“Borders, what’s up with that?” asks Sri Lankan musician M.I.A. in the lead track “Borders.” Unfortunately, on her latest studio album, we never get a clear answer. AIM lacks a distinct target, and the final result misses the mark. Compared with previous hits “Sunshowers” and “Paper Planes” that propelled M.I.A’s message into[Read More…]
Author: Will Burgess
Ask a scientist: Why isn’t the sky blue?
Two questions stood out for our first column. First, “Why is the sky blue?” This is a well-known one, but the subject has also been tackled by just about every scientific blog and answer column under the blue sky. The second attention-grabbing question was “Why isn’t the sky blue?” That query[Read More…]
McGill students and faculty push for more sustainability
On Sept. 23, members of the McGill community gathered in Chancellor Day Hall for the first Open Forum on Sustainability in a series organized mandated by the Provost. Two more forums will follow, one on the downtown campus at Thomson House on Sept. 28, and the other on MacDonald campus[Read More…]
McGill to open medical school campus in Gatineau, Quebec
On Sept. 6, Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard announced that the McGill Faculty of Medicine will open a new satellite campus in Gatineau, Quebec. Gatineau is a major city in the Outaouais region, in the southwest of the province. According to Dr. Gilles Brousseau, assistant dean of Medical Education at McGill[Read More…]
Homa Hoodfar released from Iranian prison
After being held captive for 112 days, retired Concordia University Professor Homa Hoodfar was released from an Iranian prison on Sept. 26. Hoodfar, a Canadian-Iranian dual citizen, is a professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology with an interest in women’s roles in Muslim societies. She travelled to Iran[Read More…]
Dispatch Coffee sets off for the Plateau with third location on Duluth and St. Laurent
Chrissy Durcak, founder of Dispatch Coffee, holds onto her philosophy of offering accessible quality products as she prepares to open the new store. Though her philosophy remains, the aesthetic of the new location will differ from their current ones: The new Plateau spot will feature a more diversified menu, and[Read More…]
AUS Council discusses Frosh improvements
That 70s Frosh dominated a large portion of the second meeting of the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) Legislative Council, with an extensive report on the improvements and changes implemented this year. Council also discussed the McGill Draft Policy Against Sexual Violence and the AUS Student Employment Fund. Frosh Arts Frosh sold[Read More…]
Proposed SSMU bicycle facility not on the right path
For students already forced to navigate the labyrinth of construction on two wheels, the lack of bike parking on McGill’s campus is an additional grievance. The return to school was marked by the removal of two of the campus’ largest bike racks in front of the McConnell Engineering and Leacock[Read More…]
Tuition raised for French students, but enrolment remains stable
Despite almost tripling tuition fees for French citizens studying in Quebec since Fall 2015, the provincial government has not seen a significant impact on the number of prospective students from France. McGill University’s enrolment report for Fall 2015 shows that, compared to Fall 2014, 127 more French citizens enrolled in[Read More…]
The hidden harm of voluntourism
While the idea of going abroad to help impoverished communities is commendable, volunteering abroad has several negative consequences that directly oppose the humanitarian intentions behind these trips. Many agencies that offer volunteer opportunities abroad sell the idea of ‘contributing to a community,’ whether by helping to build wells, schools, or[Read More…]
