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Campus Spotlight, Student Life

McGill students convene for the second annual one-minute scream

by Margaret Askey on

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As the fog of midterm season lifts from McGill, the sinking feeling of not-too-distant finals comes to replace it. The stress that this time in the semester brings appears to be the reason behind the “1-minute scream.”

The second annual “1-minute scream” took place outside of Service Point on Nov. 7 from 3:00 p.m. to 3:01 p.m. Organized by students Emma Cona (U2 Science) and William Bouchard (U2 Engineering), the event had a simple premise: Meet in front of Service Point on the downtown campus, scream for a full minute, then disperse. By 2:55 p.m., a small crowd had already gathered, with students accumulating in the center of McTavish street.

Last year’s event took place on Oct. 29, and was run by Ananya Nair, Sam Ling, Maheen Akter, and Cathy Jing. Due to the success of last year’s scream, Cona and Bouchard wanted to recreate the event this year.

Cona explained that despite the success of the first event, the organizers were unwilling to inflate the “1-minute scream” past its humble origins as a lighthearted event. 

“It’s just a fun event,” Cona said. “Its [purpose] is more to gather people than it is to scream. It’s fun to scream, but screaming doesn’t help with midterms. [It’s about] knowing that everyone is […] in the same boat as you.”

When asked whether the “1-minute scream” reflects any student feelings regarding the lack of a Fall Reading Week, Cona was not willing to indulge a deeper interpretation of the event. 

“There’s not […] a big train of thought behind it, it’s just a one-minute scream,” Cona said.

While attendance was bolstered by student stress and a desire for community, many students simply turned out for fun and catharsis. Patricia Danielidis (U1 Music and Education) explained that she attended for fun.

“I saw the Facebook event and realized this [event] is one big meme,” Danielidis said. “This is going to be a fun time to just go and scream with my friend [to] just get our stress out for one minute.”

Danielidis was not alone in her reasoning, as most attendees seemed to be there in search of the relief that screaming offers. Erika Arless (U1 Education) was also there for the stress-relieving benefits.

“It’s about the catharsis,” Arless said. “It’s about releasing […] stress in a funny and enjoyable way with your peers.”

Regarding the genesis of an event like this, Arless and Danielidis acknowledged that the lack of breaks might contribute to students coming together and taking matters into their own hands: The stress of midterms, assignments, and finals give students good reason to scream. Danielidis expressed her desire for a Fall Reading Week.

“I think a reading week would be really helpful, to just have a few days to get it […] together,” Danielidis said. 

Arless agreed with such sentiments on the lack of recuperation time available to students.

“Because there’s [no] Fall Reading Week, we’ve just gotta scream!” Arless said.

Whether students in attendance were eager to release their school-related stress, come together with like-minded students, or to simply scream, the event was a success. People came, screamed, and left in an orderly fashion, presumably less anxious than they arrived.

The available Service Point employees declined to comment. 

McGill, News

Mental Health Commission of Canada announces post-secondary mental health standard

by Magdalena Nitchi on

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The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) recently announced a collaboration with the Canadian Standards Association to develop a standard for the psychological health and safety of post-secondary students. According to the Commission’s website, post-secondary educational institutions are free to adopt and modify the policy, known as the Post-Secondary Students (PSS) Standard, as needed. 

The standard aims to provide guidelines to help Canadian schools support their students’ mental health. The policy identifies factors that challenge students’ mental health and provides resources to help address each of these problems. The current draft of the plan advocates for increasing the amount of psychological support and counselling available to students, educating staff to create a supportive community, and assigning a manageable course load.

Amy Fogarty, MHCC manager of programs and priorities, emphasized that the PSS standard is student-centric. 

“[After championing the] Canadian National Workplace Standard in 2013, an opportunity emerged to support students,” Fogarty said. “[T]he MHCC was approached by funders and leaders to champion this work and fill this gap. Through the creation of the standard, the MHCC is committed to supporting student success and mental wellbeing on campus.”

Fogarty highlighted how the draft is flexible and easy to implement for institutions.

“[The PSS standard] acknowledges that each framework for psychological health and safety will be unique, based on the specific needs of the student body and taking into consideration the unique circumstances and resources of the specific campus community and the external community,” Fogarty said. “The draft [PSS] standard offers an audit tool to assist post-secondary institutions in conducting their own review.”

Executive Director of Student Services Martine Gauthier explained that McGill was already very familiar with the new standard.

“We are actively collaborating with the MHCC to assist with their efforts.” Gauthier said. “McGill is a part of the Best Practices Network (BP-Net), along with Queen’s University and the University of Toronto, and this group is working with the MHCC to inform the development of the standard. We conducted consultations last winter to help collect data for the MHCC, reaching approximately 26,500 individuals. We [even] posted a summary of key take-aways on our website last summer.”

However, Gauthier is not yet certain if McGill will be able to actually commit to following the standard.

“When the [PSS] Standard is released next year, we will be in a better position to evaluate its recommendations and how to adapt them to the McGill context,” Gauthier said.

Julia Caddy, U2 Arts and co-president of the McGill chapter of jack.org, a club promoting mental health education, and expressed excitement about the new standard. She urged McGill to commit to following its recommendations.

“I think a lot of the things [that McGill is doing] are guided in the right direction [.…] Where the standard comes in is that we [already] have mental health services, but really improving student’s mental health involves a system-wide approach,” Caddy said. “You can’t just focus on your mental health professionals. You have to look at how you are training your professors, and how you are regulating your assessment methods […] beyond just [saying] ‘What do we do when [students] are struggling?’” 

Caddy acknowledges the increased awareness of mental health due to initiatives such as Bell Let’s Talk, but believes that institutions must develop better policies to meet their students’ needs. She stressed the importance of keeping accessibility in mind when developing new programs. 

“[We need to make] sure that whatever programs we are implementing are […] accessible [to] everyone,” Caddy said. “A successful mental health plan needs to be able to meet everyone where they are at.”

Drug-testing
McGill, News

CSSDP to provide free drug-testing kits to students

by Delphine Polidori on

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Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy (CSSDP) is currently applying for funding to launch a pilot project that will provide free drug-testing kits to McGill students. At the moment, the McGill-based student group is collecting data through a survey that they released to the student body on Oct. 31. The responses will allow the club to measured demand for specific kinds of drug-testing and to complete their one-time funding application to the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU).

The McGill Tribune met with Matthew McLaughlin, U2 Arts, and Gabriel Aboutboul,  U4 Arts, co-directors of the CSSDP branch at McGill. McLaughlin had the idea to provide students with free drug-testing kits during his term as SSMU Vice-President (VP) Internal Affairs in 2018-19, but was only able to undertake the project with the CSSDP after his tenure.

McLaughlin was inspired by universities in the United Kingdom such as Sussex, Newcastle, and Manchester, whose administrations have already funded drug-testing kits. Observing the lack of such services for students in Canada, McLaughlin believed it was time for McGill to adopt them.

“We know students use drugs and will continue to use drugs,” McLaughlin said. […] “The goal should not be to get students to stop using drugs, because prohibition, we know, doesn’t work. Instead, we look at this from a harm reduction standpoint, and we want students to know that what they’re consuming has not been contaminated with adulterants, that they’re consuming something safely.”

The SSMU funding is intended to finance a certain number of kits, the training of around five student volunteers by local harm reduction organizations, and a space from where the pilot project can begin.

“[T]he project […] essentially entails having a space on campus to distribute these kits once a week, [and] having students be able to drop by and speak anonymously,” McLaughlin said. “Essentially, they will tell us what substances they want to be testing and we will give them the reagents they need. [We will] be accompanying every kit with some literature on how to do these [tests] and hopefully holding some workshops […] so [that students] can see in-person how to do it.”

The CSSDP will also provide fentanyl test strips in every kit, allowing students to test for the presence of fentanyl or carfentanil, which are strong opioids that can lead to accidental overdose.

Aboutboul explained that the student group is looking to purchase drug-testing kits from several online and physical stores. 

“As of now, the plan seems to be [to buy the kits from] organizations like Dance Safe, […] an organization in Canada that distributes […] reagent kits [in bulk],” Aboutboul said. “We plan to separate these bulk sizes into [smaller kits], and then be able to distribute them that way to students.”

By talking to existing harm reduction organizations in Montreal such as Flying Safe and GRIP, and Project Safe Audience in Winnipeg, McLaughlin and Aboutboul realized that their pilot project should aim to do more than just provide free tools for safer drug use. 

“It’s also about interacting with students and learning about the types of drugs they use, what drugs they mix with one another, and advising them,” Aboutboul said. “It’s a way to obviously reduce harm by giving a kit but also [to create] relationships with people and [give] them some kind of advice, and this is obviously a better path than prohibition.”

In an email to the Tribune, McGill Student Emergency Response Team (MSERT) Director of Training Alberto Sobrero expressed his support for the CSSDP’s initiative. 

“MSERT is supportive of harm reduction initiatives and projects that aim to keep members of the McGill community safe,” Sobrero said. “[I]t seems to be a good harm reduction initiative and potentially very valuable for individuals who may be experimenting [with drugs] for the first time and who wish to do so safely.”

If the pilot project is successful, the CSSDP hopes to fund their project long-term through a renewable, opt-outable fee between $0.25 and $0.35 each semester, and will use its survey data to estimate the required funds.  

In the long-term, the CSSDP is hoping to inspire other universities across Canada and beyond, as its national body also has chapters across Europe and the United States. 

“I don’t think students should have to gamble whenever they’re taking a substance,” Aboutboul said. “People […] choose to take a substance and they should be allowed to know what’s in it [….] Providing the service is a way to make sure that that is a given for every person that chooses to [use drugs].”

Horoscopes, Student Life

Finals season horoscopes

by Vanessa Barron and Zoe Karkossa on

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As the long month of November wears on and finals preparation begins, you might be in need of some guidance right now. While you could just go to your professor’s office hours, why not read your very own McGill horoscope right here instead? We’ll tell you everything you need to know for the month ahead.

Aries: 

Since Mercury is in retrograde now until Nov. 20, you might find the past bubbling up in ways you did not expect. You’ll find yourself wondering why you skipped so many classes to sleep in until noon. Unfortunately there is nothing you can do about it now except harass your friends for notes. You might also find yourself tempted to text your ex, to which we say, “Why not?” You have nothing to lose: Seize the moment.

Taurus: 

Do not make eye contact with the squirrels on campus over the next few weeks. They can smell fear and they will likely place a curse on you that will make you flunk your finals. If you do accidentally catch their eye, do not be the first to break eye contact. Charge at them if you’re feeling particularly feisty. Win the battle and triumph over fate.

 

 

Gemini: 

Studying for finals can be so boring, and you’re an air sign, so you need some excitement in your life right now. Get a joint finsta account with your bestie or significant other. It might wreak havoc in your relationship but think of all the drama! You can thrive off of that for months.

Cancer: 

Pro-tip for this finals season: Schedule your emotional breakdowns on the days you need to wash your hair. Showers are the perfect place to cry loudly, especially if you’re in a shared bathroom. Plus, the water will reduce the friction when you blow your nose into your hands. It’s not a glamorous look, but you need to be messy sometimes.

Leo: 

Play devil’s advocate in your conference this week. Don’t back down. Flip a desk if you have to. This is how you can assert dominance over both your peers and the TA, who will give you an A on behalf of your sheer Chad energy.

Virgo: 

Hey, don’t stress yourself out about finals. Yes, we know that you’re a perfectionist, but you’ve been doing well all semester. It will be okay. Binge-watch that show that you’ve been meaning to see. Have you seen Fleabag yet?

Libra: 

When you come to a crossroads in your life this finals season, take the road less travelled. Wait—actually, you should take the road more travelled. That might be the better option. Safer, too, I bet. But maybe you’d be better off taking the road less travelled? Ugh, decisions are so hard.

 

Scorpio: 

Even though the weather is getting colder, you need to calm down and take a cold shower. Don’t get distracted by that hottie in your group project now. Snap out of it! Your one true love for this month is the sixth floor of McLennan.

Sagittarius: 

Okay, Sagittarius, please go to office hours. We know you’re in need of some guidance right now, like a SSMU baby seeking a rope to hold on to. Look on the bright side: Your birthday and Christmas are right around the corner.

Capricorn: 

You know that class that you always want to skip? You know the one I’m talking about. You should go—that will be your worst final. Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise. 

Aquarius: 

You know that class that you always want to skip? This week’s class will be super unimportant, and it is definitely not worth going to campus. Convince your Capricorn friend to skip with you. Get some overpriced Dispatch avocado toast instead, you deserve it.

 

Pisces: 

Instead of crying about your finals, you should give yourself bangs. Do it. You won’t regret it. Trust us.

(Image credits: Winnie Lee)

Arts & Entertainment, Music

In conversation with Nervous Nancy: Living through this

by Tatianna Sitounis on

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At first glance, Nervous Nancy is a ecclectic assortment of personality, dyed hair, and talent to spare. This four-piece student band is determined to keep punk alive. It all started this past February, when lead singer and guitarist Ada Levine made a post in the McGill University Entering Class of 2017 group calling for band members. Somehow, to the amazement of Nervous Nancy themselves, they found each other and hit it off. With Ada Levine on guitar and vocals, Nes Aliu on bass, Tara Cohen on lead guitar, Emily Gittings on drums, and Robbie Dow  on stand-in drums, Nervous Nancy is here to stay. 

On stage, Nervous Nancy embodies a free and empowering energy, but this freedom is not without its battles. Gender divisions continue to plague the Montreal punk scene, making the community challenging for femme-centric bands to navigate. 

“The experience is quite belittling. I know it’s not like […] they’re trying [to demean us]. But I feel like just being a girl in the world […] you just get so used to […] having your opinion put down and told that what you say or think doesn’t matter,” Aliu said. “The scene isn’t [as] inviting to girls as it is to guys.”

Though punk bands such as Bikini Kill and Sleater-Kinney have cleaved out spaces for femmes in the predominantly misogynistic mainstream punk scene, issues of discrimination are still prevalent in national and local circles. It may seem like these gender divisions have been done away with, but sadly, the band finds that they constantly having to prove themselves in a male-dominated world of punk. 

“It just sucks because I feel like we always say this but we don’t want being ‘the girl band’ [to define us],” Levine said. “But now I feel like every interview we do is about it because all our experiences have been shaped by that [reality.]” 

The band spoke further on the subject of gender, noting how punk isn’t necessarily something a classical ‘girl’ would find herself involved with.

 “It’s like any other gender role thing, where girls tend to go towards [a certain thing] because that’s what they experience,” Gittings said. 

Nervous Nancy is a force to be reckoned with and their experiences as women have shaped their music. This lived reality is what sets them apart from their male counterparts, like Societal Siege, BBQ Pope, or any other smattering of skate-punk boy bands.

The group noted that the girl punk genre represents unique creative avenues for women, and explained how they try to do their part in keeping the messages of that movement alive. 

“I feel like, it’s cool that our music can be so related to girls [….] like, I fucking love the line, ‘When I feel ugly, I feel mean.’ It’s like […] guys don’t feel like that as often. It’s not something that’s as relatable for dudes, and I feel like that’s kind of okay,” Dow said. “I see how excited all the girls in the crowd get and it’s nice to have something that is so fucking relatable to you personally.” 

At the same time, the band admitted that in the beginning they were hesitant to use the term ‘girl punk.’

 “We definitely don’t want to say that, like, the only characteristic as a band that we have is being a girl band,”  Levine said. 

The weight of the term ‘girl band’ or ‘girl punk’ can more often than not be subjugated to sexist reservations or judgements, but a ‘girl band’ is so much more than its composition.

It is difficult to not feel a sense of respect and inspiration after attending a Nervous Nancy show or simply listening to their music. The love they have for each other, for their music, and the punk scene itself despite the prejudices that still exist within it is evident.

“I have passion baby!” Levine said. “That’s all that matters.”

 

Nervous Nancy will perform at Piranha Bar Nov. 15.

Research Briefs, Science & Technology

The science behind concussions in sports

by Angelina Giordano on

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While thousands of sports-related concussions occur each year in Canada, the mechanisms behind the injury are still shrouded in mystery. Scientists use the word ‘concussion’ to describe the symptoms of damage inflicted on the brain, but they are still working to uncover the underpinnings at the cellular level. Concussions occur when the brain hits the skull, and are most commonly caused by a direct blow or quick jerking motions of the head.

In 2015, Dr. Alain Ptito, director of the Department of Psychology at the McGill University Health Center (MUHC) and concussion researcher, developed a scan to determine whether or not a person has sustained a concussion. 

“When someone has a concussion, [and] they undergo a scan, 99.9 per cent of the time, the scans are normal,” Ptito said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “I have been interested in looking at how we could develop diagnostic tools to help us […] decide whether an athlete is affected and when that athlete is able to return to play.”

Ptito, along with Jen-Kai Chen and other researchers at McGill, the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital (The Neuro), and the MUHC, have developed a functional neuro-imaging test to examine the brain while a patient is performing a particular task, such as navigating through a virtual neighbourhood. As the person carries out the task, the researchers can see anomalies in the brain that would not be visible on an MRI.

“When the person is doing a task in the scanner, the regions that are involved in that task demand more blood and more oxygen, and this is what the scanner picks up,” Ptito said. “Now, when somebody has a concussion and is symptomatic, we see a lack of activation in those regions compared to a control group, […] and then that helps us make recommendations [about] whether they are able to return to play or not.”

Although contact sports like football, boxing, and hockey receive the most attention when it comes to concussions, seemingly benign sports such as curling and horseback riding can also cause head injuries. In golf, concussions may occur if a golfer gets hit in the head by a ball, or if someone standing too close to the driver gets whacked in the head by the club.

Concussions are very prevalent in soccer, largely due to repetitively heading the ball and colliding with other players. Ptito’s group is currently studying the cumulative effects of heading the ball and whether having multiple sub-concussive blows can accumulate to a point where brain damage occurs. 

“We see athletes playing soccer that get hit by the ball by accident, and they get totally messed up,” Ptito said. “[For] those that head the ball voluntarily, it’s less of a problem because their neck muscles tighten up, so the brain inside the skull doesn’t move as much.” 

On average, women receive more concussions and take longer to recover than men, possibly due to hormonal differences or weaker neck musculature. There is a need for more sex-specific studies on concussions to better treat these injuries.

Another vulnerable group is student-athletes. Concussions come with disabling symptoms such as increased sensitivity to lights and noises, anxiety, irritable mood, difficulty concentrating, and slower reaction times, all of which can hurt a student-athlete’s academic success.

For those that suffer a concussion, Ptito advised rest accompanied by some level of activity.

“It is better to slow down and to do as much as you can, unless the symptoms get worse,” Ptito said. “If the symptoms don’t get worse, keep on doing what you’re doing and gradually increase the activity.”

Ask Ainsley, Student Life

Ask Ainsley: Should I go to grad school?

by Ainsley on

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Dear Ainsley,

I’m an Arts student in my third year, and everyone around me seems to be gearing up for grad school. I’m not quite sure I know what I want to do with the rest of my life, but the thought of no longer having the structure of school is worrying me. I’m also worried that I’m lagging behind my friends who are pursuing more education, and that I’ll regret it if I don’t continue my studies now. Should I go, and what should I consider when deciding?

Sincerely, 

Lost About Grad School (LAGS)

Dear LAGS,

Planning for the future after your undergrad can be intimidating, especially since it entails moving on from your university social group. It can be scary to think about going your separate ways, but it’s best that you make your decision independently of the people around you. Grad school is a big commitment, and it might take some soul-searching to determine if it’s right for you. At the same time, extra schooling can be a great opportunity to deepen your expertise in your area of study and can be either necessary or beneficial for finding higher-paying employment in certain fields. Below are a few things to consider, but every situation approaching graduation is different, so tailor this advice to your own. 

Given that you are unsure about going straight to grad school, it is probably because it’s not a necessity for your chosen career. Knowing this, assess what you hope to gain from grad school, such as more opportunities for professional experience or more focused training in a particular field. If you are in search of constructive career opportunities, it might be worthwhile to consider a more applied graduate program. These programs often include projects or internships that will bolster your resume upon completion and give you a head start with experience in your field. 

However, grad school also takes time: Most Master’s programs are around two years, law degrees take three, and a Ph.D. can be a five- to seven-year commitment. There are also opportunities that you might have to give up while in school, including the income you could earn in the workforce and moving up the career ladder. In other words, you will have to consider whether the eventual payout in terms of greater earning power, experience, and knowledge outweigh the disadvantages that come with extending your education. In some fields, work experience will be more beneficial than the research, academic projects, and book-learning involved in grad school. To determine whether this applies to your field, research what is required by jobs of interest in your field—you can do this by talking to a professional or a professor, or by taking a look at the requirements on postings for jobs that interest you. 

The cost aspect is also important to consider. Grad school can be relatively inexpensive or a significant financial burden, depending on the program and the funding you receive. Funding consists of internal awards from your chosen university, which tends to be given alongside your offer through a funding package, and external awards, which include grants and fellowships that you will need to apply for separately. If student debt from your undergrad is already a concern, it can be useful to work and save for a year or two before diving into grad school; some companies may even fund your future studies.

Ultimately, only you can make the decision about whether grad school makes sense for you or not. If you are ready and willing to put in the money, effort, and time to complete a graduate program, it can be a good option, but take time to consider what you hope to gain from the experience rather than thinking of it as a compulsory next step in your education.

Good luck! 

Ainsley

Commentary, Opinion

Legal weed is safe weed

by Kennedy McKee-Braide on

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On Oct. 29, Quebec’s National Assembly passed Bill 2, which will raise the legal age for Cannabis consumption to 21 on Jan. 1, 2020. This change comes as a result of a major campaign promise made by the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) ahead of last October’s provincial elections, despite Quebec already having some of the strictest cannabis laws in the country. The CAQ and other proponents of the bill argue that the changes will curb the potentially harmful effects of cannabis on adolescents, while critics say such measures are ineffective. Overall, Bill 2 is both dangerous and contradictory, and in response institutions like McGill should pursue programs and policies in favour of harm reduction.

After about a year and a half of debate in the federal House of Commons, the government passed the Cannabis Act on Oct. 17 2018. Supporters claimed that legalization would reduce organized crime, bring in tax revenue, and keep the substance out of the hands of underage people. The federal legislation allows provincial governments to set their own regulations for the use of the drug, and Quebec already had some of the most rigid regulations in the country prior to the introduction of Bill 2. For example, while Canada recently legalized the sale of edible and topical cannabis products, the CAQ has decided that products that may be attractive to minors, like pastries and candies, will remain illegal. Quebec is also in the middle of a legal battle regarding whether their ban on home-grown cannabis is constitutional. 

“Overall, Bill 2 is both dangerous and contradictory, and in response institutions like McGill should pursue programs and policies in favour of harm reduction.”

The problem with Quebec’s restrictive laws, particularly Bill 2, is that they fail to prevent young people from using cannabis, despite this being their purported goal. The CAQ claims that the new age restrictions are meant to set a precedent and will come with education programs intended to dissuade youth from using the drug. However, this is wishful and unrealistic thinking. According to Quebec Liberal Party health critic Andre Fortin, 31 per cent of 18-to 24-year-olds consume cannabis. There is little evidence that the new legislation will do anything to bring these numbers down. 

Instead of allowing young adults to visit Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC) stores to get information from specialists regarding THC concentration as well as safe consumption, it seems that the Quebec government would rather pass legislation that is likely to cause young people to return to their dealers. Unregulated products often have higher levels of THC and, in rare cases, can be laced with dangerous substances. While provincial governments should be looking for ways to promote the purchase of regulated cannabis as opposed to unregulated products (such as with lower prices and a higher concentration of dispensary locations), Quebec has taken a step in the opposite direction.

Quebec’s decision is part of a broader debate surrounding measures that should be taken to promote harm reduction, and whether current legalization efforts are sufficient. Advocacy groups like Canadian Students for Sensible Drug Policy (CSSDP) are taking a different stance than the government on drug use. The group advocates for progressive drug legislation and policies, including the legalization and regulation of all drugs, as well as a designated space for medical cannabis use on campuses and education programs to encourage responsible cannabis use for youth. The McGill chapter of CSSDP is currently looking into providing free drug testing kits for students in order to reduce harm, a resource which is less specifically relevant for the use of cannabis but extremely pertinent for safe drug use more generally. 

The CAQ is clearly not ready to put the legitimate needs of young people first and would prefer to pander to its socially-conservative base. Where the government fails to act responsibly, institutions like McGill should follow the lead of groups like CDSSP and provide financial and institutional support for harm reduction programs.

Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

Where do I begin?: ‘Ancient Aliens’

by Kaja Surborg on

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Ancient Aliens first aired on The History Channel in 2010, and for one month this year, I let it take over my life. The documentary-style series, produced by the Emmy Award-winning Kevin Burns, follows a group of conspiracy theorists as they attempt to convince the audience that life and culture on Earth began with aliens. Many of the “experts” featured in the show have no credentials other than having authored non-academic books on the subject. In fact, most of their claims have been blatantly rejected by actual scholars with training in archeology, and even Carl Sagan did not believe in UFOs. 

The Experience

The first time I watched this show, I was in disbelief. This piece of media called Ancient Aliens is out there, and the people that the show cites as specialists in alien activity are apparently real. But, from the get-go, before any so-called ‘experts’ have even been introduced, the show already had me in a daze of wonder and confusion. 

One of the immediately startling aspects of the show is its terrible production quality. The show uses bad artist renditions to help the audience visualize the encounters of ancient humans with extraterrestrial life, and I cannot imagine a worse use of money. Within seconds, I was hearing blatantly false statements, including that scientists do not understand the Bermuda Triangle. In reality, the phenomenon of airplanes and ships disappearing in the area between Southern Florida, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico has been explained by scientists as nothing abnormal. The narrator, Robert Clotworthy, had already thrown a series of bold claims at the audience with absolutely no supporting evidence even before someone that the producers cite as an expert makes an appearance on screen. Words like “decades” and “millions” are used arbitrarily, seemingly at random, without citing any actual research. 

The Highlights

The first ‘expert’ that appears on screen in season two is none other than the disheveled-looking conspiracy theorist of meme fame Giorgio A. Tsoukalos. While I am delighted that most people do not take him seriously, it is still beyond me that anyone would pay him to appear on a show where all he does is throw meaningless sentences at the camera. What sets the cast of “experts” in this show apart is that they had the gumption to go out there and make these claims to the public. 

The title sequence is a remarkable piece of television. Ominously vague questions such as “Who were they?” and “Why did they come?” flash across the screen. These words, which rattle my core to this day, float mysteriously across stock images of the pyramids, Stonehenge, and other famous landmarks that drift around the words. 

The Power

Ancient Aliens went so far as to actually make me believe in aliens less. I have always accepted that the universe is infinite, so it makes sense that there would be life out there somewhere. But, the cast of this show and their alleged “evidence” of aliens have made me reconsider where I stand. Everything they say seems to discredit them more and more, yet the show stays true to its path. I can only compare the producers of Ancient Aliens to a horse with blinders on, except they put the blinders on themselves to actively ignore the scientific evidence that overwhelmingly counters all of their claims. In a weird way, I respect their stubbornness, and maybe it was the sheer audacity of everyone involved in its production that convinced me to keep watching the show a decade later.

LICM
McGill, News, SSMU

Fall 2019 referendum endorsements

by The McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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The McGill Tribune’s editorial board provides its endorsements for the Fall 2019 Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) referendum period.

Creation of Indigenous Equity Fund and Fee: Yes

The proposed creation of this non-opt-outable $1.00 fee would serve three purposes: Funding the activities of the SSMU Indigenous Affairs Committee, financing projects led by Indigenous or equity-seeking student groups, and providing a source of financial support for Indigenous undergraduates at McGill. The Tribune endorses the creation of this long-overdue fund and fee. The fund would support Indigenous students and grant them the fiscal autonomy needed to address their needs and concerns. Given the lack of substantial institutional support that exists for Indigenous students on campus, and the relative bureaucratic silence from McGill after the 2017 Provost’s Task Force on Indigenous studies and Indigenous Education, this fund is a step in the right direction. 

Creation of SSMU Student Academic Support Services and Fee Levy: Yes

The proposed $0.93 opt-outable fee will go toward an office that integrates and expands Open Educational Resources, SSMU Tutoring, and MiniCourses. The fee will also go toward the creation of paid note-taker positions and affordable preparatory courses. The Tribune endorses the fee, as access to open education is necessary. However, it is imperative that students consider the need for the university administration to fund the compensation of note-takers, in the way the Office for Students with Disabilities no longer does, as it is not sustainable for students to fill gaps in student resources.

Increase and Nature of SSMU Equity Fee: Yes

The proposed $0.50 increase to the SSMU Equity Fee is reasonable and financially necessary given the Equity Fund’s $5,000 deficit. One of the Equity Fund’s main purposes is to fund the salaries of SSMU’s Equity Commissioners, who oversee discrimination complaints within SSMU. Because students who choose to opt-out of the Equity Fee cannot be denied access to this process for ethical and practical reasons, making the fee mandatory is a sensible decision.

Club Fund Fee Increase: No 

Vice-President (VP) Student Life Billy Kawasaki leads the campaign to increase the SSMU Club Fund Fee from $2.75 to $7.75, which he says will enable the creation of an online platform for SSMU club communication and go toward funding an improved insurance plan for events. While it is admirable that SSMU executives are working toward improving their relationship with clubs and services, Kawasaki’s campaign has not clearly demonstrated how spending $20,000 per year on an online portal and updated insurance will provide club executives with the support they need. As such, the Tribune believes that the 280-per cent fee increase is not justified.

Discretionary Funding for DriveSafe: Yes

SSMU’s free DriveSafe service drives students home safely anywhere on the Island of Montreal on Thursday–Saturday nights. It is funded by a non–opt–outable Safety Service Fee of $3.97, of which $0.60 goes toward DriveSafe. Currently, all of the 280 vehicles rented each school year by the service use gasoline. The motion regarding discretionary funding suggests that, by 2030, DriveSafe will only use electric vehicles. The Tribune endorses voting ‘yes’ to support the first steps towards offsetting the 9.8 tonnes of greenhouse gases released by this service each year. 

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