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a, McGill, News

PGSS General Meeting sees discussion of Society deficit, proposed women’s gym hours

by Hayley Lim on

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On Wednesday, March 11, the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) General Meeting (GM) discussed the payment of incurred membership fees from the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), a national union for post-secondary student societies. Additionally, the GM hosted an informal discussion regarding women’s-only hours at the McGill Fitness Centre. 

CFS membership fees

PGSS Financial Affairs Officer Nikki Meadows stated that costs of the recently held CFS referendum, in which PGSS voted against continued membership with the CFS, amounted to $558,740.87. Approximately $333, 810 of the total cost was accrued through the retroactive payment of CFS membership fees dated from 2009 to 2015. According to Meadows, the fees were paid under protest to CFS and were a stipulation of running the referendum. The other costs of the referendum that PGSS incurred were  legal fees.

Meadows explained that the PGSS hopes to be able to reclaim the $333,810 in membership fees in a separate ongoing legal case with CFS, which may end in 2017. She also said that PGSS had been able to absorb about $200,000 out of the total fees accrued in the CFS case because of a surplus in PGSS’s member legal support funds account. She highlighted, however, that PGSS had accrued a deficit of about $300,000 as a result of these payments. To balance this deficit, Meadows stated that $62,000 may be added to the current $78,000 collected through PGSS student fees this semester.

“When you’re talking about paying $330,000 up front and you’re only collecting $78,000 a year [in student fees], that’s a lot of money [deficit] to deal with,” she said. “We’re hoping upon [legal] settlement in 2017, we will get some of these fees back. That’s two years where you have to go on operating and you need money to be able to do the projects and to be able to do the programs that we offer here at PGSS. We can absorb a lot of it, but we can’t absorb everything.”

The PGSS Board of Directors (BoD) also gave a presentation at the GM where they stated that they would like to hold a referendum to raise student fees to alleviate PGSS’s current deficit. 

“Do you agree that, starting in the Autumn of 2015 and continuing until 2020 or such time that another referendum modifies it, PGSS will increase its membership fee […] from the current rate of 32.11 to a new rate of 35.43?” the motion read. “These funds will be used, in part, to offset the costs of leaving the Canadian Federation of Students, as well as increased rent and fees charged by McGill on the PGSS.”

This motion was read at the PGSS Council session that occurred before the GM, but the motion did not. 

Women-only gym hours

The meeting closed with an informal discussion regarding proposed women-only gym hours at the McGill Fitness Centre. This topic incited controversy on campus three weeks ago when two McGill Law students proposed the initiative. Some speakers voiced concern on the topic not being concrete or accommodating towards other marginalized groups. William Gorges, Engineering student, voiced concerns that more thought should be put into the development of the motion and that it could be implemented towards other groups. 

“[The motion should] be extended to LGBTQ hours because of the same stigmatization of working out with these men or anyone in general that they don’t feel comfortable with,” Gorges said. “I think it’s a good idea, but more work has to be done in solidifying how McGill Athletics would implement this.”

Other members noted that there are already women-only swim hours at the McGill Memorial Pool. PGSS External Affairs Officer Julien Ouellet explained that the presence of men at the gym can prevent certain people from attending. 

“[This is] a form of discrimination that is not illegal […] but put women at a disadvantage and prevents them from using a resource,” Oullet said. “They should not have to buy extra membership when they are already paying membership to the McGill gym.”

a, Out on the Town, Student Life

Trilogie serves decadent dumplings

by Alycia Noë on

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While Montreal is known for its plentiful and high-quality European cuisines, there are few Asian cuisines that stand out in the city’s restaurant industry. Recently opened in December 2014, Trilogie serves up traditional dumplings and accompaniments, such as fresh salads. Located in the Parc-Extension area, owner Anita Feng and her family have been delighting customers with simple and decadent Chinese cuisine. Feng, a 25-year old full-time design student at UQAM, was inspired by the process of cooking in creating Trilogie. 

“[For me], Trilogie is for sharing, [enjoying the art of cooking], and [having] everyone […] involved [in the experience],” she said. 

The restaurant is beautifully decorated—which is no surprise since Feng has a background in design. The décor consists of wooden tables with clean lines and many decorations that seem typical of a home, such as a vintage Thermos or enamel bowl. The restaurant’s lighting provides an industrial feeling, while the front windows let in pleasant amounts of sunlight. The dining room of the restaurant is minimalist, yet charming.

Trilogie’s menu is sparse, but allows the all-women kitchen to shine and show the art of creating food in the best light. In addition to Feng, her sister, mother, and aunt help with the business. The family has roots in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, and Beijing. The menu has just a few dishes, but all are spectacular. It is important to also be aware that the restaurant has rather unusual hours. As Feng is a student, Trilogie is open only on weekdays for lunch and has limited seating. Nonetheless, it is well worth the visit.

Chinese comfort food flows out of the kitchen in abundance. The menu changes regularly, but there are usually nice refreshing vegetable-based salads, dumplings with various fillings, either steamed or fried; and dessert options.

The Chinese mushroom salad is a perfect starter. Since Feng’s father owns a grocery store in Chinatown, Trilogie has some of the freshest and most authentic ingredients available. The Chinese mushrooms, black in colour, have a gelatinous quality to them while simultaneously being crunchy. They are dressed with sesame seeds, hot chiles, and cilantro. This dish is simple and represents a play on textures.

The cucumber salad is a unanimous crowd-pleaser. Lebanese cucumbers are dressed in a black vinegar and sesame oil vinaigrette and adorned with dried Szechuan chilies, Szechuan peppercorns, and oven-roasted peanuts tossed in five-spice. This salad is a perfect accompaniment to Trilogie’s dumplings.

The artful style of the dumplings are an important highlight of the restaurant. The dumplings are slightly doughy, made in a way that contrasts perfectly with the various fillings available. The dough forms a loose pocket for the filling and is not over-worked. Daily specials for fillings include pork and corn, tilapia and cucumber, and a vegetarian option of shiitake mushrooms mixed with vermicelli noodles and tofu. The best dumplings in the restaurant are called Umami dumplings, packed with pork, cabbage, and shrimp. They are pan-fried to give a wonderful textural contrast between the soft filling and the crisp dumpling dough. They are also topped with sesame seeds and cilantro for a further crunch. The aspects that really take the Umami dumplings over the top are the dipping sauces. Options for sauces include a smooth peanut sauce with a little kick of heat, homemade sriracha, black vinegar mixed with chilies, black vinegar and hoisin sauce, and tamari with sesame seeds. All sauces—especially the black vinegar with chilies— brilliantly complement the filling of the UmamiPdumplings. Desserts include fried dumplings filled with a slightly sweet purée of sweet potato. 

Trilogie makes some of the best dumplings in Montreal. Although located a little far from McGill, it is easy to get there using the metro and is definitely well worth the trip.

a, Arts & Entertainment

Album Review: Will Butler – Policy

by Michael Halman on

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Many people will recognize the name Will Butler from the popular and successful Canadian rock outfit, Arcade Fire. Policy is Butler’s first departure from his role as a multi-instrumentalist in the indie rock group. 

The first track on the album, “Take My Side,” leads the album off with a burst of energy with traditional rock instrumentation that sounds like something that could have appeared on The Fratellis’ Costello Music (2006). However, Policy is constantly at odds with catchy high-energy pop songs and slower ballads, which matches his volatile personality in Arcade Fire. 

The tracks “Son of God” and “Witness” are doo-wop worship pop songs with catchy hooks that are reminiscent of a song you swear you’ve heard before. “Anna” and “Something’s Coming” explore more modern and experimental sounds, with the latter reminiscent of an avant-garde interpretation of a Stevie Wonder classic. “Finished What I Started” and “Sing to Me” are slow and simple piano ballads sandwiched between runaway tracks that give this album a disjointed feel, much like Foxygen’s Take the Kids Off Broadway (2012), not that it’s necessarily a bad thing. 

The most refreshing part of this album is Butler’s lyricism, which he uses to satirically cover topics ranging from God, to love, to cooking “pony macaroni” in “What I Want.”  Even though the songs are all over the place and not particularly innovative or groundbreaking, Policy is a solid debut album and I’m interested in hearing Butler discover his own sound down the road. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
a, Martlets, Men's Varsity, Sports

The week that was for McGill Athletics: March 17

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BY THE NUMBERS

2

The number of silver medals that the McGill Martlet basketball and hockey teams won at the CIS National Championships this past Sunday.  

 

 

 

 

9.1

McGill point guard Dianna Ros’ dismal shooting percentage in the CIS National Women’s Basketball Championship game. The Martlets came up short against the Windsor Lancers, due in part to their shooting woes.   

 

 

 

 

12

Shots turned away by Martlets goaltender Taylor Hough on her way to her first career shutout in McGill’s 1-0 semifinal win over St. Francis Xavier at CIS Nationals.  

 

 

 

 

Tribune Athletes of the Week

Gabrielle Davidson

Hockey, Forward
Junior – Management

The 2013 RSEQ Rookie-of-the-Year has come a long way in two years. After leading the Quebec league in scoring, Davidson added another dimension to her already impressive game this season, tallying 34 assists to go along with 31 goals. She took it to another level in the playoffs, recording 14 points over nine games—none more important than her clutch game-winning goal against St Francis Xavier to propel McGill into the CIS gold medal game. While the Martlets couldn’t overcome a strong Western squad, Davidson’s accomplishments this season are nonetheless impressive. She was named a second team All-Canadian, and first team All-RSEQ on the strength of a dazzling 65-point campaign. Entering her fourth year, Davidson will bring a veteran presence to next season’s Martlet squad, and will look to lead the team back to the CIS finals for another shot at the title. 

(Photos courtesy of McGill Athletics)

a, Editorial, Opinion

Winter 2015 General Assembly Endorsements

by McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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Motion Regarding Unpaid Internships – Yes with reservations

The Tribune supports the sentiment put forward in this motion that advocates for the movement away from unpaid internships, which contribute to social inequalities and to the overall lowering of wages for entry positions and decreasing number of paid positions in the job market. However, many internship possibilities available to McGill students, while unpaid, constitute positive opportunities for students to gain experience and earn credit towards their degrees. 

SSMU must follow through with the motion’s commitment to draft a policy to clarify which unpaid internships would be considered illegal for the purposes of this motion. However, the development of this policy could be difficult in itself, because while SSMU would seek to denounce internships that violate employment laws within the province, the practicality of assessing the legality of the vast array internships—both international and local, which comply to different regulations—offered or promoted by McGill is dubious. In addition, several student groups actively promote internships that may or may not comply with the employment laws. The resolution that their ”new and continued recognition” as SSMU clubs depends on their accordance with these laws would require communicating and coordinating with these clubs prior to implementing this policy.

The resolution to cease crediting internships that are illegal under the applicable employment laws also poses a problem for students seeking to gain returns on their unpaid work. The provision of credit for unpaid internships is a good way to award students with an alternative form of compensation for their work, and should remain in place for students who wish to engage in these internships. Moreover, the elimination or reduction of tuition fees for internship credits disregards the costs associated with faculty supervision of credited internship courses. It is unclear whether the motion proposes to have the administrative fees charged by McGill or SSMU. In either case, covering the costs associated with supervising internships is still necessary.

Motion Regarding the SSMU’s Policy on Accessible Education – No

Although we agree with the intent behind this motion to seek accessible education, it also opposes "any mechanism to raise tuition," which the university has already anticipated for 2015-2016. It recognizes that accessible education is important and that for SSMU to have a tangible impact when lobbying the Quebec government it must ally with other student movements; however, the actions mandated, other than the clause calling on SSMU to “mobilize its members against the provincial austerity measures,” are unrealistic in practice given McGill’s current financial situation, and do not address the need for advocating for more financial aid given the expected increases in tuition set by both McGill and the Quebec government.

This editorial board has previously argued for an upward increase in French students’ tuition as well as transparency, student consultation, and dedication to financial aid in the current deregulation process that the administration is committed to. We deemed these increases necessary in order to ensure that student services that were previously cut are reinstated, the quality of education offered to students is maintained or increased, and that the value of a McGill degree, which has been falling in recent years, is increased.

Within the potential policy to be adapted, this motion calls for the “eventual replacement of any and all ancillary and tuition fees with alternative methods of funding post-secondary education,” without referencing details on what these alternative methods are. Furthermore, although lobbying the government against austerity measures may be effective, particularly with increased student involvement, reducing tuition further without addressing the lack of resources that the university has to provide students with a high-quality educational experience does not offset the cuts from the provincial government.

Motion Regarding Divestment from Companies Profiting from the Illegal Occupation of the Palestinian Territories – No

Although the constitution does call upon SSMU to demonstrate leadership “in matters of human rights [and] social justice,” the motion as it currently stands brought forward presents issues in clarity and representation, particularly in its resolved clauses, which would ultimately dictate the responsibilities of the Council, VP External, and President.

This motion is concerning because it demands that “the SSMU Legislative Council charge all individuals or groups named herein to fulfill these mandates to the best of their ability for a period of [five] years.” As evidenced by the divided voices on campus regarding this issue, it would be preemptive to enact a motion that mandates the President and VP External, both of whom are supposed to represent all undergraduate students, to be bound to this stance for the next five years without giving each year’s constituents the chance to vote on the issue. This risks misrepresenting the majority stance taken by the students for each of the next five years.

The motion also mandates that the Executive Committee—which includes the president and each of the vice-president positions—”educate members of the society about its positions on divestment.” This clause appears to stray from the constitution’s definition of SSMU’s role as a representative body for students to the university; instead it would be broadcasting a stance back to its constituents. The president would also be “mandated to support any recommendations from the Committee to Advise on Social Responsibility (CAMSR) to the Board of Governors” regarding “divestments from the companies profiting from the illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories.” The CAMSR is currently composed of seven members, of which the President is the only student representative. The president’s decisions would thus be bound by CAMSR’s recommendations rather than by the student voice, leaving little room for student consultation. Regardless of whether or not this motion passes with a majority vote, the role of the SSMU executives, as outlined by their contracts, is to be representative of students to the university, and requiring them to relay a position to students would go against their mandate to represent students. 

Motion to Stand in Solidarity with Students and Protesters Demanding Democratic Government Worldwide, in particular, Hong Kong – No

This motion, which was originally brought up during the Fall 2014 General Assembly but was tabled due to a need for more research and consultation, calls on SSMU to stand in solidarity with, issue a statement condemning repressive actions by police actors, and educate McGill students regarding the situation in Hong Kong. Although this editorial board agrees in spirit with the sentiments of the actions that this motion wishes to enact, we are not in support of the broad scope of this motion to include the adoption of a stance toward all jurisdictions included in Appendix A.

The decision to expand this motion to include 79 other jurisdictions dilutes the strength the stance in solidarity with the protesters in Hong Kong. Simply providing a blanket statement in solidarity of these separate movements ignores the intricacies of each individual situation and diverts attention away from the original goal of this motion. Furthermore, asking the student body to vote on a motion with a scope that attempts to encompass so many countries would be an ineffective way of developing a nuanced stance. As such, this motion would have been better served had it stayed closer to the scope of what was initially introduced in the Fall. 

Moreover, the second clause mandates that the SSMU issue its newly-adopted solidarity “through an appropriate mechanism,” without properly identifying what this mechanism is, which was also the way the motion was presented at the Fall GA. This motion, as presented now, still lacks the clarity it needed last semester.

a, Martlets, Sports

Hockey: Martlets dismantle Carabins, lift RSEQ title

by Mayaz Alam on

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McGill Martlets
7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Montreal Carabins
2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With her team down 2-1 against the No. 2 ranked Montreal Carabins in the deciding game of the RSEQ Finals, junior centre Melodie Daoust took over the game like superstars are meant to do, tallying two back-to-back goals to propel the No. 1 ranked McGill Martlets to a 7-2 victory and a RSEQ title.

Daoust, who has only played in eight contests this season due to an injury-related absence, scored three goals on the night, pushing her total to 18 points since her return. Senior winger Leslie Oles added a pair of goals, while forwards Gabrielle Davidson and Olivia Sutter rounded out the scoring with one goal apiece. The well-rounded attack was typical of the Martlets, who had nine different players score during the three-game series. 

In net, junior netminder Taylor Hough started her first game of the post-season, replacing sophomore Brittany Smrke, who had been scorched for five goals on 16 shots in a 5-1 loss during game two of the series. Head Coach Peter Smith’s faith in Hough was rewarded, as the Toronto native was stout in net, overcoming a shaky first period to blank the Carabins in the final two periods. 

In net, junior netminder Taylor Hough started her first game of the post-season instead of sophomore Brittany Smrke who had been scorched for five goals on sixteen shots in a 5-1 loss during game two of the series. Head Coach Peter Smith’s faith in Hough was rewarded, as the Toronto native was stout in net, overcoming a shaky first period to blank the Carabins in the final two periods. 

“[Hough] was ready to go, and I didn’t think our whole team had a great game on Saturday, so we made a switch like that, “Smith explained. “It made a difference and I think it worked out pretty well.”

In Game 1 of the series, the Martlets were able to race out to an early 2-0 lead in the first period, which they stretched to a 6-2 final score behind Oles, a second-team RSEQ All-Star. Oles was one of five McGill athletes to merit league-wide recognition last week. Davidson was joined by reigning CIS Player-of-the-Year Katia Clement-Heydra and defenceman Kelsie Moffat on the first team, while defenceman Brittany Fouracres joined Oles on the second team. All of these individual accolades will be for nought, however, if the Martlets are unable to perform in the coming week.

With the victory in Game 3, McGill moves on to the CIS Championships, where they will be joined by their arch-rivals, the Carabins, in the eight-team tournament in Calgary from March 12 to 15. The two teams, who have been jockeying for pole position in the CIS rankings all season long, will likely face each other for the 10th time with a National Championship on the line–it would only be fitting for the two most recent national champions. While the Martlets will be the No. 1 seed in the tournament, a repeat championship is far from guaranteed, and the squad must maintain its focus.

“It’s a very hard-working group and we need to go out there and play with tempo and pace and play a good team game,” Smith said. “We’ve prepared all year long for this [….] We’re playing real good hockey right now, and we just have to go out there and  be ourselves–nothing less and nothing more.”

a, Montreal, News, PGSS, SSMU

PGSS, SSMU host joint summit on anti-austerity measures

by Cece Zhang on

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Members of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Council and the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) Council gathered for a joint meeting against austerity on Feb. 23. The joint council was the first of its kind, and through it, the two student unions produced a joint statement opposing provincial austerity measures. The two Councils approved two motions—one concerning the creation of a joint anti-austerity mobilization working group, and another on student priorities in McGill’s upcoming budget planning. 

Joint statement against austerity

The Councils passed a joint statement laying out how PGSS and SSMU would stand against the Quebec government’s stance on austerity. The joint statement also authorized the creation of a joint mobilization working group.

“SSMU and PGSS jointly reaffirm the following: Complete and definitive opposition to the austerity measures in their actual form; commitment to support other Quebec student associations in their efforts against such measures,” the statement reads. 

SSMU Medicine representative Joshua Chin expressed his reservations, questioning whether supporting other student unions in their measures against austerity would commit SSMU and PGSS if the other unions decided to strike.

“Will we be committing to supporting their strikes, and will it extend to SSMU and PGSS or even their constituent schools, faculties, or others?” Chin asked, proposing to remove the clause.

Other councillors spoke against removing this clause from the motion, stating that it did not necessitate SSMU and PGSS protesting with other student unions, and that stating support would help the overall movement against austerity.

“History in Quebec student movements show that when Quebec students are united, they have a much stronger voice and they are much more credible,” Frédérick Armstrong of the Post-graduate Philosophy Student Association said. “I would strongly disagree with striking that point, because internal debates should not hinder our efforts against such measures.”

Motion on student priorities in budget planning

The joint council also approved a motion regarding student priorities in upcoming budget planning. The motion identified nine areas of the McGill budget as priorities for students: Research opportunities and funding, diversity of course offerings, experiential learning opportunities, student space on campus, scholarships and financial aid resources, library services, and maintenance of staffing numbers. Councillors also proposed two additional amendments, covering areas of funding transparency and increased funding for student health and mental health services.

PGSS Health Commissioner Elizabeth Cawley brought forth an amendment calling for increased transparency from McGill on funding for services such as the Office of Student Disabilities (OSD). 

“Be it resolved that the SSMU and PGSS express their discontent with the current lack of transparency in funding transfers from the government of Quebec through the central administration earmarked for student services, and call on McGill to increase the transparency of these transfers,” the amendment reads. 

Cawley explained that despite repeated requests from the Student Services committee, McGill has not disclosed details regarding the specific allocation of the earmarked provincial funds. 

“When we made a formal request last year, we were simply told that ‘the university’s finances are audited both internally and externally on a regular basis’,” Cawley said. “Most recently […] there have been issues at UQÀM  [University of Quebec à Montreal] with transfers regarding students with disabilities [….] We want more transparency regarding these transfers and we’re not getting it.”

An amendment proposed by SSMU Medicine Senator David Benrimoh asking that SSMU and PGSS lobby McGill to provide student health, student mental health counselling services, and the OSD with sufficient funding was also passed.

Motion on the anti-austerity working group

A motion discussing the logistics behind the working group mandated by the joint statement was unable to pass before the joint council lost quorum. Discussion on the motion only served as a consultative measure and the motion will need to be passed by SSMU and PGSS in their respective Councils to take effect. 

PGSS External Affairs Officer Julien Ouellet presented the motion, stating that it would be a necessary step towards mobilizing the McGill community.

“To have an impact, we need to be able to mobilize,” Ouellet said. “To have a joint mobilization committee, which other associations within McGill could join, would help us raise awareness on issues such as austerity and to get people more riled up about decisions that will ultimately affect them on a very, very personal level.”

SSMU VP External Amina Moustaqim-Barrette cited concerns regarding the statement that the working group should only use “non-violent and non-defamatory strategies to reach its goal.” She was echoed by SSMU VP University Affairs Claire Stewart-Kanigan. 

“Tactically, it is essential to have disruptive practices of some kind, [but] even civil disobedience and things of that kind can be classified as violent in their creation of disruption to [the] regular functioning of things,” Stewart-Kanigan said. “By saying ‘non-violent,’ it’s giving into the idea you should be using the same word for punching someone in the face that you use for marching down the street and blocking cars, and that’s not something we should be endorsing in our formation of the committee.”

Ouellet maintained that the inclusion of ‘non-violent’ and ‘non-defamatory’ would increase the legitimacy of the working group. 

“Within McGill. we would have a better chance of attracting other accredited unions if we made [it] clear [that] we’re going to be mindful of [the] law,” he said. 

An amendment was passed changing the wording to read “without the express intent to cause physical or psychological harm to people.”

a, Student Life

Student movement establishes a healthy food system

by Keah Hansen on

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Food sustainability initiatives at McGill were scarce until about six years ago. However, with the launch of the student-founded and student-led McGill Food Systems Project (MFSP) in 2008, a culture of food sustainability has experienced a grassroots emergence, with students critically considering and addressing food sustainability issues. Achieving food sustainability at McGill has developed into a two-tier process: Student-initiated research on sustainability is institutionalized by administration to ensure its long-term practice. This innovative process has yielded impressive results, making McGill a leading university in Canadian food sustainability.

Student-initiated

McGill’s food sustainability initiative is a product of the MFSP. The MFSP was founded by three students: Dana Lahey, a sociology and anthropology major; Sarah Archibald, an agriculture and environmental science major; and Jonathan Glencross, an environment major, with assistance from McGill Food and Dining Services (MFDS), and the McGill Office of Sustainability (MOOS). The project’s goal was to create and implement a vision of food sustainability at McGill. Since its launch, two of the founding members, Lahey and Archibald, have graduated and are now project managers for a Toronto-based not-for-profit called Meal Exchange, which works with 35 universities in Canada to address sustainability issues within campuses. 

Ansel Renner, a senior leader of MFSP and U3 Environment student, reflected on the objectives of the project, which works with students to conduct Applied Student Research (ASR) on sustainability.  

“[The MFSP] exists to support student food initiatives with sustainability on campus, addressing the environmental, economic, and social components,” he explained.

Since its inception, the MFSP has supported many food sustainability initiatives at McGill. Projects include the first on-campus farmer’s market in Quebec at McGill’s downtown campus, the Farm to Plate Report, which addressed McGill’s food supply chain, monthly Local Food Days in the McGill dining halls, the McGill Feeding McGill partnership with Macdonald Farm to obtain produce for the residence cafeterias, the McGill Food and Dining Greenhouse Gas Audit, and a recent Constructive Consumerism report from student researchers.   

Renner and the MFSP team are currently working on a McGill Food Manifesto, which is one of the group’s new student-initiated projects. The official statement’s objective for the manifesto is to “create a baseline understanding between a diverse group of food service providers regarding topics such as responsible and ethical purchasing, common knowledge nutritional information, and vegetarian and vegan options.”

According to Renner, the progress of sustainability that McGill has made since MFSP’s founding is one that has flourished.  

“The scene in 2008 was completely different than it is today,” Renner said. “For example, McGill has one of the most expensive dining services, but the quality of the food has really improved and is a resounding conclusion.”

According to Renner, the amount of food wasted in Quebec calls for McGill’s increased involvement in sustainability.

“Quebec is the worst province for food waste in Canada,” he said. “Fifty per cent of food in Montreal is wasted, and most people aren’t aware of that.”

Renner recognized that this new project is more challenging than earlier initiatives.

“The food charter is a bigger undertaking [….] All the low-hanging fruit has been plucked,” he said. 

Renner said that he would like to see further growth of food sustainability awareness at McGill.

“I want McGill to continue to be a leader in Canada,” Renner said. “Six years ago, it was like entering a black box, so difficult to figure out where your food comes from [….] Now it’s easier.” 

McGill-institutionalized

Amelia Brinkerhoff, a fourth-year Environment student, is involved in the institutional aspect of food sustainability at McGill. She works with the MFDS as the Student Sustainability Coordinator. Brinkerhoff got involved with sustainability at McGill to ensure that food sustainability would become a priority and conversation point at McGill.

“After first year, I volunteered with the MFSP in an operational sense,” Brinkerhoff said. “Food sustainability is something I have always felt passionate about, [so I] got involved to continue with that vein.”

Brinkerhoff described why MFDS collaborates with MFSP for food sustainability initiatives.   

“[MFDS] works with [MFSP] because they do Applied Student Research,” Brinkerhoff said. “Every sustainable purchasing project is backed by student research.”

Since the release of the student-researched Farm to Plate Report, MFDS has increased its sustainability practices, such as purchasing local ingredients for the residence dining halls.      

“Forty per cent of everything we purchase is local [and sustainably, consciously chosen]—that tends to be our maximum right now,” Brinkerhoff explained.

According to its website, the MFDS defines Local Food Days as “purchasing seasonal food that has been produced, harvested, caught, or manufactured within a 500km radium of the downtown campus.”

However, Brinkerhoff said that “local” and “sustainable” are broad terms for the MFDS, with economic sustainability also considered along with environmental sustainability.

“We also strive for holistic financial sustainability and try to support Quebec’s local economy,” she said. 

According to Brinkerhoff, working with the Macdonald campus is also important because it is a local food connection and also part of McGill.  

“Local purchasing and working with [Macdonald farm] sets us apart,” Brinkerhoff said. “[MFDS] are the biggest purchasers of Mac produce, and we have worked closely with them to expand our relationship to include beef and eggs as well.”

Another current project in McGill’s dining halls is student composting.

“We have composted in the kitchens for three or four years, and have expanded it this Fall to the cafeterias,” Brinkerhoff explained. “Student feedback with composting has been mostly good. [They] are now more aware of what is going in and out.” 

According to Brinkerhoff, it is important for universities to engage in sustainability. 

“It seems hypocritical for an academic institution to generate research and have a knowledgeable and enthusiastic faculty, yet not engage in sustainability across the board,” she said. “We have an obligation to set an example in all facets of sustainability. Universities should support students in sustainability and sustainability projects—it’s [their duty].”

Despite its room for growth, Brinkerhoff believes McGill is a leader in food sustainability. 

“We definitely rank among the top [institutions in food sustainability] in Canada, and have been approached by other universities,” she said. “People are seeing that our student initiatives are being institutionalized.”

Campus involvement

For students interested in getting involved in the food sustainability culture at McGill, Renner offered three suggestions.

“First, start questioning what it is that you’re eating, where it came from, and who prepared it,” Renner said. “Also, get involved with the food sustainability culture at McGill. Consider joining the farmer’s market, Organic Campus, or one of the student-run cafes [….] Lastly, see something that you think could be improved.” 

Brinkerhoff further recommended that students try the new McGill-oriented sustainability app, “Myko,” which was launched by a team of McGill faculty and students.  The application seeks to educate users on sustainability issues, proposes possible solutions, and help establish goals for positive and lasting change.

Gal Kramer, U1 Geography, volunteers at Organic Campus, a Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) service that promotes local and organic food on campus.  Kramer also stressed the importance for students to be active in food sustainability. 

“Students have both the knowledge and resources to impact food sustainability in our communities,” she said. “This can be achieved through urban farming, a sustainable mindset and local agriculture. It is important because it is all linked to improving public health, and creating healthier societies in general.” 

a, Features

Les nuits illuminées

by Caity Hui on

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Glittering purple and blue, the snow was painted in the soft light of the churning ferris wheel, standing amidst a crowd of milling viewers in the heart of Place des Arts. In the background, a projection danced across the face of a building—one of many art installations at Montreal’s 12th edition of Nuit Blanche.

Each year, Montreal joins hundreds of other cities across the world in an annual celebration that showcases the arts. The concept stemmed from Helsinki’s Night of the Arts festival in 1989 and Jean Blaise, the founder of the Research Centre for Cultural Development in Nantes, France. He organized a festival known as Les Allumées—The Lighted Up—in Nantes in 1990, where he transformed the city into an outdoor art gallery from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., showcasing six different artists from six different cities. Twelve years later, Les Allumées inspired the first installation of Nuit Blanche in Paris—which was also directed by Blaise—and since then has spread to countries like Canada, Australia, and Chile. 

Unlike other cities, however, Nuit Blanche forms part of a greater initiative known as Montreal en lumière. The festival draws around 900,000 fans each year over a 10-day period to experience a range of visual and performing arts. This February, Montreal itself was the muse for its own festival. Renowned Montreal-based chefs contributed to the gastronomy aspect of the festival, while artists found inspiration from the city in the pieces they created for showcase.

Quotes:

“There were so many activities and fun things to see [in the] Place des Arts complex. The ambiance was appropriate for all ages, and I would definitely go again! […] It was great to see Place des Arts filled with so many happy people—everyone came [together] on the cold night to spend time with each other.”

 

— Veronica Li, U3 Arts

 

“Graffiti always struck me as something that belonged outside, defacing the side of my corner [depannéur.] So watching them paint right on the gallery wall seemed so wrong, but I couldn’t look away. It made me sad that it would get painted over for the next exhibition, but that’s kind of the point, isn’t it? Like Nuit Blanche itself, these murals are sort of a one-night-only deal.”

— Mingye Chen, U3 Arts & Science

“For someone who does not live downtown, one of the main reasons to go out on Nuit Blanche is that the metro is open all night. I do not have to worry about how I will get home or spending extra money on a taxi with a student budget. [It allows me] to wander to new places in Montreal. However, this year, I got so exhausted from walking and dancing—in a good way—that I just ended up cabbing.”

 

—Roman Radetskyy, U3 Microbiology & Immunology

“The event was bright and colourful, and a great way to get out of the McGill pocket and see the local music scene. The crowds were lively, which added to the excitement of the event. One of my favourite parts was roasting sausages and marshmallows by the fire pits.” 

 

 

—Katie Lee, U3 Pharmacology

 

a, McGill, News

Greenbriar to be converted into an upper-year residence for 2015-2016

by Shrinkhala Dawadi on

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The Greenbriar apartment-style residence will be designated for upper-year students beginning Fall 2015. The residence is located close to McGill’s downtown campus on University and primarily housing first-year students in studio-style and one-bedroom style apartments.

Director of Student Housing and Hospitality Services (SHHS) Janice Johnson explained that the change was motivated by the increased availability of beds overall in McGill residences and the current popularity of Greenbriar as an on-campus housing option for upper-year students—about 30 upper-year students apply to live in residence each year, most of whom choose Greenbriar. 

“Ever since we created [the residence] La Citadelle, we’ve got more beds than we need to meet the first-year student guarantee,” she said. “Looking at next year’s enrollment numbers […] we thought that Greenbriar was probably the place that would be the most attractive for upper-year [undergraduate] students.”

Second to fourth-year students would be able to apply to live in Greenbriar through a process independent of the general lottery system that is used to place first-year students in residences. 

“It’s more like applying to rent a space anywhere else,” Johnson explained. “We’ll have a web form for students to fill out an application [….] If we have a [first-year] student [who] has particular needs that Greenbriar would fit, I wouldn’t not put them there […] but we’re not going to be assigning a great swath [of first-year] students in Greenbriar.”

Leases for Greenbriar for the 2015-2016 school year would span 12 months, according to Johnson, although she said that she does not currently know how much rent would cost. Students would not be mandated to buy a meal plan.

Faye Siluk, U4 Education and Greenbriar floor fellow, explained that she believed some students might like the option of an upper-year residence.  

“Even though first year is so formative, I think a lot of students still need [the] sense of security and that guaranteed community that comes from [residence],” Siluk said. “It does bring a sense of safety that you maybe wouldn’t get if you’re a little bit young or inexperienced […] and that’s something that a lot of students as well as their families […] might appreciate.”

Siluk also spoke to the structure of the apartments within Greenbriar, stating that they allowed students to live more independently within the residence system.  

“Now that I’m in Greenbriar, I have a lot more privacy,” she said. “I have my own apartment and kitchen, [and] I do feel like I’ve been able to grow and develop [….] It makes sense to me that [an upper-year residence] would be Solin or Greenbriar, because it’s naturally going to be more independent.”

According to Johnson, Greenbriar will not have floor fellows in the 2015-2016 school year, although some on-site support would be provided for residents by relocating the MORE housing office to Greenbriar. 

“There will be an administrative presence in Greenbriar during the days […] in case students have questions, [but the] programming we [will] offer will be at a much more general level, [such as] inviting [students] to stuff that’s happening across residences,” she said.

Johnson continued to highlight that student consultation would take place throughout the year.

“We want to […] talk to students about what they might need and […] see if we need to create something specific for upper year students,” she said.

Siluk spoke to the challenge of creating a community of upper-year students in Greenbriar during the next school year.

“The fact that they’re upper-year students and that they have pre-established communities will make it more challenging than when you’re working with first years,” she said. “I think that if McGill set up some kind of hall council [for Greenbriar…] that plans events and gets given a budget […] than it would really help build a community [….] I do have faith that students make [communities] on their own, it might just be a longer process.”

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