In the wake of the U.S. election, my social media feed was flooded with reactions. Old classmates from my New Jersey high school shared Instagram Stories condemning Donald Trump, highlighting allegations against him, and denouncing his voters. These posts were swift and impassioned: An immediate outpouring of anger and grief.[Read More…]
Tag: student activism
A brief history of student activism at McGill
Students have always been the heartbeat of social and political movements, using their voices to tackle injustices. From civil rights to environmental issues, student activism has been a driving force in shaping reform and revolution. In 1985, McGill became the first Canadian university to divest from businesses with connections to[Read More…]
Student protest is meant to disrupt the status quo
In anticipation of heightened tensions on Oct. 7, the McGill administration preemptively closed campus, silencing student protest and increasing policing. The university moved classes online and required students to show identification at security checkpoints, with some students reporting that they were denied entry into academic buildings despite valid credentials. Fences[Read More…]
Campus Conversations: Solidarity
Solidarity beyond interest-convergence Fanta Ly, Features Editor Solidarity is trending at McGill. The “historical anomaly” of the current mobilization lies in the diversity of positionalities standing against power. As a result, the face of those calling for solidarity is diversifying beyond specific student groups to encompass large portions of the[Read More…]
Divest McGill celebrates BoG’s divestment from CU200 after over a decade of activism
On Feb. 8, students, faculty, and alumni joined Divest McGill in the Arts Building to celebrate the McGill Board of Governors’ (BoG) decision to divest from all direct holdings in Carbon Underground 200 (CU 200) fossil fuel companies by 2025. Divest McGill deliberately held the celebration in the Arts Building,[Read More…]
From eco-grief to empowerment: A blueprint for environmental activism and hopeful change
There is no doubt that there is increasing urgency to address environmental challenges around the world. On Nov. 15th, the McGill Environment Student Society (MESS) hosted a lecture on climate change, with a focus on how an uncertain climate future brings about increased anxiety. Featuring Jen Gobby, an affiliate assistant[Read More…]
The process is the protest
Between March 7 and March 18, organizers from Divest McGill occupied the McCall MacBain Arts Building to protest McGill’s multi-million dollar investments in the fossil fuel industry, calling on McGill to confront their complicity in settler-colonialism, white supremacy, and capitalism. Over the past two weeks, Divest not only called attention[Read More…]
The Computer Riot, Birth Control Handbook, and struggle for Africana Studies: Brief histories of student activism
Students have long been at the forefront of social progress, both on their campuses and in the wider Montreal communities. The McGill Tribune looks back on a few instances throughout history when students banded together to advocate for their rights. 1969 Computer Riot at Concordia This protest would come to[Read More…]
U of T’s divestment sets a low bar that McGill refuses to reach
On Oct. 27, the University of Toronto (U of T) announced that it would divest from all its direct fossil fuel investments in the next 12 months, with plans to divest from all indirect investments by 2030. It also stated that it will take steps to curb more emissions than[Read More…]
SSMU’s BoD should resist, not assist McGill’s repression of student activism
On Feb. 16, 90 per cent of students at the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) General Assembly – Consultative Forum voted to adopt the Divest for Human Rights Policy. The Policy mandates SSMU to campaign against McGill University’s investments in corporations complicit in colonial land theft, environmental destruction, war[Read More…]
