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a, Student Life

Student of the Week: Karen Chow

by Marlee Vinegar on

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The last documentary Karen Chow watched was on Soong May-ling, “China’s eternal first lady,” the wife of mid-early twentieth century Chinese political and military leader Chiang Kai-shek.

“At the time it was rare for women to be that powerful or that confident,” Chow explained. “She had a lot of influence on politics in China. It was really inspiring.”

As a leader of her own kind on campus, Chow effortlessly balances her schoolwork and extracurricular engagements as the Chair of the National Integrative Research Conference (NIRC) and co-president of the McGill Chinese Students’ Society (MCSS).

Chow has been involved with NIRC since 2011, when her role was to seek sponsorship for the conference. Run by McGill’s Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Integrative Council (BASiC), the purpose of the conference is to provide a platform for undergraduate students from across Canada to showcase their research in interdisciplinary fields.

“It’s really interesting to see what other students are doing if they’re interested in research,” Chow said. “In my first year […] I got involved with the conference, just seeing what students are doing and what I might be interested in [….] I think it’s a really good forum for sharing ideas, especially for Arts and Science.”

As the NIRC committee’s Chair, she has assumed a larger role in this year’s upcoming conference, which will take place on March 28.

“This year we had over 30 to 40 applicants,” Chow said. “The research topics were really interesting. We’ve got areas from biotech and environment [to] cognitive science and psycholinguistics.”

As co-president of MCSS, Chow runs one of the oldest, and largest student societies in Canada, with 25 people on its executive alone.

MCSS hosts events throughout the year, including their dating game “Meet me Halfway,” and their upcoming semi-formal “#Hashtag.” The events were what first drew Chow to the society.

“I was really impressed with all the events that they hold,” she recalled. “They run really smoothly and the audience of the events, they’re all team players [….] It’s work, but it’s [also] play, and everyone’s like a family.”

Chow has been part of MCSS since her first year at McGill and attributes it as her most influential experience at university.

“I learn a lot of things about how I work, [and] about how I think, or about how I work with other people each year, [through] every project and event that I’m involved in,” she said.

One way that her involvement has shaped her is by helping her become more assertive.

“I’m not a really good public speaker and I’ve always been kind of scared of public speaking,” she said. “In MCSS when you have to get your point across to 25 people, you have to shout and be more assertive [….] This year, especially being co-president, I’ve learned to find that balance.”

Working with MCSS has also revealed Chow’s strengths.  She said both MCSS and NIRC require her to establish trust and open communication with her peers.

“I always tell someone, ‘If you see something wrong or see something that could be improved, speak up,’” she said. “It goes back to why I like working in a team—I really like that back and forth, bouncing around ideas. It’s like a snow ball—that’s how good ideas develop and get implemented.”

Ultimately, Chow is proud of the work she has put into her involvement in the McGill community.

“It does take up a lot of your time,” she said. “Sometimes it might be a burden, but in the end, it’s worth it. It makes you happy when people come to your events and like your work and like your results.”

McGill Tribune: Which building on campus would you be?

Karen Chow: The Redpath Museum. It houses a lot of stories and histories.

MT: What’s your favourite food?

KC: Oh my gosh, I love food. I’m not a very picky eater. I really like bread and spinach dip. Like baguette and spinach dip; it’s really simple.

MT: If you could ask a question to anyone in history, what would it be?

KC: I would really like to know what [my grandparents] were thinking when they first came to Canada, and maybe ask them, “was it worth it?

MT: Where in the world would you visit?

KC: I’ve always wanted to go to Singapore. It’s very clean, I really admire that.

MT: What are your hobbies?

KC: I really like watching documentaries and reading biographies [….] [The authors are writing about things they’ve learned and the mistakes that they’ve overcome [….] Maybe, I can benefit from them, too.

a, News, SSMU

Referendum period sees questions on TaCEQ, SSMU building fee

by Hatty Liu on

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This year’s Winter referendum period for the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) includes 11 referendum questions. The voting period runs until 3 p.m. on March 21.

Organic Campus Fee

This question asks students to approve an opt-outable $0.22 fee per semester that would create a yearly stipend for Organic Campus, a service that provides low-cost organic goods for the McGill community.

The referendum question comes as the result of the collective’s current volunteer-only staff structure, which violates provincial labour laws. According to Quebec’s Act respecting labour standards, the tasks performed by Organic Campus volunteers constitute work and must be remunerated.

According to Ariela Lavana, a member of Organic Campus, the revenue that the service receives from sales is not enough to cover the cost of remuneration.

“We can’t run without the fee,” Lavanna said. “If there’s any possibility [that] we could extend our services, that would be the best case scenario; but as it is [the fee] is just to allow us to continue running as a service.”

The fee levy would not change the logistical structure or services of the collective.

TaCEQ

SSMU’s disaffiliation from the Quebec Student Roundtable (Table de Concertation Étudiante du Québec, or TaCEQ) is the subject of another referendum question.

TaCEQ is a provincial student association that SSMU helped found in 2009. This year, SSMU paid $17,000 in membership fees to TaCEQ. The organization has recently been criticized for its inefficiency, and one of its four student associations already left the federation in February.

SSMU members and elected representatives have criticized TaCEQ for the inaccessibility of its documents due to language barriers, as well as a lack of interest on the part of member associations in reforming the organization.

A “Yes” vote would make SSMU an association that is unaffiliated with any student lobbying group.

“We could choose what we want to do [and] focus on a few important [issues],” SSMU Vice-President External Samuel Harris said. “A lot of work can be done outside of a formal organization, on a [per] issue basis.”

Harris noted that SSMU would face additional challenges as an unaffiliated association.

“Assuming we stay independent, then we have to take the initiative and find people who support us,” he said. “We have to build relationships with associations we’ve never built relationships with before.”

University Centre Building Fee

This question seeks to create a non-opt-outable, per-semester fee of $6.08 for full-time students and $3.04 for part-time students to cover the cost of rent and utilities for the SSMU Building under the new rental agreement between SSMU and McGill. It also asks for a fee increase of 5.6 per cent per year to keep up with rent increases until the current agreement with the university ends.

According to the question, a “No” vote could lead to reductions to services that SSMU is able to offer.

According to Tyler Hofmeister, Vice-President Finance and Operations, this would include fewer events held in the building and the elimination of non-essential services such as the yearbook. A hiring freeze would also likely come into effect, which would prevent any new positions from being created.

“In the case of the no vote of this question, obviously this would impact the long-term financial sustainability of SSMU [and] greatly reduce SSMU’s ability to be a representative body,” Hofmeister said.

The fee is set to expire in 2021, when the lease agreement will end.

First-Year Council Fee

If approved, this question would create an opt-outable fee of $0.50 per semester for SSMU’s First-Year Council.

The First Year Fund would go toward initiatives such as student forums, community outreach, and greater collaboration between groups that represent first years of different faculties.

Élie Lubendo, Services Representative to SSMU and one of the movers of the motion, said the question has faced some criticism for creating a fee that will affect all students, and yet, only benefits first years.

“We’ve had a lot of questions regarding why we’re having fees [that] don’t actually reflect the entire community,” he said. “[While] most services are not used by all students, we pay [them] because we feel it is a need within the community.”

Legal Information Clinic 

existence and fee increase

Two questions regarding the Legal Information Clinic at McGill (LICM) will also be put to student vote this week.

The first question asks students to support LICM’s continued existence of the service, which the McGill administration requires all services that receive a student levy to run every five years. The second question asks for an increase of LICM’s non-optoutable student fee from $3.25 to $4.50 per semester.

The current fee has not been increased since 2001, despite increased costs such as rent and software.

According to LICM Director of Communications John Hutchings, LICM needs the fee increase in order to continue operating at its current capacity.

“If we were to go ahead with our fee at the 2001 level, we would have to review everything and look at how we could cut corners,” Hutchings said. “We would have to reduce the amount of activity in the office because we didn’t have the equipment to do it. It could also mean that we might no longer be able to continue paying the rent for a private meeting room.”

LICM is a free legal information service for all members of the community. Its Student Advocacy Program offers legal advice and advocacy to students for disciplinary proceedings under McGill’s Code of Student Conduct. Its free commissioner of oaths service serves 750 students every year.

Other referendum questions

The remaining referendum questions ask students to renew existing fees—the Athletics and Recreation Facilities Fee, the SSMU Access Bursary Fund, the SSMU Ambassador Fund, the SSMU Campus Life Fund, and the SSMU Library Improvement Fund.

a, Arts & Entertainment, Theatre

The Vagina Monologues: continuing an incomplete dialogue

by Evie Kaczmarek on

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I sit peacefully in the depths of a blissfully dark, cavernous Leacock 132, waiting for The Vagina Monologues dress rehearsal to begin—until a blood-curdling scream cuts through the silence and I jump from my seat. The shriek gives way to another and then another; they ring together in a cacophonous but joyous incantation; scaling up and down octaves, the sounds morph from screams to whoops to laughter.

It becomes clear that this is a special—not to mention slightly unorthodox—backstage ritual the actresses use to warm-up before the show. Their battle cries are strong, powerful, and harmonious in their own disjointed manner—not unlike the message and spirit of the Vagina Monologues itself.

The commanding passion foreshadows the nature of the production, which captivates the audience from start to finish with its brilliant comedic timing and a mighty and incredibly talented cast. The play has power not only as art and entertainment, but also as a political statement.

The Vagina Monologues is a play written by feminist activist Eve Ensler in 1996. It comprises a series of episodic monologues, each performed by different fictional women—though Ensler originally acted in the play and performed every monologue herself.

Each tells a woman’s story and of her struggles—particularly those relating to her vagina. It’s supposed to, in a sense, destigmatize the taboo subject of female genitalia in order to discuss the deeper issues of feminism. Topics range from pubic hair to tampons to infidelity to sex workers to violence and sexual assault. Director—and third-year Concordia Arts student—Grace Jackson’s personal favourite is a piece called “The Flood” which features a 72-year-old woman who has never had an orgasm before in her life.

However dynamic and potent its message, the play starts off with an important, thought-provoking warning message from the director.

“This play is not complete. It does not portray all women in any way shape or form [….] [Three of the monologues] attempt to encapsulate the experiences of non-white, queer, and trans* women respectively; and in doing so, they do an injustice to these peoples and all women.”

Jackson goes on to highlight these three monologues that the cast and crew found controversial and offensive. Because the play presents itself to represent all women—but clearly cannot and does not do so—the cast and crew note that they want to ensure that all audience members are aware that the play is flawed and that it’s not meant to be taken as gospel, but rather as an exercise in opening up a critical analysis and dialogue.

Actress and U3 Social Work Maddie Lusk, who shines in the opening monologue “Hair”—an unabashed piece about pubic hair—explains how much has changed in the realm of feminism since the play was penned in 1996. She explains how today, feminism is much more inclusive of all intersecting minorities.

“The play is very reminiscent of second-wave feminism: white women, white women’s problems, and the erasure of anyone that isn’t white, straight, and cissexual,” Lusk says. “Feminism is constantly evolving because we are constantly learning how to listen to other people.”

A particularly contentious number called “The Little Coochie Snorcher That Could” is a monologue telling the story of a lesbian woman. Although it puts forth a valid and meaningful story, it perpetuates some harmful stereotypes about lesbian women—one of which being that lesbian women can’t enjoy sexual experiences with other women until they have had a negative experience with a man.

One of the cast members and U0 Arts, Erin Strawbridge, explains some of her frustrations with the play by sharing a quote by Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie:

“The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that [they] are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.”

Strawbridge goes on to describe the cast and crew’s approach to these issues. It involved replacing rehearsal time with group discussions replete with heated, emotional debates and personal stories as well as suggestions for how to assimilate the play into a modern context.

This production does not solely convey Eve Ensler’s original script. It’s layered and compounded by the experiences and perspective of a new generation of passionate, burgeoning feminists here at McGill.

Whoever you are—regardless of your gender, sexual orientation, racial, ethnic, or religious background; regardless of whether or not you conform to gender binaries or whether or not you are cissexual or trans*—this play might just be the most important production you will see all year.

“Everyone is hurt by patriarchy,” Lusk adds.

The sheer clout of the leading ladies and the poignancy of their intricate, nuanced messages resonate in this McGill masterpiece.

 

The Vagina Monologues will be performed at 8 p.m. from March 21-22 in Leacock 132. Student tickets are $10. 

a, Men's Varsity, Sports

Hockey: Lancers stonewall Redmen in Queen’s Cup victory

by Osama Haque on

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After capturing the OUA East Championship, the McGill Redmen entered the 103rd Queen’s Cup this past Saturday to take on the Windsor Lancers in Windsor, Ontario. Despite a thrilling third period, the Redmen fell 3-2 to the Lancers, who were kept afloat by their goalie Patrick Van Burskirk.

The game began with an unexpected goal off the opening face-off, which resulted in a 1-0 lead for the Lancers in the first 17 seconds of the game. After the early mishap, McGill picked up its offence by trying to draw out opposing defenders. However, the Lancers held their ground thanks to Van Burskirk, who recorded 16 saves in the first period.

In the second period, the Redmen looked to crowd the Windsor net, and put away a rebound. However, Van Burskirk faced McGill straight on and continued to turn away shots; by the end of the second period, he had racked up 36 saves. Windsor rookie Mac McDonnell was able to increase the Lancers’ lead to 2-0, sneaking a loose puck by McGill netminder Jacob Gervais-Chouinard. Things went from bad to worse for McGill when the Redmen were penalized a minute later for attemptinga check-from-behind. The Lancers quickly took advantange, with Windsor’s Kenny Bradford netting the power play goal off of a feed from Lancers captain Drew Palmer.

Despite being down three goals, McGill mounted a quick run with some lucky breaks and a resilient attitude in the third period. Second-year defenceman Vincent Barnard was able to beat the odds and score on a short-handed play halfway through the third period. Two minutes later, McGill’s second-year right-winger David Rose further rejuvenated the team with a goal of his own—narrowing the Redmen deficit to one goal with just over three minutes remaining in the game.

With little time left, Nobes called a timeout to regroup before McGill’s final rally against Windsor. However, Van Buskirk came up big in the end, with a glove save through traffic to close out the game. He withstood a 52-shot onslaught to help Windsor claim its first Queen’s Cup in 16 years. Gervais-Chouinard stopped 35 of 38 shots in the crushing loss for the Redmen.

Both McGill and Windsor will be heading to Saskatoon this weekend for the CIS National Championship. This will be McGill’s seventh appearance in nine years at the CIS National Championships; the Redmen are seven-for-seven for podium finishes at Nationals, including a gold medal in 2012 and a silver in 2011.

a, News

Conservative, Liberal, NDP representatives speak on student involvement in politics

by Sarah Khan on

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The transition from university into politics was the topic of an event featuring members of the Conservative Party, Liberal Party, and New Democratic Party (NDP) on March 11.

Held at Thomson House, the event was hosted by students of the Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee (CJPAC) Fellowship Program. The multi-partisan event brought together three McGill alumni—Richard Yufe from the Conservative Party, Rachel Bendayan from the Liberal Party, and Matthew Dubé from the NDP.

Participants spoke about how their experiences as students at McGill helped them enter the world of politics. Bendayan, the national legal advisor for the Liberal Party, suggested that students try to bring their particular strengths to their participation in politics.

“Hone your skills in a particular area,” she said. “When you offer your skills and time, [you are] doing it from a place of power [and] offering something concrete that distinguishes you from the rest.”

Dubé, who completed his bachelor degree at McGill and was formerly co-president of NDP McGill, encouraged students to take the opportunities available to them at university.

“The doors are all there; it’s a matter of opening them,” Dubé said. “Most of all, I want  [the youth] to realize they can get involved in their communities.”

Yufe, who also received a bachelor degree from McGill, praised the role played by CJPAC in providing opportunities for students to become actively involved in politics.

The party members also discussed the hardships faced by women in politics. Bendayan spoke on both issues women face and her positive experience in her work with the Liberal Party.

“There are statistics that show you need to ask a woman twice as many times as you need to ask a man in terms of encouraging somebody to run [for office],” she said. “So far, it’s been comforting to know that I have [an] incredible amount of support from male leaders in the Party.”

Bendayan emphasized the importance of women becoming involved.

“If you get involved, if I get involved, if the women in this room get involved, that’s how we are going to make it different,” Bendayan said. “That’s how we’re going to be able to make women in politics something that won’t ever be discussed by our daughters, because it will be a natural thing.”

Dubé pointed to the challenges faced by his female colleagues and the parties’ united efforts to create an inclusive working space.

“There is a serious institutional problem [….] As recently as 10 years ago there was only a men’s bathroom [in the House of Commons],” he said. “We’ve made great progress across all party lines; everybody is on board with fixing these issues. ”

Students attending the event noted the diverse backgrounds of the individual speakers.

“It was interesting how they all got involved in politics—some had political science backgrounds, some didn’t,” Mughan Bottomley, U0 Arts, said.

Nicolas Levy, U1 Engineering, said he appreciated the multi-partisan atmosphere of the event.

“It was great to hear from members who clearly had different agendas than one another, yet agreed on so many things relating to youth in politics,” Levy said.

a, Science & Technology

Global Engineering Week offers fresh perspectives on the field

by Caity Hui on

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Engineering today looks drastically different from engineering 100 years ago. In the past, designs were focused on safety, economic development, and durability. While these issues still remain important, advancements in technology and research have opened our eyes to issues that extend well beyond the strength of the physical structure.

It is this shift in thinking that  U1 student Mark Chelala, McGill Engineers Without Borders executive member and U2 student Paul Takayesu, McGill Global Engineering Venture lead hope to address in Global Engineering (GE) Week—an event coordinated as part of National Engineering Month, which focuses on educating and exposing engineers to issues outside of the classroom.

“As we learn more about our world, the problems go far beyond what they used to, and our thinking when we design in engineering has to do the same,” said Takayesu.

“Global engineering tries to expose and educate engineers about problems and issues they will have to face that are not necessarily technical and related to things like cost efficiency, but more about society and ethics and sustainability and social responsibility—all of these main issues we do not hear a lot about,” added Chelala.

The event ranges from speaker luncheons to workshops on systems thinking and sustainability, topped off with a debate competition focusing on communications in engineering.

“I am really excited about the student engagement events we will be having,” said Chelala. “We are pushing hard to have students participate actively in those.”

According to Takayesu, while these topics are brought up in class, current engineering curricula at McGill does not have the space within which to encourage conversation and discussion surrounding issues like gender equality, ethics, and sustainability.

“I don’t think we are filling a hole in the curriculum,” Takeyesu said. “I think we are supplementing and allowing students who are interested in these topics to expand on what they learn in class and really to build on that.”

One of the more salient features of GE Week is the diversity of speakers that will be attending.

“The speakers that come to the McGill Engineering Student Centres usually talk about companies but these people are coming about different issues,” said Julia Wai, VP Communications at McGill Engineers Without Borders. “It’s not something that these students hear on a regular basis, or [often] experience.”

Although the events are geared towards engineering topics, Chelala stresses that the talks are not highly technical and definitely accessible to students in other programs. He acknowledges that these issues are critical in all fields of discipline, and hopes other students will consider listening and participating in discussion on these topics.

“I think I would want to come to [GE Week] to meet people who are on the same wavelength as me,” Wai explained. “Everyone coordinating the event shares this passion of non-technical issues that are associated with engineering, and there are definitely other people out there who are maybe thinking the same thing.”

As a part of National Engineering Month, GE Week is contributing to an effort to push engineers’ perceptions as to the breadth of possibilities that their degree entails.

“I think engineers have a tremendous potential to really shape the future and what our world looks like in 100 years,” said Takayesu. “I don’t think everyone realizes how much you can do with a degree in engineering—the skills you can get out of it, for instance [….] Engineering is something bigger [than what we learn in class] and I am not getting enough out of it. I think this is something that people can benefit from in the future.”

GE Week runs from March 17 to 20. For more information on the events and to register, check out the full calendar: tinyurl.com/ge-week-mcgill

 

a, Martlets, Sports

Hockey: McGill hoists fourth CIS National Championship

by Zikomo Smith on

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The 2013-14 McGill Martlet hockey program could be defined by a number of factors: Head Coach Peter Smith’s excellent coaching; the team’s continued dominance in the RSEQ; the Martlets’ 43-game RSEQ winning streak that lasted up to this year; Katia Clement-Heydra being awarded the CIS Player-of-the-Year; or the pure aesthetic quality of hockey on display night in and night out.

However, on March 16, 2014, McGill achieved its crowning achievement of the season: the 2013-2014 CIS National Championship at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, NB. The 4-3 victory came only after two overtimes against the Montreal Carabins—the same team that defeated McGill the weekend before for the RSEQ title.

McGill started the game as the more disciplined team over the first two and a half periods. Presented with the opportunity, the Martlets seized their advantage and netted two power play goals. Sophomore forward Gabrielle Davidson continued her excellent play with the first two goals of the game, while defenceman Michelle Daigneault slotted home the third to give McGill a 3-1 lead with 10 minutes left in the third period. The Martlets maintained a strong cycle and moved the puck around with ease, accruing 33 shots to Montreal’s 24. However, in the second half of the third frame, Montreal picked up the pace with a more physical style of play to stun McGill with two goals in five minutes.

(Keith Minchin / St.Thomas University Athletics)
(Keith Minchin / St.Thomas University Athletics)

The first overtime period did not prove decisive, with an initial Montreal surge tempered by an airtight McGill defence. The Martlets moved quickly to start the additional frame, with Clement-Heydra winning the faceoff. Only 23 seconds into the second overtime, Davidson assisted defenceman Brittney Fouracres for the winning goal to clinch McGill’s fourth CIS title.

The Martlets displayed a hunger throughout the weekend, but seemed to sacrifice tempo for structure as they took on the Wilfred Laurier University (WLU) Hawks on Thursday in the first round robin match of the tournament. McGill set up from the blue line far more often than usual and passed the puck with ease, leaving WLU skating haplessly at times. Davidson—who netted nine goals over the course of the tournament—put away two markers in the first period of the game en route to a 4-1 Martlet victory.

(Keith Minchin / St.Thomas University Athletics)
(Keith Minchin / St.Thomas University Athletics)

The Martlets dealt with Moncton in a far more clinical fashion on Saturday to clinch their spot in the final. After starting a goal down the first, McGill overwhelmed Moncton’s defence by scoring four goals in a frenetic eight-minute run. The Martlets finished the game with characteristic dominance, winning the match 8-2.

Smith is currently the women’s hockey coach with the most wins in McGill history, with four gold medals, two silvers, and five bronze in 11 appearances at Nationals. The precedent has been set. Anything short of a podium finish at the National Championships has become a disappointment. However, with Olympic gold-medalist and former CIS Player-of-the-Year Melodie Daoust slated to return to the roster and only three fifth-year seniors, the Martlets will be reloading for another championship run next season.

 

a, Basketball, Sports

Point counterpoint: LeBron vs. Durant

by Aaron Rose and Dan Gilbert on

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NBA fans have witnessed great play on a nightly basis this season, with both LeBron James and Kevin Durant playing some of the best basketball of their careers. LeBron has two rings and four Finals appearances under his belt, and looks as hungry as ever for another title; Durant has kept the Oklahoma City Thunder at the top of the West without his All-Star running mate, Russell Westbrook. This week, two writers weigh in on who they think should win the 2013-2014 NBA MVP award.

LeBron

Although Kevin Durant is having a season for the history books, NBA fans should not forget about four-time (and reigning) Most Valuable Player (MVP) LeBron James, whose season has been nothing short of spectacular. The MVP award is often mistaken for an “Offensive Player-of-the-Year award,”  but the truth is, while fans often value a player’s offensive output more than his defensive skills, the game is played at both ends of the court—stopping your opponent from scoring is just as important as putting the ball in the net.

LeBron has been named to the NBA All-Defence first team five times; and while past achievements shouldn’t influence future ones, LeBron continues to be considered one of the NBA’s premier defenders. Unlike Durant whose slender frame hinders him against quick guards and tough forwards, LeBron—a 6’ 8”, 250-pound behemoth—has the speed and strength to cover the fastest point guards and biggest forwards. LeBron is an imposing defender, and although Durant’s defensive game is certainly improving, LeBron is still in a class of his own.

The two superstars are much more closely matched on the offensive side of the ball. With Russell Westbrook going down early in the season due to injury, Durant had to shoulder more of the scoring load. The league’s leading scorer has done so successfully by averaging over 30 points per game. While this number is beyond impressive, statistics like this have been seen before—LeBron has reached similar totals in his career. This year, however, LeBron is currently shooting 57 per cent from the field. Rather than score 30 points per game as he has done in the past, Lebron seems to be trying to make the players around him better, while resting his body after three consecutive NBA Finals appearances.

The most common comparison to LeBron is NBA Hall-of-Famer Magic Johnson. Whereas Johnson played point guard in his career, LeBron has been just as impactful as a facilitator despite playing as a forward. He averages 6.5 assists per game—almost a full assist more than Durant, whose team is just as good as the Miami Heat, even without Westbrook. It’s no coincidence that after coming to Miami, Michael Beasley has seen his shooting percentage rise from a putrid 40 per cent in 2012-13 to an above average 50 per cent this season playing alongside LeBron. The same can be said for Rashard Lewis, whose shooting percentage rose 29 per cent after joining the Heat in 2012.

It’s too easy to look at the league’s top scorer and simply assume he’s the MVP. The league’s best and most impactful player took his talents to South Beach four years ago. LeBron is the NBA’s MVP because he is an unstoppable force on offence, but more  importantly, the 250-pound forward is an immoveable object on defence.

— Aaron Rose

Durant

To say that Kevin Durant has been on a tear this past season would be an immense understatement. A “tear” describes moments when players go on high scoring runs or stretches in which they display flashes of brilliance. The perennial All-Star’s performance has not just been a flash in the pan, but rather an exceptional, non-stop, scorching show of excellence since the season’s opening tip.

If one were to ask me who I believe is the best basketball player on the planet today, I’d likely answer LeBron James without a second’s hesitation—but that would be a completely different topic than the one at hand. The talking point here deals with who is more deserving of Most Valuable Player (MVP) honours this season, and no one merits that accolade right now more than Durant.

Durant is a model of consistency whose level of greatness seems to elevate exponentially every game, and is currently averaging a stat line of over 30 points, nearly eight rebounds and 5.6 assists per game, while shooting over 50 per cent from the field. It’s safe to say that these aren’t ordinary numbers. Durant is not only scoring more, but also rebounding the ball better than James.

While LeBron does have a significant edge in the battle for highest field goal percentage, that particular department seems like a frill if you consider the landslide that exists between both players in just about every other measurable statistic. As it stands, Durant is currently shooting over 40 per cent from three-point range and 87.1 per cent from the free throw line. On the other hand, LeBron is shooting a lower 37.1 per cent from long distance and a rather pedestrian 74.6 per cent from the charity stripe.

Not enough? Allow me to divulge some of the league’s advanced metrics for a second. The Player Impact Estimate (PIE) is an estimate of a player’s overall impact and contributions to games they have played in. Though the discrepancy between him and LeBron is minute, Durant leads LeBron and all players in the NBA with the greatest PIE of 20.6. LeBron’s PIE currently sits at 19.5. The defensive rating (DefRtg) is used to measure how many points a player allows per 100 possessions; Durant’s defensive rating of 101.0 trumps James’ rating of 104.4. Though LeBron has the better offensive rating, Durant owns the net rating category, which combines both measures and accurately reflects a player’s ability on both ends of the court. Last but not least, Durant owns the NBA’s highest Player Efficiency Rating (PER) of 30.64—which is the all-in-one number that boils down a player’s entire contribution into a single number.

Not only has Durant led his Thunder squad to a better record than the Heat so far, but he has been able to do most of his damage without his partner in crime, Russell Westbrook. All thanks to Durant, the Thunder now own the second seed in a mightily competitive Western Conference after going 22-8 without Westbrook. It could even be argued that Durant is getting the job done with an inferior supporting cast to LeBron’s. At the end of the day, the MVP trophy remains Durant’s award to lose.

— Dan Gilbert

Editors’ Pick: Durant

LeBron is clearly on his way to becoming an all-time great, with his two-way play this season elevating his teammates on the Heat. However, Durant has reached a new level of greatness, setting a new precedent for all-around play by leading the Thunder to a battle for the top seed in a tough Western Conference. Furthermore, he has done this without Russell Westbrook for large chunks of the season, and posted scorching stats along the way. Look for Durant to be your 2013-2014 regular season MVP.

a, Martlets, Sports

Basketball: Martlets finish fifth at nationals for second straight year

by Osama Haque on

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The no. 4 nationally ranked McGill Martlets had a disappointing weekend at the CIS Final 8 tournament in Windsor, Ontario. Their dream of a medal at the National Championships was squashed in the quarter-finals with a 74-60 loss to the University of Fraser Valley (UFV) Cascades. However, McGill’s weekend did not end there, as they beat the no. 8 seeded Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks (WLU) and the no. 7 University of Alberta Pandas to capture fifth place in the tournament.

In their first game of the tournament against UFV, the Martlets started the game looking sloppy on offence. The team’s poor execution allowed UFV to go on an 8-0 run at the beginning of the game, forcing Marlet Head Coach Ryan Thorne to call a timeout at the five minute mark of the first quarter, with a score 13-3 in favour of the Cascades. The second quarter was not much better for the Martlets on the offensive end, leading to a 13-point deficit going into half time.

However, McGill looked noticeably different in the third frame with its strong defensive stops and movements of the ball leading to a resounding 28-13 run, and closed the gap to 59-57 midway in the final quarter. Yet the Martlets’ fledgling comeback came too late in the game, and the early deficit was too much to overcome; UFV held on to its 74-60 victory.

Mariam Sylla, the RSEQ Player-of-the-Year, tallied a team-high 17 points and 11 rebounds while senior forward Hélène Bibeau chipped in 16 points. The loss shifted McGill into the running for the consolation prize of fifth place in the tournament.

With minimal time to rest, the Martlets were back on the court to face WLU the next day. McGill was able to fend off the seventh-ranked team, with a 58-51 victory behind Sylla’s second double-double of the tournament. She scored 18 points and pulled down 14 boards in 34 minutes on the court. Bibeau also added in 15 points and 4 rebounds of her own in the contest. However, the Martlets connected on just 32.3 per cent of their shots from the floor, 5 of 19 from outside the arc, and below 50 per cent from the charity strike. The RSEQ champions pulled away from the Golden Hawks in the third frame with a quick run to finish the game with a 58-51 victory. The win set McGill up against the University of Alberta in a game to claim fifth place.

Sunday was the last day of the tournament, with the Martlets posting a dominant 14-point victory against Alberta. Once again, Sylla’s strong offensive game led the team, scoring 21 points and pulling down 7 rebounds. The win marked the last game for the Martlets this year, who will need to replace two fifth-year starters, Bibeau, and point guard Françoise Charest for next season.

“Every team wants to finish the season with a win, so we’re pleased with the result,” Head Coach Ryan Thorne said.

“We would have loved to have this performance in the first round, but I’m very proud the girls kept their heads up after a tough loss,” Thorne continued. “They showed a lot of character and showed what a proud basketball program we have at McGill.”

The McGill program has managed to achieve success in the RSEQ for the past couple of years, and must now find a way to reach major success at the national level.

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