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Creative

McGill’s Lettuce Club: The Inaugural Meeting

by Noah Vaton on

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Multimedia Editor Noah Vaton documents the thrilling inaugural McGill Lettuce Club Meeting. He outlines a complete history of how the event came to be, the excitement surrounding the event amongst McGill students, footage live from the event, and post-meeting interviews with both the original founder and this years winner, the ‘Head of Lettuce’.

Science & Technology

Reading for meaning: A new intervention for children with hyperlexia

by Zoe Karkossa on

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Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder often have difficulty thriving in a modern education system that is not designed for their needs. Developing language skills, in particular, can be challenging for these children. 

Between 6 to 21 per cent of children with autism have a syndrome called hyperlexia, where they demonstrate a strong interest in letters and words from a very young age and learn to decode what they are reading very quickly—but generally have trouble associating words with their meanings. Children with hyperlexia also have a harder time developing certain literacy skills—specifically reading comprehension—compared to neurotypical children.

Reading comprehension development typically relies on certain precursors such as phonological awareness, the ability to identify and manipulate sounds, and phoneme-grapheme correspondence, the ability to understand the relationship between letters and sounds. Dianne Macdonald, a lecturer at Concordia University and speech-language pathologist, seeks to investigate the importance of these precursors for children with autism.

“These kids are not taking the same route as typically developing kids, they are following their own pathway,” Macdonald said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “They don’t need those precursors in order to read words like typically developing kids.”

Despite displaying a below-average ability in tasks related to common pre-reading skills, children with autism, both with and without hyperlexia, showed advanced word-reading abilities. Contrary to neurotypical children, these precursor abilities were not necessary for them to decode and read words.

According to the Simple View of Reading, a widely accepted theory in literacy research, reading comprehension results from a combination of decoding skills and language comprehension. Although children with hyperlexia display very strong decoding skills, they lack essential language comprehension skills—essentially, they need practice understanding what they can already read.

In a follow-up study, Macdonald and her team designed a tablet app intended to help bridge this comprehension gap. Based on the dual coding theory of literacy, the app pairs written words with their corresponding images. The key idea was to expose children to the concept that the words represented the accompanying pictures, to help them practice assigning meaning to words.

Children with autism, both with and without hyperlexia, as well as a control group of neurotypical children all showed increased listening comprehension following time with the app. In addition, those in the hyperlexic group showed a significant increase in reading comprehension. Although expressive language skills did not see improvement, Macdonald remains optimistic, noting that hyperlexic children’s receptive fluency improved, a skill that precedes expressive fluency.

“If we can start focussing on reading comprehension really early for them then […] they get into school potentially better prepared language-wise,” Macdonald said.

The results show promise for the efficacy of such early-age interventions. Many participating children actively enjoyed using the app, and some parents requested to have their child continue using it after the completion of the study. 

Macdonald emphasizes that significant progress can be achieved by focussing on children’s strengths while tailoring interventions to fit their needs. By taking into account the skills and interests of children with autism, educators and parents can help them learn and grow in a positive environment.

“If we can find that sweet spot where we are incorporating the real talents [of kids with exceptionalities] and their interests and their strengths to support their challenges, I think that we can make really great gains,” Macdonald said.
Macdonald has made a web-based version of the app freely available online, and hopes parents and children will make use of the resource. She is currently looking to make the app open-source to allow other people to contribute and help tailor the app to more children’s needs.

Basketball, Sports

McGill men’s basketball falls to Ottawa despite inspiring comeback attempt

by Kyle Tsang on

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The McGill men’s basketball team (1–2) began this season’s back-to-back schedule on Oct. 15 with a heartbreaking defeat, losing 70-64 at home to the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees (2–0) despite an inspiring second-half comeback performance. 

The Gee-Gees started the game off strong with an effective full-court man-to-man press, preventing McGill from establishing any sort of offensive rhythm. Ottawa’s suffocating defence put heavy pressure on McGill throughout the quarter, forcing six early turnovers that translated into extra points for the Gee-Gees. McGill ended the frustrating first quarter trailing by 11 points.

The second quarter was more of the same: Ottawa’s full-court press continued to force more McGill turnovers for easy Gee-Gee baskets at the rim. While McGill’s defensive intensity kept fans from leaving the game before the half ended, McGill consistently failed to build up any offensive momentum throughout the quarter. The halftime score was 39-20, with Ottawa dominating the paint throughout the half.

The halftime break served as a much-needed reset for the Redbirds. Fifth-year guard Sam Jenkins explained that during the intermission, his coach gave the team a pep talk about working more cohesively.

“Coach Thorne’s message at halftime was to play our game on both sides of the ball,” Jenkins said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “[To play] as a team rather than five individuals.”

During the third quarter, McGill breathed life back into the home crowd. The Redbirds took better care of the ball, leading to far better offence in the third quarter—McGill were one point shy from scoring as much as they did in the entire first half. However, despite McGill establishing a great offensive flow, the third quarter ended with the Redbirds trailing 52-39 going into the final frame.

Despite the disappointing result, third-year guard Cameron Elliot was impressed with his team’s effort in the second half of the game.

“I thought we had a great second half, making a big comeback after a slow start,” Elliot said. “We did a lot of good things that allowed us to compete with one of the best teams in the country.”

Fifth-year guard Sam Jenkins agreed with Elliot, citing Coach Thorne’s directives as crucial for their success.

“On offence, we slowed down and started sharing the ball,” Jenkins said. “Coach stresses playing for your teammates first rather than looking for our own [opportunities], and I think that was reflected in our [second] half assist numbers.” 

With momentum on their side, the Redbirds started the fourth quarter with intensity as Jamal Mayali hit a huge and-one three, bringing the crowd to a frenzy as he stepped up to the line for a four-point play. McGill would go on to give the Gee-Gees a taste of their own medicine, launching their own man-to-man press which helped them force turnovers in consecutive defensive possessions. McGill looked poised to make an unbelievable comeback as the Gee-Gees were only up by six with eight minutes to play.

However, Ottawa’s top performer Maxime Boursiquot killed any hope left within McGill’s crowd. Finishing with 20 points on a perfect nine for nine from the field, including a huge corner three to stop the bleeding, Boursiquot put the Gee-Gees back up by eight. The home crowd was only further stunned by crafty guard Kevin Civil, who finished a tough running layup through traffic, pushing the lead to double digits.

With their backs against the wall once again, McGill’s mental toughness shined through, keeping the game close with intense defence and timely shot-making. Once more, Sam Jenkins kept McGill in the game with a barrage of three-pointers throughout the fourth quarter, capping off an excellent performance and finishing with a game-high 29 points on an efficient 12-19 shooting from the field. While a costly turnover with 48 seconds left would effectively end McGill’s inspiring comeback attempt, McGill’s effort and resilience brought a loud roar of approval from the home fans as the final whistle blew.

Moment of the Game:

Fifth-year guard Jamal Mayali hit a tough and-one three at the nine-minute mark, sparking a mini McGill run early on in the fourth. This play helped McGill cut what was once a 20-point lead to six.

Stat Corner:

Ottawa was clearly the more successful team near the hoop, holding a 40-22 advantage for points in the paint.

Quotable:

“To be a competitor means you always want to be the best. If you don’t believe you can beat the team you’re lining up against, you never stand a chance. I think we have a chance to beat every team we play. It’s not going to be easy but I think we can be one of the best teams in the country.” —Third-year guard Cameron Elliot on the upcoming season

Features

The darker side of pre-med

by Sarah Farnand on

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For many pre-medical students, dreams of practising medicine have been playing through their minds since they were children. It’s the allure of being able to save someone’s life, help a person feel better, or finally provide that answer a patient has been searching for. Of course, some people have other reasons for pursuing medicine, like taking home a high salary, pleasing parents, or satisfying the narcissistic desire to prove to themselves they are smart enough. By high school, many students are convinced that medicine is their dream career.

At least until university. In a study conducted by scientists at the University of Minnesota, researchers found that only 16.5 per cent of students who said they planned to go to medical school at the start of their undergrad actually graduated university with sufficient course work to do so. The study analyzed a sample of 15,442 students across 102 universities, all from various demographics and socio-economic backgrounds. In my own life, I frequently hear about friends who used to be on the “pre-med” track deciding to switch to another career path. While some students’ interests may have changed after arriving to McGill, others said that they were driven away by the toxic culture that pervades the community. Even for those still gunning for medical school, the environment can prove to be extremely destructive. As a pre-med myself, I have experienced this phenomenon in many different forms during my time at McGill. Whether my classmates ignore my questions in class group chats, refuse to provide help with assignments or labs, or just constantly try to one-up my accomplishments, being immersed in such a cutthroat environment has certainly taken its toll. 

Sabine El Khoury, a D2 Dentistry student, had similar experiences in her undergraduate years. She recalled a time when she received misleading advice from another student about how to prepare for medical and dental school interviews. The student told her that they found preparation unnecessary—despite the fact that they had practiced for the interviews relentlessly.

“I have been lied to my face about something by someone who I thought was a friend,” El Khoury said in an interview with //The McGill Tribune//. “I asked them what they were doing and they lied to me just because of the competition. So I feel that [the environment] is toxic, and it is toxic unnecessarily because that person who lied to me didn’t end up getting into [medical school].” 

The constant competition can be exhausting, agreed Alex Schneider, U2 Science, who hopes to one day become a surgeon. Currently, most  Schneider’s friends are in the faculty of Arts. 

“I just am not friends with a lot of pre-med students because I feel like all they want to think about is pre-med,” said Schneider. “I have put in the time and the work. But when I want to hang out with my friends I do not want to think about class and be in competition with all these people, because I think that’s where it can be mentally exhausting.”

Part of the problem is the extremely low acceptance rates at most medical schools, which tend to require very high GPA and Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores. At McGill, the average undergraduate GPA for someone entering the Faculty of Medicine is 3.99 for those outside of Quebec, and 3.91 for those who attended a Quebec university. At the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine, the average undergraduate GPA is a 3.95. Getting admitted to these schools is unlikely, given their meagre acceptance rates of 5.6 per cent and 8.3 per cent respectively. Such high standards can motivate and reward desperation, intimidation, and sabotage, instead of collaboration and kindness. 

Of course, medical school is extraordinarily difficult, and high standards are necessary to ensure that a student has the skills necessary to be successful. However, some schools like the University of Toronto have attempted to level the playing field by simply requiring a minimum MCAT score, but not evaluating it as a factor during admissions. Indeed, a more holistic approach might help create more well-rounded doctors. Selecting students only on the basis of their stellar grades might come at the cost of interpersonal skills and bedside manner, potentially causing worse outcomes for patients overall.

These high admission standards take their toll on aspiring doctors as well, leading directly to another harmful aspect of pre-med culture: Glorifying burnout. It can be hard not to feel guilty for taking a night off, especially when your GPA can determine so much about your future. 

El Khoury wishes she made more time for friends during her time in undergrad, instead of constantly excusing herself to study. 

“Looking back, I realize that I didn’t make as many friends as I wanted to because I was focussed so much on school,” El Khoury said. “If people were going out, I would say ‘I can’t, because I have to study.’”

While student burnout is not unique to McGill, the university’s lack of resources for students who intend to study medicine can leave them adrift. While advisors in the Faculty of Science can offer advice for pre-med students, their expertise in pre-med is poorly advertised. Instead, students turn to online spaces, such as the r/premed subreddit, which do not necessarily have the most accurate advice. One helpful resource the university does have is Medical Direction (MD), a completely student-run pre-medical society that supports students interested in medical professions. While the university does have a one-year pre-med program for incoming CEGEP students, it is only available to Quebec students.

Shreya Mahasenan, the program director for Medical Direction, admitted to falling into the trap of endless online resources, such as the over-abundance of information available at the nonprofit Student Doctor Network. In Mahasenan’s opinion, these sites promote an unsustainable lifestyle that usually produces burnout. One article she recalls reading during her first year boasted that no successful pre-med would stop studying to go out on a Friday night, while another suggested that anyone who performed poorly in a first-year class was “barely smart enough to be in school, let alone be a doctor.”

“You get a couple of years in and you realize a lot of the burnout you have could have been avoided by simply not making yourself grind on a Friday night,” Mahasenan said. 

After struggling to find the right information, Mahasenan ended up turning toward Medical Direction in search of other students to share experiences with.

“I would very much say that Medical Direction is students helping students,” Mahasenan said. “I think that’s what united a lot of people in the executive body [of Medical Direction]. We were those people who thought it was odd that there weren’t a lot of pre-med services or resources on campus.”

In many schools in the United States, such as UC Berkeley and the University of Texas at Austin, there are specific advisors that help guide pre-med students through the process of obtaining prerequisites and applying to medical school. Having resources like this at McGill—and advertising them to students explicitly—could help pre-med students feel less isolated and less inclined to turn toward those harmful online rabbit holes.

The lack of resources can make the journey into medicine even harder for those facing financial stress or other barriers, visible or not. Basing acceptance off students’ standardized tests like the MCAT can give those with more money and resources an unfair advantage. It’s far easier to do well on the MCAT when you have enough money to afford expensive prep resources and enough time to undergo hours of tutoring. By putting a lot of weight on the MCAT for medical school admissions, schools often end up rewarding wealthy, predominantly white students. 

Moreover, applying to medicine in and of itself, Mahasenan noted, is expensive. Racial diversity can compound this factor: One study at UCLA found that there is significant implicit racial bias in medical school admissions.

“Medicine is not always the most equitable field in terms of access, and people run into so many associated costs that come with paying for the MCAT or paying for applications,” Mahasenan said. 

In an attempt to bridge the gap, Medical Direction provides resources to students who have to work extra hard to get to the same place as more privileged students. The club offers upwards of $1500 in bursary awards and other support for students.

No matter where one falls on the income spectrum, however, achievement has costs beyond the financial. Pre-med culture is the perfect recipe for poor mental health, with gruelling competition often leading to insecurity and imposter syndrome, where you doubt your abilities and grapple with feelings of fraud. 

A study by the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego discovered a greater prevalence and severity of major depressive disorder (MDD) among pre-medical students, particularly female and Hispanic students. This finding, on top of the fact that almost 50 per cent of university-age students in Montreal report anxiety and depression symptoms, paints an extremely alarming picture.

El Khoury said she noticed her mental health deteriorate once she began to apply to medical and dental schools. 

“I started having mental health problems during the end of undergrad when it was time to apply to all these schools because it was very stressful,” El Khoury said. “I was in the [mindset] where I thought that I didn’t deserve to get in because you hear about all these stories of people with [a] 4.0 [GPA] that don’t get in. So I was unnecessarily hard on myself.”

Given the sheer number of pre-med students at McGill, there need to be more mental health resources that are better publicized and easier to access than the current avenues available. As it is, students can seek help at the Student Wellness Hub and keep.meSAFE. Initiatives such as FRezCa, which offer one-on-one help for large prerequisite classes, may help first-year pre-med students feel less lost and alone. 

A good starting place for solving these issues could be in the actual classroom. In fact, some professors are already trying to change their students’ mindsets. Laura Pavelka, a faculty lecturer in the Department of Chemistry, has found that her students often hold themselves to unduly high standards. Pavelka also notices that students with the goal of medical school are particularly stressed and anxious.

“Part of that anxiety stems from the idea that anything but a 4.0 is failure,” Pavelka wrote in an email to the //Tribune//. “I find this extremely upsetting on many levels, as practicing doctors need so much more than strong academics. This drive for academic success can be at a detriment to many interpersonal skills and empathetic personality traits.”

The pressure also stems from high-stakes testing, which is common practice among science classes. Pavelka believes that professors should instead try to model what students will be expected to do in the workforce.

“When so much rides on one assessment, it is inevitably going to lead to a hyper-competitive and high anxiety situation for all students,” Pavelka said. “Outside of a university class structure, learning is much more self-directed, collaborative, and low-stakes.”

Most of all, Pavelka emphasized that it can be unrealistic to know what your future holds at the age of 17 or 18. I identify with her words immensely. As someone who changes my mind every few weeks about what I want to do for a living, it is important to remember that changing your dream does not mean you failed—it just means you have grown. For many, giving up the pre-medical path is the right choice. As for those who stay, it is important to advocate for yourself and your own mental wellness. After all, for a system ostensibly focussed on health, the well-being of students in pre-med and medical programs is a shockingly low priority.

Editorial, Opinion

In the minimum wage fight, a living wage is right

by The McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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On Oct. 7, a group of anti-poverty advocacy groups and unions in Quebec, including La Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ), Syndicat de professionnelles et professionnels du gouvernement du Québec (SPGQ), and Collectif pour un Québec sans pauvreté, sent out a memo demanding that Quebec increase their minimum wage to $18/hour—a marked shift from their 2016 demand of $15/hour. The groups cited the province’s increasing costs of living that threaten to push workers deeper into poverty as the driving force behind their renewed calls for a living wage. Not only would an $18/hour wage make Quebec a more egalitarian society, it would simultaneously increase the purchasing power of the population—especially for women, a move that may help reduce the widening income gap. On behalf of the students, parents, immigrants, and other diverse communities that make up much of the minimum-wage earning class, Quebec must concede to these demands and move toward a living wage.

Quebec’s minimum wage currently sits at $13.50/hour without tips and at $10.80/hour with tips. Quebec is the only province that differentiates between a tipped wage an untipped one, with the tipped wage being the lowest wage in Canada. Some might explain away the lower wage by pointing to Montreal’s lauded affordability in comparison to the devastating housing and cost of living crises in cities like  Toronto and Vancouver. Ontario and British Columbia’s minimum wages are $14.35/hour and $15.20/hour, respectively. However, it remains that the average minimum-wage earner cannot afford rent in any of these provinces. In Montreal, only one-fifth of neighbourhoods have affordable one-bedroom options for minimum wage earners, and next to no affordable options for two-bedroom apartments. 

Added to the inflation of grocery prices, workers in Montreal face challenges to their physical needs and safety. These issues, compounded by the strain of deteriorating mental health, simultaneously decrease productivity and cause long lasting cyclical and detrimental impacts on the working class. By refusing to increase an unlivable minimum wage, Quebec sends a clear message to the workers that their basic needs and dignity are not a priority.

An $18/hour wage would protect workers’ lives. No government posturing or corporate social responsibility can make up for the lack of a living wage. Currently, workers sacrifice their physical and mental health, family time, and upward mobility in education for just enough money to scrape by. Facing an economy where a university degree is no longer enough to secure financial success in the future, many low-income and international students grapple with the additional burden of paying tuition without the benefits of intergenerational wealth. International students in particular are subjected to miscommunication and below minimum wage earnings.

The $10.80/hour tipped wage alone raises questions. Even though wages should not depend on performance, workers end up relying on arbitrary factors like their customers’ unpredictable goodwill, wallet, and even what time of day it is. Factors like cultural norms, vaccine scepticism, explicit and implicit gender, racial, and sexual biases, and the restaurant’s prices cause disparities in tipping. Quebec should not regulate an unregulatable practice. While this move may appear to place a drastic and unreasonable burden on the province, living on minimum wage should not be synonymous with poverty. With pandemic benefits and restrictions steadily lifting, changing to a living wage could potentially solve labour shortages and stimulate economic participation by incentivizing workers to re-enter the local economy as well as mitigating tipping disparities.


Though not without a fight, the living wage campaign has glimmers of hope. The federal minimum wage’s increase to $15/hour for federal workers will put pressure on the Quebec government facing a re-election campaign in 2022. The signatories can look optimistically at Canadian labour history where groups like the Canadian Union of Postal Workers’ “militant” strikes and walkouts for above average wages succeeded in sending workers’ rights shock waves across the country. Quebec is no stranger to acquiescing to demands: Facing strikes, Quebec recently increased daycare workers’ pay. Without essential workers, society falls into disarray. Without a living wage, workers suffer inhumanely. Quebec should go the distance to implement a living wage, and if not, should expect resistance.

Hockey, Sports

Redbirds Hockey leaves RMC reeling with 10-2 victory

by Madison McLauchlan on

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A total of nine different McGill hockey players scored in the span of 60 minutes on Oct. 16, when the Redbirds (1–1) hosted Royal Military College (RMC) (0–1) for the second of six pre-season games. The Redbirds scored early and often, demolishing the visitors with a fatal 10-2 final score. 

From the puck drop, it was an intense affair—being only the second game in front of a home crowd, the game was lively and, at times, rowdy. Fourth-year forward and alternate captain Jordan-Ty Fournier took an interference penalty within the first minute, setting a precedent for what became an aggressive matchup, racking up 23 penalties overall. McGill scored four times when the call was in their favour, in contrast to RMC, who failed to capitalize on their nearly 20 minutes of power play time. 

The Redbirds dominated the ice in the first two periods, winning face-offs and never letting the puck linger in their defensive zone for too long. After third-year forward Blake Hayward opened the floodgates with a goal on McGill’s second power play, McGill converted six more times consecutively. Rookies Brandon Frattaroli, Caiden Daley, and Alex Plamondon tallied once each in their first victory suited up as Redbirds. 

RMC’s frustration was evident, through both the aggression they exhibited and the time-out they took midway through a five-on-three power play. Despite the advantage, RMC still could not maneuver past the wall of Scott Walford, who was awarded the first star of the game for one goal and two assists. 

(Elissa Dresdner / The McGill Tribune)

First-year goaltender Lucas Pfeil allowed zero goals on 16 shots over 35 minutes, before first-year Alexis Shank replaced him. Despite only manning the nets for a portion of the game, Shank, a Montreal Canadiens prospect who saved nine out of eleven shots, was optimistic about what the game meant for the team’s upcoming season. 

“Our […] goal is to go for the cup,” Shank said. “But right now we [are just] focussing on the process, and good things [are going] to happen.”

Teammate William Cyr, boasting one goal and one assist, was pleased with the team’s offensive chemistry. 

“I think we battled well together, and we did what we did in practice,” Cyr said. “We converged well [at] the net and we took rebounds [….] I think we have a great group, we’re having fun out there and just battling every day. We’re all working out and working hard, and we’ll get better each day.” 

Cyr was unbothered by the several penalties his teammates took, as the Redbirds killed off every single one. 

“Last two games, we had more than 16 penalties,” Cyr admitted. “When it’s 7-1, 7-2, for sure they will call against us, so it’s preseason, it was a good game [for everybody]. We had fun and just battled together, even though we played on the penalty kill like 15 times.” 

First-year forward Olivier Mathieu, who had one assist, felt that the team accomplished what they set out to do, evidenced by the final score. 

“Our coaches have put a pretty good system in to beat those big teams, and I think we executed the system pretty [well],” Mathieu said. “Our coach, during the second intermission, said to make sure we follow the game plan and not to lose our heads.”

The Redbirds play their next two pre-season games against rival Concordia, on Oct. 22 and 23, in preparation for the regular season kickoff on Nov. 3. 

Quotable:

“The ambiance was incredible. I don’t know how many people were there tonight, but on Wednesday, there weren’t many people [….] It was actually a tough one, we lost Wednesday, [but we] bounced back. It’s just 20 games, we can’t afford to lose two in a row. Just winning with the boys, it’s actually a pretty good vibe right now.” — First-year Olivier Mathieu on playing in front of a crowd again. 

Moment of the Game: 

Just over a minute into the second period, defenceman William Cyr buried a stunning, but unlikely, long shot from the blue line, bringing the score to 4-0 for McGill. 

Stat Corner: 

The McGill Redbirds have not scored ten goals in a single game since 2011, when they beat Ottawa 10-5. 

Off the Board, Opinion

Grappling with my love for misogynistic rap

by Madison McLauchlan on

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On the train home a few weeks ago, I was about to pop on my headphones and listen to Kendrick Lamar when I overheard a conversation between two young white girls discussing their music taste. “I don’t understand how you can listen to rap,” one of the girls said. “All they talk about is money, drugs, and raping women.” Her friend agreed, adding that country music was much better and less controversial—as though the so-called purity of music is intrinsically tied to its artistic value.

I was immediately filled with a sense of indignation: Who were they to denounce an entire genre of music, one that was rooted in the history of Black liberation, one that has been used as a form of protest against oppressive structures since its inception? I knew that this stranger’s take was incredibly ignorant, but I still felt chastened. The next song in my queue was “My Dawg” by 21 Savage & Metro Boomin, where 21 raps about catching snitches and gang murder, among other concepts far removed from my life experience. Despite the murky content, it’s a sonically energizing track that I often reach for. I know music streams provide inadvertent support for these male rappers, but as a woman, how far can that support go without compromising my moral principles? 

When I first started seriously listening to harder rap, I was in the midst of a tumultuous emotional period, and sad indie music was not cutting it. Listening to the pugnacious bars of Kodak Black or Skepta empowered me to feel like “that bitch,” ready to embrace an overexaggerated bravado and propel myself forward despite the setbacks thrown my way. These rap and drill tracks provide a taste of what it’s like to walk through the world as a man—and a powerful one, at that.

Rap music puts up an impenetrable barrier of confidence between myself and the world. Blasting gangsta rap through my headphones and hearing the bass pulsate through my core is the closest I come to feeling dangerous, a major deviation from my typical feeling of fear as a woman of short stature. Listening to violent, gritty bars fuels me in a way that no other type of music does—it holds affective power and allows me to feel and channel my rage—an emotion that women are often told is inappropriate. Black women, in particular, are doubly affected as they must navigate the “angry Black woman” stereotype. 

This moral dilemma reminds me of the notion of disidentification, a concept proposed by queer theorist José Esteban Muñoz that explains how gender, sexual, and racial minorities can engage with mainstream art forms that are created within a structure of oppression. Choosing to align yourself for or against a cultural product are not the only two options—you can repurpose the art to suit your life and identity. Appreciating culture without endorsing it is possible, and even necessary, for engaging with works as subjective as music. 

My love of female rappers, thankfully, does not pose the same moral dilemma. My favourites, like Megan Thee Stallion and Little Simz, are talented artists who rarely bring down other women in their music. 

Separately from thematic content, problematic moguls in the rap industry should be held accountable for the harm they cause people, as with any other individual with widespread influence. Rap has its fair share of problematic personas—Chris Brown and Tory Lanez spring to mind—but then again, so does country music, which is rooted in white supremacy and has a serious domestic violence problem. Stereotyping an entire genre of artistry, especially one whose artists are overwhelmingly people of colour, is a narrow-minded cop-out that does not help to dismantle the rampant misogyny within the music industry. 

Cultural products are whatever you make them, as music is a deeply personal experience, aurally, and emotionally. Engaging critically with the rap I adore continues to teach me about many different lived perspectives—both those who benefit from the patriarchy and systems of oppression, and those who fall victim to it—all with a chip on my shoulder and a rhythm in my step.   

Arts & Entertainment, Books

The multifaceted stories of ‘Personal Attention Roleplay’

by Ian Clements, Suzanna Graham, Dana Prather, Ella Gomes, Sylvie Bourque, Avryl Bender on

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Montreal-based writer and fiction editor Helen Chau Bradley is set to release their debut story collection Personal Attention Roleplay on Nov. 23 under Metonymy Press. The McGill Tribune reviews the stories ahead of this upcoming release.

“Only The Lonely,” Ian Clements

“Only The Lonely” follows the relationships of an unemployed Meals on Wheels volunteer living in Montreal. The story begins with the unnamed protagonist’s romantic relationship with V, a polarizing figure in their community. The protagonist also develops a friendship with Joe, a Meals on Wheels client, for whom they sing and play songs on the guitar for. The story skillfully explores themes of queer loneliness and power dynamics within different relationships. The story’s characterization of emotional investment and intimacy is stripped down and raw, yet descriptive and wryly humourous.

“The End of Gods and Heroes,” Suzanna Graham

“The End of Gods and Heroes” is a wholesome story that discusses the complexities of friendship and growing up. Childhood friends Tommy and Shirin bond over a fantastical game of gods and heroes, where they imagine themselves as characters in their favourite Greek myths. Although their childhood innocence protects them, the girls use these morals as a guide while they question family identity, loyalty, and betrayal. In the end, they must decide what it means to be a hero, and if they themselves are truly worthy of this title. 

“Personal Attention Roleplay,” Dana Prather

This titular story finds an unnamed 20-something-year-old “listicle” writer navigating a situationship with her roommate Jasmine. Written from a second-person perspective, the reader is enveloped in every sensation the protagonist experiences, from intense pain caused by Jasmine’s increasingly distant behaviour to the serenity felt when watching ASMR videos. As her connection with Jasmine crumbles, she becomes entranced by YukiASMR, a YouTuber espousing the virtues of a minimalist life. Seamlessly blending themes of queer identity and obsession, “Personal Attention Roleplay” will leave you satisfied, but deeply unsettled. 

“Sheila” Ella Gomes

“Sheila” follows strong-willed May and her energetic daughter Mimi as they pass a harsh winter day in a cozy record store in Toronto. While tracing the lifetime of a Rachmaninoff record from purchase to destruction, readers learn of May’s rocky history with Mrs. Timoransky, an outwardly chilly piano teacher, and Sheila, a haunting figure from her past. With references to the uncontrollable “animal instinct” and transitions into adulthood, “Sheila” reads like an ode to unexpected change and the natural cycles of adaptation that guide our lives.

“The Queue,” Sylvie Bourque

Drawing inspiration from Vladimir Sorokin’s novel “The Queue,” which tells the story of people waiting in line solely through their dialogue, Bradley modernizes the tale to fit the 21st century. Weaving in relevant discussions and dialogue, the queue represents shared feelings of community, and isolation, that many experienced over the pandemic. While some try to find humour in discussing COVID-19, Bradley explores deep and divisive topics such as public health measures, politics, and police brutality—themes that reveal how the pandemic infiltrates the most fundamental aspects of peoples’ livelihoods. Bradley’s story reveals how the pandemic has uncovered a universal desire for reconnection.

“Surface Dive,” Avryl Bender

In “Surface Dive,” Bradley tells the story of an experienced swimmer finally returning to her local pool after a harrowing experience in the waters by her family cottage. Bradley uses beautifully descriptive words, flowing seamlessly back and forth between the main character’s past and present experiences. Weaving alliteration into a story of ambiguity and suspense, Bradley’s writing embodies the smooth waters of the lake this intriguing mystery takes place in.

McGill, Montreal, News

McGill partners with Centraide to host walk/run fundraiser in annual campaign

by Madison Edward-Wright on

More in McGill:

McGill announced on Oct. 12 that it is partnering with Centraide of Greater Montreal for its 2021 Centraide Campaign. The campaign, managed by the McGill Centraide Committee, will raise funds to help alleviate  financial burdens of Montrealers in need, providing support for rent, food, education, and other necessities. 

The main event of the Centraide campaign is the virtual “Let’s Move for Centraide” walk/run. Participants choose a day between Oct. 15 and Nov. 19 to complete a five- or 10-kilometre run or walk that can be completed indoors on a treadmill or outdoors. To certify that they have completed the walk/run, participants must track their activity using an app like Strava Run or Nike Run Club and then submit the activity record to McGill.

Participation in “Let’s Move for Centraide” costs 20 dollars, withall proceeds donated to Centraide. Four major donors—Stephen Bronfman, Mitch Garber, Andrew Lutfy, and Lino A. Saputo—will match every donation of 10,000 dollars that McGill makes to Centraide. Darshan Daryanani, the Students’ Society of McGill University president and member of the McGill Centraide Committee, believes the campaign will have a positive impact on local communities.

“This year, McGill’s target is to raise $425,000,” Daryanani wrote in an email to the McGill Tribune. “Each agency [supported by Centraide] has a different culturally appropriate and community-based approach, which will help to create inclusive and resilient communities and break the cycle of poverty and social exclusion locally.”

Another event that will be occurring toward the end of the McGill 2021 Centraide Campaign is a zumba class, hosted by Ender Nava. The fee to participate in the class is $10, and all proceeds from the class will be donated to Centraide.

The COVID-19 pandemic affected Montrealers in different ways, but the marginalized and diverse communities supported by organizations like Centraide were hit harder than most. McGill reported that in Quebec, 24,000 women dropped out of the labour market and 12.9 per cent of the lowest-paid workers in the area lost their jobs since the onset of the pandemic.

As a result of this trend, Centraide established four emergency funds: Centraide COVID-19 Emergency Fund, Youth Fund, Emergency Community Support Fund, and the New Horizons for Seniors Program. The McGill administration acknowledged these funds are an important step in helping Montrealers overcome the consequences of the pandemic.

“As a COVID-19 response, Centraide established different funds, projects and programs to help vulnerable people and those weakened by the health crisis,” wrote Frédérique Mazerolle, a McGill media relations officer. “McGill is committed more than ever to our partnership with Centraide and the need to extend our support, kindness, and compassion to vulnerable Montrealers.”

Some students, however, such as Doris Tian, U2 Arts, were unaware of the campaign. Ultimately, Tian was happy to learn of McGill’s efforts.

“I had not heard of the Centraide campaign before, either from McGill or outside the McGill bubble,” Tian wrote. “It seems like a very timely philanthropic campaign to launch in the aftermath of COVID, and I am glad McGill is promoting social initiatives such as this one.”

Sophie Hart, U3 Arts and lead organizer at Mobilizing for Milton-Parc, discussed the influence that a campaign such as this can have on the relationship between students and the larger Montreal community. 

“I think it is great [that] McGill is inviting students to think about their role as citizens in Montreal and the importance of student involvement, whether it be volunteering or donating, to community organizations,” Hart wrote in an email to the Tribune. “COVID-19 helped many people see the importance of community and care for one another, so I hope this campaign will be successful and will encourage student learning about community organizations.”

Arts & Entertainment, Books

‘Orcs in Space’ is bloody cute

by Lowell Wolfe on

More in Arts & Entertainment:

Fantastical bloodthirsty main characters? Check. High-speed space-chases? Check. Modesty? Not quite. Orcs in Space, Justin Roiland’s new graphic novel published by Oni Press, features 100 pages of amusing, carefree adventures in an uncanny outer space backdrop, all illustrated by Montreal-based artist François Vigneault. 

Slated to be the first volume of many, Orcs in Space follows three goblin ruffians who, by a stroke of luck, obtain access to the galaxy’s most technologically advanced spaceship and its A.I. operator—who eventually becomes their close companion and confidant. Gor, Kravis, and Mongtar are not afraid to spill blood—and other fluids—on the run in this brash but comedic space odyssey. Alongside these non-traditional heroines stands an array of enemies and allies as diverse as the stars in the sky. Cyborgs, pirates, and tentacled seductresses beware. 

Vigneault’s illustrations leap from the page. Loaded with vibrant hues, his cartoony style soaks the novel’s characters and settings in gaudy, unmoderated detail. Such creativity reigns without restraint throughout Orcs in Space: Every scene, whether it be a bar fight at “the hippest club in the galaxy,” or a laser-blaster shootout with “Space Rats,” presents a smörgåsbord of details that keep the reader engaged and amused. 

Orcs in Space secures the reader’s laughter as if holding a knife to their throats. Each protagonist—one little, one big, and one extremely bloodthirsty—fills a different conversational niche, keeping the plot animated and humorous. Ironic and self-referential Gen-Z comedy bleeds into the realm of the uncanny and bizarre; zany and avant-garde plot twists remind the reader that the story is, literally, out of this world. Jokes leave the reader constantly gasping for breath.

Just as the story takes place in many weightless environments, Orcs in Space makes no claims of having gravitas. Its tight plot and eccentric graphics provide a purely fun and brazen read that will have the reader turning pages at light speed to see the next dismemberment. However, the narrative’s easygoing atmosphere does not override artistic integrity; on the contrary, it bolsters it. The novel presents aesthetics, characterization, and plot development with expertise. Readers may be just going for a joyride, but they should still buckle their seatbelts. 

Volume two of Orcs in Space is currently slated for a February 2022 release. Vigneault’s other works include Titan (2020) and 13e Avenue (2018).

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