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McGill, News

Hundreds rally in solidarity with Palestine day before Superior Court of Quebec grants McGill an injunction

by Shani Laskin on

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This is a developing story

Several hundreds of protestors rallied in solidarity with Palestine through police-lined streets in downtown Montreal on Oct. 7. Protestors dispersed after police employed tear gas following individuals smashing the lower windows of the Sylvan Adams Sports Science Institute (SASSI) on Avenue des Pins. The following day, McGill announced a 10-day injunction barring Solidarity for Palestine’s Honour and Resistance (SPHR) at McGill and “any person aware of the judgment” from protesting on campus under specific circumstances. 

The rally—which both the McGill and Concordia chapters of SPHR organized—began at Concordia’s Henry F. Hall Building at 2 p.m. The protest’s date marked one year since the Hamas-led attack in southern Israel which killed 1,139 people. In the year since, Israeli forces have killed over 42,000 Palestinians, wounded over 98,000, displaced about 1.9 million, and sparked a humanitarian crisis of disease and hunger in the region. In recent weeks, Israel has furthered its military campaign in Lebanon, with Israeli airstrikes in Beirut killing about 1,000 people according to CNN.

Consistent protests in Montreal and worldwide have also marked this past year. At McGill, student protestors have demanded that the university cut ties with and divest from institutions and corporations complicit in Israel’s genocide of Palestinians. On Sept. 16, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) announced that it had revoked SPHR’s status as a SSMU club following a notice of default of the union’s Memorandum of Agreement with the university from Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) Angela Campbell.

“Despite the administration’s countless attempts to smear and repress the student movement on campus, the outpour of support that we witnessed on Monday marked a historic shift in the history of Palestine organizing on campus,” SPHR wrote in an email to The Tribune. “It revealed that McGill’s crackdown against the students has failed to suppress the movement, and has instead turned the public’s outrage towards McGill’s academic and financial complicity in genocide.”

In anticipation of protests, McGill restricted access to campus between Oct. 5 and 7—later adding Oct. 8—and worked with the Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) to deploy dozens of officers, security guards, and riot police. McGill’s campus was accessible only through two points of entry: The Milton Gates and the McTavish Gates.

In an email to The Tribune, McGill’s Media Relations Office (MRO) explained the reasoning for the closure.

“McGill aims to ensure an open campus to the fullest extent possible. However, we also have a vital obligation to safeguard our community and help ensure that classes, midterms and other key activities can continue,” the MRO wrote.   

As the protest moved from Concordia to McGill, attendees were led in chants of “Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest!” The group walked down Avenue du Docteur-Penfield and turned down Rue McTavish, arriving at the fenced-off entrance to the McLennan-Redpath Library Complex. Tens of protestors broke through the metal fence and rushed the Redpath Library terrace and Lower Field, where they were met by SPVM officers on bikes and riot police. 

The hundreds that did not go past the barricade stood face-to-face with a line of police officers blocking the entrance to the Library Complex on McTavish repeating the refrain of “Cops off campus!”

Zev Saltiel, a master’s student in the School of Social Work, explained to The Tribune that they are currently on leave in response to McGill’s complicity with Israel’s genocide of Palestinians. They said this is one of the ways in which they show their solidarity with Palestine.

“I’ve been at protests most weeks now for the past year, and also before that,” Saltiel said. “I feel, as a Jewish person, but also as a trans person, I have an obligation to show up and denounce the genocide being committed in my intersectional identities.”

Following the altercation on Lower Field, protestors made their way toward SASSI. SASSI was funded in large part by a $29 million CAD donation from Israeli-Canadian billionaire Sylvan Adams. Pro-Palestine groups on campus have long criticized SASSI for Adams’ self-proclaimed role as an “ambassador to Israel” as well as the institute’s academic ties to the Sylvan Adams Sports Institute at Tel Aviv University. 

A representative from SPHR Concordia addressed the crowd in front of SASSI, expressing that these protests will continue until the institutions meet protestors’ demands.

“We make it very clear again and again to the administrations that we are not going to back down until they divest,” the representative said. “There is only one solution, and it is [to] […] boycott, divest, and sanction.”

On the night of Sept. 14, protestors dropped paint and a banner off the side of SASSI, which is currently under construction. At the Oct. 7 rally, an SPHR at McGill organizer derided the institute, claiming it was an example of sportswashing—a phenomenon in which sports are used to distract from unethical conduct. The representative told the crowd to “take [their] rage out on the building.”

Protestors threw paint and spraypainted the building’s facade. Some individuals took wooden batons and smashed its lower windows. Just past 4:20 p.m., police intervened in the demonstration by deploying tear gas on protestors. The crowd began to flee the scene, chased by yet more police on bikes.

On Oct. 8, an email to the McGill community on behalf of Campbell, and Vice-President (Adminstration and Finance) Fabrice Labeau detailed an injunction against SPHR and “all those who become aware of the judgement.” The 10-day injunction, granted by the Superior Court of Québec, has four central effects. First, those aware of the judgement are not allowed to block access to exits and entrances of any buildings where “McGill activities are underway.” Second, protest activities are prohibited within five metres of McGill buildings. Third, the email banned actions which harass or threaten community members or visitors at McGill. Finally, the email wrote that people may not “engage in behaviour that disturbs the peace or engages in public disturbance.” The injunction decision also obliged  SPHR to publish the judgement to its social media accounts and authorized law enforcement officers to arrest and remove any person thought to violate the judgement.

The email went on to stress the need to balance community members’ right to freedom of speech and assembly with McGill’s mission to provide a quality education. Campbell and Labeau stated that SPHR’s commitment to disrupting “business or classes as usual” on campus “clearly violates the fundamental academic rights of students, instructors, and all McGillians.”

The MRO did not elaborate on these measures when asked by The Tribune. 

At the Oct. 7 protest, a McGill student who wished to remain unnamed explained the hope that they find through solidarity with others.

“I think it’s really easy to think that it’s hopeless,” they said. “But if you’re surrounded by people who also believe what you believe, then you really understand that this was a choice that was made—colonialism, settler colonialism, Zionism—it’s a choice we can unmake.”

Soccer, Sports

Game recap: Martlets soccer dominates Bishop’s Gaiters with a 4-0 victory on senior night

by Matias Plasencia Sanchez on

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After a tough 1-0 loss last week against the Université du Québec à Montréal Citadins, Martlets soccer was determined to revive its winning streak against the Bishop’s Gaiters on Oct. 4. It was the last home game for graduating players. 

After initial difficulties staying composed, the team rebounded 11 minutes into the game when second-year striker Alexandra Hughes-Goyette scored an unstoppable first-point header. Following this goal, Hughes-Goyette continued to trouble Bishop’s defense. In the 28th minute, she scored what was arguably one of the best goals of the season: A powerful shot from the outside corner of the box that rocketed into the top corner of the net. The Martlets’ domination didn’t stop there; their defense allowed only four shots on goal, all of which were easily saved by goalie Sophie Guilmette.

Before the end of the first half, Renaud scored one more goal to add to her tally; she is currently the league’s top goalscorer. Returning after halftime, the Martlets continued to dominate, with a quick goal by third-year midfielder Elisabeth Pronovost in the 50th minute that ultimately secured the team’s 4-0 win.

Hughes-Goyette reflected on the team’s win and her two goals.

“I’m super excited about it,” she said. “Our team has worked hard this week to get back in the mindset to win, and I couldn’t have done it without them. I was very happy for the corner because we had really worked on that this week and it paid off.”

Head Coach Jose-Luis Valdes also shared his thoughts.

“Tonight, the mentality was super positive,” he said. “Obviously, the emotions were quite high as it was senior night, and in the first minutes, that affected us, but as soon as the emotions were out of the way, we had the players playing how we play—we controlled, we kept the ball, we moved it around. It’s fun to watch.”Next week, the Martlets will face a difficult opponent, the Université de Montréal Carabins, as they try to finish their season on a high note with only four regular-season games left.

Basketball, Sports

The Toronto Raptors dribble into McGill’s home courts for pre-season practice

by Anoushka Oke, Lialah Mavani on

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This past Friday, Oct. 4, the Toronto Raptors visited McGill’s Love Competition Hall for an open pre-season practice. Their visit marks the team’s first time holding a training camp in Montreal and their seventh pre-season game before the start of the regular National Basketball Association (NBA) season. Proceeds from the sales of the open practice tickets will be used to send underserved youth to McGill’s summer sports camp for free, making sports like basketball more accessible to these communities. The team’s trip to Montreal was packed with other community initiatives, including running a Community Impact Clinic at Kateri School and opening up a newly refurbished court at Parc Oscar-Peterson.

The NBA also used the team’s visit to Montreal to honour the Raptor’s 30th season in the league with “Maison NBA,” a three-day interactive experience including games, photo walls, meet-and-greets and more with past and present NBA and Women’s National Basketball Association legends. The exhibition included meeting players like Raptors star Vince Carter in Old Montreal.

During the practice,half of the players wore grey jerseys while the other half wore black jerseys, indicating early signs of the upcoming scrimmage. Expectant students and fans packed the hall, eager to watch the Raptors battle it out on the court.

Before the match, the players warmed up. They lined up doing plyometrics before moving to ball handling. After a few drills, players split into their respective teams and practiced some shots. The warmup sequences were rhythmic and synchronized—almost dance-like on both ends of the court. As players put up shots, they would occasionally bounce the ball hard against the floor or the backboard using the momentum to dunk the ball midair, drawing cheers from the crowd and leaving spectators on the edge of their seats.

The teams then began scrimmaging, with upbeat music playing in the background generating an electrifying atmosphere. A fast-paced play ended the first quarter with a 22-18 scoreline for the black-jersey team. RJ Barrett (#9) was particularly strong offensively, as he made his second-season debut with the team.

In between periods, North Side Crew dancers threw shirts into the crowd, prompting spectators to stand up and eagerly hold their hands out in anticipation.

The second period saw a comeback from the grey-shirt team, ending tied at 38-38 and featuring a strong performance from Jared Rhoden (#8). The quarter ended in a drama-filled sequence in which a stoppage left 0.6 seconds left to play. In the short amount of time remaining, the team wearing black managed to get a shot off but missed, temporarily injuring D.J. Carton (#3) on the grey team in the process.

During halftime, Raptors mascots kept the excitement high, pumping up the crowd in anticipation for the last bit of the scrimmage. 

The Raptors skipped the third quarter entirely, instead opting to immediately follow halftime with a five-minute fourth quarter in which they changed the scores up to 90-90—presumably to simulate the high-pressure last five minutes of a tied game. Following those five minutes, the scrimmage ended with a score of 102-98 in favour of the grey-jersey team.

The Raptors are building up a young team this year to try and come out strong for their 30th season. Throughout both the warmups and the game, the rookies tried to prove themselves. However, many of the returning players like Gradey Dick (#1), D.J. Carton (#3) and RJ Barrett (#9)—whose name has been floated for the most improved player for the 2024-2025 season—stood out in particular amongst the team. Looking ahead to this season, the Raptors’ returning players are still the ones to watch. 
The Raptors finished their week-long visit to Montreal with a pre-season match against the Washington Wizards on Oct. 6. Finishing their visit on a high, the Raptors beat the Wizards 125-98.

Commentary, Opinion

Addressing the Indigenous homelessness crisis—if not now, when?

by Ezra Moscovitch on

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All too many Indigenous residents of Tiohtià:ke—the island known to many as Montreal—face truly dire circumstances. Only recently, however, through a conversation that I shared with a lovely Inuk man named Paulu, have I come to recognize both the profound gravity and pressing urgency of the situation. During our conversation, Paulu described in great detail the many injustices faced by members of his community daily, focusing especially on the city’s pitiful lack of public infrastructure to shelter its rapidly growing population of unhoused individuals. Above all, Paulu expressed his broiling frustration toward the utter impotence of Montreal’s municipal government in implementing concrete solutions to the injustices that he and his community have endured for years.  

The city of Montreal has recently hired Randy Legault-Rankin as its newest Commissioner of Indigenous Affairs. On paper, it appears that Legault-Rankin is the ideal candidate for the job. With years of experience working in Indigenous relations in both government and nonprofit environments as well as, more importantly, being a member of the Abitibiwinni Nation himself, Legault-Rankin seems to possess both the knowledge and connections to genuinely better the lives of Montreal’s almost 20,000 Indigenous residents. However, when asked by interviewers to divulge the precise ways in which he plans to curb specific issues facing Indigenous communities in Montreal—the most poignant being the city’s growing homelessness crisis—Legault-Rankin routinely responds with the same empty platitudes about ‘community partnerships’ and ‘centring Indigenous voices’ that have defined Canada’s pathetic attempts at reconciliation for years. 

Montreal’s neglect of Indigenous issues has entrenched a devastating crisis: Indigenous people in the city are 27 times more likely to experience homelessness than non-Indigenous residents. For Inuit specifically, the disparity soars to 80 times more likely. Furthermore, the minimal attention given to this crisis by policymakers has created a reality in which the city’s network of emergency shelters is utterly insufficient in supporting its swelling population of unhoused individuals—a reality that disproportionately affects Indigenous communities who make up a staggering 12 per cent of the visibly unhoused population of Montreal despite constituting merely 0.6 per cent of the city’s total population. Still, Montreal provides fewer than 2,000 beds in shelters each night, failing to meet the needs of the city’s 5,000+ individuals who require these crucial sheltering services. This discrepancy is especially disgusting considering that there remain upwards of 800 derelict and abandoned buildings across the island that could be converted into shelters if only for the commitment of the municipal government towards developing such projects. However, for years the city has prioritized private development of these sites or has simply left them to languish in decrepitude—a deeply irresponsible injustice that especially angers Paulu, and rightfully so. If the city truly cares for Indigenous residents and their wellbeing, addressing this situation with compassionate yet decisive action should be the first thing on every municipal politician’s to-do list. 

As members of a Montreal-based institution, the McGill community maintains a responsibility toward the Indigenous peoples of this land. Both within the classroom and in our daily lives, students must use their voices to pressure university administrations and local governments to pursue action-oriented reconciliation with Indigenous groups in our community. 

Luckily, Legault-Rankin is in the perfect position to bring about this crucial change in the city’s approach toward reconciliation. However, over a month into his role and still having yet to propose a single precise policy change, Legault-Rankin risks slipping into the same trap of inaction to which his many political predecessors have fallen victim. In evading this trap, Legault-Rankin must expand his strategy beyond the vague platitudes that have defined his tenure so far and pivot towards concrete policy improvements to provide crucial support for the Indigenous communities of this city. For the sake of Paulu and every other Indigenous resident of Montreal, I hope that he will succeed.

Campus Spotlight, Student Life

Lettuce leaves falling: Who was crowned fourth Head of Lettuce?

by Lis Bergfors, Auxane Bussac on

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While the leaves turned orange and red in the city, the Lower Field was filled with green on Sept. 27. Students enthusiastically gathered for the fourth annual lettuce eating contest, and this year, competition was more fierce than ever. Although midterm season was right around the corner, a dedicated crowd turned out to compete and cheer on the participants.

The McGill Lettuce Club lays out clear-cut rules about how to participate in their event crowning the fastest lettuce eater—and they are very specific about their lettuce. Of course, the competition is BYOL (Bring Your Own Lettuce), but not just any type of lettuce is welcome. The head of iceberg lettuce should weigh around 600g. Cheating is not an option as a weigh-in period is scheduled starting 30 minutes before the countdown. Still, word spread about how some dipped a smaller lettuce in water to make it heavier. Participants are also allowed to bring dressings and utensils, depending on the technique they plan on using.

This contest has become an iconic part of McGill’s annual rhythm for some students. While some were regulars and knew the event well, the peculiar absurdity of the competition is what truly captured the attention of most spectators.

Bee Budrean, U2 Arts and Science, underlined the importance of having such an event to break the daily academic monotony in an interview with The Tribune.

“As university students, we are really able to find joy in the most absurd, innocuous things.” Budrean said, “One can be a Rhodes Scholar, and one can be the Head of Lettuce, and we are here to celebrate that.”

Participants had a variety of backgrounds in terms of their relationship with lettuce. Some had been training for the event, others randomly decided to join at the last minute. In fact, a highlight of the event was Anwyn Li’s, U1 Science, spectacular run towards the last lettuce available. The Tribune had a chance to ask her why she decided to race for the last spot.

“Vibes! I was thinking about ‘Oh what a shame, I wanted to do this next year!’, but why do it next year when I can do it now?” Li said, panting after her mad dash.

Malak Oualid, U1 Engineering, also jumped on the occasion without notice.  

 “I was with my friends and I said ‘If you do it, I’ll do it’, because why not?” Oulaid told The Tribune. 

As the contest finally started, participants rushed to their lettuce and began digging in. The leading lettuce eaters quickly stood out from the crowd. The competition was ferocious, but it was James Levitsky, U1 Science, who pulled ahead, and secured the title of Head of Lettuce, finishing in just two minutes and 58 seconds. 

Surprisingly, Levitsky did not prepare at all. “I didn’t know the strategies, I didn’t know what to do; I tried to eat the lettuce as fast as I could,” he said.

After his victory, the new champion stood proudly, having the honour of wearing the exclusive lettuce suit—a white lab coat with green fabric hanging like lettuce leaves—and signing it like his predecessors had done in previous years.

“I’m feeling ecstatic, I’m over the moon right now,” Levistky said. “[This new title is] going on the CV, it has to, [but] I’m not eating lettuce until like ever, I’m never having a salad again.”
While Levitsky lets the fame sink in, The Tribune cannot wait to meet him again for next year’s lettuce event (which he is expected to organize—the prestigious Head of Lettuce title doesn’t come without its responsibilities).

Student Life

Indigenous Ojibwe Anishinaabe art on campus fosters continuing conversations of reparations

by Yasmine Mkaddam on

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McGill’s Indigenous Awareness Weeks kicked off with multiple Indigenous scholars and speakers offering students a chance to learn about the various intricacies of Indigenous culture, stories, and testimonies. On Sept. 24, a crowd gathered at the Redpath Library to listen to guest speakers Carmen Robertson and Robert Spade discuss Centering Ojibwe Anishinaabe Art. 

Carmen Robertson, Scots-Lakota Professor of Art History at Carleton University in Ottawa, presented in depth the life and works of Norval Morrisseau, the renowned Ojibwe artist also known as Osawa Bego Binesa (Copper Thunderbird). She focused on his use of colours, symbolic elements like water and manidoog (spiritual entities), and his connection to the land. Robertson also touched on the visual storytelling of the artist and his journey of artistic self-discovery. 

Robertson’s presentation resonated with many students, as it explored the powerful symbolism behind Morriseau’s art and its connection to Indigenous worldviews. Mylee Downey, U2 Education, shared her thoughts in an interview with The Tribune.

 “The visual and the talk of colour were so clear in how they related and it was powerful to see its intricate meaning of life and land,” Downey mentioned.

Afterwards, Robert Spade (Keeshigooninii), an artist-educator from the northern Ojibwe territory in Northern Ontario (Obuckimaakang), shared his personal experience. Currently a professor at McGill’s Schulich School of Music and a specialist in Indigenous music, he offered attendees a personal and thought-provoking testimony of his childhood and his passion for art. He demonstrated a persistent sense of self and his community through his paintings, describing his persistence with art despite systemic barriers. 

Yigit Akalin, U2 Education, shared that he is glad that Indigenous experiences and histories are finally being discussed, as they have often been sidelined or erased in mainstream education. 

“[They are] no longer swept under the rug and Indigenous perspective is possibly slowly being integrated into the university culture,” Akalin said.

During Indigenous Awareness Weeks, McGill seemed resolved to acknowledge its role in the alienation and continued oppression of Indigenous people in Canada and its campus. But is the university truly meeting its responsibilities? By opening spaces to the Indigenous community with discussions and other events on campus, McGill appears to be pursuing the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action to address injustice and recognize the rights of Indigenous peoples. But is this effort truly so sincere?

In 2018, McGill’s men’s sports team changed their name from “Redmen” to “Redbirds” after nearly 80 per cent of students voted in favor of the change in a referendum held by SSMU. This decision reflects the integrity and solidarity of the McGill student body in supporting progress and systemic improvement within McGill culture.

While the McGill student body is advocating for meaningful changes, many feel that McGill’s Indigenous Awareness Weeks may not be sufficient on its own.

“It is nice to see that there are steps taken towards reconciliation, but I think there is always more to be done,” Downey said, regarding the event. 

Theresa Kannuthurai, U4 Education, also acknowledged that there is still significant room for improvement in how Indigenous issues are addressed at McGill, particularly in amplifying Indigenous voices. 

“Not everyone’s voices are heard enough. McGill should contribute more to promoting these events,” she said.

The powerful art showcased at the event made it inevitable to be affected by a multitude of profound and intertwined feelings regarding identity, community, and resistance. The continuing legacy of McGill and Canada’s oppression of Indigenous people complicates their attempt to showcase Indigenous art. No one is free until everyone is, and the celebration of culture is essential for this journey.

Rugby, Sports

Game recap: Martlets rugby lose 115-0 against the Ottawa Gee-Gees

by Alex Hawes Silva on

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On Oct. 5, Martlets rugby took on a challenging game against the undefeated Ottawa Gee-Gees. McGill team captain and third-year flanker Olivia Ford led the team in a noble effort on home turf to try and overthrow the 6–0 Gee-Gees. In the end, however, the Martlets lost 115-0.

McGill’s Percival Molson Stadium provided the perfect atmosphere for the game, with the sun shining and fans decorating the stands. The Gee-Gee’s got an early lead, scoring four tries within the first 15 minutes. They carried this energy forward throughout the rest of the half and ended the first 40 minutes with 58 points ahead of the Martlets. 

Ottawa had several scorers, among which centre Aurora Bowie stood out, being both the team kicker and a key leader on the scoreboard. For the McGill Martlets, second-year fullback Emma Piers dazzled with her consistency and determination on the defensive side. Throughout the match, the Martlets struggled to transition to more offensive plays but put up an admirable fight defensively. 

In a highlight moment of the game, Ottawa’s prop, Deborah Oyetoran, battled through about five attempted tackles and slid the ball down the left corner of the field to make a try.

Despite the Gee-Gees’ seemingly endless amount of tries, the Martlets kept up their morale throughout the game, even through the final minutes when Ottawa’s centre, Ella Blyth, snuck in one last try as the final whistle was blown. Aurora Bowie then successfully made the final conversion, capping off an undefeated season for the Gee-Gees. 

This match concluded the regular season for the Martlets, leaving them with a record of 0–6. The graduating seniors were honoured in a flower ceremony at the end of the game, where players had their final send-off on the McGill field. 

McGill, Montreal, News

McGill student contingent joins Montreal-wide protest demanding justice for Palestine

by Mairin Burke on

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A crowd of approximately 150 McGill community members chanted, “McGill, McGill, you can’t hide! We charge you with genocide!” outside the university’s Roddick Gates on Oct. 5. The demonstrators formed the McGill student contingent attending the International Day of Action march and rally organized by the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM)’s Montreal branch. Beginning at Roddick Gates, the group marched to the Place des Arts, where it met up with the larger PYM protest. After several speakers addressed the crowd on the corner of Rue Saint-Urbain and Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest, the protest moved down Boulevard René-Lévesque toward the Montreal Consulate of Israel. 

While the PYM march was meant to mark one year of the Israeli state’s genocide that has killed over 40,000 Palestinians, McGill community members aimed in particular to address the university’s response to pro-Palestinian activism on campus. The refrain of “Disclose! Divest! We will not stop, we will not rest!” recurred throughout the protest in reference to McGill’s investments in companies complicit in Israel’s siege on Gaza and Lebanon, such as weapons manufacturer Lockheed Martin, which is a direct arms supplier to the Israel Defence Forces.

In an email to The Tribune, the McGill Media Relations Office (MRO) explained that McGill’s Board of Governors’ (BoG) Committee on Sustainability and Social Responsibility will review potential divestment from companies that derive a dominant portion of their direct revenues from the production of military weapons in December 2024. Until Oct. 1, staff and students were able to provide input on this issue to the BoG through a webform. 

When asked to comment specifically on McGill’s commitment to review their direct equity investments, an organizer of the McGill student contingent who wished to remain unnamed expressed frustration that after decades-long calls for divestment, feedback is only being solicited now.

“This is just another tactic for McGill to delay and shut down the student movement, and we will not let them,” they said.

The student cohort—organized largely by Solidarity for Palestine’s Honour and Resistance (formerly Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights) at McGill and Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) McGill—aimed to address other McGill-specific issues, including the increased security measures McGill has taken in response to pro-Palestinian student activism. Addressing a group of cycling police officers monitoring the protest at Roddick Gates, the student coalition chanted, “Who keeps us safe? We keep us safe!”

The MRO wrote that McGill’s decision to restrict campus access and to move as many academic activities as possible online on Oct. 7 was devised in close collaboration with Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal.

“[The measures] facilitate the continuity of teaching, research and other activities, support the wellbeing of all at McGill, and seek to deter and prevent activities that violate the law and our policies, thereby destabilizing our campus at a very sensitive time,” the MRO wrote.

The contingent representative further stated their views on McGill’s decision to restrict access to campus. 

“It’s very odd that McGill wants to avoid class disruption by disrupting every class at McGill,” they said. “I think it sets a dangerous precedent that an academic institution can choose to shut down any protest it likes under the pretext that it might be a security concern. This gives leeway for any university to basically shut down whatever freedom of speech they desire based on their agenda.”

The MRO affirmed McGill’s commitment to permitting freedom of expression and assembly within the bounds of the law, McGill policy, and the university’s code of conduct. If breached, “McGill will act,” the MRO stated. 

A Dawson College student wishing to remain anonymous explained that they joined university students at the protest because of their frustration about McGill’s “dehumanization” of Palestinians.

“I think that [how] McGill is responding is very immature […] and that they should be ashamed of themselves.”

McGill, News

Jewish students reckon with antisemitic incidents on campus

by Titouan Le Ster on

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Content Warning: Mentions of antisemitism and violence

Students and McGill community members have reported acts of antisemitism on campus in recent weeks. In an email sent to the McGill community on Sept. 20, Provost and Executive Vice-President (Academic) Christopher Manfredi and Vice-President (Administration and Finance) Fabrice Labeau stated that the university had reported antisemitic graffiti to the Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal. The Montreal Gazette wrote that the graffiti included a swastika written on a sign for the Redpath Library.

“In recent days, our campus has seen hate incidents, ranging from graffiti to intimidation of members of our campus community, acts which any reasonable person would consider antisemitic,” Manfredi and Labeau wrote in their joint statement.

McGill’s Media Relations Office did not offer further comment to The Tribune on the incidents and referred back to Manfredi and Labeau’s communication.

In response to these events, Hillel McGill emphasized the emotional toll on students, stating that many have sought support in Jewish student organizations.

“Jewish students were confronted with swastikas vandalized on campus buildings,” Hillel McGill wrote in an email to The Tribune. “Incidents like these […] have led many Jewish students to increasingly turn to Hillel for support and solace.”

Some Jewish groups on campus, such as Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) McGill, maintain that there must be a distinction between Jewish identity and the state of Israel.

“In the past year, we have noticed a strong uptick in the McGill administration’s tendency to conflate antisemitism with anti-Zionism,” IJV McGill wrote to The Tribune. “[McGill administrators] continue to argue that anti-Zionist political movements like Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) are antisemitic, not only mischaracterizing an anti-genocide political movement and thereby trivializing real acts of antisemitism, but ignoring the numerous Jewish voices and organizations that support and participate in the movement.”

Alex*, a Jewish student at McGill, explained that they feel uneasy about displaying religious symbols.

“There’s a growing polarization in campus discourse, particularly around issues related to Israel and Palestine, which has made it more difficult to navigate my identity as a Jewish person,” Alex wrote in a statement to The Tribune. “While I don’t feel unsafe in the physical sense, I do feel increasingly uncomfortable and isolated due to the charged environment [….] I haven’t experienced direct acts of antisemitism, but I have felt the need to avoid displaying visible symbols of my Jewish identity, like my Star of David necklace.”

IJV McGill called on the university to recognize the diversity of perspectives within McGill’s Jewish community and not treat it as a monolith.

“We would like to see McGill revise its policy on antisemitism to prevent the dangerous conflation of antisemitism with anti-Zionism,” IJV McGill wrote. “The Jewish community at McGill is incredibly diverse, and when the administration claims to act in our interests, they speak over the voices of the many anti-Zionist Jews in our community, and even worse, they claim to speak for them.”

*Alex’s name has been changed to preserve their anonymity.

Resources: 

For faculty and staff:  

For students:  

  • The Student Wellness Hub offers counselling services for students  located in Montreal.  
  • GuardMe is a service accessible 24/7 whenever you need to speak or text with a mental health professional for support. You can access GuardMe from anywhere in the world.
All Things Academic, Student Life

Learning beyond the classroom with the Arts Internship Office

by Coco Usher on

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In 2002, responding to popular demand, Anne Turner inaugurated the Arts Internship Office (AIO) to provide services meant to prepare Arts undergraduate students for that daunting and amorphous next step: Life after a BA degree. 

Housed in the Leacock Building, the AIO helps returning Arts students access and apply to internships aimed at enhancing their academic experience. For students hoping to pursue academic research, the AIO’s Arts Undergraduate Research Awards Program (ARIA) offers a unique opportunity to work on high-level scholarship under the direct supervision of a professor or faculty member. 

Throughout the application process, the AIO hosts workshops over Zoom to teach students the concrete skills they need to succeed. Charlotte Petitjean, U3 Arts, described the benefit of these workshops in an interview with The Tribune. 

“They offer a lot of workshops, like how to write a CV, how to do a letter of recommendation,” Petitjean said. “I feel it’s really helpful [.…] It motivates you to update your CV or implement a lot of recommendations, which are super important skills.” 

The AIO has also established an Arts Internship Mentorship Initiative (AMI) in collaboration with the Arts Undergraduate Society. The program pairs students with an AMI mentor—an undergraduate who has recently completed a successful internship or academic research project. These mentors guide students through the application process for obtaining internships and funding through the AIO, creating a network of support for navigating the complex application process and succeeding in unfamiliar research tasks. For interested Arts students, applications to become an AMI mentee are open until Oct. 14. 

Theresa Decius-Timothée, U4 Arts, spent her 2024 summer internship with the Montreal-based non-governmental organization Éduconnexion, working on gender-based violence and social healing.  

“This was one of those jobs where I was really able to apply my McGill knowledge into the workplace […], so it was really nice bridging that gap,” Theresa said in an interview with The Tribune. “It made me realize that embracing education doesn’t just mean getting a degree, it means seeking to be curious in every aspect of your life.” 

Describing her own internship experience as an undergraduate student, the AIO’s Liaison Officer Jade Perraud Le Bouter suggested that, whether good or bad, an internship teaches you about your own interests and capabilities. 

“You can learn from doing an internship you don’t love, because that can teach you a lot about what you want in the future, so it’s very valuable,” Perraud Le Bouter explained.   

These opportunities to grow in a new context can also be exciting, challenging, and memorable. Thelma Caye, U3 Arts, echoed this blend of nerves and excitement when describing her trip to Columbia for her internship this summer with Solidarité Colombie Québec. 

“I was on the plane to go, and I was like, ‘oh my god, this is not possible.’ I was shaking,” Caye said in an interview with The Tribune. “But after that, I realized there was a bit of nervousness, but I was mostly excited.” 

For Arts undergraduate students, the path after university can often seem nebulous and uncertain. In the sea of essays and theory, it can be difficult to discern what the real-world application of an Arts degree actually looks like. Decius-Timothée, Petitjean, and Caye, each suggested that their internship experience played a vital role in refining their own personal goals. 

“I think it’s imperative in terms of understanding what you want to do with your career. I know for myself, my career decisions have been heavily impacted by my work experience, and by my internship experience,” Theresa said. 

Whether you’re unsure about the process or already hoping to apply for a summer internship, the Arts Internship Office is there to support you throughout your decision, providing a space for each student to grow and learn.

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