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Commentary, Opinion

Protesting in the digital age: Online activism is not enough

by Jordan Gowling on

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On Oct. 31, 1.4 million people checked in at the Standing Rock Sioux reservation, North Dakota on Facebook, in an attempt to thwart alleged local police surveillance. This mass check-in was, for all intents and purposes, an act of online solidarity. It was executed in the hopes of aiding protesters who were at the Standing Rock fighting the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline by Energy Transfer Partners, a natural gas and propane company; however, the flood of check-ins represents the perfunctory nature of digital activism in the face of growing police suppression on the frontlines of grassroots movements. Although activism conducted through social media and online forums is well intentioned and easily accessible to many, it is not enough on its own: Its participants must be informed and engaged with the issue at hand, and it must be complemented by traditional activism on the ground.

In the case of Standing Rock, this is not to say that all those Facebook users should have grabbed a flight to North Dakota; however, digital activists need to supplement their online efforts by engaging their community or university about the importance of indigenous rights, or even organizing a local protest against Energy Transfer Partners’ involvement in the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline. This is because digital activism demands less engagement, potentially resulting in less informed participants: An online activist need only reach for their laptop and click a button to feel as though they are contributing to a cause.

Furthermore, there is an underlying problem pervading much online activism: Misinformation. Digitally-promoted grassroots movements can obscure the facts behind an issue because the person that is willing to click a button is often not on the ground nor invested enough to read more about it. Kony 2012 is a primary example of digital protest gone wrong, as many online users did not realize the source of the information was fraudulent. The Kony video, produced by the Invisible Children charity organization, took the internet by storm, calling for the capture of war criminal Joseph Kony in Uganda. The disturbing part of this online call to action was that no one questioned the charity—which was criticized for its lack of accountability—or the information on Kony, and blindly donated their money. Kony 2012 exposed the dangerous side of digital activism: It can suffer from a lack of knowledge among its followers and promote hysteria.

 

 

 

Although key for organizational purposes, it does not demand that which is most important in any collective protest—an engaged individual.

The number of physically engaged and present protesters is an important variable in a protest’s ability to achieve its goals. During the 2011 protests in Egypt calling for the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak, digital platforms were used for organizational purposes; however, the protests’ most prominent impact came out of the sheer size of crowds that convened in Tahrir Square. The physical confrontations between thousands of protesters and police in Cairo streets garnered worldwide media coverage and led to the dismantling of the corrupt Mubarak government. This is what can be achieved when a group of citizens physically demonstrate, interact, and even commit civil disobedience in the society at large. If organizers and participants during the Egyptian demonstrations had limited themselves to digital platforms, the impact of their activism would have been significantly less.

While digital platforms can help reach a larger audience than would have been possible without social media, the rapid spread of awareness does not require users to be informed on and engaged with an issue. Like most trending online content, what a person clicks on one day in solidarity may be forgotten the very next. There is no requirement to follow through with online support for a cause.

Events in which the protesters inform themselves, are physically present, and talk to people in person about the given issue are more likely to have a lasting impact and encourage participants to fight for lasting changes. Digital activism is not the most impactful or knowledgeable means of creating lasting change on an issue, government, or society at large. Although key for organizational purposes, it does not demand that which is most important in any collective protest—an engaged individual. This engagement means being physically present in a public space; it means interacting with people who represent a variety of ideas, and it means being informed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jordan is a U3 History major from Gatineau, Quebec. She enjoys reading, soccer, and drinking overpriced lattes.

 

@mcgilltribop | [email protected]

 

 

 

 
Science & Technology

Global Health Night showcases the growing presence of the field at McGill

by Kate Lord on

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“Global health at McGill is on a growth spurt,” Suzanne Fortier, McGill’s principal and vice-chancellor, said in her opening remarks at Tuesday’s Global Health Night.

The annual event honours McGill’s involvement in global health arenas by celebrating students and faculty members who have made award-worthy contributions to the field in the past year. The evening began with a poster fair in which students were given the opportunity to present their research, which ranged from projects on improved cook stoves in Tibet to evaluating health care in Rwanda.

Dr. Joanne Liu, international president of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and a McGill alumna, presented the keynote lecture. As someone who has worked tirelessly at the front lines of many epidemic-ridden conflict zones, Dr. Liu provided meaningful insight to all aspiring global health workers as to what it really means to work in the field.

“It is important to stand for our principles, for what we believe,” Dr. Liu said. “It is important that at one point you draw a line. And you will have to draw your own line as you go around in this kind of world and […] see things that don’t make sense.”

Dr. Liu spoke about her time in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the middle of its 1999 civil war. She explained that the ‘humanitarian corridor’ she was working in quickly became known as the ‘humanitarian corridor of abuses.’

“That meant that every woman [in the corridor] got sexually abused,” Dr. Liu said. “I remember back then, that something had to happen [.…When] I presented [my solution to the MSF] board, their answer was, ‘This is war, Joanne; we’re [responsible for] life-saving and people don’t die from rape.’ But I did not accept that [.…] I would not accept the unacceptable.”

Despite resistance, Dr. Liu was able to develop a comprehensive package for responding to sexual violence cases—including a full medical examination, emergency contraception, wound care, and STI vaccines or preventative measures—that today is used almost universally.

The 2014 Ebola epidemic was an unprecedented and hopeless challenge for MSF, Dr. Liu explained.

“It is important to remember how unprepared we were, even though we are in the 21st century,” she said. “We can send […] people into orbit, but we [could] not care for people with a disease that was diagnosed in 1976.”

Dr. Liu concluded her address with a simple request to McGill’s future global health practitioners.

“Fight for life,” Dr. Liu said. “That’s the only rule I ask you to not break when you are going to do something in global health.”

For students interested in the future of global health at McGill, Dr. Madhukar Pai, director of McGill Global Health Programs, outlined the three goals of his strategic plan.

“First is [for] education and students,” Dr. Pai said. “The second is to support innovative global health research, and the third is [to] our international and national partnerships to further McGill’s presence, and actually become partners with other people [in the field of Global Health].”

The future for global health at McGill, according to Dr. Pai, is bright.

“[There] is a whole slew of opportunities for students to get involved in global health,” Dr. Pai said. “We have a journal called ‘Prognosis’, [about] global health, [which is] edited by our students. We started a new blog, ‘Global Health Perspectives’ [….] Our students [have our support] for whatever conferences they want to organize or host. [We offered] the first ever credited Global Health course.”

McGill is also working towards creating a School of Population and Global Health, which the Senate approved in October.

“We genuinely see that the future of Global Health Programs is within this school,” Dr. Pai said.

 
Student Life, The Tribune Tries

The Tribune tries: Reflexology

by Paige Mysliviec on

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I spent the last week prodding and poking my hands for the sake of anxiety relief, mostly due to midterms and projects that had been thrown at me. Of course, the poking and prodding has a more eloquent name: Reflexology. Reflexology is the systematic application of pressure directly to the hands, feet, and ears, with the goal of reducing anxiety and stress. I tried reflexology in order to destress and calm my anxiety.

It wouldn’t have helped my stress to take my time to search for a professional and shell out a portion of my limited funds, so I decided to become my own reflexologist. Using a how-to article on healing.about.com titled, “Ten Step Hand Reflexology Treatment,” as my guide, I began my own do-it-yourself reflexology session. 

A 2011 study published in the Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing on the effects of reflexology explored various bodily processes, including stress, in female undergraduate students. After student subjects participated  in three one-hour reflexology treatment sessions per week,  author Young-Mee Lee found a decrease in their feelings of stress and  cortisol levels—also known as the “stress hormone”—levels. 

Another study published in 2007 in Complentary Pratices in Clinical Practices charted the correlation between reflexology and anxiety, cardiovascular parameters, cortisol, and melatonin levels. The authors’ findings showed that reflexology helped those who were in a temporarily anxious state, yet did little to help those who dealt with chronic anxiety disorders.  

I timed my reflexology session strategically as a study break in the middle of a long day at the library. As per the how-to guide, I first pinched the tips of my fingers and then tugged each finger gently. Next, I massaged the inside of my wrists and palms. I made sure to knead firmly into my palm, to relieve the tension in my hand. Finally, I pressed right into the centre of my palm to centre myself. After about ten minutes, I realized I had stopped thinking about school work and was instead focused on how I felt. 

My normally cold hands felt warm as blood rushed to them. I found it easy to ignore the sounds and sights around me, focused in a moment of relief. This only lasted for a second, though. Almost too quickly, I turned back to my task at hand. My mind slipped back into its normal progression of stressful thoughts.

I repeated this activity every day for a week thereafter. The hardest part was not the massage itself, but simply stopping at any point of the day and giving myself 10 minutes to do this simple exercise.  

It was hard to remember that the whole purpose of reflexology was to feel more relaxed. It’s almost counterintuitive how easy it is to ignore self-care, especially when stressed. 

After five days of daily self-reflexology sessions, I genuinely felt better. But, could I really say that the less than an hour of my time that I put into this was really the cause of my happier mind? 

Unfortunately, I found the 2007 study’s conclusion to be more relevant than the 2011 study. The stress and anxiety relief I felt from self-reflexology treatments were fleeting, and I knew that these negative feelings would return within the hour. 

Overall, I found that reflexology is ideal for situations where I’m overwhelmed by long lists of tasks and impending due dates. This technique forces one to stop and focus on something other than schoolwork for 10 minutes. Essentially, it gives my mind a break, as if all the energy that’s been constantly rushing to my frantic brain is redirecting itself through my arms, to my palms, and finally to my fingertips. It doesn’t cure chronic stress, but sometimes 10 minutes of relief is all one needs.  

Out on the Town, Student Life

Super Sandwich: The backstory

by Daniel Freed & Noah Sutton on

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Tucked in the basement of the Le Cartier building, neatly between a Korean restaurant and a men’s hair salon, is a neon sign boasting the nickname of a McGill student favourite: Super Sandwich. From an outsider’s perspective, this hush-hush location might seem incompatible with high traffic and heavy business, but many students find that it adds to the shop’s undeniable charm. This hidden cove has found a home in the hearts of McGill students. Thanks to its setup, as well as its lightning-fast preparation and unbeatable prices, Super Sandwich has become known as one of the McGill bubble’s best-kept secrets.

Founded in 1988 under the name Charcuterie Le Cartier, the shop was originally run by the mother and father of its current owner, Matt Lo. Although its official name remains the same today, the store’s luminous sign—which Lo’s father added some 20 years ago—has given the shop the popular nickname it now holds. While Lo didn’t officially take over his parents’ business until his father fell ill 15 years later, the sandwich shop and depanneur has nonetheless been a big part of his life since childhood.

“[My sister and I] always helped out since the very beginning,” Lo said. “[At first] on weekends, and then when we went to school we helped out during the summer.”

Over the course of his life, Lo has witnessed the evolution of Super Sandwich. What started as a regular depanneur now holds its own, not only as a delicatessen, but as a staple food supplier for McGill students. The famed sandwiches, which were an early addition to the family’s business model, now account for 70 per cent of the store’s sales. Lo attributes the late boom in business to his mother’s decision to start heating the sandwiches before serving them and to an influx of students who started living in the building years ago.

Super Sandwich’s connection to McGill runs deep. According to Lo, the store’s transition into a student hotspot was largely an intentional process. Once the family noticed student interest in their sandwiches, they began to advertise in McGill publications and got involved with events on campus, such as Frosh.

Yet, this kind of advertising isn’t the one Lo attributes to his success. Rather, what has been the most beneficial for his business is word-of-mouth.

“I think, when you have a friend and he knows about a place and he likes it, you’ll probably trust him more than [an advertisement],” Lo said.

After decades of working behind the same basement counter, Lo still speaks fondly of his work and the students who keep his shop afloat.

“I find working with students is the best,” Lo said. “Usually, they’re all very easy-going.”

Perhaps Super Sandwich’s popularity on campus is more personal than that of other traditional food vendors. The shop has garnered a cult following of sorts among the McGill student body—the lesser-known cousin to the samosa craze. The sacred knowledge of its location and delicious deals is a matter of knowing the right people. Because of this, a lunch order at Super Sandwich feels less like a typical lunch stop and more like an experience unique to McGill students.  

When asked about what gives Super Sandwich this magical property, Lo points back to the core of the operation—the sandwiches.

“The speed that we do make the sandwiches, the price, and the quality is a good combination,” Lo said. “I know a lot of students are in a hurry, and they know if they come here they can have a good sandwich in a couple of minutes.”  

Super Sandwich’s proximity to McGill’s downtown campus has given Lo more than just loyal customers. Over a decade ago, a McGill student ordered an egg salad sandwich from Lo. Today, that student is Lo’s wife.  

“One thing led to another,” Lo recounts. “I asked her out and we’ve been together for the past 12 years.”

Ultimately, Lo’s wife was just one of many happy Super Sandwich customers. The store’s low prices, fast preparation time, and signature sandwich style have garnered it a wide following among students, which shows no signs of dying down any time soon.

News, SSMU

SSMU Council creates democratic review committee

by Jenna Stanwood on

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At the Nov. 3 meeting, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Legislative Council voted in favour of supporting the Quebec Public Research Group (QPIRG) existence referendum, restructuring Senator elections for the Faculty of Engineering, and creating a Democratic Review Committee.

Engineering Senator Elections

Council passed the Motion Regarding Electing Student Senators from the Faculty of Engineering, which proposes that the election period for engineering senator positions be moved. Formerly taking place during the SSMU election period, members of the Engineering Undergraduate Society (EUS) will now vote on their Senate representative during the general EUS election period in Winter 2017. Engineering Senators will now be elected annually alongside EUS executives and representatives to SSMU, instead of alongside SSMU executives. According to Tre Mansdoerfer, SSMU Engineering Representative, the motion is intended to increase participation and competition in the election of Engineering Senators.

“I'm aware that [the Faculty of Management] runs [their] senator elections under their own faculty elections [as well],” Mansdoerfer said. “I think it’s going to help with voter turnout. That’s the purpose of this motion [… and it] is going to help make the engineering senator position more appealing and not have it be uncontested like it usually is.”

Some councillors expressed concern that the by laws for all senator elections should be revisited instead of addressing problems at the faculty level. In response, SSMU Vice-President (VP) University Affairs Erin Sobat stated that this was something that could be looked into, but that he might not be comfortable changing all SSMU election regulations.  

“I think we're happy to look at that if other faculty associations are interested […],” Sobat said. “In terms of the election regulations themselves, we can revisit that, but SSMU is tasked by McGill for filling these seats [for Senate], and we do delegate them, to some extent, to the faculty associations [for] representation. But, [SSMU is] still responsible for putting forward the names, so there should be some sort of central mechanism still from SSMU […] to make sure that those seats are getting filled.”

Creation of an Ad Hoc Democratic Review Committee

Council also voted to create an Ad Hoc Democratic Governance Review Committee to review and produce recommendations for reform to SSMU’s highest governing bodies, including the Board of Directors (BoD) and the General Assembly (GA). According to Arts Representative Igor Sadikov, this motion was presented in response to changes in the role of the BoD last year.

“Basically the main purpose of this committee would be to review some of the procedures and limits on the power of the [BoD],” Sadikov said. “This is mostly just coming out of the changes that were made at the end of last year where the [BoD] got increased responsibilities [….] However, this was done, in my opinion, without the necessary oversight or transparency regulations for the Board [….] It’s expected that big governance changes will be reviewed once they’re implemented, so it’s good to have a committee even if there weren’t major issues [….]”

Sadikov clarified that the committee's purpose was not to eliminate the BoD.

“This motion is far from questioning the existence of the Board, I recognize that it's legally required,” Sadikov said.

According to SSMU President Ben Ger, this committee will help to define what issues the BoD should and should not take responsibility for.

“The division is not properly outlined to some extent. There are times when the Board ends up dealing with something that could be seen as a political matter because it is tangled with something that is legal, so there definitely is room to further define [its role…],” Ger said.

Ger emphasized that this committee will play a different role than the Equitable Governance Committee.

“At least my envisioning of this is that they're very different bodies,” Ger said. “Equitable governance reform is mainly focused on bringing more voices around the table, making sure this is an accessible space to those who maybe are [underrepresented…. The Democratic Review Committee] is more focused on making sure that there is consultative practices, that there is a strict outline for how [these bodies function] democratically.”

Laughing Matters, Opinion

Planet McGill: The McLennan midterm migration

by Jackie Houston on

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As dawn breaks over McGill campus, still glistening with last night's freezing rain, all seems quiet. The Y-intersection is deserted and most doors won't open for another couple of hours. But, rest assured, there is one building that never sleeps: The McLennan-Redpath Library complex. Majestic, isolated, and open 24 hours seven days a week, it is perhaps the most delicate and dynamic ecosystem of the McGillian wilderness. This extraordinary habitat and its intricate topography house a range of species, and there is no better time to observe them than the midterm migration. This mass movement begins shortly after add/drop season, and will continue until the arrival of finals.

The inhabitants of McLennan at this time of year are as diverse as they are spectacular, and patterns of movement vary among species. None, however, are immune to the existential threat of an upcoming midterm. Research suggests that the words "40 per cent of your grade" actually trigger a survival mechanism in the McGill student, pushing species of all varieties—from suited-up Bronfman dwellers to late-night Burnside outcasts—to the common haven of McLennan.

Among the earliest arrivals are the post morning-lecture migrants—that elite breed that maintains 8:30 a.m. class attendance even after the first week of the semester. They forage for sustenance at Snax or Dispatch, and, as a reward for their early rise and morning trek, get first pick of the highly coveted first floor window perches. Midterms may loom, but this group of regular inhabitants remains calm. McLennan is their home. It will not betray them at this critical moment.

The post-morning-lecture migrants share their habitat with a demographic that is, in many ways, the very opposite—the last-minute-paper-writers and afternoon-midterm-crammers. These academic renegades rely on a diet of pure caffeine and evade extinction on an hour-to-hour basis. Interspecies mingling is rare. With the exception of the occasional printer conflict, the two groups coexist peacefully.

A desolate, silent wasteland of fluorescent lighting and empty coffee cups, the sixth floor is capable of sustaining only the most resilient forms of life

The peak of activity comes at noon, as a combination of motivation and pure panic drives hoards of students to McLennan’s doors. Herds of first-years set up camp on the first and second floors, seeking confidence and security in numbers. The subspecies of this young group can be usefully categorized in terms of emotional stability—one half bears the crippling anxiety of facing midterms for the first time, while the other half still remains blissfully naïve to it. By finals, sadly, the latter group will be an endangered species.

The more hardened fourth-year specimen, meanwhile, is a solitary creature, but claims its territory through intimidation. It has two laptop chargers, an abused course pack, and a granola bar. The first-years accept these displays of superiority and steer clear.

As the day rolls on, the wide variation in the library’s terrain and function is revealed. The Première Moisson watering hole is a hub of interspecies interaction, attracting hungry students with its overpriced nourishment and early 2000s pop and soft rock music. Similarly, the adjoining Redpath Library serves as a noisy meeting place for group projects and review sessions.

As one travels upward, away from the camaraderie of group studying and further into the realm of Darwinian survival of the fittest, the topography becomes harsher. A desolate, silent wasteland of fluorescent lighting and empty coffee cups, the sixth floor is capable of sustaining only the most resilient forms of life: Grad students. Thanks to an adaptive mutation, however, the midterm-laden McGill undergraduate student can suppress all self-preservation instincts in order to venture onto this floor. It no longer actually needs to live. It just needs to pass this semester.

Night falls, bringing with it the exodus of those lucky specimens who make it out alive, and the arrival of those incredibly unlucky ones that have a midterm the next day that they have yet to study for. These nocturnal creatures strip both their coats and their morale to hunker down for the long, lonely night ahead. But, as always, morning will come. And whether it brings victory or defeat or something in between, McLennan will still be there when they return.

 

 

 

 

Jackie Houston is a U2 Political Science and Psychology student and columnist for The McGill Tribune. She dreams of a world where she can pet any stranger’s dog with no questions asked.

 

@mcgilltribop | [email protected]

 

 

 
McGill, News

Draft Policy against Sexual Violence discussed at McGill Senate

by Lydia Kaprelian on

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On Oct. 19, McGill Senate convened to discuss the proposed Draft Policy against Sexual Violence as well as the relocation of the McGill bookstore, Le James. In addition, the Senate Committee on Physical Development offered their Annual Report.

Draft Policy against Sexual Violence

The Draft Policy against Sexual Violence was first released by the university on Sept. 12. Since then, the Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic), Christopher Manfredi, has been receiving feedback from the McGill community through their online form. To date, there have been 175 responses to the policy draft, according to Manfredi.

Manfredi reaffirmed his commitment to instate the Policy against Sexual Violence by the end of the calendar year. Manfredi stated that additional resources are required for successful implementation of the policy. McGill plans to hire support staff to accompany current Liaison Officer (Harm Reduction) Bianca Tétrault.

“I am pleased that we have […] put in place the process to hire a second person to support our work against sexual violence at the university as well as secure an office space […] that will provide a greater level of accessibility and confidentiality,” Manfredi said. “We hope to have that person in place certainly before the end of the calendar year.”

Manfredi thanked the Sexual Assault Policy Working Group and other student initiatives for providing the foundation on which the Draft Policy was created. After receiving feedback from community members, the Office of the Provost compiled a list of proposed changes to the policy draft. These revisions are an example of how the policy could change before it is voted on at the next Senate meeting on Nov. 23.

Arts Senator John Galaty asked about the choice of terminology in the draft policy and requested clarification on the definition of sexual violence, especially when investigating instances of sexual misconduct. Associate Provost (Policies, Procedures and Equity) Angela Campbell explained that the policy seeks to emphasize an institutional commitment to sexual violence survivors. The policy does not, however, address punitive measures that can be taken against perpetrators.

“This is actually about whether or not someone has lived an experience that they find very difficult, [that has] an impact on their well-being, their academic potential to success, and our commitment to ensuring that they can come forward and secure services in the context of social services and health services,” Campbell said. “This policy is about separating out prevention, education, response, and support. It does not touch on the issue of disciplinary investigation and adjudication.”

Question on relocation of the McGill Bookstore

Students’ Society of McGill (SSMU) Vice-President University Affairs Erin Sobat and Law Senator Shannon Snow asked the Senate about the accessibility of the new location of the bookstore, Le James.

“The question was put forth after I was approached by several law students,” Snow said. “I worry that the accessibility of the layout, the organization, the building itself, is an issue for students.”

With narrow aisles between the bookshelves and the reduced proximity to campus, Snow asked if there would be opportunities to expand on home deliveries for students.  

“The space on Parc Avenue is quite constrained […],” Morty Yalovsky, Interim Vice-Principal (Administration and Finance) said.  “[In] terms of how the space was structured, it was set up that way to optimize the number of books that could be stored there. Though, we’re open to changes.”

The current lease at the Avenue du Parc location will last for two years.

Senate Committee on Physical Development

Associate Vice-Principal (Facilities Management and Ancillary Services) Robert Couvrette presented the annual report from the Senate Committee on Physical Development. With a variety of long-term and short-term goals for building and campus renovations, the committee sought to prioritize academic services

“We receive around $46 million per year for […] renovations and anything like that […],” Couvrette said. “The amount of money is quite fixed for the next five years [….] There is no additional funding from our government.”

As one of the lowest ranked Quebec institutions in terms of infrastructure, McGill will have difficulty improving its buildings without additional funding from the province.

Men's Varsity, Sports

McGill Redmen rugby advance to RSEQ finals in nailbiter

by Arman Bery on

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The McGill Redmen (6-1) rugby squad battled through the opposing crowds’ banter, overcame a case of dropped catches, and made a heroic goal line stand to defeat the Bishop’s Gaiters (3-3-1) 27-20 and advance to the RSEQ finals.

Bishop’s scored the first try of the game in the tenth minute on the back of a sloppy McGill play–the Redmen were already dealing with a number of dropped catches that would trouble them throughout the game.

“We definitely did not expect to drop balls like that, we can’t blame the weather because that was great weather for playoff rugby,” centre Sayf Al Omaishi said. “Usually we would see three degrees and rain. So, it was probably more a matter of [lack of] focus and of technical mistakes.”

After an early Bishop’s try, McGill responded in the 16th minute when flanker Kaleb Nimat received a pass from back row Nick Bent to tie the game at 7-7. The Gaiters punched in another try before fly-half Andrew Manson hit a penalty kick to round out the first half at 14-10.

The second half opened with the Gaiters extending their lead to 17-10 after a quick place kick. McGill responded with a try and unconverted place kick—Manson ended up missing two more place kicks. Nonetheless, his kicking in open play was crucial to the Redmen’s second half success. He frequently pinned the Gaiters in their own twenty-two, pressuring their back line. 

This fluctuating game saw one last twist—in the 80th minute, Bishop’s relentlessly attacked the McGill try-line. The final play seemed to go on forever, and the crowd grew animated by the second. Nonetheless, McGill held strong, eventually forcing a penalty that sealed the game for the Redmen.

“I knew they were a strong team and were capable of scoring a try in the last minutes, so I was trying to do everything I [could] to prevent that from happening,” Al Omaishi said. “At the end, our defence proved strong and we were able to avoid an OT, coming out with the win.” 

The Redmen now progress to their tenth consecutive RSEQ finals against Montreal on Nov. 13.

“It is a great accomplishment, all the hard work out on the field and off the field is finally paying off,” said Nimat. “Being the captain is just a title, we have 15 players on the pitch, which all individually contribute as leaders and this is what brings us all together.”

 

Quotable:  “We have to come out with fire and play the whole 80 minutes like the Redmen rugby can, improve our discipline, and stick to our game plan. If we can do that, I am confident we will bring the banner back for the second year in a row.”—Captain Kaleb Nimat on what the team must do to retain the RSEQ championship.

Play of the game: A total team effort by McGill, pushing back over four waves of attacks in the 80th minute, forcing the key penalty to secure their victory

Stat of the game: Neither team led by more than seven points the entire match.

 

A previous version of this article stated that Nick Bent plays front row. In fact he plays back row. The Tribune regrets the error.

News, SSMU

Fall 2016 SSMU General Assembly: What are SSMU members voting for?

by Gabriel Rincon on

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On Nov. 7, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) will hold the Fall 2016 General Assembly (GA), where the student body will have the opportunity to vote directly on proposed motions and referenda questions. The three motions presented this Fall must be approved by popular referendum in order to be adopted. 

Motion Regarding the Nomination of the Auditor for the Fiscal Year of 2017

This motion proposes that the firm FL Fuller Landau LLP conducts the 2017 audit of SSMU’s finances. Under section 17.3 of the SSMU Constitution, it is stated that the auditor must be approved by the GA annually. This motion was moved by SSMU General Manager Ryan Hughes. 

An external auditor is hired every year to review SSMU’s financial records to ensure compliance with general accounting guidelines and correct inventory balances. 

FL Fuller Landau LLP was first contracted in the previous fiscal year when it was estimated that this appointment would reduce audit costs by approximately 15 per cent. 

SSMU executives did not respond to questions as to whether the savings were realized or whether other firms were considered for the job.

Motion Regarding Global Access to Medicines Policy 

The motion calls for SSMU to support access to medicine as a “public good and a human right”  by asking McGill to adjust the patents they hold on essential medicines to increase access to medicine in developing nations. The motion was moved by the McGill Students’ Chapter of Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM). 

The proposal asks SSMU to advocate for McGill to change its patent policy through the University Senate and other appropriate committees. If McGill agreed to adjust its patents on essential medicines, it would allow generic drug manufacturers to produce essential medicines at a cheaper cost and sell them in developing nations. According to the motion, McGill would not be the first university to implement such a policy, joining a group of institutions that includes Yale University, the University of British Columbia (UBC), and Harvard University.

According to the Co-President of the McGill Students’ Chapter of UAME Christine Kim, other universities have not seen a fall in revenue after instituting similar policies. Large pharmaceutical companies don’t make the majority of their profits from drug sales in developing nations, but rather from sales in Canada and other developed economies.

“Seventy-nine research drug companies in Canada submitted reports showing their [research and development] expenditures [are] all paid for by domestic sales at Canadian prices,” Kim said. “[Similarly,] none of the 22 universities in North America, including Harvard, Yale, and even UBC in Canada, have reported loss of revenue from the signing of [a similar proposal].”

According to Kim, McGill could already contribute to the access of essential medicines, but their current policy inhibits them from doing so.

“McGill has already developed an anti-malaria drug, Cystamine, back in 2012,” said Kim. “We asked McGill to adopt [our resolution], because under its current [intellectual property] standards, the drug [is not] available to those in [developing nations], despite malaria having a very high prevalence in [developing nations].”

Motion Regarding SSMU Support for Cost-Free Birth Control Coverage 

The motion calls for SSMU to support cost-free access to birth control for all members of SSMU. If the motion passes, SSMU would negotiate with its health insurance provider, the Desjardins Financial Security Life Assurance Company, to fully cover birth control prescriptions for non-Quebec students through the SSMU supplemental health insurance. The resolution was presented by McGill Students for the New Democratic Party (NDP McGill). 

Under the current SSMU health insurance plan, Quebec residents are entitled to 100 per cent reimbursement for prescription drugs. Out-of-province students are only entitled to 80 per cent reimbursement.

Jacob Schweda, a member of NDP McGill, said the resolution is in support of an NDP motion that will be presented in the House of Commons.

“Women's equality has always been at the core of the NDP's values […,]” said Schweda. “More specifically, [NDP McGill was] inspired by the work of Irene Mathyssen, the NDP Member of Parliament for London-Fanshawe. She is currently working on a motion to be introduced in the House of Commons calling for free prescription birth control for all.”

Baseball, Sports

Twenty years later: The 1996 Yankees and the Rebirth of the Evil Empire

by Weiyu Dang on

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In 1996, the New York Yankees barely resembled the blockbuster, overpowering teams of the half century from 1920 to 1970. The team was a squad of role-players and promising rookies—a puzzling but seminal group of players that brimmed with tenacity and cohesion for a franchise more known for pomp, fame, and cockiness. In an 18-year purgatory since their last World Series, the Yankees consistently disappointed. However, in 1996, something unprecedented emerged—a team without any real flaws. Those strangely underdog Yankees made it to the World Series and defeated the defending Atlanta Braves, who had been to four world series that decade. From humble beginnings, this Yankees’ victory was the beginning of baseball's Galactic Empire.

Burdened by a history of greatness–from Babe Ruth to Mickey Mantle to Thurman Munson–these 1996 Yankees lacked star appeal after face-of-the-franchise first baseman Don Mattingly retired the previous season. Their best players were untested rookies and good-not-great veterans. Journeyman second baseman Mariano Duncan led the team in batting average. Mattingly’s replacement Tino Martinez was tops in RBI. Crucially, young emerging stars, shortstop Derek Jeter and centre fielder Bernie Williams had the most hits and homeruns respectively, while Andy Pettitte had a Cy Young calibre year. These rookies are where the 1996 Yankees’ enduring legacy lies. Along with failed starter-turned-legendary-reliever Mariano Rivera and late-blooming catcher Jorge Posada, this ‘Core Five’ would lead the Yankees to four titles in five years and six world series in seven. Posada, Rivera, Pettitte, and Jeter then won another title as the ‘Core Four’ in 2009. The dream of creating a home-grown core drives every team’s farm system, but for most teams it remains just that—a hope nearly impossible to realize.

Commissioner Fay Vincent’s suspension of the infamously volatile and free-spending Yankees owner George ‘The Boss’ Steinbrenner was a godsend—The Boss served a ban from baseball between 1990-1993 for hiring a gambler to dig up dirt to void the contract of former player Dave Winfield, who Steinbrenner blamed for the team’s dry spell in the 80s. In those Steinbrenner-less years, General Manager Gene Michael conducted the team’s operations with baseball acumen executed to perfection. Without Steinbrenner, the team did not sacrifice the farm for superstars, it did not stupidly hand out albatross contracts, and it did not create a draconian atmosphere with the players as mere cogs in Steinbrenner’s empire. Instead, cult hero outfielder Paul O’Neill was acquired after struggling with the Cincinnati Reds; Bernie Williams was retained; Derek Jeter was drafted in the first round; and late-round gems Pettitte, Rivera, and Posada were properly developed.

In the buildup to 1996, Buck Showalter–who, with a 4-year reign, was the longest-tenured manager during the Steinbrenner era–left the team after a contract dispute with the newly-reinstated Steinbrenner. New Yorker Joe Torre, failing at every step of his prior managerial career, was brought in to start a new era at the surprising behest of Steinbrenner, in a surprisingly good move. As a crucial member of the Core Four dynasty, Torre would go on to win five World Series in his 11-year Yankees tenure before going to the Hall of Fame in 2016. Mid-season pick-ups of an over-the-hill Darryl Strawberry and slugger Cecil Fielder would bolster a team with no weak links.

Perhaps these Yankees’ main attraction, often forgotten, was their humility. Washed-up pitcher Dwight Gooden was back after a suspension because of drug abuse. Strawberry was also recovering from a cocaine problem. These guys were relatable players, not aloof superstars. They weren’t the mythical Yankees or the annoying Yankees—they were the misfit Yankees that ended the fan base’s three decades of suffering. If anything, people sympathized with them. They were lovable. The dissonance of that phrase itself, a lovable Yankees team, should be enough to show how special they were.

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