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McGill, Montreal, News

Divest McGill’s open letter calls on Metro to encourage McGill divestment

by Madison Edward-Wright on

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Five members of Divest McGill gathered on April 17 outside of the Metro grocery store located in the De Lorimier neighbourhood to encourage Montrealers to boycott Metro Inc. Despite the cold and windy conditions, the Divest members connected with passersby for almost an hour to try to convince Metro shoppers to buy their food elsewhere and to spread awareness about their campaign.

Divest McGill launched their Metro Inc. boycott in August 2020 in an effort to pressure the McGill Board of Governors (BoG) to divest from its multi-million investment in the fossil fuel industry. Divest McGill is targeting Metro in order to pressure Maryse Bertrand—the BoG’s vice-chair and a member of Metro Inc.’s Board of Directors—to support McGill’s divestment.

On April 14, Divest McGill published an open letter calling for the boycott of Metro grocery stores to supplement their campaign. Prior to its publication, Divest McGill sent the letter to environmental groups across Canada in order to gather signatories. Among the organizations who have signed the letter are Extinction Rebellion Quebec, Climate Justice Montreal, and the Milton Parc Citizen’s Committee. Samuel Helguero, U2 Law and Divest McGill organizer, discussed why it is important to Divest McGill to have these organizations as sponsors.

“Their support shows Metro that the Divest McGill campaign is a building threat to Metro’s profits and brand,” Helguero said. “The support [also] helps [the movement] gain more public credibility and attention.”

The open letter outlines four demands that Metro Inc. must accommodate in order to end the boycott. Demands one and two call on Metro Inc. to publicly condemn McGill for not divesting from fossil fuels, and to aid in conversations about divestment between Divest McGill, Climate Justice Montreal and Bertrand. The third demand is for Maryse Bertrand to advance a motion for divestment at a BoG meeting, and the fourth demand is for Metro Inc. to lobby the provincial and federal governments against investment in the fossil fuel industry. Alexia Wildhaber-Riley, U2 Science and Divest McGill organizer, said she believes Metro could play an important role in the divestment campaign.

“Metro would act as a third party that facilitates and moderates the conversation between Divest McGill and McGill,” Wildhaber-Riley said. “Metro [would approach] McGill and say ‘hey, McGill, we want your students to stop boycotting us, so you need to answer their demands.’”

David Summerhays, B.A. ‘05 and original member of Divest McGill, acknowledged that divestment may not easy to achieve.

“When we started [Divest McGill,] we had the idea that, if students, faculty, and staff unanimously [supported divestment], [McGill] would feel pressured to do it,” Summerhays said. “I think we have learned that [this is not the case], and that is why we are here today. We have learned that at the highest level, McGill is not accountable to students, faculty, and staff, but rather to the rich people that [are] brought onto the [BoG] as donors.”

Divest McGill’s next initiative is to publish a zine—a short, self-published magazine-style booklet—that will be titled Divestopia. Laine McCrory, U1 Arts and part of the creative team behind the zine, explained that the zine will combine artwork by McGill artists and information about the Metro Boycott campaign to inform the public about McGill’s fossil fuel investments. Divest McGill’s goal is to publish the zine on their website and social media platforms by the end of April. McCrory explained why Divest McGill chose a zine as their next initiative.

“A while ago, we decided we are not reaching everyone we could in Montreal through [our] protests,” McCrory said. “[After] reading our open letter, people might want to learn more [about Divest McGill] and learn in different ways, so we are making a zine to hopefully reach out to people in a better way.”

McGill, News

McGill town hall details plans for the Fall 2021 semester

by Erika MacKenzie on

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McGill hosted a virtual town hall on April 20 to update students and staff about preparations for the Fall 2021 in-person semester. Following an official announcement on Feb. 23 stating that students will return to in-person learning, the recent town hall presented an updated overview of the plan to return to campus, which included new details about safety protocols and academic expectations. 

Deputy Provost (Student Life & Learning) Fabrice Labeau explained that the administration is preparing for five scenarios of operation next semester. In the worst case scenario, if Montreal were to remain in a red zone, McGill would continue to operate at its current level, with minimal on-campus activity. In the best case scenario, McGill would resume all of its activities at close to pre-pandemic levels. Labeau predicted that operations will likely be somewhere between these two scenarios.

“The realistic scenario we are looking at is relying on the assumption that we will live in a world where most people are vaccinated,” Labeau said. “The Quebec government has said that their goal is to have a first dose for everyone by June 24. The Canadian-level goal is to have everybody vaccinated by September [….] We are looking at a level of protection in the community in general that is going to be pretty high.” 

Labeau said that most lectures with fewer than 150 people will be held in person. Additionally, midterm and final exams may take place in person regardless of whether or not the class takes place on campus. Associate Provost (Teaching & Academic Programs) Christopher Buddle noted that all students are expected to be in Montreal in the Fall 2021 semester to take their assessments on campus. 

“There is definitely an expectation that students will have to be available in Montreal,” Buddle said. “Do not forget that professors will still be able to record lectures [….] We are looking at a blended environment.”

Buddle explained that the administration is prioritizing academic activity ahead of extra-curricular operations and events. 

“[Academic programs] are the critical mission of the university […] and research activities as well,” Buddle said. “We understand the interest of many of our students beyond academics, […] but it’s really a matter of first prioritizing the planning of our academics [….] It’s just too early to make a specific prediction around that.” 

According to Labeau, the resumption of on-campus activities will involve heightened security protocols within campus buildings.

“In [terms of] physical security […], we are looking at a case where the buildings will be unlocked, but only a few of them,” Labeau said. “It also means that there will be enhanced COVID-19 protocols [so] we can check that people who are within the building indeed have business within the building. There [will be] be mask dispensers.” 

McGill also plans to implement a bursary program to compensate international students for the expenses incurred due to the federally mandated three-day hotel quarantine. Labeau encouraged international students to apply for their visas as soon as possible.

“We are in discussion with Immigration Canada to try and tighten the duration of the process, so we are confident that visa delays should not be a major hurdle,” Labeau said.

Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Vice-President of University Affairs Brooklyn Frizzle felt that despite McGill’s extensive planning, many uncertainties remain. 

“While many students are excited to return to in-person learning, many are fearful of being forced back into a COVID-19 red zone,” Frizzle said. “Although I am quite confident that McGill has gone above and beyond in preparing for the Fall semester, [as] their protocols are exceedingly detailed and all-encompassing, some variables are beyond their control. As we have seen over the past few months, having extensive protocols does not eliminate the risk of community transmission.”

Recipes, Student Life

Montreal in your kitchen: Café Santropol’s Duluth sandwich

by Antoine Guimbal on

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Tucked away at the corner of Duluth and Saint-Urbain, Café Santropol has a delicious selection of food for all tastes and preferences; coffee for overworked university students, delicious sandwiches and salads for park-goers, and decadent cakes for those with a sweet tooth. Since it opened in 1976 to save the building from being demolished, the cafe has turned itself and its sweet, brown bread into a local favourite.

Though its extensive variety of dishes, including vegetarian and vegan options, guarantee the discontentment of the late Anthony Bourdain, Café Santropol’s menu offers a refreshing meatless twist to Montreal’s sandwich scene, too often saturated by steamies and smoked-meat sandwiches. The cafe is home to the iconic “Duluth Sandwich,” which features a brilliant blend of honey-caramelized onions, sharp white cheddar, and sweet pears to highlight the boundless opportunities of vegetarian sandwiches. Here’s how to make it yourself.

Yields one sandwich

Ingredients:   

  • 2 slices bread
  • 1/2 onion
  • 1 pear
  • 1 cup arugula
  • 2 slices white cheddar
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Mayo/Vegan Mayo

Optional:

  • Tomato
  • Bacon
  • Homemade mayonnaise:
    • 2 egg yolks
    • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
    • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
    • 2 cups canola oil (or any other neutral oil)

Step 1: Caramelize the onions

Finely dice the onion. If you are uncomfortable finely dicing, shave the onion into long strips. Place in a pot with 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Slowly caramelize the onions for 25 minutes, stirring every once in a while until they are browned and a rich, jam-like consistency. 

Transfer to a bowl and add honey. Mix until incorporated. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Step 2: Choice of bread & mayonnaise

To recreate this classic sandwich, your choice of bread and sauce are of prime importance. While you could buy a dark Russian rye loaf to emulate the restaurant’s creation, this is a wonderful opportunity to try baking your own bread. You could use J. Kenzi Lopez-Alt’s no-knead bread recipe, as I did for this recipe, or even make the sandwich with Focaccia. Similarly, try to make your own mayo.

Homemade mayo:

Add egg yolks, Dijon 

mustard, and lemon juice into a bowl. Slowly drizzle oil while quickly whisking, creating an emulsion. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Tip: Make a nest for your bowl with a kitchen towel so that it stays in place when whisking.

Step 3: Assembling the sandwich

Toast both slices of bread and spread a generous layer of mayo on each. Spread caramelized onions over on top, and pile on the cheddar. Next, lightly season arugula with olive oil and salt before placing on top of the cheese. Top your sandwich with sliced pears. Using a variety of local, fresh pears will add interesting sweet and bitter notes, creating a more intricate balance of flavors. 

You can insert any additions as you please. Here, I decided to add tomato in one half, and bacon in the other.

Enjoy your easy, week-day lunch or snack. The caramelized onions blend wonderfully with the pears and the mayonnaise, while the arugula provides a kick of acidity. You can make the sandwich with many other ingredients, such as boiled eggs, apples, ham, etc.

Commentary, Opinion

SSMU’s BoD should resist, not assist McGill’s repression of student activism

by Climate Justice Action McGill, Divest McGill, Indigenous Student Alliance, McGill Stands with Hong Kong, McGill Students for a Free Tibet, Students for Peace and Disarmament – Peace Club, Students in Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights McGill on

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On Feb. 16, 90 per cent of students at the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) General Assembly – Consultative Forum voted to adopt the Divest for Human Rights Policy. The Policy mandates SSMU to campaign against McGill University’s investments in corporations complicit in colonial land theft, environmental destruction, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, both on Turtle Island and abroad. One week later, the SSMU Legislative Council endorsed the Policy with a resounding two-thirds majority. 

Based on overwhelming support demonstrated through a democratic process, it was expected that SSMU’s Board of Directors, a largely unelected and unrepresentative body, would ratify the Policy. Yet at their meeting on March 4, the Directors declined to do so. Their justification was that adopting the Policy might provoke reprisals from the McGill administration. Instead, the Directors voted to refer the Policy to SSMU’s Judicial Board to confirm that it does not violate SSMU’s constitution. If the Judicial Board reaffirms the Policy’s constitutionality as expected, the Board has indicated that it may refer the Policy to SSMU’s legal counsel for additional reassurance before deciding whether to approve it. 

It is clear that the Directors’ foot-dragging is motivated by their fear of McGill’s potential backlash against SSMU rather than by any objective analysis of the Policy itself. Director Chip Smith expressed opposition to the Policy based on the assertion that naming and criticizing McGill’s investments would raise the risk of legal action from the administration, despite the fact that SSMU has adopted other divestment campaigns in the past. Director and SSMU President Jemark Earle echoed this argument, stating that the McGill administration has been closely eyeing the progression of the Policy, and has threatened SSMU for pursuing human rights advocacy in the past. McGill does this by declaring that SSMU is violating its constitution, which allows the university to threaten to default on its legal agreement with SSMU—the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA)—thus voluntarily jeopardizing the relationship between McGill and SSMU. Due to confidentiality constraints, Directors were unwilling to provide details about prior instances of intimidation by the McGill administration.

When asked by student attendees, none of the Board’s members were able to provide any actual explanation as to how the Policy might violate SSMU’s constitution. Although some Directors framed their decision as a temporary delay of the Policy’s adoption, others stated that the Policy should be rejected outright by the Board if it runs any risk of a threat from the McGill administration. This reasoning is as cynical as it is absurd, given that McGill is clearly willing to issue unfounded threats of default on the MoA regardless of any precautions that the Board might take. The Board’s reluctance to adopt the Divest for Human Rights Policy therefore establishes an outrageous precedent, whereby any democratically approved SSMU initiative could be vetoed by the Board of Directors every time McGill’s administration expresses disapproval.  

As students advocating for ethical divestment, we are disappointed that SSMU’s Board of Directors has not shown moral courage in the face of yet another baseless threat from the McGill administration. We are also shocked by the rhetoric of certain Directors, who appear to be exploiting the fear of controversy in their effort to obstruct the Divest for Human Rights Policy. After enduring so many excessive bureaucratic hurdles, we expect the Board to uphold the democratic will of the student body, which has wholeheartedly endorsed this divestment campaign. The duty of our student union is to resist, not assist repressive methods of intimidation, which the university regularly deploys against its own students whenever they seek to hold the institution accountable for its complicity in violent oppression and the destruction of our planet. 

Features

Navigating Filipino foodways

by Chloe Rodriguez on

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In February, my roommate and I decided to register for an online workshop on Filipino cooking and food history. Taking place every Friday night, the 5-part series promised to explain the rich history that lay behind our favourite homecooked meals. Excitement grew as the start of the series drew nearer. But still, it was another addition to the ever-growing roster of virtual commitments.

 

On the first night of the workshop, we made pork and cilantro dumplings to commemorate the recently passed Lunar New Year. Once we were adequately surrounded by steaming piles of fresh dumplings, our household gathered around the table to listen to the first lecture. However, we did not anticipate the atmosphere of kinship and shared origin that the series brought about. Every Friday night, we shared our dining table with over a hundred other Filipinos calling in from the Philippines and across the diaspora. It felt like a weekly family reunion. After our first session, our apartment began looking forward to what we called “Filipino Fridays.” It was a comforting sense of assurance. At the end of every week, it was guaranteed that we would all share a satisfying meal and learn a thing or two about the many stories behind the food on our plates.
On the first night of the workshop, we made pork and cilantro dumplings to commemorate the recently passed Lunar New Year. Once we were adequately surrounded by steaming piles of fresh dumplings, our household gathered around the table to listen to the first lecture. However, we did not anticipate the atmosphere of kinship and shared origin that the series brought about. Every Friday night, we shared our dining table with over a hundred other Filipinos calling in from the Philippines and across the diaspora. It felt like a weekly family reunion. After our first session, our apartment began looking forward to what we called “Filipino Fridays.” It was a comforting sense of assurance. At the end of every week, it was guaranteed that we would all share a satisfying meal and learn a thing or two about the many stories behind the food on our plates.

Student Life

Zooming in on positive changes this school year

by Shirley Xu on

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This year has placed us all, however unwilling, in Zoom University. Now, weekends are for binge-watching lecture recordings. It’s easy to tire of the everyday routine of Zooming and the stifling feeling of cabin fever, but let’s pause to reflect on some of the positive changes made this school year.

Flexible assessment methods

Exams this year are offered windows of time that range anywhere from six to 72 hours, allowing students to choose when to take their test depending on their time zone, other commitments, and when they feel most productive. To account for technical difficulties, students are also given more time to write exams: Faculty of Science exams, for example, follow the 2x+30 minute rule, which gives students an extra two hours and thirty minutes in addition to the time frame a given test was designed to be completed in. For students who remember how precious the last five minutes of an in-person exam were, having more time is a relief. Additionally, the relative weight of each assignment is more spread out this year. Instead of having heavily-weighted midterms and finals, grades are distributed to numerous assignments and weekly quizzes. While this combats technical glitches that could arise during any single assessment, other students are stressed by the accumulating piles of work. Some professors have also implemented more flexible evaluation systems, such as dropping the lowest quiz score or counting the higher result of two midterms. 

Recouping time usually spent commuting

Being sequestered at home constantly can make us realize how much time we spent going from place to place pre-pandemic. Subtract commuting from your apartment to McIntyre, to McLennan Library, to the gym, and you’ve probably saved enough time to write another essay. Furthermore, being in a large online class means that students can sneak in late without easily being noticed. It is much less awkward than being late to an in-person class, mumbling “sorry” while squeezing between seated students to find an empty spot. Similarly, if the Zoom fatigue truly gets to you, pressing “Leave Meeting” is much more subtle than physically exiting a class. 

Greater event accessibility

Since shifting to online platforms, many events with restricted access have become open to the public. Students can attend seminars held at other institutions and tune in to conferences happening all over the world. Speakers can give their keynote speeches at events that they previously could not have easily commuted to.

Virtual networking sessions during events are another new reality. Although it may be harder to form personal connections among a sea of black screens, it could also present an opportunity for different, and sometimes less intimidating, types of interactions. For students who are shy to approach a speaker in person, popping into a breakout room could provide a more welcoming space for conversations to begin. Additionally, Zoom displays participants’ names, so potential employers and course professors alike can call students by their names—a precious feature rarely found in Leacock 132 classes.

Rock your outfit and study location 

For students who formerly dreamt of attending class in the comfort of their polka-dot pyjamas while stroking their pets, the freedom of being off-camera can be liberating. Behind a blank screen in a  Zoom window, students can listen to their lectures while doing whatever their hearts desire with the utmost discretion. By all means, feel free to turn on your camera if you want to share.

Adapting the day to your needs 

Early birds and night owls alike can enjoy the flexibility that online classes bring. Students can choose to watch lecture recordings at their own convenience. The option to re-watch lectures is very useful, as it helps to reinforce information before evaluations. Although most Faculty of Science classes were recorded pre-COVID, many Faculty of Arts classes were not. Students who missed lectures usually asked their peers for notes, but hearing a professor deliver the material can allow for a better understanding of course material. Zoom has demonstrated the importance of recording live lectures, especially for students with disabilities who cannot go to campus. This essential accessibility feature will hopefully continue in many McGill courses post-COVID.

In adjusting to virtual learning, changes to evaluation methods and greater event accessibility have often proven to better accommodate students’ unique situations and preferences. As we eagerly anticipate the return to campus life in Fall 2021, let’s remember the positive lessons of virtual learning, such as the importance of being flexible and understanding of others, into the post-COVID future.

Commentary, Opinion

An in-person Fall term puts international students at risk

by Michael Dickinson on

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On March 12, McGill hosted a town hall to discuss the university’s plan for in-person instruction during the Fall 2021 semester. The administration announced that while remote learning will be necessary for classes with more than 150 students, students are expected to return to Montreal to attend most smaller courses in person. McGill’s promises may be encouraging to students suffering from online education, but the premature decision to return to campus is driven by administrators’ concern for the university’s revenue rather than students’ finances or health. 

Unfortunately, Canada’s slow vaccine rollout increases the risk of vaccine-resistant strains of COVID-19, meaning McGill cannot be sure that the public health situation will be safe enough to permit in-person instruction by September. Based on McGill’s announcement, many international or out-of-province students who have studied from home during the pandemic must now find housing in Montreal. But if McGill rolls back plans for in-person schooling, these students will be renting apartments they no longer need. This is particularly concerning for students whose families have endured economic hardship during the pandemic. The university must be more careful about imposing new expenses based on promises that may not be kept.

In general, remote learning has not been popular, and McGill has seen international enrollment decline over the past year. Since international students pay higher tuition than Canadian students, the university has a financial incentive to maintain their enrollment by reintroducing on-campus learning. Yet if it is not safe to reopen classes in September, McGill will be faced with the choice of either putting students at risk of contracting COVID-19 or reneging on their promise to reopen—which would be dishonest to students who only paid for courses under the impression that they would take place face-to-face.

In this effort to secure international tuition, McGill has also overlooked the effects of continued international travel restrictions. The university’s plan predicts that international travel will still not be recommended by public health authorities in the fall and that a “vaccine passport” may be required to enter the country. Since vaccines are not equally accessible around the world, there is no guarantee that all international students can be vaccinated before they arrive. Further, compelling thousands of students to travel to Montreal while authorities advise against it—especially if some have not been vaccinated—is extremely irresponsible. Unvaccinated students will be putting themselves at risk of infection, and if a vaccine passport requirement is implemented, they may not be able to attend classes. The administration’s plan for an in-person Fall semester ignores their own predictions about public health, proving that the hasty decision to reopen fully prioritizes money over student well-being.

Fortunately, McGill’s policies do not neglect international students entirely. The Quarantine Bursary Program will help those who cannot afford the cost of Canada’s mandatory hotel quarantine. However, this program alone is not enough to ensure safety and equity during the Fall term. Students who cannot come to campus should have the option to study remotely to ensure that school remains accessible. Professors can continue to offer remote instruction in many courses by streaming or recording lectures. Above all, McGill must not make students choose between their education and their health or financial security. 

Some in-person learning will hopefully become possible as the public health situation improves, but it is unreasonable to expect all international students to travel to Canada if restrictions continue. The past year has proved that online learning is both possible and necessary under difficult circumstances, and until the future is less opaque, it must remain an option for students. 

Private

Change Makers Episode 3: Designs for a Difference

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In this episode of the Change Makers podcast, Staff Producer Noah Vaton speaks with the two founders of Designs for a Difference, Jesse Ye and Tai Nguyen. Together, they founded the Non-Profit Clothing Brand, in an attempt to try and help raise money for different organizations. They discuss how the brand came to be, their goal for creating a sustainable business, and their future goals.

 

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