Suzanna Graham, Arts and Entertainment Editor: Three years ago, I felt disconnected from McGill, Montreal, and my fellow students. In the last week of my first year, a friend of a friend suggested I write for a school paper. The second week of second year, I ran from class to[Read More…]
Articles by Lily Cason
AGSEM claims misinformation, unjust treatment from McGill amid TA strike
Chants and ringing bells, echoed by supportive honks from passers-by, can be heard daily at the Roddick Gates as teaching assistants (TAs) enter their third week of striking and picketing for higher pay, better working conditions, and healthcare. Since TAs’ previous collective agreement (CA) expired on July 31, 2023, the[Read More…]
Protesters stage ‘die-in’ at Y-intersection to draw attention to McGill’s complicity in ongoing genocide of Palestinians
Content Warning: Mentions of genocide and a hunger strike. On March 28, more than 40 protesters lay silently on the ground in front of the Arts Building for half an hour, their hands doused in red paint and bodies traced in chalk, to protest McGill’s financial and academic ties to[Read More…]
Tribune Explains: Tenants’ rights in Montreal
The apartment search is ramping up for many as Quebec’s July 1 moving date looms closer. The Tribune brings you a guide to understanding and invoking your rights as a tenant when renting an apartment. What are the regulations around landlords increasing rent? Landlords must give written notice of their[Read More…]
McGill sues Quebec over tuition hikes, cites discrimination and lack of consultation
On the morning of Feb. 23, McGill announced that the university has filed a lawsuit against the Quebec government over tuition hikes. These mean that new out-of-province students attending anglophone universities in Quebec will pay roughly 30 per cent more than in previous years. This announcement came alongside the news[Read More…]
McGill sues Quebec over tuition hikes, cites discrimination and lack of consultation
On the morning of Feb. 23, McGill announced that the university has filed a lawsuit against the Quebec government over tuition hikes. These mean that new out-of-province students attending anglophone universities in Quebec will pay roughly 30 per cent more than in previous years. This announcement came alongside the news[Read More…]
AMUSE condemns McGill’s decision to abolish Floor Fellow position as of Fall 2024 semester
On Feb. 15, McGill called Floor Fellows to a Zoom meeting during which the university informed them that the Floor Fellow position was going to be abolished, effective next semester. While McGill claims that the decision was made with the best interest of students in mind, the union that represents[Read More…]
Board of Governors discusses Saini’s meeting with Legault, EDI at McGill, and divestment from fossil fuels
On Thursday, Feb. 8 the McGill Board of Governors (BoG) convened for one of its five regular meetings of the 2023-2024 academic year. The Board’s 27 members heard remarks from McGill President Deep Saini; a report from the McGill Senate; a report from the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee (EDIC);[Read More…]
Parlez-vous français?: Improving your French in the McGill bubble
For many McGill students, brushing up on their French is on their never-ending to-do list. Or maybe you’re a prospective McGill student worried about Quebec’s plan to have 80 per cent of non-Francophone students speak an intermediate level of French. Either way, learning French is a great way to feel[Read More…]
Discovery of asbestos in Arts building disrupts ‘Legally Blonde’ production, worries students who frequent the space
On Sunday, Jan. 21, students in the Department of English received an email from their chair, Professor Erin Hurley, who shared a Jan. 19 announcement from Facilities Management and Ancillary Services (FMAS). The announcement explained that plaster debris found at the back of the stage in Moyse Hall had tested[Read More…]
A love letter to cross-country skiing
I so often find that downhill skiing disappoints—you pay hundreds of dollars to wait in massive lines, be carried to the top of a mountain, and then plopped down among dozens of families, fighting couples, and overconfident first-timers barreling down slopes they shouldn’t be on. I will admit, my lack[Read More…]
Students take to the streets to oppose Quebec government’s proposed tuition hikes
Red felt squares dappled McGill’s Y-intersection on Nov. 30, as students gathered to once again protest the Quebec government’s proposed tuition hikes for English-speaking universities. The hikes, announced on Oct. 13, would nearly double fees for out-of-province students at schools like McGill and Concordia from around $9,000 to $17,000 annually.[Read More…]
Students vote in favour of Policy Against Genocide in Palestine, reject SSMU Base Fee increase
The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Fall referendum closed at 11 a.m. on Nov. 20, with 35.1 per cent of undergraduate students casting a ballot—up from the 16.7 per cent that voted in last semester’s election. Students overwhelmingly voted to pass the Policy Against Genocide in Palestine and to[Read More…]
Learning to go slow
This past summer was a summer of long drives. I would put on a podcast, occasionally find a passenger, and hit the road in my beat-up blue Subaru. Ironically, at some point, while speeding on long stretches of Route 175, I also came to embrace moving slowly. I have always[Read More…]
McGill Board of Governors votes to change title of ‘Principal’ to ‘President’
McGill’s Board of Governors (BoG) convened its first formal meeting of the academic year at 4 p.m. on Oct. 5. The in-person contingent of the meeting took place in room 301 of the James Administration Building, while others joined on Zoom. The open session of the meeting, which started just[Read More…]
Media Relations Office hosts press event with Associate Provost for Indigenous Initiatives
On Sept. 13, McGill’s Media Relations Office hosted a roundtable interview for student media with Celeste Pedri-Spade, the university’s first Associate Provost for Indigenous Initiatives and an Associate Professor of Anthropology. Pedri-Spade, who began her five-year appointment in September 2022, is an Anishinaabekwe (Ojibwe) and a member of the Lac[Read More…]
Tribune explains: Unions and associations at McGill
McGill employs over 12,500 staff across its two campuses. There are fourteen unions and two associations that represent, support, and advocate for part- and full-time, academic and non-academic employees of the university. What are unions and associations? Unions bring workers together to hear their concerns and advocate for better working[Read More…]
Governance 101
McGill’s governance structures can seem opaque and difficult to navigate. The Tribune broke down the organizations that represent the student body and how they are governed, as well as how the university’s governance apparatuses work. The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) SSMU is the students’ union that represents all undergraduates[Read More…]
Seven spots to escape the hustle and bustle of university and go for a hike
With fall just around the corner and the sweltering summer heat finally starting to break, it’s the perfect time to immerse yourself in nature. Contrary to popular belief, hiking doesn’t have to be expensive and inaccessible; you can even find some lovely spots that are easy to reach by public[Read More…]
Former student goes to court over alleged toxic culture and discrimination within Faculty of Dentistry
A former McGill dentistry student has sued McGill and three professors who were part of the Faculty of Dentistry while he was at the university over alleged discrimination. Adam*, the complainant, says his experiences at McGill were marked by targeted threats, a toxic atmosphere, and efforts to limit his ability[Read More…]
Students condemn inaccessible food prices during Let’s Eat McGill assembly
Content warning: Mention of disordered eating Students filed into Arts W-215 on the evening of March 7 for an assembly on the food insecurity crisis at McGill hosted by the new campaign Let’s Eat McGill. All seats were full by the time the presentation began, which was rife with photos[Read More…]
Arts students vote in new executives, strike down motion to raise AUS fees
Undergraduate students in the Faculty of Arts, the university’s largest of 11, voted in next year’s Arts Undergraduate Society of McGill University (AUS) executives and representatives in a ballot that ran from Feb. 20 to 24. A referendum also took place during the same period, where students decided to continue[Read More…]
Long live Herbert
Herbert came into my life sometime around 2018, a short, wilting thing from the reject corner at Home Depot. He led an unfortunate existence right from the start: About half of the people I told about him misheard me and thought I had named him “Pervert,” which… no. After some[Read More…]
McGill releases updated version of mandatory “It Takes All of Us” program
Content warning: Mentions of sexual violence McGill launched a new version of its mandatory “It Takes All of Us” program, an online tool meant to educate the McGill community about sexual violence, on Jan. 30. The updated version was created by the Office for Sexual Violence Response, Support and Education[Read More…]
McGill instructors report inequitable employment conditions and academic precarity
There have been mounting outcries over poor labour conditions at Canadian universities as instructors and organizations alike point to problems such as low pay, overwork, difficulty being promoted, and lacking job security, exacerbated by a rise in contract-based positions. McGill, according to some members of the university community, is not[Read More…]
Students vote to continue financing Daily Publications Society and the Sustainability Projects Fund
The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) held its Fall 2022 Referendum from Nov. 14 to Nov. 18. The two questions on the online ballot were whether McGill’s undergraduate student body was still in favour of funding the Daily Publications Society (DPS) and the Sustainability Projects Fund (SPF). Both motions[Read More…]
Dr. H. Deep Saini to become McGill’s next Principal and Vice-Chancellor
On Nov. 14, McGill announced that Professor H. Deep Saini will be the next Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the university. The Principal is tasked with representing the university on the global stage and helping shape the future of the institution. Saini will take over the role from Christopher Manfredi, who[Read More…]
Tribune Explains: Getting a job on campus
How does one get a job on campus and what positions are available? McGill’s Human Resources job board, Workday, lists a plethora of job openings for students such as administrative and research positions. Another key job site is MyFuture, which includes both on-campus and off-campus opportunities for students from research[Read More…]
Stop making a celebratory spectacle out of war
Content Warning: Mentions of war, colonial violence, and trauma. On Oct. 22, two CF-18 jets sped over McGill’s Percival Molson Memorial Stadium at 4:04 and 4:08 p.m. to mark the start of the Montreal Alouettes’ football game against the Toronto Argonauts. While McGill, the teams involved, and the press all[Read More…]
McGill student and professor host discussion with Peter-McGill Community Council director
A discussion featuring Stéphane Febbrari, the director of the Peter-McGill Community Council, and co-hosted by Megan Uderian, U3 Nursing, and Mary Anne Poutanen, a Concordia affiliate professor who teaches interdisciplinary courses on Quebec and Canada at McGill, took place on Oct. 25 over Zoom. The event was part of the[Read More…]
Archeological work at the New Vic site dominates McGill Senate meeting
During the university’s second Senate meeting of the academic year on Oct. 19, senators discussed the Kanien’kehá:ka Kahnistensera’s (Mohawk Mothers) legal dispute with McGill over the New Vic Project and the university’s COVID-19 protocols. The meeting began with memorial tributes for professors who had passed away this year, followed by[Read More…]
Tribune Explains: Teaching positions at McGill
McGill instructors can hold a variety of titles—Faculty Lecturer, Assistant Professor, and Associate Professor are just a few of the many positions that exist. There are tenure and tenure-track staff, contract academic staff, visiting academic staff, and Teaching Assistants (TAs) at the university. The McGill Tribune breaks down the different[Read More…]
Along Party Lines: Quebec’s provincial election results
This article was last updated at 12 p.m. on Oct. 4. Voters streamed into polling stations to cast ballots in Quebec’s provincial election on Oct. 3. Polls closed at 8 p.m., concluding five weeks of campaigning dominated by issues such as language and minority rights, Indigenous issues and separatism, and[Read More…]
McGill’s greenwashing machine
Walking onto campus for the first time in months this September, my eyes were immediately drawn to the blue banners now adorning the Arts building and along the Y-intersection. These banners advertise the university’s Sustainability Projects Fund, featuring illustrations like bees, plants, bikes, and electric cars, along one of the[Read More…]
Along Party Lines: Quebec’s provincial elections, explained
Introducing “Along Party Lines,” a new series at the The McGill Tribune aimed at unpacking Quebec and Canadian politics. Up first are the essential details you should know as Quebec’s provincial elections rapidly approach. Quebec provincial elections will take place in under a month on Oct. 3. In accordance with[Read More…]
Kanien’kehà:ka Kahnistensera address Pope’s visit, press for further investigation into possible graves at Royal Victoria site
The Kanien’kehà:ka Kahnistensera (Mohawk Mothers) held a joint rally and press conference on July 27 to call for the removal of the cross at the top of Mount Royal in the wake of the Pope’s arrival in Canada. The Mohawk Mothers also updated the public on their legal proceedings with[Read More…]
Community rallies against closure of McGill’s Conservatory of Music
Dozens gathered in front of the Schulich School of Music on June 28 wielding signs, singing, and playing all manner of instruments. They were protesting McGill’s decision to close its Conservatory of Music at the end of the summer. McGill’s announcement, which came on June 20, cited high operational costs,[Read More…]
Student activists protest SSMU decision to drop Palestine Solidarity Policy
The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) announced in a statement on April 22 that they would not be adopting the Palestine Solidarity Policy, despite 71.1 per cent of voters endorsing it in the Winter 2022 referendum. The Policy would have mandated the Society to condemn the surveillance of Palestinian[Read More…]
Student-led Week for Solidarity Against Authoritarianism in Asia aims to inform and mobilize McGill community
A group of McGill students held a “Week for Solidarity Against Authoritarianism in Asia” from March 7 to March 11, aiming to raise awareness and foster discussions about the realities of ongoing authoritarianism in parts of Asia. Students, activists, academics, journalists, artists, and more convened to discuss the many ways[Read More…]
Students split over McGill’s ‘return to full in-person activities’ for Fall 2022 semester
After two years of pandemic-related closures and restrictions, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Christopher Manfredi and Vice-Principal (Administration and Finance) Yves Beauchamp announced on Feb. 22 that the Fall 2022 semester will be held entirely in person. The statement came as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Quebec continue to decline and[Read More…]
Professor Debra Thompson on the ‘absented presence’ of Black communities in Canada
The African Studies Students’ Association of McGill (ASSA) hosted a talk by professor Debra Thompson on Jan. 27 titled “The Great White North: Blackness in Canada.” An associate professor in the political science department and Canada Research Chair in Racial Inequality in Democratic Societies at McGill, Thompson spoke about the[Read More…]
Faculties rally to strike as McGill resumes in-person classes
Many McGill students entered the classroom for the first time this semester on Jan. 24. The majority of McGill courses—except Tier 1 activities—began online due to the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant of COVID-19 and a subsequent provincial lockdown. The university’s decision to require students and staff return[Read More…]
When nature nurtures
I spent this break wandering through the Shenandoah National Park, irresponsibly lost at points. With root systems and fungi speaking deep under the earth and leafless canopies suspended overhead, the woods enveloped me on all sides. I felt more at peace than I had in months. In nature, I feel[Read More…]
McGill holds first in-person convocation since onset of COVID-19 pandemic
McGill held its Fall 2021 Convocation ceremonies at Place des Arts on Nov. 25 and Nov. 26, marking the first time that convocation has taken place in-person since Fall 2019. There were four separate ceremonies, two on each day, to honour the approximately 700 students who completed undergraduate, graduate, or[Read More…]
From feminism to feminisms
I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve brainstormed the perfect slogan to scribble on my cardboard sign right before a protest. Almost always, I end up settling on something I deem to be just so-so. The same thing happened in January 2017, a day after Donald Trump’s inauguration,[Read More…]
Tribune Explains: McGill’s New Office for Mediation and Reporting
What is the Office for Mediation and Reporting (OMR)? McGill’s OMR was created in response to a review of the university’s Policy on Harassment and Discrimination, which was approved by McGill’s Senate and Board of Governors in May 2021. The OMR oversees all formal reports of harassment, discrimination, and sexual[Read More…]
RSN hosts debate on individual versus systemic climate action
On Oct. 19, McGill’s Research and Sustainability Network (RSN) held a virtual debate on the topic of individual versus systemic solutions to the climate crisis. The event featured three McGill professors who research environmental sustainability in their respective fields: Sanjith Gopalakrishnan, assistant professor of operations management in the Desautels Faculty[Read More…]
Tribune Explains: McGill’s new COVID-19 initiatives
In a university-wide email sent out Oct. 7, McGill announced four new COVID-19 initiatives to help track and curtail the spread of COVID-19 on campus. The protocols, which are being implemented throughout October, include measuring CO2 levels to assess the efficiency of ventilation systems; testing wastewater in student residence buildings;[Read More…]
McGill holds annual Queer History Month themed “Coming Together”
Throughout October, McGill is holding a series of events in honour of Queer History Month, ranging from public talks to workshops, centred around the theme, “Coming Together.” The month opened with a homecoming event called “Return of the Rainbow,” which featured Kanien’kehá:ka Elder Kawennotas Sedalia. The event brought together former[Read More…]
Minimal turnout at McGill’s second COVID-19 vaccination clinic
McGill held a second walk-in vaccination clinic in Redpath Hall from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 28 as part of its ongoing effort to make vaccines accessible to the student body. The university currently estimates 10 per cent of students have yet to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.[Read More…]
Tribune Explains: What happens if your classmate gets COVID-19?
McGill’s COVID-19 management and prevention plan implemented during the return to in-person teaching includes COVID-19-related accommodations, a system of contact tracing, and email alerts to exposure risks. The McGill Tribune looked into what students can expect if they receive an email notice of a potential COVID-19 exposure. Who handles COVID-19[Read More…]
McGill’s week-long vaccine registration centre took in approximately 100 students daily
McGill opened its second walk-in vaccine registration centre from Sept. 14 to Sept. 17 in Redpath Hall—this time a four-day event rather than a single day. This second installment is part of the university’s sustained attempt to help students register vaccinations received outside of Quebec, and came in response to[Read More…]
Students wait in line for hours at McGill’s first on-campus vaccination clinic
Amidst the implementation of Quebec’s vaccine passport, McGill announced that a vaccination clinic in Redpath Hall would offer first and second doses and register vaccines received outside of Quebec on Sept. 3. The event was heavily advertised by email and across McGill’s various social media accounts, but many attendees felt[Read More…]
New Vic Project town hall reveals renovation plans
Leaders of McGill’s New Vic Project held a town hall on Aug. 31 to review proposed renovations to the Royal Victoria Hospital site and to answer questions from students and faculty. Among those present were the executive sponsors of the project, provost Christopher Manfredi and vice-principal (Administration and Finance) Yves[Read More…]
Divest McGill holds workshop on climate justice and divestment
Divest McGill held a virtual workshop titled “Divest 101” on Jan. 20 to educate students about divestment and encourage them to take action. Two representatives of Divest McGill, Zahur Ashrafuzzaman, U1 Arts & Science, and Millie Murray, U1 Arts, led the presentation by outlining the ethical, social, and financial incentives[Read More…]
Interdisciplinary panel discussed personal privacy and public health during COVID-19
The McGill Research Group on Health and Law (RGHL) held an interdisciplinary panel on Jan. 13 titled “New or normal? Privacy, Public Health and the Pandemic.” Moderated by Faculty of Law associate professor Lara Khoury, the three panellists, Dr. Anne Andermann, Ignacio Cofone, and Dr. Khaled El Emam, discussed the[Read More…]