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Commentary, Opinion

The SAQ is an essential service

by Sequoia Kim on

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Alcohol consumption is often considered a university tradition: Drinking is embedded in much of student social life, culture and events. However, Quebec Premier François Legault’s decision to deem the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) an essential service amid province-wide shut-downs to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is not about student life, but alcohol-dependent Quebecers. If liquor stores close, people with alcohol use disorder (AUD),  would likely put additional strain on an already overburdened healthcare system. During the global pandemic, when hospital beds, medical resources, and time have become precious currency, it is essential that liquor stores remain open to minimize the number of people admitted to hospitals.

A survey conducted by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction found that three per cent of Canadians reported behaviour aligned with AUD in 2012 and that 18 percent of the general population exceeded Canada’s Low-Risk Drinking Guidelines (LRDG) in 2017. The LRDG recommends no more than 10 drinks a week for women, with no more than two drinks a day most days; and 15 drinks a week for men, with no more than three drinks a day most days. If SAQs across the province closed, many Quebec residents with alcohol dependencies would likely be forced into withdrawal.

The physical dependency that often accompanies AUD can make sudden withdrawal from alcohol a potentially fatal medical emergency. Many heavy drinkers are mentally and physically dependent on alcohol because, over time, their brain chemistry adjusts to compensate for alcohol latency in their system. Mild withdrawal symptoms can include shaking, sweating, vomiting, insomnia, anxiety, and headaches. Severe alcohol withdrawal can include hallucinations and seizures. The most severe and life-threatening symptom of withdrawal is called delirium tremens (DTs), a state in which the brain can have trouble regulating the body’s circulation or breathing, and which creates a risk of heart attack, stroke, and death. 

Between 2015 and 2016, hospitalizations that were wholly caused by alcohol consumption and alcohol harm totalled roughly 77,000, compared with about 75,000 hospitalizations for heart attack in the same year. Further, hospitalizations for alcohol harm often cost more than other hospitalizations largely as a result of the longer lengths of stay: A person recovering from alcohol harm requires an average of 11 days in hospital, compared with 7 days for a typical in-patient stay. An influx of people requiring treatment for alcohol harm would be an unsustainable burden for the Canadian healthcare system amidst this pandemic. 

While McGill’s two-week semester hiatus may have prompted more drinking among students due to the reduced academic strain, it is critical that students drink responsibly to avoid any risk of hospitalization. It is also important to recognize that McGill students or members of the McGill community may struggle with alcohol dependency: The implementation of social distancing measures has put additional strain on addiction recovery services. It is crucial that McGill students recognize the incessant efforts of addiction recovery services and harm reduction centres.

Closing liquor stores could have other lethal impacts outside of the issue of overburdening hospitals. People who are physically dependent on alcohol, but cannot access any, may start consuming surrogate alcohol, or products that contain alcohol but are not safe to be consumed by humans, such as hand sanitizer, mouthwash, and perfume. 

Although the decision to keep the SAQ open is not a black and white issue, it is the right choice amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic effort: Hospitals must be able to maintain regular operations while also being able to handle a potential influx of people with COVID-19, and creating withdrawal-induced hospitalizations as a result of liquor store closures would be counterproductive. At this critical juncture in history, minimizing the number of people admitted to hospitals i must remain a priority. If you are a McGill student who is seeking help with alcohol or substance use, the McGill Wellness Hub has compiled resources and support online. 

Science & Technology

Student-led Face-Shield Initiative seeks support and materials

by Ronny Litvack-Katzman on

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Personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential for health care workers on the front line in the fight against COVID-19. As the number of global cases continues to increase, hospitals are experiencing shortages of basic medical equipment, most notably protective face shields, plastic guards that protect doctors and nurses from infectious material.

Panic buying in the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak made face masks a scarce resource. Since then, recent increases in hospitals’ demand for PPE has pushed the already fragile face shield supply chain to the brink of collapse. Face shields provide an important second line of defense for medical professionals, helping to extend the masks’ lifetime if they need to be reused. 

A team of undergraduate students from McGill, Concordia, and Queen’s University have developed an innovative solution to address Montreal’s mask shortage. Using 3D printing technology and a free, open-source design for face shields, the students have started printing ready-to-use shields from their bedrooms.

Thomas Bâby, U1 Engineering, is one of the McGill students leading the initiative.

“Right now, after speaking with medical personnel at one Montreal hospital, we learned that they are in dire need of face shields,” Bâby said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “We will need to distribute to more hospitals and clinics in Montreal [in order to meet demand].”

In just four days, the operation grew from producing only a few dozen face shields per day to well over 100, with the potential to increase production with support from local manufacturers. Already, the team of students has been in contact with automotive producers, who have agreed to lend printers and materials for the project.

Canada is not alone in its lack of PPE. Hospitals in other highly industrialized countries, such as the United States and Italy, have already started running out of masks, putting front line health care workers at a greater risk of infection. 

The student-led team is not alone in their decision to take the production of vital medical equipment into their own hands. Earlier this month, an Italian engineering start-up began 3D printing respirator parts to address the absence of basic life-support equipment currently plaguing Italy’s hospitals.

Cyril Mani, U1 Engineering, expressed concerns unique to the Montreal team.

“We are limited by the quantity of material that we have access to,” Mani said. “We are a bunch of students. We don’t have financial backing from the people that decide to join us. If people can afford to help us make just one [visor], it is good enough, but to reach our goal of more than 200 [visors] per day, it becomes a question of where these materials will come from.”

Mani and his colleagues have set up a supply chain in collaboration with the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), one of the many hospitals in Montreal that have received COVID-19 patients. All printed face shields are assembled by the team of students and disinfected under the supervision of medical professionals. Produced at a cost of less than $1 per unit, the students have managed to create a viable piece of PPE that is both safe and cost-effective, a feat of logistical prowess that many national governments are still struggling to achieve. 

Still, Mani is asking private companies and the public to join forces to increase support for their initiative. 

“We could be using [3D printers] to print, in real-time, the shields that will protect our nurses and our doctors and actually save lives,” Mani said. “We need the public libraries and private corporations that have access to these printers and materials to contact us. We have the supply chain ready. We can assemble it for them. We just need more people to be aware of what we are doing.”

For more information about how you can help, consult the project’s Google Drive resources. The team is looking for those with access to laser cutters or 3D printers, as well as manufactures who can supply raw materials. They also accept donations to help purchase materials and support production costs.

Commentary, Opinion

McGill students should care about the Bernie Sanders campaign

by Hussain Awan on

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The border guard gruffly asked which presidential candidate I supported after I mentioned that I was crossing the US-Canada border to work in the primaries of the US presidential election.

When I told him, his eyebrows shot up. Bernie Sanders? The socialist?

I have discussed the primaries with many fellow McGill students since being in New Hampshire to volunteer for the Feb. 11 election, and my political leanings have been met with persistent skepticism.  For me, my choice of candidate for the 2020 election is personal. Reading about the failures of both neoliberalism and Third Way solutions had already cemented my conviction that something radically different was necessary, but seeing Sanders embody this necessary paradigm shift by articulating the most anti-war position of all the Democratic candidates—despite the risk it posed in the culture of chauvinism that is American politics—clinched it. 

A question I have often gotten since canvassing for Bernie is ‘What is in it for a Canadian?’

There could not possibly be more at stake in this election for Canadians, especially for this generation of McGill students. Young Americans already realize this—exit polls for many primary elections thus far often have Sanders leading Biden in support from young voters by double-digit margins. Western governments—many ostensibly left-wing—summarily failed to prioritize a return to full employment after the 2008 Great Recession, instead engaging in austerity measures and deficit demagoguery. This, evidently, has given rise to a generation of millennials and zoomers disillusioned with the Overton window on economic policy.

A shift in the global terms of debate under a Sanders presidency, reversing the decades of neoliberal dogma driving wealth inequality trends in Canada and elsewhere, would do much to ensure that evidence-based policy is prioritized here instead of blind faith in the free market.

Sanders points to this inequality as the root cause of a contemporary anti-safety net; his campaign regularly touts the fact that 49 per cent of new wealth goes to the top one per cent. Many would argue that such calamitous misdistributions of wealth can only be resolved through global measures, and a Sanders administration that already supports wealth taxes would be the most drastic step in that direction since Franklin Roosevelt in 1935. 

In this respect, Canadians can no longer pretend that electing progressive governments at home will be enough. Wealth inequality occurs across national borders and is the result of international, not national, global economic systems too easily manipulated by elites for personal gain. This should not only be a prevalent concern for people who might seek to live, work, or attend graduate school in the United States but also a priority for McGill students who, as members of an influential intellectual community, care about reducing global poverty and injustice. 

While addressing wealth inequality might be Sanders’ forte, his relevance to our generation of Canadians only grows outside of economics. In the face of rising global right-wing populism, the victory of a movement known for championing social justice would be especially heartening in a province still ruled by a government that openly discriminates against religious minorities. An endorsement of Sanders from the Sunrise Movement, a leading environmentalist grassroots organization, is clear proof that, equipped with the Green New Deal, he is the candidate to take on one of the most pressing existential threats of our time: climate change. And perhaps most tellingly, the systematic failure of the healthcare infrastructure in the United States to respond to the recent COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear that Sanders’ policies are not only preferable but vital.

As the next generation of McGill-trained workers, professionals, and leaders in this world, we can’t afford to be insular. While the electoral prospects of the Sanders campaign have dwindled since I came back from New Hampshire in February, the growth of the Democratic Party’s progressive wing is encouraging. With time running out, whoever the Americans elect in the coming election cycles affects not only our generation but also the ones to come. We should start acting like it.

Creative

Forbidden fruits and vegetables

by Sarah Ford on

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In her feature, Multimedia Editor Sarah Ford narrates her experience with Pollen Food Syndrome, an allergy to raw fruits and vegetables. She illuminates some of the safety issues and accessibility concerns, and looks at ways we can best support those with severe food allergies.

Video by Sarah Ford.

Features

Secret gardens

by Sophie Brzozowski on

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There are two seasons in Montreal: Winter and construction, or so goes the decades-old adage uttered by so many bitter locals. Save for its all-too-short summer, the city can often feel like a harsh and even inhospitable place to live. Given that its human residents often feel beaten down by Montreal’s conditions, it is hard to imagine that such a city could be a host to anything more delicate. However, hidden among its littered, pothole-ridden, poorly paved streets, there exists a handful of hidden oases where fresh produce of all kinds grows plentifully year-round.

Basketball, Sports

2020 NBA yearbook superlatives

by Victor Wang on

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The NBA enjoyed six exciting months of basketball before abruptly suspending the 2019-20 season. This has put a freeze on debating the league’s traditional end-of-season award rivalries, such as LeBron James vs. Giannis Antetekoumpo for MVP and Zion Williamson vs. Ja Morant for Rookie of the Year. Instead, The McGill Tribune is taking the league back to high school with a list of superlatives for the NBA.

 

Class Clown: Giannis Antetekoumpo

When Giannis steps on to the floor, it’s difficult not to laugh at how easy the game seems for him. With a league-leading 31.71 player efficiency rating, comparable to that of LeBron and Michael Jordan in their primes, Giannis is sure to put on a show every night. Giannis makes a circus out of the league with his unguardable moves, including a comically unstoppable drive to the rim and a three-point shot that is much-improved from last season. Most importantly, his personal success has translated into yet another dominant season for the Bucks, who are beating teams by an average of 12.4 points, the highest point differential in NBA history. 

Cutest Couple: D’Angelo Russell and Karl Anthony Towns

On the surface, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ trade for D’Angelo Russell, which saw them part ways with former first-pick and Ontario native Andrew Wiggins, looked to be a last-ditch attempt at setting up a comeback by a team that has made the playoffs just once in the past 15 seasons. However, D’Angelo Russell was not acquired purely because of his skills as a basketball player: This was a trade for friendship. 

Russell and Towns are close friends, a fact reflected in Towns’s personal greeting when Russell first landed in Minnesota. Since their days at the University of Kentucky, these two players, along with Phoenix Suns all-star guard Devin Booker, have maintained a solid friendship off the court that promises tremendous potential for Minnesota. In fact, these three former Wildcat stars have publicly announced their desire to eventually play as a trio. For now, as their respective teams continue to struggle, Russell and Towns can dream of a better, playoffs-filled future together. 

Most Rebellious: The Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets have always been a forward-thinking organization, especially with respect to their early reliance on analytics and unwavering trust in the three-point shot. However, their recent trade of big man Clint Capela and subsequent investment in a pure small ball system is their most rebellious move yet. 

Since this trade, the Rockets have experienced both an initial encouraging winning streak followed by an alarming losing streak, plagued by a 125–123 loss to the always-struggling New York Knicks. With an overall record of 40–24 prior to the NBA suspension, the Rockets comfortably hold a playoff spot. Now, the real question remains: Will they finally be able to make the NBA Finals? 

Biggest Drama King: Joel Embiid 

Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers seems to make headlines every week for his fluctuating performance and self-centred attitude. This season, his dramatic tendencies attracted criticism from Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley, who were disappointed with Embiid’s lack of seriousness and dedication. 

Amid this drama, and despite a lacklustre regular season, the 76ers are still viewed as championship contenders. With an elite starting lineup on paper, the window is open for Embiid and the 76ers to capture their first title since 1983. 

Most Athletic: Ja Morant 

In a league of professional high-flyers, it seems odd to include this category. But, after Ja Morant nearly jumped over Kevin Love on a dunk attempt in December 2019, there is no question that the likely Rookie of the Year is an athletic phenom, not to mention a rising star for the Memphis Grizzlies. Morant currently leads his team in both points and assists, which has surprisingly helped the Grizzlies plant themselves in the eighth seed of a competitive Western Conference. Once the season is resumed, however, Morant will have to remain dominant, as Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans, as well as Damian Lillard and the Portland Trailblazers, are following closely behind in the standings.

covid-19 illustration
Editorial, Opinion

Keep your distance: students must respect social distancing

by The McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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Over the last week, the spread of COVID-19 has drastically altered the lives of the McGill community. As we enter the second week of the university’s comprehensive shutdown, the McGill administration has consistently communicated about how to slow the disease’s spread. In addition to cancelling all in-person instruction for the remainder of the semester to reduce personal contact, the university has also emphasized practicing social distancing. Social distancing involves staying in one’s home as much as possible, refraining from interacting unnecessarily with other people, and maintaining a significant physical distance when interaction is necessary. While many students and members of the community seem to be willing to practice social distancing, even if it means not seeing close friends during a particularly stressful period, some young people in North America are taking health professionals’ warnings less seriously. Members of the McGill community, especially students, have a moral responsibility to engage in social distancing, not only to protect the health of themselves and those immediately around them, but also in order to avoid contributing to an unprecedented global health crisis. 

Some young people view the more extreme preventive measures taken by governments and communities as alarmist, and believe that the coronavirus should be treated as more of a temporary concern than a serious threat. This is largely due to the fact that young people, while just as likely to contract the disease, are less likely to experience serious health consequences as a result of infection. However, the effects of COVID-19 on younger individuals’ health should not be underestimated. New Center for Disease Control data shows that 40 per cent of individuals who were sick enough to be hospitalized for Coronavirus in the US are aged 20-54. Further, nonchalant attitudes toward social distancing misunderstand its purpose. The aim of such precautions is to “flatten the curve” of the disease’s spread. This phrase refers to taking precautions that slow the spread of the disease in order to avoid an unmanageable peak of affected individuals, which would overwhelm healthcare systems. The fewer individuals who become sick, the less strain there is on hospitals and clinics everywhere, allowing for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to treat those who are sick effectively and efficiently. 

Despite world governments’ precautions, , the coronavirus has continued to spread exponentially. The high rate of infection, combined with the fact that individuals can carry the disease without presenting symptoms, means that it is extremely easy to pass the disease to dozens or even hundreds of people without knowing it. Social distancing not only prevents the disease from becoming more widespread and overwhelming the healthcare infrastructure, but also prevents oneself from being the link between someone who would survive the coronavirus and a potentially immunocompromised person who may not. Thus, the moral responsibility to engage in social distancing is twofold: It is required to counter the Coronavirus as a public health and social welfare issue, but also to safeguard those specific individuals who are particularly vulnerable to the virus.

Social distancing is not an easy thing to do. Self-isolation and quarantine can have serious effects on one’s mental health; however, mental health should not be used as an excuse for putting the physical health of oneself or others at risk. During this time, it can be helpful to combat monotony with daily structure. Planning specific times during the day to eat, engage in mindful activities, and exercise, can help fend off depressive cycles. Further, technology provides a variety of ways to engage with others across physical distance, whether by videochat, FaceTime, messaging, or gaming. This is a crucial time to reach out to friends and family, to indulge in existing networks of support, and offer support to others even if that means doing so virtually or over the phone. 

Finally, if you live in an apartment with roommates, from whom it is impossible to practice real social distancing, spending time with those already around you can be invaluable. Alternatively, if you have a roommate who is taking the Coronavirus less seriously and refusing to practice social distancing, thereby putting the health of others and yourself at risk, make sure that they understand the ramifications of their actions. Social distancing is about true collective action, and it can only be fully effective if everyone in the McGill community decides to take part. As the situation continues to evolve, it is crucial that we act in ways which are cooperative, smart, and compassionate. Effectively practicing social distancing demands that we do all three.

If you or someone you know is experiencing challenges with mental health, you can visit free online resources like 7cups.com where you can speak to someone trained in active listening. In addition, a mutual aid form has been organized by McGill students where you can request groceries, medicine, or other resources you may be unable to obtain while self-isolating.

Student Life

HIIT it off at home

by ET Wu on

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With the coronavirus pandemic leaving many stuck at home, the last thing on some students’ minds is exercise. However, according to Medline, taking a quick break from sitting at your desk all day can help improve your mood and get you out of your bed.

One way to stay fit under quarantine is high-intensity interval training (HIIT). This type of training consists of exercises performed at high levels of effort in quick succession with little rest in between. The objective of HIIT is to keep workouts short and to the point, so these sessions only last between five to eight minutes for beginners. 

Below are some exercises commonly found in HIIT and have been sourced from Jeff Cavalier, founder of the fitness channel ATHLEAN-X. Each exercise requires perfect form and constant repetition for 40 seconds. Between each exercise is 20 seconds of rest. For those starting out in HIIT, a recommended regimen is intervals of squats, burpees, mountain climbers, planks and push-ups, all in that order. If you’re looking for a more intensive form of exercise, a sequence of one-and-a-half bottomed-out squats, burpees with push ups, leg raises, bicycle crunches, and push-ups is recommended.

Recommended exercises to include in HIIT:

Squats 

Stand with your feet spread a little bit wider than the width of your shoulders. Put your arms straight away from your face; it should look as if you are pushing an object. Then, bring your body down and bend your knees until they are at around 90 degrees, ensuring that your back is as straight as possible. Hold for two to three seconds in this position and come back up to the starting position.

Burpees 

Start standing. Then, quickly bend down and put both hands on the ground. Jump back to a standing position then return quickly into a crouched position. Repeat until the 40 second interval ends.

Mountain climbers

On the ground, put both hands on the ground and lift your body until it is at a 45 degree angle with the floor. Lift one foot and bring your knee to your elbow on the same side. Keep repeating this on both sides, one after another.

Plank

Lay parallel with the ground, face-down, supporting your body with your toes and your forearms, to form a straight line. Clench your abdominal muscles, as hard as you can. Make sure your back is straight and that your butt is not sticking out too much.

Push ups 

Balance your body on the ground on all four limbs with your palms flat on the ground. Lower your body by decreasing the angle of your elbows, making sure to use your chest and triceps. Once you feel your nose almost touching the ground, push back to the starting position.

One-and-a-half bottomed-out squats 

Squat all the way down with your feet flat on the ground. Come up halfway and do a regular squat. Hold this pose for two to three seconds before returning to the starting position.

Burpees with push ups

This is a regular burpee with a few modifications. When you are in the crouched position on the ground, move into a plank formation then do a push up before jumping your legs back into crouching position.

Leg raises

Lie down on the ground with your back flat at all times. Raise your legs to a little less than 90 degrees above the ground.

Bicycle crunch

Lie down on the ground, face-up, with your legs bent so that your knees are pointed towards your face, making sure your back stays flat. Put your hands behind your head and bend your torso upwards. While extending the left leg, roll the right one back with your knees towards your left elbow and make the two touch. Repeat the same movement for the right leg and left elbow.

 

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