Latest News

a, Student Life

A ‘fin’tastic workout

by Laura Plamondon on

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After graduating from HEC Montréal in 2012 and working shortly at Bell Canada, Marielle Chartier Hénault decided to follow her passion for the underwater world by creating AquaMermaid, a mermaid school based out of Montreal.

“I’ve always been known for loving the water,” Hénault said. “When I was younger, friends and family used to call me the little Mermaid. With my name being Marielle, [and] Ariel [as] the mermaid in The Little Mermaid, I guess it was just meant to be.”

Hénault embarked on a mission to find a way to combine her creativity and business education.

“When I was in business school, everyone around me would always tell me, ‘You are so creative, you have to do something with it,’” she said.

Hénault finally found her niche through the mermaid community.

“I have always been an active person and had previously done quite a bit of modelling,” Hénault continued. “So when a friend sent me an article about a mermaid school in Germany, I thought it would be the perfect way to combine my passion with my business education.”

As a school, AquaMermaid offers a new experience to anyone who has ever considered of learning how to be a mermaid or merman.

“[Mermaiding] is a mix of synchronized swimming, freediving, and regular swimming that involves performing dolphin kicks and undulating movements that you do when you practice the butterfly stroke,” said Hénault. “However, here, your legs are bound ogether by a neoprene mermaid tail.”

Unlike similar schools in Germany, the U.S., and the Philippines,Hénault’s school was developed to be slightly more formal. She wants to establish the concept beyond a gimmick that simply fulfils children’s dreams of becoming merpeople, which is frequently used by parents for their children’s birthday parties.

Hénault explained that her classes are a fun alternative to traditional workouts for adults to enjoy. She hopes that a new approach to this highly specialized sport will be more attainable for families.

“Fin-swimming is actually a niche sport that divers usually practice and compete in that involves all the muscles in your body,” Hénault said. “Not only does it reinforce your breathing and cardio, but you also strengthen your core and arm muscles However, as soon as you add a mermaid tail to the mono-fin, you forget about the challenging [task] you are doing.”

Hénault sought out many supporters for AquaMermaid to help her with the challenges young entrepreneurs face. For example, she had to find pools that would welcome her services, and she needed consulting for the legal regulations required for dealing with children.

“I was delighted at the number of people and professionals who supported my project and went out of their way to help me without expecting to make money,” Hénault said.

AquaMermaid also offers photo-shoots for individuals who wish to create a mermaid themed photo. The inspiration for these photoshoots originated from Hénault’s time as a model. She has been able to use her experiences and contacts to create successful photoshoots with professional photographers.

Hénault is also breaking into the retailing business and is starting to sell mermaid fish tails, which are made locally in Canada.

“I’ve realized that some clients love mermaiding so much they want to own their own mermaid fishtails,” Hénault said. “So I’ve decided to start selling my mermaid tails, [which are]purchased in Ottawa.”

In the future, Hénault wants to see the growth of a “mermaid community” in Montreal and Quebec with the organization of mermaid synchronized swimming competitions and races. She also has hopes of creating partnerships with holiday resorts in Cuba and other tropical destinations.

“I would like to offer my services to hotel guests who would enjoy a photoshoot on the beach or a mermaid session,” Hénault said.

Moreover, Hénault hopes that AquaMermaid will inspire other creative entrepreneurs.

“For the future, I hope that my academy become a reference for mermaid schools in Canada, and hope many people will be willing to jump in with me,” she said.

However, despite mermaiding’s appeal to some people, others are more skeptical.

“I like the idea, but for me, I think practicing this activity in a pool amongst many people might kill the magic of mermaids for me,” said Estelle Chappert, a U3 Management student.

Although mermaids may be a legend to some, Hénult’s launch of AquaMermaid may have turned the myth into somewhat a reality.

a, Arts & Entertainment

Album Review: Belle and Sebastian – Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance

by Chris Lutes on

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Ever since Belle and Sebastian shocked the indie pop world with 2003’s Dear Catastrophe Waitress by releasing a louder, dancier, more mainstream album than anyone thought possible, fans have had to reconcile with the fact that they’re basically a different band now. Gone are the days of lead singer and songwriter Stuart Murdoch sing-whispering into your ear; gone are the intricate melodies and crescendoing horns.

(more…)

a, Montreal, News

Removal of Viger Square homeless encampment by SPVM spurs reaction from Anonymous

by Laura Hanrahan on

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Following the Jan. 7 bulldozing of a homeless encampment in Viger Square, the Service de Police de la ville de Montreal  (SPVM) has responded to subsequent backlash.

In Nov. 2014, Anonymous, a hacker collective, began an initiative called Operation Safe Winter (OpSafeWinter). The initiative’s goal was to protect the homeless community through provision of blankets, clothing, and other cold-weather necessities.

Following the camp’s removal, Anonymous responded to the SPVM by occupying the square, threatening the SPVM with cyber attacks, and encouraging members of the community to help the homeless in any way they could.

A statement released by Anonymous on Jan. 9 demanded that the SPVM and the City of Montreal create a permanent moratorium on the raids of homeless encampments from Dec. 1 to March 1. The statement claimed that Anonymous would continue to occupy Viger Square, protest in the streets of Montreal, and attack the cyber infrastructure of the City of Montreal until its demands were met.

“OpSafeWinter is not about politics,” An Anonymous OpSafeWinter representative wrote in an email to the Tribune. “It’s about winter and homelessness. Just get out there and do something, anything, to help.”

According to SPVM Inspector Vincent Richer, the decision to clear the square was due to health and safety concerns.

“When they talk about ‘dismantling’ the encampment, that’s not what we did,” Richer said. “We took away some rubbish that was there. There were piles of stuff that were abandoned there by different people, and in these piles you have some syringes, old food that had rotted, and some rats, so we [had] to clean it up. I informed [the city workers] that for health reasons, we had to take these things away.”

Anonymous' OpSafeWinter representative disagreed with the SPVM’s description of the removed materials as rubbish.

“Much of the material that was destroyed at Viger Square was cold weather gear we had given those people previously as part of Op Safe Winter Montreal,” the representative stated.

According to Richer, however, this cleaning up is nothing new.

“Every Wednesday morning, city workers go and they pick up the syringes and the things that are abandoned.” Richer said. On Jan. 7, however, the cold weather caused a change of circumstances. “When the workers arrived with their shovels, it was all covered in ice and they couldn’t take it away, so they brought in that payloader.”

Richer also expressed that the SVPM hoped the police intervention would encourage members of the homeless community to seek out shelters for the night, as the temperature was expected to drop severely.

“My hope is that no one would sleep outside at -38 [degrees Celsius],” he said. “There were spaces in shelters, and Old Brewery Mission was working with us so that someone who wanted to sleep inside could sleep inside that night.”

Anonymous declined to comment on its future plans for protests and cyber attacks, stating that “You’ll just have to follow the Twitter, sit back, and watch.”

Richer described Anonymous’ attacks as unfortunate.

“Maybe they felt they have some reasons to attack us, but in that situation, our actions were for the well-being of the people that were there,” he said.

Students’ responses to the situation has been divided.

“I can see both sides to this problem.” U3 Education student Alex Lavkulik said. “Members of the homeless community have the right to be in a public space [….] On the other hand, the police are attempting to protect the wellbeing of the homeless community. They may not have gone about it the right way, but the intention was clearly there [….] I think, overall, there needs to be better communication between the SPVM and the Montreal community.”

a, Arts & Entertainment

Album Review: Sleater Kinney – No Cities to Love

by Dan Moczula on

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Sleater Kinney has had incredible staying power, as their new release, No Cities to Love, is the band’s first in 10 years. The band which has its roots in the ’90s DIY and riot grrrl scene in America’s Pacific Northwest has made consistently great music and achieved a hybrid level of commercial and independent success without becoming a nostalgic arena rock staple like some other ’90s bands from Washington (here’s looking at you, Pearl Jam and Foo Fighters). The band’s 10-year hiatus gave its members a chance to pursue other creative avenues, but the three come back together seamlessly in No Cities to Love, a pseudo-reunion album with impressive force.

Sleater Kinney continues with its unique combination of personal and political content. Album-opener “Price Tag” grabs the listener from the get-go with an assertive distorted riff reminiscent of its 2005 album, The Woods, and tells a tale of day-to-day living in the age of the Great Recession and austerity. On the other side of the political-personal spectrum, “Gimme Love” turns a personal need and insecurity into a message of strength. However, despite its lyrical strength, it is the least satisfying track on the album, featuring a stuttery chorus that kills the song’s momentum.

Corin Tucker’s voice combines with imposing riffs, thus grounding the album and pummelling the listener in the gut. Vocal unisons between Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein create some of the album’s soaring moments like in the intro and chorus of “No Cities to Love” and the anthemic end of ironically titled “No Anthems.” If you like distorted guitars and drums or have listened to rock in any of its forms, give it a listen.

a, Recipes, Student Life

Recipe: Curried butternut squash and broccoli soup

by Alycia Noë on

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Ingredients:

2 tbsps ghee (clarified butter)

1 large onion, diced

1 bulb of garlic, minced

1 tbsps fresh ginger, grated

2 tbsps curry powder

2-3 tbsps red thai curry paste

1 tbsps cayenne pepper

1 medium butternut squash, cubed

4 heads of broccoli cut into florets

4 cups low sodium chicken broth

1 14-oz can of coconut milk

Freshly cracked black pepper

Red wine vinegar powder or salt

2 cups grated extra sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions:

1. Heat up a large pot on the stove over medium heat.

2. Add the ghee, onion, and garlic into the pot. Season with black pepper, red wine vinegar powder, and salt.

3. Cook for about 10 minutes or until onions are soft and beginning to brown.

4. Add ginger, curry powder, thai curry paste, and cayenne pepper. Stir into the onion mixture and cook for about 5 minutes.

5. Add squash, broccoli, and chicken broth to the pot. Cover and let simmer for 40-45 minutes or until all vegetables are soft.

6. Using an immersion blender, blend soup until you have a consistency similar to a purée.

7. Add coconut milk to hot soup.

8. Stir in grated cheddar cheese until melted. If the soup is too thick, add water in increments of ¼ cup.

9. Garnish with shredded cheddar cheese. Enjoy either warm or chilled.

a, McGill, News, SSMU

SSMU general manager position in transition after Pauline Gervais’ retirement

by Ashley Kong on

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At the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Council meeting on Jan. 15, SSMU President Courtney Ayukawa announced that SSMU General Manager Pauline Gervais, who has worked at SSMU since 2004, has retired. The new general manager will take over the position in early February. More details about the new general manager will be released during the next Council meeting on Jan. 29.

Although Gervais’ last day as general manager was Jan. 4, Gervais will work part-time to finish any final work.

“She is coming two days in a week and she stopped working on any new projects,” Ayukawa explained. “[Gervais signs] the cheques that are needed and [handles] the general work that [is] needed for the day-to-day functioning of SSMU.”

According to Ayukawa, the hiring process of the new general manager is almost completed, which Gervais stated was a collaborative one.

“The first interviews were done by the president and the human resources advisor.” Gervais said. “I did the final interviews with the president [….] We together made the decision.”

Ayukawa stated that she believes that it is going to be a challenging time for SSMU without the lengthy experience of Gervais, who had worked for 11 years in the position,

“[Gervais] knows SSMU, SSMU’s relationship with McGill, and SSMU’s relationship with the City of Montreal like the back of her hand,” Ayukawa said. “It’s been very easy working with her in the last few months. For example, if I [wanted] to install a new elevator in SSMU, she would know exactly the roadblocks for that […] exactly whom to talk to with the university […] how much money it would even cost [….] So when the new general manager comes in without having any knowledge or previous experience, it’s going to be tough.”

Gervais’ retirement also led to the creation of the new position of SSMU building director, which will separate building management issues from general management. The position was created after Gervais announced her retirement at the end of last semester.

“Dealing with the building issues and all the governance, corporate stuff, human resources, finances, and staff management­—when you have the building [added onto] that, it was very heavy load [of work] to the point that I didn’t have enough time to put on governance and to the things that you’d expect the general manager to do,” Gervais explained. “By creating a building director position, removing the building from the general manager [position], my successor will not have to deal, on a daily basis, with the building issues.”

Gervais said the transient nature of her working relationships with SSMU executives was a draining.

“Every year, I have to rebuild the trust between the executives and the general manager,” she said. “Once they get used to [knowing] me, and we have established some sort of a trustworthy relationship, they are gone. I have to start that over, over, and over again. That’s what I’m most tired of.”

Gervais said that she has worked hard to bring financial stability to SSMU and restructuring human resources. The most remarkable of all, according to Gervais, is the SSMU Daycare.

“The SSMU Daycare used to be a department under SSMU, but [it was also] its own corporation,” she recalled. “A company can’t be run under another company. So I told them to set up their own account, their own cheque book, and [to] become independent from SSMU. I’ve also represented the Daycare and applied for government subsidy [….] It took a long time and we got the subsidy at last. It’s $7 per day now. I’m so happy.”

Upon her retirement, Gervais expects SSMU to further evolve in a positive way.

“I’ve brought SSMU to this level, and now, you need someone different that’s going to bring SSMU from this current level to a higher level,” she said. “With the desire, with the passion, with everything that I’ve had so many years, you need some new blood. [There will be] new ideas, new ways of doing things [.…] It’s good evolution.”

a, Football, Sports

Point Counterpoint: Are the playoffs a requirement to become MVP?

by Zikomo Smith on

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It’s no secret that, at least in North American sports, the regular season is just the small-time opening act for the post-season. Regular season stats are nice and all, but it’s the clutch performances and the rings that truly immortalize the best players, and the MVP award is usually reserved for an offensive player on a playoff-bound team. But, with J.J. Watt’s ridiculous season challenging the status quo, it’s time to revisit the age old debate: How much do the playoffs matter in choosing the MVP?

Click each perspective to read more

No Playoffs, No MVP

Johnny Mater

The Most Valuable Player trophy is awarded based on vague criteria that are open to interpretation, but the definition of MVP is quite simple. The award should go to player who contributed the most to their team’s success in that particular season. Success is the key word; an MVP elevates the game of his teammates and creates wins for the team. If a player cannot, through his own individual play, raise the play of others enough to even qualify for the playoffs, he is certainly not the MVP.
J.J. Watt had without a doubt one of the most dominant defensive seasons in recent memory, but he was sitting at home while Aaron Rodgers went to work in the playoffs. Unlike Watt, Rodgers led his team to the playoffs, and would be a worthy choice for MVP.
Rodgers has the decided benefit of being a quarterback, but regardless, who contributed more to their team’s success, Rodgers or Watt? For all the ridiculous plays Watt made, only a handful had a meaningful effect on the final outcome of the game. The nature of football makes the MVP debate something of a lost cause, because the quarterback position is always going to be the most important determinant of team success, especially in today’s NFL.
The question of whether the Most Valuable Player should be from a playoff team is just as pertinent in the NBA this season. Anthony Davis plays like a machine programmed to destroy anything that comes into the lane, and his 31.0 player efficiency rating (PER) leads the league, but as it stands now, he would not be the MVP. Instead, it is Stephen Curry, whose electrifying skill, unbelievable shooting, and general basketball aptitude have the Warriors sitting atop of one of the most competitive and loaded conferences in NBA history. Given his younger age, it could be argued that Davis is more impressive. The key difference between them is this: Curry has his team heading towards the Finals, while Davis’ Pelicans will be hard-pressed to even make the playoffs. The Pelicans occupy the ninth seed at the moment, five games behind Phoenix for the final seed and just one game above the surging Thunder.
Basketball and football are very different. A player can influence the game from any position on the court in basketball; there is no quarterback who disproportionately affects a game’s outcome. Anthony Davis looks great on the court and is as exciting as any player in the league to watch, but the Pelicans as a whole are a mediocre team who play slow, take bad shots, and allow too many points for a team with Davis under the rim. The Warriors, on the other hand, are an absolute pleasure to watch, with expert ball movement, smart defensive rotations, and players hitting shots from all over the floor. This all begins with Curry, who influences the play of the opposing team in a way that Davis does not, creating opportunities for his teammates and ensuring success.
It is safe to say that the Warriors would not be in first place without Curry, while the Pelicans would likely only fare slightly worse without Davis. The success of the team is crucial to a player’s candidacy as MVP. No one cares about the best player on a losing team. To the victor go the spoils.

Value added always

Zikomo Smith

American professional sports have an unhealthy obsession with evaluating players on the basis of their championship rings and playoff appearances. How many online pundits try to diminish Peyton Manning’s achievements because he ‘isn’t clutch’ or only has one Super Bowl ring to his name? It’s silly. A player’s value extends beyond their team’s record, and this year, sports writers should recognize this and give J.J. Watt the MVP over Aaron Rodgers.
It is often the case that excellent players will tend to get their teams into the playoffs. Their ability to do so is part of their ‘value.’ You can reasonably expect that the majority of MVPs will be on playoff-bound teams. However, there is more than one way to judge ‘value.’ Are they doing something historically significant? How do they measure up according to advanced metrics? How much better are they than the next best player in their position? How many aspects of the game do they impact? What kind of reputation have they built for themselves? How well have they played against tougher opponents? In the case of J.J. Watt, he scores higher on all of the above questions than any other player in the league. The Texans may not have made the playoffs, but J.J. Watt has been freakishly valuable in almost every other imaginable category.
It’s not as though the Texans laid an egg this season. They were rated fourth smartest team in Football with one of the best defensive scores, in no small part due to Watt. The Texans also had a winning record, 9-7. We cannot forget how arbitrary team records are: the Arizona Cardinals missed the playoffs last year with a 10-6 record, while the Green Bay Packers won a Super Bowl in 2011 after a 10-6 regular season. The Texans also had a better season than Carolina, who made the playoffs with a 7-8-1 record. No one in his or her right mind would argue that any player on the Panthers was more valuable than J.J. Watt this season. However, if we were following the logic of giving the MVP to playoff-bound players, we would look to Carolina before Watt.
The example of team records shows that there is an element of luck in team sporting success. The Panthers would have been watching the playoffs at home if they were in the AFC, or any other NFC division. The Texans were in the playoff hunt until the very last week of the season. A player’s value is something you can quantify, while luck is not. Insofar as a team’s success is down to luck, you do not want that to reflect on the asserted value of the player in question. The Texans were 2-14 last season and improved to 9-7 this year and still did not make the playoffs. J.J. Watt has been the best football player this year, and the fact that his team did not make the playoffs should in no way diminish his achievements.
To conclude, broadening the MVP debate beyond playoff teams will not only lead to a more accurate evaluation of what ‘value’ is, but will also lead to a more varied and interesting debate about how good a player is, and how impactful their seasons have been.

Editor’s Pick: Value added always
Playoffs don’t matter. Even in team sports, a few lucky bounces and some below-average teammates shouldn’t take recognition away from a player’s incredible season.

a, McGill, News, SSMU

SSMU Council reviews budget, hears address from Principal Fortier

by Lauren Wildgoose on

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The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU)  Council met on Thursday to review executive reports from the past semester, including the SSMU budget, and to discuss the implementation of interim election regulations for this semester.

Address by Principal Suzanne Fortier

Principal Suzanne Fortier made an appearance at the meeting, giving a year-in-review speech in which she highlighted McGill’s Arts Research Internship Awards and other accomplishments. Principal Fortier then stood for questions from Council,  fielding concerns expressed by students on issues of tuition and financial accessibility.

In response to a question from Vice-President External Affairs Amina Moustaqim-Barrette regarding McGill’s risk of becoming an elitist university in terms of financial accessibility, Fortier cited the bursary fund.

“McGill is an elitist university in terms of academic achievement,” Fortier said. “[It] is able to attract very good students because it has the top bursary program in Canada in terms of money per student. If I were to talk about what makes a good university […] it’s the ability to attract students not on the basis of what they can pay, but on the basis of their academic achievements.”

Motion to pass interim election regulations

The Council passed a motion to implement interim provisions regarding the SSMU Nominating Committee and online ratification of General Assembly resolutions. The new Nominating Committee will consist of four councillors and four members at large, and the committee Chair will be appointed by the SSMU general manager rather than the president.

These interim provisions aim to adhere to a less executive-centred model, increasing the committee’s objectivity.

“In the previous Nominating Committee, all of the executives were members, along with three councillors,” Vice-President University Affairs Claire Stewart-Kanigan said. “These positions are supposed to be very distanced from SSMU, given that they’re elections and judicial board justices, so we spent a lot of time talking about how we can make this more distanced from the executives to avoid potential conflicts of interest and increase the objectivity of these bodies.”

Stewart-Kanigan said the changes may be a larger part of a reform in Elections SSMU.

“This could potentially be part of a shift toward moving Elections SSMU from the presidential portfolio into the general manager portfolio to increase the objectivity of this process,” Stewart-Kanigan said.

Report on last semester’s budget

In a review of SSMU’s budget, expenses, and investment portfolio from last semester, Vice-President Finance and Operations Kathleen Bradley noted that Gerts ran a deficit of $25,724. Bradley said she was unconcerned, explaining that these numbers were nothing out of the ordinary compared to previous years. The Nest ran a deficit of $27,210. She attributing the low sales at both venues to the construction on McTavish.

“Food sales are down pretty substantially at The Nest, but I’m happy to report that costs of sales are well controlled, and salaries and benefits have been addressed,” Bradley said. “That was the primary failing of last year’s budget.”

Overall, sales at both Gerts and The Nest were better than projected in the budget, and SSMU operations differed from its projected budget by  $10,000.

Announcement of new SSMU General Manager

President Courtney Ayukawa announced the hiring of the new SSMU General Manager, who will begin transitioning into their new role in early February.

“The General Manager was selected based on a number of factors,” Ayukawa said. “She needed to have a great diversity of previous experience. It’s really hard to find someone who can do marketing, daycare, student development, budgeting, and human resources—it’s a pretty diverse portfolio.”

a, Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

Reality TV we’d like to see

by Max Berger & Morgan Alexander on

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One of the lesser known shows that debuted this month is Framework, Spike’s latest reality TV offering that pits “elite furniture craftsmen” against each other in a competition hosted by—wait for it—acclaimed hip-hop artist, Common. (more…)

a, Student Life, Student of the Week

Student of the Week: Jana Sauma

by Meghan Collie on

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Women’s rights have come a long way, but there are still improvements to be made in issues related to gender equality, particularly in the workplace. According to Jana Sauma, a U3 Management student who is about to complete her degree in marketing, she experiences this reality everyday.

Sauma is inspired by the delicate balance between creativity and statistics that marketing requires, and hopes to enter the professional world of advertising and branding. Jana is the VP Finance for McGill Women in Leadership (MWIL) and is dedicated to empowering young women to enter into the professional world confident and prepared. As VP Finance, Sauma is responsible for working closely with the fundraising and sponsorship teams to ensure that all of MWIL’s events go smoothly.  

Originally from Lebanon, Sauma has lived in many places, including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and most recently, Ottawa. Her experiences abroad have shown her that women in Canada are extremely lucky to live in a part of the world where women in the workplace are often welcomed and professionally valued. However, she recognizes that there are still many stigmas faced by women in Canadian business everyday.

Sauma became involved with MWIL when she met some executive members at the 2014 TedX Women in Montreal, and she joined MWIL because it aims to inspire, enlighten, and liberate women of the McGill community to reach their goals.

“We sometimes lack the exposure to women like us who are succeeding in the areas that we would like to pursue,” Sauma said. “MWIL is determined to make young women aware of their skills and aware of the women before them who have been successful.”

Sauma believes that personal worth is an especially important realization women need to have before entering the workforce.

The work place can be competitive, stigmatized against women, and even sexist. Sauma believes that analyzing successul females can help females today recognize the potential skill sets they can bring to the table

“To become empowered, we need to be aware of the skills we share with the women who have come before us,” she said.

Sauma addressed the intimidation that women can sometimes experience in male-dominated environments.

“Be true to yourself, and don’t worry about standing out just because you’re a woman,” Sauma said. “Continue to push yourself and believe in yourself. Don’t be scared of being aggressive or loud in class. If that’s what you need to do to be heard, do it.”  

What is your favourite place to study?

Redpath, because [the Law library] is too far.

If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?

Maya Angelou or Beyoncé.

What are your top three pizza toppings?

Arugula, mushrooms, and goat cheese.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

When people drag their feet.

If you had to listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?

‘Circles’ by Passenger.

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