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Leaving the starving student behind

by Sarah Farnand on

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Content Warning: Eating disorders

Every McGill student has likely trekked to the library for a study session, and emerged five hours later, stomach grumbling, head aching, needing food close and quick. But not every McGill student can afford a $13.56 salad from Redpath or a $6.37 cup of fruit from RVC. Food options for students on campus are largely limited and inaccessible. McGill residence mandatory meal plans are $6,200 and only provide access to a limited array of pricey options that quickly eat up this budget. With such high costs of food piled onto the high costs of living, as well as the cost of tuition, many students struggle with finances and find themselves undergoing malnourishment in order to save money.

Food insecurity is when someone does not have adequate resources to properly feed themselves nutritiously or at all. While, according to a study by the Hungry for Knowledge, Quebec reportedly has the lowest rate of household food insecurity of any province, nearly 40 per cent of Canadian university students report facing some degree of food insecurity. The study also found that the cost of food, tuition fees, and housing costs were the most common contributors to food insecurity. Food insecurity disproportionately impacts Black, Latinx, and 2SLGTBQIA+ individuals that are already underserved on university campuses and creates barriers to student success and general wellness. McGill has done little to support students after their tuition spike for certain programs in 2020 and a rise in inflation. Food prices at McGill are only increasing and McGill Dining Services has no real options for students who may not be able to shoulder these hefty costs. And McGill’s completely student-run food bank, the Midnight Kitchen Collective (MK), no longer serves daily lunches after just returning from a two-year shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

MK is a nonprofit collective that serves to combat food insecurity among students and in the broader Montreal community. They offer biweekly free prepackaged meal pickups and free catering for events that align with their political mandate of anticapitalism. But the program only has enough resources to provide 50 meals for each meal service, which is not enough to meet their community’s high demand. 

At Concordia, Le Frigo Vert is a collective that offers healthy, fresh, culturally diverse, and affordable food, as well as a safe space to relax, work on community projects, or host events. One of their main goals is to combat the stigma associated with using food services on campus. 

“I see people struggle to feel okay accessing [Frigo Vert], so we try to reassure people and remind people that everyone goes through different times of need. We are an antipoverty organization so we think a lot about that kind of thing,” Hunter Cubitt-Cooke, a Frigo Vert employee and organizer, said. “I personally grew up poor, and there is definitely class shame.”

Cubitt-Cooke spoke about Aramark, a greenwashing food company contracted by Concordia and McGill dining services to provide food for students. The quality of their meals is notoriously poor: They service multiple prisons in the U.S. who have reported rotten meals and food crawling with maggots, or partially eaten by rodents. Hunter emphasized the importance of putting pressure on both universities to provide high-quality, affordable food to students.

McGill media relations officer Frédérique Mazerolle summarized the options open to students struggling financially in an email statement to The McGill Tribune. 

“For those looking for budget-friendly meals, many options prepared in-house are available, including the healthy and well-balanced hot meal of the day,” Mazerolle wrote. “Additionally, various meal plans are available, including the Saver Meal Plan, a tax-exempt meal plan best suited for those who plan to eat often on-campus.”

In reality, though, students have few choices if they want to save money on food. Mazerolle’s response ignores the high cost of food on campus, as well as the outrageous $6,200 cost of the meal plan enforced on first-year students in residences. Even if these students wanted to cook their own meals, resources are sparse. In New Residence Hall, for instance, there are only communal kitchens on two floors out of 12. 

The mandatory meal plan is not only financially costly, but can also be harmful to students who struggle or have struggled with disordered eating habits. U0 Science student Alexandria Taylor experienced this firsthand at New Residence’s dining hall. 

“My biggest complaint about New Rez’s dining hall specifically is that they seem to serve people based on their looks,” Taylor said. “I often see tall, muscular guys with mountains of food on their plates—my roommate even heard one of the staff ask a guy which cut of meat he wanted—while I’m usually given the smallest portion automatically. This is upsetting not only because I’m paying the same price for my food, but because I also suffered from anorexia in the past and I’m familiar with unhealthy portion sizes.”

Outside residence cafeterias, students have to feed themselves, often for the first time. When compounded with the significant financial and academic stresses of university, this responsibility makes them especially vulnerable to disordered eating habits. 

“It is easier to engage in restrictive eating or binge eating if you have these tendencies when you have the freedom of cooking for yourself, or you don’t have structured meals with family,” Ege Biçaker, a PhD student in psychology, explained in an interview with the Tribune. “Structured meals, having three meals in a day, dispersed within four or five parts so that you won’t feel extremely hungry is the first plan of action in eating disorder treatment.”

Structure is difficult or impossible for many food-insecure individuals. They are often thrust into a cycle of “feast-or-famine” in which food intake oscillates in correspondence with food availability. When one attempts to restrict food, whether voluntarily or not, it can cause various cognitive, emotional, and behavioural changes, such as preoccupation with food-related thoughts, increased emotional reactivity, and a tendency to binge once restrictions are lifted. Food insecurity among adults has repeatedly been associated with a greater likelihood of binge eating as well as other specific eating disorder diagnoses. 

In the university setting, financial and academic pressures intersect to contribute to disordered eating. Students working more than 20 hours a week to pay the costs of living and tuition were found to struggle more with academics than students who worked less than 20 hours or not at all. Equipped with a newfound freedom over their diets, students might forgo the time-consuming practice of cooking nutritious meals to prioritize studies, work, or social activities over health. 

“When people are going off to university, making ends meet is a huge stressor in general. This might be the first time that you’ve had to pay your rent and pay your bills and buy your own food,” Allison MacNeil, a PhD student in clinical psychology at McGill, told the Tribune . 

“A lot of food insecure youth who are in undergrad have said that […] if they had enough time, they could go buy lower cost things at the grocery store and prepare a meal and that would maybe stretch their money further [….] But they just don’t have the time to, and time is money in a way, right?” 

The starving university student who just eats ramen or other cheap, instant meals every day is a trope that should not be normalized. Instead, we need to look at the reasons why universities foster an environment where mental health disorders run rampant. In 2019, the National College Health Assessment found that almost 70 per cent of students at Canadian postsecondary institutions felt “overwhelming anxiety” in the previous 12 months. Similarly, a survey in the United States found that 73 per cent of university students experience some sort of mental health crisis during university. Rates of eating disorders, in particular, rose significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among university-aged women, the rates rose from just over 30 per cent to 51.8 per cent in 2021. For men, the prevalence rose from 13 to 31 per cent. Biçaker explained that the high volume of stressors on campuses can lead to disordered eating, which in itself is a stressor, causing a vicious cycle.

“Eating itself reduces the activity of the system that is responsible for managing stress in our body [….] So it is natural that we turn to food when we are distressed,” Biçaker explained. “When one [has] strict rules about what to eat or not to eat, it is inevitable that they will break them. And once they break them they might feel especially stressed and especially guilty.”

Dr. Salah El Mestikawy, a professor in psychiatry at McGill, explained that the pathology of eating disorders also makes them more prevalent in environments with high-achieving cultures like McGill. 

“What I know from this pathology is that it amplifies your ability to learn. So that’s why very often anorexic patients are what we call overachievers. They learn very quickly, and they can learn anything [….] So my guess is that not only McGill but everywhere in this society where you have difficult challenges, you must have a lot of people with this genetic vulnerability.”

Actual diagnoses for eating disorders are often rare cases compared to the prevalence and promotion of disordered eating habits commonly on display at McGill. I hear classmates and friends bragging daily about not eating. Remarks like “Wow, it’s 5 p.m. and all I’ve eaten today is a banana” are familiar refrains. 

“Diet culture is prevalent in all settings, but it’s especially pertinent in universities,” Liam Fowler from Safely Connected, McGill’s Eating Disorder Resource Centre, said in an interview with the //Tribune//.  “Not only is it in an environment that perpetuates a lot of that toxic culture that is harmful to both our mental and physical wellbeing, it’s also an age where we’re very susceptible to societal influences. And so the combination of those two factors creates this space that’s super fostering of disordered habits and disordered eating.”

For me, after moving to Montreal, finding the balance of eating healthy and eating enough, all while dealing with the stresses of university and living alone for the first time, was extremely difficult. While I am in the privileged position of food security, seeing food as an ally rather than an enemy has been challenging. Battling feelings of internalized fatphobia and fear of weight gain poisoned my relationship with food and exercise for much of my university experience. 

In terms of next steps for McGill, MacNeil believes it is imperative to recognize the multiple societal and systemic contributors to this issue. 

“There’s a lot of elitism at McGill, and that it might not be sort of socially acceptable for someone to access a resource like [a food bank],” MacNeil said. “I think broadly, subsidizing or lowering the cost of foods on campus would make a huge difference. There’s issues with housing [as well], food doesn’t exist on its own [in a vacuum]. So if someone has to pay double what they would have paid in rent five years ago to live near school and go to school, that’s cutting into their food budget.”

Because of the intersections of food insecurity with other systemic failures like the housing crisis, we must shatter the common misconception that eating disorders predominantly affect young, white upper-class women, so that solutions for food insecurity do not leave marginalized groups behind. White individuals, in fact, have the lowest rates of food insecurity compared to other racial groups. Indigenous peoples in Canada are most greatly affected, with almost 31 per cent living in food insecure households, just among those surveyed. (Indigenous peoples are historically underrepresented in national surveys, meaning this number is likely much higher.) 

“The reality is that the folks who are often really struggling are from different cultural communities or marginalized groups where mental health is [not] discussed as much,” MacNeil said.

Fowler believes that having conversations about the harms of disordered eating and normalizing such dialogue on campus is an important step in ensuring that solutions are inclusive. 

“Not taking away from the severity of the experience, but I think accepting the degree to which [disordered eating] is occurring, is one way that will open up the space,” said Fowler. “And within that, ensuring that the space is representative of everyone and inclusive and inviting to everyone, as the ones that are most susceptible are oftentimes the ones that are at least represented.”

Dr. El Mestikawy also noted that learning the biology behind eating disorders may help patients feel less responsibility and shame, as they cannot help their pathology. 

“If people know this mechanism, it will not cure them, but will probably help them. Knowing that it’s your putamen, and your habits that are pushing you to [restrict food] because anorexic [people] are not stupid. They know that something is really wrong and they know what’s going on in their brain [….]  Be better with yourself, know that you’re not guilty. This is something beyond your control.”

It is important to recognize the numerous financial and academic stressors that we, as students, endure. McGill’s failure to provide accessible and healthy food wreaks a devastating impact on our mental and physical wellbeings. Just like how learning about pathology can help students rid feelings of guilt, critiquing the roots of food insecurity and disordered eating on campus can be a way forward to bringing in nutritious, more affordable dining options in our campus buildings and fostering a healthier culture amongst students surrounding food.

Collective groups like Midnight Kitchen and Frigo Vert have proven that high-quality, nutritious foods do not have to be out of reach. With environmental conditions that foster mental health disorders such as disordered eating, McGill needs to prioritize student health over profit to make sure food insecurity doesn’t exacerbate already critical issues.

For those looking for support, Safely Connected offers several resources for students struggling with disordered eating, including a peer to peer support forum, as well as virtual support groups on the weekends.

McGill, News

Downtown students report difficulty securing seats on inter-campus shuttle

by Clio Bailey on

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Overcrowding on the inter-campus shuttle bus to McGill’s Macdonald campus has left commuter students feeling frustrated and underserved. Many students depend on the free service to attend classes at the Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue campus—the commute without the shuttle would cost at least $7 both ways and take a minimum of one hour in each direction. As midterms loom near, downtown students are questioning whether they can rely on the service to attend their exams at Mac campus.

Students in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences use the buses for a direct, 45-minute commute to and from Macdonald campus. Each bus can transport a maximum of 60 passengers per journey. But since McGill’s transition to full in-person learning this fall, the shuttle has become an unreliable travel option. Those taking the bus at peak times face a long line outside of 688 Sherbrooke, where the Macdonald-bound bus departs. Most have no choice but to join the queue—public transit fails to offer a competitive alternative, as it requires multiple bus and metro transfers and off-peak schedules do not align with class times. 

Kamryn McCallum, U2 Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, believes buses departing early is one reason for overcrowding. With class ending at 10:25 a.m. in the Maass Chemistry building, McCallum is just able to make the 10:30 shuttle, but early bus departures have forced her to miss shuttles and delay her journey until 10:45 a.m. 

“Usually I am crossing Sherbrooke, right out front of [the Roddick] Gates at 10:27, and I watch it leave,” McCallum said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “I think that is another reason why the next one gets crowded, because I know I am not the only one running for that 10:30.”

Shayla Santucci, U1 Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, believes that overcrowding is a consequence of buses not showing up at their scheduled times. When fewer buses are circulating—such as between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.—there can be a backlog of students who spill over into later time slots.  

While Santucci, who lives downtown, has adjusted her journey by taking earlier buses to make it to her classes on time, she notes that not everyone has this flexibility. Students with interdisciplinary concentrations, for example, have classes on both campuses, and there is often only one shuttle they can take which will get them to class on time. 

When Santucci contacted McGill to express these concerns, she was told by the inter-campus shuttle service that the bus is intended for those with inter-campus obligations, implying that those with Macdonald campus concentrations should not reside downtown. The email, which was shared with the Tribune, stated that the shuttle operates on a first-come first-serve basis, and that not every student can expect to be accommodated. Santucci found this response unsatisfactory and believes that McGill intends to wait out the complaints instead of finding a more permanent solution.

In an email to the Tribune, McGill media relations officer Frédérique Mazerolle explained that ridership is influenced by the return to in-person classes and students choosing to live downtown whilst being enrolled at Macdonald Campus.

“To ensure rider safety, most buses carry a maximum of 48 seated passengers—though some buses allow for standing room, bringing the total to 60 passengers,” Mazerolle wrote. “Additionally, we must be respectful of drivers’ mandatory rest periods.”

Santucci’s professors have helped her catch up when she was unable to get to class, but she believes that the difficulty securing a spot on the shuttle disincentivizes students from attending their in-person classes. 

“I would say that students now see the shuttle as an obstacle and decide whether they have to go to class based on it,” Santucci said.

For Santucci and McCallum alike, this sows a deeper anxiety as to what will happen come exam-time, when all students will be forced to attend class.

Baseball, Sports

The biggest flops of the 2022 MLB season (so far)

by Henry Olsen on

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On Oct. 5, the 2022 Major League Baseball (MLB) regular season came to a close, and the playoffs are now officially underway. Each team had memorable moments, from the Cardinals’ Albert Pujols becoming the fourth member of the 700-home run club, to the Yankees’ Aaron Judge breaking the American League single-season home run record. The past 162 games offer some insight into what each team needs to improve on for the next season. Four of these teams, however, may need some rigorous tutoring with regards to their pitfalls. 

4. Oakland Athletics

Oakland went from taking a run at the Houston Astros in the 2020 American League Division Series to becoming a wasteland, both in terms of fan attendance and quality of play. They amassed a mere 60 wins this year, compared to last season’s 86. But the A’s problems run deeper than their pitiful record. For one thing, their stadium is one of the worst in the league, and experienced issues with feral cats at one point in the season. On top of that, the team itself is looking to abandon Oakland and move to Las Vegas, but has run into innumerable obstacles in the process. Finally, management traded away their best players, including Sean Manaea and Matt Olson. The future of the A’s depends on if they stay in Oakland or not. For now, however, they can only take pride in being the worst team in the American League.

3. Washington Nationals

This Nats season was the culmination of a slow transformation from a decade-long run as a title contender to being the worst team in MLB. The team’s first mistake was re-signing Stephen Strasburg over Anthony Rendon back in 2019. Strasburg made a combined eight starts over the last three injury-laden seasons. Conversely, Rendon finished 10th in MVP voting in 2020, although he has only been partially available for the last two seasons. The second mistake was not developing a serious team to build around Juan Soto. In fact, they traded away another young talent in Trea Turner, and their best pitcher, Max Scherzer, to the Dodgers last season. This supposed reboot culminated most incredulously in the Nats trading away Josh Bell and the aforementioned Soto at the trade deadline. The proven young core that Nats fans thought their team would build around has disappeared. This Nats’ flop is a protracted three-year fall from their World Series glory in 2019.

2. Toronto Blue Jays

If last season was the “trailer” for what was to come, then the Blue Jays’s movie must have been directed by Tommy Wiseau. The Jays started the season with a decent enough, though disappointing, record, and stayed a lick above .500 for most of the year. With so much hype going into the season after the acquisitions of José Berríos and Kevin Gausman in the offseason, the Blue Jays looked like they would have one of the better starting pitching rotations in baseball. But a disappointing regular season forced the Jays to face off against the Seattle Mariners in a three-game wildcard series. Despite being the clear favourite over the Mariners who just got back into the playoffs for the first time in 21 years, the Jays were shut out in game one. In game two, after going up 8-1, the Blue Jays proceeded to give up big play after big play and eventually lost 10-9 in one of the worst chokes in MLB playoff history. An inconsistent bullpen and questionable coaching deserve major blame, yet numerous problems remain. 

1. New York Mets
The Mets entered the season as contenders to win the World Series. They exited as yet another embarrassment in a long list of shameful Mets teams. After holding the top spot in their division for almost the entire season and being 10.5 games up in early June, the Mets lost their division lead in the last week of the season after a sweep by Atlanta, their division rival, pushed them into the Wild Card round. But they have Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer, you say—two of the best pitchers in the league, to go with Francisco Lindor, Jeff McNeil, and Pete Alonso on offence! Surely they could beat the 89-win Padres team. In classic Mets fashion, they lost the series and got shut out at home in game three. Despite having by far the highest payroll in baseball at $235.6 million, with the Mets, there may be no fixing a history of mediocrity.

Commentary, Opinion

Lecture recordings: A necessary post-pandemic learning tool

by Yana Lazkani on

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The full resumption of in-person academic activities and classes this fall is something many students have been looking forward to after two years of online classes which, in all probability, were attended from one’s childhood bedroom. There is, however, absolutely nothing more painful to a student than hearing their professor utter the words, No, lectures will not be recorded and posted. Perhaps as a means of “returning to normal” (a phrase I have heard one too many times), many professors see no point in recording their lectures anymore, despite lecture recordings being a widespread practice even before the pandemic. Dreadful as it might be for professors to figure out the technical logistics of pressing a record button, it is certainly more horrifying to zone out of a non-recorded class for a few minutes and suddenly miss an entire lesson with no way of revisiting the material (I am definitely not speaking from personal experience). The bottom line is that lecture recordings are a crucial feature of academic life that should be retained, one that should act as a supplemental resource for students alongside live lectures.

One cannot dismiss the benefits recorded lectures beget to students who simply are not able to attend class. Whether it is work, an emergency, or something more chronic, like for students with disabilities who find it difficult to take adequate notes during in-person classes, lecture recordings are useful. McGill is constantly striving to maintain a solid academic support system, whether that be through note sharing provided by Student Accessibility and Achievement, advisors’ and faculty-members’ quality academic advising, or a more tailored learning environment through tutoring services. Recording lectures are merely another service that brings the university a step closer to cultivating a more inclusive and welcoming academic atmosphere for its students. And unlike other academic resources, recording a lecture is facile, demanding little to no effort—all the more reason to make them available.  

Moreover, universities should consider that lecture recordings are quite valuable to students whose first language is not English. McGill, for instance, is recognized as Canada’s most international university with a remarkably diverse student body hailing from over 150 countries. Having the opportunity to revisit difficult lectures undeniably allows students to capture a better understanding of the material and alleviates confusion about challenging concepts. 

The burning question remains, however, as to whether uploading these recordings discourages students from attending class and if that might impact their academic performance. Naturally, this is a valid concern lecturers have, considering that  educational institutions are designed around students actually showing up. Many studies show that lecture recordings do not significantly influence the number of class attendees; attendance patterns generally mirrored those from previous semesters when lectures were not recorded. Another research experiment conducted in 2020 revealed that neither attending lectures nor accessing lecture recordings are critical factors in determining a student’s performance—what is of importance, rather, is the student’s ability to focus. The students who performed remarkably well in a class were the ones who viewed lecture recordings in conjunction with attending class. So, as it turns out, it is the dedicated students who make the most of lecture recordings, not the other way around.


Needless to say, there will be some students who might exploit this tool and not attend class at all. Accessible online lectures, however, are not a main determinant in whether or not students skip class. Ultimately, the systemic integration of lecture recordings into academic institutions brings more advantages than drawbacks. Whether it be to revisit difficult lectures, aid those in need of additional academic assistance, or simply provide a sense of flexibility, lecture recordings are not a tool to be discarded. Many students are not ready to give up such an inextricable component of their learning process just yet. Especially not after the overwhelming academic challenges the past few years have presented.

News, SSMU, The Tribune Explains

Tribune Explains: SSMU health and dental insurance

by Julie Jacques on

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If you are an undergraduate student at McGill from Quebec or another province in Canada, you are eligible for health insurance provided through the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU). The McGill Tribune looked into SSMU’s Health and Dental Plan, what it includes, how students can submit claims, and whether it can be combined with other private insurance plans. 

What is the SSMU Health and Dental Plan? 

SSMU offers health and dental insurance for all Canadian students that costs $345. This plan is administered by StudentCare, a health insurance broker for students in Canada, and provided by Desjardins Insurance—which also reimburses students for claims made. Even if a student is covered by a primary insurance plan under an employer or family member, SSMU’s insurance can be used as a secondary plan for more extensive coverage. 

The SSMU plan for in-province and other domestic students is optional, but students are enrolled by default for the academic year if they are registered in the fall semester. Should a student decide they want to opt out of the plan, they can withdraw through StudentCare during the change-of-coverage and opt-out period, typically from late August to late September. 

Students entering McGill in the winter semester, however, are not enrolled for the plan by default and must opt in for their winter semester before being automatically enrolled the next fall. For these students, the coverage extends from Jan. 1–Aug. 31 and costs $230. Any student who wishes to add a dependent, such as a child or spouse, to their plan can do so during this period for an extra annual fee of $345 per person. 

Although international students are primarily covered by the McGill International Health Insurance Plan, a mandatory plan administered by McGill, they are automatically registered for SSMU’s dental plan. This is because the McGill plan does not cover dental care. 

What does the plan cover? 

SSMU’s health insurance plan covers a vast scope of medical needs outside of those covered by the basic provincial healthcare provided in Canada. The plan covers most dental procedures with a maximum of $750 per person and includes travel insurance, which covers physicians, hospitals, and other emergency services abroad for up to 120 days per trip. As for vision care, the plan provides $75 for eyeglasses or contacts and $150 for laser eye surgery. Other benefits include partial reimbursement for the cost of mental health services and access to virtual healthcare through Dialogue, a telemedicine app. 

How does SSMU decide what is included in the plan?

While SSMU collaborates with StudentCare, the SSMU Health and Dental Plan Committee determines what is included or excluded from the health care plan. In a statement to the Tribune, SSMU vice-president (VP) Student Life Hassanatou Koulibaly explained that through StudentCare, SSMU can consult trends in insurance usage, which allows them to see what coverage would best serve the student population.

“Working with StudentCare, we are able to see where most needs are,” Koulibaly wrote. “Over the past year or two, we have seen an increase in mental health consultations and usage of mental health services, and with these trend recommendations [we] are able to address these needs within the plan.” 

How does one file a claim? 

Starting in Fall 2022, all mobile claims should be made through Omni, an app powered directly by Desjardins Insurance. Claims can also be submitted through the Desjardins web portal or by mail.  

Previously, students had to submit a copy of their medical receipts and purchases to the StudentCare app. StudentCare, acting as an intermediary, then sent claims to Desjardins Insurance, which would reimburse students. 

Jordan Marcus, U2 Science, is hopeful about this change. He found the previous process to be unnecessarily bureaucratic. 

“The claim process is self-explanatory from the app,” Marcus said in an interview with the Tribune. “[Before], sometimes I wouldn’t receive the money, and it was very hard to contact someone who could help [due to] multiple layers of obstruction.”  

Marcus explained that after making a claim through the discontinued StudentCare app and not receiving a reimbursement, he had to contact StudentCare, who then had to contact Desjardins for the reimbursement amount, who would later forward it to him. Marcus hopes that by cutting out the middleman, Omni will make claim processing quicker.

Editorial, Opinion

Say no to the colonial status quo

by The McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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Content warning: Colonial violence

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a federal statutory holiday honouring those impacted by Canada’s residential school system, was held on Sept. 30. Despite the significance of this day, McGill did not give students the day off school, unlike many universities across Canada. Meanwhile, McGill is embroiled in a legal battle with the Kanien’kehà:ka Kahnistensera (Mohawk Mothers) who are attempting to halt construction of the New Vic Project until a Kanien’kehà:ka (Mohawk)-led investigation into  potential unmarked graves on the site is conducted. McGill’s attempts at silencing an Indigenous group in court and disregarding this day of remembrance are glaring reminders that the fight for reconciliation at McGill still has a long way to go.

The Kahnistensera argue that there may be unmarked graves of Indigenous children on the New Vic site—children who were experimented upon by Dr. Donald Ewen Cameron during the 1950s and 60s. Halting construction to allow for a full Kanien’kehà:ka investigation—whose unceded territory the site is located on—is the bare minimum students should demand from the McGill administration. By weaponizing their legal team and wealth of resources against the Kahnistensera, who, not wanting to litigate within the colonial system, have chosen to represent themselves, McGill is fighting an unfair battle to push forward its $700-million-dollar project. McGill’s actions demonstrate that their alleged commitment to reconciliation only stands when their business interests are not threatened.

McGill’s New Vic Project intersects with other forms of colonialism that permeate throughout the university. Most notably, McGill is still named McGill: The institution refuses to sever ties with its namesake James McGill, a slaveholder of two Indigenous children and three people of African descent. Not only has the university kept his name, but is continuing to perpetuate his legacy by using the wealth he created from his colonial businesses, along with the money from the Iroquois Trust Fund—which was never repaid—to create a bureaucratic legal machine that is attempting to stifle and discredit the Kahnistensera. 

By denying a proper investigation of the Kahnistensera’s claims, the university is disrespecting Indigenous knowledge systems and wisdom—a common theme across the university. Indigenous lecturers are underrepresented at McGill, and courses about Indigenous topics are frequently taught by white professors. Paired with McGill’s predominantly white student population, this contributes to discourse on campus that treats colonialism as a problem to be studied retrospectively rather than as an ongoing issue that harms every aspect of Indigenous people’s lives.

The land acknowledgement copy-pasted on most McGill syllabi, for instance, treats Indigenous people and their oppression as bygone relics. As an educational institution, this is unacceptable.  By presenting a static and false narrative while simultaneously ignoring the continued  colonialism and land theft it perpetuates, McGill shows that it does not prioritize reconciliation beyond performative gestures. 

Despite the university’s unfettered colonialism, the annual Pow Wow and Indigenous Awareness Weeks represent steps in the right direction. They provide a much-needed space of joy for Indigenous students on campus and also an opportunity for non-Indigenous students to learn about Indigenous culture. The Indigenous community dedicates resources and preparation towards these events, and many undertake the heavy burden to educate the McGill community in place of the university, which has unequivocally failed to do so. All students have a responsibility to learn about the unceded land they inhabit and take advantage of the incredible educational opportunities put on by Indigenous community members. 

Of course, these events must be paired with tangible action by the university. McGill must give up their harmful litigation and immediately halt construction of the New Vic Project until a Kanien’kehà:ka-led investigation of the site has been conducted. McGill must also address the underrepresentation of Indigenous lecturers, and, crucially, students must enroll in Indigenous-taught courses. McGill should also make an Indigenous studies course mandatory for all students. Lastly, students should have the day off on Sept. 30 to learn about Indigenous culture through the numerous events held in Montreal—and to show Indigenous students respect on this day of remembrance. 

It is high time for the university to change the colonial status quo set by James McGill and for students to recognize that the battle for Truth and Reconciliation is actively taking place on a campus that is still named after a slaveholder. 

Indigenous courses taught by Indigenous Professors:

Interdisciplinary Seminar in Indigenous Studies (INDG 401) taught by Noelani Arista

First Peoples and Social Work (SWRK 445) taught by Cynthia Blackstock

Indigenous Studies of Anthropology (ANTH 338) taught by Leslie James Sabiston

Indigenous Peoples and the State (CMPL 500) taught by Kerry Sloan

Introduction to Indigenous Studies (INDG 200) taught by Yann Allard-Tremblay

Know Your Athlete, Sports

Know Your Athlete: Monty Weatherall

by Sarah Farnand on

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Last fall, the McGill men’s rugby team had an incredibly strong season that ended in heartbreak when they were blanked by Concordia in the RSEQ Championship game. One key component absent from the Redbirds’ playoff squad was star fly-half Monty Weatherall who missed the majority of the season after an injury during the first match-up against the Stingers. 

I sat down with the rugby star in The McGill Tribune office to hear about his rugby beginnings, his season-ending injury, and his goals for the years ahead. 

“My whole family has played [rugby],” Weatherall began. “My granddad played back in the 50s, and my mom’s side of the family all played. I started playing when I was six. I’ve always played sports—I played rugby, soccer, and cricket until I was 15, and then stopped playing the other sports to focus on rugby.”

As for academics, when it came time to decide on a university, McGill was the only school outside of the United Kingdom that Weatherall applied to following a friend’s recommendation. 

“When I got [here] I wasn’t sure if it was going to work out, so I thought I would just come for a year and see how I liked it,” Weatherall said. “And I just absolutely fell in love with being in Montreal and at McGill.”

Weatherall explained that all apprehension disappeared as he immediately felt at home with the Redbirds rugby squad. 

“Coming to McGill, moving to a different country knowing only one other person here, I felt very lucky that I played rugby because it’s just an instant community of 50 people who always have your back,” he explained. 

Unfortunately, after Weatherall’s first season with the Redbirds, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the team from returning to play until his third year. 

After the loss of a season in 2020, the 2021 home-opener was greatly anticipated, especially by Weatherall as his brother was able to fly in from the U.K. for the momentous event.

“I have three brothers and a sister, so I’m part of a big family and we are all really, really close,” said Weatherall. “With COVID, it was tough to see them, so the fact that my brother was able to come out and watch the game and then spend time with all my friends after and get to experience Montreal was really special for me.”

Sadly, Weatherall’s first season post-COVID was not without its hardships as three games into the season, he tore his posterior cruciate ligament ( and his lateral collateral ligament on the inside and outside of the knee, respectively. He also sustained a bone fracture that required surgery and ended his season before it truly even started.

“I spent the whole of this year doing rehab, spending a lot of time in the gym. And from that injury it was 11 months to my first game back against Carleton [in 2022],” Weatherall explained. “The [physiotherapists] at McGill looked after me really well, I am super super grateful for all the support that the McGill Sports Medical Clinic gave, not just to me but to all the other players who get injured because they are absolutely world-class.”

Now serving as the team’s captain, Weatherall has several impressive accolades. But instead of focusing on himself, he highlighted the work of his teammates in spearheading fundraising initiatives.

“Our president, Owen Cumming, is just so amazing with his commitment to things off the field. With Movember, we are consistently one of the highest fundraising groups at the university, and he leads that massively. I think last year we were seventh in the country out of all sports teams for fundraising.”

As McGill’s leading scorer, I expected Weatherall’s warm-up to be rather intense. Instead, he explained that he prefers “chilled” music such as “Runnin’” by Beyoncé and Naughty Boy to keep his composure prior to a match. And so far, the pregame ritual seems to be working.

The Redbirds are currently at a 3–1 record, second in the RSEQ standings backed by Weatherall’s team-leading 38 points. The team hopes to maintain their momentum throughout the season to finally bring the RSEQ Championship back to McGill before Weatherall graduates this December.

“The goal for this season is to win the RSEQ,” concluded Weatherall. “We haven’t done it in [seven] years, so really we just want to win the conference. Every year I have been here, we have come runner-up in the finals, so this year we really, really want to win.”

And with Weatherall as captain, the ‘ship just might be McGill’s for the taking.

Campus Spotlight, Student Life

Bar des Arts is back in all its former glory

by Olivia Taylor on

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The Faculty of Arts’ favourite undergraduate bar reopened its doors on Sept. 22, ready for what might be the first year of regularly scheduled dollar beers since the 2018-19 academic year. After three years of waiting, students rejoiced at the return of Bar des Arts.

Since 2007, Bar des Arts (BdA) has been known for its $1 beers and grilled cheeses offered every Thursday out of the Arts Lounge in the basement of McGill’s Leacock Building. The tradition took a turn in 2019 when BdA was forced out of its home base in Leacock at the onset of renovations in the building. The bar’s student managers worked hard to find a new home for BdA but were faced with high costs and a lack of support from members of the McGill administration. Thus, BdA had to be shut down, and on Oct. 24, 2019, BdA hosted the “BdArtsLounge Funeral.”

The fight was not over yet. On Feb. 11, 2020, over 1,000 students signed an open letter demanding support from the university’s administration to help BdA reopen. Deputy Provost Fabrice Labeau finally agreed to give back the Arts Lounge by Apr. 30, 2020. Students could almost smell the warm beer flowing. 

But in the face of COVID-19 restrictions, BdA has had to wait until this fall to try its hand at another full year of service. Every Thursday, the doors of the notorious Arts Lounge open at 5:30, but dollar beer lovers wait in line starting as early as 4:30, dressed according to that week’s theme. On Sept. 29, BdA hosted “BdAdam Sandler”; the basement of Leacock was buzzing with students in baggy t-shirts, long shorts, and backwards caps to show their dedication to all that BdA stands for—friendship, memories, and tight student budgets.

Campbell Graham, U1 Arts and BdA staff member, chose to work at BdA because of her positive past experiences with the Arts Undergraduate Society.

“Everyone is just so fun—like, there’s no one who is disappointing to work with,” Graham said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. 

Mitchell Horwood, U3 Arts and BdA co-chair, echoed Graham’s sentiments. 

“We’re trying to have all the inclusivity [we can], all the amount of amazing times that people can have [with the re-opening of BdA],” Horwood said.

The vibrant atmosphere in the Arts Lounge certainly contrasts its grey, windowless, and low-ceilinged design. People are meeting new friends, laughing with old ones, or posing for a photo in every corner of the lounge. One alcove is home to a pool table with several students perfecting their game.

In an office adjoining the Arts lounge, some staff are running the grilled cheese station—or rather, a panini press. The line to buy the popular snack extends out of the office and into the lounge. Crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside: The BdA grilled cheeses make the perfect comfort food. 

Sam Stourton, U4 Arts, points out that BdA’s grilled cheeses come at a great bargain.

“In the times of eight per cent inflation, the fact that you can come here and pay one dollar for a slightly subpar grilled cheese, which hits every single spot you could possibly have […] I mean, I personally couldn’t ask for anything more,” Stourton said. 

It is clear that the anti-luxury regime of Bar des Arts adds to its charm in the eyes of those who frequent it. 

Stourton proudly proclaimed to the Tribune,  “I’m living life at BdA. Life has never been better.”

While most of BdA’s staff and students are newcomers, its atmosphere confirms that student traditions die hard. As always, this generation of Arts undergrads came for the cheap beer and stayed for the community it created. Though we should be wary of making too many predictions, it might be safe to say that Bar des Arts is back for the long haul.

You can find Bar des Arts on Facebook and on Instagram at @bar_des_arts or in the Arts Lounge in the basement of Leacock every Thursday from 5:30 to 8:30.

Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

Just a bunch of hocus pocus: Another unnecessary sequel

by Aimee DeLong on

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Twenty-nine years after the release of the Disney film Hocus Pocus, the Sanderson sisters are stirring up trouble once more. The first film follows teenager Max (Omri Katz) in the town of Salem, Massachusetts on Halloween. While visiting the former cottage of the long-dead Sanderson witches, Max lights a candle and accidentally resurrects them. Along with his sister Dani (Thora Birch) and crush Allison (Vinessa Shaw), Max spends the following hour of the movie trying to vanquish the sisters once and for all. Like many of its films in the last decade, the House of Mouse has chosen to resurrect the cult classic in the form of a sequel. Much like the Sanderson sisters, however, the franchise should have stayed dead. 

The sequel brings us back to Salem, the town infamous for its grisly witch trials in the late 17th century, following spunky teen Becca (Whitney Peak), a magic-obsessed girl with a Halloween birthday. The only thing more unrealistic than the magic in this movie is Becca’s endless supply of convenient plot devices. She receives all the items that she needs to take on the witches in the first act of the film, complete with direct dialogue and intense stares from Gilbert (Sam Richardson), the owner of a local magic shop, about how useful these objects might be in oddly specific situations. 

Hocus Pocus 2 encourages its audience to be sympathetic towards the Sanderson sisters given the sexism they faced as young women. But it’s difficult to ignore how the trio made a habit of consuming the souls of innocent children. Even with its comedic overtones, Winifred’s attempts at consuming Dani’s soul in the first film always felt a bit dark, and it didn’t feel any better the second time around. The film begs the question of whether a child-based diet can negatively influence one’s mental development; the sisters don’t seem to have the common sense or the deductive reasoning beyond that of a five-year-old.  

Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy’s performances were about as strong as the mediocre script allows. In the first film, Bette Midler, in particular, gave the role her absolute all. Her rendition of I Put a Spell On You by Jalacy “Screamin’ Jay” Hawkins is a musical performance recognizable to even people that have never seen the first film. There is only so much that established actresses can do while acting like immortal witches behaving like kindergartners visiting Toys “R” Us for the first time. While there is a certain appeal to picking up a story 30 years later, it does make one wonder what mountain of blackmail Disney had on these poor actresses to drag them into this CGI-ridden mess. 

In spite of Hocus Pocus 2’s flaws, the movie is not without its redeeming qualities. It is complete with two wonderful musical numbers, including an inspiring rendition of the Blondie ‘70s classic “One Way or Another.” Of course, Becca’s friend Izzy (Belissa Escobedo) questioned why they were breaking into song, joining Flynn Rider as one of the few Disney characters to do so. It is always refreshing to see a character break the fourth wall—given that, in reality, people don’t usually break into song when they successfully make a bowl of cereal. The costume designer mercifully chose outfits for the teens that a real-life high schooler might actually be seen in. The Sanderson sisters’ witchy wardrobe maintained their original appearance, and for good reason—why mess with perfection?

Hocus Pocus 2 does try its best to appeal to fans of the original movie and new viewers alike. However, many of its jokes fall flat and the poor attempts at social commentary are quickly overshadowed by the witches’ evil intentions. It was 103 minutes of my life that I am never going to get back, but it may be worth a watch for those seeking some good old-fashioned nostalgia. Although I should have known better than to expect great things from a straight-to-Disney+ sequel, the original Hocus Pocus gave me high hopes. That, or the Sanderson sisters really did put a spell on me.

Hocus Pocus 2 is currently streaming on Disney+.

Sports, Varsity Round UP

Varsity round up: What you missed in McGill sports

by Tillie Burlock, Sumire Kierkosz-Ueno, Karan Kumar, Dylan Schofield on

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Men’s Lacrosse

On a chilly Friday evening, Redbirds lacrosse fans turned out for the first annual Legacy Game as McGill (4–1) faced off against Queen’s University (2–2). A boastful crowd of 580 watched the Redbirds dominate the Gaels for their third win in a row, spearheaded by first-year midfielder John Miraglia who led the team with five points. Less than two minutes into the first quarter, Miraglia opened up the scoring, giving McGill a lead that they maintained throughout the game. With 4:37 left in the first quarter, fourth-year attacker Cameron McGinnis buried a power-play goal, quickly followed up by fourth-year attacker Isaiah Cree’s first goal of the night, putting the Redbirds up 3-1. As the Gaels tried to battle back, they were silenced by McGill’s unrelenting offence and ended the first half down 6-2 to the Redbirds. McGill blew the game open in the third quarter, scoring four goals, two from Miraglia. With the score at 10-3, Cree potted his third goal of the night, and opened the door for the Redbirds to breeze into a 12-5 victory over the Gaels. 

“I was a little nervous at the beginning considering there was a lot of weight in the atmosphere and everything, but [the win] felt wonderful,” said Cree in a post-game interview. “[We’re] happy to go home with the win and looking forward to the next game as always.” 

The Redbirds dropped their second game of the weekend 8-7 to Carleton and will play next on Oct. 9 at Nipissing.

Men’s Baseball 

(Matt Garies/McGill Athletics)

After losing 3-1 in game one of a double-header against Queen’s University (8–2), ending an eight-game winning streak, the Redbirds (15–5) tried to get back into the swing of things in game two. Starting on the bump for McGill was left-handed pitcher Caden Welch, who settled in nicely after a bases-loaded jam in the top of the first. In the bottom of the inning, the Redbirds’ offence exploded, scoring seven runs with shortstop Milo Young paving the way with a single and a stolen bag. Their lead widened later in the inning when designated hitter Vincent Rizzolo knocked a two-RBI single. After a quiet second, the Gaels began to threaten the Redbirds’  seven-run lead, scoring two in the third and three in the fourth, making the score 7-5. But the McGill offence bounced back, cushioning their lead with a two-RBI double from first-baseman Brad Marelich. The Gaels did not go quietly, scoring one in the fifth and one in the seventh, but left-handed pitcher Nathaniel Factor was able to close out the game and earn himself the save. In the 9-7 victory, catcher Chris Bodine stood out offensively alongside Rizzolo and Marelich, going 3-for-3 with three singles and an RBI. 

“We came out, we played our brand of baseball in that first inning and [although] it didn’t translate to the full game, we were able to get a good clutch hit by Brad Marelich to tack on two more at the end,” said head coach Casey Auerbach. “We’re just looking to find our stride and be as consistent as we can offensively.” 

The Redbirds finished out the weekend picking up two wins in their double-header against the Ottawa Gee-Gees in a couple of tight games, winning 8-7 and 4-3. Their next game will be on Oct. 5 at Université de Montréal.

Men’s Hockey 

On Sept. 30, the Redbirds (2–1) defeated the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) (0–4) 8-3 in a landslide victory. McGill opened the scoring with two goals in the first five minutes, seizing the momentum for a fast-paced, high-scoring game. Over the 60 minutes of play, six different players found the back of the net, with the rookies leading the way—first-year defenceman Maxime Blanchard and first-year centre William Rouleau scored two goals each. With an aggressive forecheck, McGill went four for six on the power-play, scoring all four goals within the first 30 seconds of their one-man advantage. Despite moments of sloppy play, the Redbirds were able to dominate throughout the game, outshooting RMC 61 to 22. In a post-game interview with The McGill Tribune, Rouleau, who was awarded the first star of the game, expressed optimism about the upcoming season. 

“This year especially, I think we have a special group of guys [….] We’re getting really competitive this year so it’s really fun to see our potential,” said Rouleau. “So far in the preseason we have been playing great. We didn’t have the greatest game tonight, but still had a good result. The sky’s the limit for us.”

The Redbirds will play their next game on Oct. 7 against Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières at McConnell Arena.

Women’s Soccer

(Matt Garies/McGill Athletics)

A sluggish first half defined the Martlets’ soccer (4–3–2) home game against the Bishop’s Gaiters (1–4–4). The first 20 minutes saw an aggressive Gaiter midfield trying to dominate possession, while the Martlets’ defence, led by Stephanie Hill, stood up to any scoring attempts, leaving goalkeeper Sophie Guilmette with little work to do. In the first half, the Martlets’ only offensive highlight was a quick counter-attack by forwards Liliane Lefebvre and Giovanna Tiberio that was extinguished by Bishop’s goalkeeper in the 22nd minute. 

Lefebvre, who was voted McGill Athlete of the Week, applauded her team’s performance in the game. 

“I think we were comfortable defensively, but need to be better in scoring. We needed to be confident [going forward] in the final three quarters of the game.”

The second half only began to heat up in the final 10 minutes. Some great ball movement in the final third saw Lefebvre threaten the Gaiters’ defence minutes before the final whistle.

“We got past their press on several occasions but then got too rushed and lacked a bit of composure,” said head coach Jose-Luis Valdes. “The effort is there, [it] just needs to be [supplemented] by quality play.” 

Next, the Martlets play the Montreal Carabins on Oct. 7.

Men’s Basketball 

After a tough start to the pre-season for the McGill men’s basketball team (0–4), the Redbirds were presented with an opportunity to right the wrongs of their opening three games in a difficult fixture against Queen’s University (2–0). From the very first moment of the game, the Redbirds were playing catch-up, with the Gaels winning the opening tip-off and racing away with a 16-0 lead. The first quarter was filled with frustration for McGill as they attempted to kickstart a comeback. Fourth-year guard Zachary Lavoie-Toure, along with guard and graduate student Sam Jenkins, led a spirited, albeit unsuccessful, comeback attempt in the second half. Jenkins also led the team in playing time and points with 34 minutes and 14 points.  

Head coach Ryan Thorne expressed his disappointment in the team’s start, and how that played into the rest of the game. 

“They out-hustled us, they out-muscled us, they wanted it more than us,” Thorne told The McGill Tribune. “We showed some spots of fight, but that’s a good team, I think they finished fourth in Canada last year, so you can’t only show spots, you have to perform the entire time.”

Queens out-rebounded McGill by 43-32 and despite the Redbirds’ best efforts to stay in the game, even cutting the lead to single digits in the fourth quarter, they ultimately fell 71-55 to the Gaels. 

The Redbirds will play their next game on Oct. 14 against the Lethbridge Pronghorns as part of the McGill Redbirds’ Classic tournament. 

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