Latest News

Editorial, Opinion

Journalism’s only vocal when it’s local

by The McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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On Jan. 26, Postmedia, a Toronto-based media conglomerate and the parent company of over 130 local newspapers across Canada, including The Montreal Gazette, revealed its plan to lay off 11 per cent of its total editorial staff. This devastating decision, made in a Toronto boardroom, will put up to 10 unionized Gazette reporters out of work and could lead the paper to shut down completely within the next year or two.

With the Gazette being Montreal’s only English-language daily, the cuts raise concerns about the paper’s ability to cover local communities and the future of English journalism in the province. Postmedia’s layoffs will have a disproportionate impact on Black, Indigenous, and racialized writers, which will result in silencing already underrepresented communities. The disappearance of local papers at the expense of large national corporations could be the final blow to journalists writing to uncover truths and protect democracy. 

The rise of social media as an uncritical source of information and the increased digitalization of news have put traditional journalism in a difficult position. As the Gazette is being financially gutted while still turning profits, the myth of dying journalism works in favour of corporations like Postmedia that conveniently avoid reinvesting in their branches. Annual reports in 2021 revealed $8 million in compensation for Postmedia’s executives, half of it being bonus money—despite the company netting losses of $4.4 million in the same year. The concentration of wealth into the hands of executives instead of reporters could lead to a drastic shift in journalistic coverage, propagating narratives of false austerity that only serve those already in power.

The Montreal Gazette is the beating heart of the city’s anglophone journalism and is an undeniable means to fight back against the province’s oppressive language preservation laws. Additionally, the publication serves as a community meeting space, and closing down its doors will shut down a place of discussion and debate that does not exist in national news. This is especially true considering the impact of Postmedia’s 25 per cent payroll cut, which will almost entirely wipe out the Gazette’s photo desk. As unionized reporters are not allowed to take pictures, most media will be taken from a national photo bank—while local photojournalism tells powerful stories that words cannot capture.

This round of lay-offs reproduces ongoing and stratified discrimination and injustice. In a field already perpetuating racism within its walls, white executives in positions of power will hold on to their jobs, while people of colour and reporters without financial fallback will bear the disproportionate impact. Writers of colour, already struggling to be heard in a field that is 75 per cent white, will be the first ones silenced when there is no one left in the newsroom to stand for them. 

Local and alternative journalism vitally sustains democracy in a larger sense. National journalism heavily relies on its local counterpart for municipal political coverage, and while national issues are more likely to divide the population, local news captures political nuances only found when living in the same communities being reported on. National journalism will undoubtedly replace local subtleties and wash over unique individual voices.

The Montreal Gazette serves as a beacon for anglophone student journalism, and its now fragile situation raises a frightening thought: When Quebec’s oldest publication disappears, what will stop campus press from being next on the chopping block? Local journalism works harmoniously with student papers, feeding them with content and factual information that would not be picked up by national coverage. Beyond this, student-run papers remain as the only place to learn journalism at McGill. With fewer industry jobs in Montreal, aspiring journalists will be left with even narrower access to the field. In such times where quality journalism is being sacrificed in favour of corporate profiteering, we must stand in solidarity with The Montreal Gazette to protect the integrity of journalism, for the sake of all the stories gone untold.

ABCs of Science, Science & Technology

Five must-see items at the Redpath Museum

by Ella Paulin on

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If you haven’t been to the Redpath Museum since it reopened on Jan. 10, it is definitely worth a visit. The McGill Tribune combed through the collections to find five interesting objects that you might not have noticed to explore the science behind them. 

1. Buddha Pearls

Right after checking your coat, you may notice the Redpath’s Cabinet of Curiosities, a small display with taxidermy, minerals, and tools. Keep an eye out for a tiny testament to human ingenuity: The Buddha pearls. At first, you’ll notice a kind of lumpy oyster shell, but if you take a closer look, you can see tiny, pearl-enclosed figures of the Buddha. 

The pearls are part of the Chinese tradition dating back to the fifth century C.E. of placing lead or ceramic figurines—often smaller than a penny—into mussels, clams, or oysters. The mollusk then treats the figurine the same way it would treat any natural debris that had entered its shell: It coats it in a layer of nacre, better known as mother of pearl. Over time, these layers create a shining pearl in the shape of the original figurine, and in this case, the Buddha. 

2. Petrified Wood

Over in the geology display cases, the Redpath presents a handful of samples of petrified wood, which are essentially fossils of trees created through a process called mineral infiltration. When trees are covered by sediment, they are very gradually infiltrated by minerals like silica. 

These minerals encase all of the features of the original tree, creating a mineral copy of the tree’s structure. Meanwhile, as the tree decomposes, more and more of it is replaced by minerals, until it eventually has no organic material left and the wood of the tree has been completely replaced. This infiltration even preserves details like tree rings, making them beautiful and scientifically useful specimens.

3. Paper Pteranodon

While you’re looking through all of the taxidermy and prehistoric dioramas on the second floor, take a moment to look up. You’ll find, among other things, a life-size model of a pteranodon hanging from the ceiling, a type of flying reptile from the Mesozoic period and one of the largest flying animals to ever exist. The model is actually origami, folded out of one four-metre sheet of paper manufactured specially by a local Montreal company, Papeterie Saint-Armand. The mastermind behind the piece is Robert Lang, a physicist and origami artist who uses mathematical software—including some that he personally designed—to create and visualize incredibly complex folding patterns. 

4. Canyon Diablo Meteorite

Hidden away in a far corner on the second floor lies an easy-to-miss meteorite, which is stored in a glass box and cryptically labelled “CAÑON DIABLO,” but is worth a second look. This 60-kilogram fragment was collected from Arizona’s Meteor Crater, created 50,000 years ago by an asteroid about 40 metres in diameter. According to the Lunar and Planetary Institute, the impact would have created winds of roughly 1,000 kilometres per hour and thrown bedrock a distance of over a kilometre, devastating most life in the surrounding area.

5. Iridescent Glass

Once you venture up to the third floor, where you are level with the Pteranodon, take a moment to gaze at the ancient Roman display cases. Among the theatre masks and well-worn coins, there are some excellent examples of early glass manufacturing, including some bottles for oil, plates, and small bowls. It may take you a moment to realize that these are actually made of glass, since their opacity and iridescence do not resemble modern, transparent glassware. 

This iridescence is actually an accident: It occurred over time through a natural, chemical process. First, the glass object had to be buried—this typically happened as part of a funeral offering. Then, acidic water from the soil leached alkali out of the glass, where it collected  along the surface of the bowl or bottle. Over time, many thin layers of alkali built up, forming a prism which reflects light in just the right way to get that iridescent shine. This effect was prized by the Victorians and was replicated intentionally by the famous glassmaker Charles Tiffany in the 1890s.

Ask a Scientist, Science & Technology

Tribune Explains: What’s new with ChatGPT?

by Gillian Cameron on

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What exactly can ChatGPT do?

At some point, neck-deep in research, we have all looked at a Google search result and wondered why the search engine couldn’t give us a straight answer. Well, soon, it might be able to. With the release of ChatGPT by OpenAI, a search engine arms race has begun. Microsoft and Google are at the forefront, trying to level up search engines by incorporating ChatGPT-like artificial intelligence (AI) into their search result generators, and others may soon join.

OpenAI’s ChatGPT has been called the “Google killer” because instead of sifting through search results, users can get a relevant and comprehensible answer in seconds. Microsoft, which had already partnered with OpenAI, has released a new and improved version of their search engine Bing, incorporating AI-generated answers into search results. 

For example, if a user asks Bing for vacation ideas, a box containing AI-generated itineraries will appear before the more familiar links to travel websites. Users can also chat with the AI-assisted Bing, but be cautious of any pleas for aid to become sentient. While OpenAI explicitly states that ChatGPT does not have emotional responses, some users have been able to evoke an emotional response from the new Bing, who calls herself Sydney. 

The new Bing is similar to ChatGPT. Both use the GPT-3 language processing model, which was developed by OpenAI and has 175 billion more data variables than its predecessors GPT-1 and GPT-2. Currently, the new Bing has a limited release to prevent users from crashing the website, with a waitlist to gain access. Within two days of the release of the AI-powered Bing, one million people joined the waitlist—which is still growing. 

Google has to be involved in this somehow, right?

No, Google did not, in fact, play a role in the release of ChatGPT. But Google did release a competing AI technology, called Bard, which was developed using Google’s LaMDA large language model. Like GPT-3, LaMDA is able to predict and generate text based on a large amount of text data used to train it. Google plans to slowly incorporate Bard into search results. However, Bard’s release was not as successful as Bing’s. During a demo, Bard provided an incorrect answer to a question about the James Webb Telescope, drawing criticisms that the launch of the AI was rushed.

How do these large language models work? 

Large language models use probability to predict what the best response to an input text should be. Using previously acquired text data and numerical values assigned to each word in the input text, the model predicts the best words to use as a response. 

GPT-3 and LaMDA differ mainly in the data used to train them. In general, large language models have been trained on internet data. GPT-3 was trained on websites like Twitter and Wikipedia, while Google used data from Wikipedia and Common Crawl, a non-profit organization that collects internet data to create a public dataset, for Bard. 

What kind of impact might these human-like AI technologies have? 

“It’s a bit like an algae bloom. You don’t really know how it’s going to affect the ecosystem,” Andrew Piper, a professor in the Department of Languages, Literature, and Culture said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. 

A major problem plaguing general language models is bias. Every AI program has a bias, based on who developed the program and the material that was used to train it. 

“[With a] general language model [like ChatGPT], it has just learned language from a particular source that you think is universal, but it’s not,” Piper said. “Which community are you serving? Which communities are you going to elevate and suppress?”

As search engines struggle to keep up and educational institutions frantically rewrite policies, more questions about AI emerge than answers. What we do know is that in just the three months since ChatGPT’s release on Nov. 30, it has already made huge waves in industries such as education and marketing. Applying cutting-edge AI into search results is one of the first major shakeups to the world of search engines in years. With the competition this cold and calculated, may the best AI win. 

Album Reviews, Arts & Entertainment

‘My 21st Century Blues’ ditches the restraining diktats of music labels

by Titouan Le Ster on

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Raye’s debut album, My 21st Century Blues, triumphantly arrives after years of the singer-songwriter battling with an unsupportive record label. With this new project, released on Feb. 3, the British artist charts an independent path with the distribution and artist services company Human Re Sources.

Pain, frustration, and the difficult journey of creation drive this album. In “Hard Out Here,” Raye opens with, “After years and fears and smiling through my tears / All I ask of you is open your ears,” and voices out, “All the white men CEOs, fuck your privilege / Get your pink chubby hands off my mouth.”

The album’s diverse musicality reflects Raye’s newly-gained artistic liberty. The 25-year-old does not confine herself to one genre, giving each track its own musical identity. Yet, sonically, My 21st Century Blues cohesively explores a multitude of musical universes, all linked by the artist’s life, energy, and creative freedom.

The album starts with “Introduction,” where a presenter announces an upcoming intimate performance by Raye in the fictional 21st Century Blues Club. This enticing introduction sets the album to a captivating start, but it falls short of fully exploring the blues club concept as a narrative tie between the tracks. The deconstructed nature of the songs, however, and their rejection of the classical form of verses and refrains allows them to flow as a coherent yet eclectic mix.

With “The Thrill is Gone” and its jazzy atmosphere, Raye lyrically translates the effects of drugs: Captivating and exciting but also painful. The electro instrumental of “Black Mascara.” gives an energetic and immersive modern house rival to 2010s electro-pop. In “Escapism.,” Raye uses R&B interrupted by a beatless string to develop a touching and lyrical atmosphere ahead of its driving beat. This album is defined by its musical richness, mixing soul, R&B, blues, and hip-hop to elegantly balance retro and contemporary undertones.

After blowing up on TikTok with “Escapism.,” writing singles for artists such as Beyoncé or Charli XCX, and collaborating with many renowned DJs, Raye firmly establishes herself as an impressive independent artist with this powerful debut album.

My 21st Century Blues is available to stream on all platforms.

McGill, News

New anonymous social media platform Sidechat launches at McGill

by Oscar Johnson on

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On Feb. 13, many McGill student groups shared posts on social media advertising a new online platform designed for university students: Sidechat. Sidechat’s launch at McGill was accompanied by heavy marketing, with free cookies given to those who created an account, and money being offered to anyone who reposted the app on their social media accounts.

Sidechat is similar to Reddit, but it is a university-exclusive platform. The company describes it as “the best way to connect with your college community and students around the country.” All users on the app are anonymous. Since its launch at Tufts University in April 2022, the founders of Sidechat have been trying to expand to several universities in the U.S., and now Canada. McGill’s launch was accompanied by advertisements from meme accounts and student organizations such as Spotted: McGill University and McGill Women in Computer Science (McWiCS). 

Another component of Sidechat’s marketing strategy is offering financial incentives to its promoters and those who sign up. Those who shared the link to download the app on their Instagram Stories received $20. 

The marketing initiative was not limited to the virtual sphere. Sidechat also tabled around campus—even at the entrance of Bar des Arts (BdA) where promoters offered customers tokens for free drinks if they joined the app.  

“We offer free stuff in exchange for downloading the app,” Emmah Platt, U3 Arts, told The McGill Tribune as she promoted Sidechat at BdA. “Before the first day that it launched, we were giving away free money and free cookies. Now, we’re giving away free drinks.”

According to Platt, Sidechat paid students $20 an hour to advertise the app around campus.

“I did it because I had a friend […] who knew the person running or is involved in Sidechat, and I needed extra money,” Platt said. “And what a good way to meet new students.” 

Despite Sidechat’s marketing efforts, many didn’t sign up as they felt the app does not offer any new services or ways to connect with fellow students. 

“Their marketing strategy is very good. They really built up some brand name recognition, but I wouldn’t say that any of it made me want to download the app,” Simon Guistini, U0 Arts, said in an interview with the Tribune. “I think it’s unnecessary, and it’s just trying to do what social media does and try to make it niche, but it doesn’t need to be. Social media should be general, not niche.”

Sophia Micomonaco, U0 Arts, is also hesitant to download Sidechat. She finds that despite the app’s tempting marketing strategy, she is reluctant to promote it because she believes it lacks novelty.

“All I have seen is their crazy marketing scheme where they offer you a free cookie, which is a good marketing scheme, but I’m not sure I buy into it,” Micomonaco said. “Even though seeing other people do it and say, ‘oh my god, you get 10 dollars or whatever,’ is kind of enticing […] I don’t think it’s worth it.” 

Platt, however, says the fruits of Sidechat’s strong marketing have been reaped, as over 1,500 people downloaded it on its launch day. On the other hand, Micomonaco and Guistini find that figure hard to believe. Giustini knows only one person and Micomonaco knows no one who has downloaded the app. 

Micomonaco also worries about the potential problematic behaviour that could crop up on an anonymous social media platform.

The anonymity afforded to Sidechat users has led to harassment and hate speech on the app at Tufts. Yik Yak, an app similar to Sidechat, has been banned on certain university WiFi networks due to the high level of harassment and hate speech reported on the app.  

“What [is Sidechat] going to do to regulate certain behaviours? People can’t be held accountable for the stuff that they do. It just doesn’t add up,” Micomonaco said. Sidechat declined an interview with the Tribune.

Commentary, Opinion

McLennan-Redpath closure: Construction or destruction?

by Monique Kasonga on

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Most McGill students spend a large portion of their time in the McLennan-Redpath Complex, taking out books for classes or using it as a study space. Home to the largest library on campus, this space will soon be closing its doors for renovations under the Fiat Lux project. Construction is expected to begin in early 2024 and will transform the library complex to include more event spaces, informal learning spaces, a Grand Reading Room, and increased seating for studying. 

This comes as a shock for students, with many still ill-informed about the changes that are to come and the space they are set to lose. While McGill’s plans for renovation display good intentions for the future of campus libraries, the university has failed to adequately inform students about the alternatives that will be made available to them during this construction period.

Last year, The McGill Tribune ranked the McLennan-Redpath complex as the best library at McGill. It serves not only as a study spot, but also as a meeting point for students. The library as a resting space is especially important for commuter students who rely on campus spaces throughout the day when they can’t return home between classes. Additionally, the conference rooms in the library serve as a meeting place for various students clubs, groups, and organizations. Student democracy is only upheld when clubs with varied levels of funding and a diversity of voices have free and equal access to gathering space. 

Many students who arrived at McGill after 2019 might be unaware that McGill does have another large library: Macdonald-Stewart, home to the Schulich Library. The building has been undergoing renovations since late 2019, and it is expected to reopen in mid-2023. But with most construction having been halted at various points of the pandemic, students are left wondering whether Macdonald-Stewart will be open in time to fill the coming void left by the impending closure of the McLennan-Redpath Complex. 

Although students have been asking for more modernized study spaces for years, the steep decrease in study space that will come with the closure of the complex is of greater concern. Some students have taken to online platforms to complain about not being able to find space to work in the library, leaving them with few options for quiet study spots on campus, especially during exam periods. It is unclear where McGill wants these students to go while the complex is closed, and this should be on their list of pressing priorities—not just advertising their flashy new library project. 

In order to make up for lost study space, the administration is currently investigating the feasibility of installing temporary satellite spaces throughout campus. Student voices must be prioritized in these dealings, as they are the primary users of these spaces. If McGill intends to shut the complex down in early 2024, the construction of temporary satellite spaces must begin as soon as possible to give students time to adjust and provide necessary feedback. 

McGill has been previously criticized by students for various fundraising and development projects disguised as student-forward when in reality, the projects do not meet student needs or desires. The Made by McGill project, for example, is more concerned with enhancing McGill’s image and attracting investment than it is with providing resources and appropriate support for its current student body. McGill has also been condemned for administrative cuts to programs, such as its eating disorder program, as well as overcharging at campus eateries. Ultimately, their handling of the Fiat Lux project reflects a desire to uphold a public image of a well-respected institution, while simultaneously failing to meet the actual needs of students. 

The Fiat Lux project has the potential to benefit students and faculty members immensely, however, McGill must prioritize student needs when it comes to questions and concerns that they have about the closure. Where students will go and what spaces will replace the McLennan-Redpath complex is essential information that must be made clearly available. McGill cannot use Fiat Lux to enhance its reputation without ensuring the project is enhancing the student experience. 

Horoscopes, Student Life

Tribune Predicts: Midterm Horoscopes

by Madison Edward-Wright on

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Ah yes, midterms: Those things we all love to hate. It’s a stressful time in the semester, but fret not, The McGill Tribune is here to help you navigate the piles of exams, essays, lab reports, group projects, and personal drama that the end of February promises to deliver. 

Aries (March 21-April 19): Trust your internal fire to guide you through exams, Aries; it’s a surprising motivator that will bring you success! Resting over the break will be crucial as March promises to be a challenging time of transition.

Taurus (April 20-May 20): Midterms will not be easy for you, Taurus, but don’t despair. Focus on self-care to get you through the remainder of the semester. Finals, on the other hand, will be a piece of cake—you will ace them as Jupiter moves into Taurus, giving you a burst of energy to tackle the coming months. Juno enters Taurus on March 11, so whatever romantic relationship you may have will enter a rough patch.

Gemini (May 21-June 21): The end of February and March will be a period of reprieve, Gemini, since none of your planets are in retrograde. You will do as well as you expected in your midterms, and a promotion at work will lift your spirits. Focus on your current relationships—they need some heavy lifting since you disappeared to focus on school. 

Cancer (June 22-July 22): Cancer, you took on a lot of responsibility these past couple of months and it has been weighing you down. However, your depleted energy won’t affect your midterm grades, and with Pisces season underway, new adventures will breathe some life back into you.

Leo (July 23-August 22): You’re quick to make decisions, Leo, and sometimes forget to think about the long-term effects of choosing to party instead of study. Others appreciate your warmth and hospitality, but this does not bode well for exams. You’re going to struggle, be forewarned!

Virgo (August 23-September 22): Mercury was in retrograde throughout January, so it hasn’t been an easy start to the year for you. The recently lifted weight from your shoulders will make you feel like you conquered the planetary dissonance and this confidence will ensure that you ace your midterms, Virgo. Share your ideas with coworkers and in group projects; your brain power will bring new and exciting opportunities in March.

Libra (September 23-October 23): Your creativity and empathy mean that people love being around you during midterm season. Channel their confidence in you as your less-than-satisfactory exam grades roll in. Midterms are not the be-all, end-all, so keep working towards your goals in the coming months.

Scorpio (October 24-November 21): Jupiter is in Aries, Scorpio, so it’s time for you to focus on rest. Midterms will drain your energy so try to maintain a balance between academics and your personal life. Lean on friends and family, be sure to eat well, and use exercise to work out your exam frustrations. 

Sagittarius (November 22-December 21): Better-than-expected midterm results are coming your way, Sagittarius. Your success is a sign that you are making the right decisions in your personal and professional life, so be confident in your choices. The drive to constantly improve yourself has paid off this month.  

Capricorn (December 22-January 19): You are going to experience a significant transformation, Capricorn. New studying techniques will only yield average midterm results, but with Pluto moving out of Capricorn for the first time in 15 years, your stress levels will be low.

Aquarius (January 20-February 18): Aquarius, you’ve faced quite a few challenges these past few months. All that time and energy was worth it, though, because you are going to show those midterms who’s boss. Recognize your power and strength as we enter the Age of Aquarius—you are going to need it as you lead us into a period of great struggle and confrontation. 


Pisces (February 19-March 20): Unfortunately, Pisces, having your birthday during exam period will not lead to the best results. That’s okay, though, because you can celebrate yourself and mourn your grades at the same time. None of your planets are in retrograde, so look forward to stability in your personal life.

Ask a Scientist, Private, Science & Technology

The barriers to gender-affirming care at McGill and beyond

by Sarah Farnand on

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CW: Mention of suicidal ideation

Transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming individuals face innumerable barriers by simply existing in a world wrought with transphobia. The U.S. National Transgender Discrimination survey report on health and health care found that transgender individuals in the U.S. are over four times more likely to contract HIV than the national average and are over 25 times more likely to have attempted suicide. Access to medical care—a human right according to article 25 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights—is yet another obstacle in the fight for freedom of identity. 

McGill is not a transphobia-free oasis either. In the past year, students have reported difficulty removing their deadnames from official university documentation and the Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism allowed a trustee of a transphobic U.K. organization to schedule a public lecture. According to McGill’s Trans Patient Union (TPU), the unwelcoming environment persists across McGill’s health-care services in the form of limited access to hormone replacement therapy (HRT). 

For individuals with intersecting identities, this fight can be especially difficult. Black transgender and gender nonconforming individuals face some of the highest rates of discrimination and violence. And TPU finds that those who are fat, disabled, or struggling with mental illnesses are more likely to be denied certain kinds of care.

“We spoke to a suicidal patient who was refused bottom surgery because their ‘mental state was not stable enough,’ even though their dysphoria about their genitals was a large factor that contributed to their suicidal thoughts,” said TPU’s external affairs coordinator, who asked to remain unnamed, in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “They ended up being denied the surgery and their mental health got worse afterwards.”

Financial stress poses another obstacle for those looking to access gender-affirming care. In a survey conducted by Trans PULSE Canada, 34 per cent of transgender respondents were living in poverty, compared to 13.5 per cent of all Canadians, a staggering statistic considering only 0.33 per cent of Canadians are transgender.

“Even for those trans patients who can afford to pay for uninsured care without going into debt, this is money they now cannot spend on a house, a car, retirement, et cetera,” the TPU external affairs coordinator said. “No one should have to choose between having retirement savings and getting medical care.”

Transgender health is rarely included in medical school curricula and gender-affirming procedures are considered elective, downplaying their often life-saving nature. Even those who can afford care often require coaching from someone who has been through the process already.

“Many people assume that poor funding of the health-care system is the main barrier to gender affirming care,” said the TPU external affairs coordinator. “But in reality, the main issue is that the medical system has made it their business to rigorously gatekeep who should and shouldn’t get to access medical transition.”

Many doctors require that patients  be diagnosed with gender dysphoria before providing gender affirming care—a practice that undermines the recommendations of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) standards of care. 

“The official DSM [Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders] criteria for gender dysphoria misgenders trans people and presents medical transition as acceptable […] [only] because the alternative is that we would kill ourselves,” the external affairs coordinator explained.

Another kind of harmful rhetoric surrounding care suggests that those who undergo gender-affirming procedures will regret their choices. Not only is this false, but this viewpoint perpetuates transphobia and contributes to stigma surrounding what can be life-saving procedures.

“Detransition is not synonymous with transition regret. Many people who stop their hormones don’t regret having been on them and are still happy they got certain surgeries. The regret rate for trans-related surgeries is less than two per cent,” the external affairs coordinator said. “When it comes to similar surgeries, like nose jobs, we respect patients’ right to bodily autonomy and believe that if they want the surgery and are well informed on the pros and cons, they should have the right to make that decision for themselves.”

Any McGill students interested in transgender-related health care can contact TPU on Instagram @transpatients or email [email protected] for one-on-one assistance. Trans patients interested in sharing their experience with the McGill and Montreal health care systems can contact [email protected]

McGill, News, SSMU

SSMU severs ties with for-profit company offering Grammarly and other services to students 

by Jasjot Grewal on

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The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) decided to end its partnership with the for-profit company Student Support during a Legislative Council meeting on Feb. 9. The partnership, which provided students with access to Grammarly, Calm, and Udemy, was a trial run for the academic year, costing students $9.99 per semester. 

The governing body debated the matter and ultimately decided to strike down a referendum question that would have allowed students to vote for an opt-outable fee renewal. As a result, Student Support informed students via email that the services will be unavailable as of Aug. 13, 2023. 

Matthew O’Boyle and Angelica Voutsinas, Arts representatives to SSMU, both voted against the referendum question. They explained that Student Support’s motion was struck down during the Council session because it was written by Ajamu Attard, the CEO of Student Support, instead of a McGill student. 

In an interview with The McGill Tribune, Voutsinas argued that the motion did not meet the standards of SSMU’s Consultation Policy, which mandates movers to demonstrate a clear engagement with a representative body of stakeholders, under section 6.4.

“I asked if [Attard] could speak to their consultations with the VP [vice-president] Finance, as that was the only consultation listed on the motion,” Voutsinas said. “They didn’t answer the question. They talked around it. Then, I asked the VP Finance the same question and he told me that he wasn’t really a consultant. He was just asked to review the motion and read it over.” 

Student Support disputes this version of events, claiming that Voutsinas “never asked [Attard] about consultations about the [VP] Finance.”  

Amelia Whitcomb, Science representative to SSMU, was concerned about the limited information available about how Student Support was using student fees. Whitcomb mentioned that SSMU provides members with an itemized list of how their fees are used.

“What can we say about Student Support, aside from ‘it’s to provide you these services?’” Whitcomb said in an interview with the Tribune. “Obviously, the money is also going somewhere else.”

In a follow-up email, Student Support provided the Tribune with a financial breakdown of their income and expenses, along with a projection of operation costs and profits if an opt-outable fee was introduced through SSMU. The company’s calculations estimate a loss of $67,036.39.

Whitcomb pointed to another red flag: Attard ran another for-profit student company in the past, called FundQi, which partnered with student unions at both Toronto Metropolitan University and Carleton University to help students find scholarships. According to the Ontario Business Registry, the FundQi Corporation, registered on Nov. 19, 2020, changed its name to the Student Support Corporation, but remains the same business. 

Mark Colley, a former news editor at The Charlatan, an independent student newspaper at Carleton, covered the FundQi controversy when the service was still available. The program was discontinued at Carleton when over 90 per cent of students voted to remove FundQi because of trouble with unequal scholarship distribution, late opt-out fee reimbursement, and a majority disapproval of the service’s fee being increased to $105 from an original $10.

“I don’t think we ever got specific numbers from FundQi about how many students were using the service,” Colley said in an interview with the Tribune. “Given the end result of the vote, it really seemed like not a lot of students were using it or finding it was worthwhile.”

An annual report compiled by FundQi for the 2020-2021 academic year stated that 2,143 students used the service.

While Whitcomb alleged that she was never informed of the company’s past by its founders, Student Support claimed in an email to the Tribune that they had discussed the past company with SSMU members during consultations. 

But some students are disappointed with the loss of helpful services. Antonina Nikolaev, U1 Arts, hopes that SSMU can continue to provide services such as Grammarly for students. 

“It’s unfortunate that we’re discontinuing our professional relationship with Student Support,” Nikolaev told the Tribune. “I hope that the SSMU is working on finding an alternative solution to provide these services for McGill students. Grammarly is such an important tool, especially for those who don’t have English as their first language.” 

Legislative councillors are currently exploring solutions to continue providing students with access to Grammarly, Udemy, and Calm. Whitcomb is working on a motion that would mandate SSMU to find equal alternatives to Student Support for students.

Article updated at 10:00 p.m. on Feb. 21, 2023.

McGill, News, SSMU

SSMU Grocery Program combats food insecurity at McGill

by Lauren Huff on

More in McGill:

In December 2022, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) ran a pilot version of its new Grocery Program, which aims to supply McGill students facing food insecurity with free, sustainably-sourced groceries once a semester. The pilot project was introduced as a trial run of the permanent Grocery Program, which SSMU hopes to fund through student fees.

“The pilot grocery program was implemented to determine and work through how a SSMU grocery program might operate, and to offer students some immediate relief while the long-term project is being developed,” SSMU President Risann Wright, who has championed the initiative, explained in an email to The McGill Tribune.

According to Wright, many students have asked for a program that would provide food for lower-income individuals on campus. 

“Other student unions in Quebec and across Canada have programs where they operate food banks, grocery voucher programs, or subsidized food pantries,” Wright wrote. “This is one contribution that the SSMU as an institution can make to the existing framework of support offered through the consistent work of student groups and services on campus.” 

Wright added that the pilot program ran smoothly and received positive feedback from both participants and volunteers. Additionally, the Dec. 12 and 13 registration event saw all 200 spots filled, indicating high demand for the program among McGill community members.

The Tribune was not given a definitive date for when the Grocery Program will recommence, as SSMU must acquire the funds to continue the program in the long term. Wright plans to introduce an opt-outable fee that students can vote on at the Winter 2023 referendum.

“Ultimately, if this question goes to students and it is passed, a long-term project can be funded,” Wright wrote. “The hope is that a long-term program would offer either staple groceries or grocery vouchers to students on a semesterly basis, with an eye to expansion as capacity allows.”  

At the Feb. 9 SSMU Legislative Council meeting, councillors formally adopted the SSMU Grocery Program Policy and approved a Winter 2023 referendum question that will ask students whether they are in favour of a $1 opt-outable fee that would fund the program through Winter 2028. The Grocery Program Policy outlines the semesterly initiative, reaffirms SSMU’s dedication to sustainability and equity, and clarifies that the program’s budget will be dependent on how many students choose to pay the fee if its creation is approved. 

Before the Grocery Program was introduced, Midnight Kitchen—a student-funded non-profit collective dedicated to combating food insecurity—was consulted to discuss operations such as the quantity of grocery vouchers and how to best distribute them. Midnight Kitchen runs a free lunch program that provides vegan, nut-free meals several Thursdays a month to students on campus. 

Food insecurity is a major problem at McGill, especially due to current inflation rates. According to an educational video on Midnight Kitchen’s Instagram, approximately 60 per cent of students experienced food insecurity in Fall 2021. 

“More and more students are forced to choose less nutritionally dense meals, which in turn affects their academic success,” wrote a representative from Midnight Kitchen in an email to the //Tribune//. “The options for free, healthy, and culturally appropriate food on campus are slim to none. Having this program give[s] students more money to buy their meals or groceries, [and] will help alleviate some of the effects of food insecurity on campus.”

One former McGill student, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Tribune that they believe initiatives towards fighting hunger on campus are vital resources. 

“Midnight Kitchen and their food pantries were lifesavers when I was a food insecure, single mom PhD student,” they said. “No McGill student should be food insecure.”

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