HBO’s Girls aired for the last time on April 16. The series finale, titled “Latching” which garnered a wide array of reactions from film and TV critics, featured main character Hannah Horvath (Lena Dunham) in the early stages of motherhood, assisted by her best friend Marnie Michaels (Allison Williams). In[Read More…]
Articles by Sara Cullen
Century resigns from MUSA Executive following backlash from SSMU campaign
On March 16, the Music Undergraduate Students’ Association (MUSA) announced that Noah Century resigned from his position as Vice-President (VP) External. Century had previously campaigned for the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) VP External Affairs position, but withdrew his candidacy after a Formal Censure from Elections SSMU. Elections SSMU[Read More…]
An Arrangement: Exploring the nuances of sugaring
With tuition prices on the rise, the question of how to finance a university education without sinking into debt is a source of stress for many. As of late, mainstream media outlets have highlighted the prevalence of sugaring–a situation in which one person is compensated for spending time with another[Read More…]
Fall 2016 Referendum and General Assembly Online Ratification results
The results of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Fall 2016 Referendum and General Assembly (GA) online ratification were released on Nov. 18. All referendum questions passed and nominations were ratified online. Of the approximately 22,600 students eligible to vote, turnout was 18.1 per cent, exceeding the quorum of[Read More…]
Safer bike infrastructure the route to gender parity among Montreal cyclists
There is a pervasive cycling culture in Montreal; dozens of bike shops are dotted throughout the city and there is a persistent set of cyclists who are dedicated to riding their bikes even during the winter months. Despite the presence of a thriving cycling culture, active transportation infrastructure leaves something[Read More…]
McGill Senior Administrators sit down with student media
On Oct. 4, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of McGill University Suzanne Fortier, and Deputy Provost (Student Life & Learning) Ollivier Dyens, met with members of the student media for a question and answer session. Topics covered during the roundtable included sustainability at McGill, the implementation of the policy against sexual violence,[Read More…]
#ConsentMcGill annual campaign teaches students about consent, sexual violence, and healthy relationships
The #ConsentMcGill campaign kicked off its third year with a week of speaking panels, workshops, and other activities designed to educate members of the McGill community about consent, sexual violence, and how to build healthy relationships. Events were scheduled from Sept. 26 to 30 and covered a variety of topics[Read More…]
McGill University releases Draft Policy against Sexual Violence
McGill University has released a draft of its Policy against Sexual Violence as of the morning of Monday, Sept. 12. The draft comes after a consultation period, which started in April, during which the university sought feedback from various campus groups, including the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) and[Read More…]
Upgrade Planned for McGill WI-Fi
The McGill Network Infrastructure Group plans to upgrade the campus wireless internet services at the beginning of next year. According to Spiro Mitsialis, manager of the Network Infrastructure, the last major upgrade was completed in 2006, but smaller upgrades to service are consistently made to ensure that it can provide[Read More…]
BoG votes against divestment following release of CAMSR report
On March 23, Principal Suzanne Fortier sent an email to the McGill student body announcing that the Board of Governors (BoG) had decided not to divest from McGill’s holdings in fossil fuel companies. Divest McGill first submitted a call to divest from fossil fuels to the Committee to Advise on[Read More…]
Review of Winter 2016 SSMU referendum motions
The Motion Regarding the Bicycle Facility Plebiscite Question This plebiscite question has been proposed in order to address the lack of bicycle parking on campus and aims to create a secure bicycle parking facility. The facility will be located in the basement of the Shatner Building with the partnership of[Read More…]
Breaking down the SSMU GA motions
Motion Regarding the Procurement of Products Containing Conflict Minerals This motion concerning divestment from sourcing of conflict-free minerals from Congo was moved by Ceci Steyn, U2 Arts. “I moved this motion because while many other divestment movements are well known, most people aren't aware that the minerals in their electronics[Read More…]
Race education workshop added to Rez Project
In January 2016, a new workshop for students in McGill Residences was held for the first time, titled Rez Project: Race and Colonialism. Referred to as Race Project, the workshop was the second part of the Rez Project series, including a segment on gender, sexuality, and consent. Interim Resident Life[Read More…]
SSMU considering new provincial student federations, AVEQ and UÉQ
The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) has been involved in the early formation of two new provincial student associations. A formal presentation by each of the organizations, L’Union Étudiante du Quebec (UÉQ) and the Association for the Voice of Education in Quebec (AVEQ), will be given at the Jan. 28[Read More…]
SSMU 2015-2016 budget review
The November 2015 revision to the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Global budget, approved on Nov. 30, 2015, reflected changes from SSMU’s earlier financial plan approved this past June. The largest changes were seen in the Student Fees and University Centre Operations sections of the revision. A difference[Read More…]
PGSS Internal Affairs Officer resigns
On Nov. 11, Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) Council announced the resignation of the internal affairs officer (IAO) Sahil Kumar. Kumar cited personal reasons for submitting his resignation. “My trajectory through graduate studies has taken a new turn, and now requires a greater time commitment,” Kumar said. “I did not want[Read More…]
SSMU GA fails to meet quorum
Quorum was not met at yesterday’s General Assembly (GA), held by the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU). With less than 100 attendees, no motions were brought forward from the floor that required voting. The Winter 2015 and Fall 2014 GAs saw attendances of 550 and 700 students respectively. Kareem[Read More…]
AMUSE addresses floor fellow negotiations in open letter to Fortier
On Oct. 15, an open letter directed to McGill Principal Suzanne Fortier was published by the Association of McGill University Support Employees (AMUSE). The letter addressed grievances that arose during floor fellow unionization, and the way in which McGill University is interacting with floor fellows during collective agreement bargaining processes,[Read More…]
Library Master Plan renovations to cost McGill $180 million
Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Vice-President (VP) University Affairs, Chloe Rourke, announced during the Oct. 1 Council meeting that the Library Master Plan, an ongoing project that aims to increase student study space on campus and make changes to the McLennan-Redpath Complex, will cost approximately $180 million to complete.[Read More…]
SSMU Council approves creation of ad-hoc committees, review executive reports
On Thursday, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Council met for the first time this year to highlight recent events on campus, and to discuss the creation of ad-hoc committees. Approval of motion regarding the creation of ad-hoc committees Council approved a motion proposing the creation of seven different[Read More…]
Winter 2015 General Assembly sees turnout of around 550 students
Last Sunday, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) held its Winter 2015 General Assembly (GA), drawing approximately 550 students to vote on the proposed motions. In order to increase efficiency, a new check-in procedure was implemented and the GA venue was changed from the SSMU cafeteria to Leacock 132.[Read More…]
Open forum invited student feedback on drafted sexual assault policy
The Sexual Assault Policy Working Group held an open forum on the creation of McGill’s first university-wide sexual assault policy on Thursday, Nov. 13. The student working group consists of members from the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU), the Union for Gender Empowerment (UGE), the Sexual Assault Centre of[Read More…]
Panel discusses efficacy of policy changes for Hong Kong democracy protests
Last Wednesday, the Asia Pacific Law Association of McGill (APLAM), an association of McGill Law students with an interest in the legal systems and cultures of the Asia Pacific region, hosted an open panel discussion on the current democratic crisis in Hong Kong. Panelists at Wednesday’s event included speakers Yves[Read More…]
SSMU Building Fee questions pass during first Fall referendum period
Full-time undergraduate students will be facing an additional $5.78 fee per semester, following the 69 per cent approval of the University Centre Building Fee questions during the first Fall 2014 referendum period. The fee was proposed in order to finance the negotiated lease agreement between the Students’ Society of McGill[Read More…]
SSMU rescinds decision mandating Farnan apology
SSMU Council has rescinded its decision to mandate Vice-President Internal Brian Farnan to issue a public apology for an Obama .GIF included in a listserv. The previous decision, which the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Council made in a confidential session on Dec. 5, was revoked by Council last[Read More…]
Principal Fortier, panellists talk student involvement in QI
Opportunities for student engagement in the Quartier de l’Innovation (QI) development project were a topic of a Nov. 6 webcast that allowed professors, alumni, and students to pose questions to a panel of experts on the project. Launched in May 2013, the QI is an initiative that aims to turn[Read More…]
Peer Support Network to provide free counselling for students
A free, on-campus peer counselling service for McGill students is set to launch Dec. 14. Named the Peer Support Network (PSN), the student-run initiative will host drop-in sessions with volunteers who are trained to handle issues such as mental health, academic stress, and social pressures. The PSN began when Emily[Read More…]