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Fictionalizing science: How literature and film have shaped modern technology

by Shafaq Nami on

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Science fiction has always focussed primarily on imagining the future and coming up with inventions far beyond what was possible at the time. Whether science fiction directly inspired inventors or because writers were able to predict the future, several technologies first featured in fiction are now part of everyday life.

Science fiction first emerged as a genre in the late 19th century as a result of the Industrial Revolution. At the time, many people, including authors, were apprehensive about the rapid innovations of the industrial age and their effect on society.

In an email to The McGill Tribune, Jana Perkins, a recent master’s graduate in the Department of English at McGill, explained the early origins of science fiction. 

“There were those for whom these changes were almost beyond comprehension,” Perkins wrote. “And so, at a time when relatively little had been achieved in the way of advanced technology, there was a lot of room for writers to be able to depict the possible futures that could be brought about by either the invention or the widespread adoption of a particular gadget they believed might one day exist.” 

Recently, science fiction has pivoted away from discussing new technologies, with an updated goal of analyzing how technology affects society. In questioning technology’s existence, science fiction also asks how current innovations can be better put to use.

“Take, for example, a show like Black Mirror,” Perkins wrote. “An episode of Black Mirror isn’t seeking to wow audiences by introducing some never-before-imagined technology—it’s inviting viewers to explore the kinds of everyday challenges that would arise from even relatively minor improvements to existing technologies. It’s a shift in focus from the what to the why.” 

The promotional poster for the critically acclaimed television series Black Mirror (Netflix)

While the approach of using the impacts of technology on society as a focal point has become increasingly popular, it is most certainly not new. The plots of classic sci-fi shows like Star Trek have largely followed the dynamics of crew members and their interactions with extraterrestrial beings, rather than highlighting futuristic space technology itself. 

Another example is Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, which is often cited as the first science fiction novel and is thought to have inspired organ transplantation. As Dr. George Zogopoulos, assistant professor in McGill’s Department of Surgery, suggested, it is possible that Frankenstein merely reflected the goals of 19th-century medical practice.

“I have not considered the relationship of Mary Shelley’s classic novel with organ transplantation more than a myth,” Zogopoulos wrote in an email to the Tribune. “My impressions have been that representations of transplant and organ donation in popular culture […] reflect myths and societal challenges surrounding organ donation and transplantation.” 

It should be noted that Shelley never delved into the scientific details of creating Frankenstein’s monster, leaving many plot holes that later movie adaptations attempted to fill in for themselves. 

“Shelley seeks to address such moral questions as whether the ability to imbue inanimate matter with life is a technology that should exist,” Perkins wrote. “And so, for much of the novel, we’re presented with responses to this question from a variety of sources [….] It’s a brilliant narrative structure that expertly invites readers to examine the issue from every angle.” 

The poster for the 1931 film adaptation of Frankenstein (Universal Pictures)

It appears that fiction has long served to warn scientists about the consequences of technology, especially those in fields that regularly face ethical dilemmas, such as organ transplantation. Many of these warnings are merely a result of misplaced technophobia, inspired by baseless fears that humans could be enslaved by robots, for instance. 

While the most terrifying of science fiction’s predictions have yet to materialize, some of their more realistic warnings have come true. A prime example is Gattaca, a 1997 dystopian film that predicted the use of genetic information to assess a person’s status in society. The film’s warnings have proved eerily relevant, with the rise of DNA testing companies and their decision to sell consumer data to insurance companies with malicious intent.

“I wouldn’t say that we necessarily take our cautionary tales from fiction, but fiction does serve to remind us perhaps of our limitations, and this is useful,” Dr. Steven Paraskevas, a transplant surgeon at McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) and assistant professor in McGill’s Department of Surgery, wrote in an email to the Tribune. “Sometimes, I think fiction may remind us of how public perception of what we do can be negative or misunderstanding. Life in a hospital isn’t exactly like it appears in ER or Grey’s Anatomy, but it’s informative to see how [physicians and scientists] are perceived.” 

This dignified portrayal of scientists in the media has often inspired people to pursue STEM careers. Unfortunately, science fiction frequently portrays science incorrectly or completely ignores its basic laws in an attempt to stretch the realm of possibility.

“Fictionalized role models inspire people, and may lead young people to see themselves in a certain career,” Paraskevas wrote. “At the same time, I doubt people become disillusioned when things in reality don’t quite happen the way they do in a movie or novel, or worse, the 60-minute time frame of a series episode. The truth is, science and medicine are so much more complex than they are depicted in pop culture, and discovering this complexity is part of the fun.”

Careers in science are also often glamourized in fiction and popular media, omitting details about the gruellingly long hours, failures, or dead ends. This is partly because some science fiction writers have no background in STEM-related fields, along with the fact that the mundane aspects of scientific practice are less interesting to audiences.

The relationship between science and fiction is complex and oftentimes difficult to reconcile. Although science fiction does not foretell the future or directly influence the invention of new technologies, it can be an interesting reflection of society’s dreams and aspirations. Science in literature and film gives authors and audiences a chance to see beyond the current limits of their age and presents an outlet for non-scientists to express their concerns about technology. 

In most cases, scientists’ aims do not revolve around the dreams of fiction writers of previous centuries. Rather, they invent because of an inherent curiosity to push the boundaries of science: To discover new and better ways to do the things humans already do, such as communication, travel, and the many jobs that have now been automated.

“I don’t think there is a conscious effort to bring fiction to life, as far as science is concerned,” Paraskevas wrote. “We don’t really develop or invent the worlds depicted in science fiction, so much as validate them [….] If we ever develop huge starships that travel at incredible speeds, it will not be because they were dreamed by 20th-century filmmakers, but rather because of the enduring wish to see what’s out there beyond our world.”

Ask Ainsley, Student Life

Ask Ainsley: How do I heal from a pandemic breakup?

by Ainsley on

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Dear Ainsley, 

As if dealing with the current state of the world wasn’t hard enough, I’m now newly single and left to cope with my pandemic breakup. Before, I’d usually get dressed up and spend the night dancing away my pain with my closest friends. Now, all I can do is use my seemingly endless time to ruminate over what happened with barely any distractions aside from online assignments, which have begun to feel more and more overwhelming. What should I do? 

Sincerely, 

Single Amidst Disaster (SAD)

Dear SAD, 

I’m so sorry you’re having such a tough time! The present moment is a particularly difficult time to be going through a breakup, since most traditional breakup recovery advice revolves around going out, letting loose, and processing emotions in the company of friends. You should be gentle with yourself as you heal. Although the conditions of online learning can encourage a skewed school-life balance, allow yourself to disconnect from work if you feel it would help. It is okay to do the minimum for a while as you cope with emotional turmoil.

As difficult as breakups may be, there is one key advantage to the pandemic breakup: A clean break. You likely won’t run into them at parties or gatherings with mutual friends, giving you some much-needed space while you gather your emotions and take care of yourself. Similarly, you likely won’t have to fight off the temptation to jump into a rebound relationship. Try to reframe your newfound alone time as an opportunity to focus on cultivating your individual interests and passions. Many people have rediscovered a new enthusiasm for old hobbies while in quarantine, which can help to rebuild the fractured sense of identity that sometimes follows a breakup. However cliché, nurturing these interests can help strengthen your sense of self: You were whole before this person, and you are equally whole without them. 

Alongside acknowledging your grief, therapist Anisah Milley recommends replenishing oxytocin, a hormone that is related to connection and touch, post-breakup. While this is more difficult amidst the pandemic, there are remote options: Connecting with friends and family over video chat is a great way to remind yourself of the platonic love you still have while combatting loneliness. Though quarantine limits the options for comforting touch, it’s not impossible—try out self-massage or self-pleasure.

We can all agree that breakups suck, but healing is different for everyone. If you find yourself needing someone to sit with you as you process your emotions, reach out to family, trusted friends, or a counsellor. Sometimes talking about your situation can help you process the pain. McGill-specific resources include the Peer Support Centre, the Wellness Hub, and Keep.meSAFE. Additionally, meditation or journaling can be useful forms of expression. 

Although it’s difficult, isolation can serve as a time to reflect on your past relationship and what you learned about yourself in the process. Prolonged alone time can allow for some much-needed introspection, and can ultimately help you grow as an individual. Taking some time to understand what worked and didn’t work with your previous partner can strengthen your future relationships—and yes, there will be future relationships. 

The current crisis does not need to keep you from practicing healthy coping methods. Get dressed up anyway, put on your favourite playlist and dance away the pain in your living room. Although things are a little more complicated, the one thing that hasn’t changed is the notion that time will heal your post-breakup blues. Keep focussing on you, and eventually it won’t hurt so much. 

Best of luck, 

Ainsley 

Chill Thrills, Student Life

Okapi Club Mtl offers premium at-home mixed drinks

by Lucy Keller on

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After nearly two months in the red zone, Montreal’s nightlife seems like a faint and distant memory. However, some students are continuing to find ways to stay lively and drink with their friends. While some have turned to learning how to make cocktails and mixed drinks, many students have simply accepted White Claws and PBR as their quarantine drinks of choice. While this is an easy option for drowning out Zoom University and the chaos of the world, there is no better time to explore the world of mixology. Okapi Club Mtl is a cocktail delivery service offering innovative drinks for students missing the bars.

Founded by Kimberley Martin, a Montreal intervention and social worker, Okapi Club Mtl came to be when Martin realized in June that many of her friends were craving their favourite cocktails but were having a hard time learning how to make them. Prior to becoming a social worker, Martin worked in the entertainment industry and loved experimenting at the bar. 

“I noticed during the first quarantine that people were missing that element of their life,” Martin said. “I began to think about how we could create a way for people to have bar-quality drinks at home without the unnecessary effort.”

Okapi Club Mtl offers premium bar drinks while remaining accessible and eco-friendly. The service’s menu lists a wide array of ever-changing drinks. Ranging from cranberry, hibiscus, and basil martinis to green tea and orange bitters spritzers, the selections are far from your average mixed drinks. Drink orders come in brown paper bags and every part of the kit is sustainable, including mason jars containers and biodegradable instruction manuals. Martin focusses on shopping local and has pledged to maintain a zero-waste business model. 

“Unfortunately, the bar industry is responsible for too much waste and so one of our goals was to try to make a unique eco-friendly version of a bar,” Martin said. “We do not use any plastic in our packaging, and I strive to shop at markets with little to no plastic.”

For customers seeking a more hands-on experience, Martin is currently working on a second, more interactive phase of Okapi Club Mtl. While some of her customers simply want to sip their drinks and call it a day, others have expressed interest in learning how to make the many intricate beverages offered on her menu. Because of city-wide social distancing measures, Martin has been unable to launch in-person workshops, but is planning to host Zoom workshops and in-person events once Montreal is out of the red zone. 

“The workshops we will be launching will teach customers what elements there are in a cocktail,” Martin said. “[We will teach] how there is an acidic base, a sweet base, and of course the liquor. We will have customers try different mixes and maybe even creating a cocktail of their own.” 

With classes entirely online and assignments piling up, student life in Montreal can seem bleak and exhausting. Ordering in cocktails to share with roommates can be a way to break up the monotonous student schedule and add a little joy to the school week. On Dec. 1, Martin is launching a new holiday-themed menu featuring traditional holiday flavours like maple syrup and pine, which will surely spruce up student holiday celebrations. 

To order and learn more about Okapi Club Mtl, check out their Facebook page.

McGill, News

Webinar discusses impacts of COVID-19 on mobility policy in the European Union

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The McGill Journal of Sustainable Development Law hosted a webinar on the impacts of COVID-19 on mobility policy in the European Union (EU) on Nov. 12. The featured speaker was Iris Goldner Lang, a professor of EU Law at the University of Zagreb in Croatia. 

Emma Sitland, 2L Law and executive editor of the McGill Journal of Sustainable Development Law, hoped the event would give students a unique opportunity to learn directly from experts. 

“Through these short webinars, we hope to create spaces where students can engage with experts in the field, learn new perspectives, and explore their passion for sustainability and development law,” Sitland said.

Lang began the talk by highlighting some of the restrictive measures the EU has put in place to contain COVID-19. 

“In March 2020, almost all EU member states unilaterally imposed mobility-related measures, drastically restricting cross-border movement in the EU,” Lang said. “[They] enforced lockdowns, which included restrictions on intra-state non-essential movements, and closed their external borders towards third [world] countries for most non-residents.”

Lang explained that these restrictions were accompanied by a range of measures that restrict migrant and refugees’ rights, leading to a substantial decrease in the number of asylum claims. 

“[Asylum claims] hit the lowest levels since 2008 and represented an […] 87 per cent decrease in comparison to the numbers that were present […] before the [COVID-19] crisis,” Lang said. 

By implementing these travel bans and restrictions, Lang said, the EU is invoking the “precautionary principle,” an approach that has been controversial in the past.

“[Invoking the] precautionary principle enables decision-makers to adopt and legitimize restrictive measures where potentially dangerous effects, deriving from a phenomenon, product, or process, have been identified for human health, and scientific evidence about the risk is insufficient, inconclusive or uncertain,” Lang said.  

According to Lang, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light the interaction between science and politics. The precautionary principle allows scientists to assess risks. Then, decision-makers and politicians carry out risk management and communication.  

“The first step, scientific risk assessment, was at the EU level performed by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC),” Lang said. “Interestingly, when advocating which measures should be used to mitigate the impact of the pandemic, neither the ECDC nor the World Health Organization encouraged the use of border closures and travel bans.” 

She also questioned the legality of the EU’s policies from the view of the necessity test, which states that the desired results of a certain policy cannot be achieved through less restrictive means.

“At a time when most EU member states decided to introduce travel bans and close their external borders towards third countries, the level of knowledge about COVID-19 was not sufficient and conclusive enough to know with certainty that no alternative [with] less restrictive measures would protect public interest and public health just as effectively,” Lang explained.  

Carla Arbelaez, 1L Law and associate managing editor for the McGill Journal of Sustainable Development Law, felt the talk was particularly important to bring attention to an impact of COVID-19 that is, in her opinion, not widely discussed. 

“The event reminded its audience that, even amidst the uncertain times of a pandemic, we cannot forget our humanity when assessing EU migration policy,” Arbelaez said. “Strict border closures are not necessarily the best solution to addressing the risks of COVID-19. [Professor] Goldner Lang presented compelling evidence that there may be better options that allow people to pursue their asylum rights while still prioritizing public health.”

McGill, News

McGill Policy Association hosts virtual post-presidential election panel

by Ella Milloy on

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The McGill Policy Association (MPA) hosted an hour-long virtual panel on Nov. 13 to discuss the implications of the 2020 U.S. presidential election on Canada and the world. MPA events usually focus on domestic policy, but given the importance of the recent election, the independent student group decided to host a talk addressing the ramifications of Joe Biden’s victory. 

Matthew McLaughlin, U3 Arts and co-executive director of the MPA, moderated the panel alongside Michelle Marcus, U1 Arts. The two moderators guided the event’s panellists, McGill Law professor Andrea Bjorklund and Max Bell School of Public Policy professor David Shribman, through a list of students’ questions. With expertise in international and commercial law, public policy, and journalism, the two professors analyzed the results of the election in relation to their fields of study. In an email to the McGill Tribune, McLaughlin discussed why the MPA covered the U.S. election.

“We decided that this year’s U.S. presidential election was simply so important [that] it made sense for us to host an event discussing its potential policy ramifications,” McLaughlin wrote. “Canada and the U.S. are each other’s largest trading partners. Canada depends on the U.S. for military protection, [and] our economy is intrinsically tied to the fate of the American economy [….] Our bilateral relationship is immensely important.”

Hosted on Zoom, the event was divided into a 40-minute discussion panel, followed by a 20-minute Q&A session with audience members. Following brief introductions, the panellists shared their opinions on Trump and Biden’s campaigns, the presidential debates, election day, and the extended vote counting process. Applying his experience working as a national political correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, Shribman provided students with a summary of his observations of the 2020 election.

“[The election] was nasty, brutal, and not short,” Shribman said. “It was horrifying in many elements. [The first debate] was absolutely the worst presidential debate in American history. At least one of the candidates was rude and intemperate, while the other was barely visible [….] There are even more difficulties ahead.”

Bjorklund and Shribman covered additional topics, including the role of the Electoral College and the popular vote, voter turnout, and polarization in American politics. The second half of the discussion panel focussed more heavily on Biden’s approach to domestic and foreign policy. In explaining what Canadians can expect from the new administration, Professor Bjorklund discussed Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in contrast to the outgoing Trump administration.  

“[There will be] more coordination and cooperation about things like the border, and about what should happen to protect people on each side [of the border] from the virus from getting ill,” Bjorklund said. “I think [we will see] more co-operation generally [….] The whole tone of the [new] administration is going to be so different, and it seems like such an anodyne thing to say [that] they’ll be positive, they’ll be pleasant, they’ll be easy to deal with, [so] that will be different.”

Students who attended the panel prepared enough questions to fill the allocated one-hour time slot. McLaughlin explained in the email to the Tribune what he hopes students who attended the panel will have gained. 

“Our goal for the panel [was] to delve into the policy implications of Joe Biden’s win, with a special focus on how those implications will affect Canada,” McLaughlin said. “Hopefully, the audience members [left] with a better grasp on what the next four years have in store, public policy-wise.”

Students interested in the McGill Policy Association can find out more about future events via the student group’s Facebook page and website.

McGill, News

Panellists convene to discuss human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in China

by Nina Russell on

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McGill’s Muslim Law Students’ Association hosted a panel titled “What’s happening to China’s Uyghurs?” on Nov. 11 to discuss the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) imprisonment of the minority Muslim group in the Xinjiang province in northwestern China. The discussion featured Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) Garnett Genius, who currently sits on the House of Commons Special Committee on Chinese-Canadian relations; McGill law professor Jérôme Beaugrand-Champagne; and Rukiye Turdush, president of the East Turkistan Information Centre. 

While historical tensions between the Han Chinese and Uyghur Muslims are deep-rooted, the CCP’s recent crackdown on Uyghurs began in 2009, when Uyghurs protested the murder of a migrant Uyghur worker. Although the CCP justified its oppression on the basis of Uyghurs being a perceived “security threat,” members of the international community have yet to define the measures—which include concentration and forced labour camps, forced sterilization, and the elimination of Uyghur cultural identity—as genocide. 

Turdush described the CCP’s actions as part of a larger process of cultural genocide by which the CCP is systematically destroying Uyghur culture.

“Uyghur language textbooks have been removed from all schools in the region, Uyghur bookstores have been closed, and all geographic Uyghur names, including street and city names, have been changed to Han Chinese,” Turdush said. “Anything we can use for a sense of belonging with each other [has been] destroyed with the aim of exterminating […] the whole Uyghur nation as a group.”

The panellists called on students to support Uyghurs by boycotting brands like Nike, which profits off of the labour of enslaved Ugyhurs, and other products, like the 2020 film Mulan, which was partially filmed in Xinjiang and whose leading actress voiced support for the CCP’s brutal repression of Hong Kong protestors. 

“When we buy products made by slave labour, they make more,” Turdush said. 

Beaugrand-Champagne, who spent much of his career working on infrastructure projects in China, connected the CCP’s ability to commit such massive human rights violations without challenge to the expansion of its influence through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI, which seeks to develop infrastructure in low-income countries, has enabled the CCP to entrench the narrative that its oppression of Uyghurs is part of a fight against terrorism.

“When I was working in Africa on some infrastructure projects, some state-owned enterprises [forced] the local government to recognize the fight against terrorism that would, of course, support their claim on Xinjiang,” Beaugrand-Champagne said. “And that’s where we need to do more and fight [the CCP] every time they use those terms, to confront them.”

Various nations, including Canada, have been reluctant to term the human rights abuses occurring in Xinjiang as a “genocide” due to the international legal obligations that the word triggers. In addition to applying targeted sanctions and disconnecting supply chains from forced labour camps, Genius argued that officially recognizing the CCP’s actions as “genocide,” constitutes one of the most significant actions the federal govenrment could take to address the situation.

“The point of the doctrine of the Responsibility to Protect is that if we solidify that a genocide is taking place, then you have to do something about it,” Genius said. “But unfortunately, the link between recognition and the necessary action has simply led, in many cases, to a failure to recognize.”

Despite the CCP’s human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims, the Canadian government has yet to take significant action. Genius pointed out that divesting funds from the Canadian Pension Plans that are currently invested in Chinese state-owned corporations is a concrete step that the government could take to address the issue instead of deferring to verbal platitudes.

“The [government’s] response is, ‘We are very concerned, we are deeply disturbed about these events,’” Genius said. “And my response back is that people that are victims of modern-day mass atrocities do not care how you feel. They care what you do.”

McGill, News

MEDLIFE McGill hosts talk on ageing in the modern world

by Kate Addison on

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Over 20 people tuned in on Nov. 12 for MEDtalks 2020: Aging in Today’s World, a lecture series hosted by MEDLIFE McGill. First held in 2012, MEDtalks is an annual event intended to provide the McGill community with an opportunity to learn about current medical issues on both a local and global scale. 

Gabrielle Belloir, U2 Kinesiology and co-vice president Informational Outreach at MEDLIFE McGill, explained that the unique challenges the world’s increasingly elderly population present were selected as this year’s MEDtalk topic because they are not discussed as much as necessary. 

“As of today, the ageing population is the highest it’s ever been in human history,” Belloir said. “With [that] comes various problems, like lack of proper healthcare and retirement aid [….] As young people, we associate ageing [with] our grandparents, and many of us don’t think of it as something that is relatable. [However], whether it’s a societal or individual level, ageing is an issue we all face.” 

First to speak was Myra Giberovitch, a social worker, adjunct professor at McGill’s school of social work, trauma consultant, and author of the book, Recovering From Genocidal Trauma: An Information and Practice Guide for Working with Holocaust Survivors. Giberovitch spoke about the impact of loss experienced by elderly. 

“There are significant losses [experienced by] older people, a loss of financial security, their spouses [and] family members die, they lose their autonomy, and they may need to relocate,” Giberovitch said, “So there are losses that they’re going through which may cause vulnerability and a sense of helplessness.”

Giberovitch elaborated on the impact that isolation caused by loss of friends and family members can have on the elderly, particularly those who have experienced trauma. 

“We know that when people are isolated, they reflect on the past, and that’s a significant difference between survivors of war, […] and the older adult population in general,” Giberovitch said. “[Survivors] go back to traumatic experiences […] whereas older adults who didn’t experience trauma, they have positive memories, happy memories that they go back to.”

Next to speak was Dr. Howard Bergman, a professor of geriatric medicine and oncology in McGill’s Faculty of Medicine. During his talk, Bergman summarized his work, which includes creating the Canadian team for health care services, as well as improving the system to better serve patients in dementia care. He highlighted the importance of this initiative due to the impact that Alzheimer’s disease has on both individuals and the community. 

“[Alzheimer’s] is a complex disease, requiring interest both inside and outside the health care system,” Bergman said. “It’s complex because it’s medical [and] biological [and] it’s a problem [of] mental health. [Alzheimer’s] has an impact on the immediate caregiver in the family and it has a tremendous societal impact. It requires mobilization of different sectors of our healthcare system and social care system.”

Dr. Celena Scheede-Bergdahl, faculty lecturer for McGill’s Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education and  member of the Department of Anesthesiology at the Montreal General Hospital, closed the evening with a discussion on the prevalence of cancer in the ageing population, as well as possible intervention strategies. 

“We have a [large] ageing population right now, and as the population ages, there are more chronic diseases that take place,” Scheede-Bergdahl said. “We have to really think about what these patients are going through. We can’t treat them all on a one-size-fits-all prescription. We have to take a look at cancer now, not just as a question of treating cancer, but […] in terms of survivorship after that.” 

Belle Pan, U2 Science and co-vice president Informational Outreach with Belloir, summarized the goals that MEDLIFE McGill had for this year’s online lecture series in a message to The McGill Tribune. 

“We hope that [this talk] will help raise awareness of the need for adequate care and support for our ageing population, as ‘care’ and ‘support’ are very vague terms,” Pan said. “It is our hope that everyone was able to learn something new and gain awareness of the challenges we are or will eventually face in caring for our elders.” 

Basketball, Sports

NBA teams and players forced to adjust to early start

by Kyle Tsang, Dominic Chan on

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The National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) and NBA League officials reached an agreement on Nov. 4 for a 72-game season starting on Dec. 22, 2020. The implications of this decision are significant for players, franchises, and fans alike. The McGill Tribune examines the biggest consequences teams and players will face as a result of the early season start.

Title Contenders: Lakers, Heat, Nuggets, Celtics

With just 74 days between the end of the 2020 Finals and the start of the 2020-21 season, the Heat and Lakers will be facing the shortest offseason in American sports history. With less time to recuperate from their respective playoff runs, both teams gain advantages and disadvantages from the early start. Given the relatively weak free agent pool and both teams’ desire to save cap space for 2021, they will likely maintain the same rosters as seen in the 2020 Finals. The abbreviated training camp will thus have minimal impact on the play of both teams; the chemistry and rhythm built during those gruelling playoff runs should carry over to the first few months of the season. However, this short compressed off-season will surely fatigue both teams in the later stages of the season, particularly for an ageing Lakers roster. Fans can expect both teams to frequently load-manage their key players throughout the season. Other title contenders such as the Denver Nuggets and Boston Celtics will face similar durability issues from their deep runs in their respective conferences.

The 2020 Rookie Class

Rookies often have a tough time adjusting to the NBA style of play, as transitioning from a slower and less physically demanding game in college is challenging. As such, this year’s rookies will face the toughest introduction to the NBA in history. With a shortened training camp and the absence of a summer league, even star prospects such as Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball could struggle to adapt to the NBA.

Free Agents:

This year presents a difficult transition period for veteran free agents hoping to sign with new teams. With only a 12-day turnaround between the start of free agency and training camp, free agents not re-signing with their respective organizations will have little time to adjust to their new teams. Players will have to scramble to find new homes, and those with children will also have to arrange their schooling under short notice. To alleviate these difficulties, teams and players can come to an agreement well before the start of free agency. However, uncertainty regarding free agency and the risk associated with making multi-year commitments to new teams means that many veterans won’t be making decisions until the later stages of free agency.

Teams absent from the Bubble:

These teams will have had more than 200 days of rest as they were not invited to the 22-team Orlando Bubble in June. While the abbreviated training camp and transition period for new signings will hinder team cohesion, these teams will be the most rested coming into the season. The Golden State Warriors in particular will benefit the most from this early start. The team’s core of Curry, Thompson, and Green, who have played together since 2012, should have no trouble resuming play under Head Coach Steve Kerr’s system and re-establishing the Warriors as a clear contender. 

Teams making Major Adjustments: Rockets, 76ers, Pacers, Pelicans, Clippers, Thunder

With all of these teams planning major coaching and player changes, it will be difficult for new coaches to integrate new players into their systems during a shortened training camp before the early start. For the Rockets and Pacers, both of whom face uncertain futures and trade rumours with their star players, this early start will be particularly difficult as new coaches need time to establish which players to build their systems around. This season will truly test coaches’ ability to motivate their players to commit to their offensive and defensive schemes and ensure all players accept their team roles as quickly as possible without the intervention of unnecessary egos and tensions.

McGill, News

McGill students host a ‘Fight Night,’ violating red zone restrictions

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Just after 8:00 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, a group of students gathered on Forbes Field—the sports field behind McConnell Hall—to engage in planned, and spontaneous, wrestling matches. The event, which later moved to Parc Jeanne-Mance, drew first-year students from several of McGill’s residences, and even some non-McGill students.

Jordan*, who was present and who participated in the fighting, estimated that there were around eight fights and 30–40 people present throughout the night, while passersby accounts claimed they saw alcoholic beverages, and that there were 50–60 people. Another person who fought estimated that there were over 10 fights throughout the night. While punching was prohibited during the wrestling matches, Jordan alleged that one participant pulled their calf, but recovered quickly. Video evidence of the night that shows students circling and cheering on the fighters revealed that many attendees were not wearing masks, and not socially distanced. Jordan recalled the timeline of the night’s events.

“The police or the McGill security shut it down probably around 8:45 [p.m.] on Forbes Field and didn’t fine anyone,” Jordan wrote in a message to The McGill Tribune. “They stayed parked behind [Jeanne Mance] while people took the fight to [Jeanne Mance]. The police stayed, and I am almost 100 per cent sure [they] knew what was going on and seemed okay with it as they didn’t get out of their car and [instead] stayed between [Jeanne Mance] and Forbes field for the entire fight, which lasted [until] just before 10:00 [p.m.].”

In an email to the Tribune, Marisa Albanese, the Senior Director of Student Housing and Hospitality Services stated that the university’s administration was made aware of a possible gathering before Monday, but that they could not confirm the event took place.

“Security Services were dispatched on site, but did not witness any gathering,” Albanese wrote. “There were additional patrols that evening, and no incidents or gatherings were reported.”

Although the invitation graphic reads, “betting will be organized by [Royal Victoria College residences’] floor 11 casino,” multiple witnesses attest that no betting actually occurred at the night.

Awareness of the event was contained to small social circles in student residences before Monday, but after Instagram meme accounts picked up the story, the news spread quickly across social networks, reaching the McGill poll party group, Twitter, Reddit, the Students’ Society of McGill University, MTL Blog, CTV Montreal, and the Montreal Gazette. Jordan believes that the internet’s reaction to the fight night was misconstrued and overblown.

“This was not the infamous ‘fight club’ that major Montreal news sources are claiming it to be,” Jordan said. “This was a few guys wrestling in a park while people watched, and while it was [definitely] not the best call for Montreal’s red zones, the real story is, unfortunately, much more boring than the internet has made it out to be.”

While much of the coverage of the event has revolved around memes, tweets, and jokes, others, like Simon Kidd, U3 Arts, felt that the event was no laughing matter.

“The event demonstrated why some people were concerned when we learned that [residence] was going to reopen during COVID[-19],” Kidd said. “Even though the majority of students won’t participate in these sorts of events, 50 students did during [the red zone] [….] This is a global pandemic, and a lot of students are suffering socially by keeping themselves at home for the greater good of society.”

McGill’s COVID-19 tracker, which counts cases on campus and in residence, has reported zero cases since Nov. 1. Matthew Oughton, assistant professor in the Department of Medicine and attending physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Jewish General Hospital, said that gatherings like the fight night pose a risk of COVID-19 transmission through prolonged and direct physical contact.

“If someone had heavily contaminated themselves and their clothes, and someone else is wrestling with them, then it’s conceivable [that] there’s some degree of risk through that direct physical contact,” Oughton said. “I would not recommend that this kind of activity continue, especially while [Montreal] is at this plateau [….] We are running almost one new case of COVID-19 every minute.”

*Jordan’s name has been changed to preserve their anonymity.

Creative, Video

Exploring Mac Campus

by Sarah Ford on

More in Creative:

Multimedia Editor Sarah Ford explores McGill’s Macdonald campus, and learns how it differs from McGill’s downtown campus in its location, departments, and atmosphere.

Edit: This video incorrectly states the degrees offered at McGill’s Macdonald campus. The five degrees offered are as follows: Nutritional Science, Food Science, Agricultural and Environmental Science, Bio-resource Engineering, and a concurrent Food Science and Nutritional Science degree. More information can be found at https://www.mcgill.ca/macdonald/prospective/degrees.

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