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Editorial, Opinion

In countering hate and racism, SSMU must keep local issues at the forefront

by McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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On Sunday, Nov. 12, thousands of activists filled Place Émilie-Gamelin for the “Large Demonstration Against Hate and Racism.” A McGill contingent, led by Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Vice-President (VP) External Connor Spencer, joined forces with a coalition of Montreal activist groups to protest hate and the far-right. SSMU Council endorsed Spencer’s—and McGill’s—involvement in the protest in an Oct. 12 motion. This decision should be commended, as it recognizes the increasing prevalence of discriminatory forces on and off campus, and helps fulfill the role that student government must play in promoting equality. Just recently, xenophobic posters promoting a white nationalist group appeared on McGill campus. Quebec’s Bill 62 is xenophobic legislation that stands to hinder Muslim women’s access to education and other public services. McGill is launching an investigation into anti-semitism on campus. There are students within the McGill community who feel silenced, targeted, and undermined by discrimination.

However, it is important to remember that mass demonstrations like this are only one of many different, valid, ways to confront hatred and racism. Participating in a march alone is not enough. Within SSMU and students’ scope of effective action, there’s a need for focused initiatives at a local level that promote inclusivity and equality on McGill campus. SSMU must actively seek relevant stakeholders’ input on how to better educate the McGill community on sensitive issues, and how to implement policy that recognizes and supports students’ varied experiences. This involves giving marginalized groups a stronger platform to share their voices.

On their website, Sunday’s protest organizers encouraged people to “take the streets […] to express [their] anger at racism, hatred, and the far-right.” These are very real threats—and people deserve to be angry. However, protests with such broad visions risk undermining the effectiveness of their activism. Dubbed online as a protest opposing racism, Islamophobia, colonialism, sexism, transphobia, and other forms of hate—all of which are claimed to be related to capitalism and austerity—the “Demonstration Against Hate and Racism” lacked a coherent and effective goal for people to mobilize around. The protest’s messaging appeared to emphasize anger and opposition to the far-right writ large, more so than opposition to one particular discriminatory event.

To effectively counter the far-right and other discriminatory groups, students must make use of all [channels]. That means responding at different times, in different ways.

The point of the “Demonstration Against Hate and Racism” was to be all-encompassing—that is, a resounding rejection of all discrimination encouraged by the far-right. While broad, societal-level strokes are laudable and important, they must not overshadow the need for concurrent work at a more focused, community level. McGill is SSMU’s domain. As such, it is on the local level where the Society and its members can have the most impact. Without discounting the symbolic value of SSMU participating in a city-wide protest, it is imperative that it carries the momentum from this rally to enact change at the local level—because this is where it is most desperately needed.

Moving forward, it is crucial for students and student leaders to understand the multiple channels for advocacy, activism, and solidarity. To effectively counter the far-right and other discriminatory groups, students must make use of all of them. That means responding at different times, in different ways.

Moreover, these channels must prioritize the voices that have been silenced by persistent hate. SSMU must seek input from those who are targeted, and ask how the McGill community can work together to make campus a safer place for everyone. By consulting the most important stakeholders to each issue, SSMU can continue to educate the McGill community. Workshops, speakers, and issue-specific, on-campus programming, such as the Quebec Public Interest Research Group's (QPIRG) Culture Shock and Social Justice Days, respond to racism in supportive, productive, and sensitive ways. While SSMU and its constituents should not be afraid to be ambitious in combatting racism on a broader scale, it is key to understand where the McGill community has the potential to make the most impact. That’s right here at McGill.

 


@mcgilltribop | [email protected]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Science & Technology

The rise of invasive species denialism

by Emma Gillies on

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Recently, dozens of opinion articles have appeared in the media—and even in scientific journals—that deny the risks that invasive species pose to the environment. These arguments claim that the field of invasion biology is biased and unscientific.

Anthony Ricciardi, professor in McGill’s School of Environment, is addressing this issue.

Invasion can be defined as an organism being displaced to a location in which it has no evolutionary history, and establishing a self-sustaining and reproducing population.

In a recently published paper, Ricciardi looked at 77 articles that promoted invasive species denialism and ignored or denied scientific facts. The study found an exponential increase in the number of these articles published from 1990 to 2015.

According to Ricciardi, science denialism in general is the unfounded dismissal of scientific consensus. Invasive species denialism delegitimizes researchers’ findings and credibility, similar to the denialism that affects climate science and medical science.

“There is a scientific consensus that non-native species introductions pose significant risks […] to biodiversity and ecosystems,” Ricciardi said. “This does not mean that scientists think that every introduced species is going to be disruptive, or even that most may have undesirable impacts.”

While many species do not have strong impacts, some have devastating effects on their surrounding environment, such as the zebra mussel and the Asian longhorned beetle. Further research is needed to improve risk assessment, as invasive species are capable of altering biodiversity, ecosystems, and natural resources, to the point of societal-level impacts.

“A major research objective is to determine which species will have undesired impacts,” Ricciardi said. “When I hear people [non-scientists usually] say, that the impacts of the invasions have been exaggerated, or you can’t trust these scientists because they just want to get more grant money […] it’s just as outrageous as when a climate scientist hears that they’re in some kind of politically-motivated conspiracy.”

Ricciardi highlighted several factors that could contribute to this rise in invasive species denialism, including opposition to increased regulation of the deliberate ‘live trade’ of organisms, for markets such as the food market and the pet industry.

“There’s a massive amount of genetic material moving around the planet […] and there is resistance to regulation because it can impede profits [for businesses],” Ricciardi said.

Another motivation for this denialism is growing distrust in scientific institutions. According to Ricciardi, this is characteristic of the ‘post-truth era’ in which public opinion is more skeptical of authority that challenges people’s world views.

In addition, some professionals feel that they can increase their visibility by being contrarian. A few scholarly journals, including prestigious ones like Nature, publish opinion articles that don’t necessarily include data. Ricciardi also cited denialist books like Where Do Camels Belong? and The New Wild.

Perhaps the most prominent motivation for this rise in invasive species denialism is the existence of conflicting perceptions of nature. Denialists’ contrarianism is not scientific, but rather rhetorical. Denialists range from fisheries stakeholders to philosophers to animal rights activists. While these critics focus on individuals, they fail to recognize the importance of species. Some have even gone as far as saying that invasive species ecologists are xenophobic.

Ricciardi stressed that there is plenty of scientific debate in ecology—but genuine scientific debate involves facts and evidence.

“I am certainly not advocating that we invoke the term 'denialism' to ban arguments,” Ricciardi noted. “But scientific criticisms should be made in a scientific forum where they are evaluated through peer review. [Contrarians] have to be challenged when they say things that are not scientific, or which have no scientific basis, or [when] they misinterpret scientific evidence.”

In a recent editorial, Maclean’s claimed that “Canada should embrace invasive species,” but the article included no scientific evidence. For Ricciardi, this is a prime example of the growing number of newspaper articles that attack science, but don’t have to go through the same scrutiny that the peer review process provides scientific papers before they get published.

Denialism instills doubt that impedes management efforts to prevent new invasions, or control harmful, existing ones.

"Just like climate scientists have begun to speak out publically against climate-change denialism, ecologists must do the same when their science is under attack in the popular press,” Ricciardi said.

With invasive species denialism on the rise, Ricciardi says that invasion biologists must convey their findings better to the general public. Otherwise, the failure to do so would mean less effective management of invasive species, which is increasingly relevant in areas such as biosecurity, conservation, and ecosystem management.

Private, Student Life, Student of the Week

A look behind the lens: Humans of McGill photographer Brock Jenken

by Avleen K Mokha on

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Brock Jenken, U2 Science, is a student of many disciplines. Between serving as the U2 representative for the Biochemistry Undergraduate Society, singing in an acapella group, and playing the piano—Jenken’s daily life is full of multitasking. He is majoring in biochemistry and minoring in computer science, and, amid dreams of medical school, he has honed a passion for photography.

Jenken is perhaps known best for his photography for Humans of McGill University (HoMU), a Facebook community featuring photos and interviews with students that has garnered over 5,000 likes since its debut in Fall 2016. Working as one of four page administrators, Jenken brings student voices to the forefront.

“What motivates me is to find people who have stories to share,” Jenken said. “I am mostly a portrait photographer, so I love talking to people and find that it helps in capturing better portraits. When I was given the opportunity [in 2015-2016] to join an initiative like [HoMU], I jumped at it. I like the concept of sharing stories from students your age […] who have such different lives.”

Jenken has been taking portraits on campus for about three years now, after getting his start with Humans of McGill Residences (HoMR), an initiative of the Inter Rez Council 2015-2016 that led to the creation of HoMU. During his time in university, he has developed a knack for getting his subjects to open up to him.

“I feel that I am getting more selective in the portraits,” Jenken said. “I approach people who are standing around or sitting on a bench, who probably just finished class [….] I ask if [they] have any experience that […] helped them grow, that others would be interested in hearing [about]. If they don’t seem comfortable sharing deep stories, I ask them if they have any dad jokes or funny, insightful quips.”

Jenken aspires to go to medical school but plans to work as a freelance wedding photographer over summer breaks to supplement his income. He seeks inspiration from other wedding photographers; his favourite is Brent Kallas, who happens to be a McGill alumnus himself.

“I was very recently photographed  by [Kallas],” Jenken said. “He always captures the perfect moment, especially in his wedding photography. As someone who wants to go into wedding photography, I want to be able to capture moments like he does.”

Reflecting on how working for HoMU has enriched his university experience,  Jenken feels more connected to people of different experiences and worldviews.

“For me, [portrait photography] always reminds me that everyone is living their own lives,” Jenken said. “People can get caught up […] in their personal lives, but it reminds me that we all have different problems. We’re all going through things beyond control, and that it doesn’t hurt to be nice to someone [because] they might be having a rough day.”

Student Life

McGill on wheels: Bicycle theft and measures of protection

by Stephanie Sim on

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Montreal is remarkably bike-friendly; from its bike sharing program, Bixi, to the integration of bike lanes in its planning, the city is uniquely welcoming to those on two wheels. Many McGill staff and students commute to and from school daily by bike, living close too far to conveniently walk but not far enough away to warrant taking transit. During the warmer times of year, bike racks on campus are stocked—a visible sign of the role that bike culture plays in the campus community.

However, what’s less obvious upon first glance, is bicycle theft. A 2012 McGill survey on bicycle theft showed that approximately 50 per cent of students in Montreal have had their bikes stolen, even when they locked them up. Thieves often use bolt cutters to remove bike locks, or they simply remove loose parts that are not locked up, which can be resold individually. Ben Oldham, U3 Arts, is a regular bike commuter, and one of many students who has fallen victim to campus bike theft.

“I’ve never had my [whole] bike stolen, but I’ve always locked it up nice, too [….] My dad nags me about it, so I’m always careful,” Oldham said. “Somebody stole the seat off my bike once because it wasn’t bolted to the frame.”

While there is no ultimate solution to bike theft, there are measures that individuals can take to increase their bike’s security and, in the case that it is stolen, their chances of getting it back. The same survey showed bikes locked with a cable have a 30 per cent higher chance of being stolen than those with a U-lock. Although cables are popular, they’re easy to cut with bolt cutters, while U-locks are far more durable and nearly impossible to break.

Another security precaution bike owners can take is to get their bike permanently engraved with  a number that is entered into a police database, making it easier to track if stolen. Engraved bikes are less likely to be stolen by thieves looking to resell bikes; the tracking number is a giveaway that it’s been stolen. Eli MacLaren, assistant professor in the Department of English at McGill, learned the importance of engravings the hard way after his bike was stolen from his backyard.

“[My family] stores our bikes in a shed behind our house, in our backyard out of view from the street,” MacLaren wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune. “Someone came into our backyard [in September], opened the shed, and took my bike. Since [my] bike had no police tracking number, the police said that the chances of recovering it were low.”

Once a semester, McGill Security Services works with the Montreal Police to provide free bike engravings for all McGill students and staff members on the Downtown campus. This engraving increases the chances of finding students’ stolen bikes.

Locking bikes in high-traffic areas, like around the Y-Intersection on McGill’s downtown campus, also decreases a bike’s likelihood of being stolen. Through his experience with bike theft, Oldham has learned the importance of finding the proper place to park.

“I try to leave [my bike] somewhere well-populated, so I figure people would notice someone trying to break my lock,” Oldham said. “I hope it would at least deter someone from targeting my bike.”

Beyond taking these everyday safety precautions, the student biking community as a whole can look out for each other and keep campus security in the loop on suspicious activity.

“As a community, we can all keep an eye out for suspicious behaviour,” Oldham said. “At the end of the day, I think the best thing is to create a culture where we’re always talking to one another about bike safety and watching each other’s backs.”

Laughing Matters, Off the Board, Opinion

A letter from your upstairs neighbour

by Audrey Carleton on

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Last week, The McGill Tribune published an op-ed criticizing upstairs neighbours for their “categorically inconsiderate” behaviour, such as bodybuilding, blasting music, and having loud sex. I was disappointed by Sydney King’s assertion that upstairs neighbours are inherently selfish and rude. In my time as a student in Montreal, I’ve lived on the first floor, the 11th floor, and most recently, the third floor of various apartment buildings, so I have a strong sense of the pros and cons of all living situations. As a current upstairs neighbour, I would like to clear a few things up.

King’s argument makes inaccurate claims about what upstairs neighbours are actually doing when you—the downstairs neighbour—hear late-night stomping. For example, they’re likely bodybuilding or playing indoor sports. While I cannot speak for all upstairs neighbours, in my own case, this is untrue. Personally, I have never touched a weight in my life, and I do not engage in team sports. What you’re hearing is probably just my nightly at-home Zumba workouts. There’s a difference. The former involves more throwing and catching, while the latter involves a lot of jumping and stepping. Regardless, I believe it’s well within my right to work out the way I choose, when I choose. A double standard exists between the upstairs and downstairs neighbours, with upstairs neighbours statistically far more likely to receive building complaints while exercising. The expectation that upstairs folks not get their sweat on from the comfort of their own homes is unfair.

King also asserts that upstairs neighbours have a propensity for loud music and hosting live concerts with Eminem himself. This is true in some cases—my old upstairs neighbours used to enjoy practicing their DJ sets at all hours—and I know how annoying it can be. But now that I’m an upstairs neighbour with a downstairs neighbour who works part-time from home as a piano teacher, I can confirm that this sonic relationship goes both ways. We, upstairs neighbours, can hear you blasting music too, and we do not appreciate being singled out and asked to take full responsibility.

I do not engage in team sports. What you’re hearing is probably just my nightly at-home Zumba workouts.

As for the argument that upstairs neighbours have a propensity for having loud sex, this is a sweeping generalization, and one that is, quite frankly, none of your business. It’s possible that you’re hearing the cage of small pandas that I keep in my bedroom being let out to jump on the bed and engage in nightly play. You could also be hearing my sex noise machine—it's like a white noise machine, but instead it makes sex noises. I find them soothing. Either way, this is not for you to speculate on, so putting in earphones might be the best call.

It’s also important to keep in mind the many other sacrifices that upstairs neighbours make. During the summer, upstairs neighbours face the hottest indoor temperatures, because heat rises. Being closer to the sun, we’re also awoken by the brightest rays in the early morning. And during winter, many of us face steep, icy steps when entering and exiting the house. Being an upstairs neighbour is not all noisy rainbows and butterflies.

At the end of the day, all upstairs neighbours want is a positive relationship with our downstairs counterparts. Speculative accusations get in the way of this, and throwing around unfounded claims about our behaviour is not productive. Living upstairs comes with its own difficulties, and having to fend off attacks like this is just one of them.

 

Audrey Carleton is a managing editor at The McGill Tribune.

 

@mcgilltribop | [email protected]

 

McGill, News

AUS Legislative Council votes in support of Daily Publications Society

by Julia Metraux on

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On Nov. 8, the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) Legislative Council held its fifth meeting of the Fall semester. Councillors passed motions to support the Daily Publications Society (DPS) existence referendum, to create the Quebec Studies Students Association (QSSA), and to appoint 18 councillors, executives, and other students to positions on committees and individual roles in AUS.

 

Motion to Endorse a YES Vote in SSMU Existence Referendum for Daily Publication Society

The DPS, which publishes both The McGill Daily and Le Délit, is currently campaigning for a “Yes” vote to its existence referendum. Every five years, all clubs that collect a non-opt-outable fee from students must go through this type of vote to ensure that they can continue doing so for another five-year period. At last week’s council, the AUS voted to support the DPS’ campaign for its own existence, just six days after the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Legislative Council voted against doing so at its Nov. 2 Legislative Council meeting.

The motion was proposed by Department of English Student Association (DESA) Vice-President (VP) External Thomas MacDonald and Arts Representative Jennifer Chan. Councillors discussed the roles of The McGill Daily and Le Délit on campus and the future of both newspapers if the referendum fails.

“What is highly unusual is, for the first time, SSMU Legislative Council voted not to endorse a yes vote [for the DPS’s] existence referendum,” MacDonald said. “DPS is an extremely valuable resource […] for a university with no journalism program.”

According to Arts Senator Isabella Anderson, it is important to have a French newspaper like Le Délit at McGill University out of respect for Quebec as a Francophone province.

“We go to school in Quebec, yet we only have one Francophone newspaper,” Anderson said. “It’s important to find a newspaper that caters to the province where we go to school. It doesn’t matter that our institution is English.”

Political Science Students Association (PSSA) VP External Liam Kirkpatrick also reminded Council of the gravity of this vote, asserting that the result of the existence referendum will determine The McGill Daily and Le Délit’s ability to continue operating.

“I think that it’s very clear that if the DPS is not renewed, it will end The Daily and Le Délit,” Kirkpatrick said. “[The McGill Daily and Le Délit] will not have the funds to continue to operate, to continue to publish, [and] to continue to pay rent.”
 

Motion to Instate Quebec Studies Students Association

AUS VP Internal Rebecca Scarra moved a motion to create a student association for the Quebec Studies (QCST) program, which began in 2015 and offers a major and minor. This motion came forth at a tenuous time for QCST, as it currently risks termination by the Faculty of Arts due to low interest and enrollment in the program, according to AUS VP Academic Madeline Wilson.

“The association being established is trying to prevent [QCST] from being cut, but realistically the only thing that will prevent the termination is getting enrollment numbers up,” Wilson said. “Does the QSSA have concrete plans on how they would increase enrollment?”

In response, Scarra argued that the creation of the association would serve to publicize QCST and improve current enrollment rates.

“[Quebec Studies program students] hoping by having this association, it will increase visibility in the AUS and get more people to enroll.” Scarra said. “They would also like to do collaborative events with other departments to raise awareness of the program.”
 

Motion to Appoint AUS Positions

AUS President Erik Partridge and AUS VP Communications Maria Thomas motioned for the AUS Legislative Council to ratify appointments of executives, councillors, and other students to various AUS positions, all of which passed unanimously. This is an annual process, and the 18 roles with appointments are split across five AUS departments.

“This motion is basically to appoint people to specific positions, as well as to approve the various committees that require membership approval,” Partridge said. “[These positions and committees are] Arts Student Employment Fund committee, Fine Arts Commissioners, Arts Computer Lab Fund Committee, and Financial Management Committee.”

AUS will next meet on Nov 22 at 6 p.m. in Leacock 232.

Hockey, Sports

Lord Stanley coming home? 2018 could finally be the year for the Ottawa Senators

by Owen Gibbs on

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On Nov. 5, the hockey world was rocked by a massive three-way trade: The Ottawa Senators acquired highly-touted forward Matt Duchene from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for goaltender Andrew Hammond, prospect Shane Bowers, and a pair of draft picks. The Senators also sent top-six forward Kyle Turris to the Nashville Predators, who in turn sent a pair of prospects and a draft pick to the Avalanche. It was the biggest trade the National Hockey League (NHL) has seen in several years, and though a Duchene trade was inevitable, his destination told the hockey world something about the Senators: They want the Stanley Cup, and they want it now.

Ottawa gave up a huge amount for Duchene. Turris was one of their top scorers and a central piece of the Senators’ forward lines. In fact, the Predators immediately signed Turris to a six-year, $36 million contract extension. While Duchene will likely be a major improvement over Turris, Bowers was Ottawa’s first-round draft pick in 2017, and one of the two picks they sent away was a 2018 first-rounder. Such a move from future assets in pursuit of immediate success means the Senators think they have a serious shot at winning the Cup after their unexpected run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, which begs the question of whether they fit into the contender category.

The analytical side of hockey would suggest not. The list of teams considered to be Cup favourites in 2018 includes the Tampa Bay Lightning, St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers, and Nashville Predators. Several of those teams have one thing in common: A pair of superstars capable of making the whole squad better with their raw talent. These include Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in Edmonton, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in Pittsburgh, and Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov in Tampa. These duos can carry a team to the top of the standings and to the position of Cup contender. St. Louis and Nashville, meanwhile, each collectively have enough skill and depth to score and effectively defend against most opposition.

Ottawa lacks both of these elements. Their top scorers are high-scoring defenceman Erik Karlsson and now, Duchene. While both are very skilled, the combination is not quite on the same level as the aforementioned pairs. Despite some talented forwards in Mark Stone and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, the Senators have little in terms of scoring from bottom-six forwards. Aside from Karlsson, their defence can be described as average at best. Between the pipes, Craig Anderson is very good at his job, but he isn’t getting any younger and likely won’t be in the discussion for the Vezina Trophy this season.

However, if there is one truly great thing about the NHL, it is its unpredictability. No one expected the Senators to make it to the Conference Finals last season or to challenge the powerhouse Penguins the way they did. Nashville entered the playoffs in the last seat and went all the way to the finals. Each of the teams that were predicted to be in the bottom three before the season currently hold a playoff spot. How a team fares can hinge on player confidence, and the Senators clearly have a now-or-never mentality. Expect them to be making more moves like this throughout the season in an effort to build a team that can truly contend, especially closer to the February trade deadline. Duchene is just the beginning of this season’s push, and the end just might be another Cinderella run, this time to the Stanley Cup Final. After all, it’s the golden rule of hockey: Never count anyone out.

Martlets, Sports

McGill Martlets volleyball sweeps UQAM Citadins for home victory

by Lisa Perrett on

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The McGill Martlets volleyball team (3-1) turned up the heat at their second home game of the season on Sunday, Nov. 5. The Martlets brought the game against the Université de Québec à Montréal (UQAM) Citadins (1-4) to a quick close, winning in straight sets of 25-16, 25-19, and 25-17.

The Martlets came out strong in the first set with 11 kills and only three errors, hitting hard and seizing control of the game from the start. Despite increased intensity from UQAM in the second set, McGill played consistently and kept unforced errors to a minimum. The Martlets comfortably won the third set to close out the game. Overall, McGill maintained a 29-26 margin in kills and out-blocked their opponents by four.

Fourth-year setter Thara Dawoodjee shone, with 23 sets to her name to help fourth-year captain Myriam Robitaille and second-year Claire Vercheval register 12.5 points and 10.5 points, respectively. Dawoodjee was pleased with the team’s overall performance throughout the game, particularly the tenacity with which they sided out and their composure on the court.

“We played really well and […] kept it constant,” Dawoodjee said. “There were a few moments when we let up with our serve-receive, but we kept pushing back and siding out. I think that was one of our strengths this game”.

This was the second home game for the Martlets after a tough home opener on Nov. 2, which they lost to their rivals, the Université de Montréal Carabins. Coaches and players alike agreed that Sunday’s game was an overall improvement from the Nov. 2 match, as the players felt more relaxed on the court.

“A lot of the girls, and myself as well, were a lot more calm on the court,” Dawoodjee said. “So you could just see [we] were playing a lot better [and] smoother[…] which is what we want.”

The Martlets’ 2016-2017 season ended in the semi-finals of the RSEQ playoffs in February. The team hopes to sustain that momentum, and spirits are high as they look ahead to the rest of this season. Elisabeth Perrault, power for McGill and second-year double major in accounting and finance, says that the team has their sights set on winning the league and making it to nationals—a goal that Head Coach Rachele Beliveau also shares. Beliveau is pushing her team to maintain the quality of play that they are able to execute at a high pace.

“We want the team to be able to get some momentum,” Beliveau said. “And to [work] more on execution […] at a faster speed of play.”

With their sights set on nationals, the Martlets’ next home game will be Friday, Nov. 10 against the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees (2-4) at 7 p.m.

 

Moment of the game

A huge block and kill by fifth-year middle Erika Cournoyer set the score to 11-9 for McGill at a crucial moment in the second set.

 

Stat Corner

Fourth-year captain Myriam Robitaille earned nine kills, 15 total attacks, and only two errors throughout the game, registering an impressive 12.5 points to her name.

 

Quote of the game

“Everyone has their spirits up. So far, we’ve been doing really well. We’re 3-1 [and] we’re hoping to keep it going through the season, keeping it constant and consistent. That’s all that we’re looking for.” – Fourth-year setter Thara Dawoodjee

 

Letter to the Editor: No, there is no “quest for monolingual domination” in Québec
Letters to the Editor, Opinion

Letter to the Editor: Not a free press without free speech

by Rachel Zaurov on

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The McGill Tribune’s latest editorial, “If SSMU Council won’t stand up for campus press, students must,” claims that it is the The McGill Daily’s pro-Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) stance against Israel that in part fueled the events at the Nov. 2 Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Legislative Council. However, to frame the opposition to mandating student funding of the Daily Publication Society–the parent organization of both The McGill Daily and Le Délit newspapers–as being primarily about the Daily’s endorsement of BDS misses the point entirely.

It is not about the Daily’s endorsement of BDS per se—everyone should recognize that it is a newspaper’s prerogative to take certain editorial lines. However, a paper claiming the mantle of “free press” should not be permitted to routinely exclude certain voices from publication, thereby invalidating and obscuring them—especially one that asks for funding from all students, but refuses to grant access to free speech to all these students in turn.

Indeed, with regards to Israel, opposition to the Daily stems from the fact that it engages in a wholesale boycott of a considerable segment of campus voices. Specifically, the newspaper “maintains an editorial line of not publishing pieces which promote a Zionist worldview.” This stands in direct contradiction to the Tribune’s call in its latest editorial for “SSMU and students to recognize that it is valuable to have a diversity of voices on campus.”

Given the Tribune’s stated commitment to a “diversity of voices,” it should recognize how students with Zionist viewpoints would bristle at funding a publication like the Daily that preaches diversity and yet systematically excludes their voice from its pages. “Zionist viewpoints” are by no means homogenous, and while reflecting an ethno-religious connection to the physical land, are often highly critical of Israeli state policy and the injustice of the occupation. The Daily pushes the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the forefront of campus discussion, but by excluding this diversity of voices, neglects to engage in the debate responsibly and acknowledge all its inherent nuance. It should also recognize the hypocrisy inherent in asking for funding from the entirety of the student body in order to ostensibly serve as its platform, while routinely excluding a viewpoint shared in varying manifestations by a portion of the McGill community.

Furthermore, it is extremely reductive and obfuscatory to refer to a “Zionist worldview”–as the Daily does–as if there is a sole cohesive Zionist agenda. Zionism is a movement with a long history, with different interpretations and ideological bents. A singular “Zionist worldview” cannot be objectively pinned down in any meaningful sense. Putting all diverse Zionist voices in a single oppressive box, and discounting the nuance and difference laden within the term is not good journalism by the Daily. Neither is the systematic exclusion of a group, based on a minimized understanding of a diverse ideological movement, from a conversation it is intimately impacted by.

The extent of the mental gymnastics that must go along with claiming that the SSMU Legislative Council events went against the existence of a fair and balanced press on campus, when one of the publications in question is systematically precluding any sort of actual fair and balanced coverage at all, is palpable. The Daily can go ahead and endorse BDS as a newspaper, but do so without being so insecure about their position that upholding it necessitates such expansive gatekeeping in the form of silencing and outright delegitimization of any dissenting or explanatory voice among their pages.

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