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Science & Technology

Explaining tocophobia

by Erin Dwyer on

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Everyone is afraid of something, or at least that’s what we’re told. According to the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 8.7 per cent of the adult population suffers from a phobia, or a “marked and persistent fear and avoidance of a specific object or situation.” The good news is that it’s widely accepted in the psychiatric community that common phobias—even in the most severe cases, affecting 1.9 per cent of the population—can be successfully treated with cognitive and behavioural therapy.

Most research on phobias has been done on the fear of spiders, flying, snakes, germs, and other relatively common and well-known phobias. But what about the phobias that we don’t have a name for, or newly-recognized phobias? Can established therapy methods be expanded to treat less explored phobias, such as the fear of pregnancy and childbirth?

According to Assistant Professor Dr. Tuong Vi Nguyen of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), the solutions to a fear of giving birth, called tocophobia, and the fear of spiders, called arachnophobia, are surprisingly aligned.

“We have a high-risk population at the MUHC and there were a lot of women with severe birth trauma,” Dr. Nguyen said. “And during their second or third pregnancy, [she] could have post-traumatic stress disorder that manifests through the fear of childbirth, and that is tocophobia.”

In addition to this secondary type of tocophobia, Dr. Nguyen also came across a different variety that didn’t require previous traumatic childbirth experience.

“There are also women with primary tocophobia, women who have never been pregnant or given birth,” Dr. Nguyen said. “They were so fearful of giving birth, they would avoid the whole pregnancy experience.”

Currently, there is limited research about the prevalence of tocophobia and its causes. However, Dr. Nguyen estimates that, based on the studies she has seen, approximately 20 per cent of women have a moderate fear of childbirth.

“And six to 10 per cent of them will be dysfunctional because of it,” Dr. Nguyen added. ”One of my patients said she was so disgusted that she wasn't able to go see her pregnant friends or family. So that completely cuts you off from big transitions in the life of friends and family, really leading to social dysfunction.”

It was clear that Dr. Nguyen and her colleagues at the MUHC needed to address the high volume of women contacting her about their experiences with tocophobia.

“At this stage at the MUHC, we are really thinking of establishing the basics of what we can offer these women, how we can improve this condition,” Dr. Nguyen explained.

Tocophobia is unique because, for the people who suffer from it, they must face their fear on a regular basis.

“People who are very afraid of planes, or spiders, or snakes, they have phobias similar to tocophobia,” Dr. Nguyen said. “But in their case, if you live in Quebec it’s pretty easy to avoid [these things], so it’s easy for them. But, if you’re really phobic about giving birth and you want children, that’s a real problem for you.”

Tocophobia is similar to other phobias in that it is likely to be responsive to cognitive behavioural therapy. Through gradual exposure to pictures and videos of childbirth, women can improve their psychological state when exposed to triggering subject material.

Despite individual psychotherapy programs having demonstrated the most effectiveness in treating phobias, the MUHC has focused on developing group therapy programs because they are the most cost-effective method.

Student Life

University and the quarter-life crisis: Rediscovering ambition at McGill

by Daniel Griffin on

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The average person in Canada is a quarter of the way through their life by age 22—a third by 27. The quantification of life brings the future out of lofty abstraction and into pressing reality. As much as this induces anxiety about how one will use their remaining years of life, it also calls into question how one has spent them so far.

For many university students, arrival at the quarter-life mark drums up feelings of emptiness as they recall the habits and activities that used to seem integral to their personalities. In retrospect, life seems merely to be a series of unfinished projects. Many students enter into the quarter-life crisis captivated by nostalgia for youthful optimism, to reclaim their previous ambitions since put on hold by university and other pressing matters of adulthood.

The idea of going off to university is sold to North American youth as a commodity to be bought and experienced. Many students find this university experience to be underwhelming and feel a pervasive sense of dissatisfaction, which often snowballs into personal crisis. Upon coming to McGill, Charlie Zaininger, U2 Arts, found herself reassessing her goals as she became disconnected from normal life.

“Growing up in Princeton, New Jersey, I could get drunk and smoke cigarettes but there was never that much trouble to get into,” Zaininger said. “When I came to McGill, there was just so much opportunity to have fun. After a particularly rowdy week in second year, I realized that I needed to reassess [….] I had become irresponsible […..] I largely forgot about my photography and writing [.…] Something about being in a bigger pool of people makes your contributions seem less valuable.”

One goes to university expecting to discover their purpose and self-fulfillment, but is instead inundated by distractions. The anxiety that Zaininger felt in the face of  Montreal life and university demands tore her away from her original goals. In her crisis, Zaininger felt like she owed it to herself to try to recover the motivations and passions of her past.

“I realized that my attitude was interrupting my interpersonal relationships, Zaininger said. “I had stopped being my own person. I realized that I had just stopped giving a damn. Since then, I’ve worked for a student geography project and started submitting my art to magazines [….] It’s a lot more about the restarting old habits. I feel much more in touch with myself [….] I still go out, have fun, and occasionally drink too much, but I feel like I’m acting more of my age [….] It’s an iterative process.”

The quarter-life crisis entails more than just recovering one’s past ambitions. It is a moment that demands abrupt reorientation to confront imminent life changes. This crisis raises questions how one invests their personal time to prepare for the future, which is exhilarating in its potential.

Anya Kowalchuk, U2 Arts, expresses her angst toward the prospect of graduation. While she is excited for the next step, the unanswered questions of life after school are starting to cause her alarm. For Kowalchuk, the crisis is about learning from her first quarter of life while deciding who to be for the next three.

“I feel sad about not making things, like art,” Kowalchuk said. “I had no idea when graduating high school that I really liked to do that, so I never considered going to art school. I feel sad I’m not producing anything. But that’s the past, looking forward is the crisis. I’m young now, but I’m close to being old. College is just so safe […] and now things are turning and changing again. I was walking in the woods and now it’s dark and I have no idea where I am.”

The quarter life crisis is a confrontation of one's incomplete goals and unknown future. This convergence puts the past self in conversation with the future self. In limited time, one must fight to rectify ignored passions and reconstruct a practical future. Without proactivity, life is quickly filled with empty, wasted time.

Student Life

Carving a new beginning in the face of rejection

by Catherine Morrison on

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The wounds of rejection cut deep, especially when they come by surprise. Because the end of the school year is a time when many McGill students are waiting to hear back from jobs, internships, and graduate schools, it can be comforting to know that many people are facing the same struggles.

According to Guy Winch, author and psychologist, the feeling of rejection is often associated with the feeling of physical pain, as these experiences activate the same areas of our brain. Though this is a time to be optimistic about future plans, denial from jobs, internships, and schools is common and leaves many students feeling discouraged.

Starting university is an incredible new beginning, however, determining which university to attend for undergraduate or graduate studies leaves many students grappling with rejection from their first-choice school. Eliza Snodgrass, U0 Arts, dealt with this before deciding to come to McGill for her undergraduate degree. It was particularly difficult because she became very attached to a school to which she was ultimately not accepted.

“I had fantasized about what I would do once I got [to my first-choice school, the University of Southern California (USC)] and had put so much emphasis on how important it was for me to go there,” Snodgrass said. “I truly felt like I deserved to get in because I worked so hard. I really tried to show them how much I wanted to go there and how much I cared, I mean, I slept in the T-shirt every single night.”

Snodgrass explained that the pain of that the reactions of others were more painful than what she was experiencing herself.

“[My friends and family] kept asking me how I was doing and for some reason everyone kind of expected me to be more upset than I was,” Snodgrass said. “It made sense, but I think people’s reactions were almost harder to deal with than the actual rejection.”

In dealing with the disappointment of not being accepted, it’s important to remember the silver lining in every outcome. In Snodgrass’ case, she is now loving Montreal and has adopted many leadership roles, such as Vice-President (VP) External of McConnell Hall residence council and Student Ambassador at McGill.

Rejections of all kinds are difficult to deal with, but they are always more difficult when they come from a community a person is already involved in that he or she trusts and cares about deeply. This type of rejection is much more personal, as it causes someone to doubt themselves, their abilities, and their circle of friends or colleagues. In the case of Sofia Harrison, a first-year Science student at the University of Toronto, she experienced these feelings after being rejected from a position at her childhood summer camp.

“I had known of many people who had not been asked to return as counsellors, but had never imagined myself to be in that position,” Harrison said. “So after my tenth amazing summer at camp, I was completely bewildered when I received a letter indicating that I was not chosen to follow the only path I had only ever imagined myself taking.”

Both Harrison and Snodgrass’ stories demonstrate how much harder rejection can feel when one is not expecting it. For Harrison, the aspect of jealousy towards those of her friends who got the opportunity she wished to have made dealing with it the hardest.

“One of the hardest parts of the day I got rejected was the buildup,” Harrison said. “All day I had been getting texts and snapchats from my friends getting in and telling me to rush home to open up my letter. We were all sure I would get in. Once I got home and opened the letter only to see I had been rejected, I felt like a failure, and I felt like I would lose all my friends.”

Although Harrison’s experience was jarring and difficult to overcome, it forced her to find her own new beginning. She has spent her past two summers working at an art camp and now can’t wait to return for her third.

“I think it’s important to maintain a good outlook and know that everything happens for a reason,” Harrison said. “[….] I can’t let the fact that I didn’t get a position working there ruin a whole lifetime of memories for me.”

Although rejection can feel heartbreaking, it is a way to break free from what is expected and open ourselves up to new beginnings. Maybe not getting what we’ve planned is meant to remind us that the world is so much more than just one single path. Rejection is a way to gain a new perspective, to reflect on ways to improve, and to eventually grow thicker skin. In this sense, it’s important to remember that people’s defeats do not define who they are as a person, but help them evolve.

Out on the Town, Private, Student Life

From Second Cup to Milton B: A new beginning for the Milton-Parc cafe

by Janine Xu on

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In February 2017, the 24-hour Second Cup on rue Milton and Avenue du Parc boarded its walls and announced its permanent closure. For 12 years, it served as more than just a coffee shop. With a high percentage of McGill students living in the Milton-Parc community, the cafe was a cozy study space during exam season, where students flooded tables with notes and laptops during late hours.

McGill students were shocked by the closing of Second Cup, with many voicing concerns on social media. Their primary worry was about losing a late night study space, as the Second Cup was one of the few coffee shops open for 24 hours.

“Wow that was an institution,” commented Reddit user holistic_water_bottl. “Where am I gonna go now when I need to finish a term paper the night before[?]”

According to Jack Ahmed, former owner of the Second Cup, the main reason that the store closed down was due to issues with licensing.

“There were disagreements [with corporate] that didn’t have anything to do with this location,” Ahmed said. “I used to own several Second Cups. [Basically], they gave me a high bill for renovations, which was not agreed upon [….] So, I said, ‘I can’t do this,’ [….] One by one, my [Second Cups] came up for renewal, and they didn’t renew me. [The Milton-Parc one] was the last Second Cup [left], and they didn’t renew me.”

In the end, however, Ahmed is much happier. He believes he now has the freedom to pursue a business model that aligns with his interests. Shortly after hearing the news from corporate, he decided to open a new store in the place of the old Second Cup, a self-described ‘urban cafeteria’ named Milton B.

“I’ve been in business for the last 30 years,” Ahmed said. “Now, I can go ahead and do what I’ve always been dreaming about, creating my own brand.”

Since Ahmed has been running the Second Cup on Milton for the last 12 years, he cites his familiarity with the Milton-Parc community in helping him develop his idea for the 24 hour café. For Ahmed, his interests in ecology and sustainability are shaping Milton B’s business model and brand.

“I’m trying to cater to the community [and also express my love for the environment],” he said. “What better way to represent the [neighbourhood] than the actual name? [.…] The ‘B’ in Milton B stands for the bumble bee, [which are] incredibly important [in terms of the environment].”

Basing his model on sustainability practices, Ahmed plans to buy local food. Rather than buying milk from Natrel or Quebon, both of which are large conglomerates, Ahmed says he intends to purchase milk from small dairy farms in the Eastern Townships. Additionally, Ahmed now has the opportunity to expand his menu options and give customers a space to grab a coffee or study while providing fresh, locally sourced food.

“The food from Second Cup was coming in packaged from outside,” he explained. “We are going to prepare everything on hand, [although] not from scratch. [I] call [Milton B] an ‘urban cafeteria’ because [there will be] a lot more food options.”

Though Ahmed admits that he would have kept the Second Cup had the corporation renewed his franchising license, he is still incredibly happy with the work he has done on Milton B.

“A franchise model is very rigid,” Ahmed said. “There’s no flexibility in what you can do. But [closing down and starting again] has allowed me to use my creativity and express myself.

Basketball, Hockey, Martlets, Men's Varsity, Sports

2016-17 McGill Tribune Martlet Awards

by Selwynne Hawkins on

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Team of the Year: Martlet Basketball

 

The 2016-2017 Martlet basketball season was the perfect underdog story. In the first half of the season, the team posted a 3-5 record—including a 70-40 lashing at the hands of the Laval Rouge et Or. The Martlets managed to rally to finish second in the regular season and fought through two competitive playoff games to be crowned RSEQ champions for the sixth consecutive year.

In their previous four appearances at the CIS National Championships–now called the U Sports National Championships–the Martlets recorded a couple of fifth-place finishes and managed to break into the semi-finals twice. This year, after their worst regular season record since 2010, the Martlets went undefeated in the tournament and captured the elusive Bronze Baby Trophy—awarded annually to the national champion—for the first time in program history.

It was a fairytale ending for the Martlets. In a zero-to-hero, started-from-the-bottom-now-we’re-here turn of events, the team made Martlet history and wholly deserve recognition from the McGill community.

 

(mcgillathletics.com)
(mcgillathletics.com)

 

Female Athlete of the Year: Alex Kiss-Rusk (Martlet Basketball)

 

 This season, Alex Kiss-Rusk won it all. She was absolutely essential for Martlet basketball, leading the team in minutes played and consistently posting team-high performances in scoring and rebounding.

The 6’4” centre from Beaconsfield, QC was selected to be a first team all-star and the RSEQ Defensive Player of the year after ranking first in the conference in rebounds and blocked shots. She was the league-leader in double-doubles and managed double-digit rebounds in six conference games.

After proving instrumental in her team’s conference victory, Kiss-Rusk continued to dominate at the U Sports National Championships. The best athletes are those who elevate their play in big games and Kiss-Rusk certainly rose to the occasion: Three games, three double-doubles, and three game MVP awards. To cap off her incredible season, she led the Martlets to their first-ever national title and collected tournament MVP honours.

 

 

(mcgillathletics.com)
(mcgillathletics.com)

 

Female Rookie of the Year: Tricia Deguire (Martlet Hockey)

 

It’s hard to believe that Martlet hockey netminder Tricia Deguire is a rookie. In her first season at McGill, Deguire displayed consistency and maturity beyond her years and was nothing short of phenomenal as the starting goaltender for the Martlet hockey squad. Deguire started 18 regular season contests and finished the season with a sterling 0.930 save percentage.

Deguire was named Rookie of the Year by both the RSEQ and U Sports delegations and a first team all-star in the RSEQ conference. At the U Sports National Championships, she turned away 63 shots in three games, averaging a 0.955 save percentage. After allowing only one goal in the quarter-final round, Deguire registered a crucial shutout against the top-seeded UBC Thunderbirds to secure her team a spot in the championship match, where they eventually succumbed to the University of Alberta Pandas in double overtime. 

 

(mcgillathletics)
(mcgillathletics)

 

Coach of the Year: Ryan Thorne (Martlet Basketball)

 

Martlet basketball bench boss Ryan Thorne has received plenty of well-deserved recognition throughout his coaching career. He is fresh off the completion of his 14th season as head coach at McGill and has an overall record of 280-183. Since 2009, his squad has won six RSEQ titles.

Though the results of past years are undeniably impressive, Thorne’s success with the Martlets reached new heights this season. His squad started slowly, hampered in part by the loss of starting forward Jennifer Silver, who was sidelined by a broken hand for most of the regular season. But Thorne was able to inspire the team to fight its way to the RSEQ championship, where the Martlets defeated the Concordia Stingers by a score of 63-51. Then, under Thorne’s steady leadership, the Martlets travelled to the U Sports National Championships, where they were crowned national champions—a program first for McGill basketball.

News, SSMU

2016-2017 SSMU executive reviews

by McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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The McGill Tribune Editorial Board reviewed the 2016-2017 Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) executives on their performance. Although these summaries intend to review the executives' entire term, not all information received regarding each executive was published due to space constraints in the paper.

In its editorial discussion, the Tribune evaluated each executive based on feedback from student councillors and input from the executive teams. In previous years, the Tribune has given grades to the executives based on feedback from councillors and the discussion of the Editorial Board. Given the extraordinary circumstances facing the SSMU executive team this semester, in which period two of the executives resigned, the Tribune decided that it would be inappropriate to do so this year.

 

Vice-President Student Life and Acting President: Elaine Patterson

Following the resignation of former president Ben Ger, Vice-President (VP) Student Life Elaine Patterson assumed the role of Acting President. Despite the added workload and this semester's controversies, Patterson has risen to the occasion and is overseeing the groundwork for the SSMU Gendered and Sexualized Violence Policy (GSVP).

Prior to assuming the presidential portfolio, Patterson organized successful Activities Nights in both the Fall and Winter semester despite limitations due to construction on McTavish and the elimination of the student staff Activities Night Coordinator position. With a club moratorium in place for the entirety of her term, Patterson worked to make existing clubs more financially and spatially stable. Despite this effort, transparency about the mandatory transition from club status to independent student group (ISG) status that was applied to certain clubs prior to Patterson’s term was lacking.

Additionally, Patterson did not appear to place enough emphasis on the mental health aspect of her portfolio, especially considering that the McGill Counselling and Mental Health Services (MCMHS) underwent significant changes this year. Although she organized Mental Health Awareness Week and provided institutional support for services, such as the Peer Support Centre, more advocacy could have been done on the students’ behalf, as the changes to MCMHS continue to present challenges for students.

Despite these shortcomings, Patterson has remained approachable and dedicated to building relationships with SSMU members and groups within SSMU. Her unfailing energy and candor has been an asset to the SSMU executive team. By maintaining positive relationships with existing SSMU clubs and services, Patterson has paved the way for more efficient club management in the upcoming year. Despite increased responsibilities, Patterson continued to demonstrate patience and a willingness to hear student concerns.

 

Vice-President Internal: Daniel Lawrie

VP Internal Daniel Lawrie has organized a variety of successful events this year. Some of the highlights of his term include Faculty Olympics, which drew over 800 participants over the course of five days and was very well received. Lawrie also coordinated 4Floors, which was subject to underwhelming turnouts in recent years. Lawrie grew its attendance to around 1,000 attendees and the function mostly received positive feedback.

Moreover, Lawrie promoted Life After Your Degree (Life AYD) events, such as dining etiquette workshops, CV workshops, and LinkedIn Headshot sessions to improve SSMU’s involvement with practical concerns of its membership.

In hopes of better protecting students, Lawrie worked alongside the Office of the Dean of Students to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the administration to have the McGill Code of Conduct apply to events within the VP Internal’s portfolio, such as 4Floors and Frosh. Still, Lawrie insufficiently advocated for the development of non-drinking focused activities while overseeing Frosh plans.

At the end of the 2015-2016 year, the responsibility of managing the First-Year Council (FYC) was moved to the Internal portfolio. While he gained experience in event planning throughout his term, Lawrie struggled to play an advisory role for the FYC. His failure to adequately guide the Council and to fully make use of its budget resulted in the FYC being a largely ineffective body for representing and engaging first-years.

Lawrie attributes the high open rate of the SSMU listerv this year to his inclusion of animated GIFs and catchy titles in emails. However, this method of increasing engagement by reducing the content of listservs has been criticized for being exclusionary.

Lawrie oversaw the SSMU Website Redesign project. The new site, which aims to provide easier access to information regarding student societies, will be launched in the upcoming year.

 

Vice-President Finance: Niall Carolan

Much of the VP Finance portfolio occurs largely behind the scenes of SSMU activity and VP Finance Niall Carolan has worked hard to tighten the SSMU budget. Having entered the position facing a $90,000 deficit, Carolan has helped bring SSMU to a surplus that will reach near $400,000 by the end of the 2016-2017 fiscal year. A significant portion of this surplus will be invested in SSMU human resources and departments that will better serve the student body. Additionally, following the resignation of the VP External and President, Carolan assumed several responsibilities from each portfolio, including a position on the McGill Board of Governors (BoG) and negotiations for the 2017-2021 Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the university.

A large part of Carolan’s success in bringing SSMU into a financial surplus entailed holding regular meetings with SSMU department managers and operations directors, using weekly sales reports and monthly rollup reports, and seeking external corporate sponsorship for SSMU. Yet, the latter action was controversial, sparking debate among the student body after advertisements were placed around the SSMU Building and used during Activities Night, which critics argued were distracting from the student clubs that were present.

Carolan worked to streamline the funding process for clubs, services, and groups by allowing clubs to apply for multiple funding sources within the same application and purchasing new funding software. Further, Carolan achieved better financial transparency for SSMU by separating staff salaries, executive salaries, and operational staff salaries. He also budgeted a Financial Assistant to the VP Finance for the 2018 operating year and established a Social Responsibility Investment Fund for the upcoming year.

Though Carolan’s time on the SSMU Executive Committee was successful, he was often difficult to reach and unavailable to students and the student media. However, his changes to the budget led to what Carolan reports to be the largest operational surplus on record.

 

Vice-President Operations: Sacha Magder

VP Operations Sacha Magder began the year with the Crash Pad program, a successful initiative that provides a safe place in the SSMU Ballroom for commuter students to stay overnight. Magder’s other main accomplishment was improving SSMU MiniCourses. Although Fall 2016 numbers were similar to the numbers in the previous year, in Winter 2017, MiniCourses revenue increased from $6,214 to $15,635. Magder attributes this success to more active marketing and emphasis on professional skills courses, such as a popular new graphic design class.

Both Gerts and Sadie’s have also made financial improvements. Parts of large events, such as Carnival, Science Games, and Engineering Games, were held at Gerts as opposed to off-campus establishments. Further, Sadie’s revenue doubled and this year’s deficit is predicted to be 30 to 50 per cent smaller than last year’s. Yet, Magder’s rebranding efforts for Sadie’s were unimpressive and it is unclear how much of the increase in business was simply the McTavish construction rerouting students through the SSMU Building.

Sustainability objectives were moved to the VP Operations portfolio at the end of the 2015-2016 academic year. With regards to this mandate, Magder brought sustainability representatives from different faculties together in a Cross Campus Sustainability Council. Plans are underway for sustainability checklists, sustainability education, and sustainable Frosh suppliers.

It has taken time for Magder to communicate and implement his ideas, such as the plan to put up Aboriginal artwork in SSMU and the SSMU Courtyard Garden Project. How much of this is the result his portfolio being new and how much can be attributed to recent disruptions within SSMU have yet to be determined, but what is clear is the creativity and energy that Magder puts into his work.

 

Vice-President University Affairs: Erin Sobat

VP University Affairs (UA) Erin Sobat approached the position with a great deal of energy and enthusiasm this year. He delivered on multiple campaign promises, including a successful Know Your Rights campaign, and increased the visibility of the UA portfolio via social media with a new website. Sobat also played an important role in developing and passing the university’s Policy on Sexual Violence in the Fall, building on the wish of his predecessors and working to bring the work of other student groups to bear in negotiations with the administration. In the second semester of his term, however, Sobat was often complicit in the poor handling of SSMU controversies.

Sobat also developed a monthly UA listserv, which provided updates on developments in student advocacy resources, projects, and research. Sobat put a SSMU policy on unpaid internships into motion, pursued a centralized model for academic accommodations administered by faculties instead of individual professors, and made progress on revising tenure guidelines to include a mental health training requirement.

In the equity portion of the UA portfolio, Sobat helped produce guidelines for a formal policy on equitable hiring at McGill, with first training session held at the end of March. Progress on this issue  was delayed after SSMU President Ben Ger’s resignation in March, but significant groundwork has been laid for implementing a policy in the future. Work on equitable governance reform was also pushed back with Ger’s resignation. Sobat worked on developing a baseline equity training workshop to accompany the Academic Integrity Tutorial on Minerva, a project that will continue into next year.

Aside from Sobat’s many successes on the student advocacy and equity portions of his portfolio, some of his actions this year betrayed the lack of adequate internal procedures within SSMU for dealing with disclosures regarding executives and SSMU staff. Sobat faced criticism for his support of former Arts Representative Igor Sadikov after his controversial tweet on Feb. 6. Sobat also failed to reveal former VP External David Aird’s weekly “check-ins” in the Fall semester. Sobat acknowledged that he knew about allegations of gendered violence against Ger ahead of time, but did not share them with the other SSMU executives–they were only made public after Ger’s resignation.

Arts & Entertainment, Music

Vince Staples dazzles with Life Aquatic Tour at the Corona Theatre

by Dylan Adamson on

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It hasn’t taken long for Vince Staples to carve out his lane in the West Coast gangsta rap scene. After a slew of teenage mixtapes, as well as a few features on early Odd Future releases, Staples broke through to the mainstream hip-hop consciousness with his 2014 EP, Hell Can Wait. His approach was uncompromisingly hard-nosed; his ear for eerie, driving beats was staggering. When Summertime ‘06 dropped in 2015, Staples’ sprawling, 20 track opus left few doubters in the hip-hop community. 2016 saw the release of yet another universally lauded EP, Prima Donna, delivered alongside an experimental short film. 

To say the least, it’s been a busy three years for the 23-year-old artist. His recent work has found him delving into more sonically experimental directions, but his brand has never strayed from his signature gritty, realist roots. 

On Saturday, March 25, ahead of his forthcoming Big Fish Theory album release, Staples brought The Life Aquatic Tour before a crowd of understandably stoked Montrealers. With the lavish Corona Theatre filled to sweaty capacity, the rapper could do no wrong as he ran through selections from across his oeuvre. Crowd-surfing bodies soared across the swaths of wide-eyed fans; a churning sea of millennial hip hop heads bouncing side to side, feeding off Staples’ abundant charisma.

Staples’ presence commanded more than enough attention to fill out the space. He stood alone on an empty stage, foregoing audacious rap fashion in favour of a simple black hoodie. Although cool in demeanour, the performance was marked by a gripping sense of volatility. Slower songs, including Summertime ‘06 cuts “Lemme Know” and “Birds & Bees,” were delivered with Staples’ trademark hard-nosed stoicism, his gaze fixed on the back of the room. More familiar cuts, however, burst this tense, restrained atmosphere into furious catharsis. Staples demonstrated the ability to leap between registers from verse to verse, rendering his song structures and flow refreshingly unpredictable. Favourites such as “Prima Donna” and “Blue Suede” saw the rapper explode into three dimensions, bouncing across the stage as if in the midst of the mosh pit sprawled out before him. 

In keeping with the Life Aquatic theme, Staples’ performance was backed by a tri-panel projection screen showcasing brilliant, atmospheric shots of underwater life, alongside the occasional bubbling skull, as well as a few scenes from the streets of his hometown, Long Beach, California. The supremely tranquil imagery of the sea creatures provided an eerie juxtaposition to Staples’ aggressive, street savvy bars. Huge, luminous goldfish trespassed slowly across the stage, but instead of David Attenborough’s affable narration of the proceedings, Staples held his mic aloft while legions of hungry fans yelled in chorus, “Bitch you thirsty please grab a Sprite.”  

Perhaps even more prominent than this visual juxtaposition, the concert was repeatedly permeated by total blackness. Between uproarious bangers and more low key selections, the lone figure on stage was subsumed by darkness, disappearing into the chaos of the evening. Like the titular character of Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou, and like the marginalized individuals populating many of Staples’ songs, the concert teetered on this exhilarating, terrifying brink of nothingness throughout. 

Although it can be somewhat jarring to witness a primarily white audience chant, “I ain’t never ran from nothin’ but the police” in unison with a black performer, Staples’ confidence and sheer charisma on stage skirted any trace of hesitancy, creating an entirely immersive spectacle. In the voluminous Corona Theatre, alternately bathed in the glow of sparkling sea creatures and total darkness, we were part of Staples’ universe—if only for a brief, thrilling moment. 

Private, Student Life

Affirmations for your new beginning

by Admin on

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(Alissa Zilber / The McGill Tribune)
(Alissa Zilber / The McGill Tribune)

 

(Alissa Zilber / The McGill Tribune)
(Alissa Zilber / The McGill Tribune)

 

(Alissa Zilber / The McGill Tribune)
(Alissa Zilber / The McGill Tribune)

 

(Alissa Zilber / The McGill Tribune)
(Alissa Zilber / The McGill Tribune)

 

Science & Technology

Why we procrastinate and tips to overcome it

by Oceane Marescal on

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“The deadline is a week away—I’ll just do it tomorrow.”

For many, this phrase has become the all too familiar reasoning to put off an assignment in exchange for a more relaxing night spent watching Netflix. However, as finals approach, those who left studying to the last minute will start regretting their decision to procrastinate and may wonder why they would do such a thing in the first place.

 

Why do we procrastinate?

 

The urge to procrastinate arises from the way the brain makes decisions. Two parts of the brain, the limbic system and the prefrontal cortex, are in constant competition for control of the decision-making process. Of the two, the limbic system is the one to blame for procrastination habits. As one of the most primitive parts of the brain, it controls basic emotions, such as pleasure and pain. The limbic system is always “on” and is dominant to other parts of the brain. It is also rich in opioid receptors that sense endorphins, such as dopamine and serotonin. The binding of an endorphin to its receptor in the limbic system is what drives emotions of happiness.

The limbic system is balanced by the prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain that compels us to complete a task. The prefrontal cortex is involved in the higher order thinking that separates humans from other animals. Regrettably, it is weaker than the limbic system and requires constant effort on our part in order to function. This means that as soon as we lose focus on a task, the prefrontal cortex falters and the limbic system takes over.

When we are faced with an unpleasant job to do, the brain weighs its two choices. The first option, listen to the prefrontal cortex and finish whatever task needs to get done. This “thinking” part of the brain recognizes future consequences and knows that a few days from now we will regret putting the task off. The second option would be to give in to the limbic system and enjoy the small, immediate outburst of endorphins produced by participating in more pleasurable activities. Often, the brain will choose the instantaneous burst of pleasure that procrastinating gives us because of the dominant nature of the limbic system.

 

How can we overcome procrastination?

 

1. Eliminate distractions. The prefrontal cortex requires effort to be kept on task. Any distraction that causes a loss of focus makes it easier for the limbic system to win the battle. While studying, try to close all unnecessary browser tabs, stay off social media, and shut off your phone until you are done with what you have to do. Small baits can tempt the brain and increase the chances of procrastination.

2. Reward yourself for completed work. Study for an hour, then reward yourself with a 10-minute break. Once the brain starts expecting a reward for overcoming a difficult task, it will be easier to get into the habit of getting work done. Studying by intervals also helps increase focus, which in turn strengthens the prefrontal cortex against the pressures of the limbic system.

3. Self-impose deadlines. Besides pleasure, another emotion that the limbic system feels is pain. When a deadline approaches, the stress of meeting it creates a feeling of “pain,” which overrides any feeling of pleasure that the brain would gain from procrastination. Although less effective than an external deadline, self-imposed deadlines create the same effect and can help you finish work.

Commentary, Opinion

Bad Blood: Changing the conversation around menstruation

by Myriam Driss on

More in Commentary:

“You'd think all women do is clean and bleed,” was the line that resonated with me as I read Gillian Flynn’s psychological thriller Gone Girl. Despite the fact that the shedding of the uterine lining is a natural, normal, and healthy process that half of the world’s population experiences, menstruation is frequently stigmatized. In the article, “Bad blood: the taboo on talking about periods is damaging lives,” Rose George points out that we have “5,000 euphemisms for menstruation, but we still can’t talk about it openly.” Menstruating people are trivialized due to an overall ignorance towards their experiences, from misunderstandings of simple anatomy to the misconception that women are the only people on the gender spectrum who menstruate.

It is important to recognize that menstruation stigma remains prevalent for a number of individuals and not just women. Many individuals who identify as men, nonbinary, or genderqueer also experience the physical effects of menstruation. To recognize this, language is a powerful tool. Uncoupling femininity from menstruation is essential, as it breaks the connection that has been used to make sexist assumptions about women, while at the same time shedding light on the experiences and needs of sexual minorities who menstruate.

Peer Health educators at Healthy McGill Maeve Botham and Mackenzie Gingrich-Hadley emphasized the importance of conversation: Menstruation stigma can be reduced by framing it in a positive light and by using inclusive language in discussions. It is important to remember to avoid phrases, like “feminine hygiene,” and to opt for “menstrual hygiene,” to make sure language is inclusive.

It is important to recognize that menstruation stigma remains prevalent for a number of individuals, and not just women.

In addition to broadening discourse around the topic, improving accommodation for and increasing awareness of the needs of menstruating individuals are necessary to normalizing menstruation. These steps can relieve some of the negative connotations attached to menstruating individuals, and therefore dismantle the stigma around menstruation. On Oct. 20, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) passed a motion to provide free menstrual products to students, which brings to light the importance and the daily impact of menstrual health on its students while emphasizing that SSMU supports its students, both emotionally and financially. Additionally, students can purchase not only traditional menstrual products, but also reusable ones such as cloth pads and menstrual cups through the Shag Shop. This not only comprehensively provides for the needs of those who menstruate but, by offering a choice between a variety products, it opens up a discourse about the diversity of menstrual hygiene methods that exist.

When addressing menstruation stigma, the conversation must acknowledge the variety of experiences of menstruation. The conversation must extend not only to women, but to all menstruating people across the gender spectrum. It is important to remember that not all women menstruate and that individuals of all genders can menstruate. In addition to adequate physical accommodation, appropriate and inclusive language is necessary to create a community that supports all menstruating individuals, while forming the platform necessary to eliminate menstruation stigma.

Myriam Driss is a U0 student majoring in Environment.

 

@McGillTribOp |

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