Latest News

Opinion

Commentary

by Cole Powers on

More in Opinion:

McGill Tribune

Madam Principal,

Your most recent communication regarding the strike, “We are all McGill,”  seems to say two contradictory things at once: both that “we are all McGill,” and “by dint of their recent actions, MUNACA members are not McGill.” It has the clear intention of rallying its readers around you and against MUNACA members while saying nothing either substantive or documented about why exactly this should be.

A university president used to be a practicing academic. You are a practicing bureaucrat and fabulist. A university president used to have an interest—and pride—in the knowledge and calibre of its graduates. You have an interest in their money and influence. You know very well that “sharp but civil” discourse is a losing tactic for anyone but yourself and your cabal of administrator cronies, since it is in fact not discourse that wins the day here at old McGill, but money and power. Your tenure as president of this university is an embarrassment, certainly to me and my parents, but also to many with whom you presume to stand in solidarity. I can hope only that you will in time come to see for yourself exactly how shameful it is.

Sincerely,

Cole Powers

U2 Philosophy

Opinion

Keep it off Facebook

by Iain Macdonald on

More in Opinion:

Facebook and privacy are two words with a long, tenuous relationship. At 750 million members, the site houses a lot of information about a lot of people. It is no surprise that the company has been the frequent subject of scrutiny over its privacy policies. What is often overlooked is the fact that Facebook, Twitter, and other similar websites are only media for personal information — any offensive or libelous material is posted by individuals. These individuals, not the companies, are the ones responsible for the material they post.

We’ve all heard stories about people who, after a tough day at work or school, went home and tweeted “God I hate Mr. Turner,” or posted that their students were all germbags. While these stories are generally funny, they affect real people and can cost some their jobs. In some instances, the messages sent can be considered threatening, a point that hits rather close to home here at McGill.

Many of the characters in these stories, after they realise the consequences of their actions, cite one of two excuses. Either: “I was joking.” Or: the website didn’t permit them enough control over who would be able to view their message, and they didn’t intend a certain audience to see such sensitive material.

Anyone communicating using just text must realise that most jokes are cued non-verbally. On the internet, however, these cues are absent for messages shared in text format. Sarcasm is more difficult to detect in written words than spoken ones, something any micro-blogger should know.

While it is true that many social networking sites have complex and confusing privacy settings, this is a widely known fact. It should not be a surprise when users make mistakes in these settings. It is not a good example of user-interface design, but we all know that. Additionally, many people don’t actually know what settings they would like, they only  know that Facebook did it wrong, and any improvements they make are just less wrong. It’s difficult to blame Facebook for this, as they were trailblazing when they created the site. If you don’t like the privacy settings, don’t use the site. Or, at least accept that you don’t understand how they work and proceed with caution.

Even if every website on the Internet permitted perfect control over one’s personal information, there is still a degree of insecurity in the picture: other people. When your friends see you’ve posted something funny, tearjerking, or rude on Facebook, there is nothing preventing them from taking a screenshot and posting it on Failblog, Reddit, Digg, or any other similar website. These excerpts can contain all of your identifying information accompanying the scandalous material. When this happens, it’s difficult to blame Facebook.

While the National Labour Relation Board ruled earlier this year that employees may not be fired based on things posted on Facebook, it is still not a good idea to publically call your boss a “nitwit.” You can’t be fired for it, but there is still no reason to potentially let your co-workers know your true opinion of them. While the court might protect your job in these situations, they can’t make any guarantees about working conditions, letters of recommendation, and other courtesies offered by employers.

Internet users have to realise that if there ever was a true cliché, it’s that the internet is written in ink. When you post something on any of your favorite social networks, blogs, or other publicly exposed websites, it should be considered out there for everyone to see. There are never going to be ideal privacy settings for any website, and anything you tweet that can be misconstrued, will be. Users need to prepare for the worst case scenario when posting potentially offensive material. It is up to the web user to think before they post. Only that way can you prevent yourself from becoming a “victim” in one of these unfortunate events.

Opinion

MUNACA should think beyond the strike

by on
  • Author

More in Opinion:

McGill Tribune

The formerly admirable civility of the MUNACA strike appears to have been replaced by behaviour that goes beyond the bounds of decency. Last week, according to the MUNACA website, over 600 strikers disrupted the construction of the MUHC hospital at the Glen Yards site. In addition, it has been reported that protestors harassed alumni at a homecoming event, picketed at the non-university workplaces of governors, and used intimidation tactics at the homes of senior administrators.

What were these disruptions ever supposed to accomplish? Apart from stalling the building of a new hospital, spoiling a homecoming party for alumni, and alienating students from the movement, such acts will achieve very little. Despite VP Administration and Finance Michael Di Grappa’s claims that these actions “will not affect what goes on at the negotiating table,” they undoubtedly will, and it will affect MUNACA aversely. Actions such as throwing items at Mr. Di Grappa, be they garbage or flowers, will only serve to strengthen the resolve of the administration, making compromise even more difficult to achieve, and creating an office filled with tension when the MUNACA workers finally return to the fold.

The Tribune consequently finds such reckless and short term tactics entirely self-defeating. It seems like some strikers have forgotten that they are, sooner or later, going to have to work shoulder to shoulder with the very people they are attempting to intimidate. MUNACA’s acts of frustration can perhaps be understood given the slow pace of negotiations and the administration’s injunction. Under these conditions it is hard to build up consistent support for the MUNACA cause and to keep up momentum. But that does not warrant the use of intimidation tactics as a response. The purpose of MUNACA’s strike should be to demonstrate to the administration the enormous value of their work, making a case for how difficult it is for the university to cope without them; it should not be to show how much they can intimidate or disrupt. As with any strike, the moral high ground is essential, and that is only gained by turning the other cheek to unjust blows, not hitting back.

Moreover, these actions are not only self-defeating, but such childish tactics also set a dismal example for students. The Tribune applauds students for standing up for MUNACA workers. But actions so selfish in their nature, and intimidating in their intent, are giving students a terrible education in how to confront grievances in the working world.

The Tribune therefore calls for such disruptive tactics to cease—for the good of McGill’s students, alumni, construction projects, administrators, and workers. The approach of bringing public figures such as Maude Barlow, Brian Topp, and Michel Arsenault behind the MUNACA cause is a far more effective one: support of elected politicians is much more likely to bear fruit than disruptive protests, and much more in accordance with acceptable norms of behaviour.

Furthermore, the focus ought to be centred on the negotiating table, not on inappropriate picketing. That is where any concessions will become concrete, not outside Michael Di Grappa’s house. Both administrators and strikers need to remember it is in both of their interests for MUNACA workers to get back to work. McGill’s research capacity is hamstrung without a great deal of its workforce, and MUNACA workers must surely be hoping to return to full pay sooner rather than later. We remain hopeful that a resolution is on the horizon, but the recent poor conduct by many surrounding the strike has led us to seriously question that hope.

Opinion

Spam off!

by Holly Stewart on

More in Opinion:

 

One of my biggest regrets in university might be how liberal I was with my email address in first year. There’s a mindset that comes from being told over and over again to broaden your horizons and get involved with university life, both valid pieces of advice, which results in a little too much eagerness and optimism when taken to the extreme.
Activities Night in particular requires self-control and discretion. Do not act like someone at a buffet after a week-long hunger strike. In first year, I wandered around and signed myself up for anything and everything I considered slightly interesting, even if only for 30 seconds. Our House Music society? Sure, there was that one time I went to a warehouse party and there was loud electronic music, I could be interested in techno and trance. McGill Rotary Club? I’ve volunteered before and had fun, so why not. SOS Tutoring? I peer tutored a few times in high school, and I’m not sure how much I helped the student in question by correcting her French pronunciation as she stumbled through Asterix comic books, but saving the world through tutoring sounds like a good deal. Origami Club? Origami is one of those mysterious skills that my cool friends know how to do and I’ve always wanted to learn but never bothered to (maybe because when I really think about it, I have better things to do with my time). Swing Dancing Club? Never tried it but it sounds fun.
Inevitablym three years later, I’ve realised not only that I am no longer interested in most of the groups and activities I thought were cool in first year, but also I was probably not all that interested in the first place. I was spurred on to sign up by the excitement of university life and the endless possibilities available in front of me.
 Writing down your email for anything that sounds remotely interesting is a good idea, in theory, allowing you to filter through the plethora of activities at McGilland find something you’re actuallyinterested in. Unfortunately, I’vefound that it’s sometimes easier to not sign up in the first place than it is to unsubscribe. As old listservs pile up and gather rust in my inbox, my desperate replies which usually say “unsubscribe” in the subject line and then “Please take me off your list serv (it’s nothing personal, I’m just not interested in your club anymore)” in the email are ignored. The self-serve unsubscribe method is often just as useless. Clicking one of those “unsubscribe” links at the bottom of a listserv leads to a labyrinthan google group where supposedly, somewhere, there is the option to remove yourself from the list-serv. Only if you have the patience and determination to find it—­­ and the secret code given to you by the elves of Rivendell or something like that—will you be able to remove yourself from the listserv.
Now, when someone asks for my email, I give them a suspicious look and ask why in my most menacing tone. I treat my email address like it’s my phone number and everyone who asks for it is a potential telemarketer. I’ve learned that, when it comes to new activities, I need to think of my email frustration before I let my eagerness overtake me.

Opinion

The five steps of slactivism

by Kaiti O'Shaughnessy on

More in Opinion:

Lately, campus and much of  Montreal have been the stage for quite a number of political and social causes demanding attention. Many—if not most—of these causes are pretty important. A lot of them, such as paying workers fair pensions, are just generally good ideas. If every student was a really great person, the chances are we would all participate in many a social movement. But alas, most of us aren’t really great people; we’re only mediocre people. Thus, successfully effecting social change often gets relegated to the bottom of the to-do list.

However, this need not be cause for dismay, fellow colleagues in mediocrity. For I have compiled a list of activist-y things that will make you feel great while creating absolutely zero positive impact. The name of this brilliant idea is slacktivism. The following are among my personal favourite slacktivist actions.

Useless action number one: particpate in all Facebook status ‘awareness movements.’ Change your display pic to a cartoon to demonstrate your distaste for child abuse.  Child abuse sucks; Winnie the Pooh agrees. Tell us where you like to “leave your purse” to lend your support to breast cancer awareness. Post a link to an online petition that doesn’t exist. Type away heroes, type away.

Useless action number two: get a MUNACA pin. Pin it on a backpack. Put the backpack in your closet. Forget you have it. Alternatively, wear your MUNACA pin everyday and sit inside drinking tea while McGill employees shiver for their rights just outside the Roddick gates. Talk about how much you support the strike to your close friends and other folks without leverage to make change. Feel like an incredibly sensitive and empathetic person.

Useless action number three: walk by Occupy Montreal on your way home from school. Whenever anything about money or banks comes up in conversation, vaguely mumble, “We are the 99%” and talk about how the protest changed your life.  Follow your vague mumblings with something even more vague about equality. Everyone knows that walking by a protest is basically the same as actually protesting. Realistically, if you had actually stayed long enough to protest, you would just be taking the spot of someone who actually cared, so if you think about it, you’re taking one for the team.

Useless action number four: drastically reduce your level of personal grooming. Talk about subverting societal norms to anyone who will listen. Mutter words like “patriarchy” and “system” whenever people question your greasy hair.  Make sure your argument is incoherent enough not to confuse people into thinking your action is logical.

Useless action number five: read the headline of an online article. Mention it often and in all of your classes. Say things like “I read this article on human trafficking/animal cruelty/war/famine and I would just like to say that it is really important that we think about that.” Not do anything, just think about it. And think. And think. At all social events, talk incessantly about how human trafficking/animal cruelty/war/famine is really important to you and you are so, so passionate about it.

With just these five actions, I guarantee that you will feel like the student equivalent of Gandhi. There is no need to get in the way of those folks that are actually asserting their rights the best way they know how, so just fake it.

Arts & Entertainment

A fortress to take shelter in

by Jacqui Galbraith on

More in Arts & Entertainment:

killbeatmusic.com

It only takes two minutes talking to Jennifer Castle to feel completely mellow. The light, pure tone of her singing voice matches the soft, relaxed tone of her conversation, and clues you into her laid back, organic approach to music. Evident in her newest album, Castlemusic, Castle’s take on songwriting and performing is both honest and slightly mystical at the same time, and that’s exactly the sense one gets when interviewing her. Her answers are vague at times, but not due to any desire for secrecy. She sounds very much like she knows the feeling she wants to convey, but that it’s very important to her that she conveys exactly what she feels, because it needs to be the truth.

“Sometimes [writing a song] can be a bit of a puzzle, [but] I don’t try to push a song out,” says Castle. “The ones that were hard to write, I didn’t put on the record. I don’t really like the sound of labour.”

Castle recently signed with Calgary label Flemish Eye, which she says has been a good fit for her. She likes Alberta and the new music and artists in the area, but she maintains that she’s remained true to the core of who and what she and her music are, even amidst the new environment.

She also talks about the change from performing with other bands to performing solo, reluctant to pick a favourite. This sentiment seems prevalent within her music and outlook on life; it’s fine to observe, and reflect, but there’s no need to judge anything. Things are simply the way they are, and while certainly worth writing about, quantifying or ranking them somehow devalues the whole experience.

“[Performing solo, or in a group] is totally different. In one you have to ask everybody ‘How did it go for you?’ I always know how it went for me at the end of my show, but that collective experience is different. I enjoy them both at different times. They’re both challenging in their own ways.”

So, when asked which song off the new album was her favourite, of course she doesn’t have a quick, definite answer. After taking some time to collect her thoughts, she answers that “Neverride” isn’t her favourite, but that everyone involved with the record could tell it was something special, something to set the standard for the rest of the album.

“When we recorded ‘Neverride,’ which I think we did early on in our sessions, [it] felt like a little bit of a pearl to us all. ‘Neverride’ was like a little jewel that we had, to us it sounded special, so we aimed for that specialness throughout [the album].”

Other songs like “Way of the Crow” and “Powers” deliver the same easy listening experience, coupled with pervading messages of freedom and truth. However, the one notable outlier on Castlemusic is “Poor As Him,” which has a more upbeat, percussive feel.

“It definitely has a more rockabilly flavour to it. I mean, I didn’t name it that, but enough people have said that to me that I’m like, ‘Yeah, I guess it sounds kind of rockabilly.’ When it came time to record it, we were like, ‘Let’s just do it like that.’ I’ve played it fast and I’ve played it slow and I still play fast or slow, it just depends on where I’m at when I play it.”

Another unique aspect to Castle’s approach is her desire to keep her performances very under-rehearsed and spontaneous.

“It always just depends. That’s one of the indulgences of being a solo performer, is you can just play what you want. When I play my solo stuff with other people, I do like to change things right before we play just so that we’re all put into a position of having to listen to each other. I like that spontaneity.”

Overall, Castlemusic is perfect to kick back and relax to, but you won’t be disappointed if you take the time to actively listen to the lyrics and try to find a deeper meaning. Though Castle denies attempting to convey a distinct message with the album, that might just be its brilliance.

“To each their own,” Castle says. “Whatever happens happens when somebody listens to it.”

Jennifer Castle plays La Sala Rossa tonight, October 25th, with Chad VanGaalen. Tickets are $15 at the door.

Arts & Entertainment

Iced Earth: Dystopia

by Graeme Davidson on

More in Arts & Entertainment:

That Iced Earth’s newest album Dystopia is nearly identical to its predecessors does not necessarily condemn it to mediocrity. The band’s leader (and sole fixture), rhythm guitarist Jon Schaffer, has been cutting songs from the same cloth for a long time, but has managed to produce a number of very enjoyable albums despite this.

Although it’s equal parts remarkable and disappointing that Dystopia, Iced Earth’s third consecutive album with a new lead singer, is interchangeable with the other two albums, there are things to be enjoyed here. To those who’ve heard them, Iced Earth presents the same familiar elements as other thrash/power metal groups: thundering double bass drums, palm-muted riffs, and an overwrought vocal delivery.

New vocalist Stu Block (formerly of Canadian group Into Eternity) gamely gives it his all, although his voice, often sounding like a mix between his two precursors’, doesn’t exactly bring anything new to the overall sound. Block at least sounds like he’s having fun; while his approach isn’t exactly nuanced, it nevertheless livens up the otherwise tepid material he’s provided with. The lyrics are rather middling; Dystopia is a concept album, and one whose subject is as self-evident as it is unoriginal.

The most dispiriting aspect of this album is that it all feels so rote; it reeks of something assembled, with each incorporated element checked off a list of metal clichés. Even though they are executed competently, it doesn’t offset how uninspired the effort is.

Arts & Entertainment

M83: Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming

by Nicholas Petrillo on

More in Arts & Entertainment:

M83’s Anthony Gonzalez has openly admitted his obsession with 1980’s synth-pop. If he were a new wave fanboy, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming would be his loving tribute. And although it’s labeled as a two-disc set, the album clocks in at a relatively short 73 minutes and plays nicely in one sitting. It begins with an introduction reminiscent of the opener from Van Halen’s “1984,” in which electronic keyboard is established as the fundamental musical element to be used extensively throughout the album.

Gonzalez has a flawless understanding of ‘80s vocal quirks.  The intro track’s gradual buildup, combined with guest ginger Zola Jesus’ angst, show hints of U2 and there are brief glimpses of David Gilmour’s echoed vocals on the acoustic “Wait.” On “Claudia Lewis,” he evokes Peter Gabriel’s strained high notes to absolute perfection.

The album’s celestial atmosphere holds strong throughout the bulk of the material, but it probably could have been just as satisfying if it spared its brief instrumental tracks. Having these occasional interruptions reinforces the cosmic vibe of the record, but it would have functioned just as seamlessly and sounded even more focused if it were trimmed to a single disc.

Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming is a dazzling interpretation of old styles. If M83’s influence normally rests among 18-24 year olds, imagine how clearly this type of album will resonate to those outside the university demographic.

Arts & Entertainment

Justice: Audio, Video, Disco

by Iain Macdonald on

More in Arts & Entertainment:

 Webster’s English Dictionary should go ahead and put the album art for Audio, Video, Disco beside the definition of sophomore slump. The first album from the French electrohouse duo, †, was just about perfect in every regard. However, Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay took many of its positive aspects and threw them out the window. De Rosnay couldn’t have put it better when he explained that Audio, Video, Disco is daytime music and not as aggressive as the first album. Unfortunately for Justice, most of their fans sleep during the day.

The album starts off strong; the first two tracks, “Horsepower” and the single “Civilization” are bangers which wouldn’t be out of place on †. However, what follows is a hodgepodge of gospel-infused, disco-house music, which is about as polished as a third grade finger painting. The sound resembles a cross between the Justice we used to know and Steve Vai. Additionally, the transitions are full stops, entirely interrupting any flow on the album.

There are a couple of tracks which succeed with the new style. “On’n’On” features a strong bass line complemented by a subtle treble harmony, and the title track is a soothing walk through Justice’s new direction.

One redeeming factor is the inclusion of “Planisphere,” a single the band released on MySpace in 2008. It’s a welcome window into what Justice used to be: dirty bass lines perfectly contrasted with vocals and treble twangs. But Audio, Video, Disco just doesn’t do the band justice.

Sports

Rivals ruin Redmen’s run

by Trevor Drummond on

More in Sports:

Ryan Reisert
Ryan Reisert

The McGill Redmen suffered their first loss of the 2011-2012 season on Friday night, falling to the UQTR Patriotes in overtime by a score of 4-3. Despite getting a point in the loss, the second-ranked Redmen were outplayed for the majority of the game and scored two goals in the final four minutes to force the extra frame.

McGill got on the board early, as rookie Guillaume Langelier-Parent knocked home a rebound just 2:53 into the game. The Redmen held the lead until the eighth minute of the second period when UQTR’s Michel Ouellet tied the game at one. Ouellet netted his second goal of the night at 8:51 of the third and Félix Petit added another just two and a  half minutes later as UQTR moved ahead 3-1. The Redmen clawed back with just over four minutes remaining, getting goals from captain Evan Vossen and sophomore defenceman Vincent Bourgeois in a span of 1:49 to force overtime. The comeback would fall short, however, as UQTR’s Félix Lefrancois beat Redmen goalie Hubert Morin with 50 seconds remaining in the extra period.

With the victory, the Patriotes improved to 5-2 on the season and moved into first place atop the OUA East Division. Despite being outshot 30-29 on the evening, UQTR played an excellent defensive game, keeping McGill to the outside of their zone, and allowing very few quality scoring chances. Though the game was back and forth in the first period, the Patriotes controlled the majority of the play and looked especially sharp after drawing even in the second.

Although they rallied late to steal a point in the losing effort, the Redmen were far from satisfied with their performance. “We stopped moving our feet,” McGill Head Coach Kelly Nobes said after the game. “We have to put together 60 minutes against a good team like that. We made a comeback there in the third, but I didn’t think we deserved to win.”

McGill’s top line of Francis Verrault-Paul, Alex Picard-Hooper, and Andrew Wright consistently controlled the puck in the offensive zone, but failed to generate anything substantial. “We’re successful when we get the puck down low and start using each other,” Wright said, who echoed his coach’s words, adding, “We weren’t moving our feet like we normally do, and for that reason we weren’t getting open and we weren’t getting clear shots. I don’t think any team could keep up with us if we play a full 60 minutes.”

The strength of this Redmen team is their speed and forechecking, but they have yet to establish either over the course of a full contest so far this season. Their depth has been a large factor in the team’s 4-0-1 start, despite the lack of consistency. McGill dropped their second OT decision of the weekend by a score of 3-2 at Concordia’s Ed Meagher Arena but they will get a quick chance to avenge the defeat Friday, Oct. 28 when the Stingers pay a visit to McConnell Arena.

1 … 1,183 1,184 1,185 1,186 1,187 … 1,367

Read the latest issue

Read the latest issue