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a, Martlets, Sports

Martlets gear up for playoff race

by Nicole Spadotto on

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The McGill Martlets (4-3-2) soccer team converted on a myriad of offensive opportunities in the second half to best the UQTR Patriotes (1-4-2) 2-0 at Molson Stadium Thursday evening.

The first half of the game was dominated by the Martlets as they continuously out-ran the UQTR defence to create scoring chances. Senior forward Rebecca Green led the offence in the first half, keeping constant pressure on the opposing team. She narrowly missed several chances created by fellow striker Meghan Bourque.

“We knew this was a game for us to win and we were all pleased with how we took control early on in the game,” Head Coach Jose-Luis Valdes said. “We created very good chances, but their keeper made the saves somehow to keep them in the game at the half.”

The Martlets came out even more determined in the second half, with Bourque, Green, and rookie forward Audrey-Ann Coughlan creating legitimate scoring chances. Bourque dominated the game offensively, creating multiple chances for both herself and her teammates.

“Meghan was determined and had an extra gear over everyone today,” Valdes said. “You could see she wanted to make a difference and players just feed off that attitude.”

UQTR cobbled together a rare offensive chance in the middle of the second half, but were turned away in front of the net by a tight Martlets defence led by junior Zoe Fasoulakis.

The Martlets quickly recovered, taking control of the game again soon after. Turning on her burners, Bourque sprinted down the left side of the field, blowing by several defenders and beating the UQTR goalkeeper before leaving the ball on a tee for Coughlan, who made no mistake finding the back of the net to put McGill ahead for good. The goal came with 15 minutes to spare and, despite their excellent play from the outset, the Martlets let out a collective sigh of relief.

“From that point on, you saw the weight come off our players’ shoulders and […] we did not force the play anymore,” Valdes explained.

Indeed, the Martlets appeared visibly looser, and were able to take advantage on their next scoring opportunity, with Hannah Kirby kicking home the insurance marker a few minutes after Coughlan’s go-ahead score. A goal by sophomore forward Taylor Anderson was disallowed due to an offsides call. Despite seeing limited action, sophomore goalkeeper Cassandra Fafalios stood tall in the Martlet net, making one save on the night. She was credited with her third shutout of the season, and continues to shine for McGill with consistently sharp play. The Martlets dominated the game in terms of possession, but as Valdes notes, possession is only consequential if scoring chances are created.

“[The team] still needs to work on pulling the trigger, as we sometimes just try to do things a little too pretty or tend to watch others and see what they will do,” Valdes explained following the Martlets’ Thursday night victory.

“We saw this in the first half and corrected it in the second. Hopefully versus Concordia we will play ninety minutes with the intention of making the difference in front of their goal.”

The Martlets were partially able to do live up to Valdes’ expectations as they drew 2-2 against the Concordia Stingers (2-3-3) on Sunday. Next weekend McGill hosts the RSEQ leading Laval Rouge et Or (7-1-0) on Friday night before travelling to Sherbrooke (5-2-0) on Sunday in hopes of gathering steam ahead of a post-season run.

a, Student Life, Student of the Week

Student of the Week: Wilkey Rong

by Tiffany Le on

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Wilkey Rong, a U2 Arts student double majoring in economics and German, has actively begun to realize his goals and ideas in promoting a better future. He considers education reform and economic development to be the best foundations to build a more sustainable and prosperous future, and works enthusiastically to promote those changes.

Growing up in the metropolitan city of Shanghai, China, Rong was exposed first-hand to the consequences of the vast disparity between the rich and the poor. The systematic oppression of certain groups like migrant workers affected him deeply.

Rong is also invested in the problems concerning education in China. According to Rong, the schooling system often aims for students to complete degrees to earn high-paying jobs, instead of encouraging critical thinking and reflections on world issues.

“Schools should not dictate what is right or wrong, but should teach how to think about cause and effect,” Rong said.

Rong believes that education should act as a guide to explore topics and incite discussion, while cultivating rational and comparative thinking.

“Education is about encouraging people and teaching them to think,” Rong said.

Rong sees the connection between human rights and education, and is studying to find ways to connect the two.

Over the summer, Rong was a chief student leader for the International Baccalaureate World Student Conference (IBWSC), a conference created to bridge the conversation between high school students and teachers about involvement in human rights activism. Different perspectives were offered by guest speakers to generate interest and appeal to teenagers from a multitude of backgrounds. Rong worked with Service Point Enrolment to campaign for the event and recruit participants. He is also a leading member of the IB Alumni Advisory Council (IBAAC), a chapter that brings together former students in volunteer programs and other meet-and-greet events. His involvement with IB extends to his active participation in advancing the program by holding monthly advice meetings with IB coordinators throughout the year.

Rong has been involved with the Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) chapter at McGill since the beginning of this semester. As VP Internal Affairs, he is tasked with running financials for the club, while advocating its core beliefs and values. The organization seeks to create awareness about issues of fundamental rights in order to incite long-term and non-dependent change. According to Rong, JHR encourages the open discussion on controversial topics in support of the inherent equality of all human beings.

“JHR is really a platform to voice opinions,” Rong said.

After surviving his transitional year as an international student, Rong became an active member of the International Students Leadership Program (ISLP), which is a division of International Student Services (ISS). He organizes launch events with networking opportunities for both international and exchange students, acting as an advisor for them.

Rong’s biggest wish is for positive globalization. Increasing communication, circulation of ideas, and acceptance of different perspectives in multiple disciples are movements Rong thinks would benefit our world on a large scale. He maintains that world citizenship is critical, and that we must take further steps to turn this theory into reality.

“As long as communication is established, we can start to solve the problems,”  he said.

McGill Tribune: Who is your favourite TV show character?

Wilkey Rong: Monica from Friends—she’s hilarious.

MT: What’s in your fridge?

WR: Alles in Ordnung, (German for “I’m very organized”), so it is stocked with a little bit of everything.

MT: Current jams?

WR: Latch by Disclosure.

MT: How do you make your sandwiches?

WR: My homemade sandwiches have eggs, […] tomatoes, and cabbage. For sauces, I use both teriyaki and soy sauce.

MT: If you could trade places with anyone in the world who would it be?

WR: I wouldn’t want to change.

a, McGill, News

McGill in early stages of plan to acquire Royal Victoria Hospital

by Aislinn Kalob on

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McGill has entered the preliminary stages of purchasing the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) on located on University Street and Avenue des Pins, expected to be vacated by 2015. According to McGill Vice-Principal of Administration and Finance Michael Di Grappa, the RVH building would provide the university with much needed additional space, as McGill currently lacks approximately 700,000 gross square feet for academic needs.

“We anticipate using this space for a wide range of academic activities that would include most facets of the university’s operation, including research, teaching, large events, and other aspects of university life,” Di Grappa said.

Di Grappa describes the amount of space necessary to meet the demand of the university as equivalent to four Bronfman buildings or three Burnside Buildings.

The RVH is owned by the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), which is opening a new medical center, the Glen, in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce next year. 

“As part of this move, our Board of Directors indicated that these buildings would be surplus property, and that was in 2013,” said Julie Paquet, communications director for the MUHC. “That triggered a process with the government to see what we could do with those buildings.”

If the purchase of the RVH goes through, the building will undergo extensive renovations before it will be open for use by the McGill community.

“We envisage keeping the buildings that are part of Montreal’s architectural heritage, demolishing the non-heritage buildings in order to replace them [with] buildings that better match our needs for cutting edge teaching and research space,” Di Grappa said. “There would be considerable construction, probably over a period of up to five years.”

Furthermore, the purchase will require approval from the provincial government. 

“We are hoping the Quebec government will soon announce that it has selected McGill University to prepare a ‘dossier d’opportunité,’ which includes feasibility and other technical studies,” said Di Grappa. “The results of these studies will help lead us to the next steps, and an eventual decision as to whether we should proceed with the project.”

If purchased, the cost of the RVH space would be met by a one-third contribution each from the federal government, provincial government, and McGill University.   

“The university’s contribution could be amassed in a variety of ways, including through a special philanthropic campaign, and the sale of non-strategic buildings on the periphery of the downtown campus,” Di Grappa said.

At the present time, there are no other formal proposals by any other institution to purchase this space.

“Of course, we [at the MUHC] think McGill would serve as a great continuation of this institution,” says Paquet.  “But that’s not really for us to decide.  It is in the hands of the government.”

Julien Ouellet, external affairs officer at McGill’s Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS), explained that the lack of space is a concern for McGill’s graduate students, particularly in terms of student office space. 

“Graduate students are amongst the most [affected by] McGill’s space deficit,” he said. “We’ve heard that in many departments, office space is so limited that individuals resort to lotteries to determine who will get an office that year [….] The [space] at the RVH could help alleviate this problem.”

a, Editorial, Opinion

Editorial: Latest athletics case draws attention to need for continued reform

by McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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Last Wednesday, Luis Guimont-Mota, a player for the Redmen football team, was arrested on charges stemming from an alleged domestic abuse incident involving his wife.  Much of the discussion of the case since had revolved around the player, with only the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) statement mentioning the victim.

(more…)

a, Arts & Entertainment, Music

Album Review: Perfume Genius – Too Bright

by Jack Neal on

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Conveying emotion is difficult. Conveying emotion well—and allowing people to connect to it—is even harder. However, for American songwriter Mike Hadreas, otherwise known as Perfume Genius, emotional darkness and confessions are where he thrives. His first two albums tackle incredibly personal struggles: Sexuality, molestation, and relationships, which results in some of the most raw and intelligent songs the music industry has to offer. His third studio album, Too Bright, continues where Hadreas left off: In a whirlwind of confusion and observations about himself.

It’s a complicated album full of vocal distortion, piercing instrumentation, and incredibly vivid lyrics. Unlike its predecessors, the album marks a huge step for Hadreas: His lyrics are more poignant and the production more explorative, forcing his vocals to the spotlight—a place that he’s previously shied away from. It’s a clever move; whereas the sadness and depression was allowed to fade into the background in his past work—crushed and swallowed by a lonely piano—here the emotion cannot be ignored. It’s raw, it’s epic, and it’s uncomfortable. As opposed to the introverted sexuality and self-discovery lyricism of Put Your Back N 2 It, Too Bright sees Hadras turn outwards, and, like a child, discovers the world around him for the first time. Second track “Queen” boasts quality production with gritty guitar underneath a layer of sunny-sounding synthesizers; “Fool” consists of a ’70s-esque snapping beat overlayed by an epic middle chorus in which it’s impossible to determine whether we’re hearing Hadras’ incredibly confident, almost piercing vocals, or an intense, heavy-reverb screaming guitar. But isn’t that the point? Does it matter what it is if it conveys emotion? The erratic and mesh of instruments reflect the chaos of the lyricism. It’s tough, but it’s brilliant.

Perfume Genius is a rare type of artist; his music is simple but his lyrics contain an unlimited depth, documenting his life experiences and thoughts meticulously. It allows us as listeners to see him evolve not only as an artist, but as a person. Too Bright reminds us that if we take a moment to look up from our own lives, we realize there is a whole separate experience altogether.  It’s one that we might love, we might hate, or we might just not know what to make of it.

a, Arts & Entertainment, Music

Album Review: Alt-J – This is All Yours

by Natalie Wong on

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Following the commercial success and melodic genius of Alt-J’s first album, An Awesome Wave, the anticipation for follow-up This is All Yours was high. It’s always easy to nitpick the latest work from a band that has unexpectedly risen to the top of the popular music scene, but when it comes down to it, Alt-J’s sophomore effort is another success for the experimental indie rock quartet.

Leadoff track “Intro” is a perfect opening for the 13 songs that follow, showcasing an eclectic range of musicality coupled with incoherent words building up for several minutes until we hear actual language being spoken. During this prelude, Alt-J sets a strong tone for the album through its ability to compile layers of varied beats, nonsensical lyrics, lingering falsettos, harmonies, acoustics, and whistling solos into a single audibly pleasing mosaic.

Alt-J’s success at molding together such a wide variety of sounds is displayed again on the track “Hunger of the Pine,” which samples and repeats the line “I’m a female rebel” from Miley Cyrus’ “4×4.” That one lyric beautifully complements the intensity that builds throughout the song. Another track to look out for is “Bloodflood II,” which, like “Hunger of the Pine,” uses a buildup technique that leads the song into a final flourish of percussion, synthesizers, and steady vocals before bowing out with a calming piano passage.

This is All Yours is an album of dazzling, seductive mysteries that fall right in line with the dense layers of musical enigmas that Alt-J has concocted. You will encounter combinations and lyrics that you won’t understand; yet somehow, the deliberate matching of varied sonic elements will hook you in, tingle your musical veins and—although you can’t always quite pinpoint how—leave you strangely satisfied.

a, Martlets, Men's Varsity, Sports

The week that was for McGill Athletics: Sept. 30

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Beyond the Box Score

Martlet Rugby–The Martlets (2-3-0) cruised to a 69-12 victory over the last place Bishop’s Gaiters (0-5-0) on Friday. Leading the way for the Martlets was senior Caroline Suchorski, a centre from Kirkland, QC, who scored 19 points on the night. The win snapped a three-game slump for the Martlets, who desperately needed the win to stay in contention for the fourth and final playoff spot. With two games left in the regular season, next week’s matchup against the fifth-place Montreal Carabins (2-2-0) is a must win for the Martlets.

Redmen Soccer–McGill (4-3-0) squandered a golden opportunity to take the lead in the tightly contested RSEQ this weekend following a 2-1 defeat to the then last place UQTR Patriotes. Despite goalkeeper Max Leblond’s best efforts to keep his squad in the game, the Redmen fell prey to injuries and bad luck. In Sunday’s contest against the Concordia Stingers (0-3-4), the Redmen turned the tables in a 2-1 victory. Sophomore striker Massimo Di Ioia was the catalyst in the victory, notching a goal and an assist. The Redmen now draw even with the Montreal Carabins (3-1-3) at 12 points, but the Carabins hold a five-goal edge in goal difference. With five games still left in the season, there is ample time for the squad to continue improving as it sets its sights on a playoff spot.

Redmen Football–The Redmen (0-4) fell to the Laval Rouge et Or (4-0) 70-3 at Stade TELUS on Saturday night. The win marked Laval’s 67th consecutive victory at home as they continue to build a comfortable lead in the CIS standings. On a night where the McGill defence gave up a jaw-dropping 765 yards of total offence, rookie Karl Forgues, a linebacker from Repentigny, QC, was a bright spot on line of scrimmage all night. Forgues finished with a game-high 12 tackles. Offensively, senior receiver Yannick Langelier-Vanasse had a solid game, tallying over 100 all-purpose yards. The Redmen will get a much needed bye week to rest and recover before facing the winless Bishop’s on Thursday, Oct. 9 at Molson Stadium.

Redmen Rugby—The long march to nine straight RSEQ titles continues for the McGill Redmen (2-1-0), who defeated the Sherbrooke Vert et Or (1-3-0) 41-20 over the weekend. The Redmen were led by senior fullback Thomas Stokes, whose golden boot tallied 16 points from five conversions and two drop goals. The game MVP, however, was sophomore forward Kaleb Nimat. With the victory, the Redmen move into a three-way tie for first place with five regular season games remaining. Their next matchup is a crucial home game against the Bishop’s Gaiters (2-1-0), who currently sport the highest point differential in the RSEQ. McGill continues its quest for a championship on Saturday, Oct. 4 in an afternoon match at Molson Stadium.

By the Numbers

4.6:

Average pass string length for the Marlet soccer team in their 2-2 draw against Concordia on Sunday.

7:

Saves made by Redmen soccer goalkeeper Max Leblond in a crushing 2-1 loss to then last place UQTR on Friday night.

16:

Number of Redmen lacrosse players who registered at least one point in Saturday’s 18-3 romp over the Carleton Ravens.

2:

Number of quarterback sacks tallied by rookie linebacker Karl Forgues against Laval on Saturday.

a, Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

Spike Lee speaks at press conference after receiving inaugural MIBFF Pioneer Award

by Max Joseph on

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Legendary director Spike Lee was at Boulevard National Wednesday afternoon as part of the 10th annual Montreal International Black Film Festival (MIBFF) to answer questions, promote his new film, and discuss the festival’s Pioneer Award—of which he’ll be the inaugural recipient.

The award, as described in a MIBFF press release, was granted “in recognition of his body of work which revolutionized the role of black talent in Hollywood, tearing away decades of stereotypes and marginalized portrayals to establish a new arena for African-American voices to be heard.” As he revealed throughout the conference, it is a project that he continues to treat as a work in progress.

As for his latest film, “Da Sweet Blood of Jesus”—which was funded through Kickstarter—Lee refused to give out much information. The film screening was a part of the festival, and he implored reporters to learn about it at the showing. He acknowledged that “it’s got a lot of blood and a lot of sex,” and that it’s “not for the squeamish,” but he wouldn’t give out any further details about the film’s content.

Despite Lee’s reluctance to discuss his latest work, he was his usual outspoken self on a number of topics including prior films, contemporary media, and the racial problems that continue to plague the U.S.

On the subject of his acclaimed 1989 film “Do the Right Thing,”—considered by many to be his magnum opus and a film which directly addresses race relations—Lee was frank about its continued relevance.

“I never thought that we would have a black president [at the time of the film’s release],” he said. “But poverty’s gotten worse. A lot of police departments see black males as a threat. Bodies have been buried this summer because of that.”

Lee had similar feelings about “Bamboozled,” his 2000 satire of race in the media, in which a television network produces and airs a contemporary minstrel show, complete with black actors wearing blackface makeup. Despite the film’s apparent liberties with the media’s depiction of race, Lee emphasized its close kinship with reality.

“I don’t think there’s anything exaggerated in there,” he said. “Look at reality TV. It’s all there.”

Lee also revealed some optimism as the press conference went on. He appeared hopeful about the future of diversity in Hollywood for the coming years. He cited a statistic saying that the U.S. population is projected to shift in its majority and minorities, then explained that it’ll inevitably lead to a diversification of the film industry.

“If you’re a business, and you don’t adapt to that, you’re in trouble,” he said.

 

SSMU Building at McGill
a, Opinion

Commentary: Looking ahead to a more affordable university centre

by Élie Lubendo on

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With the first Fall referendum period on its way, students once again have to face the University Centre Building Fee. (more…)

what the butler saw mcgill
a, Arts & Entertainment, Theatre

What the Butler Saw is shocking good fun

by Chris Lutes on

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Farce is a notoriously difficult genre to pull off. If the comedy is played up too much, character nuance gets was out in favour of cheap gags and nonsensical plotting.  (more…)

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