Latest News

Features

Discarded treasures: Delving into dumpster diving

by Audrey Carleton on

More in Features:

Simrin Desai, recent McGill graduate and Montreal resident, slowly lifts the flat top of a grey dumpster in a back alleyway in the Plateau. As she opens the lid, peering in, there is a clear sense of excitement in the air: The garbage bags in the dumpster could be filled with bounties of fruit, loaves of bread, or bundles of practically fresh vegetables—or it could contain virtually nothing. Without hesitation, she plunges her hands into the dumpster, reaching for a bag. What would normally be considered an unsanitary activity has become a regular practice for Desai. She is a dumpster diver.

 

Dumpster diving, the act of sourcing one’s food from dumpsters, is practiced by an increasing number of students, social activists, and environmentalists in Montreal. Taking to alleyways behind stores at all times of day and night, many local dumpster divers manage to sustain themselves on products that are slightly past their expiration date, or deemed unsellable by storekeepers. After a few safety precautions—including washing produce with vinegar and cooking the food—one grocery store’s trash becomes a dumpster diver’s treasure.

Off the Board, Opinion

Humans need not apply: analog solutions to digital problems

by Daniel Lutes on

More in Off the Board:

There is an apocryphal story about Henry Ford II and Walter Reuther, the Union Head for the Ford Motor Company, touring a new factory. The two are looking over a balcony at an assembly line of robots when Ford turns to Reuther and says, “Hey Walter, how are you going to get those robots to pay your union dues?” Walter pauses for a minute and then replies, “Hey Henry, how are you going to get them to buy cars?”

This parable pinpoints the fundamental economic issue caused by phasing out human labour, a problem that is more relevant today than ever. A University of Toronto study released this past November predicts that within the next 15 years, up to 41 per cent of Canadian jobs will be at risk of being phased out due to automation. Despite these mounting concerns, the Canadian government is doing nothing to prevent an unemployment disaster that could dwarf the likes of the Great Depression. The casualties of this change will be the millions of truck drivers, factory workers, and fast food employees who will be left unemployed. Therefore, the Canadian government has to prepare for a shift away from a service-based economy towards an information-based economy.

As much as we humans may not want to admit it, computers are better than us in a lot of ways when it comes to our jobs.

2016 saw massive amounts of innovation in the field of artificial intelligence. Google’s AlphaGo beat Grand Master Lee Sedol at Go—a game 300 times more complex than chess. Uber purchased Otto—a company that manufactures driverless long-haul trucks. Meanwhile Tesla and Google both unveiled their prototypes for autonomous cars. The growth of artificial intelligence in the past decade has made the use robots for jobs viable where it wasn’t before. Fields like transportation, service, and manufacturing have all become susceptible to job automation.

As much as we humans may not want to admit it, computers are better than us in a lot of ways when it comes to our jobs. They don’t make mistakes, they don't want dental plans, and they don't hit on Janice from accounting. Computers are essentially model employees. So it should come as no surprise that more and more companies are opting to replace human labour with that of robots.

From an economic standpoint, the issue with job loss to machines isn't that labourers don’t have jobs. It is that these newly-unemployed labourers don’t have any money to spend to help grow the economy. Among economists, the widely agreed-upon solution to this is basic income. As the most fundamental form of social security, basic income is an unconditional salary paid out to the population of a country. The idea is that every week, an individual would receive a paycheck from the government simply for being a Canadian citizen. With this solution, unemployed labourers may not have a job, but they will have money to spend, curbing the negative effects of technological unemployment. The federal government has yet to tackle the partisan issue of basic income, leaving the fate of millions of Canadians up in the air.

However, basic income is a short-term band-aid for the structural unemployment caused by automation. A more long-term approach, which has also been neglected by provincial governments, is that of offering more relevant public education. The automation of jobs can only go so far. The reality of the situation is that there are many skills—such as abstract thought, complex problem solving and human interfacing—where robots are still inadequate when compared to humans. In spite of this fact, public schools still continue to teach to standardized tests, championing memorization and regurgitation over the less tangible skills required in the evolving job market.

Unemployment induced by automation will only continue to grow in Canada. There are solutions to the problem that requires preemptive action at a federal and provincial level, but if the government continues to bury its head in the sand, it may be too late.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daniel Lutes is a Web Developer at the McGill Tribune and a U2 student

 

@ |

 

 

 

 
Student Life

All work and no play won’t help your GPA: Managing stress in the new year

by Emma Carr on

More in Student Life:

The New Year’s confetti has barely been swept away, and yet for some, New Year’s resolutions are already in jeopardy. In the high stress academic environment of McGill, many students may be setting admirable New Year’s resolutions to raise their GPA and build their resumes. However, studies have shown that lofty ideals don’t necessarily lead to self-improvement. Often at the beginning of a new year, people set unrealistic resolutions that leave them feeling overwhelmed, rather than optimistic. Conversely, self-care is likely to decrease stress and improve scholarly performance—but for many students, as assignments begin to mount, leisure time takes a back seat to studying.  Focusing on cultivating adequate down time in order to reduce stress and increase academic productivity might actually be better than hibernating in McLennan until April.

Not all stress is bad. When apprehension around schoolwork is controlled, it can be a positive force in a student’s life.  Productive academic stress, in which the student views a task as a challenge rather than a threat, can prompt a student to focus and avoid procrastination. However, high levels of unmediated stress often have a detrimental effect on a student’s ability to cope with his or her workload. When students put too much pressure on themselves, they may suffer from decreased concentration and weaker problem-solving abilities. Both of these effects make completing school work more difficult. 

Several studies have identified the importance of coping mechanisms in mitigating academic stress. Coping mechanisms are the behaviours, thoughts, and emotions that one uses to adjust to stressors. For instance, humour, physical activity, and relaxation can all serve as coping mechanisms to stress. Students who utilize coping mechanisms are more likely to work at a manageable level of stress for productivity. But how can one manage stress? Terri Phillips, director of the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) suggests that above all, students who practice self-care are best equipped to manage stress.

“When coping with any kind of stress, it’s really important to establish and maintain good self-care routines, good sleeping and eating habits, exercise, short but frequent study breaks, mindfulness strategies such as breathing or meditation techniques,” Phillips said.

In addition, psychological literature suggests that one valuable coping mechanism to mediate academic stress is scheduling regular leisure time. When a student takes time out of their day for self-care, they experience leisure satisfaction—the gratifying feeling of meeting one’s own personal needs through leisure activity. According to a study published in the American Journal of Health Studies, leisure activity yielded significant educational benefits as a result of a reduced feeling of academic stress and frustration. 

Finding down time can be difficult for the busy student, but even short breaks can be beneficial when used efficiently.

 

If you have one minute, you can… take a “One-Minute Vacation.” Think of a place that you have been or you would like to visit. The place you imagine should be peaceful and comfortable. It can be as extravagant as the centre of Paris, or as mundane as your local grocery store. For one minute, close your eyes and focus on the details of this place, including sounds or smells. This is an instant mood booster and a great mechanism for coping with stress anywhere.

If you have 30 minutes, you can… take a power nap. The McGill campus has several great on-site napping spots where overtired students can recharge. Not only will a nap leave you feeling well-rested, but napping can also increase productivity. Studies show that a 28-minute nap can improve one’s mood, alertness, and focus.  

If you have one hour, you can…visit the McGill Fitness Centre for a drop-in class. The gym offers many commitment-free wellness classes for $3.48 per session, including zumba, spin, or power yoga. It is commonly known that exercise produces endorphins, which boost one’s mood and relieves stress. As an added benefit, there is an increasing body of literature suggesting that physical exercise enhances academic performance. 

Despite a student’s best efforts, they may still feel overwhelmed by academic stress. As Phillips pointed out, students should reach out for help early before they find themselves in a crisis situation. Campus services are available to help students through a difficult period, including the OSD, Counselling and Mental Health Services, and peer-based services such as Nightline and the Peer Support Centre. 

Art, Arts & Entertainment

Visual Arts Society hosts long-awaited conference, “Visual Voices”

by Astha Agarwal on

More in Art:

McGill offers a very limited number of fine arts classes. However, the Visual Arts Society provides students with an opportunity to explore a multitude of artistic domains and connect with other students.

On Nov. 16 2016 the McGill Students’ Visual Arts Society hosted their most anticipated event of the fall semester: “Visual Voices.” The event  featured  McGill Professor Julia Skelly, Art Historian Emily Robertson, U3 Mcgill Medical Student Anita Raj, and U2 Concordia Fine Arts Student Florence Yee, who spoke about their relationship with art.

Professor Julia Skelly shared a part of her research in feminism and art, as seen in her upcoming 2017 book, “Radical Decadence.” Skelly discussed the prominent messages in artwork by feminist artists, including Mickalene Thomas and Shary Boyle. 

Skelly emphasized artists’ depictions of how women are often seen as excessive and self-destructive by society. This theme is notable in Boyle’s 2005 work, “Untitled.” The artwork is a lace-draped painted porcelain figurine; the frilly dress the figure wears engulfs her, appearing to restrict her ability to move. Skelly also shared Nava Lubelski’s 2005 sculpture “Clumsy,” a tablecloth hand-embroidered to appear wine-stained, making reference to social perceptions of alcoholism and a lack of self-control in women.

Florence Yee discussed the power of using art to tackle race and gender politics. Yee shared her struggles with being recognized for her work as an artist rather than for her racial identity. She showcased “Menu of Exoticism” (2016),  a satirical work depicting a menu with the racial questions and remarks from viewers that she has received int he past. 

Yee has also used her artwork to address issues of femininity and culture that she feels are often sidestepped and neglected. 

“Comfort in Discomfort” (2016)  features two women wearing vests made of tampons sewn together. One vest features the character of the Chinese red envelope. Yee conveys the strength in women literally wearing their femininity on their sleeves. This work is especially powerful in an age when tampons continue to be stigmatized and seen as taboo in various cultures.

The Visual Arts Society’s Vice-President Events Magdalena Morales felt that Yee’s struggles were relatable for fellow students grappling with their cultural identity.

“I appreciated the ethnocultural aspects she presented through her art,” Morales said. “It really struck me when she said, ‘How do I reconcile the Asian part of me with the other part that cannot be Asian? This is exactly how I feel with my Canadian-Venezuelan identity.”

Art Historian Emily Robertson gave a talk encouraging artists to fight for proper credit for their work. Visual Arts Society Co-President Rohita Ramayanam voiced her own sentiments on making a career as an artist. 

“You have to actually be determined to fight for a career or a job, and you’ve got to put yourself out there,” Ramayanam said. “A lot of us […] struggle with the [feeling of], ‘I’m interested in that, but not really sure what I want to do.’ You might be interested in a lot of things, but you need to have the drive to make success from that, to do something meaningful.” 

The final speaker of the night, U3 medical student and childhood cancer survivor Anita Raj, delivered a moving presentation on the therapeutic effects of origami. Raj brought new meaning to an art-form that is often associated with simple paper cranes. 

Having discovered origami at a young age, Raj has introduced it to others in countless ways over the years—facilitating educational summer camps, volunteering at the Montreal Children’s Hospital, and presenting at the Canadian Conference on Medical Education in 2016. She believes that while it is not for everyone, origami can be extremely therapeutic for some.

 Ramayanam emphasized that she is grateful for the Visual Arts Society, through which she has connected with individuals who share her interest in art.

“Since McGill doesn’t have a Visual Arts program, I hope people realize that there is a club on campus that specializes in it,” Ramayanam said. “There is a community where you can share that interest with like-minded people.”

Science & Technology

The science behind keeping New Year’s resolutions

by Charlotte Hings on

More in Science & Technology:

Each New Year comes with countless resolutions from people hoping to better themselves in the coming 12 months; however, most of these resolutions are abandoned shortly after they are made. According to a 2013 survey by time management training company FranklinCovey, only 23 per cent of people who make New Year’s resolutions actually complete them.

There are a range of problems that can result in failures to realize New Year’s resolutions. A common mistake is that the goal is too general and is treated as a promise to oneself. Without a concrete action plan or specific timeline on how to form desired new habits, many are discouraged quickly and old habits prevail. In addition, most people treat the resolution as a personal commitment to achieve a certain outcome, rather than taking the time to set themselves up for success by planning.

In order to achieve a specific resolution, it is more effective to concentrate on the process of attaining the goal rather than focusing on the outcome. The process of achieving goals is described as a shift in behaviour to change bad habits into good ones. Habits are triggered by environmental cues and are formed by repetition. Therefore, the key to eliminating bad habits is to identify and alter the environmental cues associated with the bad behaviours in a way that will promote repetition of the good or desired routine.

For example, if the goal is to stop drinking soda, it should not be approached by focusing on never drinking soda. The approach should focus on creating smaller, achievable goals and a timeline for achieving them. For instance, start by only drinking one soda per week for the first month, followed by one soda every two weeks for the second month, and so on. Additionally, if the environmental cues for drinking soda are associated with visiting fast-food restaurants, then set reminders to drink water whenever someone stops at McDonald’s. This way, the act of drinking soda is avoided because it has been gradually replaced with other routines.

For some, it may also be helpful to have an accountability partner. Someone to hold the individual responsible to their promise, who offers encouragement and support, and provides the incentive to stick to the plan to achieve one’s goal.

Despite all of this, it is often still likely that there will be a relapse back to old patterns. When this happens, most are discouraged instantly and give up entirely, claiming that the plan they created doesn’t work or that the goal they set is unrealistic. But one should remember, reverting back to old habits is extremely normal when trying to form new routines, and should not lead to abandonment of the resolution. To combat the relapse and get back on track, the obstacle that caused the setback must be identified so that the next time the obstacle presents itself, it can be easily handled. So, it is worthwhile to reflect and recount the environment, activities, and feelings associated with the relapse.

From all this, it may seem as though New Year’s resolutions are just as much an art as a science. No one ever said changing for the better was easy, but by following some of these tips, following through on New Year’s resolutions can be made more manageable.

Editorial, Opinion

Editorial: Report on systemic discrimination in McGill faculty reveals the need for action

by McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

More in Editorial:

Last month, the Ad Hoc Working Group on Systemic Discrimination—commissioned by the Joint Board-Senate Committee on Equity—released a comprehensive report based on a survey of tenure-track and tenured faculty at McGill. The report gave a glimpse of the ongoing forms of discrimination, such as racism and sexism, that permeate the workplace of many McGill professors, and provided recommendations to administration for addressing these issues.

While the report doesn’t provide a complete picture of the experience of McGill faculty—only 22 per cent of eligible respondents filled out the survey—it does reveal that many faculty members have experienced discrimination from staff, administrators, and students at McGill. For instance, 22 per cent of respondents claimed that the climate at McGill was not supportive of diversity. Over one third admitted they had experienced or were aware of other faculty experiencing negative treatment as a result of their identity, with gender being the most common reason. Twenty-four per cent felt that students had challenged their authority more frequently because of their demographic characteristics. 

The results of the report serve as a pressing reminder of the need to promote diversity and inclusiveness among members of the McGill community. This becomes particularly urgent when one considers the findings of last year’s equitable hiring report: As of 2015, visible minorities and ethnic minorities comprise only 24 per cent and 15 per cent of McGill’s faculty, respectively, and hiring practices continue to fall short of the stipulations of the school’s 2007 equity policy. As the Working Group’s report further highlights, the issue of diversity must be considered with regard to the retention as well as the hiring of new faculty—the inclusivity of representation within existing staff impacts how prospective hires perceive McGill. 

 

 

The results of the report serve as a pressing reminder of the need to promote diversity and inclusiveness among members of the McGill community.

If the university fails to confront these problems in at the faculty level, it will have serious consequences for its reputation and its relationship with its student body. Professors are not simply educators but also role models for students. Ensuring that a wide range of demographics are represented in the faculty will help visible minorities as well as other disadvantaged groups in McGill’s student body feel accepted and valued. 

The McGill administration also has more pragmatic incentives to promote inclusivity within faculties. The need for diversity is a growing concern in the public consciousness, and will affect how current and prospective McGill students, parents, and academics see the university. As such, failure to address these issues moving forward will hamper McGill’s ability to attract and maintain an exemplary student body and faculty, as well as to solicit donations from alumni.

The Working Group’s report provides a series of recommendations to address the problem of discrimination. These include mandatory Equity Audits for departments, establishing processes to protect staff reporting discrimination, and requiring participation in existing diversity awareness training programs for all faculty. The report also urges McGill to develop a plan for implementing these recommendations that includes specific dates and benchmarks to measure progress.

Given the importance of this issue, the McGill administration should heed the recommendations of the report, including the suggestion of a timetable for achieving measureable goals. Additional faculty surveys on the issue of discrimination in the future would also be beneficial, as they would help measure any shifts in the attitude of faculty members toward diversity after these solutions are implemented.

However, members of the McGill community must be conscious of several roadblocks that could impede progress on this issue. First, McGill has been impacted by provincial austerity measures which have restricted its budget and many faculty’s ability to hire new faculty. Second, Quebec’s immigration policies require the that new immigrants learn French, which can dissuade foreign candidates from choosing to pursue faculty positions at McGill. Finally, the fact that many of the practices mentioned in the report—such as hiring and promotion—are decided at the faculty level means that the administration must articulate a plan to encourage the various faculties to adopt many of the recommendations in the report. 

Despite its methodological shortcomings, this report reveals that the issue of discrimination at the faculty level must be met with a cohesive strategy that extends across the university. Hiring decisions may take place in distinct faculties, but that should not hinder the university from leading a strategy to promote inclusivity. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The McGill Tribune Editorial Board

 

 

@ |

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Science & Technology

McGill entrepreneurs want you to eat bugs for breakfast

by Erin Dwyer on

More in Science & Technology:

“The test was simple,” former McGill MBA student Mohammed Ashour wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune. “Would you be willing to drop out of school to pursue this idea, even if you lost the Hult Prize?”

In 2013, Ashour and his classmates Gabe Mott, Shobhita Soor, Jesse Pearlstein, and Zev Thompson came together to compete in the prestigious international Hult Prize in social entrepreneurship. The team would go on to launch Aspire Food Group, with a mission of providing alternate forms of sustainable protein.

“I wanted to form a team where each individual brings a unique point of view and set of skills,” Ashour said. “Not just demographic and cultural diversity, which are critical, but also diversity in thought, experience, and worldview.”

The Hult Prize challenged the teams to the daunting task of tackling food security and poverty, particularly in urban slums. Around that time, Ashour ran into friend and Montreal physician Dr. Mohamed Slim.

“I struck up the topic about food security and poverty and he narrated a story about insects as food,” Ashour said. “That was the spark.”

Protein is a vital macronutrient, but, animal protein is often extremely expensive and resource intensive. With these limitations, protein deficiency is common worldwide. Dr. Slim recommended the team to seek out a creative alternative.

“People love bugs,” Dr. Slim said. “If you deal with something really common, people will say ‘ah, clever, but I’m not interested.’ If you tell them something disgusting but plausible, you win.”

And their idea did just that. In March 2013, the team beat Harvard University to progress through the Hult Prize Regional Finals and then went on to win in September of the same year.

Using the $1 million seed capital prize, Aspire Food Group was born.

Ashour advocates for learning entrepreneurial lessons outside the classroom. However, if students haven’t found their “ah-ha!” idea just yet, Ashour suggests searching for start-ups they’re interested in and asking for work.

“I guarantee that the ‘tuition value’ of learning on someone else’s dime will be one of the most invaluable experiences you will have,” Ashour said. “If I’m being blunt, it may be more valuable than anything you will learn in the classroom.”

Despite the win, there were still hurdles for the team.

“The biggest obstacle was validation,” Ashour said. “We had this extremely optimistic concept of getting people in Thailand, Kenya, or Ghana to put a basket full of noisy crickets in their already crowded dwelling!”

After many long nights and trips back to the drawing board, Aspire now utilizes sensor technology and the internet-of-things to generate live data on the insects throughout their lifespans.

Not only is Aspire fulfilling the original Hult Prize challenge of spearheading urban food poverty, it has branched into normalizing insect consumption in Western countries.

“While food insecurity is less problematic in Canada and the United States, than, say, Kenya, food sustainability has become a major problem,” Ashour said.

Less than two years after establishing their first U.S. pilot cricket farm, Aspire launched the site aketta.com: An online information and recipe hub and retailer for all things crickets.

“It is estimated that 80 per cent of water resources in the U.S. are consumed by livestock production” Ashour said. “Insects are objectively an outstanding source of nutrition […] with the added advantage of being incredibly environmentally efficient.”

The now 30-person company doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

“We are currently making significant investments into biological and technology research and development” Ashour said. “Our goal is to develop modular farms that can be deployed in any country around the world.”

For the aspiring entrepreneurs out there, Ashour advocates starting now.

“If you have an idea you are obsessed with […] don’t fear failure,” he said.

Commentary, Opinion

Jordan Peterson’s real thesis lost in U of T pronoun debate

by Gabriel Rincon on

More in Commentary:

University of Toronto Professor Jordan Peterson has made headlines recently for refusing to use gender-neutral pronouns in the classroom. Students at U of T have been protesting Peterson’s stance ever since late September, when he released several videos on the subjects of political correctness, the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC) and Bill C-16. However, the debate over his refusal to use gender-neutral pronouns detracts from the most important part of Peterson’s thesis. Peterson’s point is not just about pronouns, it’s about the impact of political correctness informing legal and university institutions.

While Peterson has identified important issues with Ontario legislative reforms, he is still primarily being identified for his stance on pronouns. Unfortunately, this position has created a strawman for activists to use to dismiss him as a bigot. The Queer Caucus of the union representing U of T’s sessional lecturers and TAs denounced Peterson’s arguments as unacademic, and the university administration sent him a letter implying that his refusal to use individuals’ desired pronouns may be illegal and warning legal action may be imminent. Focusing the discussion on gender pronouns obscures Peterson’s arguments about how freedom of speech and legislative reforms are being affected by political correctness.

 

 

 

Focusing the discussion on gender pronouns obscures Peterson’s arguments about how freedom of speech and legislative reforms are being affected by political correctness.

For example, Peterson’s issue with the recent changes to the OHRC are valuable, yet haven’t received the attention they deserve. Peterson has pointed out that the Ontario government has reformed the OHRC to adopt policies to make discrimination based on “gender expression and identity” a human rights violation. While that seems fine, Peterson’s issue is with the broad definition the OHRC now gives discrimination. According to the OHRC, discrimination on the basis of gender “happens when a person experiences negative treatment or impact, intentional or not, because of their gender identity or gender expression.” Peterson argues that “negative impact” could mean anything from having one’s feelings hurt during a discussion about gender, to receiving hateful treatment based on gender. With such a broad definition, individuals may be accused of discrimination for merely discussing gender pronouns, as this might cause someone to experience a negative impact. It is noteworthy that the definition in the Canadian Human Rights Act, which emphasizes disparity of treatment, is vastly different from that of the OHRC’s definition. The crux of Peterson’s thesis is that this reformed definition of discrimination in the OHRC is so broad it becomes poorly defined and curtails everyone’s freedom of speech to by requiring them to use new gender pronouns. Further, the lack of consideration for motive is worrying, since it could result in well-meaning individuals getting in trouble for accidental slights. Peterson argues this lack of nuance written into the OHRC is the result of a politically informed political correctness.

Not only has the focus been taken away from Peterson’s legal arguments, his extensive research into the correlation between political correctness and left-wing authoritarianism have also been largely ignored. His research could contribute to a more informed academic debate, and would be especially important given that political correctness has now been enshrined in the OHRC and is being adopted by universities.

Peterson’s positions on political correctness are especially important given the current deferral to political correctness on campus. The hostile treatment that Peterson has received for expressing his view in itself demonstrates the uncritical institutionalization of politically correct thinking in universities. Academic discussion at U of T is already being limited as the university was reluctant to even hold a debate on Peterson’s ideas. When U of T finally scheduled a debate, it was accused of providing a platform for hate. This is the wrong approach, as academic freedom and open debate are values social justice activists ought to relish if they truly want to transform society. Despite being well intentioned, social justice advocates need to remember to respect the freedoms of others. Theodore Levitt crystallized the issue perfectly: “There is nothing more corrupting than self-righteousness and nothing more intolerant than an ardent man who is convinced he is on the side of the angels.”

 

 

 

 
News, The Tribune Explains

Tribune Explains: Campus security

by Gabriel Rincon on

More in News:

McGill Security Services are an integral role in keeping our campus community safe. The force completes a variety of daily security and patrolling tasks, ensures that on-campus events remain safe, and works with the Service de police de la ville de Montréal (SPVM) to keep the peace and ensure students’ safety on and near campus.

All security agents are required by law to be licensed by the Quebec Bureau de la Sécurité Privée. According to Director of Campus Public Safety Pierre Barbarie, security agents’ powers differ from those of police in the use of force and their ability to arrest individuals.

“If […] a criminal act is being committed in front [of an agent], we have the power just like any other citizen to react to that, versus a police officer [… who] has a right to detain and arrest,” Barbarie said. “Everyone has a right to defend themselves, so that use of force usually comes down to personal safety.”

The daily tasks of these agents include patrols and responding to calls.

“Our patrollers will go around campus and just ensure everyone is in a safe environment,” Barbarie said. “[Agents] show [their] presence [and] verify calls [security] may receive at the control centre [….] The goal has always been to be there for students, faculty, and staff.”

All events on campus are supervised by McGill Security Services, with the exception of events within the Shatner Building, which are monitored by the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Security Department. The two security services collaborate on large events, such as 4Floors, which takes place in the Fall semester of each year. SSMU President Ben Ger said a good relationship between SSMU and McGill Security Services allow for a better coordination with the university.

“Since the SSMU team […] has such a large role in organizing and participating in events on campus, a good working relationship with [McGill Security Services] and a solid knowledge base on how they operate allows for us to have a healthy and productive working relationship with the university,” Ger said.

Ger explained how the high number of students attending SSMU events, such as Activities Night, presents challenging security risks for agents.

“Years where there is increased traffic […] during events […] often requires more agents [and] security measures to be in place,” Ger said. “When events come close to selling out there is […] an additional security concern that needs to be evaluated if we want to provide a safe and fun environment for students.”

As for other events held on campus, such as Open Air Pub (OAP), security and event organizers coordinate. McGill Security Services have a special events liaison to help event organizers and security work in tandem.

“We work closely with the event organizers,” Barbarie said. “We have a person that is assigned to special events, so he’ll meet with event organizers […] and determine [their] needs. The guidelines then trickle down to the agents.”

Security personnel do not report to the event organizers. Instead, they continue to report to the McGill control centre.

Additional initiatives that McGill Security Services are working on include supporting the student-run Walksafe program as well as providing their own escort service. The Active Shooter Protocol was also created by the Campus Public Safety office. Barbarie said an active shooter is the most worrying new challenge faced by security personnel.

“When I started in 2000, I wasn’t thinking of armed individuals coming on our campus and now [we must prepare for the possibility of these and] terrorist acts,” Barbarie said. “Not because we expect something to happen, but mostly we want people to be prepared.”

Fortunately, McGill does not commonly face acts of violence. According to Barbarie, the most common report is theft, especially of laptops. To combat the theft of laptops, McGill Security Services retail a STOP plate — a metal sticker designed to prevent the resale of stolen laptops.

If there is ever any sort of incident on campus, Barbarie would urge students to contact 9-1-1 if they feel it is necessary. When 9-1-1 is called on a McGill landline, the security dispatch centre will monitor the call, respond to it, and assist emergency personnel when they arrive. If an emergency is reported on a cellphone, students should still contact security to inform them of the situation.
Students can also receive emergency notifications from Campus Public Safety through the McGill App and SMS text messages.

Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

Remembering Carrie Fisher

by Evelyn Goessling on

More in Arts & Entertainment:

Carrie Fisher, actress, performer, and writer, died on Dec. 27 of this past year from complications following a heart attack. She was 60 years old. 

Fisher’s unique charm touched all aspects of her career. As a writer and performer, she spoke with candour and humour about the peculiarities of growing up within the film industry and getting caught up in what she called “Hollywood inbreeding.” Following in the footsteps of her parents, Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher, she appeared in the entertainment world from an early age. 

Fisher made her first professional appearance in the 1973 Broadway revival Irene, alongside her mother, Debbie Reynolds. In her role as Princess Leia in Star Wars (1977), Fisher brought a fierce presence and wry humour to the character and the sci-fi world. 

Fisher wrote several memoirs about her life, including Postcards from the Edge (1987) and Wishful Drinking (2008), and was outspoken about her bipolar disorder and history with drug addiction. Her accounts of life on remote set locations for Star Wars and dancing with partner Paul Simon at Studio 54 illuminate her unique and exciting life in the context of her addictions. Fisher wrote—and lived—with determination and a pithy sense of humour. Bright Lights, an HBO documentary observing the relationship between Fisher and her mother was released Jan. 7. Reynolds passed away on Dec 28—one day after her daughter’s death—as a result of a stroke. She was 84 years old. 

“No matter how I go, I want it reported that I drowned in moonlight, strangled by my own bra,” Fisher wrote in Wishful Drinking. In those words, and in all her work, Fisher created an inimitable legacy. A private ceremony for Fisher was held on Jan. 7, and Fisher’s ashes were placed in an antique urn in the shape of a giant Prozac pill. 

A previous version of this article stated that Star Wars was released in 1979. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, the first film in the franchise, was released in 1977.

1 … 692 693 694 695 696 … 1,363

Read the latest issue

Read the latest issue