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Douglas Hall will be closed in 2013-2014. (Michael Paolucci / McGill Tribune)
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Douglas Hall to close for renovations during 2013-2014

by Bea Britneff on

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Douglas Hall, McGill’s oldest student residence, will close for renovations during the 2013-2014 academic year. According to Robert Stanley, director of project management for McGill’s Facilities Operations and Development office, they  are scheduled to begin in May, and should be completed in July 2014.

According to Stanley, the project has been planned for several years. The upgrades to Douglas Hall are part of a four-year period of renovations to McGill’s residences, intended to “modernize facilities and address outstanding deferred maintenance issues.”

Stanley added that the upgrades to Douglas Hall are possible because of the newly available rooms at La Citadelle, a residence which opened last September. Douglas Hall normally houses 179 students, but will remain vacant for the 2013-2014 school year.

Stanley, Douglas Hall Director Michael Hoover, and McGill Residences and Student Housing (MRSH) Executive Director Michael Porritt confirmed that the renovations are not a result of urgent safety concerns, but rather an effort to modernize the existing infrastructure. According to Hoover and Porritt, the building’s systems are in need of replacement and repair.

“The building was built in the mid 1920s, and it has not had very much work done to it beyond daily maintenance,” Porritt said.

“We are beginning to have leaks from the roof, and from cracks in the masonry,” Hoover said. “The repairs to the chimneys last year revealed that the problems … were more serious than we had thought. The sense is that [the renovations] really cannot be put off any longer.”

The majority of the work will be done to Douglas Hall’s exterior.Plans include replacing the slate and copper roof, restoring or replacing all the windows, and repairing the masonry.

“[The] new windows and casements … should increase the energy efficiency of the building, as well as making sure it remains weatherproof,” Hoover said.

The interior of the residence will also undergo extensive upgrades, including an improved ventilation system in the bathrooms, new furniture, and an expanded kitchen area in the basement.

According to Porritt, the majority of the furniture in the building will also be replaced, the kitchen will be upgraded and modernized, and the student kitchen area in the basement will be expanded.

“The building will look very close to its condition in the mid-1920’s,” Porritt said. “[There will not be] any major changes in the function of any areas.”

“There is every effort being made to keep Douglas, Douglas,” Hoover said. “[MRSH] is treating Douglas as a heritage building, which should be kept as it is.”

According to Stanley, the project is expected to cost between $13 and $15 million. The final budget will be confirmed in February or March.

Douglas Hall floor fellow Rachel Nam, and Douglas Hall President Erin Sobat said that both last year’s and this year’s residents were consulted on the renovations.

“The students of last year had a walkthrough with the administration, and were … asked whether they were okay with the proposed plans, and if there [was] anything else they wanted done to the building,” Nam said. “I think the students requested that no unnecessary renovations be done to the building that would change it drastically, and that the integrity of the building stay the same.”

“This year, we’ve had a number of opportunities to meet with David Balcombe, associate director of buildings and facilities for [MRSH], to talk further about the project as more details are established,” Sobat said.

Porritt said that current Douglas Hall residents should not be disrupted by the construction. However, Douglas Hall floor fellow Miguel Esteban noted that Douglas students were already affected last Fall by preliminary renovations to the building.

“There were a few construction [projects] from the summer … that weren’t completed in time and created some inconveniences,” Esteban said. “There was scaffolding over H-House that was taken down just in time for move-in day, but equipment was still in the way. When the equipment was moved away, there was a big patch of dirt that created a mud pit when it rained and caused some problems.”

Hoover and Porritt were optimistic about the renovations, and said the residence should reopen as scheduled for the 2014-2015 academic year.

Councillors vote at PGSS Council. (Michael Paolucci / McGill Tribune)
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PGSS Council votes not to support permanent SEDE funding

by Erica Friesen on

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The McGill University Post-Graduate Students’ Society’s (PGSS) Council voted against supporting permanent funding for the Social Equity and Diversity Education (SEDE) Office last Wednesday.

Discussion centered on whether PGSS should send a letter lobbying the administration to ask that SEDE receives permanent funding for two positions previously funded by Student Services. The decision came following debate on the Society’s ability to support individual services, due to McGill’s current financial uncertainty.

SEDE is a McGill office that organizes events, education, and training sessions that promote inclusivity and respect on campus. In 2010, Student Services agreed to provide some funding for two positions within SEDE for a period of three years. This funding ends in May of this year.

“[SEDE] provides information, education, and training to all areas of the university in order to cultivate a respectful, diverse, and supportive campus,” the motion read. “[The end of this funding] may have a negative impact on the number of staff positions at SEDE, and thus threaten SEDE’s valuable service to the McGill community.”

The motion suggests that permanent funding for SEDE could come “through Student Services or otherwise.” However, Executive Director of Student Services Jana Luker told Council that the current level of funding Student Services provides for SEDE is “not sustainable” and could affect the other services provided by her office.

“The priority that the committee of Student Services has already indicated is around mental health,” Luker said. “I guess, hypothetically, we could reduce councillors or reduce other staff, but that would be a really radical change.”

Some PGSS councillors reiterated concern over the possibility that permanent funding for SEDE could cause other services to face cuts.

“Some of the groups that money would have to be pulled from include [offices for] students with disabilities, students with mental health issues, [and] the First People’s House,” Councillor Danielle Meadows said. “The other option would be to potentially raise fees … but again, this goes against our beliefs and motives as PGSS.”

PGSS Equity Commissioner Gretchen King argued that students shouldn’t have to choose one service over another.

“I think this is a bit of a false debate, pitting SEDE against other valuable services,” she said. “If we want services [as] students, we should demand them, we should ask for them, and we should ensure they’re funded through core funding.”

According to Secretary-General Jonathan Mooney, McGill Vice-Principal (Administration and Finance) Michael Di Grappa has asked PGSS to look at areas where the Society can “stand to lose” services, in anticipation of the $19 million cuts to McGill’s budget announced by the provincial government in early December.

Mooney said graduate students should carefully consider what services they prioritize in this time of financial uncertainty.

“When Heather Munroe-Blum came to Council a year ago in January and asked ‘what are the priorities for grad students?’ everyone said ‘funding,’ he said. “This is not to say that SEDE is not important, but I really worry that … [by] supporting one particular unit within the university and saying this is a priority, next month we’re going to get two or three more units coming to us, saying ‘we’re a priority, too.’ ”

King also proposed adding a motion to the agenda, following a request that PGSS endorse the current DPS existence referendum. Several council members expressed concern over the timing of the motion, since it was submitted five days after the deadline to submit motions to Council.

“It has been clear that we would have this referendum since December,” Michael Krause, PGSS internal affairs officer, said. “I think [this motion] is unfair, because councillors did not have the time to prepare for this, and to inform [themselves on] whether they, or their constituents would be for or against this.”

King, however, said she only received a request for an endorsement from the DPS on the day of Council’s meeting.

“The campaign period runs from Jan. 18 to 31, so it would be important for this session of Council to hear and vote on this motion [today],” she said.

After hearing debate on the topic, Council voted against adding the motion to the agenda.

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Meet the McGill staff members recently elected to the BoG

by Andra Cernavskis on

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Two members of the McGill community were elected and re-lected to McGill’s Board of Governors (BoG) in November for terms starting on Jan. 1. Juliet Johnson, professor of political science, was elected for her first term, and Ronald Critchley, president of the McGill University Non-Academic Staff Association (MUNASA), was re-elected for a second term. They now hold positions as Academic Staff Representative and Administrative and Support Staff Representative, respectively, on the BoG. These terms are set to last three years.

The BoG is the highest governing body of the university. It meets six times a year and consists of 25 voting members. The BoG appoints Principals and other university personnel. It also consists of committees that oversee university finances, properties, and human resources.

Juliet Johnson

Juliet Johnson decided to run for Academic Staff Representative on the BoG after her colleagues from McGill’s history and political science departments pointed out that both of the Academic Staff Representatives who served on the BoG in the Fall 2012 semester came from the faculty of medicine. She replaces one of them.

“[They] asked me if I would run in order to bring a social science and humanities perspective to the Board,” she said.

Johnson explained that she was also influenced by the fact that very few women have been elected to faculty and staff positions on the BoG in the past. Currently, only eight of the 25 voting members of the BoG are women.

“These factors, combined with my recent experience as Associate Dean (Research and Graduate Studies) for the Faculty of Arts, as well as my academic expertise in the politics of finance, led me to believe that I might be a useful voice for the McGill community on the Board of Governors,” she said.

Johnson came to McGill from Loyola University Chicago as a professor in 2003. Her research focuses on the politics of money and banking. In the past, she has served on the McGill Senate, and is a two-time recipient of the Political Science Student’s Association Professor of the Year award.

Johnson said her election to the BoG comes at a moment when McGill is dealing with several major challenges.

“McGill currently faces significant challenges, not least [of which is] the impending appointment of a new president, the difficult budget situation, and the broader debate within Quebec over the status and missions of our province’s universities,” she said.

Ronald Critchley

Critchley was re-appointed to the BoG after running a campaign that highlighted his previous experience on the BoG and at McGill, and the importance of non-academic staff members in university governance in Quebec.

As president of MUNASA, Critchley has experience representing non-academic staff at the university. About four years ago, he helped organize both MUNASA and McGill Association of University Teachers (MAUT) to appear before the National Assembly’s Committee on Culture and Education to defend the place of non-academic and academic representation in university governance, according to the personal statement he submitted to the BoG while running for re-election.

“[Our position] was fragile then, it is still. Now, we must prepare to stand by our cause at the upcoming Summit on Higher Education,” his statement reads. “With a new Quebec government, [and] with a new Principal, the stakes for us have never been higher.”

Critchley noted similar challenges the BoG will face in the upcoming months to those Johnson pointed out.

“The two most important things that I see coming up rather quickly are, number one, dealing with the government in Quebec City, and the question of funding,” he said. “The position of McGill has to be put forward in a vigorous manner.”

“The second thing, of course, is that we are moving from one principal to the next,” he continued. “The new principal will leave [his or] her mark on the school. It’s a very critical time in McGill’s history… because of under-funding.”

Critchley is also an advisor to students in the Desautels Faculty of Management, a position he has held for 13 years. Before that, he served as an admissions officer for McGill, making his total time at McGill 25 years.

He expressed that he feels the BoG is an important form of governance at McGill.

“The Board works for everybody, and that’s how it should be,” he said. “I think we are a model for other universities.”

(Anna Bock / McGill Tribune)
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SNC-Lavalin vice-president discusses social responsibility

by Catherine Gao on

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On Jan. 18, the Institute for Studies in International Development (ISID) hosted a seminar by Jean-François Gascon, the vice-president of capacity building at SNC-Lavalin. The first event in a speaker series organized by ISID, Gascon’s presentation focused on explaining the concept of “Creating Shared Value” (CSV).

Specializing in project management, SNC-Lavalin is one of the largest international engineering and construction firms in the world, and is headquartered in Montreal. Recently, the company has been the subject of news headlines across Canada, concerning financial controversies over a hydroelectric dam scandal, unexplained transactions, and deposits in Libya.

According to Gascon, CSV is a business strategy that connects current social values with big business expansions.

“The key element here is the convergence of social progress, … and the competitiveness of the company,” Gascon said. “CSV is all about how your company takes its place in the economy, and values the convergence of economics and societal benefits.”

Corporations with CSV strategies, such as Nestlé, Microsoft, Pfizer, and SNC-Lavalin use their economic strategies to also fulfill responsibilities of social and infrastructural improvements in developing countries, by creating local jobs through the projects they manage.

SNC-Lavalin, which has a large presence and heavy influence in developing regions such as Latin America and Africa, also has a very large environment sector, which Gascon claims “differentiates SNC-Lavalin from [its] competitors.”

In 2007, SNC-Lavalin began implementing the “Local Resource Development Initiative” (LDRI) in current engineering projects abroad. Gascon explained that LRDI is a new division that highlights the importance of local produce, labour, and work. It aims to create and improve developing countries’ infrastructure and socio-economic situations through a “holistic approach.”

“[The LRDI’s aim is] one of developing and empowering local workers, companies and communities through training, mentorship, and capacity building,” Gascon said.

Gascon explained to the audience that the LRDI attempts to create shared value and maximize local benefits by increasing employability for the local workforce, while reducing project costs during construction. The project trains workers in the host countries, and prepares them for construction work, which is a sustainability strategy fully integrated during the construction phase.

“[The LRDI addresses] government requirements for community expectation on positive economic impacts of a mega project,” Gascon said.

According to Gascon, the LRDI has been successful in many countries, notably Afghanistan, Madagascar, and most recently, Algeria. The initiative has been widely supported by local communities, and has even succeeded in securing involvement with First Nations groups in Saskatchewan.

The seminar, held in Peterson Hall on the McGill campus, attracted an audience of McGill students, alumni and staff, as well as Montreal citizens interested in the seminar’s theme of corporate social responsibility. Many attendees explained that they had come to learn about the new shift in modernization centered on CSV.

Becca Dooley, U3 management and head of a sustainability group in the faculty of management, was enthusiastic about Gascon’s seminar, despite not being an international development student.

“I found a lot of value in this talk, as there was a lot of overlay in what we learn in class as well,” she said.

Kathryn Helin-Glick, U3 economics and international development studies, expressed personal interest in the “other side” of corporate shifts.

“Usually economically, [profit-maximization corporate shifts are] basically [all] exploitation,” Helin-Glick said. “So it’s fascinating to see companies adopt these strategies that are mutually beneficial to themselves, and where they’re operating.”

Following the seminar, Philip Oxhorn, director of the ISID, elaborated on the institute’s motivation for organizing a presentation by Gascon within the ISID seminar series.

“[Corporate involvement at the international level is] one of the key issues facing development everywhere, and Canadian companies are all over the world,” Oxhorn said. “[So] it’s important that international development students understand how corporations see their roles in these countries.”

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What happened last week in Canada?

by Emma Windfeld on

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New HST in PEI to affect universities, colleges

In April, Prince Edward Island will introduce a 14 per cent Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) that leverages a large amount of money from colleges and universities, according to media reports last week.

Similar to the HST in place  for Atlantic Canada and Ontario, PEI’s HST will combine its Provincial Sales Tax (PST) and the federal Goods and Services Tax (GST), with nine per cent of the HST going to the province and five per cent to the federal government.

While businesses will receive a full rebate on the nine per cent provincial portion of the tax, the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) and Holland College will not, even though the schools will continue to receive their original 35 per cent rebate on the federal portion of the tax. UPEI estimates their taxes will increase by $400,000 a year.

Because the province will not provide additional revenue to schools, the institutions are seeking alternative ways to balance their budgets. Increasing tuition, streamlining department budgets, and innovating new means of revenue are possibilities being discussed by officials at both institutions. Both schools expect to know exactly how the new HST will affect their tuition and budget by the spring.

Summit addresses rising policing costs 

Police chiefs, officers, government officials, and academics met in Ottawa last Wednesday and Thursday for a two-day national summit on the costs of police forces in Canada. The summit aimed to find solutions to an unsustainable police budget, which has doubled over the past 15 years.

Public Safety Minister Vic Toews was quoted in The Globe and Mail, saying that the public now expects more police services at a reduced cost, and makes “increasing calls to demonstrate the value of the investments that all governments make in public services, including policing.”

Police wages have been frozen for the past two years, and hundreds of officers and staff have lost their jobs due to recent budget cuts. Some of the methods to save money that were discussed at the summit included hiring civilian staff to alleviate police of smaller task forces, offering lower pay to entry-level officers, and cutting funds for police stations. For now, police forces have been asked to reform and innovate, in order to keep their budgets in check.

Idle No More protests and hashtag go national 

Last Wednesday, the Idle No More movement continued across Canada, with protesters staging rallies and prayer circles in cities nation-wide, as well as blockading major bridges, railways, and highways. The peaceful protests halted thousands of commuters for hours, in what organizers called an “economic slowdown” designed to draw attention to the movement.

A satirical #Ottawapiskat hashtag, started by Edmonton artist Aaron Paquette, also gained Canada-wide use on Twitter this week. The hashtag allows Twitter users to combat anti-First Nations tweets by deflecting criticisms of the Idle No More movement back at the federal government.

A spokesman for Stephen Harper has announced that the government does not plan to reconsider the legislation that Idle No More protestors are calling to be reassessed. In response to an Idle No More supporter’s plea, Queen Elizabeth II has also declined to interfere with the matter, but referred protestors to her representative in Canada, the Governor General.

Canada sends C-17 to Mali

A Canadian military transport plane landed in Mali last Thursday morning, bringing troops and supplies to the capital city of Bamako. The aircraft was sent in support of France’s effort to restore order in the country after Al Qaeda rebel forces took control of Mali’s northern region. As well, this decision was in response to the UN Security Council’s call upon its member states last week to assist in the crisis, and to help restore democratic governance to Mali.

The C-17 aircraft departed the Canadian Force’s Base in Trenton, Ont. on Tuesday, carrying 35 personnel. Canada committed the plane for one week, but French President François Hollande asked Canada to extend the mission in a phone conversation with Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Wednesday.

After a meeting with the ambassadors of France, Mali, and the Ivory Coast, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird told CBC that Canada is open to extending the mission, but remains firm that Canadian troops will not engage in combat. A decision has not yet been reached.

Lachine hospital separates from the MUHC

Quebec Health Minister Réjea Hébert intends to remove the Lachine Hospital from the McGill University Health Care’s (MUHC) control. Jurisdiction of the hospital will be transferred to the Centre de santé et des services sociaux Dorval-Lachine-LeSalle.

MUHC’s bilingual network of hospitals was planning to transfer several medical services to Lachine Hospital, a partner since 2008. Hébert claims the primary motive for the severance is to improve service for Montreal’s West Island—though his meetings with Mario Beaulieu, a French-language activist, have led to speculation that the goal is to preserve Lachine Hospital’s service of the francophone population. Speculators also point to MUHC’s predicted $115 million deficit for the 2012-2013 fiscal year as another factor in the decision.

Several prominent members of the hospital community have openly opposed the decision, including Renzo Cecere, president of MUHC’s council of physicians, dentists, and pharmacists; who says many medical services would be compromised by the severance. Fifty Lachine staff members have requested to transfer to other MUHC hospitals in protest of Hébert’s decision. Members of a “Save Our Lachine Hospital Committee” have declared their intentions to contest the decision, including the possibility of a court injunction.

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Stocking your bookshelf, saving your money

by Jacqui Galbraith on

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There are few things in the world that I find rant-worthy, and even fewer that actually elicit a strong emotional reaction once I begin to complain. By definition, a ‘rant’ is supposed to help you vent, and allow your frustration to diminish. There is one topic, however, that works me up the further I dwell on it: textbooks—or rather—textbook manufacturing companies.

There is absolutely no reason that I should ever have to pay $150 for a single book, no matter what knowledge that book contains—Unless it’s the meaning of life or something. Not being a philosophy student, I wouldn’t know; but I doubt textbooks have come that far. And, quite frankly, I don’t see the need for a new edition every single year. Suffice it to say, I’m sick and tired of seeing my budget take a substantial hit every Add/Drop period since my first year.

So, I encourage those who have not already done so—add/drop does end today—to explore some alternatives. Full price is never the only option—and as far as I’m concerned, it is simply no longer an option.

Many McGill students have been introduced to the magical world of the McGill Classifieds, a free service run by the Media Relations Office (MRO). The site can be viewed by anyone, but to post an ad, you must log in using your McGill ID. The McGill Classifieds displays ads for everything from apartments to tutors; but many students frequent its pages for used textbooks. At the beginning of each semester, countless ads pop up, promising minimal highlighting, or in some cases “never been opened” books and study guides. Be wary of these, and make sure to check the textbook before purchasing it. Students usually provide emails or phone numbers, and arrange to meet on campus to complete the transaction for the agreed upon price (which is almost always lower than that offered by the campus bookstore). If you choose to post an ad, get ready for a flood of anonymous texts; if you choose to answer an ad, get ready to hear a lot of “Sorry, already sold” before you find the book you need. One last tip: when meeting on campus, try to pick somewhere besides the Milton Gates. It’s unoriginal and you will have to describe your outfit better than the editors at J. Peterman in order to find who you’re looking for.

The Word on Milton is another mecca of used textbooks for McGillians. Each semester, they publish a list of textbooks they are willing to buy back (always for less than you paid to buy it, but those are the breaks), allowing you to easily sell back your old books, should you want to avoid the hassle of the McGill Classifieds. It is worth mentioning that both the Classifieds and The Word require you to pay in cash. Most profs will tell you if your required course text is available at The Word, but it’s always worth a look once you have your entire textbook shopping list, just in case. Try to avoid going at peak hours, because the store is pretty tiny. The mid-day crowd makes you more likely to knock into a stack of books, which, short of quoting Twilight, feels like the worst thing you could do.

Another option open to university students is Bookmob.com. Serving students all across Canada, BookMob boasts an extensive catalogue of brand new and gently used textbooks. There is no membership fee, and students can choose to buy or rent. Return shipping is free when you rent, and students have multiple payment options, including PayPal, BookMob credit, and cheque (although paying by cheque can lengthen wait time for receiving your books). Also, if students elect to buy their textbooks, they always have the option of selling them back to BookMob in the future. The only potential drawback of BookMob is the wait-time for your order. Going to an actual store would allow you to leave with your textbooks in hand that day.

You can also go the Facebook route and check out the Free & For Sale McGill group. With all these extra options, not to mention other websites like Amazon.com, Indigo.ca, and other bookstores around town like Paragraphe, students should never have to feel bound to the McGill Bookstore. Granted, although professors can—and should—make readings available on MyCourses, the Bookstore is pretty much your only option for course packs. By and large, you can save unlimited amounts by getting a little creative, exploring your options, and haggling just a little bit on McGill Classifieds.

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AGTMA: A guide to McGill Acronyms

by Rebecca Alter on

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The illustrious acronym. Think NSFW, SUV, or YOLO. From BET to the FBI, acronyms denote institutional authority, and cultural legitimacy. However, to the uninitiated, it can be hard to figure out what these caps lock configurations stand for. To make back-to-school a bit easier, the Tribune is proud to provide you with a beginners guide to Acronyms Around Campus (AAC). 

SSMU: 

The Students’ Society of McGill University is one of the school’s oldest and most notable student institutions, which provides extensive services for all McGillians. Its expansive headquarters (affectionately, and unofficially known as ‘the Shatner building’, after a celebrated alumnus) are conveniently located on Rue McTavish, housing everything from the governing body’s office to its substantial registry of clubs and organizations. Fun fact: built in the tumultuous ’60s, Shatner is constructed to be ‘riot-proof’, and is rumoured to have a secret tunnel running to James Administration.

HMB: 

This is common student shorthand for McGill’s current principal, Heather Munroe-Blum. (Or as some like to joke, ‘Her Majesty Blum’). As Principal, her numerous responsibilities include overseeing developments in research and infrastructure. A glance at her qualifications would lead the curious reader to a colourful world full of additional acronyms, such as Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy), B.S.W. (Bachelor of Social Work), and the gold B.M.W. she is rumoured to drive around in.

MTL:

Save your thumbs the text-work and adopt this acronym if you haven’t already. Often preceded by “swag,” a hashtag, or a combination of the two, MTL—code for Montreal—is shorthand for cool kids with better things to do than spell out entire words.

Arts OASIS: 

An acronym with a clever double meaning. Not only is the Arts OASIS—especially during Add/Drop season—a veritable sanctuary of calm, it also stands for the Arts Office of Advising and Student Information Services. Be sure to arrive early—if you have to ask how early, you’re not early enough—to room 110 of Dawson Hall, Monday to Friday to receive service regarding everything from degree planning to studying abroad. You can also reach advisors through Arts OASIS’ telephone and chat systems, if you don’t like waiting in line out the door and down the hill.

SAQ: 

Though this isn’t technically a fixture of McGill, the Société des Alcools du Québec is, nonetheless, a ubiquitous presence in the average McGill student’s life. Make sure to check hours of operation before you leave your last minute liquor run to 11:00 p.m.

CKUT: 

McGill’s premier campus radio has been in operation since 1987 and is run by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers. They broadcast their unique, non-profit programming 24 hours a day, so make sure to tune in to CKUT 90.3 FM for all of your four-in-the-morning reggae cravings.

ICS:

Here we have the inception of this glossary—an acronym within an acronym. ICS is the name of McGill’s IT (information technology) Customer Services program. ICS rents out audio-visual equipment at their 688 Sherbrooke West desk, and supply an array of other IT services and troubleshooting help via phone or email.

BMH: 

Not to be confused with HMB, Bishop Mountain Hall serves hundreds of students living in McGill’s scenic Upper Residences (Gardner, Molson, and McConnell halls). If an extensive salad bar, a mountain view, and a dearth of corners (the hall is round) is what you’re after, the uphill trek is well worth it.

AUS/SUS/MUS: 

Any acronym you may encounter that ends in ‘US’ can usually be counted upon to represent some sort of cohort of undergrads. All faculties have them and they come second only to SSMU in terms of serving the student body by organizing events like GAs (general assemblies), faculty froshes, and the Blues pub—if you’re lucky enough to be part of the EUS (engineering).

MFDS:

McGill Food and Dining Services provide services to students in residence, as well as upper-years. However, what sets MFDS apart from your run-of-the-mill university dining service is its ongoing commitment to sustainability (that, and its Martlet-in-a-chef-hat logo). Look no further than its commitment to local resources, best exemplified by its monthly Local Food Day events, for a pseudo home-cooked meal. However, stay away if you’re looking for something more reasonably priced.

So there it is, your brief introduction to McGill shorthand. Immerse yourself in the world of Belle Pro, BDP, and St. Cat’s, and spend all the extra time you save on salvaging your GPA. 

Mutations to bird flu virus have made it more transmissible between humans. (t.opne.ws)
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Avian flu mutation has even deadlier potential

by Caity Hui on

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In 2011, when scientists at the Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands pinpointed the necessary mutations to make the H5N1 avian flu virus highly contagious, they had to weigh the risks and benefits of their discovery. H5N1—commonly known as the bird flu—first broke out in Hong Kong in 1997. A second major outbreak occurred in Thailand in 2003, and drew international attention to the disease’s lethal potential.

When the virus reemerged in 2003, it killed 346 out of the 587 people infected—nearly 60 per cent. Compared with the well-known Spanish-flu epidemic of 1918, which had a mortality rate between two and three per cent, H5N1 is a microbe with incredibly deadly possibilities.

Fortunately, H5N1 in its natural form cannot cause a pandemic and is not easily transmitted through the air. Although pathogenic inside a human host, the virus can only be transmitted from bird to human. For a pandemic to arise, the virus at hand must be transmissible between humans.

However, in addition to its high mortality rate, the virus has not been widely confronted before by humans–meaning we do not have comprehensive antibodies to protect ourselves from infection.

Therefore, it came as a surprise at the annual meeting of the European Scientific Working Group in Influenza, in Malta, when Ron Fouchier, a Dutch virologist at the Erasmus Medical Centre, reported that he had discovered the mutations necessary in this virus to make it highly contagious.

Fouchier and his team started with the natural form of the H5N1 virus and passed it through ten generations of ferrets. With each generation, the scientists selected the form of the virus that best survived in the hosts and spread it to the next generation. After 10 transmissions, the virus had acquired the necessary mutations to spread from ferret to ferret in the lab. As ferrets have a very similar immune and respiratory system to humans, it is likely that these mutations would also enable this mutated H5N1 to spread from human to human, making it highly contagious.

This experiment caused widespread alarm for multiple reasons. When Fouchier examined the flu cells, he realized that there were only five genetic changes in two of the viruses’ eight genes. What’s more, each mutation had already been found naturally circulating in influenza viruses. Essentially, the data pointed to the possibility that nature could do precisely what Fouchier had done in the lab—all five of these mutations could, at one point, be found together, naturally, in one dangerous H5N1 virus.

More alarming was the fact that this deadly H5N1 virus had been deliberately created in the lab; and, if placed in the wrong hands, could be used as a weapon in biological warfare.

After the release of this experiment, scientists divided into two camps. One camp felt that this information was necessary to mitigate future outbreaks of H5N1. The other camp questioned the importance of this data in terms of providing information to create treatments or diagnoses for such a virus.

Professor Greg Matlashewski, previous Chairman of the department of microbiology and immunology at McGill, and leader of a World Health Organization program to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis from Northern India, Nepal and Bangladesh, sits in the latter camp. He believes that although there is a payoff, it is not big enough with regard to the risk.

“My question is this: if this information is so important scientifically, what have we learned from our previous such experiments?” he said.

According to Matlashewski, few tangible applications arose from reviving the Spanish influenza virus. He therefore questions the logic of performing a second experiment in which another dangerous flu pathogen is created simply for the sake of science.

“Five years ago scientists re-established the Spanish influenza viruses—one of the worst pathogens in human history—and brought it back to life in the lab. What have we learned from that virus, and if we haven’t learned anything practical with respect to diagnosis or treatment of vaccines, then why do it again?”

Although there is some payoff from these experiments, these results could also have been obtained through other methods, if the virus were to emerge again in the population. Scientists could quickly perform genetic sequencing tests on the actual virus, and acquire a similar and more relevant set of information.

For Matlashewski, “the payoff is not enough to do these experiments; these are really potentially dangerous pathogens we are creating.”

a, Science & Technology

This Week in Research

by Caity Hui on

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Earth-like planets

If extraterrestrial life does exist in outer space, planet KOI-172.02 is a good candidate to host life similar to that on Earth. Using the Kepler space telescope to find planets, scientists at NASA have detected at least 17 billion Earth-like planets surrounding Sun-like stars in the Milky Way. Kepler detects potential alien worlds by watching for significant dips in starlight, created when planets pass in front of their parent stars. This January, a fresh analysis of data from NASA’s Kepler mission, launched in 2009, suggests that about 17 per cent of all the sun-like stars in the Milky Way host a rocky planet similar in composition to Earth.

The planet KO1-172.02 is a super Earth-size planet candidate, which means it is 1.25-2 times the size of the Earth. It has an orbit of 150 days or less, placing it in the habitable zone—the region around a star where liquid water might exist on the surface of a planet. When planets are found in these regions, the conditions are favourable for life.

According to the data collected, scientists have concluded that nearly all stars similar to our sun have planets—many of which resemble the Earth in terms of composition and orbit. Kepler mission project scientist Steve Howell told CBC, “It is no longer a question of if we will find a true Earth analogue, but a question of when.”

Volcano eruptions

When Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe, erupts, the sky takes on an orange glow. It spews molten rock hundreds of metres into the air, creating a fiery display of lava cascading down the sides of the volcano.

Although scientists do not fully understand the mechanisms controlling the magnitude of the 50 to 60 volcanic eruptions that occur worldwide each year, McGill University’s department of Earth and planetary sciences Professor Don R. Baker recently discovered a small but important step in being able to predict the type of eruption that could occur.

Volcanic eruptions are driven by the rapid expansion of bubbles formed from water and other volatile substances trapped in the molten rock as it rises beneath the volcano. Working on an international research team, Baker and his colleagues discovered that the difference between a large or small eruption depends on the first 10 seconds of bubble growth in molten rocks.

To examine the growth of volcanic bubbles, Baker and his colleagues heated water-bearing molten rock with a recently developed laser heating system. By performing CAT scans on the samples during the first 18 seconds of bubble growth, they were able to characterize the bubbles by size distribution.

By studying the samples, Baker has found a possible link between the size distribution of the bubbles and the eruptive behaviour of the volcano. Depending on the type of bubbles that form, they trap gas inside of them, and are swiftly combined into a foam with eruptive behaviour.

These findings suggest the need to develop volcanic monitoring systems to measure rapid changes in gas flux and composition during critical points in time. With such a system, scientists may one day be able to predict the type of volcanic activity expected from the world’s volcanoes.

Immune system protein discovered

The immune system is composed of defender molecules, which act as foot soldiers to guard the body against infection. Researchers at McGill University and the Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences have recently discovered how one such protein, IFIT, functions. The findings could help advance the development of new drugs to combat immune system disorders. Further, this discorvery might provide insight into dampening the immune response when necessary, such as for inflammation or cancer therapy.

IFIT is a key protein in the human immune system that detects viruses and latches onto them in order to prevent infection. In order to recognize a virus from a normal host cell, IFIT depends on the RNA. When a virus enters the cell, it generates foreign RNA molecules that differ from the RNA found in a human. The researchers determined that IFIT proteins have evolved a specific binding pocket, that will only fit the foreign RNA of viruses. Through this pocket, the IFIT protein clamps down on the viral RNA. By binding to the RNA, IFIT prevents the virus from replicating, thereby arresting the infection.

Android@Home connects home appliances to your smartphone. (intomobile.com)
a, Science & Technology

Companies jump on smartphone trend: home automation

by Abhishek Gupta on

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At the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show (ICES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, over 150,000 people watched as companies revealed a new wave of smartphone technology. More than just miniature computers, phones on display at the ICES were designed to be remote controls for the consumer’s life, connecting apps to household appliances and home security systems.

According to The New York Times, consumers responded warmly to the notion of linking their home to their phones, and many large companies have jumped on this technological trend. On Jan. 7, the wireless carrier AT&T announced plans to commercially launch, in March, a smart and secure home automation interface called Digital Life. The product will allow consumers to carry out an array of home-related tasks with their smartphones, including turning down the thermostat, monitoring the house for intruders, and even operating the coffee maker.

Google has also made progress towards integrating smartphones with home appliances. In May 2011, it developed a program known as the Android Open Accessory. Any device designed with this technology has the ability to communicate with Android phones or tablets. Through the program, developers will be able to build a wide range of accessories compatible with any Android phone.

The potential applications of this technology were made clear with a simple but powerful demonstration at Google’s I/O Conference, which brings together thousands of technology developers. The phone was hooked up to an exercise bike and using an app on the Android smartphone, consumers were able to track statistics like number of calories burnt.

The aim behind these technologies is to bring the home, the car, and other accessories under the control of a single device, thereby achieving integration and convenience.

Google has taken this idea a step further, and envisions the entire home as a network of accessories, all of which can be controlled through an Android phone. The home automation project, Android@Home, seeks to connect all appliances via Wi-Fi or an open wireless protocol to your smartphone.

The potential applications of Android@Home seem endless. At its I/O Conference, Google demostrated that with Android@Home, you could link your alarm clock to the lights and stereo in the room. As the alarm time approaches, the lights and stereo gradually increase in brightness and volume—a potential solution for those who struggle with waking up for 8:30 a.m. classes.

Pranay Mistry, the founder of SixthSense, came out with another tool geared towards giving us more electronic control over the home. TeleTouch, a smartphone app, allows consumers to point their smartphones at any appliance, and control it remotely with their touchscreen.

TeleTouch works by using the smartphone’s camera and computer vision to identify what appliance it is pointed at. Using Internet Protocol (IP) codes for these devices, the smartphone could become the control center for every appliance by addressing them wirelessly.

Despite the excitement, skeptics have also found a remote control smartphone for your home to be unnecessary. Would so much control be beneficial? While bringing your home under the control of a single device may seem attractive, it also poses security risks. If your smartphone were lost and unlocked, someone else would have complete control over practically every device inside your home, including alarm systems.

In response, director of business development at Z-Wave Alliance (a consortium of companies that make connected appliances) Bill Scheffler told The New York Times, “It used to be that people would say, ‘Why does anybody want a remote control for a TV if you can get up and change the channel?’ It’s just progress.”

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