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STEMM Diversity @ McGill launches at Redpath Museum

by Julia Metraux on

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Nearly a year after its inception, the Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine (STEMM) Diversity @ McGill initiative, which aims to promote diversity in STEMM fields, launched an exhibition under the same name at the Redpath Museum on Oct. 11. The exhibit, which is still growing, features interviews with women and minorities in STEMM at McGill.

McGill student clubs and societies that focus on creating a more equitable environment for marginalized communities in STEMM introduced their goals and projects at the event. Panellists also shared their experiences with discrimination, and MSc Biology candidate Jessica Ford released her colouring book, which features women participating in science in order to combat sexism in related fields.

STEMM Diversity founder and PhD candidate in Biology Charles Cong Xu began the event by presenting a video on the background of the STEMM @ Diversity initiative and its exhibit.  

“The idea for this project came from a Biology department day workshop we had last fall on diversity and inclusivity,” Xu said. “I rallied together other students from the [Redpath] Museum, and we, along with the outreach coordinator, [Ingrid Birker, created] a little corner exhibit.”

In a room adjacent to the presentation, attendees were invited to draw in Ford’s colouring books. Ford’s own experiences with sexism inspired her to create a colouring book with images of girls participating in science, to encourage all people to participate in science.

“Growing up, I faced a lot of sexism working in sciences, and I want to make sure future generations can do [what they want],” Ford said. “[The books] are going to be for sale at the Museum for five dollars a piece.”

Attendees also watched presentations from various equity-focused STEMM clubs, societies, and projects on campus—including Women in Physics, the Social Equity and Diversity Education Office’s Café Collab, and the Superwomen in Science podcast. The podcast was co-founded by  Nicole George, MSc Neuroscience candidate, with the goal of eradicating institutional biases within the field.

“Our aim is to increase exposure of women in science across a wide variety of different endeavors,” George said. “We’re trying to break down the stereotypical idea that a scientist is an old, white man in a lab coat.”

Following the introduction of the colouring book and student groups, a panel of professors, faculty, and students from McGill University discussed their experiences as minorities in the sciences. Alex Gray, president of McGill’s chapter of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, explained the systematic neglect of Indigenous students in his school system.

“I went to school in New Brunswick, [which] is one of the most poorly performing provinces in Canada in regards to academics,” Gray said. “So essentially, […] you throw indigenous students into a school that has limited resources for them. In general, people throw stigmas [about indigenous people] as well. You’re disregarded before you can even perform.”

Natural Resource Sciences PhD candidate Shaun Turney also sat on the panel and shared his experiences as a transgender course lecturer. Turney admitted to anticipating discrimination from his students before taking the podium.

“I was a course lecturer for the first time last winter semester, and I was really nervous about it.” Turney said. “I am transgender and was worried how that would affect [my students’] respect for me, and it wasn’t an issue at all. I felt that the students were very respectful, and I don’t know if that would have been the case 10 years ago.”

The STEMM Diversity @ McGill initiative is a step in the right direction toward a more equitable society. This progress is something Turney is hopeful for, especially if guided by today’s students.

“The young people, that’s where the change comes from always, and that is where the change is happening right now at McGill,” Turney said. “It gives me a lot of hope.”

McGill, News

Campus planning open house puts the future of McGill on display

by Samuel Lottes on

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From Oct. 11 to 13, McGill University’s Planning and Development Office (PDO) hosted an interactive open house for members of the McGill community to learn about future planning initiatives meant to improve both the downtown and Macdonald campuses.

 

Open House on the Real Estate Master Plan

McGill’s downtown campus sits on 80 acres at the foot of Montreal’s Mount Royal park. For PDO Executive Director Cameron Charlebois, it is important that the university acquires and modernizes additional spaces from around campus so that it can continue to function as a first-class institution.

“We think we need closer to 600,000 to 700,000 gross square meters of extra space, which the Master Plan seeks to address,” Charlebois said. “[In the meantime we will address the lack of space by improving] the Powell site, a major development project at the corner of Dr. Penfield and Peel, […] Fiat Lux, which is a total repurposing of the library complex, [and] Wilson Hall at the entrance of the Milton Gates, which is going to be repurposed and rebuilt as a larger building.”

McGill began the process of acquiring additional buildings last summer. In August, the University purchased and became the sole owner of 680 Sherbrooke while the development of the Donald E. Armstrong building on McTavish Street is slated to be completed this coming winter.

 

Presentation on the Repurposing of the Royal Victoria Hospital

The PDO is studying the now defunct Royal Victoria Hospital as another way to decrease McGill’s space deficit. The plan that the office is currently deliberating calls for the incorporation of a convocation center—which McGill currently lacks—as well as research labs and student spaces. In discussing the plan, Charlebois questioned whether or not the project’s benefits would justify its costs.

“The whole idea of the studies ongoing right now are to determine whether or not McGill will buy the Royal Vic,” Charlebois said. “It’s not the kind of building or property that we would [just] take over […] it has to be risk-free for McGill.”
 

Discussion on the Urban Design Master Plan

According to Senior Campus Planner Marilyne Tremblay, the PDO also has plans in motion for Macdonald Campus and its large area of green space.

“We’re still in the preliminary phases of the Macdonald Plan,” Tremblay said. “We started working on a needs assessment this year [to understand] the variety of potential land uses that we don’t have here downtown. The scale is much larger.”

Despite the long time frame for many of these projects, students and community members have been able to enjoy the fruits of some completed efforts. 2019 MScEng candidate Meghan Doucette noted that one example of success is the recently opened Mac Paddle Shack, which lends out equipment for kayaking, paddle boarding, and canoeing.

“The Paddle Shack has been open since July of 2017 and since that time, there have been 900 rentals of stand-up paddleboards and kayaks,” Doucette said. “People are really embracing this space, especially students”.

Martlets, Soccer, Sports

McGill Martlets soccer held to scoreless tie by UQTR Patriotes

by Sam Wendel on

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On Oct. 13, the McGill Martlet (3-4-3) soccer team sported pink jerseys in their “Kick for the Cure” match, as part of their fundraiser for breast cancer. It was a close, chippy game against the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) Patriotes (3-4-3), ultimately resulting in a 0-0 draw at Molson Stadium. Both sides battled hard in the shutout, with Martlet fifth-year goalie Sarah Dubois making five saves and Patriotes goalie Arianne Cloux adding four of her own.

Dubois credited the Martlet defence for playing well, although UQTR proved challenging at times.

“I think that defence is one of our strengths,” Dubois said. “But they were dangerous on occasion, so [it was] an even match.”

Despite the shutout, McGill’s offence had several near chances. Fourth-year midfielder Claudia Agozzino, who was named McGill’s MVP of the match, made one exceptional play. Agozzino juked an opposing defender, approached the goal, and tricked a diving goalie into missing the ball. Agozzino then passed to an open teammate, and a last ditch clearance by a Patriotes defender—who threw her body in front of the ball—thwarted the chance.

Throughout the match, UQTR players seemed to let their emotions get the better of them, earning three yellow cards on the night. Two of those were routine fouls in which defenders got too aggressive, but the third was called after a Patriotes forward kicked the ball away from a referee instead of giving it to him in a moment of unsportsmanlike frustration.

The Martlets rounded out their weekend with a 3-0 loss at the hands of the Laval Rouge et Or on Oct. 15. Next weekend, McGill faces off against Université de Montréal on Oct. 20 and Bishop’s on Oct. 22. Looking ahead, Dubois explained that in order to improve, McGill needs to work on its killer instinct in order to capitalize on missed opportunities.

“I think we just need that last bit of grit to get that final goal,” Dubois said.

Martlets third-year forward Tia Lore was the primary player in charge of “Kick for the Cure”. The pink kits that the Martlets wore were a prominent part of the second annual fundraising campaign and are new to the team this season. Lore believes that this year was a huge success, having raised over $1,000 for the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation.

“We really focused on promoting our game just to get everyone out there,” Lore said. “Last year we were just under our [fundraising] goal, but this year was awesome.”

Breast cancer awareness has been a prominent aim for the team since before Lore was a member. She recalls her rookie year when two alumni asked her to help organize the breast cancer game.

“My first year, two alumni asked me to help them with the breast cancer fundraising, and so far we have done two years of fundraising, and hope to continue it for the future,” Lore said.

After a brief road trip, the next Martlets home game is on Oct. 27 against the Concordia Stingers.
 

Moment of the match:

The contentious match came to a crescendo when a UQTR defender wrapped her arm around the neck of first-year McGill forward Ariane Ducharme, receiving a yellow card that could have easily been a red.

 

Quotable:

“We got better throughout the game but we couldn't play the one-touch passing we needed to win.” -Goalkeeper Sarah Dubois

 

Stat corner:

On the way to earning a pair of clean sheets, the two sides’ goalies combined for nine total saves.

McGill, News

McGill students to face increase in automated copyright infringement emails

by Fionn Adamian on

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Any student who frequently torrents movies in McLennan is probably familiar with the email notice from McGill letting them know that the copyright owner complained. IT Services wants to expedite this process, and send out more of these emails at a faster rate. In June 2017, the department installed an automated system that forwards any complaint from a copyright holder to the McGill email address associated with the alleged offender’s IP address. University officials hope that this system will make it easier for the school to comply with the Canadian copyright notice regime.

Copyright laws aim to provide creators the right to reproduce their works as they choose. According to Hans Parmar, a spokesperson for Canada’s Innovation, Science and Economic Development department, if someone downloads a copyright protected file, the burden lies with the copyright owner to pursue a copyright violation.

As the Internet Service Provider (ISP) on campus, McGill University is held accountable for copyright infringements made using its networks. Though McGill has prohibited the violation of copyright law on its networks since 2010, the new system will accelerate the enforcement process by receiving and forwarding these notices automatically.

“The system attempts to identify the individual associated with the claim,” Gabrielle Krim, a communications specialist with McGill IT Services, said. “If an association is made, the system forwards the original, unaltered claim notice to that individual. Upon receiving a notice of infringement, the recipient is not required to respond, and is advised not to click on any links within the notice without first consulting a lawyer.”

Although the notices themselves carry no legal weight, companies can sue offenders for financial compensation—a possibility they sometimes threaten in their notices. Several students expressed concern about McGill passing copyright infringement accusations along to students, even with the qualification that the recipients are not required to respond.
“I’ve known lots of people who’ve received emails from their ISP that threaten legal action or changes to their internet service,” Alex Mendell, U3 Engineering, said. “Sometimes they offer to settle the issue for a few hundred dollars. This behaviour is predatory because students aren’t always aware of the law, and don’t have any leverage with telecoms or the studios and record companies.”

Mendell also questioned whether McGill has a duty to safeguard students against abuse by companies enforcing copyright protection.

“I don’t take issue with copyright holders trying to combat piracy or with McGill for enforcing its policies,” Mendell said. “But if the school is going to take it upon themselves to issue these notices, they need to take steps to ensure that its students are aware of the laws and aren’t being extorted.”

Others expressed indifference about the policy, noting that wherever else students might use Wi-Fi, they have to agree to terms and conditions stipulating that they not download files illegally. Some students view the policy as a wash that is unlikely to change offenders’ behavior.

“A student torrenting HBO won’t quit just because they receive a notice,” Charlotte Zaininger, U3 Arts, said. “They’ll say ‘I’m on season six of Game of Thrones, try and stop me.’”

News, SSMU

More questions than answers raised at the SSMU building closure information session

by Ari Charles on

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The University Centre will close in Winter 2018 to carry out major renovations, including adding new washrooms and replacing the entire heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) and electrical systems. After initially announcing the closure to the student body via a Facebook event on Sept. 29, representatives from McGill and the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) addressed the closure at an information session on Oct. 12. During the meeting, they revealed that there is asbestos in the building’s aging HVAC system that could be disturbed during construction. As a result, all of the building’s tenants, including the offices of over 50 student clubs and services, must relocate.

The building, which is owned by McGill, is scheduled to close on Feb. 15, 2018, and reopen one floor at a time between August and December 2018. Tenants that are unable to relocate during that period, such as Gerts Bar, will temporarily close. While SSMU will not have to pay rent to McGill during the closure, the society will forego between $300,000 and $400,000 in revenue and relocation costs.

Adrian Nicolicescu, a senior project manager with McGill Facilities Management and Ancillary Services, explained that the University Centre cannot remain partially open during renovations because the work could spread the asbestos in the HVAC system.

“Asbestos is not dangerous [only] if it is not disturbed,” Nicolicescu said. “We have many types of [safety] processes in place while we conduct this work, and [the asbestos] is one of the reasons that we’re vacating the building.”

Nicolicescu emphasized that McGill intends to minimize the disruption the closure will cause to students. However, SSMU has already been criticized for using a Facebook event to announce the closure, especially because McGill notified SSMU of the renovation plans last March.

Benson Cook, U2 Arts, was one of many students who expressed his frustration on the Facebook event page, calling SSMU’s use of this platform to announce the closure “unprofessional.” His post garnered dozens of likes from fellow students.

“I was so frustrated I felt the need to voice my anger,” Cook wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune. “There wasn’t even a press release put out, they just expected that everyone would see this obscure Facebook event that they created.”

Following the release of the Facebook event, SSMU VP Internal Maya Koparkar sent out an email to all SSMU members informing them of the building’s closure on Oct. 7. Tenants of the University Centre had been notified a week earlier.

SSMU General Manager Ryan Hughes began his remarks at the conference by apologizing for the poor communication. He later said that SSMU had chosen not to publicize the closure earlier because the full details of the project were only recently finalized.

Hughes also confirmed that SSMU is working with a local realtor in addition to the McGill administration to find alternative spaces for all of the University Centre’s tenants, but asked concerned groups to meet with him to discuss their individual needs.

“What I request of all occupants of the building is that you know your groups, your activities, and your network better than we do,” Hughes said. “If you do have a link or a resource that you would like to explore […] as an alternative space, we would also like to hear that.”

Anna Abraham, the Executive Director of McGill Players’ Theatre, nonetheless expressed continued frustration with SSMU’s handling of the closure. According to Abraham, the late timing of the announcement meant that the group had already spent significant money on planning its spring plays, which it may now be unable to perform if SSMU cannot relocate it to a new theatre.

“We still don’t have any information,” Abraham said. “We’ve tried to get in contact and set up meetings with Ryan [Hughes] since September. I have struggled to get answers from the SSMU executive.”

Other students at the session asked whether the spaces chosen for relocation would be physically accessible, and if funding would be available to compensate groups for any financial losses.

“We don’t have as many answers as we would like,” Hughes said. “But as we get closer to the [closure] date we will have those answers, and there will be support for you.”

However, some groups may ultimately be on their own.

“If you have not been contacted [by mid-November], then you can assume that we have not found a suitable location for your group,” Hughes said. “I’m not going to commit unlimited funds for groups if they want to rent spaces at a high cost-per-square-footage if it can be avoided.”

Further updates about the closure will be provided through the SSMU listserv and website. Another information session is planned for November.

Ask Ainsley, content warning suicide, Student Life

Ask Ainsley: My friend committed suicide. How do I cope?

by Ainsley on

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Dear Ainsley,


A couple of weeks ago, one of my oldest friends committed suicide. I’m still completely in shock about the situation and can’t shake the feeling that I could have done something to help them. I’m having a lot of trouble processing this situation, and I’m not sure how to grieve while keeping up with my studies. Do you have any advice on how to cope?


Sincerely,
Missing my friend (MMF)

Dear MMF,


I’m so sorry for your loss and can only imagine how hard this must be for you. A few years ago, a close friend of mine committed suicide, and I know how difficult it is to wrap your head around the situation. I think the most important piece of advice I can give you is to take the time you need to process and heal in whatever way you find works best for you.

No matter how you choose to heal, understand that it’s important to acknowledge your emotions rather than push them aside. During this time, make sure to surround yourself with supportive people. Keep in mind, however, that friends and family aren’t therapists and that seeking professional help could be very useful for you in coping with your feelings. I highly recommend talking to a professional, as they know best how to guide you through your grieving process.

Even though we’re in the thick of midterms, take a couple of days off of school if you feel like you need to. Don’t be afraid to approach your professors and ask for extensions; they will most likely be understanding if you explain to them what’s happened. And if you feel comfortable doing so, reach out and tell your closest classmates what is going on so that they can support you and send you notes if you miss class (or, like me, you accidentally have a breakdown in a 200+ person lecture). Good friends will support you no matter how you’re feeling, and giving you lecture notes is an easy way for them to help out.

Over the course of the healing process, you might find yourself feeling guilty, or even angry at your friend.  It is completely normal to feel this way, but remember that none of this was your fault. Suicide—while heartbreaking—is a decision reached during a very personal struggle and, most of the time, your actions could not have changed the outcome. Although I know you must feel completely blindsided and guilt-ridden for not noticing the signs, it’s important to remember that you can’t ‘solve’ depression or relieve someone’s suicidal thoughts by being a good friend. However, know that there are still things you can do after the fact to show that you care.

If you’re able to, go to your friend’s memorial service; this will be a place to grieve with people who are going through the same thing you are. By being together, you can better support each other, especially by exchanging stories about your friend’s life. For me, reaching out to my late friend’s family made me feel better, because it reminded me that I wasn’t alone. By spending time with their family—or even writing them a letter expressing your sorrow—you’ll be offering them support that they really need.

Additionally, there are other ways to celebrate your friend’s life if you’re not able to attend their memorial service. For example, when my friend committed suicide, I wasn’t able to fly out to the funeral; instead, I climbed up the mont Royal to reflect on their life and my best moments with them. Another way to do this is by posting on their social media pages. Even though your friend is gone, the occasional post on their Facebook wall will keep their memory alive and help you feel like they’re still there. You might also find joy in donating to a charity that focuses on mental health, or even becoming involved in mental health activism to help others struggling with suicidal thoughts in the future.

No matter what, know that the manner in which you grieve is valid. The stages of grieving, especially after someone close to you commits suicide, are extremely personal. Coping is different for everyone. Although it may not seem like it right now, you will get through this. Your friend would want you to remember the good memories you had with them and they would want to see you thrive. You are strong, and time will heal.

With love and hugs a thousand times over,

Ainsley

(more…)

Hockey, Sports

In conversation with Mike Babcock

by Stephen Gill and Selwynne Hawkins on

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When Mike Babcock arrived at McGill in 1983, academics were not high on his list of priorities. Though choosing to study physical education, he attributes his decision to attend the school entirely to athletics, with his eyes set on hockey. As time passed, however, he grew to appreciate the opportunities for development that the McGill environment offered him.

“By the time I put a year in here, I knew I had to buy in and keep up,” Babcock said. “I became pretty interested in [academics], and it opened up a lot of doors for me in my life.”

Babcock describes his time as a defender on the Redmen hockey team as the most important thing in his life at the time, but since moving on to an illustrious career coaching at the highest level, his perspective has changed.

“I was a good college player,” Babcock said. “I was a puck-moving D-man. I had a lot of fun and enjoyed the process here. [But] when you coach in the National Hockey League, unless you’ve played in the National Hockey League, you didn’t play hockey. I don’t spend a whole lot of time talking about my hockey career. It’s more about my coaching career.”

Babcock, who currently sits at the helm of a young, energetic Toronto Maple Leafs squad, quickly learned that he’d have to work harder than others to earn respect in the league after entering without ever playing in the NHL. Between a World Cup victory, an Olympic gold medal, and a Stanley Cup championship, he’s certainly accomplished that task.

Despite jumping from job to job in hockey for the 30 years since his time at McGill, it’s clear that the school has left a lasting impression on him. Though the memories of his on-ice ‘capades have faded, the formative interactions he had with one specific role model remain fresh in his mind.

“My favourite thing [at McGill] was […] Professor [John] Chomay,” Babcock said. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do, and he was a champion of a man, and spent time with me. He made me important.”


(Selwynne Hawkins / The McGill Tribune)

In addition to the standout individuals he met along the way, Babcock stresses McGill’s role in instilling confidence—a key tenet of his mantra for success—within students.

“You have to earn confidence,” Babcock explained. “McGill is a platform to build confidence in yourself, so you feel good about yourself, academically, physically, emotionally, relationship-wise. And so to me, that’s the platform that sends you out into the world knowing that you can conquer whatever you put your mind to. To me, that’s what McGill is all about.”

Beyond the classroom, the personal connections Babcock made in Montreal are invaluable to him. When asked about his time at McGill, he constantly returns conversation to a friend group that he has maintained through nearly 30 years of high intensity and demand in hockey coaching.

With a fortunately-timed road game against the Montreal Canadiens scheduled for the day after, Babcock was able to attend the Oct. 13 homecoming hockey game, in which the McGill Redmen were defeated 3-2 by the Concordia Stingers. Though he never tires of hockey, he explained before the game that instead of closely spectating the game, he’d spend the majority of his time in conversation with old faces and in appreciation of his university days.

“I’m going to socialize more with the alumni guys that are here,” Babcock said. “I won’t be watching the game intently. I mean, I’m going to know who wins at the end, but I’m here because I went here. I’m here to support the program the best I possibly can and enjoy the time I’m here.”

Hockey, Sports

Vegas Golden Knights unveil a full house in hand

by Owen Gibbs on

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The Vegas Golden Knights have started their inaugural NHL season 4-1, boosted by surprisingly passionate fans. This sounds like something you would hear in an alternate universe—one where the late, villainous Harold Ballard was an honest businessman, where Wayne Gretzky was never traded, and where the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Detroit Red Wings to win last year’s Stanley Cup. But it is, in fact, reality.

When the NHL announced over a year ago that it would expand to Las Vegas, the hockey world didn’t expect the team to succeed. In a smaller city with most people more concerned with having cards in their hands than hockey tickets, it seemed unlikely that the smallest of the top North American sporting leagues would be able to survive. However, the Golden Knights have hit the ground running and show promise to provide sustainability in the long run.

Las Vegas christened the T-Mobile Arena in their third game to a sell-out crowd, while enjoying impressive fan support at their two prior games in Dallas and Arizona. They won their first three games convincingly—an unprecedented feat for a brand-new team made even more surprising when considering the roster was composed largely of young, undeveloped players. By virtually any measure, the franchise’s launch passed with flying colours.

Such success for a hockey team in an unestablished sports market would mean a lot for the future of NHL expansion. If Vegas continues to see this level of support, it will encourage the league to branch out even further to other untapped hockey markets. Fans could see a collection of expansion franchises enter the NHL within the next decade. Such a period would be reminiscent of the 1990s, when teams like the Florida Panthers and Carolina Hurricanes came into existence.

The immediate candidates for expansion are already apparent. For several years now, rumours have circulated not only about Las Vegas, but also about Seattle landing a franchise to establish a rivalry with the Vancouver Canucks, and the Nordiques returning to Quebec City. Quebec City bid on a team at the same time as Vegas, but concerns including doubts about the Canadian dollar’s relative weakness as well as maintaining the geographic balance of the league ultimately led the NHL to reject the bid. Seattle, meanwhile, just needs an NHL-suitable arena—which is already in the planning stages of development—in order to have the infrastructure to support a new team. If Vegas continues to profit, then it could just be a matter of time before Quebec and Seattle get their own clubs.

Beyond the obvious front-runners, there are other contenders for the creation of a new NHL franchise. Just days after the Golden Knights began their inaugural season, Tilman Fertitta—new owner of the NBA’s Houston Rockets—announced that he was looking into getting an NHL team in Houston, the fourth-largest city in the United States. Additionally, Portland and Kansas City have arenas capable of hosting an NHL team, but the league previously feared that these cities lacked the necessary fan support needed for a new franchise. With the strong start in Las Vegas, the NHL may be more optimistic with these unconventional locations.

Time will tell whether or not the Golden Knights expansion will pan out, but the early signs are promising. If it does, the hockey world could see rapid expansion of the professional game over the next 10 years. With 31 clubs across the United States and Canada, the NHL could boast the most franchises of any major North American sports league, and begin to rival the popularity of the NBA, NFL, and MLB. So, to all the hockey fans from the cities where having a home NHL franchise seems like a pipe dream, don’t give up. If the early success of Vegas is any indication, the wait could be much shorter than expected.

Commentary, Opinion

Don’t tell celebrities to “stay out of politics”

by Sydney King on

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Many actors and actresses have recently been criticized for being too political in award acceptance speeches. Some celebrities explicitly avoid sharing their political opinions so as not to alienate portions of their fan base. As Mark Wahlberg said, “Both Republicans and Democrats buy movie tickets.” However, all democratic citizens have the right to participate in the public political sphere. To tell someone to “stay out of politics” simply because of their job is downright undemocratic and poisonous to civil discourse.

There are a few exceptions: People whose careers depend on their being unaffiliated with vested interest groups, such as non-partisan public servants and judges, are usually required by convention, and rightly so, to remain neutral.

That leaves everyone else, including famous people, free to share their political opinions as they see fit. Celebrities often take advantage of their fame to broadcast their political ideologies or engage in activism, though not without controversy. One early example of the politicized acceptance speech—or rather, rejection speech—was that of Marlon Brando at the 1973 Oscars, more than 40 years before the #OscarsSoWhite debate. He sent Sacheen Littlefeather, a Native American rights activist and actress, in his place to reject the award and present a speech about the harmful effects of misrepresenting Native Americans in the media. Littlefeather was blacklisted in Hollywood at the behest of the FBI. Despite orchestrating this, Brando faced little backlash compared to Littlefeather. The institutional response from both the United States government and Hollywood was to condemn Littlefeather for using her public status to bring a controversial political issue to light. This kind of political commentary was unprecedented in the realm of entertainment, especially at the Oscars—which receives a broadcast audience of roughly 85 million viewers today.

 

 

The criticism aimed at actors, musicians, and athletes for speaking their minds would be better focused on their arguments and opinions, so as to promote discourse and debate. Yet, critics cry for abstention, not discussion.

The primary argument behind the call to “stay out of politics” is that celebrities are out-of-touch with average citizens and have a greater audience than most people. This is highly ironic, considering that many politicians come from upper-middle socioeconomic classes, and have similarly poor claims to speak for the average citizen. The criticism aimed at actors, musicians, and athletes for speaking their minds would be better focused on their arguments and opinions, so as to promote discourse and debate. Yet, critics cry for abstention, not discussion. While reaching a greater audience may be seen as an unfair advantage, that doesn’t mean they can’t use it, just as any citizen uses the resources available to them to make their voice heard.

Urging celebrities to stay out of politics also implies that political issues are too complicated or nuanced a field for most, and are best left for the government to sort out on its own. This is completely absurd, as democracy is grounded in the idea that representatives in government work for their constituents and support the policies that their constituents call for. The public sphere is the only place for political discussion to occur, whether electronically or face-to-face. The government cannot properly promote peace, order, and good government without this communication; therefore, it is vital that all citizens are encouraged to participate in the political realm.

Talking about politics is not a privilege reserved for politicians—it is the right and imperative of every individual, famous or not. So whether they are Ryan Gosling or a McGill undergraduate student, all individuals have the right to use their platform to engage in politics.

 

 

 

 

 

Sydney King is a U1 Political Science major. She is perpetually debating dropping out and going to culinary school.

 

@mcgilltribop | [email protected]

 

 

 

 
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