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Why You Should Eat More Curry

by Caity Hui on

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What exactly is Alzheimer’s?

Often referred to as “Old timer’s disease,” Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that affects nearly 36 million people worldwide. It causes problems with memory, thinking and behaviour, and is classified as a progressive illness, which means that symptoms will gradually worsen over time. Whereas someone with early stage Alzheimer’s might only be subject to memory problems, by the later stages of the illness, the same person could have lost the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment.

Alzheimer’s has remained a major research focus, not only due to the large amount of people afflicted by the illness, but also to the fact that no effective diagnoses or treatments have been discovered. Presently, the only way to diagnose Alzheimer’s with certainty is through an autopsy, and there are currently no treatments available to halt its progression.

While no effective Alzheimer’s treatments are yet on the market, there are many different methods of prevention. Although most of these preventative measures are dubious—avoiding flu shots and silver dental fillings to name a few—there are some easy and unexpected steps that can be taken, which are backed by scientific research.

Alzheimer’s prevention plan: 

1) Eat more curry

According to research conducted by Sally Frautschy, associate professor of medicine at UCLA, turmeric—a major component of curry powder—might be protective against Alzheimer’s disease. Scientists first became interested in curry powder when they noticed that India had an unexpectedly low rate of Alzheimer’s cases.

Curry, a dietary staple in India, is also used as a household remedy to treat conditions for which Western cultures typically use anti-inflammatory drugs. Since recent evidence suggests Alzheimer’s may also have an inflammatory component, scientists suspect that this anti-inflammatory property of curry may aid in treating the disease.

Alzheimer’s disease involves a buildup of a protein known as beta-amyloid in the brain. These abnormal deposits then cause inflammation, destroying cells as a result. If curcumin — the major ingredient in turmeric — were to have anti-inflammatory components, it makes sense that it may help with the treatment of Alzheimer’s.

Frautschy’s research showed that, when beta-amyloid was injected into the brains of rats to mimic Alzheimer’s, rats fed a diet rich in curcumin showed a reduced accumulation of the troublesome protein. It is possible that curcumin binds to beta-amyloid and deactivates it, thereby reducing the chances of these deposits building up to cause Alzheimer’s.

2) Brush your teeth with your other hand

In an interview with the McGill Reporter, Jens Pruessner, director of the McGill Center for Studies in Aging, stated: “The old adage ‘use it or lose it’ really applies to your brain.”

Cognitive training has been shown to preserve high cognitive function at an old age. Even exercises that involve adding variety to your daily mental routine can prove beneficial.

One easy exercise with which to experiment is alternating which hand you use to brush your teeth. Simple brain stimulating switch-ups, such as putting a watch on the other wrist, activate brain regions that might otherwise go unstimulated.

a, Features

FEATURE: No Home, No Hope; Who are the homeless of Montreal?

by Roger Hamilton-Martin on

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For most people in Montreal, a walk through the city’s downtown area is part of the daily commute to school or work. Immersed in their routine, most commuters will not notice—or will pretend not to notice—the long-faced strangers sitting along the sidewalks, holding their cups in hope of a few cents from a passer by.

It is so commonplace to see homeless men and women sitting on the pavement asking for money, or sleeping in small corners and down alleyways, that they fade into the background. The constant threat of violence and exposure to the elements is inherent to their way of life. The Montreal winter is harsh, and these are the people who will feel it the most. And in the summer, the risk of dehydration can be just as fatal as the winter’s biting cold. Many congregate in places like Berri Square, where drugs and alcohol make for a dangerous environment, or take refuge underneath bridges, in desolate parks, or in the ruins of an abandoned building, living in the most degrading and unsanitary of conditions.

The transitory nature of homelessness makes it difficult to put a number on how many people are without homes in a city. However, according to Matthew Pearce, the general director of the Old Brewery Mission (OBM)—the largest organization for homeless men and women in Quebec—there are “between four and five thousand people on the street in Montreal at the moment. OBM provides services to around four thousand per year.”

“All kinds of people stay here at the shelter, not just the stereotype. Doctors, mechanics, lawyers, blue collar workers, white collar workers. Everyone has a story to tell,” said Dave, resident of the Old Brewery Mission. For five years, he has been staying on and off at the Webster Pavilion, a shelter of the OBM located just off St. Laurent by old Montreal, where he has a place to sleep and an evening meal.

Homelessness in the city of Montreal develops and spreads alongside wealth and prosperity. Every year, thousands of students and young professionals migrate into the city, attracted by its economic dynamism, its reputation as a center of higher learning, and the promised advantages of living in a welfare system that ensures the wellbeing of its citizens.

Yet, while Montreal’s towering skyscrapers and constant activity serve as reminders of its wealth, it is unavoidable not to ask: how is it that so many people are still hungry and living on the streets in such an affluent city?

The common perception that homelessness is caused by personal failings belies the complex relationship that exists between personal circumstances, such as disability and mental illness, and societal factors that are entirely out of the individuals’ control.

Each year, poorly treated mental health issues draw hundreds of  people to the streets, Pearce explains. “People with mental health issues form about 50 percent of the entire homeless population.”

Although it seems counterintuitive that those with mental illnesses are left to fend for themselves, this abandonment is the norm rather than the exception. It is the direct result of a policy of deinstitutionalization that has been prevalent in North American healthcare since the 70s.

The advent of drugs that manage psychotic episodes among those who suffer from mental health disorders, or developmental disabilities has replaced, to some extent, long stay psychiatric hospitals with less restrictive mental health services. The policy was meant to emancipate the mentally ill from straitjackets and stigma, but in some cases it seems to have simply relocated them to begging for food in the streets, or getting incarcerated for their conduct.

Sylvain, another OBM regular, can account for the harm done with this transition.

“I suffer from mental illness and that is the reason for my staying at the Old Brewery Mission. I endured years of torment after being misdiagnosed and using medication that worsened my situation,” he said.

Though prevalent, mental health is not the only reason why thousands of people find themselves living on the streets of Montreal today. When asked what the biggest barrier to sustainably reducing homelessness in the city is, Pearce answered: “insufficient affordable housing.”

According to the international public policy firm Demographia, housing affordability in Montreal has steadily deteriorated in recent years.  This increase in costs is a reality to which OBM resident Dave can attest.

“My mom lives in Montreal. She developed Alzheimer’s disease a few years ago, so much of my time is spent here. I can’t afford any kind of accommodation [in the city], so I have to stay at the Old Brewery Mission,” he said.

Dave’s situation is just one example of how a lack of affordable housing makes many Montrealers resort to staying at one of the few shelters in the city. With this in mind, the Mission is making changes to its service. Aside from being a shelter, it also offers transition programs to help the homeless integrate back into society, which includes providing affordable housing for homeless individuals. In the last five years, the organization has increased the number of housing units available to homeless people from 30 to 74; but there is still much to be done.

Insufficient housing in the city has affected Montreal’s Indigenous population disproportionately.

The last 12 years have seen a rise in Inuit migration to Montreal, and this has gone hand in hand with their increasing over-representation among Montreal’s homeless. The Inuit account for 10 percent of the Indigenous population in the city, and around half of the Indigenous homeless.

Donat Savoie, the legal representative of Quebec’s Inuit people, sees the rise in Inuit homeless in Montreal to be closely related to the acute housing crisis which has been occurring in Inuit communities in Quebec over the past few years. This housing crisis goes some way to explain why there are so many homeless Inuit in Montreal.

Savoie describes Nunavik, a large region in Northern Quebec, from where around two thirds of homeless Inuit in Montreal originate, as “toxic.” It is not uncommon to find 12 to 15 people per house in the 14 coastal communities there. According to Savoie’s latest report, the housing crisis is so severe that 1,000 homes are needed urgently. However, the difficulty of transporting materials makes for high building costs, and the federal government has yet to implement a catch-up program to help the Nunavik communities.

This overcrowding is a breeding ground for physical and sexual abuse against women and children, and one reason why Inuit are attracted to Montreal is to escape poverty and abuse at home. The current situation is becoming all too familiar—the Inuit, stifled by conditions in Northern Quebec, come to Montreal in search of security, but find the city unwelcoming and end up without a job and on the street. Over half of all adult Inuit in Montreal are currently unemployed, and this situation is worsened by minimal community support and lack of knowledge of French.

What kind of future awaits for the homeless of Montreal? The fact is, there is little political payoff in committing resources to bring people out of homelessness. The Old Brewery Mission has expressed in its latest annual report a need for more government funding, but few votes are won by helping such an ostracized group. It remains to be seen whether provincial authorities will adopt a more active stance towards helping the Inuit of Nunavik, and all those in Montreal who remain without a home.

Photos by Simon Poitrimolt and Sam Reynolds

Captain Geneviève Plante beats Sherbrooke wall. (Remi Lu / McGill Tribune)
a, Sports

Work in progress: Martlets split weekend bouts

by Jeff Downey on

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It was another rollercoaster weekend for the Martlets—a recurring theme in the 2012-2013 campaign. Starting with Sherbrooke on Friday, McGill lost in four hard-fought sets 18-25, 26-28, 25-19, 24-26, before rebounding on Saturday against the tough Rouge-et-Or, triumphing in a nail-biter five setter 16-25, 27-25, 25-18, 15-25, 16-14.

Inconsistency proved to be the Martlets’ downfall against Sherbrooke. Their sporadic offence, combined with a few costly serving errors thoroughly hindered the team throughout the contest. Such mistakes have plagued the squad all season. After the game, many of the Martlets looked disheartened, as the loss dropped them to 7-8 on the year, and kept them in last in the RSEQ. Third-year veteran Virginie Hébert spoke about the team’s struggles.

“It was definitely a tough loss, emotionally and physically. All sets were hard-fought, and it could have gone either way since both teams were presenting outstanding defence and offence tonight,” Hébert said. “This team is really talented, but experience might be lacking due to the number of young faces [we have]. Despite that, we are constantly improving throughout the season, and results will come eventually with the hard work.”

On Saturday, however, McGill finally put together a total team effort. Laval entered the contest atop the RSEQ and was nursing a five game winning streak. Rookie middle Ashley Norfleet dominated on the attack, accumulating 16 kills and 17.5 total points. Norfleet’s performance could be a signal that the team’s many rookies are starting to hit their strides and improving to the level required in the tough RSEQ. If that is the case, the final four contests of the regular season could be a chance for McGill to move into one of the top positions in the league—and with it, a chance to battle for the division title.

“It felt like a true team win and a final accomplishment to all the efforts we put in in practice,” Hébert said. “Everybody contributed to this [win] one way or another, and I think we proved to ourselves that we could beat any team in the RSEQ conference playing that way.”

Head Coach Rachèle Beliveau admitted that the team still needs to play with more consistency.

“Our league is very competitive and strong within the CIS. We are playing very good matches, and yet are still fighting to get a place into the series,” she said. “Since our team is young, we do not have the consistency in our play to prevent it. At our level, there is not too much room for mistakes and learning opportunities.”

With the win against Laval, McGill climbed back to .500, at 8-8, and into striking distance of the neighbouring 10-6 Montreal Carabins. The Martlets next contest is important for their playoff hopes, as they hit the road to take on the Carabins on Jan. 25.

Charest leads the offence during the Martlets’ 27-point fourth quarter. (Mike King / McGill Tribune)
a, Sports

Sylla seals game for Martlets, records double-double

by Tom DiNardo on

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Since returning from the winter break, the McGill Martlets have won both of their contests after a shaky start to the season. After the Martlets dominated the Concordia Stingers 75-44 on Jan. 10, they turned their attention to the Laval Rouge-et-Or on Sunday at McGill’s Love Competition Hall. After a hard-fought battle, McGill sealed a 71-62 win, thanks in large part to their steadfast defence and the production of first-year forward Mariam Sylla, who logged a double-double with a game-high of 29 points and 11 rebounds.

From tip-off, it was clear that the two teams were evenly matched. Fans watched as the ball went from one side of the court to the other without a single basket until 7:52 into the game, when Martlet point-guard Dianna Ros tallied the first field goal. McGill’s presence under the rim along with the offensive and defensive rebounding efforts of Hélène Bibeau and Françoise Charest contributed to their unyielding first half lead. They entered the break with a 35-31 advantage.

“[Rebounding] is something we’ve been talking about for a while now… it’s something we’ve looked at and focused on, and I think you can see the fruits of our labour right there, both against Concordia and today,” Head Coach Ryan Thorne said after the game.

McGill began the second half with a 7-0 run, but Laval was able to fight back. A technical foul on Sylla with 2:44 left in the third quarter allowed Rouge-et-Or guard Jannie Jacques to tie the game with two free throws. In the last minutes of the third quarter, the Rouge-et-Or gained the lead; then closed out the third quarter 48-44.

“We got down in the third quarter just by miscommunication,” Thorne said. “They changed up some things; they put four guards out there and so it kind of messed us up on the perimeter and we had to adjust. I think the girls made the adjustment.”

McGill stepped back on the court with renewed vigour in the fourth quarter. After three quarters of excellent play, Sylla further stepped up her game and gave a huge offensive effort. She scored a number of layups and muscled defenders in the paint for rebounds.

“I got a technical foul in the third quarter and I was kind of frustrated, but I just didn’t stop and didn’t get discouraged. I told myself ‘We have to win this game,’” she said.

With the lead changing hands throughout much of the last six minutes of play, McGill finally regained control for good, thanks to a three pointer knocked down by Françoise Charest with 3:46 left in the game. Fittingly, a huge block from Sylla with 1l seconds left in the game sealed the deal for the McGill Martlets, and they claimed the win.

Overall, Coach Thorne was happy with the results of the game but he stressed that the team isn’t exactly where he wants them to be.

“I think we have got to get better at everything every day, and that’s why we practice,” Throne said. “I think we can definitely be better at our shot selection and our ability to guard people one on one without bringing a whole bunch of help and support … and then when we had to double team, we had trouble with out rotation so those are two things defensively that [we need to improve upon].”

The Martlets will be looking to extend their three game winning streak when they travel to Bishop’s on Jan. 16.

Photos by Mike King.

a, Sports

Around the Water Cooler

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In case you were too busy gymming, tanning, or laundering, here’s what you missed this past week (or so) in the world of sports …

HOCKEY — In KHL action … wait, what? Hockey is back? HOCKEY IS BACK! Rejoice, Canadians and those few Americans. We all thought the season was doomed, but on Jan. 6, the players and owners agreed to a new 10-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). A few highlights in the new CBA: 50-50 revenue sharing between the players and owners (down from 57-43); revenue sharing amongst teams in the league; and length caps on player contracts. The shortened 48-game season will get underway on Jan. 19, with us sitting glued to our television sets. Remember when some fans were rallying together and promised to boycott the first set of games when the league resumed play? Total jokes, guys.

NFL FOOTBALL — The Divisional round of the NFL Playoffs took place this past weekend. To no surprise, the New England Patriots easily handled the Houston Texans 41-28. The Patriots will duke it out with the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship game, after the Ravens defeated the Denver Broncos thanks to a late-game Peyton Manning interception. In the NFC, San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick ran for a postseason record 183 rushing yards and accounted for four touchdowns, as the 49ers took down the Green Bay Packers. Finally, a clutch drive by Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan sent the Falcons to the NFC Championship game, after Seattle overcame a 20-point half-time deficit.

NCAA FOOTBALL  — Bowl season came and went over the holidays, culminating in the BCS Championship game last Monday night that pitted No.1 Notre Dame against No.2 defending champs Alabama. It wasn’t much of a contest, as Bama routed the Irish 42-14, thanks to MVP running back Eddie Lacy’s 140 yards on the ground. Bama quarterback A.J. McCarron threw for 264 yards and four touchdowns, but he was overshadowed in the media by his girlfriend, and 2012 Miss Alabama USA, Katherine Webb—cool.  Head Coach of Alabama Nick Saban has led the program to three BCS titles in four years; so I think we can conclude that he’s pretty good at coaching college football.

BASKETBALL — We’ve almost hit the midway point of the NBA season, and there’s plenty to talk about. The Los Angeles Lakers’ chances of making the postseason are dwindling game by game, as the team has yet to develop any hint of chemistry. Dirk Nowitzki isn’t happy in Dallas—another struggling team—and suggested this past week that he may want to be traded. The New York Knicks have slowed down ever since Amar’e Stoudemire returned from injury. Meanwhile, Carmelo Anthony is now picking fights with Kevin Garnett, who is probably the most intimidating player in the league—really smart, Melo. Miami leads the Eastern Conference, and Oklahoma City is tied with the Los Angeles Clippers (ahem, not “Lakers”) for tops in the West. And what about those Raptors, you say? Well, they’ve won 10 of their past 14. Playoff push, here we go!

a, Opinion

Why Idle No More is good for Canada

by Cedric Smith on

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It is easy for some to give in to a knee-jerk response to the Idle No More movement and regard it as a petty squabble over access to federal funds, or to look at Chief Theresa Spence’s four-week ‘hunger strike’ of water and fish broth, and see no hunger strike at all.

Right or wrong, this focus misses the point. Idle No More has grievances beyond the realms of funding, many of which are reasonable. The movement suffers from a marketing problem, namely a terrible spokesperson in First Nations Chief Theresa Spence. Although charges of corruption and embezzlement in the Attawapiskat First Nations community she leads have not been proven. Nevertheless, Spence’s fiscal management of her community to economic catastrophe, despite annual federal grants of more than $15 million, makes the entire movement vulnerable to ad-hominem attacks.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s omnibus Bill C-45 is the root of these protests. In his typically authoritarian manner, Harper has melded together a number of policy proposals into one behemoth piece of legislation. This has discredited media scrutiny of the unsavory aspects of the bill, and has restrained the ability of Conservative Party backbenchers to vote with their conscience. MPs against policies that would deteriorate environmental protections, for example, may vote for them if they are bundled with legislation that would benefit their own constituencies.

Lorraine Land, partner at OKT Barristers and Solicitors and a specialist in environmental and Aboriginal law, has made a list of the aspects of Bill C-45, along with other current Canadian legislative proposals, which negatively affect Indigenous peoples. While some of these points are tenuous, it is undeniable that Harper’s policies will have a negative effect on the environment.

Bill C-45 itself has scrapped environmental assessments required for the construction of infrastructure projects on bodies of water for the vast majority of Canada’s lakes and rivers, opening them up to potentially harmful practices. Bill C-38, another Harper omnibus bill, proposes a wider range of detrimental changes to environmental policy. These include increasing the ease with which Canadian companies can dump waste into the ocean and decreasing protections for a number of endangered species. An exhaustive list can be found on the website of the Green Party of Canada.

Environmental protection is highly important for most Indigenous peoples, whose histories and cultures tend to emphasize a spiritual connection to nature. Idle No More goes beyond environmental grievances, however, and centers on the sense of being left out by the government from decisions important to those affected. Bill C-428, for example, another recently proposed piece of federal legislation, has made fundamental changes to the Indian Act of 1876 with little to no consultation with the Indigenous peoples. When they speak about feeling overlooked or invisible, they are being absolutely sincere.

Many may argue that Canada’s Indigenous peoples, often seen as government-reliant, do not deserve a bargaining position equal to that of Ottawa. This may be a fair point, but Harper’s actions have a pattern to them. His attempt to run roughshod over Indigenous opinion in matters directly impacting them fits right in with his two prorogations of Parliament, his consistent suppression of scientific research, and his funding cuts to public organizations that dissent from the Conservative Party orthodoxy.

Changes to Canada’s environmental regulations may turn out to be necessary for its economic growth. All members of society tacitly accept the need for some trade-off between preserving the environment and attaining economic growth—even Canada’s Indigenous peoples. There is an increasing number of First Nations who agree to share in the profits of ventures that exploit the natural resources of their reserves, a trend that began with the Fort McMurray First Nation in northern Alberta.

The Idle No More protests, however, will force greater scrutiny in the changes proposed by the Conservative Party of Canada and will spark a public debate on the extent to which we are willing to accept those trade-offs. It is certainly refreshing to see Canada’s Indigenous peoples stand up and provide a roadblock both figuratively and very literally to Harper’s authoritarian style of governance.

Forward Aleksandar Mitrovic drives past a Laval defender. (Luke Orlando / McGill Tribune)
a, Sports

Redmen redeem themselves after blowout loss

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Following a tough 83-65 blowout loss to Concordia on Thursday night, the McGill Redmen took to the court again on Saturday at Love Competition Hall to face-off against another Quebec rival—the Laval Rouge-et-Or. The Redmen bounced back in a big way, with 17 points from Adrian Hynes-Guery to defeat the Rouge-et-Or 72-64, moving them into second place in RSEQ conference play.

Laval started off strong, dominating McGill defensively and leading throughout the first half. The Rouge-et-Or played tenacious defence, forcing turnovers and breaking the flow of the Redmen offence. The club effectively used screens to free up their guards for some quality shots, resulting in a 33-27 advantage for the Rouge-et-Or at halftime.

“[In the] first half, we were slow, both offensively and defensively … we just couldn’t hit shots. … [At half-time,] we got back together, regrouped in the locker room, and we were ready to go,” Redmen captain Winn Clark said.

McGill certainly was ready to go, as the team came into the second half a completely different team. On defence, the Redmen applied airtight pressure and forced Laval into awkward shots and turnovers, which McGill promptly converted into easy buckets on the other end.

Clark, along with guard Simon Bibeau and forward Rodrigo Imperador, led the comeback for McGill, highlighted by incredible defensive efforts and hustle. With 3:11 remaining in the third quarter, Imperador stole the ball off of an errant Laval pass and layed it into the basket to give McGill its first lead of the game.

The Redmen continued their stellar play into the last quarter, immediately getting off to a hot 7-0 scoring run to start the fourth. However, their offence quickly cooled down, and allowed the Rouge-et-Or to mount a rally halfway through the period, spearheaded by Laval’s Antoine Beaumier. Nonetheless, McGill managed to close out the contest, thanks to Hynes-Guery’s clutch late baskets. Bibeau sealed the game at the free throw line and McGill claimed the win.

The decisive factor in the victory was McGill’s second half resurgence—an effort that the team was missing against the Stingers on Thursday. As seen in this recent slate of games, defence, rebounding, and precise offensive execution are crucial for success.

“Concordia dominated us on the glass [Thursday]. I thought we did a better job rebounding the ball today. We did a better job moving the ball and sharing the ball,” McGill Head Coach David DeAveiro said. “We missed a lot of open shots today that are going to drop for us. I was pretty pleased with the ball movement.”

“In the second half [today] we really picked it up, [but] against Concordia, we couldn’t pick it up in the second half. That was our key difference,” Clark added.

Looking forward, it is essential that the Redmen establish their identity in the next couple of weeks and put together some consistent efforts on both ends of the floor every night. They must peak in time for the playoffs, especially if they are to make a deep run in the postseason. Signs are pointing in a positive direction at the moment, as the team works itself towards competitive playoff shape.

“[Our] team chemistry is awesome. We do basically everything together, whether it’s on or off the court. We’re always hanging out … We’re just really close on this team,” second-year shooting guard Vincent Dufort said.

McGill squares off against the first place Bishop’s Gaiters on Jan. 16 in a game that will have heavy playoff implications. The Redmen then battle fourth placed UQAM on Jan 19.

a, Sports

Tribune’s NHL Preview

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ATLANTIC DIVISION

New York Rangers: After finishing first in the East and advancing to the conference final, the Rangers fell short to their division rivals, the New Jersey Devils, last May. In response, the team made the biggest acquisition of the off season in trading for star winger Rick Nash, who should help bolster a lineup that has struggled offensively. The back-end remains virtually the same as last season. But goals against shouldn’t be a problem for the Rangers because Henrik Lundqvist is a rock in net. Expect the Rangers to finish first in the Atlantic and make a deep playoff push in June.

Pittsburgh Penguins: An annual cup favourite, the Pittsburgh Penguins look to bounce back after exiting the playoffs in the first round last season. They dealt centre Jordan Staal to Carolina, but still have a depth in their roster that few teams possess. Tomas Vokoun was signed in order to help stabilize the goaltending position behind Marc-Andre Fleury. As long as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin stay healthy in this shortened season, the Pens will be right up there with the league’s best.

Philadelphia Flyers:  The Flyers enter 2013 with virtually the same roster that advanced to the second round last season. They failed to land star defenseman Shea Weber, who would have given them a boost in this division. However, they have four strong lines and are led offensively by emerging star Claude Giroux. If goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov can bounce back and regain the form he once had in Phoenix, then the Flyers will have the ability to beat any team in the NHL.

New Jersey Devils:  After riding Martin Brodeur all the way to the Cup Final in 2011-2012, the New Jersey Devils will surprise no one in the East this year. Despite whispered rumours of Brodeur’s retirinment at the end of last season, he re-upped with the team for two years. However, the Devils lost offensive leader Zach Parise to Minnesota in free agency, and will need Ilya Kovalchuk, and playoff star Adam Henrique to shoulder more of an offensive load. This could turn out to be a let-down year for the Devils.

New York Islanders: In a division loaded with star-studded teams, the only virtual lock seems to be that the Isles will finish last in the Atlantic. Not all is lost on Long Island, though, as the team is building a roster that features some really talented young players—notably John Tavares, Michael Grabner, and Nino Niederreiter. The Isles will struggle on the other end of the ice, as they feature little defensive presence and are shaky in goal. Their move to Brooklyn could not come sooner.

—Steven Lampert

NORTHEAST DIVISION

Boston Bruins: With Tim Thomas taking a leave of absence this season, Tukka Rask will be relied upon to deliver the goods in goal for the Bruins. His experience as a starter in 2009-2010 should benefit his team. Additionally, the balanced combination of a steady defence and a quick strike offence make the big-bad-Bruins the favourite to win the Northeast division.

Buffalo Sabres: After a disappointing season for Buffalo in 2011-2012, the Sabres will show that they have what it takes to be a playoff team. With an above-average defensive group, and an elite goaltender starving to prove his critics wrong, the Sabres will finish second in 2013. Despite the lack of top-end production on the offensive side, Head Coach Lindy Ruff may squeeze enough out of Tomas Vanek and Jason Pomminville for a successful season.

Montreal Canadiens: Following a disastrous 2011-2012 campaign that resulted in a last place finish, the Habs will show that they have reason to be optimistic about the future. With a healthy Andrei Markov, the Canadiens should receive a boost on the back-end, especially on the power play. Furthermore, after missing games last season, Brian Gionta will help the Canadiens offensively on a second line with Tomas Plekanec. In goal, Carey Price will be relied upon after signing a six-year, $39 million contract last May. If things fall into place, Montreal will finish third in the Northeast and should compete for a playoff spot.

Ottawa Senators: Although the Sens had a very positive season in 2011-2012, Ottawa will take a bit of a step backwards in 2013. Despite featuring stars like Jason Spezza and Erik Karlsson, Ottawa’s lack of depth will prove problematic should they run into injuries. While Craig Anderson was stellar for Ottawa in its postseason series against the Rangers last May, there are still question marks in goal after an inconsistent regular season.

Toronto Maple Leafs: After the controversial firing of general manager Brian Burke last week, Dave Nonis is faced with the daunting task of trying to get Toronto into the playoffs for the first time in eight years. However, with holes on defence and below average goaltending, the Leafs will struggle to make it there. While the Leafs may have improved offensively with the addition of James Van Riemsdyk, without a competent NHL goaltender, Toronto will ultimately finish last in the Northeast division.

—David Stein

SOUTHEAST DIVISION

Washington Capitals:  Head Coach Adam Oates takes over a Capitals team that struggled to find an identity under Dale Hunter. The core of the team remains the same; the main change is that Mike Ribeiro replaces enigmatic forward Alex Semin, who bolted for division foe Carolina. If youngsters like John Carlson and Brayden Holtby take further steps in their development, the Capitals should be the best in what has become a very tough division.

Carolina Hurricanes:  The sexy pick to take the Southeast in 2013, the Hurricanes made major strides in the offseason by signing Jordan Staal and Alex Semin. Joe Corvo returns to Raleigh once again and will be his usual offensively prolific self on the blueline. Cam Ward should be solid as always and should lead Carolina back to the playoffs for the first time since 2009.

Tampa Bay Lightning:  Time is running out for McGill alum and Lightning Head Coach Guy Boucher, whose team failed to qualify for the playoffs last season, after making the Eastern Conference Final the year before. General manager Steve Yzerman brought in a lot of above-average talents in Matt Carle, Sami Salo, and B.J. Crombeen, but the biggest uncertainty will be in goal, where Anders Lindback replaces Dwayne Roloson. Lindback put up good numbers as Pekka Rinne’s backup in Nashville, and he will have to maintain those stats on a regular basis if Tampa is to return to the postseason.

Florida Panthers:  The Panthers were surprising winners of the Southeast last season, after completely remodeling their roster with average big name players. This offseason was more relaxed, which is troubling since the other teams in the division have improved. Peter Mueller and Filip Kuba replace Mikael Samuelsson and Jason Garrison, and star prospect Jonathan Huberdeau may break through. The Panthers will hope that retaining a similar nucleus will help them overcome the quick schedule in 2013, especially as a limited training camp gives other teams fewer opportunities to mesh.

Winnipeg Jets:  After over a decade without a team, Jets fans are used to waiting for their season to begin. It’s a good thing that they really love their team, because sadly, it just isn’t good enough to be competitive in what has become a deep Eastern Conference. Newly-signed Olli Jokinen and Alexei Ponikarovsky bring some extra punch up front, but Ondrej Pavelec will be tested again in net. Playing the entirety of the season in the East will mean heavy travel tolls for the geographically-challenged Jets; but at the same time it should also help them maintain home-ice advantage against their Southeast rivals.

—Adam Sadinsky

CENTRAL DIVISION

St. Louis Blues: All indicators point towards another dominant season by the Blues. St. Louis posted the lowest goals against average in the league last year, and the squad touts a roster full of players on upward trends.  Brian Elliot and Jaroslav Halak are a shutdown goalie duo and will split time again this year. Look for the Blues to come out of the gate strong and make a significant push into the playoffs.

Chicago Blackhawks: After bowing out in the first round last year, the Chicago Blackhawks return this season with Stanley Cup potential. Provided Marian Hossa and Jonathan Toews are not hampered from last season’s concussions, the team’s offence should remain one of the most lethal threats in the league. The Blackhawks’ talented blueline, headed by Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, remains intact from the previous year. Goaltending will be an issue heading into the season though, as Cory Crawford will need to prove he can handle being a first string goalie.

Detroit Red Wings: The Niklas Lidstrom era has finally come to a close in Detroit and the team will certainly miss his presence. Fortunately for the Red Wings, they still have significant fire power in Johan Franzen, Henrik Zetterberg, and Pavel Datsuyk, despite the loss of Tomas Holmstrom. The team’s defence is a cause for concern. Nikolas Kronwall must live up to his Norris candidate potential, and Jimmy Howard needs to prove to the world that his success between the pipes wasn’t just a result of having Lindstrom in front of him.

Nashville Predators: The current Nashville Predators roster is full of question marks. Gone are forwards Alexander Radulov and Andrei Kostitsyn. Yet, most notably, the Preds lost all-star defenseman Ryan Suter to the Minnesota Wild. The saving grace of the offseason was matching the deal Philadelphia offered Shea Weber, ensuring that he remains Nashville’s property for years to come. Whether or not rookies Ryan Ellis and Roman Josi can step up and fill the void created by Suter’s departure is yet to be seen. While netminder Pekka Rinne may steal a few games, there’s too much up in the air to guarantee this team a playoff spot.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Coming into the 2013 season, the Columbus Blue Jackets will be fighting for the first overall pick—not a spot in the playoffs. The Blue Jackets unloaded franchise player Rick Nash to the New York Rangers—in return for a motley crew of players—­all of whom are unlikely to make any difference for the perennial cellar dwellers. With a high amount of divisional games in this shortened campaign, a season in the tough Central will hurt the Blue Jackets and send them to the basement of the conference.

—Peter Laing

NORTHWEST DIVISION

Vancouver Canucks: The back-to-back President’s Trophy winners return to the ice with what has proved to be a talented veteran roster. The Sedin twins should return to their scoring ways, while waiting for fellow star Ryan Kesler to recover from injury. Defensively, Jason Garrison joins Keith Ballard, Kevin Bieksa and Dan Hamhuis to provide depth and toughness to the blue line. However, the major story surrounds All-star goaltender Roberto Luongo’s future with the club, which could derail this major contender’s hopes for the Stanley Cup.

Minnesota Wild: The presumptive winners of the free agency period are betting the bank on big name free agent signings, Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, to lead the team to the playoffs for only the fourth time in franchise history. Joined by veterans Mikku Koivu, Danny Heatley, and Devin Setoguchi, Minnesota has the foundation for a high-octane offence to make up for defensive pairings that show promise, but are inexperienced. If all the pieces meld together, look out, because the Wild could make noise come June.

Edmonton Oilers: The recipient of countless draft lottery jokes over the past three years, the Oilers finally look poised to stop accumulating top draft picks and to shed the rebuilding label. Look for this young, fast, and exciting team, headlined by the wunderkind trio of Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to improve as the season progresses. If the mediocre D-line holds up its end of the bargain, and goaltender Devan Dubnyk delivers on his potential, the Oilers will push for a playoff spot.

Calgary Flames: The Flames ended last season behind the Canucks, coming in second place in the division, thanks to a strong late season showing. Led by Jarome Iginla, Alex Tanguay, and Mike Cammalieri, the Flames are a veteran team with little upside and virtually no serviceable depth. In addition, they are riddled with underachieving defenceman with bloated contracts. Look for this team to play spoiler down the stretch, but don’t expect them to be in the hunt for Lord Stanley.

Colorado Avalanche: The Avalanche are an unproven commodity with a bevy of exciting young forwards—namely Matt Duchene, Paul Stastny, and last year’s Calder Trophy winner, and new captain, Gabriel Landeskog. The ageless Milan Hejduk joins the offence, but little else in terms of NHL level talent exists past him. Erik Johnson is a solid defenseman, but has little talent backing him. In net, look for a timeshare between Semyon Varlamov and J.S. Giguere, as neither has proved to be number one material. Overall, this should be a bleak season in the mile high city.

—Mayaz Alam

PACIFIC DIVISION

Phoenix Coyotes: Phoenix will prove that last year’s playoff run wasn’t a fluke. A relatively unchanged team, the ‘Yotes should benefit from familiarity in this shortened season. The club’s most underrated move this off-season was the re-acquisition of defenseman Zbynek Michalek. A shot blocking machine, Michalek was constantly injured and wasn’t a great fit in Pittsburgh. Expect him to rekindle his previous success in a more defence-minded system. Of course, having Mike Smith protecting the crease is always reassuring.

Los Angeles Kings: Los Angeles will finally raise a championship banner after a lengthy lockout. The Kings face adversity early this season, as star centre Anze Kopitar is sidelined with a knee injury he sustained overseas. His absence may prove costly if Mike Richards and Jeff Carter can’t improve on last season’s paltry offensive totals. L.A. can’t afford another slow start with fewer scheduled games. Goaltender Jonathan Quick should ease the pain, however, as the reigning playoff MVP looks to continue his stellar play.

Dallas Stars: The Stars sacrificed Steve Ott’s grit for some much needed firepower. A lineup featuring Jamie Benn, Michael Ryder, Loui Eriksson, Derek Roy, Jaromir Jagr and Ray Whitney is very impressive. These are all players who possess a high-end offensive skill set. The defence, though not flashy, doesn’t have to be with Kari Lehtonen between the pipes. A top 10 goaltender in the league, he posted a career best .922 SV per cent and 2.33 GAA last year. If the stars align, Dallas might just squeak into the playoffs in 2013.

San Jose Sharks: The Sharks have been a consistently great regular season team, but continually fail to impress in the playoffs. Their goaltending must be addressed via trade. There aren’t enough games this year for Antii Niemi to find his groove, and backup Thomas Greiss simply isn’t the answer. San Jose has one more shot at making a deep run before key offensive players are shipped out for younger prospects. San Jose has a decent team, but an overall competitive division means it will miss the playoffs.

Anaheim Ducks: Teemu Selanne will be a hot commodity at the trade deadline, as the Ducks will find themselves too far out of a playoff spot. He might not be the only superstar to leave Anaheim either, since the Ducks face the difficult task of resigning both Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry at the season’s end. The addition of Scott Niedermayer to the coaching staff is a nice, sentimental touch, but one which is unlikely to have an impact, record-wise.

—Hrant Bardakjian

a, Opinion

Budget cuts no different than tuition increases

on

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Last December, we saw a very different side of the Parti Québecois and the students that helped vote it into office than we came to know in 2012. Elected on the shoulders of the student movement, and a recent advocate of accessible education, the PQ struck a major blow against the same issues it once stood for with its plan to cut $124 million in university funding. The students, meanwhile, have watched this happen with little coherent response. The Tribune decries the government’s evasive and dishonest behaviour, and urges students and administration to come together in opposition.

This move represents a sudden departure from the government’s stated priorities. Its new budget, released on Nov 20, bore no mention of any cuts, only championing the end of the tuition hikes. Two weeks later, the government revealed sizable cuts without any warning to students or schools. This reversal indicates a thorough disrespect for students and student issues, as well as a willingness to use these issues for political gain. In Sept 2012, with the election on the line, and student movements engaging as relevant political actors, the PQ heralded education as a top priority. Now, with a budget blasted by opponents, and a need for fiscal responsibility, education is the first to face cuts.

As for the students, whose response to last year’s planned tuition hikes started out as a rumble and built to a roar as protest after protest took to the streets, this new development has been met with near silence. Some major student groups have spoken out against it, but no cohesive plan of action has emerged.

The student reaction was also hampered by the placement of the announcement late in the year, as most schools were in the midst of exams, or finishing up for the holidays. Especially in light of the ongoing government advocacy for accessibly education right up until the announcement, its timing should be seen as strategic. This has severely limit reaction to and discussion of the issues surrounding these cuts.

Those opposing the tuition increases cited concerns for accessibility of education. While higher tuition does make education available to fewer people, these cuts will, indirectly, have the same adverse effect. When McGill’s budget was passed last spring, under the assumption that the tuition hikes would take effect, a substantial portion of the school’s revenue from the additional tuition was to be put towards student financial aid and emergency assistance. These are the sorts of investments a school can make when it has money. Conversely, when budgets are cut, the first things to go are those which most directly impact students.

One explanation for the lack of outrage now is that the budget cuts don’t take money directly from students’ pockets in the way a tuition hike does. However, it is important to remember that the net outcome is the same. A smaller budget means that a school is able to provide fewer services and a lower calibre of education. While the amount that we are paying may not be higher, the value of what we are paying for is diminishing. Whether the cuts are reflected in student services and resources (such as advisors or Service Point), facilities, libraries, or directly to the classroom, it is once again the student who loses out.

Among the greatest differences between this and the events in the spring of 2012 surrounding the tuition hikes is that students and the administration are now aligned in their interests. These budget cuts are bad for the university community as a whole, and to see them rescinded should be a universal priority. It is the administration that is in the best position to do this. Our Board of Governors includes members who carry enormous influence both within and outside of the university. Although some of these individuals’ presence on the board has been a point of tension between students and administration, they are well-placed to advance the school’s cause. As an institution, we carry political clout. McGill can make a difference, and it is from the top that it can most efficiently effect change.

The Board has already passed a motion denouncing the budget cuts, and Principal Munroe-Blum has been vocal in her opposition to the cuts. These are a good foundation, but we need something more. We need to see a message sent to the government that education must be prioritized, and educational institutions will stand up for themselves, even if it will not. If there has ever been a time for the university to take action and speak on behalf of each and every one of its members, that time is now.

a, Opinion

Divest what? The flawed thinking behind university divestment

by Abraham Moussako on

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A large part of the difference in the policy prescriptions that we see from the Left and Right can be attributed to the logic they apply to political and policy problems. In terms of social issues, we see that those on the Right tend to frame problems within an absolutist moral framework, and anything that falls short of this standard is vigorously opposed. An obvious example is the insistence of the American religious right on “abstinence only” sex education, on the grounds that teaching contraceptive use would promote immorality. Those on the Left, meanwhile, tend to frame the same social issues in terms of “harm reduction.” That is to say that even if you don’t like teenagers having sex, or people using drugs, these things are happening; therefore we should teach contraception, or have safe injection sites, because the best intervention the state could engage in would be to reduce the harms of the activity, as opposed to vainly trying to eliminate them altogether.

Ironically, when we shift to environmental issues, we can see the more absolute moral framework being applied by left-wing activists.

The recent spate of campaigns by left-wing campus groups to get universities to divest from companies linked to climate change have occurred on campuses across North America, including McGill. On our campus, from General Assembly (GA) resolutions to petitioning university administrators, students have argued that McGill, as an institution that has shown commitment to sustainability, should not invest any of its money in companies or financial institutions involved in natural resource extraction.

The problem with these campaigns is that whether or not divestment will actually produce any changes in the behaviour of these companies is at best, a secondary consideration. The text of the resolution put forth at the Fall GA shows a document rooted mostly in normative argumentation, with many appeals to McGill and SSMU’s (Student Society of McGill University) stated principles on the environment. This is in many ways falling into the trap social conservatives fall into when advocating against harm reduction strategies. They focus on the moral stand their own actions are making against the societal wrong, with little consideration of how this stand affects overall occurrences of the wrong; if company X continues to exploit the environment after divesting, their logic seems to be, ‘at least we removed our money and can clearly say that we aren’t playing a part in it.’

This sort of stance is certainly respectable in the abstract, but is dubious in the real world. If you take a stand against investing in a company, or stock portfolio based on whether or not they derive profits from activities you find socially objectionable, where do you draw the threshold? How do you quantify the level of social harm, and decide who loses money accordingly? It may be easy to say that the oil rig operator is engaged in an unethical activity that should be divested from, but what about the bank that financed the drilling expedition? The company that built the drill? A close reading of the SSMU GA divestment resolution—which passed in the Fall GA as a consultative body—would suggest that there is no threshold. The resolved clauses push for divestment from companies involved in the oil sands, and “other companies that have negative impacts on their social, political, economic and environmental surroundings,” which is an incredibly nebulous standard; any company larger than a ‘mom and pop’ business can be construed to have some “negative” impact on its “surroundings.”

The flip side of the coin, and the real problem with a divestment strategy is that, by removing university stock from any or all of these companies, the university also removes its main means of direct influence over their activities. Publicly traded corporations respond first to their shareholders, and the likelihood that the public attention generated by university divestment will make companies change their behaviour more than any action universities as shareholders could take is dubious at best. Public outcry has limited and brief effectiveness as a tactic against the actions of large corporations.

So when we look at the issue of divestment, we must question the logic behind it. Are we simply trying to register our own opposition to a social harm, or will our action tangibly reduce the social harm? Being able to say that you aren’t a part of a social harm has little real value if your action does little to change the behaviour of the actors that matter.

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