Sarah Farnand: To the place I have called home for the past four years, the place that has helped me grow from a shy, insecure writer to someone who is proud of her work and confident in her abilities, The Tribune will have my heart forever. And to all of[Read More…]
Articles by Madison Edward-Wright
McGill Tribune attends first international tournament as newly minted varsity team
It was a crisp fall morning in October when The McGill Tribune’s varsity Stack Cup team piled into the car to begin our journey. Where were we headed? New York City. What were we doing? Team bonding—and taking on our first challenge as a varsity team. We trained for months,[Read More…]
Post-referendum debate erupts among LSA members over lack of clarity and implications of constitutional amendments
After a brief campaign and voting period, the McGill Law Students Association (LSA) announced on March 14 that a change requiring a supermajority—two-thirds of voters—to pass a strike was rejected. Despite the referendum question’s failure to pass, many students are still confused about the implications of the constitutional amendment and[Read More…]
Stop the swap—I want an apartment, too
CALLING ALL BROKE STUDENTS: Spacious two-and-a-half with a combined living room-bedroom literally two steps from the kitchen, bathroom, and front door! I’ have loved living in this cozy place, paying only $1,775 a month, with no utilities included. Anyone would be lucky to snatch this place up. But I’m only[Read More…]
Along Party Lines: In conversation with the Honourable Marc Miller
When Marc Miller started helping high-school friend and current Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau fundraise in 2008, he was a practicing lawyer, not particularly involved in politics. Fifteen years later, Miller has now been the Member of Parliament (MP) representing McGill’s riding for eight years and became the Minister[Read More…]
Tribune Predicts: Midterm Horoscopes
Ah yes, midterms: Those things we all love to hate. It’s a stressful time in the semester, but fret not, The McGill Tribune is here to help you navigate the piles of exams, essays, lab reports, group projects, and personal drama that the end of February promises to deliver. Aries[Read More…]
McGill announces creation of postvention framework during Quebec Suicide Prevention Week
Content warning: Mention of suicide On Feb. 7, McGill will hold its first community consultation regarding a suicide postvention plan that has been in the works since a need was first identified in 2019. The postvention plan is one third of a larger project designed to address suicide on campus.[Read More…]
Over the rainbow and back again: Queer stories beyond tokenism
With the winter months leaving me feeling cold and alone, I find myself looking to movies, TV shows, music, and books for company. As a queer woman, I find myself searching for media that reflects my identity—something much easier said than done. Scrolling through Netflix or perusing bookshelves reveals a[Read More…]
Fact or Fiction: Do word games really keep your brain healthier?
Over the past few years, word puzzles and brain games have exploded in popularity. Most of us are familiar with the green, yellow, and grey squares of Wordle, acquired by The New York Times in January 2022, or have attempted to organize letters on a Scrabble board to no avail.[Read More…]
“No TERFs on our turf”: Students rally against talk platforming anti-trans organization
Content warning: Mention of racist and transphobic violence In the early afternoon of Jan. 10, McGill students and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community packed into Chancellor Day Hall to protest “The Sex vs. Gender (Identity) Debate in the United Kingdom and the Divorce of LGB from T,” a talk by[Read More…]
McGill not equipped to handle emergency mental health care cases
Content warning: Mention of suicide Since its inception in 2019, McGill’s Student Wellness Hub has been marred by a lack of staff, minimal support from other university infrastructures, soaring demand for appointments, and the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, students have struggled to book appointments and are often left to[Read More…]
Books every self-proclaimed nerd should have on their shelf
As we head into the final weeks of the Fall 2022 semester, The McGill Tribune’s Science & Technology section has come up with a list of books to read over the winter break—or while procrastinating on assignments. Take the time to learn about science in a casual environment and don’t[Read More…]
McGill librarians say students regulate volume levels, but not food consumption in libraries
Finals season is fast approaching, and with them comes extended library hours to accommodate students. Libraries are a popular study spot and as foot traffic increases, more students have to confront library policies like silent zones and bans on eating. Anjolie Levêque, U2 Arts, is one of these students. On[Read More…]
Assimilation in 21st-century Quebec
On the first Monday of October, all those eligible to vote in the province of Quebec will head to the polls to elect members of the National Assembly of Quebec. The party that wins the most seats in the National Assembly will form the government, and their leader will become[Read More…]
Developing a multi-dimensional picture of the Saint-Lawrence River Valley
A few days before former McGill Principal and Vice-Chancellor Suzanne Fortier stepped down, she attended the inauguration of the Adaptable Earth Observation System (AEOS) facility at McGill’s Gault Nature Reserve. The new building, buried between the modest peaks of Mont-St-Hilaire, serves as a home to a biology lab and an[Read More…]
Governance 101
Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) What it is: The Students’ Society of McGill University is the undergraduate student union. SSMU supervises undergraduate clubs and student organizations, operates Gerts Bar & Café, and advocates on behalf of all undergraduates at the McGill Senate. SSMU is composed of six executive members,[Read More…]
McGill student sues university, SPHR McGill and SSMU with support of B’nai Brith
Jewish service organization B’nai Brith Canada announced on July 27 that it will back a lawsuit filed against McGill University, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU), and Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights McGill (SPHR) for “participating in creating an antisemitic environment.” The lawsuit, filed by Jonah Fried, U3 Arts,[Read More…]
Bill 96 further ingrains systemic racism
In a devastating decision taken by the National Assembly of Quebec on May 24, Bill 96—the newest addition to the province’s array of restrictive language laws—was officially adopted. While the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) advertised the bill as another small step to protect the French language, the reality is that[Read More…]
McCall MacBain Arts, University Centre, and Leacock buildings vandalized
On the morning of March 21, students arrived on campus to find the front of the McCall MacBain Arts Building vandalized. On the banners flanking the main entrance, along the front wall, and on the small statue in front of the building, phrases including “education for liberation,” “fucking slave owner,”[Read More…]
Divest McGill occupies Arts building, plans to stay overnight for at least one week
Divest McGill members and organizers arrived at the McCall MacBain Arts Building around 1:30 p.m. on March 7. It was the start of their minimum one-week-long occupation in protest of McGill’s continued investments in the fossil fuel industry. According to their manifesto, Divest is calling for a complete overhaul of[Read More…]
McGill Committee responds to expression of concern regarding Dollarama warehouse workers, recommends no action
On Feb. 10, McGill’s Committee to Advise on Matters of Social Responsibility (CAMSR) issued its report on the expression of concern the McGill Corporate Accountability Project (MCAP) submitted to the university’s Board of Governors (BoG) in August 2021. The expression of concern regarded the alleged human rights abuses and mistreatment[Read More…]
Attempting to bridge the gap: A family divided by COVID-19
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic when we were all shut into our homes, washing our groceries when we got home from the store and buying every disinfectant we could get our hands on, everyone in my extended family agreed that we had to do everything necessary to keep[Read More…]
Transgender students cite difficulty in changing legal name on Minerva
A month into the Winter 2022 semester and the McGill administration and the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) have begun preparing for the Spring 2022 graduation season, even organizing graduation photos and planning in-person ceremonies. For Ezra-Jean Taylor, U3 Arts, however, the prospect of finishing their degree in two[Read More…]
ROAAr symposium delves into the complicated relationships between scientists
The science behind friendship and how it develops between people has been a longstanding object of study. However, much less research has looked into the friendships between scientists themselves. The Rare & Special Collections, Osler, Art, and Archives (ROAAr) branch of the McGill Library held a symposium on Jan. 20[Read More…]
McGill denies School of Social Work’s decision to hold classes virtually until February 25
In light of the increased transmissibility and ongoing health risks posed by the Omicron variant, McGill’s School of Social Work announced via email on Jan. 4 that it would extend online learning until at least Feb. 25. The McGill Tribune obtained the Jan. 4 email and several others, including one[Read More…]
Suzanne Fortier reflects on McGill’s future and lessons learned from COVID-19
As the Fall 2021 semester and McGill’s bicentennial year comes to a close, the McGill administration has started envisioning plans for the university’s academic, ecological, and structural future. From opening a new Office for Mediation and Reporting, to assessing McGill’s Strategic Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Plan and the Anti-Black Racism[Read More…]
SSMU hosts successful second Activities Night after failed first attempt
The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) held Activities Night 2.0 from Nov. 1 to Nov. 3. Independent student groups, clubs, athletics groups, and others set up booths on the fourth floor of 2200 Centre Mont-Royal between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. to showcase the breadth of student life at[Read More…]
The human cost of a warmer future
This summer, I spent most of my time working and hiking. If I wasn’t running around helping a client find something at the pet store I worked at, I was running around the woods with a backpack full of snacks, coffee, and water. I ventured past the city of Montreal[Read More…]
Where is Gerts Café? Opening postponed after delays in equipment shipping
The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) University Centre, located at 3480 McTavish St., re-opened at the start of the Fall 2021 semester, offering space for studying, club gatherings, eating, and socializing. Gerts Campus Bar was also reopened with a new concept: A Gerts Café that would operate out of[Read More…]
SSMU Board of Directors debate J-Board’s judgment on SPHR McGill v. SSMU case
On Oct. 21, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Board of Directors (BoD) met to address several motions, including a motion to ratify the SSMU Judicial Board’s (J-Board) final judgement on Students in Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights McGill (SPHR) v. SSMU. The original Nakba Day motion was discussed[Read More…]
McGill partners with Centraide to host walk/run fundraiser in annual campaign
McGill announced on Oct. 12 that it is partnering with Centraide of Greater Montreal for its 2021 Centraide Campaign. The campaign, managed by the McGill Centraide Committee, will raise funds to help alleviate financial burdens of Montrealers in need, providing support for rent, food, education, and other necessities. The main[Read More…]
McGill to discuss reports on anti-Black racism and equity plans at upcoming Senate meeting
In the spring and fall of 2020 respectively, McGill released updated versions of their Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Strategic Plan (2020-2025) and their Action Plan to Address Anti-Black Racism (ABR) (2020-2025). Reports assessing the plans’ first years in action were presented to McGill’s Board of Governors on Sept. 7[Read More…]
Stabbing outside McGill’s Roddick Gates leaves one dead
Content warning: violence and death At approximately 1:45 a.m. on Sept. 18, the Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) responded to a call about an assault on Sherbrooke Street, not far from McGill’s Roddick Gates. The SPVM reported that two men, of 20 and 23 years of[Read More…]
Students and staff push for better COVID-19 academic accommodations
Members of the McGill community have been requesting more inclusive academic considerations since the university’s requirement that students and faculty be on campus for Fall 2021. Similar to the academic accommodations that apply specifically to students with the Office for Students with Disabilities, academic considerations are specific to COVID-19 concerns[Read More…]
McGill Governance 101
STUDENTS’ SOCIETY OF MCGILL UNIVERSITY (SSMU) What it does: SSMU represents all undergraduate student interests and rights in the McGill Senate. SSMU consists of four bodies—General Assembly and Referenda, Board of Directors, Legislative Council, and Executive Council—and is led by seven elected executives, including the president, vice-president (VP), VP internal,[Read More…]
Divest McGill’s open letter calls on Metro to encourage McGill divestment
Five members of Divest McGill gathered on April 17 outside of the Metro grocery store located in the De Lorimier neighbourhood to encourage Montrealers to boycott Metro Inc. Despite the cold and windy conditions, the Divest members connected with passersby for almost an hour to try to convince Metro shoppers[Read More…]
McGill partnership with University of the People establishes transfer program
On March 18, McGill announced that beginning in Fall 2021, it will partner with University of the People (UoPeople), an online, tuition-free university. The collaboration will allow academically outstanding students enrolled at UoPeople to transfer to McGill to complete their degrees. Founded in January 2009 by its current president Shai[Read More…]
Student Wellness Hub plans to offer hybrid in-person and virtual services in Fall 2021
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, McGill’s Student Wellness Hub has adapted its services to an online format. With in-person learning halted for the year, counselling appointments have been held remotely and wellness activities—such as art nights and behavioural therapy sessions—are being conducted via Zoom. The[Read More…]
Tribune Explains: McGill’s changes to campus building ventilation
In preparation for the in-person Fall 2021 semester, the McGill administration is working to upgrade campus heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. Denis Mondou, associate vice-principal (VP) of Facilities Management and Ancillary Services, maintained that all changes will be made in accordance with recommendations from Canadian public health agencies. Why[Read More…]