Latest News

Archie's pal Jughead
Art, Arts & Entertainment, Books

Pop Rhetoric: Jughead’s coming out marks the new era of Archie 2.0

by Selin Altuntur on

More in Art:

After 75 years, the Archie universe is undergoing a much-needed update. In July of last year, for the first time in the comic’s history, Archie, along with its multiple spin-off series centered around specific characters, was relaunched with an aesthetic that reflected a modernized Riverdale universe with ‘edgier’ characters and storylines. Archie and his friends now look almost unrecognizable after their creators abandoned the classic drawing style that had remained largely unchanged since the comic’s debut in the 1940s. Archie’s art is sleeker and more attractive, rendering it more appealing to audiences that may not be particularly familiar with the comics and their cast of characters.

(popcultureaddictlifeguide.blogspot.ca) (popcultureaddictlifeguide.blogspot.ca)

But this overhaul doesn’t simply stop at the surface. The comic is trying its hand at tackling relevant social issues that have been thrust to the forefront of public discourse as of late.  In a recent issue of Jughead, it is revealed that the titular character identifies as asexual. Jughead’s lack of interest in dating has been central to his character since the beginning, and regularly played out in his vocal disgust of women and preference of eating to dating. However, the character was still assumed to be straight until the recent reveal, a move that was met with lots of praise on the Internet, particularly considering the pervasive invisibility of asexuality in the media. 

This isn’t the first time an Archie character has made headlines for coming out. In 2010, Kevin Keller was introduced in an issue of Veronica and came out to Jughead as gay soon after his introduction. This was pretty big for the comic at the time, as they had never included a character who had identified as anything other than straight. Keller became so popular that the creators began an entire series centered around him. however, the move was controversial, and after Keller was introduced as an adult in a Life with Archie storyline where his marriage to another man was shown, some groups called for the removal of the comic from stands at Toys ‘R’ Us. In response, a story was written in Kevin Keller about Keller facing adversity and homophobia at school.  

(tor.com) (tor.com)

It’s great to see a well-known comic adapting to the current social climate and addressing issues in a positive and thoughtful way;  however, the best thing about the inclusivity of Archie comics is that its characters are not treated as novelties—every new thing you learn about them feels natural and has a place within the story.  Although Archie comics are obviously making an effort to be contemporary, they are not doing it in a way that objectifies their characters for token diversity. Jughead’s asexuality, although a recent revelation, is not all that hard to believe. As a character, he has only ever had one relationship with another character, Ethel, and he has generally only agreed to dates in order to get a free meal. His distaste for dating and displays of sexuality have been central to his image, and his asexuality naturally fits in to the identity fans have come to love about him.   

In fact, other than an artistic overhaul and a greater emphasis on social commentary, Archie comics have not changed all that much. The characters themselves are still familiar, as is the dynamic between them. Reading a new edition of Archie or Jughead won’t be a jarring trip into a new world, it will still feel familiar to longtime fans of the comics. Perhaps this is the most admirable aspect of the comic’s rebranding: While it has developed its characters and adapted to a society in which individual sexual identity can be accepted and celebrated, it still remains close to its relatively unassuming, happy-go-lucky roots.

a, Features

Realizing the full potential of a generation

by Joy Aguilar on

More in a:

During the recent United Nations (UN) conference on climate change (COP21) last December, youth activists successfully negotiated with member states to acknowledge the importance of intergenerational equity when taking action to address climate change in the Paris Agreement.

“This is a testament to an entirely youth-driven, multi-year lobbying effort to situate the well-being of future generations as a core principle of climate policy,” Adam Hasz, member of the SustainUS youth delegation to COP21, said.

The inclusion of intergenerational participants in the Paris Agreement is one example of effective youth engagement in a UN conference. More specifically, intergenerational equity contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 13 on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

According to the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi,the role of youth as partners will help determine the success of the recently adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“We need to engage youth as partners in development […] not to support young people as if they were a charitable thing, but we need to invest in young people because it’s a smart investment,” Alhendawi said.  “We can’t achieve the SDGs if youth are considered as beneficiaries […] there are too many to cater for. They are half of the world’s population, and in some regions like in Africa, the number of young people will continue to grow over the next 40 years.”

As part of his 2015 electoral platform, prime minister Justin Trudeau included 217 promises—one of which is to create a national youth advisory council, “consisting of young Canadians aged 16 to 24 to provide non-partisan advice to the Prime Minister on issues the country is facing.”

The implementation of a national youth advisory council is one way that young people may be involved in decision-making processes on a domestic level; however, this doesn’t account for youth involvement on an international level.

In order to shift the perception of youth as beneficiaries to partners in the international sphere, young people need to play an active role in decision-making processes that affect them, alongside governments and other stakeholders. Youth can participate in decision-making processes on an international level through the United Nations Youth Delegate Programme.

The program allows young people to represent youth perspectives from their country at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and functional commissions of the UN Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) as part of their country’s official delegation.

Opinion

Reevaluating the pitfalls of voluntourism

by Augustin de Trogoff on

More in Opinion:

With the first whiffs of spring weather signalling the end of the internship hunting season, many students are still searching for something to do with their summers. Many will be planning to volunteer abroad: Observers estimate the number of people that volunteered abroad in 2015 to be as high as 10 million in what is now a billion dollar industry. Many voices have lambasted so-called “voluntourism,” questioning the ethical implications behind it and the effect on the communities it purports to help. While such concerns are real, research by the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) points out that volunteers are essential actors in developing countries, providing logistic support and extending the reach of otherwise strained government services. Such findings indicate that the solution to the problems surrounding voluntourism is not to dismiss it altogether. Rather, the industry needs to be rebranded—or rather de-branded—so that resources are used intelligently and effectively while prioritizing the interests of local communities. In so doing, travellers must take responsibility for where they choose to go, and with whom.

Profiting on someone’s desire to help others has undeniable ethical consequences. The requirements of marketing strategies means that idealized visions of service to poorer communities, peddled by agencies offering all-inclusive deals, are often far from the realities of what needs to be accomplished. Building schools is all well and good, but volunteers—especially students—rarely possess the appropriate skills and experience. In her viral article “The Problem With Little White Girls (And Boys),” blogger Pippa Biddle recounts a trip to Tanzania she went on with her high school class. They were tasked with building a library, but their masonry was so shoddy that each night local workers would undo the day’s work and rebuild the structure.

Thought and care on the part of volunteers and organizers would have done much to avoid this harm. Simple measures such as mandatory training and sensitizing programs for volunteers would do much to curtail exploitation. Students should be encouraged to volunteer responsibly, to do their research, and to avoid the trappings of mass-market voluntourism. Their search for a volunteering opportunity should be based both on the nature and quality of the contribution they could make, and on the experiences they could gain.

 

 

The war against voluntourism that has raged in blog posts and opinion columns has resulted in a black-and-white depiction of the issue, discouraging those who listen from getting involved at all.

There are echoes of the ‘journey to the colonies’ trope in voluntourist activities. As Rafia Zakaria explains in her piece “The white tourist’s burden,” voluntourism feeds a saviour-beggar relationship, perpetuated by the misconceived notion that other people’s problems are simpler to solve than our own. Why, ask the critics, do we not help in our own communities? It seems that the focus of volunteer trips often appears to be on one’s own experience of service rather than on the contribution made. Consider the stereotypical volunteer at an orphanage, bonding with a child only to disappear after a few days. The volunteer might leave with a more open mind and a more compassionate heart, but the child is left wondering why their new friend left. The answer to these criticisms is frustratingly straightforward: Students must realize that volunteering is not inherently good.

The war against voluntourism that has raged in blog posts and opinion columns has resulted in a black-and-white depiction of the issue, discouraging those who listen from getting involved at all. But there is value in engaging in ethical travel pursuits. Research has shown that volunteers provide some things that few other aid workers can. For example, in the IDS study, the volunteer’s status as both insider and outsider in a community is highlighted as an essential link between locals and NGOs. Volunteers can help locals fill out forms to apply for funding to build, for example, a clinic. They can also help locals understand how to effectively communicate with and get aid from their government. As clichéd as it sounds, volunteering fosters cross-cultural relationships. For students, volunteering can be an opportunity to gain valuable experience in the context of their field of study. Moreover, volunteering is often how aid workers begin their careers. Some have raised the question of whether this creates aid professionals who assume that they, by virtue of their work, can do no harm. This problem is nothing except a product of an industry that sells travel packages by playing to feelings of altruism. Eliminating such harmful side-effects has to involve efforts on the part of prospective volunteers to be conscious of their actions, and to demand that the voluntourism industry take responsibility for itself.

 

 

 
Off the Board, Opinion

Beyond the red cup: On McGill’s drinking culture

by April Barrett on

More in Off the Board:

In a weird, grown-up way, getting drunk can make us feel like little kids again, with not a care in the world and a lower capacity of physical functioning. The term ‘binge drinking culture’ is thrown around a lot at in a university setting. The definition of binge drinking is the heavy consumption of alcohol over a short period of time with the primary intention of becoming intoxicated. For men, this means consuming five or more drinks, for women it’s consuming four or more drinks within two hours. This definition might provoke any non-sober McGill student to feel a weird mix of recognition, embarrassment, and, finally, reclamation. Drinking to be drunk is what adolescence is all about! If not now, then when? At the same time, the semi-shame still lingers; something that can be considered pathological is an ingrained part of our lives.

Much of McGill’s social culture revolves around heavy drinking. Events like Frosh, power hours, Science Games, Faculty Olympics, Carnival, and E-week all celebrate the combination of a roomful of young, stressed-out people trying to let loose and a flowing supply of booze. In a highly demanding academic setting, excessive drinking can feel like the only leisure activity by which to utterly unwind; however, decentralizing drinking from campus life is not only achievable, it can be really fun.

 

 

Escaping ‘binge drinking culture’ can simply mean engaging in leisure activities that don’t consistently put drinking front and centre.

A good start is acknowledging that none of us have a very solid defence for binge drinking, other than a classic, ‘We’re all going to die eventually anyway!’ Everyone understands its negative consequences. Much of the motivation for binge drinking is that it breaks down inhibition. Stress alleviation is only the beginning; other side effects include confidence, social ease, increased chances of romance and a few warm, pleasant hours of forgetting your middle name. In addition to this, many first-years who come to McGill embrace the low drinking age and lack of parental supervision. What’s more, peer pressure doesn’t exist like it does in after-school specials: Binge drinking culture isn’t forced on us, it’s implicitly learned. When you see people you like having fun while drinking, you want to emulate it. Still, there remains something sad about your most treasured memories coming from moments that are really hard to remember.

The solution doesn’t have to be cutting these events, or drinking in general, out of a student’s life entirely. Escaping ‘binge drinking culture’ can simply mean engaging in leisure activities that don’t consistently put drinking front and centre. A university setting has a lot to offer other than stress and liquor—there are so many workshops, non-academic conferences, and activity-based clubs that all come with peers who have the ideas and energy to make things happen. Decentralizing drinking from student life can also happen on a more personal level. It’s surprisingly refreshing to make a little movie with your friends or form a cover band, play cards, walk up the mountain, or cook together. It’s easy for the big events to become the only time spent socializing. When these events are almost always located in a bar, club, and/or frat house, one can believe that heavy drinking and ‘important occasion’ go hand in hand.

Breaking down binge drinking culture becomes possible when you realize that a disconcertingly high blood alcohol content isn’t what makes you interesting. If you really want to­ feel like a kid again—even just for a little while—remember the activities you used to engage in, before drinking was ever a part of your life. Try emulating the imagination of an eight year old with free time, friends, and limited expertise, and, chances are, that’s when things will get really interesting.

 

 

 

April Barrett is in her second year studying Anthropology and Film. She is a Taurus.

 

@McGillTribOp | [email protected]

 

 

 

 
Editorial, Opinion

PGSS Winter 2016 Referendum Endorsements

by McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

More in Editorial:

The McGill Tribune gives its endorsements for the Post-Graduate Students' Society of McGill University (PGSS) Winter 2016 Referendum.

Legal Information Clinic Fee Levy: “Yes” 

The Legal Information Clinic at McGill (LICM) provides essential services to undergraduate and graduate students alike. It is completely student-run and provides free legal information. The clinic does not provide legal advice, but helps students navigate channels and learn their rights. Student Advocacy, part of the LICM, represents students to the university in cases of disciplinary offence or mistreatment by the university. In short, while the presence of the LICM may not be loud or immediately apparent, it is a key component of the student experience. 

This referendum question seeks to resolve the disparity that currently exists in fees paid to the LICM. Graduate students typically use the LICM far more than undergraduates, but pay less for the same services. Currently, undergraduate students pay $4.50 per semester for the LICM, whereas graduate students pay $2.00 per semester. This, however, is not the only reason for the increase. 

The fee has not been increased for graduate students since 1990. If adjusted for inflation, the fee would now be $3.29. As such, the increase accounts for inflation while also enabling the LICM to improve its services. 

If the fee levy fails, the LICM has said that they will readjust the services that are available to PGSS members in proportion to how much they pay vis-a-vis undergraduate students. The consequence of such an adjustment would be devastating for a student body that needs free consultations. The key draws of the LICM are that it is open 40 hours a week, is available easily on campus, and employs seven students, as well as its advocacy services. Not only does it provide invaluable experience for Law students, it also makes its services available to all McGill students. By raising the fee, it will increase its accessibility to the student body. 

The argument against the fee increase contends that the LICM is redundant. However, as a bilingual clinic that provides free services to students, it is particularly important for many McGill students—especially those who are anglophone and newcomers to Montreal. Though other clinics undoubtedly exist and provide similar services in Montreal, the ease of accessing a legal clinic on campus cannot be understated. Moreover, receiving advice from students who are familiar with the inner-workings of McGill is particularly important when students are dealing with academic-specific complaints and concerns.

World University Service of Canada Refugee Scholarship Fee Levy: “Yes”

The World University Services Canada (WUSC) is a non-profit group that works to provide education to refugees. It is represented on multiple campuses across Canada by student groups, including WUSC McGill. WUSC heads the Student Refugee Program (SRP), the only program of its kind in the world. Refugees are usually not permitted to study in their country of refuge, but through the SRP refugees may become students. The SRP provides funding for tuition and living costs in their first year of education. At the end of their first year, the students apply for permanent residency and may then access student loans.

The current fee levy of $0.50 is not sufficient to cover two students. WUSC has been dipping into its endowment in order to maintain its current levels of support since 2011, but this fund will soon run out. Not only will increasing the fee enable WUSC to support two students, it will also allow it to support an additional student per year. $2.00 per student will enable WUSC to support three students through the SRP next year; if this question fails, they will only be able to support two students in 2017-2018. 

The WUSC non-opt-outable fee began in 1986 at $0.50. It has not increased since then. Non-opt-outable fees are incredibly important for initiatives on campus, such as the SRP, that require a stable source of income in order to support its work. If its revenue were variable year to year, WUSC would be constrained to making decisions based on short time horizons and more limited funds. In the case of supporting refugee students, a source of stable income is a matter of humanitarian need. The return for student fees is substantial and has a clear, direct impact. By paying the fee, students are directly contributing to the education of someone who would otherwise not have access to McGill. 

Though the difference between two and three students seems small on paper, this would be a dramatic and concrete improvement. Students who pay the fee know exactly where the money is going—to refugee students who would otherwise be unable to receive a university education. The refugee crisis unfolding around the world brings the urgency of programs such as the SRP into focus. The need for programs like the SRP will not expire. By proposing to increase the fee, WUSC demonstrates that it is taking a global perspective on this financial issue. In supporting the fee increase, the McGill community would demonstrate its commitment to an inclusive, accessible campus. 

Science & Technology

Fields come together: BASiC hosts yearly scientific conference

by Ben Cohen-Murison on

More in Science & Technology:

This Friday, McGill hosted their latest event in integrative research, the National Integrative Research Council (NiRC) at Thomson House. The point of the event, held annually since 2011, is to encourage McGill students to research beyond the limits of their field. Keynote speakers presented on a variety of subjects such as genome editing and Neanderthals.

The founding association of the event, McGill’s Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Integrative Council (BASiC), hopes to inspire students to innovate using multiple disciplines. One of the speakers—Nicole Buckley, a representative from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA)—argued that in order to achieve this, students and scientists would need to break down barriers between fields.

“The greatest things that’ll happen by going into space will be actually what we learn about ourselves [and] about human […] physiology,” Buckley said. “[The way to innovate will be by breaking] down the barrier between space research, and Earth research so it becomes [just] research. I’m hoping to see a point when people publish results, say, in Physical Science, [and] someone will say ‘Did you do that without gravity? What were your results?’”

This kind of approach seems to be inspiring students. 

“It was totally fascinating,” Wolf Hibbard, a McGill Chemical Engineering student said. “I think space is something that for everyone—no matter what you’re studying—is a cool thing. So it was really cool to hear from […] the top of the top scientists: From the [CSA].” 

Buckley then spoke about the issue of developing propulsion systems for improved space travel. Scientists have considered using things like artificial gravity to make systems more efficient and environmentally friendly. But solving issues like this one requires many levels of science, and many different disciplines.

“I think this is why this conference was really important,” Buckley said. “Because it brought together so many broad disciplines, and I think that you need them all. Human exploration [is] going to take it all to make it work.” 

The tone of the event was adapted for science and non-science students, explained Bimo Chan, who recently-graduated from McGill’s Department of Physics.

“I think it was definitely accessible for someone who was not in science,” Chan stated. “There were technical bits and pieces, but overall, it was [an] inspiring talk.”

The issue, particularly for BASiC, is to come up with an event that will inspire people from multiple disciplines and that is only possible if there is not an excessive amount of jargon and advanced concepts. In fact, with talks like Buckley’s on space travel—using language everyone can understand—misconceptions about science might start to disappear.

“You watch television, and you see all these really great science fiction shows where people are going to space and they’re walking around, and you don’t realize that it takes a […] toll on the human body,” Buckley explained. “I think people don’t even realize how hard it is [to walk in space].”

In particular, Buckley joked that she remembers watching episodes of Star Trek and seeing people walk around with ease. As the NIRC event wrapped up at Thomson House, talk of Star Trek and space propulsion seemed to contrast starkly with the old-fashioned decor and the debonair service that the building is known for. But the jarring juxtaposition made sense. One of the NiRC’s main goals is to blend different styles in learning and to transcend the boundaries of arts and science.

Awards were given to celebrate the unconventional methods of McGill students like Celeste Welch, Esther Vinarov, Farhad Udwadia, and Tobias Atkin, who presented their own research alongside more established academics. The work of Maya Stein, Nina Fainman-Adelman and Elizabeth Church was also featured. Stein of McGill University won the award in the best student poster cattegory for her work on the different pain-reactions between men and women, and Jennifer Peruniak of Dalhousie University won the award for the best student oral presentation on the social determinants of childhood obesity.

Private, Student Life, Student of the Week

Student of the Week: Mary-Liz Power

by Keara Campos on

More in Private:

Not having enough free time is a problem for most McGill students, but Mary-Liz Power, a U3 Psychology student with minors in Marketing and Behavioural Science, finds herself loving her constantly busy schedule.

Power volunteers her time with the McGill Psychology Students Association (MPSA) as their organization’s U3 representative, organizing events and liaising with other departments. Additionally, she is VP Internal for McGill Red Thunder, a staff member at Bar des Arts (BDA), and a mentor with the Indigenous Student Mentorship Program. 

“I realized that there was a lot of other stuff out there that I hadn’t been doing yet,” Power explained. “So I decided to start getting involved with other stuff because I had a lot of free time and I didn’t know what to do with myself.”

For the first three years of her McGill degree, Power was a varsity athlete on the Martlet rugby team, playing hooker and occasionally flank. After leaving the team, she began to divide her time among new groups. Power has been a member of Red Thunder since 2013, and has joined other initiatives this past year, such as a mentorship program that runs out of the Kahnawake Survival School. 

“I am really interested in the plight of indigenous peoples in Canada, and am trying to find my place in the process of recognition of indigenous rights,” Power said. “I’d really like to do more with indigenous activism in the future, but this is one thing I’ve started doing.” 

Power’s passion for teamwork and community outreach is highlighted in her endeavours such as the Indigenous Student Mentorship Program and Red Thunder, the latter which advocates for creating a community around athletics at McGill. By joining different campus initiatives Power has had the opportunity to meet new groups of people within the larger McGill community, which she explained is an important part of her overall experience.

“There is a lot out there at McGill that a lot of people don’t realize,” Power said. “It’s looking for where you fit and where your community is, and when you find it it’s fate!”

As a former varsity athlete, Power still enjoys playing sports by participating in hockey, ultimate frisbee, and soccer intramurals. For her, it’s not playing to win but rather for reconnecting with old friends and finding new ones. 

“I think it’s really shown me more of [McGill] than I would have seen otherwise,” Power said. “I feel like I’ve gotten a lot more out of the experience than I would have if I had just floated through it.”

 

Q&A

McGill Tribune (MT): What type of small dog breed would you be if you were a dog?

Mary-Liz Power (MLP): I think I’d be a Pug or a Jack Russell terrier or a Papillion. I think I have the hustle and the heart like they do.

MT:  Would you rather have feet for hands or hands for feet? 

MLP: Hands for feet. I could be really dexeterious with my finger-toes. 

MT: Would you rather fight thousands of small mutant babies or one giant mutant baby?

MLP: This is for real my nightmare. I think one big baby because the small babies would scare me a lot more than the big baby would.

MT: If you were a social media platform, which one would you be?

MLP: I would be Twitter. I just got Twitter […] and I’ve become obsessed with it really quickly because nobody follows me so I can just say random stuff (@yungscone_). 

Art, Arts & Entertainment

Mixing Mediums: Ragnar Kjartansson plays with collaboration at the Musee d’art contemporain

by Evelyn Goessling on

More in Art:

In every live performance—be it theatrical, musical, or artistic—there is a sense of immediacy and visceral presence in the interaction between artist and audience. Video can never quite recreate that experience, but, as with Ragnar Kjartansson’s exhibition at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, it can capture an equally powerful act. Kjartansson’s three works stretch the boundaries of experiencing a performance through documentation. 

The first room of the exhibition is a display of Kjartansson’s most recent work, “World Light—The Life and Death of an Artist” (2015). A dark room is illuminated by the bluish hue of four centrally-facing screens, each playing different scenes from a filmed drama. The drama in question is Kjartansson’s interpretation of the 1940 Icelandic novel by the same name. It tells the story of a young man on a tumultuous journey to become a poet. The set of each scene is simple and almost amateur in its theatricality, which confuses the work’s categorization between cinema, drama, and video.

Another confusing factor is the blend between theater and reality. At times, a butler character addresses the audience directly, removing himself from his role in the fantasy. At other times, an assistant comes in with a clap board to mark the beginning of a scene, letting the behind-the-scenes world seep into both the audience’s reality and the story’s fantasy. The four screens—simultaneously showing different parts of the same story—and then some instances that aren’t a part of the story at all, create a confusing and at times overwhelming experience. It is hard to get a grasp on what is actually going on, but the impression of the story is perhaps more important than the actual plot. This manipulation of storytelling creates a unique viewing experience and understanding of an essential Icelandic tale.  

The second work in the exhibition is another video titled “A Lot of Sorrow” (2013-14), documenting a six-hour performance by The National. The US rock band performed its song “Sorrow” for six hours straight at MoMA PS1, a contemporary art showcase, in New York, with occasional appearances by Kjartansson, who conceived and organized the piece. The song is quite repetitive at the start; to repeat it as a whole an additional 105 times is an incredible exercise of endurance and dedication to the music and the performance. The National sings, “sorrow found me when I was young / Sorrow waited, sorrow won / . . . / I don’t wanna get over you” over and over. The lyrics and music are intensely personal and emotional, yet each repetition expresses the same level of emotional depth and passion. With every repetition there is a dual experience of deepening and refreshing emotions. The sting of sorrow is renewed every time, but at the same time it feels as if these emotions are reconciled as an essential part of love and suffering.  

The largest and most impressive work in the exhibition is a video installation made up of ten screens, each showing a musician sequestered in a room of an upstate New York mansion. The musicians cannot see each other, but have headphones with which to hear each other. They proceed to play a piece composed by Kjartansson with words by his ex wife, the artist and poet Ásdís Sif Gunnarsdóttir: “Once again I’ve fallen into my feminine ways,” a phrase that Kjartansson says relates to the process of separation from his wife. Each screen displays an intimate moment with the musician: there is a sense that they are deeply immersed in the creative process, sometimes nude, or in bed, or simply barefoot in a nightgown, and entirely alone in their creative space. The dynamic between the private and the performative is tentative but entirely honest. By performing a private creative process, the artist invites the audience in, and the experience is captivating. 

Simultaneous to the intimate experience, there is the aspect of public collaboration. The musicians appear lost in their individuality while sharing in the joy of making music together. In this piece, Kjartanssan beautifully creates an experience that allows non-musicians to share in the magic of making music. 

Kjartanssan’s work is all about endurance, passion, and collaboration. His video installations include the audience in the complicated dichotomy of public creation and artistic performance. In these three pieces, artists work together while each individual is highlighted, mirroring the way humans exist and create things in communities while ultimately living in the isolation of our own bodies and minds. 

Science & Technology

McGill University Procurement Service to seek alternate antibody supplier

by Andy Wang on

More in Science & Technology:

Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins, are proteins that can bind to foreign molecules in the body. Discovered in the early 20th century, the incredible specificity with which they can bind to proteins became an irreplaceable tool in the repertoire of molecular biology. Because of this, scientists have been able to manipulate antibodies in a number of ways. For example, antibodies are used in immunohistochemistry, where they are made fluorescent and can be used by scientists to track the location of certain particles. Another technique, known as western blots, are used by scientists to separate proteins based on specific properties, such as hydrophobicity, pH, and electric charge. 

In the early 1980s, due to the growing antibody demands in the ever-increasing number of research facilities around the world, biotechnology companies quickly commercialized the process. Today, antibodies are readily available to researchers online. For a fee, antibodies against nearly any molecule can be produced.

Currently, the majority of biotechnology companies use rabbits and goats to create these antibodies. The animals are kept in farms and are injected with proteins and pathogens to provoke immune responses. Companies then harvest antibodies from the plasma of these animals by extracting their blood. By then giving animals the time to generate more antibodies, companies can repeat this process over and over. In 2011 alone, biotechnology companies generated $1.6 billion in revenues solely from antibodies; however, the lucrative side of commercial antibody production is not the entire story. 

While these biotechnology companies are convenient for researchers, they are also held to lesser ethical and animal rights standards. Since the relationship of research institutions to biotechnological companies is that of consumer and supplier, researchers are often unaware of—or sometimes even indifferent to—the animal rights violations of these companies.

 As early as 2005, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) fined Santa Cruz Biotechnology Inc. (SCBT), the world’s second largest antibody supplier, for a sum of $4,600. In 2012 alone, SCBT accounted for 53 per cent of global antibody transactions. The violations included problems with “animal sanitation, veterinary care, and personnel sanitation.” The company has since faced a slew of litigations from the USDA, with the most recent lawsuit due to resume on April 5. 

For these corporations, any and all products procured or produced by animals have to adhere to strict humane and ethical conditions. In the United States, these requirements are outlined in the Animal Welfare Act (AWA)—currently the only Federal law in the United States to protect animals used for purposes of scientific research. Unfortunately it doesn’t always work.

According to the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), a US non-profit organization aimed at “[alleviating] the suffering inflicted on animals by people,” the USDA could face fines up to $10,000 per day for every violation of the Animal Welfare Act. Furthermore, the AWI indicated that SCBT is the only company have three separate complaints filed against them by the USDA, and—pending the trial—stands to have its commercial licence permanently revoked. 

Despite two separate complaints filed by the USDA, animal rights watchdogs throughout the United States say they did not see any cessation of these violations.

In January 2013, taking matters into its own hands, the national non-profit Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), on behalf of Stop Animal Exploitation Now (SAEN), alleged that SCBT violated California legislature for the proper care of animals. The allegation was supported by numerous Animals Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) inspections.

“APHIS investigations have documented multiple violations over the past six years at Santa Cruz Biotech, and have repeatedly cited the corporation for unlawful neglect of goats,” the APHIS wrote in a press release. “Emaciated and severely malnourished animals were discovered with untreated skin conditions and painful respiratory ailments, and one goat had an untreated broken leg.”

 Amidst this slew of ongoing litigations, SCBT is within legal boundaries to conduct its business uninterrupted. And on the side of antibody consumers, the facts are even more disheartening. 

“[Nine hundred and one biomedical] laboratories—the vast majority of the estimated 1,100 in the US—violated the Animal Welfare Act in 2012,” SAEN stated in a press release in April 2013.

 It seems that the majority of research institutions in the United States are either negligent or unconscious of animal welfare problems. Until very recently, McGill University was also unaware of the allegations.

However, on Feb. 8, 2016, McGill University Procurement Services sent a letter to SCBT enquiring into the allegations of animal rights violations. The letter required SCBT to inform McGill University of “any action, plan, or strategy […] to ensure that all animals under your care are treated according to these [USDA] rules and regulations,” and that “McGill University has already started investigating alternative suppliers.” 

About two weeks later, on Feb. 22, McGill University issued a memo addressing the issue. 

“Due to other negative findings related to Santa Cruz Biotechnology’s practices, Procurement Service is taking additional measures, [which include] redirecting an order to an alternative source of supply, where possible,” the memo read. 

According to McGill University Project Manager of Sustainable Procurement, Stephanie Leclerc,  the other negative findings include the disappearance of thousands of goats and rabbits from SCBT’s California facilities. On Jan. 12, 2016, USDA inspectors reported that no animals were present during the inspection. Cathy Liss, director of the AWI, suspects that the animals were killed, as research animals cannot be sold for meat. Furthermore, Liss doubts that “such a large number of animals bred for such a specific purpose would find a buyer.”

 McGill is now taking the necessary steps to ensure the sustainability and accountability of its suppliers, which, according to current estimates, number at 20,000.

 Previously, SCBT accounted for only $150,000 CAD of the $270 CAD million total that McGill University spends annually. After McGill University Procurement Service’s immediate response to redirect all orders, only three researchers continued to purchase antibodies from SCBT.

“[Nine hundred and one biomedical] laboratories—the vast majority of the estimated 1,100 in the US—violated the Animal Welfare Act in 2012,” SAEN stated in a press release in April 2013.

“[Their research is] already very advanced, which made it impossible for them to change sources,” Leclerc wrote in an e-mail to the McGill Tribune.

According to the McGill’s website, all research conducted on animals at McGill must “abide by guidelines established by the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC).” Currently, there is no regulation on the conduct and actions of McGill University suppliers.

In the past, McGill University has never taken actions against suppliers accused of animal rights violations. On a broader perspective, SCBT’s violations could be the driving force for research institutions to become more cognizant of animal welfare. 

“[Hopefully] these allegations will prompt a cultural change among those involved in animal research,” Alice Ra’anan, director of government relations and science policy at the American Physiological Society stated.

At McGill, this appears to be the case.

“Procurement Services was already drafting a Supplier Code of Conduct with this issue came about,” Leclerc wrote. “Our draft initially covered ethical principles, social principles, and environmental principles, but did not cover animal welfare principles. Thanks to the alert […] we have now included a whole new section on animal welfare.”

When adopted, McGill University’s Supplier Code of Conduct will require all life science suppliers to the University to provide specific proof that laboratories are compliant or meeting recognized standards. And the university is taking steps to raise awareness across Canadian universities.

“[McGill’s Procurement Services] has alerted many other institutions across Canada, most of whom did not know about this situation either,” Leclerc stated.

Leclerc hopes that McGill researchers will go forward and only purchase from ethical sources.

“It implies a lot of research and work, but we believe this is the only way to go,” Leclerc wrote.

Baseball, Basketball, Creative, Football, Hockey, Soccer, Sports

How to take great sports photos

by Natalie Vineberg on

More in Baseball:

1. It’s all about the gadgets

The adage goes it’s not the camera that takes great photos, it’s the person behind it. Not so true for sports. A photographer at the Olympics may carry on him two Canon 5Ds ($6000), a wide angle zoom lens such as a 24-70mm f/2.8 ($2000) and a telephoto lens such as the 400mm (up to $7000!). Unlike working in a studio, sports action happens quickly and unpredictably. A photographer may want a long lens as well as a shorter lens connected to a camera at all times, making switching easy no matter where the action goes. You likely don’t want to front the exorbitant start-up cost, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take great photos. Unfortunately, it does mean you’ll be working with some limitations. Pricey cameras offer the largest benefit in “motor speed” or how quickly it can take photos. With lenses, you’re paying for “focal length” which determines how close an object appears to the camera.

2. Continuous but planned shooting

For a lot of sports, the exciting moments happen fast and infrequently, but are nevertheless not to be missed. Setting your camera on “continuous” shooting mode lets your camera keep taking photos without having to load each one, so you can get the most photos for the time you have. That being said, just shooting on continuous and playing is a waste of time. Waiting for the right moment is really important, and you can spend more time waiting than actually taking photos; do this and you’ll be far more likely to get something interesting because you’ll be ready for it. 

3. Be wary of “rubber necking”

It is so tempting to look down after every shot and see how it turned out, yet too many photographers spend the game with their head behind the camera, but not through the lens. Yes it’s satisfying, but you must pick your head up from time to time or you risk missing the chance to photograph the great shot you were watching. 

4. Sports are about passion and competition

A perfectly timed shot may look incredible, but it always falls short of one that tells a story. A hockey player winding up for a goal is less memorable than the image of an opponent with dread in his eyes racing to catch him. Tension creates a great photo. For example, in one photo of redmen basketball player Dele Ogundokun preparing to take a free-throw in front of a sold-out crowd during the RSEQ basketball finals, there’s only one player as a main focus and there’s no sign of him moving. In another scenario, this could look incredibly boring. In this instance, the sold-out stands were part of the spectacle, and capturing their eagerness along with the players focus conveyed the importance and intensity of this game. It worked really well—you feel like everyone’s stopped for the moment while the player is about to shoot, and you can feel how focused he is. 

5. Read up on the sport

This one’s a pretty simple tip, but actually knowing how the sport works really helps, because then you can know when important things are going to happen, and you don’t risk missing it. 

1 … 746 747 748 749 750 … 1,363

Read the latest issue

Read the latest issue