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a, Sports

Around the Water Cooler

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In case you were too busy scouring for Easter Eggs or immersing yourself in the return of Game of Thrones, here is what you missed this past week in the world of sports …

 

NCAA BASKETBALL— The horror! The Elite 8 matchup between the Duke Blue Devils and the Louisville Cardinals turned into a gruesome scene Sunday, when Cardinals guard Kevin Ware went up to block a three point attempt. Landing awkwardly, Ware tumbled into his bench, snapping both bones of his lower right leg in the process. The break was so significant that it protruded from his leg and required immediate surgery, causing several players from both sides to collapse in tears. Apparently, his only thought after the injury was that the team stay focused on winning the game, which puts him as a firm frontrunner for ‘Best Guy’ 2013. His message, and a strong 23-point performance from Midwest MVP Russ Smith, paid off as the team advanced to the National semi-final with an 85-63 win.

In the other Elite 8 showdowns, 9th seed Wichita State continued their Cinderella story, toppling Ohio State 70-66. The Shockers will take on Louisville, while on the other side of the draw, 4th-seeded Michigan will take on the smothering defence of the 4th-ranked Syracuse Orange. The Final 4 begins on Apr. 6.

 

 

HOCKEY— Déjà vu! A similarly disturbing injury overshadowed another week of hockey, as Sidney Crosby took a puck to mouth, which splintered his jaw. The puck came off a ricochet shot from teammate Brooks Orpik. With his regular season most definitely over—although the Pens are hopeful he will return for the playoffs—it is becoming unclear which is more tantamount: Crosby’s prophetic talent, or his unworldly bad luck. Crippling concussions, and now a broken jaw, have caused the Penguins star to miss extensive time, which hurts not only his team, but also the league as a whole. Additionally, his injury really throws a wrench into all fantasy hockey pools, which is roughly equal in magnitude.

In other news, Jarome Iginla made his debut for the Penguins, helping the team secure its league-leading 56th point and 15th straight victory. Calgary fans are definitely ecstatic that Iggy has found success after being dealt by the abysmal Flames … right, guys? Finally, the Leafs are on a three-game wining streak, which has put them in a dead heat with the Sens, and a handful of other hopefuls for the last three or four playoff spots in the East.

 

 

NBA BASKETBALL — Devastating inj … just kidding. NBA basketball avoided the catastrophic injury bug, while Easter came a little early for Heat Haters. Miami finally dropped a game last Wednesday against Chicago to halt their ridiculous 27-game winning streak (a third of their schedule!). The team was threatening one of the all-time great records in league history, when Jerry West and the Lakers won 33 straight in 1971-1972. The loss did not derail the Heat for long, however, as they started right up again, stringing together two quick wins, including a last second three ball by Chris Bosh, to ice the San Antonio Spurs 88-86.

On Saturday night, Kobe Bryant surpassed Wilt Chamberlain for fourth on the all-time NBA scoring list, as he continues to live up to his self-proclaimed nickname “Vino”—because, you know, he gets better with age. Very clever, Kobe.

The playoff picture is shaping up nicely too, with about ten games left to play. Some teams like the Thunder are eager to get back to the NBA Finals, while others, like the Toronto Raptors, have all but given up and bought into Blue Jays fever.

a, Behind the Bench, Sports

Roaring Back: Tiger’s return to the top

by Hubie Yu on

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Everything seems to be going well for Tiger Woods these days: he and President Obama enjoyed a game of golf in February, and he recently announced his relationship with Olympic ski champion Lindsey Vonn (ugh). However, it got even better when Woods sank his final putt at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and won the tournament by two strokes. The win is his 77th on the PGA Tour and third in the 2013 season. However, it served an even greater importance, as the win sent him right back to the top of the Official World Golf Ranking for the 11th time in his career—a spot he once held for 623 weeks and lost in October 2010. After his infidelities became public in November 2009, Woods took an extended break, and his rankings dropped down to as low as number 58 in November 2011. His trophy drought finally ended last year, when he won his first tournament—again the Arnold Palmer Invitational—since the scandal. His ascension to the top spot can only mean one thing: Tiger is back.

There is much speculation on what Woods’ return means to fans and golfers alike. It’s obvious that fans love watching him play; in mid 2008, when he underwent knee surgery and took a leave from the tour, TV ratings for the remainder of the season suffered a significant decline. He consistently draws large crowds at whichever course he plays, and is always coveted by tournament organizers.

There is also much discussion on what Woods’ return means for the tour. His reputation precedes him, as he can easily intimidate many players. An economist at the University of California actually found that golfers played worse when competing against Woods, compared to when he was not in the tournament. When Woods was on top of his game before the scandal, many players found it hard to compete with him, because fans’ attentions were often directed at him and his seemingly effortless play. Other stars, like Rory McIlroy and Bubba Watson, have emerged in Woods’ downswing.

The old days may be upon us again, as many analysts believe that this is the beginning of another historic run for the highly talented golfer. Woods’ win last week provided him with something he hasn’t had since the scandal—confidence leading into the Masters, the first, and arguably most illustrious major of the season, which starts next week. Woods, a 14-time major winner, and four-time Masters champion, has not won a major tournament since the U.S. Open in 2008, and is the favourite for this year’s Masters.

Nike, Woods’ longtime sponsor, quickly rolled out an ad after Woods reclaimed the number one ranking, proclaiming, in Woods’ own words that “winning takes care of everything.” This ad was immediately controversial, as it seemingly implies Woods’ past mistakes—which cost him his family and affected his play—are wiped away with regained success. However, the quote was taken out of context, since Woods only commented after he was asked about his game and his opposition last year; “everything” likely referred to the world rankings.

Woods’ putting has been exceptional lately, and it will be interesting to see whether he can carry his momentum to glory next week in Augusta. His success is in his hands. The way we perceive him however, is in our hands and will always be up for debate, whether he’s on top of the golfing world or not.

a, Sports

Major League Baseball Season Preview

by David Stein, Peter Laing, Mayaz Alam, Evan Horner, Steven Lampert, Adam Sadinsky on

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Compiled by: David Stein, Peter Laing, Mayaz Alam, Evan Horner, Steven Lampert, Adam Sadinsky

 

AMERICAN LEAGUE

East

1. Toronto Blue Jays

You may or may not have heard, but the Blue Jays made a couple of significant moves in the off-season. Without a doubt, this team is the most talented in the AL East and looks poised to get back to the playoffs for the first time since they won the World Series 20 years ago. Jays fans might not want to plan the parade route just yet, though, as a couple of injuries could significantly harm those chances on a team lacking depth.

 

2. Tampa Bay Rays

Who can bet against Joe Maddon? A cursory look at the Rays lineup leaves a bit to be desired, but this team will be saved once again by a solid pitching staff. Losing James Shields and Wade Davis won’t hurt the club, as Jeremy Hellickson moves up in the rotation, and Matt Moore and Alex Cobb take well-deserved places at the back of the rotation. This is a solid, consistent team, and they should be playing meaningful games in September.

 

3. Boston Red Sox 

Red Sox fans will be asking themselves a lot of questions this year: Will their team return to relevance? Will John Lester return to his ace form? Were Shane Victorino and Mike Napoli worth the big contracts? Is this Jacoby Ellsbury’s last year at Fenway? Is Jackie Bradley Jr. the future of the franchise? How many more years can David Ortiz surpass expectations? Were the last two years just a very long and very bad dream?

 

4. New York Yankees 

The Yanks and Sox are really interchangeable on this list, but we’ll put New York in fourth because of their long injury list. Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Texeira, Curtis Granderson, Phil Hughes, and Michael Pineda are all reasons why this team should be good, but they’re all on the disabled list to start the year, so the Yankees will have to live with Vernon Wells, Brett Gardner, and Jayson Nix among others. This team is getting older and could miss the playoffs for just the second time in 20 years.

 

5. Baltimore Orioles

But the Orioles are basically the same team that nearly won the division last year… so why last place? Baltimore’s success last season had more to do with luck than talent. They went 29-9 in one-run games and 16-2 in extra innings—numbers that statistically should be difficult to duplicate. Baltimore did little to improve, making the playoffs for the first time since 1997 may have created a bit of complacency, and the team should fall back down to Earth, and the bottom of the division in 2013.

 

Central

1. Detroit Tigers

Detroit Tigers — After winning the American League pennant in 2012, the Tigers will be motivated to have a strong 2013 regular season. With high-profile names like Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, and Justin Verlander on their roster, they have the talent to repeat as division champs and should challenge for a World Series title.

 

2. Chicago White Sox

Offensively, Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko will be leaned on heavily to manufacture runs for the White Sox in 2013. However, with the likes of Matt Lindstrom and Matt Thornton in their bullpen, the White Sox have the necessary pieces in place to complement their starting pitchers. Jake Peavy, youngster Chris Sale, and the usually reliable Gavin Floyd should help Chicago compete in the American League Central.

 

3. Cleveland Indians

Despite adding Nick Swisher and Mark Reynolds in the off-season, the Indians lack the necessary balance between good pitching and consistent run production. While there is certainly potential for improvement from last year’s 68-94 record, new manager Terry Francona has his work cut out for him if the Indians are to contend in this division.

 

4. Kansas City Royals

A perennial American League Central cellar dweller, the Kansas City Royals were unable to drastically improve themselves during the off-season. Although they acquired new ace James Shields from Tampa Bay, the Royals will struggle to score runs. Unfortunately for fans in Kansas City, this could spell another long season for the Royals.

 

5. Minnesota Twins

Even if the Twins receive solid production from sluggers Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer, they lack depth throughout the rest of their roster. A lacklustre starting rotation, coupled with a mediocre bullpen will make things difficult for Minnesota. Unlikely sources will need to step up if the Twins have any chance in the Central.

 

West

1. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

For the second straight year the Angels landed the off-season’s biggest prize. Last year, it was Albert Pujols, and this year it’s Josh Hamilton. The former Texas Ranger joins an already stacked Los Angeles lineup that boasts the likes of Mike Trout, Mark Trumbo, and Albert Pujols. Last year’s pitching problems were addressed with a complete overhaul of the back end of the pitching rotation. Look for these major off-season acquisitions to actually turn out into a playoff spot this year.

 

2. Texas Rangers

Once the tears dried over last year’s Wild Card loss to the Orioles, and the mass exodus led by the team’s poster boy—Josh Hamilton—the Rangers jumped into the free agent market, and acquired Father Time and his brother in Lance Berkman and catcher A.J. Pierzynski.  After silencing his critics last year, Yu Darvish will once again be expected to lead a very strong Texas rotation.  Barring another major injury to Berkman, the Rangers will no doubt keep it very close in this ultra-competitive division.

 

3. Oakland Athletics

How many more times will Billy Beane’s squad totally shatter expectations?  The league’s lowest payroll pulled off another Moneyball miracle last year, and won the division crown. While it is tempting to pencil in the Athletics as underground kings, the question marks in their offence shadow their outstanding defence and pitching. All in all, expect some regression, but keep in mind that a lot is possible in the wild AL West.

 

4. Seattle Mariners

Unfortunately for the Mariners, there is no ‘most improved’ award in the MLB. Seattle had an excellent off-season—acquiring much needed power-bat Kendrys Morales, signing struggling Canadian Jason Bay, and adjusting the fences at Safeco field to better accommodate hitters. In addition, the Mariners locked up ace pitcher Felix Hernandez for another seven years. Despite these changes, the Mariners still remain boys among men in the AL West, and will find themselves out of the playoffs.

 

5. Houston Astros

Everybody’s favourite AAA team will suffer in their first season in the American League. On the bright side, the team has one of the strongest farm systems in the league.  Astros fans would be wise to seek advice from their friends to the north about the importance of weathering the storm, while developing the team’s lower tiers. It will be a while before the Astros are relevant again.

 

 

 

NATIONAL LEAGUE

East

1. Washington Nationals

The Nationals shocked the world last season, as they proved they had the youth and talent to dominate for years. Bryce Harper should continue his meteoric rise in year two, and the other megastar, Stephen Strasburg, will be unleashed from his innings limit restriction. Moreover, the best rotation in the league added all-star Dan Haren. This lineup still has the power, speed, and versatility to rake their way to a divisional title.

 

2. Atlanta Braves

The Braves added not one, but two Upton brothers this offseason to join Jason Heyward in their incredible outfield. However, the team will sorely miss franchise cornerstone Chipper Jones, who retired after an illustrious career. The pitching is strong, as Kris Medlen and Tim Hudson should produce quality seasons. The key will be the emergence of highly-touted fireballers Mike Minor and Julio Teheran; these two could push this team into the game’s elite.

 

3. Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies are definitely talented—the veteran core that led them to World Series appearances is largely intact. Their rotation is headlined by the three-headed monster of Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee, and Roy Halladay, but questions do exist as to whether all three can stay healthy. Offensively, the Phillies still have the firepower to succeed. Look for Domonic Brown to break out for a club that needs to get the jigsaw pieces to fit.

 

4. New York Mets

The Mets lost Cy Young award winner R.A. Dickey over the off-season, and their record should take a hit as a result. The rotation offers some promise; young prospects Matt Harvey and Zach Wheeler seem poised to take the next step. Offensively, the club ranges from abysmal to mediocre, with the lone bright spot being David Wright. However, he can only carry the club for so long, as the talent deficiency will doom the Mets over the entire season.

 

5. Miami Marlins

Jeffrey Loria may be the most hated man in all of South Florida after he organized another firesale. The team was stripped to the bare minimum after trades that moved Hanley Ramirez, Josh Johnson, Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, and numerous others to greener pastures. What’s left is Giancarlo Stanton, Logan Morrison, Ricky Nolasco, and not much else. Look for this team to struggle throughout the year, falling to one of the worst records in baseball.

 

Central

1. Cincinnati Reds

The Reds won the division last year without a healthy Joey Votto—arguably the best first-baseman in all of baseball—which speaks volumes to the amount of talent on the roster. The Reds feature a dominant bullpen, and have added Shin-Soo Choo to an already dynamic offence. After being eliminated by the San Francisco Giants in the National League Division Series (NLDS), and gaining valuable playoff experience, the Reds look more dangerous than ever in 2013, and will likely repeat as Central Division champs.

 

2. St. Louis Cardinals

The Cards always find a way to win, no matter the situation they find themselves. With a great mix of veterans and up-and-comers, the Cardinals are poised to make another deep playoff run. However, they will have to overcome another hurdle, as staff ace Chris Carpenter’s career seems to be over, and serviceable Kyle Lohse signed with Milwaukee. Look for the Cards to challenge the Reds for the NL Central division crown.

 

3. Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers will once again have a loaded offence led by 2011 MVP Ryan Braun. The late addition of Kyle Lohse should bolster an already formidable rotation behind ace Yovanni Gallardo. However, they will have to deal with the loss of Corey Hart, who will be out until May with a recurring knee injury. The Brewers also have a very unreliable bullpen, making them an unlikely bet to make the playoffs in 2013.

 

4. Pittsburgh Pirates

After 20 straight seasons with an under .500 record, the Pirates finally have what it takes to win more games than they lose. The addition of catcher Russell Martin will have a strong, positive influence on the pitching staff. The X-factor for the Pirates is Pedro Alvarez, who, with a little more discipline, could help propel the Bucs behind phenom Andrew McCutchen. Look for the Pirates to hover around the .500 mark all year.

 

5. Chicago Cubs

There is an optimism in the Cubs’ clubhouse that they can pull off the type of season that the Baltimore Orioles had in 2012. Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro will be a dynamic duo for years to come on the North Side, and they are ready to break out in 2013. Everything would have to go perfectly for the Cubs to win the division, so the most we can expect is some minor improvement after a dismal 61 wins in 2012.

 

West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

Spending money isn’t a problem for this franchise, as the Dodgers doled out almost $200 million in new free agent signings this offseason. Headlining the list are stud pitcher Zack Grienke, and Japanese import Hyun-Jin Ryu, who should both bolster the team’s staff led by NL Cy Young runner-up Clayton Kershaw. The offence looks promising, but the Dodgers will need Hanley Ramirez to play up to his ability if the team wants to win the division title. Our bets are on them doing so.

 

2. San Francisco Giants

The 2012 World Series champions barely touched their roster, but that probably isn’t a bad thing. The lineup is filled with overachievers, who show up in clutch situations. New $167 million man Buster Posey should also contend for another NL MVP award. With the young and established arms, if Tim Lincecum can somehow regain his old form, this team will be scary. The Dodgers’ acquisitions should be enough to win the division, but they also have the talent to claim a wild card spot. Then, anything can happen in October.

 

3. Arizona Diamondbacks 

After a very average 2012 campaign, the Arizona Diamondbacks underwent a pretty significant overhaul this off-season. Gone are once promising outfielders Justin Upton and Chris Young, replaced by a bunch of MLB journeyman like Martin Prado and Cody Ross. The D-Backs’ pitching staff is filled with some intriguing young talent and will likely determine where the team finishes in the division. If all fails, keep an eye on Adam Eaton as a potential rookie of the year candidate.

 

4. Colorado Rockies 

The Rockies enter 2013 without much in the way of expectations. The offensive talent is there, as all-stars Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez anchor a lineup that can produce a ton of runs. However, the team did little to improve its pitching staff, which allowed the most runs in the MLB last season. The top three of Jhoulys Chacin, Jorge De La Rosa, and Jeff Francis strikes fear in no lineup in the league, so expect the team to hover around the same 64-98 record as last season.

 

5. San Diego Padres 

The Padres did virtually nothing to improve their roster this off-season, which doesn’t bode well for the struggling franchise. Their lineup is headlined by last year’s breakout star Chase Headley, but he will start the season on the disabled list after fracturing his thumb. The erratic Edinson Volquez leads an average pitching staff that likely won’t change the team’s fortunes. San Diego just doesn’t have enough firepower to compete in the division.

 

 

a, Recipes, Student Life

Carrot Cake Recipe

by Jacqui Galbraith on

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Ingredients:

Cake:

4 eggs

1 ¼ cups vegetable oil

2 cups white sugar

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

2 tsp. cinnamon

3 cups grated carrots

1 cup pecans, chopped (optional)

 

Icing:

½ cup butter, softened

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

4 cups confectioners’ sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

 

Method:

Cake:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and flour a 9×13 inch pan. In a large bowl, mix together eggs, vegetable oil, white sugar, and vanilla extract. Stir in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Add grated carrots, and pecans. Pour mixture into pan, and bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Check if done by inserting a toothpick into the middle of the cake and seeing if it comes out clean. Let cake cool in the pan for ten minutes, then remove and leave to cool entirely on wire rack.

 

Icing:

Stir together butter, cream cheese, confectioner’s sugar and vanilla extract. Beat mixture until smooth. Wait until cake is completely cool before icing. Garnish cake with pecans or cinnamon as desired.

dailydelicious.blogspot.com

a, Student Life

Help will always be given to those who ask for it

by Jenny Shen on

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As the round of second semester finals seemingly springs out of nowhere every year, students across campus can finally tick off another completed term here at McGill. With age comes wisdom, and students seem to rely on McGill resources less and less as they grow more familiar with the school. We come in as first years, completely taken aback by the breadth of campus, the city, and the diversity; and maybe our natural instinct at that point is to seek help. But then, we begin to settle into the comfort of knowing the difference between Trottier and Ferrier, between McConnell, the residence hall and McConnell, the engineering building, and most importantly, between physically going to class, and watching the lecture recordings at home in sweatpants.

“When you come to university, experiencing new things can be uncomfortable,” says Ben Fung, U1 Arts and Science. “At first, you’ll spend more time with your advisor because you’re trying to decide what you’re going to be majoring in, and what you’re going to be doing for the rest of your life. Once you’ve more or less decided on those two things, you’d be less likely to visit your advisor.”

 

First-Year options

As a first-year, one of the best resources is the First Year Office. Before even stepping foot on campus, they offer information about what to expect when starting at McGill, as well as organizing the Student Life Ambassador Program, which pairs upper year students with first years in order to answer any questions that might come up throughout a First-year’s experience here. The First Year Office’s website also provides information regarding course registration to health insurance to lockers around campus and everything in between. You’re onl a first year for another month or so, so get on it.

 

Faculty vs. school vs. departmental advising

But what if you’re not a first-year? A good starting point is to understand the distinction between your faculty academic advisor and your departmental advisor, and potentially even your school advisor, if your field of study has one. A departmental advisor might have more information regarding your major. For students in architecture, computer science, and nursing, it might be a good idea to seek the respective school advisor for specialized guidance that others might not have as strong a grasp on. An academic advisor, however, is a great person to talk to if you have any questions about your overall curriculum, integrating a minor, or future career goals with respect to your studies here at McGill.

 

What the future holds

The future can be terrifying to think about. With the job market as bleak as ever, students across Canada are graduating from universities and entering the work force with genuine trepidation. So what exactly can a career advisor provide that is unique to the CaPS office?

“Think of an academic advisor as an expert on what courses a student needs to complete to fulfill their degree requirement, and [the help] a student needs to build a solid foundation for their academic career,” says Catherine Stace, Arts career adviser at CaPS. “A career advisor has a different focus. Our vision is that all students become fully engaged in career exploration and CaPS uses the basis of career education to provide students with lifelong tools for career management.”

Beyond advising, CaPS also offers countless other resources to the student population. For instance, the McGill Mentor Program pairs students up with McGill alumni in order to further aid in the student’s career exploration. By communicating with alumni, students are able to discuss career options with a professional in their field of interest—an opportunity available to undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students alike.

Another CaPS program, the Program for the Advancement of Career Exploration (PACE), was created to help students make decisions about their careers through a series of four workshops designed to administer self-assessments and vocational testing.

Undoubtedly, McGill students have high hopes for their futures, but they are just as likely to be nervous about the uncertainty that might lie before them. We often look to our peers for advice and tips, but it is important to keep in mind that approaching one of McGill’s many advisors can be beneficial. While some are cynical about McGill’s advising resources, you owe it to yourself to expore all of your options. After all, it doesn’t hurt to ask.

a, Student Life

Eight Common McGill-Related Acronyms Explained!

by Jesse Kim on

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Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS)

The Student’s Society of McGill University (SSMU) seems to be everywhere, but what is PGSS? PGSS refers to the Post-Graduate Students’ Society. It serves as a representative body for the graduate and post-doctoral fellows at McGill, and offers them student services similar to those SSMU offers to undergraduates.

 

Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS)

The Student’s Society of McGill University (SSMU) seems to be everywhere, but what is PGSS? PGSS refers to the Post-Graduate Students’ Society. It serves as a representative body for the graduate and post-doctoral fellows at McGill, and offers them student services similar to those SSMU offers to undergraduates.

 

Quebec Public Interest Research Group (QPIRG)

QPIRG is the Quebec chapter of the Public Interest Research Group. It’s a non-profit, student-run organization that conducts research and raises awareness on environmental and social justice issues at McGill and the Montreal community. SSMU and PGSS have one member each on the QPIRG Board to represent the student body.

 

Student Television at McGill (TVM)

Formerly TV McGill, TVM refers to student television at McGill, is a student-run television service funded by SSMU. They’re renowned for their production of many campus-based series, such as McGill Idol and the SSMEWs (a SSMU exec hosted current events show), as well as interviews with a number of celebrities. They also offer various workshops for their general members interested in learning how to produce and edit videos or handle a professional video camera.

 

The Association of McGill University Support Employees (AMUSE)

AMUSE refers to the Association of McGill University Support Employees. It obtained official accreditation in January 2010. AMUSE was initially dedicated to unionizing work-study student employees but has since expanded to include non-student workers. The union’s highest governing body is its entire membership, which operates through the General Annual Assembly.

 

Table de Concertation Étudiante du Quebec  (TaCEQ)

TaCEQ stands for Table de Concertation Étudiante du Quebec, also known as the Quebec Student Roundtable. TaCEQ is a student lobbying organization that differentiates itself from other organizations through its self-proclaimed non-partisanship, and the fact that it represents its members for free. Although TaCEQ was only officially created in the summer of 2009, it has been lobbying, and carrying out demonstrations on community issues since 2008.

 

Annual General Meeting (AGM)

AGM stands for Annual General Meeting. It can refer to any meeting that happens once a year, during which members discuss and vote on important issues within an organization. Some organizations’ Annual General Meetings, such as the QPIRG-McGill AGM, get much campus and community attention around Montreal. Others, like the Tribune Publication Society’s upcoming AGM, get far less.

Wherever it came from, the Easter egg hunt is one of our favourite traditions. (www.drsukhi.com)
a, Student Life

“But what do rabbits have to do with it?”

by Marlee Vinegar on

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Festively marked by the arrival of the Pillsbury holiday cookies and the brief respite from classes, Easter came and went this past weekend. Last Sunday, the Easter bunny left its brightly painted chocolate and money filled eggs for children to find in their baskets and on their Easter egg hunts. But if Easter is a commemoration of the crucifixion and subsequent resurrection of Jesus Christ, what does an egg-laying rabbit have to do with it? Why would we even want eggs laid by a rabbit anyway? Is there a lucrative rabbit egg industry out there? Like Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof, you may ask, “How did this tradition start?” I’ll tell you.

 

Easter:

As with other Christian holiday traditions, many of the Easter customs have a non-Christian origin. The Greek word for Easter, pascha, originates from the Hebrew word for Passover, pesach, indicating the link with the Jewish commemoration of the Exodus from Egypt. The English word Easter is widely accepted to come from the name Eostra, the Teutonic goddess of fertility, which itself is derived from the ancient word for spring. The spring Equinox was central to a number of fertility celebrations commemorating resurrection in the Mediterranean, as spring is a time of renewed life. Ancient Christian missionaries took aspects of Pagan traditions and stories pertaining to these celebrations and incorporated them into Christianity.

 

The Easter Bunny:

In keeping with the popular idiom “breed like rabbits,” rabbits and hares were commonly associated with fertility because of their high rates of reproduction as far back as the 13th century. As such, Eostra came to be symbolized by a hare. The earliest published reference to the actual Easter Bunny was made in 1682 by Georg Franck von Frankenau’s De ovis paschalibus (About Easter Eggs). The custom is believed to have originated in the German Alsace, where the Easter Hare delivered eggs on the holiday.  In the 1700s, German immigrants brought the tradition to the United States. During holidays, children were instructed to make nests for the Easter bunny, which would leave them multicoloured eggs if they had been good.

 

Easter Eggs:

Like rabbits, eggs are also symbols of fertility and were central symbols of new life and rebirth in springtime festivals. Both birds and hares have many offspring at the onset of spring, and became symbols of rising fertility at the March Equinox. The book Festivals and Celebrations, attributes the beginning of the Easter egg tradition to the Christians of Mesopotamia who exchanged dyed eggs.  The egg came to represent Jesus’ resurrection, with a cracked egg symbolizing his empty tomb.

Eggs, among other objects, were forbidden during the 40 days of penance leading up to Easter, and the tradition of painting Easter eggs marked the end of Lent and the start of the celebration. The colour of the Easter eggs traditionally symbolized different interpretations of spring. The Greek colour their eggs red to symbolize blood, the renewal of life, and the sacrifice of Christ. The pastel colours are thought to be representative of hope and luck, while other eggs are painted green for the foliage growth that takes place during the springtime.

If you were celebrating this past weekend, I hope you had a happy Easter. For those who didn’t, I hope you take advantage of all the Easter candy that just went on sale. Regardless of Easter’s origins, nothing could be sweeter.

The DSM-5 Response Committee fears the over-diagnosis of patients, particularly children and the elderly. (mercyclinicsdesmoines.org)
a, Science & Technology

Up in arms against mental illness diagnosis

by Kieran Steer on

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In times of stress, students are accustomed to the familiar feelings of anxiety and mood changes. However, although people encounter stress from exams, work, and life’s challenges, this natural response to the demands placed on the body should not be classified as severe anxiety or depression.

One of the most important references for mental health treatment, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), provides a universal standard for identifying mental health disorders, ensuring that a patient in Texas who is diagnosed with anxiety, for example, will receive the same diagnosis across America.

However, the new edition of the manual to be released this May, the DSM-5, is arguably permitting the over-diagnosis of mental disorders by changing the symptoms and descriptions of common occurences. The DSM-5 is also introducing new, classifications of mental illnesses, such as Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder—mood swings in children—and Mild Neurocognitive Disorder—the decline in one’s cognitive ability.

Though the new DSM does not provide suggestions for treatment of these disorders, many health practitioners fear that further over-diagnosis of mental illnesses will exacerbate the already excessive distribution of potentially harmful prescription medications. These new changes to the manual have sparked an incredible amount of protest amongst professionals in the psychiatric fields.

For example, the International DSM-5 Response Committee, “comprised of leaders in the mental health field within the United States, the United Kingdom, and across the globe,” as stated on their website, has posted a petition called “Stop the Insanity” which strongly opposes the DSM-5.

The Stop the Insanity campaign raises many issues with the new DSM, including direct claims that the manual has “many diagnostic categories with questionable reliability,” inadequate scientific justification, and “may compromise patient safety through the implementation of lowered diagnostic thresholds.” They go on to describe the risks of prescribing medications to patients who could likely recover without pills.

“The danger is that people with milder symptoms who are [considered] normal [by previous standards] will be prescribed drugs they don’t need.” Dr. Joel Paris, professor of psychiatry at McGill, said.

As an example, the International DSM-5 Response Committee is raising eyebrows at the Mild Neurocognitive Disorder outlined in the DSM-5, as mild cognitive decline is to be expected in the elderly. Considering the numerous health problems many elderly face, this extra diagnosis, and the medications prescribed for it, is unnecessary.

On a larger scale, the Response Committee argues that “over-diagnosis of psychiatric treatment in the elderly is already a nationwide problem in the U.S. and other countries.”

In response to these protests, the APA has already begun to revise the DSM before its release this May.

The Organization stresses that “news reports and commentators alike are filling the discourse with inaccurate, biased or misinformed criticism of DSM-5… which undermines the important changes that are being made to the manual.” However, with the manual under close examination by professionals worldwide, it is likely that it will align closer to the ideas of the protesters.

In the midst of these vaguely defined psychiatric disorders, it is important to stay open-minded about the classification of milder mental disorders, like anxiety and depression.

“The problem is that we have no biological markers—scans, blood tests—for mental disorders, as other medical specialties have,” said Paris.

Though the diagnostic categorization fluctuates, the most reliable sources, such as the Mayo Clinic and Health Canada, continually emphasize that a positive lifestyle, regular sleep schedule, and healthy diet can make a significant impact on stress and anxiety.

Eating more meals with the family could improve teens’ psychological and mental stability. (multivu.prnewswire.com.jpg)
a, Science & Technology

Why are family meals important?

by Veronica Rozynek on

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Recent developments have shown that eating meals with your family could be correlated to overall happiness in teenagers.

According to U.S.A. Today, teens who eat meals with their family are less likely to be mentally unstable, and will exhibit fewer behavioural problems. Research shows that teens experience less angst, fewer identity problems, and greater emotional well-being as a result of healthy family relationships.

While the exact connection between mental health and family dinners is unclear, there is a definite correlation. It’s difficult for researchers to pinpoint the aspect of those meals that results in a psychologically healthier teen. Some suggest that they simply provide a way to spend more time with family, and this extra time may formulate a feeling of trust and belonging within an adolescent.

What happens at the dinner table could become a potential area for researchers to explore. Family behaviour at dinner varies widely across cultures, and this may also impact a teen’s emotional health. While conversation at the dinner table is encouraged in some cultures, in others, it may not be appropriate while eating. Researchers are now looking to study the intercultural differences across the general population to identify potential differences in children’s emotional health and its correlation with family eating behaviors.

The age of the child may also play a role within this finding. Adolescents, in general, are not likely to eat meals with their family. In U.S.A. Today, Daniel Miller, assistant professor of social work at Boston University mentioned that his studies have been more focused on the eating habits of younger children, seeing how a wider variety of data can be acquired for this age group. This is due to the fact that a greater percentage of younger children eat with their families, compared to teens.

For young children, family meals are a part of their daily routine. The repetitiveness of this behaviour may form the stability that lies behind increased emotional health for teens who dine with their families.

A study conducted at McGill surveyed eating habits and their correlation with emotional health from anational sample of 26, 069 adolescents aged 11 to 15 years who participated in the 2010 Canadian Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children study.

From this study, researchers found that the average adolescent ate dinner with parents almost five times a week. Additionally, the study showed that the more meals the child ate with the family, the less lonely that child felt and the more likely he or she was to be productive in school.

The results of this study are not confined to children, or teenagers in high school. While most students at McGill are studying away from home, it goes to show that we should all make the effort, when we can, to sit down with our families for dinner.

Using an algorithm, the computer makes modifications to a cube to generate intricate designs, not based off of anything seen before. (productplus.com)
a, Science & Technology

Design inspired by nature’s simplest formula

by Abhishek Gupta on

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Architects are often taught in specific styles that are reflected in their work. But with most of our structures influenced by pre-existing designs, engineers are now asking what would happen if we could create designs completely independent of any references and preconceptions.

Algorithm-based architecture, the use of computer programs to create structures, does just that. It designs buildings without borrowing elements from existing structures in order to represent truly unseen forms.

Nature is arguably the greatest architect of form. Its creations span from tiny hummingbirds in Chile to colossal sequoia trees along the coast of California. All these ‘designs’ are based on a very simple algorithm: cell division. There are two ways that this cell division can occur: either the cells are exact copies of each other, or they divide through asymmetric cell division to form slightly different shapes. This very simple idea allows for an enormous variety of cell forms.

Algorithm-based architecture also works with this simple idea. Architects write a formula, known as an algorithm, and input it into the computer. This formula is used to create a multitude of intricate designs, which are then made a reality through the use of a 3D printer.

Just like the small modifications made to cells through cell division, the algorithm used by architects takes a small cube and makes subtle changes to it, known as folds. These folds result in a change in appearance, just as it would if you were to fold paper. Using a computer instead of physical processes algorithm architects make folds a million times quicker, and in countless variations, resulting in many more designs than were ever possible before.

This detachment from physical processes bestows upon the designer the ability to create shapes and surfaces that were previously inconceivable with traditional methods of design—we can now create surfaces that fold on themselves, or become porous. By simply varying the underlying “rule” of how and where to fold the elemental cube, the designer can create a plethora of such designs.

Although 99.9 per cent of the designs emanating from this process are the geometric equivalent of noise (random distributions), the detailed features that this process generates are unimaginably beautiful, and elegant forms of architecture can result from a long process of trial and error. Furthermore, by analyzing existing structures with the computer, a list of attributes can be generated to aid the final design, such as length of edges, planarity of surfaces, as well as their curvature. Architects can then use these parameters with respect to the rule, allowing them to easily create extraordinary and eye-catching structures.

But we need to be able to construct these shapes in real life, otherwise the whole exercise of creating intricate algorithm-based designs would be restricted to the virtual world. This is where 3D printing steps in. Although there is a trade-off between large-scale printing and speed at the moment, such machines are becoming faster and cheaper. For example, to create a model column, the entire column is sliced up into cross-sections, and then the parameters are fed into a laser cutter. These slices are individually made, and stacked on top of one another to give the final shape. These models consist of thousands of layers each only a few millimeters thick. Almost all of the details and surface intricacies are preserved in the process of transferring the model from the computer screen to the real world.

Through algorithm-based architecture, the role of the architect has been dramatically altered from someone intimately connected to the physical process of creating structures to a master of design, capable of generating rules to portray the structures of his imagination. In the words of Polish-born mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot, “Bottomless wonders spring from simple rules … which are repeated without end,” very aptly verbalise this abstract notion of synthesizing new designs.

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