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Know Your Athlete, Sports

Know your athlete: Jorden Savoury

by Karan Kumar on

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Jorden Savoury, U2 Arts, is one of McGill’s star track and field athletes. She competes in the 60 metres, 300 metres, 4×200 metre relays, and long jump. Her performance in the 25th McGill Team Challenge in January 2020 was nothing short of impressive. Savoury broke McGill records in both the 60 metre relay and long jump. 

“I was very ready for the meet [and] prepared really well,” Savoury said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “I went into that [meet] very confident, knowing that I am able to do really well and that’s exactly what happened. I got two personal bests.”

Competing in multiple track & field events can be a challenge for many athletes, but Savoury considers these different events to be complementary in her preparation. 

“60 metres is executing your fast speed. Three hundred metres is a long sprint [which requires] speed endurance. [In] long jump, you [have] a lot to work on—your takeoff, landing, run-up, [and] approach,” Savoury said. “Each event I do is technical in its own way, but they help each other.”

Savoury, who is one of Canada’s 2021 and 2024 Olympic hopefuls, takes this status as a motivating force rather than a source of stress. 

“[Being considered an Olympic hopeful] is not an expectation; it’s more of a motivation,” Savoury said. “I [always] have it at the back of my mind. It is my biggest goal. The motivation keeps me on my toes. If I am having a bad day, I think of my dreams and goals.”

Apart from athletics, Savoury has a keen interest in modeling. She has modeled for the Redbird Sports Shop and her outdoor club, Saint-Laurent Select, whose mission is to promote athletic events among youth. 

“[I have] two big different dreams: One is the Olympics and the other is modeling,” Savoury said. “Modeling allows me to express my fashion and true colors as a person [….] Modeling for the McGill clothing line was so fun.”

The pandemic has disrupted Savoury’s training schedule as well as her modeling work, but she has managed to adapt to the social-distancing measures.

“The pandemic has hit us hard,” Savoury said. “In March, I continued training as best as I could. I would do bodyweight exercises in the house, run up and down stairs, [and] sprint on the concrete, which hurt.” 

She also values the company of her teammates and coaches, a comfort lost during the pandemic.

“It’s very hard training on your own,” Savoury said. “You are less motivated [and] it is not as fun.”

Due to the social distancing measures, keeping in touch with coaches and colleagues can be challenging. Despite feelings of isolation, Savoury has stayed connected with her peers both at McGill and Saint-Laurent Select. 

“From March to May, it was very hard [because we were] not in touch that much,” Savoury said. “Everyone was in their own space. We have video calls with Saint-Laurent Select to keep in touch. [It’s] not only about track and field, but [about] how life is going [in general, which] really helped me move forward.”

With the university athletics season indefinitely postponed, Savoury is focusing on the present and taking each day as it comes. 

“I have an outdoor season, [so] I am in the zone of what’s going on right now,” Savoury said. “To know that Nationals and RSEQs will be cancelled makes me sad, of course. All the hard work I have put in will not be proven in [those] big meets.” 

Savoury shares some key life lessons she learned throughout her journey as a student-athlete.

“I have learned about being patient,” Savoury said. “Things don’t always go your way. I had surgery [and] could not do my sport for three years. I train five times a week as a full-time student. I need to plan my week, [my] food, [and] when I am going to study [so that] I am not stressed [….] Patience and time management are two key things I have learned from my sport.”

Album Reviews, Arts & Entertainment, Music

Embracing the new without abandoning the old in ‘Imploding the Mirage’

by Erika Mackenzie on

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Imploding the Mirage sounds distinctly like a Killers album: The upbeat, new wave-meets-modern rock style is recognizable to longtime fans of the Las Vegas band. However, it’s impossible to ignore the album references to other artists, styles, and eras. The busy instrumentalism, coarse-sounding vocals, and reinvented ‘80s synth-pop sound is remarkably similar to Arcade Fire’s 2017 album Everything Now, reflecting a current trend of retro nostalgia in musical production. Overall, Imploding the Mirage’s cohesive sound reinforces the story arc it aims to convey, edging the line between inspiration and imitation.

Lead singer Brandon Flowers describes the album as a story of two people becoming one through love, using inspiration from his parents’ marriage and his own relationship with his wife. “Dying Breed” showcases the beauty of a rare love with the lyrics “For the coveted touch of a girl in love / I was taken by the sound of a spirit in need / Baby we’re a dying breed.”

Many of the album’s tunes sound similar to the ‘80s gospel pop anthems. “Lightning Fields” has a high-energy choral quality that is reminiscent of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer.” The song features K.D. Lang, who Flowers explained is meant to emulate his late mother. Lang’s angelic voice sounds to be coming from above the clouds as she sings, “There’s no end to love” in the bridge. 

Along with the album’s more referential material, songs like “Blowback” embody the classic Killers’ sound. The B-Bender guitar adds a vintage rock feel that evokes nostalgia for the band’s first album Hot Fuss. “Caution” and “My Own Soul’s Warning” employs introductory soundscapes, a technique that is very familiar to the group. It’s clear The Killers have not abandoned their signature style but have revamped it in ways that keep listeners on edge.

Editorial, Opinion

Reconciliation must go beyond a toppled statue

by The McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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The police murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020 sparked global protests against police brutality and anti-Black racism, giving renewed momentum to the Black Lives Matter movement. In light of these events, McGill, an institution whose history is rooted in violence and enslavement, expressed its intention to put forward a ‘Plan for Addressing Anti-Black Racism’ by Sept. 30. The university’s administration has a history of stalling on equity-related issues. It took months of courageous activism by student leaders such as Tomas Jirousek for Principal and Vice-Chancellor Suzanne Fortier to come to a decision regarding the renaming of the men’s varsity team. Now, McGill must act quickly to implement its Black students’ demands, or else continue to actively contribute to the perpetuation of racism on campus. These demands start, but do not end, with taking down the statue of James McGill that stands by the Roddick Gates. 

The #TakeJamesMcGillDown movement was started over the summer by Black students at McGill. Its three core demands call for the removal of the James McGill statue, the creation of a Black or Africana Studies department, and the establishment of a resource-based office for social equity that prioritizes funding for Black students. Other demands include, but are not limited to, providing additional funding for events like Black Grad and Black History Month, and amending the Harassment and Discrimination Policy. Failure to comply with these necessary and attainable demands, especially as McGill seeks to raise $2 billion through the Made by McGill campaign, would indicate a conscious commitment to upholding the racism that has plagued the school since its founding. 

James McGill enslaved two Black women, one Black man, and two Indigenous children. We know this to be true, yet the McGill administration continues to publicly glorify its founder. Last year, the university announced the creation of two research positions to investigate McGill’s ties to slavery and colonialism, though the administration has not yet announced whether any action will be taken using this information beyond a self-congratulatory media campaign. While this paid work is crucial, it largely ignores the labour of Black members of the McGill community who have already started to uncover and communicate this history, such as former Art History professor Dr. Charmaine Nelson’s Bicentenary Recommendations. 

Of course, the creation of research positions does not mean McGill will actually do anything substantial. During a roundtable with the student media, Associate Provost (Equity and Academic Policies) Angela Campbell did not indicate that any action would be taken following the conclusion of the researchers’ contracts, instead stating that the purpose of the new positions is to recruit and support post-doctoral students. Understanding our history means nothing if it is not paired with meaningful actions that seek to fulfill Black students’ longstanding demands for the respect and equitable treatment that they deserve. 

Black students’ efforts in advocating for more equitable practices and creating safer environments for their communities are not new at McGill. The Black Students’ Network (BSN) has been working since last October to put forward a Black Student’s Bill of Rights. Other Black student groups, like the McGill African Students’ Society, Caribbean Students’ Society, and Black Law Students’ Association, hold and support events for Black community members, whereas the creation of two research positions are the best the university has offered so far. BIPOC students at McGill have and continue to be at the heart of some of the most crucial movements on and around campus. 

Black students should not have to take on this challenging work themselves. All students, clubs, and associations must take action to mitigate the barriers that have harmed and unwelcomed Black students. Non-Black individuals must make space for Black voices, join them in confronting the administration, call out and correct the people that use racist language, and dismantle their own internalized biases. Students should support the #TakeJamesMcGillDown campaign by signing their open letter and showing up to future demonstrations. This must come with a determination to hold themselves and others accountable to ensure that this movement does not lose momentum, which would make it easier for the administration to ignore.

McGill cannot simply take back two centuries of complicity in upholding anti-Black racism on campus and beyond. But it can and must begin to make amends for its past by listening to Black community members and implementing long-overdue changes without delay. 

Montreal, News

Hundreds of protestors demand the defunding of Montreal police

by Pascal Hogue on

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Over 200 people marched through the streets of Montreal on Aug. 29, calling for the defunding of the Service de police de la Ville de Montreal (SPVM) in a protest organized by the Montreal wing of the BIPOC Liberation Collective. 

The recent police shooting of Jacob Blake, an unarmed Black man in Kenosha, Wisconsin, sparked renewed efforts in Montreal to protest racialized police brutality. Speakers at the protest highlighted the SPVM’s murders of unarmed Black and Indigenous civilians, including the 2008 killing of Fredy Villanueva.

The energetic crowd was undeterred by weather that wavered between a light drizzle and heavier downpour. Ahead of protestors, police cars and neon-clad police officers on bikes patrolled the area, clearing the streets of traffic. Masked protestors chanted “Black Lives Matter,” “defund the police,” and “abolish the police,” and were often met with honking cars and cheers from passersby. 

For over two hours, the crowd marched peacefully along Sherbrooke Street and west on Saint Catherine Street, where officers in riot gear blocked the street near the Montreal Police Neighborhood Station #20. Protestors continued west on Boulevard René Lévesque before gathering in Dorchester Square, where organizers gave speeches pushing for the reallocation of police funding. As the crowd reached Dorchester Square, a group of protestors toppled and spray-painted the statue of Canada’s first Prime Minister John A. Macdonald. There were no reported injuries or arrests. 

During the march, one activist with the BIPOC Liberation Collective spoke about the importance of reinvesting in communities as a means to reduce crime. He lauded the crowd’s activism and pushed participants to support BIPOC members in their own communities.

“I’m not going to sit around and watch more lives be lost and more lives be destroyed, because just one is too many,” he said. “And as a community we should understand that, and not be desensitized to peoples’ struggles and not dehumanize groups of people. Because when people become disenfranchised from our communities, [they] resort to the things that we don’t want in our society. And when we hold ourselves accountable for that and we realize that we are all part of the process [.…] We realize that it’s all our jobs.” 

Another activist bluntly assessed SPVM funding.

“Why is education not funded as much as the police?” he asked. “Why does education keep getting defunded [and] public schools beg for subventions [while] the police are there with almost tanks in protests. Why the fuck is this happening?”

Jessica Quijano, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Coordinator at the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal, expressed frustration over her interactions with the SPVM during her work. She explained that she often needs to push for police to open investigations into missing and murdered Indigenous women. 

“How is it that a community has to hire someone like myself so that the police are supposed to do what they are paid to do,” Quijano said. “This is all intentional. The genocide of Indigenous people is intentional [in] Canada, [which] actually does not act. We know what needs to be done. We had an inquiry with 233 recommendations and the government has done none of them.”

Quijano denounced systemic racism in Canada’s criminal justice system.

“The Indigenous population here in Canada is less than five per cent, [but in our prisons], 25 per cent of men [incarcerated] are Indigenous and 40 per cent of women [incarcerated are Indigenous],” Quijano said. “That is a travesty. If you want to think about the U.S., how they have an issue with the prison industrial complex, we have the same thing here. We are no different than the United States.” 

Following the speeches, a handful of protestors, dressed entirely in black, climbed the John A. Macdonald statue, covering it with banners detailing Macdonald’s past. While John A. Macdonald was one of Canada’s founding fathers, he established the residential school system, which forcibly separated over 150,000 First Nation, Inuit, and Métis children from their families between 1880 and 1996. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, published in 2015, called the residential school system a “cultural genocide.”

Research Briefs, Science & Technology

Gene therapy provides a potential breakthrough in brain cancer treatment

by Madison Mclauchlan on

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In the fight against cancer, scientists have long grappled with the ambiguous nature of stem cells. Glioblastoma tumours, the most aggressive form of brain cancer in adults, consist of these cells, which have the notable ability to self-renew. This makes these tumours notoriously hard to treat with targeted radiation therapy and difficult to permanently remove through surgery.

A McGill-led research group working at the Lady Davis Institute of the Jewish General Hospital has now put the invincibility of tumour stem cells into question. In a recent paper, the group details a new technique of sensitizing stem cells to radiation therapy, thereby increasing the therapy’s efficacy. A single mitochondrial gene called oncostatin M receptor (OSMR) was found to influence the energy levels of stem cells. Using the DNA editing tool CRISPR-Cas9, researchers were able to delete the gene and cause cancerous cells to become less resistant to ionizing radiation, the type used in cancer treatments.

Dr. Arezu Jahani-Asl, assistant professor in the Department of Oncology at McGill, has been overseeing this project since 2015.

“What makes [stem cells] unique is their capacity to undergo self-renewal and spur the growth of new tumours, but at the same time, they can evade ionizing radiation and chemotherapy,” Jahani-Asl said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “They can regenerate a new tumour if there are only a few of these cells left after surgery.”

Considering the tenacity of these cancer cells, researchers consider the identification of the OSMR gene’s role in regulating cell proliferation a promising breakthrough.

Through various molecular techniques, the team tracked the OSMR gene product and its interactions within the cell. First, they established OSMR’s location in the mitochondria, the part of the cell responsible for producing energy. Its location pointed to OSMR’s involvement with the mitochondria’s electron transport chain, a series of protein complexes that produce ATP, the cell’s energy currency. 

Researchers noticed that high expression of OSMR strengthens cancer cells by promoting ATP  production, providing cells with additional energy.

Armed with the knowledge that OSMR affects a tumour’s energy stores, the researchers subsequently removed the gene using CRISPR-Cas9. 

“When we deleted the gene, there was less oxygen consumption rate, which is a means to measure energy production,” Jahani-Asl said. “There was a decrease of activity in Complexes I, II, III and IV of the [electron transport] chain.” 

Without OSMR, the researchers noted that radical oxygen species, chemically reactive molecules that can cause cellular damage, accumulated in the mitochondria. This build-up triggered cell death in mice more often than when exposed to radiation alone. An increased sensitivity of these cancer cells to radiation therapy could feasibly prolong the life expectancy of glioblastoma patients undergoing treatment. 

Despite the study’s use of mouse models in testing OSMR suppression, the scientists also found support for their results in public health data. 

“Based on public datasets, the higher the expression of OSMR, the more resistant [cells] are to ionizing radiation,” Jahani-Asl said. “It is very similar to what we saw in wet experimentation with mice.” 

Consistency between public health data and the results of the study suggests that gene deletion techniques may be viable for brain cancer patients. In addition, effective gene editing tools such as CRISPR are becoming more widely used in preclinical research. It will take further inquiry and experimentation, however, before human trials become possible. 

For now, the lab is exploring a number of options in their continuing study of the OSMR gene, including therapy antibodies and molecular profiling. 

“At this point, a drug screening is required to find a drug that specifically inhibits OSMR function,” Dr. Ahmad Sharanek, the lead author of the study, wrote in an email to the Tribune.  “Pharmacological targeting of OSMR in combination with the current standard of care for glioblastoma therapy will [become] feasible at a large scale.”

Recipes, Student Life

Back-to-school, back to home cooking

by Juliette Barlier on

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The chaos of the past summer has made many of us turn to a classic comfort: Food.

Food has been a grounding force for those who find comfort in baking a sweet-smelling cake in the oven, chopping fruit in the kitchen, and kneading a dough to make bread. These simple moments allow us to tap into our senses, into our roots, into who we are. The physicality and mindfulness involved in the cooking process, the memories it channels of your grandmother’s kitchen, the creative outlet it provides, and the joy in devouring the meal with friends and family at the dining table are all quite therapeutic. When my grandfather used to say “We are what we eat,” I would add, “We are what we cook.”

With that being said, here are some of my personal favourites recipes to try out during the online semester. 

For a ready-made breakfast – Overnight Oats

Mix two parts rolled oats with one part plain Greek yogurt, one part milk or nut milk, and nut butter and cinnamon to taste in a bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and leave it in the fridge overnight. Enjoy it as-is in the morning or add whatever your heart desires—be it fruit, granola, nuts, honey, or a beautiful layer of crushed raspberries!

For a magnificent meal- Yotam Ottolenghi’s (adapted) caramelized garlic tart 

375 g all-butter puff pastry

3 separated and peeled heads of garlic cloves 

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp balsamic vinegar

1 cup water

¾ tbsp castor sugar

1 tsp chopped rosemary

1 tsp chopped thyme plus a few whole sprigs 

120 g creamy goat’s cheese

120 g hard mature goat’s cheese 

2 eggs

6 1/2 tbsp double cream

6 1/2 tbsp crème fraîche

salt and black pepper

Recipe:

Prepare the baking tin:

  1. Roll out the puff pastry into a shallow, loose bottomed, 28 cm fluted tart pan. Place a large circle of greaseproof paper on the bottom and fill up with pie weights. Leave to rest in the fridge for 20 minutes.

Blind bake the crust:

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C and bake the tart pan for 20 minutes. Remove the weights and paper, then bake for a further 5-10 minutes, or until the pastry is golden. Set aside. Leave the oven on.

Prepare the caramelized garlic cloves:

  1. While the crust is baking, put the garlic cloves in a small saucepan and cover with plenty of water. Bring to a simmer and blanch for three minutes, then drain well.
  2. Dry the saucepan, return the cloves to it and add two tablespoons of oil. Fry the garlic cloves on high heat for two minutes. Add the balsamic vinegar and water and bring to the boil, then simmer gently for 10 minutes. Add sugar, rosemary, chopped thyme and quarter teaspoon salt. Continue simmering for 10 minutes, or until most of the liquid has evaporated and the garlic cloves are coated in a dark syrup. Set aside.

Assemble the garlic tart:

  1. Break goat’s cheese into pieces and scatter in the pastry case. Spoon over the caramelized garlic cloves and syrup. In a jug, whisk together the eggs, cream, half teaspoon salt and some black pepper. Pour this custard over the tart filling to fill the gaps.
  2. Reduce the oven to 170°C and place the tart inside. Bake for 35-45 minutes. Remove from the oven and leave to cool. Serve warm with a few sprigs of thyme on top.

For your sweet tooth – The Ultimate Chocolate Mousse

250 grams dark chocolate

1/2 stick salted butter

2 tbsp vanilla extract

6 eggs

Orange zest to taste

Recipe:

Separate egg whites from yolk into two large bowls. Add vanilla to the yolk. Melt chocolate and butter in medium saucepan on low heat. Once chocolate is 75 per cent melted, take it off heat and keep stirring until smooth. Gently add chocolate mixture to the yolk and mix with a wooden spoon until smooth. Whisk egg whites into stiff peaks (if you flip the bowl, no mousse should fall out). Gently fold in egg whites to the chocolate mixture with spatula. Divide mixture into six mini-bowls, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Let sit for two hours minimum to overnight and enjoy. Serves six.

Soccer, Sports

Mewis to Manchester exemplifies the NWSL exodus

by Kaja Surborg on

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The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the sports world hard, with many leagues initially cancelling their seasons. Some leagues, including the WNBA, the NBA, and the NHL, have since restarted in “bubbles,” and one of the most successful in this restart was the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). 

The NWSL was in its off-season when the pandemic hit North America, leaving the league scrambling to fit a whole season into a shortened time frame and safe environment. Their solution came in the form of the NWSL Challenge Cup, which took place between June 27 and July 26 in a “bubble” in Utah. The 23-game tournament was successful in several ways, with no positive COVID-19 tests and a first-time NWSL champion in the Houston Dash. 

Despite the relative success of the summer’s Challenge Cup, and the announcement of a Fall Series set to run from Sep. 5 to Oct. 17, many players are still choosing to leave the NWSL to play club soccer in European leagues. American midfielders Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle have signed with the FA Women’s Super League’s (FA WSL) Manchester City, while American forwards Christen Press and Tobin Heath have both signed with Manchester United. It’s not only American players who are leaving the NWSL, however. England’s Rachel Daly and Australia’s Emily van Egmond both signed loan deals with Westham United, leaving behind their American clubs for the time being. Some young North American players are choosing to forego the NWSL altogether, including Canada’s Jessie Fleming who signed her first professional contract with Chelsea FC in June of 2020. 

The situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States means that there is no way for NWSL players to play a full league season this year. The fall series consists of only 18 games, with regional pods that limit each team to playing against only the two other teams in the pod and only playing four games each. Players looking to make their national team rosters ahead of next year’s Olympic Games will need more opportunities for playing time in competitive environments. At the moment, an American league is simply not able to provide this setting. European leagues also present the opportunity to play in multiple competitions, including the UEFA Women’s Champions League and national cups within each country. 

After the failure of two previous women’s professional soccer leagues in the United States, this outflux of top players from the NWSL is a cause for concern. Through a deal with CBS, the 2020 season would have been the first with games aired on network television, increasing the visibility of the league and drawing in more fans and sponsors. Top players leaving the league does not bode well for future sponsorships or television deals; however, CBS did air games from the Challenge Cup and will continue to show games from the Fall Series. This precarity is just one of the many ways in which women’s sports have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to men’s sports. 

Despite the bad news for the NWSL, players signing in Europe are, arguably, a testament to the development and maintenance of women’s professional club soccer across the world. Despite less-than-ideal circumstances in the U.S., players still have the opportunity to continue playing club soccer. The majority of FA WSL teams are now fully professional, allowing players to spend more time training with better equipment and facilities, thus raising the level of competition in the league. Hopefully, this professionalization can continue to sustainably provide opportunities for women soccer players, even through unforeseen obstacles like a global pandemic. 

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McGill, News

Anonymous Instagram pages highlight student experiences with discrimination at McGill

by Kate Addison, Pascal Hogue on

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As recent Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests against police brutality have ignited a global reckoning with racism, new McGill-related Instagram pages are platforming anonymous Black, Indigenous, and people of colour (BIPOC) students’ experiences with discrimination at the university. Untold McGill and Black At McGill have highlighted disturbing instances of racism at the hands of fellow students, professors, advisors, and student organizations within the McGill community. The creation of these McGill-related Instagram accounts to amplify marginalized voices follows a surge of similar pages connected to university campuses across North America.

The McGill Tribune spoke to the administrators of both the Untold McGill and Black At McGill accounts about the inspiration behind their work and what they hope to accomplish. 

“We were inspired [to create Untold McGill] by a lot of the conversations surrounding [Black Lives Matter], but also conversations surrounding anonymous pages from other Universities [such as] Stolen by Smith, Black at Harvard Law, [and] Black at Cornell,”  an Untold McGill administrator said. “[BIPOC students] have, in one way or another, experienced marginalization at McGill, so we really thought it would be important to create a safe and comfortable environment within our own community where people like us and people unlike us can feel safe to share their stories [that would] otherwise […] go untold.”  

Another administrator from Untold McGill explained the importance of addressing discrimination within Canadian universities, as institutional racism is often only discussed in an American context.

“As Canadians, we always want to compare ourselves to the United States,” the administrator said. “[But] Canada is not innocent in systemic racism, and it’s really important for us to acknowledge that. In higher education, a lot of us [think that], we are [educated] and [believe that] education often comes with more progressive ideologies. Except, there’s an inherent elitism and classism [that intersects] race and sex. I just think that’s built into universities.”  

While Untold McGill shares students’ experiences of race, gender, and sexual orientation-based discrimination, the Black Student Network (BSN)-affiliated account, Black At McGill, serves to share the experiences of Black students. 

“We wanted to amplify the voices of Black students who are victims of systemic racism on this campus,” an administrator from the Black At McGill account said. “This Instagram page also serves as a way of proving that the demands Black students are calling for, through initiatives such as ‘Take James Down’, are not unwarranted. The reception and execution of these demands is highly necessary.” 

Alongside individual instances of discrimination at McGill, many of the posts highlight racism and discrimination at the institutional level: Student organizations, such as Greek life and The McGill Tribune, as well as various faculties, have been denounced for perpetuating systemic racism. 

Untold McGill has already successfully held various McGill organizations accountable. Among several organizations that were mentioned on the page, the Management Undergraduate Society (MUS) was prompted to make a statement reiterating its commitment to supporting students of colour. 

“The MUS Board of Directors and Executive Council is committed to enhancing equity within our student society, and has set a few action items aside with the intention of making the MUS a more inclusive place,” MUS President Jonathan Gurvey wrote in an email to the Tribune. “There’s never a bad time to have an inward look at our organization’s procedures and practices to see how we can do better. We at the MUS are committed to perpetual improvement.”

VC Renaud, Queer McGill’s (QM) administrative coordinator, explained how Untold McGill impacted the organization.

“We at Queer McGill understand that QM has historically been a space dominated by white people [and] has definitely lifted up white voices over other voices, which has made our events and offices and resources inaccessible to QTBIPOC students,” VC Renaud said. “[However], we are, as an organization, actively working to change this, as our mandate states that we work from an anti-oppressive, intersectional, and feminist orientation.” 

While organizations like the BSN and the Indigenous Student Alliance (ISA) have long been working to advocate for the rights of BIPOC students on campus, Untold McGill and Black At McGill hope that their platforms will empower individual students affected by both institutional and individual discrimination.  

“If the comments on certain posts are any indication, it’s clear that a lot of students have encountered some form of discrimination, and a lot of students are aware of what is happening within the university,” an Untold McGill administrator said. “I think that this page has […] shed more light on these issues, and it’s definitely given a wake-up call to some people who may have stayed quiet or were too scared to speak up.”

 

Martlet holding a gavel illustration
McGill, News, PGSS, SSMU

McGill Governance 101

by Nina Russell on

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STUDENTS’ SOCIETY OF MCGILL UNIVERSITY (SSMU)

What it does:

SSMU is McGill’s highest level of student government responsible for supervising undergraduate clubs and extracurricular activities, managing and ensuring the sustainability of long-term operations such as the student bar Gerts’, advocating for student interests in the McGill Senate, and planning social events for the student body. SSMU is led by seven student executives who are elected by the student body at the end of each academic year. Legislative Council, which is composed of the SSMU executives and 30 other councillors that represent faculties and clubs, determines policy directions. Undergraduate students can directly influence SSMU by attending its virtual General Assemblies and voting in online referenda, both of which are held once every semester. 

Recent Events:

The 2019-2020 school year was an important year for SSMU: In addition to finally securing a long sought-after reading week for 2021, it is also working with UTILE, a housing organization, to organize affordable housing for McGill students. This year, SSMU executives are advocating for racial justice at McGill; they have supported several faculty statements addressing racism and are recruiting a Black Affairs Commissioner to better address Black students’ needs.

POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS’ SOCIETY (PGSS)

What it does: 

Elected by graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, PGSS representatives meet once a month to discuss and vote on new policies. The PGSS executives plan social events and workshops, many of which take place in their headquarters at Thomson House. Their mandate is to provide accessible networking opportunities for postgraduate students. Additionally, the society advocates for the interests of graduate students by liaising with other governing bodies at McGill and beyond.

Recent Events:

At a meeting in February 2020, PGSS members outlined their plans to create an area specifically for the use of graduate students in the McLennan-Redpath Library complex, which will be undergoing renovations as part of the Fiat Lux Building Project over the next several years. In addition, PGSS is debating joining the Quebec Student Union, which advocates for student interests at the provincial level. Currently, PGSS sits as an observer, as opposed to acting within the capacity of a full member.

BOARD OF GOVERNORS (BoG)

What it does:

The McGill BoG acts as the final authority over all of the university’s academic and financial affairs. Two student representatives sit on the 25-person board, with the rest of the seats belonging to other stakeholders. Composed of nine standing committees, including the Finance Committee and the Committee to Advise on Matters of Social Responsibility (CAMSR), the BoG governs the daily operations at McGill. 

Recent Events: 

The Board of Governors disappointed many last winter when, on the advice of CAMSR, it advocated for a lower-impact “decarbonization” plan instead of deciding to divest from fossil fuels. Despite Philosophy Professor Gregory Mikkelson’s resignation from his tenured position to protest the decision, Principal Suzanne Fortier and the rest of the BoG showed no interest in reassessing the matter.

MCGILL SENATE

What it does:

The Senate governs academic policies, such as the development of curricula and academic requirements for McGill’s degrees and diplomas. It also takes on a broader role at McGill by managing the university’s libraries and administering Student Services. The Senate is composed of 111 members and nine standing committees, which include the Senate Steering Committee and the Committee on Libraries. The Senate meets on a monthly basis, during which standing committees deliver reports and senators vote on policies and nominations.

Recent Events:

The Senate has devoted its past several meetings to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic will affect learning this year and has adjusted its priorities in accordance with new requirements. In addition, it endorsed the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion plan which aims to address hiring biases and retention rates among BIPOC faculty and staff, in addition to hiring researchers to further investigate the history between McGill and slavery.

Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV, Internet, Music

What we liked this summer: Pandemic edition

by Angelica Voutsinas, Julian Miller, Deana Korsunsky, Jonathan Giammaria, Erika Mackenzie  on

More in Arts & Entertainment:

With the start of virtual classes, it feels like we’ve been jolted out of a limbo. Still, with Netflix binges about to be replaced by Zoom classes, we can at least say that our five months indoors have given us plenty to watch, listen to, and read. The pandemic aside, here are some favourites that helped us through the summer.

You’re Wrong About, Podcast – Erika Mackenzie 

Summer is the season of podcasts, and this one is definitely worth the listen. Freelance reporters Sarah Marshall and Michael Hobbes dive into memorable events, people, and random phenomena throughout history, questioning popular preconceived notions. Rather than a simple debunking, You’re Wrong About delves into the social implications of widely held beliefs. Exploring topics from Stockholm syndrome to the O.J. Simpson trial, You’re Wrong About has no boundaries on what it will cover. Marshall and Hobbes are not only informative, but they also have an excellent sense of humour and keep listeners on their toes.

SAWAYAMA, Album – Jonathan Giammaria

Rina Sawayama cackles her way into the nu-metal chorus of her pop album’s third track, “STFU!” On paper, this eclectic mix of genre and vocals seems bizarre; however, when listening, it becomes one of the album’s most memorable performances. SAWAYAMA is full of bold creative choices: “Paradisin’” is set to the beat of a hyper 8-bit video game; “Comme Des Garçons (Like The Boys)” pairs a fashion brand roll call with groovy disco. And with songs covering climate change, family heritage, platonic breakups, and consumerism, SAWAYAMA’s subject matter is as varied as its sound. Though the album isn’t beholden to thematic or sonic cohesion, it nevertheless soars as a wholly original work from a singular, new voice.

TikTok, App – Deana Korsunsky

From viral dances to lifehack tutorials, the video app TikTok became a worldwide phenomenon thanks to the quarantine of Summer 2020.  Although the video app started as Musical.ly in 2016, TikTok now hosts communities from tweens to baby boomers, offering content as relatable as pandemic confinement, to those as niche as canned beans fan videos. The TikTok feed is an endless void of passion and creativity. What may start as a simple scroll through one’s feed will undoubtedly evolve into a 40-minute session of chuckling, liking, and commenting. The platform provides a convenient and much-needed source of both amusement and education, allowing those of different walks of life to share their creativity and stories with the world.

Da 5 Bloods, Film – Julian Miller

A mid-June Netflix release brimming with lushness and fury, Da 5 Bloods is both Spike Lee’s latest masterwork and, heartbreakingly, Chadwick Boseman’s last film released before his passing. The film follows five ageing veterans of an all-Black platoon as they journey back into the Vietnamese jungle in search of a twofold treasure: Buried gold and the remains of a beloved comrade left behind long ago. The men’s foray into the jungle ultimately becomes a volatile yet deeply compassionate exploration of the many faces of trauma, the impossible burden of loyalty, and the irreconcilable paradox of fighting and dying in the name of your oppressor.

Boys State, Film – Angelica Voutsinas

Documenting a week-long leadership camp run by the American Legion, directors Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss set out to study the deep-rooted polarization that is so intrinsically tied to American politics. Boys State follows four out of one thousand participants in the 2018 Texas Boys State, where 16-year-olds play mock government for a week: Electing government officials, enacting laws, and running election campaigns that parallel the dirty politics of real life. The film is a cynical snapshot of the next generation of American politicians, but also shows the growing minority of youth in politics who genuinely want to better the lives of others. Boys State is emotional, captivating, and a must-watch for anyone casting their ballots on Nov. 3.

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