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AUS Council discusses controversial SSMU referenda

by Joseph Timan on

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The Arts Internship Office (AIO) will receive $16,000 following the approval of the Arts Student Employment Fund (ASEF) at the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) Legislative Council meeting on March 9. The meeting also saw controversy over the upcoming Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) referendum period.

The meeting began with a presentation from the "No" committee for SSMU's Motion Regarding Constitutional Amendments. The amendments, which will be voted on in a referendum next week by the student body,  would require a steering committee to determine whether proposed motions are external or divisive, and decide whether the issue may be  included in the GA agenda accordingly.

Julie Skarha, internal commissioner for AUS Environmental Council spoke  on behalf of the "No" committee about the nature of the committee created by the motion.

"It's important to know that the Steering Committee is not elected,” she said. “It is a very small group of people who are ultimately making a large decision about what is considered divisive […] and there’s no set criteria for this in the motion [….] We do not believe that this is a democratic process at all. SSMU already has a very restrictive process in order to get a motion on the agenda.”

Skarha also explained that the motion does not mention an appeals process, and that the student body had no input on the motion.

"There was no mention of an appeals process for this amendment,” Skarha said. “It would be a permanent change. No consultation was done with the student body for this. That's a big thing.”

The Constitutional Amendment comes after a motion supporting Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS) against Israel that was recently approved at the Winter GA, but later failed in online ratification. Arguments against these amendments were met with criticism by the Vice-President (VP) External of the McGill Anthropology Students' Association, Itai Gibli, who claimed that the steering committee would be able to prevent harmfully divisive motions from continually resurfacing, despite past failures.

"[The Constitutional Amendment] is not about stopping the student democratic voice,” said Gibli. “[A motion like BDS] turns the whole student body upside down for two weeks. This is what it's trying to minimise."

Also representing the "No" committee, VP External of First-Year Events, Academic, and Representative Council (FEARC) Erik Partridge, expressed concerns about the requirement of a two-thirds majority vote at the GA to overturn the steering committee’s decision, and subsequently, a two-thirds majority for the motion itself to be passed.

“I think that this motion was brought forward with good intentions,” Partridge said. “It’s important to have [a debate] and for everyone’s voice to be  heard. We just want to make sure that democracy can run its course.”

Following this discussion,  a motion was passed approving the allocation of the ASEF, which is collected every year from professors' undesignated funds, and this year totalled $40,000 according to AUS VP Academic Gabriel Gilling.

“We allocated money based on clarity of the applications and also the perceived impact that they would have on students,” said Gilling.

The largest sum of money, a total of $16,000, was allocated to the AIO for the Arts Undergraduate Research Internship Award (ARIA). ARIA supports students who work with professors in research positions during the summer, and is also partially funded by professors, according to Gilling.

“Every dollar that we allocate to ARIA is matched by the professors, so the $16,000 that we’ve allocated [is] in fact representative of $32,000 so that’s a tremendous service that we’re giving to students,” said Gilling. “Effectively we can say that the $16,000 is actually hiring 16 students.”

A motion regarding a 10.4 per cent increase in the fee for McGill's Panama Field Study Semester (PFSS) Program was also approved. According to AUS President Jacob Greenspon, this was because of the weak Canadian dollar. AUS VP Academic Gabriel Gilling asked whether this fee would be adjusted to its previous level if the Canadian dollar's value were to rise in the future, to which Greenspon responded.

“We only approve the specific changes so I guess they can keep this up as high for future years,” Greenspon said. “But if they reduce the fee, they don’t have to ask for our approval.”

SSMU General Assembly
a, Off the Board, Opinion

State of the SSMUnion: The fate of the General Assembly

by Morgan Alexander on

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The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) held its annual Winter General Assembly (GA) on Feb. 22, hosting roughly 900 students within the SSMU Building for a six-hour debate over multiple different issues. The GA was a dramatically different showing than the Fall 2015 GA, which, due to a lack of controversial agenda items, failed to reach quorum. This prompted SSMU President Kareem Ibrahim to make a simple and effective argument: Dismantle the bi-annual GA system, and replace it with one annual general meeting.

Over the past few years, the GA has faced wavering student interest due to lack of consistency in the controversy of the motions and, in some cases, poor promotion on behalf of SSMU. The variation in student attendance just in the past three years is striking: The Fall 2013 GA reached a maximum attendance of 50 students, while the Winter 2014 GA maintained quorum through all but one motion. The next two GAs saw an attendance of 739 and 550 students respectively, far surpassing the number of students required to meet quorum due to the contentious nature of the motions brought forward, both regarding the situation in Palestine. The inability of this meeting to fulfill its democratic purpose unless emotional and personal controversies are brought forward illustrates its ineffective nature at actually addressing needs relevant to students’ day-to-day lives.

 

 

Were there to be a sudden and extreme pique in interest, SSMU, who is mandated to allow all students to vote, would be unable to provide space for the entire student body. As multiple students would be unable to voice their opinions on the issues at hand, the system is potentially undemocratic.

 

SSMU Vice-President (VP) Finance & Operations Zacheriah Houston noted how, in addition to inconsistent attendance rates, figuring out where to host the GA every semester presents its own challenges.

“Last year [the SSMU executives] tried [to hold the GA in SSMU] and it was horrible, so they moved it to Leacock,” Houston said. “In my opinion, the one we just did was better than the previous two [….] logistically it was much better [….] In terms of the GA as a whole though, just the way that it works and the fact that we can’t get a reasonable turn-out unless we put a Palestine-Israel motion on the agenda, there’s a lot of improvement to be had there.”

Ibrahim echoed Houston’s comments, adding that he isn’t the first President to wonder about the usefulness of the GA and its failure to engage students unless a divisive issue is present.

“There’s been lots of discussion regarding the abolition of the [GA] in past years,” Ibrahim said. “I think that’s largely due to the size of the student body and how they can’t fit in this building. According to the [SSMU] porters, who have been here for 30 years, [the Feb. 22] GA was the biggest that they’ve seen [… but] the issue of BDS has been on this campus for decades.”

Ibrahim’s comments highlight another key issue with the current form of the GA: The SSMU Building is only equipped to fit around 1,000 students, nowhere near the size of the student body represented by SSMU. Were there to be a sudden and extreme pique in interest, SSMU, who is mandated to allow all students to vote, would be unable to provide space for the entire student body. As multiple students would be unable to voice their opinions on the issues at hand, the system is potentially undemocratic.

The structure of the GA has been flawed for a long time, prompting SSMU to host a forum in 2011 to discuss how to change the GA in order to make it more appealing to students. The same year, former SSMU President Zach Newburgh put forth a referendum question that would abolish the GA and instead replace it with an annual general meeting where issues would be debated but not voted upon. The issues debated would be voted on via online ratification, which was instituted earlier that same year. That debate took place a year after the McGill Tribune’s editorial board also called for an outright abolition of the GA, claiming that it had “become more damaging than productive, and [failed] to serve its purpose.” Reforms, such as mandating all motions passed in the GA have to pass online ratification, improving the webcasting of the GA, and introducing workshops to explain how the GA works, are, however, meaningless when it comes to substantive reform of the GA for an extended period of time.

Student consultation is a first necessary step to reforming the GA, but the fact is that feedback will likely be limited and meaningless if it is gathered during a time when no controversial motions are brought up, and students memories of past GA failings are dim. SSMU should proceed with its plans of restricting the institution of a GA if no motions are brought forth as a first step; however, the ultimate goal should involve introducing an annual general meeting with a dramatically decreased quorum in order to pass the necessary bureaucratic motions, and leave it up to students to call for a GA if they feel it’s necessary, similar to the way Special GAs can be instituted today. The result of this could be that student apathy continues, and GAs as we know them cease to exist; however, if interest groups find that they are not willing to put in the work necessary to call forth a GA, then the fault is theirs, and SSMU no longer has to waste its time on motions that lack student interest.

 

 

Morgan Alexander is a managing editor at the McGill Tribune. She is very passionate about being passionate about sloths.

 

@morganagain | [email protected]

 

 

 

 
a, Art, Arts & Entertainment

Design in the university context: The ethical implications of McGill’s iconography

by Evelyn Goessling on

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The world is saturated with imagery that dictates ideologies. Brand loyalty cultivated by familiar icons affects cultural, political, and individual identity. 

“There’s a reason that Coca Cola has barely changed its logo in 120 years,” Christopher Moore, professor of Design and Computation Arts at Concordia University said. “It gives a sense of establishment, and establishment can lead to trust and familiarity.”  

For good or for bad, over hundreds of years these organizations have built up a lexicon of associations to particular shapes and colours that now influence how we act as a society. Maybe your family has voted conservative in every election for 100 years, or maybe you wouldn’t dream of using a Canon camera over a Nikon. These preferences, although sometimes arbitrary, are a result of many years and hundreds of thousands of dollars put into creating brand loyalty. Graphic designers are essential in creating this relationship. 

“We tend to have lifelong associations with brands based on how we were raised and the kind of products that our family would purchase,” Moore explained. “The designer has to interpret [an organization’s] ideas into something concrete.”

This task becomes quite complex, as the graphic designer’s toolbox (line, color, shape, contrast, etc.) is inherently influenced by power structures that have been evolving and compounding over hundreds, and even thousands, of years. 

As a type of visual language, graphic design at its core comes from a human understanding of what linguist Ferdinand de Saussure called the signifier (the shape of a word, order of letters, and phonetic sound) and the signified (the concept or object associated with the signifier). The signifier-signified relationship has evolved via historical events and social movements, especially in the visual context. For example, colonialism has had a major influence on our perception of particular visual signifiers. 

The perception of color is inherent to the colonial experience according to Sajdeep Soomal a graphic designer who has worked with the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) and McGill Athletics. 

“[Colonialism has] produced this relationship and particular understanding of color, to the terms civilized and primitive.” Soomal said. “It assigned those dichotomies. So that’s what we have to play with when we’re producing graphic design here in this space.” 

 “I need to use the ‘McGill red,’ there’s no getting around that,” Soomal said of his work for McGill Athletics. “And in this localized context that signifies a particular politics.” 

Political, religious, and First Nations associations are all important factors to consider in analyzing what McGill is representing through their use of the colour red. It may be that McGill doesn’t intend to represent any of these factors, but nevertheless, they play into McGill’s image. 

“All of the visual language we have is already inebriated with value,” Soomal explained. “And that value exists along, and has been produced through, axes of power.”

With all these implications involved in visual design, a graphic designer has the hard task of reconciling social and professional responsibility. Sometimes, it’s impossible to avoid doing work for clients whose message you don’t necessarily agree with. Liz Sulmont, a freelance graphic designer who has worked with Campus Life & Engagement, SSMU, and other campus organizations, said that she at first didn’t totally grasp the impact her work would have. 

“I realized when I grew more as a designer, that the work you create for your clients is essentially bringing their ideas to life,” Sulmont said. “That means you have to acknowledge some responsibility for the consequences of those ideas. It’s definitely a tricky situation because your job is on the line and the mixture of personal issues and work is always uncomfortable.” 

Soomal echoed these concerns, citing the lack of job security in his field. 

“The jobs are precarious enough that they can easily be replaced,” he said, “it’s more of a matter of just producing what you’re asked to produce, and negotiating over smaller things.” 

Graphic design can be a tool for both good and evil, and in both cases can have tremendous impact. Social movements can garner loyalty with branding just as much as corporations can. 

“All graphic design is inherently social and political,” Soomal said. “It’s a social technology, a means of communication, which means it’s inevitably implicated in power relations.” 

In activism, graphic design can be manipulated in powerful ways to challenge power relations. 

“It becomes a rallying point, something that’s identifiable,” Moore elaborated. “It demonstrates your values, your beliefs. It’s a way of creating tribes around certain ideals and ideologies, for better or for worse.”

Locally, 2012’s Maple Spring protests could be identified by the striking graphic design done by a group formed at UQAM called the École de la Montagne Rouge. Their red square symbol and dynamic posters made the movement identifiable and unified. A global example is the pink triangle, which was reclaimed in the 1980s from its original usage by the Nazis as a way to identify homosexual men and women, and reformatted into an icon for the gay rights movement. While the end result is deceptively simple, the development of activist graphics is thorough and carefully crafted. In his work for F*ck Austerity, Soomal chose each colour very carefully. 

“The use of yellow and red there was to signify solidarity between diverse coalition groups, like radical coalition groups,” Soomal said. “I tried to invoke these two colors in the context of radical activism.” 

Every organization, be it a business, movement, or school, creates a visual identity to communicate and represent unique values and history. Universities often use a crest or similar logo to create this identity. The aesthetic construction of that image is key in the formation of a relationship between the consumer and the organization. McGill’s crest, adopted in 1821, sports three red martlets, a mythical bird with no legs that is always shown in flight. At the top is an open book inscribed with the words “In Domino Confido,” or “I trust in the Lord,” the motto of founder James McGill. Two crowns topped with fleur-de-lis flank the open book- a reminder of Montreal’s French origins. Finally, the three peaks represent Montreal’s three mountains. The crest has formal meanings attached to it, and of course, the religious and colonial connotations are present, but it’s more relevant to note that the use of the crest signifies a school grounded in tradition. 

“[McGill’s modern word mark] reflects a way of trying to link the traditions of the institutions but modernize and demonstrate the relevance to today’s world,” Moore commented. This is something that he noted a lot of newer schools, such as Concordia, are trying to do. 

Graphic design is a vital component in considering the legacy and impact of an institution. A few shapes and lines must be relevant, impactful, sensitive, and distinct. The graphic designer’s livelihood is based on the knowledge of and the ability to manipulate these tools. But the consumer’s familiarity is equally important; it holds institutions accountable for their public image. Moore and Soomal agreed that too few graphic designers as well as consumers are trained in this context of critical thinking, which was why Soomal reached out to Moore to help start Design Cooperative. The Cooperative holds free workshops on design techniques, Photoshop, and Illustrator, while discussing the social and political implications of design. 

“As a designer, it becomes your task to reimagine whatever you’re trying to represent and create possibilities,”  Soomal said,  “that way, you can build a future that you want to live in.” 

The referendum campaign period runs from Nov. 1 to 11, and polling will take place between Nov. 5 and 11. (Alexandra Allaire / McGill Tribune)
a, McGill, News, SSMU

Review of Winter 2016 SSMU referendum motions

by Sara Cullen on

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The Motion Regarding the Bicycle Facility Plebiscite Question

This plebiscite question has been proposed in order to address the lack of bicycle parking on campus and aims to create a secure bicycle parking facility. The facility will be located in the basement of the Shatner Building with the partnership of the University.

“This secure bicycle parking and access to shower and locker facilities would be available to students and McGill community members with the purchase of a per-semester membership, much like the McGill Fitness Centre,” reads the motion.

If this question passes, the construction of the facility will be explored by the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU).

 

The Motion Regarding the Creation of a Club Fund Fee

This motion proposes a fee to finance the SSMU Club Fund.

“The creation of a dedicated fee to fund the Club Fund would ensure a secure source of [financial support] to student groups and would double the available funding for clubs to foster student life on campus,” the motion reads.

The Club Fund currently supports over 240 clubs and is allocated approximately $25,000 per semester, according to the motion. The proposed motion would create a question on the Winter 2016 referendum that proposes an opt-outable fee of $2.75 per student per semester in order to come closer to the $117,369.48 that was requested by clubs in the Fall 2015 semester.

 

The Motion Regarding the Creation of a Mental Health Fee

If approved, this motion creates an opt-outable $0.40 per student per semester fee for mental health services.

“Mental health is a major concern requiring urgent action on university campuses across North America, with one in five McGill students using mental health services each year,” the motion reads.

Funding from this fee will specifically support student-run mental health initiatives, student staffing to manage the mental health initiatives, and advocate for better services provided by the university. A portion of the fee will also go directly to the Mental Health Fund which is run by SSMU and distributed by the Funding Committee.

 

The Motion Regarding the Increase of the SSMU Health Plan Fee for the Addition of Mental Health Coverage

This motion seeks to propose an $25 increase in the cost of the SSMU Health Plan Fee. The SSMU Health Plan does not currently cover any psychology or psychotherapy services, and this fee increase will give students covered by the SSMU Health Plan up to $500 worth of psychology coverage.

“Mental health issues on campus require further support than what is currently available from the University, with 89 [per cent] of students reporting feeling overwhelmed in the last year, with 38 [per cent] of students reporting feeling so depressed that it was difficult to function, 53 [per cent] reporting feeling overwhelming anxiety, and finally 7 [per cent] of undergraduates seriously considering suicide while at McGill,” the motion reads.

This motion also points out that students often experience long waiting periods to be seen by McGill Mental Health Service and that undergraduate students ranked “supporting student health and well-being” as their first priority in a recent 2014-2015 Student Experience Survey.

 

The Motion Regarding the Renewal of the SSMU Access Bursary Fee

This motion is a renewal of an opt-outable Access Bursary Fee of $8.50 per semester for full-time students and $4.25 per semester for part-time students.

“The SSMU created the SSMU Access Bursary Fund, funded by the SSMU Access Bursary Fee, through a student referendum in 1999, to provide bursaries, administered through Scholarships and Student Aid, to undergraduate students in financial need,” reads the motion.

The Access Bursary Fund currently supports over 2,000 undergraduate students in financial need and will be terminated if the motion does not pass. A majority “Yes” vote will continue the distribution of bursaries from the Access Bursary Fund, which will be made up of the Access Bursary Fee and matched donations by the university and alumni.

 

The Motion Regarding the Renewal of the SSMU Equity Fee

The motion proposes the renewal of the current opt-outable $0.50 per student per semester fee, which generate approximately $10,000 per year. This fund, according to the motion, is reserved for programs that increase diversity on campus and distributed by the SSMU Funding Committee.

“[The SSMU Equity Fund] initiatives that foster leadership, encourage civic engagement, and make observable and/or measurable differences in the representation or experiences of individuals who are members of historically and currently disadvantaged groups, support projects, research and policies that aim to end discrimination and promote accessibility and inclusiveness in the McGill community,” the motion reads.

 

The Motion Regarding the Renewal of the TVM: Student Television at McGill Fee

The current TVM: Student Television at McGill Fee has not been increased since the 2010-2011year. According to the motion, TVM has seen an increase in membership and services they provide. This proposes the renewal of the current opt-outable TVM: Student Television at McGill Fee in addition to a proposed $0.75 increase in the fee, resulting in a total fee of $2.25 per semester for full-time students and $1.65 per semester for part-time students. TVM is currently the only student-run film and television production services.

“[TVM] provides resources and education to the McGill community by acting as a free educational institution for the McGill community, and a not-for-profit educational institution for the Montreal community at large,” the motion reads.

 

The Motion Regarding Constitutional Amendments

This motion seeks to correct “outstanding errors” of a mainly grammatical nature in the SSMU constitution.

“My motivations for moving the original motion was because as a member of the Internal Regulations Review Committee, I’d been working with President [Kareem] Ibrahim and with [Arts] Senator [Erin] Sobat in addition to the rest of the committee on how to improve the constitution,” said Arts Representative to SSMU, Adam Templer. “Not only substantively but also in the grammar, and the language of the document to make sure it was more clear than in clauses where it was before far more open to interpretation.”

These changes are outlined in Appendices A and B of the motion. Additionally, Appendix C proposes a change in structure to the management of the General Assembly (GA) in order to avoid dividing the McGill student body. Appendix C states that the GA agenda will be set by the GA Steering Committee and will not include issues that have been deemed external and divisive.

“In this instance, an “external” issue shall mean an issue that is primarily external to McGill, and “divisive” shall mean an issue that one could reasonably expect significant opposition to,” reads the Appendix.

The decision of the GA Steering Committee may be overruled in the case that the GA voters decide by a two-thirds majority to discuss the external and divisive issue regardless of the Steering Committee’s decision.

“This constitutional amendment would reserve the right of the GA to adopt political stances while ensuring that positions that are not supported by a significant portion of the membership cannot be adopted,” the motion states.

 

The Motion Regarding the AVEQ Affiliation Referendum

This motion proposes that SSMU affiliate with the Association for the Voice of Education in Quebec (AVEQ), a provincial student association. In order to affiliate, students would have to pay a non-opt-outable $3.50 per students per semester fee that would be subject to adjustment in accordance with inflation. Emily Boytinck, SSMU vice-president (VP) external, was one of the movers of the motion and has stated that affiliating with AVEQ is an important step for the SSMU.

“After participating at the tables of both L’Union Étudiants du Quebec (UÉQ) and AVEQ since last May, I am confident that Council made the right decision in presenting AVEQ to students; its fair voting system, transparent policies, and anti-oppressive values make it a clear choice for SSMU,” Boytinck said. “If this motion doesn’t pass, McGill students just honestly won’t have their voices heard at higher levels of government, and given the recent waves of austerity and the potential for tuition deregulation, we need this more than ever.”

 

The Motion Regarding the Plebiscite Question on Moving Towards a Smoke Free Campus at McGill

This motion asks students if they would support the movement toward a smoke-free campus if measures were taken to ease the transition. Such measures would include the implementation of smoking shelters and educational campaigns on campus. David Benrimoh, Senate Caucus Representative, expressed that this motion is important in determining how SSMU will move to create a healthier environment for students.

“[The plebiscite question] asks students to decide how they see the future of smoking on our campus,” said Benrimoh. “It allows space for students concerned about second-hand smoke exposure to let us know if this is one of the ways we should address it, while at the same time allowing students with concerns about going smoke free to let their feelings be known.”

Broad City
a, Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

Pop Rhetoric: A love letter to Broad City

by Hailey MacKinnon on

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A new saying has been circulating among my friends after a failed night out or an especially quirky encounter with a stranger: Having a ‘Broad City moment.' This connotes a mantra, a lifestyle—a way to bask in the sheer ridiculousness that is everyday life as a young ‘adult.’  

The description is inspired by Comedy Central’s hit television show, Broad City, which returned for its third season this February. Created by Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson, the show depicts them as heightened versions of themselves. Ilana is an open-minded pothead who is more concerned with sexually exploring every race, gender, and size, rather than her job as a sales agent for a company called Deals, Deals, Deals. Abbi is an awkward fine arts graduate, who works during the day as a cleaner at a luxury gym called Soulstice (pronounced Soul-steece), while also trying to make it as an illustrator. On paper it could seem as if the show is a classic comedy duo where Abbi is the ‘straight man’ who sets up jokes for the eccentric Ilana. In reality, both characters hold their own in terms of respective unique, weird, and funny attributes and habits. Abbi, for example, becomes ‘all caps Abbi’ during competitive games. In a recent episode, the show flashes to a childhood video of her beating and biting a fellow students during a friendly game of Red Rover.

The show has been praised by TV critics for many elements, but primarily for its depiction of a more accurate portrait of New York in comparison to shows like Friends or Girls. It features a multicultural, fast-paced, overwhelming, scary, exciting, and dirty city filled with characters like men who dress-up as trees and jump out at passersby, or aggressive pregnant women who run cult-like food co-ops. Similarly, critics have lavished the show with feminist praise for showing two women having good, bad, and weird sex without shame or regret, always laughing about it with each other, and finding comfort in each other’s mistakes and friendship. 

The show subtly draws the humour out of the absurdities of what is cool or trendy, such as posh and snobby fitness centres or stuck-up hipsters who wear purple lipstick and work at Beacon’s Closet. The show doesn’t make a fuss about its diverse cast, like Ilana’s ‘sex friend’ Lincoln, a nerdy black dentist, or Jaimé, a Venezuelan immigrant and Ilana’s sweet, gay, drug-dealing roommate. These characters aren’t put on display as statements about representation in entertainment, but are casually intertwined in the stories narratives; their unique characteristics are embraced in the same way as those of Ilana and Abbi. 

But there’s something more to the magic of Broad City than its humorous portrayal of two Jewish girls struggling in New York City with shitty apartments and shitty jobs—something beyond the corny motto that when life gets you down, your friends build you back up. In fact, it’s the reality that the two characters don’t let much get them down. 

Abbi and Ilana approach each day with an intoxicatingly blind optimism. Abbi is excited when her first art piece is shown in a ‘gallery,’ which later turns out to be a sandwich shop. For an episode, she becomes obsessed with a guy at a bar who calls her hot: “I’m cute, but you know, you get the point,” she says. After a worker at Beacon’s Closet brushes the two of them off, Ilana genuinely proclaims: “Well, we remember you, because your hair and lipstick looks cute.” When Abbi and Ilana walk into a trendy, snobby, rooftop party, Ilana unabashedly claims that the two of them “are the sexiest girls here, cause we have the fattest asses there, you know?” While you may laugh at their responses, you can't help but appreciate their unapologetic embrace of who they are and what they stand for.

The show approaches uncomfortable or rude moments with positivity and joy. It’s not just the fact that the duo does not look or act like other depictions of millennials on TV—they wear the only expensive outfit they own to any fancy event, and hang out in dirty, cramped apartments—but Broad City’s charm lies in an honest portrayal of  simply doing the best with what you’ve got, and having fun while doing so. In essence, that is what makes the show relatable and hilarious. 

For my friends and I, having a ‘Broad City moment’ is therefore a way to celebrate finding humour in the wake of moments of disappointment or awkwardness, and keeping this spirit alive as we navigate the ups and downs of young adult life—just as Abbi and Ilana would. 

Science & Technology, Student Research

What’s it like getting a chemistry PhD?

by Imogen Malpas on

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“I can’t sleep some nights if I’m thinking about a model,” Rob Harkness said, laughing.

Though easy to misinterpret, Harkness, a chemistry PhD student from the Mittermaier lab—who study biological systems primarily using calorimetry and NMR—is in fact talking about science. 

“I’ve woken up some nights to text my supervisor, ‘Is it this?’” he explained.

Evidently, those involved in a PhD program clearly exude a passion for science.

“You’ve gotta love it,” Yasser Gidi, a PhD student from the Cosa lab—whose focus is on chemical imaging—said. “[Otherwise,] you’re wasting your time.”

Although there is no shortage of talents outside of the lab—Gidi spent a single day last summer cycling around the island of Montreal, describing it modestly as “a challenge”—it’s clear that it’s science, more often than not, that gets them out of bed in the morning. 

Entering a program with neither a predictable outcome nor a guarantee of success can be daunting for graduates used to a largely textbook-based education. But learning to be okay with being wrong, and having the space to be wrong as many times as it takes offers a freedom that’s rare in academia. A PhD can be a refreshing change from the memorize, regurgitate, repeat mentality of an undergraduate degree.

“Doing a PhD is nice if you’re looking to solve problems,” Harkness said. “You constantly have to figure stuff out on your own. It’s about developing ways to get the information, not just about the information itself.” 

A PhD is like a puzzle. It’s as valuable to learn how best to slot pieces together as it is to achieve the final picture. One of the main attractions of a PhD, the students explained, was the independence offered; in particular, the opportunity to come across an avenue you want to pursue, to change direction, and pursue it. 

“My initial project is nothing like my current project,” Viktorija Glembockytė, a PhD student from the Cosa lab explained. “It’s a very dynamic process: You change your ideas a lot.” 

Viktorija Glembockytė is a student in the Cosa lab. (Noah Sutton / McGill Tribune)
Viktorija Glembockytė is a student in the Cosa lab. (Noah Sutton / McGill Tribune)

This freedom is a heady thing. The lack of a nine-to-five structure, required classes, or general university attendance requires impressive self-discipline. Research involves a lot of trial and error—albeit educated trial and minimized error, Justin Di Trani, a PhD student from the Mittermaier lab explained—and it’s essential to be prepared for long nights and weeks of frustration. The love of science can only get you so far, however, without a combination of effort and sheer luck, it’s not always enough. 

“People do quit because stuff’s not working and they can’t see the end,” Harkness explained.

A big part of the PhD life is dictated by the number of hours one is willing to put in. Di Trani’s record for latest night in the lab is 3 a.m. And that doesn’t even guarantee results.

“There [are] days when you just do nothing and the experiments come out beautifully, and you’re like, What did I do right?” Di Trani explained. “You just don’t question it.” 

Each student speaks of the same thing: The devastation when nothing will go right, and the elation when, out of the blue, something finally does. But doing a PhD gives you skills useful outside as well as inside the lab. This includes things like patience, determination, and the capacity to see a failure not as the end of the road but as the starting point for 10 more.

“It takes months or years of doing that same experiment over and over to refine it down to the processes you see in textbooks,” Di Trani explained.

And to achieve that level, a student must have an incredible amount of self-control.

“It’s probably the first time in my life that I’ve had to learn what a healthy work-life balance is,” Glembockytė said.

Ninety per cent of the time, Gidi explained, the work can be frustrating. But the remaining 10 per cent? 

“It’s worth the struggle,” Gidi said. “The satisfaction is even greater.”

Yasser Gidi is a student in the Cosa lab. (Noah Sutton / McGill Tribune)
Yasser Gidi is a student in the Cosa lab. (Noah Sutton / McGill Tribune)

 For any skeptics, it’s clear that this isn’t just talk. Glembockytė’s work enables her to watch individual molecules using a microscope and a specialized camera. They look like tiny stars dotting a wide sky. The chance to actively participate in that level of science firsthand is only achievable when a person is studying for a PhD.

The divisions between different branches of science, so firmly established at high school and undergraduate level, gradually lessen as the level increases. The Cosa lab’s work, for example, draws from chemistry, physics and biology, although its students might only have had specific training in one or two of those fields prior to their PhD. Although a PhD isn’t a collaborative process, every finding could prove useful to someone else in the lab; the atmosphere can feel a little like a think tank, especially with a supervisor who encourages discussing projects and juggling ideas. And the competition isn’t as fierce as some would imagine.

“Everyone at this level’s pretty intelligent; so at this point, what makes you different is how much you work,” Harkness said. “I feel most of the [competitive pressure] from myself.”

As for life after PhD, most haven’t really thought about it. Nevertheless, all must ultimately deal with their defence—the culmination of a PhD, where the student’s thesis is interrogated by a panel of professors.

“I’ve never heard of anybody failing a defence,” Di Trani said. “I haven’t really thought about it. I’m just not going to think about it.” 

Looking back to their undergraduate days, there’s one, resounding piece of advice for aspiring PhD students: Work in a lab first. 

“That was when I realized, this is fun for me,” Harkness said. “I wanted to do something where I could actually figure stuff out.”

All of the students interviewed seemed inspired from their work. They all had a sentiment that could only come from discovery.

“When you discover something, and you know you’re the only person [who] knows that—that’s one of the most exciting parts about research,” Gidi said. 

This sentiment was echoed by Harkness. 

“Everyone at this level’s pretty intelligent; so at this point, what makes you different is how much you work,” Harkness said. “I feel most of the [competitive pressure] from myself.”

“You’re figuring out how the universe works, how it behaves,” he explained. “It’s cool.”

A perhaps unexpected perk of being a PhD student is holding expertise in such a narrow field.

“[It’s cool being] able to hold intellectual conversations on a very specific topic that maybe 10 people in the world care about,” Glembockytė said. 

Not only that, the impact is mutual; some of the experimental techniques developed by PhD students, if effective, will continue to be used by that lab in the future. 

“When I leave I’ll be able to say, My lab does this now because of the research that I did,” Harkness said. 

That alone seems like something to be proud of.

Rob Harkness and Justin Di Trani from the Mittermaier lab, study the thermodynamics and kinetics of biological systems using NMR, calorimetry, and physical chemical theory. Viktorija Glembockytė and Yasser Gidi from the Cosa lab study single molecule spectroscopy and visualisation with a view to the study and development of nanomaterials. 

a, Student Life

Easy-to-plan weekend getaways from Montreal

by Jonathan Motha-Pollock on

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Considering Montreal’s annual post-winter thaw has come early this year, now is the right time to think about weekend getaways. With spring around the corner and temperatures creeping above 10 degrees, a warm March trip is sounding more and more like a good idea. Chances are, a travel-hungry, undergraduate student in the middle of second semester probably hasn’t saved up a huge trip budget. That being said, there are plenty of cost-effective options for exciting trips to take from Montreal that won’t break the bank. With low-budget transportation, cheap accommodation, and student-friendly activities, you can plan your own inexpensive weekend trip that will leave your friends commenting on your Instagrams that they have “FOMO.” For those not ‘vehicularly blessed,’ don’t fret—there are options.

Ottawa: 

Okay, before you skip to the next option, hear this one out. It can’t be claimed that the nation’s capital is the coolest city in Canada, or that Ottawa is a sprawling, cosmopolitan metropolis teeming with culture—but people who tell you that there’s nothing to see here are just plain wrong. 

First, go check out Parliament Hill. Even if you’re not into politics or Canadian history, you might be pleasantly surprised. Most importantly, tours are free. Next, check out the National Gallery or the War Museum (student discounts!) for your culture fix. Open-air activities, like a stroll along the Rideau Canal or a walk through ByWard Market, allow you to take in the sights while still enjoying the weather. Another recommendation for the culturally-inclined is House of TARG. This live music venue/arcade hall is a popular choice among university students and locals alike. For accommodation, go with Airbnb and stay in Sandy Hill, a big student area, or The Glebe, bustling shops, pubs and restaurants. Otherwise, decent hostels start at around $30 per night.

In terms of transportation, start with rideshares. Check out the McGill Carpooling/Rideshares group—it’s nice knowing that you’ll be traveling with fellow students. If there are no lifts there, try a larger, more targeted network of ridesharers with the Carpool Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal-Sherbrooke-Quebec-co-voiturage. If you’re not comfortable catching a ride with strangers, Ottawa is only two hours away by train. Via Escape fares start as low as $33 one way, or you can check its site on 'Discount Tuesdays' between 7 a.m. and midnight for deals. You can also go the bus route and take the Greyhound; one way is two and a half hours and costs about $20 if booked in advance. 

Quebec City: 

If you really want to get a sense of Quebec’s rich history, this is the place for you; think Montreal, but older and more charming. As one of Canada’s oldest cities, Quebec City has plenty of European colonial architecture. You can visit Old Quebec which has a similar aesthetic to Montreal’s Old Port, and marvel at centuries-old stone buildings. Go see the historic Plains of Abraham battleground, and Canada’s oldest cathedral, Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame de Québec. The trendy Rue Saint-Jean is also a hotspot for students and a great place for a night out. For rideshares, try the aforementioned rideshare groups; Via Rail is also still an option (the cost is similar to Ottawa). Accommodation-wise, HI-Quebec-Auberge Internationale de Québec comes highly recommended on HostelWorld.com

Boston: 

Boston might require the most planning, but it’s worth it. Give yourself an extra day for this one because you’re looking at a five-hour drive. Ridesharing is definitely the way to go for Beantown. Check out the Boston-Montreal Rideshare group for rides as late as the day before (they usually cost $20-$30 USD one way). Greyhound is also an option, but the journey is a bit longer (around eight hours) and more expensive if you leave it to the last minute. 

Since you’re looking at a bigger city, consider Couchsurfing, a networking site that puts you in contact with locals who will host you for free. It might sound sketchy, but the profiling process is actually pretty transparent. 

There are plenty of things to do in Boston. Check out Faneuil Hall, a charming marketplace near the city’s Long Wharf that sells famous New England clam chowder. Do some boutique shopping on the posh Newbury Street in the Back Bay neighbourhood. The city’s central park, Boston Common, is also a pretty sanctuary in the middle of downtown. Harpoon Brewery offers tours and is a fun way to get acquainted with some local New England draught. It is also recommended to visit the town of Cambridge and take obligatory Harvard photos. Pro tip: Don’t forget your passport!

Kendrick Lamar, untitled unmastered
a, Arts & Entertainment

Album Review: untitled unmastered – Kendrick Lamar

by Melissa Dukefe on

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Just as Beyoncé surprised her fans by releasing her self-titled album three years ago, earlier this month Kendrick Lamar treated his fans with a surprise mixtape: untitled unmastered. Although at eight tracks, it’s too short to be considered an album, untitled unmastered sounds like a compilation of songs that should have made it into Lamar’s widely acclaimed To Pimp a Butterfly but didn’t. Nonetheless,  it is a nice follow-up, as Lamar continues to infuse jazz with hip-hop while delivering forceful critiques of socio-political issues as well as taking an introspective look on his life prior to fame. 

Notable examples are tracks “untitled 03” and “untitled 05,” wherein Lamar discusses racial stereotypes while stressing the adverse effects of Corporate America on minorities. Furthermore, Lamar opens up about his personality and the internal struggle of being a Gemini (the zodiac sign known for its split persona). This is a recurring theme in songs like “untitled 02” and “untitled 06,” as he admits that the “duality personalities always conflict [him]” and that he “can’t pick a side, the Gemini.” Hence, the album not only highlights Lamar’s versatility and creativity, but it also suggests that Lamar is currently at the zenith of his musical career. 

 

Despite the many similarities between untitled unmastered and To Pimp a Butterfly, the former is mostly reminiscent of Lamar’s debut studio album Section 80., as it emulates the predominantly mellow-feely vibe which distinguished it from his later works. For instance, songs like “Hol’ Up” from Section 80. and “untitled 06” from untitled unmastered are similar in respect to the jazz-incorporated beats which compliment Lamar’s modulated voice. 

untitled unmastered is not only a follow-up album, but is also one which takes its inspiration from earlier projects. That being said, it appears that by releasing his new album, Lamar is hinting at what his next project might sound like. Rest assured, untitled unmastered is a friendly reminder that King Lamar still holds the reins in hip-hop and will not be dethroned any time soon.

 

a, Science & Technology

The HPV vaccine works for men, too

by Clare Fogarty on

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The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a multi-strain DNA virus from the papillomaviridae family, and is the most common sexually transmitted infection. While infection most often manifests as either asymptomatic, or in the form of treatable genital warts, certain strains have been identified to cause various life-threatening cancers. These include more than 1,300 cases of cervical cancer in women in Canada every year, as well as oral cancers and various anal and penile cancers in males. 

Numerous studies have shown that the HPV vaccine successfully prevents HPV transmission and reduces the rate of genital, anal, mouth, and throat cancers. Vaccines such as Gardasil and Gardasil-9 are administered to prevent transmission of the virus and therefore lower cancer incidence for both men and women. A recent article published in the journal Pediatrics studied the effectiveness of the vaccine between 2006 and 2012,  mostly in girls 11 to 12 years old. Researchers found that within six years of introducing the vaccine. which immunized recipients against four strains of HPV, the incidence of those strains went down by 64 per cent in the US. Despite this evident success, vaccination rates of young women against the virus remain at a meager 60 per cent across North America.

 The vaccine has also proven effective in young men, leading to a decrease in HPV prevalence by 65.5 per cent; however, vaccination rates amongst young men are even lower than they are for women. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that only 41.7 per cent of young men between ages 14 and 17 received the vaccine in 2014.

 The CDC recommends that young men and women aged 11 and 12 be immunized, as the vaccination is most effective prior to sexual activity. McGill Cancer Epidemiology Professor Mariam El-Zein outlined the reasons behind why many individuals remain unvaccinated.

“[This phenomenom is often the result of] parental beliefs, safety concerns—although the vaccines are safe—and unwarranted fear of promiscuity following vaccination,” she explained.

The annual National Immunization Survey highlights that it is not hesitant parents, but rather doctors who are responsible for the low rates. Studies find that many doctors are hesitant to recommend the vaccination to young women due to its sexually transmitted nature, avoiding an uncomfortable conversation with the parents and their children.

 Other studies suggest, however, that low vaccination rates among young men are primarily due to the misconception that HPV only causes cancers in males after having sex with other males. Efforts to increase immunization rates in young men therefore focus on raising awareness of HPV’s prevalence in heterosexual males to remove this stigma and improve peer acceptance.

Since 2013, only P.E.I, Alberta, Nova Scotia, and British Columbia provide free vaccinations for boys.

 The vaccine is also less available to males. 

“The free vaccination program against HPV mostly targets girls,” El-Zein explained. “Not all provinces have a publicly funded vaccination program for boys.” 

Since 2013, only P.E.I, Alberta, Nova Scotia, and British Columbia provide free vaccinations for boys. Certain studies suggest that only immunizing girls will offer sufficient protection for boys, a notion called herd immunity; however, not all girls and young women are receiving the vaccine, and currently the vaccine is targeted at heterosexual individuals.

Despite the vaccine’s proven efficacy, low vaccination rates appear to be the product of a lack of communication. 

“[We must raise awareness through] consistent HPV vaccination messages to the public by experts and the media,” El-Zein said. “[We need to encourage] clinicians [and] health care providers [to] recommend the HPV vaccine, [raise] awareness at schools of the burden of HPV-related disease, and [reinforce] vaccine safety and efficacy.” 

a, Student Life

Expo Manger Santé et Vivre Vert promotes health and environment-conscious food companies

by Liz Willcock on

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Despite the longstanding association between Montreal and artery clogging foods, such as poutine or tire d’érable, the Montreal “Expo Manger Santé et Vivre Vert” showcased the slightly more toned underbelly of Montreal food culture. 

The exposition took place at Place-des-Armes between March 11 and 13, and featured 250 companies, including Canadian staples such as Nature Valley, GO GO Quinoa, RISE Kombucha, and Rachel Berry Grocers. The massive conference room, filled to capacity with Montrealers of all ages, was a testament to the global growth in food consciousness, and the highly lucrative market for artisinal foods. 

The massive display of Montreal’s health companies together in one room drew attention to the way in which health food has become more available in recent years. It would be difficult to walk through the conference hall without noting brands sold at Bishop-Mountain Hall or McLennan library. These health food companies are slowly becoming integrated into mainstream campus food services. For example, SNAX now carries products from Aux Vivres,  a local vegan restaurant, and McGill’s cafeterias sell Crudessence’s raw salads and Kind’s gluten- and sugar-free granola bars. 

In her four years at McGill, U3 Political Science student, Carly Walter, remarked on the growing presence of healthy food alternatives on campus. 

“There has been a huge rise in avocado toast,” Walter said. “It’s everywhere I look now.” 

Walter noted this wasn’t the case until her second year at McGill. She drew attention to larger shifts on campus such as the replacement of Pizza Pizza and Tim Hortons in McLennan with Première Moisson Bakery, and the Dispatch coffee stand in the McConnell Engineering Building.

U3 Political Science student Kathleen Tully suggested that healthy eating is on the rise as people become more aware of what goes into their food. 

“[The] increase in healthy food options and kombucha availability is a good indicator of this trend,” Tully said.

Companies such as Première Moisson, however, which occupied a large corner of the Expo, raise an interesting question as to what companies are commonly considered to be ‘healthy.’ Although most McGill students recognize the local Montreal bakery for its macaroons and pastries, the company blended in at Expo Manger Santé among a sea of ‘artisanal’ health companies, offering samples of their gluten-free cakes. 

While the Expo Manger Santé et Vivre Vert’s mission is to “increase awareness about the importance of our eating habits and lifestyles in relation to our health and the environment,” there seemed to be a very vague notion of what constituted ‘health.’ There were a large number of vegan food companies, just as many gluten-free cakes and cookies, and more than a handful of organic chocolate stalls. Like Première Moisson, the majority of companies at the Expo seemed to associate themselves with ‘health’ by omitting certain ingredients like gluten, or convening to a certain standard of production such as ‘organic’ or ‘fair trade,’ rather than the wholesome, nutritional qualities of their products.  

Juliana Hayden, U2 Political Science, was skeptical that companies such as Première Moisson’s gluten-free options are actually healthy.

“I don’t equate gluten-free with health,” Hayden said. “You still have to actually look at the ingredients. The same goes with vegan food. Not all vegan and gluten-free products are actually all-natural.”

Hayden pointed to recent backlash against gluten-free products that often contain far more preservatives and chemicals than bread made with real flour. These gluten-free products are produced for the benefit of people who suffer from Celiac disease or gluten intolerance, and the idea that they are ‘healthier’ is often misconstrued. 

Marie-Lawrence, who attended the expo with her daughter and husband on Friday afternoon, said that although she, like Hayden, was skeptical about the marketing that goes into health food, she thought the availability of options would encourage people to adopt healthy diets. 

“I’m a vegan for health and environmental reasons, so I was really happy to see so many Montreal companies catering to a vegan diet,” Marie-Lawrence said. “I definitely wouldn’t constitute the amount of ‘fauxmage’ cheesecake I ate at the crudessence stand as healthy, but they help make a vegan diet sustainable for me.” 

Expo Manger Santé et Vivre Vert is a clear indicator that Montreal companies are trying to accommodate, but also profit from, a new wave of healthy eaters. What constitutes a ‘healthy’ diet, whether that be gluten-free, vegan, artisanal, or organic has yet to be defined.

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