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McGill students introduce clubs to the Board of Governors

by Cherry Ng on

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On March 8, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) and the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) hosted the McGill Student and Board of Governors Open Forum. The event consisted of overviews of the Board of Governors (BoG), the highest governing body at McGill, presented by Board members Kip Cobbett, Sam Minzberg, Cynthia Price, and Ram Panda. Afterward, members from Divest McGill expressed concerns about McGill’s investment in fossil fuels, and the Peer Support Centre discussed the centre’s growth statistics. Nightline and CKUT also introduced ongoing club efforts to launch an online mental health chat function and a podcast on student research, while Brainreach North presented its initiative to create supplementary scientific educational materials for schools in remote and Northern Indigenous communities.

This is the fourth open forum between student groups and the BoG, with the last forum held in 2016. Ger commended these type of meetings for engaging students and creating a better relationship with the BoG.

“Having Board members see exactly how much students contribute to the community, I think, will make […] processes at the Board level more reflective of what’s needed on the ground,” Ger said. “It will make governors more appreciative of the amount of work and money the students put into the administration and the school as a whole, beyond their tuition and taxes.”

Divest McGill

Since 2012, Divest McGill has lobbied the university to divest its endowment from fossil-fuel related companies and to reinvest in more environmentally responsible alternatives. According to BoG Chair Kip Cobbett, McGill plans to address climate change by reducing the school’s carbon footprint.

“We have committed $10 million dollars to climate research,” Cobbett said. “[….] Our view is that McGill can address climate change much better by doing things to reduce its own emissions and to conduct research on how to move away from fossil fuels to more sustainable fuels.”

According to Divest McGill Organizer Julia Bugiel, U3 Arts, McGill is not doing enough, despite Cobbett’s statements.

“On the one hand, McGill parades itself as a sustainability leader,” Bugiel said. “On the other hand, McGill’s [choice to fund] the opposition is betting against people who are part of that fight. Is McGill going to be a sustainability leader or a climate profiteer? We cannot be both.”

Although Cobbett presented alternative sustainability methods alternative from divestment, Ger expressed his support for Divest McGill.

“I am grateful for the amount of energy that Divest continues to put into their advocacy work to push the university in the right direction,” Ger said. “I am still hopeful that the university will move towards a divestment strategy in the near future.”

Peer Support Centre

In Fall 2016, the Peer Support Centre (PSC) opened a permanent space in the SSMU building and extended its drop-in hours starting Winter 2017. Since its launch in Winter 2014, the PSC has provided free one-on-one and confidential peer support and resource referral to all McGill students.  

According to David Benrimoh, PSC program evaluation coordinator, the PSC has expanded considerably by partnering with SSMU.

“[The PSC has] come quite a way,” Benrimoh said. “In 2014-2015, we had 25 visits total over the whole year. Then, 30 visits the next year. This year, we’ve jumped 500 per cent to 270 visits over the year, and we’re really on track to seeing over 300 students this year.”

Billy Liu, PSC finance coordinator, explained that the increase in student visits is due to a combination of the recent changes to the structure of mental health support at the McGill Counselling and Mental Health Services (MCMHS), as well as the PSC’s operation.

“[At MCMHS, students] could end up waiting months, or even a semester, before they even see that initial psychotherapist,” Liu said.  “[….] What we already know is that there is this heavy burden on [MCMHS], but I think what we can owe to the growth and transition of our service over the past year is that we now we have a permanent accessible space and have consistent hours.”

 

 

A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Board of Governors (BoG) member Sam Minzberg’s last name was Minsberg. Additionally, the article incorrectly stated that BoG members are part of the McGill administration. Finally, the article incorrectly stated that a forum between the BoG and students had not been held in the last three years. In fact, this event was the fourth such meeting and the last one occurred last year. The McGill Tribune regrets these errors.

Private, Recipes, Student Life

Salad, what are you?

by Miguel Principe on

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Since the dawn of mankind, human beings have questioned the world that surrounds us. Is there intelligent life on other planets? How did this universe begin? Is McTavish stuck in a continuous state of construction? Do we have free will? Yet, one question has never been answered by the great philosophers and scientists, such as Plato and Newton. A question so subtle that even great minds of the likes of Albert Einstein and William Shatner have never bothered to ask: What is a salad?

The McGill Tribune is here to serve as a guide through the world of salads. Though our work is based on thorough research, it is entirely up to the individual to decide how he or she defines a salad. The following three recipes rewrite the definition, if you will, by pushing the boundaries of what we know to be salad.

The Typical Salad: Kale Caesar Salad with Tofu Croutons (4 servings)

(kitchentreaty.com)
(kitchentreaty.com)

 

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the earliest salads were wild greens and herbs seasoned with salt. The salt seasoning is actually where salad gets its name, salad being a derivation of salt, sal, in Latin. These wild greens that were used in antiquity—such as lettuce, spinach, and arugula—are still the main bases we use today. This green vegetable mix is what salad is known for, the boring healthy food as told by the common idiom, “Alcohol: Because no great story ever started with a salad.” Nonetheless, while many claim this meal to be healthy and boring, it is undeniably a beloved dish. 

You will need:

For the salad:

  • 350 g of ½ inch extra-firm tofu, pressed
  • 1 tbsp of olive
  • ⅛ tsp of salt
  • ½ cup of panko bread crumbs
  • 1 large bunch of kale (destemmed)

For the dressing:

  • ½  silken tofu
  • ⅓ cup and 2 tbsp of grated parmesan
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 4 anchovy fillets
  • 2 tbsp of olive oil
  • 1 tsp of Dijon mustard
  • ½ tsp of Worcestershire sauce
  • ⅛ tsp of salt
  • ½ cup of dried cherries

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Celsius. While it’s heating up, line a large baking sheet with foil.
  2. Toss cubes of extra-firm tofu with oil and salt in a medium-sized bowl. Then, season the tofu with fresh pepper. 
  3. Pour panko into another medium-sized bowl. Toss the extra-firm tofu in the panko until it is completely coated. 
  4. Arrange the extra-firm tofu in a single layer across the baking sheet. Bake in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes.
  5. Wash the kale and remove its stalks. Slice the leaves into bite-sized pieces, then put them in a large bowl. Use your hands to crunch the leaves until the kale is tender. Drain any water that is left off the kale.
  6. Drain the water off of the silken tofu. Slice the garlic cloves and anchovy fillets. Add the silken tofu, parmesan, garlic, anchovies, lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire, and salt into a food processor. Blend the mixture until it’s fully combined in liquid form. Season to taste with fresh pepper. 
  7. Drizzle the dressing over the kale and mix the salad. Sprinkle the dried cherries, parmesan, and baked tofu “croutons.” You’ve got a classic salad! 

 (Recipe adapted from chatelaine.com) 

 

Is This Also Called A Salad? American Macaroni Salad (6 servings)

(cookingmamas.com)
(cookingmamas.com)

 

A respite from the non-filling joke of a meal that is the traditional salad, another type of salad is called the “bound salad.” Bound salads are made of hearty ingredients, such as chicken and potatoes, and are held together by a thick, dressing-like mayonnaise. This is where we start to question the boundaries of salad—how is this unusual combination of ingredients placed in the same category as the mighty caesar or the classic mediterranean? The only similarity is that they both contain salad dressing. This is like calling chicken noodle soup a type of pasta dish, because they both contain spaghetti. But it is up to you, dear reader, to decide if you would classify this as a salad. 

You will need:

For the salad:

  • 2 cups of elbow macaroni
  • ⅓ cup diced celery
  • ¼ cup minced red onion
  • 1 tbsp. Minced flat-leaf parsley
  • ½ cup vine-ripened tomato

For the dressing:

  • ½ cup mayo
  • ¾ dry mustard
  • 1 ½ tsp of sugar
  • 1 ½ tbsp of apple cider vinegar
  • 3 tbsp sour cream
  • ½ tsp kosher salt 

For seasoning:

  • Kosher salt
  • Black pepper

Instructions:

  1. Cook the elbow macaroni in boiling water. Once cooked, rinse the pasta and then drain the water off in a colander. 
  2. Mince the red onion, then soak in cold water for five minutes. Drain the water.
  3. Dice ⅓ cup of celery and a vine-ripened tomato and mince a tablespoon of flat-leaf parsley.
  4. Combine the macaroni, onion, celery, parsley, and tomato in your salad bowl.
  5. In another bowl, whisk together the mayo, mustard, sugar, vinegar, sour cream, and salt. 
  6. Pour this dressing into your salad bowl and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper.
  7. And now, you’ve got a salad! This can be kept in the fridge and eaten for up to three days after its preparation date.

(Adapted from foodnetwork.ca)

 

The Abomination Known as Dessert Salad: Oreo Salad (6 servings)

(julieseatsandtreats.com)
(julieseatsandtreats.com)

 

In the fringes of the definition of salad comes what might be where both mankind and salad have gone too far. The dessert salad completely destroys the two possible definitions of salad seen so far, because it is neither a healthy meal, like a green salad, nor an all-American Thanksgiving dish, like the bound salad. Many will decide that this is not a salad—this cannot be a salad. But to say that this is not a salad is to question the status of all salads, even the caesar and the macaroni. This does have a base—even if that base is a cream filled cookie sandwich—and a dressing, so why can it not be a salad?

You will need:

For the salad:

  • 15 Oreos

For the “dressing”:

  • 1 container of whipped cream (8 oz)
  • 2 cups of milk
  • 1 package of instant vanilla pudding mix (3.4 oz)

Ingredients:

  1. Stir the milk and vanilla pudding together until the two are well mixed.
  2. Add whipped topping and then cookies into the mix and stir.
  3. Cover and refrigerate until thickened and chilled (around an hour or two).
  4. You’ve got a salad?

(Adapted from allrecipes.com)

Legal Information Column, Private, Student Life

University vs. Freedom of Speech: The case of Pridgen v University of Calgary

by Legal Information Clinic at McGill on

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With more than 40,000 students at McGill University, controversial statements can pop up at any moment and cause university administrators to feel the need to perform damage control. Social media exacerbates the problem by amplifying the reach of controversial remarks. However, can a university silence a student or compel an apology? In other words, do universities have an obligation to respect the free speech rights of students?

The 2012 case Pridgen vs. University of Calgary reveals two potential avenues of protection for students’ right to freedom of expression. First, universities are treated like ‘governments’ for the purposes of actions, such as student discipline, and so are directly subject to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This can mean that they are obliged to respect Charter rights, such as students’ freedom of expression. Second, universities are in general subject to what is called ‘judicial review’ on a standard of reasonableness. This means that judges can intervene and change the decision made by a university if they decide that it is unreasonable, such as if a university censors a student without compelling grounds to do so. Further, these avenues of protection apply across Canada, including in Quebec, as ‘persuasive authority.’ While Quebec judges are not required to follow it, they usually will unless they have a very strong reason to do otherwise. In other words, a strong case can be made that universities in Quebec are bound, at least in some situations, to respect freedom of expression.

Consider the case of Pridgen vs. University of Calgary. In 2007, University of Calgary (U of C) students and brothers Steven and Keith Pridgen created a Facebook group titled, "I no longer fear hell, I took a course with Aruna Mitra," in an act of rebellion against a professor they disliked. In this group, the Pridgen brothers and other group members posted comments criticizing the professor while coordinating a mass appeal of their grades to the university. The professor later learned about this Facebook group, and the students were disciplined by the U of C. 
In response, the students sued the university. The case wound up at the Alberta Court of Appeal, who decided in favour of the Pridgens for two reasons. First, one of the three judges held that the university had made a decision that was similar enough to a government decision to be subject to the Charter. That judge held that university disciplinary measures are a form of statutory compulsion in which an entity, such as a university, is empowered to apply sanctions against a person or group of people. 

Thus, while universities are not generally subject to the Charter—something that other cases have been quite clear about—there are still limits on certain decisions that they make. This point about universities being subject to the Charter is still hotly contested in the legal world, but it does give some persuasive authority that Quebec universities are subject to the Charter when exercising certain powers.

Second, the two judges who provided written reasons agreed that universities are enough like a government that their decisions may be reviewed by a court for reasonableness, and that the U of C’s disciplinary decision did not meet this standard. In general, whenever government agencies make decisions of some kind—for example, about whether or not to issue a visa to those wishing to come to Canada—it is possible to ask a court to assess the reasonableness of the decision. In other words, the government agency must render a decision that makes basic rational sense, and therefore cannot act arbitrarily. 

The Court said that the U of C had insufficient evidence upon which to base their decision. The Pridgen brothers were accused of causing ‘injury to a person,’ but the U of C’s disciplinary committee did not possess evidence that the Pridgens had caused this kind of injury. Not only does this point tell us that universities across Canada are subject to a reasonableness review, it tells us that when student speech is at issue, courts are willing to scrutinize a response by a university.

The Pridgen case suggests that courts will hold university decisions to a certain standard—that is, generally speaking, they must be at least ‘reasonable.’ To a lesser extent, Pridgen vs. University of Calgary also shows that certain university decisions are subject to the Charter, especially when they are exercising a power of compulsion against students. In Quebec, then, there is evidence to suggest that universities have some obligation to respect students’ right to freedom of expression, through both the Charter and the requirement of reasonableness in university decision making.

Science & Technology

Explaining reluctance in the face of climate change

by Myriam Driss on

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The Pew Research Center found that, in all 40 nations polled, the majority of respondents believed that climate change is a very serious problem, with the most concern found in African and Asian countries.

“There has been a one and a half degree Celsius rise in temperature linked to an increase in greenhouse gases, however, consequences are slow and the health issues are indirect,” George McCourt, senior faculty lecturer in the McGill School of Environment, said. “[Ultimately,] people don’t believe in climate change because you’re not going to get cancer [right away, since the effects of climate change like] rising sea levels will not have immediate health effects.”

People need to face an immediate threat to prompt them to change, and small increases in temperature are not going to cut it, especially since these increases take a long time to materialize.

“The major problem with climate change is that it is a long-term process with a lot of fluctuations,” McCourt said.

Modern lifestyles and infrastructure are all centred around convenience, leading people to believe they are detached from potential issues of rising temperatures.

“People in the West are comfortably disconnected from the natural world,” McCourt said. “Those who are directly impacted [by climate change] are the indigenous peoples and farmers. In cities, we don’t notice it. So, we don’t feel these things because these changes are occurring over 200 years so, it’s difficult to make [city folk] realize this.”

Strong dependence on fossil fuels makes societal change difficult to achieve.

“Our transport and electric systems are all interconnected with fossil fuels, since our infrastructure is designed to run on [them],” McCourt said.

Transforming energy systems will cause a huge disturbance in the status quo, especially since society’s dependence on fossil fuels extends past industry.

“We are addicted to the fossil fuel economy,” McCourt said. “So making this kind of change is going to be huge.”

Dr. Nicolas Kosoy, associate professor in McGill’s Department of Natural Resource Sciences, pointed out, it is almost impossible to curb all fossil fuel usage—at least right away.

“Fossil fuels are an excellent energy carrier with a large energy density, but this cannot be our only source of energy,” Kosoy explained. “Overall, our energy demand needs to be limited and this limit has to do with our energy supply.”

Therefore, finding alternatives is a complex issue.

“We should rank energy alternatives in terms of their ability to satisfy energy demand, environmental impact, and long term stability of our systems [while] also paying attention to profit,” Kosoy said.

Our lifestyle of convenience coupled with the pessimistic outlook of the environmental movement has harboured a culture of indifference towards climate change.

“The [negativity of the] environmental movement has [created] a fatigue amongst the people,” McCourt explained.

Environmentalism has not always been the flashiest of causes, and many have questioned why they should get involved. However, as sustainability gains traction as a popular trend, a new shift in values is emerging.

“There has been an increase in sustainability [that] has given people more hope,” McCourt said. “A new hope to sustain themselves and the planet.”

Kosoy urges that it is the collective efforts of a community that will foster necessary efforts to counteract climate change.

“[We need to] collectively decide to grow our own food or change land use—these are our actions that are going to change society,” Kosoy said. “Not [just] what is done by one person, but by a society that will change consumption practices.”  

Although climate change is a general and man-made concern, we are slowly making progress in the right direction. There is a new trend of sustainability that will drive many to adopt a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle. Though progress may be slow, the movement has come a long way.

Private, Student Life

Student of the week: Dexter Storey tells stories with his multimedia work

by Flaminia Cooper on

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Dexter Storey describes himself as a storyteller. The U0 Engineering student and aspiring Architecture major from Victoria, BC, has been telling tales for most of his life, first by acting, then slowly moving into photography, film, and graphic design throughout high school. His most recent interest is fashion design.

At the end of February, Storey applied for the Adobe Creative Residency, an initiative that provides an opportunity for creative individuals to spend a year working on personal projects and sharing their experiences.

“Basically what they do is they pick two people […] to represent Adobe as a bit of a youth ambassador as they fund you with a year’s salary to do creative projects,” Storey said. “They would pay for any sort of project you want to do, any travelling you need to do, any equipment you need, it just kind of makes your creative dreams come true.”

Instead of being inspired by the physical aspects of an object or piece, Storey is more interested in the story behind it, and works on making his tales more personal by integrating his own experiences.

[metaslider id=51484]

“I take a lot of inspiration from a lot of other work I see,” Storey said. “It’s cool to be able to look at something and say, ‘[…] What is the story behind [what] they’re telling and how can I interpret that story, change it, and make it my own?’ or, ‘How can I find an idea that I see […] and kind of translate it into my own mind and then add parts of my own stories to it to make it happen?’”

Storey recently finished a 52-week project in which he shared a photo a week over the course of a year. Several of them are self-portraits, which allows him to express his stories more personally.

Storey has accumulated artistic skills over the past few years through self-taught experimentation with photography, videography, and graphic design. Additionally, he acquires knowledge by observing other artists and creatives. Storey will often reach out to peers and artists that inspire him, and ask them to help him improve his understanding of their talents. For instance, Storey found interest in a professional photographer friend he knew in high school, and, after accompanying her on a photoshoot, began actively following his interest in photography.

“I try to find one person who I’m really inspired by and try to get them to mentor me on some specifics on how to do what I’m trying to do,” Storey said. “[….] I think [gaining inspiration is] about finding someone who is really good at what you want to do and just picking their brain about how to make it happen.”

While Storey is used to using multiple mediums, his Adobe residency application video required him to find a way to express everything he wanted to do in one medium. He explained that the form to apply for the Adobe residency had a single ambiguous section in which the applicant could upload their work.

“Adobe basically […] just had one link which [said], ‘Link to supporting visuals,’” Storey said. “If you’re a graphic designer, you’d submit something that’s graphic design, if you’re a photographer you’d submit something thats photography, but what I want to do is not something like video, photography, graphic design—I want to do storytelling, so I wanted to create a project that could show them that I can tell stories in any medium.”

He decided the best way to show his love for storytelling was to tell his own life story, using animation, photography, and graphic design throughout his application video. He attributes much of his success to his family and friends, who strongly support his ambitions.

“I think with the video, I was really lucky to have so many people who shared it and are helping me get to where I want to with these crazy ideas in my head. So I guess a huge thank you to the community who supports me,” Storey said. “I know everyone says this, but it really is true that you can’t do it without them.”

Storey’s passion for storytelling is unfortunately limited by his budget and busy schedule. He often pays for his projects out of his own pocket, and therefore doesn’t always have the money to afford the materials he needs to execute his creative visions. As a full-time student, he also struggles to find the time to work on his art.

“I have all these really cool ideas written down on my phone or in my notebook, and they don’t come to life because I can’t afford to make them happen or I don’t have the time,” Storey said. “There’s just restrictions or roadblocks in the way. So, I’m really excited about the potential [of] the Adobe project because it would remove the barriers and allow me to explore without bounds.”

Storey is supposed to hear back from Adobe in a few weeks, and if he is successful, will take a year off from studying at McGill to complete the Creative Residency.
With such a fitting last name, it only seems natural for Dexter Storey to actively pursue his passion. The Adobe Creative Residency gives him the creative freedom he is looking for, and hopefully, in a year’s time, he will find himself travelling and storytelling for the program without limits.

Basketball, Hockey, Martlets, Men's Varsity, Sports

2016-17 McGill Athletics roundup

by Stephen Gill, Aaron Rose, Patrick Beacham, André Morin on

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Martlets Basketball

As the fourth seed in this year’s women’s U Sports basketball tournament, the McGill Martlets defeated the Regina Cougars on March 9, securing the school’s third consecutive trip to the national semi-finals. After a shaky start to the season, the Martlets entered the weekend riding a hot streak, winning nine of their last ten games and undefeated in their last five. Alex Kiss-Rusk has led the way for the team, averaging over 14 points per game to that point. Aside from their star centre, the squad has found its success through expert shooting and dominant rebounding.

McGill trumped the Laval Rouge et Or in the tournament’s final round to earn the school’s first women’s basketball national championship in McGill history. One day before, McGill upset Carleton–the tournament’s highest-seeded team. Their postseason run came after the team won this year’s RSEQ championship. The Martlets finished their historic campaign with a sterling 25-9 record after starting the season 2-5.

—Stephen Gill 

 

(Lauren Benson-Armer / The McGill Tribune)
(Lauren Benson-Armer / The McGill Tribune)

Redmen Basketball

McGill Redmen basketball should do nothing but hold their heads high as their 2016-17 season comes to an end. The squad clinched their second consecutive RSEQ title–and third in four years–after a dominating 13-3 regular season and an 82-65 routing of the UQÀM Citadins in the RSEQ final. Missing their starting point guard Kendrick Jolin, who was dealt a season ending injury on Feb. 16, the team headed into the U Sports tournament riding a seven-game winning streak. Looking to rebound after an upsetting 72-69 first round loss to Calgary in last year’s CIS tournament–now called U Sports–the Redmen downed the University of Manitoba Bison 63-53 to advance. Unfortunately for McGill, the team next came face-to-face with the six-time defending champion Carleton Ravens. Despite a valiant effort from the Redmen, the team fell short, losing 74-58. Unable to recover from the loss, McGill fell again to Dalhousie in a close fought 69-63 bronze medal game.

—Aaron Rose

 

(Remi Lu / McGill Athletics)
(Remi Lu / McGill Athletics)

Martlets Hockey

The fourth-ranked McGill Martlets Hockey team secured the program’s 14th RSEQ conference championship on March 4, with a 3-0 win over the Concordia Stingers. After finishing the regular season 16-4, the Martlets took the number-one seed into the RSEQ tournament. They pushed past the fourth-seeded University of Ottawa in the semi-finals, then rolled past Concordia in the best-of-three final without conceding a goal. 

McGill now has a week off to prepare before heading to the U Sports Women’s Hockey National Championship in Napanee, ON starting on March 14. The Martlets last won a national title in 2014. 

Fifth-year centre Mélodie Daoust leads the team in scoring with 56 points in 33 games and second-year forward Olivia Atkinson is the leading scorer with 26 goals. Freshman goaltender Tricia Deguire has been solid in goal this season with a 1.62 goals against average and a 0.934 save percentage.

—André Morin

 

(mcgillathletics.com)
(mcgillathletics.com)

Redmen Hockey

With a 21-4-3 record, Redmen Hockey finished the regular season in first place in the OUA. In the RSEQ quarter-finals, McGill narrowly beat Laurentian in Sudbury, to follow up a home-ice blowout that moved the Redmen into the semifinals. After two subsequent victories against UQTR, the Redmen fell short in the conference finals, losing to Queen’s in a best-of-three series. However, the Redmen managed to clinch the OUA Bronze wild card series against the Windsor Lancers on March 10 to secure their berth in the U Sports Final 8 Championship. Now the team will travel to New Brunswick to compete in the U Sports tournament where McGill hopes to overcome OUA disappointment and win their first national championship since 2012. 

—Patrick Beacham

News, SSMU

SSMU Legislative Council passes motion on constitutional amendments, discusses Ger resignation

by Daniel Lutes on

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At the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Legislative Council meeting on March 9,  a lengthy question period took place due to the sudden resignation of former SSMU President Ben Ger earlier that day. In anticipation of the length of the question period, councillors voted to amend the agenda so that approximately half of the motions were voted on before it began. Council members passed the Motion Regarding SSMU Support For Floor Fellow Bargaining and the Motion Regarding the Endorsement of the McGill Communities Council Letter to the Board of Governors. Councillors then debated the current balance of power between the Judicial Board (J-Board) and the Board of Directors (BoD), with reference to the Motion Regarding the Amendment of Internal Regulations of Governance. The motion was ultimately amended and then passed. After the question period, Council passed all of the remaining motions.

 

Question Period

At the beginning of Council, Vice-President (VP) Student Life Elaine Patterson read an addendum prepared by former president Ger regarding his resignation.

“Based on serious concerns raised by students close to [Ger], the Executive recognized his own inadequacy in handling the David Aird case and has failed his responsibility in upholding the safety of our members,” Patterson said. “In light of this, he was personally and professionally unsuited to continue in his position of authority as president of SSMU.”

Clubs Representative Adam Templer asked Patterson why Ger was inadequate for the position. Patterson explained that a person came forward and made allegations that Ger had committed gendered violence in the past.

“The Executive recognizes that somebody that has allegations of gender-based violence against them is not equipped to handle the scenario […] regarding David Aird,” Patterson said.

During the question period, councillors addressed allegations involving Ger and former VP External David Aird. Questions focused on the Executive Committee, Legislative Council, and BoD members’ knowledge of Ger and Aird’s actions.

Science senator and former BoD member Sean Taylor asked VP University Affairs Erin Sobat when he became aware of Ger’s sexual assault allegations. Sobat answered with reference towards Aird’s allegations.

“A couple of members of the Community Disclosures Network [CDN] reached out to me in early February, about how an executive might be removed from a position,” Sobat said. “The specific nature of their concern was not disclosed in detail. I only became aware of those incidents and testimonies when they were reported on by The McGill Daily.”

 

Motion Regarding the Amendment of Internal Regulations of Governance

The Motion Regarding the Amendment of Internal Regulations of Governance proposed a change to the number of votes required for the BoD to overturn J-Board decisions. Additionally, the motion proposed that the Legislative Council be able to pass decisions before ratification from the BoD.

Council voted to split the motion into two separate sections for voting. Council members voted to accept all sections of the motion except clause 4.c.

Clause 4.c would give the BoD the ability to overturn a decision made by the J-Board with a two-thirds majority if the decision is deemed unreasonable or motivated by prejudice, collusion, bribery, or conflicts of interest. Current regulations, which will remain in place, require a four-fifths majority for such changes to be made.

Faculty of Law Representative Romita Sur expressed her concerns with clause 4.c.

"The Law Students Association voted unanimously […] against this motion,” Sur said. “[….] In light of everything going on, I think it is important to remember that the [BoD is] involved with very intense political processes and the [J-Board] is a place that is supposed to be neutral."

Arts Representative Isabella Anderson responded to Sur’s comments, explaining that the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) Council held a straw poll, which was in favour of the motion, including clause 4.c.

VP Finance Niall Carolan made the case for the BoD's political neutrality.

"The [BoD] does not discuss any political issues, the only reason the Board is there is to preside over legal and financial responsibilities of the society," Carolan said.

A motion was proposed to bring clause 4.c to the J-Board Review Committee which was passed.

 

Motion Regarding Referendum Question on Constitutional Amendments

SSMU also discussed its upcoming referendum question, which contained many alterations to the SSMU Constitution, including changing the VP Operations executive title to VP Operations & Sustainability. Additionally, the motion proposed a change to the definition of quorum for the General Assembly (GA), such that there would be no faculty requirement for quorum. Currently, there is a requirement that at least four faculties must be represented in order to reach quorum.

The Winter 2017 GA had difficulty reaching quorum on Feb. 20 and has had similar issues in the past. Sobat explained the impetus for the change and said that without quorum, the GA cannot provide proper representation.

“There were times when we had quorum, and then lost it,” Sobat said. “To me, that is not representation, that is fighting for quorum.”

Senate Caucus Joshua Chin responded to Sobat's statement regarding representation.

“I am very uncomfortable with the removal of faculty requirements for quorum,” Chin said. “[….] I feel that we are making [GAs] less representative.”

Chin put forth an amendment to the motion that would reinstate faculty requirements for GA quorum. The amendment failed and Council then voted to pass the motion

Baseball, Private, Sports

10 Things: 2017 MLB Headlines

by Erich Rothmann on

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Heading into the 2017 Major League Baseball season, here are 10 stories to follow.

1.     Repeat contenders?

No team has successfully defended their World Series title since the 2000 New York Yankees. Nonetheless, the current Chicago Cubs look built to become perennial championship contenders. Their young core players should continue to improve. The only potential weaknesses are in centre field and at the back end of the pitching staff, where the team will look to improve during the year.

2.     No more Mr. Papi

The Boston Red Sox will have to replace David ‘Big Papi’ Ortiz’s production both on the field–where he hit .315 with 38 home runs last year–and off the field where he was a vocal leader of the team. If second baseman Dustin Pedroia can take the reigns of the team, the acquisition of Chris Sale should help ease the burden on the offence.

3.     Jays looking for a slugger

Expecting designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion to sign a mega-contract elsewhere, the Toronto Blue Jays brought in designated hitter Kendrys Morales to replace their long-time slugger. The market for power hitters failed to materialize and Encarnacion settled for a 3 year, $60 million contract with the Cleveland Indians. Morales might lack Encarnacion’s upside, but with a bounce-back season from right fielder Jose Bautista the Jays could be back in October.

4.     A young man’s sport

Rookie shortstops Trevor Story and Corey Seager burst onto the season last year in the National League while Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Michael Fulmer became an ace. This year, Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi and Atlanta Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson look to take the league by storm.

5.     Time’s ticking

Commissioner Rob Manfred has made a concerted effort to decrease the duration of games. The two most significant rule changes for 2017 are the start of a no-pitch intentional walk and a 30-second limit for managers to decide whether to challenge a play. Will it work? Only time will tell.

6.     The Young Yankees 

At last season’s trade deadline, the Yankees re-loaded their farm system with a plethora of young prospects. Catcher Gary Sanchez tore up the league down the stretch and New York re-signed pitcher Aroldis Chapman to bolster their bullpen. They may not challenge Boston or Cleveland this season, but their championship window should reopen soon.

7.     New rules with new CBA

Two changes to the new collective bargaining agreement may affect trade deadline strategy. With steeper penalties for surpassing the Competitive Balance Tax (“Luxury Tax”) thresholds, teams may be more inclined to trade away their star players. However, with lower penalties on teams looking to sign top-tier free agents, winning teams might be willing to wait until the offseason to bring the reinforcements.

8.     Bounce back candidates

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen, Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer, and Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Greinke were three of the biggest disappointments in 2016. Don’t expect the same this season—all three look poised for bounce-back campaigns in 2017.

9.     More baseball than ever

A longer spring training and this year’s World Baseball Classic means more innings and probably tired players when September rolls around. Last year, Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts looked fatigued at the end of the 2016 season, so the Boston Red Sox probably aren’t thrilled that their young star is tallying innings for the Netherlands national team.

10.  Brave new world in Atlanta

The SunTrust Park era begins this season in Atlanta and with it comes increased pressure to return to the postseason. They probably won’t reach that goal in 2017, but with 23 year-old shortstop Dansby Swanson and arguably the most talented farm system in baseball, the future looks bright for the Braves.

Elections, News, SSMU

SSMU Election 2017: VP University Affairs

by Domenic Casciato & Evelyn Goessling on

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The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Vice-President (VP) University Affairs represents student interests at level of the university administration. The VP University Affairs sits on the McGill Senate, maintains relations between SSMU and all levels of the university—except for the Board of Governors, which falls within the President’s portfolio—oversees SSMU’s student research endeavours, and operationalizes SSMU’s commitment to equity.

The two candidates for 2017-2018 are Alexander Dow and Isabelle Oke. At the press conference on March 6 and the debate on March 9, candidates were able to elaborate on their platforms.

Oke elaborated on her plans to bring happy lights and both visual and non-visual cues to the library in order to help students understand the health effects of studying. Her platform, which focuses on campus outreach, student rights, and accessibility, spoke about what she thinks is the VP University Affairs’ most important responsibility.

“The university’s process in providing education is something that’s inherited generation by generation,” Oke said. “I see the student body as being an intermediary group that protects the individual rights of students on campus when the university can’t recognize what they are necessarily. That’s the framework with which I see SSMU’s strongest institutional power.”

At the debate, candidates spoke about engaging students, particularly those dealing with mental health issues or sexual assault.

Candidates were asked questions sent in from the outgoing executives, with Chief Electoral Officer Alexander Nehrbass and Deputy Electoral Officer Nicholas Nehrbass moderating the debate. Current VP University Affairs Erin Sobat asked about barriers that block student accessibility to the McGill experience and how the candidates would work to address those. Oke spoke about accessibility challenges in the classroom, the precarious status of student labour, and overhead fees.

Dow’s platform is characterized by the phrase “students first.” He focuses on giving students a voice on campus and rebuilding lines of communication between the student body and SSMU.

“One of most important parts [of accessibility] is advocating to upper administration that if something is wrong you need to have student support within that faculty in order to change those things,” Dow said.

In response to a question from Sobat, which clarified that mental health falls under the VP Student Life portfolio, the candidates focused on different channels for improving the mental health system at McGill. Dow mentioned increasing discussion on healthy study habits and his intention to work with the Library Improvement Fund—overseen by the VP University Affairs—to address related mental health issues.

Oke discussed the overburdening of student health services and the need to extend mental health education and care to the classroom. Increased demand for the newly merged McGill Mental Health and Counseling Services has led to long wait times and complaints this year.

“More accessible teaching practices will result in lesser burden on mental health services [professionals],” Oke said.

An audience member posed a question about the VP University Affairs’ role regarding the new Policy against Sexual Violence approved by the BoG in December 2016. Sobat worked on the policy at the level of the Senate this past year, and the future executive will be working on the implementation phase of the policy as detailed in section 7 of the policy.

“Communication with students on this issue will be key because if students don’t know where to go […] this policy will not succeed,” Dow said. “[….] I want to make sure that students are able to use it in future.”

Oke explained that she would want to provide students with information on how the policy is implemented and so will be able to communicate specifically what implementations should be made.

When asked about the equity portion of their portfolios, Dow spoke about emphasizing delegation to equity commissioners who are knowledgeable and understanding of the policy.

Oke expressed a desire to focus on a specific issue, namely safety on campus.

“I want to focus on one thing and get a lot of traction going on a specific issue,” Oke said. “The idea I want to tackle is safety on campus, what creates it, what sustains it, and what different institutions on campus have a role to play on it.”

Elections, News, SSMU

SSMU Election 2017: President

by Domenic Casciato & Julia Dick on

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The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) President is the spokesperson of the Society, enforces its constitution and internal regulations, and manages relations between SSMU and McGill. The president is also responsible for coordinating the SSMU executive team.

The three candidates are Lukas Shannon, Helen Ogundeji, and Muna Tojiboeva. At the press conference on March 6 and the debate on March 9, candidates were able to elaborate on their platforms.

At the press conference, Shannon explained how he would create a dialogue committee to promote constructive conversations regarding contentious issues on campus.

Ogundeji described her idea to create an ad-hoc subcommittee that would explore the creation of a code of conduct for student executives.

Tojiboeva spoke on how she will reform the relationship between the Board of Directors (BoD) and the J-Board.

“Most of the petitions [for hearings] are directly against SSMU executives […] and the executives in question do sit on the [BoD],” Tojiboeva said. “In my experience, [executives have] always found a way to slow down the process [….] What I really want to do is to make sure that the SSMU [J-Board] can be called an independent body.”

At the debate, the candidates were asked questions submitted by the outgoing executive, with Chief Electoral Officer Alexander Nehrbass acting as moderator. Ben Ger, who resigned earlier that same day, asked how each candidate would balance support and accountability in their role as leader of the executive team.

Ogundeji reiterated her plan to implement an executive code of conduct, which she said will hold the executives accountable to a specific standard. Shannon stated that he believes there is no conflict between support and accountability.

Tojiboeva answered that she would ensure that minutes from the BoD meetings were posted on the SSMU website.

The second question from Ger asked what the candidates believed to be SSMU’s priorities in terms of advocacy at the level of McGill administration, specifically on the Board of Governors (BoG). The SSMU President is the only undergraduate representative on the BoG.

Tojiboeva responded that she would advocate for an increase of mental health services on campus and, as the only undergraduate representative, would seek feedback from other undergraduates when deciding which other issues to advocate for at that level. Ogundeji said that greater change would be possible if more students had a voice on the BoG and intends to increase representation. Shannon agreed with Ogundeji, adding that he would seek to strengthen his connection with non-student members of the BoG.

In response to a question from the live stream, the candidates elaborated on their ideas for Francophone affairs, which technically falls under the VP External portfolio. Ogundeji proposed the creation of a buddy system between students who are from Montreal and those who are new to the city.

Tojiboeva suggested the creation of a week focused on Francophones. She also proposed the creation of a mentoring system that would support students who are transitioning from a French education system into the English system at McGill.

A member of the audience asked how the candidates would support racialized students on campus. Ogundeji elaborated on her platform, stating that she would seek to create a program with the VP Student Life and the Mental Health Subcommittee that would support such groups.

“I have experience working on equitable governance reform committee, working with committee members to create equity seats on council and to create racialized seats and black student seats, given the colonial and slave-owning history of McGill,” Ogundeji said.

Tojiboeva explained that her proposed changes to the J-Board would help SSMU to better reflect the needs of marginalized students. Shannon stated that he would seek to expands platforms that marginalized students can speak from.

The debate portion of the event focused on the distribution of mental health resources. Students currently pay over $100 per semester to Student Services, which funds services such as the McGill Counselling and Mental Health Services. SSMU’s budget currently subsidizes the Peer Support Centre, Nightline, and SACOMSS.  

Tojiboeva claimed that the 2016-2017 SSMU budget did not allocate any funds to mental health services. After a question from Ogundeji, Tojiboeva clarified that she would use the surplus that SSMU is projected to run this year to streamline the existing system.

“[I would] make sure the system that already exists becomes more effective, [instead of creating] new things because would take more money than that to create a functioning system,” Tojiboeva stated.

A previous version of this article misspelled Helen Ogundeji's name. The Tribune regrets this error. 

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