As I was picking the tomatoes out of the tomato-bean-corn-random-sauce-weird-white-vegetable-mix at the salad bar in the cafeteria, I began eavesdropping on a conversation two girls standing beside me were having.

“Where were you a few minutes ago? I tried to find you for lunch,” asked one of them.

“Oh, we were in Julia’s room with the door closed,” the other explained. “We didn’t want anyone to know we were in there.”

“Why not?”

“We were talking about the living situation.”

“Ohh,” said the first girl, with a sigh of total understanding. “It was a secret meeting.”

Every person in Upper Rez seems to have the same New Year’s resolution: find someone to live with. In fact, this seems to be the hottest topic of discussion for every student living in residence. Where in the beginning of the year, the trite question was “Where are you from?” and “What program are you in?”, the oh-so-crucial query of “Who are you living with?” seems to have taken its place.

“That’s all I hear,” says B.J. Leipsic, a first-year student in Upper Rez.

“‘Who are you living with?’ or ‘Who aren’t you living with?'” adds Hart Stitz, Leipsic’s roomie-to-be.

These questions are causing much stress, anxiety and awkwardness among residents, who are all attempting, in some way or another, to negotiate living arrangement plans for next year. The question everyone keeps asking is, “Who should I live with?”

Finding a match

Before you can get engaged for what is likely to be a three-year marriage with roommates, you need to find a fiancé, or in many cases, fiancés. The first thing you need to decide is whether you want to live with someone you just met (meaning an engagement with a person you’ve known for four months or less), or with someone you knew pre-McGill.

Living with someone you know means you won’t get any after-move-in surprises, since you are likely to already be aware of all their weird and annoying habits. You can usually be more certain of your compatibility.

For many students in Upper Rez, however, this is not an option, meaning many will inevitably choose to live with someone they’ve only recently met. The dilemma then becomes finding the perfect mate. Many choose to live with those they’ve gotten closest to.

“They’re the two people I spend the most time with so it seemed like the logical thing to do,” says Leigh O’Neil, who has decided to move in with her two best friends in residence.

But living with best friends may not always be the wisest thing to do. Jordanna Kapeluto, who lives in O’Neil’s building, has decided against living with many of the friends she’s made at school.

“I get along well with the person I’m living with,” she explains. “We have similar living styles; we’re similar people. There are other people who are great friends but I can’t see myself living with them.”

The consensus is that, before considering your friendship with a potential roomie, you must first consider your living compatibility and habits. If you also happen to be the best of friends, then it’s a bonus, but it shouldn’t be your primary concern.

So how does one find a person with similar habits? The first place to look is on your own floor. Natalie Andrusiak of Molson Hall has decided to live with people from her floor purely because she knows she can live with them.

“We’re pretty much living with each other now; we see each other everyday,” she shares. “On the whole, nothing’s really changing.”

Erica Bernstein, who lives on the same floor, is also choosing to live with her immediate neighbours for a simple reason.

“We live together now and I know we don’t fight,” she explains, adding that she also knows she can share clothes with her selected roommates.

So it seems the floor is the popular place to pick up roommates. But what about those who aren’t so fortunate and aren’t having luck with the floor? The trick is to ask around, be they friends on other floors, in other buildings, out of rez or even people you don’t know who are looking for roomies.

Full house

The dilemma doesn’t stop at the decision about who to live with, but also includes the question of how many to live with. Here, the jury is split.

“Two is a good number,” upholds Leipsic. “With three, one person is left out, and four is just a mess.”

Grayson Barke, who lives four floors above him, disagrees.

“The more you live with, the better, because the less the cost.”

My rules work as follows:

Two in an apartment: You better know this person super well and be sure you get along with them because there ain’t nobody to rescue you.

Three: Third wheel. In any situation there’s always someone excluded. Just be prepared for constant team switching.

Four: an ideal number. Too many people for there to be anyone left out, but not enough people for it to be chaotic. Plus, when you get sick of one person, you can surely find another to play with.

Saying “I do”

This seems to be the hardest for most students. The easiest way seems to be the casual approach. O’Neil’s engagement became official when her two best friends and her were talking about moving out of rez and one of them just said, “Why don’t we all live together?”

Kappeleto, too, went for the casual approach:

“I just said, ‘I have a place in the works. Would you be interested?'”

Another U0 student, who asked to remain anonymous, didn’t even have to bother with planning an approach:

“I never said anything. It was implied. One of us just said one day, ‘We need to start looking for a place.'”

However you decide to ask, be prepared that you may not get the answer you want or the proposee may need time to think it over. If someone can’t live with you, it doesn’t mean they can’t be friends with you, so don’t take it personally. And there are no guarantees that they won’t break off the proposal. At this time of year, more than one suitor may be pursuing your roommate of choice, so all you can do is hope. Or, you can do as Bernstein and her roommates-to-be did: pinkie-swear on it.

There’s always divorceFinding a roommate shouldn’t be as stressful as residents make it out to be. It’s true things may not work out if you choose the wrong roommate, but the risk is necessary in a situation where you’ve only known people a mere four months. It’s impossible to be sure; you’ve got to take a chance. And if, once you move in, it doesn’t end up working, just remember: there’s always divorce.

Ladies, be coquettish and coy and play hard-to-get. Men, wait three days before calling. From Sex and the City to Seinfeld to Swingers, people today are bombarded by rules as to what to do, how to do it, and when to do it when it comes to dating, that game we all love to hate. But what actually works? Research shows that playing hard-to-get will make you a person who’s hard-to-like. Wait… could it be? Is it possible that people don’t like mixed signals? Shocking.

So take off your lucky underwear-we like it when you go commando, anyway-and lend science your ear. How can it improve your chances for scoring? Ignore those damn Rules and other such hogwash, the Trib, is here to set matters straight.

Braggin’ rights. Guys place more importance on youthfulness and physical attractiveness than their female counterparts when choosing a partner (those shallow bastards!), while girls are more focused on the vocational status, earning potential, kindness, and other emotional appeals of a man (okay, so our interests are piqued by the scent of money but, hey, at least we’re sensitive gold-diggers).

And we’ve caught on to what the opposite sex likes. Men display their “marketable” resources by bragging about their strength, athleticism, and sexual prowess, while women are more apt to display physical cues like wearing make-up and stylin’ threads.

At least you now know what to flaunt.

Pray for good genes. Gals like their arm candy to be, on average, six inches taller than they are, while men prefer women approximately four-and-a-half inches shorter than themselves. Men prefer women with an hourglass figure, as studies show that men are more attracted to those women with a waist-to-hip ratio between 0.6 and 0.7 (thin is so not in. Case in point: Kate Moss has a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.4.). It has also been found that women prefer men with a waist-to-hip ratio of about 0.9, implying a trim waistline.

Cross-cultural studies demonstrate consistency as to what female facial features are deemed attractive to men. It was found that females with larger eyes, a greater distance between eyes, slender noses, narrow faces, small chins, high and expressive eyebrows, large lower lips, high cheek bones, as well as a well-groomed, full head of hair were deemed more attractive. The things those crazy scientists say-as if men don’t like bald women. What will they come up with next?

Men prefer girls with a strong jaw, and both sexes preferred men with more feminine features. Symmetry also plays a huge part in physical attractiveness as both overall physical symmetry and facial symmetry were viewed as appealing to both men and women. Women prefer men with a larger upper body. So yeah, plastic surgery, anyone?

Aunt Flo = Cupid? A study where men were asked to smell T-shirts worn by women at varying stages of their menstrual cycle and rate their odours found that the odours of ovulating women consistently ranked much higher than those who were not. So perhaps it is not a curse, but a blessing instead.

A woman’s body may also undergo minor physical changes during ovulation. For example, soft tissues, such as those found in the ears and breasts, become more symmetrical, and waist-to-hip ratios tend to decline. A woman’s complexion is at its lightest and the skin also becomes aglow during ovulation. This is what is biologically deemed as attractive-think of what women strive to look like when they apply blush or lipstick, or seek breast implants: they are mimicking what they would look like during ovulation.

Who knew? Our monthly visit from our annoying little friend is like a monthly makeover from a helpful little matchmaker.

First impressions matter, so be a copycat. The initial meeting is crucial for relationship bliss-if you make a bad first impression, it takes 11 subsequent good impressions to offset the initial mishap. What’s more, evidence suggests that first impressions can be made subconsciously in as little as seven seconds. After this initial contact, individuals will confirm and establish a positive relationship generally within five minutes of being with another. Now that’s pressure. What’s a blubbering, klutzy, yet oh-so-horny individual to do?

The chameleon effect can work wonders. On your next date, mimic the postures, mannerisms and facial expressions of the object of your desire. Ultimately, mimicry has been found to promote the ease of interactions and increase your likeability. In fact, studies show that it can be predicted whether or not a couple will leave a bar together based on the synchronization of their movements.

Talk less, make bedroom eyes more. Studies show that only seven per cent of what a person takes away from a conversation comes from the words that are spoken, 38 per cent of meaning is derived from the way the words are articulated, while an astonishing 55 per cent of meaning is conveyed in facial expressions. Moreover, it has been found that nonverbal signaling is far more instrumental than other factors, such as physical attractiveness, in getting a man’s attention.

This means that ugly, boring people do still have a chance! Our advice? Don’t talk much, just wink repeatedly while pointing to your crotch region.

But what does it mean? Non-verbal communication can reveal lots about how a date is going. Guys who are interested in a partner touch them to convey care, conviction, sensitivity, and strength. Girls, on the other hand, are more likely to touch people to display property rights, those possessive demons. If a man leans back and touches his hair, it implies that he is not interested.

Women are more adept at decoding these cues as it has been consistently found that men are quite ignorant in reading body language. Does this come as a surprise to anyone?

Girls are also more likely to make the first move in a social environment through subtle movements such as standing near their potential prey. Conversations between men and women generally only begin after a female has acknowledged a man. Evidence suggests that women first display interest through eye contact followed by immediately looking away from their target. Subsequently, they are likely to lower their head slightly and cast another glance towards the individual. Coy. And hot. We approve.

Okay, so we guess these rules are not that much better than standard dating folklore. If you’re going to get plastic surgery just to get that 0.6 waist-to-hip ratio, perfect the first seven seconds of any meeting, and work on blinking at the exact same time as your date, you might as well wait three days before calling. But then again, what do we know.

SOURCES: Buss, D.M. The Evolution of Desires. (2003, Basic Books); Prager, K. The Psychology of Intimacy. (1995, Guildford Press).

Too shy to talk to that hottie in Poli Sci? Curious about the exciting world of anal beads? Need a course that won’t bring your GPA down two points? And, while we’re at it, who was the handsome stranger at the bar and what’s his story?

Fret not my wretched friend, for the creators of McGillGossip.com have found the solution for the classic student woes that plague us all. Launched last spring, the website is striving to become a one-stop shopping source for indispensable student information; namely, all the latest who’s who, who’s sleeping with who and who hates who in our beloved school. Essentially, it’s more gossip than you can probably handle.

As the website explains, the site is “McGill’s number one hookup [pun intended?] for news you can’t prove. If you’ve got a story to tell, we’ve got a place for you to put it.”

The brainchild of two McGill students, Alec Tallman and Nicole Bechard, the site describes itself as “a place to vent, a place to talk, and a place to hang out online.” The creators are quick to add that they are in no way affiliated with the school and any official organizations.

The site features discussion forums, a columnist named Dick McGill, an advice column by resident sexpert Naughty Natalie, a picture gallery, an events calendar, course reviews, chatrooms, polls, and uncensored message boards.

The latter seems to have attracted the most attention, and consequently, the most controversy. Visitors can leave anonymous messages on all aspects of university life, but discussion mainly centres around the lives and loves of fellow peers on the three uncensored boards, aptly named “Total Gossip”, “McGill Matchups” and “The Wall”.

Surprising? Hardly.

These three uncensored boards have raised several eyebrows, with upset students writing in to protest the nature of the boards and select comments. Despite detractors’ claims that the site is a defamation tool, Tallman maintains that the site is merely an online student hangout. He sympathizes with those who have been offended, but maintains that individual users of the site can be neither predicted nor regulated.

“Considering that we like to think of ourselves as the last bastion of uncensored free speech, I try to let individuals post what they like until someone complains. The one thing that bugs me most is when people just yell rude things…those get pulled in a second,” Tallman explains.

When a complaint is submitted, the objectionable comment is removed at once in order to protect individuals from character denigration.

“Justifiable criticism of people in the public eye is one thing, outright defamation is hurtful, and all-around pretty pointless,” he says.

The site attempts to discourage perceived abuse in their “Rules and Disclaimer” section stating, “this site was not created for character assassination, directed and cruel criticisms, maliciousness or other nasty goals…Information in your submissions must be kept anonymous. Names are not anonymous.”

This, however, has not prevented users from using full names in their posts. Threats of lawsuits have been brought up, but the editors have retained their jovial outlook and remain unfazed.

“In the beginning, before people saw what the site was really about, they got pretty nervous about the name,” notes Tallman. “But as for a team of lawyers and a class-action lawsuit, well, let’s just say I’m still waiting.”

The creators want to stress that the site isn’t merely about gossip, as its name would suggest; but should also be utilized as a form of communication amongst students. With such a big student population, it’s often difficult to maintain active discourse, and the creators hope that this will become an avenue for lively discussion and debate about issues pertaining to McGill student life.

The site also boasts an anti-calendar, a unique feature where users can discuss the courses they’ve taken and compare notes about the good, the bad and the ugly. It is organized according to faculty, and then by respective subjects. Currently, there are less than a dozen courses that have been reviewed.

“What drives me nuts is that the structure is complete,” laments Tallamn. “People just need to fill it in. I really think it’s a great service, and I want it to rock.”

Tallman definitely recognizes the inane nature of gossip, though has no intention to stop it.

“Gossip suffers from being mostly untrue, and often exaggerated. As a source of information, it’s way down there. But that doesn’t make gossiping any less fun. After all, everyone does it!”

This truism led him to believe students would eat it up, but the response hasn’t been overwhelming. With only 40 registered users at present and an average of 350 hits a week, the site is still struggling to find its niche amongst students. New content is never lacking, however, and the small staff maintains the labour of love by absorbing the upkeep costs. In the future, they hope to have expenses covered by advertising.

Monika Dygut, a U0 Management student, laughed upon first seeing the site.

“I don’t know what to say-the boards seem to be cluttered with a lot of silly gossip; a lot of it is pretty immature. I’d appreciate it more if there was more relevant, practical information on there…but things like the anti-calendar are great ideas!”

Response, for the most part, has been positive, assert the creators.

“Once people get over the fact that the site has the word gossip in its name, people like it. The name McgillGossip.com is meant to be provocative and fun. We provide our share of gossip, but that’s really not the point,'” says Tallman. “The point is that someone who wants to have some fun reading and responding about McGill related issues now has the chance to do that.”

So if you’re ever wondering how to initiate contact with that cutie in Moral Issues, or whether you’re more of a Jerome or a Jeremy Farrell-a burning question in the life of any normal student-mosey on over to McGillGossip.com. Its got the market covered.

There is a demand for McGill grads from companies in financial market hotspots overseas, and the McGill Financial Ambassadors have answered the call. Clovis Couasnon, U3 finance and mathematics, and Amine Larhrib, U3 finance and accounting, co-founded the club as a way for students to make contacts and ensure future job opportunities. Students are recognizing the importance of such a forum-the club is new this year and already boasts 65 paying members. Non-management students take note: the club membership is open to students in all faculties.

After traveling internationally, both founders discovered an abundance of overseas postings and alumni eager to open doors for students. Unfortunately, while overseas postings may seem alluring, the challenges of working in a foreign country can be overwhelming, resulting in a high turn-over rate in international job posts. However, the MFA believes if students prepare themselves adequately, they’ll have a much better chance at success.

“McGill students should take full advantage of the network of their alumni,” explains Larhib.

The MFA aims to increase student knowledge of topics related to financial markets and the workplace. Through a variety of events, members have the opportunity to meet with working professionals. They are also the first student club to offer week-long international company tours. With 13 students traveling to Hong Kong this January and another group heading for Dubai in March, the value of these tours is about to be proven.

“We want to allow students to opt for an international career without any economic barriers by building a base abroad and by encouraging teamwork to fundraise for trips,” says Couasnon. “Travelling itself is an advantage for students, and a great thing for anyone. Professionally, careers go faster when you enter into emerging markets. It’s not as limited as it would be if you were in a mature market, like New York. As long as you take advantage of it, you can evolve rapidly.”

The MFA is also committed to environmental initiatives. This November, they’re holding “Green Finance Day” to discuss carbon trading and socially responsible investments, while trying to show that people in the finance sector aren’t all sharks after the bottom line.

Despite overseas support and financial savvy, operating costs at home have been almost too much for them to handle. For example, their on-campus events cost nearly as much as it would to rent a hotel.

Not surprisingly, these high costs hinder the club’s ability to run career development services for McGill students on campus. However, it is not an entirely lost cause among McGill’s higher order­. Management Dean Peter Todd and the Management Undergraduate Society are giving a guarantee of full support to the MFA. “We have to do the work and prove we’re relevant, and then we’ll get financial help,” says Couasnon. Both recognize the value of the Association, both in expanding student horizons and in augmenting McGill’s global identity in the professional world.

“The value of our degree never drops,” asserts Larhib. Especially not with the MFA presenting students with a large scope of possibilities to pursue a post-undergrad degree.

For more information, visit their website at www.financeambassadors.ca