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News

Tribune to become independent newspaper

by Tori Crawford on

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After 29 years under the Students’ Society, the McGill Tribune will become an independent newspaper next year.

A referendum question that asked students if they would support a $3 non-opt-outable fee for an independent Tribune passed with 49.9 per cent voting yes, 29.7 per cent voting no, and 20.3 per cent spoiling their ballots.

Tribune Editor-in-Chief Thomas Quail was thrilled with the results.

“It’s the dawning of a new age for the Tribune as an independent newspaper,” he said. “It’s been a lot of work, but it was definitely worth it.”

The referendum marked the end of a two-year process that began in March 2008, when SSMU Council mandated that the Tribune become independent. Matt Chesser, Tribune opinion editor and former editor-in-chief, said the result was indicative of the paper’s progress.

“It’s been a long two years-and a very stressful two years-but I think this is a reflection of how far the Tribune has come, and a reflection of the quality of the content we put out every week,” said Chesser. “I’m just ecstatic people think the Tribune is worth $3 per semester.”

Over the past week, the Tribune had been working with a skeletal staff-with approximately half of the editorial board resigning in order to campaign as part of the “yes” committee. After a week of campaigning, the editorial board was optimistic about the future of the paper.

“I’m ecstatic with the results. Going into campaigning we were all a bit nervous, but deep down we had the confidence that this was going to go well,” said Managing Editor James Gilman. “We’re looking forward to starting the Tribune’s new life as an independent organization.”

News, SSMU

The Tribune goes to school on SSMU elections and referenda

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President

STEFAN LINK

STEFAN LINK

How will your past experience influence your approach to the presidential portfolio? I have always been looking at the basic student services that affect the majority of people. So in the Physics Society, I knew that the math department had a really functional help desk that lots of students use and I didn’t understand why physics didn’t have a similar service, so I just wanted to start something similar for the physics people, and I did. The next thing I did was organizing a career fair. Just the basic services that I would expect to see. That was a great experience where I learned a lot about leadership, motivating people, how to deal with administration and bureaucracy. What do you plan to do about the GA?I think that it is extremely important that [students] are discussing things like Israel and Palestine and I think it is important that they have a forum for discussion. However, I do not think that McGill University as a whole should be taking a stance on issues like these, and if that is what it comes down to it should not be with three per cent of the population. I really don’t think that it has a place in the GA. I would like to have [the GA] in the gym and I would increase attendance by physically going and speaking with the departments to tell them ‘Hey there is a general assembly coming up in a month.’ What issues would you seek to advance on BoG and how would you work with other board members to accomplish them? I would like to see a big increase in approaching other private and industrial sectors to give bursaries and scholarships to the students because they have a lot of money … there are private sectors and industries that are interested in this because if they are going to succeed they are going to need the best people working for them. I would also like to push for transparency. What has SSMU done right this year and what would you do differently? They realized that they had to shut down Haven Books, which was extremely good. I think that it’s good that they did the energy audits. They did do a really good job with Gert’s compared to previous years but I still think that it can be improved a lot. I also think that one of the main things they have not done is address basic student services that you would expect to find at a University. It also only costs pennies per semester to have a 24-hour library service. We are at one of the top universities in the world, many other universities already have this service. It is very successful and so why we don’t have it is an extremely good question, especially because it costs virtually nothing. They have not addressed basic things that affect everybody everyday. If you were a type of cocktail, what would you be? Wow, that’s a tough one…sex on the beach?

TRIP YANG

TRIP YANG

How will your past experience influence your approach to the presidential portfolio?Well, one of the things I try to market about myself is that I have a diverse set of experiences. I’ve worked for the Tribune for four years. Writing news stories requires that you have an objective, impartial point of view when you’re trying to cover something. As a SSMU President it’s really important to stimulate debate, to open up discussion, and to try and encourage others to have flexible mindsets. I’m also the president of the McGill Computer Taskforce – it’s a large student-run organization within the [Science Undergraduate Society.]

What would you do to change the General Assembly?I really want to change the GA. I’ve read the editorials by the Tribune and by the Daily, and there seems to be a consensus that the current GA model doesn’t work. I want to reform the GA so that instead of holding a GA once per semester, I want to only hold it when student debate and consultation is required. I want the GA to be televised – hopefully by TVMcGill, if their referendum question passes, and they gain access to more equipment – and made into a two-part process. First, students would debate and amend motions at a GA, then after the GA has been televised and students have had a chance to watch it, the entire student body would be able to vote on the motions online.

What would be your main concerns and areas of focus during the Memorandum of Agreement negotiations with the administration?Outside of securing an acceptable, student-friendly lease for the Shatner Building, I really want to look at the potentially restrictive language surrounding student-run initiatives. Haven Books is a perfect example – $200,000 of debt in three years – and that was largely the result of not being able to advertise on campus or on SSMU Listservs.

How much of a voice do you think the president can have on the Board of Governors, and what are your plans to advance student concerns there?For undergraduates, the president is the only student representative on the BoG, so it’s imperative that the president fights for his or her constituency’s interests. At the same time, there’s a possibility of being intimidated during his or her first time at the BoG, because there are a number of high-profile administrators and businessmen that sit on the BoG. And in order for a president in his or her twenties to be taken seriously, she needs to speak professionally and convey student interests without antagonizing the rest of the members of the BoG.

What cocktail would you be?A martini, because James Bond drinks those bad boys.

ZACH NEWBURGH

ZACH NEWBURGH

How will your past experience influence your approach to the presidential portfolio?I have served as the speaker of Council both for SSMU and for AUS, so I have a great knowledge of the various faculty associations that exist on campus. I am also currently the president of Hillel Montreal, and I was the president of one of the largest North American youth movements and then the chair of an international youth movement that held conferences focussing on leadership development and social justice all across the world.

How would you address the issues surrounding the General Assembly?It’s silly for us to pretend that the GA is a democratic forum if you cannot fit five per cent of your student society in the room. There was a great idea to provide an opportunity to debate questions, and to release video and sound clips from that particular debate online. And to have the vote online so students can hear about both the pros and cons of a particular resolution as well as the opportunity to engage in direct democracy.

What would be the main things you push for in the MoA renegotiations?Some very important things should be fought for in the MoA agreement, such as the right to use the McGill logo and the name. [Also important are the] continued use of phone lines, emails, and website domains, as well as ensuring that the Students’ Society is able to operate independently and successfully.

What do you think you could practically accomplish on the Board of Governors, and how would you work with other members of the board to advance student concerns?It’s extremely important that we represent the interests of our students and as president I will certainly represent interests that are important to our students. I’ve indicated in my platform that something I’m interested in doing is increasing accessibility – providing an opportunity for students to be represented fairly and adequately.

What has SSMU done right this year and what would you look to do differently?I think that SSMU has done a great job at revitalizing Gert’s, making it a student bar that is held in high regard by many of our students which is something that has not been in recent history. As president I would be implementing a vision, helping our team be successful. My vision is that we build community together, and we can do so by e
mpowering student athletes. Athletics is something apolitical everyone can rally around and celebrate the McGill name. Let’s create a student society that we are proud of and this is one of the opportunities in which we could bring people together.

If you were a mixed drink, what would you be?I would be a Jäger Bomb: something that is both tasty and delicious and gets you drunk real fast.

SARAH WOOLF

SARAH WOOLF

How will your past experience with SSMU influence your approach to the presidential portfolio?One of the things that the president needs to do is to always have a really strong institutional memory. That doesn’t mean you necessarily have to have been previously directly involved in order to president, but I think you have to have strong sense of SSMU, its history and how it functions, as well as McGill and how it functions. My experience has been firmly planted in all aspects of both SSMU and McGill. I think the relationships I’ve built with the administration, with other councillors, and with people on campus will help me to pursue the best interests of students.

What do you intend to do about General Assemblies?I think it’s an incredibly important institution, and I’m not ready to give up on it yet. I also recognize that, as the president, I’m not the only person with the answers about what GA reform would look like. There are so many options for what we could do to make the GA a better system.

What would be your main priorities in the Memorandum of Agreement negotiations with McGill?One of the biggest things is that the MoA and the lease are tied together. I’d like to see them separate. However, I don’t know if that will be possible. I haven’t been in our previous discussions about the MoA with the administration. What I’d like to see is more security from the administration [with respect to the Shatner Building], whether that’s a longer lease or taking over the utilities. I think the administration needs to give up more security so that we feel comfortable putting more money into it so that the building is best functioning for students.

As the only undergraduate voice on the Board of Governors, how would you work with other members to advance student concerns?I think my experience on Senate has given me a lot of [experience working with administrators]. I have no problem standing strong on student concerns. But I also know how important it is to be collaborative, to be respectful, to recognize that fundamentally we both want student life on McGill’s campus to be as strong as possible. Sometimes we just have different ideas about what that means.

What has SSMU done right this year, and what would you do differently?This year, the executive has been exceptionally strong. I’m impressed with them on a constant basis. I think Council has been weak this year. I’m still thinking about how I would try to stimulate more discussion and make it more accessible to non-councillors. I really think it’s been a strong year for SSMU and I’m looking forward to building off of it.

If you were a mixed drink, what type would you be?I think I would probably be a brown cow, because milk’s really good for you. You really could probably have it any time of day and be just fine.

News, SSMU

SSMU Candidate Interviews

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STEFAN LINK

STEFAN LINK

How will your past experience influence your approach to the presidential portfolio? I have always been looking at the basic student services that affect the majority of people. So in the Physics Society, I knew that the math department had a really functional help desk that lots of students use and I didn’t understand why physics didn’t have a similar service, so I just wanted to start something similar for the physics people, and I did. The next thing I did was organizing a career fair. Just the basic services that I would expect to see. That was a great experience where I learned a lot about leadership, motivating people, how to deal with administration and bureaucracy. What do you plan to do about the GA?I think that it is extremely important that [students] are discussing things like Israel and Palestine and I think it is important that they have a forum for discussion. However, I do not think that McGill University as a whole should be taking a stance on issues like these, and if that is what it comes down to it should not be with three per cent of the population. I really don’t think that it has a place in the GA. I would like to have [the GA] in the gym and I would increase attendance by physically going and speaking with the departments to tell them ‘Hey there is a general assembly coming up in a month.’ What issues would you seek to advance on BoG and how would you work with other board members to accomplish them? I would like to see a big increase in approaching other private and industrial sectors to give bursaries and scholarships to the students because they have a lot of money … there are private sectors and industries that are interested in this because if they are going to succeed they are going to need the best people working for them. I would also like to push for transparency. What has SSMU done right this year and what would you do differently? They realized that they had to shut down Haven Books, which was extremely good. I think that it’s good that they did the energy audits. They did do a really good job with Gert’s compared to previous years but I still think that it can be improved a lot. I also think that one of the main things they have not done is address basic student services that you would expect to find at a University. It also only costs pennies per semester to have a 24-hour library service. We are at one of the top universities in the world, many other universities already have this service. It is very successful and so why we don’t have it is an extremely good question, especially because it costs virtually nothing. They have not addressed basic things that affect everybody everyday. If you were a type of cocktail, what would you be? Wow, that’s a tough one…sex on the beach?

TRIP YANG

TRIP YANG

How will your past experience influence your approach to the presidential portfolio?Well, one of the things I try to market about myself is that I have a diverse set of experiences. I’ve worked for the Tribune for four years. Writing news stories requires that you have an objective, impartial point of view when you’re trying to cover something. As a SSMU President it’s really important to stimulate debate, to open up discussion, and to try and encourage others to have flexible mindsets. I’m also the president of the McGill Computer Taskforce – it’s a large student-run organization within the [Science Undergraduate Society.]

What would you do to change the General Assembly?I really want to change the GA. I’ve read the editorials by the Tribune and by the Daily, and there seems to be a consensus that the current GA model doesn’t work. I want to reform the GA so that instead of holding a GA once per semester, I want to only hold it when student debate and consultation is required. I want the GA to be televised – hopefully by TVMcGill, if their referendum question passes, and they gain access to more equipment – and made into a two-part process. First, students would debate and amend motions at a GA, then after the GA has been televised and students have had a chance to watch it, the entire student body would be able to vote on the motions online.

What would be your main concerns and areas of focus during the Memorandum of Agreement negotiations with the administration?Outside of securing an acceptable, student-friendly lease for the Shatner Building, I really want to look at the potentially restrictive language surrounding student-run initiatives. Haven Books is a perfect example – $200,000 of debt in three years – and that was largely the result of not being able to advertise on campus or on SSMU Listservs.

How much of a voice do you think the president can have on the Board of Governors, and what are your plans to advance student concerns there?For undergraduates, the president is the only student representative on the BoG, so it’s imperative that the president fights for his or her constituency’s interests. At the same time, there’s a possibility of being intimidated during his or her first time at the BoG, because there are a number of high-profile administrators and businessmen that sit on the BoG. And in order for a president in his or her twenties to be taken seriously, she needs to speak professionally and convey student interests without antagonizing the rest of the members of the BoG.

What cocktail would you be?A martini, because James Bond drinks those bad boys.

ZACH NEWBURGH

ZACH NEWBURGH

How will your past experience influence your approach to the presidential portfolio?I have served as the speaker of Council both for SSMU and for EUS, so I have a great knowledge of the various faculty associations that exist on campus. I am also currently the president of Hillel Montreal, and I was the president of one of the largest North American youth movements and then the chair of an international youth movement that held conferences focussing on leadership development and social justice all across the world.

How would you address the issues surrounding the General Assembly?It’s silly for us to pretend that the GA is a democratic forum if you cannot fit five per cent of your student society in the room. There was a great idea to provide an opportunity to debate questions, and to release video and sound clips from that particular debate online. And to have the vote online so students can hear about both the pros and cons of a particular resolution as well as the opportunity to engage in direct democracy.

What would be the main things you push for in the MoA renegotiations?Some very important things should be fought for in the MoA agreement, such as the right to use the McGill logo and the name. [Also important are the] continued use of phone lines, emails, and website domains, as well as ensuring that the Students’ Society is able to operate independently and successfully.

What do you think you could practically accomplish on the Board of Governors, and how would you work with other members of the board to advance student concerns?It’s extremely important that we represent the interests of our students and as president I will certainly represent interests that are important to our students. I’ve indicated in my platform that something I’m interested in doing is increasing accessibility – providing an opportunity for students to be represented fairly and adequately.

What has SSMU done right this year and what would you look to do differently?I think that SSMU has done a great job at revitalizing Gert’s, making it a student bar that is held in high regard by many of our students which is something that has not been in recent history. As president I would be implementing a vision, helping our team be successful. My vision is that we build community together, and we can do so by empowering student
athletes. Athletics is something apolitical everyone can rally around and celebrate the McGill name. Let’s create a student society that we are proud of and this is one of the opportunities in which we could bring people together.

If you were a mixed drink, what would you be?I would be a Jäger Bomb: something that is both tasty and delicious and gets you drunk real fast.

SARAH WOOLF

SARAH WOOLF

How will your past experience with SSMU influence your approach to the presidential portfolio?One of the things that the president needs to do is to always have a really strong institutional memory. That doesn’t mean you necessarily have to have been previously directly involved in order to president, but I think you have to have strong sense of SSMU, its history and how it functions, as well as McGill and how it functions. My experience has been firmly planted in all aspects of both SSMU and McGill. I think the relationships I’ve built with the administration, with other councillors, and with people on campus will help me to pursue the best interests of students.

What do you intend to do about General Assemblies?I think it’s an incredibly important institution, and I’m not ready to give up on it yet. I also recognize that, as the president, I’m not the only person with the answers about what GA reform would look like. There are so many options for what we could do to make the GA a better system.

What would be your main priorities in the Memorandum of Agreement negotiations with McGill?One of the biggest things is that the MoA and the lease are tied together. I’d like to see them separate. However, I don’t know if that will be possible. I haven’t been in our previous discussions about the MoA with the administration. What I’d like to see is more security from the administration [with respect to the Shatner Building], whether that’s a longer lease or taking over the utilities. I think the administration needs to give up more security so that we feel comfortable putting more money into it so that the building is best functioning for students.

As the only undergraduate voice on the Board of Governors, how would you work with other members to advance student concerns?I think my experience on Senate has given me a lot of [experience working with administrators]. I have no problem standing strong on student concerns. But I also know how important it is to be collaborative, to be respectful, to recognize that fundamentally we both want student life on McGill’s campus to be as strong as possible. Sometimes we just have different ideas about what that means.

What has SSMU done right this year, and what would you do differently?This year, the executive has been exceptionally strong. I’m impressed with them on a constant basis. I think Council has been weak this year. I’m still thinking about how I would try to stimulate more discussion and make it more accessible to non-councillors. I really think it’s been a strong year for SSMU and I’m looking forward to building off of it.

If you were a mixed drink, what type would you be?I think I would probably be a brown cow, because milk’s really good for you. You really could probably have it any time of day and be just fine.

Correction: Zach Newburgh was originally quoted as saying he was the AUS speaker of council. In fact, he is the EUS speaker of council.

News

Changes to Frosh may eliminate daytime drinking by leaders

by Matt Essert on

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After several months of discussion between the Students’ Society, faculty associations, and members of the administration, major changes may be in store for Frosh this coming year.

“The university is looking for basic, systematic changes, but those changes are very big ideologically,” Students’ Society Vice-President Internal Alex Brown said. “As it stands right now, the people who have the best time at Frosh are the Frosh leaders, which is not really the point of Frosh. So, [the administration is] looking to make it more focussed on the first-year students.”

Brown indicated that the changes would affect how Frosh is approached by coordinators, Frosh leaders, and first-year participants.

“The idea is that the primary activity should never be drinking,” she said. “You can drink while you’re doing something, but the activity shouldn’t be ‘Drinking While Playing Frisbee.’ It should be a Frisbee tournament while the bar is open. A lot of it is trying to make leaders more focussed on the activity, rather than the drinking.”

Most of the upcoming changes will focus on Frosh leaders and their role in the event. During this year’s Science Frosh, McGill Security felt that Frosh leaders were too rowdy even closing the beer tent for one of the afternoons during the three-day event.

“This year, out of all of the problems that we had, a large majority of them were with Frosh leaders,” Brown said.

Among the most noticeable changes to Frosh could be the way Frosh leaders are selected, as well as the decision to forbid Frosh leaders from drinking alcohol during the daytime activities.

“The university would like to see Frosh leaders sober during the day, so that they’re really focussing on meeting their students and leading their students.” Brown said.

Some of the calls for change have come from the students themselves. Anurag Dhir, the director of Molson Hall residence, was recently brought on by the Student Services Office to evaluate the transition experience of first-year students into university.

“I organized focus groups of students in residence to ask them questions like, ‘What did you like about orientation and Frosh? What didn’t you like? How would you like it to be different?'” Dhir said. “I wasn’t sure about the kind of response I would get from people, but it was actually very enlightening in terms of the diversity of responses.”

Some students described Frosh as “a realistic introduction to college life” at which the “beach party was fun, especially because it was an all-faculty event.” Other students claimed that “non-drinkers feel out of place,” however, and that “Frosh leaders were sometimes aggressive with students regarding drinking games.”

“In the past ten years, Frosh hasn’t changed all that much, but the make-up of the student body at McGill has,” Dhir said. “There are a lot more international students for whom the North American culture is unique. They want to meet other people, and how else can you meet other people outside of the usual pub crawls?”

Jana Luker, executive director of Student Services, insisted that the university has only played a small role in these discussions. The administration is not looking to be “a wet blanket,” but only to help the faculties optimize the Frosh experience.

“We are just trying to help facilitate the conversations, because it should be student-run for the students,” Luker said.

“The whole purpose is that it’s a student led thing and the dynamism and creativity happens from the students,” said Dhir. “But we can offer resources and tools like facilitating conversations or access to training if they need it.”

Brown emphasized, however, that the university is not looking to eliminate Frosh.

“[The administration] is very reasonable about it,” she said. “Nobody is trying to spoil the fun or anything like that, but they really do want to see a lot more accountability and responsibility in the Frosh leaders.”

Correction: The original headline of this article stated that changes to Frosh would eliminate daytime drinking for Frosh leaders. In fact, the changes to Frosh may eliminate daytime drinking for Frosh leaders.

Arts & Entertainment, Music

CD REVIEWS: Massive Attack: Heligoland

by Alex Hamilton on

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After a seven-year hiatus, Massive Attack’s highly anticipated new release Heligoland is a letdown, to say the least. With collaborations from a variety of musicians such as Tunde Adebimpe of TV on the Radio, Guy Garvey of Elbow, and regular Massive Attack contributors Horace Andy and Robert del Naja, fans were looking forward to something special. For those expecting a masterpiece from these long-absent trip-hoppers, however, this will fall far short of expectations.

The rumored creative presence of famed Brit-popper Damon Albarn (of Blur and Gorillaz) on this new album was cause to hope for some exciting results. However, his track “Flat of the Blade” is barely listenable, and for the most part his contributions fail to stand out from the rest of the album, which is not saying much. The songs on Heligoland are practically dirges, flat and depressing, sometimes starting out with promise but inevitably slumping. The strongest tracks on the album, “Girl I Love You” and “Paradise Circus,” are enjoyable but leave something to be desired.

This becomes the general feeling of the album. Whether from lack of conviction or inspiration, Massive Attack fails to capture their audience’s interest. Their effort on Heligoland ends up sounding like just another band trying to copy Radiohead. For all but the most dedicated fans, this fifth album will be a sure sign that Massive Attack is beginning to dry up creatively.

Arts & Entertainment, Music

CD REVIEWS: Rogue Wave: Permalight

by Alex Hamilton on

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Rogue Wave’s fourth album represents something of a comeback. With the death of bassist Evan Farrell in 2007 and frontman Zach Rogue recovering from a recent partially paralyzing neck injury, the band’s efforts on Permalight really show them getting through the storm and back to business. On the band’s blog, Rogue promised “a more body-moving album.” Although Permalight is by no means electro, it does have a more upbeat sound to it – the influences are less Death Cab For Cutie and more The Postal Service. At first, the band’s new approach is fresh and dynamic, but by the end, their tact begins to get tedious.

Permalight starts off with a couple of great tracks, including “Solitary Gun,” an acoustic guitar number in the grain of previous Rogue Wave hits, and “Good Morning (The Future),” the album’s first synth-heavy single. The songs then begin to get repetitive, picking up briefly with “Permalight” and “Right With You” before trailing off again. A strong start and weak finish is typical of most Rogue Wave releases – after a once-over listen, most people will want to skip the majority of the tracks and just listen to their favourites. The album also draws some derision for being too reminiscent of synth-pop sensation Owl City, even though Rogue Wave has been making music for much longer. Still, Permalight can be enjoyable, and there’s a lot to be said for getting back on the horse after a rough fall.

Arts & Entertainment

JUNO nomination proves Canada is Down With Webster

by Ross Treloar on

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Born out of a junior high talent show, Down With Webster has grown into a seven-man hip-hop/pop/rock group that’s been signed to a major label (Universal Motown), headlined its own tour, and just last week was nominated for a JUNO Award for Best New Group.

“We all have really high goals … We want to tour the whole world and do all sorts of other stuff we haven’t done yet,” says bass and keyboard player Tyler Armes. “We haven’t made it yet, but we’re on the right path right now.”

Down With Webster got their start through word of mouth in Toronto, where they played small venues – including the gym of their former middle school – as if they were big venues: banners, red plastic cups, and even a gong bearing their DWW logo have been a part of their show since the early days. Now they sell out 1,000-person venues in Toronto. Having just completed the western portion of their first headlining tour, the band has been branching out to cities they’ve never played before. Though they’ve grown accustomed to big stages – opening for the likes of The Roots, Snoop Dogg, and, most recently, Timbaland – they don’t have any qualms about playing smaller venues again.

“It was so cool to go back to venues where there’s 150, 300, 450 kids and have it be a tiny little room with a small stage again,” says Armes.

Maybe the biggest difference is that they’re playing to their own audience, instead of the headlining act’s fans.

“When you’re opening for someone else you have to kind of accept the fact that those people aren’t there to see you,” says Armes. “When we’re headlining we’re used to kids running up on stage and going crazy and we have their attention from the second we get out there.”

So what does Webster sound like? They’ve got horns like a marching band, guitar solos like the late eighties, and party-heavy rap lyrics between catchy pop choruses. Unlike the majority of hip-hop, you won’t hear a drum machine (unless you count an often-shirtless, afro-sporting maniac behind the kit named Andrew “Marty” Martino). While some songs lean towards the energetic – “Time To Win” and “Parade Music” – others have a more laid back pop feel – “Rich Girl$” and “Whoa Is Me.” Their latest album, Time To Win Vol. 1, maintains a good balance, and a malleable one at that; the band has played for very different crowds, including the Vans Warped Tour last year.

“One of the coolest things that we’ve found since we started touring four or five years ago is that because our music is such a mash-up of different styles, it’s really cool and easy for us to cross over and play for different kinds of music fans,” says Armes. “I think generally speaking people can take away some element of what we’re doing and enjoy it.”

The band has recently returned from filming a special in Cancun for Much Music. Like the 30-second promo video in which the band members are supposedly waking up from their respective blackouts on the beach, Armes only hinted at what went on while they were in Mexico.

“We did the kind of stuff it might take you years to do and did it all in a week,” says Armes.

The Cancun special will air on March 18, in conjunction with the debut of the music video for their new single “Your Man,” a nod to sixties and seventies dating game shows. However, Webster tend to stay in touch with their fans online as well. They’re known for their YouTube videos, including a series of videos of rapper Cam Hunter freestyling (notably at an underwhelmed Waffle House in Atlanta), or Martino tearing through hotels, parks, and city streets banging on whatever he can with drumsticks. The latter perhaps as an homage to drumming legend Buddy Rich, who pulled the same stunt on The Muppet Show in the eighties and remarked “When I play a theatre, I play the theatre!” For Armes, making this kind of effort to connect with fans is crucial.

“You want to let your fans more or less into your life and let them see who you are as people,” says Armes. “It’s not just about seeing your concerts and listening to your CD in your car.”

Known for surprises, like bringing a full drum line on stage for their album release show, what does Webster have in store for Montreal?

“We’re checking out the regulations to see if we can skydive and land in the area right now. [If not] we’ll have to go with the B plan,” jokes Armes. If the B plan is business as usual for a Down With Webster show, you won’t be disappointed at the lack of daredevilry.

Down With Webster plays at the Just for Laughs Theatre on Friday, March 12.

Arts & Entertainment

POP RHETORIC: An in-credible end

by Ryan Taylor on

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The music at the Winter Olympics was terrible. It was painfully obvious that the majority of televised performances were lip-synched, and that god-awful theme song “I Believe” was so sappy I could’ve poured it on my pancakes. But without a doubt the most disappointing and flat-out embarassing moment of these Olympics for fans of Canadian music was the closing ceremonies.

Let me jog your memory, given that the ceremony was over a week ago: Neil Young started off with the heartfelt “Long May You Run.” It was great, and seemed to be indicative of things to come. Then came Nickelback. Then Avril Lavigne. Uh oh. I thought Alanis Morissette would steer things back on course only to gaze dumbfoundedly at the TV as Simple Plan and Hedley took the stage. The whole thing ended with the “only-known-in-Quebec” Marie-Mai and k-os, but I was too busy trying to pick my jaw up off the floor to pay attention. Canada may have owned the gold on the podium, but this line-up shouldn’t have made it past the qualifiers.

Was that really the best Canada had to offer? Nickelback? Congratulations, one of the most laughed-at bands is now a beacon of Canadian music. Avril? Is she even relevent anymore? All of Eastern Europe probably thinks we condone the glorified attempt at pop stars that are Hedley. For a country with a wealth of musical talent, these choices were disappointing, and that’s putting it nicely.

Now, before everyone immediately attacks me for riding my “indie” high-horse, don’t think I don’t understand why these acts were chosen. Hate on them all you will, but Nickelback is one of the biggest bands in the world and Avril Lavigne has sold plenty of records. Simple Plan and Hedley are pretty big too, at least by Canadian standards. These acts don’t sell millions of records for no reason; people like them, and in an event that’s intended for a worldwide audience it’s understandable that decisions were made based on popularity. After all, Nickelback hasn’t sold all 30 million of its records in Canada alone.

But just like student government, choosing popularity isn’t always the best call. Yes, the acts chosen have sold a lot of records, but how many over-30 fans of Simple Plan or Hedley are there? Under-25 Alanis fans? No question there are some, but in picking acts that only appeal to certain groups, you neglect a significant portion of the audience. While the entertainment strived for mass appeal, it should’ve instead focused on broad appeal. Yes, people will say that there was something for everyone: Avril for the kids, Alanis for the older crowd, and k-os for the hip-hop fans. But why did everything have to be so polarizing? There are plenty of Canadian musicians out there that transcend both generations and borders. Neil Young had the broadest appeal of the bunch and he opened the show (which is another issue entirely). Where was Rush? Great Big Sea? Broken Social Scene? Arcade Fire? Not only do these bands have far-reaching appeal, but they’re also actually respected by almost everyone. I can think of no better reason to be proud.

At the end of the day, you can’t please everyone, but oh Canada, we could’ve done so much better.

Sports

Silver finish

by Kailan Leung on

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With Saturday’s loss to the Laval Rouge et Or in the QSSF championship game, the McGill women’s basketball team concluded a rollercoaster ride of a season. While a 13-15 overall record – McGill went 5-4 in non-conference play and finished 8-11 in Quebec competition – cannot be considered cause for celebration, the Martlets closed out the season competitively, and appear to have the pieces in place to become a force in the near future.

McGill’s postseason run served as an excellent indicator of the team’s multiple strengths and weaknesses. Last Wednesday, the Martlets scored an impressive 77-59 road win over the second-seeded UQAM Citadins. The sudden-death victory launched McGill into Saturday’s gold-medal game for the first time in 13 years. But the Martlets simply could not keep up with the bigger, more experienced home team, and the match ended in a 36-58 blowout.

Throughout the season, the Martlets lived and died by the three-point shot. More than a third of McGill’s field goals came from behind the arc, yet the team only connected on 30 per cent of their attempts from long range. In comparison, Laval and UQAM – the top two teams in Quebec – connected on a higher percentage of threes over the course of the season despite taking fewer shots. In Wednesday’s semifinal against the Citadins, the Martlets were masterful from the perimeter, shooting 45 per cent for the game. Four players reached double figures in scoring, and the team recorded 20 assists – 11 more than their season average.

While the Martlets used Wednesday’s game to show just how dangerous they can be when on target, Saturday’s championship match proved the exact opposite. McGill misfired on 17 of their 19 attempts from downtown, and wound up shooting a dismal 18 per cent overall for the game. The Martlets attempted to utilize star forward Anneth Him-Lazarenko in the post, but the talented sophomore’s offensive production was limited inside all game long.

Although McGill couldn’t quite pull off a fairy-tale finish to the regular season, Head Coach Ryan Thorne’s team has reason to be optimistic going forward. Freshman guard Marie-Eve Martin exhibited confidence and savvy far beyond her years, and joined Him-Lazarenko as the only other player to average double-figures in scoring. Fellow rookies Helene Bibeau and Francoise Charest were also impressive, and should improve dramatically before the start of next season.

With a go-to player in Him-Lazarenko, a confident shooter in Martin, and a cast of young, solid contributors, look for the Martlets to take a big step in league play next year. While the veteran leadership of seniors Nathifa Weekes and Stephanie Bergeron will be missed, the future for McGill women’s basketball is bright. A year from now, expect the Martlets to be coming off yet another title game, but this time, with a different result.

Sports

McGill bounced in QUBL semis

by Kailan Leung on

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If there is one thing the McGill men’s basketball team made clear to spectators and scouts this year, it’s that the Redmen can play with anyone in Quebec. Stacked with young talent, the future of McGill’s men’s basketball program appears to be in good hands, and if Head Coach Craig Norman can figure out a way to get his team to perform with some consistency, the Redmen could be a force to be reckoned with as early as next season. Right now, however, Norman has little else to do but ponder the future, after his Redmen were bounced out of the first round of the QUBL playoffs on Saturday evening, losing 69-60 to the Laval Rouge et Or.

The Redmen outscored their opponents in the first, third, and fourth quarters, but were demolished in the second stanza as Laval turned up the defensive pressure to hold McGill to eight points. The Redmen shot a dismal 1-11 from three-point territory in the first half, and finished the game at less than a 20 per cent clip. McGill’s veterans failed to provide the offensive punch needed to make it to the gold-medal round, as scoring stalwarts Michael White, Matt Thornhill, and Pawel Herra combined to shoot 9-35 from the field.

Stepping up for the Redmen was American Winn Clark, who ended his impressive rookie campaign on a positive note, scoring 13 points and dishing out three assists. With newly announced Quebec Rookie of the Year Olivier Bouchard inactive for Saturday’s game, junior guard Sebastian Gatti manned the point and finished close to a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds. Despite Gatti’s contributions, McGill severely missed Bouchard’s speed, shooting, and all-around court-savvy. A highly touted recruit from College Montmorency, Bouchard’s impact on the team was immediate – he registered six points, four boards, and seven assists in his first university game, against the NCAA’s St. John’s Red Storm – and he figures to play a major part in the success of the program for years to come. Bouchard finished the year scoring a shade under 10 points per game, to go along with 3.7 assists while shooting 35 per cent from three.

The Redmen struggled during the preseason and dropped their first two contests in regular season play before picking up the pace late in the new year. McGill went on a tear to catapult themselves into playoff contention, winning six of seven from mid-January to February. Thornhill capped an illustrious career at McGill by taking home Player of the Year honours last week, after averaging 18.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, while ranking eighth in the CIS in three point field goal percentage.

Joining Thornhill and Bouchard as year-end award recipients was 6-foot-7 freshman Nic Langley, a Golden, B.C. product who spent time with Canada’s National Elite Development Academy and joined Bouchard on the all-rookie team.

With their eight regular season wins, the Redmen posted their best conference finish since the 2001-2002 season. Although McGill once again failed to impress in the postseason, the team’s development over the course of the season gives hope to Redmen fans looking forward. Norman has a plethora of talented athletes to work with next year, but still lacks an inside post presence. Nevertheless, the future is bright for the Redmen, and McGill fans can expect great things next season.

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