Latest News

Men's Varsity, Soccer, Sports

McGill Redmen soccer haunts Concordia Stingers in last regular season home game

by Jordan Foy on

More in Men's Varsity:

On Oct. 27, McGill Redmen soccer (4-5-3) took on the Concordia Stingers (3-8-1). The highly physical game resulted in a 3-1 victory for McGill.

The first half was a close affair, with both teams registering a goal each. The Redmen came out strong and were able to get ahead early, when second-year midfielder Roberto Bonalumi booted the ball past the Concordia keeper.

In the opening minutes, McGill controlled the play well, employing excellent ball movement to halt the Concordia attack. But, as the half went on, their play slipped and Concordia scored midway through the half to tie the game.

During halftime, the Redmen regrouped and focused on tightening up their game.  

“We told them […] they have to execute better,” Head Coach Marc Mounicot said. “They have to be more dangerous offensively, and the use of the ball has to be much more positive [….] We were hoping for a reaction, and I think they did [react].”

In the second half, the Redmen were able to regain control over the game by refocusing their strategy.

“Instead of putting our heads down, we just knew that we had to come out strong in the second half, and just change the momentum,” fifth-year midfielder Michael McIntyre said.

The Redmen offence struck again in the 58th minute, after a superb pass resulted in an easy tap in by second-year forward Mehdi Ibn-Brahim.

Later in the game, McGill capitalized once more when Bonalumi took advantage of a misplay by a Concordia defender for his second goal of the night. The Redmen then contained the Stingers’ offence for the remainder of the half and secured the win.

The match marked the last home game for many graduating veterans on the team, who expressed how thankful they are for the team and the experience.

“I was just looking forward to the opportunity of playing, and trying not to think about it being as my last game, and instead just trying to enjoy it.” McIntyre, one of the six graduating players, said.

For defender Davide Salvoni, the game was bittersweet.

“I dedicated a lot of time to this program for four years, so it felt a little tough to let it go, you know, break the routine I’ve been in for the last four years,” Salvoni said. “So I definitely wanted to end it on a good note.”

On Oct. 29, the Redmen took on the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) Citadins (7-4-1) at Stade Saputo, losing 1-0. Despite the loss, the team still secured a berth in the RSEQ playoffs. They’ll face off against the Université de Montréal Carabins on Nov. 11 at Stade Cepsum in the semifinal round.

 

Moment of the Game

Late in the first half, McGill goaltender Antoine Marchal and a Concordia attacker engaged in an epic footrace for a stray ball, in which Marchal just managed to boot it out of reach of the Stingers forward.

Quotable

“I think we came out with the right mindset, we were just worried about ourselves, rather than the other team. And we never stopped throughout the whole game, even when they tied it up.” – Fourth-year midfielder Michael McIntyre

Stat Corner

Despite Concordia outshooting McGill 9-6, the Redmen registered more shots on target, edging the Stingers 5-3.

Editorial, Opinion

SSMU President must step up, or step down

by McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

More in Editorial:

The current state of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) is disconcerting, to say the least: Executives and employees have resorted to publishing op-eds against each other, and five of the six remaining executives have formally expressed a position of non-confidence in President Muna Tojiboeva, due to a lack of transparency and communication with both her colleagues and the students she represents. These public rifts diminish the effectiveness and legitimacy of the organization and the important services it provides, negatively impacting its constituents. Moreover, framing the current discord within SSMU solely in terms of “political differences,” as Tojiboeva has done, obscures legitimate student concerns regarding her performance as president. Until Tojiboeva acknowledges and commits to improving upon her past incompetencies, and the executive team as a whole overcomes their frustrations toward each other, SSMU’s ability to serve students will suffer.

Tojiboeva ran for president to increase transparency and repair student trust in SSMU after a scandal-filled year. As President, she has yet to fulfill these promises. Measures to encourage student engagement and participation in the Oct. 23 Fall General Assembly (GA) were lacking compared to previous years. In particular, Tojiboeva failed to directly communicate the motion submission deadline—two weeks prior to the assembly itself—in time for members to submit motions for consideration at the GA. Consequently, several motions were submitted from the floor, and by extension, required two-thirds majority to be added to the agenda, rather than a simple majority. This misstep at best shows carelessness, and a weak commitment to upholding democracy within SSMU.

Under Tojiboeva’s leadership, important information regarding the meetings and decisions of governing bodies has also become less accessible to students. The SSMU Board of Directors (BoD)—of which Tojiboeva is the Chair—meeting minutes now consist of summaries rather than verbatim accounts, and have not been regularly updated: Oct. 15 and 22 minutes were not uploaded online until Oct. 30, and the Oct. 1 meeting minutes are still missing as of Oct. 31. Moreover, the BoD resolution book has yet to be updated during Tojiboeva’s term, something that she should prioritize if she is serious about increasing transparency.

The Oct. 16 suspension of Vice-President (VP) Finance Arisha Khan from the BoD is another example of the opacity of SSMU practices under Tojiboeva’s leadership. While she was away representing SSMU at a conference, the Board voted to suspend Khan on charge of a confidentiality breach, compromising her ability to defend herself. The President, along with the two other SSMU executives present, had to leave the room for the closed discussion and ultimately abstained from voting. However, any decision regarding a senior actor within student government must be made transparently, and with adequate due process. As Chair of the BoD, Tojiboeva should have made every attempt to ensure Khan’s representation at the meeting, or otherwise proposed to table the discussion until Khan returned.

These are objective failures of Tojiboeva’s promises of transparency and her ability to fulfill her presidential duties. Yet, she has failed to adequately respond to such criticisms, discounting them in a letter to The Bull and Bear as the SSMU “establishment” disliking her because “they no longer have a reliable lackey to do their bidding in the SSMU Executive.

Framing the current discord within SSMU solely in terms of “political differences,” as Tojiboeva has done, obscures legitimate student concerns regarding her performance as president.

On campus, this divide has been interpreted primarily in terms of stances on the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and corresponding charges of anti-Semitism. These are legitimate and important issues that merit attention in their own right, as do students who feel targeted or unsafe as a result of them. However, by reducing her individual shortcomings to political differences, Tojiboeva exploits and inflames a sensitive political debate on campus, perpetuating dangerous identity politics. Views surrounding these issues must not be conflated with the competency of a SSMU executive in performing their duties, whether or not one agrees with her personal political views.

Furthermore, there are appropriate channels for a SSMU President to voice complaints against fellow executives. The commentary section of a student publication is not one of them. Claims of inappropriate or harmful workplace conduct, including body shaming and online harrassment, as Tojiboeva expressed at the Oct. 19 Legislative Council and in her letter, should be addressed through internal human resources channels, not aired out on public forums. Similarly, discord within the executive committee should not have come to the point where executives felt they had to bring the issue to Legislative Council, citing numerous previous failed attempts to resolve their concerns with the President internally.

After the Fall 2017 GA, several executives, including Tojiboeva, expressed desires to “reconcile” their differences and repair their working relationships. This is absolutely critical for SSMU to operate productively. SSMU executive portfolios require cooperation on a number of issues, and often overlap. Executives function as a team, and must act like one. Ultimately, SSMU’s primary concern must be the provision and improvement of student life and services—executives cannot let the current division distract from this.

It is crucial to recognize discrimination when it occurs, but to equate administrative concerns with political bias endangers SSMU’s democratic accountability. When legitimate and pressing criticisms are levelled against any SSMU executive’s ability to perform their professional duties, they must either step up and respond directly to those complaints, or step down. Right now, the President is doing neither.

 

 

 

 

 

Science & Technology

What sparks wildfires?

by Jovi Sidhu on

More in Science & Technology:

Every passing summer brings forth the recurring and growing problem of forest fires in British Columbia, as well as in neighbouring provinces and states south of the border. Provincial governments have been tasked with preparing and dealing with fires that seem to be affecting larger and larger areas of land, and appearing in greater frequency.

The main sources of wildfires are dry wind conditions, which cause tinder in forests to ignite (by rubbing with great friction), and dry thunderstorms—when rain evaporates before hitting the ground but lighting continues to strike. These storms pose major problems for many areas during dry summer seasons, when fires caused by lightning continue to burn uncontrollably. Over the past year, British Columbia saw its worst season of wildfires since 1958, with over 900,000 hectares of land burned since April 1, and over $220 million in costs to the B.C. Wildfire Service. The province held itself in an extended state of emergency until Sept. 15, 2017, forcing many interior communities to evacuate from the threat of fire and the intense amounts of drifting smoke.

This rivals the Fort McMurray wildfire that started on May 1, 2016 in Alberta, which scorched almost 590,000 hectares of land. The wildfire present in B.C. at the end of August was around 467,000 hectares in size, not including parts of land already burned which equated to a total of 900,000 hectares once it had begun to settle. At its peak, the longest stretch of fire extended over 130 kilometres. Even now, large portions of land are still suffering from active fires. According to the B.C. Wildfire Service, these fires cover land in Kamloops, Williams Lake, and Quesnel, among many other areas.

Although land formations, such as vast rock ridges, may constrain fires, other formations such as valleys act as funnels for wind, directing flames toward certain areas. Other areas of B.C.’s interior are very hard to navigate, resulting in many sections of fires being challenging to access by land and air, making it difficult for responders to approach the fire directly.

In Quebec, this summer has had moderate wildfire incidences compared to the most active provinces. According to the Société de protection des forets contre le feu, there are no major or minor fires affecting the province. Fortunately, all of the major fires were contained over the summer despite an increase risk in fires due to constant dry wind weather that the province faced.

If you plan on having a bonfire in the great outdoors before Winter begins, make sure that it is contained and watched; these massive forest fires start from a mere spark and can rapidly escalate.

Laughing Matters, Opinion

Just eat the damn bagel

by Sanchi Bhalla on

More in Laughing Matters:

There are many kinds of monsters in the world—the people who don’t hold the elevator even though they see you coming, the baristas who underfill your $8 coffee, and the bread-makers at Subway who think that an 11-inch sub counts as a footlong—but these do not hold a candle to the evilness and villainy of the proponents of healthy substitutes for regular food items—“healthifiers,” if you will. Those villains take our beloved greasy, oily, sugary, and anything-but-healthy comfort foods, and desecrate them by trying to make them nutritious. Their attempts are not only often counterproductive and not very effective, but they stand to ruin the singular joy that is devouring inherently unhealthy—yet delicious—food.

One recent example of this barbaric trend is the birth of the “bagel scoopers.” For those innocent souls who have yet to meet them, let me explain. You know those bagels that you love, with the fluffy inside, the crusty outside, and the wonderful carb-y aroma? The happiness you feel when you bite into a perfect one? Well, these barbarians do not. In the name of “health” and “fitness” and “carb-cutting,” bagel-scoopers insult the good name of pure carbs by scooping out the middle. They scoop out the soft centre, and then fill it up with low-fat cream cheese and top it with a sprinkle of sadness. Or maybe not—after all, sadness has a high sugar content.

When asked why, these villains respond with stories of carb-comas. They claim that reducing their intake of carbs makes them feel “lighter,” “better,” and “happier.” These are lies and slander. There are few positive results of bagel-scooping. The main reason people do it is to cut down on their intake of carbs, forgetting that we NEED CARBOHYDRATES TO SURVIVE. Carbohydrates are a major source of energy, helping to build essential proteins and lipids, preserve our muscles and aid the functioning of our gut bacteria. And they contain fibre, which helps you, um, go.

Other sinners (and perhaps more guilty ones) are those who try to change the humble pizza. They are easy to spot: They hang out around a vegan cafe, usually chanting blasphemies like,  “Let’s make the crust out of cauliflower to cut on carbs!” or, “you should ALWAYS blot your slice to reduce the oil on it.” Blotting your pizza cuts a grand total of 76.5 calories. That’s it. You can burn that while sprinting to campus from New Residence Hall after oversleeping, by tapping your foot while waiting at Service Point for anyone to come help you, or while running across campus hunting down an elusive samosa sale.

The worst offenders of all are those who wear fake smiles while touting the benefits of zoodles. In case you’ve been living under a rock, zoodles are noodles made out of zucchini. Yes, I’m serious. Yes, you should go back under that rock; you’ll be safer there. Zucchini is great and delicious and there are plenty of incredible dishes based around it. Don’t make it something it’s not. It’s not a good base for bolognese sauce, it’s not an adequate replacement in a stir fry, and it’s definitely not a substitute for good old ramen. Writing this, I’m repressing some very terrible memories of zoodle-ramen with vegan chicken.

If you want a healthy and delicious meal, there are an infinite number of foods that are meant to be healthy to choose from. If you’re going to eat an unhealthy meal, let it remain so. In fact, if you eat a “healthy” substitute of an otherwise unhealthy food, you tend to increase your portion sizes, which often negates the point of choosing that option in the first place. So, stop this sacrilege. Go forth and enjoy a delicious, double-toasted, cream-cheese filled, lox-on-top bagel, just the way it was intended.

 

 

Sanchi Bhalla is a first-year business student with an unmatched love of novelty phone cases. She can be spotted anywhere on campus where doggos run wild.

 

 

@mcgilltribop | [email protected]

 

 
Commentary, Opinion

How soap sparked controversy: Political ads must be handled with care

by Sruthi Sudhir on

More in Commentary:

Advertisements that incorporate social and political commentary when selling a product have become increasingly popular in recent years. This has also lead to an increase in controversy. Recent advertisements such as the infamous Kendall Jenner Pepsi flop, in which Jenner uses a can of Pepsi to resolve a protest, and the more recent Dove attempt at diversity, where a black actress is shown as turning white when she removes her t-shirt, are key examples of ignorance and lack of sensitivity in corporate environments.

Statement ads, which branch off from the typical product-selling content that consumers are used to, are a smart way for brands to share their views and stand up for social issues. That said, companies and advertising agencies need to be aware of the implications of their advertisements and tread lightly when dealing with sensitive subject manner. This is not to say politically-charged advertisements should not be made; however, they need to be handled with care. Viewers must continue to hold companies accountable for the messages their advertisements send, and companies should continue to use political ads—good and bad—to incite conversation on important social issues.

In today’s materialistic society, using advertisements to display social commentary is a clever marketing tactic. As digital advertisements become shorter and more targeted towards individual consumers, companies use them to build a reputation as being aware of social issues, and to get people talking about their products. However, these companies must take measures to educate themselves about their own intended messages—and ensure that the outcome matches the intent.

Political advertisements are prone to many interpretations, further complicating the issue. Lola Ogunyemi, the actress in the Dove ad, did not initially think that the ad she acted in was racially insensitive, illustrating the ambiguity in determining an ad’s sensitivity. She affirms that “[she] is not just some silent victim of a mistaken beauty campaign,” suggesting that the ad is not overtly racist. However, she also notes that “advertisers need to look beyond the surface and consider the impact their images may have, specifically when it comes to marginalized groups of women.” Ads may not mean to be offensive, but advertisers must realize that their ads will be viewed in different ways by different people.

Viewers must continue to hold companies accountable for the messages their advertisements send, and companies should continue to use political ads—good and bad—to incite conversation on important social issues.

Likely, Dove is not going to face any massive decline in sales after this controversy, just as PepsiCo did not after its disastrous ad campaign. This isn’t the first time that Unilever, Dove’s parent company, has failed to recognize racist implications in one of its campaigns. As Lindsay Rittenhouse writes in AdWeek, this pattern suggests a lack of minority representation within advertising agencies and the companies that hire them. Hiring a more diverse range of individuals is one solution to preventing more ads like this from being released in the future. Although Dove insists that it “is committed to representing the beauty of diversity,” no one at its marketing agency detected the obvious undertones of racial bias.

Successful alternatives include advertisements such as Airbnb’s 30-second ad during the 2017 Super Bowl, which portrayed the diversity of its staff through the hashtag #weaccept, sending a powerful, concise message. Coca-Cola’s “America the Beautiful” Super Bowl ad showed the iconic song being sung in English, as well as languages like Hindi, Arabic, and Tagalog. While the ad received a backlash of a white nationalist nature, it masterfully communicated an important message about diversity in the current political context of the United States.

In today’s social and political climate such advertisements—when done well—are powerful; advertisements should reflect the society they are catering to, and advertising agencies must evolve their approach accordingly.

 

Sruthi is a U0 Civil Engineering student. Although her ultimate goals involve building bridges and saving the world, her current hobbies include watching TV, playing the violin, and trying to figure out how seven years worth of French language classes have suddenly left her since arriving in Montreal

 

@mcgilltribop | [email protected]

 
Student Life

Pumpkin carving 101: Get crafty and reminiscent this Halloween

by Gwen Wren on

More in Student Life:

With Halloween less than a week away, it’s time to get serious about decorations—and pumpkins are at the top of the list. Carving pumpkins is a familiar tradition to many students, and goes back as far as the late 19th century, when Irish immigrants escaping the potato famine brought Jack O’Lanterns over to North America.

The story goes that hundreds of years ago, a man named ‘Stingy Jack’ fooled the Devil, and for that he was refused entry to both heaven and hell; instead, his spirit was doomed to roam the earth for all eternity. In order to see, Stingy Jack carved a turnip and put a piece of coal inside. Many years later, people all over the world have carried on this old tale, but with pumpkins in place of turnips.

Though university students might have abandoned their pumpkin carving adventures years ago, it’s a Halloween activity worth revisiting. While this time of year is generally packed with costume parties and apartment crawls, it can be fun to indulge in your 8-year old self and reminisce about simpler times. With a little apple cider and some friends, this activity can make for a laid-back-yet-fun celebration of All Hallows Eve.

Carving a pumpkin isn’t rocket science, but it’s good to have a plan. Here are six simple steps to get the carving started.

Step 1: Pick your pumpkin

Whether you find yourself on a farm picking your own pumpkin or you stop by the grocery store on the corner of your street, the most important qualities to look out for when choosing your pumpkin are its size and colour. Aim for a large and light pumpkin—it’ll be easier to design with more surface area, and easier to carve thanks to how hollow it is. In terms of colour, the lighter the pumpkin is, the softer its flesh, meaning carving won’t turn into a strenuous task.

Step 2: Get ready to get creative

By now, you have your pumpkin and you’re sitting at home with it—it’s time to prepare your work space. To limit the mess you are about to make, put some newspaper down wherever you plan to channel your creativity. Gather your tools of choice. It’s easiest to carve with a serrated knife, since it can cut through the skin of a pumpkin quickly and efficiently.

Step 3: Clean out the insides

Next, cut a circle around the stem of the pumpkin. Make it wide enough so that your hand, as well as a spoon, can reach in and scrape out the insides. Once the top is off, start scraping! As you pull out the gooey insides, keep in mind that you can either compost them or save the seeds to roast. Either way, it’s resourceful and waste free.

Step 5: Carve away

After you’ve cleaned out the pumpkin’s insides, it’s time to design. This can be the hardest part, but there are steps you can take to make it easier. As a rule of thumb, tracing and cutting straight lines makes for an easy cut. If you’re looking to be a bit more creative, though, you can print out free stencils online and trace a design. To do this, you’ll need paper and thumb tacks. Use the thumb tacks to pin down the corners of the design, and then poke small holes with them in the pumpkin to trace where you will be cutting. After you are done carving, rub some Vaseline or diluted lemon juice on the exposed parts of the pumpkin to stop the areas from turning brown.

Keep in mind that cutting through a pumpkin is not your only option—from glitter to spray paint, there are many ways to turn make a gourd glamourous. You can use stencils to paint designs onto your pumpkin, or glue to add embellishments like glitter, flowers, and sequins.

Step 6: Get lit

Once your pumpkin is carved and clean, pick a spot to display its spookiness, and light it up. Though it’s standard to light pumpkins using candles, battery-powered string lights can serve as a safer alternative. Wrap the lights around a mason jar or similar vessel, and set it in the centre of the pumpkin.

Student Life

Summers in Montreal might now involve a pool on Mount Royal

by Amrit Grewal on

More in Student Life:

In 2014, the city of Montreal closed the public pool behind the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH). Three summers later, mayoral candidate Valerie Plante committed to revamping the old pool and opening it up again within the next year, should she be elected.

“With this project, we have the opportunity to offer the downtown population a new green space on Mount Royal, as well as a public swimming pool, arguably the most beautiful on the island of Montreal," Plante said while campaigning on Oct. 4. “We’ve already promised to green the mountain by planting trees, and this morning we are pledging to make it more of a family environment."

Though many rumours circulated as to why the pool closed in 2014—including after the death of a 67 year-old man—there is no known single reason. The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) insists that alcohol and drug use were not the reasons for it shutting down. Instead, they cite a lack of resources to continue operating it, especially since the hospital was set to relocate. They were also concerned about crowds that occasionally broke in after-hours. After the pool’s closure to the public, McGill announced that it intended to use the pool for both academic and community purposes, but the area was instead left completely vacant.

Initially, the pool was built at the MUHC for patient physiotherapy and rehabilitation. In 2004, however, the Centre opened it to the public. However, as it quickly gained popularity among locals and tourists alike, security at the hospital could no longer handle the people who visited RVH purely for the pool. Despite the lack of proper regulations and funding, the decision to close the pool still came as a disappointment to many.

In the event that the pool reopens next year it would likely be built in the currently unused parking lot on the Pins avenue side of the hospital, near McTavish street. Rather than catering solely to crowds who enjoy unruly alcohol-filled parties, Plante hopes this pool will be more family oriented. Projet Montreal has also proposed installing a public park in the area, also contingent upon Plante winning the election.

Given its location on Mount Royal—one of the most iconic spots in Montreal—the pool is likely to attract lots of tourists once again. However, this time its purpose is strictly entertainment for the public, meaning the administrating and regulating of the pool will reign in control; the fun during crazy summer days is highly unlikely to be broken by mishaps or accidents.

To Stefanie Weighell, U0 Arts, revamping the old pool sounds like a swell idea.  

"I think [installing a pool] would be a very good thing to have for the city [to do], considering there's not many pools around,” Weighell said. “However, I wouldn't vote solely for a candidate just for that, because politicians make a lot of promises and you never know if they're true. So, while I am excited that that could be a possibility, it just almost seems too good to be true."

The final decision on whether or not the plans will come to fruition will be made after the elections, which occur on Nov. 5. Until then, here’s to making it through the winter.

News, SSMU

SSMU General Assembly ratifies Board of Directors

by Andras Nemeth on

More in News:

On Oct. 23, The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Fall 2017 General Assembly (GA) ratified the SSMU members of the SSMU Board of Directors. The GA also passed motions that urge McGill to become involved in the Institute of International Education’s Syria Consortium, mandate SSMU to develop an action plan for clubs affected by the building closure, take steps to limit selling bottled water on campus, provide regular updates about the Society’s sustainability policy, and condemn Dalhousie University’s disciplinary actions against student leader Masuma Asad Khan.

Assembly also voted on whether or not to add a motion of no confidence in SSMU President Muna Tojiboeva to the agenda, but this motion failed, reaching only a simple majority, not the required two-thirds majority. Initially, the number of SSMU members present at the GA was approximately 200, with only 100 members necessary to meet quorum.

 

Ratification of the 2017-2018 SSMU Board of Directors

The ratification of the Board of Directors (BoD) was conducted by a separate vote for each Board member after a motion to split the ratification process carried. Of the 10 nominated directors, seven were ratified for year-long terms beginning on Nov. 15. The nominations of three members—Noah Lew, Josephine Wright O’Manique, and Alexander Scheffel—failed to be ratified.

The failure of Lew’s ratification prompted a large portion of the students present to exit the ballroom in protest. Tojiboeva later expressed her belief that anti-semitic discrimination had played a part in the Assembly’s decision.

“I think it’s very disappointing that, as a school, we would vote against a member [Lew] only on the basis that people recognize his last name, and on the basis that he’s Jewish,” Tojiboeva said. “I think it’s quite shocking that in the 21st century such an elite institution would still go with that [racial prejudice].”

In an interview with The McGill Tribune, SSMU Vice-President (VP) External Connor Spencer cited the board’s decision to suspend VP Finance Arisha Khan as her reason for voting against Lew’s ratification. Lew already serves as a member-at-large on the BoD.

“I’m very concerned about how [Khan’s] suspension was decided,” Spencer said. “From what was said at [SSMU] Legislative Council by the different directors, it made me worried about [having] members on the board of directors who are not officers, that the students very clearly distrust.”

 

Motion for a Concrete Action Plan regarding Club Displacement

Players’ Theatre Technical Director Nadine Pelaez moved a motion mandating SSMU to develop a concrete action plan regarding club displacement in light of the SSMU building closure. The motion passed.

Players’, an independent student-run non-profit, is Montreal’s oldest English-speaking black box theatre. Pelaez expressed her concerns over the theatre’s ability to find a new space sufficient for their needs

“We feel kind of abandoned by SSMU, ” Pelaez said. “We already scheduled four shows in the spring, and we had to sit down with a director, who was excited about her show and tell her that we don’t think we can put it on. ”

 

President expresses desire to reconcile after failed motion of no confidence

Members also raised questions over the sincerity of Tojiboeva’s stated intention to repair her relationship with the rest of the executive team and membership in light of allegations of a lack of transparency. In an interview with the Tribune following the GA, Tojiboeva discussed her plans to overcome these rifts.

“We’re going to be engaging in talks about that, trying to reconcile our differences and move forward,” Tojiboeva said.

Spencer noted Tojiboeva’s lack of action to resolve differences among the executives thus far.

“Every attempt I’ve made [to reconcile] has been shot down,” Spencer said. “I’m waiting for someone else to propose solutions [….] It’s up to the president now to decide how she’s going to move forward with the team, because she’s the team leader and it’s ultimately up to her to decide where we go next, [and] multiple members have put forward solutions that have not been taken up.”

Khan also cited Tojiboeva’s failure to take reconciliatory actions.

“I don’t think there are [any attempts at reconciliation],” Khan said. “I can say that no steps have been taken and it’s kind of clear that there isn’t a willingness to admit wrongs. I’m not about to go into personal attacks [….] We could respond to every single thing that she said, but that’s not conducive to creating a healthy work environment, and its not conducive to shame your executives. I don’t know what we’re doing in terms of any steps [….] I’m hoping that we can [reconcile].”

Student Life

Common campus sightings, decoded

by Audrey Carleton on

More in Student Life:

Alex is spotted walking up rue university toward Milton Gates at 9 p.m.. He is holding an extra large Tim Horton’s cup and a bag of timbits.

What it means: Alex has not started studying for his exam, and it is now the night before. Alex will be spending a long night in McLennan.

 

 

There’s one empty carrel on the 6th floor of McLennan. There’s a folder sitting on the desk of the carrel.

What it means: That seat is not for you, it’s for Sally’s friend, who won’t be here for another three hours. Try the 5th floor.

 

 

It’s a brisk October day, and every seat is filled in your recorded 500-person Political Science lecture.

What it means: You forget your midterm was today. Good luck!

 

 

Beatrice is selling a “GENTLY USED” textbook on the McGill textbook exchange.

What it means: Beatrice did not open that textbook at all over the course of the semester, and she’s now reselling it in order to update her fall wardrobe.

 

 

You have a paper deadline for November 10th at midnight on your course syllabus.

What it means: Nov. 10 will be a long day. You’ll wake up early in the morning to begin your paper, skip all of your classes, and procrastinate all day until you eventually submit the assignment at 11:59 p.m.

 

 

 

A swarm of young students exits Leacock, most of which with samosa in hand.

What it means: Class just ended in Leacock 132, and there happened to be a Samosa sale going on in Leacock lobby. Don’t try to get one—the samosas are now completely gone.

 

 

Brian, a person from your Frosh group that you shared a few shots with on the bus to beach day, walking through the Y-Intersection.

What it means: You and Brian will avoid eye contact and will pretend not to know each other.

 
Illustrations by Arshaaq Jiffry for The McGill Tribune
Art, Arts & Entertainment

Parisian Laundry’s latest exhibition juxtaposes the visceral with the downright bizarre

by Keira Seidenberg on

More in Art:

Joseph Tisiga’s IBC: Dystopic Autonomy, on display at the Parisian Laundry gallery until Nov. 20, is a complex play on primitivism, where the contemporary meets the mythological in a series of watercolour paintings and un-stretched canvases mounted on AstroTurf. For a portion of the work displayed within the exhibition, Tisiga juxtaposes conventional Western perceptions of First Nations culture with beloved Archie Comics characters, interacting in a way that is reminiscent of a dystopian cross-cultural exchange. Scenes include Jughead sitting beside a first nations chief narrating an unknown tale, Veronica teaching a native woman the nuances of preparing a bowl of cereal, and Archie—excited and shirtless—discovering a fur covered wigwam, or variation on the traditional teepee. There is a sense of intentional timelessness to the paintings, where the boundaries between setting and reality blur in loose and often scrabbled brushstrokes, thus forcing viewers to confront the relationship between past and present, visceral and animated.

The larger portion of Tisiga’s exhibition is a series of 16 watercolour paintings that describe a personal interpretation of a Kaska folk legend, where a mythological, human-consuming beast is disguised in a collection of urban, and somewhat misleading, objects. It might be lurking in the flaming graffiti in Exercise is Vitalm, or in the ominous striped man come to collect a spiritual tithe in Appears Self Evident. Perhaps the monster resides in the ghoulish scarecrow leering from its post in Trespassers Menaced by Psychosis. Altogether, the paintings present uncomfortable glimpses of human nudity and scenes of impossible context through a heavy-handed use of what is generally considered a delicate medium. The often ambiguous subject matter forces viewers to engage in an interpretive role, where they must make sense of the intricate narrative and open-ended titles while mulling over a glass of wine generously provided by the gallery.

In Anima Animus Paradis explores the role of theatre in the industrial gallery space, using curtains and three-dimensional positioning of his canvases to interact with the viewers, whom Paradis might otherwise call ‘puppeteers.’ His series of eight paintings, accompanied by a rotating sculptural head that encourages continual, circular viewing of the work, depict amorphous and genderless figures. The figures are representationally abstract and painted on colourful backgrounds, encouraging a distorted understanding of depth and texture within their dreamlike quality—others shed any semblance of humanity and instead simply use compositions of line and shape. Displayed in the basement of the gallery, where viewers can access the room through a narrow passageway of exposed brick, the paintings appear tucked away—a forgotten theater for the intrepid to discover in the bowels of the building.  

On a more personal note, I found the exhibition provided a unique—albeit somewhat confusing—addition to a Thursday night that might have otherwise been spent huddled over books in the library. I often feel that students view art with the overarching bias that comes with knowing a big name; when one hears Rembrandt and Degas, there is no confusion as to whether or not the painting might be considered ‘good.’ Going into the exhibition without context or an understanding of what I was undertaking presented a blank slate for viewing the paintings and allowed my emotional and visual experience to be completely unique to me as the viewer. Admittedly, many of the paintings were unsettling. But as I walked out the doors of the gallery, I knew that I had come to know that feeling without the aid of museum descriptions or social expectations.

 

1 … 625 626 627 628 629 … 1,363

Read the latest issue

Read the latest issue