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Arts & Entertainment

From the Viewpoint: An Evening at the World Press Photo Exhibit

by Joshua Fichman-Goldberg on

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I have always found Sept. to be a perfect time for reflection. After too many months of unproductive summer bliss, Sept. is a reminder that time is moving forward. We begin a new school year with high hopes and a lingering fear of future responsibilities. If you are caught up in the sublimity of Sept. it may be time to visit the 11th Montreal edition of the World Press Photo exhibit.

This collection of the year’s most evocative images is being held at Bonsecours Market in the Old Port of Montreal from Aug. 31 to Oct. 2. The exhibition features 150 award-winning photos from 41 photographers from around the world. Each year, viewers are presented with depictions of the human condition from a series of fascinating perspectives. The subject matter is often challenging, with graphic imagery illustrating some of the unfortunate tragedies that mark our generation. 

As I walked through the gallery, I was drawn towards the eyes in the photographs—every pair told a story. The photos are linked by their ability to humanize the headlines that saturate Western media outlets. In the age of social media, click-bait photography of war and chaos in developing countries is often a tasteless representation of real human hardships. I approached a photo by Brazilian photographer Mauricio Lima of a member of ISIS in a Kurdish doctor’s office. The fighter’s skin is badly burned and the doctor applies ointment to sooth the victim’s wounds. The photo captures the intimate beauty of man helping man. When photojournalism can sometimes fetishize the horrors of war and violence, images in the World Press Photo exhibit tastefully convey emotion beyond mere shock value. 

Near the end of the show, I stopped and faced an image taken by Australian photographer Rohan Kelly. The scene is of a massive storm approaching a sunny beach as a sunbather lies in the sand, staring at her digital device. This thought-provoking shot conveys the existential crisis of the 21st century. It is poignant in its portrayal of ignorance in the presence of imminent catastrophe. The photographer uses dramatic irony to convey a heightened sense of urgency in the viewer: One feels compelled to enter the photo and warn the people of the impending storm. 

On the second floor of the gallery, there are three complementary exhibitions. One of particular interest is presented by Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette in collaboration with photographer Guillaume Simoneau. The collection is called I Do Not Come From Outer Space and documents four recently arrived Syrian refugee families living in Montreal. In opposition to the demonization of refugees in some Western politics and media, this exhibit serves to tell human stories of transition and migration. It was an uplifting conclusion to the gallery experience. After images of deeply disturbing realities, we are reminded that there is hope on the horizon. 

 

The World Press Photo exhibit runs every day from Aug. 31 to Oct. 2 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays until midnight. It is located in De la Commune Hall at the Bonsecours Market (325 de la Commune Street East).

Science & Technology

McGill University Health Centre Finds Cures for Life-Threatening Dairy Allergies

by Lydia Kaprelian on

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For children with severe food allergies, mealtime can be the most challenging part of the day.  Families with young children who have allergies are especially affected, as parents must constantly worry about what their children are eating. Recent results out of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) offer newfound hope to parents and children alike.

A team of pediatric allergists and researchers at the Montreal Children’s Hospital of the MUHC announced this week that they had successfully desensitized over 20 children of their life-threatening dairy allergies through their immunotherapy research program.

“The kids are just so happy to go out to pizza with their friends, to be able to have yogurt, to be able to have cheese, to be able to have chocolate, all the stuff they really have never been able to,” said Duncan Lejtenyi, a McGill alum and Clinical Research Coordinator of the study.

Many of the patients suffered from life-threatening anaphylactic reactions to dairy before treatment. Anaphylaxis is an autoimmune response that causes blood pressure to suddenly drop and airways to narrow. It is one of the most dangerous allergic reactions and can occur after someone is exposed to even small traces of an allergen. If the allergic reaction is caught early, an antihistamine, like Benadryl, can often stop anaphylaxis; however, if Benadryl doesn’t work, an Epipen is the only option. As hospital visits are required after Epipen administration, severe food allergies can mean frequent—and expensive—visits to the emergency room.

The research at the MUHC focuses on the immune system’s response to allergens.  It is a form of immunotherapy which desensitizes the patient to milk.  The study started with children between the ages of six and nineteen being given a food challenge. This test is used to verify that the child has a true allergy. If the test is positive, the patient then begins a five month process in which they consume small amounts of dairy everyday. Each week, the dosage of the allergen is increased. The theory is that the patient’s hyperactive immune system will eventually familiarize itself to the allergen and no longer react to it. So far, 22 patients have been completely cured of their dairy allergy by the end of their five month trial.

To confirm the success of their desensitization, each patient consumed a full 300 millitre glass of milk.

Once the patient builds tolerance, they need to consume a small amount of dairy everyday to stay reaction free.  The study monitored the patients for a year after the end of their initial treatment to determine if they remained desensitized.

Lejtenyi pointed out that because this is a multi-centre study, the data have not been fully aggregated yet. While the results of the study are certainly promising, one of the lead clinicians was quick to point out that further research is necessary.

“The sample size is too small to draw conclusions,” Dr. Moshe Ben-Shoshan said during a Facebook Live chat on Sept. 9.

Furthermore, not every patient was cured. Five children dropped out of the study because their symptoms were only aggravated by the desensitization regimen. As the study expands, the researchers hope that more conclusive results for why the treatment worked in some cases but not others will be answered.

Food allergy rates have more than doubled in the last decade. This testing presents potentially life changing results for families dealing with severe allergies. In addition to reducing the burden on emergency room visits, it lessens the financial and emotional stress of families, as children are able to interact more freely with their peers.

“You don’t want to say it’s life changing,” Lejtenyi said, “but it is life changing and it’s been a great study to work on.”

Men's Varsity, Sports

Redmen Rugby begin bid for a second consecutive RSEQ championship

by Selwynne Hawkins on

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The expectations are high for McGill Redmen Rugby this year. After last season’s dramatic RSEQ championship victory over the Montreal Carabins, McGill is gunning for another conference title.

On Sunday, the McGill Redmen were dominant in their season opener against the Concordia Stingers at McGill’s Percival Molson Stadium. Fourth-year centre Jamie Wilson opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a try from the corner. Concordia quickly responded with their first and only points of the penalty kick that bounced off the left goal post before passing through the uprights.

The score was 27-3 at the halfway mark. The Redmen continued to press in the second half, finishing the game with a comfortable 46-3 victory.

“The guys came together well,” Head Coach Ian Ballie said. “First game out, we were a bit over-aggressive at the beginning and made some poor decisions, but that straightened itself out a little bit. […There is] stuff to work on, but [it was] a good start.”

Fourth-year front row, Alex Wang, had a positive outlook on the match.

“It was a great game,” Wang said. “We had some good forward action, stabilizing the front line, […] and [the backs] just went wide every time and scored.”

It was a powerful effort by the home side. The Redmen managed to contain the Stingers within their half for most of the game. A disciplined defensive effort kept the Stingers from coming too close to the goal line, while a calm, patient attacking approach allowed the Redmen to put up eight tries.

With an almost totally remade squad, the Redmen face the challenge of earning their second consecutive RSEQ banner and ninth championship in the past decade.

“We graduated out a big number of guys, [but] we’ve got some young guys coming in,” said Baillie. “Some guys who weren’t part of the varsity group last year are stepping up into those roles too.”

While Baillie is optimistic about the upcoming season, he is also quick to give credit to the other teams in the league.  Lately, Redmen Rugby has been an undeniable force in the RSEQ conference, but that certainly doesn’t mean this season will be easy for them.

“It’ll be competitive,” said Baillie. “We’ve seen a couple of the other sides already in preseason, and it’s going to be a competitive year.”

Based on Sunday’s match, the Redmen have an exciting season ahead of them. After back-to-back away games against ETS and Montreal, McGill returns home on Oct. 7 for a date with Bishop’s.

 

Stat corner: McGill’s eight tries were spread out among six different scorers. 

Quotable: “Eight out of the last nine championships—we’ve gotta get it and make it nine,”- Senior Alex Wang on potentially winning another championship this year.

Moment of the game: Concordia defenders tried to hold him up, but outside centre Sayf Al-Omaishi fought to get the ball to ground, scoring his second try of the game in the 32nd minute of play

Opinion

Recent municipal monstrosities reveal Montreal’s misplaced priorities

by Daniel Braz on

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Students in Montreal are aggravated and appalled by the minor annoyances that life here has thrown at them, such as the maze of construction and the grinding traffic. But, those of us who have been living here for a while know exactly what the problem is: Montreal’s municipal government has lately directed its energies towards projects of dubious utility. On the rare occasions that it does deign to act, the City tends to either make an unnecessary issue out of something minor, or mess with something that’s working just fine. Either way, it’s a given that the municipal government will devote tax dollars to something extraneous, rather than things that residents of Montreal care about.

The most recent example of a completely unnecessary issue that the City has taken upon itself to deal with is the shocking scourge of dog owners not picking up their pooch’s…you know. Given that it’s a small issue, one would figure that individual boroughs could handle it on their own—but no! The municipal government, which should be focusing on greater, more pressing issues that affect the entire city, has decided to meddle and devote $950,000 of taxpayer money to an advertising campaign: This includes photos, statues of dog crap on top of bus shelters downtown, and live street art performances. While ton caca de chien, c’est pas de rien (your dog’s doodoo, it’s no small matter) is a pretty funny slogan, it’s highly unlikely that the war on feces campaign is going to be treated as any more than a punchline at the City’s expense. One wonders how Mayor Denis Coderre and his administration can endorse this boondoggle with a straight face, especially given that there are several public infrastructure issues in Montreal that deserve urgent attention. These include increasing snow and ice removal operations, paving streets, and making public transportation more affordable and wheelchair accessible.

 

Montreal’s municipal government has lately directed its energies towards projects of dubious utility. On the rare occasions that it does deign to act, the City tends to either make an unnecessary issue out of something minor, or mess with something that’s working just fine.

The City’s administration would do well to remember an important saying: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Time after time—to the detriment of Montrealers—the City manages to misplace its priorities, neglecting urgent infrastructure maintenance in favour of expensive beautification stunts. One example of the latter, which is of particular interest to McGill students, is the City’s decision to completely tear up McTavish Street in order to complete a link in the Fleuve-Montagne project for Montreal’s 375th birthday. The overall cost for the project is currently projected to be $55.3 million—a 30 per cent increase from the city’s last estimation, and 75 per cent from the previous projection. Seventy-five per cent is a shift from absurd to outright wasteful. The Fleuve-Montagne path is just another example of the excessive amount of money going to often unnecessary and low-priority programs for residents. Other recent examples include the artificial tree stumps on Mount Royal and the 39.5 million-dollar mood lighting on the Jacques-Cartier Bridge.

It seems as though Montreal is not in touch with its citizens’ priorities. Efforts should be focused on public infrastructure maintenance—in other words, the things that students and residents need and can benefit from now. Present issues should be resolved before trying to figure out what beautification projects can be afforded in the future. Ultimately, it comes down to priorities. It seems like the City of Montreal has the wrong ones.

 

 

Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

Stranger Things and The Americans: The Cold War on TV

by Anna St. Clair on

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With its 1980s pop culture nostalgia, Netflix’s Stranger Things feels comforting and familiar, yet unlike anything else on television. Stranger Things is based on a simple premise: One night after riding his bike home a kid named Will Byers goes missing from Hawkins, Indiana, a small midwestern town.  Strongly influenced by Steven Spielberg’s films such as E.T., Stranger Things has as much horror—though not as much gore—as a Stephen King novel. 

The fact that Stranger Things takes place against the backdrop of the Cold War is crucial to the show’s portrayal of good and evil. The geo-political climate of the time is presented very subtly. It is hypothesized only once or twice by Hopper, the town Sheriff (David Harbour) and his deputies that the experiments at the government-run lab at the outskirts of town, are done in order to “fight commies.” For the people of Hawkins, especially Will’s working-class single mother Joyce (Winona Ryder), the global intelligence war is irrelevant. Yet, the Cold War setting makes all the difference in the motives of the villains. 

After Will’s disappearance, his friends Mike, Dustin, and Lucas meet Eleven, a 12-year-old girl with a shaved head who has escaped from the secretive Hawkins lab. The boys are left stunned and impressed when they realize Eleven can move things with her mind. The catch is that every time Eleven uses her telekinetic powers she gets a nosebleed, and if she uses her powers too much, she becomes exhausted and weak. Dr. Martin Brenner (Matthew Modine), the man Eleven calls “Papa”, is the inarguable antaonist of the show. It is revealed that he has kept the little girl locked up in a lab, forcing her to exercise her powers to the extent of causing her immense physical and emotional distress.

Within the context of the Cold War, Brenner believes he is justified in conducting torturous experiments. on Eleven. Brenner’s goal is to harness Eleven’s psychic powers in order to spy on crucial political actors in the Soviet Union. Brenner views the trials as critical in attaining stability, peace, and scientific advancement. Scientific testing on a child is viewed as necessary for the greater good. Stranger Things subtly confronts us with a horrible truth—war can cause us to lose sight of our human empathy. 

Stranger Things functions as a companion piece to another big Emmy contender this year, The Americans. Both shows take place in 1980s suburbia­—each exposes the darkness operating beneath the town’s idyllic surface. In the early seasons of The Americans, married Russian illegals Philip and Elizabeth Jennings debate whether they should introduce their 14-year-old daughter, Paige (Holly Taylor) to the brutal acts they commit in the name of espionage. Elizabeth (Keri Russell) in particular views training her daughter as a patriotic, honorable duty. Despite the frequent acts of murder, Elizabeth views her job as a force for peace. Like in Stranger Things, those obsessed with victory, whether Russian or American, do not hesitate to use children as weapons. In both dramas, the Cold War has broken down the moral norms of those committed to the war cause. 

The 1980s on television can invoke a sense of nostalgia. It was the time of low taxes, John Hughes movies, a booming economy, and a bright future. It was an era of laissez-faire  parenting, where kids were free to ride around on bikes and get into trouble. Both The Americans and Stranger Things capture an unspoken uneasiness lurking beneath the façade of innocence. Both shows take place at the end of the Cold War era—viewers know the long term strategies the characters pursue are futile. The characters’ entire world order, which is what has motivated their life’s work, will come crashing down. This is an America of keeping secrets. From the government right down to the suburban family, trust is almost impossible. If these television programs remind us of anything, it is that things rarely were, or are, what they seem.  

News, PGSS, SSMU

Meet the 2016-2017 SSMU & PGSS executives

by Jenna Stanwood on

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What have you done this summer?

I’ve been working on a few things [….] I was working on this project called a crash pad pilot for frosh. I had about 100 kids sleeping in the [Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU)] ballroom instead of going home […and we] kept some kids from driving home drunk […. I’ve been] looking at the Student-Run Cafeteria (SRC) inside and out [with VP Finance Niall Carolan] and we have dissected some of the expenses, the losses, and set up a plan of attack on how to push this forward. [The executives] are going to be a lot more hands-on [with the operation…] literally making it all student run [….] Minicourses is moving smoothly, we’ve had long conversations on how to make [it] more efficient [….] I’m going to be doing a lot more feedback surveys as well, looking at what we can do and what’s been successful in the past.

What upcoming projects have you been working on?

I’ve been looking at a project to get connections with the indigenous community and display indigenous artwork in our building. We have a policy on indigenous solidarity and one way to uphold this is to offer the opportunity for indigenous artists to display their work [….] I’ve reached out to the on-campus community and I’m looking to have indigenous students form a selection community [….] One of [my other] biggest focuses is going to be handling some of the construction issues.

What challenges do you foresee this year?

A building as old as this one often has a lot of surprises […. I’m] certain that there will be building issues in my time in office. [It’s] frustrating because [I] have to drop other projects just to keep the status quo, essentially. [The executive structure] is better than before because we now have someone who can drop everything and respond quickly when we need crisis management.

The faculty is looking to reduce classes with under 20 people; full-time professors will now teach larger classes. (Alexandra Allaire / McGill Tribune)
Opinion

Too cool for school? Think again.

by William Pang on

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For entering students, university is a drastic change from the good old high school days. Following Frosh leaders and fellow Froshies to the SAQ store is, essentially, an initiation into the adult world. Long gone are the parental wake-up calls and the mandatory school activities. Some will breathe a sigh of relief over not having any more 8:30 a.m. classes. Freedom at last!

But to paraphrase Spiderman’s Uncle Ben, “With great [freedom] comes great responsibility.” This almost seems like a no-brainer, but at some point, students will inevitably skip their first class. Whether it’s because of the existence of lecture recordings, a long night at Gerts, a sleep-inducing professor, or some other semi-legitimate reason, there is no point in delaying fate. University requires independent study, motivation, and class attendance, all of which will greatly influence one’s academic career at McGill.

Sitting in lectures, be they large or small, is a great way to make friends with whom one shares common interests. Yes, students meet a lot of friends in residences and at orientation, but different schedules and interests will eventually lead many to go separate ways. Attending class is a great way to meet people outside who fall outside one’s echo chamber, and who can help each other when stuck on things like Webwork.

 

 

University requires independent study, motivation, and class attendance, all of which will greatly influence one’s academic career at McGill.

Furthermore, research has shown that there is a strong correlation between class attendance and the grades students receive. Why? Because making oneself attend an 8:30 class requires discipline—sort of like going to the gym. If you skip a Math 140 class and attend the next one, you might look at the chalkboard and ask, “what do these greek letters mean?” This feeling of disarray is usually the wake up call for students to get their act together, and salvage the salvageable before the next midterm or final.

University moves at a much faster pace than high school. Even though the number of classes might be less than the amount taken in high school, university courses tend to cover topics in much greater depth. Depending on one's program, homework may no longer a big component of one's grade. Regardless, attending class is still very important for academic success: Lectures serve to keep students up to date and engaged with the material.

It’s not surprising that there are a lot of Facebook memes with pie charts comparing the large proportion of ‘stuff studied for’ and the teeny-weeny per cent of ‘stuff actually on the exam.’ Students may expect to be tested solely on homework problems or lecture notes—a habit synonymous with a learning style developed in high school—but professors will not spoon-feed material.

At the end of the day, some classes reward hard work; others demand brilliance. But, don’t be discouraged! Most professors will gladly talk to students and meet one-on-one during office hours. It is important to remember that all professional academics were once undergraduates, too. Professors want their students to succeed, even if students disagree at times with their pathway to success.

Students will of course continue to file their grievances to Spotted: McGill, but this still isn’t an alternative to going to class.

 

 

 

 

 

Know Your Athlete, Sports

In conversation with McGill Olympian Dori Yeats

by Nicole Spadotto on

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After just missing out on a bronze medal in the women’s 69 kg wrestling at the Rio Olympic Games last month, Canadian wrestler Dori Yeats is back at McGill, proud of her fifth place finish. She’s now eyeing the finish line of her civil engineering degree as well as looking forward to continuing her ascent in the world of wrestling after an extraordinary experience in Rio.

“Coming fifth is a huge improvement for me. I know I’m on the right track,” Yeats said. “But on the other hand, I lost my bronze medal match by a point. To know that I was that close to a medal is pretty rough, but I couldn’t have asked much more of myself.”

Right now, Yeats is faced with the difficult task of balancing her rigorous competition schedule with the completion of her civil engineering degree. While the two may seem unrelated, Yeats believes that her studies are helping her wrestling career.

“A lot of people compare [wrestling] to a chess game on the mats, because […] you have to strategize and think really quickly on your feet […] a lot of logical thinking is used, in a lot of ways,” Yeats explained. “I almost feel more creative and more able to wrestle […] after I’ve done a class at McGill where I think my brain’s been working really hard to solve physics problems. And then I’ll go on the wrestling mats and I find that my problem solving abilities are much quicker, and that I’ve been using that part of my brain which otherwise I probably wouldn’t have used.”

Although McGill lacks a women’s wrestling team, Yeats finds that the university has still contributed to her success. Ultimately, she relies on the understanding and empathy of her professors when competitions come in conflict with school work. Professors have responded in a mixed fashion; since Yeats doesn’t classify as a McGill athlete, some of her teachers have been reluctant to defer assignments or make academic exceptions.

“I’ve had a few teachers who were really accommodating,” Yeats said. “[They] told me that if I needed to give an assignment a bit later, they’d give me exemptions. But, in general, [exemptions are] rare, because […] I don’t represent McGill. I’m just doing my own extracurricular [activities].”

Representing Canada at Rio has been the highlight of Yeats’ athletic career. She is quick to counter the negative media perception of the Rio Olympics which focused on Zika virus, corruption, and poor facilities. Though the Olympic Village wasn’t the apex of luxury, it was similar to the low-end accommodations Yeats experienced during competitions in places like Mongolia and China. While athletes were warned that the areas outside the Olympic Village were unsafe, nobody was in any real danger unless they left the designated Olympic area.

“There was room for improvement, but I can’t make it seem like it was a big disaster,” Yeats said. “They definitely got the job done [and the] volunteers were super friendly and helpful. I think it was run well. You can’t always believe what the media says.”    

When reflecting on the best advice her father, five time Canadian Olympic wrestler Doug Yeats, has ever given her, Dori Yeats acknowledges how much she learned from her father about both wrestling and life outside the sport.

“‘Don’t lose your personality or who you are in order to make it in sport,’” Yeats said, paraphrasing her dad. “In the end, it is just a sport […] Sure I could be an Olympic champion, but it won’t mean anything [if I’m unhappy]. So, following school, in the program I wanted to do, while juggling wrestling and enjoying all of it is sort of what I’ve been focusing on and living by.”

While Yeats just missed out on a medal in her first Olympics, she has the potential to join Canadian gold medallist Erica Wiebe as one of the top wrestlers in the world. While the Tokyo Olympics are four years away, a podium finish in 2020 isn’t out of the question.

Science & Technology

McGill wins $84 million grant for neuroscience program

by Zikomo Smith on

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McGill University reaffirmed itself as one of the top neuroscience research centres in the world when it won an $84 million federal grant to fund the innovative Healthy Brains for Healthy Lives (HBFHL) program for the next seven years. Canada First Excellence Research Fund (CFERF) provided the grant as part of a federal science funding package that only awarded money to the top university programs in their field globally. Through evaluation methods such as academic citations, McGill was able to prove that it is in the top one per cent of research institutions in the field of neuroscience.

The HBFHL program is another chapter in McGill’s legacy of research and innovation in the field of neuroscience, dating back to Dr. Wilder Penfield and his contribution to the field of brain surgery. Professor Alan Evans, the James McGill Professor of Neurology, Psychiatry, and Biomedical engineering, will lead the HBFHL. The program is an ambitious research and innovation-focused program that aims to position McGill as the most prominent university for brain research in Canada and the world. It seeks to develop treatments for brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, as well as to make an impact on public policy and the framework for understanding brain health in Canada.

“In the last two decades we have witnessed a dramatic change in the conduct of neuroscience and the study of the brain,” Evans wrote in a press release. “In neuroscience, the information revolution has profoundly changed the way we collect and analyze a vast amount of information [….] We can now use powerful analytics to reveal subtle aspects of the individual brain, its genetics, how the environment shapes those genetics, and how the brain develops through life.”

The program will be enacted on a national scale using an interdisciplinary approach that integrates fields such as social science and computational science from the outset. This is important for translating the research and clinical work into the public domain and drafting public policy on brain health.

“What is unique about the Healthy Brains for Healthy Lives initiative is that it will use neuroinformatics to help identify and refine patient groups while working with educators, social scientists, and policymakers to move this knowledge quickly and efficiently into practice,” Rosie Goldstein, Vice-Principal Research and Innovation, said. “The primary goal of having such strong collaborations across disciplines will be the creation of a new, widely disseminated Canadian Framework for Brain Health that will then bring together these evidence-based clinical best practices, guidelines, and policies for treating and preventing neurological diseases and disorders.”

Furthermore, the HBFHL program  is a huge collaborative effort itself, bringing together over 1,500 scientists, clinicians, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows to solve problems to develop cutting-edge treatments for brain disorders. McGill is working directly with Western University—which received $66 million in grant money—and teaming up with various hospitals in the McGill network, such as The Douglas Mental Health University Research Institute, as well as other institutions from across Canada.

“The HBFHL will strengthen our international presence,” Evans said. “Neuroscience has become a global network and Canada is very much a hub in that network.”

Part of the federal funding will go towards graduate and post-doctoral students’ research, salary support, and travel for presentations and collaborations. The grant will also help fund opportunities for students to do summer research and practical training under the supervision of McGill researchers in neuroscience.

“A key aspect of the HBHL program will be new multidisciplinary training clusters for students and postdocs, and a 20% increase in the number of McGill students and postdoctoral fellows working in areas related to HBHL by 2023,” Goldstein said.

“Students will have access to research exchange programs at Western University and Universite de Montreal, both of which have CFREF-funded projects that include collaborative projects with McGill, as well as some of the world’s top Neuroscience Centres, including Imperial College in London, Oxford University Neuroscience, the Neuroscience Centre of Zurich, and Kyoto University.

We encourage students to reach out to their advisors and professors to find out more about research programs funded by HBHL as they are announced in the coming months and years. There will be numerous opportunities to participate in Healthy Brains for Healthy Lives as a student researcher.”

Legal Information Column, Private, Student Life

Legal Information Column: How to stay mates with your roommates?

by Legal Information Clinic at McGill on

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It’s the start of a new school year, and the season for new roommate situations. Though living with friends can be a great way to split costs as a student, anxiety over seeing the same people every day is normal. Unlike an ill-advised road trip, roommates are stuck together in close quarters for indeterminate periods of time.

To help ensure peaceful cohabitation this school year, the Legal Information Clinic at McGill (LICM) offers information for dealing with potential roommate issues. Even if roommates haven’t discussed these details with each other, Quebec has laws that are worth understanding so that students’ time sharing an address—and a legally-binding lease—is a happy one. 

Consider the following common roommate issues, along with ways one can handle each situation:

 

Pay Up

What happens when roommates don’t pay their share of the rent? Can the landlord sue Jenny for everyone’s rent because she was the first person he saw in the apartment lobby that morning?

In order for each roommate to be responsible for the entire rent, they have to explicitly indicate their agreement to this on the lease. If Jenny and her roommates indicated on the lease form that they each agree to be responsible for the full rent, they are solidarily liable and a landlord could sue any of them for the entire month’s rent. If they don’t indicate their agreement to be solidarily liable, they are jointly liable, meaning Jenny could therefore only be sued for her share of the rent. However, a landlord could still ask Quebec’s rental board, the Régie du logement, to cancel the entire lease and evict everyone in the unit if the rent isn’t paid in full. Fortunately, whether solidarily or jointly liable, the law entitles Jenny to reimbursement from her roommates if she pays for everyone to prevent the lease from being cancelled.

 

He Doesn’t Even Live Here!

If Carolina is letting Mayaz, her boyfriend, stay over so often that he never leaves the apartment, does Mayaz have to chip in for rent? What if Theo–Carolina’s roommate who isn’t on the lease and just gives cash to Carolina every month–suddenly stops paying for his share?

Roommates can form a contract with each other to establish their individual responsibilities. A contract is formed simply when there is offer and acceptance between everyone involved in the contract, and the terms can be almost anything. While acceptance is often explicit, such as with a signature on a piece of paper, it’s also possible for acceptance to be implied, such as acting in a way that suggests they agree to the terms of the contract. Moreover, verbal agreements are recognized by law, except in specific circumstances. 

Returning to Carolina’s problem, she could form a contract with Theo requiring him to pay his share to her. Theo could then also agree on the condition that he gets back 15 per cent of what he normally has to pay if Mayaz stays over for more than 15 days a month. Moreover, since a contract gives parties enforceable rights, Carolina can ask the courts for help if Theo refuses to honour their agreement.

 

Taking Them to Court

What happens if Jenny pays the rent owed by two of her more forgetful roommates, Remi and Brie, and they refuse to reimburse her? What if Theo decides that he doesn’t want to fulfill his promise to Carolina anymore and breaks his contract?

Jenny can send a formal notice to Remi and Brie demanding that they pay her back. Likewise, Carolina can write to Theo asking for payment of his share of the rent. If these letters don’t work, both Jenny and Carolina can enforce their rights by suing the people who aren’t honouring their promises. 

Though the law encourages people to solve their disputes informally, it provides formal procedures for people to enforce their rights, whether these rights come from a contract—like Carolina’s contract with Theo—or another part of the law, such as Jenny’s right to be reimbursed for paying everyone’s share of the rent. A person could therefore ask a judge to issue an order requiring someone to do something, such as to pay a sum of money. Quebec’s court system has different layers, allowing it to deal with disputes, both large and small. To understand the various courts and procedures, students can see volunteers at the Legal Information Clinic at McGill who will explain more about one’s rights and how to enforce them.

The start of a new university year is busy enough without anxiety over being sued for rent or anger over clashing standards of apartment noise and cleanliness. By taking a moment to learn about the law, roommates can avoid sticky legal situations and rest easier with knowledge of their legal obligations and rights under their belts. 

 

To ask  your own question, contact the Legal Information Clinic at McGill with the directions found on our website. According to the Act respecting the Barreau du Québec, only lawyers and notaries can provide legal advice or counsel. The LICM, therefore, only provides legal information. For legal advice, please contact a lawyer. 

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