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a, Student Life, Student of the Week

Student of the Week: Jonathan Motha-Pollock

by Emma Whitehall on

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A recurring theme in the life of Jonathan Motha-Pollock is exploration of the world with an open mind. Although originally from Toronto, Ontario, he is looking forward to taking a year to travel following his graduation in April.

When making the decision to come to McGill for his undergraduate education, Montreal stood out because Motha-Pollock wanted to study in a major city outside his hometown. He liked Montreal when he visited, and was pleased to discover that the city has remained charming since living here.

“I didn’t want to go to a small-town university and I really liked Montreal as a city," Motha-Pollock said. "Its just a pretty and cool place to live.”

When applying, Motha-Pollock valued the size of McGill University and the numerous options he saw for himself as he entered a multi-track degree. He eventually settled on majoring in Cultural Studies with minors in French and Communications. He chose his major, which focuses on film theory and analysis, because it is an interdisciplinary stream that covers overlapping topics such as gender studies, race, and power relations.

“Since the degree is so diverse, I get to experience […] a whole bunch of different streams, departments, and courses,” Motha-Pollock said. “I like this kind of education because it creates the broad foundation that will eventually become the way I see the world.”

While acknowledging that it is a unique stream among his peers, Motha-Pollock points to the classes he has been able to take as a cultural studies major as the feature that has most defined his time at McGill thus far. He finds that people are shocked to hear the highly contemporary and topic-specific courses he is able to explore, such as a course he’s taking this semester on Netflix, and one he took last year on the Kennedy family.

“I have really enjoyed what I have been able to study, and I’m easily able to write papers on topics I’m passionate about, which is weirdly more rare than you would expect when you talk to people about what they’re taking,” said Motha-Pollock. “So, I think that’s lucky.”

When it comes to extra-curricular activities and clubs, Motha-Pollock has enjoyed his time participating in the McGill Debating Union (MDU), as well as working as a tutor for the essay center. Membership within the MDU is an extra-curricular activity that Motha-Pollock has come to value in his last two years at McGill for its engaging nature and the opportunity to learn and talk about topics ranging from popular culture to global politics.

“Debate is a great way to meet new people and talk about things that [I] wouldn’t necessarily have considered before, or issues that I’m not even certain where I stand on them yet,” Motha-Pollock said.  

Having recently added a part-time job to his plate in order to save money for his travel goals upon graduation, Motha-Pollock is enjoying a busy final semester at McGill, but not too busy to brainstorm where he plans to go. Areas around the world that are on his mind at the moment include South America—especially Peru because of rumours that Machu Picchu is going to close to the public, Tanzania to fulfill his desire to go on a safari, as well as various countries in and around Eastern Europe, simply because he has never been there before.

 

 

“I like to base myself in and explore an entire country. I really enjoy the idea of an extended cultural immersion trip […] and being able to do everything there is to offer as well as discover things off the beaten track.”

Having two parents who have both completed PhDs, he finds himself inspired by the way they own their passions. Motha-Pollock sees continued education in his future—possibly a Master’s program in film or communications—but for now he’s got travel on his brain. He takes pride in completing goals and being able to look back and reflect on what he has completed and achieved. As a soon-to-be graduate, he will certainly have plenty of upcoming time to meditate on his time at McGill—most likely somewhere on the other side of the globe.

When asked if there was one thing he wanted people who are meeting him for the first time through this article to know about himself and his character, Motha-Pollock was quick to reply in a light-hearted tone.

“There’s no better feeling in the world than returning from the restaurant bathroom to see that your food has arrived,” he said.

 

Q&A

McGill Tribune (MT): If you could have a conversation with any person, dead or alive, whom would you choose?

Jonathan Motha-Pollock (JMP): I would say Joan Rivers. I’ve always been a fan of hers and I had hoped to see her live, so it was sad when she died. I think she was a very quick-witted, talented, and intelligent woman. Her stand-up is a hoot!

MT: If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

JMP: Probably kulfi, an Indian ice cream my mother makes.

MT: Who is your favourite artist?

JMP: Right now…Troye Sivan.

MT: What is your favourite movie of the moment?

JMP: Jongens, a Dutch movie that portrays a really cute coming of age story about two gay teens.

 

 

a, Opinion

In defence of Ebenezer Scrooge

by Justin Hatherly on

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As the holiday season becomes more distant, reflecting on the value of a particular Christmas trope is no less valuable. If Christmas is the season of selflessness, then surely one of the great symbols of Christmas is Ebenezer Scrooge. Contrary to common belief, however, he should be known for his original characteristics, not his reformed self. It’s our interpretation of Charles Dickens’ classic, not misers like Scrooge that needs to change. Prior to his encounters with three ghosts, the iconic Dicken’s character seems to have had no redeeming virtues. Indeed, Ebenezer Scrooge is one of literature’s best known misanthropes, who many would consider a miserly, sociopathic bully. Conventional wisdom has come to view A Christmas Carol as a story of redemption in which the irredeemably cruel Scrooge makes amends on Christmas Day; however, one could argue that this characterization is highly questionable. Despite being outwardly unsympathetic, Scrooge, inadvertently, would have been an important public benefactor.

If he chose to save his money conventionally—say, through a bank—Scrooge would have added to the supply of funds available to be loaned out and helped push down the interest rate that borrowers pay. Suddenly, at this new lower interest rate, someone may have finally been able to purchase that house they had longed for. Credit may have become affordable for an entrepreneur or a student may have been able to finance higher education. While it is true that in Scrooge’s time few would have purchased such goods and services, the principle still holds. People then may have used the credit to pay for medical bills, coal to heat their homes, or a myriad of other goods or services they could not afford without personal borrowing. Despite the self-interested motives that would have driven his savings, Scrooge, by opting to save rather than consume, would have provided more resources to society as a whole that could finance and fund the desires of others.

Far from being a vice, the fact that Scrooge eschewed mass consumption should be celebrated.

If Scrooge chose to sit on his money and do nothing—or perhaps bathe in it—he still would have done society a service. By reducing the total stock of money in the economy, he would have contributed to a contraction in the money supply. The fall in the money supply reduces total spending in the economy and puts downward pressure on the price level. This fall in prices opens up numerous possibilities to the range of actors that participate in an economy. Consumers might now be able to afford a little more meat or coffee. Businesspeople might be able to purchase more inputs to expand production. Here again, Scrooge’s seemingly cold-hearted stinginess has unintentionally contributed to socially desirable outcomes.

In this whole world, there is nobody more generous than the miser: This is the person who could deplete the world’s resources but chooses not to. When saving, his or her resources are directly transfered to someone else. If he or she merely consumes less than he or she might otherwise, more is left for others to enjoy. The only difference between miserliness and philanthropy is that the philanthropist serves a favoured few who directly receive their money while misers spread their largess far and wide.

Far from being a vice, the fact that Scrooge eschewed mass consumption should be celebrated. By consuming very little, Scrooge left more for others to consume at lower prices. For example, Dickens described the old miser as only using insufficient amounts of coal to heat his manor over Christmas. By demanding only minimal amounts of coal, Scrooge leaves more for others to use and reduces upward pressure on its price. In effect, far from being a negative trait, this frugality allows others to benefit from more and cheaper coal. Who is a more benevolent neighbour than the person who uses very little and thus allows others to use more?

As a man of means who consumed very little, and who was also contemptuous of philanthropy, Scrooge did one of two things with his vast fortune. He either saved it conventionally by loaning it out and seeking a profit, or he may have simply chosen to stuff his money under the proverbial mattress and literally do nothing with it. Both of these behaviours add to social utility and well-being.

On an individual basis, Scrooge’s thriftiness probably would only have a very marginal impact and not lead to enhanced social utility; however, the combined efforts of those millions of Scrooges out there do undoubtedly contribute to societal welfare gains.

Justin Hatherly is a Canadian who grew up in Hong Kong. He has failed at many things and thus has turned to that last refuge of scoundrels—writing opinion pieces. 

@McGillTribOp | [email protected]

a, Editorial, Opinion

Editorial: McGill advising does not provide sufficient tools for students to carve their own path

by McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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With add/drop coming to a close, students’ laments of academic advising at McGill are likely to abate. But at the moment, undergraduate students bemoan the bureaucratic advising system. The fundamental flaw with the McGill mindset is that students are expected to be independent without necessarily having been provided the tools to do so. First-years often do not already possess the independence that is required to understand the McGill process. The solution is not to promote hand-holding; university is the time to acquire autonomy. Yet there must be more of a balance between adequate advising services and self-sufficiency.

In March 2015, the McGill Univeristy Senate discussed the discrepancies in the ratio of students to advisors between the different faculties. At that time, the ratio of students per advisor in Arts was 843 to one; for Management, 198.33 to one; and for Law, 88 students per advisor. These disparities are large and will take time to address. In the meantime, the university must provide students with the tools and skills required to navigate the advising system so that these imbalances do not feel as drastic as they are.

Too much pressure is placed on individual students. This pressure, compounded with the ratio disparities, challenges the ability of students to cope with all the other stresses of post-secondary education. This is particularly overwhelming for students new to McGill, who must dive into the entire McGill context headfirst. To make sure that they do not crack their skulls, further advising initiatives must prioritize the usability of the online interfaces while also providing clear information.

 

 

Developing and implementing these initiatives is one thing, but ensuring that students are properly equipped to use them is another.

Despite the creation of Ask an Advisor—an online service that guarantees an answer or referral within 48 hours for any academic advising inquiry—students are still finding themselves entrenched in a bureaucratic loop. Developing and implementing advising initiatives is one thing, but ensuring that students are properly equipped to use them is another.

A first step may be to include opt-outable advising sessions in all first-year programs. Rather than depending on students to wait in line to see someone in an inundated advising office, students would become familiarized with the advising process upon arrival at McGill so that they may continue to use the services throughout their university careers. Students would then hopefully understand the wider scope of their university education and be more proactive in using advising resources. An added benefit would be that it would protect students from deferring graduation in order to correct mistakes made early on.

To form, other facets of the McGill community must work to minimize the risk of students falling through the cracks of the McGill system. To supplement this initiative, faculty and departmental associations should expand peer mentorship programs, such as by offering program-specific advising during add/drop. Facilitating students to help other students will reduce the stresses on the advising system while providing students with the benefit of their experience. While the advising experience differs between faculties and departments, a common thread prevails: The websites are not up to snuff, and must be improved drastically. Program details, advising resources and tips, and a guide for how to use the advising system must be presented more clearly. If adopting the attitude that “Getting Informed is Your Responsibility,” the structure must be in place to do so.

Unlike in high school, the expectation at McGill is that students will see an advisor after having exhausted all the online resources. An added benefit of improving the usability of the website and encouraging students to become familiar with the interface would be to increase the availability of in-person advising appointments. An online scheduling service—which is already in place at Service Point—would also reduce wait times and improve the efficiency of advising appointments.

McGill promotes the self-sufficiency of its students by emphasizing their responsibility for their own education. While this is an important skill to learn for later in life, there is an irony to reinforcing this independence in advising. The service that is normatively intended to assist students is currently instead a site of stress and confusion. To the extent that the intensity of this dismay correlates to the disparity of advisors per student between faculties, it is necessary that students are provided with the proper tools to use advising resources to their advantage.

 

 

a, Science & Technology

All for one and one for all

by Andy Wang on

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The origin of life on Earth remains a heavily researched topic in evolutionary biology. Among the myriad of questions yet to be answered is how simple, single-celled organisms evolved to be complex and multicellular.

While the mechanism for this phenomenon has been elucidated in plants and fungi, little is known about the evolution of multicellularity in animals; however, in a recent paper published in eLife, a group of American scientists have discovered a mutation that could explain the evolution of mitotic spindle orientation, a key step in cell division.

Multicellular organisms differ from their unicellular counterparts in that cells differentiate and arrange themselves into functional structures like muscles, bones, and skin. By forming tissues and organs, multicellular organisms not only survive but thrive. To grow, cells undergo what is known as mitosis, where two identical daughter cells are formed from one original parent cell through division. During mitosis, cells in a multicellular organism coordinate with their neighbours to maintain shape and function. To do this, they rely on specialized structures known as mitotic spindles. When the cells split, the mitotic spindles are responsible for ensuring that each new cell acquires the correct number of chromosomes in the right orientation. 

The researchers discovered that a single amino acid mutation in an enzyme, which previously had no role in mitotic spindle organization, was suddenly implicated. This allowed for cells to create more complex structures because cell division could now be more controlled and organized. It is rare for single amino acid substitutions alone to be both necessary and sufficient for a gain of function in evolutionary biology. The results even surprised the scientists.

“If you asked anyone on our team if they thought one mutation was going to be responsible for this, they would have said it doesn’t seem possible,” Ken Prehoda, a co-author of the paper, explained to The Washington Post.

The scientists began the process by searching publicly available databases for different amino acid sequences that matched  the protein across all eukaryotic species which ranged from humans to jellyfish. They then used massive data analysis computations to extrapolate the ancestral protein sequence. Genetic manipulation of living cells were used to create ancient versions of the proteins. By comparing each successive version, the team ultimately managed to successfully pinpoint the mutation that conferred multicellularity to eukaryotes.

Another prominent example of a single mutation leading to immediate beneficial consequences is the sickle cell gene. While one copy of the gene confers resistance to malaria, individuals who have two copies of the gene—homozygous recessive—develop sickle cell anemia, a severe form of anemia which can only be cured with a bone marrow transplant.

While it is true that discovery and research in evolutionary biology are ultimately associated with the past, mechanisms involved in multicellularity and mitotic spindle orientation can provide new insight into the pathways involved in cancer. 

“Normally, all of the cells in our body cooperate,” Douglas Anderson, the paper’s lead author explained in an interview with The Washington Post. “One way to think of cancer is a reversion from a multicellular state to a point where these cells are behaving as unicellular organisms.”

The discovery of this single mutation opens up further questions about the origin of multicellularity, such as the mechanisms and molecules involved, as well as other evolutionary events in this pathway. Together, all of these events create the dazzling array of diversity in life. 

a, News, SSMU

SSMU executive mid-term reviews

by The McGill Tribune on

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Kareem Ibrahim—SSMU President

 

Due to the resignation both the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) general manager (GM) and the Daycare director, President Kareem Ibrahim was forced to assume many of both positions’ responsibilities. In acting as a caretaker, he has performed impressively in ensuring that SSMU as a whole has continued to function and provide services to students; however, as a result of the resignations, many of Ibrahim’s original plans and ideas have been derailed. Initiatives such as the completion of a human resources equity policy and the establishment of a consultation listserv, which was a campaign promise to better consult students, have fallen by the wayside. Additionally, efforts to increase outreach and be more visible to students were inadequate in comparison to the primacy they received in his election platform—the Fall General Assembly (GA) failed to reach quorum.

Although he wasn’t visible externally, he was constantly present within SSMU—much of his portfolio includes acting as a support member to other executives or other permanent and part-time staff. He was responsible for student-staff orientation in September, a task normally under the portfolio of the GM, and has also overhauled many internal regulations of the president’s portfolio while also improving the operations of Council.

With the introduction of a new Daycare director, GM, and a vice-president (VP) Internal this semester, a period of relative calm has presented itself in an otherwise tumultuous tenure. Moving forward, Ibrahim will need to return to the tenets of his platform that have been neglected in order to ensure that the somewhat frayed relationship that students have with SSMU is repaired and strengthened.

 

 

 

 

Emily Boytinck—VP External Affairs

 

Since the dissolution of the Fédération Étudiante Universitaire du Québec (FÉUQ), Vice-President (VP) External Affairs Emily Boytinck has actively participated in the formation of two new student associations: The Union Étudiants du Quebec (UÉQ) and the Association pour la Voix Étudiante au Québec (AVÉQ). She has reached out to faculty associations to present information on both organizations, appropriate consultation given the early stages of both organizations.

Most of Boytinck’s political focus last semester concentrated on the Divest McGill and McGill Against Austerity campaigns. Boytinck was active in event planning for both campaigns as well as meeting with administration. She also coordinated with Elections Canada to launch the vote campaign during the federal election.

Boytinck additionally completed extensive work on community affairs, including delivering letters to every house in the Milton Parc neighbourhood during Frosh. Boytinck has put forward new initiatives to improve community relations, including a garbage survey to lobby for new trash cans.

With no VP Internal, Boytinck was delegated the planning of 4Floors, which failed to sell out. Though she was handed the event on short notice, she and the committee should have concentrated more on advertisement of the event, and less on organizing ticket-sales online, which will hopefully be taken into consideration next year.

A consistent problem throughout the semester was low attendance at the events Boytinck organized. This problem may have been exacerbated by a lack of effort to reach out to groups on campus that vocally opposed these causes. In the coming semester, we would like to see more consultation with such groups from Boytinck, which will hopefully increase interest in her educational events.

 

 

 

 

 

Zacheriah Houston—VP Finance and Operations

 

The absence of a GM has greatly affected the position of VP Finance and Operations, with tasks such as the budget revision being completed weeks later than has been typical in the past. However, it is a testament to Zacheriah Houston’s ability that despite this, he has been able to implement significant changes within SSMU. Houston worked to create an online form and streamlining system for club audits, simplifying the process and making it much more easily understood and accessible for SSMU clubs. Additionally, Houston has laid the groundwork for a base-fee increase referendum question, which will be voted on later this month, and has worked towards creating a purchasing database of ethical suppliers for SSMU.

The Student Run Cafe (SRC) is one area that Houston will need to pay more attention to in the upcoming semester. The SRC opened at the beginning of this academic year on the second floor of SSMU, in the space across from The Nest—another student-run initiative. While the idea of renting space to student-run cafés as opposed to commercial tenants is a nice one, neither the SRC nor The Nest, which has been operational for over two years, have yet to break even, let alone turn a profit. The fact is that many students are unaware that the SRC and The Nest even exist, therefore focus needs to shift to outreach, advertising, and communication with all students if the SRC hopes to be a profitable venture for SSMU.

 

 

 

 

 

Chloe Rourke—VP University Affairs

 

Compared to the roles of the other executives, the role of the VP University Affairs has been the least affected by the vacancies at SSMU. Rourke has continued to working to implement initiatives geared at improving students’ mental health and well-being, including planning the second Mental Health and Awareness Week at McGill, as well as instating Happy Lights, a program which allows students to rent lamps used to treat seasonal affective disorder from SSMU.

Rourke has also worked on broader academic initiatives, such as liaising with McGill administration and faculty regarding a proposed Fall Reading Week. Along with the VP Finance and Operations, Rourke has begun discussing SSMU’s Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with McGill.

Rourke has continued her efforts to bring a new sexual assault policy to the McGill Senate. While drafts of the new policy existed before her term in office, it is commendable that Rourke is working on supplementary initiatives, such as a protocol outlining support measures for persons who have experienced sexual assault. Creating university-wide policies is a bureaucratic process, and while Rourke’s efforts are admirable, the consequences of the bureaucratic gridlock mean that initiatives that were started before Rourke’s term, and that Rourke herself worked on, may not be enacted until after her term.

 

 

 

 

 

Kimber Bialik—VP Clubs and Services

 

Kimber Bialik’s focus on institutional reorganization in areas of her portfolio over the past semester has brought an increased efficiency to the way both SSMU Clubs and Services are run. Additionally, her ongoing efforts to increase general promotion of both clubs and services, and improving general resources for each, have brought about visible changes.

Moving Fall Activities Night outdoors to reduce the wait time in line, allowing clubs to sell event tickets at the front desk of SSMU, and ramping up social media presence were small initiatives that allowed for students to have more access to information about clubs and involvement.

Bialik additionally completed an overhaul of club space by getting rid of club offices on the fourth floor of the SSMU Building, creating common areas, bookable rooms for meetings, and installing lockers.

Bialik has not only been working to maintain the four committees under her purview—Services Review Committee, Club Committee, Space Committee, Building Committee—but she has also facilitated the creation of a new club consultative committee. The Building Committee, responsible for allocating funds to improve the SSMU Building, received little to no student consultation in the past, because it is comprised primarily of permanent staff members; this past semester, Bialik froze part of these funds and allowed students to come forward with proposals on how to spend $20,000, ultimately resulting in the purchase of new carpet and furniture for the SSMU Student Lounge.

Her biggest undertaking was completion of SSMU’s service reviews, a behind-the-scenes, administrative effort. Although service reviews are supposed to be completed each year, they have been neglected since 2011, with some services having no record of ever being reviewed. On average, past SSMU Clubs and Services executives have completed five service reviews per semester; Bialik ensured that all 20 were reviewed and brought up-to-date last semester alone.