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Research Briefs, Science & Technology

The surprising link between muscle mass and cognition

by Athina Sitou on

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Most people are aware of the crucial role muscles play in keeping us alive and moving us around.What might be surprising to some, however, is that muscles also secrete hormones that affect the brain. The connection between these seemingly distinct organs led a team of researchers at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) to investigate the relationship between low muscle mass and cognitive decline in adults aged 65 years and older. 

While previous studies have shown a correlation between lower muscle strength and increased dementia risk, Stéphanie Chevalier, an associate professor at McGill’s School of Human Nutrition, and her team decided to focus on muscle mass independently from strength. They recently published a study analyzing data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) which had recorded comprehensive body composition and cognition data in 30,000 people between 2011 and 2013—and will continue to record this information every three years, for a total period of 20 years.

Using the data, the researchers examined whether low muscle mass was related to rapid cognitive decline. To assess cognition, they used three factors collected in the CLSA: Memory, executive functions—such as the ability to learn and adapt—and psychomotor speed, like reaction times. When testing for animal naming abilities, a commonly used activity to measure executive function, individuals with low muscle mass performed worse than their counterparts. There was, however, no significant relationship between decreased muscle mass and decreased memory function or psychomotor speed.

In an interview with The McGill Tribune, Chevalier discussed the importance of using special equipment to measure muscle mass in a clinical setting. 

“Muscle mass is […] another indicator of evaluating the risk for cognitive decline. So, I think it should be measured much more,” Chevalier told the Tribune. “We need to have access to the tools to be able to do that, [but] it’s difficult.”

In a clinical setting, a Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scan is used to measure bone density, as well as appendicular lean mass (ALM)—a measure of the total lean tissue in the arms and legs. ALM allows researchers to calculate the approximate muscle mass of a person, but although many hospitals have DEXA machines, the high cost of usage makes them less accessible. 

In this study, the researchers used a DEXA scan as it is the most appropriate measurement for ALM. But there are more affordable options available to clinics and hospitals. For instance, certain gyms offer an alternative called bioelectrical impedance analysis, which estimates body composition. Another technique involves measuring the circumference of the lower leg. This method is less accurate than a DEXA scan, but as long as there is no water retention, it provides a reasonable estimate of muscle mass. By using these less precise but more accessible options, doctors could assess older individuals’ risks of developing dementia more easily. 

According to Chevalier’s findings, the measurable characteristics of muscle mass make it a promising biomarker that should be used during tests for cognitive decline. Though Chevalier’s study does not demonstrate a causal effect between decreased muscle mass and decreased cognitive functions, it shows there is a correlation. 

“I would want to repeat that same study in the CLSA that’s continuing now for 20 years altogether,” Chevalier said. “What we want to know now is those people who are able to maintain their muscle mass versus those who lose muscle mass with time, how does that impact cognitive decline?”

In addition to doing research, Chevalier is a nutritionist and emphasizes the importance of exercise and nutrition to maintain muscle while aging. 

Ask Ainsley, Student Life

Ask Ainsley: I forgot how to study for in-person classes!

by the elusive Ainsley on

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Dear Ainsley,

I’m a second-year ArtSci student returning to campus after a full year of online classes. I feel like I’ve lost touch with the rhythms of in-person studies and I’m overwhelmed with these first couple of weeks on campus. When I began studying for my courses, I was hit with the realization that I have forgotten how to study without the help of online resources and 72-hour timeframes for exams. I’m worried that the strategies I used last year are not going to cut it anymore. With midterm season fast approaching, I feel like I’m going to start falling behind and pulling all-nighters very soon, without having much to show for it. I don’t want to be further overwhelmed and panic closer to an evaluation. What habits can I adopt right now to help me study productively and prepare myself for in-person exams?

Sincerely, 

Returning In-Person. (RIP)

Dear RIP, 

Thank you for reaching out and expressing what I’m sure many of your peers are feeling this year. It’s completely normal to be overwhelmed by the complete return of in-person learning as it brings back many experiences we had moved away from during the pandemic—waking up early, interacting with classmates, socializing on campus, writing exams, and more. With extra tasks added to your schedule, it’s more important than ever to employ effective time-management skills and build a routine for yourself. 

The first thing you should do is plan ahead by creating a general schedule for the year. The Google Calendar and Notion templates are both useful resources for this. Block out the times when you have lectures and any other meetings or in-person activities, then go through each of your syllabi and add in any assignments, exams, quizzes, or readings to the calendar on the date they are due. 

Now that you have a rough idea of what your semester is going to look like in terms of academic commitment, you can start by allocating daily blocks to studying. At the same time, remember that you also need to shower, cook, clean, run errands and take time for yourself, so don’t overschedule! I recommend dedicating no more than 4-5 hours to coursework each day to avoid burning out. 

The next step is to adopt practices that help you use your study time effectively. When studying,  it is crucial that you avoid distractions. Turn your phone off and put it in a drawer or locker until you have completed the work that you sat down to do. Set yourself a realistic number of tasks and create a to-do list to get through. For this, Notion’s agenda template and Microsoft Tasks are both useful, on top of physical agendas. I like to add smaller tasks I do throughout the day, such as cleaning my room, to the list as well because I find that seeing little tick boxes on my agenda motivates me further. 

Once you have set some targets for yourself, it is time to start working on completing those goals. The Pomodoro method is a scientifically-proven strategy for that. This technique encourages you to work in time bursts, where you commit to a task for 25 minutes, known as one Pomodoro, then take a five-minute break. After four Pomodoros, you take a longer 15 to 20-minute break. This helps with increasing your focus and pushing you to achieve the maximum amount of work you can in a shorter time. You can find a Pomodoro timer online to help you practice this technique. 

Although these are recommendations to help you get back into rhythm with the demands of in-person learning, each person is unique and has different needs. What is most important is that you understand your abilities and limits, do the best you can, and try to remain content with your efforts, no matter the result. It is not worth losing your sleep and mental peace over academic responsibilities.

Take care and stay healthy, 

Ainsley 

Along Party Lines, News

Along Party Lines: Quebec’s major parties on Indigenous issues and separatism

by Ghazal Azizi on

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Content Warning: mentions of residential schools, racism, and abuse

Ahead of Quebec provincial elections on Oct. 3, The McGill Tribune looked into each major political party’s stance on the issues of Quebec nationalism and Indigenous relations. 

Pressing Indigenous issues in Quebec today

In June 2021, the National Assembly of Quebec passed Bill 79, which allows Indigenous families to access information held by public institutions and religious congregations regarding the circumstances of a child’s disappearance or death. Indigenous leaders from the Cree Nation, among others, are asking the Quebec government to revise the Bill’s scope to include disappearances and deaths from residential schools and to investigate unmarked graves across the province. 

Joyce’s Principle—a list of proposals devised by the Atikamekw Nation to improve medical care for Indigenous people—was developed after footage of a Quebec hospital’s mistreatment of Joyce Echaquan went viral following the Atikamekw woman’s death. In 2020, the Liberal Party of Quebec introduced a motion to adopt Joyce’s Principle, but the Coalition Avenir Québec majority government rejected the motion due to its use of the term “systemic racism.”

Quebec’s separatism movement and battle for sovereignty, explained

Many Quebecers believe their national identity entitles them to self-determination from the rest of Canada. There have been many sovereignty referendums in Quebec—the last one having been called in 1995—but none were successful. According to experts, separatism is no longer at the forefront of the province’s politics, even though Quebec’s major parties still have widely publicized views on the matter. 

Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ)

The CAQ denies the existence of systemic racism in Quebec and claims that Indigenous communities’ experiences of racism are isolated occurrences. During the last provincial election campaign, Legault promised to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), a proclamation affirming the collective and individual rights of Indigenous nations around the world. The CAQ has yet to deliver on this promise. 

The CAQ is a nationalist party. While Legault is opposed to a sovereignty referendum, the party wants Quebec’s provincial office to have more powers compared to its federal counterpart, and has pledged to advocate for Quebec as a nation. 

Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ)

The PLQ, led by Dominique Anglade, brought the 2021 motion to adopt Joyce’s Principle to the National Assembly. If elected with a majority, the PLQ would adopt the Principle and the UNDRIP. The PLQ has also promised to launch a public inquiry into residential schools in Quebec. 

The PLQ is a federalist party, meaning it supports the Canadian confederation and the division of power between the provincial and federal levels of government.

Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ)

The PCQ has not issued any policy proposals for tackling Indigenous issues.  

The PCQ, led by Éric Duhaime, is a federalist party. Duhaime has promised that he will not hold a referendum on sovereignty if elected as Premier.  

Québec solidaire (QS)

QS supports implementing Joyce’s Principle and the UNDRIP. The party plans to provide Indigenous communities with more public services, and to reform the justice system to better serve Indigenous people. QS also pledged to excavate all former residential school sites and to launch coroner inquiries with support from Indigenous leaders. Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, QS’s spokesperson, has been vocal in condemning the CAQ’s refusal to acknowledge systemic racism—but has faced backlash for saying the N-word during a Sept. 15 debate. 

QS is a separatist party and has promised to hold a sovereignty referendum as its first order in office, if elected majority. 

Parti Québécois (PQ)

PQ’s platform does not include any policies for addressing Indigenous issues. 

PQ is a separatist party and would hold a referendum for independence if the party wins a majority government.

Those in need of support can reach out to the Montreal Indigenous Community Network by email at [email protected] or by phone at 438-992-4589. A 24-hour helpline for residential school survivors and their families is available at 1-866-925-4419.

McGill, News

Reports of academic advisors misleading students surface online

by Dima Kiwan on

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On Sept. 7, a Reddit user posted a discussion thread to “rant” about receiving misleading information from an academic advisor at McGill. Several comments under the discussion thread and other posts under the McGill subreddit recount similar experiences. Some students allege that inaccurate information derailed their academic plans and delayed their graduation.  

Mateo*, BEng ‘21, had initially planned to graduate in May 2021. However, after receiving what they believe was flawed guidance from advisors in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECSE), Mateo had to enroll for another semester to satisfy all their degree requirements, ultimately finishing their degree five months later than anticipated. 

According to Mateo, Academic Advising had confirmed that they were eligible to exceed the Engineering Faculty’s 18-credit limit per semester as long as they did not fail any classes—which would have allowed them to graduate in May 2021. But when Mateo followed up in January 2021, they were told that they could not exceed the credit limit.  

“[They] accused me of cheating, or at least hinted at it, which is unbelievably discouraging,” Mateo wrote to The McGill Tribune. “Between me trying to explain, [them] repeating that [they] can’t allow me to go over the limit over and over again, and the bad connection, it was a horrible meeting. [They] threatened to leave the conversation a couple of times.” 

When Mateo contacted the Dean of Engineering to demand an investigation into their experience, Mateo received a short email in which the Dean agreed with the advisor.

“I have been given false information and lied to […] and not a single apology,” Mateo said.

Kaila Folinsbee, associate director of the McGill Engineering Student Centre, and Anthony Mittermaier, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Science, expressed their willingness to hear students’ advising concerns in statements to the Tribune. They encouraged students who have been affected by misinformation to report their experiences to them directly.

“I welcome any opportunity to improve our advising services and address perceived concerns about the information our advisors provide,” Folinsbee wrote. “I will investigate those situations to ensure students are getting appropriate, effective, and timely guidance.”

In an interview with the Tribune, Manuel Balán, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts, stressed that students and advisors share the effort and responsibility of degree planning. He also asserted that advisors don’t have universal decision-making power—a student’s path remains their decision, but they may consult with academic advisors who may recommend changes to a degree plan.

“Students are adults, the policies are public, and, therefore, even when they seek guidance from advisors in a collaborative way, ultimately decisions are made by students,” Balán said. “I do not think there is a process of misinformation. Far from it, all advisors mean well and try to help students.”

Article 13 of McGill’s Charter of Students’ Rights protects students from “vexatious” conduct by a university representative acting in an official capacity—such as an advisor, Dean, or professor. Vexatious conduct may be interpreted to include negligence, intentional harm, or other offensive acts. 

Students alleging rights violations can report their experiences through a formal grievance procedure, which would entail submitting evidence and attending a hearing before the grievance committee. While the grievance committee does not have the power to issue financial compensation, as per Article 8, Section 3 of the Charter, it can order a review of certain decisions if deemed appropriate. 

*Mateo’s name has been changed to preserve their anonymity.

News, PGSS

PGSS Council votes to endorse climate strike on Sept. 23

by Abby McCormick on

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The Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) convened for its first council meeting of the Fall 2022 semester on Sept. 14. Led by speaker Adrienne Tessier, the meeting’s agenda covered issues such as McGill’s fossil fuel investments and teaching assistants’ (TA) rights.

The meeting began with an overview of the various PGSS committees, such as faculty councils, the Appointments Board, and the Health and Wellness Committee, all of which are looking for new members this fall. Tessier encouraged graduate students to consider applying as a means of becoming more acquainted with systems of student governance. 

“These [committees] are a fantastic opportunity to get to know how PGSS and McGill work,” Tessier said. “They are also fantastic résumé builders, especially for those of us who want to continue on in academia.”

PGSS’s secretary general Kristi Kouchakji updated the Council on the search for McGill’s new Principal and Vice-Chancellor. While Kouchakji—who sits on the Advisory Committee as PGSS’s representative—is bound by a confidentiality agreement, she relayed what she could, noting that community consultation sessions were being held, and that the committee had received a large number of applications.  

Subsequently, Kiersten van Vliet, a representative from the Association of Graduate Students Employed at McGill (AGSEM), presented her report on TA and invigilator rights—a topic pertinent to many PGSS members who are beginning their first TA positions this month. Van Vliet encouraged them to reach out for help if they felt that professors were violating their worker rights. She also acknowledged the difficult position TAs may find themselves in with classes returning to full in-person delivery.

“Refusing unsafe work is difficult because the province has deemed [COVID-19] to essentially be over,” van Vliet said. “But if you have reason to believe that you are being asked to go into a situation that is unsafe, you are within your rights to refuse to go into that situation.”

Following van Vliet’s presentation, Tessier presented the council with a motion to endorse the general strike for the climate set to occur worldwide on Friday, Sept. 23. Given the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports warning that the effects of 1.5 degrees of warming are more catastrophic than previously anticipated, Tessier emphasized the importance of larger-scale demonstrations as a means of effecting change in the university and beyond.

“McGill University continues to be actively complicit in climate change through its investments in fossil fuels, nuclear weapons, and arms manufacturers,” Tessier said. “The continuous and conscious inaction of these institutions in spite of the overwhelming and alarming evidence has proven the need to utilize collective action as a means of change.”

After some discussion from committee members, the motion was approved in a unanimous vote of 34-0, signifying that PGSS will be publicly stating their support for the general strike for the climate.

Moment of the Meeting:

The meeting was subject to some slight technical challenges as a result of its hybrid format. Some council members attended in person at Thomson House, while others attended via Zoom, making it difficult to communicate with those who attended in the other medium. Speaker Adrienne Tessier, who attended virtually, poked some fun at the situation, saying “So, unfortunately, I will be the disembodied voice running these meetings. I hope that’s okay with everyone.”

Soundbite: 

“I don’t see how we get around climate change being the most important issue that we are collectively facing pretty much anywhere [….] There is no more room to deny that climate change is happening or to continue kicking this can down the road for the next generations to deal with. We are, unfortunately, the generation who has had the can kicked at them quite hard.”

— Kristi Kouchakji, PGSS Secretary-General, on the PGSS Motion to endorse the general strike for climate on Sept. 23.

Recipes, Student Life

Recipes to spice up your fall semester

by Sabrina Nelson on

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As temperatures drop and leaves change into the beautiful red and orange colours of fall, it’s clear that summer has officially come to an end. While this might sadden some, autumn brings about the return of pumpkin spice lattes, apple picking, and taking beautiful pictures of Mont Royal’s yellow and orange tones. It also means that the time for cooking heartier meals has arrived. Luckily, the Tribune has compiled a list of dishes that are perfect for a chilly September day. 

For colder days—Vegan lentil soup 

There is nothing better than a comforting bowl of soup to warm you up. This recipe is perfect for those who want to meal prep for the week, as it yields plenty of leftovers. 

For this soup, you will need: 

  • 200g of dried lentils (soak in water overnight to soften them up)  
  • 2 tbsp of olive oil 
  • 1 medium onion, chopped 
  • 2-3 medium-sized carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 1 cup butternut squash, chopped 
  • 4 garlic cloves, pressed or minced
  • 1 large can of diced tomatoes 
  • 1 tbsp of curry powder 
  • 2 tbsp of ground cumin 
  • A couple of sage leaves
  • Optional: A dash of coconut milk (to make it creamy)

Steps: 

  1. Warm the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
  2. Once the oil is simmering, add in the chopped onion and carrots. Cook, stirring often until the onion has softened––about five minutes.
  3. Add the garlic, cumin, and curry powder, and cook them until fragrant, stirring for about 30 seconds. Pour in the drained diced tomatoes and let the mixture simmer for a few more minutes.
  4. Pour in the lentils, squash, water, and sage leaves (optional: add coconut milk). Raise the heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Then, partially cover the pot and reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for 30-35 minutes, until the lentils are tender. 
  5. Remove the pot from the heat and taste the broth––add any additional seasoning to your liking. 
  6. Serve while hot and store the leftovers (they will keep well in the fridge for up to four days).
  7. Optional for the leftovers: If you feel like changing it up a bit, you can also add quinoa or brown rice. 

For those with a sweet tooth – Pumpkin bread 

Fall is the perfect season for anyone with a passion for pumpkin-spiced desserts. This incredibly moist bread will leave you with no crumbs and will fill your kitchen with the scent of fall. 

Ingredients: 

  • 1 ⅓ cup of all-purpose flour 
  • 1 ½ cup of pumpkin puree 
  • 1 tbsp baking soda 
  • ½ cup of olive oil 
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¾ cup brown sugar 
  • 1 tsp cinnamon powder 
  • ⅓ tsp nutmeg 
  • ⅓ tsp ginger 
  • a pinch of salt 
  • 2 medium-sized apples 
  • ¼ cup of milk 
  • ½ cup of chopped pecans 
  • Optional: Chocolate chips––as many as your heart desires 

Steps: 

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) while placing your oven rack at a mid-low position. Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with either butter or non-stick spray. Set it aside.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk your dry ingredients––flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt––together until combined. 
  3. In another bowl, whisk the eggs and brown sugar until combined. Whisk in the pumpkin puree, oil, and milk. 
  4. Pour these wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until combined. 
  5. Gently fold your chopped apples, chocolate chips, and pecans into the batter. 
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes, making sure to loosely cover the bread with aluminum foil halfway through to prevent the top from getting too brown. 
  7. To check when your bread is done, insert a knife in the center, and if it comes out clean, it means that your bread is ready to devour.   
  8. Allow the bread to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before removing and slicing. 
  9. Cover and store leftover pumpkin bread at room temperature for 3-4 days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week.

These recipes are adapted from the following sources: Cookie and Kate (Lentil Soup), Sally’s Baking Addiction (Pumpkin bread).

McGill Recommendations, Out on the Town, Student Life

Café Q&A: Your guide to Montreal’s cafés

by Harry North on

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Two things have come up time and time again this week. First, I’ve received quite a few: “Oh, by the way, I’m so sorry for your loss”’s lately. It’s because, well, I’m not sure if you’ve heard, it has kind of been on the down low recently, but Queen Elizabeth passed away. And, as I’m British, it’s become quite the trendy conversation filler for people. Bizarrely, someone I don’t even know messaged me about it on Instagram and asked “what culture does Britain have besides colonization?” A very apt message—sausage rolls, to answer your question. 

The other thing that has come up is café recommendations. “I need somewhere cute” is the line. Well, of course you do, you’re going to Redpath Café. I’m not downloading Mapstr, but I can answer some of your questions.   

Where should I take my date/partner for coffee? 

Is coffee even romantic? Yellow teeth, bad breath, and bitter coffee remnants on lips don’t exactly scream “let’s go back to mine.” But still, I think grabbing coffee is a great idea for dates—it’s cheaper than going out to bars and you can actually get to know each other better, sober. Going out during the day also lets you see if they’re what they’ve said on the packet as well.  

First things first, don’t bring your date to the same café you bring your partner! If it’s a date you’re going on, try Café Parvis, a café-brunch restaurant on Mayor Street. Inside, there are polished vintage chairs that make you look cooler just by sitting in them, and vines dropping from the ceilings, which creates a backdrop that makes you sound more interesting––plants always melt the heart. I’d avoid going midday on a Saturday though, it can get very busy. 

Best café to study in? 

Let’s face it: Add-drop is over, the temperatures are falling, evenings are darkening, and assignments are mounting. We’re approaching the precipice of the stress abyss. We need solutions. And no, Anticafé is not the answer. It’s about time we dispel that myth and see Anticafé for what it is: A dusty loft with a poor selection of biscuits. Crew Café is also a big no no—far too overpriced and busy.

Instead, try Café Osmo, a minimalist Japanese café on the corner of Rue Clark and Sherbrooke. There’s space for working, functioning Wi-Fi, charging ports, as well as bites to eat and coffee to keep you going. There’s also a designated table for no laptops, if you fancy a read. 

Another suggestion––tree huggers, this one’s for you––is Leaves House. A plant-based coffee house with two locations. But the one on Ave. McGill College has a seating area behind the serving counter, which is a decent alternative to the library. The coffee is also pretty good. 

Where can I find a café that serves great sandwiches? 

Try Café Aunja, an Iranian tea and sandwich café on Sherbrooke. It’s only about a seven-minute walk from  McGill campus and is a real gem—I don’t say this lightly.  My favourite is probably the chicken koukou. The chicken is mashed with the potato, which can get a tad messy, but worth it—it’s delicious. 

Find me a locally run Italian café!

Look no further than Caffettiera. The café boasts a trendy, colourful interior and is run by an Italian man  named Andreas Vecchio who will gladly serve you an espresso and a glass of sparkling water—and chat to you about your favourite football (soccer) team!

Which café is the most overrated?

Café Olimpico. There’s a surprising number of people who recommend Café Olimpico. I never want to dine with them. Olimpico’s coffee is too often stale, and too often regrettable. For a local chain with solid brew, try Myriade instead. 

Where can I find the best cookies?

The crème de la crème is La Finca, a bakery-café on Rue de Bleury. They serve thick, brown sugar, buttery cookies. It’s as good as it gets around here. 

And lastly, where’s the best coffee?

Pikolo Espresso Bar. It recently moved from Parc down to Clark, about a 15-20 minute walk from campus. The coffee, without question, is consistently the best. I go to Pikolo every day. It’s my second living room—it’s just too big to be kept at home. 

Features

Levelling the playing field

by Anoushka Oke on

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The Euro 2022 final in July was still in a deadlock in the 90th minute, with England and Germany clinging on by a goal each. It remained as such until the second half of extra time, when Manchester City forward Chloe Kelly managed to slot the ball into the net in the 110th minute. Kelly’s goal proved to be the game-winner, handing England the title; it was the first trophy that either English soccer team had won in decades, allowing football to come home at last.

Though the win generated a fair amount of publicity and praise from other athletes and public figures, many fans cannot recognize Kelly’s name or face just a few months after. Why is the game-winner for the final of a major continental tournament being viewed with such little importance?

I was in fourth grade when I fell in love with watching professional soccer. As an avid soccer player and fan in a family that didn’t share the same obsession, I obsessed over the schedules of sports channels—back when cable was still a thing—in search of both men’s and women’s games. Later on, the 2014 World Cup in Brazil only got me more hooked. But as I interacted more and more with other soccer fans both in-person and on social media, I started to notice intense prejudice and a lack of respect towards the beautiful game’s women fans and stars.

In search of a soccer community at my elementary school, I tried to befriend a group of boys in my grade who frequently wore club jerseys and always scrimmaged at recess. Though I followed many of the same teams they did, I felt out of place in their male-dominated circle and sensed that my love for the sport wasn’t taken seriously––at least, not as seriously as theirs. They asked me to list players from different teams to prove that I was a real fan of the game; ironically, I doubt whether they could have named a single player from any of the women’s teams I watched. Their conversations assumed the sport is essentially male. Eventually, hanging around them became tiring, and I withdrew. As I then lacked any sort of like-minded fan community, I watched professional soccer less and less frequently.
I noticed this kind of misogynistic sentiment—that nobody cares about women’s soccer, or that it’s not worth watching––persist throughout my years as a fan. This mindset reveals itself in the comment sections of popular soccer news sites and social media. When Bleacher Report Football tweeted about Alexia Putellas winning the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year Award, many of the comments dismissed the athletic skill of female soccer players, sexualized them, or discussed male soccer players instead. “Who?”, “I don’t care,” and “They celebrate women’s trophies now?”, various netizens wrote. Similar comments can be found under any post about female players, reinforcing the same message: People don’t and shouldn’t care about women’s soccer.

Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

‘Bee and Puppycat: Lazy in Space’ is a heart-warming, intergalactic delight

by Eliza Lee on

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Think of the adorable character design of Kiki’s Delivery Service, the magical hero transformations of Sailor Moon, off-beat comedic dialogue, and intergalactic space fighting. At first glance, these features may appear to be an unlikely combination. Unifying these features into one season of television might seem ill-advised, if not impossible. But, Bee and Puppycat: Lazy in Space proves both of these assumptions wrong. The Netflix show, released on Sept. 6, is a reboot of a 2013 Cartoon Hangover web series with the same name from creator Natasha Allegri. Like its predecessor, the show tells a complex story of fantasy, friendship, and community, with a heartfelt touch.

Bee and Puppycat follows Bee, a seemingly average woman who lives a peaceful life on The Island. Her world is turned upside down when a strange cat-like animal falls from the sky and into her arms, communicating with her in only robotic gibberish. At the insistence of her newfound friend, ‘Puppycat,’ the pair accept jobs at an intergalactic temporary work agency. In each episode, they are assigned an odd job on a remote planet, from baking magic, crystal-encrusted donuts to cleaning a giant celestial toilet. But as they settle into a life together, mysterious forces from Puppycat’s past begin appearing on their missions and threaten to uproot everything he and Bee have created. 

One of the most compelling aspects of the show is the easygoing atmosphere of Bee and Puppycat’s world. Because of their flexible employment situation, the pair spend their days on The Island pursuing pleasure over productivity. The two friends go to the beach, binge-watch TV, and rack up in-app purchases in a mobile phone game. As a result, the show dwells on—and often finds humour in—the mundane aspects of everyday life. A good example can be found in the fourth episode ‘Gentle Touch’: 30 seconds of the 25-minute episode exclusively feature Puppycat trying to pick broccoli out of his teeth. Even the unhurried manner Bee speaks in and the lo-fi soundtrack that underscores much of the show reflect its calming overall mood. These creative choices cast the world in a wholesome light and make for a relaxing watch. 

A key element in creating this heart-warming tone is Bee and Puppycat’s friendship. The protagonists are opposites in many ways: Bee is caring and affectionate but procrastinates on important tasks, while Puppycat is selfish but has a no-nonsense attitude toward his work. This contrast sparks many humorous, petty arguments between the pair throughout the season, but it also encourages each character to step out of their comfort zone. Guided by Bee’s loyalty and compassion, they offer to weed a community garden for their landlord. After a practical pep talk from Puppycat, Bee faces her fear of water and goes for a swim in the ocean. Because of the endearing dynamic of their friendship, every moment they are on-screen together is both fun and heartfelt.

Not only is Bee and Puppycat entertaining, but it’s also visually impressive. While the smooth line art style remains essentially unchanged from the original series, the colour art of the Netflix iteration is noticeably more detailed. The show’s animation is most radiant when capturing landscapes. Whether it’s a crystalline, torus-shaped, turquoise planet in ‘What Do You Want To Be?’, a sleepy forest on an autumn morning in ‘Snow and Violets,’ or glimmering arcade lights in ‘Did You Remember,’ each scene is portrayed in a vibrant, captivating shine. 

Though at first glance the series may seem disjointed because of its genre-blurring qualities, the show balances elements of comedy, slice-of-life, and magical girl anime handily. With a soothing ambience, lovable protagonists, and stunning animation, watching Bee and Puppycat is like gazing into the night sky: Peaceful, contemplative, and uplifting.

The first season of Bee and Puppycat: Lazy in Space is streaming now on Netflix.

McGill, News

Midnight Kitchen re-launches free meal program after COVID-19 hiatus

by Shani Laskin on

More in McGill:

Midnight Kitchen re-launched its free prepared meal program on Sept. 15 after being forced to suspend its services for over two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program provides 50 vegan and nut-free meals, distributed every second week, out of the University Centre cafeteria, located on the second floor. 

Midnight Kitchen is a volunteer-run collective that aims to increase accessibility to healthy food in the McGill community. The collective is explicitly anti-capitalist and centres its work around the values of intersectionality, sustainability, non-hierarchical organization, and anti-oppression. They are a service of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU). 

In an interview with The McGill Tribune, Nat Alexander, a Midnight Kitchen program coordinator, elaborated on the mission of the free lunch program.

“The free prepared meal program helps combat food insecurity, and also provides an alternative to the corporate food providers on campus,” Alexander said. “We are able to provide lunch for people who maybe can’t afford it because of rising prices, and we also make our food vegan and nut-free to try to be as accessible to as many people as possible.”

The collective conducted a test run of the program in August prior to its official reopening. Alexander explained that, while the trial was successful, the collective realized that they do not have enough resources to meet high community demand.

“There [are] always more people than we can provide for,” Alexander said. “That is the nature of working and combatting food insecurity because there are more people in Montreal that are experiencing food insecurity than our small organization can handle. There was a great turnout. A lot of people, a lot of happy faces.”

Amalia Baike, U3 Science, explained in an interview with the Tribune that as a vegan student, they are glad to have an organization offering meals that are accommodating to their dietary restrictions. 

“I think Midnight Kitchen is a wonderful and important entity on McGill campus,” Baike said. “The impact of this is immeasurable [….] Midnight Kitchen fills a void on campus for vegan students like me. I really hope they are able to expand operations to serve food more frequently.”

While the free lunch program was shut down during the pandemic, Alexander explained that the collective continued to provide other services to the community.

“In the early days of the pandemic, we organized a system to deliver the food to people’s houses, which was unprecedented,” Alexander said. “We were delivering 500 grocery bags to 100 different families. We also prepared meals for students who were in quarantine. Then we also had a grocery gift card program when our food bank program was no longer sustainable.”

As a SSMU-affiliated organization, Midnight Kitchen is funded by student fees which allows the collective to offer free meals. SSMU vice-president External Val Masny reiterated the importance of Midnight Kitchen in an email to the Tribune.

“Midnight Kitchen’s re-launch was evidently a big success,” Masny wrote. “The University Centre’s cafeteria was filled with students accessing the service. Especially with inflation rising, and with it the cost of food, providing nutritious free meals to students is more necessary [than ever]. Midnight Kitchen’s team is dedicated and already looking at ways they can improve their service. As a student, it’s definitely worth checking out.”

Midnight Kitchen’s next service will be on Sept. 29 at 1 p.m. on the second floor of the University Centre. To stay updated on the collective’s events, refer to the calendar on their website.

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