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Editorial, Opinion

Quebec’s neglect of students with disabilities is undermining education and well-being

by The Tribune Editorial Board on

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Last week, Quebec school administrators informed thousands of students with disabilities that they would be experiencing a ‘break in services’ until Nov. 2026. Those breaks, the result of funding and staffing shortages that made accessibility programming reportedly infeasible, entail reduced schedules, removal from classes, and in some instances, being forced entirely into home learning. 

In June 2025, Quebec’s education ministry, at the time led by Bernard Drainville, imposed a $570 million CAD cut on lower-education institutions. Following public outcry over the budget cuts, the province later introduced a revised budgetary envelope reinstating $540 million CAD. However, the vast majority of its funds were earmarked to prevent schools from running deficits as a strategy to accumulate funding to cover critical student services, leaving schools with little flexibility to respond to accessibility needs. As reduced funding and stricter guidelines compound upon government-mandated changes to in-school policies, the result is a system in which decision-making has shifted away from the hands of educators and support staff on the ground—all to the detriment of students with disabilities. 

With budget cuts rising, the number of students with disabilities experiencing a break in services—3,417 students in 2025—will only continue to climb. As a result, families and communities are forced to take on the duty of homeschooling their children or outsource their educational needs to the private sector. 

Relying on families to take time away from their jobs to act as their children’s educators not only poses risks to the quality of education received by students with disabilities but also fails to fill the critical role schools play in child development. Schools are sites of socialization, interaction with other students, physical education, and civic training. Support staff may provide speech therapy, psychological assessments, and occupational therapy, roles that untrained family members cannot replace at home.

Breaks in services also deepen long-term inequities for students with disabilities. Extended absences from school make reentry into educational spaces more difficult, and for those fortunate enough not to have been forced to leave school, insufficient programming under tightened budgets still poses immense risks, such as exclusion from academics and extracurriculars, higher rates of suspension and expulsion, and lower graduation rates. 

Inequities produced by a budget design that neglects students with disabilities do not simply disappear as students reach the post-secondary level. Instead, these gaps heighten universities’ responsibility to invest in robust systems that treat accessibility as foundational to education. 

In June 2025, the Quebec government maintained its 33 per cent tuition hike for out-of-province and international students in the higher education system, despite a Superior Court ruling requiring the province to abandon this tuition structure. For institutions like McGill, increasing barriers to entry for students from outside Quebec have deepened financial deficits, leading to severe staff and budget cuts.

Laying off nearly 100 faculty and staff in March 2025 and cutting 25 varsity and club sports programs in December, McGill has taken drastic action to address its budget deficit—reductions the university cannot sustain. While provincial policy has created substantial financial pressures, McGill has a responsibility to ensure that accessibility and student well-being are not treated as expendable in the face of tuition hikes and declining international student enrollment. 

With McGill’s Student Accessibility and Achievement Centre requiring a doctor’s note to receive accommodations and remaining infamous for its unprofessional treatment of students, the same accessibility failures seen in Quebec’s primary and secondary school system are reproduced at the university level. 

When institutions like McGill offer insufficient or inaccessible support, these failures cannot be dismissed as mere byproducts of provincial underfunding. Rather, McGill’s failure to counteract the barriers created by provincial policy constitutes institutional negligence. 

Accessibility must not be contingent on documentation nor rationed through administrative scarcity; it should be enshrined as a fundamental component of students with disabilities’ right to education. Provincial underfunding does not absolve McGill of responsibility—it heightens it.

Chill Thrills, Out on the Town, Student Life

Igloofest: A first-timer’s guide to Montreal’s most iconic festival

by Talia Moskowitz on

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It’s that time of year when Montrealers make their annual pilgrimage to the Old Port. Dressed to the nines in their warmest puffer jackets, snow pants, and hats, these party people are heading to Igloofest, one of the city’s most iconic music festivals. This year, Igloofest runs from Jan. 15 to Feb. 7, featuring some freezing cold nights and incredible DJ sets. 

Igloofest is an essential rite of passage for McGill students. To help first-timers prepare for the festival, The Tribune has compiled a guide of everything you need to know before embarking on this snowy adventure.

Dress (warmly) to impress

First, and most importantly, prepare for the cold! Wear thermal underwear, snow pants, warm socks, and layers on top. Bringing air-activated or electric hand warmers will help, especially when waiting in line to enter the venue. If you aren’t dressed properly, you’re bound to feel like an icicle by the time you get past security. That being said, have some fun with what you wear! Bright colours, fur, and ski goggles are easy and creative ways to add a touch of style to your outfit. Igloofest is completely unique from other nights out in the Montreal winter: A puffer jacket is part of your ensemble, and no coat check is necessary! The usual heeled boots, button-down shirts, and black tops can take a night off.

Plan ahead: Get there early for a good spot

The crowd will fill up fast, so plan ahead and arrive early for a spot close to the stage. Though taking an Uber may be most convenient, prices will be through the roof as demand for lift services is very high. Instead, opt for public transportation for a cheaper way to travel. Igloofest takes place at the Jacques-Cartier Pier, which is accessible from the Champ-de-Mars Metro station on the Orange line. Alternatively, take the 50 bus from the des Pins/du Docteur-Penfield stop all the way downtown to the Jacques-Cartier stop. Then the venue is just a few steps away!

Stay with a buddy, keep track of your friends

For a first timer, the Igloofest crowds can be overwhelming and chaotic. Use the buddy system with a friend or choose an easily accessible meeting spot to avoid getting lost. Searching for your friends isn’t only difficult in a sea of people in snowy conditions—it can be dangerous. Make sure your phone is fully charged before heading to the festival so you can stay in touch with your friends until the end of the night.

Fuel Up and Hydrate

One night of Igloofest is an adventure of epic proportions. With headliners taking the stage at 7:30 p.m. and DJs playing until 12:30 a.m., attendees must prepare for a long night ahead of them to safely maintain their stamina on the snowy dance floor. Drink water and eat balanced meals throughout the day beforehand. Though food and drinks are certainly overpriced at the venue, buying a bottle of water at the beginning of the night is worth the splurge to stay hydrated.

What NOT to Bring

Igloofest has a strict policy on what you can and cannot bring on site. All festival-goers and their bags are subject to search before entering, so make sure to leave the following items at home: Alcohol, drugs, food and drinks, and bags larger than 35cm x 35cm x 15.25cm. Speakers and video recording equipment are also prohibited, so make sure your phone has enough storage to document your night.

Consume Responsibly

For many, Igloofest is a big night of drinking and/or substance use. Pace yourself and know your limits so that you can enjoy the atmosphere and music responsibly. In addition, come prepared with a small first-aid kit containing naloxone. In the event of an emergency, naloxone can counteract laced substances and overdoses. Be aware of your surroundings and communicate with your friends if you don’t feel well or need to take a break from the crowd to get some air.

Commentary, Opinion

Quebec’s winter crossings are a policy outcome, not a one-time crisis

by Defne Feyzioglu on

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January, colloquially known as the month of new beginnings. Planners for the calendar year fill the bookshelves, wellness advice on how to ‘improve’ flood TikTok and Instagram For-You-Pages, and even McGill sends out communications encouraging students to return to campus with better habits and a renewed zest for academia and discipline. 

New Year’s resolutions are often framed as an introspective exercise that positions personal change as both the source and solution to any issue. Nevertheless, self-improvement culture encourages students to internalize burnout as a personal failure, allowing institutions to avoid accountability for the structural conditions that make exhaustion inevitable. In this understanding, stress and fatigue become problems to be corrected individually rather than predictable responses to the collective institutional pressures students are expected to navigate. 

Responsibility for burnout is increasingly individualized within academic environments that normalize constant productivity and self-regulation. Studies consistently show high levels of stress and burnout amongst post-secondary students: Nearly 90 per cent report feeling overwhelmed by their responsibilities, and 66 per cent report overwhelming anxiety—numbers far above what one would expect if stress were simply a ‘personal weakness.’ Research also consistently associates academic stress with diminished well-being, as students who report higher academic pressure also report declining mental health outcomes. 

Although there is a plethora of reputable research proving burnout to be structurally and contextually driven, institutional responses disproportionately emphasize individual behaviour change. A 2023 World Health Organization report identifies burnout as an occupational phenomenon driven by chronic workplace stress, explicitly rejecting framings that solely describe it as a personal medical condition. Despite this, universities respond to stress-related risks by promoting time-management strategies and resilience training, effectively evading their institutional responsibilities to provide support and accessibility to students and staff alike. 

In Canada, one in three students report that mental health resources do not meet their needs due to long wait times and limited availability. Academia on mental health in higher education shows that students are far more likely to be offered coping tools than material accommodations, which further reinforces the idea that distress reflects insufficient self-management. In this, burnout is framed as a failure to adapt to neoliberal demands of efficiency, rather than the manifestation of systemic pressure compounded by inadequate institutional support. 

The institutional benefit of framing burnout as an individual issue is also well documented. A 2022 survey by the American College Health Association found that although over three-quarters of college students reported moderate to high levels of stress, few campuses have made corresponding investments in material support services such as reduced course caps or expanded academic leave. Instead, many institutions offer limited counselling and wellness programs while broader comprehensive structural support remains absent. At McGill, this gap is apparent in the limited accessibility of mental health care: Student reporting shows that appointments at the Wellness Hub can require weeks-long wait times during peak periods such as midterms and final exams. Official university responses continue to emphasize self-help guides and stress-management resources. 

The aforementioned framing is intensified by the timing of the New Year itself. January marks the start of the winter semester, which is characterized by limited daylight and the lingering exhaustion of the fall term and exam period; yet students are expected to return to full productivity almost immediately. While practices of self-discipline and routine can be genuinely supportive at the individual level, they cannot compensate for structural conditions that remain unchanged. Without corresponding reductions in workload or expanded institutional support, self-care risks becoming a means of endurance rather than relief, asking students to adapt indefinitely to environments that continue to demand more than they can reasonably sustain. 


So this January, before reaching for another productivity planner or doom-scrolling through content promising personal transformation, it is worth considering that the problem may not just lie in individual habits, but in a system designed to make them appear as the only thing that can change.

Montreal, News

Collectif 19 mars hosts “Gaza, from global failure to the duty of humanity” panel

by Asher Kui on

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On Jan. 9, Collectif 19 mars, with the support of Coalition du Québec Urgence Palestine, hosted a webinar titled “Gaza, from global failure to the duty of humanity.” Élisabeth Garant, previous executive director at Centre Justice et Foi (CJF) started the webinar by introducing Collectif 19 mars and explaining how the organization was founded.

“The name Collectif 19 mars was chosen in memory of the date where employees of the CJF were suspended in an unjust and undignified way,” she said. “[Collectif 19 mars] is, however, a different initiative than CJF [….] to bring together, like we are doing today, people who are brave enough to believe we can contribute to social transformation through collective work and reflection, despite, or perhaps especially, because of the difficult times we live in.”

Monique Chemillier-Gendreau, jurist and professor emerita at Université Paris Cité, began the panel by highlighting the importance of distinguishing criticism against Israel from antisemitism.

“Hamas’ actions [on Oct. 7 in 2023] were unjustifiable international crimes that must be sanctioned, but Israel’s military response is a crime of immeasurably greater magnitude,” Chemillier-Gendreau said. “The argument, mostly used by [Israeli] officials, that all criticism directed against Israel is antisemitic, must be refuted. However, we must stay vigilant on antisemitism, which remains an extremely pertinent issue in our society.”

She then mentioned Israel’s war crimes and examined how other nations have attempted to condemn Israel’s actions.

“The policy pursued in Gaza demonstrates Israel’s genocidal intent, and such a case was brought by South Africa before the International Court of Justice,” Chemillier-Gendreau said. “The court has already issued three orders in 2024 to compel Israel to stop acts of genocide, provide humanitarian aid to the population of Gaza, and to halt the military offensive. These orders are binding. This is international law, and Israel ignores it.”

Chemillier-Gendreau then urged attendees to question the weakness of the international legal system.

“We must also take action to criticize the weakness in the application of international law,” she said. “We must cultivate hope by reflecting with forces from around the world, not only from the West, but with forces of the Global South that did not participate in the creation of the United Nations [….] With these forces, we must design a new international system because the current one has proven to be dying.”

Rony Brauman, former president of Médecins sans frontières, was the next speaker on the panel, who explained how Zionism is a colonial ideology.

“A form of colonialism that is unique in that it presents itself as a discourse of national emancipation, [Zionism] is indeed a matter of imposing a foreign state by force on a population in a region that did not ask for it,” Brauman said. “It is extremely important to distinguish between the legitimacy of Jewish presence in Palestine, which is a historical presence dating back to when Judaism was born, […] and installing a Jewish state in Palestine [….] Anti-Zionism is not opposition to the Jewish presence but to a Jewish state in Palestine.”

He continued to point to Israel’s systemic elimination of Palestinian press.

“Israel has methodically assassinated Palestinian journalists, the only ones who provide information to the rest of the world,” Brauman said. “Similarly, around 500 humanitarian workers have been assassinated in Gaza, an absolute record along with a record of children killed, women killed, and doctors killed. Gaza is a war of all records, and we must know that the war is not over yet.”

Didier Fassin, professor at Collège de France, was the last speaker on the panel. He explained that the international political system, including many Western countries, is culpable for the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

“The official term ‘Israel-Hamas war’ was used systemically [by Western mainstream media], even though from the start of Israel’s military operations, Israeli officials, political or military, have announced that the plan was to destroy Gaza and its population,” Fassin said. “Although a ceasefire has been signed, it has been violated daily [….] The time has come to start reflecting on what has happened over the last two years.”

*All quotes are translated from French.

Behind the Bench, Sports

Change at the top for Manchester United and Chelsea

by Alex Hawes Silva on

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The Premier League was rocked this week by two major sackings of high-profile managers, with both the Manchester United Football Club and the Chelsea Football Club choosing to part ways with their head coaches following disappointing seasons. Ruben Amorim was relieved of his duties at Manchester United after just over a year with the team, while Chelsea ended their 18-month relationship with Enzo Maresca after a turbulent stretch of results. Though the clubs’ situations differ, the firings reveal the unforgiving nature of elite soccer management. 

Maresca’s exit from Chelsea raises various questions, as he had shown success and promise prior to his departure. Appointed in the summer of 2024, the Italian coach was tasked with imposing order on a young and expensive squad, which was assembled during the club’s post-takeover spending spree. He delivered tangible success, guiding Chelsea to victory in the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Conference League and later the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Club World Cup. Those achievements suggested progress and hinted at a manager capable of building strong results amid the club’s ongoing rebuild. 

However, Chelsea’s Premier League performances deteriorated over the winter period, with the team managing just one win in seven matches. Despite sitting in the top half of the table, the club’s play lacked consistency, and frustrations grew among supporters. Behind the scenes, the relationship between Maresca and Chelsea’s owners reportedly became strained, with differences over communication and squad management coming to the surface. On Jan. 1, the club announced Maresca’s departure by mutual consent and understanding.

Manchester United’s decision to fire Ruben Amorim followed days later and reflected a different but parallel set of circumstances. Amorim was hired in November 2024 as a long-term appointment, arriving from Sporting Lisbon with a reputation as one of Europe’s most promising young coaches. Results, however, never aligned with those expectations. Manchester United struggled throughout the 2024-25 season, finishing well outside the title race and suffering damaging defeats in cup competitions. Performances were inconsistent, injuries took a toll, and key players failed to settle into Amorim’s system. 

Tensions escalated when Amorim publicly criticized the club’s recruitment structure, emphasizing that he had been hired as a manager rather than a head coach. Those comments reportedly contributed to a breakdown in trust between Amorim and Manchester United’s leadership, and after another run of disappointing results, the club chose to end his tenure.

Whether or not the two managers were given enough time is central to the debate surrounding their dismissals. At Chelsea, many argue that Maresca’s European success and partial league progress warranted greater patience, especially given the instability he was dropped into. Amorim’s case at Manchester United is more complex. While his stint lasted longer, issues with recruitment and internal power struggles persisted throughout his time in charge. Questions arose about whether his ideas were ever given the proper support to succeed or whether his inability to deliver clear progress justified the club’s decision. Financially, Manchester United also faced the costly consequence of a change in leadership, taking yet another hit with the turnover. While Amorim and Maresca both had shockingly short reigns as coaches, they failed to beat the Premier League’s Sam Allardyce’s record: A brief 30 days with Leeds United back in 2023. 

The ripple effects of both firings will extend beyond the field. Chelsea must once again reorganize its squad and direction, searching for a coach capable of balancing immediate results and long-term development. Manchester United, meanwhile, faces scrutiny over its governance as it begins yet another managerial search. 

Ultimately, these dismissals serve as a reminder of the Premier League’s harsh realities. At clubs of Chelsea and Manchester United’s stature, success is expected, and that can only stem from cooperation amongst the team and its leaders. For both teams, what comes next will hold more weight than what has just ended, as they look to reset and begin a more stable path going forward. 

Features

Building community through accessibility

by Malika Logossou on

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Dec. 3 marks the United Nations’ International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a reminder that disability—which is composed of functional or social limitations on one’s ability to perform an activity—affects millions worldwide. In Canada, more than 22 per cent of individuals, 6.2 million people, identify as having disabilities, and in Montreal alone, over 740 thousand people aged 15 and older live with a form of disability. 

While disabilities take many forms, individuals with intellectual disabilities and neurodivergence in particular face systemic gaps as they transition from adolescence to adulthood. From housing and financial assistance to recreational programs, the needs of these individuals are often invisible, and the support systems meant to help them can be inadequate. In educational institutions such as McGill, these challenges are mirrored on campus, where students with learning disabilities are confronted with long waits for accommodations or uneven support. 

These challenges, which ripple across families and communities, make clear that a community is only as strong as the support it provides to //all// its members.

A system that abandons you in adulthood

The transition from adolescence to adulthood is a critical period for change and development, but for many young adults with intellectual disabilities in Quebec, it is fraught with obstacles. Without structured support during the move from high school into independent or semi-independent living, these individuals are often left on their own. This lack of continuity in support systems renders people with intellectual disabilities four times more likely to be unhoused.

Lucyna Maria Lach, associate professor in the School of Social Work, emphasized this lack of transitional systems in an interview with //The Tribune//.

“There’s not always a great, what I call, great ‘transition plan’ from high school into emerging adulthood,” Lach said.  “I’ve been very critical of the government not paying more attention to setting up transition hubs, or transition centres of excellence, or something that would help individuals with those kinds of needs to try to find a way to have a meaningful life after they have graduated from high school [….] They’re entitled to that.” 

Accessing residential resources is particularly difficult: A person with an intellectual disability must currently wait an average of 1,211 days—which is over three years—for placement. By comparison, in 2013–2014, the wait time was 767 days. Yet even being on the waiting list, there is no guarantee that a person will access an environment that sustains their needs. Only 28 per cent of people receiving intellectual disability and autism services gain access to these housing resources, forcing many to remain dependent on their parents well into adulthood. 

“There are young people still living in their 20s, 30s, 40s, sometimes even into their 50s, living with their moms and dads because there is […] no plan for them whatsoever,” Lach said. “We don’t really know how many people are out there needing those services, and the government’s doing very little to try and find out. There are some adult ed programs, but not everybody gets into one.”

Residential resources include: Intermediate resources for individuals who do not need full assistance, often connected to a local community service centre (CLSC); family-type residences where an individual lives with a host family; and residential resources with continuous assistance, which are often the most suitable. 

To make matters more complex, housing for people with intellectual disabilities is primarily privatized, leading housing, which is a right, to be treated as a product. The government allocates funds based on individuals’ needs and the number of people, leading certain resource centres to prioritize quantity over quality of care to secure more funding. 

Taken together, these gaps reveal a system that leaves too many people waiting and unsupported. Without meaningful public investment and oversight, housing for those with intellectual disabilities will remain a matter of profit rather than dignity.  

Independence without adequate infrastructure

Even when housing is secured, financial independence is not guaranteed. In Quebec, the Social Solidarity Program (SSP) is intended for single adults or families in which one or more adults have severely limited capacity for employment, attested by a medical report and validated by the Ministère du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale. The SSP grants these individuals financial assistance and promotes their integration into the workforce. Though allocations vary depending on the family’s composition, income, and assets, simply gaining access to the SSP is challenging. 

Additional support does exist. People whose disabilities limit their capacity for employment can benefit from the basic income program if they meet the eligibility requirements of the SSP. Having severely limited capacity for employment for at least five and a half years over the previous six years also makes one eligible, but underscores that those who are not on the SSP must wait several years after turning 18 to qualify. The basic benefits are $1,309 CAD per month, which is $15,708 CAD per year. Adjustments can be made for single persons or persons with dependent children, reaching up to $20,000 CAD per year.

However, a single person needs to make around $2,800 CAD to $3,500 CAD to live comfortably in Montreal. With the cost of living increasing and the government entering a budget deficit, housing barriers and insufficient financial aid put people living with intellectual disabilities at great risk of being unhoused and unable to meet their needs. 

In an interview with //The Tribune//,  Samuel Ragot, senior policy analyst and advocacy advisor at the Quebec Intellectual Disability Society (SQDI) and doctoral candidate at McGill’s School of Social Work, described the financial struggles these individuals often face.

 “A lot of people end up with the basic social assistance […] [and] at this point, we do live in extreme poverty [….] Persons with disability often have additional costs that are related to their disability: You could think about mobility aids, […] prescriptions, or […] the assistive measures, [and] those cost something, and often the cost is not compensated by social assistance programs,” Ragot said.

He also described how the SSP financial plan isn’t necessarily best for people with intellectual disabilities or other forms of neurodivergence.

“One of the problems with social assistance is that you can’t work. If you try to work, you can only get $200 CAD per month, plus 25 cents of every dollar that you make. So […] social assistance programs are a poverty trap, they’re designed so that people can’t try to work,” Ragot said.

The result is a system that restricts independence, keeping adults financially vulnerable, socially isolated, and reliant on governmental aid. 

“We have well-thought policies on many things [in Quebec], but the problem is in the implementation of those policies [….] You can have the best policy ever written on paper, [but] if you don’t put the money and the resources and human resources and the political will to actually implement those policies directly […]  then […] it’s not something that will have an impact [on] the ground,” Ragot explained.

Lack of spaces for leisure activities

Housing and income are only part of the picture. Access to recreation and physical activity—essential for social, mental, and physical health—is also limited. For many with disabilities, structured physical activities that are tailored to their needs are hard to find. 

William James Harvey, associate professor in Kinesiology & Physical Education, and director of McGill Choices in Health, Action, Motivation, Pedagogy, and Skills Lab (CHAMPS), pointed to certain factors that perpetuate this cycle. 

“Knowledge of how people with disabilities think of themselves and how others think of them, the stigma that may be related to them […] has a huge impact on accessibility. Number two would be the lack of community programs [….] If there’s no program for you to go to, where in the heck are you going to go?” Harvey said in an interview with //The Tribune//.

He pointed to the Physical Activity and Leisure Skills Program (PALS) at McGill, which runs through CHAMPS. Children with Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) from seven to 12 years old, and their parents, go to the PALS program on Saturday mornings for one hour of physical and leisure skills training. Parents receive workshops about ADHD and recreational services while their children get an opportunity to be physically active. 

“We’ll have people with ADHD, the children and their parents saying, you know, they don’t have a place to go, and this is the first place they feel like it’s their own, where they belong,” Harvey shared.

In his classes, he also tries to incorporate programming that emphasizes the importance of quality recreational and leisure time in Project Triple Challenge, aimed at supporting people from seven to 50 years old.

“We bring in about 120 people with disabilities […] and our students are required to as part of their course, […] to create a physical activity program right from assessment to completion in an eight-to-nine week period […] for them to have their own belief systems challenged about what disability is and it isn’t.” 

Though many in the field do create programs to encourage physical activity and leisure time for people with disabilities, lack of knowledge and funding remains an issue. “The challenge is trying to see how you could get people in, because you can create a program and not have people get there,” Harvey said. “There are programs that we can create, but the challenge is always funding [….] Who’s going to fund and who has the knowledge to be able to create those types of programs [….] How would you set up a structure in order to incorporate or to include people?” 

Intersectionality further complicates participation. Social stigma, coupled with systemic discrimination and societal attitudes, can deter individuals with intellectual disabilities from participating in physical activity.

A microcosm of systemic barriers

 For people who are neurodivergent, the path to care exposes yet another layer of systemic barriers that carry forward into adulthood and higher education. ADHD has a higher prevalence among children and adults in Quebec than in other provinces, yet receiving a diagnosis remains a long process. This is similar for people with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). In the public sector, access to assessments is free but requires a medical referral; their wait times often range from six to 18 months before individuals can see a psychiatrist. Accessing assessments through the private sector is faster, but the costs put them out of reach for many. 

For people with disabilities, these obstacles are not only bureaucratic—they shape life trajectories. 

“Children whose brains are developing need early intervention. Early intervention is a […] stimulation to help them to play, use their hands […] to develop skills around mobility and also develop expressive and receptive language skills,” Lach emphasized. “There are children that are aging out of those early preschool years without having ever received any kind of service, so waitlists are really problematic.”

The problem doesn’t disappear when these children grow up; these systemic barriers and flaws are also embedded in educational institutions such as McGill. 

As of April 2023, 8.8 per cent of McGill students identify as persons with disabilities. The most prevalent disabilities students experience are ADHD, learning disabilities, and mental health-related concerns. 

Students receive academic accommodations through Student Accessibility and Achievement (SAA), where they must first schedule an appointment with an SAA advisor. After providing an official medical note listing a disability or diagnosis and receiving approval, an advisor helps determine what accommodations are needed to improve their university experience. However, some students report long wait times for assessments, coordination issues, and logistical challenges during exams. 

One student, who requested anonymity, realized that they had a learning disability when arriving at university. They explained that the Student Wellness Hub referred them to professionals covered by their insurance since McGill no longer outsources diagnostic services. Although covered by insurance, they had to pay an upfront payment of over $1000 CAD before being reimbursed after submitting a request. 

The student noted they do see differences academically with the services being provided, but that they sometimes feel like the accommodations—such as smaller rooms for test-taking and more time during exams—are simply the bare minimum.

“I’ve seen the difference that has made in my grades […], but I do find that it is, at times, very much more like […] ‘Because we do this, like that should be enough for you,’” they said in an interview with //The Tribune//.

They recalled further challenges relating to logistics when taking exams.

“There is sometimes poor coordination, and I’ve seen that in the case where I took my first exam with accommodation. I was in a different room and […] two minutes into the exam, they started construction right outside of the room, not even like the building, just right outside of the room, and I remember just tearing up.” 

While grateful for the support they did receive and overall positive experiences with staff, the student noted that access remains uneven. When calling the Student Wellness Hub to schedule medical appointments, they recognized that despite calling at the opening hour of the centre, booking appointments is also not guaranteed due to an overflow of requests.

“I’ve been very, very lucky […] [to have] been able to get appointments when I have had friends who are not able to […] [and] I’ve had great experiences with the staff.”

The student’s experience underscores how access is not always consistent, and many face barriers, reflecting a larger societal pattern where systems intended to protect neurodivergent individuals fall short. While staff work hard to accommodate students, limited resources, long waitlists, and monuments of oversight reveal how gaps in support persist even within institutions committed to inclusion. These inconsistencies not only affect academic performance but also shape students’ sense of belonging and trust in systems meant to support them. 

What’s next? 

 As we look ahead, the challenge is not a lack of willingness to help, but more frequently a lack of knowledge, public awareness, and adequate funding from the government. People with disabilities cannot be treated as mere recipients of services; they are vital members of our communities. Their full integration and participation strengthen society as a whole and must be recognized as a collective responsibility, grounded in the fact that they are people with the same rights and dignity as anyone else.  Ensuring they have meaningful access to the support they need requires more than good will—it calls for sustained funding and policies implemented by individuals with experiences of living with intellectual deficiencies and forms of neurodivergence. 

This action can begin on an individual level: Treating people with disabilities with respect, educating ourselves about their experiences, and challenging the stigma that often isolates them. 

“Individuals with disabilities have rights, and we need […] to make them more visible in our society, […] decrease the stigma around, and take on more responsibility for their support and their care. It’s easy to ignore [their needs] if […] it’s not in your face,” Lach said.  

Meaningful inclusion means that people with disabilities are fully supported, valued, and recognized as integral members of our communities. 

On campus, students too can play a role. By voicing our concerns to SAA, advocating for inclusive campus policies, supporting peer networks, and volunteering with programs like McGill’s PALS, we can help create a more accessible and welcoming environment for all. 

Editorial, Opinion

2025 PGSS executive midterm reviews

by The Tribune Editorial Board on

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The Tribune’s Editorial Board presents its midterm reviews of the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) executives. Tribune editors researched and communicated with each executive before leading an Editorial Board discussion on the executives’ work and accomplishments. Editors with conflicts of interest abstained from discussing, writing, and editing relevant reviews.

PGSS Secretary-General: Sheheryar Ahmed

As Secretary General, Sheheryar Ahmed represents the PGSS to the public and McGill administration, updates the society’s governing documents, and chairs executive committee meetings. Entering this role, Ahmed’s priorities were to increase transparency, pursue election reform, and lower barriers to student involvement in PGSS initiatives. 

To increase member participation in executive processes, Ahmed introduced a new Deputy Secretary General position, splitting the Secretary General position into internal and external responsibilities to make the positions more approachable and decrease workload for future Secretary Generals. Ahmed’s accessibility efforts also included organizing executive-led orientation events for new students, hosting a PGSA and Council training event, and creating an interactive organizational chart on the PGSS website to clarify the organization’s composition to students. 

Having recently hosted the PGSS’ Annual General Assembly, Ahmed emphasized the underrepresentation of international students and students living in residence in the PGSS, as well as growing food insecurity among post-graduate students, demonstrating an awareness of continued accessibility needs to be addressed in his second term. 

PGSS External Affairs Officer: Zoe Neubauer

As the PGSS External Affairs Officer, Zoe Neubaur’s top priorities are to address austerity on campus and to mitigate the increased precarity graduate students face as a result of rising costs of living and relatively low bargaining leverage at McGill. To fulfill these commitments, Neubauer meets regularly with representatives from the Quebec Student Union (QSU), the McGill Community Council, and the Association of Graduate Students Employed at McGill (AGSEM). 

Amidst their ongoing advocacy through speaking at anti-austerity rallies and attending QSU caucuses, Neubauer is focused on providing more tangible deliverables for PGSS students. They are working to establish a PGSS mutual aid fund to provide direct monetary support to grad students to offset Montreal’s high cost of living. 

Looking forward, Neubauer’s goals are to make the PGSS mutual aid fund a reality, and to advocate for graduate students as both students and workers within the McGill community.  

PGSS Financial Affairs Officer: Mandy Lokko

Entering the Financial Affairs Officer position, Mandy Lokko has emphasized transparency, financial equity, and responsible management as her key priorities.

This semester, Lokko highlighted the expansion of the PGSS Travel Awards program as her most meaningful accomplishment, ensuring a fairer distribution of funding across master’s, PhD, and postdoctoral applicants.

A recurring concern among PGSS members has been the accessibility of the Society’s budget. In response, Lokko has begun rebuilding PGSS’ transparency framework “from the ground up”: Tracking monthly spending and developing clearer internal fiscal projections. While the budget is currently available to any PGSS member upon request, she aims to publish more accessible financial summaries and explanations on the PGSS website to improve community understanding.

Regarding McGill’s projected $15-million CAD deficit—and its potential effects on TA hiring and departmental staffing—Lokko explained that PGSS does not expect disruptions to its core services this year, though the executive team remains prepared to adjust its support mechanisms if cuts become impactful. Lokko has also helped PGSS internally absorb part of the inflation-driven increase to the Studentcare health insurance plan, preventing a steeper fee hike for the society’s members.

Looking ahead, her goals include expanding community-based grants and subsidies and continuing to make PGSS’s financial reporting more accessible online. 

The Tribune commends Lokko’s efforts to strengthen equitable grant distribution and rebuild financial transparency within the society. As McGill continues to navigate financial instability, it is essential for PGSS to maintain its strong and accessible support to ensure it meets the ever-changing needs of its constituency. 

PGSS Member Services Officer: Zeina Seaifan

As Member Services Officer, Zeina Seaifan is working to expand and address gaps in existing graduate student services. This semester, she collaborated with the society’s Health Commissioner and Mental Health Commissioner to ease the student union’s transition to Digital Doctor, a new healthcare provider. Seifan also introduced paid training for coordinator roles, including the BIPOC Graduate Network Coordinator and the Community Support Coordinator. 

Next semester, Seifan will oversee additions to Indigenous reconciliation initiatives, which will build upon the land acknowledgement at Thompson House to include educational offerings like field trips and Indigenous language courses. She will also further the PGSS Menstrual Equity Initiative by assessing avenues for improved sustainability, such as the provision of reusable menstrual products. This winter, Seifan will also evaluate the health and dental plan based on the results of a health and wellness survey she oversaw this semester.

PGSS University Affairs Officer: Amina Bourai
As University Affairs Officer, Bourai is responsible for ensuring equitable graduate student representation across McGill’s governance structure. Coming into the position, Bourai aimed to improve PGSS transparency and make the society more responsive to student concerns. Her main accomplishment this semester has been filling over 95 per cent of university committee positions, a significant improvement from past years, when these crucial representative roles sat vacant. Bourai has also successfully chaired the Library Improvement Fund committee, making use of its resources after this committee’s funds sat unused for years. As a member of the McGill Senate, she has worked with student and faculty senators to pass amendments that protect student rights at risk of being undermined. Looking ahead, Bourai hopes to encourage McGill’s administration to establish minimum funding guarantees for all graduate students and address food insecurity on campus. She wants PGSS to be willing to tackle political and moral issues that matter to students—even when the university would prefer otherwise.

Editorial, Opinion

2025 SSMU executives midterm review

by The Tribune Editorial Board on

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The Tribune‘s Editorial Board presents its midterm reviews of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) executives. Tribune editors researched and communicated with each executive before leading an Editorial Board discussion on the executives’ work and accomplishments. Editors with conflicts of interest abstained from discussing, writing, and editing relevant reviews.

SSMU President: Dymetri Taylor

In his second term as SSMU President, Dymetri Taylor has attempted to balance the power between SSMU’s executive board and Legislative Council (LC). He has also worked alongside the rest of the executives to provide a new free meal service on campus. Although this is a temporary solution before the next school year to address the closure of food coalition Midnight Kitchen, Taylor would prefer to continue using a catering company in the future. 

Into the winter semester, Taylor is interested in the possibility of instituting a new student fee for athletics at approximately $10 CAD per student. This fee would help navigate challenges following recent cuts to McGill’s varsity and club program, and would cushion McGill Athletics with $500,000 CAD in additional funds each school year. Taylor stated to The Tribune that he remains committed to protecting student activism on campus. He has expressed worries about minority groups of students voting on strike procedures and disrupting class during the Shut it Down strikes, but will continue supporting striking students as long as they follow procedure. 

SSMU VP Clubs and Services: Hamza Abu Alkhair

Since assuming his role in January, Hamza Abu Alkhair has been focused on reconfiguring the SSMU club portal, the SSMU website, and the mandatory SSMU workshop program for clubs and services—which he has turned into a Udemy course. These projects reflect Abu Alkhair’s commitment to increasing clarity, accessibility, and engagement between the SSMU and both its current and prospective club and service members. Abu Alkhair has also been overseeing the post-Midnight Kitchen transition to a Food Services & Hospitality Manager-run lunch service, and has successfully increased sponsor presence at SSMU’s biannual Activities Nights.

Looking forward, Abu Alkhair is focused on planning a Winter Carnival with the VP Internal to provide students the chance to participate in an SSMU event not centred on drinking. He will also continue to manage the SSMU backlog of club applications and focus on making SSMU service evaluations more transparent. In the upcoming semester, Abu Alkhair must ensure that any moves towards internal, administrative transparency are made equally evident to SSMU’s external constituency—such as consulting with and accepting feedback from ISGs about potential upcoming changes to their Internal Regulations. 

SSMU VP Finance: Jean-Sébastien Leger

After being hired in mid-October, Jean-Sébastien Leger has worked quickly to embody the role, focusing on bridging the five-month VP Finance vacancy since last academic year that caused a significant disruption in SSMU’s fiscal operations.  What was supposed to be a month-long training process became a week-long onboarding for Leger. He immediately took on important tasks that were left behind during the disruption, such as the revised SSMU budget that will be presented in mid-December. 

Moving into the new semester, Leger will continue to dedicate himself to SSMU’s constituency. He will revisit different club services and funding to make sure every dollar is well-spent. He will also develop new strategies for investment and providing services, making sure the student union’s budget is as efficient as possible. In light of the 2025 SSMU Fall Referendum, during which voters rejected the motion of the base fee increase, Leger will have to work to keep SSMU in the zone of a healthy deficit or surplus despite decreased student society funding. 

SSMU VP External: Seraphina Crema-Black

Per her goals coming into office, VP External Seraphina Crema-Black has prioritized advocating against Quebec tuition hikes in collaboration with McGill’s administration, political clubs, and other Montreal universities. She also organized a series of hands-on political organizing workshops focused on tenant rights, harm reduction, student strikes, food insecurity, and migrant justice to foster political engagement. Crema-Black helped lead an SSMU lunch distribution program, which has provided students 150 free vegan meals a day. She offered support to groups including Divest McGill, McGill Students for Uyghur Solidarity, Working Alternatives McGill, anti-austerity organizers, Independent Jewish Voices, and Students for Migrant Justice during her term. 

Crema-Black reports that she has had “substantive dialogue” with McGill administration on student priorities such as divestment from genocide in Palestine. She is currently working on efforts to make the old Chez Gautier building on av. du Parc into an affordable housing initiative. Next semester, she will host QPIRG’s Spring Into Action series. She also hopes to increase SSMU referendum voter turnout and expand SSMU’s free food program.

SSMU VP University Affairs: Susan Aloudat

Susan Aloudat’s campaign to be SSMU VP University Affairs—which ran uncontested—centred on an open-door policy. In line with this goal, her term has focused on expanding diversity, equity, and inclusion practices on campus. She created and is now working to expand the TLDR series on governance documents, implemented an STM Emergency transportation subsidy during the most recent STM strike, and expanded SSMU’s menstrual health portfolio. Aloudat has also focused on increasing advocacy for Arab and Muslim students, as the SSMU does not have a portfolio dedicated to these communities. With her influence, McGill libraries agreed to make available designated prayer spaces, a resource she hopes will be implemented by December exams. 

Looking forward, Aloudat is hoping to exercise the trust she has developed with university administrators in order to further vouch for student interests, such as divestment from harmful military technology. During the second half of her term, Aloudat will continue to focus on increasing SSMU resources’ accessibility, developing long-term resources for underrepresented communities, and creating a culture of trust between McGill administrators and students. 

SSMU VP Internal: Minaal Mirza

Minaal Mirza stepped into the role of VP Internal in late October with three immediate goals: Rebuilding the foundation between the Internal portfolio and SSMU staff, increasing the number of events SSMU will host this academic year, and revamping communication with students. To compensate for her late start, Mirza spent her first two weeks in the role meeting one-on-one with every staff member connected to her portfolio to map expectations, understand limitations, and work toward a realistic timeline for the remainder of the year. Her upcoming projects include a Valentine’s Day Ball, SSMU Awards Night, a scaled St. Patrick’s Day event (not a 4 Floors),  and early planning for Faculty Olympics. 

A significant portion of Mirza’s early weeks has been devoted to rebuilding the First Year Council (FYC), which has lacked structural continuity over the last two years. She has also initiated communication with the Alumni Engagement team to schedule meetings after the winter break. While the Student Social Programming Network currently has enough active contributors to host events, she encourages additional student involvement to diversify perspectives. 
Aware that executives often lack institutional memory due to rapid turnover, Mirza created an exit report document on her first day and updates it weekly with contacts, timelines, and useful information she believes the next VP Internal will need. Considering the compressed timeline she is working on, The Tribune believes Mirza has made promising progress across all fronts.

Student Life, The Viewpoint

Viewpoint: The cost of community, learned in aunties’ basements

by Yusur Al-Sharqi on

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I was pulling at the grass on the Lower Field, talking about McGill with all the idealistic excitement of a first-year, when my friend (Canadian, white) said she was scared of “adult loneliness.” Once you graduate, she said, you never really see anyone again unless you really try. The other friend (American, white) nodded instantly, as if this were obvious.

I had no idea what they were talking about. 

Growing up in the Arab diaspora meant that friendships didn’t disappear when the school year ended or when people moved to another country. Every weekend, you were dropped into some auntie’s basement with thirty kids and no adult supervision, and told, “play.” You hated half of them on principle; someone was always crying, someone tattled, and someone broke something. Repeat the next weekend. Travel didn’t save you either. You’d land in another country, and someone you’ve never met would have already been notified. Suddenly, you were on her plastic-covered couch drinking tea you didn’t want.

Eventually, you learn that showing up isn’t a choice; you inherit community, whether you want it or not. It’s an intergenerational debt you keep paying because your parents once needed someone else to pay it. Westerners, on the other hand, view culture as an external container instead of a system they actively co-create, and that misunderstanding is part of why they perceive adult loneliness as inevitable.

As capitalism begins to lose its shine, 20-somethings in the West have grown hungry for community. They cosplay it in their Plateau apartment ‘friendsgivings’ and their shared grocery lists. But ask them to clean the kitchen and suddenly there’s an hour-long household meeting about who’s responsible for wiping down the counters. In my world, that conversation would be humiliating. You clean the kitchen because you use it, because other people use it, and because the space isn’t just yours.

Community, as Arabs practice it, is not gentle. If anything, it’s surveillance, obligation, and being witnessed in moments you’d prefer to hide. It is unglamorous labour. You don’t get the luxury of pretending your actions don’t affect anyone. If you disappoint someone, you fix it because you will see them again. If you don’t show up, people notice. If you leave a mess, it becomes everyone’s burden. Western individualism, on the other hand, is built on the assumption that you can always leave—the city, the friend group, the relationship. If you’ve spent your whole life believing you are free from obligation, the moment a community requires anything from you, it starts feeling like a constraint. But that’s exactly why diasporic communities survive: People understand they’re accountable to something larger than their own feelings in the moment, something that predates them and that will outlast them by decades. They behave accordingly.

There were years when I wanted nothing more than to escape this inherited debt. To have the peaceful, independent adulthood I imagined white Canadians grew up expecting, one where you choose your people and draw boundaries without guilt. 

Then, my grandmother died. People I hadn’t spoken to in years came to our home to honour her with a khitma, a funeral ceremony where the Qur’an is divided among everyone and read piece by piece until the whole thing is completed. Every auntie showed up: The ones who barely knew us, the ones who didn’t like us, the ones who always kept their distance. They came carrying food, children, plastic bags filled with whatever they thought might help. They lined the walls of our house, Qur’ans in hand, and read until the entire 600 pages were done in less than an hour. There were so many women present that each of them carried only a sliver of the burden.

Moments like this remind me that community isn’t about intimacy or affection; it’s about dependability. You can dislike each other, avoid each other, forget each other, but none of this will absolve you of your obligation to one another. It’s not always pleasant, but it’s how we survive.

Album Reviews, Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV, Music

The Tribune presents: The best/worst of 2025

by Norah Adams, Alexandra Lasser, Annabella Lawlor, Bianca Sugunasiri, Malika Logossou on

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Best: Music

Deadbeat by Tame Impala – Alexandra Lasser

Tame Impala’s latest album, Deadbeat, introduces hypnotic beats and bold electronic psychedelia. The album opens with “My Old Ways,” where Kevin Parker, the musician behind Tame Impala, laments his inability to progress and evolve, instead sinking into his old habits and mindset. This song introduces the strange pessimism that pervades the album as Parker emphasizes feelings of loneliness, isolation, and being an outcast. Instead of being ashamed of this, he wears his perceived lowly status as a badge of honour, with the track “Loser,” proudly and repeatedly labelling himself as such. Deadbeat contrasts vulnerable lyrics with Parker’s usual aloof beats and synthesizers, creating his signature, unique effect of distant sensitivity. 

In the five years since his last album, Parker produced pop hits for Dua Lipa, wrote for various movie soundtracks, and worked as a DJ. Deadbeat reintroduces Tame Impala as a solo artist and songwriter, delivering an immersive experience of self-affirmation through Parker’s musical style.

Mark William Lewis by Mark William Lewis – Annabella Lawlor

Have you ever longed for a little more harmonica in your life? With a metallic sharpness and a sonorous hum that resonates loudly atop every melody it encounters, Mark William Lewis’ self-titled record from this September is the record to turn to. The project is both vibrant and mellow, cruising through its jiving soundscapes with tender lyrics and disposition. 

London-based Lewis became the first artist signed to A24’s music label in June, marking the artistically ambitious production company’s new ventures into music entertainment. Embedded in London’s sounds of dark, avant-garde grooves, his latest record is a remarkable work that drips in style. You can feel the brisk chill of these English nights on the terrific “Tomorrow is Perfect” and a cavernous hunger for memory on “Silver Moon.” Having had the chance to see Lewis play these tunes at L’Esco on Nov. 12, I’ve never cheered louder for someone playing a little metal box.

Best: Film & TV

Bugonia (Yorgos Lanthimos) – Annabella Lawlor

A thrush of symphonic bees looms outside an unassuming American suburbia. Beneath its quaint architecture lies a secret: The kidnapping of pharmaceutical corporation CEO and culturally renowned girl-boss, Michelle Fuller (Emma Stone). Cousins Teddy (Jesse Plemons) and Don (Aidan Delbis) hold Fuller captive in their dank basement, accusing her of being an Andromedan, an alien occupying Earth to destroy the human race.

Bugonia is a glorious and unflinching film: Disturbing in its moments of torture, heart-wrenching in its exploration of Teddy and Don’s familial past, and startling in its uncompromising vision of our reality. Director Yorgos Lanthimos, known for films like Poor Things and The Lobster, produces a perturbing spectacle of life. 

Stone, Plemons, and Delbis deliver stunning embodiments of their characters. Ranging from calculated composure and cruel outbursts to heartbreaking misery, Plemon’s performance is the most unbelievable feat of the film. Bugonia’s marvellous encapsulation of our contemporary cultural anxieties makes it one of the most unforgettable films of the year.

Chainsaw Man — The Movie: Reze Arc – Bianca Sugunasiri

Based on Tatsuki Fujimoto’s manga Chainsaw Man, this animated Japanese film tiptoes the lines of horror and romance in a devastating dance. Chainsaw Man — The Movie: Reze Arc followsReze and Denji as they are ripped from innocence and mutilated into weapons. Groomed by the Soviet Union to capture his heart, Reze entraps Denji in her affections, only to falter as her own fragmented upbringing is reflected in his gaze. Whilst extorted for their militarized abilities, Reze and Denji flounder in their mislaid affections. 

The film’s animation is boundlessly talented, capturing a breathtaking cacophony of explosions at one moment, and the stillness of a quiet pool punctuated by muted laughter at another. However, it was the score that came alive, plunging into my chest and squeezing until my tears flowed freely. Soft, haunting piano keys caressed like whispers of a childhood never to exist beyond moments submerged underneath the rain. Aching pulls at violin strings barely allowed me to take a full breath. Quivering notes held every word unspoken, echoing long after the theatre was empty. 

Worst: Popular Culture

First AI artist on the Billboard Charts – Alexandra Lasser

Xania Monet, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) singer created by Telisha Jones, hit No. 30 on Billboard’s Adult R&B Airplay chart in the first week of November with the song “How Was I supposed to Know.” The artist amassed 1.4 million listeners on Spotify and is now signed with Hallwood Media in a $3 million USD record deal. Monet demonstrates the profitability of AI artists, having already released two albums and countless singles since her creation in July. This milestone represents the threat of AI technology to authenticity in the music industry.

Jones insists, however, that there is humanity behind the music, using Suno to create songs around her poetry. Spotify CEO Daniel Ek defended his decision not to label AI music, noting it makes music production accessible to beginners. Monet’s success signals a new era for music listeners, who will need to be consciously aware of the music they consume. AI as a tool for self-expression or as a profitable alternative to real artists remains a central question in discourse around AI music.

Worst: Music

The Life of a Showgirl by Taylor Swift – Norah Adams

Taylor Swift dropped her 12th studio album this past October. Before the release of The Life of a Showgirl, she teased fans with images of herself adorned in jewels and feathers, her eyes shining pensively with reflection of her life. 

The Swiftie community rumbled with anticipation, her longtime listeners eager to receive an album, expressing how both they and Swift have matured over the course of her career. Instead, what Taylor Swift gifted to fans was a disingenuous group of songs wrought with internet lingo and mentions of her meathead football boyfriend. 

The pop star’s lyrics sound like an AI-generated imitation of her previously poetic songwriting. In “Cancelled,” she sings, “Good thing I like my friends cancelled / I like ’em cloaked in Gucci and in scandal.” 

What sets this album apart from her others is that it is not just the public who dislikes it—as with her previous album, The Tortured Poets Department—but also Swifties. Her newest album has left us all wondering if maybe the show shouldn’t go on.

Worst? Best?: Popular Culture

Labubus – Norah Adams

Despite standing just 22 centimetres tall, the Labubu made massive waves this year. Designed by Hong Kong-born and Netherlands-based artist Kasing Lung, the fluffy keychain monsters gained popularity after Lisa from Blackpink was spotted with one clipped to her bag. Labubu quickly surpassed being a fun toy and reached internet fame. 

TikToker Jungle Pops made a viral satirical video claiming to own “the one and only 24k gold Labubu […] the most expensive Labubu in the world.” With a $55 CAD price tag, many wishing to participate in the trend bought knock-off versions, and fast fashion brands began slapping the Labubu face on everything. Mounds of these items ended up in landfills after the trend died down.

Labubu is beneficial to us all this year, as it serves as a reminder of how quickly trends can become harmful. In a world where memes are not just funny jokes among friends, but prompts to consume, Labubu can teach us how to keep memes online and in conversation, and off our credit cards.

Love Island USA – Malika Logossou

Season seven of Love Island, a reality dating show, temporarily became the internet’s obsession this year. Contestants live in a secluded villa under constant camera surveillance and must repeatedly recouple to avoid elimination through viewer votes. Memes, TikTok edits, songs, and host Ariana Madix’s ever-changing outfits made the season a shared cultural experience. However, the premise of finding love was replaced by lust and performative drama, as contestants appeared more focused on winning voter approval than forming genuine connections. 

Of the final couples—Huda Mustafa and Chris Seeley, who split during the finale, Pepe Garcia and Iris Kendall, Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales, and Olandria Carthen and Nicolas Vansteenberghe—only the last pair remain together. The winning couple, Espinal and Arenales, barely lasted one month in the real world. 

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