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Chill Thrills, Student Life

McGill-themed Halloween costumes: 2021 Edition

by Holly Wethey, Wendy Zhao on

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With Halloween just around the corner, The McGill Tribune offers you nine McGill-themed costumes that are sure to set you apart from other party-goers. 

1. Cloudberry

A star of the McGill Reddit thread, this albino squirrel has become somewhat of a mythical creature at McGill, with a sighting guaranteed to bring you good luck. Throw on a long fluffy white jacket to achieve the look. For an eerie take on this costume, opt for some red contact lenses (though it is debatable whether red-eyed albino squirrels are of the same family as the beloved Cloudberry).

2. Vegan hot dog 

Though Hot Dog Mobile sells a variety of hotdogs—from polish sausages to jumbo hot dogs—the vegan hot dog remains a favourite among McGill students. Just hit up your local costume shop and pick up a hot dog costume, but be sure to customize it with the classic toppings we know and love (and if you’re feeling brave, include sauerkraut). Remember to indicate somewhere that you are dressed as a vegan hot dog in order to distinguish yourself from other hot-dog-costume-wearing people whose costumes aren’t as ethically sourced as yours.

3. Dispatch Barista

Known for their iconic hipster, nonchalant style, Dispatch baristas are an excellent source of costume inspiration. Simply grab a beanie, a pair of overalls—the more industrial the better, and holes in the denim are an added bonus— and some ironically hipster glasses, and you’re good to go. Head to a bar and people are sure to think they’ve spotted the sixth member of The Backstreet Boys during their golden age in the ‘90s.

4. Chris Buddle

The legend who got us through a tough time with his speeches and Q&A sessions via Instagram Live certainly deserves to be honoured in costume. Throw on a page boy hat and some wide-rimmed glasses to achieve the look. Bonus: If you have a beard, see if you can groom it as immaculately as Buddle does (Just kidding, we all know it’s impossible to emulate perfectly).

5. Classics Major

No one can top classics majors’ dark academia aesthetic. Pull on a crisp button down and layer it under a sweater vest and you’ll be sure to have people thinking you just stepped out of The Secret History. Remember, when it comes to classics, it’s all about layering. See how many sweaters you can fit on top of one another. For a more traditional route, simply throw on a toga.

6. Desautels Chad

Anyone can pull off the Desautels Chad look if they have enough confidence. Though a suit is an asset, all that is really needed is a passion for the stock market and an enthusiasm for discussing your latest bitcoin purchases. Pro-tip: A Peaky Blinders haircut will also do the trick.

7. Skeleton from Anatomy Lab 

This costume is really a two-in-one. Arts students will think you’re dressed as Phoebe Bridgers, but those in science will know the truth. However, if you ask an anatomy major they’ll likely say that the scariest thing about anatomy labs isn’t the skeletons, but the assignments. 

8. Orange dot on myCourses 

The apple of our eyes, this menacing dot signals ominous futures. Put on a dark orange shirt and beanie to strike fear in onlookers’ eyes. Though you might repel your friends with this costume because of how lame you’ll look, the orange dot works its magic anyways. 

9. The mysterious box on the steps of Arts 

Too soon? If you’re daring, tie two bands of rope onto a box large enough to step inside and become the harbinger of drama on campus. For an added dynamic element to your costume, walk through the streets performing the classic mime act: Stuck in a box. People will be confused, but such is the sign of a successful showing. 

McGill, News

RSN hosts debate on individual versus systemic climate action

by Lily Cason on

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On Oct. 19, McGill’s Research and Sustainability Network (RSN) held a virtual debate on the topic of individual versus systemic solutions to the climate crisis. The event featured three McGill professors who research environmental sustainability in their respective fields: Sanjith Gopalakrishnan, assistant professor of operations management in the Desautels Faculty of Management; Dror Etzion, associate professor of strategy and organization, also at Desautels; and Brian Robinson, assistant professor in the Department of Geography. 

Shanaya D’sa, U4 Arts and co-president of the RSN, moderated the discussion. D’sa explained that the group’s mission is to help undergraduates get involved in sustainability-related research.

“The Research and Sustainability Network is a student-founded [SSMU] group that aims to bridge the gap between researchers and undergraduates,” D’sa said. “Through speaker series, panel discussions, and socials, we aim to feature a number of sustainability-related topics in an interdisciplinary environment.”

The panellists were first asked about the difference between individual and systemic climate action and how they believe the burden of action against climate change should be distributed. Gopalakrishnan emphasized that, contrary to popular opinion, change can stem from individual-level action, but that an overall mix of institutional and individual action is needed.

“As individuals, it can often appear that we are sort of powerless in front of much larger players to do anything meaningful, but that is not quite true,” Gopalakrishnan said. “There are several ways in which you can make meaningful impacts. Food choice is one of them, [as is] moderating your consumption, rewarding companies or individuals who make right or ethical choices. All of these things are things that individuals can do and individuals must do.”

Etzion took a slightly different stance, arguing that the individual and institutional levels are inherently interconnected. While he cautioned that their interrelation can be for better and worse, Etzion believes it is possible for individual choices to influence positive systemic change. 

“[There is] very recent work that says […] the way that you can influence solar panels in your neighbourhood is through contagion,” Dror said. “So, if people see solar panels around them, they are going to put solar panels on their buildings as well. If we create clusters of people having solar, then it is going to influence more and more people to have solar.” 

Robinson approached the topic from a totally different angle, stating institutional change is imperative, even if change at the individual level might feel more attainable to some. 

“[W]e have little ability to rely on institutions to actually handle some of the forms of change that we need to see, despite that being where the change needs to happen,” Robinson said. “[Institutions] are the ones that shape some of the choices that we have to make as consumers and as individuals. They need to sort of set the bounds on those.”

The speakers noted that financially disadvantaged, racialized, and other marginalized communities often bear the brunt of the climate crisis. Robinson emphasized the importance of listening to these groups rather than talking over them.

“We cannot let our own institutions and policies of ‘good will’ overcome or overwhelm the autonomy and choice of these communities,” Robinson said. “They need to be part of the solution and they need to be part of the discussion.”

At the tail end of the question and answer period, Amelia Murphy, U3 Arts and Science, asked the panellists a simple question: “Are we screwed?”

Gopalakrishnan answered “no,” optimistic about the amount of attention the climate crisis is currently receiving, but that we must remain diligent. 

“I do not think we are screwed,” Gopalakrishnan said. “There are lots of people working on solutions. We can be optimistic, but not complacent.”

A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the debate took place on Sept. 19. In fact, the debate took place on Oct. 19.

News, SSMU

SSMU Board of Directors debate J-Board’s judgment on SPHR McGill v. SSMU case

by Madison Edward-Wright on

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On Oct. 21, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Board of Directors (BoD) met to address several motions, including a motion to ratify the SSMU Judicial Board’s (J-Board) final judgement on Students in Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights McGill (SPHR) v. SSMU. 

The original Nakba Day motion was discussed and approved by the SSMU Legislative Council on May 13, in an allegedly confidential session. Typically, the Legislative Council approves in a public session. Once motions leave the Legislative Council, they go to the SSMU BoD to get ratified. The SSMU BoD is a significantly smaller council and they often meet in confidential sessions. SPHR and Bryan Buraga, a student representative for SPHR and former SSMU president, submitted a petition to the J-Board, claiming that the BoD’s choice to not approve the Nakba Day motion was invalid because the vote occurred in a confidential BoD session. The final J-Board ruling dictated that the BoD should reassess the original motion regarding Nakba Day and bring it to vote again. 

The majority of the SSMU BoD’s discussion revolved around whether or not to approve the J-Board’s ruling. Many BoD members expressed concern that the J-Board ruling does not hold, because the Legislative Council approved the motion in an allegedly confidential session. 

“I hope that the [BoD] can go through the facts and make sure that there are no other errors, as well, so that there is not a continual back and forth [between J-Board and BoD],” said BoD member-at-large Beatrice Mackie. 

Mackie also defended the BoD’s decision to keep the meeting minutes involving the Nakba Day decision confidential.

“I do feel uncomfortable with the remedy of allowing the minutes to be published even if our names are taken off, simply because it has happened before where members of the Board and SSMU have received death threats and threats to their safety,” Mackie said, “I would strongly recommend against [making the meeting minutes public].”

Alex Karasick, SSMU Legislative council representative to the BoD, apologized for the BoD’s nearly four-month delay in submitting required documents requested by J-Board. 

“My apologies to the Judicial Board and former president Buraga for both our delay in responding and the delay in form,” Karasick said. “It was an unfortunate combination of internal factors and just bureaucracy [….] SSMU is an absolute horrendous beast of bureaucracy.”

The motion to ratify the J-Board ruling was not passed by the BoD; instead, it was replaced by a motion to reconsider the judgement and have director Karasick provide J-Board with a written statement of the reconsideration. This second motion passed with seven votes in favour, two abstentions, and none opposed. 

The Board also addressed a motion regarding nominations to the BoD and a motion for the interim replacement of SSMU president Darshan Daryanani by SSMU vice-president (VP) Finance Eric Sader as the signatory on SSMU meeting minutes and documents. The motion to temporarily cede these responsibilities to Sader was unanimously passed. 

Moment of the Meeting:

The meeting opened with an overview of SSMU’s financial audit, presented by two members of the Fuller Landau accounting firm. One finding from the audit was that fees for the SSMU Health & Dental Plan had decreased for individual students by an average of 12 dollars per student, but that the overall fees collected by SSMU for the plan increased by 70,000 dollars because 439 more students subscribed to it.   

Soundbite:

“If you folks feel like you have not had the opportunity to say your piece, I might suggest that you send it back to the J-Board and make sure that this time you submit your respondent forms and declarations on time so that we can adjudicate this as expeditiously as possible. Otherwise it would be nice to see the Board of Directors ratify it at this point and just go through the procedures properly and follow things by the letter as laid out in the internal regulations.” 

—Former SSMU president Bryan Buraga on behalf of SPHR McGill trying to expedite the decision process that began four months ago.

Commentary, Opinion

Facebook’s blackout should inspire us to reevaluate our relationship with the internet

by Courtney Squires on

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On Monday, Oct. 4, at approximately 11:30 a.m., the entirety of Facebook shut down due to an internal malfunction. Its 3.5 billion users were denied access for approximately six hours, resulting in global panic and complaints. With WhatsApp, Messenger, Instagram, and all the other Facebook-owned platforms also down, many of McGill’s clubs and student-run organizations were left scrambling to find alternative methods of communication. Despite the temptation to surrender to the simplicity of remote learning, the outage served as a reminder that students and instructors should stay grounded in tangible learning, like taking handwritten notes rather than typing, and attending in-person lectures rather than watching the recorded ones. 

The outage was a stark reminder of our dependence on social media. In a boom of online school and work, the pandemic has become a turning point: Society has now entered an irrevocable interdependent relationship with the internet. 

Within four hours of the shutdown, Twitter’s official account tweeted about the influx of new users migrating to their platform from Facebook. Within hours, the tweet amassed over 2.4 million likes. Many news sources were providing live updates throughout the incident, the first serious outage Facebook has had since 2019. As the software came back online, Facebook apologized in a tweet, and CEO Mark Zuckerburg also issued a statement in a post. However, already exposed was the terrifying reality that Facebook dominates our lives. 

Billions of people use Facebook every day, relying on it for communication of all sorts. Outside of North America, WhatsApp is the main platform for communication. With over two billion users worldwide, it was estimated to generate between five and 10 billion dollars in revenue for Facebook in 2020 alone. Added to Facebook’s monopoly on advertising and user data, the company has immense control over its users’ behaviour and encounters. At McGill, students use Facebook to chat with classmates and discuss course material—a now-normalized version of study groups. But many clubs and student-run activities at McGill also rely on Facebook’s apps for communication purposes, especially over the pandemic. 

But many clubs and student-run activities at McGill also rely on Facebook’s apps for communication purposes, especially over the pandemic. With many operations now fully online, social media and the internet permeated into nearly all aspects of life. This rapid switch from analogue to digital prompted the development of online softwares designed to ease the transition, propelling platforms like Zoom to see an unprecedented boom in popularity. The internet is convenient and efficient, and as the world slowly opens up and normalcy returns, society is left with a growing—and potentially permanent—dependence on online technologies. 

However, as much as society needs the internet, the internet also needs society. The outage resulted in Facebook shares plummeting 4.9 per cent—their biggest drop in almost a year. There is heavy corporate reliance on the customer base, and Facebook depends on their users to generate revenue. A self-sustaining cycle is created: The internet and social media are made popular by society and society uses them due to their popularity. This growing reliance on technology suggests the internet will continue to remain a crucial part of everyday life, but such a codependent relationship could have disastrous consequences, leaving society’s future entanglement with technology uncertain. 

Luckily, the majority of McGill’s coursework is distributed through myCourses, which is not a Facebook platform, but we can rest assured that if Zoom were to go down in a similar way, it would certainly result in campus-wide panic. With no alternative way to deliver online classes, McGill will need to confront post-pandemic academia as roughly half of the academic schedule would be thrown off course dramatically.

Student Life

McGill’s witching community is a-brewing

by Evelyn Burvant on

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The night of Oct. 22 took on a new kind of chill, when witches and queer folk alike gathered to attend “The Witching Hour” at Notre Dame Des Quilles, reading tarots, pasts, and futures.

Witchcraft may seem like ancient history, but even McGill has connections to it. McGill’s Gender, Sexuality, Feminist and Social Justice Student Association (GSFSSA) and Classics Students’ Association (CSA) collaborated to host “The Witching Hour” event with the intention of creating a safe space for both witches and queer folk. Taylor Douglas, U3 Arts and vice-president (VP) Events of the GSFSSA, explained the inspiration for the event in an interview with The McGill Tribune.

“I love the idea of reappropriating the scary witch women with independence as terrifying and beyond,” Douglas said. “Like, let’s throw this event where everyone is a witch and they’re scary and kind of queer.” 

There are many connections between gender, sexuality, and witchcraft. Rebecca Toropov, U3 Arts and CSA’s VP Events, discussed at length how witchcraft, queerness, and other marginalized communities have, in the past and present, been socially and systemically “Othered”—something Toropov believes forges solidarity among them. 

“After being considered the ‘Other,’ after being oppressed, there’s a lot of power [in] finding your people and coming to them in a safe space and utilizing that,” Toropov remarked. “I think that’s where magic is.”

The goal of the event was to create a safe place for witchy and queer communities to connect, and with attendees spending most of the night reading tarot cards and discussing fortunes, the event fulfilled its purpose. 

For many in the witchcraft community, the pagan holiday of Samhain (pronounced sah-win) is a celebration that coincides with Halloween. 

The ancient Celts believed that the barrier between the human world and the Otherworld thinned during Samhain, allowing for spirits, like deceased ancestors or supernatural beings, to walk among the living. Later, due to Samhain’s connection with pagan beliefs and practices, the holiday was vilified and associated with satanic practices, thus evolving into the Halloween we know today. Samhain is a time to honour past loved ones, but also a time of change in nature. 

Lou Schraeder, a student studying environment living in Montreal, has been practicing witchcraft since childhood. Like many people, Schraeder was drawn to the practice because of its focus on the self and personal growth. 

“That deeply intimate personal passion [is] something I haven’t been able to find in other aspects of our society,” Schraeder said. “I feel we have such a fast-paced, individualistic, and competitive and isolating culture. [With magic] you feel so vulnerable, but supported at the same time.”

With such ancient roots, it can be daunting to approach Samhain from a modern context. However, Schraeder made it abundantly clear that there is no definitive or uniform way to celebrate it. 

“I am a definite fan of candles and salt on entryways, dried rosemary for protection and luck,” she said. “I always make sure that [rosemary] is on my body somewhere,” Schraeder said. 

In addition, Schraeder carves jack-o-lanterns and watches classic seasonal movies. Her rituals for Samhain are simple, but they all relate back to ideas of self-connection and of celebrating cycles in nature. 

For your own practice, associations with Samhain may include: Apples, gold, rosemary, crows, onyx, and honey. To honour the dead, you can also make soul cakes. Try leaving them out as offerings or add them to a meal to give thanks and remember those who have left us.

Each individual’s practice is different because everyone finds connections to the earth and to themselves in unique places. If you’re a new practitioner, do your research and follow what you connect with. Remember, you don’t have to play by the book; there is no set way to celebrate magic. So good luck and happy Samhain, little witches.

Commentary, Opinion

Quebec’s hospital vaccine mandate deadline extensions highlight a crumbling health care system

by Valentina de la Borbolla on

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Quebec recently extended its deadline for the mandatory vaccination of all health care workers until Nov. 15. Additionally, the province announced that all people over the age of 13 would need to show proof of vaccination or their vaccine passport before entering health care facilities for non-essential reasons, such as visiting those in care. Quebec’s Health Minister Christian Dubé’s decision to extend the vaccine mandate deadline overlaps with the implementation of a mandatory vaccine passport to enter health care settings. Although both the mandate and the extension have brought the government under fire, the extension is the best possible option considering the circumstances. 

Dubé’s approach may seem confusing, since visitors are being asked to get vaccinated, while the people caring for those who are most vulnerable to COVID-19 are not. Those who oppose vaccination mandates applauded the extension, while many workers saw the decision as a compromise that undermines the government’s authority. Indeed, vaccine mandates have received backlash across the province, recently escalating to a legal challenge to the order. However, if Dubé had maintained his original deadline, the health care system would have lost around 22,000 workers who are currently unvaccinated—a figure that represents around 4 per cent of the province’s total health care workers. Although the percentage seems slim, it is enough to make the whole system crumble. 

Quebec’s health care system has been on the edge of failure for months: Emergency rooms are closing due to exhausted and burnt out workers, and COVID-19 wings are consistently overwhelmed. Workers have reported forced overtime work, with a nurse clocking in four 16-hour shifts back to back at one point. The loss of 22,000 nurses and doctors would be catastrophic and would result in the loss of 600 beds and 35 operating rooms province-wide. The province cannot afford to take that risk. The Quebec government holds responsibility for guaranteeing safe, reliable, and quality medical care to the population—and despite Dubé’s promises of “mammoth changes,” the situation remains critical. Taking this into account, enforcing the original deadline would have been a huge mistake. The fact that the provincial government had to choose between the short term and the long term safety of Quebecers, however, reveals a weak system with deep-rooted issues like understaffing and inhumane working conditions. 

The optics of Dubé’s decision are not ideal but the optics do not matter as much when the foundations of the system are at risk. There is a risk that the general population, and more importantly the unvaccinated staff, will not take the government’s threats seriously anymore. Furthermore, it seems like Quebec is ceding to a tiny sector of the population who is refusing to comply with public health recommendations. Nonetheless, that tiny sector could be responsible for a severe health crisis. Additionally, it is estimated that 80 per cent of the Quebec population is adequately protected against the virus. Although the vaccine does not completely eliminate the risk of infection and death, it does have the power to reduce it to a manageable level. But because the risk is not zero, especially for people who are dealing with other health issues, the government should continue the implementation of simultaneous measures like mandatory testing and increased vaccine information campaigns, and should also add new measures like limiting the access to non-essential areas like cafeterias as a way to both curb the spread of the virus and incentivize the unvaccinated staff. 

Fundamentally, the Quebec government must not grant any more extensions on this Nov. 15 deadline. Patients’ lives are at risk and should not be compromised any longer. If the idea of a vaccine mandate is no longer plausible, then new implementations of regular testing must be put in place immediately. Dubé has been firm about his intention to enforce the deadline, and the fact that, since Wednesday’s announcement, 1000 healthcare workers have gotten vaccinated, is proof that his approach is working. The cost-benefit analysis that the government is doing is brutal. It seems like officials are having to sacrifice safety for stability, and the consequences eventually fall back onto the general population. But considering the bleak situation we are in, the government is choosing the least harmful option. 

Hockey, Sports

McGill men’s hockey drops close contest to Concordia

by Adam Menikefs on

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The McGill men’s hockey team (2–2–1) continued their preseason on Oct. 23 against the Concordia Stingers (2-2), dropping a 1-0 overtime affair. 

The game started at a fast pace, with solid puck movement and strong physicality from both teams. Early in the contest, McGill had multiple opportunities to strike first, after Concordia took two minor penalties in the first 10 minutes. However, Concordia’s penalty kill successfully squashed both chances for the Redbirds, and the game remained scoreless. 

After seizing early momentum with a pressing forecheck, McGill forward Andrew McIntyre took a tripping penalty, swinging energy toward the away team. Thankfully for the Redbirds, this was not an issue, as their penalty kill unit began their game-long dominance with an early shutdown of the Stingers’ power play. 

Following a strong showing at the end of the first period, McGill immediately hurt themselves again at the start of the second period, taking a head contact minor penalty, with an additional ten-minute misconduct given to the offender, Jordan-Ty Fournier. Again, the penalty kill unit stood tall, defending their own end phenomenally for two long minutes.

“I think that our penalty kill played really well. The forwards and defensemen were consistently in great position, especially considering it was a pre-season game and we have so many new players on the team,” first-year goaltender Alexis Shank said. 

Along with the penalty kill unit, a bright spot for the Redbirds was the rookie netminder. Shank stopped 41 shots, standing on his head at many points in the game, particularly during the second and third period when he faced 30 shots over 40 minutes.

Speaking to his fantastic performance, Shank remained humble, crediting his teammates for the success.

“I think my teammates have helped my confidence both on and off the ice,” Shank said. “They limited many chances throughout the game last night, and have made me feel comfortable as a young rookie on the squad.”

Following a scoreless second period that concluded with serious tension between the benches of the rival teams, it was evident that the first team to put the puck past the outstanding netminders would win the contest. 

In the third period, both teams had excellent opportunities in their offensive zone. The Redbirds continued their strong defensive play, exemplified by a crucial sliding block by first-year forward William Poirier to prevent an attempt on goal. 

After a tense final two minutes, in which McGill successfully killed the majority of yet another Concordia power play, the two downtown rivals were off to overtime to find a winner in the extremely defensive contest.

Just a few minutes into the electric, back-and-forth 3-on-3 overtime, Concordia buried a top corner goal on an odd man rush, winning the game for the Stingers. Despite the unfortunate result, the Redbirds played solid defence and have much to build on as the team heads into the regular season.

McGill begins their OUA season at Concordia on Nov. 3, followed by a “Friends of McGill Hockey Homecoming” match up against 2019-2020 national finalists, the Ottawa Gee-Gees.

Moment of the Game:

First-year netminder Alexis Shank makes a fantastic set of saves late in the third period to maintain a shutout during regulation time.

Stat Corner:Alexis Shank saved 41 of 42 shots, the highest season total of any McGill netminder this year.

Basketball, Sports

Martlets fall in Gee-Gee 61-38 shoot-out

by Adam Burton on

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On Oct. 23, the McGill Martlets (0–1) faced off against the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees (2–1) in their second game of the pre-season. Emerging from a loss to the University of Windsor Lancers, the Martlets failed to end their losing streak coming out of the long COVID-19-induced pause of the 2020-2021 athletic season. 

Over 100 fans gathered to attend this tête-à-tête at the Love Competition Hall for what proved to be a poignant loss for McGill fans.

The game opened at a leisurely pace, with both teams playing a hyper-effective full court press, suffocating any attempts at coordinated offensive play. The Martlets only managed 11 points to the Gee-Gees’ 15 in the first quarter, on only 29.4 per cent shooting from the field. 

The second quarter began much the same as the first, with minimal scoring chances for McGill and a never-ending wave of offensive drives to the paint by Ottawa. By the end of the quarter, McGill made only eight of their 38 attempts from three, and weren’t much better from inside the arc. First-year guard Emma-Jane Scotten was a bright spot amidst an otherwise fruitless quarter, making two of three three-pointers and ultimately leading the team to score 13 points, six rebounds, and two steals. 

A quick three-pointer from Scotten and jump shot from Jessica Salanon heartened the largely uneasy McGill crowd for a fleeting moment like a beacon in the distance. But the Gee-Gees were quick to stamp out any spark of McGillian hope with an onslaught of defence and dominance in the paint. For the rest of the quarter, McGill kept pressure high, contesting every shot and guarding with enough tenacity to scrap up six turnovers. Their defensive efforts came up short, however, as the Gee-Gees continued to make shots. Headed into the final quarter of the game, the score stood at 47-27 in favour of the Gee-Gees.

While the 20-point lead seemed insurmountable in the final 10 minutes of play, the Martlets never relented on defence, and even had flashes of greatness from first-year forward Charlotte Guerin, who tallied eight points, seven rebounds, and six steals over the course of the game. In the final moments, Guerin did not let up, getting her final steal with 12 seconds left on the clock. 

While a final score of 61-38 will leave many chalking the loss up to poor play by the Martlets, the developing team is only just spreading its wings. Under the direction of new head coach Rikki Bowles, the rookie-dominant roster has lots of potential to grow as they head into the regular season. While the team shot only 19.4 per cent from behind the arc this week, this won’t always be the case—as soon as the shots start falling, so will McGill’s opponents.

Guerin is optimistic about the future of the team and how they plan to approach their next game against Queen’s University on Oct. 30.

“I think Queen’s is on the same level as Ottawa, and I think that every week we really do get better,” Guerin said. “Every week we’ve played, we’ve gotten better against the next team. Hopefully by the time we get to the regular season we’ll be able to win consistently.”

Stat Corner:

First-year forward Charlotte Guerin earned a game high six steals with a suffocating defensive presence that was felt throughout the game.

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.

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