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Campus Spotlight, Student Life

At home at ECOLE

by Elinor Rosenberg on

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Throughout the year, McGill and Milton-Parc community members can be found at the ECOLE house, located at 3559 rue University, working to advance social and environmental sustainability through a range of groups and projects. Originally called Alternative University, ECOLE was born out of the 2012 Quebec student movement, wherein students protested tuition increases and advocated for a place outside of McGill to learn, exchange ideas, and create. Today, ECOLE is a hub where students groups related to social or environmental sustainability can host events on their own or in partnership with ECOLE. 

“[ECOLE serves as a] community organizing and collective living bootcamp,” Jesse Grindler, a coordinator at ECOLE, said.

ECOLE receives funding from the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) and works closely with the organization alongside the broader Milton-Parc community. Sarah Mitchell, U4 Agriculture and Environmental Engineering and an ECOLE facilitator, emphasized its importance in working within the community. 

“[ECOLE focuses on] bridging the gap between McGill students and the Milton-Parc community,” Mitchell said.  

The Milton-Parc community has both the greatest concentration of collectives in North America and a history of activism for social change that ECOLE enhances. The first facilitator training revolved around the history of Milton-Parc, beyond being the “McGill Ghetto,” and facilitators learned about the history of citizen’s movements in preventing big industry from moving to the Milton-Parc community. ECOLE supports SSMU’s projects, such as Trash 2 Treasure, which allows Milton-Parc residents to donate their belongings during move-out week and reduces waste in the neighbourhood.

As an ECOLE facilitator, Mitchell is one of 10 upper-year McGill students who live at ECOLE. These students learn, live, and work together, creating an environment where sustainability is ingrained in everyday life. 

 In addition to their household responsibilities, facilitators carry out Applied Student Research (ASR) projects to implement more sustainable practices in the house and in McGill student life. Mitchell describes her life in the house as being energizing, though balancing schoolwork with a separate, nonacademic focus is challenging.

“[Life at ECOLE is] you have school, your club, and your house all in the same place, but your club is like three different clubs,” Mitchell said. 

Two coordinators, including Grindler, support the facilitators and the house as a whole, doing the necessary behind-the-scenes work. A board made up of representatives from all of the different stakeholders in the community also directs the vision of ECOLE. The board consists of an ECOLE facilitator, a SSMU Legislative Councilor, McGill students, McGill staff and faculty members, as well as additional Montreal community members. 

A collective will be launched in January that will allow people living outside ECOLE to get involved in leadership. The collective is just one example of how ECOLE is questioning their previous practices and reorienting for the future.

“[ECOLE is now] in the phase of seeing how it will be sustained [in the] long term,” Mitchell explained. “This means […] maintaining their flow year after year even when facilitators change and maintaining an institutional memory.”

Even the ASR projects are being reshaped to focus on smaller, more incremental changes rather than tackling more daunting issues. For example, Mitchell focused in on bulk shopping for the house and pieced together shopping bags from spare pieces of cloth. Additionally, Mitchell is working on upcycling an old bike to generate electricity.

On Nov. 27, ECOLE’s Annual General Meeting, which Grindler described as an accountability tool for the nonprofit, will take place. The meeting will be open to the public and is a great chance for students to learn about ECOLE and support its future. ECOLE’s biweekly Sunday potlucks and Thursday afternoon coffeehouses, organized with the SSMU Environment Committee, are another chance to get involved.

 Despite its renewed focus on its future, ECOLE still centres on motivated stakeholders coming together to learn from each other and advocate for sustainability.

Out on the Town, Student Life

A fast-paced night showcases slow fashion in Montreal

by Scott Kennedy on

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The McCord Museum’s ‘After Hours: Slow Fashion’ event on Nov. 21 brought together members of Montreal’s fashion community for a night of celebrating sustainable style. The night’s programming focused on promoting creative and eco-friendly clothing and highlighted creative and ethical alternatives to fast fashion, the inexpensive clothing produced by mass-market retailers to capture current fashion trends. The so-called ‘slow fashion movement’ incorporates natural colours, recycled fabrics, and locally sourced fibres as sustainable options in clothing production.  

The evening’s main spectacles were two consecutive fashion shows presented by CÉGEP Marie-Victorin’s School of Fashion. In collaboration with Ardène, the School of Fashion graduates created a line named “Remodeler,” which was on display at the McCord Museum that night. The fashion shows unveiled 20 repurposed fur coats with sustainable consumption and circular creation in mind. The after-hours event also featured pop-up shops that showcased the work of local designers and creatives, all of which incorporated sustainability into their products. 

One vendor on display was Once Again, a local fashion collective that aims to educate consumers about the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of the fashion industry. The brand offers three ethical clothing lines, each with its own unique products and solutions. Their ’Nouveau’ line, displayed during the event, features textiles made of organic, natural, and synthetic fibers coloured with a range of natural dyes. Lawrence Lambert, a co-founder of the eco-friendly studio, highlighted the importance of sustainable and ethical fashion practices.  

“[The] clothing industry is the second-most polluting industry in the world.” Lambert said. “[Designers] should see [sustainability] as a creative opportunity.” 

When asked what motivates the brand’s eco-friendly practices, Lambert mentioned that her design choices are influenced by her passion to make change. 

“[Sustainability] nurtures my inner self [by contributing to] something that’s bigger than me,” Lambert said. 

Eliza Faulkner, a Canadian fashion designer based in Montreal, also displayed some of her latest designs. Her clothing lines incorporate ultra-feminine dresses and bold use of colour. Faulkner always seeks to be more sustainable in the design and manufacturing processes.

“It’s just about making really beautiful clothes that happen to be ethically made,” Faulkner said of her clothing range. “We try to use as many sustainable practices as we can. We manufacture everything in Montreal […] [and] buy a lot of deadstock fabric [and] natural fibres.” 

Another unique vendor featured was the up-and-coming resale app Upcycli. This start up, co-founded by Elodie Lourimi and Christopher Montoya, is the first mobile app in Quebec dedicated entirely to the purchase, sale, and “upcycling” of second-hand clothing. Upcycling fashion involves using pre-existing clothing, accessories or other items and transforming them into new garments.

“We launched the app because we want to help people buy [fewer new] clothes,” Christopher Montoya, one of Upcycli’s co-founders, said. “We want to reduce [fast fashion] [and], we want to give a second life to our clothes.

Although Upcycli only operates in Quebec for now, Montaya assured that they hope to expand into other provinces across Canada. 

The vendor pop-ups were joined by numerous workshops centred on eco-friendly practices, including stations dedicated to paper-making with recycled fabrics and linen paper spinning. One workshop was led by Mariane Laforest, founder of textile studio Atelier 1n, which offers workshops and creative classes to those interested in learning about natural dyeing and textile design. 

“Natural dye[s] are better for the environment because there [are] no chemical products [left] in the water after,” Laforest said.  

However, this natural dyeing process can also have negative environmental repercussions. 

“Natural dye can also be a problem for the environment because you need to use a lot of water with natural dye” Laforest said.

This unique event was successful in promoting sustainability as an ethical and creative opportunity for designers, as well as inspiring people to search for eco-friendly options when making style choices.  

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McGill, News

Senate discusses free speech and naming policies

by Adam Steiner on

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McGill’s Senate convened for the third time this academic year on Nov. 20 to discuss the lack of policies in place for screening external organizations that use McGill facilities, the naming of university assets, and the future of international diversity on campus.  

Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Vice-President (VP) University Affairs Madeline Wilson confronted Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Christopher Manfredi about the university’s attitude towards external organizations being permitted to utilize McGill facilities. McGill currently has no official policy to screen organizations seeking to use university venues. Wilson expressed concern that members of the community may feel offended or denigrated by the presence of certain organizations or individuals on campus.

In response to a question by Wilson, Manfredi defended the right for free speech, even when it may offend certain students.

“McGill’s recognition of the rights of individuals and groups to express views that may be perceived by some as [harmful] or offensive does not derogate from its overarching commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion on our campus,” Manfredi said. “It would be very dangerous for the university to try to implement a policy that put prior restraint on freedom of expression, academic freedom, and the very purpose of the university.” 

The Senate also discussed the future of international diversity at McGill. Senators expressed concerns about a lack of funding for international research projects and the need to further promote McGill globally. Arts Senator Henrique Mecabô addressed the recent increase in international student tuition, which have posed a financial challenge for some students, and questioned how the university plans to attract top international talent given the additional financial barriers. The administration responded that they are trying the best they can to ensure accessibility for international students despite recent cuts in government funding.

Vice-Principal of University Advancement Marc Weinstein concluded the meeting by presenting proposed revisions to the university’s policy for the naming of assets, including buildings, and scholarships. The urgency for a revised policy was heightened by the launch of the “Made by McGill” campaign, creating the expectation of many large donations, each with a naming opportunity.  The new policy clearly outlines the protocol for naming assets and is based on the policies of other North American academic institutions. Senators were concerned that naming assets after individuals with poor reputations would reflect badly on the university.

“We use due diligence when naming assets […] to make sure that the individual has a ‘clean bill of health,’ if I can put it that way,” Weinstein said.

Soundbite: 

“I think that the reason why, at this university, we keep asking this question about international tuition is because, at least in my perspective as a student and speaking for myself, I felt that the administration is a bit tone-deaf when talking about this. All we hear is McGill is getting more money but there is never really a recognition of the fact that it is costing students more money.” Senator Madeline Wilson, SSMU VP University Affairs

Flashback: 

Principal Vice-Chancellor Suzanne Fortier stated that the university has reached out to all 22 McGill students currently on exchange in Hong Kong and ensured that they are safe amit widespread political unrest in the area. Some students have decided to stay in Hong Kong, while others are returning to Montreal. Fortier also assured that McGill is maintaining regular contact with their host institutions.

McGill, News

A conversation about sexual violence against Indigenous peoples

by Margaret Askey on

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As a part of Quebec Public Interest Research Group’s (QPIRG) Culture Shock 2019, the Sexual Assault Center of the McGill Students’ Society (SACOMSS) collaborated with the group to host a panel discussion on Nov. 23 about the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). The activists also discussed the intersection between anti-colonialism and sexual violence against Indigenous communities. 

Palm Springs Cahuilla educator Isabel Vasquez explained that her path to educating the public about issues facing Indigenous peoples began after her and her family personally experienced sexual violence and abduction. She also explained how invisibility perpetuates the violence that many Indigenous peoples face in North America.

“In my family in particular, [in] every generation there’s been somebody [who has] gone missing, or had an attempt on their life, or [had] been [human] trafficked,” Vasquez said. “One of the greatest contributing factors to the rates of violence against Indigenous people is the way that we are left out of society’s collective consciousness in colonial countries.”

Judy Sackaney, a Mushkegowuk Cree from Albany First Nation on Treaty 9 territory, stated that the stigma around sexual violence and alcoholism persists in Indigenous communities. 

“I didn’t learn the history, or hear people’s stories, [until] I was much older,” Sackaney said. “[I didn’t hear] about sexual violence [that occurred to people] close to me [….] I didn’t know then, maybe because I was a kid then myself.”

Sackney emphasized the importance of finding spiritual ways to heal from the trauma of sexual violence. 

“We don’t let it define us, because it wasn’t our fault,” Sackney said.  “It wasn’t anybody’s fault. [….] We use our tools, our ceremonies, our ways of healing, even praying [to cope]. I’ve grown so much spiritually [from] learning the ceremonies.”

Vasquez acknowledged that the traumatic nature of these experiences, and their ongoing connections to settler-colonialism, make them difficult to share when educating the public about  Indigenous peoples’ experiences. 

“It is very hard to share these very personal stories and perspectives,” Vasquez said. “When we’re talking about history and consistent instances of abduction, sexual abuse, [and the] trafficking of Indigenous people, we’re talking about something that isn’t just random [….] This is a history that is deliberate.”

Vasquez explained that non-Indigenous people have a responsibility to act as allies by raising awareness within their own communities.

“People who are non-Indigenous […] need to talk to each other about how they perceive Indigenous people,” Vasquez said. “When you hear these [misconceptions], I want you to think about why this is the reality that we are all accepting [….] This isn’t just our work to do.”

During the question period at the end of the panel, an audience member addressed that The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls did not acknowledge many incidences of police violence against Indigenous peoples. Panelist Dayna Danger, a visual artist, organizer, and drummer, responded that, for Indigenous communities, relationships with police remain fraught.

“As much as we want to say ‘fuck the police,’ […] there is work that needs to be done because we still have to address these systems,” Danger said. “We’re still in this society. We can’t really escape that at the moment. People are still earnestly trying to find their family members, but unfortunately, the response [from the police] has not been great.”

Touching upon Indigenous attitudes toward the Montreal police specifically, Danger commented that Indigenous people often have to do the work of law enforcement themselves. 

“I think that there is good work that is happening,” Danger said. “But I’d be [hard] pressed to find an Indigenous person who really waits for the police to catch up [with Indigenous community organizing] at this point. This is still work that needs to be done.”

The panel concluded with Danger leading the audience in the ‘Strong Woman,’ a traditional song that many Indigenous communities have used to raise awareness about missing and murdered Indigenous women, which has modified lyrics for each community. A fourth panellist, Kiki Harper, an Indigenous two-spirit person who creates music, joined in the performance.

News, The Tribune Explains

Tribune Explains: The new Société de Transport de Montréal (STM) card readers

by Deisha Paliwal on

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Students may have noticed the installation of new card readers in Société de transport de Montréal (STM) buses in recent months. On June 27, the company announced the introduction of enhanced card readers in its vehicles to replace existing ones. The new system will decrease the time it takes to board the bus, while noticeably changing some aspects of its process for customers. The McGill Tribune spoke with the STM about their goals and anticipated timeline for installation. 

What is the purpose of the new readers?

Faster boarding and increased accessibility are among the benefits of the new system. 

The readers will be used to ensure passengers have sufficient funds on their OPUS and L’Occasionnelle fare cards. They are designed to be more efficient than the existing readers, incorporated into fare collection boxes by reading cards twice as fast. The STM anticipates the technological infrastructure to allow for payment with bank cards in the future, which transportation systems in major cities, including London and New York City, have already begun adopting.

STM Public Affairs Advisor Philippe Déry, explained that the new readers are expected to enhance the experience for passengers. 

“Existing card readers were at the end of their life cycle, and thus, the STM seized the opportunity to improve its customers’ experiences by installing new, more efficient readers,” Déry wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune. “[These] will speed up boarding and allow the transition towards new technologies.”

Renovations to the design of the new system will also improve accessibility from the previous readers. 

“Universal accessibility will be enhanced through a larger and clearer screen, improved function, and an optimized location,” Déry wrote. 

What is the timeline for the project?

The project will involve three major phases: Installation, gradual activation, and eventual service across the whole STM network. Installation of the readers began in May 2019 and will continue until Nov. 2020. On standard buses, a single reader is installed at the front of the vehicle, and on extended buses, another two are stationed at the back. In Spring 2020, the readers will continue to be activated, after the software’s proper functioning is confirmed. All readers are expected to be put into service by Nov. 2020.

“The roll-out is going quite well [and] according to our plans,” Déry wrote. 

Will this encourage public transportation use? 

The activation of the new readers will still allow passengers to enter through the rear doors of the bus; however, if paying with cash or on a magnetic strip card, passengers will be required to board through the front. Although the primary purpose of the readers is to expedite boarding, confusion may slow the process at first. Enola Hihi, SSMU Sustainability Commissioner, believes the changes to the boarding process may discourage new riders. 

“A problem I foresee is an initial confusion, which may hold up lines and deter people wanting to try public transportation for the first time,” Hihi said. “I don’t think this is a bad project, [but] I don’t see the point of investing so much money into it, when the money could be [put] to the [improvement] of bus routes, or possibly buying electric buses.” 

On the other hand, Déry predicts that the combined projects of the STM will increase its user base.“This project aims to improve customer service, and it is an added benefit if it encourages more people to take public transit,” Déry said. “In the long term, the addition of other payment options, like bank cards, could facilitate a more spontaneous use of our network.”

Editorial, Opinion

The Wellness Hub needs more than a makeover

by The McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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Only four months after its official opening, the Student Wellness Hub has received frustrated criticisms, including a recent tweet by a student expressing disappointment about having his appointment rescheduled despite waiting over 80 days to meet with a therapist. Even after receiving a $14 million donation for the Hub, McGill has failed to resolve many of the accessibility issues students have been lamenting for years, such as long waitlists caused by an acute lack of clinical professionals.

Mental health on university campuses is an increasingly important issue that the Hub has aimed to address. In Quebec, one in five students needs treatment for depression. According to Dr. Vera Romano, director of the Wellness Hub, the Hub’s aim was to centralize healthcare services in pursuit of establishing holistic, accessible care. Since Sept. 2019, the Hub has added three psychiatrists, six general practitioners, and three nurses, as well as 11 Local Wellness Advisor for various faculties. Additionally, the Hub also plans to co-purchase off-campus counselling services and implement an online booking system. 

Despite these additions, the continued shortage of counsellors and daunting wait times have left students dismayed. Students are also frustrated to see costly aesthetic improvements to the building while waitlists and treatments remain unchanged. These superficial renovations are another instance of McGill prioritizing appearances over student wellbeing, a trend that has been especially criticized in light of the recent “Made by McGill” campaign. Despite claiming to do its best to build incredible students, McGill has a recurring pattern of striving to maintain its prestigious image while ignoring students’ demands for change.

Other similar-sized universities in North America have taken much larger strides towards accessible healthcare. When faced with a similarly overburdened healthcare system, Harvard University created a same-day drop-in program to reduce wait times. The University of Calgary is attempting to receive some burden off on its healthcare system by removing the need for medical notes to excuse absences; no such policy currently exists at McGill. 

McGill’s overall approach to mental health is lacking. Starting in Fall 2019, the university removed its long term therapy program: Instead, the Wellness Hub focuses on short-term solutions and immediate prevention. The Hub’s approach is astoundingly out of touch with the realities of students living with mental health issues. Mental health issues can very rarely be adequately treated with short-term care, and the Wellness Hub must confront this reality by offering long-term support. Improving support may also mean offering Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to students who need it, an option that the Wellness Hub currently does not provide. Wellness advisors can be useful, however, they cannot replace the need for professional psychologists and psychiatrists. 

McGill should consider partnering with more local clinics to fill their gaps in service. Having more partner organizations would increase the availability of specific treatment types for different student needs like eating disorder recovery or CBT. In addition, racialized, 2LGBTQiA+, and other marginalized students require therapists who understand their realities, and even reflect their intersecting identities. White, straight, cis-gendered, or male therapists cannot relate to the experiences of marginalized students, and this may hinder their ability to provide adequate treatment. It is incumbent on mental health services to hire and offer treatment by professionals with diverse backgrounds and identities.

Beyond improvements to the Hub, McGill can take other steps to be more accommodating of those affected by mental illness. For example, if McGill wants to prioritize wellness, the university should start by implementing a Fall Reading Week and increasing the amount of available academic advisors. Additionally, McGill should follow the University of Calgary’s example and abandon sick notes as well to remove the burden from healthcare services, and to allow students to take time off more easily. Other measures to prioritize accessibility, such as eliminating pop-quizzes, offering lecture recordings for all courses, and instituting flexible deadlines will help students balance their mental health with their lectures and homework. 

The Wellness Hub would not deserve so much criticism if it were not for McGill’s consistent failure to listen to students’ concerns. Students struggling with their mental health must be recognized as authorities on their own needs, and their suggestions for improvements should be heeded by McGill.

Student Life, The Tribune Tries

A candid cannabis conversation

by Zoe Karkossa and Leyla Moy on

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Over a year after the national legalization of cannabis, Quebec is raising the legal age to 21, a decision poised to directly impact students. On Nov. 20, Voxcann, a cannabis education initiative by the nonprofit Groupe de recherche et d’intervention psychosociale (GRIP), and the Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy’s (CSSDP) Concordia and McGill chapters collaborated to host a cannabis roundtable at the Concordia Art Hive. The event aimed to promote candid conversation about student cannabis use from a medical and social standpoint. A mix of Concordia and McGill students discussed their experiences with cannabis, the changes brought about by legalization, and upcoming reforms to legislation.

The roundtable was a natural partnership between Voxcann and CSSDP. Coco Wang, the director of development for Voxcann, explained the group’s mission.

“Our focus is […] youth empowerment [on] the topic of cannabis education and policy, because that’s what we at Voxcann think is lacking in the current [cannabis scene].” Wang said. 

Similarly, CSSDP’s McGill chapter aims to give voice to student concerns about national drug policy.

“Our goal is to mobilize young people to participate in the political process at all levels [to advocate] for sensible drug policies that aim to reduce harm and […] reflect […] research,” Gabriel Aboutoul, a CSSDP representative, said. 

 Both groups focus on harm reduction and approaching drug use as an issue of public health and human rights rather than criminal justice.

Discussion first turned to where students get information about cannabis, and whether that information is likely to be accurate. Many participants got their information anecdotally and discussed the inherent limitations to this lack of objectivity. One participant discussed their work at the Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC) and the restrictions on what information vendors can disclose to customers. 

Legalization has paved the way for more accessible information about the technicalities of cannabis. For example, it has facilitated emerging research about the psychoactive effects of different terpenes, the scent compounds in cannabis that define certain strains.

The conversation then turned to the positive and negative effects of cannabis use. Though for some people, weed can alleviate symptoms of mental illness with fewer side effects than medication, while it can exacerbate these issues in others. Despite this, legalization has allowed these individuals to try cannabis in a more controlled environment and learn how it affects them through experience. 

The group also discussed the degree to which cannabis has changed post-legalization. The roundtable recognized the intersections of racial and class privilege. For those in positions of privilege, weed use has always been safer, given the disproportionate rates of cannabis-related incarceration in poor, homeless, and racialized youth, specifically young black men. 

Finally, the facilitator highlighted the changes in cannabis legislation that will take effect in 2020. In late October, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government passed a law that will raise the legal age to purchase cannabis within the province from 18 to 21. The change in legislation aims to protect teenagers, a group that lawmakers fear is especially vulnerable to dependency. However, opponents contend that the legislation is both unfair and potentially harmful, since it creates a second class of adults aged 18 to 21 who will likely resort to illegal methods of obtaining cannabis. 

The roundtable agreed that these changes are both confusing, given that the legal age to purchase alcohol will remain 18, and harmful to those who had access to legal cannabis granted and quickly revoked. Though the change is likely due to concerns about stunting brain development, the table concluded that the decision to revoke a right that had already been granted and that in fact promoted safer use, was a misstep. By re-criminalizing use that will likely continue after the change, the Quebec government could endanger teens who will naturally seek to experiment.

News, SSMU, The Tribune Explains

Tribune Explains: SSMU Conflict of Interest Policy

by Ezra-Jean Taylor on

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An article published by The McGill Daily on Nov. 13 reported that Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) members and representatives were offered an all-expenses-paid trip to Israel by Hillel Montreal, an organization whose mandate  aims to connect Jewish students with the larger community in Montreal. At the Nov. 14 SSMU Legislative Council, some councillors raised concerns over whether or not accepting the offer constitutes a conflict of interest.

What is the SSMU Conflict of Interest Policy? 

The SSMU’s Conflict of Interest Policy defines a conflict as a situation that might affect a member’s impartiality as related to their work. The fact that a conflict exists does not equate to wrongdoing, however, as long as it is addressed by the appropriate authorities.

The policy applies to all decision-making individuals within SSMU. The policy’s purpose is to guide SSMU on whether or not an action of one of its members is a conflict of interest, and if so, how to mitigate the impact on SSMU decisions. 

The policy further lays out specific situations that are deemed conflicts of interest. If a SSMU representative has an unprofessional relationship with another member, they must disclose that relationship to the Legislative Council and also to ensure not to let the relationship influence their partner’s decisions. Additionally, SSMU representatives must not use information that is not available to the public for personal gain. Further, they also cannot influence the negotiation or decision process for SSMU dealings with a business or peer through insider information or financial incentives.

According to the policy, SSMU representatives also have to be careful about receiving “gifts, hospitality, or other benefits” from any person or organization which has the potential to influence their duties or decisions within the organization. This includes gifts worth more than $50. If there is any doubt in the intention of the gift, it must be declined by the SSMU representatives. 

How does this apply to the recent controversy surrounding the Hillel Montreal trip?

The three SSMU members who originally accepted the invitation to go on the trip, called Face to Face, maintain that they were in compliance with the policy. In accordance with the policy, the Board of Directors decided in a confidential meeting whether there was a conflict of interest on Nov. 21. Arts Representative Adin Chan had originally accepted the offer, but then decided to decline.

“While I was still planning on going, I can say that I went through the appropriate Conflict of Interest procedures,” Chan said. “I am confident that I [was] in compliance with the policy.”

Arts Representative Andrew Chase, who accepted the invitation, also believes that doing so is within compliance of the policy. 

“I have attended a couple of Hillel events, and the coordinators know me personally,” Chase said. “[That] is why they invited me to apply to their educational [trip] to Israel and Palestine. […] It should be made clear that the invitation to apply was made because they knew that I would make for a good fit for the program, not because of my position as Arts Representative.”

However, in the invitation letter SSMU Executives posted publicly, Hillel Montreal states that they selected students based on their role as leaders, their experience, and their connections.

“This document acts as an official invitation for you as one of the student leaders for this trip,” reads the letter. “We’ve identified you as an invaluable student to have for this trip due to your student leadership experience and connections on campus.”

Science Representative Jordyn Wright also applied and is going to participate in Face to Face.

“The [Board of Directors] ruling is that my participation in Face to Face poses no Real or Apparent conflict of interest because Hillel Montreal operates outside of a SSMU context,” Wright said. “Should a Potential conflict of interest arise in the future, the chair presiding over whichever body the context involves may ask me to recuse myself from issues related to the content of the trip if they see fit to do so.”

Ask a Scientist, Science & Technology

Helium is an endangered element

by Shafaq Nami on

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The world is running out of helium. This may come as a shock, as helium is the second most abundant element in the universe, but it is also a non-renewable resource that is rapidly being depleted.

Helium is a light inert gas that belongs to a group of elements known as the noble gases.  The result of radioactive decay of other elements over millions of years, helium is found in gas pockets beneath the ground. While some continues to trickle to the surface and escape, most of it is extracted for human use. Due to its light mass, helium does not stay in the atmosphere, but quickly escapes the Earth’s surface and travels into outer space. 

People often associate helium with balloons or know it as the gas that makes your voice sound funny. However, it has a wide variety of applications, including scuba diving tanks and space flight operations. Its inert, or unreactive, properties allow it to be used in the welding and manufacturing of semiconductors. When liquefied, it can also be used as a cooling agent for superconducting magnets in MRI scanners and important pieces of chemistry lab equipment, which only work when bathed in liquid helium.

A crucial piece of equipment in chemistry labs is the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) machine, a piece of equipment that is used to observe local magnetic fields around atomic nuclei. Dr. Tara Sprules, a manager of the Quebec/Eastern Canada High Field NMR facility (QANUC) in the McGill Chemistry Department, uses liquid helium to run the machines. The lab has been affected by helium scarcity, forcing Sprules to search for financial assistance to purchase equipment that can recycle helium. Helium supply is particularly unstable because it relies on other industries, and is often extracted as a byproduct of natural gas and petroleum exploration.

 “If natural gas and petroleum industries get cut down, […] that’s a potential [helium] source that we don’t have anymore,” Sprules said in an interview with The McGill Tribune.

There are not many sustainable alternatives to helium to begin with, and in many applications, there are no sufficient replacements at all.

“For the NMR and MRI applications, there aren’t any alternatives because the superconducting magnets have to be at four [Kelvin],” Sprules said. “The material used to do superconducting has to be that temperature [….] There is nothing else that can get that cold, and there isn’t any semiconducting material that has the appropriate conductance at a higher temperature.”

Sprules pointed out that most people do not directly use helium in their everyday lives, so placing the onus on individuals rather than industry to conserve helium will not have much effect. 

“You may want to stop using helium-filled birthday balloons or devices containing semiconductors, but then it becomes a larger question as to what extent you are willing to go,” Sprules said. “The more practical solution is that wherever there are places where helium can be recycled, it should [be].”

Sprules believes that recycling helium can be very efficient in addressing the helium shortage.

“We are working on purchasing [helium-recycling] equipment,” Sprules said. “If we were to have [it], […] we would be able to recycle 90 per cent of the helium we use. Any place that recycling can happen, it’s a very good solution.” 

Experts are conflicted about how long it will take for helium to run out. Some believe that we will run out in 25 to 35 years, while others think that helium resources will last another 200 to 300 years. Regardless of when we will run out, most experts agree that we need to start thinking about helium conservation.

“There are several sites in Saskatchewan where they are starting to extract helium,” Sprules said. “It all depends on how much gets recycled and how successful new exploration sites are.” 

Hockey, Sports

Martlet hockey falls to crosstown rivals

by Kaja Surborg on

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McGill women’s hockey (3–6) fell 1–2 to top-ranked Concordia (8–1) in a fast-paced game on Nov. 24. Concordia gained the upper hand early, scoring just 55 seconds into the first period. The Martlets allowed a second goal on a power play later in the period, after third-year centre Marika Labrecque was called for a penalty. The period ended with six shots on goal for the Martlets and eight for the Stingers. 

“I feel good about our team,” Martlet Head Coach Peter Smith said. “The reality is that we’ve had three games [where] I thought we played real well, [but] we came out [on] the short end.”

The second period saw an uptick in momentum for the Martlets with 14 shots on goal to 10 from Concordia. Fourth-year forward Léa Dumais put McGill on the scoreboard with a goal poked past the Concordia defence after a struggle around the net, assisted by fourth-year defence Rachel Santini and third-year forward Christiana Colizza. This was Dumais’s fourth goal in three games. The second period also saw Concordia’s only penalty, given for interference, handing McGill a power play 15 minutes into the period. McGill was unable to score again; however, the next two power plays for the Stingers produced no goals, demonstrating the Martlets’ strong defence and performance under pressure. 

“The game started at three o’clock and we didn’t start playing at three o’clock,” Smith said. “Against a team like that you have to play a full 60 minutes, and we got probably a good 45 [minutes] out of it, but we didn’t get 60.”

Both teams kept a clean slate in the third period, with a game total of 24 shots on goal for both teams. The pace of play picked up in the third period with McGill skating hard and fast in an attempt to even the score. While the Martlets could not put themselves back on the score sheet, they remain hopeful for their final game before the break. 

“We only have one game left, so we obviously want to finish on a high note,” Smith said. “We are playing [University of Ottawa] next Saturday, and we would like to do well, and we need to get some healthy bodies back.” 

The break promises to give the Martlets a chance to recuperate from the first half of the season and focus on moving forward and qualifying for the provincial and national championships, coming in February and March, respectively. 

The Martlets next face the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees (4–5) at home on Nov. 30. 

 

Moment of the Game

Assisted by Rachel Santini and Chistiana Colizza, fourth-year forward Léa Dumais scored her fourth goal in two home games in the second period. In the 2018-19 season, Dumais became the fourth highest scoring player in Martlet hockey history. 

Quotable

“I like what we have going on and I feel good about our team. We work hard.” – Head Coach Peter Smith on the Martlets moving into the second half of the season. 

Stat Corner

Fourth-year goaltender Tricia Deguire made 22 saves, demonstrating why she was invited to the USports Summer Showcase Tournament in August 2019.

1 … 443 444 445 446 447 … 1,364

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