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Arts & Entertainment, Books

How the pandemic has fuelled poetry’s popularity

by Lowell Wolfe on

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The COVID-19 pandemic has altered and halted lives around the world. Whether studying in Montreal or from home, McGill students are experiencing a unique semester that has encouraged, and even forced, adaptation. In response to COVID-19–related challenges, many McGill students have turned to poetry and creative writing as outlets for exploring, understanding, and relating to the strange and often tragic situations in which they are living. 

According to a survey conducted by activeminds.org, 20 per cent of college students said that their mental health has significantly worsened during the pandemic, 48 per cent of college students have experienced financial setbacks, and 74 per cent of students have struggled to maintain a daily routine. The situation at McGill is no different, as students have declared that this situation has become a growing mental health crisis. Poetry allows for students to explore troublesome circumstances and emotions from the safety of their rooms, making it the perfect hobby to adopt during stay-at-home orders. Jana Marie Perkins, a member of Poetry Matters, stressed the unique avenues for articulation that poetry offers. 

“We’re at a point right now where so many people are searching for ways to describe this wave of unprecedented circumstances we’re experiencing right now,” Perkins said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “Poetry has been able to address that need in a way that, in our lifetimes, it hasn’t often been called to do.”

For some students, the pandemic has changed their everyday relationship with poetry and writing. Alana Dunlop, the president of Mcsway Poetry Collective, expressed how the pandemic fuelled her already-extant poetic passions and turned a recreational artistic activity into a potential future path. 

“In the summer when I had absolutely nothing to do and I had to move back home with my parents, I was writing a lot,” Dunlop said. “For a while, I was really just writing for fun. I wasn’t submitting to literary magazines, contests, or anything. But I got back into the idea of making poetry a serious thing in my life that could possibly be a career.”

Along with re-evaluating her possible future as a writer, Dunlop found herself using poetry as a tool to explore her emotions and to process the strange contingencies she was experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“I was looking back at my past and things that had already happened because nothing was going on in the present,” Dunlop said. “I was sitting at home, doing nothing with my parents [….] I was reflecting on things that happened to me in the past [and] I feel as if that really informed what I’m writing now.”

Others expressed how isolation and quarantines allowed them to observe their writing from new angles. 

“It’s interesting to find things to write when you can’t do as much in general and you feel like your life is on pause,” Amanda,* a McGill student poet, said. “You can’t write about life experiences in the same way, so it gives you perspective.” 

Dunlop has noticed that poetry has been increasingly popular, as Mcsway events have particularly thrived during the pandemic. Virtual platforms, such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, make artistic collaboration readily accessible for anyone with a computer and internet connection. Since the pandemic, Mcsway’s open-mic poetry nights have been incredibly successful, demonstrating the potential of these applications.

“We’ve moved all our events online, so we have online open-mics once a month,” Dunlop said. “We’ve had amazing turnout to every single open mic, more people than what we’ve had in-person. The great thing about Zoom is that it’s not in a small group. You don’t have to book a room and pay for it. A lot of people can come, we’ve seen 40-50 people at every open-mic and there’s always a line-up of people who want to perform, share their poetry, and connect with people through poetry.”

Furthermore, virtual functions enable Mcsway to foster an encouraging, comfortable environment for performers and audience members. Such features would not be available in the usual open-mic setting, which often take place in cramped bars or cafés.

“A lot of people are more comfortable to express themselves when it’s not in front of a bunch of people and you can hear them breathing, moving, and whispering to each other,” Dunlop said. “The great thing about using Zoom is the chat function [….] At all of our events, we make sure that the audience members are blowing up the chat with really nice things about the performance that they’re hearing. Then, the performer can look at it afterwards and feel uplifted in a safe space. You can’t have that same thing in-person.”

While COVID-19 related circumstances have changed how McGill students enact self-expression, it has also created many challenges for those who seek inspiration from sources now made inaccessible. Many writers feel strained because their meaningful experiences, such as travelling or socializing, are less available or entirely impossible. Michael Garbarino, U2 Arts, is a student poet who finds that the lull of this winter has stunted his productivity.

“My activities are super monotonous during COVID. I spent my day in my room or in the kitchen, basically,” Garbarino said. “It makes you more uninspired.”

On the other hand, some writers are flourishing. For example, the U.S. National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman’s inauguration poem, “The Hill We Climb,” was written only weeks prior to its performance, during some of America’s most intense weeks of the pandemic. Dunlop’s poetic adventures during the pandemic empowered her to apply for an MFA in creative writing.

“As readers, we may be appreciating this moment and being comforted by the poetry we find,” Perkins said. “For the poets themselves writing in this moment, it’s very difficult. I don’t know how to reconcile that, but as we’ve seen, there are those for whom this period has been productive as well as challenging.”

How the pandemic will ultimately shape the relationship between people and poetry is still unknown. But, poetry’s surge within the McGill community could be indicative of a more widely-encompassing increase in popularity. The pandemic has caused suffering and challenged students, but a poetic revival could become a positive side-outcome from a difficult period. Poetry’s potential for personal and political reflection and commentary give it potency in the wake of a global catastrophe.

“The theme for this year’s Poetry Matters workshop is poetry and re-emergence,” Perkins said. “A lot of what we’re doing is not only examining how poetry can help us to re-emerge, both during and from this moment, but also how poetry might newly help us to frame our understanding of the post-pandemic world once we come out on the other side of things.”

*Name has been changed to preserve anonymity.

Off the Board, Opinion

Bruised, broken, and behind

by Alaana Kumar on

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“Text me when you get home.” My friends and family said it so often that, when my sister said it that night, it seemed like a suggestion I could ignore. It was 10:30 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday, early enough to walk the 20 minutes home. I had done it hundreds of times before, so when she asked if she could call me an Uber, I laughed. I bundled up, hit shuffle on my playlist, and left excited for my late-night stroll— it was 20 minutes I could avoid studying for my economics midterm. I was lost in the class and stressed that I would be hit with a failing mark. Little did I know, I was minutes away from being hit by something much more painful.

I woke up to the flashing lights of an ambulance and panic surrounding me. Confused and disoriented, I started to sit up when I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder. A woman in an EMT jacket urged me to lay back down on the pavement, alerting me that I had been hit by a car and my head was bleeding. The rest of the night was a blur. 

I was discharged from the hospital at 5 a.m. with six stitches in my head and every ligament in my left shoulder torn. Despite being exhausted, overwhelmed, and in physical pain, my first thought was whether I would be excused from my midterm. 

I took the next week to focus on my recovery. But, as schoolwork piled up, it became increasingly difficult to relax. I was in my second semester of my third year and graduating on time felt essential. Today, I often wonder why. 

I limited the painkillers to keep myself alert, tolerated the headaches that came with trying to study post-concussion, limped my way to campus with a backpack on one shoulder and a sling on the other, and tried my best to catch up on my school work and missed midterms. My first make-up exam came just nine days after my accident, and all I remember is my concussed head spinning as I held my pen. Later that week, I went to Service Point and requested to withdraw from my economics class with a refund. When my request was denied, I felt defeated.

Thanks to the help of several friends and family who shared notes, carried my backpack, made me dinners, and lent me their shoulders—for crying and lifting objects—I was slowly progressing through the semester. Still, it was not going well. I strongly considered forfeiting my semester tuition and returning home when suddenly, campus life took a drastic turn: The COVID-19 pandemic hit Montreal.

Although the initial switch to remote learning was a harsh adjustment for most people, it was my saving grace. I returned home and began to heal and complete the school year at my own pace. Ironically, the on-time graduation I longed for will now be held as a virtual ceremony. 

After looking back on the past year, I am disappointed in myself for the way I reacted to injuries beyond my control. The pressure I put on myself to graduate on time, to get back up before I was ready, and the blatant disregard of my own pain was unacceptable. Somehow, I became the kind of person that let society dictate my success and believed it would be worth less if it came one year later. Unfortunately, this is the case for many university students.

I learned a lot in 2020, and I am glad to be graduating with the understanding that life is not one-size-fits-all. It took an accident and a pandemic to force me to slow down and prioritize my own health, but it is a mistake I will never make again. 

I am confident that I will someday graduate, find a job, and become a functioning adult. But I am not in any rush because, as I have brutally discovered, it’s not about when you reach your destination, it’s about getting there safely. 

Commentary, Opinion

Sexual health education for young people needs to be prioritized

by Sepideh Afshar on

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Quebec’s ÉduSex Coalition, a sexual health advocacy group, is demanding change in the provincial education program as sexually transmitted infection (STI) cases, domestic violence, and sexual violence have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. The coalition contends that fighting these issues starts in the classroom. These health concerns are especially worrisome in a time where classes are online and educators are allegedly not receiving the resources or time to deliver proper sexual education, which is necessary to mitigate stigmas and allow young adults to make informed decisions regarding their health. For many, university is when their sexual activity begins, and it is important that entering students understand concepts like safe sex and consent before they arrive.

While the Quebec government stated that they provided online documents about sexual education, there is not enough time to include the yearly sexual health programming into online curricula. In a poll, the Coalition found that 75 per cent of teachers polled in November 2020 did not receive any training for sexual education courses they were asked to teach. The ÉduSex Coalition is circulating a petition with two major demands: To increase funding to schools so that they can deliver quality sexual education and to implement adequate support systems for educators so that they can develop the skills to address sensitive issues when teaching sexual health. 

Comprehensive sexual education is the starting point in reducing stigmas around sexuality. Open discussions are the best way to prevent discrimination based on sexual and gender identity and to reduce negative connotations around topics such as masturbation, sexuality, and sex itself. Research has shown that proper education about sexuality and gender identity normalizes gender diversity, which can decrease bullying and violence. For example, female masturbation is not often represented in the media, while male masturbation is discussed frequently. But through education, the religious and social taboos around female masturbation can be alleviated and the act can be normalized. 

Sexual education allows young adults to make informed decisions about their bodies by providing them with a better understanding of STIs and consent. Those who understand the importance of safe sex are better equipped to avoid or deal with situations of unwanted pregnancies and STIs. Additionally, cases of sexual violence can be mitigated through education about consent and what a healthy relationsips look like. It is important for young people to understand their own bodily autonomy and the importance of respecting others’ so that they can ask questions and then carry this with them. This kind of education is proven to work: When students lacked access to sexual education in Quebec, the cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea doubled.

The Édusex Coalition is fighting to ensure that young people have the knowledge to make smart decisions regarding their sexual activity, sexual health, and the way they view these stigmatized topics. McGill organizations, including Bodies A-Z, are doing the same. Bodies A-Z is a not-for-profit within Sex & Self whose purpose is to empower students in Montreal through comprehensive and engaging sexual education workshops and seminars. Student representatives go into high school classrooms offering full lesson plans that complement the Quebec Education Program sexual health curriculum, reducing the burden on teachers. While Bodies A-Z’s services are extremely important, their work is only complementary; there must be consistent material and support for teachers to extend the benefits of these programs. Teachers are already scrambling to deliver effective classes online, and without the proper support, this will be another burden on them during an already difficult time. Until comprehensive sexual education is implemented, young people will continue to feel the harmful effects of increased STI’s and sexual violence amongst other avoidable situations.

Arts & Entertainment, Music

How SOPHIE used music to build a whole new world

by Callum Sheedy on

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SOPHIE was an artist who demonstrated that art is not only a source of aesthetic pleasure, but also of revolutionary power. On Jan. 30, Scottish producer SOPHIE unexpectedly passed away at the age of 34, but the artist’s work continues to not only reshape electronic and pop music, but how we understand ourselves, too.

SOPHIE built a reputation as a pioneer of a bold new wave of electronic music often referred to as PC Music or hyperpop. SOPHIE’s sound is simultaneously harsh but pleasant, often toeing the line between avant-garde and pop. Not long after the 2013 single “BIPP,” SOPHIE’s name was featured on production credits for artists like Charli XCX, Madonna, and Vince Staples. In 2017, SOPHIE was cemented as a legend of electronic music with the release of the artist’s first and only studio album, Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides.

SOPHIE’s signature sound design was unique in the truest sense of the word—no one had ever heard anything quite like it. Synthesizing every sound from scratch, SOPHIE became known for transmuting the tactile into the sonic, creating sounds reminiscent of latex, rubber, metal, elastic, water, and even bubbles. The highly unorthodox sounds and structure of SOPHIE’s music challenged the conventions of pop music. The use of harsh and unusual textures in pop songs forced listeners to reconsider what pop music, and even music at all, could sound like. It confronted the formal conventions created by a system controlled by mostly white, cis-heterosexual men. In doing so, SOPHIE upended the ideological basis of pop music, and made room for a new era of music, liberated from the cultural hegemony of the past.

For much of SOPHIE’s career, the artist’s true identity had remained a mystery, a name without a face. It was not until the release of the music video for “It’s Okay to Cry,” that SOPHIE came out as a trans woman. With this in mind, SOPHIE’s music shows its true meaning as a trans-liberationist work.

One of the main themes of Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides is identity and transformation. The lyrical content of the album could even be read as the story of transformation, beginning with self-acceptance, dealing with the anxiety and reluctance of undergoing a transition, until emerging from the waters of uncertainty as a new person: Yourself.

Yet, artifice factored into SOPHIE’s discography as much as authenticity did. The tactile sounds and squeaky, high-pitched vocals evoked a sense of fakeness. Even the visual aesthetics, like the covers of the Product singles and SOPHIE’s outfits, make use of plastic. In “Faceshopping,” Cecile Believe (who performs on several other tracks) sings, “I’m real when I shop my face,” referencing the Photoshopping one might do to a picture of oneself, suggesting one could be just as real when they “shop their face.” SOPHIE presented listeners with radical new ideas on what constitutes legitimate identity, especially in a world where so much of identity is dependent upon appearance and conformity. SOPHIE used music to take aim at the concept of artificiality as a pejorative, highly repressive worldview. The abrasive and innovative sound acted as a sort of mind tenderizer, smashing away subconscious preconceptions of what is good and natural, and leaving in their place a politics of radical freedom to self-expression.

SOPHIE’s music was not just different for the sake of being different, but was a revolutionary weapon against the establishment that would see violence done upon many queer people. On Oil’s final track, “Whole New World/Pretend World,” SOPHIE boldly charges into the future, chanting as if at a protest, urging listeners to build a “Whole New World” with the ideas in the track as its foundation. SOPHIE wanted to take listeners into the future, and although the artist will not be there to see it, SOPHIE’s impact will be felt for years to come.

Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

From the Faculty of Arts to Hollywood producer

by Deana Korsunsky on

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A Scotsman, whiskey executive, McGill alum, screenwriter, and producer walk into a Zoom meeting—well, tune into a Zoom meeting. No, this is not a set-up for a fascinating punchline; it is a delightfully accurate description of The Queen’s Gambit co-producer, Allan Scott, who joined Television McGill’s (TVM) public Zoom Talk on Feb. 4 to discuss his career. 

Scott, B.A. ‘61, tuned into TVM’s Zoom event from the United Kingdom to discuss his journey from McGill University English literature student to co-writer of works like Don’t Look Now (1973) and The Queen’s Gambit (2020). With over 70 students virtually present, Scott answered questions from TVM president Tory Fortunato and then from several participants. Questions pertained to screenwriting, the whiskey industry, professional recommendations, and Scott’s favourite London museums. Scott’s answers consisted of fond McGill memories, brutally honest advice, cheeky one-liners, and praise for the Tate Modern. 

The conversation commenced with Scott recalling his time at McGill, particularly at The McGill Daily. Scott’s duty as features editor was to publish one poem weekly, a role that eventually got him in trouble as he kept selecting poems by a student who had already graduated a few years prior, and was therefore ineligible for publication. One could argue that this instance with the poet in question—Leonard Cohen—proves the age-old adage, “real recognizes real.” Aside from the Daily, Scott participated in McGill theatre and local stand-up comedy, citing a lucky occurrence in which Charlton Heston watched him and his friend perform and praised them on live radio that night. Subsequently, the two embarked on a two-year comedy tour.

Scott recalled how after several years of performing, he and his friend wished to grow in their careers. 

“We said, ‘This isn’t a job for grown-ups.’ So we decided to stop being children,” Scott said. “We sat down and we wrote a screenplay, though we did [something] more important than that. We sat down and we read four or five screenplays of movies that [we’d] seen.” 

This emphasis on the importance of learning and studying both one’s craft and the film industry itself permeated Scott’s stories and advice throughout the Zoom event. Scott continued to reflect on the strategies he picked up over years of working in the entertainment industry.

“I learned a trick when I was working in Hollywood […] doing a lot of script doctoring,” Scott said. “I said, ‘Look, I’m the only British writer who is wholly and entirely collaborative. I will collaborate with anybody who comes in with a good idea.’”

Besides touching on the importance of collaboration in an industry so dependent on stealing, Scott stressed the utility of possessing particular traits—largely, patience. 

“The biggest hurdle in anybody’s career to overcome is idiots, and there are a lot of them around,” Scott laughed. 

Scott did not limit his stories to industry advice. Many excited viewers asked about Scott’s work on The Queen’s Gambit, especially noting how long it took to be greenlighted. 

“Each year, I failed to get the movie made,” Scott recalled. “It always came back to the studio from the financing entity, saying, ‘Chess doesn’t sell tickets.’” 

As it turns out, chess very much did sell tickets. This tale of perseverance within the industry was one of many highlights in TVM’s “Conversation with Allan Scott.” With enthusiasm and just a smidge of sass, Scott walked his Zoom audience through highlights of his career, silly moments with fellow producers, and many pieces of advice imperative to the film industry. It seems inconceivable that one day you might be walking through the doors of the Arts building, and the next, on set of Netflix’s biggest limited series. Yet, Scott shared that all that one needs to make those in-between steps is collaboration, patience, enthusiasm, and of course, not taking “no” for an answer, whether it is greenlighting The Queen’s Gambit, or publishing poetry by some random, talented McGill graduate. 

News, The Tribune Explains

Tribune explains: SSMU’s motion in support of Dollarama workers

by Kate Addison on

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On Jan. 28, during a Students’ Society of McGill University’s (SSMU) Legislative Council meeting, councillors heard a presentation from an organizer of the Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC) about the poor labour conditions that some Dollarama warehouse employees face. Following this presentation, the Legislative Council voted unanimously to approve a motion mandating that SSMU’s Office of External Affairs support student solidarity with Dollarama warehouse workers. The Tribune examines the significance of this motion. 

How do Temporary Agencies abuse workers’ rights?

Since 2009, the IWC has concentrated its efforts on supporting temporary agency workers such as those working in Dollarama warehouses. Temporary workers tend to lack a platform from which to advocate for labour rights due to the intervention of staffing or “temp” agencies between workers and their employers. 

The use of staffing agencies by large multinational companies such as Amazon and Dollarama has become increasingly common over the past decade. Workers employed by staffing agencies are often racialized undocumented immigrants who, due to their position as contractors rather than employees, are denied many forms of labour rights. 

What are the working conditions at Dollarama warehouses?

Dollarama has a total of over 1,600 stores across Canada and Central America and employs 20,000 workers directly. Within their distribution centers, however, over 1,000 workers—most of whom are racialized immigrants—are employed by staffing agencies. 

According to the IWC, warehouse workers employed by staffing agencies are commonly paid an hourly wage of $12-15. At 40 hours a week for $15 an hour, workers earn an annual salary of just over $31,000, which falls well below Canada’s official poverty line for a family of three. Furthermore, the IWC reports that 10 per cent of warehouse workers are paid under the minimum wage. 

In addition to low pay, the IWC states that workers employed at Dollarama’s distribution centers face gruelling working conditions. It is reported that workers are expected to move boxes weighing 50 pounds every 20 seconds to reach their shift quota. Furthermore, 15-minute lunch breaks are often reduced to five minutes as it takes workers several minutes to walk across the warehouse from their workstation to break rooms. 

What are McGill’s Investments in Dollarama?

As is shown in McGill’s 2020 report on the university’s publicly traded Canadian equities above $500,000, McGill University has $3,051,682 invested in the Montreal-based dollar store retail chain Dollarama. While McGill’s holdings in the chain are not the most significant portion of the school’s many equities, the more than three-million–dollar investment makes Dollarama the 16th most valuable in McGill’s 2020 Canadian equities portfolio. According to McGill’s Statement of Investment Policy, the goal of the McGill Investment Pool is to preserve its capital while remaining within the social and ethical standards of the university. 

The monetary connection between McGill and Dollarama goes further: The Rossy Family, whose donations enabled the completion of McGill’s $14 million Rossy Wellness Hub, are the founders and the CEO of Dollarama Inc. with a reported net value of $2.52 billion. 

What will SSMU’s Office of External Affairs do? 

By approving this motion, SSMU has stated that it will mandate its External Affairs office’s campaigns department to support student campaigns in solidarity with Dollarama employees. According to the motion, this may involve submitting petitions to McGill University’s Committee to Advise on Matters of Social Responsibility (CAMSR), a committee within the McGill Board of Governors responsible for advising the Board on issues of social responsibility within its investment portfolio. Furthermore, SSMU will be allocating resources for events attempting to raise awareness about this issue.

Chill Thrills, Student Life

How to celebrate Valentine’s Day in lockdown

by Holly Wethey on

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Whether you’re single, coupled, or ‘it’s complicated,’ one thing is for sure: This Valentine’s Day won’t be like any other. Even though Montreal has extended its stay-at-home orders, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate this heartfelt holiday. Below, The McGill Tribune shares eight ways you can get the most out of your Valentine’s day.

Hunt for roses at Old Port

If you’re looking for a grand gesture to make this Valentine’s Day, MFleurs, a Montreal-based florist, recently launched an initiative called “In Case of Love at First Sight.” The company has hidden boxes filled with roses in various spots across the city. 

“[This initiative was born] to spread a bit of joy during this time [and to promote] a bit of togetherness and love,” co-owner Angela Martignetti said in an interview with the Tribune. 

There are 500 roses hidden all around the city, so who knows—perhaps you’ll come across one on your next walk.

Support a local restaurant by ordering takeout 

Sure, you won’t be able to sit down in a restaurant with your special someone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a romantic dinner together. In fact, ordering-in can make the occasion even more intimate. If you’re hungry for Italian, Weinstein and Gavinos is a classic option offering a sweeping selection of pasta, pizza, and more—including desserts like their delectable Nutella cheesecake. For sushi, try Sushi Momo, a vegan restaurant specializing in sushi rolls and Japanese entrees. Either way, decking out your dining room table with some candles and ordering in is a surefire way to enjoy this holiday.

Try your hand at handmade gifts

With many businesses closed, shopping for a Valentine’s Day present is a bit more complicated this year. However, nothing beats the pleasure of receiving a handmade gift. Whether you create a D.I.Y. pop-up card for your partner or make a keychain crafted with an inside joke, they’ll undoubtedly appreciate this unique gift made especially for them.

Impress your partner with your glamorous lockdown style

Are you rotating between sweatpants and pyjama bottoms? Or maybe you’ve given up on wearing bottoms altogether? In any case, there’s no reason why quarantine style can’t be glamorous. Impress your partner with your chic blanket skirt wrapped around your waist, a fashion staple for every occasion. Or, if skirts aren’t your thing, the blanket cape is a slick alternative. You can also go back to the basics by trying out the suggestions in this article from The New Yorker describing five innovative ways to style your sweatpants.

Get to know your partner even more deeply

Being around someone 24/7 is enough to test the limits of any relationship. That said, being unable to leave your house means the two of you can get to know each other on an even deeper level. Test your knowledge on them by guessing all their favourite things or try out these 36 questions to fall in love. For extra fun, you might even consider turning this into a drinking game.

Meet your special someone on Datamatch

Single and looking to fall in love, or just looking for a new friend? No problem! Datamatch is a student-created and student-run matchmaking service first launched in 1994. The platform operates at over 35 universities, including McGill. Starting Feb. 7, you can fill out the entertaining survey and on Valentine’s Day, your matches will be released. At the very least, you’ll have a laugh or two and who knows, you might even find true love.

Binge-watch a romantic Netflix series

If you’re looking for a romantic movie and finally sick of rewatching Love Actually, try out a classic reality love show. Love is Blind will melt your heart as contestants declare their undying love for each other through a wall just three days after meeting. Looking for something a little lighter? Instead, try watching participants on Too Hot to Handle resist the temptation to get physical with one another or risk losing $100,000.

Spend the day with friends

Although platonic friendships are often overlooked on this holiday, these relationships can be some of the most vital and meaningful connections in our lives. Whether you’re with your roommates, meeting friends over Zoom, or gathering for a virtual movie night on Netflix Party, there’s nothing like spending Valentine’s Day with your closest friends.

McGill, News

AUS candidates discuss mental health at 2021 election debate

by Ella Fitzhugh on

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McGill’s Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) held a virtual debate on Feb. 4 for candidates running in the upcoming AUS elections to discuss student mental health, support for survivors of violence, and equity in the Arts faculty. Candidates running for the positions of President, Vice-Presidents (VP), Representative, and Senator outlined each of their goals for what they would hope to accomplish if elected. 

The executive positions of VP Finance, VP External, VP Academic, VP Social, and Arts Representatives are uncontested. On the other hand, there are two candidates each up for the position of President, VP Internal and VP Communications, and six candidates competing for the two Arts Senator positions.

The polling period is open from Feb. 8 until the election results are announced on Feb. 10 at 6 p.m. Many of the candidate’s platforms included common themes such as increasing mental health support for students and ensuring equity and sustainability in the McGill administration’s practices.

Candidates discussed the improvements that need to be made to the McGill Student Wellness Hub as a more supportive system for students. Paige Collins, U2 Arts Representative and one of the candidates running for Arts Senator, called for better mental health services through increased hiring in the Wellness Hub and changes in deferred exam policies.

“If elected, I’d like to advocate for increasing the amount of licensed healthcare professionals that students can access,” Collins said. “Further, I’d like to advocate for change in McGill’s policy regarding missed exams and medical notes. Currently, to receive accommodations for missed exam[s], you need to provide a medical note that falls within a 24-hour window of when the exam took place. I’d like to advocate for a 48-hour window instead.”

Another key issue the candidates discussed is ensuring the safety of survivors of gendered and sexual violence. Aiden Starosta, U1 Arts student and candidate for Arts Senator, believes that McGill is not doing enough to protect survivors and prevent further violence.

“It should be a priority for students to feel safe at McGill, and that currently is not happening considering the very real and pressing issue of sexual violence on campus,” Starosta said. “To lessen the problem, I will fight for a reworked, in-person sexual violence course, a security app for students in res[idence], increased presence of emergency and phone booths on campus, and the implementation of a zero-tolerance policy.”

On the subject of equity at the university, Maddy Evans, U3 Arts and one of the candidates running for an Arts Senator position, spoke of the lack of diversity among McGill’s faculty.  

“I hope to expand equity in McGill’s hiring practices for new professors and members of administration,” Evans said. “As of 2020 there were only 10 Black permanent professors at McGill among a faculty of over 1,700. I believe hiring more people of colour, Indigenous peoples, women, and other members of marginalized communities is incredibly important.”

Adin Chan, U3 Arts, and Alexis Zhou, U3 Arts, are both running for the position of AUS President. While Chan plans to improve current AUS infrastructure, Zhou’s anti-bureaucratic platform intends to revamp the AUS entirely.

“This upcoming election, we have an anticipated voter turnout of eight per cent, [which] means the vast majority of students, the 92 per cent, are excluded from what we’re doing here, and they’re no longer interested in our bureaucracy role-play,” Zhou said. “As student leaders, we have the responsibility to overhaul and reform the status quo […] Which is why under my leadership we will revise the constitution to make AUS the first non-hierarchical faculty association at McGill.”

Chan explained why he views bureaucracy as essential for student government as a system to monitor and regulate spending.

“The reason why there’s a lot of bureaucracy is not because we like paper,” Chan said. “It’s because we need to be very judicious about how we use the public’s funds. These are students’ money that is entrusted to these organizations that we need to be very careful with that clubs don’t use to embezzle.”

Chill Thrills, Student Life

La Poutine Week highlights the cultural diversity of Montreal restaurants

by ET Wu on

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Poutine is a defining culinary aspect of student life in Quebec. For many, it is the meal of choice after a night out, or simply a quick way to satisfy any fast-food craving. More recently, restaurateurs have created many variations of the traditional dish, from St. Laurent Pizza’s butter chicken poutine to Romados’ Portuguese sausage poutine. Many of these variations were featured in La Poutine Week, an annual event hosted by the cheese company Saputo to promote local businesses. Restaurants could submit their poutines to be tasted for a $200 fee, and the dishes judged worthy are given the chance to participate in the festival. Running from Feb. 1-7, the week’s offerings showcased how chefs are reinterpreting this classic Quebecois dish with flavours from their own cultures, bringing unique tastes into Montreal for all to enjoy. The McGill Tribune has the dish on this year’s offerings.

Stroganoff Poutine,  L’Gros Luxe (The Plateau)

Inspired by a hearty Russian beef stew, this stroganoff poutine is packed with rich flavour. There was a slight sourness to the stroganoff-inspired gravy, which brought out the smoky and sweet flavours of the minced meat. What really made this poutine to die for was the addition of spring onions, a savoury twist that truly brought out the flavour of the cheese curds and meat. In addition, the fries maintained their crispy integrity, which was likely because the gravy is served on the side—a good idea since the delivery time is often enough to make even the most resilient taters soggy. In general, this poutine is a good choice if you’re looking for an exciting version of the classic poutine to satisfy your cravings.

The Shahi Chicken Poutine, Thali Cuisine Indienne (Downtown)

Offering the most affordable poutine out of all the entries for La Poutine Week—at an astonishing $6.50 CAD on SkipTheDishes, the week’s sponsor—the Shahi chicken poutine fuses poutine with the traditional Indian dish Shahi, or paneer in a tomato-based sauce. Upon delivery, the fries and gravy were already mixed together, which unfortunately resulted in mushy fries. In fact, the fries had the consistency of mashed potatoes. Despite this, the dish was worthy of its La Poutine Week entry: The sauce was extremely addicting and paired well with the cheese curds. Thali Cuisine Indienne’s poutine is definitely value for money. If you are okay with limp fries, this is a solid choice.

 

Mayan Poutine, La Tamalera (Mile End) 

This was by far the best option out of the three that I sampled. First, it was more affordable than the stroganoff poutine from L’Gros Luxe; second, the uniqueness of a Mexican-inspired poutine was definitely a win. The hint of lime in the pulled pork gravy brought the entire dish together, bringing out the cheese, meat, and fries. Surprisingly, the fries maintained their integrity despite being soaked in the tangy gravy. The pulled pork-based gravy was extremely juicy and proved to be a good replacement for the classic. There were a few pickled vegetables served with a dollop of sour cream that was refreshing and complimented the taste of the fries. The dish was topped off with beans, adding a heartiness alongside a sense of authenticity. This savory and unique poutine was easily my favourite of La Poutine Week 2021.

News, SSMU

SSMU revamps accessibility policy, creates commissioner position

by Taneeshaa Pradhan on

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The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) adopted a new Accessibility Policy during the Legislative Council meeting on Jan. 28. Last updated in 2016 and having expired on Jan. 1, 2021, the new policy expands beyond its previous focus on physical disabilities to include a more comprehensive commitment to accessibility and introduces a new Accessibility Commissioner position to SSMU.

The policy’s amendments are grouped into six categories: Communication and promotions, programming and events, physical access, student groups, external and internal advocacy, and SSMU governance. This expansion is an effort to embody the “social model of disability,” which maintains that it is systemic barriers, including physical, attitudinal, social, that are the primary factors to an individual’s experience of disability, rather than one’s own individual experience. 

Vice-President (VP) University Affairs Brooklyn Frizzle explained that the policy aims to improve the resources offered by SSMU’s Communications Department to reduce existing barriers to accessibility.

“There are a lot of big operational changes with the Communications Department offering accommodations in terms of whisper translation or sign language interpreters […] which we’re supposed to be offered anyways, but there hasn’t been necessary financial allocations or pressure,” Frizzle said. 

Frizzle noted that the lack of enforcement mechanisms contained in the previous 2016 policy limited its effectiveness during the five years that the former policy was in effect. 

“The biggest problem was that it was just frankly unenforceable,” Frizzle said. “There weren’t any clear mandates for executives or governing bodies. From [2016] on, I don’t think there was a single report on accessibility […] presented to the council.”

To address these concerns, the new policy will mandate the creation of an Accessibility Commissioner who will be responsible for leading an Accessibility Committee that will convene biweekly. VP Student Life Maheen Akter will be responsible for the hiring and training of the new commissioner. 

“The Accessibility Commissioner is responsible for ensuring that mandates are followed,” Akter said. “The commissioner will  serve as a resource for SSMU and […] student groups in efforts to expand accessibility.”

The commissioner and their committee will work to engage the entire university population to ensure that all operations and communications are accessible.

“We’re now able to hire someone with expertise, […] somebody who will consult with student groups and staff in order to make sure all our operations are as accessible as possible,” Akter said. 

Akter will correspond with student clubs to address barriers to student participation and provide resources to address concerns about accessibility. 

“One of the other things […] that is also part of my role [is] making sure that there’s inclusion and awareness [within student clubs, and] part of that is providing training materials in clubs workshops,” Akter said.

Under the leadership of the new commissioner, the Accessibility Committee will aim to create space for students to voice concerns on accessibility at SSMU, which Frizzle notes is lacking on campus. 

“The creation of an accessibility committee [serves as] an oversight and auditing body that identifies inaccessibility at SSMU, makes recommendations and acts as […] a forum for students with disabilities,” Frizzle said. “[Right now this] doesn’t really exist on campus aside from the University Joint Board Senate Committee on Equity Subcommittee on Persons with Disabilities.”

The policy states that the SSMU Funding Committee will now ask at least one question concerning accessibility when evaluating funding applications. The accountability committee will be held responsible for ensuring that this takes place, and report to the SSMU Legislative Council at least once a semester.

Teri Phillips, director of the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD), emphasized the organization’s shared goals with the SSMU’s reformed Accessibility Policy and explained that the OSD will apply the central aims of the policy to continue to improve their services. 

“I do welcome and look forward to working with SSMU representatives to advance our mutual objective of improving access and creating an accessible learning environment for all our students,” Phillips said.

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