Latest News

McGill, News

The Tribune Explains: McGill’s rankings

by Cherry Ng on

More in McGill:

For the 12th year in a row McGill is ranked first in Canada by Maclean’s magazine among all research universities. Internationally, McGill is ranked 30th in the 2016 QS World University Rankings, 42nd in 2016-2017 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and 63rd by the Academic Ranking of World Universities. Why are the rankings so different and what are they really telling us?


What methodologies are used to rank universities?

Over the years, Maclean’s has evolved a ranking methodology that splits the final score into five variables: Students, 28 per cent; faculty, 24 per cent; Resources, 20 per cent; Student support, 13 per cent; Reputation, 15 per cent. 

Other university rankings give different weights to the variables. Unlike Maclean’s, QS World University Rankings weighs academic reputation at 40 per cent and takes into account international faculty and student to faculty ratios. Times Higher Education World University Rankings splits their reputational survey into teaching and research. When added together, the reputational surveys account for 33 per cent of a university’s total score. 

While some variables rely on numerical data from student numbers, university finances, and grants, other variables do not. Maclean’s gathers data for its reputation variable through a survey that gauges the opinions of university faculty, senior administrators, and high school guidance counsellors on how well universities meet the needs of students and how prepared their graduates are. As a result, the data gathered for rankings can be subjective. 

According to Erin Sobat, vice-president (VP) University Affairs of Student’s Society of McGill University (SSMU), rankings do not paint a well-rounded picture of a university.

“The fact that McGill continues to top these lists despite failing infrastructure and insufficient support services is obviously a kind of feedback loop,” Sobat wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune.

Sobat attributes McGill’s high placement in rankings to its academic excellence.

“Our reputation attracts strong students and professors, [which] in turn contribute to the academic awards, research grants, and citation counts that make up this reputation,” Sobat said.

How do rankings affect McGill?

According to Provost and Vice-Principal (VP Academic) Christopher Manfredi, ranking considerations do not drive policy at the administrative level.

“We strive to be excellent in everything we do—teaching, research, student life, service to our communities—and we adopt policies to achieve that goal,” Manfredi wrote in an email to the Tribune. “We believe that success in achieving that goal will eventually be reflected in rankings.”

Jocelyn Younan, an associate registrar at McGill Enrolment Services, noted that students take rankings into consideration when applying to university. 

“Whenever we ask students why they decided to apply to McGill, reputation, rankings, [and] academic programs are answers that come up frequently,” Younan wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune. “Applicants also compare similarly ranked institutions and use that as a starting point to select where to apply.”  

When deciding where to spend their education, students consider aspects other than the academic excellence of the institution.

“When it comes to accepting an offer of admission, many other factors influence [students’] decision and these will vary greatly,” Younan wrote. “Cost of education and cost of living, location, safety, internships and exchange opportunities are common factors we hear from students.”

Though methodologies may vary and are not an exact science, rankings can still be an indicator of what to expect at a university. 

“Our generally strong performance in a variety of rankings is testament to how hard the entire McGill community works, despite financial challenges, to remain one of the world’s leading universities,” Manfredi wrote. 
 

Baseball, Private, Sports

MLB collective bargaining agreement explained

by Patrick Beacham on

More in Baseball:

Following a baseball season defined by the curse-breaking Cubs victory at the World Series, the looming threat of a player’s union strike in the MLB may further challenge to the status quo.

The current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) dispute could lead to the first lockout in the MLB since the infamous 1994-95 strike that cancelled both the second half of the 1994 season and the beginning of the 1995 season. However, the strike remains an outlier in the collective bargaining trends of the MLB, so a complete cancellation of the season is highly unlikely. The closest the MLB has come to a lockout in the 21 years since then was in 2002, when the players and owners reached an agreement just moments before the lockout would have started. However, the pertinent issues today are vastly different. The 2002 debate was centred around wealth distribution and steroids. In 2016, the players union and the owners disagree on free agency rules, as well as the regulations that govern signing international players.

What the situation boils down to is an argument over the pros and cons of the free market. The player’s union wants to establish total free agency for all of its members, while the owners want to restrict free trade to help poorer teams, lower players’ salaries, and regulate a corrupt international signing system through an international draft.

Currently, players from outside of the U.S. and Canada do not have to enter the MLB draft in order to join the MLB. Unlike Canadian and American players who are drafted based on a team’s record the previous season, international players are signed by the highest bidder. The owners proposed discarding this system in favour of an international draft to regulate the international market, which has been criticized for being corrupt in recent years. An international draft would end the highest bidder system and result in cheaper starting offers across the board. The player’s union has rejected this solution because an international draft would significantly lower the value of international players and reduce their negotiating power as they would no longer be able to field offers from multiple teams. Unlike Canadian and American players who can threaten to go to college if a team’s refuse to meet their salary demands, with an international draft, without the threat of going to school, international players would lose almost all of their negotiating leverage.

Further complicating the issue is the “Qualifying Offer.” This system allows MLB front offices to tender players who are soon to be free agents a one-year contract at the average value of the top 125 contracts in the league–currently $17.2 million. If a player rejects the bid, they are allowed to go to free agency, but the team that signs them is forced to trade their first round pick to the player’s previous team. In doing so, the Qualifying Offer reduces a player’s value on the open market. While the offer is beneficial to poorer MLB teams whose lack of buying power can be redressed with a first round draft pick, it is also restricts the free market. 

Arts & Entertainment, Music

Beat Connection: How Montreal’s next generation of producers are breaking the mould

by Eric Noble-Marks on

More in Arts & Entertainment:

In bedroom laboratories, on social networks, and at apartment raves, the next generation of artists and collectives are working to take the next step forward in Montreal beatmaking. One producer, Kaytranada, has become something of a standard bearer for Montreal’s cosmopolitan beat scene. 

Where other producers aim for stylistic consistency and mass appeal, Kaytranada’s music erodes typical boundaries of genre. His debut LP 99.9% is a thrilling, kitchen-sink mix of house, R&B and hip hop with a long list of collaborators, including jazz drummer Kareem Riggins, electropop act Little Dragon, and breakout rapper and vocalist Anderson .Paak. In many ways, the Haitian-born 24-year-old’s music is emblematic of the artist’s multicultural past in Montreal, drawing from Haitian and Brazilian rhythms to embody a vision of music that’s multinational as well as sonically diverse. It’s this daring approach that led Kaytra from his St. Hubert bedroom to becoming an important member of the “Piu Piu” beat scene—an experimental and multilingual group of Montreal producers that Kaytra shaped and eventually transcended. 

 

Five months after dropping his game-changing album, Kaytra sits clad in a grey hoodie and toque at Centre Phi in his hometown of Montreal, dispensing wisdom to a crowd of eager musicians at a Red Bull Music Academy talk last month. Some audience members take notes, others whisper to each other, and all bob their heads hypnotically whenever Kaytra’s stuff comes booming over the sound system. At one point, interviewer Anupa Mistry bumps 50 Cent’s “Candy Shop,” and Kaytra flashes a playful glance over at his younger brother, rapper Lou Phelps. The two take turns spitting 50’s bars, laughing and wildly gesticulating at each other. For an artist being interviewed in a room full of strangers, the moment is oddly personal—two brothers brought closer by the euphoric and revolutionary power of music. 

Like Kaytranada and other Piu Piu forefathers, Montreal’s newest generation of beatmakers relish in the opportunity to explore, experiment, and have fun with their music.  

“Once I have a solid foundation I just take random sounds and see if they sound good,” said Aaron Dyks, who produces under the name DOJO! “I’m always looking for new sounds.” 

 

Dyks is a key member of Evenire, a Montreal-via-Paris beat collective that focuses on crafting a holistic approach to music and art. 

“If you come to one of our shows there’ll be a DJ playing, but there’s also going to be some sort of visual art going on,” Dyks said. “The sound we’re playing is a combination of genres and sounds, and the complete event is a combination of arts, so [the event] really mirrors our sound.” 

Dyks is the model of the modern, eclectic, and obsessively curious up-and-coming producer. He has a hefty background in music theory, having played and studied trombone, saxophone, and guitar before turning to electronic music. He is influenced by electronic artists like Cashmere Cat and Lido, but has lately been obsessed with jazz legends Bill Evans and Chet Baker. 

“Bill Evans was creating on a piano his whole life and I have this huge library with gigabytes of sounds to choose from,” Dyks said. “It’s freeing, but you can be just as creative with just a piano.” 

By subverting traditional genre constructs, these producers are shaping what it means to make electronic music in 2016. This includes finding inspiration in some pretty unlikely places.

“I like to keep it interesting by using sounds and samples that wouldn’t typically be used,” said Ryan Shelby, a producer otherwise known as the Half Blunt Prince. He describes the process as something like using Rihanna’s ‘Work’ instead of sampling a 1960s Turkish song found in a thrift store. 

In this scene, deviation from the norm is not just accepted, but actively encouraged. 

“There’s this whole idea that ‘House is house’ and ‘We want the pure house,’” said Abdoulaye Mouflet, former Evenire artist and founder of Kaj Collective, a newly formed music and lifestyle syndicate at the vanguard of the new scene. 

“If I hear something I like, I’m gonna use it,” Mouflet said. “Whether it’s an old song, soul, or funk, I just like music that makes people dance.”

Low recording costs and services like Beatport and SoundCloud have made it easier than ever for producers to share music and ideas with other artists. Shelby is a member of multiple beat collectives that include members from all across Canada and the U.S.; however, all artists agree that there is something about the developing scene that makes it distinctly Montreal. Mouflet, who moved to Montreal from New York City to attend McGill, says there’s no comparison between the two cities. 

“Being in Montreal is much better as a musician than being in New York, which is supposed to be the city of music,” Mouflet said. “The people who are working with you are very open-minded and Montreal has that vibe where all artists are helping each other.” 

It’s a sentiment echoed by many young artists in the scene. Dyks, who is originally from Ottawa, has seen his star rise in a major way since coming to Montreal. 

“It’s a great place to talk to other artists and collaborate,” Dyks said. “Here all the openers [for big producers] are local so you get the chance to talk with people on tour. We’re all on the same level and influencing each other.”

That’s not to say that there isn’t a healthy rivalry between producers. 

“My friend makes 10 beats a day,” added Dyks. “I see him putting in all this work and it makes me want to step up my game.” 

Competition may be steep, but each rival can also be a teacher for these young beatmakers. 

“Producers will come to you and go ‘Oh that’s kind of off, maybe try this next time,’” Mouflet said. “Playing with people pushes your boundaries. I always love doing B2B [back-to-back] sets with other artists because you get the chance to see how they do their thing and learn from it.”

It’s easy to imagine big electronic artists as gifted loners, holed up behind a wall of impenetrable gear at three in the morning looking for that perfect snare sound. In the new Montreal scene, the music comes as much from friendly collaboration and support as isolated genius. Even though Kaj split off from Evenire last May, the two collectives continue to frequently work together and promote each other’s events, and artists from both collectives share the same bill from time to time. 

No matter where you come from or how much experience you have, if you’re willing to put the time in there’s room for you in the Montreal scene. 

“If you go to Berlin and say ‘I wanna be a techno DJ’ you gotta get in line,’” Shelby said, who got his start making beats in his McGill dorm room. 

“Everyone [from Montreal] that I message on SoundCloud is just like, ‘Dude let’s hang out and make music.’” 

Whether you’re an up-and-comer or the reigning Polaris champ, as is Kaytranada, true inspiration comes from sharing the joy of beats. Beat collectives frequently change in structure and membership, but the music endures.

Commentary, Opinion

Instagram on the right track with new self-harm prevention feature

by Chelsea Chen on

More in Commentary:

The combination of academics, finances, and relationships can strain students’ mental health. A 2013 survey of over 30,000 post-secondary students conducted by the Canadian Organization of University and College Health revealed that 63 per cent of students reported feeling lonely, and 50 per cent of students reported feeling hopeless. Significantly, 9.5 per cent even reported to have had seriously considered taking their own lives.

A recent study at McMaster University found a strong positive correlation between social media use and the development of mental health issues, such as depression and lowered self-esteem, while a 2014 study revealed a causal relationship between Facebook use and decreased mood. In light of such research, in June 2016, Facebook released a set of suicide prevention tools to provide support to its users. Now, Instagram, acquired by Facebook in 2012, has launched a new interactive feature to help combat self-harm and suicide. The function is already available in the United States and will soon be expanding worldwide. Due to the strong positive correlation between mental illness and social media use, it is imperative that Instagram is taking this step.

In Instagram’s new feature, users can flag photos anonymously when they identify someone who seems to be going through a hard time. The Instagram team will then review each flagged photo, and send a notification to the user that reads, “Can we help? Someone saw one of your posts and thinks you might be going through a difficult time. If you need support, we’d like to help.” The user can then directly access three options through the application: They can talk to a friend, contact a helpline, or get tips and support.

Instagram’s self-harm prevention tool has the potential to positively impact users’ mental health. While it is not the responsibility of social media companies to offer solutions to mental health issues, it is in their best interest to do so, as it will facilitate a welcoming and supportive online environment for users. The ability to flag photos acts as a risk management measure: Any possible harm that the feature may introduce is outweighed by its potential to mitigate the negative effects of social media on mental health.  

Social networking sites are not the only factor of mental health issues, nor is alleviating mental illness the sole responsibility of social media. Instagram taking voluntary action to ensure the mental health of its users is comparable to if the inventors of the internet were to assist victims of cyberbullying. It’s an ambitious and admirable feat.

Addressing mental health issues through Instagram is a strategic move that has the capacity to raise awareness and provide support for mental health among its more than 500 million active users. Site-specific tools on social networking platforms are important in helping users to navigate their daily experiences.

Instagram’s support message feature is unique as it depends on users’ responses. Rather than relying on an algorithm that flags certain alarming keywords, for example, the photos are flagged on the basis of an individual’s discretion. Mental illness is stigmatized, making it difficult to reach out for help: Approximately half of those with anxiety or depression have not sought help from a doctor. With that in mind, the interactive nature of Instagram’s new feature will make it more likely for peers to reach out to at-risk users.  

This novel project is not perfect, as it could potentially trigger those who are already suffering or send messages to users who are not at risk. But the consequences of potential missteps are far less grave than having no such function at all. Furthermore, the risk of a user who is not struggling with mental health issues receiving a “Can we help?” notification and consequently questioning their mental state is mediated: The Instagram team reviews each flag before sending a notification, and has collaborated with organizations such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the National Eating Disorder Association to ensure the suitable wording for the message. As this feature is integrated, Instagram must continue to assess whether it can be improved and actively seek user feedback.

By introducing an interactive risk management measure that relies on user feedback, Instagram can foster a sense of community among its members while addressing the issue of mental health. It would benefit other social media companies to follow suit and adopt site-specific online tools to combat mental health.

(Coralie Delettre / The McGill Tribune)
(Coralie Delettre / The McGill Tribune)
Student Life

The holiday season kicks off at Education Faculty’s pop-up shop

by Emilie Macfie on

More in Student Life:

On Nov. 18, the lobby of the Education Building was transformed into a cozy and cheerful winter wonderland for the faculty’s first annual Holiday Pop-Up Shop. This festive kickoff to the holiday season showcased 19 student vendors selling everything from cupcakes to wooden bowties. Glittering snowflakes hung from the ceiling, Christmas lights twinkled, and jazzy holiday tunes played behind the sound of cheerful banter, making the pop-up shop an uplifting destination on a chilly November day. Shoppers could rest their legs at the canteen, which served the Education Undergraduate Society’s self-proclaimed “famous” grilled cheese along with home-made lemonade, located on a balcony overlooking the festivities.

The pop-up shop is one of many events put on by McGill student groups to benefit Centraide, an organization that invests in local groups to aid in alleviating poverty and social exclusion in Montreal. This includes many grassroots initiatives, such as providing tutoring services for students who can’t afford help. Last year, the combined money raised for this cause by McGill groups totalled over $500,000.

The warm, community feel in the room was in large part due to the fact that the event was entirely student-run, aside from the coordinator, Jennifer Coutlee, who is the Alumni Relations and Special Events officer at the Faculty of Education.

“I was mandated by the Dean to raise money for Centraide and I thought the best way to do that would be to involve the students,” Coutlee said.

Being a crafty person herself, Coutlee decided to put on a holiday pop-up shop. After sending out the call for students with a crafty hobby or side business, she received more interested vendors than the lobby could contain.

“The response was overwhelming,” Coutlee said. “I actually had to turn people away.”

This encouraging response has lead organizers to consider moving next year’s event into the building’s library, which is about four times the size of the lobby, to accommodate more vendors. This huge engagement from students manifested not only in the number of vendors, but also in the volunteers that spent the day before the event decorating the lobby and facilitating the event day-of. . The community feel of this student-run event fits very well with Centraide, the cause that the event was benefitting.

According to Kira Smith, a U3 Arts student and a McGill representative for Centraide, the organization’s goal for this year is to raise $1 million among McGill students.

“We love how every single faculty does what they can,”  Smith said of the group effort made by the McGill community to support the Montreal community at large.

Vendors, volunteers, and shoppers alike were excited to be sharing the holiday spirit. Jillian Agustin, U4 Education, sold hand-decorated mugs bearing themes such as Harry Potter and Pokémon for her startup, Mug Life. She explained that she was happy to be selling at the pop-up shop because of the social aspect of the event.

“I like talking to people and seeing all of the other art and creativity,” Augustin said.

The students certainly showcased their creativity, treating shoppers to a wide selection of food ranging from pickled vegetables to cupcakes decorated to look like Cookie Monster. Handmade goods like greeting cards, jewellery, and leather products gave customers many options for Christmas gifts and personal treats alike.

“It’s very well put together,” Gwenn Barrett, a U0 Education student at the shop in search of a gift for her sister, commented.  

The Faculty of Education Holiday Pop-Up shop provided the perfect start to the holiday season, while bringing students of all faculties together and supporting a great local cause. The smiles on the faces of all attendees proved the success of the initiative and set the stage for an even bigger, better, and merrier pop-up shop to come next year.

Hockey, Martlets, Sports

McGill Martlet hockey throttle Carleton Ravens to top RSEQ

by Elias Blahacek on

More in Hockey:

The McGill Martlets (6-2-0) exploded for 38 shots on goal in an aggressive 3-1 victory against the visiting Carleton Ravens (2-6-1) on Friday night at McConnell Arena.

“I liked our game,” Martlet Head Coach Peter Smith said. “I thought we played fast, I thought we played with structure.”

The Martlets proved their worth at the top of the RSEQ standings against the lower-seeded Ravens. It was clear from the get-go that the home team had control of the game although only managing to capitalize on scoring opportunities on three occasions. McGill pressured Carleton in the attacking zone all game, dictating the pace of play and keeping the Ravens on their heels until the end of the match.

The first and second periods were mainly played in the Ravens’ end, as the Martlets held the opposition to a mere six shots in each period of play. There were some personal battles between and after the whistles with first-year forward Olivia Atkinson bringing a hard physical dimension to the game and demonstrating that the Martlets were willing to match the Ravens’ aggression. Atkinson’s physical prowess and second period goal solidified a well-rounded effort, particularly in the offensive zone. Martlet Captain Melodie Daoust led the squad with two assists.

“I expect us to come out hard,” Daoust said pre-game. “Bring a lot of pucks to the net and crash the net.”

Daoust was looking for her team to play a complete 60 minutes and enforce an aggressive offensive style of play. The Martlets managed to get away 10 shots on goal in the final five minutes of the third period, preventing the Ravens from pulling their goaltender for the extra skater. The strong finish to the game is a positive sign of strong performance for the Martlets as they wrap up their 2016 home schedule.

In the midst of a four-game winning streak, the Martlets lead all Canadian university teams in goal differentials, only giving up 14 goals through eight games. The Martlets rank sixth in the country with a .937 save percentage as netminder Tricia Deguire has been a force all season.

The Martlets will complete the first half of their 2016-2017 season with away games at Concordia on Dec. 2 and Ottawa on Dec. 4, where they will look to maintain their first place standing.

 

Quotable: “Overall, I thought it was a good game of hockey, I thought we moved the puck real well.” — Head Coach Peter Smith

Stat Corner: With two assists, Melodie Daoust now has ten points in her past six games.

Moment of the Game: After surrendering a powerplay goal in the third period, the Martlets bounced back with 10 minutes of offensive zone time, preventing the Ravens from completing the comeback.

Baseball, Men's Varsity, Sports

Ogundakun shoots the lights out as Redmen basketball zap Stingers on Pots and Pans night

by Aaron Rose on

More in Baseball:

“It was a great crowd,” fourth-year guard and McGill Redmen basketball captain Dele Ogundakun said of the 703 fans in attendance for McGill Athletics’ annual Pots and Pans night. “We want to make it a great show for this crowd and a great atmosphere.”

With the rambunctious Redmen faithful in attendance, McGill (2-1) embarrassed the rival Concordia Stingers (2-2) 96-56 on Thursday night at Love Competition Hall.

Spurred on by the clanging of pots and pans, the Redmen jumped out to a 29-2 run to start the game.

“As soon as the lights went out, the fans got into it,” Head Coach Dave DeAveiro said. “I want our crowd to understand that they make a huge difference in the way we play.”

The Redmen offence was on fire from deep, connecting on 17 of 32 shots from beyond the arc.

“We’ve been shooting a lot [of 3-pointers] in practice,” Dele Ogundakun said, “We’ve been shooting so much we have to make them in the game.”

Defensively, the Redmen swarmed the Stingers, forcing Concordia to shoot from the outside.

“I thought they followed the game plan really well,” DeAveiro said. “We didn’t want to let them have any easy baskets at the rim and I thought we did that for the most part.”

Having struggled earlier in the year, Ogundakun broke out for McGill, tying a school record for three-pointers on seven for 10 shooting from deep. He recorded a career high 29 points along with six rebounds and four assists.

“I’ve been trying to get my rhythm back,” Ogundakun said. “This is a breaking point back to the old Dele.”

However, it was the veteran captain’s leadership that shined the brightest throughout the game.

“I just want to teach all the young guys what I wish I knew when I was younger,” Ogundakun said.

With the game out of hand late, DeAveiro gave his bench the opportunity to log significant minutes in the final quarter. Third year guard Avery Cadogan scored nine points in the fourth quarter as the bench showed continued improvement this season.

“They just played the way I expected them to play,” DeAveiro said. “If they didn’t play that way, I’d be upset.”

The Redmen now head out to Lennoxville for a date with the Bishop’s Gaiters (0-3) on Saturday. The former RSEQ powerhouse has struggled this season, but McGill isn’t going to take them lightly.

“They’re a desperate team,” DeAveiro said. “It’ll be a nice test to see if we have the mental toughness to come back in 48 hours and play a tough team in their gym.”

Stat of the game: McGill was four points away from hitting the century mark for the first time since 2014.

Quotable: “I don’t think we’ve ever lost a game on a night like that.” – Head Coach Dave DeAveiro said of the atmosphere created by the 703 fans in attendance.

Moment: A 3-pointer from Noah Daoust in the first minute of play would be as close as the Stingers would be to defeating the Redmen.

News, SSMU

Fall 2016 Referendum and General Assembly Online Ratification results

by Sara Cullen on

More in News:

The results of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Fall 2016 Referendum and General Assembly (GA) online ratification were released on Nov. 18. All referendum questions passed and nominations were ratified online. Of the approximately 22,600 students eligible to vote, turnout was 18.1 per cent, exceeding the quorum of 15 per cent. Quorum for GA Online Ratification is slightly lower at 10 per cent and it was reached with a 12.6 per cent turnout rate.

Creation of a Musicians’ Collective Fee: “Yes”

This motion called for the creation of a $0.10 opt-outable fee that will fund the Musicians’ Collective (MC). Previously funded solely from the SSMU budget, MC provides student-musicians at McGill with affordable services such as educational workshops, practice room booking, performance opportunities, and instrument and equipment rental. This motion passed with a 72 per cent “yes” vote.

MC President Saul Zetler wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune that the MC executive team is excited about the creation of the fee and that the money will be put towards maintaining the Jam Room that is available for students to book online.

“We look forward to putting the money to good use improving the condition of the jam space,” Zetler wrote. “Much of the equipment in the jam space needs repairing or replacing, and the money collected from this fee will be instrumental in ensuring that the quality of the jam space is upheld.”

Midnight Kitchen Fee Renewal: “Yes”

This motion proposed a $0.10 increase to the current opt-outable Midnight Kitchen student fee. Approval of this motion increases the fee to $3.45 and money will be used to fund the non-profit, volunteer-run collective that provides free vegan lunch and breakfast meals on campus. The motion passed with a 78.6 per cent “yes” vote.

Midnight Kitchen Discretionary Projects: “Yes”

The approval of this motion allows Midnight Kitchen to allocate a portion of their student fee revenue to aspects of their mandate outside of providing free meals. Midnight Kitchen was founded with an anti-oppression mandate that opposes privatization and corporatization. A portion of their budget goes towards educating the community on topics that align with their mandate. This motion passed with a 73.9 per cent “yes” vote.

Midnight Kitchen Collective member and “Yes” Committee Chair Anastasie Dudley, U3 Arts, wrote in a message to The McGill Tribune that Midnight Kitchen is thankful for the support of SSMU members during the referendum period.

“The Midnight Kitchen Collective is relieved by the overwhelming support of both our existence fee and our discretionary funding in the past week,” Dudley wrote. “The maintenance of this fee will allow us to continue operations as usual, and as we have already been giving discretionary funding for years the explicit permission we have now been granted will further allow us to go on as usual.”

Dudley hopes that Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) members will be equally supportive during the upcoming PGSS Fall Referendum as Midnight Kitchen continues to be a well-used service on campus.

“Given the continued prioritization of corporate interests on campus by the administration, we don't see the need for our service dwindling any time soon and are dedicated to continuing to provide an affordable, healthy alternative,” Dudley said.

Free Menstrual Hygiene Products Fee and Health & Hygiene Products Fund: “Yes”

Brought forward by members of the SSMU Legislative Council, including SSMU President Ben Ger and Vice-President (VP) Student Life Elaine Patterson, approval of this motion will instate a non-opt-outable $0.90 fee in the Winter 2017 semester. The fee will finance a SSMU Health and Hygiene Products Fund that will go towards providing free menstrual hygiene products in restrooms on campus and educating the community on financial discrimination that affects those who experience menstruation. This motion passed with 80.7 per cent “yes” vote.

Ger said that feedback to the motion was mostly positive and that the motion passed by a large margin.

“[Free menstrual hygiene products are] something that [have] been wanted in the past,” Ger said. “People for Menstrual Solidarity, McGill Students for Feminism, both of those groups wanted to see something like this put in place for quite some time. They’ve been doing a lot of the groundwork so we really only came in with implementation phases, recognizing that we have that ability to make change at these high levels.”

According to Ger, SSMU would like to implement the program as soon as possible.

“Our plan in an ideal world would be to have a few [dispensaries] up and running by the time people get back [from winter break], obviously we can’t get every single washroom right off the bat,” Ger said. “It’s a pretty massive project to put all these things everywhere so it will be a bit of a delayed thing where we slowly put them in, I don’t imagine it will take more than a year [….]”

Nomination of the Auditor for the Fiscal Year of 2017: “Yes”

The accounting firm FL Fuller Landau LLP was approved in October by SSMU Council to prepare SSMU’s financial statement for the 2017 fiscal year. The choice of the auditor must be approved by SSMU members at-large on an annual basis. This nomination was ratified with a 89.9 per cent “yes” vote.

According to Ger, the appointment of the auditor is made public in order to maintain transparency.

“The auditor is to make sure that our finances are in check, but also that we’re spending our money appropriately,” Ger said. “It is student dollars that are coming through this space, so making sure that the student body is in approval of the auditing company that we’re using, that the process is transparent every step of the way, is something that we’ve deemed important.”

Ger said that SSMU has encountered financial issues in past years, necessitating the need for an outside firm to assess SSMU’s finances.

“There were issues […] in the past that kind of sprung [the annual nomination of the auditor],” Ger said. “The SSMU went belly up, essentially, and the university came in and took over, and ever since then we’ve hired a full time internal auditor […] to come in to make sure that we’re doing our job right.”

Nomination of the SSMU Board of Directors 2016-17: “Yes”

Also appointed annually, nominations for the Board of Directors are approved in Legislative Council before being approved by SSMU members at-large. This nomination was ratified with an 86.7 per cent “yes” vote.

Ger said that the Board of Directors is recognized as one of the highest decision-making bodies within SSMU and its decisions have a strong influence on services that impact student life.

“Their abilities are split between the Legislative Council and the Board of Directors, but the people that you ratify onto that body are dealing with all the legal, HR, operational–SRC and Gert’s, for example–and building-related matters,” Ger said. “So, it is a lot of stuff that directly impacts students. When people look at ratifying the Board of Directors […] it is still an important process of recognizing who is going to be representing you and choosing to support that.”

Arts & Entertainment

Flashback: Charlie’s Angels

by Julia Metraux on

More in Arts & Entertainment:

When it came to solving crime on television, male-led shows like The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and I Spy dominated espionage and crime entertainment throughout the 1960s. Although women did have some important roles, they were mainly featured alongside men. Just over 40 years ago, on Sept. 22, 1976, Charlie’s Angels premiered. Its leads were three female heroines, portrayed by actresses Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, and Jaclyn Smith, who left an impact on feminist pop culture.

Sabrina (Jackson), Jill (Fawcett), and Kelly (Smith) are three undercover investigators who work to solve crimes. In the first episode, we learn that the three heroines all graduated successfully from the police academy but work as a meter maid, office worker, and crossing guard. Sabrina, Jill, and Kelly are then recruited to work for Townsend Detective Agency. At the beginning of each episode, the three women are assigned a crime to solve by their boss, Charlie,  a mysterious character depicted only as a disembodied voice communicating to the Angels through radio. This television series lasted for five seasons, but it started to decline in popularity during its last two years on air due to various casting changes.

Although the show demonstrates a team of three competent and capable women, the central driving force is male; however, in the context of the time period, the relationship between Charlie and his Angels demonstrates a significant amount of progress, as the three women were depicted as skilled and resourceful, and were put in charge of important missions. This depiction reflected women moving beyond secretarial jobs in the workforce during this time, although there was still a power dynamic between male bosses and their female workers.

The outfits of Sabrina, Jill, and Kelly received plenty of backlash for being what some people consider as too revealing at the time. The costume design reflected the sexual liberation movement of the late 60s and early 70s. But, many believe that the Angels were dressed primarily to be sex objects, undermining their agency as characters.     

In an statement, Fawcett agreed with the latter idea.

"When the show was number three, I figured it was our acting,” Fawcett said. “When it got to be number one, I decided it could only be because none of us wears a bra.” 

Charlie’s Angels was conceived during North America’s second-wave feminist movement; there are aspects of the show that both support and contradict this movement. The show contributed to the movement, in which women fought to have equality in the workplace, as the Angels occupied action-driven, positions outside of secretarial work. However, the emphasis on the looks of the actresses in order to appeal to the male gaze detracted from the positive feminist messages promoted in the show.     

To this day, Charlie’s Angels is a cult favourite and has inspired spin-offs, such as 2001’s film adaptation starring Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu, and 2011’s short-lived series revival. The success of Charlie’s Angels created the model for successful female-driven crime and espionage shows, such as cop-drama Rizzoli and Isles and cartoon show Totally Spies!, as it was one of the first T.V. representations of women who were capable of excelling in traditionally male roles. Due to the boundaries that the television show Charlie’s Angels pushed, female T.V. characters at the time were finally able to have their skills and desires at the forefront, instead of simply serving as eye candy.

Arts & Entertainment, Music

First Impressions: Drake’s latest tracks

by Selin Altuntur, April Barrett, and Evelyn Goessling on

More in Arts & Entertainment:

"Fake Love"

Apple Music’s description of “Fake Love” says that the song is, “A brutally honest look at fame and friendship.” This is a seriously bold note to start on, and it seems somehow ominous. What am I about to hear? Drake’s usual emotional/nonsensical banter, or something much darker?

These lyrics are no joke. Drake calls all the fakes the fuck OUT. Jealousy, backstabbing, social climbing, and fake love—I guess Drake has had enough.

“I’ve been down so long they look like up to me, they look up to me/ straight up to my face.” When were you “down,” Drake? Last I saw you were on top of Toronto's CN tower.

I like the layered percussion and plucked string chords. This sound is unexpected and definitely recognizably Drake, although the sparse instrumentation makes him seem more lonely than usual. The beat seems to be taken almost directly from Hotline Bling. Actually, it almost feels like I’m listening to the same song, although it’s not as catchy, and definitely sadder.

This song was super repetitive. I don’t know if I should criticize Drake too hard on this point, though; it’s pretty common to have repetitive rap music. But, does “Fake Love” deserve a spot on Pitchfork’s Best New Tracks? No! This song is boring as hell! I guess it’s interesting that Drake is being vulnerable about his relationships. Yet the song somehow still feels subtly braggadocios, like Drake is the only real one in the game. Is he, though? IS HE?

–Evelyn Goessling, Arts & Entertainment Editor

“Two Birds, One Stone” 

The song opens with some cool, chipmunk, Bon Iver/Kanye distortion. A nice dripping beat, simple bongo drums. The track is busy, kind of noisy.

“More time with family and friends, more life,” Aubrey says, tapping into a very cute concept. The cover art is an image of his Dad at his parents wedding. This track/EP’s central theme seems to be family.

“More blessings for Sandy [Drake’s mom] and him [Drake’s dad, Dennis], more life.” That’s a very nice thought! His parents are clearly at the heart of this song.

The lyrical content is a scattered thought, jumping from family, to fame, to rappers who call him out for not being hood enough. It is a freestyle—from what I can tell.

In that way, the song reminds me of Drake’s triumphant “6PM in New York,” but less clever and a little more bitter and depressing.

For example: “Fuck the rap game, it's all lies and it's all filthy / two per cent of us rich and the rest of these [expletives] all milk it.”

Like, damn! That sucks.

—April Barrett, Managing Editor

“Sneakin’” 

Sounds like Stranger Things meets sad Drake.

The beat sounds like basic garage band shit.

Still very catchy.

“I don’t need love I’m a goat.” Excuse me?

—Selin Altuntur, Arts & Entertainment Editor

 

1 … 698 699 700 701 702 … 1,363

Read the latest issue

Read the latest issue