Two thousand six hundred McGill students wandered the halls of the Shatner Building last Tuesday and Wednesday during Activities Night to learn about the different clubs and services tht the university has to offer. In case you weren’t able to attend, here is a list of a few clubs you might be interested in joining.
Financial Markets Group
For the business-minded among us, the Financial Markets Group is a club that offers students the chance to discuss and learn more about the complex world of financial markets.
the group brings in guest speakers, analyzes investment strategies and risk management, and hosts invetopedia competitions with cash prizes.
Contact fmg,[email protected] to learn more.
Go Club
Go is a game that originated in ancient China more than 2,500 years ago and has recently risen to popularity, with roughly 27 million players worldwide. Often con-
sidered the ultimate strategy game, Go is traditionally played on a 19-by-19-space grid with black and white stones. The goal of the game is to capture more territory, or space on the board, than your opponent.
While Go is based on a relatively simple concept, it is a game filled with intense strategy and complicated game theory. The club meets once a week to discuss strategy, hold lectures on various topics related to the game, and play. All levels of players are welcome to attend and encouraged to learn as much as possible. As they say, “A minute to learn, a lifetime to master.”
The group meets Thursday nights at 7 p.m. in the Trottier cafeteria. More information can be found on the McGill Go Club Facebook group, or by contacting [email protected].
BRefuge
BRefuge is a refugee-oriented student club that works to “promote intercultural interaction and understanding” around McGill and Montreal. Throughout the year, BRefuge hosts talks and film screenings in order to shed light on issues related to refugees.
The club also organizes group events and outings with McGill students and refugees to exchange stories and help the refugee newcomers learn more about Montreal and Canadian life. Also, this year BRefugee will be launching its Buddy Program, which will match small groups of students with refugee or refugee claimants to volunteer together at partner organizations. Not only is this a great way to help the Montreal community, but the program also offers the opportunity to help a foreigner get acquainted with a new life, which can be an extremely difficult and scary task.
More information is available on brefugee.blogspot.com or by contacting [email protected].
Gorilla Composting
One of the several McGill groups dedicated to a greener tomorrow, Gorilla Composting works to divert all organic waste away from the trash bin and towards an on-campus composting facility.
The group is working on an organic recycling plan for the McGill community while also teaching people about the importance of composting and living green.
This year, Gorilla Compositing will be focusing on vermiculture. It is in need of many volunteers in order to stay on track with its mission to make composting a “necessity and responsibility.”
Check out gorilla.mcgill.ca for more information.
Movember
A men’s health charity started by a group of Aussies in 2004, Movember is a monthlong event in which men around the world grow moustaches to raise awareness for men with health issues. The Movember Foundation was launched in Canada in 2007 and raises money for the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada.
Because it can be difficult (or embarrassing) to grow a moustache without any support, a McGill club has been formed to provide support and guidance to charity participants. Men can participate by growing moustaches and collecting money from friends and relatives, whereas women, or “Mo Sistas,” provide much needed support and attend the end of the month gala parties. Perhaps best of all, McGill will be filled with sweet-moustachioed dudes for an entire month.
More information can be found on ca.movember.com, their Facebook group, or by contacting [email protected].
Cinema Politica McGill
Not only are documentaries a great way to learn about an issue in 90 minutes, they are also an interesting medium for accessible information sharing. Cinema Politica McGill screens documentaries “pertaining to relevant political and social issues in an effort to raise global awareness on the McGill campus.”
Cinema Politica is an international media-arts, nonprofit organization trying to inform people about various issues through by-donation screenings around the world. This semester, the club will be screening 10 documentaries on subjects such as the pharmaceutical industry of sex and the history of the portrayal of First Nations in Hollywood cinema.
Fall 2010 screenings take place at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Leacock 26. Check out the Cinema Politica (McGill) Facebook group for more details.
McGill Pre-Law Society
McGill’s pre-law society helps aspiring lawyers navigate the tricky trail of applying to law schools. Their mission is to “provide invaluable opportunities and services to inform [their] members about the field of law.” The MPLS offers a mentorship program, a volunteer program and publishes a news journal called Fiat Justitia.
As a new group, the MPLS is looking for membership and is eager to help students with an interest in a future legal career.
Check out ssmu.mcgill.ca/MPLS or contact [email protected] for more information.
