Latest News

a, Student Life

‘Tis the season to be jolly

by Keah Hansen on

More in a:

Last Wednesday, the Students’ Society of McGill’s (SSMU) Ballroom hosted the Market Cooperative’s Holiday Bonanza, one of the four such markets hosted throughout the year. (more…)

a, McGill, News

McGill to review expenditures in light of budget cuts

by Aislinn Kalob on

More in a:

Senate addresses budget cuts

McGill Principal Suzanne Fortier addressed various concerns regarding the impact of provincial budget cuts on the university’s budget and services at last Wednesday’s Senate meeting. The Quebec government announced in the middle of November that $4.8 million would be cut from McGill’s budget, in addition to the original $15 million cut announced at the end of this summer.

“Obviously it is very hard for us to absorb these cuts, particularly as we’re more than halfway through our financial year,” Fortier said. “The government is also projecting cuts for next year. This is all in trying to achieve a balanced budget in two years from now.” 

The Students’ Society of McGill University’s (SSMU) VP University Affairs Claire Stewart-Kanigan and Arts Senator Jacob Greenspon raised a question asking which particular services would be cut or reduced, which was answered by Provost Anthony C. Masi in an official Senate document. 

“Austerity is not a strategy for the longer term, but at the present time McGill will have to adopt certain efficiency measures,” Masi wrote. “While we are exploring our options,  the University has not targeted specific student services for elimination as a way of reducing costs. However, some services may have to be offered at a reduced level and all services will have to be studied.”

Masi, whose office is responsible for budget issues, was not present at the meeting to further answer any of the Senators’ questions during the open discussion period. Fortier answered supplemental questions in his absence.

“There will be consultation with the students on any of the services currently offered that might be affected by the cuts,” Fortier said. “As far as I know, there is no plan to eliminate services. The level of service may be affected, but we’re not yet at this level of detail in our analysis of the impact of these cuts.”

Fortier did not say when these student consultations might take place. 

Open discussion on learning outside the classroom

The Senate held a discussion on undergraduate research opportunities as the first of many upcoming sessions on learning opportunities outside of the classroom. The main concern in this discussion was whether or not research should be credited, paid, or given other recognition. 

One key issue in the discussion concerned how students can use their undergraduate research to further their goals, whether for graduate school, a career, in a competitive market.

“[Students] want credentials to reflect their activities,” Dean of Students André Costopoulos said. “I think in that case, then they are responding to a real-world pressure.”

SSMU President Courtney Ayukawa said she supported undergraduate research to be both credited and paid to increase financial equity.

“I do not want any […] students […] to not be able to do research opportunities they may be incredibly passionate about­—with some of the best professors and researchers in the world—because they cannot afford to,” Ayukawa said.

Not all senators shared Ayukawa’s sentiment that a university should be supporting outside endeavours such as research or internships. 

“I think it’s important to realize that maybe not everything, not all learning should be credited by the university,” Faculty of Arts Senator Professor Catherine Lu said.  “You get a specific kind of education by coming to a university, and that’s supposed to help give you certain foundational resources for working or doing research outside the university.”

a, News, SSMU

SSMU Council debates Ad-Hoc Student Engagement Committee, Redpath Library doors

by Sarah Ibrahim on

More in a:

Motion regarding the creation of an Ad-Hoc Student Engagement Committee

Last Thursday, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Legislative Council passed a motion regarding the creation of an Ad-hoc student engagement committee. Sponsored by Arts Councillor Alexander Kpeglo-Hennessy, SSMU President Courtney Ayukawa, and Arts Councillor Lola Baraldi, the motion aimed to find innovative ways for SSMU to engage constituents. (more…)

a, McGill, News

Sexual assault charges withdrawn in case against three former Redmen football players

by Jessica Fu on

More in a:

On Nov. 17, the Crown prosecutor in the sexual assault case against three former McGill University Redmen football players—Ian Sheriff, Brenden Carriere, and Guillaume Tremblay— withdrew its charges. (more…)

a, Science & Technology

Mission accomplished: Philae touches down

by Clare Lyle on

More in a:

At 16:03 GMT on Nov. 12, 2014, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Rosetta mission’s Philae lander touched down on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Its arrival marked the end of a decade-long journey that spanned 6.4 billion kilometres, and the first successful landing of a spacecraft on a comet.

The Rosetta mission, named after the Rosetta Stone, is expected to explain some of the mysteries shrouding the birth of our solar system by taking an unprecedentedly close look at a comet.   

Comets offer a wealth of information about what our planetary neighbourhood looked like billions of years ago. Unlike planets, where chemical reactions alter their composition over time, comets have remained relatively unchanged for billions of years.

Scientists believe that the data Philae collects will reveal the age, chemical composition, and history of comets in our solar system. Additionally, this data could indicate how much of Earth’s water came from collisions with comets, and even what effect comets had on the development of life.

“Rosetta is trying to answer the very big questions about the history of our Solar System,” explained Matt Taylor, a Rosetta project scientist, in an ESA press release. “What were the conditions like at its infancy, and how did it evolve? What role did comets play in this evolution? How do comets work?”

The probe has already provided scientists with some insight into the makeup of the comet—even before its landing. An instrument called ROSINA (Rosetta orbiter sensor for ion and neutral analysis) analyzed the compounds present in the comet’s coma—a halo of evaporated gases that are released when the comet orbits near the sun.

Most of the data that scientists are eagerly awaiting, however, will be produced by the Philae lander on the comet’s surface. A variety of detectors will measure the mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties of the surface of the comet.

Descending and touching down on the comet was a rocky affair. A comet is a relatively small object, so there is very little gravitational force to prevent an incoming object, like a probe, from bouncing and flying off into space. Philae’s landing harpoons­—which were designed to hold the probe to the comet’s surface—failed, and after an initial impact, the craft bounced off of the rocky landscape and travelled at 38 cm/s for almost two hours until it landed about a kilometre from its initial landing site.

Philae then bounced a second time, although it landed again within seven minutes. Its final landing spot was much shadier than the one intended—bad news for the lander’s solar powered batteries.

Though the lander was able to start collecting data, limited power supply meant that its operational time frame was significantly shorter than scientists had anticipated. Philae’s battery died soon after sending the last of its data back to Earth, although scientists hope that it may be revived when the comet’s orbit brings it closer to the sun.

Despite these setbacks, the general outlook on the comet landing is a positive one. The results produced by Philae will have an immense impact on what we know about not just the contents of our solar system, but how it came to exist as we know it.

“It’s been an extremely long and hard journey to reach today’s once-in-a-lifetime event, but it was absolutely worthwhile,” said Fred Jansen, ESA Rosetta mission manager. “We look forward to the continued success of the great scientific endeavour that is the Rosetta mission as it promises to revolutionize our understanding of comets.”

a, Student Life

Night at the museum

by Tiffany Le on

More in a:

The McCord Museum hosted another monthly recurring After Hours evening this past Thursday themed around the famous smoked meat delicatessen Ben’s De Luxe Delicatessen. Presented by National Bank of Canada, cocktails and sandwiches collided with classic R&B, soul, and Motown ‘45s’ for a perfectly retro night celebrating one of Montreal’s legendary institutions. From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., guests socialized with a variety of people from different industries, and connected through their shared appreciation for Montreal’s history.

After Hours is part of several initiatives created by the Young McCord Council aimed at mobilizing Montrealers to protect and promote Montreal arts and culture through philanthropy and volunteerism. Other events include Culture Nights and the Sugar Ball, an annual fundraising party.

“[We’re] proud to support the Young McCord Council, which, through entertaining initiatives such as After Hours, reinforces the importance of cultural patronage among young professionals,” explained Véronique Lettre, senior manager of brand and community involvement at National Bank.

The cocktail party was held on the ground floor of the museum. The modern interior was accordingly decorated by candy-coloured lighting designs, while black and white photographs of Bens throughout the years were projected onto the walls. Plush red chairs were arranged throughout the room, similar to the original ones inside the corner deli. A small bar also served beers, wines, and cocktails.

DJ New Breed Nick, who performs at the Mess Around evenings at Divan Orange, entertained the crowd with an upbeat mix of classics of the era.

“There’s food, drinks, and ’50s retro music—of course I would come,” said Patrick Lapiere, a previous attendee of After Hours and young marketing director.

Montreal’s smoked meat reputation has been based on many locations around the city, including Bens’ family-run business and Schwartz’s on Saint-Laurent. Locals and celebrities alike have enjoyed Bens for nearly a century before it closed. Café Bistro, a restaurant located inside the McCord, partnered with the Bens company to recreate their famed sandwich for the event. They set up a bar where modest-sized portions of the wondrously stuffed sandwich were available for purchase, along with lox and Lox and bagelsNew York cheesecake.

“We’ve been collaborating together since the start of summer for the exhibition Bens, The Legendary Deli,” said Café Bistro chef Julien Leblanc Traiteur. “We copied exactly what Bens does with their meat—even their original mustard radish recipe.”

All the current exhibitions of the museum were open to attendees of the event, and guests were encouraged to drift from the lively atmosphere for a while to explore upstairs. There were three levels, each of which housed a unique perspective on Montreal. The museum is fully dedicated to incorporating every facet of Montreal’s history, from First Nations culture to contemporary landmarks like Bens. Although the deli has now been closed for eight years, its spirit is still quite alive among the Montreal community.

“[Bens had] my father’s favourite smoked meat, but for me, it was the cherry cokes,” Lapiere said. “It was really an indelible institution in Montreal, a landmark that was known for its atmosphere.”

The cocktail party costs $15, but tickets can be ordered online for $11. If attendees choose to become members of the museum, the admission is reimbursed on the evening they attend. By becoming a new member, patrons also get discounts at the McCord boutique.

The McCord Museum is an accessible way for students’ involvement within the city to find activities outside of McGill. On certain nights, they also host free Tea Series with renowned presenters on topics such as psychology, photography, costumes, and more.

“After Hours is a great social event for young people,” Olga Markina, real estate broker, said. “It’s an innovative, strategic, and creative idea to get people interested in history.”

a, Features

Ladies sing the blues

by Morgan Alexander on

More in a:

With Kim Kardashian’s recent front page butt-spread on Paper Magazine and Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda” music video fuelling more “How to twerk” YouTube videos than ever before, it seems that we have finally reached an era of women in control of the mainstream media. (more…)

a, Martlets, Sports

Martlets fly past Ravens

by Nicholas Jasinski on

More in a:

McGill Martlets
6

Carleton Ravens
2
 

(more…)

The Arts Lounge of AUS McGill
a, News, SSMU

Inconsistencies with BdA alcohol permits among reasons for resignation of AUS VP Social

by Elie Waitzer on

More in a:

VP Social resignation and BdA improprieties

During last Wednesday’s Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) Council meeting, the AUS discussed the replacement process for Kyle Rouhani, who recently resigned as VP Social. According to a statement by Rouhani on his Facebook page, he decided to resign “for reasons of extreme personal, academic, and emotional duress met during the role.”

According to AUS President Ava Liu, issues involving alcohol permits for Bar des Arts (BdA) also factored into Rouhani’s resignation.

“There were improprieties [with the BdA liquor permit] which were symptoms, the VP Social says, of his inability to fulfill his portfolio due to […] duress,” she said.

She declined to elaborate further “out of respect for the VP Social.”

Liu further stated that BdA’s operation would not be affected by the resignation.

“BdA is run by a team under the VP Social portfolio [….] They’re very competent and they’re working very hard,” Liu said. “The liquor permit has been processed by the VP Internal of the AUS, so she will be taking over that role [….] Permits are secured for the rest of the semester and for next semester too [….] There are no repercussions going forward.”

Rouhani is the third AUS executive to resign this year, following the replacement of the VP Finance, Kateryn Kim by Li Xue and the VP Internal, Leila Alfaro by Roma Nadeem.

Replacement process and portfolio discussion

Liu outlined two options moving forward, a by-election or an appointment. Council members expressed concern that, under the appointment system, only current members of AUS standing committees can be considered. A straw poll revealed, however, that most councillors were also opposed to a by-election as the process would take a long time.

“It’s too late to hold [a by-election] without running into exam period, and if we go into next semester, we won’t have someone in the role until mid-February,” Liu said. “Therefore, I don’t think [a by-election is] feasible.”
After further discussion, the council reached a solution that addressed the councillors’ concerns.

“I will send out a callout to AUS for people who are interested in running for the position to fill out the Event Planning and Implementation Committee (EPIC) application form […] and from there we will hold an appointment next session,” Liu said.

Liu explained that EPIC already consisted of most of the candidates who were to run for the vacant portfolio, and any interested candidates currently not on one of the AUS’ committees could make themselves eligible for appointment by applying for one of the many empty seats on EPIC.

With the replacement process decided, discussion moved onto the portfolio itself. Members of the council and the audience called into question the portfolio’s structure, citing the stress associated with transitioning from frosh into the school year.

“I think that the new VP Social should not have the responsibilities outlined in the portfolio for the rest of the year and should instead focus on restructuring the portfolio,” Christine Koppenaal, U1 Psychology, said. “I think that there’s an inherent problem with the portfolio as demonstrated by the fact that this is not the first VP Social to resign in the last few years. The […] portfolio is just too overwhelming for one person to handle.”

Arts Internship Office (AIO) Fee

Xue met with the Financial Management Committee (FMC) to discuss the structure of the proposed $2.25 per credit fee to reform advising and career services. The FMC recommended that the financing be modelled after similar faculty-specific services such as the Desautels Career Service (DCS) and the Engineering Career Centre (ECC). However, there was disagreement over the fairness of imposing $1.5 million of the endowment fund on Arts students over the next five years.

“There was a split on whether or not the endowment model was the recommendation, because [it seems] like a certain pack of students [will be paying] for future students to access these services,” Xue said.

Xue offered several solutions to this issue, including extending the endowment period over a greater number of years in order to spread out the costs. VP Academic Erin Sobat proposed to set aside time in the next council meeting for a town hall to discuss the fee.

SNAX sandwich freeze

Sobat met with Deputy Provost Ollivier Dyens to discuss the recent order from the university to discontinue sandwich sales at SNAX, a snack and beverage stand run by the AUS. Following years of selling sandwiches, the administration recently ordered SNAX to stop its sales, claiming that they had only discovered the violation of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) this year.

According to Sobat, Dyens was against renegotiating SNAX’s MoA with the university, and mentioned that he was concerned that allowing concessions to SNAX would open the door for other student organizations to violate their MoAs.

“I pointed out that this is not a pattern of opening doors; this is a pattern of closing them,” Sobat said, in reference to the closure of the popular student-run Architecture Café by the administration in 2010.

“Moving forward, our goal is to set up a meeting with the Provost and a representative from [McGill Food and Dining Services] to find a solution,” Sobat said.

Xue said she met with SNAX Manager Hasan Nizami, who was optimistic about the establishment’s survival despite being unable to sell sandwiches.

“They are introducing new options,” Xue said. “For example, kosher food […] and Indian [meals] such as butter chicken […] because [they are] finding that a lot of the sandwich customers aren’t coming back.

1 … 881 882 883 884 885 … 1,363

Read the latest issue

Read the latest issue