More fundamentally, it is essential that post-secondary institutions, governments, and students alike demonstrably value their educators, in order to proactively reduce the likelihood that their faculty feel the need to resort to a strike in the future.

 

Arts & Entertainment, Private, Theatre

‘Fables’ teaches us about the beauty in life’s relationships

by Samantha Ling on

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One of the most beautiful aspects of life is our ability to form relationships with the people around us. Whether they be platonic, professional, or romantic, these relationships shape who we are and determine who we will become.

Players’ Theatre’s production of Fables explores interpersonal dynamics. Canadian playwright Jackie Torrens depicts the story of a doctor and the relationships that he holds with various individuals in his life. Running from Nov. 15-18 and 22-25, the play follows the life of the doctor, his wife, and two of his patients as they deal with difficult times. The audience peers into the personal lives of these characters—the events that have haunted them, the thoughts they hold towards others, and their aspirations for the future. From overcoming self-hatred to dealing with hypochondria, Fables presents the struggles of each character as it sheds light upon struggles with mental health.

Directed by Filip Rakic, Fables is presented in two acts and uses the stage to portray three distinct settings: A doctor's office, a family home, and a local park. Characters move between these scenes as their relationships with each other face conflicts, grow stronger, and become more complex. We see the connection between the doctor (Thomas Fix) and his wife (Sarah Tiplady) shift as they re-evaluate factors that threaten their marriage via living room dialogue. The doctor’s relationship with his patient, Sid (Alexander Sitaras-Grasic), evolves through fear and ambition for the future. As action plays out in one of the three settings, characters not in the scene can be seen in character in the other two settings participating in day-to-day activities such as writing, drinking, or texting—the audience feels like a part of an ongoing conversation.

From the variety of liquor bottles on the living room table to the classic park bench upon which Lisa (Emily Sheeran) delivers a series of monologues regarding her traumatic past, the production’s set employs detail and adds to the life-like experience that the story tells. Furthermore, all four members of the cast excellently craft its characters by taking on specific mannerisms and maintaining them throughout the show. As Lisa, Sheeran adeptly speaks with uncertainty to display her regret about her past.

Rakic’s decision to largely focus the play on the characters’ monologues allows for the audience to see not only the relationships each character is involved in, but also the inner feelings that these characters hold toward each other and themselves. Fables’ strength is in its intimacy; watching the play is like listening to four new friends who will tell you about their lives, their fears, and their desires.

Rakic, the cast, and the crew have come together to put on a performance that reminds us how the people in our lives accompany us through even the worst of times. Though the play deals with several dark themes, it also uses humour to show the optimistic side of its unhappy characters. Beyond trauma, fear, and regret, Lisa manages to work in hilarious jabs at the doctor’s old age, and Sid constantly mentions his aspirations to make a career out of being a sperm donor. This combination of heavy and light-hearted moments make for a play that provides audience members with a glimpse into their lives and all the ups and downs that are involved.

Science & Technology

Project pollution: McGill professor highlights the risk

by Jade Prévost-Manuel on

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On Oct. 19, the Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health released a report identifying pollution as the cause of nine million deaths across the world in 2015. The report addressed the costs of water, soil, and air pollution to the global economy and public health, stressing pollution as an underreported and terribly severe contributor to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD).

The GBD is an epidemiological study of global health trends since 1990. It aims to understand global health by examining measures like mortality and life expectancy to see how external factors contribute to declines in the overall health of a population.

The staggering figures produced by the GBD’s rigorous research deem pollution a significant health risk. The commission states that 92 per cent of all pollution-related mortality occurs in low-income and middle-income countries—and particularly those experiencing rapid industrialization. Air pollution accounted for 6.5 million deaths in 2015, followed by deaths caused by water pollution, which came in at 1.8 million.

According to the commission, the impacts of pollution on health are unevenly distributed, with pollution disproportionately affecting the marginalized and the vulnerable.

Niladri Basu, an associate professor in the faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and a Canada Research Chair in Environmental Health Sciences, calls this an unacceptable truth and an issue of human rights.

“We all have a right to a safe workplace,” Basu wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune. “We take this for granted in Canada but millions around the world can not say the same.”

Basu contributed to the Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health’s report, and said that the report will raise awareness about the link between pollution and health. He further commented on how pollution’s severity is underrepresented in the media.

“Many of our donor agencies and foundations are rightfully committed to global health, though few of them have realized the immense burden that pollution plays,” Basu wrote. “Our report shows that pollution causes three times more premature deaths than AIDS, TB, and malaria combined.”

Pollution harms health, but it’s also harmful to economies. Welfare losses due to pollution are estimated to cost more than US $4.6 trillion each year, about 6.2 per cent of global economic output. In middle-income countries that are heavily polluted and rapidly developing, up to seven per cent of annual health spending is allocated to cover the costs of pollution-related disease.

However, it’s not all bad news. The mission of the Lancet Commission is to inform economic and health policy makers worldwide about the burdens of pollution and to suggest affordable control solutions that focus on pollution prevention.

Pollution can be eliminated and the measures taken to do so can be cost-effective. In the past, high-income countries have been largely successful in managing pollution, and in the last 50 years air quality in Canada and the United States has improved immensely. Similar strategies at the level of policy can be applied to countries of all levels of income.

The report outlines six recommendations based on its findings, such as making pollution a high international priority and increasing the funding and technical support of pollution control.

As a professor, Basu is certain that education, empowerment, and the communication of scientific knowledge are long-term solutions to the pollution problem.

“The solution to pollution resides in transdisciplinary sciences,” Basu said.  “We need social scientists to link with natural scientists to link with engineers, public health officials, regulators, and so on. Multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary partnerships are the only way forward [….] Pollution is preventable, and it can be done in a cost-effective and win-win manner.”

Martlets, Sports

McGill cheerleading goes beyond the sidelines

by April Barrett on

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From teen movies to major league sports, cheerleaders often attract a specific kind of attention, and it isn’t always based on their athleticism. The figure of the cheerleader, in these popular representations, seems to overshadow the actual sport of cheerleading. In reality, McGill cheerleading, a self-funded competitive club, is one of many competitive cheerleading teams where respect for the sport comes above all else.

“Our practices are completely dedicated for us to train for competitions,” three-year McGill cheerleading veteran Gabrielle Cloutier said. “That’s the one thing about cheer; people just see us at football games and they think that’s what cheer is all about, but really it’s way more intense.”

The team practices two to three times per week, with additional practices near competitions, which occur a few times a semester. If you’ve seen McGill cheerleading at basketball or football games, you’ve only seen their warm-up. This semester, the team is training for a competition in Montreal on Nov. 19 and then Power Cheerleading Association Nationals in Brampton, Ontario on Nov. 25.

“[Cheering at a game] reinstates the basics we have,” third-year cheerleader Courtney Macdonald said. “We never do anything super difficult at the games because of the conditions [of the venue].”

Beyond games and practices, being a part of McGill cheerleading also means taking on the responsibility of fundraising for the team. The cheerleaders do everything from weekly samosa sales, to odd jobs, to performance gigs in the St. Patrick’s day parade in order to cover the team’s costs. These costs include renting practice space in a suitable gymnastics gym, coaches’ salaries, and travelling to competitions. The amount of fundraising required can be a lot for those new to the team.

“People don’t realize [the commitment], going into cheerleading […] they think that it’s going to be a side thing,” Cloutier said.

Because of these extra requirements, being a McGill cheerleader demands a high level of mental involvement. Aside from fitness and athleticism, spirit is also an important concept in cheering. The team members apply this idea to the way they approach their dedication to cheer and perseverance through challenges.

“I remember [the old team captain] telling me that there’s nothing that’s as much of a team sport than cheer is,” Cloutier said. “You have to be 100 per cent all of the time, because if you’re not there, someone’s going to get hurt. That’s where spirit comes in. If you’re on the mat and your stunt just fell and you have to keep going to your other stunt, having those voices telling you to keep going is crucial.”

This presence of mind comes in large part from synergy with teammates.

“I never used to be the most spirit-ful person but since being on the team, it’s so easy to be [spirited],” Macdonald said. “When we take the mat we feed off each other’s energy.”

An added difficulty of cheering is managing people’s misconceptions of the sport, and of cheerleaders in general. These notions range from the idea that cheerleaders are catty and shallow, to the idea that cheering is complementary entertainment, rather than a sport in and of itself.

“We’re not the only [cheer] team dealing with that at all,” Cloutier said. “Even if you’re a complete all-star team that doesn’t even cheer at football games, you’re going to have [to face] that perception.”

Cloutier, a former competitive dancer, and Macdonald, a retired national gymnast, both emphasized that, despite common television portrayals, cheer competitions have less rivalry than other sports they’ve been involved in.

“The sport is respected so much that when the other team sees another team doing a stunt that is brand new or really hard to execute you’re going to cheer them on so much,” Cloutier said. “The drama you see in the movies, […] that’s completely absent.”

(Gabriel Helfant / The McGill Tribune)

 

As for the notion that cheering is sideline entertainment, Macdonald explains that anyone who is familiar with competitive cheerleading understands the extreme dedication, physical strength, and risk-taking it requires.

“We do a lot of conditioning, strength training, so that we can be 100 per cent to catch the girls,” Macdonald said.  

Strength is a requirement while executing such physically demanding maneuvers. Everyone on the team understands the potential for injury if someone falters during a stunt.

“We have this rule that if our flyer [the girl thrown in the air] touches the mat, everyone does 50 push ups,” Cloutier added.

This year, try-outs were opened to male cheerleaders for the first time in a decade. Being coed would put the team in a different league, allow for new stunts to be performed, and help manage some of the stigma of being an all-girl cheer team. The team started the year with two males, but after a few weeks, they dropped off due to the high level of involvement.

“I think the fact that we went from being coed to all girl was our biggest challenge this semester,” Macdonald said. “We had to change the routine that our coaches had already started forming, and I think that for some people it was a hit to their morale.”

However, both Macdonald believes that the challenge has ultimately made the team stronger.

“I think we’re happier as all-girl right now,” Macdonald said. “The obstacle of going from coed to all girl has gotten to us where we are today.”

After months of bonding and overcoming obstacles, teammates can now fully rely on one another.

“Right now, we’re at that point in the season where everybody who’s here is here to stay,” Cloutier said.

With so much physical and mental energy put toward making the team possible, both Macdonald and Cloutier wish the McGill community had a greater awareness of McGill Cheer. Not just for their role in cheering on other McGill teams, but for the level of athleticism the team works toward themselves, and the rigorous competitions they participate in.

“We’re fully competing, throwing very dangerous and cool skills,” Macdonald said.

Furthermore, cheerleading goes far beyond entertainment; as McGill cheerleading demonstrates, the team trains and competes as varsity-level athletes.

“We’re here and we’re a competitive sport,” Cloutier concluded.

McGill, News

New Max Bell School of Public Policy created at McGill

by Caitlin Kindig on

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On Nov. 7, at a panel discussion at the Hotel Omni Mont-Royal, McGill announced its plans to launch the Max Bell School of Public Policy after receiving a $10 million donation from the Max Bell Foundation. This school will be housed under the Faculty of Arts and will offer both a one-year graduate program as well as executive programs—graduate-level programs for business executives—led by professors with experience in the field of policy. The school is on track to begin accepting applications in August 2018 for the Fall 2019 semester.

The four pillars of the new school will be Applied Policy Research, Practical Policy Teaching, Effective Public Outreach, and Credible Policy Engagement, all of which the school hopes will cultivate both a theoretical and practical understanding of the policy creation process. The curriculum at the Max Bell School will include topics like open-ended policy solutions, partisan politics, and structures of government.

Economics Associate Professor Christopher Ragan is the inaugural director of the new school, and is currently in the process of finalizing the details for its programming. He is responsible for designing the curriculum, executive programs, case studies of specific governmental policy issues, public engagement programs, and course plans. Ragan is also overseeing space, instructors, and scheduling for the school, which will likely be situated at 680 Sherbrooke street.

Ragan has consulted with research assistants from various universities throughout the world, including at the University of Toronto, Oxford University, and Harvard University, to gather insight and ideas for the School.

“I am simultaneously excited and swamped, but I am delighted to be doing this because McGill is a great place to have such a policy school,” Ragan said. “I have a generous financial gift, a blank piece of paper, and a year to build something wonderful.”

Antonia Maioni, the dean of the Faculty of Arts, is excited for the new project.

“The Faculty of Arts is so very pleased to have the new Max Bell School of Public Policy in the Faculty […] as a new pillar of teaching, research and outreach in public policy that extends to colleagues,” Maioni said. “[The school will encourage] interdisciplinary exchange between faculty and students across the university, as well as practitioners in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.”

Suzanne Fortier, the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill, also expressed gratitude for the Max Bell Foundation’s donation. She foresees the School of Public Policy furthering McGill’s academic diversity.

“To create the new knowledge needed to solve our most pressing social and environmental problems, and to develop and implement the real-world policies that will effectively harness that knowledge, we need to bring together people from diverse backgrounds, cultures and experiences,” Fortier said. “McGill prides itself on the diverse background of its students and faculty. The Max Bell School of Public Policy will build on this strength by attracting an interdisciplinary, global cohort of scholars and students who will educate, and become, the next generation of policy leaders.”

 

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