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Science & Technology

Reevaluating earplug comfort and effectiveness against hearing loss

by Daniel Pyo on

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Industrial noise levels frequently surpass 85 decibels, which is roughly equivalent to the noise a blender produces. Extended exposure to such noise levels can lead to long-term hearing damage, and earplugs are a common preventative measure to mitigate this risk. However, they are often either not worn at all or not used consistently, primarily due to comfort issues. This stems from the fact that conventional laboratory assessments of hearing protection are limited in their design and fail to replicate real-world conditions.

Olivier Valentin, a research associate in Neuroengineering at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, is committed to improving the quality of life for people with hearing disorders. A significant part of his research focuses on hearing loss prevention.

 Valentin was diagnosed with bilateral moderate high frequency hearing loss while participating in a routine auditory screening. This moment sparked a profound interest for him to understand the functioning of the hearing system, ultimately shaping his future research career. During his postdoctoral fellowship at Université de Sherbrooke, he implemented a novel laboratory method to assess the multidimensional comfort aspects  of different earplug families—roll-down foam, pre-molded foam, and push-to-fit—using fully immersive sound environments generated via virtual acoustics. Participants completed tasks designed to assess how well they could hear alarms and human speech, as well as answering questions about their comfort levels. 

“The way it is done usually is through cost-effective laboratory evaluations. And the problem is these evaluations are not adequate to capture the multidimensional aspects of comfort, due to design limitations. They are not replicating real work conditions,” Valentin said in an interview with The Tribune. 

As Valentin noted, the study assessed earplug comfort and efficiency across several dimensions in a simulated sound environment, with 96 speakers being used to mimic the acoustic environment of a loud workplace such as a factory. Objective tests—alarm detection and speech-in-noise perception—and questionnaires assessed the earplugs along the dimension of acoustic comfort, while additional surveys evaluated them along the dimensions of physical, functional, and psychological comfort. 

The study found that the acoustic characteristics of the environment significantly impacted earplugs’ outcomes, particularly in terms of alarm detection and speech comprehension while wearing earplugs in high-noise settings This highlights the importance of tailoring earplugs recommendations to specific workplace environments to ensure effective alarm signals detection and better speech intelligibility. 

This research also revealed that different types of earplugs affect comfort in distinct ways. Participants noted that push-to-fit and pre-molded earplugs caused less annoyance from internal sounds, such as the noises produced by eating and drinking, compared to roll-down foam. Roll-down foam and push-to-fit earplugs, on the other hand, led to less physical discomfort and pain than pre-molded ones. 

Participants reported the physical dimension of comfort as the most important factor in evaluating earplugs, followed by functional aspects, with the acoustical dimension being the least prioritized factor. While earplug type had minimal effect on alarm detection, it did impact users’ ability to understand speech in noisy settings. 

While the acoustical attenuation of earplugs is key to ensuring a proper level of protection, Valentin warned against overlooking comfort as people are more likely to consistently wear earplugs that are more comfortable.

“It’s critical not to overlook comfort when designing hearing protection devices,” Valentin noted. “Earplugs  must  effectively  reduce  exposure  to  harmful  noise  levels,  but  they  also  need  to  be comfortable to encourage consistent use.”

Although this research primarily focuses on workers in industrial settings, Valentin emphasized that harmful sound exposure is not exclusive to occupational settings. Everyday hobbies can pose similar risks. For instance, concerts often reach sound levels of 115 dB, while motorsports can exceed 140 dB—both well above the threshold for immediate hearing damage.

“There’s a common misconception that sound exposure is only a problem for workers in noisy industries, but our recreational activities can be just as dangerous,” Valentin explained. “Raising awareness is key. It’s essential to educate the public about hearing safety and promote preventative measures. Whether you’re at a concert, motorsport event, or engaging in any noisy activity, using hearing protection like earplugs or earmuffs—even for short periods—can make a significant difference.”

“Ultimately, prevention is about protecting your hearing today so you can enjoy it tomorrow,” Valentin added. 

Since this interview, Valentin has joined the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Health as an Assistant Professor of Audiology. Students interested in pursuing a Master’s or Ph.D. project in the field of hearing sciences are encouraged to reach out to him at [email protected]. 

Opinion

More than a Theme: McGill’s Neglect of Latin American and Hispanic Heritage Month

by Uma Le Daca Jolicoeur on

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In 2018, Quebec’s parliament designated October as Hispanic Heritage Month, and Canada’s parliament recognized it as Latin American Heritage Month. Since then, many organizations and institutions have celebrated the rich cultures and contributions of Latin American and Hispanic communities in Canada. Yet at McGill University—where a diverse student body includes 30 per cent international students, with 599 holding passports from Latin America and Spain—there has been a blatant silence. This figure alone doesn’t account for the diaspora who identify as Latinx or Hispanic and hold other passports. A more accurate number can be achieved by looking at the Spanish and Latin American Students’ Association (SLASA), whose member count reaches over 1,900. 

McGill offers two undergraduate programs that focus on Latinx and Hispanic culture, politics, and literature: The Latin American and Caribbean Studies program and the Hispanic Studies program. These provide the university with a wealth of academic resources, from professors and course lecturers to fellow students. Yet, while Dalhousie’s Human Rights and Equity Services wrote a broadcast message on their bulletin with resources and reflections on the importance of uplifting the voices and experiences of Latinx and Hispanic groups, and Toronto Metropolitan University organized a Latin American Heritage Day last year, McGill refuses to tap into its resources. This is a gross oversight considering that the university directly benefits from Latinx and Hispanic knowledge production and culture. Such rich opportunities for proper recognition are clearly at McGill’s fingertips, if not in its grasp. 

McGill’s librarians made a first effort in 2021 with a Redpath book display dedicated to Heritage Month, titled “Visions of Latinidad: How they see us and who we are.” The website is still up and has not been updated since. During a quest to find out where the annual display was, a librarian revealed that the ‘theme’ had been changed to Witches this year. This being the only attempt that the university itself makes around Heritage Month makes it all the more disappointing to students who walk through Redpath rightfully hoping to see themselves represented on the shelf, and instead see books on Salem. They could have at least thrown in a book or two on //brujería//. The understanding of Heritage Month and //Latinidad// as a simple theme to be used and displayed (or not) is reflective of McGill’s broader neglect and refusal to recognize marginalized groups. 

While McGill’s behaviour is disheartening, it comes as no surprise. The first Black student group at McGill was founded in 1940, and as of 2023, 4.4 per cent of McGill students self-identified as Black on McGill’s student census. However, it took McGill until 2017—10 years after the Quebec government legally recognized February as Black History Month—to host an official celebration. With similar numbers of Latinx/Hispanic students (4.7 per cent), and SLASA being founded in 1989, Latinx and Hispanic students at McGill should not expect to wait until 2028, or longer, for recognition. 

With nowhere left to turn, McGill’s Latinx and Hispanic student body is made to rely on student groups such as SLASA and the Caribbean and Latin American Studies and Hispanic Studies Students’ Association (CLASHSA) for representation, events, information, and celebration. Student groups—consisting mostly of full-time undergraduates volunteering their time—put immense effort into organizing Latin American and Hispanic Heritage Month events. The simple act of acknowledgement and support from McGill could greatly reduce this level of labour.

McGill is at a crossroads, with so many vibrant resources growing within its walls, and a future full of Latinx and Hispanic students who will become graduates of one of the most renowned Canadian universities and leaders in several fields. The administration’s lack of action during Latin American and Hispanic Heritage Month is a missed opportunity both for its own enrichment and for the elevation and inspiration of brilliant voices that would speak louder if they were afforded representation.  

Commentary, Opinion

Happiness isn’t a formula—just ask The Little Prince

by Anna Bistour on

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When an existential crisis knocks at your door, avoidance feels impossible. In such moments, finding meaning and addressing inner conflicts becomes urgent, even though it may be painful. In The Little Prince, Saint-Exupéry explores this search for meaning, teaching readers to view life through fresh, unclouded eyes, and to appreciate its unique beauty. The book has a lot to teach us in adopting a ‘new set of eyes,’ to cherish the preciousness of life. This lesson is especially relevant in today’s fast-paced, efficiency-driven Western societies—where disregarding emotions and feelings has become common, especially among overworked and over-achieving students at McGill.

Amid the weight of adulthood, there’s a need to recapture the openness and curiosity that children bring to the world, embracing life as something to be explored and appreciated rather than merely managed. In this way, we become creators of meaning in our lives, painting each day with renewed wonder.

To “see” is to observe, to notice, to take in. It is with your eyes that you first experience the world each morning as you wake, transitioning between the dream’s fog and tangible reality. Yet, surprisingly, our eyes are not always the best tool to truly perceive our surroundings. The Little Prince teaches us to look at the world through this “new set of eyes,” encouraging us to grasp the singularity and preciousness of life. So, why don’t we start by using the powerful human faculties Mother Earth gifted us to adopt a more holistic outlook?

Driven by a success-oriented mindset, many overlook their emotions, deeming them irrational or distracting from measurable achievements. However, they have the potential to reveal more about our inner workings if we’re open to listening. Sweaty palms betray the tension of an exam, a racing heartbeat reveals the thrill of a first date, and a shaking leg exposes the fear stirred by a horror film. Each of us carries around 10 million sensory receptors, constantly absorbing data about our inner and outer worlds. These signals are invaluable; they remind us to pay attention to the little things and align with our deeper selves. As The Little Prince teaches, noticing these subtle messages is a crucial step toward a more authentic and fulfilling existence. In essence, our body is constantly speaking to us, and true clarity lies in the mind’s willingness to listen. 

In The Little Prince, the wise fox teaches readers to explore the external world and their inner selves, though this enterprise requires time, patience, and commitment. Following the fox’s guidance, the Little Prince embarks on a transformative journey, prompting him to appreciate life to the fullest, as he comes to understand the beauty of his planet—beautiful because of its uniqueness. After comparing his life to that of a businessman and a lamplighter, who have been perverted by society’s vices, the Little Prince realizes he has nothing to envy. He has found true peace and fulfillment in his values and relationships with his friends: The fox, the rose, the volcanoes, and the nature on his planet, which he carefully nurtures. 

The Little Prince epitomizes the everyman—excited about the sight of sunsets and shaken by the existential dread of loneliness. In the modern age, adults and young adults have gotten too serious. There is an urgent need to leave condescension behind the door and learn from children’s clarity to view the world and appreciate each piece of it. From the Latin, exsistere—as in ‘existence’—means to ‘come into being.’ On this account, life is a piece of art and you are the artist. No previous experience or fancy degree is required to build something meaningful in one’s own life. Worrying about the length of your LinkedIn or the prestigious schools you will attend will not help in your quest for meaning. True fulfillment results from one’s ability to appreciate the small details of everyday life and to treasure what one already has. Life is a canvas where no mistakes can occur, as we each live within our own universe, viewing the world through our unique prism of perception. 

Arts & Entertainment, Music

MJ Lenderman ushers the spirit of Asheville into Montreal’s Théâtre Fairmount

by Annabella Lawlor on

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Whirring guitars pierce through the night, sloshing through the cramped crowd of Théâtre Fairmount. The amps engulf the room in a communication of riffs, a call-and-response of rhythmic strums with the scalding guitar whistles and twang of the pedal steel. As the audience returns lyrical chants to the stage, shock transforms the performers’ modest demeanours into a mix of shy charisma and humble fortitude. Sporting clogs and a pair of worn-out Levi’s, MJ Lenderman and his touring band, The Wind, took to the stage in effervescent fashion, riding the high of the venue’s vibrant energy.

On his first of three major tours in subsequent months, Lenderman played in Montreal on Oct. 21 in support of his recent record, Manning Fireworks. After its release and succeeding critical acclaim, Lenderman’s fame reached new heights, with many publications pronouncing him the second coming of the pure indie-rock genre. The record is undoubtedly characteristic of several seminal “alt-country” and “loner-rock” records of the early 2000s by the likes of Bill Callahan, Will Oldham, and David Berman, many of whom Lenderman has described as huge influences on his musical output. Manning Fireworks is a lesson in paying homage: His inspirations are apparent in the constructed soundscapes, yet the narratives presented throughout the record are uniquely fresh and unabashedly honest.

In his lyrics, Lenderman embraces the mundanity of the world, humourizing life’s most monotonous moments and embracing the boredom that existence has to offer. There’s art in elevating the unexpected—beauty in the absence of chaotic experience. Each song is an amalgamation of short anecdotes, grappling with the predictability of life in the unintentionally humourous American landscape. In “Joker Lips,” he confesses, “And you know I love my TV / But all I really wanna see / Is see you need me,” and in “You Don’t Know The Shape I’m In,” he recalls how “We sat under a half-mast McDonald’s flag.” His words carry a meta-recognition of the falsities of the American psyche and the emotions that plague a society so reliant on consumerism and corporate power structures. Lenderman’s tracks come across as honest documentations of America’s depravities and frank recollections of the modern world’s accidental absurdism. On “Rudolph,” he somehow describes accurately and emotively the feeling of helpless vulnerability with the comedic metaphor of a “Deleted scene of Lightning McQueen / Blacked out at full speed.”

His lyrics become more potent when considering the current landscape of loss in Lenderman’s hometown of Asheville, North Carolina. The shocking arrival of Hurricane Helene in late September destroyed homes and entire neighbourhoods as a result of mass flooding. Many figures in the Asheville music scene—including Lenderman’s other band Wednesday—have documented the displacement and devastation experienced by the city’s residents and called upon people across the country to donate to the city’s reconstruction. As a result, Lenderman cancelled several of the tour’s early stops. Lenderman informed the show’s audience of a new song he contributed to the compilation album Cardinals At The Window. With over one hundred participating musical artists, the record is only available through purchase, with its proceeds going to rebuilding Western North Carolina. Playing the new track, “Pianos,” Lenderman’s performance was a triumphant reassertion of Asheville’s musical spirit and the strength of its residents in the face of disaster.

The power of MJ Lenderman and The Wind as a musical unit is clear: They don’t play separate parts, but rather formulate a soundscape reliant on creative convergence and the synergy of their musical contributions. With every song, one could feel the immense joy emanating from each member; they were playing for themselves, yet their joy was undeniably contagious. 

MJ Lenderman’s music can be found on all music platforms.

Know Your Athlete, Sports

Know Your Athlete: Zach Bye

by Zain Ahmed on

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Zach Bye, a 21-year-old attacker for Redbirds Lacrosse, U0 Arts, has quickly made a name for himself in his first year at McGill. Hailing from Greenwich, Connecticut, Bye has started his McGill lacrosse career with a bang. The freshman has been named McGill Athlete of the Week twice this season and has been a driving force behind the team’s success this year.

Following in his grandfather’s footsteps, Bye began his career at the age of seven at Fox Lane Youth Lacrosse Club, later playing for The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut. He played both hockey and lacrosse throughout his youth but initially chose to focus on hockey after graduating high school. Before coming to McGill, Bye spent two years playing junior hockey in the North American Hockey League for the Amarillo Wranglers. Realizing his passion for lacrosse, Bye decided to return to his roots when he started university. The idea of getting back into the sport of his childhood was compelling, and he knew he had what it took to make it worthwhile. 

The transition to student life was a big adjustment for Bye, who hadn’t been in a classroom for two years. However, he explained to The Tribune that he has found the balance between academics and athletics manageable. 

“As long as you’re doing the right things, there’s a lot of time in the day,” Bye said. “Our coach is very understanding if you have class or something that overlaps with practice. He understands that school comes first and you’re here to be a student and an athlete. So that makes the whole thing a lot easier.”

On the field, Bye is a standout performer. He leads the league in goals this season with a remarkable total of 29 goals scored and has been instrumental to the Redbirds’ success in the conference, with the team currently 10–0–0. Looking ahead to their qualifier game against Bishop’s University on Oct. 26, Bye has high hopes that the team will secure a spot in the semis. 

“We’re feeling confident. We’re a good team and have been strong all season, but we know that we’ve had a close game with Bishops earlier in the season—we won by one goal,” Bye said. “I think even though they’re in sixth and we’re in first, we know that the gap isn’t that wide, so we have to be ready to go all out to fight for a spot in that semifinal.”

All in all, Bye’s confidence paid off, as the Redbirds stormed over their opposition in a convincing 19-5 victory against Bishops on Sunday afternoon. 

Beyond his on-field accomplishments, Bye is known for his positive attitude and team spirit. Commenting on the difference between playing high-level hockey and lacrosse at the Varsity level, Bye explained the sense of camaraderie on his new team has changed his perspective on university sports. 

“[The team] is one of the tightest groups I’ve been around. I think it’s definitely different playing a sport at university than just another team. Like, obviously, you want to represent the team, but when you’re representing a school it’s more exciting because it’s a whole student body, rather than just your teammates, that you put on your shoulders,” Bye said.

As Bye looks ahead to the future, he hopes to continue playing lacrosse for as long as possible. With three years of eligibility remaining, he has plenty of time to make an even greater impact on the McGill lacrosse program. He believes that the team’s freshman class has what it takes to bring success to the program in years to come.

Given his hiatus from lacrosse to pursue high-level hockey, Bye has faced challenges and ridden the highs and lows of competitive sport. Returning to lacrosse so successfully was no small feat. Bye spoke about his approach to maintaining a consistently high level of performance at the university level. 

“My advice to the younger players, and players that want to get into varsity sports, would be: If you put in time and effort every day, it is compounding,” Bye said. “I’ve had success this year, even though I’ve spent time away from the sport. It sounds cliché, but like it really just is down to how often you’re playing your sport and how badly you want it.”

Editorial, Opinion

Selective storytelling sanitizes genocide

by The Tribune Editorial Board on

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American news network CNN has sparked outrage over its recent article focusing on Israeli soldiers’ experiences of trauma and suicide risk after their deployment to Gaza. Critics argue it whitewashes perpetrators of violence while minimizing Palestinian suffering in an attempt to generate sympathy for the aggressors. The article’s framing is emblematic of western media coverage that perpetuates the dehumanization of Palestinians while manufacturing empathy for those committing heinous war crimes against them. 

The piece details how a former Israeli Defense Force (IDF) soldier can no longer eat meat because it reminds him of the bodies he crushed with a bulldozer in Gaza, sadistically equating Palestinians to animals. While the original article included trigger warnings for mentions of suicide and PTSD, editors notably omitted any warning about the graphic description of violence against Palestinians.

It is only in a world where Palestinian lives are dehumanized, reduced to mere numbers and statistics, that their genocide becomes normalized. The fact that an IDF soldier’s trauma, which resulted from his conscious choice to bulldoze civilians, garners more concern than the innocent lives taken by war criminals, demonstrates how irresponsible journalism like CNN’s has the power to desensitize its audiences to Palestinian suffering.

Such reporting represents a fundamental neglect of journalistic responsibility. When globally influential news organizations choose to give authority to those participating in genocide while rendering their victims invisible, they become complicit in the sanitization of state-sanctioned violence. Avoiding the explicit term genocide in this article about violence in Gaza fails to accurately inform and provide context for readers, given that Israel’s actions in Gaza fit the legal definition of genocide, and international human rights organizations have categorized it as such. CNN’s article does not attempt to represent both sides—it is a conscious editorial decision to frame war crimes through the perspective of their perpetrators.

As Israel continues its deadly military campaign in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, mainstream media’s persistent negligence to adequately cover Israel’s abominable actions forces Palestinian journalists to risk their lives documenting their own ethnic cleansing. From denying journalists access to Gaza, killing and targeting Palestinian journalists, and propaganda campaigns, Israel has deliberately presented innumerable challenges to responsible reporting. Yet these obstacles do not excuse the mainstream media’s failure to amplify Palestinian voices and explicitly call out Israel for its crimes against humanity.

Media institutions must aim for equitable and accurate coverage that tells the stories of the oppressed and speaks truth to power. This means recognizing that the trauma IDF soldiers face stems from the disproportionate violence and brutalization they actively choose to commit on Palestinians. Responsible journalism does not mean creating false equivalencies of suffering when the weight of truth is clear. It requires the courage to name genocide for what it is, to challenge systems of oppression rather than amplify them, and to recognize that objectivity in the face of atrocity serves only to protect the perpetrators.

When we passively consume media that sympathizes with oppressors while disregarding the victims of their violence, we, too, become complicit in the devaluation of Palestinian lives. Critical engagement requires questioning why certain stories dominate headlines while others are disregarded, and examining which perspectives are granted authority and which are systematically silenced. Readers must challenge institutions––including McGill University— that claim to inform while serving as mouthpieces for state violence.This means actively amplifying voices from communities most impacted by violence, supporting independent Palestinian journalists who courageously document horrific realities, and sharing these perspectives with those misled by mainstream narratives. It means holding powerful media outlets like CNN accountable, and demanding equitable coverage that humanizes Palestinians rather than reducing their reality to a statistic on a screen. Through alternative media, campus organizing, and academic discourse, we have a collective responsibility to forge spaces for Palestinian narratives that mainstream outlets continue to suppress.

McGill, News

Superior Court rejects McGill’s injunction request to extend restrictions on campus protests

by Eliza Lee on

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On Oct. 21, the Superior Court of Québec dismissed McGill’s provisionary injunction request to limit protest activities on campus. The request came after the university successfully obtained a 10-day injunction barring campus demonstrations under specific conditions following a protest on Oct. 7. 

McGill and Concordia students organized this protest to demand their institutions divest from companies complicit in the genocide of Palestinians. The Oct. 7 rally ended when police used tear gas on protestors, some of whom smashed the windows of the Sylvan Adams Sports Science Institute on Avenue des Pins. McGill also restricted access to campus from Oct. 5-7 in anticipation of Oct. 7 protests, and later extended these restrictions through Oct. 8.

Like the 10-day injunction, McGill’s injunction request named Students for Palestine’s Honour and Resistance (SPHR) at McGill as the defendant. The injunction request aimed to extend the same measures put in place with the 10-day injunction, which banned SPHR and “any person having knowledge of or having received service of the judgment” from actions such as obstructing entrances to buildings on campus, protesting within five metres of campus buildings, and disrupting academic activities.

The hearing for the injunction request took place on Oct. 18, the same day that the 10-day injunction expired. In the ruling, Justice Gary Morrison wrote that he dismissed the request because McGill had not shown that SPHR’s past activities, such as its demonstrations, demanded an urgent need for the injunction. 

In an email to The Tribune, the McGill Media Relations Office (MRO) explained that the university submitted the injunction request to “protect its academic mission and to defend students’ and instructors’ right to learn and work in an environment that is safe, stable, and suitable for teaching, learning, and research.” 

A representative from SPHR, who wished to remain unnamed, argued that this injunction is one of several legal actions that McGill has filed against student activists protesting Israel’s attacks on Palestine and Lebanon. As an example, they cited the injunction the university filed in May requesting the removal of the Palestine Solidarity Encampment.

“This isn’t the first time that McGill has [filed an] injunction against the students,” they said. “This shows that the protests are affecting McGill and are working [….] So it’s more motivating than anything.”

As SPHR did not attend the hearing, Justice Morrison allowed four organizations to act as intervening parties in the case: Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) McGill, the Association of McGill Professors of Education (AMPE), the Association of McGill Professors of the Faculty of Arts (AMPFA), and Palestinian and Jewish Unity. 

Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education and Interim President of AMPE, Dennis Wendt, told The Tribune that the union chose to be an intervening party because the injunction could restrict the union’s right to protest. 

“Given the injunction’s broad scope to include anyone aware of the decision, we were concerned about a precedent […] of clawing away at actions pertaining to protests or picketing […] that unions or other groups would be involved with,” Wendt wrote.

Kyle Kubler, Interim Second Vice-President of AMPFA and Faculty Lecturer at the McGill Writing Centre, expressed concern that the injunction could act as a way for the university to control the actions of those on campus.

“We’re worried about the type of precedent this behaviour could create where McGill simply turns to injunctions rather than dialogue to deal with dissent, be it from students, faculty, staff or the public,” Kubler wrote. 

Kubler went on to claim that by banning protests within five metres of campus buildings, the injunction would also interfere with the union’s right to safely protest outside of their workplace. According to Kubler, this rule would mean some instructors—such as those working in Sherbrooke 680, like himself—would be forced to stand in the street rather than demonstrate on the sidewalk.

The MRO maintained that the 10-day injunction did not violate staff and students’ rights to freedom of speech or freedom of assembly, and that McGill supports community members’ rights “within the limits of the university’s policies and the law.”

For the SPHR representative, the court’s decision is a “victory” for the student movement for Palestine. They reaffirmed that SPHR would continue to pressure McGill to cut financial and academic ties with Israel.

“It’s […] a really great time for the student movement to keep pushing for their goals of [ending] their academic institutions’ complicity in the genocide in Gaza.”

Chill Thrills, McGill Recommendations, Student Life

Halloween costumes on a budget

by Bianca Tri on

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Whether you’ve partied over the past weekend, are about to start a bender on Thursday, or just want to dress up at home, costumes are at the heart of Halloween celebrations. This is your sign to not be intimidated by the planners of our world—those who’ve had their outfits ready since last Halloween—and to embrace creative solutions. The following recommendations for costumes on a budget are not only cheap, but also trendy and easy to put together last minute!

Search for inspiration

Thanks to the internet, there are endless sources of costume inspiration for Halloween. Searching for “DIY halloween costumes” on Pinterest is an easy way to get started. Thousands of photos are available and often more relevant than what you’d find through a simple Google search. When you find something you like, the algorithm will look for similar pins to explore. A costume can be anything you want it to be! Some good places to start are your favourite characters from movies, singers in iconic tour outfits, and even inanimate objects. Gone are the days of needing your choice to be recognized—Halloween is all about enjoying yourself. If you want to go as a jar of pickles, nothing’s stopping you.

Look into your closet

Now that you have an idea of what you want to dress up as, it’s time to take inventory. Before heading to your nearest Spirit Halloween, take a look at your own clothes. If historical accuracy is not a problem for you, then substituting in a shirt or an accessory that’s a few shades off-model is an easy way to save money. It’s a good idea to ask any friends for items as well—just make sure to return it vomit-free afterwards. If your wardrobe is looking a little bare, be on the lookout for clothing swaps, where you can exchange second-hand outfits, or dig through the closet of a generous friend. Additionally, going to a thrift store and checking their seasonal aisle is a budget-friendly alternative. Also, if you’re going to buy a piece of clothing you know you’ll only wear once, try to donate these items once Halloweekend is over.

Get creative

To elevate your everyday clothes to fantastical levels, try a bit of arts and crafts. Do-it-yourself projects do not have to be time-consuming, complicated, or permanent. A few pieces of masking tape can last you throughout the night, and the next morning your clothes will return to normal. With just some scissors, markers, and a basic sewing kit, you can make virtually anything. Plus, it’s always nice to get a compliment on a costume and be able to say you made it yourself!

Don’t be afraid to reach out to friends: The only thing more fun than making costumes is making costumes with friends. If your make-up skills are not up to par, you might know someone who’s eager to test their special effects skills on you. You can even turn a somewhat tedious task into a fun get-together. Just buy masquerade masks from the dollar store and form your troupe of black swans, jesters, or musketeers! 

Some ideas to get you started

Here are some costume ideas you need to try this year:

  • Art, Tashi, and Patrick from Challengers (2024): All of the characters in this film wear pretty normal clothes. If you own a tennis racket, it’ll be pretty easy to dress up as any of the three. This goes for any sports-related costumes: Props are your best friend.
  • Olympic breakdancer: All you need to embody your inner Raygun is a fully green outfit and some confidence. The best part about this costume? You can test out some crazy dance moves and say it’s all in character.

Post-ironic Brat: It’s time to accept that while brat summer is over, brat autumn has just begun. In fact, brat will never end. Between remix albums and world tours, maybe we all need to pick up a sharpie and a neon green shirt this Halloween. The good thing about brat shirts is that you can write whatever costume you wish you’d bought; just make sure it’s in a lower case font.

Student Life

How to support your American friends as the presidential election looms

by Ella Paulin on

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As Election Tuesday approaches, it’s likely to be a tense week for our neighbours to the south. Here’s some advice from a concerned American to help you look out for your friends from the States. 

Check in about their plans for election night

With months of build-up, no clear polling data, and incredibly high stakes, Tuesday, Nov. 5 is likely to be one of the most stressful political days of the year for anyone with a vested interest in the U.S. government. Everyone deals with this in their own way: Some will likely be passing out drunk on the couch at an election watch party, some will be anxiously checking their phones every five minutes while pretending to study, and some will be trying to distract themselves any way they can. Whatever they’re up to, it can be a nice gesture to check in on your American friends to see if they’d like company, support, or a distraction. 

Take a quick break from complaining about Justin Trudeau

Look, we know you’re not a fan of him. We know about the blackface, his inability to say “LGBTQ,” and that his dad has an airport named after him. But honestly, compared to what Americans are dealing with, anyone who can speak in coherent sentences is looking pretty good right about now. 

Look into their local elections

During presidential election years, the race for the top spot usually gets all of the attention, but there are also many crucial elections happening at both the state and local levels. If you know what state or city your friend is from, look up what additional items are on their ballot using websites like vote411.org, or ballotpedia.org for more information on specific measures. Depending on the state, there may be important races for governor, senate, or state legislature. There are also often referendum questions on topics like the legalization of marijuana, abortion rights, and school funding. Familiarizing yourself with some of these ballot items can go a long way towards showing you care—and understanding what exactly your American friends are so stressed out about this week. 

Know the swing states

While every American is affected by the outcome of the presidential race, the election-night experience can be very different depending on whether your state is solidly blue, solidly red, or up in the air. If your friend is from Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, or Nevada, their races are still well and truly considered toss-ups, and their results will have a disproportionate impact on the national outcome. 

Help them out with Wednesday classes

Votes will be tallied well into the evening on Tuesday, so if your friends are staying up to see the final results, it may be a late night. And depending on the outcome, they may not be feeling very motivated to attend class the next morning either. If you share a Wednesday-morning course with an American, it might be helpful to send them your notes or an audio recording of the lecture. 

FAQ: Addressing some common questions so your American friends don’t have to

Are you going to vote?

While voting is a crucial part of living in a democracy, and many American citizens living abroad are eligible to vote in state and federal elections, at this point it’s too late to start the process of requesting an absentee ballot for many states, and any Americans who haven’t voted are likely feeling guilty about it, so no need to rub salt in the wound. 

Do you think you’re gonna move back to the U.S. after you graduate?

They still have no idea. At the very least, you should probably wait until a couple of weeks after Nov. 5 to start asking again. 

Have you seen the results?!

Yes. They have.

Arts & Entertainment, Music

‘Hearing Things’ is a lighthouse for the future of music journalism

by Charlotte Hayes on

More in Arts & Entertainment:

In January 2024, magazine conglomerate Condé Nast announced that it would be folding Pitchfork, a music coverage site, into Gentlemen’s Quarterly (GQ), resulting in mass layoffs for the site. This sparked outrage for fellow journalists and readers alike—along with concerns for the future stability of cultural journalism. On Oct. 15, over 10 months later, this story received a surprisingly optimistic update: Five of the former Pitchfork writers have started their own publication, Hearing Things, a worker-owned music coverage site focused on making quality music journalism accessible. 

“An antidote to the information overload that has poisoned the internet, we’re a destination for curated and considered music journalism,” the team told online music publication Resident Advisor (RA) in an article announcing the launch of the site. 

From the outset, the Hearing Things team is prioritizing diversity, both in regards to the music that they choose to cover and the voices that cover it. The public frustration for the layoffs at Pitchfork was twofold: There were large attempts to add more women staff  staff at both the writing and editorial levels over the past decade. This made the layoffs especially frustrating considering that many of the people fired were women, and the website was being folded into a men’s magazine.

Jill Mapes—former Features Editor at Pitchfork and current Hearing Things founding member—  was fired in the mass layoffs from Pitchfork in February 2024. She took to X (formerly Twitter) to share her frustration:

“I’ve referred to my job at pitchfork as being on a ferris wheel at closing time, just waiting for them to yank me down. after nearly 8 yrs, mass layoffs got me. glad we could spend that time trying to make it a less dude-ish place just for GQ to end up at the helm,” Mapes wrote.

Hearing Things wanted to directly address gender marginalization within the workplace while constructing the new publication. On their website, they write about how when streaming was introduced, it promised to be a mass democratization of music. It has instead promoted a more monotonous, algorithmic consumption that leads to a lack of diversity in both the artists doing the creating and the genres they’re working within. 

In an era of algorithmic music consumption, journalism and criticism are some of the only tools of mass media to combat artificial uniformity. Criticism allows us to challenge our opinions on the things we love—and exposes us to new artists, genres, and ways of thinking about them.

As a worker-owned publication, Hearing Things prioritizes labour equity within an industry that is often incredibly exploitative towards its employees, while also granting journalists more creative control. 

On their website, the team writes that they hope to bring an unfiltered look to the work that they review, as well as—occasionally—a more casual tone. By letting their opinions loose and writing in a more approachable manner, they aim to build real trust with their new audience and pull in new readers who might have not previously engaged with art criticism.

Currently, the website’s content is free to view, but readers have the option of subscribing for as little as $7 USD /month or up to $1000 USD/year. This “patron” tier system is designed in the hopes of keeping the writing open and accessible to everyone while still adequately compensating workers. 

It’s exciting to see the ways in which highly creative writers can adapt to publishing in the modern landscape. Whether working with or against social media conversations about music, these five writers have found a way to continue doing what they love while making space for the next generation of journalists to come.

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