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Tariq Khan presidential invalidation timeline
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Tariq Khan files case to suspend his electoral invalidation

by Shrinkhala Dawadi on

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Tariq Khan will bring an interim injunction to the Superior Court of Québec this Friday, May 30 regarding Elections SSMU’s invalidation of his presidential win and the Judicial Board (J-Board) ruling that the invalidation would be upheld. On May 27, Khan announced that he was planning to take legal action to contest the invalidation.

Khan stated that he has now filed a case with the Superior Court, seeking for the court to grant a safeguard order that would reinstate him as the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) President until a full hearing occurs.

The defendants in the case, according to Khan’s lawyer, François Longpré of Borden Ladner Gervais, include SSMU; Ben Fung, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Elections SSMU; David Koots, the Deputy Electoral Officer (DEO); and members of the J-Board. Courtney Ayukawa, who is currently the SSMU president-elect, will be a third party in this case.

Longpré also stated that a full hearing regarding the case would address SSMU’s procedural methods.

“The petition alleges breaches of rules of natural justice in the adjudication process at Elections SSMU and the Judicial Board,” Longpré said.

Khan claimed that Elections SSMU had not followed correct procedure in investigating his campaign. He highlighted Elections SSMU’s public censure of his campaign and its decision to redact certain witness testimony it used as evidence during the investigation of his campaign.

“In law—in any procedure—if there is a procedural violation, then the decision becomes void and the decision is overturned,” Khan said. “Elections SSMU has been hiding information from me and not giving me a fair chance to defend myself [….] I was not consulted about [the decision to publicly censure my campaign]. I was not allowed to see the evidence that had been used against me.”

Following the Apr. 29 J-Board hearing, Chief Justice Bennet Misskey explained that the ability to redact certain pieces of evidence is necessary to protect sources who wish to remain anonymous.

“The CEO relies on the use of informants in the process of gathering and evaluating evidence of bylaw infractions,” he said. “Oftentimes, these informants will only come forward if they can be assured that their identity will be protected. The evidence that was redacted in the case of the Khan hearing […] was evidence that would put the informants’ identity at risk.”

Khan has stated that he is planning to overhaul the management of SSMU if his request for a safeguard is granted by the Superior Court.

“If we do win the case, it would raise some serious questions about the internal procedures of SSMU,” Khan said. “I claim to be a student leader, [and the title] comes with great steps and bold actions.”

Khan plans to finance the case using his own funds as well as donations from others.

“I sold everything I could—all my savings I’m putting towards [this case],” he said. “At the same time, those that have supported me have [also] contributed.”

According to Khan, an expedited hearing could take three to five months. Ayukawa is set to take the presidential position on Jun. 1.

Misskey, Fung, and Pauline Gervais, the General Manager of SSMU, declined to comment on the court case.

Hannibal Lecter in the season 2 finale
a, Arts & Entertainment

Hannibal makes a killing in dramatic season two finale

by Morgan Alexander on

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There are certain things we have come to expect from primetime slots on big-budget channels: drama is a must, and thus, a healthy handful of deceit and heartbreak is an overdone yet long-adored aspect of all good thrillers. Hannibal has navigated these expectations while balancing its loyalty to the novel series from which it is adapted, concluding in an explosive season finale titled “Mizumono”, where the cast and director David Slade artfully wrapped all the craziness of the earlier episodes into a succinct package, lacing it with unrestrained intimacy.

Picture this: all your heroes are sprawled out and wounded—perhaps fatally—as the antagonist strolls past the decay into the rain, cleansing himself of his sins and entering into a life on the run. Hannibal’s finale was just as manic as it was cautious, bringing in surprise twists with the resurrection of previously believed long-dead characters while still making each micromanipulation entirely plausible. The end of the episode left both the characters and the audience in pieces, particularly as Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) delivered his final sermon to Will (Hugh Dancy) before gutting him and slicing the throat of the previously believed deceased Abigail (Kacey Rohl). With this, Hannibal shows us his heart, his trust, and his love for Will, then immediately tears it apart by forcing Will out of his life.

Hannibal prides itself on its skill in the visual arts, using dim lighting and blurred camera angles to its constant advantage in creating an eerie, unpredictable atmosphere. One of my first thoughts during the finale was how beautiful and calculated each action was. While season one relied on grandiose images of meals or decaying corpses interspersed with cuts from the forensic lab, season two shifted into subtlety, instead making use of gestures and the interplay of dialogue with action.

The finale was key in showing how far the show had come in terms of visual perspicacity, the most dramatic image being that of Alana (Caroline Dhavernas) lying face-up on the concrete, surrounded by shattered glass and doused by rain. Her eyes swell and her face recoils in terror as the shoes of Dr. Lecter enter the screen just beyond her. The precarious nature of Alana and all the other characters left to die in Dr. Lecter’s house are simultaneously illuminated and pushed to the wayside as the true power of Hannibal is finally revealed. As described by executive producer Bryan Fuller, in that moment, Hannibal essentially “dropped the mic and walked off the stage.”

Moving forward, the direction of the show is unclear, as can only be expected when the majority of the cast is left facing their impending mortality. A third season has been confirmed, and an after-credit teaser left viewers with just enough to chew on without fully tasting what is to come. What I have most enjoyed about Hannibal is its commitment to the books, enough to satisfy long-time “Fannibals” while still allowing for new arcs and bridges to be inserted into the storyline. I had suspected, and interviews with Fuller have confirmed, that some do survive Hannibal’s massacre. Perhaps season three will be a game of cat-and-mouse between Hannibal and the FBI, or maybe we’ll see Will re-emerge to resume his obsession with destroying Dr. Lecter. Whatever season three has in store, it is sure to be bold, bloody, and undoubtedly delectable.

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Applying AP/IB credits to transcript now optional for incoming, current students

by Chelsey Ju on

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Under recent changes to McGill’s “Advanced Standing Transfer Credits” policy, students with qualifying AP and IB test scores will now have the option to complete their degree with more than 120 credits. Previously, any transfer credits were required to count toward students’ degrees.

This change was pushed forth by Max Blumberg, U2 Science, who felt that the former policy punished incoming students for having taken advanced courses in high school.

The policy will be in effect beginning next semester, giving incoming and current students more freedom to plan their degree, according to Kathleen Massey, university registrar and executive director of enrolment services.

“[Students have] different reasons for wanting to stay longer—having the time to participate in an international exchange, completing specific courses at university necessary for admission to professional programs, and having time to explore their academic program options at McGill,” she said. “A compelling case was made and was supported by research about practices of some other universities.”

According to André Costopoulos, Dean of Students, financial reasons did not factor into the decision.

“More crowded classes [would occur, but] not necessarily more classes,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a huge factor, but it won’t reduce the problem nonetheless. Nobody knows how many more students will choose to stay.”

He also noted that the effects of the change would be minimal.

“I doubt there will be much of an impact because I think most people that wanted to stay before did so anyway and just accepted the consequences of the limit,” Costopoulos said.

Other options considered included raising the credit limit to 150 credits, and allowing students to receive exemptions for previous coursework without credit.

Blumberg objected both options due to the logistical difficulties behind them.

“Raising the limit to 150 allows students without advanced credits to stay for five years, [for] which McGill doesn’t have the physical capacity,” he said. “For the other option, the problem was professional schools typically only accept [advanced] credit towards fulfilling prerequisites if a student’s undergraduate school gave credit for those classes.”

While all student affairs and advising offices are aware of the revised policy, a public official notification for the change has not been issued. According to Costopoulos, the policy change is not expected to greatly impact the decision for prospective students, who normally choose to receive credits for previous coursework.

“The possibility to get the credits acts as a recruitment tool,” he said. “It makes McGill more attractive to incoming students. It’s later on [in their degree] that they realize they don’t want them. I’m not too sure if advertising this [policy change] to incoming students would make a difference.”

Demonstrators rallying in solidarity with victims of police brutality
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Demonstrators rally in solidarity with victims of police brutality

by Shrinkhala Dawadi on

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Demonstrators rallied downtown to show solidarity with victims of police brutality on May 7. Approximately 40 people attended the protest, including individuals who had previously acquired injuries as a result of police actions.

The protest was held in part as a response to heightened police presence at an earlier demonstration in April, which protested government austerity and comprised of 10,000 attendees, according to L’Association pour une Solidaritè Syncidale Ètudiant (ASSE), the student union that took part in organising both demonstrations.

One attendee at the May rally, Robert Fransham, a 71-year-old activist, was injured in the April protest. According to Fransham, his leg received lacerations from police actions.

“I got hit by a police officer,” he said. “I was on my bicycle and he hit me with his shield and knocked me down. My leg got tangled up in the frame of my bicycle [….] I had to get stiches in my leg, and I’ve been on crutches because of the damage to the leg.”

The recent rally was also organised by the Collective Opposed to Police Brutality (COPB). Jennifer Bobette, a member of COPB, echoed Fransham’s statements, stating that remembering victims of police brutality is an integral part of mobilising against it.

“[It is] really important to not forget all those victims, and see how they are doing many years after their injuries,” she said. “It’s also important to denounce police abuses, and this is what we’re going to do.”

Demonstrators also rallied against the Montreal Police Service’s (SPVM) use of the municipal by-law P6, which requires demonstrators to provide their marching routes to the SPVM and bans the wearing of masks. If these regulations are not met, the demonstration can be declared illegal in accordance with the by-law.

In an earlier response to the controversial by-law, police spokesperson Stéphane Lemieux defended to CTV that the by-law helped ensure the safety of individuals involved in the protests.

“It helps us control the protests,” Lemieux said. “They can’t march against traffic and risk getting hit by cars.”

According to Michelle Moore, a media activist who attended the rally, the SPVM have been inconsistent in their enforcement of by-law P6.

“It’s up to police to decide whether or not they want to enforce the P6 rule [….] In my opinion, that is arbitrary,” Moore said. “[The police] are not enforcing this controversial law in a way that’s consistent. They’ll use it for some groups but not for others.”

For example, Moore noted that an Earth Day rally on April 22 was a protest that did not give an itinerary to the SPVM and was permitted to march.

Fransham said that he hopes that the recent events will bring awareness to the issue in the future.

“Police are very provocative, much more than they need to be,” he said. “My personal statement is to boost young people, who will take risks and come out to demonstrate against problems that exist in our society.”

Police at the scene declined to be interviewed.

SSMU Building at McGill
a, News

J-Board upholds invalidation of Tariq Khan’s SSMU presidency

by Shrinkhala Dawadi on

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Elections SSMU’s controversial decision to invalidate Tariq Khan’s presidential win has been upheld by the Judicial Board (J-Board) of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) following a hearing on April 29.

The J-Board’s unanimous ruling, which was ratified by the Board of Directors on April 30, confirms Elections SSMU’s decision to appoint  runner-up Courtney Ayukawa as the SSMU president-elect.

Khan was elected SSMU president on March 21, winning the position by 78 votes over Ayukawa. On Apr. 1, Elections SSMU announced the invalidation of the result, following an investigation into multiple allegations of misconduct by Khan and members of his campaign during campaign period. Alleged bylaw infractions included unsolicited messages regarding the elections, external influence on Khan’s campaign, the obstruction of free voting, and financial inconsistencies within his budget report, as investigated by Elections SSMU through evidence such as witness testimonials, video footage, and message screenshots.

Khan’s petition to the J-Board was an appeal of the April 1 ruling. His legal advocate argued that Elections SSMU had not properly exercised discretion regarding the admission and publication of the evidence of the investigation, and that Elections SSMU had used biased evidence for its ruling.

“There were a lot of biases and inconsistencies in the testimonies, and the assessment by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) was biased towards those who made the allegations,” said Kiran Ross, Khan’s advocate. “For these reasons, the invalidation should be immediately overturned.”

Elections SSMU’s advocate, Catherine Hamill, stated that they had conducted their investigation with due diligence and had considered the possible biases of all pieces of evidence. Hamill stressed that Elections SSMU had ensured evidence possibly marked by bias had been corroborated by other evidence before taken into account.

“Elections SSMU is aware of the impact this invalidation has on Tariq Khan and McGill,” she said. “Considering the totality of all evidence that was used to invalidate [the election], the decision is reasonable.”

Khan’s advocate also argued that although she and Khan received the evidence prior to the hearing, some of the sources had been redacted by Elections SSMU, which obstructed Khan’s attempts to conduct investigations into the legitimacy of the testimonials. The J-Board, however, received and reviewed the unredacted evidence.

According to Chief Justice Bennet Misskey, the ability to redact certain pieces of evidence is necessary to protect sources who wish to remain anonymous.

“The CEO relies on the use of informants in the process of gathering and evaluating evidence of bylaw infractions,” he said. “Oftentimes, these informants will only come forward if they can be assured that their identity will be protected. The evidence that was redacted in the case of the Khan hearing […] was evidence that would put the informants’ identity at risk.”

In his explanation of the J-Board’s decision to uphold Elections SSMU’s invalidation of the election, Chief Justice Misskey highlighted the quasi-judicial mandate of the J-Board.

“The Judicial Board interprets the legality of the [decisions made by the] SSMU body,” he said. “Upon an independent review of all the evidence, the Judicial Board found that the CEO’s decisions regarding his findings of fact and the sanctions imposed for bylaw infractions fell within a range of reasonable alternatives that were open for him to make and were therefore within the scope of his discretion.”

According to the CEO, Ben Fung, this case has highlighted the importance of complying with SSMU’s bylaws, but has also raised issues regarding their clarity.

“I think this entire process showed that in general there are a lot of things that need to be fixed in the electoral process,” he said. “We’ll be looking to more clearly define the way Elections SSMU oversees elections in general and how we perform our investigative duties.”

Khan also emphasized the need to clarify the bylaws.

“Even though both parties do agree that there are a lot of ambiguities in the constitution and the bylaws, and [that] a lot of work that needs to be done,” he said. “It is sad that I am the one who’s paying the price for all those discrepancies.”

Fung said that after this case, there will be reform to the Elections SSMU voting system through a modification of the bylaws, including shortening of the voting period and a change towards the preferential ballot.

“In the case of an invalidation, there wouldn’t be a need for a re-election [with a preferential ballot] because votes can just be transferred,” he said. “It’s more of a fair and representative way of voting.”

 

a, Opinion

Call for intervenors

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Posted on behalf of the SSMU Judicial Board:

The Judicial Board has accepted jurisdiction to hear an appeal submitted by Tariq Khan regarding the invalidation of his election as President.  The appeal will be heard at the end of April and we are extending an invitation to anyone wishing to intervene in the dispute to duly complete a Judicial Board FORM I-1 “Application for intervention” (found on the Judicial Board website) and submitting an electronic copy to the Chief Justice. You will have until noon on Tuesday, April 29th to submit an application.  Please be advised that the J-Board recognizes intervening parties only where those parties are necessary for a complete solution to the questions in issue. Intervenors will be notified by the Chief Justice whether they have been accepted within a reasonable time.

SSMU legislative council
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SSMU Council votes to re-run University Centre Building Fee in Fall 2014

by Jenny Shen on

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The implementation of a University Centre Building Fee will be the subject of a referendum question in Fall 2014, following approval of the referendum question at the April 10 meeting of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Legislative Council.

Students voted against implementing a University Centre Building Fee during the Winter 2014 referendum period. SSMU President Katie Larson said the details of this new referendum would be up to next year’s Council.

“They could mandate a special [referendum] earlier in the semester,” she said. “They will have options, which we will be passing onto the new executive.”

Clubs and Services representative Zachary Rosentzveig spoke against the motion.

“I think it’s problematic that this Council wants to vote on a referendum question that next year’s council will be tasked with defending and presenting,” he said.

Vice-President Finance Tyler Hofmeister defended the motion, noting that without the fee, access to the SSMU Building would be limited next year.

“All-hours building access has been cut for the building, given the current amount that we can afford,” he said. “In that case, it’s very likely that the future Council would want to pass a referendum early in the year, so as to keep the building open for all-hours access.”

Council also approved the 2014-2015 budget, which reflects the changes SSMU would make to its operations should the building fee fail to pass once again. Besides the removal of after-hours access to the SSMU Building, other changes include an increase to the price of mini-courses to run a $10,000 profit, as well as an increase in prices at Gerts to run a roughly $17,000 profit.

Library Improvement Fund Committee Report

Erin Sobat, a representative of the Library Improvement Fund (LIF) Committee, presented a plan to allocate approximately $756,000 worth of funds to various library projects this year.

The LIF is funded by student fees which are matched by the university.

These projects include the renovation of the Redpath washrooms, an expansion of the Redpath group study zone with new seating areas and computers, an increase in seating options at the Schulich library, and the purchase of group study room presentation equipment for McLennan Library. Other allocations include an increase in student employment at the library through work-study programs.

Global health preventative measures against smoking, AIDS, obesity
a, Science & Technology

Global health preventative measures utilize texting and television shows

by Prativa Baral on

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Each winter, influenza viruses sweep across the globe, causing an estimated three to five million severe cases worldwide and 250,000 to 500,000 deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)—and this is only one type of infectious disease. Faced with a spectrum of chronic illnesses, viral infections, and microbial pathogenesis, today’s healthcare infrastructure faces an overwhelming societal and economic challenge. To address this issue, many countries around the world have put an emphasis on innovating unique public health measures to focus on preventative care.

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom has chosen to approach one health issue, obesity, in a colour-coded fashion. Their traffic-light food labeling system aims to improve consumer awareness of nutritional information simplistically. Prepackaged food products are labeled red, yellow, or green based on the ratio of fats, sugar, and salt relative to each other that they contain. With this program, the United Kingdom Standard Food Agency hopes to encourage individuals to think before buying a product labelled red. It also allows consumers to quickly pick out unhealthy products from the grocery aisles.

India

Given the technological boom we have seen in the past decade and its ability to reach even the most rural areas, India is considering affordable mobile technology to promote preventative care. Rural populations affected by chronic diseases lack access to the resources necessary to manage these illnesses and prevent them from worsening. The government hopes that with cell phones—whose usage has increased in rural populations—health institutes could provide geographically distant or isolated patients with information on products and services through texts and apps, such as by texting appointment reminders. Automated texts could also serve as reminders to chronically ill patients to take their medications or get immunized. In the future, mobile health care could prove a powerful prevention tool in many countries.

Brazil

Brazil harnessed its creativity and effectiveness in promoting preventative measures through tapping into the country’s love for soap operas. In 1991, the government launched an anti-AIDS campaign that not only distributed condoms and needles, but also used TV soap operas to educate their audience about the health risk of HIV/AIDS.

Canada

There are dozens of preventative measures taking place in Quebec, but one of the most interesting ones is the smoking cessation program. The provincial government established the Plan québécois d’abandon du tabagisme (PQAT) was created in 2002, focusing on stop-smoking campaigns and support for those wishing to quit through measures like quit smoking centres and a smoker’s help line. Interestingly, the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) has decided to allow the public drug insurance plan to cover some pharmaceutical products that assist in quitting smoking.

Redmen rugby McGill
a, Martlets, Men's Varsity, Sports

Tribune Sports Awards 2014

by Mayaz Alam, Steven Lampert, Remi Lu, Aaron Rose, Zikomo Smith, Elie Waitzer on

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It’s rare for a freshman to crack Redmen basketball Head Coach Dave DeAveiro’s lineup—never mind become a starter.  (more…)

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