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Features

Foundations for Reconciliation

by Jenna Stanwood on

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On Sept 16, the 15th annual Pow Wow will take place under a tent on Lower Field, setting the stage for McGill’s Indigenous Awareness Week. As part of the event series, there will be a ceremony to unveil the new site of the Hochelaga Rock, currently located across from the statue of James McGill near the Roddick Gates. The monument, which is the only permanent visual reminder on campus that the university is built on the unceded site of an Iroquois village, has finally been moved into the public eye after years of activism from members of the McGill community. Previously, the Rock had been nearly hidden, acting as an unintentionally ironic symbol of the experience of many indigenous peoples at McGill. A sense of invisibility seems to cloud the narratives of indigenous peoples’ time at McGill University. Leslie Anne St. Amour, the 2015-2016 Indigenous Affairs Coordinator for the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) and winter 2016 Arts graduate, recounted the marginalization and racism she experienced on campus.

Fact or Fiction, Science & Technology

Fact or Fiction: Is flossing beneficial for oral health?

by Paul-Enguerrand Fady on

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Over the summer, the Associated Press (AP) sunk their teeth into a widely-held public health claim: Daily flossing is good for dental hygiene. Their investigative report revealed that there is very little evidence to back up the advice one often hears at the dentist’s office.

Growing up in Europe, not a single dentist—whether trained on the Continent or in the United Kingdom—ever suggested that I integrate flossing into my oral care routine. Regular and thorough brushing was encouraged, but never flossing.

In fact, the scientific adviser to the British Dental Association (BDA) David Walmsley has said, “[flossing] is not part of the basics” of oral care and hygiene.

The British view contrasts directly with the North American opinion: The Canadian Dental Association (CDA) warns that not flossing daily means “missing more than one-third of your tooth surface.” The American Dental Association (ADA) has also stated that “flossing is an essential part of taking care of your teeth and gums.”

The Association Dentaire Française (ADF) represents three quarters of French dentists, and states on its website that brushing can be complemented by the use of dental floss, mirroring the opinions of the BDA and other European dental associations that flossing is nonessential.

“There is much we do in medicine and dentistry that is not evidence-based, but that doesn’t mean it does not work,” said Dr. Øyvind Asmyhr, head of the Norwegian Dental Association, in a statement.

It seems increasingly likely that news stories which have pit dental associations against one another have simply exploited a minute difference in wording and twisted the ADA’s advice. Moreover, the BDA, the ADF, and most other dental associations recommend that their patients remove plaque with the aid of a physical support–floss—but therein lies the contrast.

Rather than recommending floss explicitly, the ADA guidelines state,  “interdental cleaners such as floss are an essential part of taking care of your teeth and gums.”

“[I’m] not sure if it was an intentional play on words or an honest misunderstanding by the AP journalist when the article on flossing was written during the summer which [led] to the domino effect of re-publications in almost all famous papers and journals,” McGill Dentistry Professor Omid Kiarash said. “[As so often is the case], tabloid journalism seems to get more publicity than scientific factually correct news.”

Despite the reports, Kiarash still recommends flossing to his patients. The objections regarding the quality of the studies highlighted in the original AP investigation are, in his opinion, irrelevant.

“The notion that no flossing is somehow better than flossing simply because the strength of the studies are not high quality is ridiculous,” said Kiarash. “Just like we don’t have high quality evidence that jumping out of an airplane without a parachute is highly likely to be fatal.”

Student Life

Take an axe to stress this Fall at Bad Axe Throwing’s new Montreal location

by Audrey Carleton on

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Come the weekend, most people look forward to a relaxing few days spent vegging out on the sofa, spending time with friends, or grabbing drinks at one of Montreal’s many great bars. What most people don’t anticipate doing, however, is picking up an axe and throwing it at a large target, much less of their own free will. Bad Axe Throwing, a Canadian company that teaches lessons on the sport of axe throwing, hopes to change this. Having just opened a location in Montreal in June 2016—their 10th location nationwide—Bad Axe is making its way across Canada to teach the technical skill of axe throwing while providing entertainment and stress-relief.

Every axe throwing session begins with an introduction led by experienced instructors, in which groups of attendees are taught the rules of safety and basic throwing techniques. While each member of a group is given the opportunity to practice throwing, instructors give one-on-one coaching to each participant, removing some of the impersonality that comes with being part of a large group. From there, the instructors lead groups in games and competitions. These typically entail earning points based on accuracy and landing spot on the board, similar to a game of darts.

Despite how dangerous axe throwing may sound at first, the number one priority of Bad Axe is safety. The goal of the company is to ensure that the most dangerous part of attending an axe throwing session is the car ride there and back. Tom Bradshaw, chief Axe Thrower at Bad Axe Montreal, keeps safety in mind during every lesson.

“We preach safety—that’s the big thing we do when people come in,” Bradshaw said. “We [have a great safety record] across all locations. No one’s been seriously hurt; the biggest one I’ve heard of is someone needing a bandaid on their arm because the axe had grazed them a little bit.”

Regardless of the company’s clean safety record across all locations, many first time axe throwers are understandably nervous. The instructors at Bad Axe are equipped to calm even the most intense nerves, making people feel more confident as they leave their comfort zone, axe in hand.

“Whenever [first time axe throwers] are a little bit afraid, I always like to remind them that because they’re throwing an axe forward, and it’s leaving you–you’re not chopping wood right in front–they don’t ever have to worry about hitting themselves,” Bad Axe Managing Director Jesse Gutzman said. “Because it’s going forward, it’s never going to hit you. Worst case scenario, it hits the floor.”

While safety is Bad Axe’s priority, they also emphasize ensuring the uniformity of every location in Canada. Bad Axe’s goal is for each location to accurately represent the national brand and for customers to have the same experience no matter where they are.

“You go from this location to another one, the axes are going to be the same, the targets are going to be the same,” Bradshaw said. “The only thing that may change is the games you play.”

Nearly two years after their foundation as a company in Burlington, Ontario, Bad Axe is now opening locations at an increasingly rapid pace. It it increasingly important to maintain similarity between all of their locations as the company expands across Canada.

“[Bad Axe’s expansion] definitely started slower, and there is an exponential growth happening right now,” Gutzman said. “We just opened [a location in] Surrey [British Columbia] two weeks ago […] and now we’re already in Montreal. When we started, it was about four to five months in between locations.”  

As their growth as a franchise accelerates, Bad Axe management looks toward a future with more and more Canadians throwing axes for sport. Though they have a few walk-in hours per week, Bad Axe currently operates predominantly through online bookings, catering mainly to large groups who plan and schedule their axe throwing sessions well in advance.

“The main thing that we would like to do in the future is to be able to have open hours at any given time so people can just pop in,” Gutzman said. “It’s a lot of fun, and it’s really no difference in price when it comes to bowling or laser tag. Those are both just manufactured activities. Bowling hasn’t been around for more than 40 years. People think it’s just something that’s always been there. Someone created that, made a demand for it, so that’s what we want to do—have people think, ‘Let’s go axe throwing.’”

To find out more about Bad Axe Throwing or to book an axe throwing session, visit their website.

Baseball, Sports

From the Cheap Seats: Or not… how the other side watches

by Joe Khammar on

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This past summer I interned for kivvit, a public affairs company, in New Jersey. One of the many perks of the job was seeing the Mets play on Aug. 10, 2016. Each member of the firm was given a ticket prior to the game but details were relatively vague. Expecting to see the game from the nosebleeds, I nearly fainted when I saw the words “Club Access” printed in bold letters on the front of my ticket. Upon entering, and after a cursory check of my identification, I was given access to an open bar and a buffet, which featured decadent entrees like mango-glazed salmon. I had never experienced anything like this in my life; the closest I had ever come to luxury at a sports game was sitting atop the chairs in the back row of a Montreal Canadiens game. The seats were slightly above the bottom section of the stadium but extremely close to home plate; the view was so clear that I was even able to make out the faces of the athletes.

I instantly realized that you can't compare the club access experience to sitting in general admission. The entire atmosphere is different with a focus more on socialization and luxury over the game itself. I found that most people from my section spent more time inside at the bar, giving cursory glances at the game on the screen, instead of being outside and invested in the action. I found myself guilty of this and didn’t even notice Arizona had scored until the fifth inning. Never in my life have I been so disinterested in a match right in front of me. It was clear to me that many of my coworkers, despite being lifelong New York and New Jersey residents, were generally not baseball fans, which definitely factored into the apathetic ambience.

As for the game itself, the Mets were playing against the Arizona Diamondbacks. I checked the lineup earlier in the day and was ecstatic to find that Bartolo “Big Sexy” Colon was pitching. He was a joy to watch. The crowd went wild every time Colon stepped up to the plate in hope that he would hit his second homerun of the season. The game itself went scoreless for the first two innings until the Diamondbacks took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. The slow pace continued until the 8th when Arizona furthered their lead to 2-0. In the 9th, Kelley Johnson of the Mets brought some life into the stadium with a two-run homer that evened the score. Unfortunately, the Mets were unable to make anything substantial out of this momentum and the Diamondbacks clinched the game in extra innings.

On the ride home, I had a few realizations. When you see a game in the nosebleed section, you pay attention to the game more intensely. Everything that occurs on the field is subject to overreaction and participation: Even as someone who is relatively restrained, I can’t help but stand and yell when I’m a few hundred feet away from any action—the atmosphere is infectious. However, at the Mets game, I didn’t watch more than 3 plays. I spent half my time eating, drinking, and relaxing with friends. The game itself was almost an afterthought compared to the socializing. I know that given the opportunity to do it again, I would go back in a heartbeat; however, I can’t say for certain if it is a better experience than general admission. The two experiences are so vastly different they can scarcely be compared.

McGill, News, Private

McGill University releases Draft Policy against Sexual Violence

by Gabrielle Dutra and Sara Cullen on

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McGill University has released a draft of its Policy against Sexual Violence as of the morning of Monday, Sept. 12. The draft comes after a consultation period, which started in April, during which the university sought feedback from various campus groups, including the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) and the Sexual Assault Centre of McGill Students’ Society (SACOMSS).

Since Fall 2013, the Sexual Assault Policy Proposal group (SAPP) has been fighting for the implementation of a sexual assault policy drafted by students. SAPP was formed in response to a 2013 incident in which several McGill football players were faced with accusations of sexual assault from a Concordia student, highlighting the university’s lack of sexual assault policy. 

The policy created by SAPP was never brought to the Senate. In an open letter published on April 7, SAPP conveyed their displeasure towards the administration for not considering the sexual assault policy. 

“We are tired of empty words and hollow actions,” the letter stated. “We are tired of an administration that does not prioritize supporting survivors of sexual assault.”

“The university does present a certain lack of support towards students, but this is something the administration is working on,” Erin Sobat, Vice-President (VP) University Affairs of the SSMU said. “An example is that the upper administration and the Senate made a commitment that the new policy will pass. Now the question is to ensure that the policy will remain as substantial as possible.”

In May, Angela Campbell, Associate Provost (Policies, Procedures, and Equity) circulated the draft of a policy written by the McGill Administration. Campbell asked certain groups—such as SSMU—for feedback, and intended to seek Senate approval in Fall 2016.

Campbell wrote in an email to the McGill Tribune that the newly drafted policy will ensure that any individual who self-identifies as a survivor of sexual violence feels safe and respected on campus.

“The draft policy…puts support for survivors at its centre,” Campbell wrote. “This policy establishes a range of measures that seek to ensure a respectful, dignified, confidential, and compassionate response to any member of the McGill community who discloses an incident of sexual violence, regardless of whether such incident occurred in a McGill context or not.”

Christopher Buddle, Dean of Students, wrote on the importance of the new policy in an email to the McGill Tribune.

“The policy development is not only a question of a ‘good’ move, but an ‘essential’ and ‘important’ move,” Buddle wrote. “The development of this policy is allowing us to assess many of the other policies that exist within the institution, to ensure they work within the framework of the proposed policy. The sexual violence policy is not an endpoint, but rather one essential part of a longer process.”

According to Sobat, there are a few differences between the sexual assault policy proposed by SAPP and the administration-drafted policy that will be presented in Senate.

“The student-led proposal has a stronger anti-oppressive approach to addressing sexual violence on campus,” Sobat said. “It recognizes that different marginalized groups are disproportionately affected by sexual violence.” 

Sobat also explained that the university policy makes fewer concrete commitments than the student-drafted policy.

“The university-drafted policy tries to address all of the student body and is, in essence, more procedural,” Sobat said. “[The policy] suggests that through education, awareness building, and training, such problems will cease. Additionally, the student-drafted policy had stronger commitments on the investment of resources, such as creating a centralized office for these issues, while the university drafted policy has no such commitments.”

Silence is Violence is a survivor-led group that aims to address rape culture on university campuses. The McGill chapter of Silence is Violence launched on Aug. 26, 2016. Paniz Khosroshahy, founder of the group’s McGill chapter, and Ariane Litalien, organizer of the chapter, commented on the policy draft in a message to the McGill Tribune. 


“At the technical level, the policy is incredibly vague and lacks clear language on a number of key issues,” Litalien and Khosroshahy wrote. “[…In] keeping the language of the policy vague, McGill officials are simultaneously asking survivors of sexual violence to take a giant leap of faith and assume that the university will do the right thing for them when they report [an assault], and [are] protecting their own institution in case it falls short of a reasonable response.”

The university is asking the McGill community for input on the policy draft and has created a feedback form on their website. Submissions will be accepted on a rolling basis with a suggested deadline of Sept. 30. 

“What we would like to do is have the policy go to Senate for information in October,” said Campbell. “[…Once] we hear back from the community after that Senate meeting, by then we’ll have had a chance to canvass the community at large through this consultation process [….] We’ll then work more on the policy after that Senate meeting and bring it back for an adoption later in the fall, either in November or December.”

Buddle also stressed the need for community collaboration as the policy is further developed.

“I know the policy being brought forward under the guidance of the Associate Provost Angela Campbell builds upon the excellent work done by the workgroup over the past years,” Buddle wrote. “I think the workgroup, and the broader community, can certainly help us further refine and improve the policy being brought forward, but we’ll also need to work collaboratively as we implement the policy.”

The goal for the implementation of the policy, according to Campbell is to accommodate the McGill community and provide support.

“[We] need to hear everybody, but students in particular,” said Campbell. “We have to remember that this is really about developing a campus that is safe and compassionate. Even though it’s big, and even though it can be daunting, it has to be a place where people can [feel that] they’re protected from sexual violence and if there’s an incident that happens they can seek out the services that they need without any sense that their own security is compromised in the process of getting support, because that’s counterproductive to the goal of support.”

This article was updated on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016. 

Baseball, Sports

Alex Rodriguez’s exit and flawed idealism

by Weiyu Dang on

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Of all superstar retirements, Alex “A-Rod” Rodriguez’s exit was one of the strangest and most understated; the career of the imperfect baseball icon came to an end in the middle of a mediocre New York Yankee season.

Rodriguez, the most intriguing and unique—if not the most talented—Yankee, never received the uncontested reverence of other Yankee legends. His career accomplishments are indisputable: Stunning defence at shortstop, the second most RBIs in league history, being the fastest to hit 500 and 600 home runs, and, in 2003, he signed the largest sports contract (at that time) by a factor of two. 

Of course, there were the sordid low-lights, which featured confessing to his use of steroids, as well as litigating the Yankees, the MLB, and the Player’s Union in 2013. All of this after lacklustre playoff performances, trying to get a fan’s number in a playoff game, and the strange portrait of himself as a centaur that purportedly hangs above his bed. Rodriguez is perhaps one of the only baseball players to become a true demi-god—living a theatrical life, while still exhibiting the flaws of a man.

The end of his career as a Yankee marks the bittersweet end of a melodramatic career filled with absurd peaks and depraved valleys. Baseball statisticians have demonstrated that Rodriguez was worth every penny of the half a billion dollars he earned from the Texas Rangers and the Yankees combined. He won three MVPs—and probably would have won three more—were it not for suspect voting procedures. He was a perennial all-star and he won a world series in 2009 for the Yankees. Nevertheless, many journalists decry his accomplishments as tainted by his steroid use. 

Though his drug use can be attributed to his desire to live up to astronomical expectations and entertain the fans, the doping came at a time when steroids were not penalized and were instead covertly promoted as baseball’s saviour. Baseball has always been imperfect, but it’s always been for enjoying, not for moralizing. Riddled among its heroes are gamblers, drug addicts, racists, and wife-beaters, among other reprobates. Fans will never know or see A-Rod the person, just as they choose to ignore Ty Cobb’s violence or David Ortiz’s doping. To fixate on off-field events over a player’s on-field production and their tantalizing skills is to sterilize baseball.

The prodigious power, superhuman arm, and transcendent baseball IQ coalesced into an athlete molded from Olympian thunder. If anything, his wish to be remembered as “someone who tripped and fell a lot, but someone that kept getting up” attests to his place in a game full of imperfectly perfect icons. Rodriguez’s mistakes—his contrition and humility, perhaps feigned—reveals a human side of baseball. Baseball has never been comprised of perfectly moral role models, but rather flawed humans. 

As baseball is very much a pillar of mass media, popular culture interpretation and politics inevitably leads to class divisions and discrimination. That said, the days of the old boys’ club version of baseball—where bat flips are discouraged and etiquette fetishized—seem to be  numbered. Baseball now marches into a period where old-fashioned, unspoken rules of propriety are fading as the game evolves into a spectacle and celebration of athletic performance. Rodriguez’s legacy as a phenom-turned-Satan-turned-sage-turned-washed-up-bench-DH chronicled a pivotal switch in baseball history from a decorous and refined game to a game that tries to be more fun and human.

During Rodriguez’s retirement ceremony, peals of thunder and torrential rain fittingly signalled  the end. The game began with the lambent, orange streaks of dusk and then a blistering line drive double to right field for his first at bat. Rodriguez finished his Yankees tenure just as he started it: With a one-for-four with a RBI double. A month later, the Yankees’ new slugger, Gary Sanchez, won AL Rookie of the Month and Player of the Month honours in a historic month reminiscent of prime A-Rod production. And so, baseball goes on.

Football, Sports

2016 Fantasy Football: NFL breakout candidates

by Josh Blatt on

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Allen Robinson

A breakout star in 2015, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Robinson is once again primed for a tremendous season. Though his 14-touchdown accomplishment last year will be tough to match, his reception total should experience a spike with an improving Blake Bortles at the helm. Robinson’s 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame renders him a dominant red-zone threat; he is sure to see many targets inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. He should be viewed as a mid-to-late first-round pick in PPR leagues.

Lamar Miller

Fresh off signing a four-year, $26 million pact with the Houston Texans, Lamar Miller looks poised to be the team’s clear-cut feature back. In his four prior seasons with the Dolphins, Miller’s talents were severely underutilized, as he registered over 200 carries in a year only once. However, his yards-per-carry over the past two seasons have been a lofty 4.81 and both his passing and blocking skills have blossomed. Now, on a team that has ranked both first and fifth in the league in rushing attempts under Head Coach Bill O’Brien the past two seasons, Miller is a high-upside pick who may cement himself as a top-tier rusher in 2016.

Jordan Reed

Washington Redskins tight end Jordan Reed is a force to be reckoned with, having posted just under 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns in 14 games last season. Unfortunately, he has a long history of nagging ailments and concussions. The Redskins are nevertheless intent on making Reed a go-to target and the red-zone threat for quarterback Kirk Cousins. In a world of ever-thinning tight end depth, Reed is a difference maker at the position and a top-three option if he can stay healthy.

Duke Johnson

Heading into his sophomore season, Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson is being touted by coaches as the “ultimate weapon.” A timeshare with colleague Isaiah Crowell stunted Johnson’s performance last season, but fans still got a glimpse of his quick feet and pass-catching abilities. With the Browns likely to find themselves trailing in most games, Johnson should be leaned on heavily in the passing game, making him a PPR dynamo. Prospective owners must, however, consider the risk of Crowell cutting into Johnson’s workload and goal-line attempts.

Golden Tate

The retirement of superstar Calvin Johnson has opened the door for Detroit Lions wide receiver Golden Tate to break out. During games in which Johnson was out with an injury or caught fewer than two passes, Tate either registered 100-plus yards or a touchdown in all but one affair. The addition of Marvin Jones will cap Tate’s potential slightly, but he remains a surefire candidate for more than 100 receptions this season. A fourth-round flier is warranted for the seventh-year player, who may shape up to be a top-12 fantasy wide receiver.

Student Life

McGill 101: A guide to being a student at McGill University

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Congratulations on starting your journey. While McGill is renowned for its academics and research, it can be extremely daunting to navigate, especially as a new student. That's why we made the McGill 101 Issue, to help ease your transition into university life and answer questions you have about McGill and Montreal.

McGill, Montreal, News

McTavish blocked by City of Montreal construction

by Nicholas Jasinski on

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Projects to continue through Spring 2017

Major construction projects on and around McGill’s downtown campus are set to cause inconveniences and challenges for students lasting through the 2016-2017 year. The City of Montreal’s Promenade Fleuve-Montagne urban project–part of next year’s 375th anniversary celebration of the city’s founding–is a beautification initiative aiming to improve the comfort and safety of pedestrians, who make their way to and from the St. Lawrence River and Mount-Royal.

According to the project’s vision, the work will include replacing the sidewalks as well as sewer, water, and gas mains on Sherbrooke from Peel to University. Additionally,  McTavish will be made more pedestrian friendly between Sherbrooke and Docteur-Penfield, while maintaining easy access for emergency vehicles. Work is scheduled to take place from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. every week from Monday to Saturday.

According to Associate Vice-Principal (Facilities Management and Ancillary Services) Robert Couvrette, university personnel have been working closely with city officials and Montreal police. This partnership aims to reduce any inconvenience and disruption caused while keeping McGill’s roughly 30,000 downtown students safe as they traverse campus.

“We have had many meetings with the City in preparation for this work and we […]now [have] a weekly meeting with them,” Couvrette said. “We are in constant communication to be sure every aspect of the project goes well in terms of security, the safety of the McGill community, work coordination […], and so forth.”

According to McGill’s construction advisory page, the city agreed to halt work during both the Spring and Winter examination periods to allow students to study without disruption by construction activity and heavy machinery. As for the university’s contribution, the number of McGill security personnel on duty in the areas surrounding the construction has been increased. The MacDonald campus shuttle has been relocated to the east side of McGill College street, just south of Sherbrooke.

Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) Ollivier Dyens advised students to give themselves extra time to get to classes, stay on the designated pathways for crossing construction zones, and to follow instructions from police, McGill security officers, and construction workers.

“Above all, be patient, keep calm, and carry on,” Dyens told the McGill Reporter in August. “We’re stuck with this City of Montreal road construction for several months. The University is in close touch with the City to try to minimize the disruption, but these are massive infrastructure improvement projects and they will be noisy, dusty, and inconvenient.”

Students have expressed their disappointment with the fact that McTavish has become an open pit for the second time in three academic years.

“I have to think a lot more about all of my previously simple commutes again,” Emilie Macfie, U3 Political Science, said. “I have enough to deal with as a student and each time I get stopped by a huge truck pulling out of McTavish, or find out that my way to class or a meeting is blocked, it adds a lot of inconvenience to my day.”

Couvrette also urged students to be patient and to tolerate any unforeseen delays or problems that might occur during the next eight months, but was optimistic about the project finishing on time.

“Given that these projects are connected to a centrepiece project for the city's 375th anniversary next May, there will probably be a greater sense of urgency than might otherwise be the case,” Couvrette said. “Digging up old pipes and other infrastructure is never without surprises; delays are common and aren't necessarily anyone's fault. It's like home renovation – you never know what you're going to get when you open up a wall.”

Opinion

Measuring McGill: The facts and flaws behind international university rankings

by Marie Labrosse on

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Renowned authorities such as the Times Higher Education (THE) and the Centre for World University Rankings (CWUR) have attributed many different rankings to McGill in the past year. With such an onslaught of conflicting figures—sixty-fourth, forty-second, thirty-eighth, thirty-fifth, twenty-fourth—McGill’s position as a leading academic institution is becoming more and more difficult to ascertain, particularly if this decision is based solely on numerical figures.

University ranking systems are often incomplete in nature and rely on perception rather than factual evidence, which contributes to the confusion surrounding McGill’s standing in the academic world. At first glance, rankings seem to indicate a decline in McGill’s quality: The university has dropped from 35th place in 2011 in THE’s World University Rankings to 38th in 2016, and has dropped six places in Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings in the past year alone. However, this numerical picture of a deteriorating institution is not supported by sufficient evidence to be plausible.

 

 

The sizeable role of perception in ranking methods generates rankings that cannot be taken as objective truth.

Extreme caution should be exercised before jumping to conclusions about McGill’s supposed decline. The ranking data itself is unreliable, as information accessible to the general public cannot be traced back farther than 2011. Furthermore, depending on the institution’s chosen method, scores from one year to the next are not necessarily calculated in the same manner. Consequently, not all rankings published by a given institution are equivalent. THE, for instance, states in its 2016 rankings methodology that “because of changes in underlying data we strongly advise against comparison with previous years.” If ranking methodologies each year are not comparable, then it is virtually impossible to observe a meaningful decline in McGill’s ranking.

Even if McGill’s ranking has fallen in the past five years, this decline is too negligible to credibly be labelled as such. Based on both THE and QS’s figures, McGill remains within the top fifty universities in the world regardless of which ranking one refers to, rendering this decline relatively insignificant on a larger scale. Furthermore, McGill’s global ranking score has progressed from 71.7 to 72.6 since 2011. This suggests that the university’s academic value has increased in absolute terms, making this decline in rankings even less noteworthy.

Many different factors are taken into consideration when ranking institutions calculate a university’s overall score and relative ranking. These factors include faculty-to-student ratio and research influence; however, a large part of this score is determined by public perception of a given university, contributing to the futility of using university rankings. In order to measure a university’s reputation, both scholars and employers are called upon via an invitation-only survey to name up to ten universities which they believe to be the best in the world. This highly subjective evaluation of worth makes up 50 per cent of QS’s World Universities scoring procedure, and 33 per cent of THE’s method.

The emergence of alternative ranking systems further underlines the growing power of perception in determining universities’ ranks. THE’s World Reputation Ranking, for instance, only compiles the opinion of scholars. Therefore, the sizeable role of perception in ranking methods generates rankings that cannot be taken as objective truth. The rankings’ fundamentally biased nature only paints a partial image of McGill’s quality as an academic institution.

The inherent flaws in university ranking systems—including incompleteness, exaggeration, and dependence on perception-based evaluation—lead to the misrepresentation of McGill’s value. Therefore, it is important for current and prospective students to consider non-numerical factors, such as quality of facilities, faculty, campus location, vibrancy of campus life, and successful or notable alumni when evaluating a school’s value. Such factors can offer a much broader depiction of qualitative excellency.

 

 

 

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