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Commentary, Opinion

Bill Clinton needs to exit the political discussion

by Diana Little on

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On Oct. 7, Presidential candidate Donald Trump released an apology for his misogynistic comments in an infamous 2005 tape, which records him bragging to Access Hollywood host Billy Bush about sexually assaulting women. However, his apology merely brushed off the incident as “locker-room talk” while shifting the focus onto Bill Clinton, who had nothing to do with this incident. This attack on Bill Clinton, however, is not an isolated event in this election; rather, it fits into larger, disturbing political dialogue that has trouble distinguishing between Hillary Clinton and her husband. Hillary Clinton is not her husband, nor do her opinions necessarily build off her husband’s. The assumption that Hillary’s opinions reflect or are analogous to Bill’s creates a sexist political discourse that questions Hillary Clinton’s suitability for president because of her gender.

Donald Trump is not the only one with a tendency to equate Hillary’s presidential platform with her husband’s past. In the second presidential debate, Anderson Cooper asked Hillary, “Your husband called Obamacare the ‘craziest thing in the world’ [….] Was he mistaken or was he simply telling the truth?” Despite the fact that Bill is not running for president, the way in which Anderson framed his question places Bill’s opinions on par with Hillary’s. The media’s fixation likewise creates a dialogue where Hillary must answer for her husband’s political views rather than her own.

This fixation on Bill also implicitly assumes that Hillary is merely an extension of her husband rather than a candidate with her own platform. As Donald Trump’s apology exemplifies, her opponent and the media attempt to use Bill’s history of adultery and personal shortcomings as means to criticize and invalidate Hillary’s campaign. The consequence of using her husband as a tool against her campaign is that Hillary’s policies are merely a reflection of her husband’s. This casts doubt on whether she is even capable of forming her thoughts or handling the demands of the presidency. According to the rhetoric that blames Hillary for her husband's faults, Hillary is a wife first and a presidential candidate second.

 

Despite her qualifications and experience, the media depicts Hillary as a wife and First Lady rather than a valid presidential candidate.

The fact that the media does not align Donald Trump with his spouse particularly highlights the sexist undertones this election. Melania Trump’s plagiarism scandal in July tested this double standard; however, several media sources brushed off the incident as the result of poor speech writing and fact-checking, rather than a reflection on the Trump campaign or Donald Trump himself. In fact, articles describing the incident barely mention Donald at all. Trump Campaign chairman Paul Manafort likewise told CNN, “The controversy you’re talking about is not meaningful at all [because Melania] is not a candidate for office.”

The same excuse, however, apparently does not apply to the Clinton campaign. The hypocrisy of the Trump campaign and the double standards set by the media only illustrate the deeply ingrained sexism Hillary combats in this election. Despite her qualifications and experience, the media depicts Hillary as a wife and First Lady rather than a valid presidential candidate.

This treatment of Hillary Clinton is unfair, and is an inappropriate way to treat any woman—professional or not. In Hillary’s case especially, it bolsters the false assumption that women do not belong in politics. In order to set a better standard for women in the professional sphere in general, the Trump campaign and the media need to exclude Bill Clinton from the political discussion and give Hillary the respect that she deserves.

 

 

 

 

 

Diana Little is a U2 student in the Department of English Literature whose hobbies include petting dogs around Montreal and going to all-you-can-eat sushi.

 

@ | [email protected]

 

 

 

 
McGill, News

In pursuit of a healthy and safe Frosh

by Julia Metraux on

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During a Sept. 28 press conference, Quebec Minister of Women Lise Thériault addressed concerns of the correlation between Frosh activities and hazing following various incidents at universities and colleges across the province of Quebec. A Montréal Gazette editorial on Frosh, in addition to the Minister’s comments, started a conversation among Frosh coordinators, administration, and students on whether “hazing” applies to McGill Froshes and how these events can be more safe.

In reference to alleged combination of sexual assault and heavy drinking that took place during Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Law Frosh orientation, Thériault told the press that action must be taken to ensure that these types of incidents do not happen again. She stated that such behaviours do not belong at universities.

According to Science Undergraduate Society (SUS) Vice-President (VP) Internal Affairs Ziyaan Harji, Thériault’s comments do not apply to McGill Froshes.

“Science Frosh, as well as all Froshes, both faculty and non-faculty based, have made it clear to our participants, leaders, and staff, that it is not in any way a form of initiation and it certainly does not involve hazing,” Harji said. “I don’t believe [Montreal Gazette’s editorial on hazing during Frosh orientation] will affect the future of our Frosh.”

McGill Dean of Students Christopher Buddle does not believe that banning Frosh would be a constructive solution to prevent future incidents from occurring. Instead, McGill should continue its work to improve education on consent issues for Frosh participants.

“Our Frosh activities are tightly connected to broader orientation for incoming students, and include viewing videos about consent, through to mandatory workshops in our residence halls,” Buddle said. “There’s always room to improve, but overall I think McGill is taking the right approach to Frosh, and we will continue to adjust on a yearly basis to ensure our incoming class has a positive experience.”

Certain faculty Froshes have undergone changes to promote a healthy environment. For example, the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) has has worked to improve the inclusivity of Arts Frosh in recent years, according to AUS VP Social Affairs Kat Svikhnushin.

“One of the reasons that we are different is our commitment to inclusivity and improving upon Frosh each year, which we’ve done through initiatives such as [establishing] the Director of Inclusivity, [the] sober ally program, Frosh bursaries, and extensive coordinator, leader, and staff training,” Svikhnushin said.

Ellen Gurung, U1 Arts, felt that her Frosh leaders were respectful and did not make people feel like they had to drink; however, the atmosphere at some events made drinking seem like a necessity.

“Beach day is like, ‘We’re drinking at [9 a.m.],’ and some people were completely out before we got on the bus,” Gurung said. “That was weird for me. It seemed [that] to enjoy beach day, you needed to be drunk. It was uncomfortable to see how many people were over the edge, I was wondering if they were okay.”

Alyanna Jamal, U0 Science, said the amount of drinking during Frosh week has both positive and negative aspects.

“I feel like that depends on the individual [when it comes to the drinking culture during Frosh],” Jammal said. “I find many people take it as a great way to meet new people and socialize, as I [did], but I also find that at times people can use it in a harmful way to blow off steam.”

Harji emphasized that alcohol safety is a focus of Frosh preparations, and that both McGill and community groups collaborate to ensure the success and safety of Frosh.

“The safety of our participants is our number one priority, with leaders and staff going through extensive training on alcohol safety and consent, active bystander intervention, etcetera,” Harji said. “As student leaders and coordinators, we work very closely with McGill administration and the greater Montreal community, including the [Milton-Parc Citizens’ Committee (MPCC)] and the [Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM)], to ensure everyone’s enjoyment.”

According to Buddle, collaboration between the administration and Frosh organizers is needed to promote positive behavior at future Froshes.

“The positive elements of Frosh need to be recognized–developing lifelong friendships, feeling connected to a faculty and university, becoming familiar with what can be, for some, a very daunting environment,” Buddle said. “Banning Frosh activities is not a good solution to stopping some of the inappropriate activities we have read about in the press. Instead, we need to continue to work collaboratively with students and Frosh organizers to develop programming, refine communications and education, and continue to move away from events that focus on alcohol.”

Men's Varsity, Private, Sports

McGill Redmen capture CUFLA Eastern Division title, defeating Trent

by Patrick Beacham on

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The McGill Redmen (11-1) squared up against the Trent University Excalibur (11-1) for what promised to be a suspenseful rematch between two men’s lacrosse heavy-hitters at Forbes Field on Sunday. The Redmen looked to avenge their only loss this season at the hands of the Excalibur in mid-September. Trent and McGill remained neck-and-neck throughout the first half, but the Redmen exploded in the second half with four unanswered goals, taking the match 9-5 and topping the CUFLA East Division table.

“We started off straight from the first quarter, which we’ve been struggling doing all year,” Redmen midfielder Jay Jiranek said. “We just came together and played as a team [and] got the result we wanted.”

The first half deadlock was due to the defensive prowess of both teams and a number of turnovers committed by each side. While Trent managed to run the ball up multiple times, the Redmen offence made quick work of their advances with long passes. This strategy gave McGill the advantage when it came to possession, as their quick movement of the ball bought them precious time in the offensive zone.

“We didn’t rely on any single player,” Redmen attacker Goose Bolton said. “We held the ball for most of the game and they didn’t have it, and they can’t score when they don’t have it.”

McGill continued to control possession into the second half, with the first half ending in a 5-5 stalemate. Two goals halfway through the third quarter changed the momentum in favour of the Redmen and guaranteed them the win.

“On offence, all you have to do is be patient,” Redmen Assistant Coach Nick Soubry said. “We were patient and we put those goals in the net.”

McGill will face Ottawa in the Baggataway Cup Playoffs on Oct. 29 at Molson Stadium. The Gee Gees are currently in sixth place in the Eastern CUFLA conference, so it is likely that the first-seed Redmen will proceed to semifinals the following weekend.

“Coach Murdoch always talks about peaking at the right point, which would mean going into the playoffs,” Jiranek said. “[With a] big win against Trent, it’s us finally hitting our stride, and it’s really exciting that going into the Baggataway Cup that we’re playing the best we’ve ever played.”

 

Quotable:  “With 15 freshmen on the team, everyone’s learning, so the start from game one to now has been exponential.” – Redmen defenseman Tanner Baldin on the leadup to the Trent victory.

Stat Corner: After defeating Trent, McGill took their spot at the top of CUFLA East and is in position to take the conference title for the fifth time in a row.

Moment of the game: During a power-play halfway through the third quarter, McGill’s Max Murdoch made a bottom-corner goal with his first shot on the field, starting the offensive sweep that won them the game.

Martlets, Private, Soccer, Sports

Laval knocks McGill Martlets soccer out of the playoffs

by Nicole Spadotto on

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The McGill Martlets (4-6-2) came out hungry for redemption against the Laval Rouge et Or (11-0-1) at Molson Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 23 after being dominated by the CIS’ number one seed in the last meeting between the two teams on September 25. Ultimately, McGill came away heartbroken as the visitors edged out the Martlets 1-0.

        McGill looked as though they were going to take an early lead courtesy of fifth-year senior Captain Daphnee Morency, but an offside call broke up her dangerous dribble down the left of the field. After the Martlets regained possession, Morency once again attacked down the wing and crossed the ball for a quality opportunity in front of the net. Laval goalie Marie-Joelle Vandal made an excellent save, however, setting the defensive tone for the rest of the first half. For McGill, senior goaltender Cassandra Fafalios was more than her match and snuffed out Laval’s two decent first half scoring opportunities—at one point making a spectacular diving save near the top-left corner of the net.

        “We could have been at half 1-0 on our side,” Head Coach Jose-Luis Valdes said. “The organization, the willingness to play, the willingness to close them down and actually win the ball from them was actually quite good on our side.”

        The second half saw the fans getting feisty: The Laval men’s soccer team–who had come to cheer on their women’s squad–exchanged bilingual barbs with the McGill fight band. The Rouge Et Or showed with an intensity they lacked in the first half and scored a quick goal at the start of the period. Laval striker Jessica Bunker caught the McGill defence in a rare moment of flat footedness and attacked down the right side of the pitch to sneak a goal just past the diving Fafalios.

        “Second half, they got a quick goal right at the start of the half,” Valdes said. “But we didn’t shut down. We kept going. We kept playing. The wind was in our face, which wasn’t easy to have in the second half.”

        A bright spot during the match for the Martlets was their solid defensive unit, which tightened after the Rouge Et Or’s goal and shut down an onslaught of offensive opportunities.

        “The backline was strong throughout the game,” Valdes said of his defensive unit. “We had to make a couple of subs in the second half because of injuries [.…] We had that instability for a couple of minutes.”

        McGill’s playoff hopes ended with this defeat. For now, the team is looking forward to next weekend against UDEM—which is both homecoming and the last Martlet soccer home game of the season. Festivities will include honouring the seniors and welcoming alumni who played for the Martlets in the past. Former McGill soccer star and current professional player Amber Allen will be inducted into the McGill Sports Hall of Fame. Though there is much to look forward to, there’s also a lot to build upon after Sunday evening’s match.

“The girls made a huge effort against the number one team in the country,” Valdes said. “We can’t really complain.”

 

Quotable: “The last time we played Laval, we [were] kind of got intimidated from the start. We gave up an early goal and they piled on a couple more after that. We kind of got startled [….] Whereas today, we were able to eliminate a lot of their options, take away their rhythm from the play, and then we were able to combine a few passes.” – Head Coach Jose-Luis Valdes

Stat of the game: Two yellow cards were given to an aggressive Laval team.

Moment of the game: Olivia Lusterio-Adler, a forward from Beaconsfield, Quebec, blocked what seemed like a sure Laval goal with her face after a quick pass created a stellar scoring opportunity for Laval.

Commentary, Opinion

The cost of being a coffee-drinking woman

by Alexandra Harvey on

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What if you were told that you had to pay more for your morning coffee, just because of your gender? Toronto coffee shop Tokyo Smoke got a rise out of its customers for doing just this. One woman was told she’d have to pay a whopping $5.00 for her small decaf latté—$1.50 above the male price. “So it’s discrimination basically,” she retorted. To this, the barista plainly responded, “Yep.” “Is this a joke?!” a coffee-seeking woman scoffed. Many customers left empty-handed, promising to boycott the quaint Trinity Bellwoods café forever. The overwhelmingly negative reaction is predictable. Tokyo Smoke’s blatant act of discrimination is disgusting. Comical, even!

Not surprisingly, the little trick that Tokyo Smoke played on its customers had a political agenda. Executed by female empowerment organization GirlTalk HQ, the whole point of this coffee-shop hoax was to upset people—and hopefully raise awareness for an important social injustice.

At first glance, it may seem like this stunt was an oversimplification of a nuanced women’s rights issue. However, maybe the issue at hand really is that simple. No, the products are not different; yes, women just have to pay more. People have no problem seeing how this is sexist. This clever awareness tactic illuminates the inequity in the Pink Tax.

The Pink Tax is a premium that has women spending an average of 43 per cent more on personal hygiene products than men. Products marketed towards women are consistently more expensive than identical products advertised for men. The Pink Tax is sexist because it plays into the social pressures that delimit and constrain women—even beyond what they may be conscious of. Society emphasizes femininity as a key characteristic of a desirable woman. Producers can sell female-marketed products at a higher cost because women are socialized to conform to these gender ideals. The Pink Tax exploits female consumers by taking advantage of gender stereotypes.

A Toronto-based study by Parsehub examined the price tags of over 3,000 personal care products and determined that women pay more than men for products like shampoo, razors, soap, and deodorant. These findings echo those of a similar study by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs on gender pricing. This research went beyond personal hygiene products, and uncovered that numerous goods—for example, baby toys, clothing, and jeans—have a much steeper price tag when tinted pink or advertised as ‘for the ladies,’ even when the male-gendered counterpart was practically identical.

Not only do women pay more, we still earn less than men. The average woman working full time in Canada makes 73.5 cents for every dollar a man earns, despite female levels of educational attainment surpassing those of men. This wage gap exacerbates the injustice of women being forced to fork over a greater portion of their income for the Pink Tax. It’s safe to draw the conclusion that it costs more to be a woman at any stage of life.

In 2012, Ellen DeGeneres spoke out about a new product by Bic called “Bic for Her”—pens designed for women and sold for twice the price. Ellen illustrates that the Pink Tax is a reality, though an absurd one. “The worst part [about these pens] is that they don’t come with any instructions,” she jokes. “So how do they expect us to learn how to write with them, you know?” Humour can be a clever way to point out social injustices, but it’s crucial to look closely at what we’re laughing at: In this case, it’s discrimination, sexism, and the gender gap. It’s 2016, and blatant acts of systemic sexism are, as GirlTalk HQ and Ellen point out, inexcusable and should not be tolerated.

Gendered pricing exploits women and perpetuates sexist gender norms. Individuals can fight the Pink Tax by signing GirlTalk HQ’s petition to urge the Canadian government to implement a law prohibiting gendered pricing. In the meantime, women can reduce their personal Pink Tax by opting for unisex or men’s products when the price tags are significantly lower. That being said, if I prefer my razor tinted in pink, that doesn’t mean I should be forced to pay more.

 

Basketball, Private, Sports

2016-2017 NBA Season Preview

by Arman Bery, Wasif Hussain, Weiyu Dang, Gabriel Rincon & Zikomo Smith on

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Eastern Conference

Southeast Division

Atlanta Hawks

Replacing Al Horford with Dwight Howard is a downgrade both on and off the court. Howard is no longer a top-tier centre and has been nothing but a headache for his coaches and teammates in recent seasons. With the transition to the flashy and mercurial Dennis Schroder as point guard, growing pains will be inevitable. The Hawks will struggle at times, endure a handful of Dwight-mares, but ultimately still have the pieces in place to sneak into the playoffs in a top-heavy Eastern Conference.

Charlotte Hornets

Despite last season’s optimism—when the team almost won fifty games and point-guard Kemba Walker evolved into a stud—the Hornets now lack depth following the departures of quality backup Jeremy Lin and the gritty Courtney Lee. Adding Roy Hibbert and Ramon Sessions would have helped the team in 2012, but it is not 2012, and the Hornets will regress. Michael Jordan will again be disappointed as Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers will trample his team if they manage to make the playoffs.

Washington Wizards

Aiming for backcourt stability, the Wizards gave Bradley Beal an undeservedly monster-sized contract–underappreciated point-guard John Wall says he’s not jealous. The two guards make up the Wizards’ backcourt, but with Beal’s streaky shooting, this duo might have a strenuous relationship. Without adding any legitimate starters, Washington is stalling and shouldn’t improve from last year’s .500 record, falling short of the playoffs and wasting another year with Wall’s affordable contract on the books.

 Orlando Magic

The Magic are trying to rebuild like it’s 2009 with two starting centres. Trading for forward Serge Ibaka in exchange for Victor Oladipo was a smart move. Adding Bismack Biyombo, however, was redundant and ignored the fact that no one on the Magic can shoot. Besides these two seven-footers, the Magic hope that Elfrid Payton and Evan Fournier will improve and that Aaron Gordon will learn the basketball skills to match his athleticism. The paint defense will be impenetrable, but useless if the team can’t make a three pointer.

Miami Heat

Dwyane Wade fled, Joe Johnson left, and Chris Bosh appears to be done. Yet, things aren’t so bad in Miami. Hassan Whiteside is locked in as the new franchise superstar, Justise Winslow resembles a young Ron Artest, and Dion Waiters is out of Russell Westbrook’s shadow. Erik Spoelstra is still a solid coach and his team will most likely rebuild effectively. Still, the Heat are probably a few years away from contention and will be in the lottery this season.

 

Atlantic Division

Boston Celtics

With a bevy of young talent, the Celtics have finally left obscurity and returned to form as NBA Finals contenders. Under the tutelage of Head Coach Brad Stevens, Boston has become an attractive place for marquee free agents. In a top-heavy Eastern Conference, the addition of Al Horford will probably help them eclipse Toronto for the top spot in the Atlantic and the second seed in the Eastern Conference come playoff time.

Toronto Raptors

The Raptors have the tough task of trying to top the Celtics for their fourth straight Atlantic Division championship. Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan have shown that they can carry a team to the playoffs, but they still lack that last piece to bring them to the NBA finals. If they can trade for another superstar, they might be able to break the Cleveland Cavaliers’ two-year streak as Eastern Conference champions. 

New York Knicks

If we could turn back the clock by six years, the Knicks’ current roster would challenge this season’s Golden State Warriors on superstar-power alone. Unfortunately, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Carmelo Anthony are all well past their NBA primes. Although  Rose and Noah could see their roles reduced this year, they should help the development of sophmore big Kristaps Porzingis as he transitions into a bonafide star. However, expect the Knicks to once again be a middling team this year.

Philadelphia 76ers

The eternal rebuild continues in Philadelphia. There was a time when the City of Brotherly Love believed in “The Process,” but that time has long passed. The multi-year tanking project that acquired Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid, Dario Saric, and Jahlil Okafor has yielded nothing. 2016 pick Ben Simmons will not fix this trend. Another lost season and high lottery pick is on the cards for the 76ers.

Brooklyn Nets

Brooklyn might be the only team worse than Philadelphia this year. Expectations are so low, a 15-win season would be seen as a success. Frankly, if the NBA had relegation the Nets might not even win the D-League. This team is totally unwatchable; it won’t even get to use their inevitably high draft pick because they traded it to Boston three years ago. Nets fans, we pray for you.

 

Central Division

Cleveland Cavaliers

Winning back-to-back championships is one of the greatest achievements in sports. However, the Cavaliers shouldn’t have any issues with the pressure. They didn’t make any flashy moves like Golden State, but they remain the class of the Eastern Conference by a considerable margin. Barring injuries, look for Cleveland to be right back in the NBA Finals this year–LeBron James’ seventh in a row.

Indiana Pacers

The Pacers had a busy off-season acquiring veteran players and found a potential franchise pillar in sophomore centre Myles Turner. Forward Paul George is one of the league’s five best players, and will push the high calibre attack offence. Head Coach Nate McMillan has the depth to rotate nine or ten players on a nightly basis. A second or third playoff seed would keep the Pacers out of Cleveland’s way till the Conference Finals.

Chicago Bulls

The Bulls made big splashes in the off-season, shipping away former-MVP Derrick Rose, then signing point-guard Rajon Rondo and hometown superstar Dwyane Wade. The days of trying to get past LeBron James in the playoffs seem long gone, as Chicago shifts their focus to just trying to make the postseason. Their inability to shoot will relegate the Bulls to a fringe playoff team.

Detroit Pistons

Last year, Detroit laid the foundation to become a perennial playoff team. They still have a way to go before becoming big-time contenders—they need to improve their physical skills and gain more playing experience. The Pistons will continue to mimic the style Head Coach Stan Van Gundy used during his tenure with the Orlando Magic–one in, four out–to climb up the ladder in the East.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks will struggle in the 2016-17 season—they didn’t do enough in free agency to improve their team, said goodbye to Michael Carter-Williams in a trade, and lost Kris Middleton to injury. Milwaukee continued their unorthodox, size-oriented style of play and surprisingly drafted 7’1” forward Thon Maker with the 10th pick. The East is too deep for the Bucks to succeed and they will fail to gain much ground on last season’s 33-win finish.

 

Western Conference

Southwest Division

San Antonio Spurs

It’s hard to bet against San Antonio’s coaching staff, but the departures of the legendary Tim Duncan and versatile Boris Diaw have weakened the Spurs’ standing in the Western conference. They will still be a high-seeded contender, but their defence will regress with an ancient roster and reportedly unhappy LaMarcus Aldridge. Expect Kawhi Leonard to be in the MVP discussion and the Spurs to lose in the second round of the playoffs. 

Memphis Grizzlies

Memphis is in basketball purgatory. They are good enough to scrape into the playoffs behind the excellent Mike Conley and the dynamic Chandler Parsons; however, their thin squad is only an injury away from catastrophe and they rely too heavily on ground-and-pound, unathletic big men. Until Memphis commits to better three point shooting, they will never go deep into the playoffs.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks are one of the most intriguing teams in the NBA. If Harrison Barnes overcomes his stage fright, Wes Matthews returns to his gunslinging best, and Andrew Bogut provides the best rim-protection since the Tyson Chandler days, Dallas could go deep in the playoffs. However, those are big ifs. The Mavericks should be content with a mid-seed finish and a second round playoff performance in the twilight of Dirk Nowitzki’s career.

Houston Rockets

The Rockets are still reeling from the dysfunction of last season—they have a poor defence and lack a solid rim protector outside of centre Clint Capela. They hired Head Coach Mike D’Antoni this off-season, but his track record was devalued by his disastrous tenure with the Laker. No doubt Houston’s offence will explode under D’Antoni and the excellent James Harden, but they have not improved enough to aim for anything more than the eighth seed.

New Orleans Pelicans

The Pelicans are too banged up to make serious headway this year. The prodigious Anthony Davis might be healthy, but key players Qunicy Pontdexter, Jrue Holiday, and Tyreke Evans are out to start the season. All eyes are now on exciting rookie Buddy Hield—perhaps the most NBA ready player in this year’s draft. If the Pelicans can get healthy, Davis might drag them to the playoffs; however, that will be a big stretch.

 

Pacific Division

Golden State Warriors

Last year, the Warriors’ four perimeter all-stars had shooting percentages of 38.7, 38.8, 42.5, and 45.4. Anybody who questions their ability to win based on a lack of size or rim protection should refer to those aforementioned percentages. Furthermore, adding Kevin Durant to a team that’s already a perennial championship contender is a scary thought. Pencil in the Warriors atop the Pacific Division, the Western Conference, and the NBA. 

Los Angeles Clippers

Blake Griffin punching a team assistant was symbolic of the frustration of the Clippers’ 2015-2016 season. The same core group returns this year with the addition of Mo Speights and Brandon Bass on the bench, but once again this team will only go as far as their big three can take them. Griffin should have a major bounceback year and guide the Clippers to a top three finish in the Western Conference. 

Sacramento Kings

Rudy Gay described the Kings succinctly: “Basketball hell.” Owner Vivek Ranadive and General Manager Vlade Divac are the most puzzling and groan-inducing front office duo in sports. One bright spot is that Sacramento hired a competent–albeit bristly–Head Coach in Dave Joerger and added some solid veteran players. However, the likely result is another disappointing, playoff-less season—something one should expect when Darren Collison is a starting point guard. 

Phoenix Suns

Every time Phoenix is down 20 or more heading into the fourth quarter, find hope in the fact that they have Devin Booker. The team will have massive growing pains as they try and develop rookies Marquese Chriss and Dragan Bender, but the backcourt duo of Eric Bledsoe and Booker will be explosive. The Suns will demonstrate a lot of promise—they have a solid foundation to build from after all—until owner Robert Sarver inevitably finds a way to destroy it. 

Los Angeles Lakers

Luke Walton’s surfer boy demeanor and D’Angelo Russell’s brimming confidence has Lakers fans more optimistic than they have been in the last few years. However, do not mistake this positive sentiment as anything more than hot air. This is a team trying to transition from the oppressive and demoralizing coaching tenure of Byron Scott with a slew of young, undeveloped players. The Lakers will finish as bottom feeders in the Western Conference. 

 

Northwest Division

Portland Trail Blazers

With one of the league’s best starting backcourts, Portland could make a splash this season. Point guard Damian Lillard doesn’t receive enough appreciation around the league and will be on a tear this year trying to establish himself as one of the game’s best. The Blazers didn’t make many moves in the off-season aside from overpaying for Evan Turner and Allen Crabbe, but they didn’t lose anyone either. Don’t be surprised if they win the division. 

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Timberwolves will be one of the most exciting teams to watch this season. Karl Anthony-Towns and Andrew Wiggins are two of the league’s best young players, and Zach Lavine is an athletic freak. Don’t forget that new Head Coach Tom Thibodeau was Derrick Rose’s coach when he won an MVP at just 22 years old. He might be the perfect coach to lead this young, athletic team to a dark horse playoff run.

 Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma will take the biggest step back of any team this season due to the exit of their former MVP Kevin Durant. When they lost Durant to injury two years ago, Russell Westbrook was unstoppable on the court, but he couldn’t will his team into the playoffs–the likely outcome this season. Look for Westbrook to compete for MVP, but don’t bet on much more from the Thunder.

Utah Jazz

With a premier young core in Derrick Favours, Rudy Gobert, and Gordon Hayward, the Jazz may jump a few of the aging Western Conference teams and make the playoffs this year. They’ve improved their depth with the addition of Joe Johnson and George Hill without losing any key pieces. These signings may be the boost needed to make the playoffs; however, don’t expect them to make it out of the first round.

Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets are a very young team with incredible front court depth and not much else. Along with their youth movement, there are some valuable aging pieces—namely, Kenneth Faried and Danilo Gallinari—that could be moved for draft some picks this year. They have some exciting pieces in Emmanuel Mudiay, Nikola Jokic, and rookie Juancho Hernangomez, but unless they take a spectacular leap forward in their development, the Nuggets will once again be under .500.

 

Hear Raptors Analyst Paul Jones' take on this upcoming season in the latest McGill Tribune Sports podcast. 

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Features

Discussing Academic Freedom At McGill

by David Watson on

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“Something strange is happening at America's colleges and universities.” So began the provocative cover story of The Atlantic's September 2015 issue. The piece, “The Coddling of the American Mind,” by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt, dove head-on into a relatively recent, yet highly contentious, debate gripping American campuses—that of campus free speech.

What strange phenomenon had Lukianoff and Haidt identified? “A movement is arising,” they claimed, “undirected and driven largely by students, to scrub campuses clean of words, ideas, and subjects that might cause discomfort or give offense.”

According to the duo—a constitutional lawyer and a social psychologist—students at campuses across the United States were increasingly calling for censorship surrounding topics that are likely to cause offence, and therefore emotional distress, to some students.

In the year since The Atlantic story ran, the debate over controversial speech on campuses has only intensified. At Yale, students called on two faculty members to resign after one sent an email to students questioning the need for a warning about culturally insensitive Halloween costumes. Emory University was divided in the spring after pro-Trump messages were chalked on campus. This September, students at the University of Chicago expressed outrage after their Dean of Students wrote in a welcome letter that his institution's commitment to academic freedom meant it opposed safe spaces and trigger warnings.

In each case, the debate is seemingly polarized between two camps. On one side are those arguing that universities need to prioritize the feelings and experiences of students, and rid campuses of offensive expression that could threaten students' emotional well-being. Opposing them are those who claim that freedom of expression is essential to preserve the university's role as an intellectual space of discussion and open debate.

Off the Board, Opinion

Marijuana legalization poses significant risks for youth

by Natalie Vineberg on

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One of Justin Trudeau’s flashiest policies has been his promise to legalize marijuana. Taking advantage of 4/20 this past April, his government announced that it will be instated in the spring of 2017—only one year later. We’re halfway through that time, and his policy remains vague and shallow.

Trudeau is waiting on results from the Task Force on Cannabis Legalization and Regulation, but the lack of information this close to its proposed implementation is unsettling. One of the most glaring gaps is that the Liberal government’s website doesn’t explain how it plans to keep the drug out of the hands of youth—it offers no details, and only asks for a signature in support. When discussing how legalization should be accomplished, Trudeau must clarify how he intends to protect youth from excessive marijuana use and be committed to educating them on the adverse health effects and safety risks.

Marijuana has been condemned since the days of Reefer Madness and Harry J. Anslinger, the first commissioner of the US Federal Bureau of Narcotics, who claimed that marijuana was “a short cut to the insane asylum” in the 1930s. These tactics were undoubtedly excessive and uninformed, and may have led to the general distrust of anti-drug data. However, there is increasingly concerning evidence of the negative effects marijuana can have on young people, and Trudeau’s motion thus far seems to do nothing to help prevent these negative effects.

Marijuana use can have severely damaging effects on brain development beyond teenage years. Researchers from the University of Missouri and the University of Kansas Medical Centre found that marijuana users overall are more likely to be hospitalized for stroke than non-users. Significantly, the risk of stroke increases by 126 per cent for users aged 25-34—the greatest for any age group. Strokes are usually only a risk for those over 55—not those under age 34. This threat more than doubles the risk within a population that should otherwise be relatively unaffected. Furthermore, according to a study published in The Schizophrenia Bulletin, early marijuana usage can be damaging to the quality of life of those predisposed to psychosis. Cannabis use before the age of 15, the frequency of use, and the potency of the drug can cause the first symptoms of psychosis to appear up to six years earlier than they would have in non-users, setting in as early as mid-20s. These are crucial years in which those predisposed to psychosis can develop strong support systems or career skills to be better prepared for this onset. Ensuring that youth at risk don’t smoke marijuana is essential to preserving those years.

When discussing how legalization should be accomplished, Trudeau must clarify how he intends to protect youth from excessive marijuana use and be committed to educating them on the adverse health effects and safety risks.

The potential legalization of marijuana also poses significant risks for youth in terms of car accidents. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that motor vehicle fatalities were the highest cause of accident deaths among teenagers between 1999 and 2006, making it vital to account for any increased risk to do with marijuana use. While the risks associated with driving under the influence of marijuana don’t seem to be as great as with alcohol, those who drive while high have trouble staying in their lane and exhibit slower reaction times than sober drivers. In the year after marijuana was legalized in Washington, fatal car crashes among drivers who had marijuana in their system were reported to have doubled. Although this link does not necessarily imply causation, the fact remains that drivers testing positive for THC in their system did increase in that year. It is imperative to better understand these effects before legalizing marijuana and to develop an efficient method of testing for it.

If able-minded, healthy adults want to smoke safely in their own homes, that’s a choice they should be able to make for themselves. But, this is not the population that matters when it comes to the risks marijuana poses. Considering that the Liberal government claims that our current prohibition does not help youth, its lack of a clear plan to deal with this problem is disturbing. One of the biggest perceived advantages of legalization is that it will provide safer access to marijuana for those that want it, but young users below the legal age will still be left to find it in unsafe ways. Even if it’s not a deciding factor, the significant health and safety risks facing youth need to be a greater part of the conversation before the policy’s implementation. Trudeau’s policy, from the little information provided, seems to be hopping on the bandwagon without any plan to deal with the biggest problems the country currently faces.

 

 

Natalie Vineberg is the Creative Director at the McGill Tribune. She is a Capricorn and a U3 Cultural Studies and Psychology student. She cried for the whole two hours of the One Tree Hill series finale.

 

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Science & Technology

McGill researcher finds lying becomes more complex with age

by Erin Dwyer on

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Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology Professor Dr. Victoria Talwar remembers that when she was a child, her mother mistakenly replaced salt with sugar in a blueberry pie. Her friend, who had stayed for dinner, was the first to eat the pie. She ate the entire slice, bite by bite, without spitting it out in disgust. She didn’t say a word and waited for others to try the disaster themselves.

Talwar’s friend told a lie. Was this wrong and should she have been punished? It depends on the age of who you ask.

As the lead author, Talwar recently published a study in the International Review of Pragmatics which found that as children’s cognitive abilities progress with age, so does their ability to think critically about the lies they tell and the consequences.

Talwar and her team showed children, aged six to twelve years old, short vignettes depicting a protagonist puppet telling a lie or truth about their own behaviour or another character’s. The puppet either lied to cause harm to another character, lied to protect another character, or told a truth to report another character’s behaviour—commonly known by children as “tattling.”

“We were interested in not only whether they thought different statements were lies or truths, but how they would evaluate them and if these lies should be punished or rewarded,” Talwar said.

The study found that children understand from a young age that lying is wrong and telling the truth is right. This binary notion often continues until approximately age nine, when things begin to get more complex. Although they still believe lying is wrong, older children don’t solely take the lie at face value, but also consider the intentions behind the lie.

In addition to assessing children’s lying behaviour, her research team collected information on the role parents play in the development of lying versus truth-telling.

“Research with adults tells us that they are telling a couple of lies a day, and some of these are to their kids,” Talwar said. “It’s the classic case of wanting to leave the grocery store, but your kids want potato chips. You tell them that the store has none left as an easy way to get them to leave.”

Children hear and see their parents acting in a hypocritical fashion all the time. For example, telling a telemarketer you’re just a house guest or lying about your children’s age to get into a museum for free.

The notion of conditional lying can be confusing to children. Although Talwar realizes most children were found to have a clear understanding of what is a punishable lie—to harm others—and what is an admissible one—to protect others—many situations are ambiguous.

In the case of tattling, this ambiguity can have significant implications.

“Younger children saw black and white, while older children saw more conflict because, although they are telling the truth, someone else is landing in hot water,” Talwar explained. “As a result, they were much less likely to reward this form of truth-telling behaviour than younger children [….] We want children to feel like they can tell us about other people’s transgressions, especially if it involves bullying.”

As a result of the study, Talwar contends that parents should have more in-depth discussion with children about lying and the intentions behind lies as early as the age of six. By that time, Talwar argues, children have developed a strong theory of mind and lying behaviour emerges. She predicts that discussing the idea that lying has many shades of grey will help children make better decisions about when to lie and when to tell the truth as adults.

News

SSMU and PGSS respond to McGill Draft Policy against Sexual Violence

by Raseel Ghoul on

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On Oct. 12, the Student’s Society of McGill University (SSMU) and the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) released a collaborative consultation report outlining the results of focus groups conducted to collect comments and recommendations on the university’s Draft Policy against Sexual Violence. The focus groups were conducted between Sept. 23 and Oct. 3 to give students the opportunity to share their thoughts on the draft policy. 

According to Associate Provost (Policies, Procedures and Equity) and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law Angela Campbell, the McGill Administration has been receptive to student recommendations regarding the policy. 

“Student opinions are important to us, this is why the McGill Provost and Vice Principal of McGill University, Christopher Manfredi, decided to fund the focus groups [that the SSMU and PGGS held to collect student recommendations in efforts to improve the policy],” Campbell said. “Many of the recommendations put forth are feasible and in line with the views of the administration. They are helping us build a policy as robust for the university as possible. They are crucial to moving an effective policy forward.”

The focus groups were run by trained members of the Sexual Assault Centre of the McGill Students’ Society (SACOMSS), a volunteer-run organization that provides support to sexual assault survivors on campus. Eight sessions were held, with two closed groups for sexual violence survivors and an additional group on the MacDonald Campus; approximately 25 students participated. 

According to PGSS Equity Commissioner Angela Yu, it was important that focus groups were held in order to ensure that the policy would be representative of all students at McGill. 

“The reason behind the recommendations was to stress the fact that broader community feedback in regards to the policy was needed, one that focused specifically on experiences and survivors,” Yu said.“It’s a policy that needs to be both proactive and reactive.”

Making resources readily available for survivors is essential, Yu explained. She stated that the policy should act as a guide for anyone who has experienced sexual violence.

“The policy needs to outline what resources exist on campus, so survivors know and can use what’s available to them,” Yu said. “A huge issue is that most people aren’t clear on where to go or who to speak to.” 

Yu also stressed that the policy needs to consider all forms of sexual violence and be accountable for preventing such violence in the community.

“We want the policy to recognize the nature of sexual violence and that it affects people [differently],” Yu said. “The university needs to understand that and be accountable to everyone, have a centralized recording procedure, and articulate the consequences of sexual violence clearly to the community.”

According to SSMU Vice-President (VP) University Affairs Erin Sobat, the policy needs to be as transparent to students as possible. This will allow the community, to understand the way in which reporting cases should be handled. 

“It’s important to make clear that the intention of the policy is to centralize the process for disclosures and reports, the ability to get support without a filing process,” Sobat said. “There needs to be a strong [outline of] what outcomes are available to those affected.”

Sobat also felt that listening to students and survivors was the only way for the administration to ensure the effectiveness of the new policy. 

“We thought it was really important to hear from students and survivors who have [navigated]  reporting sexual violence issues, so that the report meets the needs of those most affected,” Sobat added. 

The Policy against Sexual Violence will be presented to Senate in November or December.
 

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