As COVID-19 cases rise throughout the province and outbreaks occur at multiple Canadian post-secondary schools, McGill University has by comparison appeared to weather the pandemic relatively well. However, the loss of the social aspects typical of the first-year university experience have impacted incoming students’ decision to live in residence this[Read More…]
Tag: covid-19
Online learning must prioritize accessibility
Like many students, I found myself returning home before the end of the Winter 2020 semester. Recognizing that these unique circumstances presented an opportunity, I decided to enroll in courses during the summer semester. This was both a wise idea and a horrible one. Having never been to my parents’[Read More…]
Quebec’s businesses and linguistic minorities need protection during COVID-19
Since gaining a majority government in the 2018 election, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) has advanced a nationalistic agenda for the province, with one of their principal initiatives being the reinforcement of the primacy of the French language. Most recently, a report found that 40 per cent of Quebec businesses[Read More…]
Love in the time of COVID-19
For university students, dating does not always mean heartfelt conversations over candlelit dinners. In fact, dating rarely means going on dates at all. Instead, dating can mean late night hookups after long hours spent in the library. It can mean watching Netflix to fill the silence, and avoiding labels in[Read More…]
McGill Max Bell graduate student bridges borders with comparative policy tool
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a graduate student at McGill’s Max Bell School of Public Policy to create the Bridging Borders project, an interactive policy tool that compares the effectiveness of pandemic response plans from regions around the world. Since the project started in May, graduate student Henna Hundal[Read More…]
SSMU Clubs and Services forced to adapt amid COVID-19 regulations
While students around the world have begun to adjust to the new normal of online classes and socially-distanced gatherings, the COVID-19 pandemic still affects almost every aspect of our lives. In particular, the pandemic has impacted student’s social interactions, including their ability to participate in clubs and societies. Activities night,[Read More…]
Reinventing a life of leisure
Since the Quebec government declared a public health emergency in March 2020, Montreal, the province’s largest city, has lost hundreds of millions in tourism revenue. Many of Montreal’s major cultural events, such as the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival, and Osheaga, which altogether bring in[Read More…]
McGill cannot leave incoming first years behind
The end of the last academic year was extraordinary: COVID-19 barrelled through our lives and took the world by storm, instruction moved online at many universities, and the entire education system was uprooted. Unfortunately, the pandemic’s effects were particularly harsh on graduating high school seniors—students who will now be burdened[Read More…]
Battle of the bandwidths
When the COVID-19 pandemic began this March and governments mandated self-isolation to limit the spread of the virus, smart devices became the primary means for people to stay connected. For students, digital platforms are essential for remaining in touch with loved ones, working, and balancing school responsibilities. Some platforms, such[Read More…]
McGill faculties host first ever virtual frosh
McGill’s Campus Life and Engagement hosted its first virtual Frosh the week of Aug. 27 – 30 2020. With public health restrictions imposed on every facet of student life this year, the usually boisterous Frosh festivities were replaced by online events. Hosted over Zoom, each faculty’s Frosh included a range[Read More…]
