Following the police killing of unarmed African-American teenager Michael Brown, unrest and anger spilled onto the streets of Ferguson, Missouri. The ongoing event has been marked by mostly peaceful protests, with incidences of violence. Aside from the circumstances surrounding Brown’s death, one of the big stories has been the militarized[Read More…]
Opinion
Opinions from our editorial board and contributors.
Call for intervenors
Posted on behalf of the SSMU Judicial Board: The Judicial Board has accepted jurisdiction to hear an appeal submitted by Tariq Khan regarding the invalidation of his election as President. The appeal will be heard at the end of April and we are extending an invitation to anyone wishing to intervene[Read More…]
To be or not to be franchised
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever expect my first real political campaign to make such a big splash. When I first contacted the Parti Vert du Quebec, I offered to volunteer in the campaign and perhaps even run; but I never expected that I actually would get a[Read More…]
Towards a more proactive SSMU
The invalidation of Tariq Khan’s victory in the SSMU elections, and the subsequent outcry, have perhaps served as the perfect summation of the crisis of credibility that has characterized student government. Throughout this year, the councillors and executives of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) have been far more[Read More…]
Elections SSMU institutionally unaccountable
I am not one of the several thousand students who voted for Tariq Khan. However, since the student body has been informed of Elections SSMU’s invalidation of Khan’s victory on Apr. 1, I have questioned the underlying policy. Many students, including myself, have expressed surprise that Elections SSMU even had[Read More…]
Looking ahead to a sexual assault policy
In an attempt to reduce the effects of rape culture on campus, York University has recently begun handing out rape whistles to female students at orientation. This approach to stopping sexual violence, reminiscent of a sardonic scene out of Pitch Perfect, highlights the pervasiveness of rape culture on university campuses,[Read More…]
What we learned opening a student-run café
After two years of planning, 3,493 burritos, and 7,824 customers, the Student-Run Cafe (SRC), “The Nest,” is wrapping up its first semester of operation. It has been an exhaustingly exhilarating experience, one that I feel very lucky and proud to have been a part of along with many other incredible[Read More…]
SSMU showcases continued incompetence, contempt for students on building fee
On March 21, 2014, students voted 53.6 per cent and 60.8 per cent, respectively, against both parts of the proposed SSMU building fee. Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) President Katie Larson, in a recent interview with the Tribune, condescendingly accused students of ignorance, saying students “did not do their[Read More…]
In provincial election, student issues absent
On April 7, Quebec will go to the polls to elect a new government. The campaign has been marked by claims and counterclaims of voter suppression, voter fraud, duplicity, and an overall tone of nastiness. What it hasn’t been marked by is attention to issues relating to university students. That[Read More…]
An open letter to the new student representatives
Welcome to the fold—or should I say, welcome to student politics at McGill. Some of you may be new to this process, and some of you may be veterans; but either way, you’re now involved in the decision-making process within this university. Some of you have more power than others[Read More…]
