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News, The Tribune Explains

Tribune Explains: The search for McGill’s new Principal

by Juliet Morrison and Shani Laskin on

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During a media roundtable on Aug. 24, Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) Fabrice Labeau answered questions about the changing leadership at McGill ahead of Principal and Vice-Chancellor Suzanne Fortier’s departure on Sept. 6. //The McGill Tribune// asked all the burning questions about the responsibilities of this crucial campus figure. 

What is the role of the Principal and Vice-Chancellor? 

As the chief executive officer of McGill, the Principal serves as the university’s representative to external bodies such as research boards and global forums. They also work to improve and maintain the university’s status as a leading research institution by directing McGill’s operations and finances. The Principal holds seats on McGill’s Board of Governors (BoG) and Senate. Every Principal serves a five-year term with the possibility of renewal at the end of their first term. In their role as Vice-Chancellor, they also serve as the deputy to the Chancellor, taking on some of their duties such as presiding over convocation and representing the university at official events. 

During her tenure, Fortier’s priorities included providing all students with a stimulating education, supporting research, creating and upholding community relationships, building a healthy workplace environment for staff members, and transforming the campus into a safer and more sustainable environment. To achieve these goals, Fortier launched projects such as SKILLS21, My Healthy Workplace, and the Sustainability Sciences and Technologies Initiative. 

Who will take over the duties of the Principal once Suzanne Fortier leaves?

Current Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Christopher Manfredi will serve as Interim Principal and Vice-Chancellor while Deputy Provost Labeau and Associate Provost (Equity and Academic Policies) Angela Campbell share some provostial duties. 

This arrangement will last until a new Principal is appointed by the BoG based on nominees recommended by the Advisory Committee for the Selection of the Principal and Vice-Chancellor, which was formed in March. Despite the personnel changes, Labeau stressed that the university will continue to run smoothly.

“All [of our initiatives] will continue without being interrupted,” Labeau said. “The fact that our Principal is currently stepping down and there will be another Principal in a few months doesn’t mean that everything in this university stops. We will basically continue what we are doing.”

What is the Advisory Committee and who are the members?

The Advisory Committee is in charge of finding and nominating candidates for Principal to the BoG. It is composed of 14 members led by the Chair, Maryse Bertrand, and Chancellor John McCall MacBain. The remaining 12 members were either appointed or elected by different university stakeholders, including the BoG, the Senate, the McGill Alumni Association (MAA), the McGill Association of University Teachers (MAUT), the administrative and support staff, and student associations. In addition, the committee includes a Secretary and two Search Consultants from the executive search firm Perrett Laver. 

What is the Advisory Committee looking for in a candidate? 

The Advisory Committee has several criteria guiding its search, such as experience with directing institutional change and the “ability to ensure the financial sustainability of a large and complex organization.” According to Labeau, these criteria exist to ensure the candidate can fulfill McGill’s institutional priorities, including elevating its stance as a global leader and maintaining positive relationships with the Government of Quebec. 

When will a new Principal be named? 

Though timelines may vary, Labeau anticipates the search to be completed within the next couple of months. He said, however, that the McGill community should expect to live with uncertainty surrounding the process; the committee’s proceedings are confidential and a new Principal may not be able to start right away. 

“The variability that comes from this is that, once this committee has a recommendation for the Board [of Governors] and a preferred candidate is identified, it may take a while before this person can actually start up,” Labeau said. “Or it may happen right away, depending on the circumstances of the [appointed candidate such as] where they are from, where they are employed, et cetera.” 

Recipes, Student Life

Summertime snacking: Recipes to keep you cool through the summer

by Mahnoor Chaudhry on

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With sweltering heatwaves and sky-rocketing summer temperatures, cool and refreshing snacks have become a necessity. Luckily, the Tribune has compiled a list of must-try fruity recipes before we wave goodbye to the Montreal summer. 

  1. The one that invigorates — The simple fruit salad

There’s nothing more energizing than a fresh fruit bowl in the summer. This is one of the easiest dishes to put together for those crunched for time, as it only involves cutting and assembling. For this fruit salad, you will need:

  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • ½ tbsp brown sugar
  • ½ cup pineapple, cubed
  • ½ cup strawberries, sliced
  • 1 kiwi, peeled and sliced
  • 1 banana, sliced
  • ½ cup oranges, peeled and sectioned
  • ½ cup blueberries
  • Some grated orange zest for additional flavour

Put all the sliced fruit in a large bowl and add the lemon juice and brown sugar to it. Toss the salad to combine the ingredients and let it sit in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to cool. Mix well before serving and enjoy!

  1. The one that cools down — Watermelon popsicles 

Popsicles are the way to go for those hot summer afternoons that never seem to end. The watermelon popsicle is a favourite due to the extra coolness added by the fruit. The ingredients needed for this recipe are:

  • 3 ½ cups cubed, seedless watermelon 
  • 2 ½ tbsp granulated sugar 
  • ½ tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ cup canned coconut milk, well shaken
  • 6 medium-sized kiwis 
  • ½ tbsp mini chocolate chips
  • Popsicle moulds 
  • Blender 

Blend the watermelon, 1 tbsp sugar, and lemon juice until well pureed. Remove the foam and pour the remaining puree into popsicle moulds until they are two-thirds full. Add the chocolate chips to the mould and push them down with the popsicle sticks so they are visible once frozen. Insert the popsicle sticks and let them sit in the freezer for about three and a half hours. 

While you’re waiting, whisk the coconut milk with ½ tbsp sugar until the sugar dissolves and put it in the refrigerator for half an hour. If the consistency is too thick to pour, you can add in a couple of tablespoons of cold water to thin it out. 

Once cooled, add a tablespoon of the coconut milk mixture to each popsicle and put them back in the freezer for another 45 minutes. 

Meanwhile, scoop the flesh from the kiwis and blend with 1 tbsp sugar until well pureed. Put the mixture through a strainer to remove seeds and chill it for half an hour. Once cooled, add a tablespoon of this mixture to each popsicle and let them sit in the freezer until solid (about two to three hours).

Remove popsicles (using warm water over the moulds is the easiest way to go) and serve!

  1. The one that delights — Frozen Banana Bites

If you’re someone who often craves something sweet but in small amounts, these bites are the perfect snack for you! All you will need is:

  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 4 bananas, sliced into 1-inch rounds
  • 1 oz semisweet chocolate
  • ⅓ cup toffee baking bits
  • Wax paper

Start by placing the wax paper on a baking sheet and spreading the banana rounds on it. Thinly layer each banana with some peanut butter, put a toothpick through them, and place the baking sheet into the freezer for 30 minutes (or overnight). 

Melt the chocolate in a bowl over simmering water, making sure it doesn’t scorch or form clumps by constantly stirring it. Take the bites out of the freezer and coat each one in chocolate, sprinkle with the toffee bits and place them back in the freezer to let them set—it will take at least an hour before you can serve them. 

You can also store them in the freezer to eat later—just be sure to let them sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before you do. And voilà, you have homemade dessert bites for your sweet tooth cravings over the summer! 

Soccer, Sports

Montrealer Noah Eisenberg continues his soccer journey across Europe

by Karan Kumar on

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Montrealers are known to be international go-getters—whether it be through academics, sports, or the arts. From Leonard Cohen to Georges Saint-Pierre, the city has a variety of talented individuals to showcase to the world, even in the world of pro sports. The Tribune sat down with Montrealer Noah Eisenberg, a pro soccer player who has been competing in top European Leagues since 2018.

Apart from being a pro athlete, Eisenberg has recently entered the area of sports entrepreneurship where his platform FINDME connects soccer scouts across North America with talented youth in Montreal.

“[Soccer showcase platforms] are a massive business in the United States, but in Canada they have only touched the surface, ” said Eisenberg. “My platform was not just a random game where coaches watch and leave. It was more of a camp setting, there was an actual intimacy between coaches and players.” 

For the successful launch of the FINDME showcase, Eisenberg leveraged his networks in the worlds of pro and college soccer. The platform included scouts from teams in the United Soccer League (USL) and CPL. Teams such as Toronto FC, Detroit City, Halifax Wanderers, and over 20 Division I schools such as Harvard, Dartmouth, and Stetson were part of Eisenberg’s showcase. In the coming months, Eisenberg plans to host showcases in the city for women soccer players interested in competing in pro soccer leagues across North America and Europe.

Eisenberg believes that aspiring young Canadian soccer players of all genders should get equal opportunity in showcasing their talent to play in the pro sports world. He recommends discipline, training hard, and being realistic about one’s goals. 

As for Eisenberg, the central attacking midfielder is yet again starting down a new path on his European soccer journey. The 24-year-old Canadian, known for his ball control and positional play, has continued in the first division of the Gibraltar League, moving from Europa Point FC to College 1975 FC in the January 2022 transfer window.

But the transition to College 1975 FC, a superior club in the domestic league, was not a smooth one. During the 2021-22 season, College 1975 FC hired a Spanish-speaking manager and the language barrier made it difficult for Eisenberg to communicate his thoughts as a player.

As a result, Eisenberg felt he didn’t organically fit in the first team of the club and struggled to communicate his presence in training sessions in order to get selected for domestic league matches. 

However, given the challenging training environment at College Point FC, Eisenberg sees his stint in the club as a valuable learning experience that improved his abilities as a player. The coach valued him, and as result he learnt a lot in the training sessions.

One of Eisenberg’s favourite memories in the Gibraltar League is the encouragement and motivation he received from his former coach in Europa Point FC. 

“The [coach] gave me an amazing evaluation letter,” said Eisenberg. “He was the ex-manager of Real Madrid’s reserves. [It feels really good] when someone of that calibre values me as a player and rates me and tells me I am doing something right.”

Eisenberg plans to build on the lessons learned in the Gibraltar League, and wants to remain in Europe unless a rewarding opportunity presents itself in the Canadian Premier League (CPL) or Major League Soccer. Currently a free agent, he is exploring options in Israel, Ireland, and Malta to continue this adventure in European soccer.

In order to evolve as a player and stand a chance of being selected for the Canadian Men’s National Team, Eisenberg acknowledges the need to further his own exposure to different styles of play in European soccer. The ongoing uncertainty surrounding immigration due to COVID-19 has complicated his plans, but he hopes to navigate these obstacles with cautious optimism.

McGill, News, SSMU

McGill student sues university, SPHR McGill and SSMU with support of B’nai Brith

by Madison Edward-Wright on

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Jewish service organization B’nai Brith Canada announced on July 27 that it will back a lawsuit filed against McGill University, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU), and Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights McGill (SPHR) for “participating in creating an antisemitic environment.” The lawsuit, filed by Jonah Fried, U3 Arts, claims that attempts to implement the Palestine Solidarity Policy not only contradict McGill’s Memorandum of Agreement with SSMU, but also violates SSMU’s own constitution. 

Fried, the plaintiff, officially filed the lawsuit on July 22 in the civil division of the Superior Court of Quebec. He is receiving financial support exclusively from B’nai Brith’s Legal Defense Fund though he declined to clarify whether his attorney, Michael Bergman, is associated with the organization. In an email to The McGill Tribune, Fried claimed that McGill failed to properly address the “discriminatory” Palestine Solidarity Policy.

“We [Fried and B’nai Brith] are suing because McGill’s administration is not enforcing its anti-hate policies—which the Palestine motion violates—allowing antisemitism to fester,” Fried wrote. “We want to show all Canadian universities that, with the help of B’nai Brith Canada, the Jewish community will not stand for this any longer.”

Fried also said that “Jewish students need to see that they are not alone, and that there are legal resources available to challenge antisemitic prejudice.”

Riley* and Blake*, two representatives from SPHR McGill, told the Tribune in an interview that SPHR has yet to gain access to a copy of the lawsuit; the plaintiff has not sent the group a copy and, despite the lawsuit being part of the public record, an electronic version of the document has not been made available online. In fact, SPHR members only learned of the lawsuit after it was reported on by several media outlets. 

“We do not have more details than what the press has released,” Riley said. “We do not even know if [Fried] is actually going to go through with it [….] We have not looked into [obtaining a lawyer] yet because we do not know what we are faced with […] but so far we have been offered legal support.”

The lawsuit did not come as a surprise to Riley and Blake, however, as they explained that backlash against pro-Palestinian activists is commonplace. 

Blake shared that SPHR has received lots of support from organizations outside the McGill community. This support extends from the willingness to provide legal aid to requests for interviews about the struggles Palestinian students have dealt with on and off campus. Media organizations and non-profits have also asked for resources that provide in-depth information about the injustices Palestinian people and their supporters face. 

One organization that has openly and proudly supported SPHR and the larger Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement is the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute (CFPI). On July 14, CFPI hosted a virtual rally, during which it invited members from SPHR McGill to share their stories about pro-Palestinian advocacy and the attacks they have faced—such as having personal information posted on the pro-Israel watchdog website Canary Mission—as a result of such work. 

In an interview with the Tribune, Yves Engler, board member and fellow of CFPI, explained that the webinar was preceded by the publication of a letter in support of the Palestine Solidarity Policy signed by CFPI, Just Peace Advocates, and Roger Waters, among others. According to Engler, the rally was not only about supporting students, but also showing organizations like B’nai Brith, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, and the McGill administration that they cannot suppress the will of the student body without facing external backlash.

“There needs to be pushback against the hard, aggressive, outside lobbying of these anti-Palestinian, pro-apartheid organizations,” Engler said. “It is important that B’nai Brith and these other bullies do not get their way.”

Engler, along with representatives from SPHR, expressed confusion over why Fried filed his lawsuit, since the Palestine Solidarity Policy was ultimately abandoned by  SSMU. Richard Gold, a law professor at McGill, explained in an email to the Tribune that the basis of the lawsuit is unclear. He pointed to the passing of Bill 32 earlier this year, which protects an individual’s right to freely participate in discussions and debates on campus without being persecuted for their “doctrinal, ideological, and moral” beliefs. 

“Whether one agrees or not with the substance of the referendum […] you cannot sue because someone tried to run a referendum that never had any effect,” Gold wrote. “I see no obvious legal basis for the claim against McGill and the student organizations, [it] would seem to run against Quebec’s Bill 32.”

Riley and Blake questioned whether other Jewish students at McGill felt the same as Fried. Both SPHR members clarified that they do not consider themselves to be antisemites and explained that their pro-Palestinian activism is only ever geared toward raising awareness about the killing of innocent Palestinians, not spreading hate. 

Hillel McGill told the Tribune in a written statement that it took issue with the Palestine Solidarity Policy, but relied on the mechanisms in place at McGill and within SSMU to address their concerns. The student group clarified, however, that it is not opposed to the lawsuit.

“This is one individual’s approach, his way of doing things, and that is his right,” the statement read. “At Hillel we are committed to working with students on the ground to build bridges, fight antisemitism and work to affect change ensuring everyone can enjoy a good campus life [….] That is why it was so important for us to participate in in the process that led to McGill’s Initiative Against Islamophobia and Antisemitism.”

Some, on the other hand, such as Liam*, BA’ 20 and former member of Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) McGill, find Fried’s claims of antisemitism brought on by the Palestine Solidarity Policy to be unfounded. IJV is a Canadian Jewish organization that bases itself on the principle that supporting the pro-Palestine movement does not make one antisemitic. As a member of the Montreal chapter, Liam expressed dismay at Fried’s decision to go to court in an email to the Tribune. 

“There is a difference between being uncomfortable and unsafe, and university is supposed to be a place where you can be exposed to a diversity of opinions,” Liam wrote. “Given the serious incidents of antisemitism that have happened around the world in past few years, the focus should be on combatting actual antisemitism. Attempting to stifle students’ free speech criticizing Israel’s policies by claiming that it’s antisemitic is not going to make a safer environment for Jewish students.”

Liam’s position on the lawsuit, as well as those of Engler, Riley, and Blake, is not shared by McGill. As demonstrated by its threat to terminate its Memorandum of Agreement with SSMU, the McGill administration felt that the Palestine Solidarity Policy sowed further divisions on campus. Claire Loewen, a McGill media relations officer, detailed in an email to the Tribune that McGill attempted to rectify the division caused by the referendum question by creating the Initiative against Islamophobia and Antisemitism (IAIAS). 

“The Final Report of the IAIAS contains a series of bold and concrete recommended actions that we will implement over the coming years. The University will act on each of these recommendations immediately to enhance inclusion and belonging for Muslim and Jewish members of our university community,” Loewen wrote. “Our diverse identities are not only accepted at McGill but honoured and celebrated; no one should ever feel that they must hide who they are to feel that they belong on our campuses.”

As of yet, no date has been set for when the lawsuit will be heard in court. SSMU did not respond to the Tribune’s request for comment and the McGill administration declined to directly address the lawsuit. 

*Riley’s, Blake’s, and Liam’s names have been changed to preserve their anonymity.

Student Life, Word on the Y

Word on the Y: Migrating to Montreal

by Abby McCormick on

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With the end of August fast approaching, thousands of incoming first-year students are preparing to begin their studies at McGill and, for many, their new lives in Montreal. While this period of transition can be daunting, upper-year students have been through the same thing: Facing the struggles of missing home, making new friends, and adjusting to the city. The Tribune gathered some of these students’ best advice on how to ease the transition of moving to Montreal.

Being in Montreal alone for the first four weeks was simultaneously the best and worst weeks of my life. It was the first time I had spent more than a few days away from my family members, and the friends I had from high school that were also at McGill seemed to be moving on without me. However, I started to notice a change around one to two weeks before Thanksgiving, as I ended up joining an intramural frisbee team with some people I had started getting close to. To my surprise, I not only got closer with those people but also with the same high school friends I once thought were going to “leave” me. To me, moving away from home allowed me the space to be able to find out who I am and enter a sort of “personal metamorphosis,” if you will. The relationships I forged are the best I have ever had, and my personal acceptance and happiness have grown so much from what they used to be.

— Amanda Klunowski, U1 Arts

Deferring my application and starting my academic year during the winter was a challenge! From friend groups already being formed to the harsh snow, it was not easy. However, getting involved in classes and finding people that have similar interests to me made the process way smoother. Moving from Brazil to Canada, and experiencing the snow was so fun—like a movie! I usually get annoyed with the snow, but [it’s] nothing that a good winter jacket can’t fix! Don’t forget the snow boots, otherwise, your feet will become so wet. In order to make friends, I would recommend participating in class or at least sitting next to someone who seems interesting. I made good friends from small talk. Another thing about Montreal that I love is that I never get bored. From clubs and bars to thrift stores and little cafés, there’s something for everyone.

— Julia Gaspar, U1 Arts

I was shocked by how quickly everything moves. Not only classes, but your interests, the people you meet, and your perspectives. It’s a pretty big adjustment at first, but once you figure out what works for you and find the people who feel like home, things slowly start to fall into place.

— Ellie Mota, U1 Arts

I had a pretty different but good experience moving to Montreal for my first year. Around two weeks before school started I was able to move into an apartment with my older sister who also attends McGill. Being able to stay with her this school year, especially at the very start, really allowed me to feel comfortable adjusting to the new city since it was my first time moving away from home. As someone who stayed off campus, I wasn’t able to make friends right away through residence, however, I ended up meeting so many great people in my classes. I think my first year was an awesome experience getting to meet so many different people, making friends, exploring the city, focusing on academics and experiencing independence for the first time in my life.

— Sadie Wang, U1 Science

Montreal was a very new and cool city compared to where I lived most of my life! With so many things to do within walking distance, I definitely can see why it’s ranked quite highly as a student city. I’ve felt pretty safe walking alone at night since the first day here, and overall, the location is one of the big reasons why I am super happy that I chose this university. It was a newer experience putting myself out there because I never left my little group in high school but everyone I met was super friendly. If I could go back in time I would have told myself to stress less about meeting people, and instead look forward to fun experiences. Welcome and best of luck with your arrival to McGill!

— K.R Sun, U1 Science

Out on the Town, Student Life

Auprès de ma blonde falls short on Mediterranean delights

by Harry North on

More in Out on the Town:

Score: 1/5 stars
Price: $$

For those who aren’t familiar with it, Mediterranean cuisine is a complex term. I mostly think of it as Greek––and while Greek food is Mediterranean, not all Mediterranean food is Greek. There’s a big slice from Turkey, the South of Italy, France, North Africa, and the Levant, too.

I’d been meaning to find a good Mediterranean spot in Montreal when I came across Auprès de ma blonde on St. Denis. It looked like a sliver of the Cretan coastline, with its sunshades and rustic bistro chairs on the front terrasse, so I stopped by.

It was one of those unbearably hot and humid days. That’s the thing about Canada actually: Everyone talks about the winters, but no one mentions the summers—they make you sweat like Prince Andrew in Café Campus. Sweltering, I went inside and sat by the window, as it was too hot to sit outside on the terrasse. There was another outside area at the back too, which was less run-down than the front, but again, it was too bloody hot.

For a late lunch on a Saturday, the inside dining room offered the same warm and welcoming hospitality as a shabby casino in Paphos. It had this eerie light brown colour scheme, and not the trendy kind in pricey Scandinavian furniture stores, but the unpolished, decrepit kind Legault has in his living room. The chairs were out of an 1980s Hilton and were in desperate need of a pension—and a Hoover. But the art on the walls took the cake. Utterly, utterly bizarre. One was of a sullen witch sitting behind a steering wheel—the sort of painting I imagine Marjorie Taylor Greene would cheer “girl power” to.

(Harry North / The McGill Tribune)

A selection of mains

Beef burger wth Tzatziki, feta, salad – $16

Couscous (vegetarian, lamb, chicken) – $13- $24

Fish and chips – $19

Souvlaki pita (chicken, pork, vegetarian) – $7.50

Steak and chips  – $24

The menu was reasonably priced and fairly expansive. To start, I got the soup of the day, which the waitress described as a “mushroom herb soup.” What arrived was a puddle in an ashtray. Grey as it was gloomy, with herbs floating on the surface like life jackets, doused in resolve, without the faintest idea how they’d be getting out of this alive. 

Through the surprising thickness, I managed to make out a mushroomy flavour. It had the same pizzazz as a SSMU email. Oh, and just in case my eyes and taste buds were deceiving me, I could see my live reactions by the mouthful in the soup’s reflection: A fierce grimace followed by a look of despair as I pondered how I’d stomach the next.

(Harry North / The McGill Tribune)

For a main, I was swayed by the half page of burgers over the fish, and opted for a beef burger with tzatziki, salad, and fries on the side––hold the feta. 

Burgers are best when they’re simple and made with fresh ingredients. And to its credit, this burger was simple. It didn’t collapse and the bun was lightly toasted. The patty, though, had been left in the freezer long past its bedtime. Not vile, but far, far worse: Dry, insipid, stomach-tickling in a bad way, clinging to the back of my mouth like a new astringent L’Oréal exfoliating cream. Then there was the tzatziki, which was bitter to the point of being outright hostile. I didn’t blame it, though. I felt the same. 

The fries on the side were Mediterranean-style, too—medium thickness and sprinkled with herbs. Most of them needed Viagra, poor sods. There was the side salad as well but by that point my stomach was aching and my patience withering. 

Tell me, how does Auprès de ma blonde make money? If you have to be a local retiree to return, how does it stay in business? I’ve spoken to a number of restaurants in the Plateau recently, and inflation is biting and margins are slimming. My sneaky suspicion is that they aren’t making money and that their days are numbered. My other sneaky suspicion is gigolos come here to play board games, but that’s more of a gut feel than anything else. 

Places nearby to try instead:

Auprès de ma blonde

3845 rue St. Denis  (25 minutes walk from McGill’s downtown campus)

Read more of Harry North’s restaurant reviews on Instagram: @roasting_reviews

Commentary, Opinion

We need to change how we talk about abortion

by Valentina de la Borbolla on

More in Commentary:

CW: discussion of reproductive violence, racism, violence towards Indigenous people

It has been over one month since the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the constitutional right to an abortion. Since then, the abortion debate is the loudest it’s been since the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling: Anti-abortion activists are revelling in the decision while pro-choice supporters are mobilizing to protect whatever is left of safe reproductive care in the U.S. 

This hands-on battle, however, is tainted with racist, transphobic, and exclusive language. Approaching the abortion ban as solely a women’s issue reflects a narrow understanding of the ongoing struggle against reproductive injustice, often faced by people of marginalized gender identities. How we talk about abortion matters, and the way the abortion debate is unfolding in the U.S. should serve as a warning to pro-choice supporters in Canada for how not to go about their advocacy. 

Discussions around abortion often focus exclusively on womanhood and assumes that all women are cisgender and that only they need abortions. This is both incorrect and exclusionary. Womanhood, or gender more broadly, is not dependent on reproductive organs, and an insistence on making the abortion debate about womanhood misrepresents the realities of pregnancy across the gender spectrum. 

The language we use shapes how we understand an issue, how we mobilize around it, and eventually, how we write policy. If officials writing reproductive care policy only focus on women, their efforts will inevitably neglect the health care needs of queer and trans people. Obsessions over the so-called erasure of women echo the rhetoric of mainstream feminism from the 1970s that actively excluded Black, Latine, Indigenous, and queer people from discussions about their rights to bodily autonomy. The irony! 

White feminism also manifests itself in the public discourse that says restricting abortion access is a step back in time. Quebec Premier François Legault echoed this sentiment when he stated that the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade was a “sad setback”. Despite the seemingly unprecedented panic raised by white feminists, restrictive and oppressive control of bodily autonomy and reproductive rights is not a thing of the past. Many Black and Indigenous people have not been granted a “choice” when it comes to family planning. The recent discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves of Indigenous children in residential schools, the forced sterilization of Black and Indigenous people, and the racist medical abuse in the name of “experimentation” on Black people by white doctors is proof of it. A linear understanding of reproductive rights is perhaps accurate for white cisgender women but not for all who are affected by anti-abortion legislation. 

The way the abortion debate is unfolding in the U.S. is an opportunity for activists in Canada to reflect on and ultimately change how we talk about abortion. Feminists must center the concerns of queer, racialized, disabled, and working class individuals who will bear the disproportionate brunt of abortion bans. As much as this is a time for grief and recovery, it is also an opportunity to reshape the pro-choice movement without using the same exclusionary tactics that stripped the right to an abortion in the first place. Mainstream understandings of gender are changing and the language about abortion should reflect the work of queer activists of colour who continue to shape feminist mobilization. Benefitting from their labour and then excluding them from the conversation they helped raise will de-radicalize a movement that seeks liberation at its core. 

Playing by the rulebook of white feminism is not the answer. It is a fear-based response and a reflection of a scarcity mindset that says there is not room for everyone in activism. The sooner we embrace the power of difference, the more powerful the movement becomes.

McGill, News

Kanien’kehà:ka Kahnistensera address Pope’s visit, press for further investigation into possible graves at Royal Victoria site

by Lily Cason on

More in McGill:

The Kanien’kehà:ka Kahnistensera (Mohawk Mothers) held a joint rally and press conference on July 27 to call for the removal of the cross at the top of Mount Royal in the wake of the Pope’s arrival in Canada. The Mohawk Mothers also updated the public on their legal proceedings with McGill over the New Vic Project, which the university says will go ahead as planned. The event, hosted by the Milton Parc Citizens’ Committee (CCMP), took place by the Mordecai Richler Gazebo on the unceded Kanien’kehà:ka land of Tekanontak, or Mount Royal, and drew a crowd of roughly 50. 

Throughout the rally, several Mothers explained why they take issue with the cross on Tekanontak, which was originally erected in 1643 by British colonizers. Kahentinetha, a Mohawk Mother, added that the religious symbol serves as a reminder of the horrors that the Catholic Church has inflicted on Indigenous peoples.

“That place that it sits is one of the most important communication centres of our people,” Kahentinetha said.“Where the cross is was where we would send messages by smoke signal [….] We could send these to Mount Bruno, the Adirondack, and all the way through.”

Kwetiio, another Mohawk Mother, addressed the Pope’s visit, calling the Pope’s apology insufficient and a painful reminder of the mass suffering the Catholic Church inflicted on Indigenous people.  

“Nobody asked him to come here. I don’t want him back on my land [….] Every time that [he comes] it hurts our people more and more to think of the injustice of that entity that he represents,” Kwetiio said. “[His visit] gets more attention than the people that are here, trying to save our land and save our culture and save our people and our babies from repeated abuse.”

Kwetiio believes that for an apology to be genuine, the Pope would need to rescind the Doctrine of Discovery, which has been used to justify colonization and forced religious indoctrination since the 15th century.

“The [doctrine] needs to be rescinded and he needs to write a new plight for the people that follow him and let it be known that this land, it belongs to the Onkwehonwe children,” Kwetiio said.

The Kanien’kehà:ka Kahnistensera also provided an update on their ongoing legal battle with McGill. The Mothers are demanding a halt to construction on the New Vic Project until an Indigenous-led investigation has been conducted into concerns that there may be Indigenous children buried nearby, from the time of Dr. Donald Ewen Cameron’s brutal experiments. Kahentinetha explained that the Mothers have refused to hire a lawyer, instead representing themselves because they do not believe in the Canadian legal model. Regardless, McGill announced at a July 26 hearing that construction will go ahead in October. 

“We need help [getting answers] and we need it soon, because they want to start digging up McGill in October and they don’t have our permission. The land belongs to us, the school was built with our money, and they never asked our permission for anything,” Kahentinetha said. “I think that they are going to try to hide the evidence so that we can’t do these investigations.”

CCMP organizers delivered a statement at the rally, declaring their unwavering support for the Kanien’kehà:ka Kahnistensera, criticizing the Catholic Church and the Pope’s visit, and condemning McGill’s decision to renovate the old Royal Victoria Hospital despite community disapproval. 

“We’d also like to emphasize that this campus expansion serves no other purpose than to cover up McGill’s heinous role in the MK Ultra experiments, their ongoing contributions to the fossil fuel industry and invasions of Indigenous territory,” CCMP organizers said.

In a statement to The McGill Tribune, McGill media relations officer Frédérique Mazerolle affirmed that the university is dedicated to having a collaborative relationship with Indigenous communities. Echoing past remarks, Mazerolle stated that the university will investigate claims of unmarked graves in partnership with Indigenous communities but did not provide specifics.

“We are committed to collaborating with governments, the Société québécoise des infrastructures (SQI)—responsible for the requalification of the former Royal Victoria Hospital—and Indigenous community leadership to undertake the work necessary to investigate this concern,” Mazerolle wrote by email.

The day after the rally, Mohawk Nation News, run by Kahentinetha, announced that the Mohawk Mothers’ next court hearing with McGill is set for Oct. 26, 2022.
Those in need of support can reach out to the Montreal Indigenous Community Network by email at [email protected] or phone at 438-992-4589. A 24-hour helpline for residential school survivors and their families is available at 1-866-925-4419.

Research Briefs, Science & Technology

McGill study finds anti-inflammatory drugs may lead to chronic pain

by Cyril Kazan on

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Pain is one of the most common reasons why people seek medical attention. The most popular medications people reach for when experiencing pain are anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen—also known as Advil. But according to a new study led by Dr. Luda Diatchenko, a renowned pain researcher and professor of medicine and dentistry at McGill, these drugs may actually prevent pain resolution and promote the development of chronic pain. 

Diatchenko’s study aimed to better understand the underlying biological mechanisms associated with chronic pain development. The team of researchers recruited 98 patients with lower back pain for the study. The patients were divided into two groups: Those whose pain was resolved within three months of their first visit, and those whose pain persisted, and was therefore considered “chronic”.

To gain insight into which mechanisms are causing persistent pain, Diatchenko’s team analyzed the gene expression of the participants. Knowing which genes are differentially expressed between the two groups would allow the researchers to know what mechanisms—the researchers look at any and all mechanisms to avoid bias—are activated in one group and not the other. Diatchenko and her team hoped to find unique mechanisms that were active in the patients whose pain persisted, and that these mechanisms would therefore potentially be responsible for the development of chronic pain. 

“We expected that something was happening in the patients whose pain persisted […] but it was actually the opposite,” Diatchenko said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. 

What they found instead was a mechanism that was much more active in the group of patients whose pain resolved—and this process was inflammation. The results showed that during the phase of acute pain, up to a few days after the injury, genes associated with inflammation were more highly expressed in patients whose pain resolved, compared to patients whose pain persisted. This led to the scientists hypothesizing that inflammation during early pain stages protects against the development of chronic pain. 

The team then ran several experiments to test this new idea. They induced pain in mice and treated them with five different types of drugs. Two of them had anti-inflammatory properties while the other three only had analgesic, or pain-reducing, properties. All five drugs were effective at reducing pain in the short term. However, only the mice that were administered the anti-inflammatories developed chronic pain.  

In fact, anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, inhibit the inflammatory process, which consequently reduces pain. On the other hand, analgesic drugs with no anti-inflammatory properties, such as acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol, do not interfere with inflammation. 

The researchers’ findings suggest that inflammation following an injury allows proper healing to take place, which prevents the prolongation of pain. When people use anti-inflammatory drugs to provide relief, it interferes with this healing process. Although pain will be reduced in the short term, the development of chronic pain becomes more likely. 

“For acute pain, this study would very much suggest that Tylenol is a better idea than Advil,” said Jeffrey Mogil, a senior author of the study and E.P. Taylor Professor in Pain Studies at McGill, in an interview with the Tribune.

The final part of the study consisted of analyzing data from a large cohort of patients with acute lower back pain. Diatchenko and her team found that the biggest predictor of whether the pain would persist or be resolved was the use of anti-inflammatories.

“People who used [anti-inflammatory drugs] at acute back pain stages had a 1.7 times higher probability of having chronic pain two to 10 years later,” said Diatchenko.

Diatchenko and her team’s findings have garnered international attention, as it is the first study ever to show that anti-inflammatory drugs play a role in the development of chronic pain. However, the authors emphasize that no medical advice can be given based on this study alone as no clinical trials have been conducted yet. It is important to conduct diligent randomized controlled trials, especially when the findings of this study are challenging centuries of medical practice. 

Campus Spotlight, Student Life

Learning at lightning speed: The McGill summer student experience

by Abby McCormick on

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While many McGill students spend their summers working seasonal jobs or jet-setting around the globe, for many others, this presumed period of rest and relaxation is all but an extension of their years-long quest to earn their degree.

During three sessions in the summer months, McGill offers a vast array of summer courses across departments at both the downtown and Macdonald campuses. These courses offer a condensed alternative to semester-long courses, allowing students to earn credits quickly but more intensely.

As Clement Cai, U1 Arts, points out, this can be particularly beneficial for graduating students seeking to complete complementary or required courses and electives.

“If you’re a senior student on the verge of graduation without enough credits, then taking one or more summer courses can help you collect [credits], and give you time to [focus on] graduation,” Cai told The McGill Tribune.

With the return to in-person learning, summer courses also give McGillians the opportunity to extend their stay in Montreal and explore all that the city has to offer in the summertime. From terrasse season to studying outdoors, there are tons of memories that can be made during the Montreal summer. For Melissa Carter, U1 Arts, this was one of the biggest draws to taking a summer course this year. 

“I saw a different side of Montreal than ever before,” said Carter. “It’s beautiful during the spring and summer and there are tons of parks to explore.”

The smaller class sizes of some summer courses versus larger prerequisite courses allow students like Cai and Carter to connect with their classmates on a one-on-one basis—bonds that were difficult to create during the winter semester that largely began online.

“My sociology course had about 40 or 50 people and after being online for so long, everyone made an effort to talk to each other and form study groups,” Carter said.

These condensed courses, however, are not without their own set of challenges. The fast pace of summer classes means that they require different learning and study methods to keep up with the material and evaluations.

For Carter, staying on top of her course’s content right after lectures was key to overcoming the shorter windows between evaluations. 

“I studied what [I] learned immediately after class and then put my notes into Quizlet to make studying for the exams easier,” Carter told the Tribune.

Georgia Soumakis, U1 Arts, echoed the need for consistent studying for those who wish to stay on top of their summer studies.

“[Summer courses] can be tough because during the year you can catch up pretty easily if you fall behind,” Soumakis said. “With condensed courses, you really have to put in the time every day and stay on top of your game—there’s not really time to slack off.”

Students who are working jobs in addition to taking summer courses are faced with the further challenges of balancing work expectations with school—a balancing act that is necessary for the countless McGill students who rely on the summer to earn a full-time income. 

Soumakis’s job, along with her lingering feelings of burnout from the fall and winter semesters, were what made summer studying difficult, particularly when her final exam was approaching.

“I was working a job and an internship that all overlapped during the final week of my summer course, which made studying for the final [exam] much more challenging,” Soumakis said. “The workload definitely felt like a continuation of the school year.”

K.R. Sun, U1 Science, found that efficient and varied studying patterns were key to juggling a full-time job with the fast-paced demands of summer learning.

“I upped my work hours during the summer, but it left me with very little energy to study,” Sun told the Tribune. “I started to look for multiple resources online to learn, which helped me grasp class content better.”

Despite these challenges, Sun highly recommends summer courses to their fellow McGill students.

“You get the same knowledge, but quicker, and if you’re interested, summer provides a lot of time to do that extra reading.” 

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