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Out on the Town, Student Life

New to Montreal? Here’s what to do in your first few weeks

by Gregor McCall on

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Moving to a new place is scary—especially when it’s for school. All of a sudden, we’re thrust into an alien environment, surrounded by swaths of strangers and, at least for many anglophone McGillians, a new language. We’re expected to adapt to all of this while simultaneously managing the new pressure of university-level courses. This can make Montreal appear intimidating. 

Yet, this adjustment also presents an opportunity to make the city your home. Don’t know where to start? Don’t fret, The Tribune has taken the liberty of compiling everything you need to combat homesickness and help you fall in love with Montreal. 

Reach new heights

You may have already noticed Parc du Mont-Royal looming behind campus, an austere giant that lifts the skies and shoulders the buildings. Its dense woods and fertile hiking trails make it the perfect place to clear your head, get that heartbeat up, or contemplate those deep post-midterm existential crises. It’s also one of the best places to acquaint yourself with Montreal. Whether you opt to brave the seemingly never-ending staircase up to Kondiaronk Belvedere or spring for a leisurely stroll to Lac aux Castors, an afternoon on the mountain will be sure to acquaint you with your new home. Take in the city skyline, marvel at the electric cross, or enjoy a coffee from the famed Chalet du Mont Royal in alpine bliss. No matter what, you will come away with a greater understanding of Montreal’s geography and history—and discover the perfect spot to bring new friends.

Take your stand in the city-wide debate

Fairmount or St-Viateur? That is the question. The bagel-war is the only skirmish you’ll want to enlist in—and with top-notch options, it’s hard to pick a side. Travel to the front lines by taking an excursion to the Mile End, a laid-back, cool, and semi-hipster neighbourhood with a thriving food scene stemming from its rich Jewish history. While at St-Viateur, you’ll find yourself in a utopia of cream cheese and breakfast sandwich options; at Fairmount, you’ll only be able to buy bagels by the individual, half dozen, or dozen. The ultimate test: Go to both stores (about a block away from each other), find a spot to sit down outside, and do a blind taste-test. Take a residence acquaintance, a classmate, or, for a real argument, a seasoned Montrealer, and see how heated the quarrel becomes. 

Go off the beaten trail

Even if you’re new to McGill, you probably already know Old Port. Its prestige in terms of Montreal neighbourhoods is rightly deserved. Bursting with history, kitschy souvenir shops, first-class restaurants, and cobblestone streets which magically transport you to a European town square, it’s obviously worth a visit. However, much of Montreal’s rich cultural conversation lies outside the tourist zones, in neighbourhoods most non-Montrealer students might not see if they don’t go looking for it. Walk along the Lachine Canal and you’ll find yourself at the nexus of Saint-Henri, Griffintown, and La Petite-Bourgogne, each with charming, unique architecture, idiosyncratic restaurants and cafes, and its own contributions to Montreal history and accomplishment. 

Can’t decide between Italian, Haitian, Vietnamese, or North African food? In neighbourhoods like Saint Leonard, you can see cultural diffusion in action where ethnic enclaves constantly mesh with one another, producing gastronomic miracles and proud locals. Where else could you get Haitian Tassot with a side of arancini and a Vietnamese coffee, all within one block? Getting outside of the McGill bubble will give you a better sense of the city, the people who live here, and the robust culture they’ve built. Bonus: Taking the metro will make you all the more adept at navigating the city on your own (and you can get a student discount if you order your OPUS card through Minerva).

Become a regular

At a cafe, a bar, a library, or even a club (dance or student, you pick). Show up somewhere regularly. Meet the people there. You’ll soon find that people begin to recognize your face and know your name, and that you’ll know theirs more and more. What’s important is to set up roots. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know anyone else going into it; you’ll meet people. Establish yourself, and you’ll begin to feel all the more at home. 

Out on the Town, Student Life

More to explore: Montreal hidden gems based on your current favourites

by Tamiyana Roemer on

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As a student, it’s far too easy to fall into repetitive patterns. Routines can be comforting and convenient, especially when your schedule is packed. But if your days in Montreal are starting to feel like a sequence from Groundhog Day, it might be time to switch things up. Whether you’re looking for a new cafe, bar, or restaurant, The Tribune has rounded up your current favourites—and the alternatives we recommend to shake things up. 

If you love Mae Sri, try Pumpui

Tucked away on Rue Milton, Mae Sri is a McGill student favourite for lunch and dinner. Serving up hearty, flavourful Thai cuisine at student-friendly prices, this spot is beloved for its no-fuss charm. If you’re a fan of Mae Sri, you’ll want to check out Pumpui in Little Italy. Its vintage Thai diner aesthetic and streamlined menu deliver a casual but delicious dining experience reminiscent of Mae Sri’s appeal. Pumpui’s rotating curries are warming, complex, and sure to spice up your Montreal restaurant rotation.

If you love Bar Biftek, try Fitzroy

Bar Biftek is a St. Laurent staple, an iconic spot for late night rounds of pool and pitchers. But with few billiard tables and a steady crowd, getting your hands on a cue is like winning the lottery. Enter Fitzroy: a spacious loft hangout equipped with no less than 15 pool tables. Ideal for larger groups or anyone craving a bit more elbow room, Fitzroy promises a night of less waiting and more playing. 

If you love Bar Darling, try Bar Henrietta

McGill students can always count on Bar Darling to deliver an evening of creative cocktails and delicious plates. If you’re looking to add a similar spot to your late-night rotation, Bar Henrietta is sure to impress. Like Bar Darling, this Mile End classic strikes the balance between chic and laid back, featuring a terrace that’s perfect for relaxing with friends and indulging in people-watching. With menu offerings from popcorn to scallops, this versatile spot is ideal for date nights, catch-ups, and everything in between.

If you love Cafe Saint-Barth, try Olive + Gourmando

Cafe Saint-Barth enthusiasts appreciate the comfort of a classic brunch and the reliability of a good cup of coffee. Luckily, Montreal has a wealth of spots that not only match this criteria but encourage you to wander away from the campus bubble. One such gem is Olive + Gourmando. Serving Montrealers since 1998, this Old Port bakery-cafe-restaurant hybrid has grown a cult following. Although you’ll often find a line out the door, the buttery pastries and satisfying sandwiches are well worth the wait. 

If you love Bar Suzanne, try Else’s

Bar Suzanne is a cozy favorite known for its lush greenery, welcoming vibe, and late-night dumpling menu that keeps customers coming back. If you’re a fan of Suzanne’s intimate, dimly-lit atmosphere and satisfying small plates, Else’s offers a kindred experience. Just a short walk away from Bar Suzanne, Else’s is a similarly warm and eclectic hideaway—perfect for seeking refuge as Montreal winter approaches. With a menu that ranges from tacos to butter chicken, it pairs comforting food with a relaxed bar setting, creating the perfect spot to unwind from the stresses of student life.

If you love Nouilles Zhongua, try Nouilles de Lan Zhou

Deservedly popular, Nouilles Zhongua resides across from the Roddick Gates, making it a convenient spot for students craving fresh noodles and warm broth during the week. But if your weekend plans can take you a little farther, Montreal’s Chinatown offers a deeper dive into the city’s world of handmade noodles. Nouilles de Lan Zhou often tops the list of best Chinese noodle spots in the city. With its fast service, substantial portions, and bustling atmosphere, Nouilles de Lan Zhou provides the ultimate motivation to make your way out of the McGill bubble.

Science & Technology

Dice: The statistician’s Roman Empire

by Sarah McDonald on

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It’s a rainy Wednesday night in 50 BC, and you’re playing Yahtzee against Julius Caesar. You have four 4s, one 6, and one roll left. You have a decision to make: Do you risk it and try to get a Yahtzee, or settle for a fairly impressive four-of-a-kind? It turns out this question—of calculating the odds of whether or not a die will do you a favour—is not only an incredibly ancient question, but the basis of probability calculus. 

In a recent paper published in International Statistical Review, McGill professor Christian Genest explores the historical role of dice in the development of probability calculus. By exploring the shifting role of dice throughout history, Genest and his co-author David Bellhouse bring preexisting theories together, creating a comprehensive perspective on the evolution of probability calculus in the Western world. 

Dice have long been regarded as central to the development of probability calculus; they allow for randomness to be physicalized in a simple, predictable, and empirical way. However, while there is evidence of ancient Mesopotamians using dice in their games, the first probabilistic calculations only date back to the 13th century. 

“The comparatively late emergence of this mathematical concept is somewhat surprising, given that humans have been confronted to randomness since time immemorial,” Genest explained in a written statement to The Tribune. 

Genest and Bellhouse attribute this late development to a number of conditions present in the Roman empire, one such factor being the lack of unbiased dice. 

Astragali or tali, made of the ankle bones of goats or sheep, were common substitutes for dice. They had four playable sides and worked as modern dice do, but lacked any regularity that would allow for statistical data to be consistent from one talus to another.

“To my surprise, however, this fact did not appear to be so well documented in the literature, so with my son Richard (who was 9 at the time), I endeavored to toss several modern tali (which we got from a butcher) hundreds of times each in the summer of 2024,” Genest wrote. “We had a lot of fun doing this together.”

The variation in the data they collected led Genest and Bellhouse to conclude that any probabilistic calculations would have been difficult to make and impossible to generalize. However, Genest suspects the Romans never even got that far. 

“People [had a] tendency in ancient times to hold a deterministic view of the world that led them to interpret the result of random events, such as the throw of dice, as a manifestation of some deity’s will,” Genest explained. 

Combined with their deterministic perspective, Genest explained that the use of Roman numerals would have hindered the Romans’ ability to complete any significant calculations; you can’t do any serious math with Roman numerals.

It follows that the Western discovery of probability calculus followed the implementation of Arabic numerals in Western society. In fact, the earliest found source of combinatorial calculations—a Latin poem “De Vetula,” published in the 13th century—is believed to be, in part, a way of introducing readers to Arabic numerals.

Together, the implementation of Arabic numerals, the creation of more “regular” dice, and the fallaway of determinist perspectives allowed for probability calculus and combinatorial mathematics to develop in the West.

“While ‘De Vetula’ seems to be the oldest Western source to date, it is entirely possible that traces of probability calculations could be found in older literature from Chinese, Indian, or Arabic culture. We need to look into it!” Genest wrote. 

This goes to show that while we can hedge our bets on the odds of rolling that last 4 we need, if the Romans’ had Yahtzee, they wouldn’t have even known they had bets to hedge; their dice were biased, and this bias, instead of being attributed to physical structure, was attributed to the will of the gods.

So, yes, if you played Yahtzee against Julius Caesar using modern dice, it would be reasonable to believe—statistically speaking—that you would win, regardless of whether or not you try for that five-of-a-kind.

Album Reviews, Arts & Entertainment

Point-Counterpoint: Sabrina Carpenter and the thin line between submission and control

by Malika Logossou, Jamie Xie on

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On Aug. 29, Sabrina Carpenter released her album Man’s Best Friend. But the real conversation began months earlier—on June 11—when she unveiled the provocative cover art on Instagram. It features Carpenter on all fours, in a black mini-dress and high heels, as an anonymous man grips her by the hair. A second promotional image shows a dog with the album’s name on its collar, an idiom for unquestionable loyalty to one’s owner.

Critics slammed the cover as “deeply irresponsible,” “regressive,” and “insanely misogynistic,” with some saying it “set women back like 100 years.” However, such outrage misses the point. Carpenter is not glamorizing subservience but rather confronting it.

Listeners should understand the album as a self-aware journey. In “Tears,” Carpenter confesses that she gets turned on by the bare minimum: A man who does the dishes, communicates well, and listens. She is not celebrating low standards, but mocking how women are conditioned to reward basic decency. Her irony is clear—she knows it’s absurd, and still, she finds sexual pleasure in it. Digging deeper in “My Man on Willpower,” she watches a former partner prioritize his personal growth so much that he loses devotion to her. Despite her numerous attempts at seduction, he drifts. The song exposes her desperation for male attention, likening her own loyalty to that of a dog. However, the closing track, “Goodbye,” is different. Channeling ABBA’s “Voulez-Vous” and “Take a Chance on Me,” she ends on an empowered note. Her ex wants her back, but she refuses, reminding him that it was he who said goodbye. She finally chooses herself.

Both the album and its cover cynically reflect the idea that accepting the bare minimum is akin to being ‘man’s best friend.’ She ridicules her own submission to the male gaze through cheeky lines while reclaiming agency. The message isn’t inspirational, but it’s honest: Even when her standards disappoint, she maintains control over her sexuality. 

Girl’s worst nightmare: Where was the puppy love?
Jamie Xie, Staff Writer

In Short n’ Sweet, Carpenter reinvents herself, pivoting from vulnerable Emails I Can’t Send confessional pop to popstar parody. In Man’s Best Friend, she promises one whole hour of all things sex in 4/4 metre as her winking Mae West persona. It comes across as if Carpenter is a little too comfortable in her endeavours to subvert expectations and create a post-ironic, sexually-liberated, feminist image—perhaps at the expense of subtlety and substantive commentary. While her irony represents a refreshing take on the pop genre, her work lacks the intentionality needed to challenge existing patriarchal power structures. Carpenter’s album does very little to engage thoughtfully with criticism of commodified sexuality, falling victim to a lack of creative direction.

The album’s only lead single, “Manchild,”  delivers a performance that comes across not only as formulaic but also derivative of her previous works. Echoing “Busy Woman” musical motifs but falling upon himbo cliches established in “Sharpest Tool.”“House Tour,” and “Sugar Talking,” display the album’s core through retro 80s Nu-disco synths—a safer genre direction than she seemed to be promising with the country elements used in “Slim Pickins” and “Manchild.”

Her strongest songs—“Go Go Juice,” “We Almost Broke Up Last Night,” and “My Man on Willpower”—barely tease this idea of developing Carpenter’s persona by making light of herself. What if Carpenter didn’t have all the answers? Could it be possible that she might not have as much control over her relationships as she would lead us to believe? On “Go Go Juice,” Carpenter is at her apex with her lyricism, creating a vignette of a messy but sympathetic woman running on boozy brunch and pure hope, all in a tight three-minute timeframe. 

Worse than being regressive, Man’s Best Friend suffers from the true crime of a distinct lack of imagination in the audience’s taste—symptoms of a desire to shock and please. Underlying the album are notes of insecurity that Carpenter is aware that the public’s adoration is difficult to hold. The current pop fixation on her may possibly be as short as it was once sweet.

Student Life

A retrospective guide to Open Air Pub

by Wendy Lin on

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From a distance, the Open Air Pub (OAP) might look both dull and overwhelming: Endless lines snaking up the Y, hordes of students yearning for cans of cold-ish beer, and fencing that adds to the never-ending construction on lower campus. Inside, you’ll find hundreds of students moshing—rain or shine—to student bands and DJs. What makes such a chaotic scene the “best place on earth?” As a seasoned OAP veteran, here’s what I’ve learned—and my top tips for navigating this quintessential McGill event.

Lines upon lines

Mirroring the busiest days of Montreal’s Osheaga and Piknik Electronik, lines on a sunny day at OAP can be overwhelming, often filing all the way up to the Arts Building. You might find yourself wistfully admiring OAP from a distance for multiple hours before you get to join in on the fun yourself. However, time in the line passes much quicker with a group of friends. Small talk eventually blossoms into a catch-up on adventures and mishaps from the summer. If you’re looking for a surefire way to pass the time, you might consider a cheeky game of “I Spy”: Someone’s ex-situationship talking to a new guy, your fratty frosh leader who’s had a bit too much to drink, or even your early morning tutorial crush. If the sights and smells of the OAP grills make you hungry in line, you can always satisfy your hunger by picking up a classic smokie from the hot dog man. Gather all your friends’ orders and have them save your spot in line!

Dress to impress

There is no doubt that Montreal is the most fashionable city in Canada, and this is further evidenced by the head-turning outfits at OAP. Outfits at OAP span a wide spectrum from perfectly on trend to unapologetically unique. It is common to see vintage lingerie reworked into flowy sundresses, tacky yet stylish Hawaiian button-ups, hand-painted denim jackets, McGill bucket hats, flowy satin skirts, and old band tees featuring artists from your parents’ generation. Anything goes at OAP. However, do keep in mind that the dance floor can get muddy. Although the best place on earth allows for the best looks on earth, your best bet for shoes might be a pair of old sneakers that you don’t mind dirtying, or—for the definitive OAP look—a pair of good ol’ cowboy boots.

At the bar

What is your go-to drink at OAP? Is it the cost-alcohol-efficient Pabst Blue Ribbon? Are you a fiend for cider? Or do you go for the age-old classic—a tall can of Guinness? Whatever your drink of choice is, if you sense a horde of froshies about to flood the drink lines, make sure you double fist your drinks—that is, grab two drinks in one visit to the bar. While your Sapporo might warm up before you get to it, it is certainly more time-efficient to have a drink or two on hand, rather than waiting in the crowded lines again. Want to try something new? Try this McGill student classic: Order a Sleeman and a Smirnoff Pink Lemonade, pour half of each into your reusable mug, and you have yourself a summery Radler. 

McGill, News, SSMU

McGill and SSMU restore ties through revised Memorandum of Agreement

by Mairin Burke on

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Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) President Dymetri Taylor and McGill’s Interim Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) Angela Campbell announced on Sept. 4, via joint email statement, that SSMU and McGill have negotiated a new Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) after a summer of mediation.

The mediation process followed Campbell’s April 2025 email announcement that McGill intended to terminate its existing MoA with SSMU. In this email, Campbell denounced the student union’s strike for Palestine from April 2-4, 2025—specifically, strike demonstrations that successfully cancelled dozens of classes. 

The Sept. 4 update confirmed that McGill and SSMU’s MoA remains in effect after the parties made revisions during mediation “to reach an agreement that puts students first.” Taylor and Campbell outlined that the University Centre will now host McGill as well as SSMU initiatives; if McGill had terminated the MoA, SSMU would have lost access to the Centre, leading to the closure of many student gathering spaces. Furthermore, the email affirmed that SSMU-funded student organizations will continue to operate.

Additionally, Taylor and Campbell rebuked specific forms of protest, while declaring SSMU and McGill’s shared commitment to “expression and peaceful assembly.” The statement also reported that McGill has removed some, but not all, MoA sections that dictate which students can run for SSMU elections.

In a written statement to The Tribune, Taylor explained how the union may aim to address future SSMU-McGill MoA disputes to best honour SSMU’s constituents.

“One of the plans for this year is to institute a process so that things of this nature, when there is a major disagreement, don’t simply result in a notice of termination of the MoA,” Taylor wrote. “A better method of termination is necessary for the agreement to ensure that when there are disagreements of a political nature, the rights of the students and the Society are protected.”

Taylor also expressed the mutual advantages of upholding the SSMU-McGill MoA.

“[Under the MoA], SSMU receives substantial benefits, chief amongst them being the [University Centre],” Taylor wrote. “However, it would be foolish to think that McGill does not benefit from this agreement, as without it, the University would suffer significant reputational harm.”

McGill’s Media Relations Office did not respond to The Tribune’s request for comment.

Science & Technology

Boosting medical students’ surgical confidence through non-dominant hand training

by Leanne Cherry on

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While all of the clinical rotations in which medical students participate are challenging, one of the most intimidating rotations is general surgery. This is not surprising given what is at stake in an operating room (OR). 

“First of all, you have to understand sterility and how not to contaminate the table,” Dr. Mirko Gilardino, plastic surgeon and professor of surgery at the McGill University Health Centre, said in an interview with The Tribune. “And then there’s this old adage that surgeons are grumpy […] [although] that’s not necessarily true, of course [….] But still, it’s scary and overwhelming, nevermind the fact that there’s a body that’s being operated on.” 

Despite how stressful it may be, spending time in the OR as a medical student is an incredible opportunity to practice and apply one’s basic surgical skills, such as the skill of suturing—stitching a patient’s wound or incision closed. Therefore, learning to suture with confidence before getting to the OR is a huge asset. 

In a recent study published in the Journal of Surgical Education, Gilardino, along with Dr. Hassan ElHawary—the paper’s primary author—and their collaborators examined how training medical students to suture with their non-dominant hand affected both their skill acquisition and their confidence. 

They assessed the medical students’ aptness for suturing on practice material using both their dominant and non-dominant hands, before and after training. One group of students completed the suturing training with their dominant hand, while the other trained with their non-dominant hand. Afterwards, the researchers administered a questionnaire to assess any changes in the students’ confidence in their skills, how well they could use them in the OR, and how they perceived the ambidextrous training. 

The authors found that both groups of students improved their one-handed suturing skills to the same degree. Furthermore, they discovered that those who had trained to suture with their non-dominant hand actually improved their dominant-handed suturing as well. Both groups of students generally reported increased levels of confidence in their surgical skills and in their ability to use them in the OR. Finally, many of the students expressed that ambidextrous training should become standard practice in surgical education.

Rather than being driven by an interest in ambidexterity alone—although this was a key focus—this study was born out of a more general desire to improve how surgical skills are taught, and to do so in a way that makes students more comfortable with the idea of surgery.

“Hassan was really interested in what he called ‘surgical workshops,’” Gilardino said. “So what he felt was that students didn’t enter or didn’t even seek out careers in surgery, unless somehow they were exposed and had a positive experience.”

After seeing how successfully the workshops were running, ElHawary realized the research opportunity sitting in front of him. 

“Hassan thought about it, and he was like, ‘Wow, you know, people are liking surgery more. I wonder if we can even do it better by training them on their non-dominant hand,’” Gilardino recalled. “It was more like a curiosity. And since you already had the whole structure in place and his courses, it wasn’t that complicated for him to dive into this.”

There are many benefits to being a surgeon who is adept with their non-dominant hand. For example, some operations are better suited for right-handed maneuvers, and others are better suited for left-handed maneuvers. It is useful to be able to tackle a problem from both sides. Surgical ambidexterity has also been shown to improve both the efficiency and the outcome of an operation.

Overall, this study underscores the need for surgical education that not only encourages training with one’s non-dominant hand but that builds a sense of confidence in medical students at the same time. 

Martlets, Soccer, Sports

Martlets home opener reminds McGill why its Women in Sports program is here to stay

by Hillary Wright, Mairin Burke on

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McGill’s Women in Sports (WiS) program kicked off the fall semester at the Sept. 7 Martlets soccer home opener. Hosted twice a year, WiS Days like these are social events that welcome McGill Athletics’ women’s players to attend the home game of a fellow Martlet team. The fall WiS Day event brought these Martlets into the stands of Percival Molson Stadium to watch the soccer team snag a win against Université Laval’s Rouge et Or. Here, the athletes were offered McGill-branded clappers to help cheer on their peers throughout the afternoon, and were encouraged to mingle with other onlooking teams during a halftime corn boil and pizza party. 

The WiS program operates through McGill Athletics and began in 2018 with a $3.5 million CAD donation from McGill varsity hockey alumni Sheryl and David Kerr. The program received a second $1.25 million CAD donation in June 2025 from Monica Leitham and Mark Hantho dedicated to women’s athletics at McGill in collaboration with the Faculty of Education—of which Leitham is a graduate. 

One of the only programs of its kind in Canada, WiS looks to support women varsity athletes at McGill by improving women’s representation at the varsity leadership level and offering stronger support services to Martlets. For instance, WiS aims to increase the number of women coaches at the university, with McGill more than doubling its proportion of women athletics staff to 38.1 per cent in the first five years of the program. WiS also provides some of its members with mental performance services, nutritional advice, and career preparation.

2025 marks the sixth year of WiS days. Roxanne Carrière, manager of the WiS program, explained how the recurrence of these events are important to the stream’s continued growth in an interview with The Tribune.

“It’s just promoting the advancement of women in sport, and so [in] bringing women together to support one another, […] we’re really looking forward to increasing the visibility of our program and increasing engagement,” Carrière said. “And if there’s good followership, it makes our job a lot easier, because it becomes self-sustaining.”

For Martlets basketball guard Emma-Jane Scotten, the WiS Day event was a great way to socialize with other Martlets and helped motivate her and her team to attend more Martlet sporting events.

“I think it’s good exposure for the program [and] just shows us the community that we do have here with other athletes,” she said, in an interview with The Tribune. “I think [Martlets basketball tries to] make more of an effort to go support the other women’s teams, and I think a lot of that has been through the program.”

This fall’s WiS Day was planned and carried out through collaboration between WiS staff like Carrière, McGill Athletics, and the 10-person WiS student-athlete council. This council was initiated by Carrière in 2024, and is being brought back to action for the 2025-2026 sporting season. The committee is composed of Martlets student-athlete leaders like Scotten, who expressed that the council’s first meeting back this September was a positive opportunity for its student-athletes to provide input on the WiS event’s structure. Centre for Martlets basketball, Kristy Awikeh, affirmed in an interview with //The Tribune// that the WiS council—of which she is also a member—has helped her connect more with other women athletes at McGill. 

While the Martlets in the stands were cheering, eating, and socializing, the Martlets on the field were fighting to improve their season record to 2–1, after their loss to Université de Montréal’s Carabins on Sept. 5. The WiS home opener saw strong passing plays from the McGill women’s soccer team from the outset of the game. The Martlets kept the ball in the Rouge et Or’s defensive zone, with forward Alexandra Hughes-Goyette even ‘scoring’ by the game’s third minute—though the goal was declared a hand ball and thus disallowed. 

But this no-goal call only galvanized the Martlets, who continued powerfully pushing on offence to force corner kicks for their team. Amidst the cheers of the robust WiS contingent and the couple hundred viewers in the regular crowd, forward Arianne Lavoie fired a header into Laval’s net in the game’s fourteenth minute, off of a commanding corner kick from midfielder Chloe Renaud. This dynamic play once again reminded the crowd why Renaud is frequently recognized by the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec and McGill Athletics for her offensive talents.

Laval’s quick plays and attacking press throughout the game’s second half forced the Martlets to take a defensive stance to protect their lead, resulting in some choppy back-and-forth play that kept the ball largely out of both teams’ goal areas. The rest of the match saw McGill defend their advantage, with Martlets goalkeeper Ann Stephanie Fortin shutting out every shot Laval hoped to land: Including a series of tense free kicks for Laval in the last five minutes of the game. 

Though the Martlets struggled with multiple offside calls, and rough, physical play that led to Renaud and Martlets forward/midfielder Poppy Honeybone needing to substitute out for injuries, McGill managed to keep the game’s final score at 1-0. The win was a testament to the Martlets’ resilience in protecting their net even as the Rouge Et Or outshot them, reflecting the momentum from the three consecutive wins Laval was riding into the match.

Martlets Head Coach Jose-Luis Valdes emphasized in an interview with The Tribune the high level of vigilance his players had to assume to keep the Rouge et Or from taking command of the pitch.

“Laval is a very good team, and […] they can control the game when it’s fit,” he shared. “We had to readjust and change what we were doing to make sure we were defending and keeping it clean in the back.”

While the WiS Day cheering section may have initially surprised the Martlets soccer bench when it first appeared at one of their home games three years ago, Valdes explains that today, his team is thankful for the support. 

“Having all the varsity on the women’s side, present together, is great,” Valdes said. 

Situated off of the endline, the WiS crowd also left a mark on Martlets rookie midfielder Georgia Baldwin, who told The Tribune in a post-match interview that she enjoyed seeing her fellow Martlets behind the goal.

“[Percival Molson is] a really big stadium, and sometimes it can feel pretty empty, but having all that cheering and stuff in the stands and behind the net, […] it meant a lot to look up and see all that,” Baldwin described. “And, yeah, I feel like it really shows that we’re all here for each other. And I want to go to those other sports games and cheer for them.”

Carrière shared that the next WiS Day is planned to take place in January at a Martlets basketball game, providing an exciting opportunity for McGill’s women athletes to come together once again and celebrate the winter season. Scotten and Awikeh report looking forward to this event as a great chance to keep engaging with the WiS program.

The Martlets next play on Sept. 12 at Percival Molson Stadium, where they will face off against the Université du Québec à Montréal’s Citadins, whose last game against Bishop’s University’s Gaiters ended in a tie.

McGill, News, The Tribune Explains

The Tribune Explains: Access to Student Accessibility & Achievement

by Amelia H. Clark on

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McGill’s Student Accessibility & Achievement (SAA) program is responsible for supporting students with mental or chronic health conditions and disabilities, aiming to provide them with resources that remove barriers to their academic success. Following the Quebec government’s $510 million CAD budget cuts to educational support staff across the province, The Tribune has provided an outline of McGill’s SAA program, as well as how the budget cuts may affect it.

What resources are available for students seeking accommodations?

Students with mobility needs can sign up for on-campus parking authorization to make commutes to classes more accessible, or use the adapted transportation van, which picks up and drops off students between buildings on McGill’s downtown campus. 

For those seeking accommodations for intellectual disabilities, registering with SAA can provide them with academic assistive technology aligned with their accommodation plans, including in the Exam Centre. For instance, advisors can assist students with finding alternate-format texts, such as braille or vocal recordings.

Without registration, SAA still offers six Self-Directed Learning Guides to help students improve skills like note-taking, time management, and memorization. There are also six directories of assistive technology tools and apps, available to all students, that list resources to support core academic activities such as reading and writing.

None of these services will be affected by provincial budget cuts.

How do I access these resources? 

Students must make an appointment with an SAA advisor, wherein they must provide an official medical note listing a disability or diagnosis. If approved, an advisor will help determine what accommodations could improve the student’s university experience. 

What are my options for exam support?

Students whose registered accommodation plans include exam support must log into Clockwork two weeks before their exam to review their requests for testing modifications, such as increased time. The program also assists with exam deferrals in instances where students, due to extended time accommodations, are scheduled for more than eight hours of exam writing in one day.

Does SAA offer peer support programs?

SAA offers peer-support initiatives intended to create inclusive and encouraging student spaces. Peer-Assisted Learning is a study program meant to help students practice self-reflection and engage in group discussions facilitated by peer leaders. For Fall 2025, this accommodation is only offered for six introductory courses. 

Additionally, the Peer Mentor Program (PMP) provides students opportunities to discuss their academic and career goals with a mentor who is also registered for SAA accommodations.

What have users reported about their experience with SAA?

Some students report that SAA can be inaccessible and unreliable. The program’s requirements for registration may create barriers for students still in the process of receiving a medical diagnosis from the Student Wellness Hub or an outside provider. This can make access to accommodations competitive among those who require them, with a long waitlist for the office.

SAA has also failed to provide its promised services to registered students multiple times, losing their exams instead of submitting them, and failing to ensure online testing software does not cause students technical difficulties. In these cases, students reported that staff members were inaccessible or slow to answer requests for help, causing further distress.

How will Quebec budget cuts affect the program going forward?

In a written statement to The Tribune, McGill’s Media Relations Office (MRO) stated that government budget cuts will not affect SAA and student access to accommodations, since the program’s funding comes from many different sources whose finances, as of now, have not been affected by the cuts. 

“Core services remain fully in place because they are essential for students and legally required,” the MRO wrote. “These services are still available and will continue to evolve based on student needs.”

Editorial, Opinion

McGill, prestige won’t protect students from inequitable healthcare education

by The Tribune Editorial Board on

More in Editorial:

The McGill administration has dissolved its Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences’ Social Accountability and Community Engagement (SACE) office—the medical school’s main equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) body. Consequently, the university fired three major SACE leaders, all members of racialized groups with extensive research backgrounds in healthcare equity. In their place, McGill hired a singular white Vice-Dean of Community Engagement, Dr. Beth-Ann Cummings, whose qualifications do not seem to parallel those of her predecessors. This move comes after Canadian medical school accreditation authorities placed the Faculty of Medicine on probation for a second time in February 2025, citing failures to meet 25 out of 96 standards, particularly its lack of adherence to anti-discrimination and diversity policies. 

When McGill was first placed under probation in 2015, it established the SACE office to address equity concerns outlined by accreditors. Yet, despite the Faculty of Medicine’s continued probationary status today, McGill dismantled the very office it introduced to address EDI concerns. This reflects a profound institutional disregard for the role of EDI in medicine, which functions both as a means of improving diversity within the profession and of fighting racist biases in healthcare. 

While in operation, the SACE office issued strategic plans to confront discrimination and underrepresentation of minorities at McGill, including an Action Plan to Address Anti-Black Racism and a Task Force on Indigenous Studies and Indigenous Education. Without this infrastructure, McGill risks exacerbating the already strikingly low proportional representation of Black and Indigenous applicants. This downward trend incites a self-perpetuating cycle of exclusion: Less student body diversity produces a less diverse medical workforce, leaving fewer mentors for potential applicants of minority backgrounds. 

Students trained in demographically diverse environments are better equipped to treat patients from minority backgrounds. Interactions between doctors and patients of the same background tend to last longer and lead to improved health outcomes for minority patients, including openness to preventative care, greater life expectancies, and lower infant mortality. Conversely, where EDI training is absent, curricular diversity and comprehensibility plummet and biases persist. A 2016 study revealed medical trainees incorrectly believed Black patients had a higher pain tolerance, a misconception which dates back to the era of slavery and has been weaponized against Black communities to justify violence. Educational facilities lacking EDI programs and equity-driven curricula leave discriminatory preconceptions unaddressed, resulting in future doctors with less capacity to deliver proper care to minority groups.

Replacing SACE with a group under the authority of the Faculty Dean will undermine institutional accountability, as McGill’s EDI programming will no longer function as an unbiased, independent interlocutor distinct from McGill’s Faculty of Medicine. SACE once offered students an opportunity to submit incident reports and file complaints; now, the EDI structure falls under the very agents the office was meant to monitor, removing accountability mechanisms for discriminatory practices by administrative officials. 

McGill’s dissolution of SACE mirrors broader anti-diversity backlash in the United States, where the Trump administration’s attacks on EDI in higher education have emboldened universities to neglect their responsibility of equity. The anti-EDI movement has been similarly influential throughout Canada: The Conservative and Bloc Québécois parties have both pledged to defund EDI in the federal public service, with Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre deeming diversity strategies a product of “woke ideologies.”

McGill’s willingness to follow the lead of North American institutions reflects a flagrant disregard for the wellbeing of racially diverse students, doctors, and patients, and echoes the university’s own long history of institutional racism. In the 1930s, Black medical students at McGill were frequently barred from completing their clinical work in Montreal, forced instead to train in segregated institutions. Beyond the Faculty of Medicine, the university was founded on—and continues to be guided by—discriminatory, colonialist principles. For instance, James McGill’s enslavement of Black and Indigenous peoples, ongoing development projects on unceded Tiohtià:ke land, and longstanding failures to consistently offer gender-affirming care for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, all demonstrate the deplorable foundations upon which McGill continues to build its practices. 


Still, McGill remains willing to cut programming designed to dismantle systemic racism. Although facing severe financial insecurity, the university must not place EDI programming on the chopping block. The administration cannot continue to take shelter behind the Faculty of Medicine’s top ranking to conceal its failures in equity and accreditation. Prestige will not protect future patients from medical practitioners with untreated biases and culturally insensitive training.

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