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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

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“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 |

Science & Technology

Everything you wanted to know about the blobfish but were afraid to ask

by Izze Siemann on

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Ever pictured a cross between Squidward from Spongebob and a grumpy English Bulldog? If not, look at a picture of the infamous “blobfish” and wonder at the mysteries of life.

According to the New York Daily News, the blobfish, or Psychrolutes marcidus, was voted “World’s Ugliest Fish” by the Ugly Animals Preservation Society in 2013. Since this crowning achievement, the blobfish has floated into the hearts of an adoring fan base through a series of memes, and children’s books: The Blobfish Book and Pink is for Blobfish. There have even been “plush blobfish” manufactured to bring the bubblicious-pink, squishy fish into the arms of adoring children.

During last year’s U.S. presidential election, the blobfish became increasingly famous. Pictures of the gelatinous animal were compared to President Donald Trump—the two sharing striking physical similarities. In one photo, an innocent blobfish had Trump’s orange hair photoshopped onto its head, further affirming the uncanny resemblance between the two in the eyes of the Internet.

“Mr. Blobby” has other look-alikes, many of which were highlighted during the fish’s exhibition at the Australian Museum’s Ichthyology Collection.

“Schoolchildren were encouraged to leave mash notes [at the museum’s Blobfish display case],” Franz Lidz wrote in Smithsonian Magazine. “The most memorable: ‘You remind me of my teacher.’”

But who are these creatures under their crotchety countenance? As it turns out, scientists know relatively little about the blobs.

“[Scientists] fear the blobfish, which can grow up to 12 inches, is in danger of being wiped out by over-fishing in its south eastern Australian habitat,” author Andrew Hough wrote in a 2010 article published in The Telegraph. The species are now on the endangered species list.

Lidz writes that scientists in New Zealand and Australian first discovered the species around the Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands while exploring submarine habitats. This benthic—or bottom-dwelling—fish lives up to 4,000 feet below sea level on the ocean floor. In fact, the pressure of the water provides their bodies with structural support, rather than having a swim bladder, or developed muscles and skeletons. Their bodies, less dense than the water around them, allow the fish to float along the sea floor without a swim bladder—the organ that allows most fish species buoyancy.

In reality, blobfish only really move when they need food and can’t get it while sitting still—much like university students on a Sunday morning.

As eloquently written by Michael Hearst in Unusual Creatures, “Blobfish, blobfish, JELL-O of the sea—Floats upon the bottom, lazy as can be.”

Contrasting against human beauty standards, the blobfish body’s gooey composition and lack of a swim bladder evolved as an adaptation for survival in the deep ocean.

“A lot of fish with swim bladders caught in deep waters and then [brought] up [to shallower waters] have their guts pushed out of their mouths, essentially because they can’t get the air out of their swim bladder fast enough,” Dr. Andrew Hendry, professor in the McGill Department of Biology and researcher at the Redpath Museum, said. “I don’t know of any fish that [change composition in changing pressure levels] with as much aplomb as the blobfish.”

Because of the extreme pressure, Mr. Blobbly looks like a regular fish on the ocean floor.

“Why [is…] the world […] too hard on the blobfish?” Colin Shults asked in an article for Smithsonian Magazine. “Because if we put [humans] 4,000 feet below the water [their] organs would be crushed and [they’d] probably be turned into some sort of paste. Meanwhile the blobfish would just look like…well…a fish.”

Little else is known for certain about the blobfish. Nevertheless, its influence on the laughs and smiles worldwide have made it the most iconic fish of the 21st century.

News, PGSS

2016-2017 PGSS executive reviews

by McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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The McGill Tribune Editorial Board reviews the 2016-2017 Post-Graduate Students’ Society executives on their performance. Although these summaries intend to review the executives' entire terms, 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 team itself. 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.

 

Secretary-General: Victor Frankel

During his tenure as Secretary-General, Victor Frankel worked closely with PGSS commissioners, SSMU, and the Sexual Assault Centre of the McGill Students’ Society (SACOMSS) on the McGill administration’s Policy against Sexual Violence, which was implemented in September of this academic year. Frankel has also been a tireless advocate for environmental justice at McGill, working with McGill’s Office of Sustainability toward the goal of carbon neutrality by 2021. In general, Frankel used his position on the McGill Board of Governors (BoG) to push for his vision for McGill to become a leader in sustainability and to voice the interests of Divest McGill, despite being surrounded by administrators who opposed the group’s mandate.

Frankel’s involvement in projects important to PGSS members is notable. He served as a PGSS consultant during the streamlining of Mental Health services undertaken by McGill. Frankel has also continued to be a vocal and active member at PGSS Council, and has been involved in drafting many of the motions presented. Additionally, Frankel’s colleagues commend his ongoing advocacy for social and climate justice. Concerns have been raised, however, that Frankel has prioritized passion projects to the detriment of other areas of his portfolio. In line with this concern, Frankel has also been criticized for a general lack of organization in managing the other PGSS executives. Still, Frankel has been approachable and supportive as Secretary-General and has shown sincerity in listening to criticism.

 

Financial Affairs Officer: Mina Moradi

As Financial Affairs Officer, Mina Moradi has reportedly been available to discuss financial issues. In comparison to the vague information available on PGSS finances last year, Moradi made the fiscal state of PGSS somewhat clearer. Yet, there is contention regarding how much of that clarity is the result of her work, and how much can be attributed to external events and other executives.

Fortune favoured PGSS finances this year. The costly legal battle with the Canadian Federation of Students of 2010 over the validity of PGSS’s referendum to disaffiliate was resolved in February. Additionally, although McGill’s Fall 2016 decision to reclassify postdoctoral candidates as university employees will mean a loss of about $180,000 in membership fees in the future, postdoctoral candidates still paid fees for the 2016-17 year. It is troubling that Moradi has not, as of yet, implemented adequate solutions for future years.

Moradi is largely at fault for lack of communication. She started the year well with a thorough report to PGSS Council finalizing prices on events and working with the Secretary-General and Student Life Coordinator to allocate funds to Macdonald campus. She did not attend her second report, which was presented by the Secretary-General and largely focused on the financial impact of McTavish construction. Moreover, although Moradi states that one of her responsibilities is keeping the Legislative Council updated on financial realities, much of this burden appears to have fallen on the Secretary-General and the former Financial Affairs Officer, who answered questions instead of Moradi at a Council meeting on Oct.19 2016. She did comment on the motion to create the Innovation Commissioner position, but when asked how PGSS would pay for a new commissioner, Moradi only suggested a referendum to increase membership fees to enable the new commissioner to host events.

In general, there is not much information on what Moradi has accomplished, and that is an issue in itself.

 

Internal Affairs Officer: Mina Anadolu

Mina Anadolu has been highly collaborative in her approach to the Internal Affairs position, which has contributed to the substantial success of her portfolio. Her collaboration with over 50 groups and clubs on campus has also improved the graduate student community, as these groups became more visible to the membership. Anadolu successfully organized and promoted a diverse array of successful events—notably Graduate Orientation in Fall 2016—and focused on enhancing accessibility and inclusivity. In addition to planning social events, Anadolu also organized events that assisted graduate students in practical  matters, such as through legal information and student rights sessions.

Anadolu developed a system for collecting and utilizing feedback from participants in order to inform event-planning decisions. Further, her emphasis on promoting health and safety at events is a significant step for the Society and improved participation at events. She ensured that each PGSS event had at least four different options for safety, including but not exclusive to the McGill Emergency Response Team (MSERT), DriveSafe, WalkSafe, and Security personnel.

Overall, Anadolu demonstrated incredible energy and passion in her portfolio, which has manifested in a more connected graduate student body.

 

External Affairs Officer: Jacob Lavigne

External Affairs Officer and incoming PGSS Secretary-General Jacob Lavigne focused much of his work on representation at inter-university organizations, including the Quebec Student Union (QSU), the Association for the Voice of Education in Quebec (AVEQ), and the soon-to-be-dissolved Fédération Étudiante Universitaire du Québec (FEUQ). Lavigne lobbied the university on multiple issues, including access to medical data in Quebec and advocating for student input in the design of the Royal Victoria Hospital, if McGill acquires it. He also pursued a variety of innovation-related initiatives.

Lavigne served on the Board of Directors (BoD) and, as Secretary of FEUQ, he ensured that the organization’s research findings and funds are distributed to PGSS as it dissolves. He represented PGSS as an observer at both QSU and AVEQ, and participated in the creation of ThinkGRAD, a think tank for graduate research and development with representatives from graduate student associations from across Canada.

Lavigne demonstrated his commitment to issues that he is passionate about by serving as the president of the Quartier de l’Innovation Student Working Group and led its transformation into the now fully student-led Quartier de l’Innovation Students’ Society (QISS). The group aims to raise awareness of and access to the Quartier de l’Innovation (QI). Lavigne was also instrumental in establishing an Innovation Commissioner position and Innovation Committee at PGSS, and sat on the university’s Innovation Steering Committee.

Lavigne’s established contacts and experience working with members of the administration will prove useful as he transitions to the role of Secretary-General at the end of his current term. He is currently producing a report advising PGSS to continue observer status at only one of QSU and AVEQ in the future.

 

Member Services Officer: JennyAnn Pura

Member Services Officer JennyAnn Pura spent the majority of her term focusing on the renewal of the PGSS Health and Dental plan and working closely with the Health Commissioner. Pura aided in passing two referendum questions concerning an increase in the services provided by the plan. By focusing primarily on becoming familiar with the system, Pura was better able to bring about concrete and achievable suggestions for change.

Additionally, Pura was committed to supporting the families of PGSS members. She made an effort to improve access to higher quality childcare for members with children. To this end, Pura created and managed the Study Saturdays program in collaboration with SSMU VP Student Life Elaine Patterson, and launched a campaign for a holiday gift exchange for student parents.

In addition, Pura created the Member Services Committee, which currently consists of one member. Continuing as Member Services Officer, next year Pura will build on the groundwork she laid in her first term. After gaining familiarity with her position this year, she aims to follow through with the projects that were set in motion. Pura said she wants to focus her efforts on populating the Member Services Committee. In line with her work supporting the families of PGSS members, she has also considered organizing a workshop for students living away from their primary support network.

Over the course of this year, Pura has earned praise for her ability to effectively communicate and negotiate on the Health and Dental plan. With a year of successful initiatives under her belt, her next term as Member Services Officer promises to be a fruitful one.

 

Academic Affairs Officer: Nicholas Dunn

As Academic Affairs Officer, Nicholas Dunn has done an adequate job of maintaining the responsibilities of his portfolio. Dunn worked on the implementation of the McGill Policy against Sexual Assault by maintaining clear communication with SSMU, the Equity Commission, and PGSS members. He also advanced the Milestones Project, which helps graduate students keep track of the time to completion of their degree, and made progress on this.

Dunn made some effort to include the MacDonald Campus Graduate Students’ Society (MCGSS) in PGSS activities by holding workshops on the MacDonald campus. This was not enough to maintain positive relations with MCGSS, however, as MCGSS members recently voted to express their interest in exploring ceding from PGSS.

His commitment to increasing member involvement in PGSS committees was apparent through Dunn’s consistent outlining of available seats and the purpose of committees. Despite notoriously low student involvement in PGSS governance, PGSS committees were well staffed under Dunn. Dunn also encouraged members to be more involved in university governance by advertising opportunities to engage with members of the administration. Moreover, Dunn successfully coordinated revisions to the Charter of Students’ Rights, which will go to Senate for approval in May.

Although he wishes he would have done so sooner, Dunn was able to schedule consultations with the Dean of Libraries to discuss the future budgeting of the Library Improvement Fund. These consultations, the successful recruitment of committee members, and his continuation of work on long-term increased graduate student funding from the university will be an advantage for the incoming 2017-2018 Academic Affairs Officer.

Basketball, Sports

NBA Playoff Predictions

by Gabriel Rincon on

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Western Conference

 

Team to beat: Golden State Warriors

When a team is fortunate enough to have four All-Stars and two former MVPs on their roster, they are the obvious team to beat. While they fit this description, Golden State also has something to prove this season. After losing three straight games to the Cleveland Cavaliers in last year’s finals, the Warriors are on a crusade to avenge their mishap. Barring a miracle, the San Antonio Spurs are the only team that have a chance to stop Steph Curry and company from making their third straight finals appearance.

 

Dark horse: Oklahoma City Thunder 

Full disclosure: This author predicted the Thunder would miss the playoffs halfway through the season. However, an important lesson has been learned; don’t underestimate Russell Westbrook. If anyone can carry a decent team to the semi-finals with sheer willpower, it’s Westbrook. The Thunder front office orchestrated a heist of the Bulls’ roster at the deadline and added front court depth and outside shooting in exchange for a handful of peanuts. The Thunder certainly won’t be eliminated in the first round and may surprise in the second. It all depends on whether the team gets the fifth or sixth seed.

 

Biggest disappointment: Utah Jazz 

It’s time for the Jazz to come back to reality. They had a great season and small forward Gordon Hayward and centre Rudy Gobert are talented players, but neither of the two stars are truly elite. Their offence is second-to-last in the league in scoring and third-to-last in assists this season. It would be a different story if power forward Derrick Favours had finally had his long-awaited breakout season, but he’s averaging a lowly nine points per game. Expect a first round exit from Utah.

 

Eastern Conference

 

Team to beat: Cleveland Cavaliers 

Even though the Cavaliers have been struggling lately, there is no doubt that point guard Kyrie Irving and forward LeBron James will hit their stride come playoff time. James is in it for championships, not regular season accolades. His “resting” during the season may have cost the Cavs some wins, but in the process he made sure he was healthy for the postseason stretch. Forward Kevin Love and guard J.R. Smith have both been dealing with injuries that have contributed to the team’s recent slow-down, but both are now back and healthy. Barring injury, there’s no reason the Cavs shouldn’t repeat as Eastern Conference champions.

 

Dark horse: Washington Wizards 

With John Wall and Bradley Beal in the backcourt, the Wizards have two of the best guards in the game. The dynamic duo has led Washington to unexpected regular season success after a disappointing 41-41 2015-2016 season. The often overlooked forward Otto Porter Jr. has been lights out this season and established himself as a viable third scoring option for Washington. With wing Bojan Bogdanovic bolstering the bench, the Wizards have the potential to be playoff sleepers in the East.

 

Biggest disappointment: Toronto Raptors

Last year’s Raptors made it to the conference finals, so expectations are high on this side of the border. However, the cataclysmic meteor hanging over the Raptors right now is how effective All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry will be coming off of wrist surgery on his shooting hand. While the Raptors did improve their roster at the trade deadline with the addition of power forward Serge Ibaka, neither Lowry nor star guard DeMar DeRozan play well off the ball, limiting the amount Ibaka can be incorporated into the offence. Ultimately, their over-reliance on Lowry and Derozan makes them prime candidates for a second round exit.

Commentary, Opinion

Lighten up, it’s just McGill

by Mingye Chen on

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My time at McGill has been bittersweet. As someone who came to the university right after the 2012 Quebec student protests, dissatisfaction with the administration was at an all-time high. While most current undergraduates have either forgotten or not experienced that era of McGill, that undercurrent of dissatisfaction remains. Oddly, now that I look back at my time here, I no longer feel the dissatisfaction that plagued me for so long. Perhaps it is just nostalgia, but I find myself remembering my frustrations with amusement and fondness.

My earliest memory at McGill was participating in Rad Frosh in the Fall of 2012. I was underage at the time, so I chose to participate in an alternative frosh rather than a wet one. As it turned out, I only attended the first day of Rad Frosh before tagging onto Arts Frosh events for the rest of that week. The main reason for this was the tone of Rad Frosh that year—within the context of the recent student strikes, it was extremely critical of McGill. I remember reading their orientation brochure, which declared that “James McGill was a slave owner” and criticisms of the administration. The irony did not escape me; I was a first-year excited to begin my time at McGill, and yet my introduction orientation seemed focused on the school’s problems. I remember wondering why these people attended McGill if they were so dissatisfied. I was bemused, and would soon become familiar with that feeling.

The next absurdity came quickly–2012-2013 was the year of the McTavish flood. At the time, Montreal was undertaking extensive construction on McTavish (sound familiar?), and crews had accidentally breached the McTavish Reservoir, quickly flooding lower campus. Memorably, Engineering students created a makeshift dike to protect their beloved McConnell building, and students holed up in various libraries to wait out the flood waters. Living in Upper Residence at the time, several of my friends took unwanted baths while trying to cross the river that had engulfed Robert-Bourassa Boulevard. However, these events were all overshadowed by the now infamous Flood Girl. Her falling and eventual acceptance of defeat encapsulated the universal weariness felt on campus that day. Flood Girl has heightened her myth by maintaining anonymity, and is symbolic of all students by capturing the absurdity of McGill in a uniquely relatable way.

Whatever expectations I had of university, they did not include leaving an exam while passing people in line to see the new Hobbit movie.

After the flood, Winter semester exams arrived. The McGill gym was unavailable due to construction, and so finals were held at the Scotiabank Theatre. Looking back, it was completely ridiculous. We were given food trays that slotted into the drink holders to use as desks, and were crammed into theatre rooms shoulder to shoulder. There was no way to maintain space between students and no way for invigilators to do their jobs. If you made the mistake of sitting in a center seat, you could forget about leaving until everyone else was done. The lighting was movie-theater quality–dim at even the highest setting. Whatever expectations I had of university, they did not include leaving an exam while passing people in line to see the new Hobbit movie.

Exam implementation continued to be a source of incredulity at McGill that year. While the Fall 2014 semester saw the gym reopened for exams, amusingly, an exam session in the Fieldhouse was interrupted by a fire alarm two hours in. Students were evacuated and many had the foresight to grab their phones on their way out. While officials scrambled, opportunistic students looked up answers and went over their notes. The administration chose not to address the problem or schedule a new exam. Perhaps they realized it would be a logistical nightmare to force a retest, or perhaps they lacked the resources to organize one. Whatever their reasoning, everyone appreciated the ridiculousness.

I could write a dissertation on the ridiculous things I have witnessed while at McGill. I have learned that sometimes the best way forward is to handle things as they come and laugh along the way. Sure, dealing with the seemingly endless nonsense at McGill can be frustrating, but post-McGill life is sure to be equally ridiculous. Now that I am leaving McGill after five too long yet too short years, I can finally appreciate the absurdities of McGill with a light heart. And let's be honest—McGill probably takes itself seriously enough for all of us.

Due to an error in editing, a previous version of this article incorrectly stated that McTavish Street was flooded in Fall 2012. 

 

Mingye Chen is the Business Manager at The McGill Tribune.

 

@McGillTribOp |

 

Art, Arts & Entertainment, Private

Art history student takes art to the streets under pseudonym Sloast

by Ariella Garmaise on

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Instead of hibernating in McLennan, the student artist known as Sloast has spent her graduating year steadily building up a fan base. With 1,300 Instagram followers, her support  is strong and growing. She was featured in The Market Cooperative in the Students’ Society McGill University’s (SSMU) ballroom where she first started selling her artwork, and her stickers can be seen floating across laptops on campus. She was even contacted by the University College London (UCL) to participate in their “Homeless Period Project,” an organization that provides impoverished individuals with access to sanitary products. Despite this growing notoriety, Sloast remains relatively anonymous and chose to omit her real name for this interview. 

While her artwork is scrawled across Montreal’s walls, signs, and street posts, Sloast is first and foremost a student, on the verge of recieving her degree in Art History. 

Apart from a professor who allowed to submit a painting in place of a final essay, Sloast creates mostly outside of the classroom. She experiments with a myriad of mediums, including painting, drawing, and printing stickers. Particularly interesting is her venture into street art. 

“You don’t have to be anyone to do street art—you just have to go and do it. It’s very opportunistic, and very democratic,” she explained. 

While she reveres the art form, she also recognizes the ways in which it is problematic.

“Street art is a process of gentrification,” she said. “It’s a way to bring tourists into the city, and raise rent prices. It brings the elitism of the gallery into the streets. The city pays for the murals to be here. Street art is supposed to be subversive, but how can it be subversive if the city wants it here?”

Insightful and self-aware, this criticism extends to her own privileged position, one that she readily acknowleges. Sloast describes the financial and emotional support her parents have given her as invaluable, and is cognizant of the advantages her privelege affords her. 

“I’ve never had an issue with the cops, and being white has helped with that,” she explained.  “I’m not seen as threatening.”

 Sloast’s mindfulness is a driving creative force. While not overtly political, her pieces are a reaction to a long precedent of white, male artists—a history she has studied throughout her degree. Her tag, “Eye see you,” gives women agency. 

“It is an active female gaze,” Sloast said. 

Sloast’s work is broadly influenced by feminism, spirituality, and the natural world, and she finds a nexus between these themes both aesthetically and thematically. Her pieces blend together inorganic pinks, purples, and blues in psychedelic patterns, sometimes incorporating a woman’s face and body, other times merely abstract. At the moment, she looks to ecofeminism for inspiration. 

“I am interested in Mother Nature as a living entity,” Sloast mused. 

As she enters her final month of university, Sloast is overwhelmed by the onslaught of final essays and exams, just like her peers. However, she is also planning where the next phase of her creative journey will take her, looking to travel to São Paulo, Brazil to teach and make art. 

Despite the stress, Sloast looks forward to the creative freedom graduation will bring. 

“Art for me has been a great way to de-stress and relax, which makes it less statement or political based,” she explained. “I hope once I’m out of an academic mindset that I can [channel] that critical energy into my art, as opposed to my papers,”   

Hesitant to limit herself to a permanent address or profession, Sloast has not envisioned a concrete future for herself. Nonetheless, Sloast is ambitious and brave. Just as she has done throughout her years at McGill, she is likely to continue carving unique opportunities for herself. 

“I know if I keep working, more opportunities will come,” Sloast said. “I have a lot of faith and courage in myself.”

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