In my first year at McGill, my academic naiveté made me anxious and self-centred. I was convinced that good writing was a product of genius forged in solitude. When tasked with an essay, a tinge of shame came in reiterating the ideas of other scholars and writers. Citation in those[Read More…]
Articles by Wendy Zhao
Legislative Council approves motion for SSMU to oppose COP-15
The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) held its fifth and final Legislative Council meeting of the Fall semester on Dec. 1. Members passed a motion for SSMU to take a position against COP-15, a motion to approve a renewed version of the expired Free Menstrual Hygiene Products Policy, and[Read More…]
Sounding out the city
Dylan Hennessy is a part-time busker. Once, when performing at the intersection of Ste. Catherine and Crescent, with about 200 people gathered around him, fireworks started, and he even crowd surfed. “It was like something out of a movie,” Hennessy told The McGill Tribune. That same night, someone came and[Read More…]
Exam-season survival guide
If there’s one thing we can learn from Montreal’s frigid winters, it’s that they always beget spring; a period of stasis, then, is essential for growth. As we enter a new season—as well as exam season—remember that amid the hustle culture of academia, rest itself is a radical act of[Read More…]
The Computer Riot, Birth Control Handbook, and struggle for Africana Studies: Brief histories of student activism
Students have long been at the forefront of social progress, both on their campuses and in the wider Montreal communities. The McGill Tribune looks back on a few instances throughout history when students banded together to advocate for their rights. 1969 Computer Riot at Concordia This protest would come to[Read More…]
Outfits for cancelled and postponed concerts
In its prime, Montreal was the place to be if you wanted to catch an electrifying concert. With names like The Weeknd, Billie Eilish, and Tyler, the Creator lined up to perform in 2022, it seemed like the revival of the Montreal concert scene was finally underway. Unfortunately, Omicron brought[Read More…]
Know your neighbourhood: The hidden histories of Montreal boroughs
Living in Montreal is exciting––discovering each of the city’s neighbourhoods is like peeling back another layer of a metropolitan onion. And while there are over 180 000 students in Montreal, amidst our own categorizations of the city’s various boroughs––e.g. art girls with stick and poke tattoos live in the Plateau,[Read More…]
Learning to stay afloat while browsing
I, like many university students, grew up on the internet. Between the tabs and usernames, I slowly built a self. As a slightly awkward high schooler, I found camaraderie in online spaces run by other teenagers, and learned the fundamentals on topics like sex and menstruation by scouring the many[Read More…]
In lockdown, time for takeout
Students’ busy schedules and––mostly––amateur cooking skills makes getting takeout food a huge comfort. During another COVID-19 wave, it’s also especially important to support local restaurants—and when possible, remember to avoid corporate delivery services and order directly from businesses. For when you have no time to cook, or just want to[Read More…]
Montreal then and now: Documenting the city’s changing urban landscape
Every few days, Instagram account Montreal Then and Now posts historical photographs of the city––sometimes recognizable intersections and buildings, other times obscure corners or neighbourhoods. Swipe to the left, and you’ll see a present day snapshot of these settings at the same angle, all taken by Elijah Herron, creator of[Read More…]
The McGill-wide 2021 holiday wishlist
It’s Nov. 30 and the holiday season is officially upon us! With less than a month until Christmas, you may feel overwhelmed about what to ask for this year. But don’t be alarmed—The McGill Tribune has got you covered. Below, you’ll find this year’s McGill wishlist, and hopefully, the items[Read More…]
Fated fortunes and falterings: Mid-term horoscopes
Aries You will soon have a sighting of an iconic figure at McGill, such as Suzanne Fortier or Chris Buddle. Do not take this lightly: This is a sign. Taurus Beware of campus seagulls. The stars are revealing that they feel particularly aggressive this week. Their next target may just[Read More…]
Sick day survival guide
In the COVID-19 world, it’s easy to panic the moment you let out a single cough or feel a tickle in your throat. Hyperaware as we are of cold symptoms, we are quick to notice when we have the dreaded common cold. Unfortunately, getting sick can take a toll on[Read More…]
The McGill Savoy Society opens their curtains again
It’s hard to imagine staging a theatre production—something so full of life and so reliant on personal connections—over livestream and video recordings. However, this is precisely what The McGill Savoy Society, a Gilbert and Sullivan-focussed theatre troupe at McGill, did last year. The McGill Savoy society specializes in putting on[Read More…]
The Tribune tries: Haunted Montreal ghost walk
After the sun went down on October 24, we joined a group of 30 people near Concordia for a ghost tour of downtown Montreal led by Haunted Montreal. After we arrived, Jason McLean, our tour guide, abruptly adopted the animated persona of a ghostly storyteller and led us through the[Read More…]
Orphaned tongues
A few months ago, I taught my parents a gesture known as the “finger heart.” To make it, you gently cross your thumb and index finger. Selfies featuring this gesture have become a staple of our text conversations, and I hoard a precious collection of screenshots that document this phenomenon:[Read More…]
McGill-themed Halloween costumes: 2021 Edition
With Halloween just around the corner, The McGill Tribune offers you nine McGill-themed costumes that are sure to set you apart from other party-goers. 1. Cloudberry A star of the McGill Reddit thread, this albino squirrel has become somewhat of a mythical creature at McGill, with a sighting guaranteed to[Read More…]
A feathered allure: Flocking to McGill’s birding community
The founders of the McGill Students’ Birding Club (MSBC) met six years ago while taking WILD 420, an ornithology course at McGill. Since the club’s creation, birders of the McGill community have had a place to congregate and share their love for our feathered friends. On the club’s Facebook group,[Read More…]
Friendsgiving takes many forms among students
Friendsgiving, a Thanksgiving celebration among friends, holds a beloved place in the hearts of students, sometimes even more than its familial alternative. For those who find themselves away from home or simply wish to gather with loved ones, Friendsgiving celebrations foster unique forms of bonding and expressions of gratitude among[Read More…]
Meal-prepping for hibernation: Student-friendly autumnal recipes
Sweet-and-spicy roasted tofu and squash (vegan) Squash never fails to bring comfort and delight. This recipe is an ode to the vegetable in all its curvaceous glory, which together with baked tofu makes for a protein-rich addition to a bed of rice or spinach. Squash never fails to bring comfort[Read More…]
Spots for shut-eye: Where we sleep on campus
Shirley Xu, Contributor The sun warm on your face, the grass a soft cushion, the faint murmur of students passing by—what more could you ask for in a napping spot? That settles it––my go-to location to nap is Three Bares Park. During the 30-minute breaks between my classes in first[Read More…]
Nights at Jeanne-Mance
By the time 8:00 p.m. rolls around on a nice night, Jeanne-Mance Park is crowded with people. As the sun sets, people form small circles, huddle around picnic tables, and can sometimes be spotted dancing on the grass. In an effort to better understand the diversity of these park gatherings,[Read More…]
McGill Farmers’ Market creates community for sustainable eating
The McGill Farmers’ Market has been a staple of the summer and fall seasons at McGill since 2008. It returns again to McTavish Street this year, open on Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Multiple vendors selling their signature products offer students a variety of food and flavour options,[Read More…]
‘Making Drugs More Accurate’ offers free drug checking kits
On Aug. 24, Making Drugs More Accurate (MDMA), a non-profit organization piloted by the Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy (CSSDP) chapter at McGill, launched their free drug-checking and harm reduction service for McGill students. In a 2019 survey conducted by CSSDP McGill, 86 per cent of students demonstrated interest[Read More…]
Hidden gems of McGill: Favourite spots to eat, study, chill, and explore
Coming back to campus, it is clear that a lot has changed. But a lot has remained the same. The McGill Tribune reflects on some tucked-away spots—from familiar favourites to some more obscure—to visit, remember, and hopefully find our way back to. 1. Paddle Mac Located on McGill’s Macdonald Campus,[Read More…]
Centering the faces and stories of Chinatown’s residents
On May 26, Rue de la Gauchetière, the main street of Montreal’s Chinatown, welcomed “Dialogue with the Sino-Montreal Community,” a photo exhibition showcasing the diverse faces and experiences of its residents. Presented in partnership with the Centre des mémoires montréalaises and the Chinese Family Service of Greater Montreal, the project was[Read More…]
Word on the Y: Zoom edition
One year into the pandemic that turned students’ lives upside down, The McGill Tribune’s Student Life team reflects on a tumultuous, yet occasionally triumphant, year. Holly Wethey; Contributor For the past two semesters, I have been living in my Plateau apartment, watching Montreal go from the orange zone to the[Read More…]
The intimacies of internet language
Physically distanced from each other, our conversations with friends, family, and strangers are taking place predominantly in the cadences of text messages. While common sentiments warn that constant texting can harm relationships and make us ineloquent writers, frequent internet users know that online socialization is not a cause for despair.[Read More…]
‘Queering the Map’ redefines queer space
Created by multidisciplinary designer Lucas LaRochelle in 2017, Queering the Map (QtM) is a community-based mapping project that allows users to plot their queer experiences over a digital map. QtM seeks to redefine the boundaries of queer spaces: Its millennial pink design portrays a world where queer collectivity forms itself[Read More…]
‘Raising Spirits’ game uncovers 1950s McGill student life
While the McGill community remains geographically fragmented, the McGill Library’s alternate reality game Raising Spirits: A Timely Diversion invites students to converge virtually on campus sites and experience them anew. Featuring artifacts drawn from McGill’s library archives, the game resurrects marginalized figures from the university’s past and narrates their stories across[Read More…]
Eating Disorder Awareness Week forms community in isolation
Content warning: Mentions of eating disorders. The Students’ Society of McGill University’s (SSMU) Eating Disorder Resource and Support Centre (EDRSC) held its third National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (EDAW) from Feb. 1 to Feb. 5. The events and discussions throughout the week highlighted the impact that social media and the[Read More…]
EDRSC panel brings attention to misrepresentation of eating disorders in media
CW: Eating disorders The Students’ Society of McGill University’s (SSMU) Eating Disorder Resource and Support Centre (EDRSC) held a panel discussion on eating disorders and their representation in mainstream media as a part of SSMU’s Mental Health Action Week. Held on Jan. 27, the “Misrepresentations of Eating Disorders in the[Read More…]
Journaling past present uncertainty
With innumerable ways to define the uncertainty of present times, many have started to capture their lives on paper, whether as a tool to record their role as witness to a pivotal historical juncture or to make sense of the chaos through the process of writing. During the first days[Read More…]
Spending the holidays with chosen family
For many, this holiday season was spent away from loved ones. At a time when uniting with family feels especially pertinent, the realities of the pandemic remain stark. Nonetheless, students adapted, finding comfort in friends, roommates, and themselves. Ollie F., U3 Arts, spent the holidays with their roommate and boyfriend.[Read More…]
Wisdom Exchange Project combats loneliness through intergenerational friendships
Loneliness has touched everyone at one point in their lives. Now, loneliness has paradoxically become a shared experience, with both its mental and physical impacts warranting increased attention. The intergenerational Wisdom Exchange Project, initiated by a team of graduate students from McGill University, Ryerson University, and the University of Waterloo,[Read More…]
Syrian Students’ Association to host art auction for COVID-19 relief
Already devastated by war, recovering from massive forest fires, and facing an economic crisis, Syria is now preparing for a second wave of COVID-19. To support Syria, the McGill Syrian Students’ Association (SSA) is hosting Peace of Art for COVID on Nov. 14, a virtual art auction to raise money[Read More…]
Redefining the Witch
Beyond the obligatory appearances on TV, the witch is a pervasive figure, taking on different forms throughout history. Her classic imagery—black pointed hat, broomstick, old haggard face, and unsavory wart—is a staple of Halloween festivities. In contemporary popular culture, witches have appeared as archetypal fairytale villains, teenagers in coming of[Read More…]
Native Women’s Shelter’s virtual Spirit Walk surpasses fundraising goal
While Montreal’s entrance into the red zone means an increased period of social isolation for many, the continued spread of COVID-19 has further exacerbated the unhoused population’s daily hardships. As shelter capacities decrease, unhoused individuals are at risk of being further shut out of the already limited sources for refuge.[Read More…]
Grocery delivery services help communities stay socially distanced
Before the pandemic, buying groceries online seemed like a bizarre, if not completely strange concept. With Montreal now in the red zone and multiple reported cases of COVID-19 being transmitted in grocery stores, online supermarket delivery services have become essential in helping students stay socially distanced while keeping their pantries[Read More…]
McGill’s Indigenous Awareness Weeks return virtually
Song and dance filled McGill’s Lower Field again on Sept. 18, as the First Peoples’ House’s (FPH) Virtual Pow Wow launched the university’s 10th Annual Indigenous Awareness Weeks (IAW), focussed on showcasing Indigenous cultures and traditional perspectives on wellness. Every September since 2001, Indigenous community members across Canada have united[Read More…]