ARCH Café: This fall, students returned to McGill to find that the beloved Architecture Café wouldn’t be reopening for the school year. In early September, Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) Morton Mendelson claimed that the café had been losing money for the last several years but refused to cite[Read More…]
Articles by Sean Wood
Acclamation a growing problem for campus societies
The turnout for last week’s Arts Undergraduate Society elections was a relatively healthy 14.4 per cent. What the AUS didn’t have, though, was enough candidates. Five of the 10 elected positions, including the presidency, were acclaimed. This is an all-too-familiar story in McGill student politics. It’s rare to find a[Read More…]
McGill student takes the New York Metropolitan Opera
Adam Scotti Adam Scotti Most little boys dream of making a crowd go wild, maybe with a game-winning grand slam in the World Series or a goal in the Stanley Cup final. For Phil Sly, a U3 vocal performance student at McGill, something similar actually happened on March 13. He[Read More…]
New Rez catches fire
Students who live in McGill residences are all too familiar with fire drills. Last Tuesday, however, New Residence Hall experienced the real thing. In the late morning, a small fire on the 14th floor set off the sprinklers, causing major water damage to 12 rooms, which has dislocated a number[Read More…]
SSMU Election Results
Anna Katycheva Anna Katycheva Students’ Society Councillor Maggie Knight was elected SSMU president Friday night, beating opponent Cathal Rooney-Céspedes with 67.2 per cent of the 4,172 votes cast. Chief Electoral Officer Tais McNeil made the announcement in a two-thirds full Gert’s, which erupted in celebration at the announcement. A number[Read More…]
Schwarcz debunks psychics in lecture
Joe Schwarcz can fill a room, even over reading week. Last Thursday, McGill’s renowned science educator gave a talk titled “Science and the Paranormal” to a near-capacity crowd in Leacock 232. The talk was sponsored in part by the McGill Freethought Association, a club that encourages skepticism about, among other[Read More…]
MUS passes referendum to change constitution
In a referendum that closed on Thursday, 92.4 per cent of voting Management students approved major changes to the Management Undergraduate Society’s constitution. “[The constitution is] very, very altered,” said Eli Freedman, Management representative to the Students’ Society Council and member of the redrafting committee. “We basically took a document[Read More…]
Before there were hipsters…
Holly Stewart Though it usually operates on a smaller scale, this week Opera McGill will debut a big-budget, big-cast version of what is arguably the world’s biggest-name opera: Giacomo Puccini’s La Bohème. “It’s the world’s favourite opera, in some way,” says Patrick Hansen, the director of McGill’s Opera Studies program.[Read More…]
New conservative student news source launched Monday
The year in campus media took perhaps its most interesting turn last Monday with the launch of the Prince Arthur Herald, a new online conservative student newspaper based at McGill. The website’s political positions, which tend to be libertarian, are articulated in a 25-point Statement of Principles. “Our paper supports[Read More…]
Saucy explosion
I’d like to think that most criminals get their due. A horrible mishap that I had at my summer job this summer, though, has changed my mind. Now, I’m more inclined to think that for every criminal that gets punished, there must be 10 that fly under the radar. [Read More…]
Harvard student found to have fabricated stellar career
Holly Stewart, The Harvard Crimson In December, a virtuosic liar narrowly missed fooling one of the best and most rigorous universities in the world. After fraudulently making his way through Harvard University as a phony literary critic, Adam Wheeler, 24, pleaded guilty on December 16 to charges of fraud, identity[Read More…]
Undergrad’s thesis makes unlikely trip around the world
lisburncity.gov.uk When you write an impressive term paper, maybe a couple of people will know about it. Your parents might read it, but you wouldn’t dream that it would make you famous. Frank Kachanoff, a U3 psychology student at McGill, probably didn’t either, but his undergraduate thesis has inadvertently gone[Read More…]
McGill teams to break in improved Molson Stadium
The newly-renovated Molson Stadium will see its first regular-season varsity action on Friday night as the men’s and women’s varsity soccer teams take on Sherbrooke. The renovations were completed in June. The historic stadium, which was built in 1914 and has hosted everyone from Queen Elizabeth II to The[Read More…]
Tony Blair speaks to McGill on issues of religion and globalization
Holly Stewart Holly Stewart With his easy charm and boyish grin, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair spoke to scholars, students, religious leaders, and MPs at the Windsor Hotel on Friday. Blair’s visit was prompted by the Tony Blair Faith Foundation’s funding of teaching and research on religion and[Read More…]
Climatologists try their luck at predicting coming winter
Gabriela Gilmour For a few hours on the night of October 30, Montrealers got their first taste of snow this season. Though they might get a break for the next few weeks, students shouldn’t put their hats and mittens in deep storage. This year, waters are cooler in the[Read More…]
The stadium mystique
I recently had to do a story on the renovated Molson Stadium, so I went to check it out one day. I was moved to recollection as I wandered through the concourses. “Recollection” is an inadequate word; rather, doors in my subconscious opened, emitting rich nostalgic air. I let it[Read More…]
Thousands celebrate newly canonized Brother Andre
Alice Walker Alice Walker Olympic Stadium’s postmodern curves have hosted metal concerts, monster truck rallies, and the MLB All-Star Game, but they have rarely formed a cathedral. On Saturday, however, the blue-and-gold plastic seats served as pews as tens of thousands celebrated the canonization of Alfred Bessette, commonly known as[Read More…]
2nd Arch Cafe rally outside Senate, working group formed
Miranda Whist To the tune of drums and cymbals, students held a second protest for the Architecture Café during Wednesday’s senate meeting. The protest took place near the entrance to the Leacock building, where senate meetings are held, and was led by Mobilization McGill, an ad-hoc group formed in response[Read More…]
The Trib’s guide to the Fall General Assembly resolutions
Direct democracy will be on full display on Thursday’s General Assembly, which will take place at 6 p.m. in the Shatner Building cafeteria. The GA, which is held once a semester, give students a chance to share their opinions and vote on resolutions proposed by fellow students and member of[Read More…]
Canaries out of the cage
Jack Maguire Baxter State Park, in central Maine, closed to summer camping last Friday. While that doesn’t matter to most people, there’s a small group for whom the closure of the park marks the end of an odyssey. Mount Katahdin in Baxter is the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail,[Read More…]
McGill Redmen football: a damage report
John Kelsey Ardent devotees of the varsity football team must be ready for psychiatric counseling. Luckily, there aren’t many of them. Those that remain have been shaken by five deflating losses. Let’s have a look at the damage. Game 1: Laval blew out the Redmen 50-9 in Quebec City. The Redmen could have recovered if[Read More…]
Opera de Montreal explores the dark price of laughter
Opera de Montreal’s season-opening production of Rigoletto’s famous tunes, virile tenor solos, rousing choruses, lavish costumes, and talented cast are well worth the price of admission. Spectators will be rewarded with a dark, compelling fable of comedy and fate. Rigoletto is the hunchbacked, misanthropic jester in the court of[Read More…]
Bat found with rabies
A deceased bat found September 10 at the corner of Sherbrooke and McGill College has tested positive for rabies, according to Montreal public health officials. Officials are looking for anyone whom the bat may have scratched or bitten. One person was bitten while trying to put the bat in a[Read More…]
Montreal buskers audition for right to perform in metro stations
After 25 years performing in the metro, Greg Dunlevy has seen some terrible musicianship. “You get a lot people who … bang on pieces of wood,” Dunlevy said. “They go out and get themselves a cheap guitar, they buy themselves a harmonica or a recorder, and they blow in it and they can’t do anything with it.
McGill study finds Montreal still a long way from racial equality
Montreal is still a long way from racial equality, according to a recent study conducted by several professors at McGill’s School of Social Work. The comprehensive survey of the city’s black demographics found that black Montrealers make less money and are less likely to be employed than non-blacks.
MUHC and unani.ca launch patient self-management platform
Last Monday, the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) and a medical-technology company launched unani.ca, an innovative new personal health record (PHR) system. The interface allows patients to store all of their medical information in one place, and its developers hope that it will contribute to a growing trend of patient self-management.
Perfect pitch: Fight Band looks to fine-tune McGill athletic pride
The McGill Fight Band doesn’t march. They don’t do halftime shows, they don’t wear Napoleonic uniforms, and they don’t have a dance team. If you’re looking for high-stepping, capes, or colour guards, you’re out of luck. But if you’re looking for spirit, look no further – the growing Fight Band does what fight bands are supposed to do and does it well.
Referendum rundown: what you need to know before voting
Question RE: Bodily Sovereignty This question is a toned-down version of the General Assembly motion concerning discriminatory groups, which sought to amend the Students’ Society constitution to prohibit pro-life clubs from existing. A “Yes” vote would require SSMU to take action against groups that compromise “bodily sovereignty.
With referendum vote, Tribune is poised for independence
In what Opinion Editor Matt Chesser called a “do-or-die” situation, The McGill Tribune’s future will be determined by a SSMU referendum next week. Should the referendum question pass, the Tribune would become fully independent after 29 years as a publication under the auspices of the Students’ Society.
Funding cuts may shut First Nations University’s doors for good
The First Nations University of Canada, North America’s only fully accredited Aboriginal university, has had a rough year. The school’s future is up in the air after losing over $12 million dollars in provincial and federal funding cuts in late January and early February.
Redmen ready for postseason after demolition of Ottawa
The Redmen came out flying on Saturday night at McConnell Arena, dominating the Ottawa Gee-Gees at both ends of the ice en route to a 9-0 trouncing. With both teams’ playoff fates already sealed before the opening face-off – McGill in, Ottawa out – the Redmen were able to use the game as a tune-up, and judging by their performance, they’ll be able to enter the postseason with some much-needed confidence and momentum.
Five-alarm fire destroys 117-year-old Franciscan church
On February 6, a five-alarm fire destroyed a 117-year-old abandoned church at 2040 René Lévesque. The blaze raged from 5 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., forcing the Montreal Fire Department to demolish what remained of the building for safety reasons. The fire badly damaged the former convent attached to the church and an historic mansion on the same property.
Queen’s may join other universities in banning bottled water
At Queen’s University, the Water Access Group, a group of students and professors interested in promoting public water and discouraging the use of bottled water, has completed a study of the school’s water fountains. The group found that 84 of 151 fountains were broken or dirty, and only 24 had gooseneck spouts for refilling water bottles, which prompted them to write an open letter to Daniel Woolf, the university’s principal.
OLYMPIC PREVIEW: Ski Cross
The newest event in Vancouver could perhaps be the most exciting. The field is pretty wide open, with plenty of emotional storylines. Multiple Canadian women have come out of the woodwork this year, and have a great chance at more than one medal. Mother of two Ophélie David is a pioneer in the sport, and will likely retire after this year.
OLYMPIC PREVIEW: Moguls
McGill student Jennifer Heil is – bar none – the best female mogulist in the world. She’s won the last four Freestyle Skiing World Cup events, and rides a tidal wave of momentum into the 2010 Olympics. If she doesn’t bring home gold on the first night of competition, it would be a shocking disappointment.
OLYMPIC PREVIEW: Skeleton
Remember the name Melissa Hollingsworth: you’ll be hearing a lot about her this month. The Alberta native finished third in Turin, but is the consensus favourite to win gold in Vancouver. Canada has more than one medal threat in this event as well – Amy Gough has slid her way onto the team by posting strong times at World Cup events.
OLYMPIC PREVIEW: Speed skating
The fastest human-powered sport in the world will offer plenty of excitement for the fans in Vancouver. In the “short-track” events – where skaters race against each other on a track about the size of a hockey rink – South Korea will attempt to repeat their dominating performance in Turin, where they won six out of eight possible gold medals.
OLYMPIC PREVIEW: Men’s Hockey
For many Canadians, anything less than a gold medal in the Olympic men’s hockey event is unacceptable. Four years ago in Turin, the Russians stunned an entire nation when they blanked Canada 2-0, preventing the Canucks from advancing to the semi-finals. The 2010 edition of the Winter Games is nothing less than a chance at redemption for the tournament favourites.
OLYMPIC PREVIEW: Women’s Hockey
Olympic gold is Canada’s to lose in Vancouver. After winning easily in Salt Lake City and Turin, Canada will be relying on experience to guide them to the top of the podium once again. Canadian legends Kim St. Pierre and Hayley Wickenheiser are back, along with superstar McGill goaltender Charline Labonté, but the team will be without veteran Danielle Goyette for the first time since the 1998 Games.
OLYMPIC PREVIEW: Bobsleigh
While Jamaica will not be participating in bobsleigh next week, there’s no need to fret, as this will remain one of the most exciting events at the Olympics. The biggest stars in the sport will be out at the Whistler Sliding Centre to compete in the four-man, two-man, and two-woman events.
Redmen return to McConnell Arena, roll over Ottawa
For the better part of an hour on Saturday night, it looked as if the McGill men’s hockey team’s vaunted offensive play had failed to carry over into the new decade. But the Redmen reminded everyone in attendance why they are ranked fifth in the nation as they turned on the jets late in the game, scoring twice in the final three minutes to stun the visiting Ottawa Gee-Gees, 3-1.