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a, Opinion

An opportunity to reflect on female political representation

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On Oct. 18, 1939, five women  challenged the Canadian Supreme Court for the right of women to sit in the Senate—and won. The day is now celebrated nationwide as Persons Day, after the clause in the British North America Act which stipulated that any person may sit in Senate. Before that day in 1939, women were not legally recognized  as “persons.”  Last week’s celebration came just one day after Mitt Romney’s “binders full of women” comment, which itself brought the issue of gender equality in pay and representation of women in politics to central focus in national and American media.

Internet memes aside, Persons Day and the discussion ensuing from Romney’s comment offer an important opportunity to examine the progress that women have made in Canada. Low female representation in public office remains problematic for most democracies, including this one. In 2008, just 22 per cent of seats in the House of Commons were held by women. While this is more than double the 9.6 per cent of seats that were held by women in 1984, the improvement seems to have stagnated. The rate has hardly changed since the late 1990s.[pullquote]There seems to be a clear disconnect … between female representation among leadership in academia, community,  and business, and female representation in public office.[/pullquote]

At a time when women are increasingly claiming top leadership roles education and the corporate world, this underrepresentation is surprising. What’s more, in post-secondary education, representation of gender exhibits a reverse trend. Last year, McGill’s undergraduate population was 58 per cent female. There seems to be a clear disconnect, then, between female representation among leadership in academia, community,  and business, and female representation in public office.

Part of this problem stems from a lack of female role models in politics, especially those who place value on making their work visible to young women. Female political leaders who put women’s issues first, even when it is politically inconvenient, are few and far between.  It’s even worse when female politicians do the opposite. Rona Ambrose, Canada’s Minister for the Status of Women, voted recently with her party to investigate the question of when life begins, which many see as a move to reopen the abortion debate.

Above all, girls need female elected officials who they can look up to and aspire to be like. Programs like the McGill’s “Women in House” program—a student-run, two day trip to Ottawa during which participants shadow a female MP or Senator—are a laudable start to tackling this complex issue.

The most fundamental problem, though, is that girls growing up who aspire to enter politics can easily be dissuaded by the depressing proportion of women in the field, and the lack of public role models. There needs to be a more concerted effort,  on the part of established politicians, to encourage girls interested in politics from a young age. Young people need to be aware that they represent the future, and that they can—and will—change the inequity.

Each year, Persons Day serves to remind us that while we have made large steps towards gender equality, there is still more to do.

a, Opinion

De-growth and the need for community participation

by Justin Berot-Burns on

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Last Monday, activist David Suzuki and economist Jeff Rubin shared the stage at McGill for The End of Growth Tour. The two explored the future of environmental sustainability and existing development trends. Suzuki focused primarily on the societal influence of development on the environment, while Rubin analyzed macro growth trends and the nominal price of energy for production to discuss the relationship between growth and sustainability. While each renowned speaker had slightly different interests in sustainability,  both stressed the need to reverse recent growth trends and reduce our environmental footprint. What wasn’t directly explored during Monday’s event was our own individual roles in the process of de-growth. In the aggregate, we need to diminish production and growth—but, as individuals, how can we all participate in this shift?

When it comes to sustainability in general, institutions like McGill can play an essential role in community integration, which can better serve our collective ideals.

While personal initiatives in sustainability are hugely beneficial, the radical change that Suzuki and Rubin demand cannot be initiated without larger-scale implementation. McGill has the opportunity to move concepts like de-growth and sustainability beyond individualistic projects and into more mainstream action. In fact, resources exist at McGill already that support the ideas heard on Monday. Students themselves already have access to student initiatives that promote sustainability for the McGill community. In addition to these established projects, the university can, by virtue of its size, be an effective promotion tool for developing sustainable initiatives that move towards reduced consumption. Campus entities such as the Office of Sustainability, or the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU),  can very effectively provide access to expansive resources and like-minded individuals.

The overarching concept of de-growth is fundamentally based on the idea that yesterday’s economic expansion and environmental degradation are not feasible for tomorrow. Whether a shift is brought about by conscientious policy-making or by economic necessity, it will bring about stagnation in growth. For the speakers at Monday’s event, this is a good thing. The global economy is heavily dependent on the cheap production of goods and hyper-consumption of materials in a way that cannot be continued indefinitely. A move away from this—as radical as it may seem—is more than feasible with the participation of the larger community.

Institutions like McGill can facilitate this first and essential step for a national and global shift prescribed by the likes of Suzuki and Rubin. As students, we have the opportunity to make use of the available community and access to resources to realize our individual conceptions of de-growth. If we accept Suzuki’s and Rubin’s initial premise as presented at The End of Growth Tour, McGill will prove an essential proponent, and promoter, of change for our sustainable future.

Any idea, in and of itself, is beneficial for the process of de-growth. If more people have the opportunity to discuss sustainability in meaningful ways, the community at large will be more receptive to change.

a, Opinion

Steps towards a functional General Assembly

by Ben Carter-Whitney on

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Last Monday Oct. 15 marked the SSMU’s fall General Assembly (GA). In spite of recent reforms intended to make the assembly more appealing and accessible to general membership, it was only able to pass two motions before losing quorum. The centerpiece of these reforms,  passed by referendum last semester, mandates that any motion passed by the assembly must now also be put to an online vote for ratification. Other changes include an enhanced webcast, as well as workshops held beforehand to explain the best practices for debating and how the GA operates.

The implementation of an online vote is a positive preliminary step towards making the GA more democratic and giving it a stronger sense of legitimacy. Ideally, its goal of involving a broader range of participants could also heighten awareness and interest in the assembly. However, last week’s assembly—especially the loss of quorum—was a stark reminder that this will not necessarily be the case. The next test of the reforms will be the online ratification process. The two motions must pass with a quorum of 10 per cent of SSMU’s membership of over 20,000 students. It’s hard to say whether or not the online vote will reach quorum. Recent SSMU winter elections have drawn 25 per cent voter turnout, and it seems unlikely that less controversial issues would raise the same levels of interest. But if membership does fail to bring in the vote, it will raise a significant problem for SSMU beyond underrepresentation.

Democratic values are a crucial aspect of any governing body’s legitimacy, but they must be balanced with functional capacity. If it is not being actively put to use, democracy is useless. If the online vote cannot reach quorum, it will act as an effective blockade rather than a democratic check. In other words, it will prevent a small number of students from passing motions on behalf of the greater society. Even if the ratification does reach quorum, it cannot necessarily represent the will of the student body when motions were voted on consultatively as they were on Monday. While increasing participation and voter turnout is undeniably important, SSMU must find an ongoing way for the General Assembly to have some sort of voice in spite of the problems it currently faces.

There are a number of solutions for SSMU. One of these, already being pursued by this year’s executive, is the use of technological resources and social media as a tool to introduce newcomers to the process and give them a feel for the assembly. In addition to observing the proceedings, students could also interact with the GA and engage in the debate remotely—even if their input did not come in the form of a formal vote.

Alternately, reform could be more structural. One option is to institute a sliding relative quorum between the assembly and the online vote. The minimum quorum for the GA should be reduced, but if fewer people showed up for the assembly, more votes would be required to ratify those same motions online, and vice versa. This prevents a fractional minority from being able to make a binding resolution on the majority unchecked, but also gives motions a higher likelihood of actually making it past the assembly.

Another option is for motions to be categorized based on their potential impact and level of controversy. Different categorizations would require specific quorum levels to move past the GA. The categorization itself could prove to be a controversial process, but certainly not insurmountably so.

While the above  would work towards keeping the SSMU General Assembly responsive and functional in spite of its problems, the proposals can really only treat symptoms. The real issue here is McGill’s culture of inaction and stagnancy when it comes to student politics. It’s an environment where information on elections and referenda get lost in a flood of listservs—I’ve received 16 last week—and where a 20 per cent election turnout is considered a success. Students fail to recognize, or are unaware of, the successes and challenges facing their governing bodies. This is a complex problem, and addressing it will require much more than the restructuring of a ratification system. Though there is no easy solution, it all begins with better communication to foster student awareness of what is being discussed, what is at stake, and why it matters.

a, Opinion

Speech and the Internet: Does the Internet create or merely enable bad behavior?

by Abraham Moussako on

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The increasing influence of the Internet over the past two decades has been frequently accompanied by periodic bouts of public soul-searching about what effect it is having on society. Over the past week, two major incidents have questioned the Internet’s role in enabling unacceptable behaviour.

The first was the tragic suicide of 15-year-old Amanda Todd, a British Columbian teenager. While commonly reported as an incidence of “cyberbullying,” the facts of the case don’t perfectly support that characterization. Todd was originally harrassed by an adult male who lured her into taking inappropriate pictures, and  then sent them to her friends. After changing schools, she was subjected to further bullying by peers after an incident involving another girl’s boyfriend. In the aftermath of this event, the role of the Internet is questionable. Did it create this behaviour or merely enable it?

In thinking about this dynamic, we should also consider the case of the man behind the infamous “Violentacerz” alias on Reddit, the popular link-sharing site. “Violentacerz” managed several forums on the site that dealt with topics of disputable legality and undisputably bad taste. They ranged from softcore pornography to a forum called “jailbait,” which featured sexual photos of scantily-clad teenage girls. Other forums he ran focused on rape and surreptitious photography of women in public places. The man behind “Violentacerz” was identified several weeks ago as a 49-year-old computer programmer from Arlington in Texas, by the website Gawker.

While there was considerable discomfort and outrage on sections of Reddit about these forums, a large contingent of the site’s userbase rallied to the support of“Violentacerz,” banning links from Gawker sites in retaliation. Those users alleged that these forums were protected by free speech, and therefore perfectly appropriate material for Reddit to host.

Both of these events are connected by one controversial idea: that the Internet has spawned a new frontier of bullying, and a new frontier of general nastiness. In reality, however, the Internet has only created new forums for old behaviour, making it harder to pinpoint ways to stop it.

In some respects, it is hard to counteract this sort of behaviour, even with new legislation. In response to the Todd incident, an NDP MP brought forward a bill authorizing Parliament to study the issue of bullying and come back with recommendations. This seems suspiciously like an attempt to “do something” in the wake of a high profile tragedy without doing anything involving actual political risk or action. Meanwhile, private sites like Reddit need to decide what sort of community they want to foster on their own spaces. The administrators on Reddit, with their generally soft-handed treatment of “Violentacerz,” played the dangerous game of profiting from the traffic he brought to their site while not considering the consequences of the content in terms of both exploitation and bad publicity, not to mention moral implications.

So where do these two incidents leave the issue of speech on the Internet? The administrators of Reddit have previously defended this more offensive content on the grounds of “free speech.” This is how the site responded to the CNN report last year that initially brought inappropriate forums like “jailbait” to mainstream attention, and they responded similarly to a BBC report on the current controversy. The inevitable problem with this stance is that a site influential enough to host Q&As with the President and other prominent figures can’t have it both ways when it comes to dubiously legal and moral content. Still, those who posted on “Violentacerz”’s forums won’t disappear if Reddit does crack down on this behaviour, much like those who bully and torment their peers won’t disappear if their smartphone was taken away. The only way to decisively change this sort of Internet-based behavior is to change the way people view who is ultimately responsible. At the end of the day, responsibility rests solely on the individual, and the Internet merely creates a forum in which bullying and other inappropriate acts can take place.

These bit-sized delicacies pack a sweet punch (mimpidreams.blogspot.com)
a, Recipes, Student Life

A sweet taste of India ready in under an hour

by Susan Westfall on

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Laddus are the ultimate indulgence—these little treats can resemble timbits, but pack a completely unique taste. Chock-full of energy, sweetness, and Indian-flavoured goodness, laddus are a staple of any Indian festival or celebration. However, not all laddus are created equal. There are many varieties native to the different regions of India, all equally tasty. Pamper your taste buds and sweeten your soul with a taste of one of these variations.

[divide]

Rava Laddu: A South Indian Sensation

Preparation time: 

About 1 hour

Makes 12-15 balls

Ingredients: 

1 cup semolina (fine or medium)

1 cup white sugar

¼ cup Ghee or butter

2 Tbsp milk (as needed)

A pinch of cardamom powder

10 cashews, coarsely chopped

10 raisins or dried cranberries

¼ – ½ cup grated coconut (un-sweetened)

Roast the cashews and raisins in two teaspoons of Ghee or butter until the raisins puff up. Remove from pan and set aside. Toast the coconut on a dry pan over medium heat but be careful not to burn it! Set aside once lightly toasted.

Dry-roast the semolina over medium heat, constantly stirring for about five minutes. Try to avoid too much browning, and if it starts to brown, turn the heat down. Add the ghee and combine over the heat for two to three minutes.

Remove from heat and combine the sugar, spices, nuts, raisins, and coconut with the heated semolina. Slowly add milk (you can substitute water) until the mixture starts to hold together. It should be dry, but solid. Only add enough liquid tothe required amount to be able to pack the mixture into balls. If necessary, put the mixture back on the heat to bring out the shape.

Cool the mixture enough so you can touch it (but not too much or you will never get the proper consistency to mold it). Shape into  golf-ball sized lumps and set out on a plate to set properly. Store your laddus at room temperature. Do not refrigerate, as it will cause the ghee or butter to separate.

Note: this recipe can be altered to your tastes. For a low-fat version, simply add less butter and/or sugar. 

[divide]

mimpidreams.blogspot.com
mimpidreams.blogspot.com

Besan laddu: A North Indian Indulgence

Preparation time: 

About 45 minutes

Makes 12-15 balls

Ingredients: 

2 cups gram flour (besan or chick pea flour, try to get fine grind)

1 ½ cups sugar (or to taste)

1 cup Ghee or butter

1 tsp almonds

1 tsp pistachios

1 tsp cashews

1 tsp raisins or cranberries, chopped

Toast the gram flour, until slightly brown, constantly stirring over medium heat. This step is crucial. It can take up to 10 minutes, but be patient.

Add the ghee or butter and stir until thoroughly mixed. Keep on heat for about two minutes. The mixture should be wet, but not overly runny.

Add the sugar and chopped nuts and stir until completely mixed. Again, the mixture should be dry, but moist enough to form balls. If needed, correct the texture with more ghee or more toasted gram.

Shape into golf-sized balls and store at room temperature. These little packets of energy will keep at room temperature for several months.

 

a, Student Life

Top ten excuses to take a study break

by Jacqui Galbraith on

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Midterm season can leave students feeling overwhelmed and chronically sleep-deprived, so it’s no surprise that we need an occasional break from the ceaseless storm of papers, exams, and assignments. A talented few can sail through midterm season without cracking a book, but the rest of us have to spend at least a little while in the library, Second Cup, or locked up in our rooms. 

During this trying time, it’s still important to take some breaks, simply for the sake of your sanity… Not because you don’t feel like working. The Tribune has compiled a list of ways to clear your head for a few minutes in order to remain productive.

Clean your house/room. Most of the time, chores seem like the least fun option out of all possible household activities, but when it’s a choice between a little dusting or grappling with a month’s worth of readings, housework suddenly becomes the lesser of two evils. Grab some lemon Pledge, an old rag, and a Swiffer, and have at it. Don’t pretend your apartment couldn’t use it. Bonus tip: blasting a little ABBA only speeds the process up.

Go get some exercise. After a few hours of studying, one of the best ways to renew your energy is to get moving. Depending on how much time you have, a short walk around the block or a trip to the gym can do wonders for your focus. You may feel burned out after a more rigorous workout, so a brief walk can sometimes be the most desirable option. Bring your iPod or a friend for company to get your mind off of equations and out of your textbook for a while.

Make a to-do list. One of the best ways to deal with stress—and the feeling that you have an insurmountable pile of work ahead of you—is to make a to-do list. Lists are very soothing, especially for the type-A personalities commonly found at McGill. The very act of writing out everything you have to do breaks your mountain of work up into small, manageable chunks. Cross each item off for an added feeling of satisfaction.

Call your family. Take the opportunity to catch up with your parents, your siblings, or whoever else you miss from home. It doesn’t need to be a play-by-play recount of your life since you last spoke, but even taking fifteen minutes to let someone know you’re thinking of them is a great way to ward off your paper, if only for a while.

Clean out your email inbox. Sort through the built up stores of cyber mail in your inbox (or inboxes, if you have a few), and delete all the junk and outdated messages you haven’t gotten around to dealing with. This can be a daunting task, but even taking ten minutes can make a start.

Update your iPod. Finally get that new jam out of your head and onto your iPod. Everyone has that one song your friend introduced them to last weekend—the one you keep playing on YouTube because you still haven’t gotten around to buying it or downloading it onto their iTunes. If it really has been a while since you updated your music selection, you might even have a whole list of tracks to find online. This can keep you busy for a few minutes (or hours, so be careful).

Do your laundry. All of it. Then fold it. Then put it away. Then pick your outfit for tomorrow. And your outfit for the next time you go out, and for your next job interview, and for in case you ever meet the Queen. Just to be prepared. This is a good one because it takes a few minutes to start, and in about half an hour, you’ve got a ready-made excuse to take another break and put clothes in the dryer. This applies whether or not you have to go to the local Laundromat.

One round of your favourite game. Just to stay in practice. But just one. Whether your vice is Tetris, Angry Birds, or Mario Kart, a quick round can take your mind off the books, and give your creativity a boost. This one’s tricky though, because one round can easily turn into 20 if you’re not careful. Set an alarm for yourself if you have to.

Reconnect with your room mate. This is probably unnecessary for most of us with roommates that are the very reason we take so long to get to work in the first place. But, in case you’ve been missing your roomie bonding time, take ten minutes to catch up and find out what’s been going on while you’ve been knee-deep in organic chem.

Read the Tribune. You might think this one is only good once a week, when the newest issue of the Tribune is published on Tuesday, but a little known fact is that each issue  gets better every time you read it. Did you particularly enjoy that movie review you read on Wednesday? Read it again on Friday! Read your favourite articles over and over until you can quote them to your friends, so they know how up to date you are on current events.

a, Student Life

Trick, treat, and party

by Natassja Di Battista on

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Halloween is right around the corner and you know what that means: parties, pumpkins, costumes, and candy! With so many things happening on and around campus, it’s hard to keep track of everything Halloween-themed. To help you out, the Tribune has created a handy-dandy list of sure-to-please events right here in Montreal.

4Floors

Starting off the exciting Halloween season is 4Floors, presented by the Students’ Society of McGill University. On Thursday, Oct. 25, the SSMU Building will be transformed and filled with DJs, mandatory costumes, and awesome drink deals starting at 10 p.m. The event is sold out, so keep an eye out for tickets on Facebook/Twitter if you’re still trying to attend McGill’s biggest campus party this year.

WaterCan McGill

McGill’s branch of the Canadian charity is organizing the “WaterCan Halloween Party” at the Telus Theatre (1280 rue Saint-Denis) on Friday Oct. 26. This year’s WaterCan is an all-you-can-drink event, featuring special guests DJ Matt Goulet, Michael Giorgio, and electro/pop producer Robotaki. This is WaterCan’s 25th anniversary, so tickets have been selling fast, but check their Facebook event for more information on last-minute sales.

TKO’s Seven Deadly Sins Halloween Rager at Gerts

On Saturday Oct. 27, TKO’s Seven Deadly Sins Halloween Rager is taking over McGill’s campus bar. Show up any time after 9 p.m., in your best Halloween costume. The party is going to include black lights, strobe lights, and themed drinks for all to enjoy. Tickets are $5, including coat check, and ensuring an awesome Saturday night!

Rocky Horror Picture Show

The Rocky Horror Picture Show Halloween Ball is a classic event that screams Halloween. In Montreal, the event takes place at the Imperial Cinema (1432 Rue de Bleury). The attraction boasts three screenigs—Oct. 26, 27, and 31—and two showings, at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. If you’re not familiar with the film, it follows a young couple on their way to visit an old teacher when they get lost, and end up at a mad scientist’s mansion. The beauty of the film, reknowned as a guaranteed good time, is its heavy reliance on audience participation. Costumes, dancing, yelling, and throwing props are required in order to get the full experience of the Horror Show. You can purchase tickets online, at the door (limited amount), or in person to receive a student discount (only applicable to showings on Oct. 31st). For more information, check out the website at www.rockyhorrormontreal.com.

Around Town

If you decide pre-planned Halloween parties aren’t your thing and want some other options, Halloween in Montreal has tons to offer. Most of your favourite bars and clubs will likely be having special Halloween nights this weekend so you can still look forward to costumes and themed drinks. If you’re checking out St. Laurent; Rouge, Ye Olde Orchard, and Tokyo all have theme nights planned. If you’re headed west of campus to Crescent; Sir Winston Churchill bar, Entourage, and Light Ultra Club also have Halloween events scheduled (check their respective websites for more details).

Halloween in Montreal isn’t an event to pass up on, so grab some friends, find a costume, and have a great time!

Simon Poitrimolt / McGill Tribune
a, Student Life, Student of the Week

Student of the week: Tarun Koshy

by Jacqui Galbraith on

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Q: What is your motto?

A: When it comes to dressing, I had a gym teacher—this old Ukranian boxer—in high school, who always told us “look sharp, feel sharp.”

Q: If you could be anywhere else in the world right now, where would it be?

A: Right now I’d like to be in New York, just because it’s a very vibrant city and I’ve been there a few times. I’d really like to stay there for a longer period. It’s very cliché, very cliché.

Q: Who is your hero?

A: Uh… Teddy Roosevelt. He, like, hunted.

Q: What is your lucky charm?

A: I don’t actually have a lucky charm per se, but I did get a Swiss Army knife as a birthday gift, and I kind of carry it around with me.

Q: If you could say one thing to Paul McCartney, what would it be?

A: Why don’t you age? He looks completely [young].

Q: What is your secret talent?

A: I’m a javelin thrower. I throw sticks very, very far. At some point that will become useful … None of the Canadian universities compete though, I just trained and competed in high school.

Q: If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life. What would it be?

A: If I was limited to one thing, I probably wouldn’t be keen on living for very long. So I’m going to go with sweet and sour shrimp. You can’t beat that. You’d die soon from massive[ly high] cholesterol anyway.

Q: What’s your favourite place that you’ve travelled to?

A: I’d have to say Whistler. It’s where I learned…where I actually enjoyed [learning to ski]. I went to Tremblant and spent four days doing the pie shape. Whistler was where I actually enjoyed it—it [had] perfect snow.

Q: Name a song that you consider completely overrated.

A: “Call Me Maybe,” I can’t believe how much that plays. It’s sad. Just because it’s so catchy. Oh, “Gangnam Style” as well. I did actually download it … but when it starts playing in clubs every couple of days, you know it’s overworked.

Q: What are you being for Halloween?

A: Uh, I don’t really dress up for Halloween. I’m scary enough as it is.

Q: What reality TV show are you perfect for?

A: I don’t really watch reality TV, to be honest. My friend watches The X Factor all the time.

Q: What would you do if you were on The X Factor?

A: I like comedy. I’d probably get up there and crack [a few jokes].

Q: Which fictional character would you most want to have a beer with?

A: Don Draper from Mad Men. You know he’d be perfect for it too.

Q: What would you talk about with him?

A: I’d talk about people. The guy knows how people work. I hate his profession, but he understands their emotions and how to play that, which is fascinating.

Q: What’s the last song you remember listening to?

A: Swedish House Mafia, it was a remix of a whole bunch of [their songs]. Before that, “Greyhound,” by Swedish House Mafia. That’s a perfect, perfect song.

Q: What’s your favourite Sandra Bullock movie?

A: She was in Speed wasn’t she? With Keanu Reeves. I’d have to go with Speed, not because it’s a good movie, but because Keanu Reeves is in it. Is he even in movies [anymore]?

Q: Name one fashion trend you’ll never try again.

A: Overalls. There’s no way to look refined in overalls. No matter what you do.

Q: What’s your favourite childhood book?

A: The Lion King.  They made the movie into a storybook. Before I could read, my dad had read it to me so many times, so that before I could even read I had memorized the story. My uncle came over and I “read’ it to him and he was amazed [because he thought] I could read, even though I had just memorized it. I would “read” that like, every day.

Q: Describe Montreal in three words.

A: Always be grooving.

Q: What’s your signature drink?

A: Root beer float. That is class. That’s old school.

Q: What’s the first thing you think of when I say midterms?

A: Dead.

Q: Who would play you in the movie of your life?

A: Either Jon Hamm or Denzel Washington.

Q: You were nominated for Student of the week by David Lin as a past editor of the Bull and Bear, Can you talk about that?

A: We were having pizza [and] studying for midterms, and David Lin [executive editor of the Bull and Bear] decided I needed to be student of the week. I was editing last semester, but I stopped because I really like writing, and I didn’t get to do that as editor. Once midterms cut out, I should be pumping out another round of articles.

Q: Why are you an asset to McGill?

A: I’m a numbers guy, so if you put that in terms of numbers, the benefit McGill is going to get from what I think I’m going to be worth later on is very substantial. And I make full use of what McGill [offers].

Q: So are you saying you’re going to donate to McGill a lot as an alumnus then?

A: I’m going to say “intangible amounts,” so I can avoid a letter from [McGill, asking for donations] later down the line.

Nominate a student of the week! Email us at [email protected]

a, Student Life

No change needed at Nickels

by Jacqui Galbraith on

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Next to the flashing neon sign for a nearby club that bogarts the attention of most passers-by, sits a quaint, unassuming retro-style diner by the name of Nickels.

This gem of Saint Catherine’s, established by Montreal’s very own Celine Dion, is part of a Canada-wide chain of restaurants, and is perfect for almost any occasion: a quiet lunch with a friend, a group dinner out, a casual (okay, very casual) drink, or a late night poutine run.

Nickels has been my favourite restaurant in Montreal since I first visited at the age of fourteen. My first visit was a  class trip to learn about ‘Canadian culture’ (apparently that can’t be found in Vancouver). Nickels accommodated our group of 70 or 80 rambunctious teenagers and their exhausted chaperones expertly. Since then, I’ve been back to Montreal both as a tourist and a student. Each time, I’ve made a point of visiting this timeless establishment—introducing a new patron to its quiet charm on every occasion.

Upon entering, diners are greeted promptly and cheerily by a host or hostess, and escorted to a booth or table. Your server introduces him or herself shortly thereafter, and the challenging but enjoyable task of narrowing down your choice to just one dish begins. Whether you are there for appetizers and drinks, a full meal, or just dessert, the menu offers a myriad of options. Nickels boasts a number of different poutines, an extensive breakfast section, and some delicious cheesecake options, along with a surprisingly enticing drink menu. I have gone with for drinks at Nickels and received more pleasant and personal service than I could have hoped for in most bars on Saint Laurent.

The ambience at Nickels is both laid-back and unexpectedly refined. The restaurant is very open and doesn’t afford much privacy, yet one enjoys the more old school, social experience it creates. Each booth or table comes with the classic bottles of ketchup and mustard—circa 1950—and the walls are adorned with black and white photos of classic movie stars. You might not expect it, but eating with the likes of Marlon Brando and James Dean gazing down at you only enhances the experience.

I’ve yet to have a poor service experience at Nickels, even when I’ve been there as a part of a larger, and slightly louder group. Whether dining in a pair, with a small group of friends, or with my entire ninth grade class, I’ve always received exemplary service. The general atmosphere is extremely comfortable, as if everyone dining there has come to escape from the fast-paced Montreal lifestyle for an hour or so. The prices are extremely reasonable, so that even a university student with less than sufficient funds can afford a trip every now and again, and the food is unarguably worth the splurge.

The only complaint I can file against Nickels is this: their washrooms (or at least their women’s washroom) are not made for people over 5’8”. They are located below the main dining area, and for some inexplicable reason, feature claustrophobically low ceilings.

Despite this one mild inconvenience, however, Nickels continues to be one of my favourite Montreal restaurants, and I highly recommend everyone take time for at least one visit.

The best Nickels in Montreal is located at 710 Rue Saint Catherine. Typical prices range from $15-$25 including tip.

a, Student Life

The caffeine question: coffee or tea

by Susan Westfall on

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Guilty or guilt-free—the jury is still out on the health implications of coffee. A staple in the morning routine of millions of Canadians and Americans, coffee drinkers often advocate its health benefits. On the other side of the fence, sit non-coffee drinkers loudly proclaiming the liquid’s harsh effects and singing the  praises of tea. Which side of the fence  has the greener grass? In short, it all depends. 

Coffee is an easy wake-up call:

Caffeine works by blocking  adenosine, a sleep-inducing compound, thereby relieving the inertia of many coffee connoisseurs in the morning. One eight-ounce cup of coffee has 85 milligrams of caffeine, while tea contains only half that amount. Coffee clearly gives the best stimulatory effect. However, considering that one can become more quickly habituated to the effects of coffee’s caffeine, consumption should be limited.

Tea glorifies the power of antioxidants:

Both beverages are rich in potent cancer-fighting antioxidants. Coffee’s quinines and chlorogenic acids make it a great source of antioxidants in the Canadian diet, but this is largely due to he substantial amount that Canadians drink. Tea  comes out on top with its flavonoid content; a superior antioxidant which is comparable to fruits and vegetables in terms of nutrition. According to one study, tea drinkers can consume up to 20 times more antioxidants than non-tea drinkers.

Tea and coffee both act as miracle drugs against common disease:

The disease-fighting potential of tea versus coffee cannot be directly compared, since both substances contribute to disease prevention like obesity, diabetes, and cancer in different ways. Teas have been shown to be superior in the fight against inflammation and the effects of aging, whereas coffee eases some effects of heart disease, stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Coffee is the ultimate memory stimulator:

In the brain, coffee alters mood, behaviour, perception, and even consciousness as it stimulates the happy hormone, dopamine. Coffee enhances short- and long-term memory and regular consumption is linked to a protection against delining cognition ability in the aging population. It affords protection against Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, dementia, and general memory loss. This effect is less noticeable in teas, thanks to lower levels of caffeine.

Heart Health: a little coffee, tons of tea:

A little bit of coffee protects against heart disease, but in excess coffee can raise blood cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and constrict blood vessels around the heart, thereby aggravating heart conditions. Over-consumption of coffee can trigger tissue death in the heart as it causes an immediate increase in heart rate. Tea only reduces circulating fats and cholesterol, supporting cardiovascular health.

Nerves—Soothed by tea, aggravated by coffee:

Caffeine is immediately absorbed into the brain and immediately impacts the nerves upon consumption. Caffeine also ramps up the adrenaline levels in our blood. The concentration of caffeine in coffee and the Canadian habit of drinking cup after cup can easily facilitate nervousness, anxiety, and increased blood pressure. Teas, substantially lower in caffeine content is absorbed more slowly into the blood, thus reducing the effects.

Coffee is key to an athlete’s routine:

During exercise, caffeine stimulates blood flow to the extremities,  allowing us to work harder and longer. This leads to more effective workouts, muscle gain, and increased athletic performance. Coffee also speeds recovery time:  one cup of coffee before a workout decreases post workout stiffness by 48 per cent.

The bottom line:

The aromatic bitterness of coffee and the smooth tartness of tea each provide healthful boosts to our diet. Coffee is more concentrated and can negatively impact your ability to process information. Tea on the other hand, is calming, instead of invigorating, yet holds the same healthful benefits as coffee.

The verdict? Drink coffee, only when needed; in the morning, as a part of your physical training routine, or just once during that 10-hour study session. However, if you are just craving a little boost, guiltlessly indulge in as many cups of tea as you want, without the fear of overdoing it.

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