If you didn't understand last week's highly technical debate over the constitutionality of the composition of the Students' Society of McGill University (SSMU)'s Board of Directors, you may be in luck. Underlying that debate was an entirely different issue, one much more familiar to students—the dispute over the Boycott, Divestment,[Read More…]
Articles by David Watson
Andrew Scheer’s proposal to protect campus free speech creates more problems than it solves
In the (perhaps unlikely) event that any students followed the recent Conservative Party federal leadership race, they would surely have noticed one of the more unconventional promises made by Andrew Scheer, the man who now leads the Conservative caucus. During his bid for the party's leadership, Scheer vowed that if[Read More…]
Solving McGill’s problems, one building sign at a time
It’s no secret that McGill is currently facing a pretty long list of serious problems. The university’s reputation has taken a hit over the recent scandals plaguing the student society. Budget issues persist, as the provincial government cut funding for the 2016-2017 school year. The administration continues to clash with[Read More…]
Is there an upside to the O’Leary candidacy?
It’s been an odd political year. As news from the United States continues to descend into absurdity, in Canada the Conservative Party leadership race drudges on, complete with a cast of characters large enough to carry a Marvel movie. The Conservative race came to McGill on Feb. 13, as TV[Read More…]
Anti-Zionist tweet prompts lengthy question period at SSMU Council
This past Thursday, Feb. 9, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Legislative Council hosted speakers from McGill Athletics and Recreation and the Association for the Voice of Education in Quebec (AVEQ). In addition, two out of four motions were passed: the Motion for SSMU to Advocate for an Immediate Suspension of[Read More…]
Discussing Academic Freedom At McGill
“Something strange is happening at America's colleges and universities.” So began the provocative cover story of The Atlantic's September 2015 issue. The piece, “The Coddling of the American Mind,” by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt, dove head-on into a relatively recent, yet highly contentious, debate gripping American campuses—that of campus[Read More…]
Pop Rhetoric: A new battlefield in the fight over video games
There is something oddly familiar about the criticism that was levelled against Battlefield 1, the next installment of Electronic Arts (EA)’s hugely successful military franchise, after the game was revealed in early May 2016. Just as all other once-novel entertainment trends—such as television, rock, and rap music—had to face in[Read More…]
Pop Rhetoric: Blockbusters may be predicting the 2016 US election
It's been pointed out many times that art imitates life, but sometimes the resemblance can be alarmingly uncanny. With the release of this summer’s highly anticipated Captain America: Civil War, Hollywood has given us yet another superhero movie that seems to perfectly capture the tone of the ongoing American presidential[Read More…]
Shutting down campus speakers at McGill won’t help divestment
With this spring’s campaign for divestment behind us and more activism likely to come in the fall, a brief window for critical reflection on the movement is upon us. This past semester’s sit-ins and rallies, spearheaded by groups such as Divest McGill, have largely been respectful and positive displays of[Read More…]
McGill Matters, EP. 1: When SSMU is confronted with “external” and “divisive” issues
[audiotrack title=”McGill Matters, EP. 1: When SSMU is confronted with external and divisive issues” songwriter=”Zachary Carson, Albert Park, and David Watson” date=”March 18, 2016″ width=”700″ height=”200″ src=”https://24f2041bb5b609d25f1a97039f71682cc9154421.googledrive.com/host/0B9rQxTeDv2duM0FmSjBSYkZFS1k/mcgillmatters1.mp3″ autoplay=”on”] In Episode 1 of McGill Matters, Zac Carson, David Watson, and Albert Park discuss the referendum question on the motion regarding amendments to[Read More…]
Donald Trump, make McGill great again
There is a huge problem at this university: McGill doesn’t win anymore. However, the expiration of Principal Suzanne Fortier’s term in June 2018 provides an important opportunity to reverse McGill’s decline. In 2018, the McGill Board of Governors should appoint Donald J. Trump to the position of principal and vice-chancellor[Read More…]
Jaywalking: Another side of street crime in Halifax and Montreal
Halifax is in the grips of a terrible crime wave, or so the Nova Scotia Legislature seems to believe. Last month it voted for a dramatic increase in fines for a certain offence in order to punish Haligonians—yes, that’s really what they’re called—for their criminal ways. But the targets of[Read More…]
Delineating safe spaces key to protecting free speech on university campuses
The campus free speech debate was back in the media spotlight these past few weeks after an incident at Yale University. Controversy followed a mass email sent by Yale Professor Erika Christakis, in which she questioned the school’s policy on culturally appropriative Halloween costumes. The response was fast and furious;[Read More…]
Election 2015: Parties struggle to stay focused on youth issues
Last week, as federal parties continued to court the youth vote, students at the University of Calgary got a strange surprise. Photos quickly surfaced online of a controversial Conservative pamphlet being handed out on campus: “Let the lefties run your campus. Help the Conservatives run the country,” boasted one side.[Read More…]