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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]

 

 

 

 
News, SSMU

SSMU Legislative Council in deadlock over AVEQ membership

by Cherry Wu on

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On Oct. 12, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Legislative Council held its third meeting of the Fall semester. The majority of the evening was consumed by an extensive debate on SSMU’s potential referendum to join the Association for the Voice of Education in Quebec (AVEQ), a body that represents university student unions around the province to the government.

In the Winter 2016 Referendum, the McGill student body voted against a non-opt-outable fee of $3.50 to become an AVEQ member. At the council meeting, VP External Connor Spencer brought forward a motion to reopen the issue for the Fall 2017 Referendum, prompting intense debate.

A major concern raised in the discussion is AVEQ’s one-school-one-vote principle. McGill’s large population means that it would be contributing more in student fees than other AVEQ members. However, McGill could still be outvoted by the other members. Education Representative Josephine Wright O’Manique, U4 Education, demonstrated strong opposition to joining for this reason.

“AVEQ has had years to attract membership, and has only gathered support from three schools,” O’Manique said. “Asking McGill undergraduates who already pay enough student fees and tuition to pay more to fund an organization with no value for them is unfair to the students we represent.”

Spencer, in turn, highlighted that the one-school-one-vote policy is based on principles of equality for all members. She cited the collapse of the Fédération Étudiante Universitaire du Québec (FEUQ), which broke down in 2015 because its members with smaller student bodies had fewer representatives.

“AVEQ tried to address [representation] by enacting the one-school-one-vote policy,” Spencer said. “Even though McGill will be paying more money, it is eventually for the better to allow provincial representation.”

Medicine Representative Andre Lametti brought up the concern that a new referendum disregards the opinions of students, given that a majority of voters were against affiliating with AVEQ in the Winter 2016 Referendum. However, Spencer argued that only 18 per cent of SSMU’s membership voted in the earlier referendum, of which 25 per cent abstained. Further, she cited turnover of students in the past two years as justification for a new referendum.

Councillors also questioned the fact that AVEQ is the only association SSMU has considered joining when alternatives exist, such as the Association pour une solidarité syndicale étudiante (ASSE), the Fédération étudiante collégiale du Québec (FECQ), and Union étudiante du Québec (UÉQ). Spencer clarified that the decision to observe AVEQ is based on reports passed down from the 2015-2016 SSMU VP External Emily Boytinck.

“Following the collapse of the Fédération étudiante universitaire du Québec (FEUQ) in 2015, two groups were created, AVEQ and the UÉQ,” Spencer said. “Emily observed both groups and reported back to the Council [….] The Council subsequently decided to put only AVEQ on the ballot for the Winter 2016 Referendum [….] Following the Referendum result, the Council mandated the VP External to keep observing AVEQ.’’

A member from the gallery, Joshua Chin, who served as Medicine Representative from 2014 to 2016 and Senate representative from 2016 to 2017, questioned the legitimacy of Boytinck’s reports and of AVEQ itself. First, he claimed that La Fédération Étudiante de L’Université de Sherbrooke (FÉUS) ceased affiliation with AVEQ due to ethics concerns and a lack of transparency. Second, he mentioned that on Sept. 26, 2015 the Assembly for National Student Association, now known as AVEQ, allegedly voted to appoint Boytinck to the future Board of Directors of the AVEQ, thus creating a potential conflict of interest.

Science Representative Mana Moshkforoush, who was mandated by the Science Undergraduate Society (SUS) to support holding a new referenda, questioned whether Spencer is also biased toward AVEQ when holding information sessions.

“The decision of the (SUS) to vote ‘yes’ was based on a presentation by AVEQ, and the VP External,” Moshkforoush said. “However, students have never heard of the concern [on representation] raised right now by the councillors [before voting].”

Chief Electoral Officer Alex Nehrbass later confirmed that Spencer’s actions are in accordance with SSMU’s  bylaws and that she has not engaged in an active AVEQ campaign. However, due to the remaining concerns regarding AVEQ, Council postponed the vote to its next meeting on Oct. 19 to consider alternative student associations’ presentations before making a final decision.

Student Life

Which is mightier: The pen or the keyboard?

by Nina Russell on

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The debate over whether or not students should be allowed to use laptops during lectures is a heated one that has sparked controversy at McGill for years. There are cases for both sides; a number of studies vilify laptops as distractions inhibiting students from fully processing information, yet, many students feel that laptop bans deprive them of an important learning and note-taking tool.

The increasing presence of technology in students’ day-to-day lives is met with more laptops and tablets in lectures. A study conducted by Winona State University in 2008 showed that out of all students who owned a laptop, 64.3 per cent of them brought their computer to lecture. Within that selection of students, each individual spent an average of 17 minutes out of the 75-minute lectures doing things unrelated to the class, such as checking social media accounts and playing games. How McGill professors approach this issue varies: Some professors find ways to actively incorporate the internet into their lectures, while others impose outright bans on any form of technology in the classroom.

Among some of the more commonly cited reasons in favour of laptop use are the faster speed at which students can take notes, increased ability to participate in class, and provision of new opportunities to engage with material.

However, some studies show that using a laptop to take notes instead of handwriting them results in lower marks. For example, researchers at Cornell University studied the effects of multitasking in the classroom and split students up into two groups—one of which used laptops in lecture and one of which did not. The study found that the students who used laptops scored significantly worse on a quiz handed out immediately after the lecture than the group of students who refrained from using laptops altogether. The results of this study were, in large part, due to the fact that many students used their computers to visit sites unrelated to the subject of their class; the laptops created a distraction.

In large part, the case for banning laptops has scientific roots—but whether or not it’s the professor’s jurisdiction to enforce such a ban is more controversial. For students with learning disabilities, the implications of laptop bans can be particularly discouraging.

“For some students who face specific barriers such as those related to a visual impairment or a learning disability, the use of a laptop in class may be critical for them to capture accurate notes related to the lecture,” Teri Phillips, director of McGill’s Office for Students with Disabilities, wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune. “While those students who have a documented disability requiring the use of a laptop in class can request an accommodation letter to do so, this presents the issue that their anonymity is no longer protected.”

Though the use of laptops in lecture can be polarizing, it is possible to compromise. Communications course lecturer François Mouillot strikes a middle ground when approaching technology in his classroom: Instead of banning laptop use completely, Mouillot asks students who use computers to sit on the right side of the room, and those who handwrite to sit on the left.

“[Separating the class] was about riffing off of the idea that screens are kind of like second-hand smoke,” Mouillot said. “[I want] to give a space for people who do not necessarily want to have to deal with the pollution of screens [and] I want […] students to think about how they engage with technology.”  

Mouillot’s approach—vertically splitting the class—is one of two ways to compromise with technology. Many professors at McGill separate their class based on laptop-use, sending those with computers to the back and those with pens to the front. By limiting mobility, this can divide the room in more than a physical sense.

Learning is not one-size-fits-all. While handwriting notes may work for some students, laptops are the clear choice for others. But before banning laptops from lectures, it’s worth considering the educational opportunities professors might be taking away from their students.

Out on the Town, Student Life

Make the most of The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts: This season’s popular exhibits

by Ana Mayne on

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Less than a kilometre away from McGill's Downtown Campus, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) makes for the perfect study break or weekend adventure. With more than a million visitors per year, and over 40,000 works in total, across five buildings, the MMFA is one of the most prominent art museums in Canada. The world-class museum is full of modern and diverse exhibitions, but its huge collection of works can seem daunting. The McGill Tribune narrowed the list down to some of this season’s most popular exhibitions worth a visit or two. From museum rookie to seasoned art lover, there is something for everyone at the MMFA.

La Balade pour la Paix: An Open-Air Museum

As part of Montreal’s 375th anniversary, the MMFA—in collaboration with McGill University—created a public art exhibition comprised of sculpture, photographs, and 200 different national flags. The open-air project is on rue Sherbrooke, running from Boulevard Robert-Bourassa to Rue Bishop. It also celebrates the 50th anniversary of Expo 67 and the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation. The exhibition marks these three important milestones in Montreal’s history, and all the works relate to values of peace, openness, and tolerance.  

(Jasmine Acharya / The McGill Tribune)

‘Love is Love’ exhibition

A current highlight within the museum is the “Love is Love” exhibition by Jean-Paul Gaultier. The final stop of “The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier”’s five-year tour—as seen by two million visitors around North America—this exhibition of haute-couture bridal gowns is wonderfully eccentric and radically inclusive. Gaultier celebrates LGBTQ, intercultural, and interracial unions of all kinds by displaying modern, nuanced takes on wedding garb. The message is overwhelmingly one of peace and inclusion. The exhibition celebrates progress made through the ages, from the early 20th century up until the legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States.

(Jasmine Acharya / The McGill Tribune)

Pavilion for Peace

This permanent installation is part of the MMFA’s “Year of Peace.” Upon entering, visitors are met by a “je suis Charlie” wall hanging before being welcomed into a peaceful walk through a comprehensive consortium of artists including Monet, Picasso, and Cézanne. Though the pavilion is full of older pieces, there are contemporary touches throughout: A gallery of Early Classical works comes alive with projections and audio of a forest on the ceiling. Another feature, also part of the Year of Peace, is the “Tree of Peace,” where visitors can complete the sentence, “peace is the art of…” on a museum-sponsored website, which later posts the responses on social media platforms.

(Jasmine Archarya / The McGill Tribune)

“Mnemosyne: When Contemporary Art and the Art of the Past Meet”

Though renowned for its international collection, the MMFA also showcases the work of 14 Canadian artists in this exhibition. Among its various visual spectacles, an attention-grabbing piece features a toppling breakfast table and spilled milk suspended in time among a series of holographic images and sculptures. The striking pieces draw attention to the fundamental complexity behind all craft, aiming to showcase the history of art.

(Jasmine Acharya / The McGill Tribune)

“In-Between Worlds”

The Meryl McMaster exhibition, “In-Between Worlds,” is also closer to home, showcasing the Ottawa-born artist’s work as an Indigenous artist. Her photographs depict her dual heritage: Plains Cree and Euro-Canadian. She photographs herself in natural settings surrounded by cultural artifacts and accessories, creating a stark, beautiful, contrast of colors. The exhibition itself engages with the modern question of First Nations identity within the contemporary world. Using images filled with such contrast, McMaster quite literally depicts the reconciliation of contradicting identities that many Indigenous people face when embracing both their heritage and modern society.

(Jasmine Acharya / The McGill Tribune)
gallery

ABCs of Science, Science & Technology

How peppers both produce and prevent pain

by Karl Neumann on

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Scorching heat, exasperated breathing, and trickles of sweat aren’t necessarily the result of a lengthy stay in a sauna or running on a hot day. They can instead result from a bite of spicy food. The chemical capsaicin causes the spicy sensation that some hate and others love. This compound is primarily found in the white membrane of peppers—not the seeds—and is responsible for a chili’s characteristically punchy flavour.

While the domestication and consumption of chilies traces back 6,000 years to the Caribbean, recent discoveries have been able to transform this pain-inducing compound into a pain-reliever.

To understand the healing properties of this strange fruit, it’s essential to know how and why it evolved its ‘heat.’ The spiciness of the outer flesh provides a defence against predators and fungi, which would otherwise prevent chili growth and reproduction, while the non-spicy taste of its seeds allow birds to feast on and disperse them, unharmed.

Humans have also taken a liking to the fruit—with 463 million pounds of hot peppers grown per year in the United States alone. North Americans’ appetite for spice has skyrocketed in the past two decades, with the consumption of chilies doubling and hot sauce dethroning ketchup as the top-selling condiment of 2016.

The chili craze can be attributed to capsaicin, which literally causes pain in the mouths of millions.

Capsaicin creates a burning sensation by activating the body’s pain receptors, or nociceptors. The nociceptors send a signal to the brain and cue the experience of pain in response to a variety of different stimuli, such as extreme cold, heat, or pressure. Each one of these intense sensory activators prompts the same neuron to send pain signals to the brain. Although they stimulate the same neuron, each sensation activates a different specialized pathway on the neuron.    

Discovered in the last 20 years, TRPV1 is the receptor specifically set off by high levels of heat. While it is mainly activated by temperatures above 40°C, capsaicin also activates TRPV1.

The activation of TRPV1 by capsaicin, while also providing the gift of spice, serves a medicinal use.

There are many receptors similar to TRPV1 on nociceptors. Any one of these specialized pathways can cause the feeling of pain, and blocking one pathway still allows for many other mechanisms to activate a neuron signal. Initially, researchers attempted to block or “antagonize” the TRPV1 receptor from firing in order to reduce inflammation and pain sensitivity, but they recently discovered an even more effective treatment.

Instead of blocking TRPV1, scientists continually activate TRPV1 by applying low amounts of capsaicin to the skin for a long period of time. As a result, the nociceptor becomes temporarily deactivated, which eliminates all kinds of pain. Reza Sharif-Naeini, an assistant professor in the Department of Physiology at McGill, explained how this seemingly paradoxical technique works.  

“The first time you apply it, it will be painful […] but eventually, the nociceptors [become desensitized],” Sharif-Naeini said. “[So] now, even if they get excited, nothing will be released.”

Therefore, no feeling of pain can penetrate the targeted area.

Sharif-Naeini went on to explain that the full desensitization process can take up to a week, but that it can be very effective for people with arthritis or psoriasis. In regards to the duration of the treatment, Sharif-Naeini said that a capsaicin patch allows for eight to 12 weeks of pain relief.

Capsaicin patches and topical ointments are now available both over-the-counter and by prescription, providing a location-specific and affordable treatment.

The humble chili’s key ingredient has once again transcended its origins as an irritating pest repellant. While this compound’s initial discovery brought pungent flavour into the masochistic mouths of adventurous eaters, recent applications are repurposing it from inducing pain to relieving it. Peppers’ capacities for pain and pleasure—like Yin and Yang—seem to be opposites, but are, in fact, inseparable.

Art, Arts & Entertainment

‘Once Upon a Time… The Western’ is a gorgeous trip into a false history

by Keira Seidenberg on

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Once Upon a Time… The Western is a multi-media exhibition at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) in collaboration with the Denver Art Museum, that opened on Oct. 14 and will last until Feb. 4. The exhibition explores the Western genre—more specifically, the ways in which media has historically engaged viewers in a dialogue about Westerns, and how that dialogue has continued to shape our perception of the North American West today. According to the principal curators and organizers of the show, Mary-Dailey Desmarais, Thomas Brent Smith, and Nathalie Bondil, the exhibition seeks to bring together two seemingly unrelated cities, through Montreal’s extensive cultural emphasis on film and Denver’s presence at the heart of the American West.

Once Upon a Time features work from prominent artists such as Franz Kline and Paul McCarthy, as well as film clips featuring beloved Western characters like Jesse James, Geronimo, and Billy the Kid. Through cinematography, paintings, statues, and artifacts, the exhibition takes the traditional image of the West, complete with gun toting, horse-riding cowboys, and forces contemporary viewers to look beyond culturally instilled stereotypes. Museum-goers are confronted with a series of film clips and artistic visuals that push them to understand their conceptions of western life and to build upon them within the framework conveyed by the exhibition.

As Desmarais describes, within the context of an increasingly violent modern life, the exhibit is also indicative of the power of images, which present a new form of honest and artistically-rendered reality compared to that portrayed by contemporary media. Once Upon a Time also tackles North American historical identity, drawing on themes of liberty, justice, and valour and mapping these attributes across the United States and into Canada and Quebec.

While many consider the western story composed of simply the quintessential “cowboys vs Indians” narrative, rife with dusty bar fights and duels at daybreak, the exhibition also sheds light on thematic elements that are overlooked, yet remain highly relevant to the western time period. In the wake of World War I and the culturally pervasive reaches of the Vietnam War, western films and art were mobilized to express distaste against growing levels of institutionally-accepted violence. The exhibition also addresses the issues of female portrayal in the western and artistic world, ‘blaxploitation,’ whereby black characters are cast, typically in film, with heavy emphasis on cultural stereotypes, and the complex relationship between white society and Native Americans or First Nations Peoples.  

Wandering through the exhibition, it is evident that the curatorial team not only carefully considered the content for the show, but also the means of presenting the work. With the dim lighting and gunshots emanating from the various screens scattered throughout the interconnected rooms, viewers are confronted with an ominous and somewhat reverent atmosphere before even examining the content of the work. The pieces in the exhibition deviate from the more traditional understanding of western art, usually characterized by seemingly interminable portraits of desert landscapes, and instead provide portraits, scenes from iconic western films, and even a room of stuffed and melancholy skinned bison. The tumult of interracial conflict and struggle for survival is captured in the brush strokes and camera lenses of the numerous artists and directors. For Montrealers finding themselves with nothing to on a weekend afternoon, Once Upon a Time… The Western is a transcendent gallery experience that leaves viewers questioning the thematic intricacies of their favourite John Wayne films and the historic influences that led to them running naked through the house as children with nothing but cowboy boots on.

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