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News, PGSS

Macdonald Campus holds referendum to explore disaffiliation with graduate student governance

by Kendall McGowan on

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Following a week-long campaign period, the Macdonald Campus Graduate Students’ Society (MCGSS) will hold a referendum on March 30 for its members to decide whether or not to explore disaffiliatation from the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS), which currently represents students on both the downtown and Macdonald campuses. If the motion passes, it would provide MCGSS executives with a mandate to initate the process for a second referendum on the question of whether to disaffiliate or remain a part of PGSS.

MCGSS President Jaaved Singh explained the Society’s wish to sever its ties with PGSS due to students’ poor representation within PGSS, difficulties in communication, and limited access to the resources and services on the downtown campus. Meanwhile, PGSS Secretary-General Victor Frankel expressed concern that, as one of the larger Post-Graduate Student Associations at McGill, MCGSS voting to disaffiliate would significantly lower the number of PGSS members.

“If this passes, we stand to lose a lot of important members,” Frankel said. “People that are really great advocates for graduate students, education, student rights, transparency in governance, all these things that I think MCGSS members really add to the strength of PGSS.”

Singh had issue with MCGSS’ relatively limited representation within PGSS. Normally, the nine departments that MCGSS represents would independently have a total of 18 votes; however, due to the difficulties involved in transporting 18 students from the various departments downtown for regular meetings, all nine departments are instead represented by the singular MCGSS, which gets only three votes on the PGSS Legislative Council.

“[The current voting structure] gives a huge power imbalance,” Singh said. “Technically, we’re a larger group that fills a smaller role within the PGSS structure.”

Krittika Mittal, a PhD student in Natural Resource Sciences (NRS) and student representative for the NRS department in PGSS, cited several challenges arising from the distance between the two campuses. According to Mittal, living and working near the Macdonald campus means she almost never uses the services at the downtown campus.

“If I’m paying for all those resources and services, but I’m not using them there, why are we paying money to PGSS?” Mittal said. “If 100 per cent of the fees I’m paying are going to the Macdonald campus community and I’m able to access those resources here, I think it’s just better that way.”

MCGSS members will lose certain advantages if the disaffiliation passes, including access to PGSS’ Thomson House, various events and discounts, and the PGSS health and dental plan. However, Singh mentioned that there would be negotiations over service provision and that there are several types of membership, such as associate rather than full members. Additionally, he said that MCGSS could try to adopt the Macdonald Campus Students’ Society’s (MCSS) health and dental plan should the referendum pass. Currently, MCSS represents undergraduate students on the Macdonald campus.

“I see the future with MCSS being more of a partnership–not one organization, but two organizations with joined agreements or missions that affect all students,” Singh said. “Working with MCSS is a lot easier because we’re less than five minutes away from speaking with them. It’s a lot easier than having to get all the way downtown.”

Singh emphasized that MCGSS wouldn’t go any further in rejoining MCSS, citing the progress made since the organization’s initial split in 2012.

“MCGSS becoming independent from MCSS has developed a stronger student union culture within MCGSS,” Singh said. “Before, you pretty much had all the campus responsibilities under MCSS and all the graduate representation under PGSS, so there wasn’t a niche for MCGSS to fill, and since MCGSS separated from MCSS, it started getting more involved.”

Frankel concluded that PGSS would prefer to see MCGSS stay, but would support them regardless of how they voted. Singh emphasized that entertaining the notion of separating was logistical and financial, not personal.

“There’s no resentment, it’s just the current situation operating within PGSS is not working for MCGSS, so we want to become our own group and disaffiliate [from] them,” Singh said. “We think it makes sense to become our own group, with our own fees, and that way we can really tailor our services and support to Mac grad students.”

 

A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the March 30 motion was on the question of whether MCGSS should disafilliate from PGSS or not. In fact, the motion was on whether MCGSS executives should explore dissafilliation. A second referendum would be required to actually separate the two societies. The Tribune regrets this error.

Arts & Entertainment, Theatre

Bringing the McGill Drama Festival to life

by Morgan Davis on

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The McGill Drama Festival (MDF) is an annual event that takes place at Players’ Theatre on the third floor of SSMU. MDF prides itself on its six plays being entirely written, acted, and produced by students, and aims to promote inclusiveness in the McGill theatre community. 2017 co-coordinators Jordan Devon, U3 Arts, and Kaleigh Bourk, U2 Arts, were inspired to take on a major role in the development of the festival because of a strong sense of community. 

“[The festival] brings so many people together in the theatre community,” Bourk said. “You get to display student written work, which is the best part about it—just the fact that you’re producing something that your friend in Chemistry class could’ve written. I find that’s the most incredible thing about it.” 

Devon stressed that one of the reasons that student involvement in the MDF is so vital is that McGill community allows for a diverse collection of works to be submitted.

“It was so wonderful to be in a cast where the director was studying theatre but the actors were studying political science and biology,” Devon explained.“It’s such a wonderful thing to coordinate a festival where people from all different walks of life come together. You have students who aren’t English majors submitting works and they get the opportunity to have their work seen.” 

Former McGill student Cain Humeniuk is the writer of existential drama The Loops. His writing process was the result of nursing the idea for the play in his head for years. 

“A lot of the time, you’re trying to write and collect your thoughts that you have on life and the world,” Humeniuk said. “And so, I guess that’s the main point of what I was trying to do [with Loops], is take these philosophical thoughts and idealistic thoughts I’ve had [….] It’s really telling my experience of spirituality, individuality, and existentialism.”  

MDF’s support of student work is further exemplified by the annual Colin Krivy Award. Years ago, Colin Krivy was involved in theatre at McGill. After his death in 2004, the Krivy family set up a fund of $500—awarded to the best playwright of the festival. The winner is determined by three judges, one of whom is a family friend of the Krivys and the other two are faculty members in the Department of English. 

One special aspect of the event is the connections and relationships that develop amid the spirited work required to put it all together. 

“It becomes like a huge family,” Devon reminisced. “It’s such a lovely experience to bond with so many people from different environments.” 

The Ever Present Witness by Maddie Joliffe 

A 1950s nuclear family is not what it seems. Maintaining their cool façade proves to be difficult as double lives and secrets become increasingly dangerous.

Joshua by Laura Jarecsni

Joshua illuminates the universal stress of trying to fit in through the experiences of Jesus Christ.

The Original by Daniel Galef

The Original follows the lineage of ancient entertainment and modern pop culture through adaptations of theatre classics such as Romeo and Juliet and A Comedy of Errors. Epochs and genres clash in this musical adaptation of literary and theatrical history.

Loops by Cain Humeniuk

Time is thrown for a loop in Loops. In this play about the human condition and the nature of knowledge, the protagonist must decipher a sudden shift in scenery and escape before time runs out. 

The Mixer: A Fratire in One Act by Benjamin Butz-Weidner

This one act play lampoons the debauchery of frat culture in an absurd, Hangover-style adventure.

The Meeting to Save Goody Diana by Michaela Kim

This postmodern take on the Salem Witch Trials calls into question individual and historical actions, the supernatural and magical, and the cruelty of humankind.

The McGill Drama Festival runs March 29 to April 8 at Player’s Theatre in the SSMU Building. Tickets are $6 for one night of three shows, and $10 for a festival pass­, which provides access to each show once on any day.  For a full schedule visit the Players’ Theatre’s Facebook page. Tickets can be reserved by emailing [email protected]. 

Album Reviews, Arts & Entertainment, Music

Staff roundup: Drake – ‘More Life’

by April Barrett, Selin Altunter, Ariella Garmaise, Eric Noble-Marks, Jordan Foy, Morgan Davis on

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In More Life, Drake’s propensity for picking up Caribbean sound and slang is strong, and his growing paranoia of the people around him is stronger. Still, Drake’s talent lies in his humour and humility, and a few moments on More Life demonstrate that he hasn’t fully lost that yet. 

Drake shows a sincere commitment to putting on black diasporic music, from South African house producer Black Coffee to Jamaican-Canadian dancehall producer Boi1da. Drake does well with “Get It Together,” where Brit teen Jorja Smith carries an emotion-soaked melody over African house drums, and “Madiba Riddim,” an afrobeat-nod. Cool, jazzy “Passionfruit” is another stand out, remnisicent of 2015’s “Sweeterman.” Though More Life’s cultural taste-testing is rightfully questionable, these stand-out tracks show that, at the very least, Drake is a masterful curator of borrowed sounds.  

—April Barrett, Managing Editor

I had high hopes for Drake after the disappointing VIEWS release last April, but More Life fails to make up for its predecessor. That said, a personal highlight on More Life is when Drake spills on his failed attempts to drunk text Jennifer Lopez on “Free Smoke.” Songs like “Blem” and “Madiba Riddim” are drenched in island sounds accompanied by Caribbean slang that Drake has for some reason recently acquired. So, if you’re tired of ‘Jamaican Drake,’ this is not the playlist for you. 

The horde of features tends to overshadow Drake­. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons why Drake is referring to his new work as a “playlist” instead of an album. He’s moving from centre stage to create a tribute to his most respected artists.

—Morgan Davis, Staff Writer

The boy is back. It’s clear off the hop that More Life proves to be a sleek, polished, and eclectic work that offers more than last year’s VIEWS. The playlist includes Drake’s traditional mix of fiery bangers, like the opener “Free Smoke,” and cool R&B jams, such as “Teenage Fever,” but Drake also experiments with other genres. “Get it Together” is a catchy house song, and Drake dabbles in grime on “No Long Talk” and “KMT.” Lyrically, Drake reiterates the same familiar idioms—drunk texts to exes, hypocritical ruminations about his insecurities, and firing shots at enemies. A strong cast of collaborators from Kanye West to Jorja Smith helps to diversify the sound of More Life.

—Jordan Foy, Contributor

Even before I listened to the songs, I found More Life’s “playlist” branding gimmicky and self-indulgent.  

Album opener “Free Smoke” seems to mark a genuinely unique musical experience. The lyrics that follow, however, launch Drake back into whiny territory. Along with a petty, attention-grabbing reference to drunk texting Jennifer Lopez, the track falls in line with Drake’s usual complaints.

More Life is not without highlights. “Glow”—Drake’s collaboration with Kanye West—is my favourite on the album, especially when Kanye references “Started from the bottom now here we go.” Nai Palm and Kanye’s contributions are memorable, but if Drake had emphasized different artists even more heavily, the album could have been a bona fide playlist.

 —Ariella Garmaise, Staff Writer

Drake’s More Life is a pseudo-emotional playlist that fails to innovate. Capitalizing once again on self-indulgent tirades against past flings, Drake missed a golden opportunity to differentiate himself from his sad boy image. Somehow, even the album’s “feel-good” songs are tainted with self-pity. From “Blem” onwards, every track trudges along at the same slow, droning pace—making it difficult to justify sitting through the one hour and 21 minute runtime of More Life. It should be noted, however, that this relaxed pace does work in “4422,” as do Sampha’s ghostly vocals. Yet the album as a whole is far too much of a chore to endure to the end.

 —Selin Altuntur, A&E Editor

The ethos of More Life is largely summed up in the first word of its title. The album, if you can call it that, largely offers a continuation of Drake’s commercially golden formula rather than a definitive, or interesting, break from the past. There are more chilly trap bangers, more half-hearted forays into dancehall and grime, more moody, sentimental lyricism, and clumsy flow. 

Credit where credit’s due, Drake’s questionable mining of Afro-Carribean, South African, and Atlantan musical traditions does strike gold from time to time. Nevertheless, Drake’s nasal fuckboyery feels decidedly awkward over these lush soundscapes and sounds downright boring over more straightforward production. Stick around for the earworms and don’t sweat the details. There’s plenty of great hip-hop out there right now. Don’t spend an hour and a half on this.

—Eric Noble-Marks, Staff Writer

 

Science & Technology

McGill conference commemorates World Tuberculosis Day

by Andy Wang on

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The diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis (TB) remain the top two leading public health challenges of the 21st century. First identified in 1882, mycobacterium tuberculosis is by far the world’s most successful pathogen: One-third of the world's population is infected, with 10.4 million new infections and 1.8 million deaths in 2015. In recognition of the date of its discovery, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated March 24 as World TB Day. The McGill Chapter of Universities Allied for Essential Medicines hosted a conference to commemorate the day.

Tuberculosis is resistant to most antibiotics and can evolve to become resilient to the few drugs that are available to treat it. In addition, its ability to manipulate the human immune response poses a particular challenge to the development of a TB vaccine.

Macrophages are immune cells that engulf and compartmentalize foreign particles, such as bacteria. When they are not able to destroy these particles, multiple macrophages will merge together to partition the particles from the rest of the body. This collection of macrophages, called granulomas, is an ancient mechanism of protection. Following millions of years of co-evolution, mycobacterium tuberculosis uses these granulomas as a source of nutrients and the bacteria’s compartmentalization allows it to effectively hide from the rest of the immune system.

TB is a unique disease in that 90 to 95 per cent of those initially infected do not exhibit any symptoms and 90 per cent of these individuals will never develop active TB. However, with one-third of the world’s population infected, the comparatively minute percentage of active infections represents a huge number of people that require treatment. Moreover, TB is quite contagious.

The current frontline medications against tuberculosis are isoniazid and rifampin. The increase in the number of multiple drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases has spurred the development and licensing of two new TB drugs: Bedaquiline in 2012 and delamanid in 2014. Their approval for commercial use was met by celebration in the TB treatment community, representing the first and second new TB drugs in over 50 years.

However, current public health policies in most countries have not allowed these drugs to be widely used. Similarly, despite multiple advances in the precision and accuracy of TB diagnostic tests, microscopy smears continue to be the primary test to look for an active infection—the same method Robert Koch used to discover the bacterium more than a century ago.

In the conference held on March 23, Dr. Madhukar Pai, director of the McGill Global Health Program, highlighted the issues surrounding diagnosis.

“Out of 10.4 million active TB patients, only 6.1 million are showing up on the books,” Dr. Pai said. “Most TB patients will go to wherever they’re used to going, such as the local chemist, a sangoma, or a faith healer in the community. There is no TB test at the level of primary care.”

Cultural practices lie at the heart of the issue, and the lack of political will in many TB endemic countries, such as India and South Africa, continue to hinder the progress of proper diagnoses.

“The best test we have currently is the GeneXpert MTB, which is more than 90 per cent accurate,” Dr. Pai said. “However, there is a loss of resistance to its use. It’s more expensive than the smears and people don’t trust it.”

GeneXpert MTB is a molecular test for TB and enables the enhancement of specific DNA fragments. Therefore, it is also able to discern a drug susceptible strain from a multiple drug-resistant strain, bridging the time for MDR-TB patients to receive more aggressive treatment options.

The conference also addressed the gap between the development of new drugs and patient access.

“One the biggest challenges to successful introduction [of bedaqiline and delamanid] has been the incredibly tepid recommendations made by the WHO about the use of the new drugs,” Dr. Jennifer Furin, a lecturer on global health and social medicine at Harvard University, said. “Nowhere in their guidelines do they mention the toxicity and the lack of efficacy of the treatments we use now.”

Indeed, many of the speakers were displeased by the recent actions of the WHO, which has just published a list of priority pathogens for research funding. TB did not make the list.

“I don’t think that the WHO is merely indifferent to TB. I think it’s contempt. I think the WHO and the global health organizations that have been charged with helping people who are suffering from this disease, view them with great contempt,” Dr. Furin said.

The most-cited argument by the WHO against the availability of new drugs has been the fear that their overuse would lead to resistance. But the speakers at the conference voiced a counterargument: Why are we not protecting lives instead?

Arts & Entertainment, Theatre

TNC’s ‘Stop Kiss’ is a familiar yet enchanting love story

by Sophie Brzozowski on

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Stop Kiss—written by Diana Son and directed by Alex Levesque—takes place, like so many other plays, in the West Village of Manhattan. It is there, amid the ubiquitous brownstones and manicured greenery, that Callie (Maha Nagaria), lives by herself, working as a traffic news reporter. Meanwhile, just a couple subway stops away, Sarah (Esmée Cook) has just moved in from St. Louis, having procured a teaching fellowship in the Bronx. When  the two meet for the first time, Callie offers her new friend the advice of a seasoned New Yorker—“If it gets too rough… go home.”

It’s hard to pinpoint the reason that New York City appeals to storytellers the way it does. It must be some combination of history, industry, and heterogeneity that has given the city its infamous reputation. Bright Lights, Big City, RENT, and other such stories made the city hallowed ground for stories of the misfits and the mavericks. Yet Friends, Sex and the City, and Seinfeld turned NYC into a stock setting—so uncool and overdone that now we’re starting to write romcoms that take place in Philadelphia or Chicago, instead. Where the NYC setting has failed in television it has thrived on stage—NYC remains the theatre capital of the world, and succeeds in  representing not only the diversity, but the challenges that the notorious city poses.

Callie and Sarah’s story isn’t a particularly groundbreaking one. It deals with themes of self-acceptance, fear of the unknown, and prejudice—all of which are, frankly, done to death. At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be anything very particular about a tale of two girls from two very different worlds, both trying to make it in the big city. Their issues are mundane and simple, not unlike our own. Both girls are battling with self-denial, identity, and their feelings for one another—storytelling tropes as old as fairytales.

This is perhaps why the content warning on the program might take audience members by surprise at first, with it’s threat of “graphic and emotional descriptions of violence.” The play begins innocently enough, with the promise of friendship between the two young girls, but quickly takes a dark turn as another, more ominous thread begins to unravel. Before long, it is revealed that Sarah is in a coma after being attacked during a night out.

Stars Nagaria and Cook delivered a genuine, if slightly uneven, performance. Miles Keily-Baxter portrayed Callie’s neglectful, sort-of boyfriend with such familiar poignancy that his mere presence onstage immediately elicited an eye-roll from the crowd.

The audience can’t help but become invested in the story as its complexities begin to reveal themselves. It’s a simple story, and not without its hokey moments and the occasional bit of corny dialogue.Yet there’s a reason we keep coming back to NYC for classic love stories—derivative though they may be. Stop Kiss is not a play for the cynics or the skeptics—it’s a play for anyone who’s not too cool for a good, old-fashioned love story that represents many important aspects of humanity. Callie and Sarah’s story is sweet and funny and heartbreaking all at once—and it’s one that merits attention.

TNC’s Stop Kiss is playing from March 29-April 1 at 8 p.m. in Morrice Hall in the Islamic Studies Building, 3485 Rue McTavish. Tickets are $6 for students and $10 general admission. 

McGill, News

McGill denies that Andrew Potter’s resignation is related to academic freedom

by William Pang on

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On March 22, Andrew Potter, McGill graduate and former editor-in-chief of the Ottawa Citizen, resigned as director of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada (MISC). Potter was appointed for a three-year term beginning in August 2016.

Potter’s resignation followed the publication of a column he authored in Maclean’s magazine on March 20. The article linked the shutdown of a major highway during a snowstorm on March 14 with the lack of trust within Quebec society. Since its publication, Maclean’s has clarified certain statements that were in the original article.

The column drew criticism from notable public figures, including Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard and Federal Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly. McGill subsequently posted a tweet on March 21 from its official account which stated that the university does not share Potter’s views.

In a resignation statement posted on his Twitter, Potter acknowledged the flaws in his article. The statement also noted that Potter will continue as an associate professor in the Faculty of Arts, which is part of his three-year contract.

“I deeply regret many aspects of the column—its sloppy use of anecdotes, its tone, and the way it comes across as deeply critical of the entire province,” Potter wrote. “That wasn’t my intention, and I am heartbroken that the situation has evolved the way it has.”

Editorials and op-eds published by The Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, and the National Post heavily criticized McGill’s tweet for reasons including that the university was stifling freedom of speech. Some suggested that Potter’s resignation was due to pressures exerted by the university’s administration.

Jonathan Kay, McGill graduate and editor-in-chief of The Walrus, reminded critics to consider the fact that Potter was not only a pundit, but also the director of a renowned institute.

“[McGill is] located within Quebec and [has] active partnerships with all kinds of government bodies and Quebec entities,” Kay wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune. “So, it's weird for [Potter] to write a column that basically says ‘Quebec blows.’ [….] Doing so greatly complicates [Potter’s] status as administrative head of this prominent body at McGill University, whose mandate touches directly on the subject of [his] column.”

A press release signed by McGill Principal and Vice Chancellor Suzanne Fortier on March 23 refuted claims that Potter was pressured to resign.

“[Potter’s] resignation provoked unfounded rumours and concerns regarding academic freedom,” Fortier wrote. “I want to assure members of the McGill community that academic freedom is a foundational principle of McGill University, as enunciated in our Senate-and Board-approved Statement of Academic Freedom.”

McGill Internal Communications Director Doug Sweet wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune that it is an important distinction that Potter signed the piece as Director of MISC. According to Sweet, academics need to distinguish when they are speaking on their own behalf and expressing their personal views.

“Had the article in question been signed by the Professor as an individual academic, the University would have had a responsibility to defend a matter of academic freedom,” Sweet wrote. “[….Potter’s] resignation from that post was not accepted because of controversy surrounding the article or whether McGill agreed with it or not; the resignation was accepted because the article’s publication had significantly hampered Professor Potter’s ability to perform his duties as Director of MISC.”

Terry Hébert, pharmacology and therapeutics professor and president of the McGill Association of University Teachers (MAUT), emphasized the importance of academics being able to express ideas without fear of repercussion from the administration.

“MAUT is always deeply concerned about academic freedom—we worked very hard to get McGill to adopt [a statement of academic freedom],” Hébert wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune. “You can bet the issue will be raised at Senate, as I will raise it myself–and I imagine many others will as well. Going forward, it would be good to hear from all parties involved as to what happened, Professor Potter included.”

Hébert was also critical of McGill’s initial response to Potter’s article.

“McGill probably should have responded by a venue other than Twitter because the issue was more complicated than a simple tweet merited,” Hébert wrote. “[The tweet] could be interpreted many ways–some innocuous, some not.”

Science & Technology

Indigenous communities continue to face disproportionate barriers to health

by Gustina Giordano on

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Dr. Ojistoh Horn, from the nearby Mohawk Kahnawake Nation, spoke at the Women’s Health Conference hosted by McGill’s Comparative Healthcare Systems on March 11. The conference aimed to spark conversations on the structural and social determinants of health within Canada.

After attending medical school at the University of British Columbia, Dr. Horn returned east to complete a fellowship in maternal and child health in McGill’s Family Medicine residency program.

Dr. Horn explained that over 500 years ago, there was an Iroquois community in Hochelaga, the land where McGill currently stands. It is a very important place for her personally and culturally.

“I have an unbroken female lineage, an unbroken tie to this area, this place,” Dr. Horn explained.

At her workshop titled, “A Day in the Life of My Clinic,” Dr. Horn said a few words of the Ohenthen Kariwatekwen to share a piece of culture with the workshop participants.

“[The Ohenthen Kariwatekwen is] an acknowledgement of where we are in nature and that we are not above nature, we are part of her and we were put here to take care of her,” Dr. Horn said. “What’s happening to our Earth is a reflection of what’s happening to us.”

Due to this belief, Dr. Horn has explained the importance of taking care of one’s health in a culturally relevant way.

“I talk to my patients about taking care of themselves and I do it in a way that is culturally relevant,” Dr. Horn said. ”If I tell them to go running, they are not going to understand that, but if I tell them to go outside and hear the tones of the birds […] and look up at the sky, they go, ‘Yeah, I should do that.’”

Dr. Horn works in Akwesasne, a Mohawk community on the U.S.-Canada border. Half of the community is in New York and the other half is situated between Quebec and Ontario, which creates major problems in terms of travel between the different parts of Akwesasne and health care jurisdiction.

Crossing the border to get different health care or coverage is a huge challenge for Dr. Horn’s patients, many of whom are at a high health risk. She encounters a myriad of difficult cases in her practice, including problems of opioid addicts, fertility problems, obesity, smoking, kidney disease, and sleep apnea. However, she must resort to tackling these problems using outdated medical tools due to the limited health care coverage for indigenous communities in both countries. She also has patients who are healthy yet considered high-risk due to their heritage. Dr. Horn overcomes these barriers by building strong relationships with her female patients.

“I have created a relationship with her where she has trust and that is the crux of the situation on the reserves,” Dr. Horn said.

To be an effective doctor, Dr. Horn emphasized the formation of trusting relationships with her patients. But it is still difficult to come back to the community due to lateral violence—referring to the displaced violence against one’s peers—from the patients towards the doctors. Dr. Horn acknowledges the difficulties of going back to one’s indigenous community after becoming a doctor, but she stresses that  it has been a rewarding journey. She is inspired by the increasing interest she sees in young girls for becoming midwives.

“We have a lot of girls in our community who are really inspired by the idea of becoming a midwife,” Dr. Horn said. “It is so culturally important, so historically important, and it is going to bring our women back to the same level that we lost.”

Dr. Horn hopes to bring births back to the communities and help revive cultural heritage, bringing back a sense of community and empowering the next generation of indigenous women.

Basketball, Sports

Point Counterpoint: Should NBA Teams Rest Stars

by Stephen Gill, Gabriel Rincon on

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With NBA commissioner Adam Silver recently weighing in on the debate of whether or not teams should rest their stars, our writers give their opinions.

Players should be allowed to rest Players should not be allowed to rest

Players should be allowed to rest

With the NBA season lasting seven grueling months, teams have turned to sitting their players during select games in order to help them cope with the physical strain of the year. Gone are the days in which a player could log 40 or more minutes every night without an occasional night off. Players have become bigger, faster, and stronger than they were 20 years ago, when ballers like Michael Jordan could go all-out every night. Coaches and trainers now work players harder and exhaust their bodies more and more with each successive season. Nowadays, NBA players cannot physically drain themselves night after night without proper rest. If they do play through exhaustion, their performance suffers and they become more susceptible to injury. 

The most common game for teams to sit their stars is on the second night of a back-to-back games. Sports scientists have found that teams that play back-to-back games are significantly less likely to win the second leg of these series. This is because players are fatigued and with fatigue comes injury. In an interview with ESPN, sleep scientist Dr. Charles Czeisler suggested playing on a back-to-back is like trying to compete on an empty stomach–it doesn’t work. Additionally, when not given enough time to recover, the chemical balance in an athlete’s body gets thrown off, leading to health problems. NBA teams have recognized the necessity of rest throughout the season. Infrequent nights off for players have become normal across the league and while some—like the Charlotte Hornets—still do not embrace this practice, an ever increasing number of teams have realized the disadvantages of playing while tired.

The payoff for keeping players in every game is low when compared to the drawbacks of wearing down the body of a franchise player. Like tread on a tire, athletes can only work so hard before they break down. For the best teams, there is little to gain by winning a random regular season game. Last year, the Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry entered the playoffs with an ailing knee and elbow injuries as his team pushed to break the 1995 Chicago Bulls’ regular season win-loss record. Though the Warriors won 73 games to break the record, those meaningless minutes late in the season haunted Golden State, who saw their MVP point-guard’s knee deteriorate in the playoffs. Without their star at 100 per cent, the Warriors couldn’t repeat as champions, falling in game seven of the NBA Finals to Lebron and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The argument against resting players often points to disappointing contests that match up two top teams, only for all of the important players to sit. There’s no question that these situations are a letdown, but fans must consider the alternative to the occasional disappointing regular-season game. With measures already taken to prevent player injuries, last year’s playoffs saw three NBA stars–Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and Curry–suffer season-altering ailments. It is likely that even more players would be sacrificed to injuries if teams weren’t resting their players.

Ultimately, the decision comes down to when the basketball world wants the NBA to reach its highest level. If superstar players sit out the occasional game, they can compete more intensely for the other 75-or-so nights that  they’re on the court. Though the regular season might lose an interesting story line every so often, die-hard fans would prefer having their teams play late into June rather than see the stars go all-out in mid-February. Sitting players is thus the best option available, allowing the highest number of players to compete at their greatest levels with seasons on the line.

— Stephen Gill

 

Players should not be allowed to rest

March 11, 2017: It’s a Saturday afternoon in prime time. The AT&T Center in San Antonio is packed with a sell-out crowd. Fans are energized to see one of the best matchups in basketball: The San Antonio Spurs versus the Golden State Warriors. But, in a game between the top teams in the league–when a game-winning three from Steph Curry or a clutch Kawhi Leonard steal should have been the story on SportsCenter—the fans were treated to a collection of benchwarmers in both teams’ starting lineups. With five All-Stars spending the night on the bench, fans were privileged to see the world’s highest-paid cheerleading squad put on a team spirit spectacle. Though injuries can obviously keep a player out on any given night, these stars weren’t injured, nor did they forget their sneakers at home; rather the coaching staff just decided they needed rest. Instead of seeing the All-Stars and their high-flying theatrics, fans paid to see the benchwarmers log starting minutes.

This story isn’t a new one. In December 2016, one fan reportedly travelled four hours and spent $800 only to find out the man he came to see play–LeBron James–was resting that evening. As the face of the NBA, James has been under significant scruity for taking nights off. The March 11 Spurs vs Warriors game is an especially egregious example of resting. The game was sold out, with 18,418 people in attendance, paying an average of $58.45 for their tickets. If t the fans had known in advance they were paying to see Kevin Looney make his fourth career start, they might not have paid half that amount. And, frankly, clearing the bench makes for poor basketball.

To clarify, there is nothing wrong with resting players who are injured or airing on the side of caution to avoid aggravating an existing injury, but in these cases healthy players were taking the night off. In the NBA, star players have an outsized impact on the league’s appeal. If the fans are angry, the companies that purchased ad time must be furious. They pay untold amounts of money to expose their product or service to millions of people. Without stars, significantly lower amounts of people view games, making the commerical time worth substantially less. Thus, teams that are going to rest their stars for a nationally televised game must give companies sufficient warning in advance or they face a hefty fine from the league. The Spurs—a repeat offender—were fined $250,000 in 2012 for resting their stars against James’s Miami Heat. At the end of the day, the NBA is in the business of entertaining: Fans pay to be entertained and ABC pays to provide good television. 

Obviously, the best television would be to have the best two teams perfectly healthy in the finals, which might involve lightening the workload for some players down the final stretch of the season once a playoff spot is assured. However, sitting someone out for an entire game should not be an option. It should be noted that these players don’t want to be on the sidelines in their expensive suits—they want to be playing. MVP-candidate James Harden told reporters in March, “I just want to hoop. I’ll rest when I’m done.” It is evident that some teams do not believe their stars can play all 82 games plus a lengthy playoffs. Coaches are responsible for keeping their players fit and ready for a championship run, but surely there are other ways to keep players healthy than insulting fans by turning NBA games into D-League exhibitions.

— Gabriel Rincon

 

Editor's Pick

We agree that for the health and safety of the players, the NBA should allow them to rest.

News, SSMU

AUS Legislative Council appoints VP Finance and Arts Representative replacements

by Rebecca Zhuang on

More in News:

At the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) Legislative Council meeting on March 22, Noah Lew and Catherine Jeffery were appointed to fill two vacant positions on the Council, Vice-President (VP) Finance and Arts Representative to SSMU. The Council also discussed possible projects to improve the Leacock Building, such as renovating the Arts Lounge. A plan to repurpose the Leacock terrace into an amphitheatre and the Leacock Space Project–which aims to redesign certain spaces within the Leacock Building–were also discussed.

The Council also provided an update on the 2017 Arts Frosh. According to VP Social Kat Sviknushin, the Arts Frosh Committee has already been hired and a record-breaking number of over 700 applications for Arts Frosh Leaders were received this year.

Motions to appoint VP Finance and Arts Representative to SSMU

Arts Financial Management Committee (FMC) Representative Lew was appointed as AUS VP Finance to replace former VP Finance Deepak Punjabi, who resigned on March 20. Lew was elected AUS VP Finance in the 2017 AUS Winter Executive Election on Feb. 23 for the 2017-18 term and was previously scheduled to begin his term on May 1.

“This motion would allow me to begin my term early so there’s no interim period when AUS has no one responsible for AUS finances,” Lew said. "I’ve already been doing my training and transition sessions with the previous VP Finance, so I’m aware of my duties and [I’m] able to perform them.”

AUS President Becky Goldberg addressed the confusion and speculation around Punjabi’s reason for resignation.

“[Punjabi] found a job off campus,” Goldberg said. “The reason we didn’t [reveal this initially] is because you shouldn’t necessarily be encouraged to find a job part way through another job, but I’m glad that he’s doing what he needs to do.”

Arts Community Engagement (ACE) Committee Commissioner Jeffery was appointed as the Arts Representative to SSMU. She was elected as the incoming Arts Representative for the 2017-18 term, but will start her term early as a replacement for former Arts Representative Igor Sadikov, who resigned from his position on March 8.

Space improvements to Leacock Building

Councillors discussed the progress of the Leacock Space Project, an initiative that was started in 2014 to redesign and renovate spaces in the Leacock Building. Plans for SNAX–the student-run cafe located on the first floor of Leacock–are included in the project.

“[The Leacock Space Project] is pretty costly and we don’t have the money for it, but there are a few things that are pretty central and would actually improve student life, like adding seating at SNAX,” Goldberg said.

According to Goldberg, AUS was unable to apply to the Arts Undergraduate Improvement Fund (AUIF) for funding to implement these changes, as a commitment of finances from the Faculty of Arts was not pledged until after AUIF deadlines. However, there is the possibility of casting an online vote to secure funding with AUIF, specifically to install coverage for recycling bins, trash cans, and seating at SNAX.

A majority of the Council expressed their interest in renovating the Arts Lounge space in the Leacock basement. Goldberg explained that in order to make any significant changes to the lounge, AUS must consult with Campus Space and Planning, then hire professionals to assess the lounge and decide what improvements can be made.

VP Academic Erik Partridge spoke about the Leacock Terrace, for which construction is scheduled to begin in 2018.

“[McGill is] planning to renovate the Leacock Terrace to include an amphitheatre in the space between Leacock and McTavish, which would involve re-sloping that area, and they would like to make it available for students,” Partridge said.

Partridge also expressed concerns he had about the practicality of the amphitheatre.

“It’s somewhat problematic because it would be an outdoor amphitheatre without a roof and I don’t know how many of you actually want to stay outside in the winter,” Partridge said.

Baseball, Sports

10 Things: Players in New Homes

by Erich Rothmann on

More in Baseball:

With the season just around the corner, check out these ten superstar players finding themselves in a different city for 2017.

1.   Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale

The Boston Red Sox made the biggest splash of the offseason by acquiring Chris Sale from the Chicago White Sox for a package of prospects headlined by second baseman Yoan Moncada. While new teammate Rick Porcello is the reigning AL Cy Young winner, Sale is the more dominant pitcher on the Red Sox’s roster. He also has a team-friendly contract through 2019, which includes a $12 million salary for this season.

2.   Cubs closer Wade Davis

The Chicago Cubs acquired pitcher Wade Davis in a trade with the Kansas City Royals for talented young outfielder Jorge Soler. Davis replaces Aroldis Chapman, who returned to the Yankees as the closer. While his fastball’s velocity is not quite as impressive as Chapman’s, he finished 2016 with an excellent 1.87 ERA.

3.   Indians first baseman Edwin Encarnacion

The Cleveland Indians unexpectedly signed first baseman Edwin Encarnacion to a three-year, $60 million contract after he reportedly initially sought a five-year, $125 million deal. He has hit at least 34 home runs while posting an OBP of .354 or higher in every season since 2012. The Indians’ offence should be dangerous in 2017 with Encarnacion, shortstop Francisco Lindor, and designated hitter Carlos Santana in the lineup.

4.   Rockies first baseman Ian Desmond

The Colorado Rockies shocked the baseball world by signing Ian Desmond to a five-year, $70 million contract. Desmond played shortstop and outfield for the Washington Nationals and Texas Rangers, yet the Rockies are well-stocked at those positions. On his new team, he will transition to first base and could reach the 20 home run and 20 stolen base plateau for the fifth time in his career. Unfortunately, surgery on his left hand will cause him to miss at least the first month of the season.

5.   Astros designated hitter Carlos Beltran

At age 39 last season, this former All-Star continued to produce with a .295 batting average, 29 homers, and 93 RBI. Carlos Beltran’s days as a base-stealer and star defender are over, but his bat and leadership should help a young Houston Astros team contend in the American League this season.

6.   Cardinals outfielder Dexter Fowler

Outfielder Dexter Fowler agreed to a five-year, $82.5 million deal with the St. Louis Cardinals following a career year with the Chicago Cubs. He finished 2016 as one of the elite leadoff men in the game with above-average defence in centerfield. The Cardinals expect him to be an offensive catalyst at the top of their lineup.  

7.   Giants closer Mark Melancon

While he doesn’t receive as much attention as fellow closers Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen, and Zach Britton, Mark Melancon has been consistently dominant over the past four seasons, including a 1.64 ERA and 47 saves with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Nationals in 2016. He should continue to thrive at the San Francisco Giants’ pitcher-friendly park.

8.   Yankees designated hitter Matt Holliday

The New York Yankees’ rationale for signing Matt Holliday is similar to that of the Houston Astros’ for signing Carlos Beltran. Holliday’s leadership skills will not show up directly in a box score but will prove vital for a young team with playoff aspirations. His bat can still help, too, as he slugged 20 home runs in just 110 games for the Cardinals last season.

9.   Nationals catcher Matt Wieters

Matt Wieters has not reached the superstar ceiling that many scouts thought he possessed as the fifth overall pick in 2007 in part due to an extensive injury history. Nonetheless, he is a four-time All-Star who could hit 20-or-more home runs for the Washington Nationals this season at a reasonable $10.5 million salary.

10.   Braves starting pitcher Bartolo Colon

Bartolo Colon continued to be a workhorse during his age 43 season with the New York Mets, posting a 3.43 ERA in 191 2/3 innings. His production may slip in 2017, but the Atlanta Braves’ plethora of young pitchers will benefit from his experience. If Atlanta fails to contend again, expect multiple teams to pursue him at the trade deadline.

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