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McGill, News, SSMU

Board of Governors adjourns after interruption by Divest McGill

by Jenna Stanwood on

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On Oct. 6, the McGill Board of Governors (BoG) held its monthly meeting, during which they heard an update from Principal Suzanne Fortier on her recent activities and a presentation from the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) executives outlining information about their organization. The meeting was interrupted by members of Divest McGill, forcing an early adjournment.

Tuition deregulation

Fortier informed the board of her recent activities, which include her work on external relations and government lobbying. Fortier’s update included a discussion on her advocacy for tuition deregulation, which would allow McGill to keep funds from student tuition that currently are handed to the provincial government to be used in equalization payments across universities.

“When it comes to Canadian, non-Quebec residents […their] fees are higher and the [provincial government claims] a big portion of those fees and puts them into equalization [payments],” Fortier said. “When it comes to international students […the government] imposes significant fees, [then take those] fees and redistribute them in the system.”

Fortier has been lobbying the Quebec government to allow McGill to keep those extra fees from out-of-province and international students, and for universities across Quebec to determine for themselves how they will use these fees.

“When […an international student] pays $30,000 to come to McGill, let’s keep that money at McGill, because it’s very hard to explain to our students why the money they’re spending here is going somewhere else […],” Fortier said. “ Diminishing or decreasing the student to faculty ratios, more opportunities for our students to be involved in internships, better student services—whether its academic services or personal health […] this is what we would do with this money [….] My advice to the government is don’t adopt a one-size-fits-all approach and impose one model on all universities. The beauty of the Quebec system is we’re all different.”

SSMU presentation

SSMU President Ben Ger and Vice-President (VP) University Affairs Erin Sobat gave the board a presentation outlining basic information about SSMU. According to BoG Chair Stuart  Cobbett, the presentation was part of the board’s regular education agenda at each meeting.

“It has been our habit in meetings to have a presentation, typically it’s been on an academic subject […], but this time we thought it would be helpful to do this so you can hear from the students themselves,” Cobbett said.

The presentation, which outlined the composition and activities of SSMU, drew concerns by the board over equal gender representation on the council and in the executive.  Ger responded by discussing research the Society has started into equity in representation.

“On the executive level, there definitely is a problem with [equal gender representation], and that is going to be looked at in the equitable governance reform that we’re looking at right now,” Ger said. “[We’re] looking at the different ways that our government right now is accessible to different groups on campus.”

Interruption by Divest McGill

Members of Divest McGill disrupted the meeting to address the board, which prompted members to adjourn the meeting early. According to Jed Lenetsky, a member of Divest McGill who was also present at the meeting, the group had often interrupted BoG meetings, but this was the first time the board has adjourned in response.

“Divest McGill interrupting board meetings isn't something new […] we’ve been doing [it] for the past year, mainly due to the fact that the McGill [BoG] is largely inaccessible to the student body and in our dealings with the administration we have never really had the formal chance to talk to members of the [BoG],” Lenetsky said. “So we began using the open sessions of the [BoG] meetings to interact with those members [….What] was new was the fact that [the BoG] decided to adjourn the meeting once we started speaking. Normally what happens is we'll speak and they'll listen and then they'll just continue their meeting.”

The interruption was intended to bring events from the recent open forums on sustainability to the board’s attention.

“We were talking about the open forums on sustainability that occurred for the past couple of weeks  […],” Lenetsky said. “Throughout most of the summer, members of Divest McGill […] have been reaching out to the [BoG] in an effort to get them to attend. Only two members of the [BoG…] attended one of the sessions, so we thought it was important for members of the [BoG] to hear from the McGill community in person and hear what happened at these forum that they missed.”
According to Ger, the meeting continued after the adjournment in another location within the James Administration Building. At the continued session, the BoG discussed the disruption.

“The reconvened meeting went on to talk about the rest of the items on the public agenda […] but the large portion of the conversation was more so around the event that had just happened,” Ger said. “A lot of the […] governors were talking about how it was an escalation from last year that was noticed, and how we can maybe go about fixing those problems in the future to make sure there wasn't that level of interruption.”

Ger stated that changes can be made to the BoG structure that will allow for students to voice their concerns in a way that is constructive and non-obtrusive.

“I [suggested] that instead of looking into a way that we could stop people [interrupting…] what could work better is if we could have a question and answer period so people could come in at the end of an agenda [to] ask questions […],” Ger said. “[In] the end, the conclusion was that the nominating governance and ethics committee, which is a committee on the [BoG], would look into the board best practices.”

Ask Ainsley, Student Life

Ask Ainsley: How do I have an orgasm?

by Ainsley on

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Dear Ainsley,

I’m a cisgender, straight female and a first-year student at McGill. So far, I’m loving Rez, school, and all the friends I’m meeting, but there’s something that’s been bothering me. In high school, I briefly had a boyfriend, with whom I had sex. Since then, I’ve had a few one-night stands. My friends back home and I never really talked about sex, but my friends at McGill are much more open about it and are constantly talking about having orgasms. I’ve never had one myself, and I feel like something is wrong with me. It’s not that I don’t enjoy sex, because I do, but I never have felt that big moment that everyone talks about. Is it because I’m doing it wrong? Is it because the guys I’ve slept with haven’t been good at it? What can I do to help myself have an orgasm during sex?

Sincerely,

No ‘Oh’ (NO)

Dear NO,

Contrary to popular belief, the majority of people with vaginas can’t actually reach orgasm solely through vaginal penetration. In fact, only 25-33 per cent of all cisgender women can. It’s hard not to feel inadequate when both pornography and the media portray orgasms as not only common, but the ultimate goal of intercourse. Being unable to have an orgasm from sex is completely normal, and you shouldn’t feel badly about it. According to the famous sexologists William Masters and Virginia Johnson, clitoral orgasms are actually more intense than vaginal ones. But, if you’re not happy with your sex life, there are plenty of things you can do to try to change it.

First, if you don’t already, you could try masturbating. It’s hard for someone else to give you what you want if you don’t know what you like. You may also want to invest in some sex toys. Using a vibrator may help you orgasm more easily.

While knowing your body well is important, it’s also important to feel comfortable and assert yourself with your sexual partners.  It’s important to communicate your sexual desires to your partner, which can be daunting in both short and long-term relationships and comes with time and comfort as you and your partner grow closer. 

While it is often easier said than done, it is also key to remain relaxed during intercourse. It is common to feel self-conscious during sex, especially if you’re concerned about sounds, smells, and movements. If you are able to ignore some of these inhibitions, it will become easier to remain present and focused on pleasure during sex. 

While there is no set-in-stone guide to having an orgasm during sex, there are some common techniques that are worth keeping in mind. Repetitive stimulation of the clitoris during sex—either orally or manually—can be key to achieving an orgasm because clitoral orgasms are far more common than vaginal ones. For example, many women find that the angle achieved from being on top of their partner stimulates the clitoris moreso than other positions. Additionally, the human body contains far more pleasure centres than the vagina and clitoris; stimulating the nipples, ears, neck, or thighs often leads to greater arousal in the stages leading up to orgasm. For this reason, foreplay can be key to climaxing.

The best thing you can do is to spend time getting to know yourself and what turns you on. Try not to stress about climaxing and instead focus your time and energy on learning about your body, staying calm and focused during sex, and communicating your sexual desires with your partner. 

Best of luck!

Ainsley

Have a question for Ainsley? Submit a question anonymously here. 

Commentary, Opinion

From dank to dark: The power of the meme

by Evan Thomas on

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The Second Presidential Debate on Oct. 9 came and passed, delivering the onslaught of ridiculousness that the world was expecting. Unexpected, though, was the individual who truly stole the show—Illinois voter Kenneth Bone. Within seconds of addressing the candidates with his question, Bone’s face and iconic red sweater had been seen across the Twitterverse. While not everyone may have watched the debate—let alone questioned what went wrong to bring us to this deplorable state of American Presidential politics—many have seen the ensuing memes of Ken Bone.

Memes are quickly becoming one of the foremost means of cultural dissemination. They allow individuals to share complicated and enigmatic human emotions through a couple lines of text overlaid over a relatable gif or screen capture. They allow us to strike a deep connection with each other whilst sitting alone, staring at our Instagram feeds. Memes have the exceptional ability to deconstruct important events, ideas, and emotions into easily absorbable, bite-size pieces. Yet this repackaging of events short-circuits their meanings, removing the element of critical thought required from the consumer.

In many instances, they turn unpleasant topics—such as the current Presidential election—into light-hearted, mass-scale inside jokes. However, this reappropriation and reinterpretation of culture reveals the menacing power of memes. Just as memes are a product of society, they have a remarkable influence in shaping it. Memes—once harmless and inconsequential—have evolved to possess significant value in informing people of the news. Social media is no longer just a vain means of attaining peer acceptance and self-validation—it controls the media that we consume and interpret. As such, memes have significant cultural influence.

Just as memes are a product of society, they have a remarkable influence in shaping it.

Those skeptical of the relevance of memes in our offline lives need look no further than McGill itself. Just last week, internet trolls managed to mobilize thousands of Facebook users over a silverback gorilla that was shot in Ohio last May. Harambe took the campus by storm, with some opposing the supposed racism of the meme and taking issue with the fact that the McGill Harambe Candlelit Vigil event on Facebook had more people going than events such as the March for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Sometimes what matters is not the content of a meme, but how people interpret and react to it.

It seems Harambe’s fifteen minutes of posthumous fame will finally elapse, and McGill will soon be ready to move on, with the closing of his Vigil this Friday. But, Harambe teaches us an important lesson: Memes may be ephemeral, trend-based entities, but they can have a significant effect on wider society.

Just like the moon and the Force, memes have a dark side. They are accessible and can be created by anyone, making them effective in promoting agendas. Memes have the ability to perpetuate not only falsities, but ignorance and hatred. For example, Pepe the Frog, a common meme of a lovably self-deprecating amphibian, was recently declared a hate symbol by the American Anti-Defamation League for his use in anti-semitic and white supremacist memes. Pepe originally represented nihilism and existential angst; however, his message was altered by white supremacists on the internet, portraying the frog gleefully engaging in racist activities. Pepe stands as proof that an otherwise unsuspecting meme can diffuse a substantive, sinister message, with great ability to influence its viewers.

Memes significantly affect our worldview, and perception of society; however, we shouldn’t allow the likes of Ken Bone, Harambe, and Pepe to shelter us from serious social and political issues. For better or for worse, memes are probably not going anywhere. In light of this, it’s important to realize the influence that memes have in the world outside of Instagram. They take the unpleasant aspects of life and make them comfortable, yet sometimes it’s only by facing these ugly truths that we can progress as a society. For all the effect that they have on us, at the end of the day, memes must be taken with a grain of salt.

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

 

 

Men's Varsity, Sports

McGill Redmen Lacrosse clinches victory after three quarters of gridlock

by Patrick Beacham on

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A close, high-scoring match was to be expected on Thursday Sept. 6 as the McGill Redmen (7-1) once again took the field against the Bishop’s Gaiters (3-5). The fourth quarter of the match broke a three-quarter stalemate as the Redmen took the game 14-9 to improve their winning streak to five.

“Fortunately, we came out of a close game with Bishop’s,” Redmen Head Coach Tim Murdoch said. “Bishop’s has a great program [and…] they came out on fire. The game was a coin toss through the third quarter.”

The Gaiters established an early 2-0 lead in the first quarter, though the Redmen were quick to respond, closing the gap to a 4-3 advantage for Bishop’s. However, the Gaiters kept scoring due to a lack of defensive pressure from the Redmen.

“I would like to see a little bit more pressure out of our guys,” Redmen defenceman Bradley Hoffman said. “We’ve got a really talented [defensive] core, so I would like to see them use a bit more of that skill and press out on their attackmen a bit more, but I think we picked it up at the end and we shut them down when we needed to.”

Defensive pains were to be expected, considering that rookies comprise half of this years roster, following last season’s massive outflow of talented seniors.

“There’s definitely a shift in tempo from high school to college lacrosse, and I think we’re going through growing pains,” Redmen midfielder Emile Sassone-Lawless said. “We lost a lot of productive seniors last year and we’re [still] trying to re-establish ourselves.”

Nevertheless, the win was significant for the Redmen­—the seniors were particularly happy to defeat rivals Bishop’s one last time at Molson Stadium before graduation.

“It means a lot to beat them for the last time on home turf,” Redmen attacker Spencer Bromley said. “We haven’t lost to them in the four years I’ve been here, so it’s nice to keep a clean slate.”

The next CUFLA game for the Redmen is at home against the Carleton Ravens on Oct. 15 at 5:00 p.m. The last time the two teams played the Ravens forfeited the game.

 

Quotable: “Everyone’s going to be coming after us [….] It’s gonna be a game circled on their calendar[s].” – Head Coach Tim Murdoch on McGill’s status as a league favourite. 

 

Stat Corner: The game marked the McGill Redmen’s ninth consecutive victory over the Bishop’s Gaiters.

 

Moment of the Game: Redmen attacker Rhys Burnell broke through the Gaiters’ defence to get a shot off from just left of the crease. The goal led to the offensive push that decided the game in the fourth quarter.

Out on the Town, Student Life

A walk through the The Gardens of Light Festival at Montreal’s Botanical Gardens

by Flaminia Cooper on

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One of the best places in Montreal to be at dusk this month is the Botanical Gardens. Every evening as it gets dark, the gardens light up with hundreds of lanterns and colours, marking another year of the Gardens of Light Lantern Festival.

Upon first step in the Gardens, apart from a few posters, there is little to indicate that there is a special exhibit. However, when walking along the footpaths deeper into the Botanical Gardens, the viewer begins to catch glimpses of light through the trees, until rounding a corner and appearing suddenly in the middle of the spectacular structures glowing from the inside out. The lanterns are unexpectedly beautiful and intricate.

These lanterns are in the Chinese Garden, one of the two exhibits of the festival. Originally used to celebrate the Chinese New Year, the Botanical Gardens in Montreal uses the lanterns to celebrate the harvest period, or Moon Festival. This year’s theme depicts the life of the ‘Son of Heaven,’ the title given to each Chinese Emperor during the Han dynasty. The lights portray images from the life of an Emperor—such as his wedding or enthronement—although one doesn’t need to be familiar with this history to appreciate the magic of the multicoloured lanterns. Among the luminous lanterns are life-sized cranes, Chinese dragons, and human figures playing instruments and riding bikes. The biggest feature of the exhibit was the illuminated Forbidden City, floating on the lake in the middle of the Gardens. It looked surreal; the intricate details and sheer size of the lanterns were almost psychadelic, making passersby feel shrunken in comparison.

[metaslider id=47082]

Throughout the Chinese Garden are panels of information on the different lanterns, what they represent, and the process that goes into assembling them annually. The production process of the festival requires an exorbitant amount of effort and detail. The Gardens of Light takes a year to organize, and the lanterns are all handmade in Shanghai and shipped to Montreal in July. After this, the set-up in the Botanical Gardens takes almost a month to execute. 

Around the bend of the lake, the Chinese Garden ends, making way for the next exhibit: The Japanese Garden. Here, the atmosphere grew calmer as the lanterns grew fewer, and nature became more predominant thematically. Instead of lanterns passively illuminating their surroundings, the trees were lit up from below in subtle shades of green, pink, and blue, bringing out every detail in the branches and leaves. A series of bamboo poles emit circles of pale yellow light from within. Another feature was the Zen garden, a flat surface of gravel with flowing, continuous lines drawn across it, representing water ripples. True to its name, the minimalist patterns and simplicity of the Zen garden has a calming effect. Throughout the Japanese Garden, hidden speakers played ambient sounds, inducing the viewers to slow down to appreciate the mood.

The Gardens were incredibly well presented. No light bulbs or cables were visible, which made it look like the light was produced on its own. Though there were lots of people at the exhibit, it never felt crowded. When taken slowly, the gardens only took an hour and a half to walk through in its entirety. The beauty of the whole exhibit exceeds expectations, and the experience is magical from beginning to end. 

The Gardens of Light are open until Oct. 31st from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and the student entrance fee is $15 with a McGill ID card. To learn more, visit their website here.

Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV, Private

T.V. Review: Creator Donald Glover expertly navigates comedy and drama in Atlanta

by Gibran Haque on

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In an era where there is more television available to us than we could ever consume, the medium of T.V. is undergoing a change—and hopefully one for the better. FX President John Landgraf stated last year that we are living in a period of “peak TV” in the West. Given the sheer volume of new shows inundating audiences each day, it is hard to argue against that. Although this great incursion of content requires more sifting and filtering by the audience, it is breeding a new generation of viewers. New genre mashups such as the drama-comedy, found in FX’s new show Atlanta, are exemplary of how the medium of television has had to catch up to cater to a smarter generation of T.V. watchers. 

Creator, writer and star Donald Glover has masterminded one of fall 2016’s freshest and most absurdly funny shows, FX’s Atlanta. Atlanta follows its protagonist Earnest “Earn” Marks (Donald Glover), a Princeton dropout-turned-manager trying to get his cousin, Paper Boi’s (Brian Tyree Henry), rap career off the ground. During first viewing, Glover’s pedantic new show may not seem packed with jokes—there aren’t many laugh out loud moments or big punchlines. Instead, the humour is typically off-centre and blurred in a cloud of marijuana smoke. This moody atmosphere, paired with the show’s ability to make its characters so unique yet perfectly realized, distinguishes it from most shows on T.V. 

Atlanta is aesthetically beautiful—full of wide shots that depict its namesake city in a unique light. It takes the setting away from the hustle and bustle of the metropolitan and toward a black suburban community. Local diners and detention centres are at the forefront, rather than tourist spectacles. 

The audiovisuals of the show represent the city spectacularly, making Atlanta a living, breathing character in its own right. The soundtrack embraces the recent rise of new-Atlanta trap music, neither positing it as the city’s greatest achievement, nor playing it down as simplistic. There is no set intro theme music to the show. Rather, each episode features music relating to the major theme of that episode. For example, in the second episode, in which the two main characters are in prison, the Tennessean rapper Yo Gotti’s “Law” plays in the background and is integrated seamlessly into the episode. 

Even in a much more diverse network environment, it’s still uncommon to see a story so unequivocally centred around the African-American experience. It is evident in the shows writing that Glover understands how much of black culture has been claimed by the rest of the world—he even pokes fun at it in episode four, when Glover chooses a black actor to play Justin Bieber. Atlanta is also not scared to delve into topics of police brutality, transphobia, mental illness, and the perils of fame, offering up tonal shifts scene-to-scene and illustrating how subtle humor can be. The show moves effortlessly between these serious, poignant topics and more absurd humour—one character ponders  a world where mice could be used as cell phones.

The rise of the drama-comedy is helping push the boundaries of television. It is no longer solely a writer’s medium, although great writing is still very much ingrained in great T.V. shows. Atlanta takes controversial subject matter and portrays it in a way where viewers aren’t scared, but rather, enthralled by what’s discussed. The message of Atlanta is not only that it is ok to talk about these issues, but that it is possible to laugh at their absurdity.

Album Reviews, Arts & Entertainment, Music

Album Review: Bon Iver – 22, A Million

by Alfie Crooks on

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Five years ago, Bon Iver released their self-titled EP to much critical acclaim. The album had stretched the boundaries of folk music, bringing an expansive tenor to a typically stripped down genre, and becoming a modern classic album in the process. Since then, Bon Iver’s career hasn’t gone as smoothly as expected: The band took a three-year hiatus and struggled with break-up rumours. Meanwhile, lead singer Justin Vernon featured on songs with Chief Keef in a slightly confusing career turn. Now, however, they are back with a new 10-song project 22, A Million, sounding as innovative and fresh as ever.

One of the first surprising elements as 22, A Million commences is Vernon’s voice. Hearing the digitally harmonized croon, “Where are you gonna look for confirmation,” about 20 seconds into the album is like having that first bite of a home-cooked meal after living on instant ramen noodles for a semester. It sounds just as it was left, almost crystallized in time from five years ago. The Prismizer that Vernon uses was the bread and butter of the last album, but the group seems to challenge themselves to go beyond the base folk/synth style that was previously used so well. For instance, the track “715 CREEKS” is completely stripped down—it is essentially an acapella song shoved through a Prismizer. The real cherry on the top of the instrumentals are Vernon’s lyrics, which ooze with poetic melancholy in its sincerest form to create a well-rounded project. 

Despite running only 10 songs long—short considering the length of other highly anticipated releases this year—22, A Million is by no means minimalist, often combining classic folk songwriting with rich layerings of electronic enhancement. The evolution of Bon Iver’s sound does everything but slap you in the face on the songs “22 (OVER S∞∞N)” and “10 d E A T h b R E a s t” as the industrial drums tracks, synth harmonies, and Blond-esque chipmunk vocals coalesce in these songs to create a sound that really deviates from their last self-titled album. Thankfully, this new style isn’t beaten to death. The album flows through a variety of different styles, tones, and instrumentation, while being connected through the thread of Vernon’s signature vocals and haunting lyrics. While these varied styles are subtle, they run throughout the album. The dominant use of a saxophone in the song “8 (circle)” and the melody of pure piano chords which carry “00000 Million,” exemplify this extremely interesting musical compilation, which results in a unique sonic experience on each track.  

It’s not exactly the flannel jacket and craft beer in rural Wisconsin sound that Bon Iver has perfected in years past, which may be a shame to some, but 22, A Million shows real growth in the group’s style and sound. It was a risk to create a folk album with Yeezus-inspired drums, saxophones, and ridiculous voice modulations, but it appears to have paid off. The end result is a rich listening experience, which provides a lot more depth in ten songs than many other albums this year have managed to do in twenty. 

 

Favourite song: 22 (OVER S∞∞N)

Favourite lyric: Hallucinating Claire / Nor the snowshoe light or the autumns / Threw the meaning out the door / (Now could you be a friend) / There ain't no meaning anymore / (Come and kiss me here again)

McGill, News

McGill Mental Health and Counselling Services streamlined into one service

by Cheyenne Cranston on

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From September onwards, McGill Mental Health Services and Counselling Services will no longer operate as two separate services. The change is intended to shorten wait times and increase the accessibility of mental health services. Students can now seek help at the Counselling Services Office on the fourth floor of the Brown Student Services Building, as well as the Mental Health Services office on the fifth floor. New patients at both points of entry will go through the same evaluation process, and will be directed to the appropriate resources based on an initial check-up.

Interim Executive Director of Student Services Robyn Wiltshire stressed the amount of feedback received in the three-year process to implement this new plan. During this period, opinions were collected in the form of student satisfaction surveys, cyclical reviews, and consultations with professionals.

“Students have expressed their concerns and their dissatisfaction with the services that we were delivering,” Wiltshire said.

Students will no longer have to decide between seeking help at counselling services, or at mental health services. A single booking process has been implemented, which allows students to see an intake clinician who will help guide them to appropriate services, including those that are peer-led.

“Basically students were confused about where they should go to get service […],” Wiltshire said. “We were requiring students basically to self-diagnose before they chose which door to go to and that was really not appropriate, and not something that a student should be expected to do.”

According to Wiltshire, diversifying the approaches to support and allowing clinicians more flexibility will enable students to access services in a more timely manner.

“We also had long wait times in between clinical appointments,” Wiltshire said. “Because all of our clinicians were operating on one hour clinical cycles […] the clinical appointment was for a full hour, the check-ins don’t need to be for a full hour [….] The idea is […] the clinicians will be able to be more proactive with the students they are following,” Wiltshire said.

The official announcement was made in a panel discussion titled, “A New Frame of Mind,” an event that was part of the Students in Mind (SiM) Conference. During the discussion, one student voiced a concern that the new model deprived students of the autonomy to choose which service to seek. over the new model’s lack of protection for student choice.

Dr. Nancy Low, clinical director at McGill Mental Health Services, responded to the student’s concern.

“Say the student already has a diagnosed mental health disorder and they're on medication, they will be put straight to a psychiatrist,” Low said.

Concern was also raised over the lack of communication between clinicians in different services during the feedback collected before the merge.

“I guess one of the major things from a student perspective is just [not] having to tell the story so many times,” Dr. Low said.

Dalya Kablawi, a U1 anatomy and cell biology student and student volunteer at the Peer Support Centre, believes the student body could be better informed about the decision.

“I feel like the student body, a good portion of them, don’t know they’ve been merged yet,” Kablawi said.

However, Kablawi believes it to be a positive change overall.

“In terms of accessibility, I think it’s been improved a lot,” Kablawi said.

Nevertheless, the evaluation of the new service model will be an ongoing process for both students and faculty.

“It sounds great on paper,” Kablawi said. “I don’t know what kind of hurdles they’ll face when they get started in terms of practicality, in terms of logistical issues.”

According to Wiltshire, the new model will revolve around a continuous feedback loop for improvement.

“I’m not saying that we’re done,” Wiltshire said. “We made a change, we flipped a switch and that’s done. This is a process and it’s a process that requires continuous improvement,” Wiltshire said.

mental health
McGill, News

Students in Mind mental health conference held for fourth year in a row

by Holly Cabrera on

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On Oct. 1 and 2, the fourth annual Students in Mind (SiM) Conference took place at the Shatner Building. The student-run event aims to destigmatize mental health issues through a series of workshops and panels. Guest speakers included McGill alumni Malek Yalaoui and Evan Berry. Comedian Christophe Davidson, who has struggled with mental illness, was also a featured speaker.

According to Quinn Ashkenazy, U4 Arts and director of SiM, the forum is designed to promote the importance of mental health on the McGill campus.

“The conference started four years ago,” Ashkenazy said. “Students in Mind started with a group of students that really had a vision to try and create a network on campus that supports mental health.”

According to Ashkenazy, students are often eager to volunteer for extracurricular activities, but tend to neglect their personal well-being.

“You could volunteer at a bunch of different organizations […] but I think something really important for students to take away is also just to take care of themselves, advocating for themselves, prioritizing their mental health, and also supporting those around them–their peers, their friends. Just checking in with each other,” Ashkenazy said.

Sarah Randall, U1 Arts, believes meeting mental health specialists at the conference makes asking for help later on less daunting.  

“If you do actually decide to seek help with mental health [after the conference], you’re not going into it blind,” Randall said. “You know who you’re going to be dealing with and it makes [seeking help] feel a little bit less overwhelming”

Throughout the seminars, attendees were also offered active breaks, where they could participate in activities ranging from improv to kickboxing. After attending a workshop called Mental Health 101, which addressed the stigmas surrounding mental health, and a panel titled Body and Mind: How are physical health and mental health combined, Chi Pham, U0 Arts and Science, opted for yoga during the active break period.

“The yoga break also helped promote a sense of community by bringing a group together for the exercise,” Pham said. “For me, it was a completely new experience exercising among other people, so […] it was worth trying. Before the [SiM] conference, I was skeptical about the impact that physical activity could have on mental health.”

Other workshops included improving active listening skills, creating strategies to improve mental health, and maintaining motivation and overall well-being. Ashkenazy commented on the importance of the content presented in the SiM panels and workshops.

“There’s a workshop on peer support focused on […] recognizing signs that things might not be okay, how to check in, how to listen to someone in a really nonjudgmental and validating way,” Ashkenazy said. “Then we also have a workshop called Maintaining Wellness and it’s a very condensed version of [the] wellness recovery action plan which is a six week psycho-education course offered through McGill Mental Health [….Maintaining] Wellness is going to be focused on giving people kind of a toolbox to take care of their well-being, to recognize their triggers, early warning signs and to develop an action-plan to deal with these things and to try and prevent getting into a mode where things are breaking down or a crisis.”

Floor Fellow Kathleen Godfrey, a Master’s student in anthropology, said the speakers’ different perspectives drew her to the initiative. For Godfrey, the conference is a reminder of the resources available at McGill.

“Sometimes, in support work, you forget about the network that is at McGill,” Godfrey said. “Even though I’m a resource for first-year students […] you forget that other people walking around on campus also really care and are trying to learn more [about mental health], and better themselves in those ways.”

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