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Panelists discussed proposed changes to the Senate. (Simon Poitrimolt / McGill Tribune)
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Panel debates Senate reform effects on linguistic minorites

by Christy Frost on

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Last Wednesday, in Chancellor Day Hall, Linguistic Rights McGill held their inaugural panel discussion on Canadian senate reform and its impact on linguistic minorities. The panel consisted of Stéphane Dion, former leader of the Liberal Party of Canada; Céline Hervieux-Payette, former Leader of the Opposition in the Canadian Senate; and Louis Massicotte, professor of political science at Université Laval.

“With this event, we sought to create a forum where academics, legislators and students could … share knowledge, experience, and possible solutions and outcomes in regards to the issue of reforming our chamber of sober second thought,”  Andrea Suurland, president of Linguistic Rights McGill, said.

Currently, the Governor General of Canada appoints members of the Senate on the advice of the Prime Minister. Senators can keep their positions until they reach the age of 75, and each province and territory is entitled to a specific number of seats, as determined in the Canadian Constitution.

Proposed by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in 2011, Bill C-7 would amend the constitution to make the senate a democratically elected body. The Bill proposes that senators should be elected by each province, and be limited to a nine-year term.

According to Dion, one of the major problems with Bill C-7 is it would make both the Senate and the House of Commons essentially equal powers.

“What Steven Harper is trying to do does not exist in any place in the world,” Dion said. “I think it is very dangerous to have two elected chambers able to stop each other.”

Dion also suggested that having a powerful, elected Senate would  be a disadvantage to provinces such as British Columbia, which,  for historical reasons, have fewer representatives in the Senate.

In his opening address, Massicotte addressed the importance of the Senate to linguistic minorities, as a larger percentage of people from minorities are found in the Senate than in the House of Commons.

“From 1963 to 2006, 17 per cent of the 253 senators came from a minority language community,” Massicotte said in French. “Language minorities are almost two times better represented in the Senate than in the House of Commons.”

Massicotte explained that using province-wide elections to select senators would likely lead to fewer minority language senators, since language minority populations are often concentrated in small areas.

“We shouldn’t exaggerate, however, in presenting the Senate as the defender of linguistic minorities,” Massicotte continued. “The first line of defense for official language minorities is very clearly the Charter of Rights and [Freedoms].”

Hervieux-Payette, a sitting senator for the senatorial division of Bedford, Québec, said that the senators selected under the existing system are dedicated and experienced.

“The [high] level of education amongst Senate members is for the good of the community,” Hervieux-Payette said in French.

The panelists also gave their opinions on whether or not the Senate would ever be abolished.

“I don’t think [abolishing the Senate is] a Canadian priority,” Dion said in French. “[The Senate] isn’t a problem, even though it isn’t optimal. It’s useful.”

Massicotte agreed that abolishing the Senate is not feasible.

“You would have to go around the Constitution to abolish the Senate,” Massicotte said.

He also pointed out that the Senate could not be abolished without a referendum question, and that both the House of Commons and the Senate must approve all referendum questions.

Overall, this panel was an opportunity for students in the McGill community to learn about their country’s politics from a Quebec perspective.

“I thought [the panel] was informative,” law student Annie O’Dell said. “I don’t have an opinion on Senate reform yet, so it was nice to hear [experts] talk about it.”

Redel described GA reforms at Council. (Anna Katycheva / McGill Tribune)
a, News, SSMU

SSMU General Assemblies to undergo substantial reform

by Erica Friesen on

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The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) is preparing to implement an online ratification system for all resolutions passed at the upcoming General Assembly (GA), as per a referendum question passed last semester. Scheduled for Oct. 1, the GA will also undergo several adaptations aimed to facilitate students’ participation in future debates, including interactive streaming software, workshops explaining procedural rules, and an increased volunteer presence.

Last semester, the referendum question calling for online ratification of GA resolutions cited the low quorum and attendance of GAs as grounds for making the resolutions accessible to those who could not attend the assembly. Previously, as few as 100 students could vote on a GA resolution that would affect more than 25,000 undergraduates.

“An online voting system would allow students to participate in the democratic process, which would produce a decision more representative of the Society,” the motion read.

However, an increased capacity for participants also means that the GA will have to meet a higher quorum—10 per cent of the society’s members—when ratifying decisions online. SSMU Vice-President External Robin Reid-Fraser emphasized the need to accommodate those who are unable to attend the GA, despite the challenge in reaching quorum.

“Just to have another way that people can be participating in the GA is going to add to it, since some people—just because of where they live, or because they have kids, or for whatever reason—can’t be there,” she said. “But if they can just access a laptop and watch, then that could be a great way to make those accommodations.”

The opportunity to view GAs online may limit the number of people willing to physically participate. To address this, SSMU President Josh Redel is looking to use interactive streaming software that will enable viewers to ask questions, submit amendments, and participate in straw polls.

Redel is also looking to encourage higher attendance at GAs by minimizing the time absorbed by procedural delays. For example, in the upcoming GA, voting will be conducted using clickers—the same device used by many students to respond to questions in class.

(Michael Paolucci / McGill Tribune)
(Michael Paolucci / McGill Tribune)

“These are all technical things, [but] I think people will be so much happier being able to debate than having to spend 20 minutes debating and then spending 40 minutes voting, re-voting, counting, and getting a final decision,” Redel said. “If it can be 60 minutes of debate and then three minutes of getting the final count, then that, to me, is worth it.”

SSMU executives also spent the summer researching how other universities conduct their GAs. This helped them identify other ways to streamline the process, and make it more accessible to students who are not familiar with the rules by which the SSMU GA is run.

“Before the GA actually starts, we want to have a preliminary conversation, debate a bit, and have a workshop with the speakers about the very basics of how things operate during the GA,” Redel said. “There’s also going to be a lot more information as you come in to the GA. It will explain all the changes we’re making [and] how to take advantage of them.”

In addition, there will be volunteers in the aisles to answer questions outside of debate, as well as a “mood watcher”—a volunteer with whom GA participants can silently communicate their concerns, possibly through email or text messaging.

“Basically, people who don’t feel like the GA is being productive, either technically or personally—if they feel like it’s not safe space or something—will be able to communicate with the mood watcher privately,” Redel said. “Then the mood watcher can make announcements to the crowd.”

Allison Cooper, SSMU vice-president clubs and services, said she is hopeful that these changes will improve the general student perception of GAs.

“I think it’s sad that the pessimism around SSMU GAs reached such a [low] point before we were able to make all these improvements,” Cooper said. “As long as students still see the value of debate and having us all come together—which is such a good thing and … rare thing at McGill—then all the streamlining and support will be worth it.”

 

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Severed Canada-Iran relations affect Iranians at McGill

by Jimmy Lou & Kyle Ng on

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On Sept. 7, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a sudden end to the diplomatic relationship between Canada and Iran. The Canadian embassy in Iran was shut down, and Canadian diplomats were recalled. Because of this situation, there is uncertainty about the status of over 121,000 Iranians residing in Canada, 262 of whom are currently students enrolled at McGill (26 undergraduates, 232 graduates, two post-doctorates, and two continuing studies students).

According to Majid Sheikholeslami and Ali Salimi, president and vice-president external (respectively) of the McGill Iranian Students Association (MISA), many Iranian students have been experiencing difficulty having their legal documents—such as passports and military service exemptions—processed.

“Every single [Iranian] student has been shocked [by] such a sudden decision,” Sheikholeslami and Salimi said in an email to the Tribune. “[Iranian] students with expiring study permits needed to renew their passports first, in order to be able to renew their study permit in Canada. … This has made the situation so complicated right now, since this can stop them from being able to continue their education in Canada.”

According to Pauline L’Écuver, International Student Services director, the largest concern for Iranian students is the issuance and renewal of passports, which are necessary to obtain a student visa.

“Some accommodations are being made on a case-by-case basis for financial situations, such as the deferral of fees or emergency loans,” she said. “However, we have students still waiting for student visas in Ankara, some who have waited over 100 days. The Canadian government has said they will try to address this backlog, but it may be too late.”

To assist affected Iranian students, MISA has offered to be a point of contact between students and the resources at McGill they may require for help. MISA will also offer services that will help resolve problems with students’ immigration statuses, especially those who face expiration within the next 30-60 days. Furthermore, the association is also preparing a proposal for McGill’s Admissions Office, asking them to relax some of their admissions policies for Iranian students.

“We are trying to ask them to ease [the admissions] process for our students, specifically regarding their requirement of ‘getting their transcripts and diplomas certified by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the Department of Justice,’” Sheikholeslami said. “We hope that we [can] overcome this difficult situation as soon as possible with McGill’s support.”

On Sept. 23 at 2:30 p.m., MISA will also host a General Assembly in room 202 of the SSMU Building, in order to provide everyone with an environment for further discussion on this issue.

Tensions between Canada and Iran have been on the rise now for several months. Beginning this past April, Canada closed its visa office in Iran, and soon proceeded to close all sections of the Canadian embassy in the country, leaving only essential services for Canadians travelling to Iran.

In July, funds from Iran were slowly cut off and bank accounts of many Iranians residing in Canada were frozen. The lack of single wire-transfer system created complications for Iranian students, effectively forcing their parents to send money through third parties, such as exchange bureaus.

“I think [these recent events] reflect both a concern over the vulnerability of the Canadian Embassy in Tehran, and perhaps even more so, this government’s particular views on Iran,” Rex Brynen, professor in McGill’s Department of Political Science and specialist in the Middle East region, said.

Brynen said he finds it difficult to imagine an improvement in Canadian-Iranian relations in the near future, unless there were to be a consensus on Iran’s controversially firm stance on sustaining its nuclear program. However, Brynen doubts that other countries will follow Canada’s move in severing diplomatic ties unless their own relations with Iran deteriorate significantly.

Despite the continuing uncertainty, L’Écuyer offered a final, positive remark on the situation of students.

“There do not seem to be many students with immediate concerns in the coming weeks or month,” L’Écuyer said. “So hopefully when these passport issues do come up, we will have found a solution.”

Principal Heather Munroe-Blum greets students outside of James Admin. (Alexandra Allaire / McGill Tribune)
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McGill admin hosts BBQ for students and staff

by Andra Cernavskis on

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Students, professors, staff, and other members of the McGill community gathered in James Square for a barbecue hosted by senior members of McGill’s administration on Sept. 13. Serving free burgers, veggie burgers, and hot dogs to approximately 3,500 people, the barbecue is the latest effort on the part of the administration to connect with students and the McGill community at large.

Susan Aberman, chief of staff for the Office of the Principal, was part of the team that helped plan the barbecue. She said her team chose to host a barbecue because of past successful lunch events.

“[A barbecue is] a nice social event for people to get together,” she said. “We did it at the end of last year … here in James Square. All the faculty came out. It was so successful [that] we thought, ‘let’s do it again.’”

This time, Julie Timmins, manager of events and stewardship for the Office of the Principal, ordered over 3,500 burgers. There were four grilling stations, each with a separate grill for veggie burgers.

Principal Heather Munroe-Blum informed students of the event by email on Sept. 6, formally inviting all members of the McGill community to join. On the day of the event, Munroe-Blum mingled with students and staff alike.

“It’s the beginning of the year [and] it’s my last year [as McGill’s principal],” Munroe-Blum told the Tribune. “[This barbecue is] a good way to start the year … just to have a community-building experience. And that’s something people have asked for—to have opportunities to just come together.”

Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) Morton Mendelson, who also greeted students at Activities Night the previous evening, explained at the barbecue that part of his job is to reach out to students and attend community events. He also touched upon the challenges that affected student-administration relationships last year, and how he hopes this year will be different.

“I’m very optimistic about this year,” he said. “It’s gotten off to a great start. I think what you see here is a reflection of people’s [attitudes] about the year.”

While many students were appreciative of the administration’s gesture, some still had reservations about the future.

“[Overcoming past challenges]  is not going to be an issue of giving out free food,” Jaime Sanderson, U4 civil engineering, said. “[It will have to involve] communicating about the issues and actually making changes that are important. However, I can appreciate [the gesture].”

Jessica Si, U3 arts and science, echoed Sanderson’s sentiments.

“As students, I think we always want … to see more of our administration,” she said. “If you think of this as a stepping-stone, it’s a great way forward. If you were to ask if this is enough, then no, of course not. I think there needs to be better relations with the students.”

Other students were just happy for a free meal. Alex Sawaya, U2 engineering, spent the hour hanging out with friends and enjoying his burger.

“It’s very nice of [the administration] to do [this],” he said. “I think they really do care about us.”

According to Doug Sweet, director of media relations for McGill, the administration has planned other student-centred events for this year,  including a pancake breakfast in a first-year residence hall, the annual skating party at McConnell Arena, and a continuation of last year’s community webcasts.

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Royal Society of Canada honours 12 McGill scholars

by Nicole Sawin on

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Two weeks ago, 12 McGill University scholars and researchers were honoured by the Royal Society of Canada (RSC). Eight will be inducted into the RSC as new Fellows, while the remaining four have received awards and medals.

Established in 1882, the RSC is the senior Canadian collegium of distinguished scholars, artists, and scientists. Dedicated to promoting learning and research in the arts, humanities, social, and natural sciences, the RSC also prepares expert assessments on critical issues of public policy.

“It is truly extraordinary for so many McGill researchers to receive medals and fellowships in a single year,” Vice-Principal (Research and International Relations) Rosie Goldstein said in an interview with the McGill Reporter. “We are extremely proud of all the honourees and the immeasurable contributions they make to research, teaching, and learning at McGill. Collectively, they embody the University’s history of excellence, while reaffirming that McGill remains at the forefront of research in Canada.”

Hans and Tamar Oppenheimer Professor in Public International Law François Crépeau is one of the newly-appointed RSC Fellows. Among his many other achievements, Crépeau was appointed the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants in 2011.

“It is humbling to think that people I have been working with think me worthy of such recognition,” Crépeau said, speaking of the colleagues who nominated him.

Dr. Siegfried Hekimi is the recipient of the Flavelle Medal, an honour awarded for “an outstanding contribution to biological science during the preceding ten years or for significant additions to a previous outstanding contribution to biological science,” as described by the RSC website.

Hekimi’s research involves investigating the molecular mechanisms of aging. His findings challenge the widely accepted free radical theory—a theory that states that organisms age because their cells accumulate free radical damage over time. When asked how he felt about receiving the Flavelle Medal, Hekimi, like Crépeau, replied modestly.

“What is humbling is when you see who else got [the award],” Dr. Hekimi said. “The list includes Best and Banting, who discovered insulin, Dr. Penfield . . . and also the last Canadian Nobel Prize winner, Michael Smith.”

Dr. Chao-Jun Li, a professor in the McGill department of chemistry and Canada Research Chair (Tier 1) in Green Chemistry, was also named Fellow of the RSC. Li’s research stems from the search for chemicals and chemical products—like clothing, cosmetics, and paint—that do not lead to harmful health or environmental concerns. Li also explores new chemical reactions in order to discover scientific tools to increase the efficiency of chemical production, thereby decreasing its negative consequences.

“When exploring new scientific frontiers, very often you will encounter many obstacles, frustrations, and uncertainty,” Li said. “We certainly have. Being inducted to RSC gives me an assurance of the importance of our research efforts and encourages us to continue.”

The induction and awards ceremony will be held Saturday Nov. 17, during which the new Fellows will be officially inducted into the RSC, and the awards and medals will be presented.

“I’m greatly indebted to all the students and collaborators who have worked with me over the years,” Crépeau said. “Without [their] unfailing support, keen insight, and challenging questions, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

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McGill places 18th in QS World University Rankings

by Karen Huang on

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McGill ranked 18th overall in the world in the 2012 QS World University Rankings, released Sept. 10. Although McGill moved down one spot from its 17th place finish in 2011, this latest annual ranking marks the sixth consecutive year that the university has placed in the QS top 20.

Launched in 2004, QS World Rankings is considered one of the world’s most widely known university ranking systems. It ranks universities annually based on six factors: academic reputation (40 per cent), employer reputation (10 per cent), student/faculty ratio (20 per cent), citations per faculty (20 per cent), international faculty ratio (five per cent), and international student ratio (five per cent).

In a news release, Principal Heather Munroe-Blum expressed satisfaction with the results.

“We are pleased by McGill’s continued strong performance in these rankings,” Munroe-Blum said. “It is a tribute to the talent, dedication, and hard work of faculty, staff, and students throughout our university. We are also delighted that three great Canadian schools are now listed in the top 50 of this world ranking, with two in the top 20.”

The other Canadian university to place in the top 20 was the University of Toronto, ranked in 19th place. The University of British Columbia was the third-ranked university in Canada, placing 45th.

For the first time, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology placed first in the overall rankings, followed by the University of Cambridge in second, and Harvard University in third.

According to QS Head of Public Relations Simona Bizzozero, 2,586 universities were surveyed this year. Of those, 729 universities from 72 countries were ranked.

“In [2004] we considered the top 500 universities for research citations based on a bibliometric database,” Bizzozero said. “[In subsequent years], we added to the initial group—other universities which received votes from the academics and employers we survey every year.”

According to Bizzozero, other universities were included based on specific considerations, including national rankings, survey performance, geographical balancing (recognizing the different priorities and characteristics of universities in different parts of the world), and direct case submission.

In individual department rankings, McGill placed 36th in social sciences and management, 32nd in arts and humanities, 29th in life sciences and medicine, 38th in natural sciences, and 46th in engineering and technology.

The full rankings, as well as more details about the methodology of the QS ranking system, can be found at www.topuniversities.com.

— Karen Huang

a, Opinion

Search for next principal, a chance to start anew

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An advisory committee was formed in April to find a successor to Principal and Vice-Chancellor Heather Munroe-Blum, whose second term ends on June 30, 2013. The committee will nominate a candidate it feels is best suited for the role, from an administrative and governance standpoint; the following are some  key qualities we hope to see in candidates for the principalship, from a student perspective.  This search presents an opportune moment for students to reflect on the values they hope McGill’s next principal will embody, and to indirectly influence the direction the university will take in the coming five years.

Munroe-Blum’s 10 year tenure, by no means without its share of controversies, can nevertheless claim a number of successes. Under Munroe-Blum’s governance, McGill has maintained its standing among the world’s top universities despite continual funding shortages. Munroe-Blum has also been a staunch advocate for recruiting new talent—more than 1,000 of McGill’s 1,600 tenure-track, full-time faculty were appointed in the last 12 years.

In the next five years, McGill’s focus needs to be on innovation and interdisciplinarity, and the next principal must take this to heart. McGill faces competition from all angles—larger, better-funded universities like the University of Toronto are outcompeting McGill for national grants, while smaller universities are outpacing McGill when it comes to implementing new and innovative programs. McGill’s traditionalism is often a barrier to both student and researcher achievement. Students are frequently unable to take courses in other faculties; for example, an undergraduate civil engineer wishing to broaden their horizons and take courses in architecture should  be supported and encouraged by their faculty to do so. To uphold the mission of the university, productive cross-faculty collaborations must not only be sought out, but encouraged. Candidates for the position, therefore, must demonstrate a commitment to fostering such an exchange of ideas.

The next principal must also strive to achieve a fair balance between research and teaching. Working closely with deans and department heads, the principal needs to value—both in rhetoric and funding—training professors to be good teachers. Munroe-Blum’s successor must prioritize investment in teaching support. This is closely related to the renewed focus the new principal must place on developing student life at school.  In 2006, Munroe-Blum established the Student Life and Learning Portfolio in an attempt to enhance the student experience at McGill. This was a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done. An applicant well-suited for the principalship must set clear priorities for the improvement of teaching and learning.

After the tumult of last year, a new principal, in many ways, brings a fresh start to dialogue on campus. The Tribune encourages the McGill community to approach this situation with an open mind. When choosing a successor, we call upon the advisory committee to choose a candidate who demonstates a strong ability to actively foster discourse among diverse groups on campus— even when the opinions of said groups may be at odds with those of the administration. Relationships are not a one way street, though, and students also need to ask themselves how they can contribute most productively to the discussion at hand. A less polarized campus, one where collegial debate is encouraged and different views coexist, is undoubtedly a more welcoming and productive one.

a, Opinion

Off the Board

by Steven Lampert on

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There are few things that I completely treasure. For some inexplicable reason, everything for me comes with a caveat, something that prohibits me from fully embracing its excellence.  The Miami Heat was the best team in basketball last season, but don’t speak to me about it until LeBron wins his sixth title. Arrested Development may be the funniest television show to hit the air, but the movie will likely be a letdown. This past year, however, I finally found something I adore wholeheartedly.  And, unlike with any previous muse, I’m not afraid to admit it. I unconditionally love Twitter.

Before I come off as a pretentious social media advocate, I should  confess that at first, I was reluctant to join Twitter and engage in such a public space; I thought Facebook was enough. I had the impression that Twitter was used by people who shared their unwanted thoughts and exact whereabouts, things that weren’t on the top of my priority list. My family was definitely a proponent of this opinion. When Twitter took off, there were countless dinner conversations about its stupidity. “Why do I care when Jennifer Lopez uses the washroom?” my sister asked repeatedly.

But at some point, I began ignoring my family’s disdain and entered the Twitterverse without their blessing. I made an account and began following my favourite athletes, musicians, writers, and comedians, and was exposed to a wealth of instant information. Ryan and Kelly from The Office are best friends in real life? Twitter confirms. Kevin Durant took a picture of Russell Westbrook sleeping on the team bus? He did! Thanks, Twitter.

But Twitter is not used exclusively as a platform to discuss our guilty pleasures and superficial opinions. It is also useful during landmark events. Along with millions of others, I found out about Osama Bin Laden’s capture and death long before it was reported on television. It was as if Bin Laden himself tweeted that he was done for. Though this need for immediate information can seem unnecessary—so what if I found out about Bin Laden’s death an hour late?—there’s something valuable about Twitter’s ability to spread news quickly.

For example, Toronto Blue Jays’ star Brett Lawrie was present at the Eaton Centre shooting in Toronto this past June. Lawrie has over 100,000 followers on Twitter, and as one the Jays’ most popular players, thousands of those followers are Torontonians. His warnings were retweeted hundreds of times, providing public awareness to people who may not have been following him. The instant spread of news kept mall-goers aware in a time of chaos, and perhaps even prevented people from going to the mall. For that, we should be grateful to have access to such a platform.

According to an article in Forbes Magazine this past May, 31 per cent of adults aged 18-24 use Twitter, up 13 per cent from the previous year.  I read that statistic as: 69 per cent of you don’t know what you’re missing. That, and my family must have brainwashed all of you. Nevertheless, I’m optimistic about Twitter’s growing importance. In the same article, a Twitter spokesman reported that “it took us three years, two months and one day to reach one billion tweets. Now, we see more than one billion tweets every three days.”

If I haven’t been convincing enough, then ask yourself why you wouldn’t want to be involved with a website that offers instant news, hilarious content, and engaging commentary. It’s a space in which you can share your thoughts to just friends (in the case of a private profile), or to the whole world, if you’re feeling confident. Any which way, I encourage McGill students to join Twitter. And while 140 characters didn’t give me enough leeway to pour my heart out, know this: 140 characters are enough to have an impact.

Though those 140 characters  might be used to discuss JLo’s washroom trip, I think we can get past that.

 

a, Opinion

A real Romney gaffe

by Joshua Freedman on

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It’s easy to understand why Mitt Romney must be feeling frustrated right now. The four-day Republican National Convention was first hijacked by a hurricane, and then by an old man talking to a chair.  Meanwhile, the majority of the media met the Democratic National Convention with plaudits, and Obama has seen a slight bounce in the polls. The media continues to characterize Romney as a man without any ideas, and at the same time, extreme ideas—a radical Republican, yet also a flip-flopper.

Frustration aside, the Romney campaign’s response to the recent tragedy at the American Embassy in Libya—on September 11th of all days—was out of line, and unbefitting of a candidate for the Presidency. In response to the horrific attack that claimed the lives of Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other embassy workers, Romney released a statement saying:

“It’s disgraceful that the Obama administration’s first response was not to condemn attacks on our diplomatic missions, but to sympathize with those who waged the attacks.” This response referred to a tweet from the Egyptian Embassy stating: “We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.”

Romney’s response was wrong on many levels. First, he launched his broadside against Obama on September 11th, a day on which campaigning was tacitly paused, instead of waiting until the following day.

Secondly, Romney was referring to a tweet that was not endorsed by the Obama administration, but was tweeted under duress by the American Embassy in Egypt, and later disavowed by the White House. Earlier in the day, a mob stormed the U.S. Embassy in response to an awful movie titled Innocence of Muslims, only to be followed soon after by a similar mob in Libya. It is perfectly understandable that those in danger inside the embassy would seek to defuse tensions by stating they were categorically opposed to the aforementioned movie. Did Romney not think that the public would be able to assess the situation in which this tweet was sent?

[pullquote]Romney’s rush to judgment was an attempt to score political points, instead of waiting to hear about the facts—an undesirable attribute in a President.[/pullquote]

Romney’s rush to judgment was an attempt to score political points, instead of waiting to hear about the facts—an undesirable attribute in a President. Indeed, there have been unconfirmed reports that the Obama administration may have bungled intelligence tips before the attack, and that proper due diligence may have averted the events that followed. It would have been far more prudent for Romney to actually see if there were legitimate grounds on which to criticize Obama. Alternatively, Romney could have criticized the Obama administration’s simplistic thinking about the situation in Libya, best exemplified by Hillary Clinton’s statement that, “we came, we saw, he [Gadhafi] died.”

Finally, as pointed out by The Atlantic, Romney handled himself in a far less dignified manner than previous Republican presidential contenders. When running for president, Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush both rightly stated that the nation had to stand in support of the Carter Administration’s botched hostage rescue in Iran. After the attack in Libya, Romney should have realized the solemnity of the moment, and called on the American people to respect the memory of those who died in the attack. The political games should have been delayed to a later time. The fact that Romney was unable to perform this simple political calculus really raises questions about his future temperedness in office. This is another boon for the re-election campaign of Barack Obama.

a, Opinion

Defining Montreal—One foot in front of the other

by Swathi Sadagopan on

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I didn’t quite fathom the impact coming back to Montreal would have for my of-late inactive and frail body. Mentally, I was expecting my intellect to sharpen, the range of my thinking capacities to widen, and my perspectives to broaden. This is thanks in part to the research that I am here for,  as well as my epicurean love for English, that has me signing up for challenges like “52 classics in 52 weeks.” What I didn’t expect was the speed, and unchecked chutzpah, with which ‘Run the Montreal Marathon’ joined the list—all it took was one trip up Mount Royal to seal the deal.

[pullquote]Hailing from a seaside city halfway across the world, what was the glam factor that made running, here, in this city of sights, so much more addictive?[/pullquote]

Five runs and 40 kilometres later, I got to thinking about what made the whole idea of putting one foot in front of the other so enticing. Hailing from a seaside city halfway across the world, what was the glam factor that made running, here, in this city of sights, so much more addictive? Quite simply, this city is a beautiful place to run. It boasts the beauty of manicured lawns and opulent homes (if you’re in Westmount), Lachine Canal, the picturesque St. Laurent Trail, and the Atwater market. The right and adequate infrastructure in place ensures that people can be on the road any time of the day. With dedicated running tracks and biking trails, and several comrade-in-arms for inspiration, it would be hard to stay off the road.

Of course, it’s easy for many Montrealers to take this infastructure for granted, but the emphasis on urban health is a direct indicator of the physical well-being of the residents of a city. Not only is it vital for physical fitness, but a sense of community stems from how thoughtfully our urban spaces are planned. In addition to the running trails, the bike paths of Montreal were among the first in any North American city and span over 400 kilometers today. Montreal also has the largest bike sharing program (BIXI) in North America. A bicycle policy adopted way back in 1995 by the Quebec government has ensured that cycling remains a top option for one’s daily commute, weather permitting.

With the requisite support systems in place, what could have been a choking metropolis on a ventilator is instead breathing lungfuls of unadulterated oxygen. The ‘Canada Running’ series seen in Montreal showcases the entire spectrum of competitive runs. On Sunday, the annual Terry Fox run kicked off from Mount Royal, while April will hold the Montreal Marathon. These regular running events keep the city on its toes.

Renewed emphasis on building sustainable communities and greening existing ones is a growing trend, and Montreal already has quite a head start, despite the vicissitudes of weather. Governmental policies which, through infrastructure, empower the city’s citizens to lead active lifestyles is sure to inspire generations of Montrealers to run. The prospect of a sustainable, healthy community lies within the vicinity of such a development. In the words of Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Woodrow W. Clark II, who spoke at McGill last week, “Block by clock, city by city, region by region, communities can change how they live.” Montreal is showing just how: by putting one foot in front of the other.

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