Well, this is it. The last thing I will ever write for The Tribune. No pressure though, right? I joined the Sports section all the way back in 2019 after I wrote an opinion piece about littering that never got published (thanks a lot, Opinion). Now, four years and over[Read More…]
Articles by Sarah Farnand
Earl Zukerman: McGill Athletics’ living archive
Earl Zukerman is an icon. The Sports Information Officer has been a fixture in the McGill Athletics department for the past 44 years, spending much of his career working seven-day weeks, at times covering 30 to 40 events during the homecoming weekend. Zukerman, or “Zukster” to his close friends, has[Read More…]
Farewell to the Tribune
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…]
Varsity Report Card: Winter 2023
Artistic Swimming: A+ Winter 2023 was a successful season for the McGill artistic swimming team. After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19 restrictions, the team returned to the Canadian University Artistic Swimming League (CUASL) with a hunger for success. The young team, composed mainly of first-year swimmers, faced not only[Read More…]
Marathon of Sport brings together students and Special Olympians
On April 2, 19 Special Olympic athletes and roughly 70 student participants gathered at the McGill Currie Gymnasium for the motionball Marathon of Sport. The day included various competitions, like floor hockey, dodgeball, soccer, a relay race, and benchball, as well as a pizza lunch, poster-making competition, raffle, and an[Read More…]
Pop Dialectic: To Ed Sheeran, or not to Ed Sheeran?
In defence of Ed Sheeran – Sarah Farnand When I was an angsty, emotional teenager, I regularly listened to Ed Sheeran’s music. My entire family found his music to be heartwarming and relatable. I won’t lie, when my grandma passed away, I may or may not have listened to “Visiting[Read More…]
The barriers to gender-affirming care at McGill and beyond
CW: Mention of suicidal ideation Transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming individuals face innumerable barriers by simply existing in a world wrought with transphobia. The U.S. National Transgender Discrimination survey report on health and health care found that transgender individuals in the U.S. are over four times more likely to contract[Read More…]
Sparks fly at McGill’s track and field Team Challenge
On Jan. 27 and 28, the Martlet and Redbird track and field teams held their annual McGill Team Challenge at the Tomlinson Fieldhouse. With 538 athletes representing schools and clubs from across Canada, personal bests were achieved, school records were broken, and fans were more than entertained. Day one started[Read More…]
How the Habs let down their stars
The Montreal Canadiens are having nothing short of an absolute dumpster fire of a season this year. Currently sitting at the bottom of the Atlantic division, the Canadiens have a 0.1 per cent chance of making the playoffs, on par with their performance last season. With troubles coming from every[Read More…]
Varsity Report Card: Fall 2022
Men’s Baseball (21–8): A After two years of cancelled seasons and uncertainty, the McGill men’s baseball team is finally back, and they did not disappoint. With a roster mainly composed of players in their first year of eligibility, no one quite knew what this season would hold for the Redbirds.[Read More…]
The harms of transformation diets
Content Warning: Mention of disordered eating, abuse Diet and exercise: The cure-all for any health issue, right? Social media is smattered with self-proclaimed “fitness coaches” and “dieticians” who prescribe these quick fixes for anyone wanting to lose weight quickly. The truth is that these “transformation” diets prey on those with[Read More…]
McGill cross-country finishes season strong at U Sports Nationals
On Saturday, Nov. 12, the McGill cross-country team headed east for the U Sports Championship meet in Halifax, Nova Scotia. With the aftermath of Tropical Storm Nicole hitting the area early on Saturday, the weather was absolutely abysmal. Heavy rain and winds of up to 80 kilometres per hour were[Read More…]
My body is not the enemy
Content Warning: Mentions of disordered eating I started running competitively when I was eight years old. My earliest memory from that year is a race with my dad where I was kicking toward the finish, shouting, “I can’t feel my legs!” Let me tell you, as a runner who too[Read More…]
We are the champions, my friend: Men’s rugby captures first RSEQ title since 2015
On Nov. 4, McGill men’s rugby (6–1) faced off against Ottawa (6–1) in the RSEQ Championship match. With the bitter taste of defeat still lingering in many Redbirds’ mouths from last year’s championship, the team came ready to fight in front of their home crowd of 1,830 fans—the largest crowd[Read More…]
Three Councillors appointed to SSMU BoD during Legislative Council to fulfill constitutional requirement
On Nov. 3, the fourth Students’ Society of McGill (SSMU) Legislative Council meeting of the 2022-2023 academic year was called to order. The meeting featured the nomination of three Councillors to the SSMU Board of Directors (BoD), debate about a motion regarding the ability of campus media to report on[Read More…]
Leaving the starving student behind
Content Warning: Eating disorders Every McGill student has likely trekked to the library for a study session, and emerged five hours later, stomach grumbling, head aching, needing food close and quick. But not every McGill student can afford a $13.56 salad from Redpath or a $6.37 cup of fruit from[Read More…]
Know Your Athlete: Monty Weatherall
Last fall, the McGill men’s rugby team had an incredibly strong season that ended in heartbreak when they were blanked by Concordia in the RSEQ Championship game. One key component absent from the Redbirds’ playoff squad was star fly-half Monty Weatherall who missed the majority of the season after an[Read More…]
Cross-country runner cut from McGill team after joggling during race
On Sept. 17, cross-country runner Henry Wellenstein participated unofficially in the McGill Cross-Country Open. Simply running the six-kilometre race, however, was not enough for Wellenstein. The fourth-year incorporated his own twist to the competition by simultaneously juggling three balls throughout the course of the race—an activity known as joggling. “I[Read More…]
Cross country teams open season with a bang at McGill Open
McGill’s cross-country squads opened their seasons on Sept. 17 at Parc Mont Royal. The weather was cool and sunny as the women started the day, with their race kicking off at 12 p.m. The six-kilometre race went into the mountain and included four repeats of a one-kilometre loop before spitting[Read More…]
Running should produce feelings of freedom, not fear
CW: Mention of physical and sexual assault On Sept. 2, Eliza Fletcher was abducted during her morning run in Memphis, Tennessee. Three days later, Fletcher’s body was found in a vacant lot roughly seven miles from where she was taken. The tragedy of Fletcher’s death reaffirms the constant dangers of[Read More…]
Redbirds go down hard at home opener versus Laval
McGill Redbirds Football (0–1) fell 37-20 in their home opener against the Laval Rouge et Or (2–0) on Sept. 3 in front of a rowdy crowd of over 2,300 fans. Laval came out strong with a quick touchdown less than three minutes into the game, sending McGill back on their[Read More…]
Tribune Tries: Canadian Formula 1 Grand Prix
After three long years, the Formula 1 (F1) Grand Prix finally made its return to Montreal. From June 17 to June 19, fans came from all over North America to see the race and The McGill Tribune followed suit, heading down to the track to scope out the scene and[Read More…]
Varsity highlights of the 2021-2022 season
Stephanie Desjardins (Martlets hockey, fifth-year) “The season was challenging with the pandemic coming back at full swing right after the Christmas break. We fought adversity throughout the entire season with restrictions, practicing, and playing with masks. The girls fought hard physically and mentally for the last eight months and showed[Read More…]
Know Your Athlete: Varsity ghosts of McGill
After the Athletics department brutally murdered a slew of varsity sports last fall, many athletes on these fallen teams lost their minds, some of them literally. The scores of ghostly figures haunting the entrance of Love Competition Hall, the corridors of McConnell Arena, and the bleachers at Percival Molson Stadium[Read More…]
Know Your Athlete: Clément Secchi
Clément Secchi, U4 Management, has spent much of his life in the pool. The fourth-year swimmer was named both McGill and RSEQ Athlete of the Week multiple times this year, and recently won six gold medals at the RSEQ Championships, including ones for the 4x50m relay, the 200m butterfly, and[Read More…]
McGill track team impresses at Redbirds Last Chance meet
On March 10 and 11, the McGill track team hosted the Redbirds Last Chance meet, their final competition before the RSEQ Championships this upcoming weekend. On Friday, McGill’s Jorden Savoury finished first in the women’s 60m, and Matthew Beaudet finished first in the men’s 1,000m. Savoury ran a blistering 7.47,[Read More…]
McGill men’s basketball maintain their perfect record, rallying for back-to-back wins against Citadins
On Feb. 17, the McGill men’s basketball team (6–0) returned to the court for the first time in almost three months, lengthening their win streak to six games with a decisive 84-62 win over Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) (2–4), then a narrow 80-79 victory the next day. Thursday’s[Read More…]
Tribune Tries: Watching the Super Bowl LVI
The 2022 Super Bowl was a memorable affair, especially for The McGill Tribune sports section. The evening was hectic right from the start; accessing the biggest game in American football as Canadian university students and finding a good stream proved to be a challenge. As students without cable, armed with[Read More…]
Know Your Olympic Athletes
Liam Gill Among the many talented athletes at the 2022 Olympics is 18-year-old snowboarder Liam Gill. Gill represents the Dehcho Dene as a member of the Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́ First Nation and is the only First Nations athlete on the Canadian Olympic team. Gill, who was originally an alternate for the[Read More…]
Varsity Council speaks out against sports shutdown
Following the spike in COVID-19 cases associated with the Omicron variant, McGill varsity athletes have, for the third time, been forced to press pause on their seasons and their training. After an announcement from the RSEQ confirming the postponement of all sports due to measures imposed by Quebec’s Ministry of[Read More…]
Enjoying exercise in the winter
Snowboarding: A way to get through the dreaded McGill winter The winter season for McGill students can be extremely mentally taxing, from academic burnout to the sun setting before five in the afternoon to your coffee becoming cold by the time you get to the library. One way to break[Read More…]
Next up: Top sports events to catch in 2022
2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Beijing The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics in February will boast a range of exciting events, from popular sports like hockey, skiing, and figure skating, to more unique sports, like the skeleton, the luge, and bobsled. These Games will feature 45 per cent female athletes,[Read More…]
Fall 2021 McGill varsity report cards
MEN’S RUGBY: A, until the final Men’s rugby had a strong season all around, boasting a 5-1 regular season record and leading the RSEQ rankings with bonus points, awarded when a team scores more than four tries in a game. Unfortunately, the impressive season culminated in a soul-crushing finale, with[Read More…]
McGill cross-country finishes strong at U Sports championships
On Nov. 20, cross-country runners from across Canada gathered at the Plains of Abraham in Quebec City for the U Sports championship. Representing the Martlets was fourth-year Maia Watson and graduate student Chloe Fleurent-Gregoire. The Redbirds, led by second-year Matthew Beaudet, represented McGill as a team at nationals for the[Read More…]
Concordia overwhelms McGill to capture RSEQ men’s rugby title
The beautiful autumn afternoon seemed a good omen as any to the sold-out crowd of McGill (6–2) and Concordia (7–1) fans who gathered at Percival Molson Stadium on Nov. 6 for what they hoped would be a competitive bout of RSEQ rugby. But despite the turnout, the Redbirds fell 33-0[Read More…]
Know Your Athlete: Matthew Beaudet
Matthew Beaudet has had a successful cross-country season, to say the least. On top of winning an invitational and being named RSEQ athlete of the week, Beaudet won gold at the RSEQ Championships on Oct. 30 and was named rookie of the year. Although fairly new to competitive running, Beaudet[Read More…]
God, it’s brutal out here
As a third-year student, I feel like I should have this whole “university lifestyle” thing figured out. This year, however, I am living on my own for the very first time and at times feel as lost as I did in my first. I am someone who needs personal space[Read More…]
The darker side of pre-med
For many pre-medical students, dreams of practising medicine have been playing through their minds since they were children. It’s the allure of being able to save someone’s life, help a person feel better, or finally provide that answer a patient has been searching for. Of course, some people have other[Read More…]
Redbirds homecoming football game a soggy nightmare
Rainy weather and grey skies set the mood for the Oct. 2 homecoming game as the Laval Rouge et Or (3–2) dominated the McGill Redbirds (1–4), coming away with a 55-2 win in their second encounter of the season. Despite the 2,000 game tickets sold, the crowd was meagre, huddling[Read More…]
Quebec University All-Stars face off against Habs rookies, losing 5-3
Closing out the 2021 Montreal Canadiens rookie camp, the top Habs prospects played an exhibition game against the Quebec University All-Stars (QUAS)—a team made up of players from McGill, Concordia, and Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR). Despite a strong showing from the all-stars, eight of whom play for the[Read More…]
Behind the Bench: Montreal Canadiens must repent for their draft pick
Content warning: This article discusses sexual violence. On July 23, the Montreal Canadiens organization made the controversial decision to draft Logan Mailloux as the team’s first round pick. Mailloux was charged and fined in November 2020 for taking and sharing sexually explicit photos of a woman without her consent. As[Read More…]
Shaughnessy Cup showdown ends in overtime loss for McGill
On Sept. 17, the McGill Redbirds (1–2) were defeated in heartbreaking fashion by their long-time rivals, the Concordia Stingers (2–1) at the 52nd annual Shaughnessy Cup. The event sold out quickly, with 3,500 McGill and Concordia students clamouring to get a seat for what turned out to be a high-scoring,[Read More…]
Redbirds clinch win in home opener against Sherbrooke Vert et Or
On Sept. 4, the McGill Redbirds (1–1) defeated the Sherbrooke University Vert et Or (1–1) in their first home game of the season. For the first time in 693 days, over one thousand spectators—1,628, to be exact—filled Percival Molson Memorial Stadium to witness an exciting return to varsity football. Both[Read More…]
Athletes aggrieved by McGill’s cancellation of nine varsity sports
On July 21, McGill Athletics announced that nine sports seasons would be cancelled for the 2021-2022 season. The affected teams include artistic swimming, alpine skiing, badminton, baseball, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, rowing, and woodsmen. The announcement came as a disappointment to hundreds of athletes who were eager to return to[Read More…]
Montreal Canadiens face offseason uncertainty after Stanley Cup loss
After a drought of nearly 30 years, it looked like this might be the year that the Montreal Canadiens bring home the Stanley Cup. In Game 5 of the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals, however, the Canadiens’ dreams were shattered by a single goal. The Tampa Bay Lightning, a powerhouse team[Read More…]
Solitary studies
This school year has presented unique challenges to McGill students around the world. With remote classes, fluctuations of public health measures, and ongoing travel restrictions, many students have had to adjust their academic plans. Now, students attend class from all over the world, often making it difficult for these individuals[Read More…]
Female athletes deserve equal treatment
At the start of the NCAA March Madness tournaments on March 18, Stanford sport performance coach Ali Kerschner released photos comparing the training facilities for the men’s and women’s tournaments. Fans and athletes alike called out the NCAA for the vast differences between the men’s and women’s training facilities and[Read More…]
Player safety needs to be a higher priority in hockey
Sports can provide entertainment, outlets for expression, and even career opportunities. However, at the end of the day, sports are games, and safety should always be a top priority. On March 16, Timur Faizutdinov, a 19-year-old Russian hockey player, died after being struck in the head with a puck. Although[Read More…]
Coaching changes for Montreal Canadiens must foster improvement
On Feb. 24, the Montreal Canadiens fired head coach Claude Julien and associate head coach Kirk Muller. The decision came directly after the Canadiens lost two games in a row to the last-place Ottawa Senators. Julien, who had been with the Canadiens since 2017, was immediately replaced by assistant coach[Read More…]
The many exclamations of professional sports commentators
Any sport can have its defining moments, be it a buzzer-beating shot or a record-breaking win. While some moments are more awe-inspiring than others, many of the most popular are defined by the sports commentators that bring them to life. The McGill Tribune highlights its favourite sports commentator moments to celebrate[Read More…]
Point-counterpoint: Are eSports really sports?
eSports: Competitive, coordinated, and strategic true sports When video games became popular in the 1970s, games like Pong and Atari swept the nation by storm. Players everywhere gathered at local arcades to compete on consoles the size of refrigerators that could do little more than render a cluster of bouncing[Read More…]
Racism is all too prevalent in professional sports
Content warning: Racial discrimination and hate speech When thinking of sports, many people like to remember the epic highlights and the feel-good comeback stories. What is often overlooked is the systematic oppression that underrepresented groups have faced in sports over the years. Black people in particular have faced significant racial[Read More…]
The rich history of McGill Martlets hockey
McGill men’s hockey has played a crucial part in developing the modern version of the sport. However, women’s hockey has made its mark as well, despite having a later start. Women started playing hockey at McGill in 1896, but with a slew of restrictions. They were required to wear skirts[Read More…]
The McGill Tribune’s comprehensive guide to winter sports in a pandemic
In many cities, winter is a time to stay indoors and wait until the snow begins to melt. In Montreal, however, the colder months offer a slew of activities for everyone. Even in the ongoing pandemic, many outdoor sports remain available with set restrictions, letting anyone take a break from[Read More…]
McGill Senate approves creation of a Global Engineering program
The McGill Senate held their monthly meeting on Jan. 20, presenting two motions that were passed as well as an update on the ongoing Fiat Lux project. McGill Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Christopher Manfredi began the meeting by presenting a motion to create a Joint B.Eng. program in Global Engineering[Read More…]
NHL season preview: The Canadiens off to a strong start
The NHL season began on Jan. 13 under very different circumstances due to the ongoing pandemic. The league has been split up into the North division, encompassing all Canadian teams, and the East, West, and Central Divisions splitting the eastern, western, and central United States. The season will also be[Read More…]
10 things: The most inspirational sports moments of 2020
WNBA supports Warnock The 2020 U.S. elections have remained heated in Georgia, with Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler facing off against Democrat Raphael Warnock in a runoff in January 2021. Among the groups who helped Warnock advance are WNBA players, including several from the Atlanta Dream, of which Loeffler is part-owner.[Read More…]
Finding solace in sports
Skiing Sarah Farnand, Sports Editor Since I was a kid, skiing has been a great source of comfort. I began waterskiing when I was five years old, and started downhill skiing shortly after. After a few laps around the lake and a few trips down the bunny hill in the[Read More…]
The good things about having cancer
No one wants to learn that they have cancer, but when I was 12 years old, that is exactly what my doctor told me. I was diagnosed with Basal Cell Carcinoma, a nonfatal chronic skin cancer. Although it is one of the most common types of skin cancers, it is[Read More…]
Redbird name fails to bring unity to McGill Athletics
On Nov. 17 McGill announced a new name for the men’s varsity teams: Redbirds. The long-overdue announcement came more than a year after an initial email from the office of Principal Suzanne Fortier, sent in April 2019, which stated that McGill would be dropping the slur formerly used as the[Read More…]
Ninety-nine years ago this week: The first forward pass in Canada
On Nov. 5, 1921, a Syracuse football player completed the first forward pass in Canada at McGill’s Percival Molson Memorial field. The forward pass was a monumental step in the development of modern-day North American football, which originally resembled rugby. Many fans are unaware of the origins of American football:[Read More…]
Learning to love exercise
With cold weather looming and assignments piling up, getting out to exercise can feel like a daunting task. Physical activity is a vital part of both mental and physical wellbeing, yet it can often have negative connotations. One problem is the common perception of exercise as a punishment, rather than[Read More…]
The seven spookiest curses in sports
Superstition and sports go together like tricking and treating. Over the years, various fan bases and players have had luck bad enough to make them look beyond the grave in search of the source of their sports woes. With Halloween right around the corner, The McGill Tribune lists seven of the[Read More…]
October brings drafty weather, Quebec talent goes first overall
While this year’s virtual NHL draft had a number of delays, it held a special place in the hearts of many Quebecers. The first overall pick for 2020, Alexis Lafrenière, is a Quebec native from Saint-Eustache. The last time a Quebec-born skater was selected first overall was in 1998, when[Read More…]
Documentaries for staying in the sports mood
Although most sports are currently on hold, staying engaged with the world of sports has never been easier. Here are some of The McGill Tribune’s favourite sports documentaries that will tide you over to the next season. Athlete A Content warning: Graphic descriptions of sexual violence Athlete A is a[Read More…]
Highlights from the NHL Bubble
As the 2019-2020 NHL season comes to a close, it is worth reflecting on lessons from a playoff season that will surely be remembered for years to come. Other professional sports leagues, such as the MLB, demonstrated that without a “bubble” to compete in, professional sports seasons would never last[Read More…]
RSEQ cancels fall seasons, athletes and staff wait await news on winter sports
On Sept. 14. the RSEQ announced the cancellation of all university sports in Quebec, adding to the June 8 U SPORTS announcement of the cancellation of all national championships in the Fall 2020 season. No RSEQ-sanctioned competitions will take place until at least Dec. 31. The league was originally scheduled[Read More…]
Certain international graduate programs see sharp tuition hike
International students in some non-thesis masters’ programs will see their tuition rate jump by 30 per cent, compared to a 3.1 per cent tuition increase for students in other programs relative to the 2019-2020 school year. The increase comes after the Quebec government announced a policy in May 2018 that[Read More…]
It will all workout: Exercising in a cramped student apartment
As gyms around the world closed in March to limit the spread of the COVID-19, bodybuilders and casual gym-goers alike were forced to recreate fitness centres in their homes. Though some Montreal gyms reopened in June, many people still do not feel safe returning. For some, this means adapting their[Read More…]
Coaches are key to athletes’ holistic success
Coaches, for better or worse, can change not only an athlete’s career, but their entire life. This is especially true for university athletes, who experience a major period of mental and social development in their lives while also competing for titles and championships. Balancing athletics with academic and social demands[Read More…]
Winter 2020 season recaps
Artistic Swimming The McGill Women’s Artistic Swim team started their season off strong, finishing first out of 11 teams at the McGill Invitational in November. Strong performances from sisters third-year Ioana Gheta and second-year Maria Gheta earned them first place in the duet/trio category. First-year Katherine Demond also performed well,[Read More…]
Martlets fall short against Citadins at Senior Night
The Martlets (7–9) faced off against the UQÀM Citadins (7–8) on Feb. 20, with the hopes of securing a third place finish in the RSEQ. The game ended in a loss for McGill, with a final score of 58–55. At the end of the first quarter, UQÀM led, 17–14. There[Read More…]
McGill breaks records on home track
McGill Track and Field hosted the McGill Team Challenge, the largest indoor track and field meet in Canada, on Jan. 24 and 25. The meet brought together teams from all over eastern Canada and the northeastern US to compete. On the first day of the meet, sophomore Jorden Savoury broke[Read More…]
10 things: Impactful sports moments this decade
As the decade comes to a close, The McGill Tribune looks back in chronological order on 10 of the most impactful moments in sports that helped shape athletics and the world. From incredible upset victories to social movements, the 2010s will go down as a decade to be remembered. LeBron[Read More…]
Know Your Athlete: Gladys Hakizimana
Fifth-year Martlet basketball star guard Gladys Hakizimana has been involved with basketball from a young age. A Montreal native, Hakizimana has always enjoyed the competition and camaraderie of playing sports. “I started playing basketball in elementary school,” Hakizimana said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “I was a really[Read More…]
In Conversation with Tim Murdoch
After 17 years and 290 wins, Tim Murdoch is stepping down as McGill’s men’s lacrosse coach, leaving an impressive legacy behind him. He led the team from its first ever win to an undefeated regular season in 2019, four national championship appearances, and two championship titles. When Murdoch first came[Read More…]
2019 IAAF World Championships preview
Women’s Distance Running Canadian Gabriela DeBues-Stafford is ranked fourth in the world in the women’s 1,500m. Having medalled in four of her last five events, Debues-Stafford has a good shot at ending her season on top of the podium. Since 1997, only Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes have won the Women’s[Read More…]
McGill women’s hockey dominates in season opener
On Sept. 13, Martlet hockey (1–0) opened its season against Moncton’s Aigles Bleues (0–1) with a decisive 4–1 victory. The Martlets hoped to set the tone for the rest of the season and are now looking to carry this game’s winning energy forward. “It was a great game to get[Read More…]