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Science & Technology

Top advancements of the past decade

by Shafaq Nami on

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A look into the past reveals some of humanity’s greatest achievements: The discovery of fire, the domestication of animals, the invention of the car. The past decade in particular has seen large technological change. Gadgets and apps have become so commonplace that it is difficult to imagine a time without them. From technologies like smartphones to social trends like selfies, certain advancements in the past decade have become strong enough to revolutionize science and change people’s lives.

Virtual Assistants

Although the idea of artificial intelligence (AI) has been around since the 1950s, there were significant advances in the past decade. Among other functions, AI now increases security, assists with surgeries, and powers voice assistants. In 2010, Apple acquired Siri, the first modern digital virtual assistant, revolutionizing the iPhone. In general, virtual assistants are capable of handling many tasks, ranging from making to-do lists and setting alarms to providing real-time information, such as the weather, traffic, and the news. The Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant can now also control smart home devices, functioning as home automation systems. 

Self-driving car

Developments in AI have also led to automation in the car industry in the form of self-driving cars. In 2009, Google introduced Waymo, their self-driving car project. Since Tesla Motors announced its first version of the Autopilot in 2015, the company has developed the self-driving car to include features such as adaptive cruise control, self-parking, automatic lane changes, and the ability to summon the car to a garage or parking spot.

CRISPR-Cas9

CRISPR is a family of DNA sequences found within the genomes of single-celled organisms. Over the past decade, scientists have used CRISPR to quickly edit genes in other organisms, such as mice. Since the commercialization and patenting of CRISPR-Cas9 in 2012, it has taken on a wide range of uses, such as genetically modifying plants and treating genetic diseases. Researchers believe that with this technology, Huntington’s disease, cystic fibrosis, and other such genetic diseases could be cured. 

SpaceX’s reusable rocket

SpaceX spent much of the past decade developing its reusable rocket system. The company’s Falcon 9 rocket launched, delivered a payload into orbit, and then landed at Cape Canaveral in December 2015, marking the beginning of an era of accessible space travel. A Falcon 9 launch costs about $62 million, one-quarter what it cost a decade ago. SpaceX also revealed that the Falcon was able to use the same booster—the first stage of a rocket that provides thrust for launching—three times and opened a new landing site that would reduce post-launch processing time.

Tesla Powerwall

In the past decade, climate change has come to the forefront as one of the world’s major issues, resulting in greater implementation of environmentally-friendly alternatives. One such option is using solar power instead of gas or coal. While solar power has become more affordable, it is a major challenge to store excess solar energy so that it can be used later. Tesla’s Powerwall, launched in 2015, allows solar energy users to control their energy usage to store it during off-peak hours and consume it at peak times. The Powerwall is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, making it both lightweight and low maintenance.

Beyond Burger

While veggie burgers have been around for a while, Beyond Meat’s Beyond Burger looks and tastes like an actual beef burger. Awarded the 2018 Environment Champion of the Earth Award from the United Nations, the burger is completely plant-based and contains no genetically-modified organisms (GMOs), soy, or gluten. According to a life-cycle assessment conducted by the University of Michigan, the Beyond Burger generates 90 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions and requires 43 per cent less energy than a typical beef burger. Since its commercialization in 2012, Beyond Meat can be found in many fast food restaurants, including A&W (only in Canada) and McDonald’s. 

Sports

McGill breaks records on home track

by Sarah Farnand on

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McGill Track and Field hosted the McGill Team Challenge, the largest indoor track and field meet in Canada, on Jan. 24 and 25. The meet brought together teams from all over eastern Canada and the northeastern US to compete. 

On the first day of the meet, sophomore Jorden Savoury broke the McGill record for the 60-metre sprint twice. She beat the previous record of 7.69 seconds—which she set just two weeks prior—with a time of 7.66 seconds in a preliminary race and again in the finals with a time of 7.65 seconds, to finish third place overall. Second-year graduate student Allison Frantz won the women’s pentathlon with a score of 3,486 points, helping the McGill women to second place at the end of the first day of competition. 

The McGill men ended the first day in sixth place out of 14 teams. They won the 4 x 800m relay with a time of 7:48.25, a mere 10 seconds away from a school record. The relay team was comprised of first-years Sebastian Danson and Nicolas Bernard and second-years Jasper Ross and Jack Crosby. Second-year graduate student Simon Bernier, finished the 3000m race in 16th place out of over 50 runners, with a personal best time of 8:46. 

“The 3000 is my favorite event,” Bernier said. “It’s long enough that you have time to enjoy it but short enough that you don’t have time to get bored.” 

On the second day, Bernier placed 23rd out of 72 runners in the 1500m, with a time of 4:06.57. Bernier hopes to improve on his times throughout the season with the goal of making Nationals next year. 

“I have a goal for this year to be ‘halfway’ to Nationals,” Bernier said. “[I want to] improve on my times, so that next year, I will have a good base to work off of.” 

Also running the 1500m on the second day was fourth-year Rachel Langelaan. Although she did not get the personal best she was hoping for and was later disqualified, her main goal was not a specific time but rather to enjoy the event. 

“It’s my last home race at McGill, so I am just hoping to go out there and have fun,” Langelaan said prior to the race. “It’s my last season, so I just want to enjoy it with my teammates and hope that the team does well.”

Langelaan ran the 1000m on Jan. 24, finishing with a time of 3:16.1. 

“I felt pretty good, [and] I was pretty happy with [my race],” Langelaan said “It was my first time running the 1000 in a bit, so it was fun.” 

Other highlights from the second day included the men’s heptathlon, in which fourth-year Kurt Soderstrom finished third overall with 4,301 points, second-year Alexander Stathis finished fifth with 4,103 points, and graduate student Taylor Leger finished sixth with 3,979 points. While the McGill women’s and men’s teams finished the competition in fifth and sixth place, respectively, the athletes enjoyed their time at the Team Challenge. 

“It was good to be able to run with people [who] are the same speed as I am,” Bernier said. “That’s why the McGill Team Challenge is so great.”

 

Moment of the meet 

Second-year Jorden Savoury broke the McGill 60-metre sprint record twice in one day. She beat the previous record of 7.69 seconds, which she also held, bringing it down to 7.66 seconds in the preliminary round. She then brought it down again in the finals with a time of 7.65 seconds.

Quotable

“I used to always do the same thing [before races, but then] this summer at Nationals, they sat me down for an hour in the waiting room before my race, and that’s when I realized pre-race rituals really don’t matter, and so what I try to do is just get mentally ready, and then my body will just follow.” – Simon Bernier on his pre-race rituals.

Stat Corner

Three McGill athletes placed in the top 10 of the men’s heptathlon, with fourth-year Kurt Soderstrom finishing third with 4,301 points, second-year Alexander Stathis finishing fifth with 4,103 points, and graduate student Taylor Leger finishing sixth with 3,979 points

Editorial, Opinion

Divestment is not “symbolic,” it’s necessary

by The McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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Following McGill’s most recent refusal to divest, tenured McGill professor Gregory Mikkelson has resigned from his position. Principal and Vice-Chancellor Suzanne Fortier defended the university’s decision to remain invested in the fossil fuel industry, stating that the university’s commitment to decarbonization would be more valuable than a “symbolic” divestment from fossil fuels. Although most people cannot afford to make as bold a gesture as Mikkelson, everyone should try and align their actions with their values, including the McGill administration. By willfully ignoring and dismissing climate change research of tenured professors at their institution, the McGill administration has sent a clear message that they do not intend on following through with their supposed commitment to sustainability. The administration has an extensive history acting “symbolically rather than practically,” and students, alumni, and faculty deserve better.

In her response to Mikkelson’s departure, Fortier defended McGill’s commitment to reduce its overall carbon footprint rather than fully divest. While Mikkelson has characterized divestment as a clear, substantive step to take, in contrast to the university’s complex and unclear goal of decarbonization, Fortier’s comments include labeling divestment a “symbolic” gesture. As a professor of chemistry and esteemed academic, it is unlikely that Fortier is unaware of the reality that divestment is one of the most substantial institutional actions to combat climate change. With countless scientific reports that McGill scholars produce on climate change, Fortier’s denial of the effects of continued fossil fuel investment leaves students questioning why the university is ignoring evidence. Fortier’s dismissal of Mikkelson’s resignation shows disrespect for a professor who contributed deeply to McGill’s intellectual community and to the lives of his students. The university’s response follows from a long trend of McGill overlooking staff recommendations. Last year, McGill’s failure to hear professors’ recommendations on the importance of divestment led to two professors resigning from the Board of Governors.

Even if divestment was merely a symbolic action, Fortier’s contention that symbolism is unimportant does not hold. For example, the previous men’s varsity team name symbolized the continued oppression of Indigenous peoples. Although getting rid of the name was by definition a symbolic action, the change has had tangible consequences for many members of the McGill community.  Further, the James McGill statue that greets McGill visitors at the Roddick Gates symbolizes McGill’s damaging colonial history and legacy of slavery. These symbols have direct and tangible consequences for the marginalized communities they affect.

“Further, the James McGill statue that greets McGill visitors at the Roddick Gates symbolizes McGill’s damaging colonial history and legacy of slavery. These symbols have direct and tangible consequences for the marginalized communities they affect.”

In a variety of areas, McGill’s administration has built a reputation for itself in which it opts to act in a way that is symbolically significant while shifting the real responsibility of substantive action to other student activist groups as well as university faculty and staff. When Indigenous students spoke out against the continued use of a racial slur as a mascot for the men’s varsity teams, which made them feel unsafe on campus, McGill took years to even consider removing the name. Even more disappointing is the fact that the burden of petitioning for change and explaining the harmful nature of the name fell on Indigenous students. A new name has still not been chosen. Similarly, when McGill abruptly cut its eating disorder program, former Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Vice-President (VP) Student Life Cody Esterle took on the burden of supporting students and created the eating disorder support and resource centre. This year, McGill also cut funding for student note-takers who provided course notes to students with disabilities, again representing McGill’s mismanagement of financial resources.  

Finally, in the Art History department, a new course is running this semester called “James McGill was a slave owner,” by Dr. Charmaine Nelson. This course is just another instance of McGill professors trying to illuminate the problems that the school refuses to address. Rather than simply allowing its employees to elaborate on the university’s overtly problematic legacy of racism, McGill should own up to the reality of its history.

Students and faculty deserve an administration with a level of institutional awareness that recognizes their needs, appreciates their efforts, and heeds their counsel. McGill must reconsider its distribution of resources: Investments in fossil fuels should be focused on paying note-takers for their labour, providing improved healthcare services and acknowledging faculty research and initiatives with concrete actions. Mikkelson’s resignation was one of many instances of students and staff taking self-sacrificing measures just to be heard on campus. 

The McGill community has only ever asked the administration to step up to its role as a leader of the institution, and the administration’s failure to do so has consistently shifted work onto students and staff who are already overburdened.

Off the Board, Opinion

A lesson from my mom

by Miya Keilin on

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I am sure that my mom is not the best cook in the world, but at some point in my childhood, I realized that all of my friends’ parents couldn’t cook nearly as well as my mom could. Every night, even when she complained of being tired or of a lack of ingredients, she found a way to prepare a delicious meal for our family.

My mom’s talents go beyond dinner: She is an excellent baker, too. Whether it was chocolate chip scones, banana muffins, or dense chocolate cake, her baked goods were flawless in my eyes. 

As I grew up, I started baking too. Every time I baked something, I would desperately seek her approval. My mom is not one for compliments—she loathes the Western culture of regularly praising your children—so I was elated every time she said, “This is not so bad, Miya.”   

When I came to McGill, I quickly found myself, as many students do, missing my mom and her cooking. However, living in a MORE house afforded me the opportunity to try to recreate her dishes in an effort to cure some of my homesickness. I journeyed to Chinatown and the Japanese markets near Concordia to track down ingredients I couldn’t find in the tiny ‘ethnic’ or ‘international’ section of the local supermarkets. Finally, I found the labels that I recognized, and it felt like I was back home with my mom, shopping at her favourite markets. 

I tried to get my mom to teach me how to make some of her dishes before I moved away, but she always told me to sit there and watch her do it, since that was how she had learned from her mother. Being impatient and not liking being told what to do, I didn’t hang around the kitchen like she said to.

So, at the university, I called her and asked her how to make certain dishes, how long to cook things, how much of each ingredient to add. In a classic—unbelievably frustrating—Asian mother fashion, she told me that she didn’t follow any recipe. She just did what she felt was right. 

I started with what I knew: Chahan (fried rice) and onigiri (rice balls) were the two things I had somewhat decently prepared at home under my mom’s careful, judgemental watch. With the Asian products I knew and loved, both were simple enough to make. Plus, even if I messed up, my mom would never have to know. 

I started to venture out of my comfort zone, mostly relying on doing what felt right and eating my mistake if I was wrong. Soon enough, I was consistently crafting dishes that I could not wait to tell my mom about. I still wished that she could taste them and give me her ‘not bad’ seal of approval. 

Over this past winter break, my mom was too tired to make dinner one night, so I did it instead. I did not have much to cook with, but curry doesn’t require many ingredients so I made do. Perhaps it was because she was so tired, or maybe I really had perfectly combined the flavours from the various spices and ingredients that I had scrounged up, but my mom was grateful and baffled that I could cook something she enjoyed so much. 

Really good, my mom said to me. 

Even though I do not get homesick as much as I did in first year, I miss my mom every day. We call each other often, sharing the milestones we reached at both of our respective swim practices or breaking down the latest season of Terrace House, but it’s when I cook that I feel closest to her. My voice tells me what feels right, but her voice tells me to trust myself.

Commentary, Opinion

Protesting from positions of privilege

by Sepideh Afshar on

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McGill announced that they will refuse to divest from the fossil fuel industry for the third time on Jan. 8. Gregory Mikkelson, a professor in the School of Environment and Department of Philosophy at McGill, resigned as a result of the school’s continued investment in coal, oil, and gas companies. Though an impressive action in protest of McGill’s refusal to divest, Mikkelson’s use of his privilege sets a precedent that is hard to follow for others in the community. By resigning, Mikkelson has deemed his own personal moral comfort more important than that of the students and overall community he was working alongside.

Mikkelson’s actions succeeded insofar as he drew media attention to the situation at McGill. As a result of his resignation, the McGill community put additional pressure on the administration to defend their position on fossil fuels and acknowledge comments made to the media. Ethically, Mikkelson’s notion that, as a professor of environmental studies, he could no longer work somewhere that ignored the values he and his students hold is understandable. 

However, the question remains of whether a different method of protest could have been used to utilize his privilege and power in an academic space. It is not possible to determine whether the media attention received from his resignation will have more of an impact on the Divest McGill movement than if he had continued in his efforts as a professor. 

Just as he intended, Mikkelson’s resignation sent ripples through the McGill community, but there is a level of privilege that comes with being able to leave your job that needs to be acknowledged. Few members of the McGill community would be able to leave the institution in response to a moral dilemma.  The majority of students and professors have no choice but to stay and be part of the extremely frustrating fight against McGill’s investment in fossil fuels. There are countless groups in the community that have had to work tirelessly for what they deserve, and none had the option to quit as a final hurrah of protest. For example, social work students continue to protest against the 800 hours of unpaid field placement work they are required to do for their degree. These are difficult issues that require continued commitment. 

Those involved with Divest McGill acknowledge that Mikkelson is a driving force in the academic conversation surrounding the university’s investments and the ethical issues that arise from being paid by an institution that goes against one’s core beliefs. By quitting, he has removed himself from his position and, though he has vowed to keep helping Divest McGill in an unofficial capacity, his absence from the academic conversation is something he cannot make up for. Mikkelson knowingly removed his voice as an educated white male, one of the loudest and most privileged voices, from the fight for divestment specifically in the academic space. There is no pretending that this will benefit the movement. If this becomes the new precedent set for professors, nobody will be left to support the student movement for divestment. 

Mikkelson held an extremely valuable position of power in terms of his ability to criticize the administration’s choices and, in giving up this position, he has removed one of Divest McGill’s most important actors on the inside, making the struggle for divestment that much harder. 

This should cause McGill to reexamine their actions and to what extent it affects their community, Mikkelson has also put the burden on his fellow faculty members to take over what work he has done and move beyond his resignation. Though this may have been the best move for Mikkelson’s conscience, the fight is far from over, and he may have caused more harm to the on-campus fight for divestment than good.

Commentary, Opinion

Professors’ late submissions to Minerva reveal a larger problem of inconsistency at McGill

by Makena Anderson on

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The beginning of the semester is often an exciting time to reconnect with friends, celebrate returning to Montreal, and begin new classes. Unfortunately, for some students, the beginning of this semester is full of uncertainty as they continue to wait for grades from the fall semester. Despite the school’s promise to return grades by Jan. 5, many students had not received feedback from professors by the first day of classes this semester. This recurrent problem shows that, in coming years, McGill must significantly improve course feedback processes and hold its professors more accountable for returning final grades.

While this may merely be annoying for some students, others rely on their grades from previous semesters to help determine what courses they choose in the semester to come. Similarly, many are required to receive passing grades in a prerequisite before moving on to subsequent courses. This systemic and recurring issue at McGill poses not only technical problems for students, but increases stress and anxiety in an already demanding time. 

The difficulties resulting from late Minerva updates are exacerbated over the summer break, where a delay in receiving feedback can mean that students have to wait months before conferring with professors about their progress in the class. Upon returning to classes the following fall, students may find that their professors are too busy to discuss the previous semester’s grades or that their understanding of the material has dwindled over the four months away from class, and decide that it is not worth reaching out. 

This shortcoming at the beginning of each semester is ultimately indicative of a larger problem at McGill. In many classes, professors give students little to no feedback throughout the semester. This results in significant uncertainty about which concepts students have mastered and which require more work. Given that a significant number of classes at McGill, particularly introductory classes, rely on midterms and finals as the only forms of assessment, professors may not be able to provide substantial feedback to students, who then may enter these tests with only a cursory knowledge of how to prioritize their time. 

Feedback processes at McGill consistently demonstrate that the school is focused on the superficial results portrayed by a grade rather than the actual enrichment and education of its students. Throughout their degrees, students are left with only a transcript in place of adequate advising, feedback, and support. This framework gives little consideration to how much information students actually retain or to the quality of the education and feedback. Despite these barriers, some professors strive to give students a higher quality of education, offering a plethora of resources to engage and receive additional help in the form of office hours, tutorials, and email. However, this level of support can be difficult to maintain in large lectures.

While it is clear that the responsibility to improve the quality of education and assessment lies within the hands of both students and professors, McGill needs to do significantly more to promote the success of their students and strive to educate them in a meaningful way. To get the most out of their education, students should actively seek opportunities for feedback. However, McGill must provide opportunities that support students’ success and improve grade reception. At the very least, the school must hold themselves accountable to the same standards as their students by returning grades by the date that was indicated, just as students must hand in assignments by the submission deadline.

 

Creative

Tribune Presents: Tshizimba & Boy 2 King

by Aidan Martin and Sarah Ford on

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Montreal-based emcee and producer Tshizimba dropped by the Tribune’s office with Boy 2 King to show us some of his new music. His influences are rooted in Hip-Hop, Rap, Ambient, Punk and Chillwave, bringing a unique sound to the office.

Video by Aidan Martin and Sarah Ford

Features

The witching hour arrives in Montreal

by Abeer Almahdi on

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Montreal is no stranger to witchcraft, and the Occult is embedded in local popular culture. Bars such as Datcha host Jazz and Tarot Thursdays, psychics have doors across the city, and even storefronts on Rue Sainte Catherine display Tarot cards, incense, crystals, and other spiritual objects.

Basketball, Martlets, Sports

One point victory lifts Martlet Basketball over Citadins

by Ender McDuff on

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Martlet Basketball (3–7) defeated the visiting Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM) Citadins (4–5) by a single point, 54–53, in a hard-fought game on Jan. 18. This was a much-needed win for a struggling Martlet team, who started the new year with three consecutive losses, including one to the same UQÀM team a game prior. In this contest, however, stalwart defence and active rebounding, along with the late-game heroics of fifth-year guard Gladys Hakizimana, elevated the Martlets to victory.

A quick start to the game saw the Martlets up by five early, much to the delight of the packed crowd in Love Competition Hall. But, UQÀM was prepared to compete, quickly deploying an effective full-court press. McGill adjusted well in response and found themselves ahead 13–10 at the end of the quarter.

McGill’s defence stifled the Citadins in the second period, frequently stealing the ball or forcing shot clock violations, all while holding the Citadins to a frigid 18 per cent from the field. The Martlets went ahead by eight, their largest lead of the game, but a renewed full-court press led to a 9–0 run from the Citadins and a slim halftime lead, 23–21.

Entering the third period, McGill’s offensive rebounding kept them in the game, and another steal put McGill back in the lead. UQÀM began to hit their shots, however, and a dagger three-pointer looked to have McGill back peddling. The Martlets responded to the adversity, though, and entered the final period trailing by just two points, 39–37.

“I think it takes a little bit of poise [to win tough games],” Head Coach Ryan Thorne said. “Down the stretch, we made some mistakes, but there was some poise, there was some effort, and there was some commitment to playing tough defence.”

Winning games also takes making shots, however, and that is exactly what Hakizimana entered the fourth quarter prepared to do. A quick three-pointer opened Hakizimana’s scoring barrage, as she proceeded to hit a reverse layup and another three-pointer in quick succession to put McGill ahead 45–41. Two blocked shots, by second-year players Delphine Robitaille and Shayann Laguerre, respectively, looked to have the Martlets comfortably on their way to victory, ahead by eight points.

“I’ve been practicing those shots,” Hakizimana, who led all scorers with 20 points, said. “I know that as soon as I have an opportunity […] to shoot the three, I’ve got to be confident enough to take it and make it.”

UQÀM hit big shots too, however, eventually cutting the lead to a single point. With 8.9 seconds left in the game, the Citadins reclaimed possession and attempted a buzzer-beating three-pointer for the win, but the shot missed iron and the Martlets walked away with the victory, 54–53.

“[Winning takes] a lot of focus, a lot of [being] locked in, and a lot of communication,” Hakizimana said. “We’ve been focussing on a lot of communication but [also] a lot of listening to make sure we’re all on the same page, and I think that’s the big reason why we were able to [win].”

The Martlets will look to keep their momentum going on Jan. 23 and again at home Jan. 25 when they play cross-town rival Concordia (3–4).

 

Moment of the game

UQÀM looked poised to pull away from the Martlets until first-year guard Jessica Salanon found second-year forward Shayann Laguerre rolling to the rim where she muscled up a layup through contact. A smooth free throw completed the three-point play, tying the game 34–34 and helping McGill stay on track to victory.  

Quotable

“We go by three […] pillars: Head, heart, and hustle. All those three things showed themselves today[.] As long as we maintain those [three pillars], I think we have a chance of success.” – Head Coach Ryan Thorne on the lessons he wants his team to take away from the victory.

Stat corner

McGill secured an outstanding 17 offensive rebounds, which helped the Martlets score 28 points in the paint, double UQÀM’s total.

Basketball, Sports

WNBA agrees to new collective bargaining agreement

by Karan Kumar on

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The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) agreed to a seminal new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on Jan. 14. The agreement makes major updates to the working conditions, including changes in salaries, revenue sharing, maternity leave, and travel and accommodation. Additionally, maximum salary will increase almost 83 per cent to $215,000 from $117,500 per year. By 2021, the WNBA could be splitting revenue equally with the players, whereas it is currently estimated that players receive just 20 to 30 per cent of league revenue. The new agreement also provides maternity leave with full salary, and travel will now include individual—rather than shared—hotel rooms for every player.

This investment in the future of women’s basketball is a major breakthrough not only for the WNBA but also for women’s athletics at large, as other women’s professional leagues could use this agreement as a platform to revise their own bargaining agreements. WNBA players were one of several groups of American female professional athletes to challenge their leagues or governing bodies in the past two years when they opted out of their previous CBA in November 2018: In March 2019, the women’s national soccer team sued the US Soccer Federation (USSF), alleging gender-based pay discrimination. With the emergence and popularity of professional leagues all across the world, it is time that female athletes  get their fair share of recognition and compensation. 

Although the NBA is known for its competitive salaries and revenue sharing with male athletes, this new CBA defines the start of a new era for women’s basketball. It can and should be a catalyst to bridge the gap in salaries between men’s and women’s basketball in the long run. The NBA’s average salary is currently more than 85 times that of the average WNBA salary, but this new agreement could substantially increase the average salaries of players in the WNBA. By providing an additional incentive for athletes to join the league, the WNBA stands to be able to attract more talent and raise the level of play, making for more entertaining basketball and more viewership and sponsorships. Better salaries are a tangible outcome of the WNBA’s already increasing popularity.

Perhaps the most critical addition to the new CBA is the offer of fully paid maternity leave for players. Long overdue, this clause provides a qualitative change from the old bargaining agreement. The new policy will also help the league retain its talent, as women will not be forced into retirement if they want to have children. Returning to the sport after having a child is one of the hardest and most undervalued comebacks in sports; providing assistance in the form of paid maternity leave for athletes during pregnancy is an immensely supportive and necessary move by the league. 

WNBA All-Star Candace Parker has long been vocal about the issue of maternity leave. Parker shared her experience of giving birth to her now 10-year-old daughter in an interview with NBA TV on Jan. 15. Her daughter was six weeks old when she returned to the court. 

“I had to take my mom with me, because I nursed the first 15 months, but it was out of pocket, I had to pay for my own hotel room,” Parker said. “[But] those things are slowly getting better for mothers[.] We’ve made so much progress, but I’m hopeful that there’s more to come in the future.”

It is highly encouraging to see such a bargaining agreement come to fruition in a time when the prominence of women in sports is increasing. Although much more needs to be done to address the historical gender pay discrimination in sports, such as further reforming sponsorship deals and increasing female representation in coaching staffs, the new CBA is a significant step toward bringing parity in North American basketball.

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