On Tuesday, Dec. 19, Conrad Gaysford, a former McGill student, was sentenced to 12 months of house arrest for assault causing bodily harm to Kathryn Leci, a current McGill Master of Engineering candidate. The Honourable Judge Louise Baribeau of Montreal Municipal Court presided over the case. The conditional sentence requires that[Read More…]
Articles by Shrinkhala Dawadi
‘It doesn’t matter because it didn’t happen on campus’
Social activism not enough to break down structures of success
According to philosopher-writer Albert Camus, “the only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” It is harder for a woman of colour to achieve the same metrics of success as a white man. The very[Read More…]
New McGill Sexual Assault Policy draft released
On Feb. 16, McGill’s Sexual Assault Policy Working Group released its final version of the proposed Sexual Assault Policy (SAP) to the public. The working group formed in 2012, after allegations of sexual assault against against three former Redmen football players brought greater awareness to the fact that McGill has[Read More…]
The streets of Milton-Parc
The Milton-Parc neighbourhood, colloquially known as the McGill ghetto, is home to many McGill students. It’s an area with a rich history: In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was the east end of the Golden Square Mile, an upscale residential community that was primarily home to Montreal’s[Read More…]
Establishing a Fall reading week at McGill
In recent years, many universities, including Brock University, Western University, and McMaster University, have implemented Fall reading weeks. The University of Toronto’s Mississauga campus will have its first Fall reading break in 2016. McGill currently does not have a Fall reading week, although the idea has been discussed several times[Read More…]
Omar El-Sharawy elected SSMU VP Internal
Omar El-Sharawy was elected Vice-President (VP) Internal of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) with 4807 points earlier today The runner-up, Kahli Douglas, got 4445 points. The turnout for the election was 8.7 per cent. SSMU President Kareem Ibrahim explained that since the 2014-2015 school year, SSMU has been[Read More…]
CKUT fee increase fails in SSMU referendum
The results of the 2015 Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) referendum were announced on Nov. 15. All referendum questions passed, with the exception of the CKUT fee increase. The Safety Network fee The first referendum question, which proposed the creation of a SSMU Safety Network Fee passed[Read More…]
No say for students in Student Services appointment
Following backlash from the McGill community over last month’s appointment of Robyn Wiltshire as the interim senior director of student services, Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning), Ollivier Dyens, has apologized, admitting student consultation should have been a part of Wiltshire’s hiring process. Wiltshire succeeds Richard Zereik, who served as[Read More…]
Meet local candidates for the 2015 federal election
Click on one of the candidates’ pictures to get started! Liberal Party of Canada: Marc Miller New Democratic Party: Allison Turner Conservative Party of Canada: Richard Sagala Bloc Québécois: Simon Marchand Green Party of Canada: Daniel Green Communist Party of Canada: Miguel Figueroa Read about the other parties
SSMU VP Internal Lola Baraldi has resigned, citing personal reasons
Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Vice-President (VP) Internal Lola Baraldi resigned from her position last Thursday. Kareem Ibrahim, SSMU president, elaborated on Baraldi’s resignation. “[Baraldi is] resigning due to personal reasons,” Ibrahim said. “It definitely brings us great sadness to see her leave. She’s been a great member of[Read More…]
Meet the 2015-2016 SSMU executives
Kareem Ibrahim Emily Boytinck Lola Baraldi Kimber Bialik Chloe Rourke Zacheriah Houston Read about the other execs
Does having a high IQ mean you’re smart?
News of 12-year-old Lydia Sebastian scoring 162—the top score—on a Mensa IQ test made headlines last week. People were astounded that a child had scored higher than both Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking. While there’s actually no evidence that Einstein or Hawking ever took the Mensa IQ test, Sebastian’s score[Read More…]
Sexual assault allegation raises concern over redress procedures at McGill
Allegations of sexual assault towards a McGill student following an incident in Winter 2015 have prompted student leaders and the McGill University administration to evaluate existing procedures of redress at McGill for sexual assault. The McGill administration was not able to conduct a disciplinary investigation into the incident because the[Read More…]
McGill Board of Governors considers Divest McGill’s proposal
On May 21 the McGill Board of Governors (BoG) held its last meeting of the school year. The Federal budget McGill Principal Suzanne Fortier discussed aspects of the recently announced Federal budget in her opening remarks. Fortier highlighted that the Canadian government allocated $1.3 billion towards the Canadian Foundation for[Read More…]
Alexei Simakov files J-Board petition against Elections SSMU
Alexei Simakov, former Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) presidential candidate, filed a petition on Thursday to the Judicial Board (J-Board), SSMU’s judicial branch. The petition calls for the J-Board to file sanctions against Kareem Ibrahim, incoming SSMU President. “Alexei Simakov over the course of the campaign was libeled repeatedly[Read More…]
Newly-elected VP Internal Lola Baraldi will not be invalidated, Elections SSMU announces
Elections SSMU announced on Thursday that allegations of illegal campaigning by Lola Baraldi prior to her election as Vice-President Internal did not constitute sufficient grounds for invalidation, as ruled by the Elections Review Committee (ERC). The VP Internal race was the closest in the 2015 Students’ Society of McGill University[Read More…]
Kareem Ibrahim wins SSMU presidency
Kareem Ibrahim was elected president of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) last week with 52.5 per cent of the vote. The results were released by Elections SSMU last Friday. Alexei Simakov, the opposing candidate, gained 47.5 per cent of the vote. The rest of the SSMU executive will[Read More…]
Off the board: Gentrification, urban-ecoism, and cultural perspectives
The houses in Kathmandu, Nepal, where my grandparents live are very tall and narrow—there’s not a lot of buildable space in the actual city. My grandparents’ house doesn’t have central heating. It’s wired up to the electrical grid, but the electricity isn’t always there. For several hours a day, electricity[Read More…]
Proposal for women-only gym hours halted by McGill administration
Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) Ollivier Dyens released a statement on Friday expressing that McGill will no longer be considering the implementation of women-only gym hours at the McGill Fitness Centre. “McGill is a community where every form of diversity (cultural, linguistic, gender, religion, etc.) is celebrated and encouraged,”[Read More…]
AUS SNAX sit-in raises awareness about MoA negotiations with McGill
Last Wednesday, members of the McGill community participated in a sit-in organized by SNAX, a food-retail outlet managed under the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS). The sit-in aimed to raise awareness and support for SNAX in light of McGill’s recent stipulation that SNAX would not be able to sell sandwiches. This[Read More…]
Greenbriar to be converted into an upper-year residence for 2015-2016
The Greenbriar apartment-style residence will be designated for upper-year students beginning Fall 2015. The residence is located close to McGill’s downtown campus on University and primarily housing first-year students in studio-style and one-bedroom style apartments. Director of Student Housing and Hospitality Services (SHHS) Janice Johnson explained that the change was[Read More…]
Yony Bresler elected as PGSS interim secretary-general
On Feb. 24, Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) of McGill University Chief Returning Officer (CRO) Colby Briggs announced that Yony Bresler had been elected as the PGSS interim secretary-general. Bresler, who assumed the role on Mar. 2, won with 55 per cent of the vote. Fellow candidate Saturnin Ndandala acquired 15.5[Read More…]
J-Board publishes recommendations in GA speaker case
The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Judicial Board (J-Board) published a recommendation on the Nadir Khan and Zain Ali Syed vs. the SSMU Council and Speaker case this Friday. The recommendation is a result of the mediation session that resolved the case, which Khan and Zyed filed in October[Read More…]
Law professor discusses implications of Ferguson events for black Canadians
Joanne St. Lewis, Common Law professor at the University of Ottawa and former McGill student, spoke at the annual Annie Macdonald Langstaff workshop last Friday. The workshop featured a discussion on the recent events in Ferguson, a city in Missouri that gained international attention in 2014 after Mike Brown, an[Read More…]
PGSS secretary-general resigns, cites personal issues
Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) Secretary-General Juan Camilo Pinto submitted a letter of resignation on Jan. 20 to the PGSS Board of Directors (BoD). If Pinto’s resignation is approved by the next PGSS Council on Feb. 3, he will step down from his position on Feb. 16. A nomination period for[Read More…]
Rad Sex Week event exclusive to people of colour causes controversy on campus
The Rad Sex Week workshop, Desires: A QT*POC Exploration, caused controversy on campus after organizers stated that the event was not open to white people. “This workshop is closed to folks who identify as LGBT*QIA and as a person of color,” the event description reads. “‘A’ here denotes asexual, not[Read More…]
PGSS secretary-general resigns, cites personal issues
Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) Secretary-General Juan Camilo Pinto submitted a letter of resignation on Jan. 20 to the PGSS Board of Directors (BoD). If Pinto’s resignation is approved by the next PGSS Council on Feb. 3, he will step down from his position on Feb. 16. A nomination period for[Read More…]
Midnight Kitchen resumes normal operations following two months out of service
The Midnight Kitchen reopened on Monday after being closed for nearly two months. The pay-what-you-can vegan food collective initially closed last November after an incident when the kitchen and storage area were vandalized. The kitchen was expected to resume its operations within the first two weeks of this semester, but[Read More…]
Black Students’ Network holds vigil in memory of Michael Brown
The Black Students’ Network (BSN) organized a vigil on Lower Field at McGill on Tuesday, Nov. 26, held in memory of Michael Brown, who was shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson on Aug. 9 in Ferguson, Missouri. On Nov. 24, Robert McCulloch, prosecuting attorney for St. Louis County,[Read More…]
Fortier sits down with campus media, discusses bilateral agreement
On Wednesday, Nov. 12, Principal Suzanne Fortier sat down with members of the McGill media to talk about issues concerning the McGill community, including the ongoing talks on Quebec’s bilateral agreement with France regarding tuition and the financial troubles McGill is facing resulting from provincial austerity measures. Bilateral agreement between France[Read More…]
Demilitarize McGill’s Remembrance Day protest causes controversy on campus
On Tuesday, Nov. 11, Demilitarize McGill hosted a rally protesting McGill University’s Remembrance Day ceremonies.
Budget, bylaw reform, and fee consolidation reviewed at SSMU Council
The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Council met on Thursday to discuss the 2014-2015 budget, bylaw amendments, as well as fee consolidation.
Conference discusses historical, cultural impact of French Quebec bilateral agreement
Last Monday, the McGill Commission on Francophone Affairs hosted a conference discussing the effects of the bilateral agreement between France and Quebec on education. The event was also co-hosted by the Department of French Language and Literatures, Le Délit, the Department of Political Science at the Université du Québec à[Read More…]
McGill to implement hiring freeze for administrative staff in light of budget cuts
Last Monday, Provost Anthony Masi held an open forum where he discussed the effects of the Quebec government’s recently announced budget cuts for the university sector on McGill’s financial situation. McGill’s budget for the 2015 fiscal year (FY2015) was approved by the Board of Governors last April and accounted for[Read More…]
The Viewpoint: The Rocky Horror Picture Show
We got to Imperial Cinema a little before 11 p.m., looking forward to a night of cult-movie debauchery. Right off the bat, however, it became clear that this night would be quite the experience—something we should’ve expected with all the hype that surrounds the annual live-action performance of Richard O’[Read More…]
Elections SSMU volunteers resignation, petitioner drops Judicial Board case
Ben Fung has resigned as Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), following an agreement resolving the recent case that Alexei Simakov, U3 Arts, recently filed with the Judicial Board (J-Board) against the SSMU Executives, Elections SSMU, and the SSMU’s Board of Directors.
Transcending the Text
In 2011, Amazon announced that the sales for its Kindle e-books had surpassed those of their physical books, with 105 e-books sold for every 100 print copies.
Forum on diversity and inclusivity in Engineering discusses intersectional perspectives
Last Thursday, the Engineering Undergraduate Society (EUS) and the Faculty of Engineering hosted a forum about diversity and inclusivity in the field. According to the faculty’s website, the forum aimed to allow members of the engineering community to discuss their experiences with the challenges they faced regarding diversity and inclusivity,[Read More…]
Board of Governors discuss finances during first meeting of the year
Surplus for Fiscal Year In his report to the Board of Governors, Vice Principal, Administration and Finance, Michael Di Grappa stated that McGill had an operating surplus of $15.7 million for the 2014 fiscal year, as opposed to the projected deficit of $10.4 million. Di Grappa attributed this surplus to[Read More…]
McGill football player charged with assault, suspended from team
A running back for the McGill Redmen football team identified as Luis-Andres Guimont-Mota was arrested Wednesday on charges of assault and armed robbery. In response to the incident, Ollivier Dyens, deputy provost (Student Life and Learning) issued a statement explaining that Guimont-Mota had been suspended from the football team. Guimont-Mota was[Read More…]
Owen Pallett reveals expertise in vocals, violin
As far as entrances go, Owen Pallett’s first appearance on stage during his concert at the Corona Theatre last week was a humble one.
McGill continues salary adjustments following implementation of Pay Equity Act
In 2001, the Quebec Government passed the Pay Equity Act, which aimed to remedy sex-based wage disparities by compensating female workers.
First PGSS Council of academic year debated proposed charter of students rights
Rassemblement des associations étudiantes (RAE) On Sept. 5, the Quebec Superior Court found that the RAE, an organization that was formerly known as the Canadian Federation of Students Quebec (CFS-Q), was entitled to one-sixth of the membership fees collected by the Canadian Federation of Students National (CFS-N). The court also[Read More…]
PGSS executive interviews
Brighita Lungu Ge Sa Jennifer Murray Juan Pinto Nikki Meadows Julien Ouellet (pgss.mcgill.ca) This week, the McGill Tribune sat down with the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) executives to discuss their work this summer and their vision for the upcoming year. Click on the portraits to learn more. Members Affairs Officer,[Read More…]
A student’s guide to governance at McGill
For many incoming and returning students, making sense of McGill University’s large and bureaucratic system of governance may seem daunting. The Tribune is here to provide you with a simple guide to the school’s authoritative bodies. The Board of Governors (BoG) The Board of Governors is the governing body of[Read More…]
SSMU executive interviews
Courtney Ayukawa, President What have you done this summer? I’ve been getting used to my role and the responsibilities and getting to know SSMU really well. I’ve also worked with our human resources advisor to draft and implement a Mental Health Policy for our permanent staff, which is really exciting.[Read More…]
Board of Governors discuss university finance, online courses, and licensing agreements
The Board of Governors convened May 22 for their last meeting of the school year. The session was also the last meeting for Arnold Steinberg, who will be ending his term as Chancellor on Jun. 30. Budget In her opening remarks, Principal Suzanne Fortier spoke highly of a recent meeting[Read More…]
Tariq Khan files case to suspend his electoral invalidation
Tariq Khan will bring an interim injunction to the Superior Court of Québec this Friday, May 30 regarding Elections SSMU’s invalidation of his presidential win and the Judicial Board (J-Board) ruling that the invalidation would be upheld. On May 27, Khan announced that he was planning to take legal action[Read More…]
Demonstrators rally in solidarity with victims of police brutality
Demonstrators rallied downtown to show solidarity with victims of police brutality on May 7. Approximately 40 people attended the protest, including individuals who had previously acquired injuries as a result of police actions. The protest was held in part as a response to heightened police presence at an earlier demonstration[Read More…]
J-Board upholds invalidation of Tariq Khan’s SSMU presidency
Elections SSMU’s controversial decision to invalidate Tariq Khan’s presidential win has been upheld by the Judicial Board (J-Board) of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) following a hearing on April 29. The J-Board’s unanimous ruling, which was ratified by the Board of Directors on April 30, confirms Elections SSMU’s[Read More…]
Timeline: the year in review
A look back at 2013-14.
McGill’s lack of sexual assault policy criticized by SACOMSS, SSMU executive
Student groups published an open letter to McGill on March 24 to express their frustration at the lack of a formal sexual assault policy at the university as well as propose various measures to consider in the implementation of one. The letter also requested increased consultation with the student body[Read More…]
SSMU lease signed following three-year negotiation
The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) has signed the lease for the SSMU Building, following nearly three years of negotiations with the administration. The Board of Governors (BoG) approved the decision at their Feb. 27 meeting. SSMU had previously been operating in the building without a legal agreement since[Read More…]
QPIRG workshop critiques mainstream concepts of self-care, forgiveness
The accessibility of mainstream methods of self-care was the topic of a workshop during last week’s Social Justice Days series. Hosted by the McGill-Quebec Public Interest Research Group (QPIRG) and the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU), the event was called “Self Care: Critical Perspectives on Oprah, Capitalism, and Happiness.”[Read More…]
McGill alumnus, province’s youngest mayor, talks politics
Recent McGill graduate Antoine Tardif is one of the youngest mayors in the country. Last November, Tardif—a 23-year-old McGill Class of 2013 graduate—was elected as the mayor of Daveluyville, Québec. Daveluyville is a small town located 90 minutes away from Montreal in the Centre-du-Québec region, with a population of approximately[Read More…]
Delving deeper: McGill’s research partnerships with corporations
Last November, a report by the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) criticized McGill’s collaboration with Bombardier Inc., a publicly traded aerospace corporation, and eight other partners. The report warned that a lack of protections for academic freedom in collaborative research agreements between universities and industries could affect universities’ integrity.[Read More…]
Undergraduate law students request paid compensation for work
Undergraduate law students working as interns in legal clinics and Teaching Assistants (TAs) at McGill are asking to receive monetary compensation for their work. A town hall was hosted by the Faculty of Law on Wednesday to address the current lack of procedural framework, raise awareness, and brainstorm solutions to[Read More…]
What happened last week in Canada?
Anti-fracking protest becomes violent Forty arrests were made after an anti-fracking protest on Oct. 17 turned violent outside the Elsipogtog First Nation reserve in New Brunswick. The protesters called for the energy company Southwestern (SWN) Resources to stop seismic testing in the area. The development of their traditional land was[Read More…]
Tuition expected to increase 13 per cent by 2016-17
Earlier this month, a report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) predicted a 13 per cent increase for the average Canadian student’s tuition fees by the 2016-17 school year.
SSMU to contribute up to $10,000 towards court case
TaCEQ Secretary-General Paul-Antoine Cardin spoke to Council about TaCEQ’s participation in an ongoing case in the Quebec Superior Court, as well as the delay of a congress intended to address TaCEQ reform. A student lobbying group, TaCEQ is composed of four student member associations, including the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU).
What Happened Last Week in Canada?
Saint Mary’s University faces outrage over frosh chants Controversy arose at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax this past weekend after a video emerged featuring student leaders singing a frosh week chant about non-consensual and under-aged sex. Although the video was removed from Instagram where it was originally posted, it has[Read More…]