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McGill acronyms
a, Student Life

McGill 101: Decoding campus acronyms

by Audrey Carleton on

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Becoming acclimated to student life at McGill can be overwhelming when there are so many services and student groups to keep track of. For many, this becomes more difficult when these entities are commonly referred to by ambiguous acronyms. The Tribune has created a brief guide to McGill’s acronyms in order to facilitate navigating the maze of student life and resources at McGill.

SSMU: Students’ Society of McGill University

The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) is the undergraduate union for students at McGill, which every undergraduate student is a member of. Its elected governing body is entirely student-run, and their primary role is to advocate for student needs to internal and external bodies. When they’re not campaigning for improved student services and fighting against tuition increases, the SSMU is planning student events such as 4 Floors, Homecoming, and SSMU Frosh. The SSMU building is located at the top of McTavish Street, and provides meeting space for a multitude of extracurricular student groups, while being home to Gerts, a student-run bar and hub of social life.

FYC SSMU: First Year Council of the Students’ Society of McGill University

The SSMU’s First Year Council (FYC) is another elected body solely comprised of first-year students, whose mission is to represent the first-year student body to the SSMU at-large and to McGill administration. FYC also plans community-building events exclusive to first years; last year’s primary event was a party at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium. To speak to representatives from FYC and have your voice heard on a larger level, schedule an appointment.

PGSS: Post-Graduate Students’ Society

The Post-Graduate Studentss Society is the governing body for graduate and post-doctoral students at McGill, and deals with relations with the University at large. Similar to FYC, they also plan social events and trips for graduate students. More information about the services they provide can be found here.

BMH: Bishop Mountain Hall

Bishop Mountain Hall (BMH) is the dining hall shared between the three student residences that make up Upper Rez: Molson Hall, Gardner Hall, and McConnell Hall. Unlike other first-year residences, many of which are hotel-style, none of the traditional dorm-style halls in Upper Rez have their own cafeterias, so they all share BMH.

(Arts) OASIS: Office of Advising and Student Information Services

The aim of the Arts Office of Advising and Student Information Services (OASIS) is to provide students in the Faculty of Arts with the guidance and support necessary to choose their academic pathway and to excel within it. Arts OASIS offers drop-in hours Monday through Friday in Room 110 of Dawson Hall, during which Arts students seeking academic guidance have the opportunity to make advising appointments. In addition to providing individual counselling, Arts OASIS has published several valuable resources for academic planning, including the Degree Planning Worksheet and the Guide for New Students.

AUS/SUS/MUS/EUS/EdUSA/MUSA: Arts/Science/Management/Engineering/Education/Music Undergraduate Society

These acronyms all refer to faculty undergraduate societies—the student-run governing bodies for academic and social life within each faculty. In addition to advocating for the needs of students in their faculties to the SSMU and to McGill Administration, each undergraduate society plans social events to supplement academic life, such as the AUS’ annual Work your BA conference, and social life, such as the EUS’ weekly student-run bar, Blues Pub.

CL&E: Campus Life and Engagement

McGill’s office of Campus Life and Engagement (CL&E), a member of McGill Student Services, aims to make academic and career opportunities more available for students through workshops, events, and counselling services. CL&E also publishes resources for students aimed at raising awareness of academic and extracurricular opportunities on campus, including undergraduate student guides and calendars of events.

CaPS: Career and Planning Service 

Another of McGill Student Services, CaPS, the McGill Career and Planning Service (CaPS), holds events and workshops to guide students in finding jobs and internships during the school year, summer, and beyond graduation. CaPS also hosts an online portal, myFuture, on which students can upload their resume, post and apply for job and internship listings, and search through a directory of potential employers. CaPS holds office hours Monday through Friday in the Brown Student Services Building to provide career planning guidance to students.

SACOMSS: Sexual Assault Centre of the McGill Students’ Society

SACOMSS provides support to survivors of sexual assault and allies such as DIAL (Drop-In and Line), a volunteer-run SACOMSS help line, and facilitator-led support groups, both of which provide listening and support to sexual assault survivors and allies.

MORSL: McGill Office of Religious and Spiritual Life 

Located in the Brown Student Services Building, MORSL offers a non-denominational inclusive prayer and meditation space, a library of interfaith literature, and meeting space for campus denominational groups. Stop by Mondays at MORSL for events focused on wellness and spiritual/religious literacy, Fridays for Drop-in Yoga, or any other day of the week for a quiet space to reflect, meditate, and/or pray.

OSD: Office for Students with Disabilities

OSD provides resources and services for students with disabilities. This can include student note-takers and rooms for assessments to be taken on computers with extended time. Last year they also hosted a Disabilities Awareness Week which served to raise awareness and advocate for people with disabilities, and speak about practices and policies that assure all are able to actively participate in university life.

This article is a part of our McGill 101 issue, which aims to ease your transition and answer questions you have about McGill and Montreal.

a, Art, Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV, Music, Theatre

McGill 101: Finding your niche in McGill’s creative community

by Chris Lutes and Jack Neal on

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One of the best parts of university is that it allows you to find your niche. No matter how specific your interests are, there is probably already a club at McGill devoted to it; however, the sheer amount of variety can be overwhelming, so here are several clubs focused specifically on creative pursuits to get you started.

Effusion A Cappella: The age-old tradition of performing music without instruments is on display with Effusion A Cappella, arguably McGill’s most well known a cappella group. They use inventive vocal arrangements to offer a new spin on a variety of classic and popular songs in every genre, performing at student functions and competitions throughout the year. Other McGill A Cappella groups include Soulstice, Chromatones, and Tonal Ecstasy.

Players’ Theatre: Boasting McGill’s only black box theatre, Players’ is a collective run entirely by students. Whether your interests lie in acting or in behind-the-scenes production, it offers positions for beginners and experts alike. Players’ performs four full-length shows during their regular season (October-February), as well as the McGill Drama Festival in April—a series of one act plays written and directed by McGill students.

SynesthASIA: If you’re interested in fashion, look no further. SynesthASIA is a group that performs a yearly fashion show with the purpose of fundraising for sustainable development and poverty alleviation in Asia. The club offers an outlet for interests as varied as modeling, art, dance, event planning, and fashion.

McGill Student Street Dancers: If you love to dance, but dislike the rigidity that comes with its more traditional forms, McGill Student Street Dancers might be right for you. They give beginners an outlet to sharpen their skills through practice and training, and more experienced members to perform and compete.

McGill Spoken Word Associated Youth (McSWAY): Besides having possibly the best acronym of any McGill club, McSWAY is a place for spoken word poets to meet like-minded artists and perform their material. If you feel like you have a creative passion burning inside of you, or you’re just interested in learning more about poetry, this club gives you the chance to connect with other poets and further hone your craft.

Alegria Contemporary Ballet Company: This is McGill’s first and only contemporary ballet company. It is built on the foundation of pairing traditional ballet technique with innovative and more contemporary dance styles. The group performs various showcases throughout the year, and offers drop-in classes for varying dance styles. The membership fee of $50 ensures the group has space to rehearse during the year and to book spaces in which their high-concept performances are held.

McGill Undergraduate Photography Society (MUPS): This club offers a wide variety of services and resources for students in the area of photography. Founded in 1978, it is one of McGill’s oldest clubs, and it provides its members access to equipment, dark rooms, workshops and contests, and discounts on film and paper. MUPS also offers a colour film processing service, as well as various trips and tours throughout the city of Montreal and beyond. There are two types of membership: The base $10 and the $50/semester dark room membership which increases the amount and level of services offered.

McGill Improv: Founded in 1987, this is the only Improv club on campus. An alumni-supported group, they perform improv theatre at McGill as well as various other locations within Montreal. They also hold workshops every Saturday in the University Centre between 1-3 p.m., welcoming people of all levels of improv experience and interest.

McGill Students Design Cooperative: D.Co is a student group that works to provide students with instruction and resources in the area of graphic design. Using a collaborative and hands-on approach, their education program helps equip students with the tools they need to enter the graphic design field. Whether you want to build a website, create a poster, or develop a brand guide, D.Co provides support and guidance for students wanting to pursue a graphic design interest.

This article is a part of our McGill 101 issue, which aims to ease your transition and answer questions you have about McGill and Montreal.

McGill University Arts Building
a, McGill, News, PGSS, SSMU

McGill 101: An introduction to campus governance

by Aislinn Kalob, Jenna Stanwood, Laura Hanrahan on

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With nearly 50,000 students, faculty members, and employees, McGill University has a comprehensive system of governance. Here's your introduction to the administrative structure at McGill, with a deeper look at SSMU, PGSS, McGill's Senate, and the McGill Board of Governors.

SSMU

Who they are

The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) represents all undergraduate students on the downtown campus. It also advocates for students’ interests to the university at large, and at the provincial and federal levels for issues such as affordable and high-quality higher education.

What they do

SSMU provides many services to undergraduate students, including support and administration of student clubs, the Student-Run Cafeteria (SRC), mini courses, and Gerts Bar. SSMU is also a governing body for undergraduate students. Its Legislative Council is the legislative body for undergraduate students, and is comprised of six executives and councillors elected from various student constituencies. SSMU also sends 13 senators to the Senate to represent members in the university legislative process. At least once a semester, SSMU holds a General Assembly (GA) which allows its constituents to debate and vote on changes to the society.

Recent accomplishments

ation alongside The Nest. This new cafeteria will provide expanded food options as well as employment opportunities for students. Last year, the Legislative Council passed a motion to increase support of the Peer Support Network by assisting in the establishment of a permanent space for the group in order to increase mental health resource options for students. 

PGSS

Who they are

The Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) represents graduate students and post-doctoral fellows to the McGill administration and to various groups at the provincial and federal level. It is comprised of six executives, four commissioners, and eight staff members charged with various responsibilities.

What they do 

PGSS Council governs PGSS activities and sets policy. It is made up of representatives from various faculties, and meets monthly. PGSS also holds general meetings and social actvities for graduate students. They run the Thomson House, a restaurant and bar for members that also hosts many events. PGSS also provides various services, including health plans and family programs. It is a support organization for graduate students, and provides many resources for getting the most from a McGill education, while also advocating on behalf of students to external organizations.

Recent accomplishments

Last year, PGSS finished a three-year campaign lobbying the University to reduce international student health care plan prices. The campaign successfully successfully lowered healthcare costs for all international students at McGill.

Senate

Who they are

Senate is an administrative body with jurisdiction over academic policy, and serves as a forum for a broad representation of voices within the McGill community. Among  the Senate’s 107 voting members are faculty deans, representatives from the Board of Governors, professors, support staff, students, and representatives from McGill’s senior administration. Thirteen student senators are elected each spring to represent each academic faculty, while four members represent the PGSS.  

What they do

The Senate includes nine standing subcommittees; among them are the Joint Board-Senate Committee on Equity, the Committee on Student Services, and the Honourary Degree and Convocations Committee.  There are a number of additional committees  focused on university regulations, such as the Advisory Council on the Charter of Students’ Rights, and the Committee on Student Discipline. Senate meets monthly during the academic year on Wednesdays, beginning at 2:30 p.m. in room 232 of the Leacock Building. The meetings are usually open to the general public, as well as available to watch via a livestream on the Senate website.

Recent accomplishments

In January, 2015, the Senate passed a motion implementing a new policy allowing students in extreme situations, such as mental or physical illness, to withdraw from all courses they took in a semester without this action being marked on their transcript. This action, advocated for by student Senators, directly impacts those students experiencing extenuating circumstances.  In 2013, the Senate approved a resolution taking an official position against Bill 60, the Quebec charter of values. This action on their part would ensure that if the Bill were passed, McGill University would not take disciplinary measures against individuals in violation of it.

McGill Board of Governors

Who they are

McGill’s Board of Governors is the governing body of the University. It has final authority over all of McGill’s conduct and affairs. The Board is composed of two student observers and 25 voting members— including Principal Suzanne Fortier, Chancellor Michael Meighen, 12 members at large, three alumni representatives, two academic staff representatives, two administrative staff representatives, and two student representatives, one each from SSMU and PGSS. The two student observers, who come from the Macdonald Campus Students’ Society and the McGill Association of Continuing Studies, sit in on Board meetings but cannot vote.

What they do

The Board is the trustee of all university property, making them responsible for maintenance and administration. The Board also oversees the appointment of university personnel, including the principal, and determines their salaries and benefits. In addition to this, University finances, investments, ethics and human resources falls under their jurisdiction. The Board’s authority and extent of its power are outlined in McGill’s statues. With meetings generally held six times per year, all members of the McGill community are invited to attend open session Board meetings. The first board meeting of the 2015-2016 school year will be held on Oct. 8 at 4:00 p.m. 

Recent accomplishments

During the Board’s final meeting of the 2014-2015 academic year, the Declaration of Compliance to Quebec Treasury Board Pursuant to Loi 65.1 was passed.  This motion requires the University to make public any contract it enters into above $25,000. Students, staff, and the public can now access this information through the McGill website and see who the University has contracts with. 

This article is a part of our McGill 101 issue, which aims to ease your transition and answer questions you have about McGill and Montreal.

McGill University Bookstore
a, Student Life

McGill 101: A guide to buying and selling textbooks

by Olivia Kurajian on

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Amid all of the excitement that accompanies thousands of students flooding the streets of Montreal, buying textbooks might be overlooked at the start of the semester. Textbooks can be hard to find, and even harder to afford. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways for students to acquire textbooks that won’t break the bank.

Bookstores

The McGill Bookstore, located at 3420 McTavish Street, is a place of convenience and certainty. Books purchased here are on the pricier side, but it comes with a guarantee that you are getting the right ones as professors directly alert the bookstore of the books and the editions that their classes require. Some professors require students to purchase a course pack as the course’s main textbook, or in addition to other books and textbooks. These coursepacks are also available at the bookstore. There are also many ways to save money when buying from the McGill Bookstore. Firstly, if reading from a screen does not bother you, the McGill Bookstore offers 'digital coursepacks' at 40-50 per cent off the price of the print edition. Secondly, for those who don’t mind highlighting or wear-and-tear, the bookstore sells certain textbooks in used condition at reduced prices. For students with old textbooks sitting at home, the bookstore will buy back certain books. They have an online database which allows users to search which books can be bought back and for what prices. Finally, the bookstore also offers the option to rent certain textbooks which can knock off up to 40 per cent off the original price.

If you prefer smaller bookstore The Word Bookstore, a quaint little hole-in-the-wall, is located at 469 Milton Street just steps away from the Milton Gates. This bookstore sells used books and may be tiny, but it is jam-packed with McGill students and the many textbooks they require. They often post the selection of textbooks that they have in stock on their Facebook page, which may save students a trip or two.

Another bookstore close to campus is Paragraphe at 2220 McGill College Avenue. This store carries new books which are almost as pricey as the McGill bookstore; however, some professors choose to send their textbook requests here, so you should become familiar with this location.

Finding books online

There are a variety of ways to acquire textbooks through online platforms. It is worthwhile to check if books may be found on Amazon, where they are often available in new and used condition, and may be delivered in as quickly as two days. McGill also has its own online classifieds platform to facilitate selling all sorts of items; it's a great way to buy used textbooks and books off fellow classmates at affordable prices. In addition to the classifieds, a few Facebook pages exist that can help locate good deals. McGill Textbook Exchange and the more general McGill Free and For Sale groups on Facebook are great resources that are offer similar platforms to buy and sell textbooks. The McGill Bookstore also has an option to purchase textbooks online and then pick them up in the store.

Other tips for buying textbooks

Before you embark on your textbook buying adventure, make sure you double check the title and edition of the textbook required for your course. Sometimes professors will allow you to use an older edition of a textbook which may mean the books are less expensive. Even if you can’t save money through buying an older edition, you may be able to share a hard-copy with friends or find an e-book online.

As for coursepacks, it is possible to find the included articles online. McGill has an extensive online database system called WorldCat that will grant McGill students access to an abundance of publications. Google Books and Google Scholar are other third-party platforms which may also have the required articles or chapters at no cost.

Finally, for textbooks only needed for a short time, professors often put textbooks on reserve at one of McGill’s 13 libraries. Although this is a great alternative to spending money on your own book, it is important to note that there are limited copies available, each with a three hour rental limit. Be careful during midterms and finals as many of your classmates may be searching for the same title.

This article is a part of our McGill 101 issue, which aims to ease your transition and answer questions you have about McGill and Montreal.

a, Arts & Entertainment, Music

McGill 101: Music mania in Montreal

by Morgan Alexander on

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There’s no denying that Montreal is one of the top pop culture hubs in Canada. One look at the summer festival line-up and anyone would find themselves in shock from musical overload. While it’s true that summer is the best time for outdoor concerts, and big festivals tend to attract even bigger stars, there are plenty of venues rocking all year round, producing killer sounds and presenting great artists. These are the top five need-to-visit venues for all incoming McGill students. All near campus, all reasonably priced, and all certain to have amazing line-ups.

1) Divan Orange

If you’re looking for live music every night of the week, a flurry of Quebecois artists, or the occasional slam poetry competition, then you’re looking for Divan Orange. French is the language of choice, so those not familiar with the language may want to bring a buddy to help them order drinks, but have no fear—the vibrant atmosphere and pulsing music welcome patrons of all languages.

2) Katacombes 

At some point, everyone should go to a metal concert, if only for the stories they can tell later. Katacombes is the punk/metal/hardcore venue of Montreal. The venue is huge and features a great variety of performers, though metal bands do reign supreme. Beyond concerts, Katacombes is committed to promoting artists throughout Montreal, hosting a whole range of events from art auctions to short film showings.

3) Korova Bar 

Disclaimer: Korova doesn’t have live music, and really is more of a dive bar with a dance floor than a music venue; however, nothing can compete with the sheer excitement and hip-hop paradise that is “Sucka Free Monday." Every Monday, Korova plays hip-hop music all night for no cover. It attracts people from all over the city, but in particular, it draws the McGill crowd on a weekly basis. The bar is fairly small and Sucka Free tends to draw a huge crowd, so if unrelenting human contact isn’t your thing, go another night to enjoy beer and a local DJ.

4) Hip-Hop Karaoke @ Le Belmont 

Hip-Hop Karaoke is an event like no other, and having it take place in Le Belmont—a borderline dive bar open just two days a week—makes it so much better. Hip-Hop Karaoke is just what it sounds like—people singing along to hip-hop songs—the twist being that there are no lyrics provided, just performers getting up on stage and doing their thing. What this makes for is an amazing mix of people giving out amazing covers of famous songs, often with choreographed dancing and personalized bridges melded into the lyrics.

This article is a part of our McGill 101 issue, which aims to ease your transition and answer questions you have about McGill and Montreal.

McGill Intramurals mug
a, Sports

McGill 101: The lowdown on McGill intramurals

by Elie Waitzer on

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Getting into this school is not easy, and many figure they’ll have to hang up their skates and lock themselves in the library for good once they get here just to stay afloat in McGill’s intense academic environment. Committing to a varsity team is a valuable and life-changing experience, but for students who want to maintain high GPAs, make it to Café Campus on Tuesdays, and lack any semblance of athleticism, it may not be the best (or most feasible) option. If those sound like your priorities, then look no further than the intramural program offered by McGill Athletics.

The program is open to all full-time McGill students, and you can register online through McGillAthletics.ca before the start of each semester. During the regular season, games take place during the week after 5 p.m. and on weekends beginning at 9 a.m. Since playoffs usually coincide with the lead-up to each semester’s Final Exams, game times are flexible and league organizers will coordinate schedules with each team.

When you register, you have the option to either enroll a private team with a bunch of friends, or go solo to meet new people across campus. To join as a single player, head to one of the free agent meetings held in Tomlinson Hall (2nd floor of the Fieldhouse) at 5 p.m. to get connected with captains of existing teams that need players. Depending on the sport, these meetings are held on Sept. 8 (soccer, flag football, ultimate, hockey) or 10 (badminton, ball hockey, basketball, volleyball, dodgeball) for the Fall semester. Fees for a semester come in at around $25, with the exception of hockey ($50).

The majority of sports are divided into three categories: Open, women’s, and co-recreational. Then there are generally four divisions of play: Competitive, intermediate, beginner, and recreational. In all but the recreational divisions, fierce competition is guaranteed as your team competes for the prized, glass McGill intramural mug awarded to all eligible members of the championship team. This mug cannot be bought with money, and is the perfect weight for drinking mead or ale at a party while your opponents cast their eyes down in defeat.

In the Winter, make sure to register early before all the spots are taken for inner tube water polo. The wildly popular sport (on college campuses) is a variation of traditional water polo with all the players—excluding the goalie—floating in inner tubes. At the recreational level, it’s like a lazy river with teamwork and fancy caps. At the competitive level, it’s a gruelling full-body workout with complete with flipped tubes and dirty underwater tactics. If you’re already a seasoned intramural veteran, here are some pro tips.

If you’re in the heat of a post-season push and want to squeeze that extra two per cent out of your squad, dive into your team’s statistics at GOLNetwork.com. If you want to take your involvement to the next level, consider applying to become an intramural referee and make extra money on the side. With options for every level of skill and interest, intramurals can be a fun and relaxed way to stay active during the semester or a great outlet for your competitive side.

This article is a part of our McGill 101 issue, which aims to ease your transition and answer questions you have about McGill and Montreal.

Facebook Groups for Schools
a, Student Life

McGill 101: Navigating Facebook – McGill has sent you a friend request

by Karina Alibhai on

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Facebook is great for sharing photos, connecting with friends, and staying up to date on off and on-campus events. There are many McGill groups and pages on Facebook that offer an array of updates and services for students. Here are the most important ones to follow to ensure a current and useful newsfeed.

McGill Entering Class of 2015: This group is for all newly admitted students to McGill who will be commencing their studies in Fall 2015. This is usually the first group many McGill students join as it is a great space to ask questions and meet others before arriving on campus. Many groups on campus post about their club or event, as well making it a great resource for students who are looking to get involved.

Students' Society of McGill University (SSMU): This is the page for the undergraduate students' union at McGill. You'll find announcements for events occurring in the SSMU building, such as club fairs and workshops, and employment opportunities on campus. The building hours and address can also be found here.

McGill Inter-Residence Council (IRC): This student council organizes events for all students living in residence. Like this page to stay up to date on various events and opportunities offered by the IRC, such as on-campus games of capture the flag and themed parties.

Undergraduate Society Pages: Each undergraduate society has a Facebook page which all students are encouraged to like. This page provides updates on what is happening with regards to that particular faculty, such as the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS), Science Undergraduate Society (SUS), or Management Undergraduate Society (MUS). Similar to the SSMU page, these pages regularly post opportunities for employment, faculty-specific events, and information about faculty councils, elections, and office hours.

Students’ Association Page: Each department usually has its own student association. By liking the page, students get notifications on events and important news related to the department. Examples of students’ association are the History Students' Association (HSA) and McGill Psychology Students' Association (MPSA). This is a great place to ask fellow students for advice on courses, textbooks and professors, as well as stay informed about talks, seminars and job fairs that pertain to that specific department.

Free Food on Campus and in Montreal: One of the most popular Facebook groups for McGill students, this group allows members to post about opportunities to find free food on campus and around Montreal. Living on a student budget is not always easy, but there are always events on campus offering free food, which helps to make life more affordable. A distant cousin of this group is the Samosa Sales group. There is usually one samosa sale a day and students who are selling or who are looking for samosas can post in this group. The typical price is $1 for one or $2 for three, meaning McGill students could live affordably off of only samosas if they really wanted to.

Textbook Exchange: Textbooks are expensive but necessary. Students in this group buy and sell used textbooks off each other for much cheaper prices than the bookstore. Posts in this group peak at the start of each semester, and popular textbooks can be sold within a couple minutes, so it is best to keep refreshing this page until you find the textbook you need.

Free and For Sale: This group is McGill’s version of Craigslist—students can buy and sell various items for reasonable prices.  As the group description says, you can “find fridges, futons, and tons of other stuff.” There is also a group called McGill Clothing Exchange which is specifically for buying and selling clothing.

Housing: This is a space for students to post about housing and other living opportunities. When looking for an apartment or a roommate, this is a great place to start the search. Students also frequently post here for advice about landlords or housing dilemmas that may arise.

Jobs and Internships: This group makes searching for a job much less daunting. Information on jobs and internships on campus, in Montreal, and beyond are posted on this group. Researchers looking for paid participants will also post here, as will event organizers looking for temporary staff.

This article is a part of our McGill 101 issue, which aims to ease your transition and answer questions you have about McGill and Montreal.

Seoul music
a, Arts & Entertainment, Music

Seoul steps out of the shadows

by Morgan Alexander on

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For any up-and-coming band, the first festival performance is a big deal—it solidifies their role in the music world and confirms that the effort they put into their music is worth it. This experience was no different for Montreal-based band Seoul, who cheerfully reiterated during their performance that playing at Osheaga was their first “big gig.” Seoul is one of many up-and-coming bands that Osheaga was originally created to host, allowing local artists to garner more attention. This type of exposure marks a welcome shift into maturity and visibility for a band that once prided itself on anonymity.

Seoul, comprised of Julian Flavin, Dexter Garcia, and Nigel Ward, has been together for five years. In 2011 the group completed their first album, I Become Shade, but decided to put off releasing the record until 2015. “

It took a while to release it because we wanted to find a label that we were happy with,” Garcia said. “We were in different places, different cities, and we had other goals than just releasing the album.”

As a result, the album sat unchanged for nearly four years, despite misconceptions that the album was in fact being worked on throughout those years.

“[Saying the album took so many years to create] makes it seem like this strange epic masterpiece, which it’s not,” Garcia reiterated. “There was this period of serious effort followed by a period of waiting.”

It’s an understandable misconception, but one that the group says is farlry typical of other artists, just to a lesser degree.

“People have made a lot out of the taking-a-while thing,” Flavin added. “I feel like really it was just a process that takes a while period, and everybody has that to a degree that isn’t immediately given to the public eye.”

While the long period in between production and release didn’t much affect the sound of the band, it did give the group a chance to define their image. Seoul is unique in the sense that they didn’t come up with a name prior to the release of their album.

“Everything sort of stemmed from the aesthetic of the album,” Ward explained.

For the band’s first press photos, the images were in black and white and the groups faces were always distorted in some way. Combined with their relatively unknown status, the group was to tailor its image into something unique for university groups, giving them a more seemingly experienced edge.

“We thought it was more appropriate that certain images of other things that are not the band,” Flavin said. “The idea of having press photos where we’re not extremely visual was just a product of our thoughts on this album[….] We’re not against portraying ourselves as the people that we are, we just thought it was more apt musically.”

The ironic result of the group’s efforts to label themselves as the music, and not the band, is the resulting uncertainty as to what type of music they actually produce.

“You kinda have to do it [define your sound], it’s kind of a bummer always,” Flavin said. “For this album we’ve decided on ambient pop just because the music was written with a sort of pop song grafty kind of outlook, which is just something we’re really drawn to.”

The band’s ultimate goal is, in essence, to chill. Make more music, play more shows, and hopefully get an album out soon. But for now the band is happy to be recognized as a Quebec-based up-and-comer, even if they have been around for years.

“New is defined by when people start to realize that you’ve made music,” Ward said.

Video

2017 Mercedes-AMG C63 Coupe Makes its Debut

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Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupé (C 205) 2015; Exterieur: designo diamantweiß bright, Night Paket exterior: designo diamond white bright, night package
Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupé (C 205) 2015; Exterieur: designo diamantweiß bright, Night Paket
exterior: designo diamond white bright, night package

This is some dummy copy. You’re not really supposed to read this dummy copy, it is just a place holder for people who need some type to visualize what the actual copy might look like if it were real content.

If you want to read, I might suggest a good book, perhaps Hemingway or Melville. That’s why they call it, the dummy copy. This, of course, is not the real copy for this entry. Rest assured, the words will expand the concept. With clarity. Conviction. And a little wit.

Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupé (C 205) 2015; Exterieur: designo diamantweiß bright, Night Paket exterior: designo diamond white bright, night package
Mercedes-AMG C 63 S Coupé (C 205) 2015; Exterieur: designo diamantweiß bright, Night Paket
exterior: designo diamond white bright, night package

In today’s competitive market environment, the body copy of your entry must lead the reader through a series of disarmingly simple thoughts.

All your supporting arguments must be communicated with simplicity and charm. And in such a way that the reader will read on. (After all, that’s a reader’s job: to read, isn’t it?) And by the time your readers have reached this point in the finished copy, you will have convinced them that you not only respect their intelligence, but you also understand their needs as consumers.

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This is some dummy copy. You’re not really supposed to read this dummy copy, it is just a place holder for people who need some type to visualize what the actual copy might look like if it were real content.

If you want to read, I might suggest a good book, perhaps Hemingway or Melville. That’s why they call it, the dummy copy. This, of course, is not the real copy for this entry. Rest assured, the words will expand the concept. With clarity. Conviction. And a little wit.

In today’s competitive market environment, the body copy of your entry must lead the reader through a series of disarmingly simple thoughts.

All your supporting arguments must be communicated with simplicity and charm. And in such a way that the reader will read on. (After all, that’s a reader’s job: to read, isn’t it?) And by the time your readers have reached this point in the finished copy, you will have convinced them that you not only respect their intelligence, but you also understand their needs as consumers.

As a result of which, your entry will repay your efforts. Take your sales; simply put, they will rise. Likewise your credibility. There’s every chance your competitors will wish they’d placed this entry, not you. While your customers will have probably forgotten that your competitors even exist. Which brings us, by a somewhat circuitous route, to another small point, but one which we feel should be raised.

Long copy or short – You decide

As a marketer, you probably don’t even believe in body copy. Let alone long body copy. (Unless you have a long body yourself.) Well, truth is, who‘s to blame you? Fact is, too much long body copy is dotted with such indulgent little phrases like truth is, fact is, and who’s to blame you. Trust us: we guarantee, with a hand over our heart, that no such indulgent rubbish will appear in your entry. That’s why God gave us big blue pencils. So we can expunge every example of witted waffle.

For you, the skies will be blue, the birds will sing, and your copy will be crafted by a dedicated little man whose wife will be sitting at home, knitting, wondering why your entry demands more of her husband‘s time than it should.

But you will know why, won‘t you? You will have given her husband a chance to immortalize himself in print, writing some of the most persuasive prose on behalf of a truly enlightened purveyor of widgets. And so, while your dedicated reader, enslaved to each mellifluous paragraph, clutches his newspaper with increasing interest and intention to purchase, you can count all your increased profits and take pots of money to your bank. Sadly, this is not the real copy for this entry. But it could well be. All you have to do is look at the account executive sitting across your desk (the fellow with the lugubrious face and the calf-like eyes), and say ”Yes! Yes! Yes!“ And anything you want, body copy, dinners, women, will be yours. Couldn’t be fairer than that, could we?

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