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Hockey, Men's Varsity, Sports

Redmen hockey wipes out Ravens in annual Carnival game

by Jordan Foy on

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McGill Redmen
4

Carleton Ravens
0

On Jan. 19, the Redmen Hockey (19-4-1) team took on the Carleton Ravens (14-5-3) in a physical and exciting Carnival matchup. Ultimately the Redmen proved victorious, taking the game 4-0. Over a thousand fans were in attendance, many sporting furry onesies as part of the Management Undergraduate Society’s annual Winter Carnival.

Both teams established high-tempo play in the first frame, resulting in chances at both ends and an emotionally charged contest with frequent scuffles. McGill was first to draw blood when third-year forward Jerome Verrier dipsy-doodled around a Carleton defender and wired a shot on net on the power play. Later in the period, McGill again found success on the power play with second-year forward Samuel Tremblay’s ninth goal of the season. McGill led 2-0 after the first period, but shots on net were even at eight apiece.

The Redmen had the majority of the scoring chances in the second stanza, gaining control of the game. They added to their lead with a third power-play goal when Verrier found the back of the net for the second time.

“I took the puck and I really wanted to pass it […, but] the puck fumbled just before I shot [it],” Verrier explained. “So I said, ‘never mind just shoot it’ and it went in.”

Despite not seeing much action in the period, Redmen goaltender Louis-Philip Guindon was excellent in thwarting the few Raven attempts on goal. He was especially heroic at the tail end of the stanza, making a crucial save on a shorthanded Carleton breakaway. Heading into the final period, McGill was up 3-0, outshooting their opponents 20-10.

The Redmen continued to dominate the Ravens in the third period, although the emotional nature of the game resulted in some scrappy shenanigans. Both teams traded power play opportunities, but neither was able to convert. Guindon stood strong in net, shutting the door on the Ravens’ attack. The game concluded with a 4-0 scoreline after first-year forward Antoine Dufort-Plante chipped in an empty netter in the final minutes.

The rowdy Carnival crowd’s energy provided a welcome boost for the Redmen, who enjoyed when fans cheered on the Redmen and jeered their opponents throughout the entire game.

“The atmosphere was amazing,” Redmen captain Nathan Chiarlitti said. “Huge shout out to all the fans, the students. It’s an absolute blast playing in an atmosphere like that, and hopefully we gave them a good show.”

The team’s victory was driven by its power play efforts. Head Coach Kelly Nobes explained that McGill’s success came from executing the basics.

“We were shooting the puck at the right time, and getting pucks to the net quickly,” Nobes said. “We didn’t score on the rebound tonight, but we did have good net traffic.”

Overall, Nobes credited the win to a complete team effort.

“We had everybody going again tonight, and I think that’s been a key for us,” Nobes noted. “It’s not just one or two lines, it’s everybody going, everybody contributing, offensively and defensively.”

The following evening, on Jan. 20, the Redmen took on the Ottawa Gee-Gees (11-7-4) but fell 4-3 in overtime.

 

Moment of the Game

While on the power play, third-year forward Jerome Verrier caught a puck out of midair, dropped it to the ice, and scored a goal in the same sequence, putting the Redmen up 3-0.

Quotable

“When I was younger I [would get nervous], but honestly this might be the last couple months of my career, so I’m just trying to soak it in.”  Redmen captain Nathan Chiarlitti on his mindset in big games.

Stat Corner

McGill went three for eight on the power play (37.5 per cent).

A previous version of this article stated that the Ottawa Gee-Gees held a (11-7-3) record. In fact, their record was (11-7-4) at time of publication. The Tribune regrets this error.

Off the Board, Opinion

The guilty male conscience in the age of #MeToo

by Domenic Casciato on

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On Jan. 13, the website babe.net published the controversial exposé, "I went on a date with Aziz Ansari. It turned into the worst night of my life,” sparking conversations across the media about the #MeToo movement, verbal consent, and women’s’ agency. The report—and the conversations it provoked—diverged from the dominant contemporary sexual assault narrative in a number of notable ways: It did not involve a criminal accusation, and the accuser, called “Grace,” relied primarily on nonverbal cues to express her dissent. However, these distinctions opened the floodgates for the most striking divergence of the episode. Unlike in the cases of Harvey Weinstein, Roy Moore, and Louis C.K., the Ansari exposé incited a bombardment of op-eds—penned predominantly by women—criticizing the story for disempowering women, diminishing their agency, and inspiring a supposedly undeserved witch hunt against Ansari.

A day after the story was published, I got into an argument about whether Ansari deserved to have been humiliated by having his compromising night with Grace placed under a national spotlight. I have never met Ansari nor has he ever been my role model, and yet, while discussing the article, I felt protective—almost as if I was being personally attacked. I later realized that this is the exact opposite of how I, and other young men, should have responded to Grace’s experience.

In the age of #MeToo, many young men have felt the same defensive instinct. In strained online messages and hushed conversations I have borne witness to, university men with otherwise thorough understandings of consent and human decency guiltily disclose their fears and consternations about consent discourse. The subtext of these conversations, often, is anxiety that their sexual behaviour might be brought under a magnifying glass and undeservedly condemned.

As young men with the time and opportunity to grow, we should read the babe exposé, examine how Grace describes feeling throughout her encounter with Ansari, and reflect upon how we can avoid causing that same discomfort and anguish.

When reading the babe story, one line in particular struck me: "Grace compares Ansari’s sexual mannerisms to those of a horny, rough, entitled 18-year-old. […] But Aziz Ansari isn’t an 18-year-old.”

Many of the men sitting in the lecture halls at universities across North America have been that horny, rough, and entitled 18 year-old. Many continue to be. Unlike the stories about accused male celebrities with long histories of systematic, intentional abuse of female acquaintances, the Ansari exposé described a situation that some young men could envision finding themselves in.

What stood out about the line was not its condemnation of Ansari, but its tolerance for young men who make similar mistakes. Many of them carry deep-seated fears—rooted in deep misunderstandings about consent discourses—of being scrutinized, outed, and witch hunted for what they believe was damning misconduct during their early years of sexual development. However, consent discourses are concerned primarily with growth and understanding—not with condemnation. Young men’s anxieties often block them from recognizing tolerance for their faults in women’s responses to exposés about sexual assault. Rather than inspiring self-reflection and growth, memories of the rough, uncomfortable, and sometimes painful nights they caused during their sexually formative years often leave young men feeling guilty and doomed to self-exclusion from these conversations. But, as with most facets of our personal development, it is necessary that we are able to recognize and accept the faults of our past if we hope to grow in the future.

Accordingly, it is important that progressive young men refrain from going on the defensive in the debate about whether Ansari deserves to have had his date with Grace exposed. It is also not productive for us to engage in performative, self-congratulatory condemnations of Ansari’s behavior. McGill students of all people should be aware that even those who have ingrained themselves into consent culture and memorized its glossary often lack respect for even the most basic tenets of consent.

Instead, as young men with the time and opportunity to grow, we should read the babe exposé, examine how Grace describes feeling throughout her encounter with Ansari, and reflect upon how we can avoid causing that same discomfort and anguish. Whether you believe Ansari is the subject of a witch hunt or that he has received his just desserts is irrelevant. Fear of public shaming is not a substitute for an understanding of consent. In response to stories like Grace’s, it is paramount that young men take their space to reflect and grow—lest they become adults whose only standard of moral sexual behavior is avoiding public condemnation or prosecution.

Student Life

Hangover tips to get you through McGill’s drinking season

by Mary Keith on

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‘Tis the season of drinking! With McGill’s competitive drinking season in full swing, and the cold weather prompting students to drink more to stay warm while going out, there are plenty of hangovers to look forward to this semester. In order to help you survive the next few weeks, The McGill Tribune has compiled a list of tips to avoid a hangover and what to do when the inevitable occurs.

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate

First and foremost, it’s essential to stay hydrated the day before a night of drinking. As alcohol dehydrates the body, you need to make sure to drink extra water before going out in order to maintain normal hydration levels. To prepare for your night of drinking games, make drinking water a game. Setting time marks on a clear water bottle can help to meet drinking goals throughout the day. Otherwise, every time you get up from your seat in McLennan, always make a point to finish your water bottle and go refill it during your break.

Eat before drinking

Secondly, eat! It is well known to students that by skipping out on dinner, they will be able to get drunk a lot quicker. Without any food in your body to slow down the alcohol absorption process, much more goes directly into your bloodstream. It’s important to eat proteins, fats and dense carbohydrates before drinking. Although greasy and fried foods are great to eat before drinking, it may be wise to avoid the post-party poutine and $2 chow mein at Chez Mein, which may make hangover nausea worse the next day.

Steer clear of dark-coloured alcohols

Additionally, clearer and lighter liquids tend to cause fewer hangover symptoms—they don’t have as many congeners, a chemical formed during the alcohol’s fermenting process. Congeners, found in most dark liquors such as brandy, bourbon, darker beer, and red wine, give many types of alcoholic beverages their flavor but can contribute to hangovers or worsen their severity. With this in mind, try to stick to either tequila, vodka, or white wines when choosing your drink for the night. Instead of perusing the SAQ or a nearby dep without an idea of what to drink for the night, make a plan of what to buy—then get in and out!

Keep a tally of your drinks

Once it’s time to hit the party and start drinking, be sure to alternate your drinks with water to keep up the hydration. A good way to keep a tally of how many drinks you’ve had is by marking them with a pen on your hand. Once you’re home, eat a high-carb food, such as an apple or some pasta, and drink more water to help you avoid getting a hangover the next day.

If you get a hangover…

Hangovers come with all sorts of symptoms; from pounding headaches and exhaustion, to mood swings and nausea. Yet, there are measures you can take to treat the pain. Drink lots of water, eat some carbs, and replenish your electrolytes with a bottle or two of Gatorade. Although it often helps to sleep off a hangover, don’t take that as an excuse to stay in bed all day–getting some fresh air and a little exercise is a great way to alleviate hangover symptoms. Alcohol serves as a depressor, so exercise will help by releasing endorphins and improving your mood throughout the day.

You don’t always have to drink

In all honesty, the best way to avoid a hangover is to not drink at all. If you really need to avoid a hangover the next morning but don’t want to miss out, perhaps consider skipping the drinking and going out anyway. While not the same experience, going out as the sober friend can make for some unforgettable memories. Hopefully, the above remedies to prevent and treat a hangover work for you, but if not, at least the symptoms can’t last forever. To students going out this winter semester, have fun, stay warm, and remember to prepare for the inevitable and dreaded visit of everyone’s dear friend, the college hangover.

News

Increased departmental funding discussed at AUS Legislative Council

by Cherry Wu on

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On Jan. 10, the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) Legislative Council held its first meeting of the Winter semester. Council deliberated new ways to allocate the Arts Computer Lab Fund, and to incorporate funds from increased student fees into the Society’s Winter budget.

 

Council conducts straw poll on computer rentals

Following the Fall 2017 Referendum, the semesterly fee for the Arts Computer Lab Fund was reduced from $9.80 to $3.85 for full-time Arts students. Desktop computer usage in Arts facilities has steadily decreased over the years. However, demand for laptop lending has doubled or more every year since the program’s introduction. AUS President Erik Partridge suggested removing the computers from either the Ferrier Computer Lab, the Leacock lobby, or the AUS Student Lounge.

“Many have suggested that the Ferrier Computer Lab should be transformed into an open study space,” Partridge said. “The Leacock Lobby will retain two desktop computers, which could possibly become OPUS [card] loading stations.”

Partridge called for a straw poll, which resulted in a majority favouring the removal of computers from the Ferrier computer lab. A formal vote will be taken at a future Council meeting.

 

Departmental funding allocations discussed

In a second straw poll, Council voted on how to allocate revenue from the AUS base fee, a non-opt-outable fee for students in the Faculty of Arts used to fund departmental associations in the Faculty. An increase in the AUS semesterly base fee was ratified in the Fall 2017 referendum, resulting in a fee of $16.50 for full-time students and $8.25 for part-time students each semester, starting in Winter 2018.

With the fee increase, total funding allocated to each AUS department increased 10 per cent. In the straw poll, Council also voted in favour of a $3,500 baseline funding increase for every department.

 

Debate on how to spend budget surplus

According to Vice-President (VP) Finance Noah Lew, AUS revenue will increase by approximately $11,000 by the end of the fiscal year on Apr. 30, due to the base fee increase. Council discussed funding possible new projects, including the Journal Fund and a textbook lending program.

“There is currently a lot of money in the bank accounts,” Lew said. “If there is a need [to fund different programs], we can definitely run a deficit this year. It is actually financially feasible to do so.”

Patridge noted that it is also possible to substitute a budget deficit with the underused funds of the Financial Management Committee.

“The Committee allocates funds such as the Journal Fund to undergraduate student-run journals,” Patridge said. “But most of the time, the funds are only spent to around 50 per cent. Therefore, it is also possible to utilize these funds before running a budget deficit.”

VP Academic Madeline Wilson suggested using the surplus on a textbook lending program—which would provide textbook rental services for high-enrolment classes within the Faculty of Arts—to aid students who cannot afford the purchases.

“Ideally, we would like to buy enough [textbooks] to cover at least around 10 per cent of the enrolment [of each class],” Wilson said.

 

Motion to Amend the Allocation Decisions of the Arts Student Employment Fund Committee

The final item on the agenda was a motion to reduce the funds AUS allocates to the Arts Student Employment Fund (ASEF)—which supports extracurricular academic opportunities for students—from $16,850 to $13,850. Wilson put forward the motion, and noted that two Arts professors still have leftover money from other AUS funds granted to them in past years.

This motion carried. AUS Council will reconvene on Jan. 24.

McGill, News

Québec Studies Student Association hosts semester kickoff event

by Arvaa Balsara on

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The Quebec Studies Students Association (QSSA) hosted its Kickoff Event on Jan. 12 to celebrate its recent founding and to raise awareness about the Quebec Studies program at McGill. This is the QSSA’s first speaker series since its formation in November 2017 to negotiate the continued existence of the Quebec Studies program, which had its major component cut last semester after a series of low enrollment numbers.

Politicians and community leaders shared their experiences in municipal politics at the bilingual speaker series. Organizations such as Apathy is Boring, which aims to promote youth engagement in politics; Sun Youth, a humanitarian organization operating in Montreal; and L’Itinéraire Magazine, which provides a platform and resources for traditionally marginalized voices, were all present.

With a program focused on local government, speakers at the Kickoff Event encouraged young people to participate in their communities at a political level. For QSSA Vice-President Finance Véronique Leblanc, student organizations should prioritize making entry into formal politics more accessible to students.

“Politics isn’t something that is happening far away from us, nor is it something that we can’t participate in,” Leblanc said. “It is accessible and there are many points of entry but it is the responsibility of student organizations to make these points of entry more accessible to students.”

The event began with a speech about the importance of a dynamic political arena from Kathleen Weil, an elected member of the National Assembly of Québec. Citing her experience as the Minister of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusiveness and as a member of the Comité ministériel du développement social, éducatif et culturel, she emphasized the important role played by committees that target community-specific issues. According to Weil, such committees not only address the needs of constituents, they also provide an avenue for students to debate politics and create observable change in their cities.

“We need a minister responsible for the community, otherwise [programs] get lost and sometimes programs are not well adapted,” Weil said. “One of the things we want to do is create internships so that students can figure out if they want to work in the government.”

Cathy Wong, the speaker of the Montreal City Council, then discussed the role of citizens in their communities, arguing that democracy is a process that takes place throughout the year.

“Although we participate in democracy online, through newspapers, and [through] other publications, we must remember that many decisions are made at City Hall on a daily basis that concern us,” Wong said. ”We must participate in democracy there also, where the elected officials represent us.” *

Younes Boukala, a Political Science student at Université de Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and the Project Montréal party Lachine borough youth ambassador for the 375th anniversary of Montreal, discussed his own experiences as a leader in his community. To Boukala, there are far too few young people involved in formal politics, and addressing this is a key step to increasing political engagement and improving Quebec society.

“The easiest place to start, where we can make the most concrete changes, [is] at the municipal level,” Boukala said. “Young people are the future so we must be in politics.”

Due to the separation of power between the federal and provincial governments in Canada, provinces have autonomy in many policy areas. As a result, Quebec’s policies could serve as a framework from which other other provinces may seek inspiration. Thus, politics in Québec not only affect the immediate Quebec society, but have the capacity to create noticeable change in the wider Canadian context.

 

*Translated from French to English.

Arts & Entertainment, Music

SSMU Musicians Collective rocks out at La Vitrola

by Katia Innes on

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It’s add-drop season, so before profs start slamming students with endless readings, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Musicians Collective gathered in La Vitrola on Jan. 10 to kick off the Winter semester. The Plateau/Mile End vibe was strong that night: Blundstones, Radiohead, and cheap beer were plentiful.  

Founded in 2010, the SSMU Musicians Collective connects independent musicians within the McGill community.

“We initially started as a club of jammers, but since we got SSMU funding a few years back [in 2012], we’ve been able to expand,” President Michael Kalman told the The McGill Tribune.

The first performer, Elliot Sinclair, better known under his stage moniker Alright, Lights, began the show with his solo act. Standing alone onstage, Sinclair quickly proved his capabilities as both a lyricist and guitarist. Reminiscent of Bahamas and Jeff Buckley, Sinclair breezed through his lovely “Infatuation,” into an alternative take on D’Angelo’s “Greatdayndamornin'/Booty.”

The SSMU Musicians Collective also saw the last performance of McGill band Matty Parker, as frontman James Parm is leaving for Asia. Backed by Michael Abraham, Ethan Cohn, and Greg Kustka-Tsimbidis, Matty Parker is a self-proclaimed “nothing band that will likely split up soon due to internal conflict.” Matty Parker draws heavily on Radiohead, the Pixies, and Sparklehorse. Standout tracks included originals “Drinking in Denial,” and “Stolen Stuff.” Each song bellows and contracts; crescendos are followed by both restrained emptiness and triumphant sounds..

Besides creating a performance platform for student musicians, the Collective organizes various open mics and workshops. They also plan to host bi-monthly jam sessions in the Collective’s space located in the sub-basement beneath Gerts in the SSMU building. This same space can be booked out for up to six hours, no charge, for private use. Kalman also hinted at workshops this semester, including an electronic music production workshop in the upcoming months.

The Corks played last, with a bluesy rock sound that occasionally teeters towards funk. They brought a well-needed bolt of lightning to the venue. Singer Sacha Gubany, all curly hair and unrefined enthusiasm, led the four-piece along with Jonathan Verreault on the drums, Philippe Moison on guitar, and Vincent Lambert on bass for an altogether energetic set. Songs like “Take Me Home” proved to be not only excellently crafted and performed, but insanely catchy.

Near the end of the night, the crowd had gathered together near the front of the stage, begging The Corks for an encore. They obliged. If anything, Wednesday’s concert highlighted the extensive musical talent that is often forgotten at McGill. More than just an academic institution, there is a huge pool of musical capability that, with the help of the Musician’s Collective, is reaching a broader audience. This semester, dare to venture out of the conventional music scene and take a peek at what your classmates are creating. Who knows, maybe the guy behind you in your chemistry lecture has a wavy dream-pop band. Check it out sometime—you’ll be surprised.

 

Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

On Armie Hammer’s shoes in Call Me By Your Name

by Dylan Adamson on

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Shoes don’t often scream your name from across a crowded room. Unlike the peacockish hat, the ostentatious bifocal, or the presumptuous earring, the humble shoe does not boisterously salute you at eye-level. Often concealed, or at least partially so, by a brashly uncuffed pant leg, shoes maintain a measured distance from gaudy exhibition. Enter into the equation Montreal’s snowy winter climate, and practical concerns can obscure even the faintest memory of the elegance footwear can offer.

Every once in a blue moon, however, a pair of shoes saunters into your life and changes everything.

I present to you: Armie Hammer’s shoes in Call Me By Your Name (2017).


Wow! Look at those things. The shoes.

One more time. (Enlarged for detail)

Seemingly eons removed from previous appearances sporting bad earmuff things (2012’s The Social Network) and as a black car (2017’s Cars 3), Hammer’s CMBYN  look exudes a sensuous bravado befitting his character’s strapping confidence.

With a billowy Ralph Lauren shirt unbuttoned to reveal a Star of David chain dangling between chest hairs, and short khaki shorts fastened with a brown leather woven belt, Oliver’s (Hammer) wardrobe introduces the American exchange student before he even has the chance to make you blush with a (probably really firm) handshake.

Call Me By Your Name is visually gorgeous across the board, but these shoes are just plain unfair.

I wasn’t alive in 1983, when CMBYN is set. I guess I also don’t know if these shoes were the 1980s cool-dude-norm. I do know that I will never purchase a pair of Converse after seeing Armie Hammer and his shoes in this movie. They’d look dumb on my stupid feet. Can you even buy Converse that look like that anymore? What happened between 1983 and now that can explain Converse going from Oliver’s bombastic elegance to this? (edit: I guess a lot of things)

Maybe it's a gay movie for straight people. Maybe it’s problematic to laud an idyllic queer film when as a culture we have repeatedly dismissed more confrontational queer cinema. Maybe these questions would be better addressed by someone less fixated on one very specific detail of the movie.

Watch the dance scene, a focal point for many critics’ praise of CMBYN. Watch it a few times if needed, you earned it. Put it on 1080p. Turn off nightshift. Shoes are visible from approximately 0:02-0:06. Though exhilaratingly brief, this is perhaps the best look we get at the shoes throughout the movie. Shuffling and kicking to the Psychedelic Furs’ 1982 hit “Love My Way,” the shoes seem to refuse the normative constraints of rhythm or tempo. Paired with classic red striped gym socks, Oliver’s below-knee outfit presents a tattered, sexy American flag, not staked in some Midwestern lawn, but sashaying across a cracked granite Mediterranean dance floor.

For a long, forgettable stretch of the movie, Oliver ditches the Converse for some brown, low-heel, slip-on shoes. I don’t remember much from these scenes. Thankfully, in his final moments on-screen, the shoes make a triumphant, if heartbreaking, reappearance.

This isn’t to take anything away from such classics as Buggin Out’s scuffed Jordan IV’s in Do The Right Thing, Bruce Lee’s Yellow Onitsuka Tigers in Game of Death (later homaged in Kill Bill), or Bill Murray’s adidas Roms in The Life Aquatic (or his Air Wovens in Lost in Translation for that matter). I have heard compelling arguments for Forrest Gump’s Nike Cortezes. But Armie Hammer’s CMBYN Converse make these shoes, and all other shoes, or boots, or clogs, for that matter, look like Skechers Breathable Lightweights.

I walked out of CMBYN barefoot, carrying my shoes before they clunked into the garbage can. The snow was cold, and the road salt burned, but a numbness quickly set in that dulled the pain long enough for me to get home. I quickly disposed of mine and my roommates' remaining footwear in our kitchen garbage. I don’t deserve to wear shoes. To try and place myself even in the same arena as Armie Hammer in CMBYN. I’m missing class. I haven’t left my apartment in days. I overheard my roommate calling my parents about me and my “really weird and uncomfortable Arm and Hammer thing” the other day. These feet are a prison. Shoes are the guards. Armie Hammer in CMBYN is my lone weekly phone call. Or something. I don’t know. No one understands. Help

Student Life

Drogheria Fine: The story behind Montreal’s favourite gnocchi go-to

by Gabriela McGuinty and Catherine Morrison on

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Amid the many innovative businesses clustered in the Mile End neighbourhood, Drogheria Fine has managed to stand out for nearly a decade. The quaint family-owned gnocchi restaurant has grown increasingly popular among locals and tourists alike. Located on Fairmount Avenue and Clark Street, the small window shop, known for its $5 gnocchi served in take-out boxes, offers a remarkably satisfying meal for the everyday student and passerby.

What makes Drogheria Fine unique is its limited menu: It only serves one dish—potato gnocchi cooked in traditional, homemade tomato sauce. According to Rosie Scalia, an employee at the shop, their specialization in a single product has helped them perfect the recipe, and ultimately led them to their success.

“It all started because [owner Franco Gattuso and his family owned a few] restaurants, and then […] eventually the restaurants closed down and [Gattuso] wanted to do something different,” Scalia said. “So he decided to take the one product that everyone really liked and just do that, which was the tomato sauce.”

The shop operates as a window counter during warmer months, often prompting a long lineup on the sidewalk. During the winter, however, Drogheria Fine moves indoors, transforming into a small single-room franchise. Inside the venue, the tantalizing smell of fresh gnocchi cooking on a stove against the shop window welcomes customers. The walls are lined with jars of tomato sauce, striking in quantity and aesthetic. In fact, to Scalia, it’s actually the tomato sauce—not the gnocchi—that keeps the business going.

“[The tomato sauce] has priority,” Scalia said. “We’re here at 6 a.m. every day [and] don’t serve gnocchi before 12 p.m. because we [are focused on] the production of the tomato sauce. From 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. though, there’s usually someone in the front to sell it with the gnocchi. I [prepare] about 250 to 300 jars of tomato sauce a day.”

According to Scalia, the affordable price, easily-transportable container, and incredible taste, have led Drogheria Fine’s gnocchi to rise in popularity around the Mile End—particularly among the vibrant student community. Their unique method of cooking the dish is another key aspect to its success.

“Gnocchi is an extra [that] introduces people to the tomato sauce, [which, in turn,] teaches people how to cook their gnocchi,” Scalia explains. “Most people boil their gnocchi, but our secret is that we’ll cook [them] directly in the sauce so you can control the temperature and texture.”

With its unquestionable attraction, popular location, and delicious gnocchi-tomato sauce combination, it comes as no surprise that this small shop has become a must-visit destination.

Editorial, Opinion

SSMU VP Finance By-Election Endorsement

by McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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Esteban Herpin, U3 Finance with a double minor in Economics and Political Science, is running unopposed for the office of Vice-President (VP) Finance of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU), following the resignation of Arisha Khan in November 2017. Herpin was formerly a member of the Management Undergraduate Society’s (MUS) Corporate Relations team, where he negotiated and drafted legal agreements and oversaw MUS accounts, and was previously a member of SSMU’s Francophone Affairs Committee.

Herpin’s platform involves increasing financial transparency, improving access to club funding, emphasizing sustainable investments, and reaffirming SSMU’s responsibility to positively impact students in lieu of perpetuating political divisiveness. Herpin hopes to alleviate the strain that the University Centre’s scheduled closure has placed on clubs and independent student groups (ISGs), and to increase funding for SSMU’s mental health resources. He also plans to reduce expenditures in SSMU’s operating budget.

Endorsement: Yes, with reservations

The McGill Tribune endorses Herpin’s candidacy, but with significant reservations. Many of his platform promises are well-intentioned and identify important issues. Financial transparency has been historically imperfect at SSMU; the society failed to produce its 2016-2017 budget report. Applications for club funding are lengthy and convoluted, discouraging clubs and ISGs from pursuing essential funding. Despite SSMU’s attempts to provide interim accommodation, many clubs and ISGs remain vulnerable to the costs of the University Centre’s upcoming closure. Herpin has had firsthand experience with club funding applications and intends to streamline the process.

Although Herpin’s platform reflects general student demands, he has failed to outline concrete plans to achieve them. He did not specify which components of club funding should be simplified, nor did he specify which SSMU expenditures or investments to cut, despite having an interest in lower student costs. It is also unclear what capacity the VP Finance has to alleviate the costs of the building closure. In addition, Herpin did not meet with the returning SSMU executives prior to his campaign.

Should Herpin be elected as VP Finance, he may pursue a positive and constructive agenda, help alleviate the workload on other executives, and fulfill important tasks, such as setting the 2018-2019 budget. However, his lack of concrete plans and knowledge of the VP Finance portfolio mean that there will be a significant learning curve during his short four-month tenure if elected. It is essential that he develop a more robust set of solutions to the issues outlined in his platform in order to have the greatest impact on SSMU.

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