Latest News

Men's Varsity, Sports

Lacrosse: Bromley and Bolton both net hat tricks to lead McGill Redmen past the Queen’s Golden Gaels

by Selwynne Hawkins on

More in Men's Varsity:

On Saturday Sept 24, at the newly refurbished Forbes Field, McGill Redmen Lacrosse (4-1) faced off against the Queen’s Gaels (1-4). McGill scored first and maintained its dominance for the rest of the game, finishing with a 15-8 score line. 

Thanks to a strong first half of the season, the Redmen find themsleves ranked second in the CUFLA East Division.

“We’re at one loss right now,” Midfielder Bohe Hosking said. “But we’re still confident.”

McGill’s only loss of the season was against Trent University, who are currently undefeated in CUFLA play. McGill led for most of the game, but Trent had a strong fourth quarter and scored the game winner in the last minute of play.

“We had a tough one against Trent,” fourth-year attacker Spencer Bromley said. “You never like to lose, but it was a good game and I think we’re off on the right foot.”

Bromley, who leads the team with 21 points, scored four times and assisted once against Queen’s on Saturday afternoon. Attacker Goose Bolton also notched five points, scoring three times along with a pair of assists, while midfielder Emile Sassone-Lawless was credited with five assists.

Though the point leaders from Saturday’s game are all seasoned veterans, many of the rookies also made valuable contributions. The wide score line afforded Head Coach Tim Murdoch the flexibility to give minutes to players who haven’t had much field time so far this season.

“Some of our freshmen stepped in and played key roles,” Murdoch noted. “[It’s] very inspirational for our [starting lineup], who are playing ahead of these guys, to see them step in […] and perform.”

Saturday’s game was their home opener, and a dedicated group of fans watched from the hill behind Forbes Field. As the Redmen look to repeat after a national championship last year, they’re hoping to garner even more support from the McGill community.

“We just like seeing the bleachers packed,” Hosking said. “Hopefully that can happen with a few [more] home wins.”

The Redmen have seven more regular season games, four of which are at home. Next weekend, they’ll travel to Ottawa to play against the Ottawa Gee-Gees and the Carleton Ravens. They’ll then return to host the Bishop’s Gaiters on Oct. 6 at Molson Stadium.

 

Quotable: “Everyone wants to beat us, so everyone is good competition.”—Spencer Bromley.

 

Stats corner: It only took Goose Bolton 62 seconds to score McGill’s first goal of the game.

 

Moment of the game: Rookie defender Alessio Marcogliese scored the first goal of his McGill career by carrying the ball from the half and whipping it past Queen’s goalie.

 

Behind the Bench, Hockey, Sports

The World Cup of Hockey: Semi-Final Preview

by Cameron Cash on

More in Behind the Bench:

The World Cup of Hockey has provided fans with excellent entertainment value through the preliminary round, despite its reputation as an NHL cash grab. Round-robin play began with eight teams competing: Pool A featured Canada, USA, Czech Republic, and Team Europe; Pool B was comprised of Russia, Finland, Sweden, and Team North America. There were some disappointments along the way. The US went 0-3 and failed to qualify for the semi-finals. Finland also went winless, falling back to earth after an energetic Finnish team won the World Junior Championships earlier this year. Now, the top two teams from each pool advance and we breakdown the matchups ahead of elimination action this weekend.

 

Canada (Pool A winner) vs. Russia (Pool B runner-up)

 

Russia’s lack of defensive depth will be their undoing against Canada; the Canadian offence is too well-balanced and aggressive for the sub-par Russian blueline corps. Team Russia, led by Washington Capitals sniper Alexander Ovechkin, claims an offensive depth that can rival Canada’s; however, outside of defenders Dmitry Orlov and Nikita Zaitsev, the Russians lack a true game-breaker from the blueline.

Canada remains the greatest hockey power and is stacked at every position, with Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, and Matt Duchene leading the charge offensively. Despite Russian goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky’s incredible play throughout this tournament, it doesn’t seem likely that he will be able to steal a game from the powerful Canadians. Canada outscored their opponents 14-3 through the preliminary round, while the Russians salvaged a positive 8-5 differential courtesy of their 3-0 win over a weak Finnish team in their final game.

After beating the Americans 4-2 in a dominating round-robin game performance, Canadian Head Coach Mike Babcock said, “We weren’t as good as we’re capable of being tonight."

If accurate, that’s a scary reality for Canada’s opponents.

 

Prediction: Canada over Russia, 5-2.

 

Sweden (Pool B winner) vs. Team Europe (Pool A runner-up)

 

Sweden's defensive play and mobility from the blueline should give them a slight edge over Team Europe in this matchup. The Swedes’ first game of the World Cup was a 2-1 victory over Russia that should not have been so close, as their transition game and defensive play kept them in control of the puck. They boast the second best defensive corps in the tournament after Canada. Their defensemen have shown a propensity for jumping up in the play and creating offence, as big 6’7’’ defenceman Victor Hedman did when he came in off the point to score the game winner against Russia earlier in the tournament.

Team Europe has been the underdog story of the tournament. A veteran team many pundits picked to finish last, they beat the USA 3-0 in their opener, before beating the Czechs in overtime to lock up the number-two spot in Pool A. Even though Europe has emerged as a contender with an experienced squad, they lack the mobile, elite, puck-moving blueline that they would need to defeat the Swedes.

Although Sweden lost 6-2 to Europe in pre-tournament play, Henrik Lundqvist had one of his worst career games in his country’s colours. Expect him to perform much better in a game of this magnitude and the Swedes to come out looking for blood.


Prediction: Sweden over Team Europe, 4-3 in OT.

Baseball, Men's Varsity, Sports

Redmen Baseball walks off against rival Concordia

by Hana O’Neill on

More in Baseball:

Fan Night at Gary Carter Field drew a crowd of students, who brought their enthusiasm as Redmen baseball (9-1) overcame a rough start to defeat the rival Concordia Stingers (3-4) 4-3 on Wednesday.

Starting pitcher Henry Dennis, second-year Arts, had a difficult second inning, hitting Concordia’s Daniel Paklarian and walking Alex Hall and Matthew Litwin to load the bases. He subsequently surrendered his only hit of the game—a left field double that scored three—to catcher Dario Vincelli.

Dennis showed excellent composure and contained the Stinger’s batting his next three innings. After facing eight batters in the second, Dennis faced only 11 more over the rest of his innings.

“I give a lot of credit to Chris [Stanford], my catcher, and the team staying focused and making plays behind me,” Dennis said. “That gave me the confidence to use my best stuff. The team really kept my head together.”

Acknowledging Dennis’s rough start, Head Coach Jason Starr said that the Redmen managed to limit the effects of the disastrous second inning.

“He gave us five innings and gave up three runs, which is usually enough for us, and it was tonight,” Starr said. “Henry [Dennis is] a guy who will battle for us, and he did that tonight.”

The Redmen got on the board in the bottom of the second inning when catcher Christopher Stanford led off with a triple and scored on first baseman Gabriel Hamilton’s RBI groundout to second. Hamilton drove in two more runs to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth, scoring Stanford and second baseman Sam Savoie on a left-field double.

Dennis left the game at the end of the fifth inning for reliever Jack Pantalena. A lead-off single and a dropped third strike allowed runners to progress to second and third bases with one out in the top of the sixth. Second-year Economics major Pantalena kept his cool, however, and struck out the remaining two batters to preserve the tie. In the seventh, he gave up a single before striking out the next three Concordia batters.

“I started my last game, so relieving was different,” Pantalena said. “But I talked to my catcher and I was able to hit my spots. We talked about who was coming up, I knew what I was going to throw and was able to execute.”

In the bottom of the seventh, with the game tied at three apiece, Emerson Dohm, pinch-hitting for designated hitter Camden Lawhead, led off with a single to centre. He was quickly lifted from the game for pinch-runner Zachary Aaron. Aaron advanced to second on a single, and to third when shortstop Louis-Xavier Labrosse grounded out to shortstop. Then, on a wild pitch, Aaron came home to win the ballgame—an exciting walk-off win in front of a loud, enthusiastic crowd.

McGill next plays away at the University of Montreal on Sept. 23.


 

Stat corner:

Reliever Jack Pantalena recorded six strikeouts in two innings pitched.

Quotable:

“It was a good team win, everybody contributed. We just have to take things one game, one inning at a time, and it happened to work out today.” – Starting pitcher Henry Dennis

Moment of the game:

With the game tied and one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, pinch-runner Zach Aaron came home from third on a wild pitch to score the winning run.

Arts & Entertainment

Into the Deep: Honduran scuba divers brush with ‘mermaids’ in Liwa Mairin photography exhibit

by Morgan Davis on

More in Arts & Entertainment:

The Liwa Mairin photography exhibit, taking place at the Maison du Développement Durable, showcases an unfamiliar terrain, the depths of the sea. The exhibit is being presented by documentary photographer Valérian Mazataud in collaboration with Handicap International, which is a non-profit organization that uses donations to support more than 2 million people across 59 countries. Mazataud holds a degree in marine environment and specifically studies ancient instruments of scuba diving; the images he captures display his fascination for those who experience life underwater.

 

The subjects of Mazataud’s work are the Moskitia people—a group who lives in the Honduran part of the Amazon jungle and who, for over 40 years, have based their economy on the practice of deep-sea dive fishing. Mazataud shows his subject’s way of life through his photographs. By entering their homes and following the daily routines of these people, the viewer is able to understand how all aspects of their lives tie back to the theme of fishing. The various demographics of citizens within the villages have their separate duties, and yet they all work towards a common goal. Their lives are centred on the water, the backbone of their community and provider of all necessities.

 

The diving method is extremely dangerous due to outdated equipment, causing severe cases of decompression illness. As a result of spinal cord injuries, the remote region in Honduras has an estimated 3,000 paraplegics and over 600 people have died due to their injuries. One of Mazataud’s photographs shows a young man being helped into his wheelchair by an elderly woman. Having lost his ability to walk, the man must rely on family members to help him complete daily tasks. Another section of the exhibit displays a former diver being treated by a physiotherapist, tied to a bench and visibly uncomfortable.

Mazataud focuses on the expressions of his subjects. The viewer’s eyes are immediately drawn to the furrowed brow of a handicapped man feeling the sun on his cheeks, or the sly smirk of a woman gutting fish. A connection to these people is created, despite being a world away. Even in the heart of downtown Montreal, the Liwa Mairin Exhibit transports its viewer to the rural villages photographed.

Photographs of the divers side by side with fish draws the comparison of the diver’s movements through the water. The citizens of the region believe that they are victims of ‘Liwa,’ a type of natural spirit that dwells in rivers, oceans, and lagoons. Specifically, Liwa Mairin translates to “water woman being”—a creature similar to a mermaid. The folklore explains that they punish men who dive for lobsters on the seabed by giving them diseases and poor health. Silhouetted by the sunlight above, the divers’ bodies streamline through the water, drawing the connection with underwater people such as the Liwa Mairin. The vibrant colours mimic those of what one may find under the ocean: Murky greens and clear blues. The consistent theme of water as the pillar in these societies, despite its dangers to the people, is drawn through the entirety of the collection.


Through his photographs and partnership with Handicap International, Mazataud visualizes the Moskitia economy and the subsequent injuries it produces. An informational guide for the exhibit explains that Mazataud wishes to shed light on the issue faced by these silenced citizens, in hopes that his photographs can speak on their behalf to make change for the better.

On display from September 8 to September 29, “Liwa Mairin” can be viewed at 50 rue Sainte Catherine at the Maison du Developpement Durable.

 

Football, Sports

The NFL’s quarterback concussion conundrum

by Joe Khammar on

More in Football:

The first two weeks of the NFL season have been confusing for NFL players. The opening game of the season saw the league return to the 1970s when big hits and headshots were commonplace. Specifically, in week one, Carolina Panthers’ quarterback Cam Newton, one of the biggest quarterbacks in the league, took two nasty helmet-to-helmet shots from Broncos’ defenders Brandon Marshall and Darian Stewart but stayed in the game, seemingly in contravention of the league’s concussion protocol. However, this past week, in the Buffalo Bills-NY Jets game, Bills’ quarterback Tyrod Taylor—a much smaller quarterback—was temporarily removed from the game to be evaluated for a concussion in the third quarter after taking a particularly violent hit.

Inconsistent application of the concussion protocol, which requires any player who appears concussed to be removed from the game and assessed, has led fans to criticize the NFL. Former NFL official Mike Pereira said, “what disappointed me the most [about the hits on Cam Newton] was how they basically went against protocol with 36 seconds to go. The shot Newton took from Stewart on the offsetting fouls, protocol has Newton out of the game, and it starts with the referees.”

The reasons the officiating crew did not pull Newton from the game are unclear. Generally, quarterbacks are more protected than other players because they are often defenseless and considered the most important players in the game.

Many believe the referees treated Cam Newton unfairly because he is physically bigger than the average quarterback. Panthers’ Tight End Greg Olsen was particularly critical of the officiating.

“Treat him like a quarterback,” said Olsen. “I know he's the biggest guy on the field, but he's still a [quarterback]."

Regardless of his size, Newton should have been examined after both of those head shots. That’s not just a failure of the referees who didn’t call the penalties, but also the NFL trainers who are supposed to be watching for headshots.

The way referee Ed Hochuli handled Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor after he took a huge hit on a third quarter play against the New York Jets was textbook. It was clear that Taylor did not want to come out of the game, but Hochuli insisted that Taylor be checked. Two plays later, Taylor was back in the game. When concussion protocol works, it’s that simple.

When it come to player safety, the NFL treats all quarterbacks differently. Certain top-tier quarterbacks like Tom Brady and Drew Brees seem to get more favourable calls because of their status in the NFL. Late hits against these top guys are regularly called and their games are strictly officiated in an effort to protect them from harm. Larger quarterbacks like Cam Newton and Ben Roethlisberger tend not to be protected by NFL officials. Meanwhile, smaller quarterbacks, such as Tyrod Taylor and Dak Prescott, are ruled more strictly despite playing a similar type of game. These quarterbacks’ play styles involves a lot of play-action rollouts and running outside of the pocket. When these smaller players leave the pocket, they are still treated as quarterbacks—as opposed to Newton, who is often seen as a runner—benefiting from protections that other players do not receive. The NFL needs to start calling all quarterbacks equally. If the league is as serious about safety as it claims to be, it’s beyond time to prove it.

Opinion

McGill’s active shooter video a grim yet necessary precaution

by Trevor Wood on

More in Opinion:

Few scenarios are more terrifying than that of an active shooter on campus. Sadly, events like these are not just an intangible fear, but a reality in modern society. For this reason, McGill took it upon itself to educate students on how to survive an active shooter scenario with a controversial new video. The university is now encouraging faculty to show students the 12 minute video, which consists of a dramatic reenactment of a campus shooting and a briefing on the necessary steps to survive.

Some students, and members of society at large, were taken aback by the graphic content of the video and complained that it was excessive. However, despite its relatively graphic and intense nature, the video is an effective precaution due to its informative review of the steps to surviving an active shooter scenario and its ability to capture the audience’s attention.

Since 2013, there have been 195 school shootings in the United States. A statistic like this is as shocking as it is horrifying, and drives home the necessity of preparation. While Canada may not be as plagued by gun violence as the United States, it exists here as well, and cannot be taken lightly. Many remember the Dawson College Shooting in Montreal 10 years ago and the Polytechnique Massacre in 1989. The most recent tragedy was the school shooting just this year in La Loche, Saskatchewan.

What is perhaps most controversial is the decision to release the video around the 10th anniversary of the Dawson College Shooting—an action viewed by some as insensitive to victims of the tragedy. However, as Canadians remember and memorialize the shooting, it is important to look for methods to minimize harm should such a tragedy happen again. The 10th anniversary of the Dawson College Shooting provides a window to open up dialogues on the issue of gun violence. While no amount of training or videos can prevent a shooter on campus, the measures taken by McGill can help to ensure that in case of such a scenario, students are prepared, informed, and capable of protecting their lives. The country can heal from the Dawson shooting, but it should also learn from it.

 

Despite what may be said about the video, a less graphic or more mundane version would not have been able to communicate its message as effectively.

The video released by McGill is intense, but for this reason it succeeds in capturing students’ attention and keeping it throughout. Despite what may be said about the video, a less graphic or more mundane version would not have been able to communicate its message as effectively. Those used to routine fire drills and airplane safety demonstrations tend to zone out during emergency preparation warnings, and because of this they can lose their effectiveness. While McGill could have easily created a simple presentation or a purely informative video that reviewed the steps to survive an active shooter, it is unlikely that any would listen. While intense, the video is not overly graphic: It refrains from showing deaths on-screen, and does not use any blood or gore. In doing so, the video is able to drive home the danger of the topic, and emphasize the importance of being prepared while refraining from being over the top.

Beyond simply grabbing students’ attention, the video does exactly what it was meant to—prepare students for how to survive a shooting. Throughout the video, students are presented with the steps to follow in a clear and precise manner. The steps are repeated numerous times and summarized at the end. It makes sure that everyone watching can remember what to do in the unlikely event of a shooting here at McGill. The best way to survive any dangerous situation is to prepare and know exactly the steps to follow, and this video helps students do just that. Surely the video will stay in students’ minds, and if necessary, can be a critical component in their saving lives.

The video serves both as a way to help students stay safe in the event of a shooting, and as a method to remember Dawson College—as well as all other school shootings. Speaking about these tragedies, and about the issue of gun violence in general, is not easy. It’s unsettling, uncomfortable, and at times even frightening, but as such an important issue speaking openly and candidly about it is absolutely vital. Due to the unfortunate reality of school shootings, McGill’s active shooter video was an important step in preparing for the worst.

 

Martlets, Soccer, Sports

Soccer: Martlets fall short in attempt to continue undefeated

by Hana O'Neill on

More in Martlets:

The McGill Martlets (1-1-1) soccer team went into Thursday night’s game at Molson Stadium looking to extend their winning streak to seven games. They were up against the Université de Sherbrooke Vert et Or (2-1-0), a team that has outplayed them in recent years. The two teams went back and forth in a close match for 90 minutes, but an added time goal handed Sherbrooke a 3-2 victory.

Sherbrooke opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a goal by Marie-Ève Jacques and remained dominant through the first half, despite fourth-year student Lisa Perrett answering with a goal for McGill just two minutes later. The Vert et Or continued to be in command throughout the half, containing the Martlets to their side of the pitch. Later in the second half, Sherbrooke jumped ahead with a 32nd minute strike.

“[We] had a hard time finding our targets and moving the ball forward,” Head Coach Jose-Luis Valdes said. “They were running a 4-3-3, pulling their mids high, and so our midfields didn’t quite know who to cover.”

Halftime changes reinvigorated the Martlets after the interval. McGill looked more composed in the second half, moving the ball down the field and pressuring Sherbrooke’s defenders, putting an end to the Sherbrooke’s first half dominance.

“We made a substitution to start the second half, and that helped us settle down,” Valdes said. “We had drawn up a couple of ideas to pressure Sherbrooke and create chances for [ourselves], and we we were able to play out of our own half.”

Into the second half, the Martlets were able to move the ball out of their zone and challenge the Vert et Or.

“We were pressuring them more and we had a lot more confidence,” Perrett said.

After fifth-year forward Daphnee Morency tied the game in the 66th minute with an unassisted strike, the Martlets looked poised to extend their undefeated streak with a draw. However, Sherbrooke scored in the final minute of added time, putting them up for good and handing McGill their first loss of the season.

“It was overall a positive game,” Morency said. “Disappointing, obviously, but the younger players really stepped up, and we improved from the first to second half.”

McGill hits the road for games against UQTR and Laval before they return home on Sept. 30 for their “Pack the Pitch game” against UQAM. Expect McGill to split their road series before their date with the Citadins.

 

Key Statistic

The Sherbrooke Vert et Or is now 9-2-2 against the McGill Martlets since 2011.

Quotable

"To reach our goal of being the top in the league, we are going to have to impose our playing style each and every game, no matter who the opponent.” — Third-year defender Justine Enns said following the Martlet’s loss.

Moment of the Match

In the 18th minute, just two minutes after Sherbrooke opened the scoring, Lisa Perrett scored off an assist from Daphnee Morency to tie the game.  

Arts & Entertainment, Music

Music streaming party could #SaveNelly

by Morgan Davis on

More in Arts & Entertainment:

Tragedy has struck one of the most prominent musicians featured on middle-school dance playlists. Nelly—proud wearer of Air Force Ones and Band-Aids—reportedly owes the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)  over $2.4 million USD in unpaid taxes since 2013 and an additional $150,000 to the state of Missouri, according to a leak from TMZ. Brian Josephs, writer for Spin, calculated that to help clear Nelly’s debt, fans would have to collectively stream “Hot in Herre” a total of 287,176,547 times. Through social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook, the #HotinHerreStreamingParty had thousands of loyal fans express their concern for Nelly by streaming the song. 

It’s important to support the arts and up-and-coming artists in the music industry; however, it’s also vital for artists to prepare themselves for the changing methods of music sharing. Over the past few years, streaming websites such as Spotify have been criticized for the payout received by artists. For each song played, the musician earns only a fraction of a cent, specifically between $0.006 and $0.0084. Comparing inexpensive monthly subscriptions to individually purchasing a song for $1.29, the choice seems obvious for many music-listeners. Thus, a majority of millennials choose to subscribe to a streaming service. The #HotinHerreStreamingParty  is an interesting byproduct of the battle between musicians and music streaming platforms. Some artists insist that streaming services can damage their careers, yet others insist that adapting to changing methods of music sharing is vital to achieve success.

 For instance, Chance the Rapper, an American musician taking the industry by storm, is climbing higher and higher up the charts despite not charging for his music. The artist behind Coloring Book releases his mix tapes for free on social media platforms, preferring to make his money through touring instead of album sales.  Chance the Rapper recognizes that his audience is a part of the generation raised on torrenting their music from sites such as LimeWire or Video-to-MP3. In a Rolling Stone interview, he described signing to a label as “a dead industry.” Rather than desperately holding on to that old system, he looks to the future. 

On the other side of the controversy stands ten-time Grammy winner Taylor Swift. She has publicly taken a stance against Spotify, arguing that she doesn’t agree with their method, as the model threatens struggling artists that depend on music purchases for a living wage. While some artists, including herself, have had enough success to not be significantly impacted by this sharing system, many musicians barely receive payout for their work played on streaming services. 

This debate brings us back to the #HotinHerreStreamingParty movement. The aging artist struggles to pay off his debts, one can’t help but notice the prodigious amount of song plays needed to reach the fundraising goal.  For someone like Nelly, who has been producing and releasing music for almost two decades, it seems almost unfair that consumers get unlimited streaming of his songs while he receives such a miniscule payout. As a budgeting college student, however, the idea of paying for each song individually rather than paying only $10 a month for limitless music is less than ideal. 

Until the debate over streaming sites is resolved, all that can be done for the cause is to jump on board with Nelly’s streaming party. Streaming rather than purchasing individual songs has become the dominant form of music sharing. Understanding this, an individual playing Nelly’s  biggest hits may have little effect, but if enough fans band together, streaming may actually be an avenue for salvation. So, get out your speakers, log on to Spotify, and get ready to listen to “Hot in Herre,” one of the most musically advanced songs of the century. It’s time to #SaveNelly.

News, SSMU

SSMU copes with reality of failed base fee increase

by Calvin Trottier-Chi on

More in News:

The current Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) executives have been forced to adjust operations to fit the new budget constraints caused by a failed Winter 2016 referendum motion. The motion proposed a $5.50 increase to the SSMU base fee but failed by 0.3 per cent. The current SSMU executives have adjusted operations to fit the new budget constraints caused by the failed referendum motion. SSMU President Ben Ger assured that the majority of these adjustments consist of reorganizing services and expanding avenues of revenue.

    “Sacha, the new Vice-President (VP) Operations, is working […] on the Student Run Cafeteria (SRC) to make sure this coming year we see major reductions to its costs, improvements and alterations to its menu, and additions to its structure and space,” Ger said. “Niall, our VP Finance, is working on a number of budget scenarios that we will be further exploring in the months to come.”

Temporary student club restrictions

    SSMU is currently not accepting applications for new student clubs, although Ger emphasized that clubs currently holding interim status can still apply for full status and that full status clubs have nothing to fear.

“There are no plans for these temporary restrictions on the ability to receive interim club status to become permanent,” said Ger. “As of now, the entire executive is committed to making sure that this isn't the situation for very long.”

SSMU VP Finance Niall Carolan explained that without the approval of the SSMU fee increase, the creation of new clubs is difficult to accommodate due to a lack of available resources and funds.

“When you create a new club, they need a new bank account [and] they need to have their signing offices approved by the accounting department and myself,” Carolan said. “Not only does it put a strain on our internal resource process, but we also have a great deal of technology that we use in conjunction with club administration.”

Gerts and Student Run Cafeteria operations

SSMU’s largest operations are the SRC and Gerts Bar. Both suffered from a lack of profits last year, and a drop in revenue is expected due to the McTavish Street construction. SSMU VP Operations Sacha Magder hopes that restructuring will improve the profitability of SSMU businesses.

“We realized that staff need to have more training, and most importantly they need to be able to train each other,” Magder said. “Moving forward, we'll be tracking the sales of all meal options to make sure we cut anything that isn't selling; this results in reduced waste and allows us to replace stock with more popular options.”

Magder said that a key issue was a lack of consistent branding, noting that ‘The Nest,’ ‘Grill,’ and simply ‘Second Floor Cafeteria’ have all been used to refer to the SRC.    

“I’ve been working with our marketing team over the summer to define our brand identity and to develop a marketing plan,” Magder said. “We’ve proposed some new ideas–which are confidential for now, but will be released soon–that were validated by working groups in the last week of August.”

Magder hopes to run Gerts activities that will appeal to students. He listed themes, trivia, and open mic nights as potential regular events. B-week was one such an event, providing discounts on various drinks at Gerts from Sept. 12 to 16.

“We’ve already [completed]  B-week […] to keep the momentum rolling from Frosh, and we’ll be having many more fun events throughout the year to make Gerts more than just another bar,” Magder said. “Most importantly, we’re looking to work much more closely with the faculties. We’d like to collaborate for more events and to use Gerts as a basecamp for various events across campus.”

Monetizing the Shatner Building

    Carolan pointed to the member base fee, Gerts, the SRC, special operations (such as SSMU Minicourses), and rental space as the primary sources of income for the Society. He stressed that SSMU is mandated to not repeatedly run on deficits, and believes that student operations alone cannot generate the necessary profits.

“We’ll never be able to rely solely on operational revenues to sustain the Society because it’s a multi-million dollar non-for-profit, and those aren’t the kind of profits you can expect from that scale of student-run initiatives,” Carolan said. “So with that in mind and the failed base fee of last year, there are only so many different avenues of funding that we can pursue.”

Carolan explained that renting space to corporate sponsors is a reliable source of income, and saves costs for the student body as well.

“Before utilizing corporate sponsors, I wanted to make sure that our internal operations were running as effectively as possible so that I would have an idea of our shortfall,” Carolan said. “The only time we’d use corporate sponsors is to save passing that cost to students.”

Rather than charge students or clubs for running events–such as Activities Night–corporate sponsors carry the costs in order to advertise on campus. Carolan believes that this is an effective way to cover costs, provided that the focus remains on students.

“I do agree that we need [to] keep an eye on [sponsors’] impact on the events and make sure it doesn’t detract from the entire experience,” Carolan said. “That’s really the point of it, if we have to use sponsors, we want to use sponsors who are relevant to students and hopefully provide a benefit to students at the same time.”

Yearbook mementos

After several years of running a deficit, McGill’s yearbook has been discontinued. The SSMU executive team has expressed a desire to see it continue in some form, but details remain unspecified.

“It was just an unfortunate cost-benefit analysis where we thought, if there are these hundred students who are actually buying it, is it worth incurring this many thousands in deficit to make that happens,” Carolan said. “I’m not sure […] whether it will be discontinued indefinitely. I hope not, and I think that we’ll be doing everything we can to bring it back.”

Opinion

Campus Conversation: How effective is Frosh as an introduction to life at McGill?

by Erin O'Neill, Neha Rahman, Riddhi Sukhia, Aidan Kearney-Fick, Julia Davis on

More in Opinion:

Editor's note: The following answers are based on each contributor’s own personal experiences with the particular Frosh each participated in. Our writers took part in Arts, Rad, Outdoor, and Fish Frosh. Each explores the value of Frosh in terms of building relationships, foundations for life at McGill, and discovering the broader Montreal community.

Content

No Frosh Rad Frosh Fish Frosh Arts Frosh Outdoor Frosh

No Frosh

Erin O'Neill

Every entering McGill student has heard that frosh is the greatest week of university. With this, there comes a lot of pressure to fulfill such high expectations: Frosh can seem like an essential way to make friends in first-year and to explore the city. Feeling this pressure myself, I signed up for Fish Frosh and gave it a shot; however, I quickly realized that participating in Frosh wasn’t something I could force myself into. I only attended frosh for one day—at no fault of the Frosh itself—and instead decided to spend the rest of the week exploring Montreal with a few friends who felt similarly ambivalent towards the lack of freedom that Frosh offers.

The next day, some friends and I took the Metro to the end of the Green line, stopping at restaurants and shops along the way. During Faculty Froshes, a lot of time is spent going on pub crawls and partying at clubs which while fun for many is not the most effective way to discover the city of Montreal. With no set events, we had the freedom to hike to the top of Mount Royal, and then went on to buy poutine and ice cream in the Old Port. We still stayed out until 3 a.m., but it was on our own terms. As a result, we saw parts of the city and had experiences we otherwise would have yet to discover.

In terms of making friends, not doing Frosh acted as its own bond. I met people who shared the similar interests to mine; in a large Frosh group, there is no such guarantee. My friends and I recognized the value of venturing into the city without a plan, as opposed to following the structure and organization of mainstream Frosh. Doing so with such a small group made all of our adventures much more intimate: Instead of spending little time with many people we got to know each other on a deeper level.

It may seem intimidating to take on Orientation Week alone, but Frosh isn’t necessarily for everyone. Deviating from the typical Frosh experience can still offer opportunities for those seeking freedom, meaningful friendships, and personalized adventures.

 

Top

Rad Frosh

Neha Rahman

Senses of community, identity, and belonging are crucial in a big school like McGill. The central idea of Frosh is to bring new students together under events that help them to get to know one another. Ideally, it should introduce terrified first-years to a community they need and can identify with. I came into Orientation Week knowing that I was not prepared for the amount of drinking that appeared to be the Faculty Frosh prerogative. Indeed, many of my friends in residence complained that being drunk all the time actually hindered the process of making friends. Thus, Rad Frosh, organized and funded through McGill’s Quebec Public Interest Research Group (QPIRG)—whose aim is to provide a ‘radical’ alternative to regular orientation activities by means of social-justice based programming—was a great alternative.

For me, Rad Frosh was an extremely effective start to life at McGill because it introduced me to precisely the parts of McGill where I would like to belong. Be it a persons of colour (POC)-only space, or an Anarchist bookstore, Rad Frosh gave me access to resources that suit my needs. The parts of McGill and Montreal I saw through Rad Frosh were parts that the school doesn’t necessarily advertise: We visited the workers’ unions, and learned about both the Divest McGill and Demilitarize McGill groups. We learned about guerilla gardening and gentrification in the Milton-Parc and St Henri communities.

There were both drinking and non-drinking events, but the latter were especially effective because they were carefully organized and engaging. They were primarily workshops in which participants sat with fellow socially-conscious students and discussed politically charged topics. In this way, we got to know each other on deeper levels, which helps in fostering lasting friendships. At events like the Open Mic, we were given a platform to share our creative talents and personal stories through music and poetry, and thus connect with others. Finally, we went to our fair share of bars and had amazing dance parties to boot.

On top of being an introduction to McGill and its surroundings, Rad Frosh introduced me to like-minded individuals who I believe will become lasting friends. It was never about the Anarchist bookstore—which I will definitely be revisiting—but the people I’ll visit it with.

 

Top

Fish Frosh

Riddhi Sukhia

I had no idea what a Frosh was until I saw it on the McGill orientation website. As an exchange student from Hong Kong, I’d never been to a Frosh in my first year, and did not want to miss out on this traditional welcoming event at McGill. After considerable deliberation over the many options, I went with Fish Frosh, a dry Frosh hosted by four McGill Christian groups. The reason I chose Fish Frosh was not only because I wanted to make new friends, but because I wanted to explore the city of Montreal and not be exhausted after five days of partying. As an added bonus, it was also the cheapest Frosh. It didn’t bother me too much that I wasn’t Christian myself, as Fish Frosh is open to all beliefs. Now that Frosh Week is done with, it’s safe to say that I enjoyed every bit of it, and have no regrets regarding my decision.

Through Frosh, I was able to visit several iconic parts of Montreal with a bunch of friends, guided by our leaders. The Biodome, Mont-Royal lookout, Old Port, and Saint-Joseph’s Oratory were some of the many locations we spent time at. We also had some amazing food throughout—some traditional Quebecois dishes, and some homemade—all of which eased me into the amazing cultural and culinary diversity of the city. Fish Frosh was also a great opportunity for Christian freshmen at McGill to get to know what the McGill Christian community had to offer. That being said, I was openly welcomed and respected as a non-Christian, and never felt out of place.

Spending five days with my Fish Frosh group and leaders meant one thing: I met new friends, regardless of cultural backgrounds, beliefs, or interests. Breaking into the social life of a university as big as McGill—especially as an exchange student—can be challenging. Through Frosh, I made friendships and memories that will not be soon forgotten. I wouldn’t have started my time here at McGill any other way.

 

Top

Arts Frosh

Aidan Kearney-Fick

Faculty froshes are a melting pot—a way of attempting to blend first-years together over vague commonalities, such as their faculty and whether they are 18 years old or not. Yet despite the superficiality of these categories, many people manage to find those of a like mind and spirit. In my experience in Arts Frosh, I was able to break the confines of the group and meet interesting people that were not limited to my faculty, residence, or interests. Conversations that started through passing comments spiralled into ones of politics, music, and much more. Even at the mass events—the Ty Dolla $ign concert, Boat Cruise, and various clubs—people bonded over wanting to have fun and meet new people.

While there was plenty of alcohol consumed at Arts Frosh, not every event was exclusively intended for drinking. I did not witness any of the horror stories that are common popular conceptions of Frosh, such as people getting their stomachs pumped or being robbed late at night. With their watchful and responsible eyes everywhere, my Frosh leaders made sure that things had an element of restraint and that substance use was at a moderate level.

The safe and calm atmosphere surprised me due to my prior perceptions of what Frosh would be like. I had formerly seen it as just a cycle of bland events with incessant drinking and vapid partying, yet I realized it was much more. For many, Frosh is the first break from the oversight of parents, as well as a true experience of responsibility and adulthood. It is absent from any authoritarian figures, there are no binding social norms to follow, and ease of access to alcohol  is a first for most—including myself. Yet even with these temptations, Frosh was still a fun, safe experience that felt inclusive, enjoyable, and social.

 

Top

Outdoor Frosh

Julia Davis

Canoe Frosh, one of the six Outdoor Frosh options run by the McGill Outdoors Club, was an amazing bonding experience because of our shared time in the wilderness: We survived very long portages, cooked meals, washed dishes in the lake, pitched tents, played strange bonding games, jumped off cliffs, climbed waterfalls, and looked up at a sky full of stars. All of these added to the sense of trust and companionship that developed during my time in Frosh.

Early Saturday morning, we loaded the bus on our way to Lac Wapizagonke, where we began our life at McGill. On the second day, we paddled to the Lac Wapizagonke Waterfall, where we got to help each other cross the rushing water and then share in the spectacular view from the top. Crossing the waterfall was an intense bonding and trust exercise, as we had to trust in ourselves and in our new friends.

Cliff jumping was also very exciting, especially for those of us who had never done it before. Once again, this was a massive trust exercise, as we were essentially jumping off of a 20 foot cliff and free falling into the water.

Canoe frosh was a very exciting, yet relaxing trip, in which I made strong friendships with some wickedly cool people, rather than just going clubbing every night. This made my first week at McGill so incredibly special.

 

Top
1 … 727 728 729 730 731 … 1,363

Read the latest issue

Read the latest issue