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Album Reviews, Arts & Entertainment

Album Review: Yes Lawd! – NxWorries

by Gibran Haque on

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West-coast duo NxWorries’ second collaborative project, Yes Lawd!, feels very much like a jazzy and soulful spiritual successor to Stones Throw Records’ past collaborations, such as Madvillainy and Champion Sound. The album follows a momentous year by singer-songwriter and multi faceted vocalist, Anderson .Paak. In 2016, he released his sophomore album, Malibu, to critical acclaim and collaborated with production juggernauts such as Kaytranada and Dr. Dre. Yes Lawd! marries .Paak’s raspy, passionate vocals with producer Knxwledge’s textured and jazzy production to create a 19-track album filled with raunchy vocals and rhythmic rapport.

.Paak’s strengths lie in his sultry and intimate vocal delivery and lyricism. His last album Malibu, combined funk, soul, and R&B to create one of the best albums of the year. This new project features much of the same from .Paak as he glides through the instrumentals, singing about topics ranging from love and sex to his rise in through the music industry ranks. Tracks such as “Lyk Dis” and “Link Up” feature silky vocal harmonies and funky drum loops, creating short sensuous vignettes. 

Although .Paak’s vocals are impeccable on their own, the production throughout the album is the real showpiece of this project. Knxwledge’s production complements .Paak with dusty soul samples on songs like “Suede” to visceral string orchestration in “What More Can I Say.” His use of vocal snippets and jazz samples throughout is reminiscent of former Stones Throw alums Madlib and J Dilla. As sweet and pretty as the album feels  sounds, lyrically Yes Lawd! is at times bitter and direct—for example, .Paak tells his girl to “get her shit together” in “Can’t Stop,” through the inclusion of a vocal sample from the animated comedy Rick and Morty. 

However, the album’s tracks lack cohesiveness, as they sometimes feel disjointed from one another sonically. In an EP, this loose structure of different sounds and experiments may be acceptable, but is less polished for a full length album. Nonetheless, NxWorries managed to put out a more than worthy successor to their debut project. 

If anything, Yes Lawd! is perhaps the most aptly named album of 2016. The album features a duo working at the peak of their powers with strong chemistry. Listeners in search of smooth, jazzy beats with a feel-good vibe will be pleasantly surprised, and those looking for soulful lead vocals can find solace in .Paak’s performances throughout. If .Paak in Malibu was like a superhero still new to his powers, Yes Lawd! feels very much like he has full control of his abilities and strengths, ready to fight crime with Knxwledge, his newfound side-kick.

Favourite Song:  Lyk Dis 

Sounds Like: Kaytranada, Mndsgn, Blu and Exile

Football, Men's Varsity, Sports

McGill Redmen football earns first playoff spot since 2012 despite Homecoming loss

by Selwynne Hawkins on

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McGill Redmen
0

 

UdeM Carabins
13

 

Despite a 13-0 blanking by the league-leading Montreal Carabins (7-1) at Saturday’s homecoming game, McGill Redmen Football (4-4) earned their first playoff berth since 2012.

Finding little success in their ground game, the Redmen relied heavily on quarterback Frederic Paquette-Perrault to move the ball through the air. Despite 233 yards passing, the Redmen couldn’t break through and find the endzone.

“[The] offence moved the ball well,” second-year linebacker Dane Wagner said. “We’ve just gotta finish when we get in the redzone.”

Early in the second quarter, Paquette-Perrault aired the ball out to freshman receiver Preston Bews for a 39-yard catch that was downed at the one-yard line.  Paquette-Perrault tried to punch the ball in on consecutive quarterback sneaks, but the Carabin defence held tight and  forced a turnover-on-downs.

“We were in position to make some plays,” Head Coach Ronald Hilaire said. “On the one-yard line there, if we scored there it’s a 7-6 game [….] I think we just have to finish our plays.”

Defensively, the Redmen held relatively tight all game. In the first half, they bent, but did not break, forcing the Carabins to settle for a pair of redzone field goals. Down by 13 at the half, the McGill defence never let Montreal pull away, shutting them out in the second half to keep the game within reach.

“I think we played them play-by-play,” Wagner said. “Defence played really well.”

Laval’s victory over Sherbrooke this weekend lifted McGill to a fourth-place divisional finish and the last spot in the playoffs. For most of the team’s seniors, this will be their first chance to represent McGill in the postseason. 

“It feels amazing,” fourth-year offensive lineman Qadr Spooner said. “We have a good opportunity to take this and go further.”

The team has come a long way in the past few years. In 2014, the Redmen were unable to secure a single win all season long. Since then, they have undergone some major changes and become more cohesive as a team. 

“Everyone plays great together,” said Spooner. “We have a great team atmosphere. The whole team together—we’re just meant to be. Coach [Hilaire] has done a great job in leading us this far, and he’s really done a good job in taking us from where we were in my first year to where we are now.”

It’s been a year and a half since Hilaire was appointed head coach. One of his main goals since then has been ensuring that his players know exactly what they’re capable of.

“All we had to do was find a direction, and really make them believe in what we’re trying to build here,” Hilaire said.

The Redmen realize they face a daunting rematch next week on Nov. 5 against the first-seed Carabins at Stade CEPSUM. 

“We need to be sharper on the little things,” Wagner said. “[But] I think we’ll be ready to go when we play them next week.”

 

Stats Corner: It took five tie-breaking rules to separate Concordia and McGill (into third and fourth place, respectively).

 

Quotable: “We have a great football team, and we want a big upset next week.”—Freshman WR Joel Soussi.

 

Moment of the Game:  Wide receiver Preston Bews caught a 39-yard pass to get his team a first down on Montreal’s 1-yard line. 

Student Life, Word on the Y

Word on the Y: What is the best Halloween costume you’ve ever worn?

by Emma Carr, Flaminia Cooper, April Barrett on

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As October comes to a close, McGill students are setting aside their textbooks to celebrate Halloween. This week, The McGill Tribune asked McGill students passing by the Y-Intersection about their most creative, spooky, or cringe-worthy Halloween costumes.

Sheree Marshall, U2 Psychology

“I don’t know if there are any Walking Dead fans, but last year I had braids and went as Michonne. I feel like if you watch The Walking Dead you will appreciate that, but if you don’t you are just like, ‘Are you Jack Sparrow?’”

 

David

Melissa Kuch, U0 Arts

“A tree. My mom knew it was a bad idea and then October came and I was like I’m going to be a tree.”

 

simon

Jay Rajpal, U3 Philosophy

“I was a kissing booth in Grade 12. It was covered in construction paper. It had two flaps for doors in front of it and it said, ‘Kisses: 25 cents’ on the top. I got kisses that day, but it didn’t make it into the yearbook just because of school policy.”

julie

Emma Cornelius, U1 Arts

“I’m not that quirky. I just have dressed up in a cat onesie a couple years in a row.”

emma

 

 

Robbie Buderi (left) and Adam Rutledge (right) (Flaminia Cooper / The McGill Tribune) 

 

 

Robbie Buderi, U4 Double Major Psychology and Computer Science

“This year I am going to be Tyrion Lannister.”

Adam Rutledge, U4 Political Science

“At the age of eleven, I was Hugh Hefner. I had a custom robe and everything and I had a pipe at school [….] It was my mom’s [idea] and I spray painted my hair white.”

sara

Eve-Marie Boileau, U4 Music Education

“Every year I dress up as Minnie Mouse [….] I teach music to little children, so every year I put on my Minnie Mouse costume and they love it.”

 

merouane

 

 

 

Kimya Adgedani (left) and Luca Cuccia (right)

 

 

Kimya Adgedani, U1 Pharmacology

“In grade seven, I was a crayon and I thought it was really funny. It was awful.”

Luca Cuccia, U1 Pharmacology

“I’m being Hawaiian Punch this year. I’m just wearing my Hawaiian shirt and my boxing gloves. The bad pun route is always safe.”

jen

Shiuesandhosh Damodhain,  Second year Masters in Civil Engineering

“I think I will probably be a vampire. I went to a cool thrift store and bought a cape. I’m actually not excited [about dressing up], I have a lot of work. I’m more excited about meeting new people and looking at people with new costumes.”

ben

Francisca Shaw, U4 Nursing

“My friend made bat wings out of garbage bags. I need something for tonight so I’m thinking about the garbage bags.”

McGill, News

AMUSE calls for five-day strike for casual employees at McGill

by Domenic Casciato on

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On the morning of Oct. 29, the Association of McGill University Support Employees (AMUSE) went on strike. AMUSE met with members of the university administration on Oct. 28 to discuss proposed changes to their collective agreement with the university regarding the Work Study program. AMUSE announced that they would go on strike the night of Oct. 28 after the administration refused to make any concessions. The strike will last five days, concluding on the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 2. Representing over 1,500 McGill employees, AMUSE members work in the university’s libraries, gyms, residences, laboratories, and numerous other facilities.

Since May 2015, AMUSE has been in negotiations with the university’s administration to create a new collective bargaining agreement—a contract between the university and AMUSE that determines the starting wages, benefits, and non-monetary privileges afforded to casual employees. AMUSE's previous collective agreement expired in April 2015. After a number of their demands were rejected, AMUSE voted for a strike mandate on Oct. 20, which allowed the negotiating team to use the threat of a strike to pressure the university.

During the Oct. 28 meeting, AMUSE proposed changes to the Work Study program, including publicly posting job opportunities and creating a formal system for Work Study employees to provide feedback about their employment. Claire Michela, president of AMUSE and member of its negotiating team, was present at the Oct. 28 meeting.

“The university has made it clear that they won’t include the changes that we feel are necessary for our members in the collective agreement,” Michela said. “We tried all day to make a change that would suit our needs and be acceptable to the university, and we couldn’t do that, so we had to exercise our strike mandate at the end of the day, unfortunately.”

The strike is disrupting services across campus. Athletics and Recreation Services posted an update on their website that many of their facilities and services will be either disrupted or cancelled during the strike. In an email to The Tribune, Julie Fortier, communications manager at McGill Human Resources, wrote that the university is working to mitigate the impacts of the strike.

“The university has been developing contingency plans in the past few days to try to limit the impact of the strike on our operations and the activities planned for the next few days,” Fortier wrote. “This means getting some managers to fill in for some of the casual employees, if needed, or identifying tasks that will need to be postponed for now.”

AMUSE’s original collective agreement with the university requires that certain essential services, including the Mental Health Clinic, Research Animals and Farm Animals, Gross Anatomy, Pathology Laboratories, and McGill Residences, would be maintained for the duration of any strike. The administration and the AMUSE negotiating team have collaborated to create a contingency plan to continue providing these services despite the work stoppage elsewhere. Without such a plan, services like providing care for animals used in research laboratories and having a person occupying the front desks at residences during the weekends would be suspended.

“Basically, we won’t let [essential services] be harmed by having a strike,” Michela said.

In an attempt to mitigate the costs of the strike for casual employees, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) is aiding AMUSE by providing union members who showed up to participate for shifts at AMUSE’s various picket line protests with strike pay. Jamie Cernek, U3 Political Science, works as a casual employee at both the Arts Internship Office and at McLennan Library.

“I actually don’t work on the days that the strike is happening,” Cernek said. “I know people who work on those days, […] but no one [that] really depends that much on their Work Study or casual job that they would be in dire straits.”

The AMUSE negotiating team and the McGill administration will meet on Nov. 10 to further discuss the collective agreement.

 

This article was last updated on Oct. 31. 

Commentary, Opinion

It’s not in your head: New study confirms link between oral contraceptive use and depression

by Kate Caldarone on

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On Sept. 28, the University of Copenhagen published a study that confirmed a correlation between hormonal contraceptive use and depression. This study, which tracked one million Danish women between the ages of 15 and 34 for a period of 13 years, revealed that women taking the combined oral contraceptive were 23 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with depression. Furthermore, the study confirmed that women using other hormone-based birth control methods—including the IUS/coil and the patch, which are frequently recommended alternatives to the pill—were even more likely to develop depression.

When I read this article, my reaction matched those of many of my friends on campus who responded with a simple question: “Didn’t we already know this?” The rumoured possibility that oral contraceptive use could impact mental health has been circulating in the discussion of women’s health for years. In fact, after months of telling herself that it was “all in her head,” a close friend of mine expressed concern that her birth control pill was contributing to her mood swings. To my surprise, however, this study is the first to provide a conclusive link between the two.

The implications of this study are twofold. On the surface, the content of this study calls into question the amount of research that has been put into assessing the side effects of the birth control pill. The fact that this study is the first of its kind to be conducted at its large scale points to a larger void in the scientific arena. This study also serves as a reminder that women must have an understanding of the side effects of the pill before beginning to use oral contraception.

For many young women living in North America, it seems as though the oral contraceptive has stealthily incorporated its way into our transitions to adulthood. Taking the birth control pill has become a cultural norm, especially for women of university age. The results of this study are therefore particularly startling for those who started oral contraceptive use with a ‘bandwagon’ mentality; they paid little attention to how ingesting the pill alters the natural chemistry of the body and the physical, emotional, and mental side effects that result.

 

Considering the fact that 500 million women worldwide take oral contraceptives everyday and that women are already twice as likely to experience depression as men, it is crucial that women have a comprehensive understanding of the potential risks of oral contraceptive use.

Although startling, the results of this study should in no way deter women from oral contraceptive use, considering its importance for women’s reproductive rights since the 1950s. When it was introduced, the birth control pill was initially regarded as a vehicle for female empowerment, allowing women to control when they reproduce—if they choose to do so. Since then, it has developed a multipurpose nature; doctors recommend the pill not only for preventing unwanted pregnancy, but also to help women regulate hormones, reduce acne, and to lessen menstrual cramps—the list goes on.

This is not a question of whether the birth control pill is good or bad. Like any medication, the pill is bound to have its advantages and disadvantages. But, considering the fact that 500 million women worldwide take oral contraceptives everyday and that women are already twice as likely to experience depression as men, it is crucial that women have a comprehensive understanding of the potential risks of oral contraceptive use.

While young women must actively seek out information on the birth control pill before beginning to take it, they can only do so if this information is readily available. Universities, health clinics, and other educational institutions must match efforts in research—such as the University of Copenhagen’s study—by making the information readily available to those in need. Currently, McGill’s Health Promotion Office provides information on the statistical effectiveness of birth control methods; however, its website fails to mention any side effects, including possible mental health complications. Although the site provides users with the opportunity to book an appointment for a birth control prescription, it should also encourage women to actively seek out information, speak to their physicians about any concerns, and monitor any changes in their bodies after starting a hormonal contraceptive method.

It is important to raise awareness about the side effects of oral contraceptive use and how it might be altering the moods of the 500 million women who take it. These women can then be better equipped to proactively take measures that will help manage the changes in mental health that may result. Women living with mental health problems that may be influenced by the birth control pill—like my friend—must be assured that no, it’s not in their heads.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kate Caldarone is Arts student from Toronto majoring in Cultural Studies and minoring in Communication Studies. She recently transferred universities so although she is in third year, this is her first year at McGill. Her primary areas of interest include public relations and journalism.

 

@ | [email protected]

 

 

 

 

 
Baseball, Men's Varsity, Private, Sports

McGill Redmen Baseball sweep rival Concordia, repeat as conference champions

by Hana O'Neill on

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A rough start for McGill quickly turned into a blow out as the Redmen (15-1) swept the rival Concordia Stingers (9-7) in the CCBA Northern Conference Finals on Monday night at Gary Carter Field. The Redmen fought back from a 6–0 deficit to win game one 11–7, and mercied the Stingers 11–0 in the second game. 

The Stingers strung together a six-run first inning, but the Redmen’s bats came alive in the third. The Redmen came within striking distance with a five-run rally that began with catcher Chris Stanford’s one-out two-run single to right field.

McGill pulled ahead in the bottom of the fourth on third baseman Sam Groleau’s two-run home run to left field. 

“That felt great,” Groleau said. “The pitch before, I was a little early, hit a far foul ball, but I adjusted and got a good piece of it.”

Relievers Jack Pantalena, Eric Broatch, and Benji Kaiserman combined to hold Concordia to one run on two hits over four innings. Pantalena—who threw two shutout innings, allowed no hits and walked three—got the win. 

The Redmen struck early in the second game. Leadoff man Sasha Lagarde reached first on an error, Groleau was hit by a pitch for the second time that night, and Stanford singled in a run to spark a four run rally. A three-run second inning chased Concordia starter Dan Connerty from the game.

Concordia’s relievers could not contain the Redmen either, giving up three runs in the third and another in the fourth.

Rookie Bryan Corona was dominant on the mound, allowing one hit and walking one over four innings. 

The Redmen entered the fifth leading 11–0, poised to mercy the Stingers and go home early. Reliever Harrison Hart added some tension to the game, walking the first three batters he faced to load the bases, but struck out the next three to bring the conference championship home for the second year in a row.

The Redmen are looking ahead to the national championship. They won the national title in 2014 and 2015, and will look for a three-peat this weekend.

“We’re confident, but […] we can’t just assume anything,” Head Coach Jason Starr said. “We’re pretty prepared, and we have one more day of preparation. It’s up to the guys. I have a lot of faith in them.”

Nationals begun on Thursday where the Redmen took two of three against Saint Mary’s University to lift them to another CCBA National Championship on Sunday.

 

Quotable: “The guys never thought it was over, and they were not going to let Rocky [Hroch] lose after one bad inning, really his only one all year. They chipped away at it [the lead], and swung the bat well. It was encouraging.” – Head Coach Jason Starr

Stat of the series: Catcher Chris Stanford recorded 7 RBI over the two games.

Moment of the series: In the top of the sixth inning in the first game, Concordia scored one and loaded the bases with one out. Reliever Benji Kaiserman entered the game with McGill leading 11–7 and a Concordia rally threatening. Stinger’s left-fielder Dan Paklarian hit a sharp line drive to shortstop Louis-Xavier Labrosse, who threw to second baseman Sam Savoie for the double play to escape the jam.

McGill, News

SSMU hosts panel on current state of mental health at McGill

by Natalie Wong on

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On Oct. 24, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) hosted a mental health Q&A panel on the newly integrated psychological services at McGill University. A follow-up to the SSMU Mental Health Forum from March 2016, this panel discussed the integration of McGill Counselling and Mental Health Services (MCMHS) as well as the newly implemented stepped-care model of mental health treatment. This model aims to treat students by using less-intensive treatment in the first instance and incrementally building up to more specialized services if deemed clinically necessary.

McGill has altered the stepped-care model slightly so that a wide spectrum of services can be tailored and assigned to students, depending on their needs. The student is assigned to a clinician during consultation, where the two parties collaborate to create a treatment plan focused on the preference of the student.

According to Giuseppe Alfonsi, Associate Clinical Director of MCMHS, the changes are helpful in light of Montreal’s limited mental health care services and the growing need for mental health support at McGill, which saw a 35 per cent increase in users over the past five years.

“Services outside of McGill for mental health are abysmal in Montreal,” Alfonsi said. “A lot of our students are also anglophone, so there’s [also] a natural barrier that exists in mental health. Part of the reason why we do have a larger service in terms of number of staff, we have one of the larger services in Canada in terms of the number of psychologists and psychiatrists, […is that] it’s just not easy to access care [in Montreal].”

The stepped-care model focuses on matching the level of intensity of care to the condition’s complexity. For George Radiotis, a psychotherapist with MCMHS, the main benefits of the newly integrated stepped-care model are its flexibility and the increased collaboration between service providers and users.

“I meet with a student [and] we identify what their needs [are],” Radiotis said. “It’s a collaborative process [….] It isn’t a one-size-fits-all. We try to tailor specifically to students.”

Teri Phillips, director of the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD), said that the different options available and various levels of treatment intensities are beneficial to many students who are otherwise resistant to accessing mental health services.

“[The] variety of options allowing for autonomy works really well for students who otherwise wouldn’t access services at all, and who really need to access services, to get to a point where they’re ready to,” Phillips said.

The panel discussion was the first open discussion on the new changes in MCMHS with students this semester.

For Jiayi Wang, U3 Engineering, the panel was a good step in bringing to light the stepped-care model, which includes more options for students to choose from, such as online therapy and peer support.

“It's good that they recognize the growing need for accessing the services and I appreciate that they are taking active measures to modify the way they offer their service in order to meet the needs,” Wang said.

Still, there are remaining issues to address in mental health provisions at McGill; Namely, stronger communication regarding the new services and more consultation with the student body.

“I think that a communications plan is needed to introduce students to the new mental health service delivery model, while clearly explaining the rationale behind the model and changes that it entails,” said Quinn Ashkenazy, U4 Arts and chair of McGill’s Peer Support Center (PSC). “The other key piece is consultation. Diverse students input on the model is needed. Students should play an essential role in shaping the mental health service model designed for them.”

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.

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