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Private, Student Life

Dating in the fast lane: McGill student groups offer speed-dating Valentine’s day dating events

by Calvin Trottier-Chi on

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McGill students value efficiency. With the pressures of midterms, internship applications, and extracurricular commitments, many students lack time to date regularly. For many, the answer to time constraints is the quick swipeability of Tinder. For others, an approach that combines the ease of apps and the importance of social interaction is speed-dating and matchmaking. For Valentine’s Day, several student groups at McGill have strived to show students how more traditional forms of blind-dating are done.

 

The McGill Chinese Students’ Society (MCSS) had its own take on matchmaking this year with a blind speed-dating event on Feb. 11, Be There or Be Square: Valentine’s Party. Participants ranked their top five choices of partners after several rounds of quick chatting, and a computer algorithm identified matches from the choices selected.

To shake things up, participants were given mysterious Venetian-esque masks and a number at the door. With that digit as a sole identifier for each participant, the hopeful hearts in attendance were free to express themselves however they liked. In the same way that dating app users can control their appearance online, this anonymity enabled attendees to converse with their partners without feeling self-conscious about their looks.

“We wanted to provide a mysterious atmosphere to this event so people could blind date without judging others’ appearances right off the bat,” Tony Ye, U2 Engineering and project manager of MCSS, said. “One of the perks of blind speed-dating is the release of dopamine and endorphins from anticipation and excitement from talking to someone with a mask on.”

For participants, the climax of the event was the removal of the masks at the end. The anticipation was akin to what online daters might feel before meeting a date in person, although their nerves were somewhat alleviated by the participants having already met in disguise.

“There [was] a grand reveal in which everyone [took] their masks off,” Ye said. “That moment [was] full of joy and laughter, or perhaps a little disappointment.”

This event delves deeper than superficial first attraction based on looks. A primary attraction of speed-dating is found within the light-hearted freedom of mingling with many equally hopeful participants.

“This type of event [attracted a] large crowd because it is interesting, and [speed-dating with masks has] never been done before at McGill,” Ye said. “It takes in the philosophical art of blind speed-dating fused with the mysterious science of a computer algorithm.”

Gamifying the pursuit of soulmates, the McGill Students for Think Pink’s matchmaking event on Feb. 10, My Funny Valentine, had participants trying to find who Think Pink had matched them with based on their answers to an online quiz. Among other fun tasks, the quiz asked participants about their ideal study methods, their favourite Pokémon, and to write a haiku addressed to “the one.” After being handed the quiz answers of another event attendee, deemed their “ideal partner” based on response compatibility, participants were tasked with locating their ideal partner themselves. Couples who successfully found each other received prizes, which were mainly gift cards to finance their first real date.

“Everyone got along so well that we all wouldn’t stop talking long enough to get directions out for some of the activities,” Sam Wunderlich, U1 Arts and Science and vice-president of Think Pink’s Financial Implementation and Sponsorship Committee, said. “Two couples hit it off and walked out hand-in-hand with each other, even before the event was halfway done, so hopefully that was a good sign! There was [also] one match that just sat and talked in the middle of everyone, absorbed in their own little world.”

Speed-dating creates a positive, energetic environment for participants. Even if they lack romantic chemistry off the bat, people tend to enjoy the opportunity to meet each other, and engage in opportunities that can’t be found online.

“There is never a lull in conversation because you have limited time with that person before you move on to the next,” Wunderlich said. “It’s a really relaxing way of meeting people […and you’re] surrounded by tons of others in the same situation as you, it’s almost comforting.”

Speed-dating is a great way to interact with someone new in a candid way that is not present on dating apps. The Valentine’s Day events while kept the search of love light, emphasizing what it really should be about in the end: Fun.

Baseball, Sports

Changing the game: NBA rules

by Stephen Gill Wasif Husain Jonas Cohen on

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Stop sending bad free-throw shooters to the line: Stephen Gill, Contributor

Current “Hack-a-Shaq” rules give teams an alternative to actually playing defence when the other team has possession. Rather than creating a real defensive scheme, opposing coaches can just send poor free-throw shooters to the charity stripe whenever they please.

The strategy slows games to a crawl and turns basketball into a free-throw shooting contest. The only counter to this trick is to remove the poor shooter from the game, meaning far too much emphasis is placed on a player’s ability to make uncontested 15-footers. This game plan plagues basketball from both an aesthetic and strategic standpoint.

The league needs to prevent these senseless gimmicks with a simple solution: When an off-ball foul occurs, the offensive team should be given the choice to restart the possession or head to the free-throw line for a pair of shots. This would finally put an end to the Hack-a-Shaq strategy, giving NBA fans defence to cheer for rather than watching some knucklehead miss shots from the charity stripe. Defenders would have to keep DeAndre Jordan from dunking on them instead of laughing as he helplessly bricks shot after shot from the line.

 

24 seconds is too long after offensive rebounds: Wasif Husain, Contributor

With the rise of guards like Steph Curry and Kyrie Irving  boasting both incredible ball-handling and deep-shooting abilities, teams are able to waste game time as these players dance around behind the three point arc without risk of a turnover. The NBA needs to do away with these painful experiences by implementing a 14-second shot clock after a team grabs an offensive rebound. A reduced shot clock would give teams more time to attempt a comeback, adding excitement to boring blowouts 

As it stands now, the clock resets to the standard 24-second mark when the offence recovers the ball. The result is slow possessions with little time for losing teams to attempt a comeback. The league has already started experimenting with a 14-second clock in the D-League, which has has received rave reviews. These matches are faster-paced and more entertaining to watch, despite having a lower level of talent across the board. If implemented in the NBA, the 14-second timer would accelerate gameplay and make games far more exciting. In a league dominated by just a few really good teams, pushing the pace of the game may allow new strategies to knock off the continuing Golden State Warriors-Cleveland Cavaliers supremacy.

 

No more cheap threes: Jonas Cohen, Contributor

Initially just a risky proposition with the potential to yield high rewards, the three-point shot has become one of the most abused tools in the NBA. An undeniable crowd-pleaser in games, especially when Steph Curry effortlessly sinks threes from beyond halfcourt, the three-point shot has diminished the the value of big men for too long. Without cheap threes, the NBA would have a big-man renaissance, harkening back to the days when Charles Oakley and Bill Laimbeer ruled the court from the paint.

The NBA must foster a more a mentality that values versatile players. Avid basketball fans yearn for the days when no backboard was safe from destructive “Shaq Attacks.” Fans definitely don’t buy overpriced tickets to watch Kyle Korver relentlessly jack up corner threes while the rest of the team hustles on both ends of the court. At the very least, it’s time to move the three-point line back three feet. In an even more radical move, the NBA should get rid of corner threes by drawing the arc from wing to wing. It wouldn’t take away from the most talented players; it would just prevent three-point specialists from camping out in the corners. 

Science & Technology

Unlocking the benefits of exercise for mental health

by Myriam Driss on

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It’s a no-brainer that the physical benefits of exercise can take time to manifest, but the emotional and mental benefits can be almost instantaneous.

“When we exercise, more of the hormone serotonin is released,” Louise Lockhart, a nurse at Macdonald campus’ Student Health Services, explained.

These hormonal releases work as an immediate mood booster.

“When we exercise, blood flow increases steadily to the brain and other hormones are also released, such as thyroxine and androgen, which lead to a much calmer demeanour,” Lockhart said.

In addition to improving mood, exercise can lead to greater confidence.

“Overall, even after exercising a moderate amount, we can feel an immediate boost of energy, self esteem, and increased cognitive function,” Lockhart said.

In university, regular exercise becomes increasingly important in managing anxiety and mild depression, since these conditions usually develop during late adolescence and early adulthood. However, with severe depression, it is necessary to contact a professional.

“[There is] a lot of data [that] suggests that college students [who] exercise report [fewer] mental health problems,” Jill Barker, director of Macdonald Athletics and Recreation and a fitness columnist for the Montreal Gazette, said.

Mathilde Guglielmi, U1 Environment, has felt the benefits from exercise first hand. Guglielmi explained that she started experiencing symptoms of depression during the summer after her freshman year at McGill. Running became her way to improve her mood and fight depression.

“I kept running and it [became] a kind of a drive,” Guglielmi said. “The anxiety is worst when I don’t run, so my body gives me a push to go.”

For Gugliemi, running is also a study aid. Studies have shown regular exercise has positive impacts on productivity in the workplace, and for that matter, the classroom.

“It motivates me!” Gugliemi said. “After a run, I become more productive and get more stuff done. When I don’t run, I am more jittery and distracted.”

It can be difficult to know how to form a new habit. Yet, it is important to focus on self-care to experience the positive effects of exercise on one’s mental state.

“‘No pain, no gain’ is counter-productive if you want the emotional and mental benefits of exercise,” Lockhart said.

Gugliemi suggested finding people to run with so it keeps you accountable to a plan.

“It helps because you have motivation as you can talk to them while you run and you can challenge each other,” Gugliemi said. “Exercise was always a social thing.”

Exercise also presents an opportunity for social interaction. As Gugliemi explains, there’s no shame in starting slow.

“You can start running in intervals where you [switch between] running and walking,” Gugliemi said.

Overall, exercise should be enjoyable and leave you feeling relaxed. Though it can be difficult, Barker offered some helpful tips to get started on a regular fitness routine.

“[Use] an app to track your goals and progress, [find] something that you really want to do, [and] start slowly and spread out your workout,” Barker said.

Ultimately, self-encouragement and visualization are helpful tools when trying to find motivation and will help develop positive feelings towards working out.

Next time you’re struggling to get out and run, remember that the rewards are not just physical, but mental, and will literally pay off in the long run.

McGill, News

OSD continues to be plagued with long wait times and lack of staff

by Antoine Senkoff on

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Recently, the McGill Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) has faced a lack of capacity and resources due to a heavy demand from students. The OSD’s mission is to provide students who experience permanent and temporary disability, illness, and injury with a wide range of services, including workshops, note-taking services, awareness campaigns, and alternative examination accommodations. The OSD was established at McGill in the 1980s in accordance with the Quebec Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Over the past decade, the number of students registered with the OSD rose from 500 to over 1,800. Despite the large number of affected students, the office currently has only 11 staff members, a number that has remained stable since 2010. 

“McGill is not upholding its legal duty to accommodate students because it is not adequately resourcing this office, and we know that many students fall through the cracks as a result,” the Students’ Society of McGill University Vice-President University Affairs Erin Sobat said.

In Fall 2015, changes were made to the provincial grant funding structure that affected the OSD. The allocation of $1.2 million from the Quebec Education Ministry was not given directly to the OSD, but was rather incorporated into McGill’s annual budget. The McGill administration stated that the funds would be used to support a wider range of students not limited to those registered at the OSD.

“[There is] concern that government funding is not going directly towards the OSD and that it is simply being funded by students [as a part of the student services fee],” Sobat said.

For students trying to access the resources provided by the OSD, wait time when initially registering with the office can be a significant issue. Andries Feder, U3 Arts, is registered with the OSD. He said that because same-day appointments are not available, long wait times become a concern.

“Once I got an appointment, [the OSD was] pretty helpful, [it just] takes such a long time to get that initial appointment,” Feder said. “[If they need exam accommodations], some people [try] to schedule an appointment at the beginning of the semester, and they can’t schedule one until […] after some of their midterms start. It's a little disconcerting because there isn't an active availability.”

OSD Director Teri Phillips acknowledged the problem of under-capacity in an email to The McGill Tribune. Phillips wrote that excessive wait times are a problem for the OSD.

“At peak times, particularly during the Fall semester, advising wait times stand at the two- to three-week mark, which is not uncommon across similar [McGill student] services,” Phillips wrote.

Sobat said that the limited budget is a source of problems for the OSD, stemming from a general lack of funding and resources allocated to McGill student services in recent years.

“It is the general lack of capacity of the disability and access services at McGill,” Sobat said. “One of the biggest issues is that McGill is not only not adding more resources to the OSD, but taking resources away from student services in general [….]”

According to Phillips, financial restrictions imposed on the OSD in recent years have hampered some of the services it provides, but that changes to the provincial grant funding model did not affect the OSD’s overall provision of services.

“The intent of this change, which was initiated at a provincial level, not within McGill specifically, was to decrease the administrative burden on the individual student, such as having to hire and pay their own attendant and do follow-up reconciliation,” Phillips wrote. “As many are aware, student access to disability-related funding changed as of Fall 2015.”

This change has not removed the availability of funding for students, it has simply shifted responsibility for administration to the institution and shifted the avenue by which a student gains access.”

Phillips explained that, for the time being, the OSD is aware thatthe lack of resources and  problems with implementation of accommodation policies across McGill cause problems for affected students..

“We are cognizant of the sensitivity of needs of those students experiencing barriers to engage fully in the McGill learning environment, and the impact that this can have on their studies,” Phillips wrote.

Laughing Matters, Off the Board, Opinion

Laughing Matters: Squirrel slander put to rest

by Calvin Trottier-Chi on

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McGill has been the target of some vile chattering. As good McGillians, we must stand up for our grey friends—mostly because they can’t speak for themselves. Ladies and gentlemen, I am addressing the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) student newspaper, The Ubyssey, and one article’s boast that UBC’s squirrels are more popular than McGill’s. Fortunately, their swaggering is rife with alternative facts, and McGill can rest easy knowing that its squirrels still reign supreme. The McGill Tribune tried reaching out for comments from our fuzzy friends, but since even our best endeavours failed, our perspective will mainly be that of Homo sapiens.

Ever since there have been students, there have been squirrel enthusiasts. Several universities have Facebook groups dedicated to posting pictures of the local critters, including “Squirrels of UBC,” “Squirrels of McGill,” and “Raccoons of SFU,” with The Ubyssey reporting them to have 4,000, 3,800, and 101 Facebook likes respectively. So while it’s true that UBC squirrels have the highest absolute number of likes, it’s a mistake to draw the conclusion that they are “narrowly beating” the other top Canadian universities. In reality, what really matters is the ‘likes per squirrel fanatic,’ or LPSF. By its 2015 numbers, UBC has 61,113 students, and McGill reports 40,493 as of 2016. Assuming all UBC students are squirrel fanatics, as we are, you’ll notice that McGill’s LPSF ratio is higher at 0.094 versus 0.065.

What’s more, one must factor in the geographic differences between campuses. Thanks to its comparatively smaller size, McGill is a close-knit, community-based campus, which provides a more authentic and personal squirrel spotting experience. McGill isn’t just a place to scurry for scraps—it’s a home. Meanwhile, it’s impossible to tell where UBC ends and the surrounding forest begins; the UBC label may be imposed upon squirrels that more accurately identify with the neighbouring Pacific Spirit Park.

 

 

 

Thanks to its comparatively smaller size, McGill is a close-knit, community-based campus, which provides a more authentic and personal squirrel spotting experience.

Our environment is simply more suitable for squirrels. As any McGillian can tell you, our squirrels’ carefree attitude is only matched by their hefty weight. They are free to frolic across our campus. Thanks to the never-ending construction on the Sherbrooke and MacTavish streets, the constant police presence keeps dangerous carnivores at bay. Meanwhile, at UBC, coyotes prey freely on squirrels to the apparent disregard of onlookers. Indifferent Reddit users commented on the UBC subreddit, “I think I saw that [coyote] eat like three squirrels on three different occasions,” and “my bio prof saw it and called it natural selection in action.”

Additionally, McGill students’ relationships with the resident squirrels are superior. On campus, students and squirrels live in harmony. McGill squirrel fans should not be alarmed that the “Squirrels of UBC” page has more activity. This is easily explained by Montreal temperatures being so low that Arcade Fire wrote a song about it, so opportunities to take off our gloves to snap a pic are few and far between.

At the same time, our squirrels are too busy surviving and being conscientious citizens to pose for pictures. In a development exemplary of the close relationship between McGill’s squirrels and scholars, 2010 research by McGill Professor Murray Humphries revealed several cases of squirrels adopting the orphaned pups of their neighbours. UBC does not show any signs of embracing the research opportunities provided by their local critters, likely because their underachieving squirrels are too busy scavenging at a Lululemon to contribute to advancing scientific inquiry.

Thus, as with many things in life, the less calculable factors must be taken into consideration as well. Blanket statements based on minor details are not a proper foundation for which school’s squirrels are better. Besides, when it all comes down to it, squirrels of all furs, all across Canada, need to hunker down together for the next four years as we weather the storm of the big orange nut to our South.

 

 

 

 

Calvin Trottier-Chi is a News Editor at the McGill Tribune.

 

@mcgilltribop |

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
McGill, News

AUS discusses support for prospective students affected by the U.S. travel ban

by Julia Metraux on

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On Feb. 8, the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) Legislative Council passed four motions, which pertained to student jobs, reforming the McGill Psychology Students’ Association constitution, screening potential Vice-President (VP) Finance candidates, and support for prospective students affected by the U.S. travel ban.

Motion to Amend Arts Student Employment Fund (ASEF) By-Laws

ASEF subsidizes academically-based or relevant occupation job experience for Arts undergraduate students. The Legislative Council voted to pass the Motion to Amend ASEF By-Laws, which was moved by VP Academic Erik Partridge and VP Finance Deepak Punjabi. The motion proposes that grant money used to fund research conducted by new professors goes instead towards students in ASEF positions who are not covered by the AUS Work Study Program.

Partridge expressed that this motion is in the best interest of students.

“I brought this to [the Jan. 11 Legislative Council] meeting to ensure that students get their money’s worth out of [ASEF],” Partridge said. “This [motion] has been brought to the Faculty’s attention over the past months. We have not seen an official sign-off.”

ASEF operates differently from the McGill Work Study Program in that the AUS does not require students to be full-time in order to be eligible for ASEF. Instead, only nine credits are required for a student to be considered full time by the AUS.

Motion to Approve VP Finance Screening Committee

As a result of 2014 financial errors previously costing tens of thousands of dollars, the Legislative Council approved the creation of a VP Finance Screening Committee. The committee will screen VP Finance candidates in order to ensure that the elected executive is qualified.

According to Punjabi, the committee will consist of six voting and two non-voting members. Screening questions will be split into three categories: Experience, Accounting and Finance, and Summer Availability.

“As you know, with the constitutional changes made last year, there will be a screening committee that meets with each [VP Finance] candidate,” Punjabi said. “The structure of the questions will be the same [as in 2016].”

Punjabi, SNAX Manager Eilis McCann, Research Finance Administrator Cynthia Romynak, Finance Management Committee Representative Mia Trana, International Development Studies Students Association VP Finance Kashif Ahmed, and Political Science Students Association VP Finance Mitch Clark will all act as voting members on the committee.

Motion to Support Students Affected by the U.S. Travel Ban

Implemented in an executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump, the travel ban temporarily prevented immigrants from seven largely Islamic countries entry to the U.S.. On Feb. 9, federal judge James Robart stayed the order, but during the meeting the day before the Legislative Council voted to pass the Motion submitted by the Society of Linguistics Undergraduates at McGill (SLUM) and Partridge, which supports students affected by the US travel ban.

According to SLUM VP External Jacob Shermer,  the motion show AUS’s support in extending the application deadline and waive the application fee.

“I think it is important that AUS takes a stand on this because there are students who are affected by this,” Shermer said.

Responses may be unnecessary, however, as on Feb. 9 the U.S. federal appeals court refused to lift a suspension placed on the travel ban, preventing it from staying in effect for the time-being.

Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

Director Pablo Larraín paints complex portrait of Chilean poet in “Neruda”

by Declan Embury on

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Pablo Larraín’s Neruda is an impeccably crafted film, blurring fact and fiction to create something more engaging. The film is much more than a standard biopic of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda (Luis Gnecco). After the Second World War, Neruda—already an icon for his politically charged poetry advancing workers rights throughout Latin America—faced more pressure and fear of persecution than ever as Communism was vilified around the world. Guillermo Calderón’s script tells two personal stories through the lense of a greater political narrative—the struggle between communist rebels and a Chile’s militant regime following in the 1940s. After a new President, with strong ties to the United States government, takes power in Chile, the communist party is quickly banned, forcing Neruda—a communist senator—to hide or flee. This starts a cat-and-mouse chase between the two main characters: Neruda and Óscar Peluchonneau (Gael García Bernal of The Motorcycle Diaries), a fictional police officer who is tasked with bringing Neruda to justice.

Neruda’s characters are where the film shines. Luis Gnecco’s depiction of Pablo Neruda as a revolutionary figure captivates not only the masses of workers in the film, but the audience as well. Neruda is depicted as a sensualist who enjoys the finer things in life, but striking moments in the film reveal his deeply-held communist values. Gnecco depicts this brilliantly when, after encountering a young beggar, Neruda leaves the girl draped in his fancy white suit. Though many sizes too big for her, the suit must be worth a relative fortune. This could have been an overly cheesy scene in the hands of most actors, but Gnecco makes it feel real, nailing the charm one would expect from the populist artist.

Gnecco’s performance is not the only one that stands out: Gael García Bernal’s portrayal of Óscar Peluchonneau is a chilling interpretation of the classic film noir police detective. He also serves as the film’s narrator, though not a completely trustworthy one, leaving the audience to decide what to believe as Peluchonneau provides information about his and Neruda’s pasts. The unreliable narrator is rarely used in modern cinema, but Neruda pulls it off. Mercedes Morán’s portrayal of Delia del Carril, a Chilean-Argentinian painter and Neruda’s second wife, is also worth mentioning. Though not as exceptional a performance as García Bernal, Morán offers a warm presence that grounds the more grandiose Neruda.

Though the main characters rarely interact face-to-face, they are connected through their love of fiction. Most of their interaction is carried out through Neruda’s notes, scribbled in copies of detective novels and cleverly planted where Peluchonneau will find them. Both men can only imagine their story ending like a detective novel. Both expect a great chase that ends either in near-escape or the action-packed capture of Neruda. This dynamic builds an unusual connection between the two main characters, as their friends and accomplices struggle to understand their desire to live out the stories that are loved by both men.

Set against a backdrop of Chile’s incredible natural features, as well as the beauty of Chilean art and culture, Neruda’s narrative is unique and captivating. The film is both a fascinating semi-biographical piece on a brilliant artist and social icon, and a work of fiction with one of the best antagonists in recent film history. Brought together by a tight script and outstanding performances by the whole cast, Neruda is one of 2016’s hidden gems. 

 

Fact or Fiction, Science & Technology

Fact or Fiction: Chocolate is the ultimate love drug

by Albert Park on

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Famously exchanged by lovers on Valentine's Day, tucked in an attractive heart-shaped box, chocolate is almost unanimously recognized as the sweet treat of love. Beyond being a sentimental gift to express affection, some believe that chocolate directly influences feelings of attachment and arousement, with the snack being historically considered as an effective aphrodisiac. While sinking one’s teeth into the guilty indulgence certainly elicits a joyful feeling, it is difficult to empirically judge chocolate’s supposed ability to incite romance. 

Is chocolate’s reputation based on biochemical facts, or is it merely a romanticized myth? According to Ariel Fenster, a faculty lecturer in McGill’s Department of Chemistry and associate director of the Office for Science and Society, the discussion revolves around the chemical phenylethylamine (PEA), which is found in chocolate. 

“Some studies suggest that there is a chemical in the brain that is associated with love [called phenylethylamine],” Fenster said. “And phenylethylamine is actually present in chocolate.”

Studies have shown that PEA is found in trace amounts in chocolate, at less than three milligrams per kilogram, as a result of the thermal processing and fermentation of cacao. PEA—which is also found in wine and various other foods—is an extremely complex organic compound. The chemical can act as a neurotransmitter, meaning it sends signals in the brain, resulting in the arousal of certain emotions and biological responses. 

It is theorized that PEA creates a feeling of happiness and euphoria often associated with love by helping the brain release chemicals essential for producing feelings of pleasure, such as beta endorphin and dopamine. As a result, PEA itself has gained a reputation as a love drug. 

“Supposedly, [PEA enhances] your feeling of attachment and your feeling of love,” Fenster said.

Despite all this, Fenster believes that the theory that chocolate produces feelings of love is ultimately lacks sufficient scientific backing. He claims that while chocolate contains PEA, there is no evidence that it will have a notable effect on the brain, given the distinct separations between the body’s digestive and neural systems. 

“Like anything, [the theory] has a kernel of truth,” Fenster said. “The problem is that, even though phenylethylamine is supposedly present in brains of people in love, and even though it is present in chocolate, when you eat the chocolate, it cannot pass the blood-brain barrier, it cannot get into the brain.” 

Significant concentrations of PEA from foods, such as chocolate, cannot reach the brain. The majority of PEA from food is metabolized by an enzyme in the body into phenylacetic acid. Since chocolate contains such a low dosage of PEA, there is little-to-no chance that it will actually have a significant effect on one’s mood or feelings. 

Yet, there is hope for the hopeless romantics who are fans of this sugary treat. Besides PEA, there are numerous other compounds found in chocolate that could affect how one experiences love and the various activities and ideas related to it. For example, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, dark chocolate contains around 43 milligrams of caffeine per 100 grams. Caffeine is well-known to produce a feeling of excitement and alertness, which could potentially affect one’s romantic encounters. At the very least, a bar of chocolate could give people the energy needed to enjoy a night out with their loved one. 

Perhaps the most convincing argument for the romance-inducing attributes of chocolate are due to the placebo effect, which has been proven to work for a vast majority of people. The placebo effect describes a beneficial consequence when patients feel a result of a mimic drug attributed to their belief in the treatment. This idea can essentially be applied to the effects of chocolate: As long as people truly believe that sharing a box of chocolate with their lover will help them fall deeper in love, this could very well be the case. Ultimately, love is a complex chemical and psychological process with many variables, so if people would like to believe in the magical romantic properties of chocolate, they should keep an open mind, and continue to enjoy the treat freely.

Commentary, Opinion

Trudeau’s carbon tax policies are burden for the Canadian economy

by Evan Thomas on

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The Liberal Government plans to fight climate change with compulsory provincial carbon pricing schemes. However, these measures are not suitable considering Canada’s current economic predicament. The imposition of carbon tax schemes represents the Liberals’ commitment to burdensome and ineffective ways of combatting climate change. These taxes raise energy prices for citizens, and are detrimental to the competitiveness of Canadian businesses, especially in light of circumstances south of the border.

With Donald Trump now in the Oval Office, Canadians must be cognizant of the fact that we are not only America’s greatest trading partner, but also its greatest competitor for investment and jobs. And with Trump stripping away environmental legislation, American energy firms will be at an advantage compared to their northern competitors. President Trump has promised to reverse many of the environmentally-conscious regulations implemented in the Obama years, and has suggested withdrawing the United States from the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall raised the issue of competing with the United States as a key reason for opposing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s national carbon tax scheme after Trump’s election. Wall argued that carbon pricing will hurt the Canadian economy's growth by costing it jobs and investment, which in turn diminishes Canada’s ability to enact meaningful climate change action. As such, Saskatchewan, along with Manitoba, has rejected Ottawa’s carbon pricing plan.

In response to Premier Wall, the Prime Minister said, "I think all Canadians know that Canadian climate policy will be set by Canadians, not by whomever happens to be the president of the United States.” While this feel-good statement may win over the hearts of his fans, it is also tremendously naive. Justin “It’s 2015” Trudeau needs to wake up to face the harsh realities of 2017.

The imposition of carbon taxes will put Canadian firms at a disadvantage compared to their international counterparts, as the burden of these taxes drives up costs for businesses. In turn, firms must lay off workers, cut investment, or relocate. Ultimately, this harms the Canadian economy and raises prices for consumers.

Currently, British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec have implemented carbon pricing schemes, with Ottawa urging all provinces to implement them by January 2018.

Carbon taxes may sound like a good idea in theory, but if implemented they would have real consequences for the economy. Trudeau’s policy needs to acknowledge the downsides of this approach.

Carbon taxes may sound like a good idea in theory, but if implemented they would have real consequences for the economy. Trudeau’s policy needs to acknowledge the downsides of this approach. As Conservative leadership hopeful Andrew Saxton wrote in an article for the Financial Post, “It is time for a climate policy that is rooted in reality rather than ideology.” Saxton is right.

While Trudeau has made some pragmatic concessions to economic conditions, like his recent approval of two pipelines, the prevailing notion since Paris has been full speed ahead with regards to action to counter climate change. The fact is that at present, the Canadian economy remains dependent on non-renewable sources of energy. Crude oil and natural gas account for 42 per cent and 33 per cent, respectively, of Canada’s total energy production. Renewable sources of energy, such as solar, wind, and wave power, are promising but have not been developed enough to be implemented as effective substitutes for fossil fuels by 2018.

The provinces that have led the way in implementing carbon taxes are already showing the burden these policies place on ordinary Canadians. One such Canadian is Kathy Katula, who in January pleaded her case against the implementation of the Ontario Carbon Tax to Justin Trudeau at a town hall event in Peterborough. Katula, a single mother of four working 15 hour shifts, pays over $1,000 a month in energy bills, leaving her with $130 to feed her family each month. Katula is just one of thousands of Ontarians suffering to the kind of provincial carbon tax policies that Trudeau supports. Thank goodness that Justin was on the scene to rectify the situation—with one of his signature hugs.

Furthermore, Canadians should remember the minimal impact of our emissions on a global scale—Canada emits a mere 1.6 per cent of the world’s greenhouse gases. The cost of a carbon tax on Canadians is difficult to justify considering the small impact it will have on world greenhouse gas emissions.

Combatting climate change should be a priority for the Canadian government, but it cannot do so by adopting policies that make the Canadian working class suffer. Trudeau should not advocate for more provinces to introduce carbon-reducing schemes, given that they harm consumers and hinder Canadian competition with the United States.

Perhaps Canada should test the waters again in four years’ time.

Evan Thomas is a very tall U2 International Development Studies and History student. He doesn’t like being asked if he plays basketball, but enjoys playing basketball nonetheless.

McGill, Montreal, News

Floor fellows’ injunction against McGill denied by Superior Court of Quebec

by Laura Oprescu on

More in McGill:

On Feb. 3, McGill floor fellows filed an injunction with the Superior Court of Quebec regarding their salary dispute with the university, which the court denied on Feb. 9. An additional hearing date has been set for May 5 to more closely consider the details of the request.

Collectively, floor fellows at McGill belong to the Association of McGill University Support Employees (AMUSE) union and are referred to as AMUSE Unit B. McGill has been unyielding in its negotiations with the floor fellows, leading AMUSE Unit B to decide to take legal action.  

Currently, McGill floor fellows do not receive an hourly salary. Instead, they are given room and board at McGill residences, amounting to approximately $13,500 worth of benefits per year. Quebec labour laws state that taxable benefits cannot be counted as part of an employee’s salary. Instead, these benefits are considered an addition to the employee’s pay.

Disputes over salary began in October 2014, when the floor fellows first unionized. The issue appeared to be resolved on Dec. 6, 2016, when an agreement was reached between McGill and AMUSE Unit B over the salaries of McGill floor fellows. AMUSE believed this to be the final draft of the floor fellows’ first collective agreement with McGill. According to a Feb. 3 post on the AMUSE website, representatives from both parties signed the agreement in the presence of an arbitrator appointed by the Ministry of Labour, but McGill withdrew from the agreement.

AMUSE has made it clear that they are not satisfied with this outcome. On Jan.12, AMUSE President Claire Michela interrupted a breakfast meeting of the McGill’s Board of Governors Human Resources subcommittee to deliver her view on the situation.

“We have calculated that the committee’s concerns for the proposed Article 20 amount to $151,000 annually,” Michela said in her statement to the subcommittee. “If the university was committed to respecting this agreement and respecting floor fellows, we believe that you would be able to find such a sum in the university’s budget.”

In addition to believing they should be paid for their efforts, floor fellows are also concerned about their lack of job security.

“McGill can kick us out whenever they want, and it’s happened before,” Huang said. “That’s why we started to unionize. We had an arbitration with McGill University and reached an agreement. We had a contract and McGill withdrew from the agreement. So now we are moving to a formal arbitration in court and we’re going to see what will happen.”

McGill’s floor fellows are expected to take a supportive, caring role for first-year students and to welcome them into the University’s residence community. Floor fellows tend to be more involved in students’ lives than Resident Assistant (RA). Similar to the University of Toronto and the University of British Columbia, McGill RA’s staff the front desks of residences. Unlike floor fellows, they can issue fines and behavioural contracts to students for violations of building rules, such as drug and alcohol policies.

“I really appreciate McGill's policy of harm-reduction and holistic support, rather than the disciplinary stance that many universities adopt,” floor fellow applicant Sophie McKenzie, U1 Arts, said.“Being a floor fellow requires you to be constantly on call and often entails a great deal of emotional labour. I think a salary is well-deserved for all of the individuals that contribute hours and hours to ensuring the support of dozens of students.”

In addition to being available for students academically and personally around the clock, floor fellows are required to work one 12-hour ‘duty’ shift per week.

“The duty shift starts at 9 p.m. and ends at 9 a.m.,” Carrefour Sherbrooke floor fellow Shuaibo Huang, U3 Science, said. “Throughout the night you have a duty phone with you and security and students can call you. The most common problems are students who are intoxicated or other medical emergencies. I’ve called ambulances, M-SERT [.…] It’s pretty common.”

Unit B has been working with a PSAC-provided lawyer, who has filed an injunction in the Superior Court on behalf of the floor fellows. The motion moves to get floor fellows paid as soon as possible.

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