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a, Student Life, Student of the Week

Student of the Week: Dawn Cheung

by Tiffany Le on

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Dawn Cheung, U4 English Literature major and East Asian Studies minor, is actively contributing to student life on campus in many ways, including through her management of the popular Facebook page: Free Food on Campus and in Montreal. 

Cheung has been living in Montreal since 2007, after moving from Coquitlam, British Columbia with her family upon graduating high school. She lived in and out of the city and went to CEGEP before starting at McGill.

Since September 2014, Cheung has been the president of McGill Students Spoken Word Associated Youth (McSWAY), an outlet for students to express themselves through performance poetry. McSWAY creates a safe space for students to share their thoughts through performance, and provides workshops on spoken word.

“We support people gathering together to share all kinds of poetry—mainly the performance aspect by both dramatizing and having fun with it,” she said.

Cheung’s most popular endeavour, however, used by countless students every day, is the McGill Free Food on Campus and in Montreal group. The Facebook group was created by another McGill student, Margaret Lu, three years ago. Cheung inherited it when Lu graduated, and has been the groups’ administrator for the last two years. It has since grown to more than 10 thousand members.

Cheung’s decision to take responsibility for the group is inspired by both personal reasons and a desire to give back.

“One, I like free food,” Cheung said, “Two, there’s a lot of spamming in the group [that needed regulating].”

It does not take Cheung too much time to regulate, but she does rule with a bit of an iron fist. The group is strictly for free food, and any posts that do not comply are taken down. The rules are clear: First infractions receive a warning; second infractions receive a complete ban. The group also links to other pages that might be a better fit for the content, such as Cheap Food on Campus or Samosa Search.

Although she runs it, Cheung insists that the group is pretty self-maintained.

“The group is run by the people who want free food and I help keep the content aligned with their interest,” Cheung said. “However, if people see a post that brings their hopes up and then they see it is for sale they will ridicule the post in the comments.”

Cheung is also always aiming to improve the group through member feedback. Recently, the group’s name was changed to specify “in Montreal.”

“There’s places off campus as well that [have] really good free food, [like] the free fish and chips in Monkland,” she said.

Cheung will be graduating at the end of this semester, but she is not nervous about finishing up her degree. In fact, she already has experience with convocations. For the past two years, she’s been co-head usher for convocation at McGill.

“I’ve seen people graduate all the time, [I have been there] every single ceremony,” Cheung explained. “I feel okay [about graduating myself], I see it as an extended vacation.”

In January 2016, the responsibility of the group will be passed on again and Cheung is looking for just the right person to hand off the group to.

“I just want to make sure people can find out about the group and join it and contribute information,” Cheung said. “There are conferences and events with tons of extra food at the end that should not go to waste. We say where it is and tell people to come get it.” 

Under Cheung’s care, the Free Food group has successfully adapted the reality of a society with an unbelievably high amount of food waste to meet the mindset of frugal students—a service to McGill that will continue to be used and appreciated long after her graduation.

 

McGill Tribune (MT): What was your Halloween costume this year? 

Dawn Cheung (DC): My partner was the cow and I was the farmer at a couple costume contest—we won. [Then] we switched halfway through the night because we can fit into each other’s clothes.

MT: What is your greatest regret?

DC: That I couldn’t get all the free food. Sometimes I see the free food posts, but then it’s too late and there’s no time, or I was busy and couldn’t get it.

MT: What is the best thing that happened this year?

DC: I moved out! I no longer live with my family.

a, McGill, News

The Internet of Things: Increased connectivity in Canada

by Emily Hu on

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On Tuesday, Nov. 24, the McGill Intellectual Property & Information Technology Policy Club (IPITPOL) hosted a panel to discuss aspects of privacy and governance concerning the internet of things. The Internet of Things is a term referring to a continuously expanding network of physical devices with network connectivity, and the ability to collect and transmit this data through an integrated network widely known as ‘the cloud.’

The panel featured Sunny Handa, a professor at McGill’s Faculty of Law and co-head of the Information Technology Group and India’s Working Group at Blake, Cassels, and Graydon LLP.  Richard Janda, a professor at McGill’s Faculty of Law, and Fenwick McKelvey an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Concordia University, were also members of the panel.

During the discussion, Handa drew attention to the accessibility of information. A data breach in the cloud can provide companies with consumer information, which enables companies to draw pre-concluded notions about a consumer’s health and persona and can affect things such as life insurance and career opportunities.

“The internet of things is really about big data collection,” said Handa. “Some of you may have this little device [… and] it’s monitoring your heart rate, it’s monitoring your steps, it’s monitoring everything, and […] it gets uploaded into a facility in the cloud that may not be [secure], and if it’s not, then that data goes wherever it shouldn’t go. Then, decisions can be made.”

Handa gave an example to highlight the problematic nature of big data collection.

“An insurance company buys that data, and threats from that tend to be way too high,” she said. “And you might say ‘well, who cares about how many steps I take?’ But, that combined with other data enables the companies to make decisions[1] .”

Handa later highlighted the amount of legal autonomy that transnational, internet-based companies like Netflix have in Canada, in explaining the dispute between Netflix and the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). In 2014, Netflix and Google refused to provide evidence of their claims that Canadian content was thriving online. Though CRTC tried to obtain this information from Netflix using the Canadian judicial system, their attempts ultimately fell short. Netflix remained in Canada, though failing to provide proof of their compliance with CRTC’s policies.

“Regulators don’t deal well with globalized [companies],” said Handa. “They have no tools and no backing to implement regulation [….] They completely lost control over non-Canadian providers.”

The difficulties of regulating international transnational companies inside Canadian borders may prove to be problematic for Canadian law.

“You can operate for a period of time, despite being outside of the law, to the point where you can rewrite the law [….]” explained McKelvey, referring to the Netflix case.

McKelvey further emphasized the advantage that cloud-based companies have over Canadian companies due to different levels of adherence to Canadian regulations. The limited abilities of Bell to collect consumer data versus Google’s large agglomerated consumer data base creates an unfair advantage for internet companies. Collecting data allows companies to better target and serve their customers.

“In 2012, Bell changed its privacy policy in order to be able to collect data across all devices and be able to file it into one aggregate data base,” said McKelvey. “What came about that was in 2014, due to the government[2]  […] Bell retracted this. Google is a far less regulated system […,] you have only certain companies that follow regulations, and that creates a disparity and a disadvantage for Bell and the fact [is] that they are kind of penalized [….]”

Janda evaluated how the Internet of Things will continue to expand until society becomes automatized around it. According to him, we are currently experiencing a transitional phase.

“Our technology will become the backdrop to the automatic mode of thinking,” he said. “For example, the way we drive on the roads [.…] You respond to certain [road] signs [… and] it becomes an automatic methodology of our thinking [.…] As technology becomes more automatized and as we start to relate to all of our ‘things’ as carrying with them data, it becomes when I’m using this […] I can orient my behaviour into optimal ways.”

 

Aziz Ansari Master of None
a, Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

Pop Dialectic: Aziz Ansari’s Master of None

by Evelyn Goessling and Anna St. Clair on

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There’s no denying that Aziz Ansari’s new Netflix original series, Master of None, has taken the millennial world by storm. Featuring an extremely diverse cast and tackling anything from the quest to find the best taco to institutional racism, the show is being touted as the best comedy of the year. But is it really that incredible? Two writers discuss whether Ansari’s new show is a fresh perspective or just another show about nothing.

ANOTHER MILLENNIAL TROPE

Comedian and actor Aziz Ansari’s new Netflix show, Master of None, presents another story of New York living—with few off-the-wall twists to keep viewers interested.

In Master of None Ansari plays Dev, an actor working and living in New York City facing many issues that all ‘new adults’ deal with. He goes on dates, auditions, awkwardly gets through one-night stands, and frets about his future, like most young adults do. Many sitcoms, like New Girl and Broad City, for example, are based on the same new-adult-big-world premise, but include an outrageous character or plot hook to grab the audience’s attention.

The show has no such character or scenario. Instead, viewers see a relatively normal, albeit funnier-than-average, man go through his life over the course of a few months. Although the lack of drama is off-putting, there are many moments for small laughs, as there probably would be if you were friends with Aziz Ansari. Unfortunately, the only real draw to the show is that it features Ansari; otherwise it would certainly get lost in the sea of sitcoms about 20-somethings living in New York City, dealing with adulthood in any manner of comedic or dramatic mishaps.

Master of None is a Netflix production, and Ansari’s third project with the company. Considering this, it’s easier to understand the lack of punchy drama. Without the pressure of network executives and publicly-released ratings, shows produced by Netflix can be slower, and more subtle. In this way, Master of None is perfect for Netflix, but perhaps not for broad audiences.

This is just the most recent release in a media trend that’s putting network TV in a panic. The way that people watch TV is completely changing, and with the change in consumption comes an opportunity for change in content. In this case,Master of None takes that opportunity and runs with it. In every episode he showcases different relevant modern issues, such as everyday racism, sexism, and immigration. Netflix has given a great deal of freedom to television writers, producers, and actors, and beyond Master of None it will be exciting to see how far the streaming company goes in pushing the boundaries of typical television.

One virtue of the show is that it puts a different spin on otherwise familiar scenario. There is something to be said for a depiction of life on TV as the slow, at times awkward, sometimes funny little interactions that make up most of life. It’s easy to identify with Dev and his friends, because they don’t have the wild and unrealistic quirks that many sitcom characters do (see: J.D. in Scrubs or Barney in How I Met Your Mother). Unlike these shows Master of None has very minimal dramatization, which at some moments make the show feel boring, and leaves some conversations coming off as extremely self-conscious. The script becomes more noticeable because there’s no wacky comedy to distract from it.

Unlike most of it’s peers, Master of None unabashedly addresses issues of diversity and representation in the media. Then the show goes further by dedicating an entire episode to everyday sexism, and another to the experience of immigrant families in the United States. Another episode specifically explores discrimination against Indian actors in the entertainment industry, including instances of brownface in film that have gone unnoticed for decades. While issues of diversity are addressed explicitly in the show’s plot, Master of None implicitly tackles the problem with an astonishingly diverse cast free of stereotypical tropes.

Master of None works, but not quite. It works as a showcase of Ansari’s versatility in comedy and drama. It works as a discussion of race and representation. Master of None is a mature step in Ansari’s career, and an adventurous combination of his comedic talents and knack for social commentary. As a TV show, Master of None fails to capture the attention of viewers expecting Ansari’s usual upbeat banter.

–Evelyn Goessling

THE SEINFELD ABOUT SOMETHING

When it comes to TV shows set in New York, the need to have a diverse cast becomes more pressing. It’s always imperative to tell the stories of people of colour, but in a city as diverse as New York, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to write an excellent comedy featuring an entirely white cast. One of the biggest criticisms of HBO’s Girls is it’s lack of racial diversity. No 20-something living in New York has a group of friends composed entirely of white people, unless they live in a very specific square blockage on the Upper East Side (see Gossip Girl). Aziz Ansari’s Master of None accurately captures the experience of not just an Indian man living and working in New York, but of any 20 or 30 something in the modern world.

For too long, TV and movie execs have relied on the excuse that casting people of colour as leading men and women will lead to a certain flop. Recent successful shows like The Mindy Project and Fresh Off the Boat have proved that to be false. When shows take place in a city as diverse as New York, that logic seems even more bizarre.

Like ‘90s TV favourite Seinfeld, Master of None follows the everyday life of an actor/comedian in New York. Aziz Ansari plays a fictionalized version of himself, Dev Shah, and each episode is full of the same kind of situational humour that made Seinfeld famous. For instance, in one episode Dev struggles with the ethics of having a sexual relationship with a married woman (Claire Danes). When her husband rudely cuts in front of him at a trendy ice cream shop—stealing the last artisanal hipster dessert—Dev casts aside his uncertainties and begins having spiteful sex with the woman.

Whereas in the ‘90s Seinfeld could get away with an all white cast in a show that made New York City a character in itself, today that lack of diversity is not only unrepresentative, it’s simply unrealistic. The fourth episode in Masters of None, “Indians on TV,” begins with a trip through every Indian stereotype in the media; from the dinner of monkey brains in Indiana Jones, to Apu from The Simpsons, and up to Ashton Kutcher in brownface in a Popchips commercial. The episode revolves around Dev auditioning for a movie with a friend and fellow Indian actor. When he accidently sees an email from the producer he learns the unspoken truth. There can be one Indian guy, but there can’t be two. As Dev says, “Black people just got to there can be two and even then there can’t be three.” Yet Master of None proves there can be two, three, or four and not feel like an ‘Indian show,’ but a show for everyone in today’s ethnic mosaic cities.

And it’s not just immigration and racial issues that Master of None captures with impeccable humour and accuracy. The social scene of 2015 doesn’t revolve around a group of friends all hanging out at a coffee shop anymore, nor can people expect friends to spontaneously burst into our apartments with urgent news. Instead the social humour of Master of None is best depicted when Dev gathers his friends for a night spent binge-watching Sherlock. To his friends’ dismay, he keeps pausing the show to read a text from a girl out loud.Master of None doesn’t need an outrageous character or plot hook to keep viewers interested. Instead, its plot hook comes in it’s immense courage to tackle a range of social issues most sitcoms would balk at. It’s not just immigration and diversity issues that it examines with a light-hearted wit. A later episode paints a touching picture about how we care for our elderly family members that forces watchers to want to immediately call their grandma.

Master of None shows Ansari’s talent as a writer in it’s creative depiction of modern life. While it does address dating and relationships like most sitcoms, this never feels like a trope, but rather an authentic portrait. Dev’s relationship with Rachel (Noel Wells) isn’t forced simply to add a love interest to the action. Their relationship is well-written and it’s clear to from their goofy personalities why the two would date. Even in the familiar sitcom territory of relationships, Master of Noneshows off its strong writing.

Master of None is the comedy show society needs in 2015. It’s not afraid to bring diversity issues to the forefront with clever observational humour. At the same time, its diversity never feels forced, but natural. It’s not trying to be diverse—it’s simply mirroring the real people and their real lives in 2015. With wit and creativity its comments on modern life and relationships make it one of the year’s best comedies.

– Anna St. Clair

trading basics palm
a, Arts & Entertainment

Album Review: Trading Basics – Palm

by Caleb McKend on

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In mid-October, while promoting an upcoming anniversary show, the fantastic American blog-turned-label Exploding in Sound’s Facebook page posted a live performance under a caption heralding the quartet as “EIS, the next generation.” The post seemed apt. The Pennsylvania/New York-based band, Palm, has one foot in the ’90s-esque, oddball guitar rock of their label-mates (LVL UP, Pile, Speedy Ortiz). On their debut album Trading Basics, the other foot is planted firmly in the future, one full of off-kilter beats and echoing yelps. Palm can undoubtedly shred like its peers, but choose to do so off the beaten path, drumming up a devilishly intricate style of art-rock and skipping the dominant influence of Pavement, and heading straight towards Sun City Girls.

The first thing to notice when approaching Trading Basics is just how wrong it sounds. The guitars of Eve Alpert and Kasra Kurt sound dissonantly clawed at—picks are dragged full force across the strings, finger-contorting arpeggios are feverishly exchanged—while the backbone of drummer Hugo Stanley and bassist Gerasimos Livitanos pops up and down through rhythms, equal parts tight and sporadic. The album constantly feels like it’s about to fall apart under the weight of its own jangle and polyrhythms, as in the scattered back-and-forths of “Child Actor” and instrumental track “You Are What Eats You.”

Yet, outside the chaos, Palm create their own brand of catchy music. After the first layer of noise, you stumble upon genuine earworms and some of the smartest melodies to come out of the underground music scene in recent memory. The third track, “Ankles,” particularly functions as a standout showcase for both Stanley’s jittery beats and the group’s knack for infectiously warped vocal lines, with Kurt’s Panda Bear-like yelps of “I don’t need you” ready to spend days resonating in your skull.

The prevalent pitfall in an album as forwardly technical as Trading Basics is the lack of feeling beneath the spectacle, something Palm seems to circle around without fully falling into. The lyrics are minimal and often seem secondary to the melodies, even when vocals are the most prominent part of the mix. The emotions missing on the surface of the lyrics, however, are made up for by the vocal performances themselves. Simply look to Alpert’s ghostly calls on “Crank,” or the surprisingly sweet harmonies opening “Second Ward” for examples.

Trading Basics is an album distinct and memorable as much for its approach to melody as its weirdness. Where bands before and after them look to odd rhythms or jagged guitars as a way to stand out, Palm have built something more complex. Beyond the experimentation, it’s clear they aren’t just showing off, but rather looking towards the future.

Standout tracks:

“Ankles,” “Child Actor,” and “Second Ward”

Sounds like:

Women, Animal Collective, Krill

Best Lyric:

“If we can’t get home for supper/we must just have to suuuufferrrrr” – Crank

a, Arts & Entertainment

Album Review: Purpose – Justin Bieber

by James MacFarlane on

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Justin Bieber’s last few years have been tumultuous, to say the least. At the beginning of his career he was a teen idol who—likely under the direction of a PR team—always said and did the right things. Then, as he grew older, he developed more individuality; ultimately manifesting itself in the form of eggs, drag races, garbage-can urinals, and half-hearted “hold-me-back-bro” attempts at assaulting paparazzi. Biebs’ poor behaviour and scrapes with the law caused him to become the laughing stock of the internet, tabloids, and the general public. Thus, Bieber’s newly released album Purpose comes at a pivotal point in his life as he transitions from adolescence to adulthood.

The album experiments with new musical styles: It’s clear that the days of teen pop Bieber are far behind. The album is a mélange of slow trap-infused jams, hip-hop tracks, and pop music hits. In “Life is Worth Living” and Children,” Bieber croons over piano music; “Love Yourself” has a folksy guitar accompaniment. The album’s sole guest verses are from hip-hop megastars Big Sean, Nas, and Travis Scott. In “No Sense” and “We Are,” Bieber uses his rhythmic abilities to create his own hip-hop flow, while “I’ll Show You,” “What Do You Mean?,” and “Sorry” are pop songs that have already proved themselves popular on commercial radio.

The album is incredibly well-produced throughout: “No Sense” is a case in point, which has a beat that is part ethereal and part hard-hitting; however, despite the production tricks, one cannot help but shake the feeling that some of these pop instrumentals (“What Do You Mean?” in particular) are better suited for a Travelocity commercial than this highly anticipated comeback album.

Although his production has changed for the better, his lyrics are reminiscent of his teen-pop era. Each song seems to be a love letter to an unidentified person who goes by the name of “baby.” “Life is Worth Living” is his best song lyrically, but that’s not saying much. He begins each song with a few thoughtful bars, but he never tells a good story, instead choosing to devolve every song into a love letter. Bieber takes few risks with his lyrics on his new album, which is disappointing to those who wished to see his music evolve beyond teen pop.

Paradoxically, Bieber could improve his music by taking less agency over his own lyrics. He is listed as a writer on every song, which is admirable, but his lyrics remain weaker than those of most competing musicians. Bieber’s next album could also benefit from more guest features. Nas adds a masterful verse to “We Are.” Travis Scott prevents “No Sense” from becoming too repetitive by jumping in at the last minute. Big Sean is the best part of the lacklustre “No Pressure.”

Bieber tries to do too much in one album. His vocals are impressive and production is impeccable, but he could have improved this project by focusing more on one musical style. It makes sense that Biebs would want to experiment with many different genres—he is trying to escape his teen pop reputation after all—however, his lyrics too often revert back to the same themes that brought him hits in years past. Purpose is not the impressive album it could have been, but it shows some signs of definite improvement.

Standout Tracks:

“No sense” and “Life Is Worth Living.”

Sounds like:

A confused mix of Justin Timberlake and Chris Brown

Best Lyric:

Life is worth living so live another day / The meaning of forgiveness / People make mistakes doesn't mean you have to give in

a, News, SSMU

Omar El-Sharawy elected SSMU VP Internal

by Calvin Trottier-Chi and Shrinkhala Dawadi on

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Omar El-Sharawy was elected Vice-President (VP) Internal of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) with 4807 points earlier today The runner-up, Kahli Douglas, got 4445 points. The turnout for the election was 8.7 per cent.

SSMU President Kareem Ibrahim explained that since the 2014-2015 school year, SSMU has been using a preferential ballot system for all elections.

“The reason [we implemented the preferential ballot system] was so that there would be a way for votes essentially not to be lost if certain candidates were not elected in a race that had more than two candidates,” Ibrahim explained. “It originally came out of the 2013-2014 presidential election, and that was because they didn’t want someone to feel that their vote is wasted.”

The preferential ballot system accounts for the order in which students rank their preferences for candidates. If a candidate wins the majority of votes—that is, they are ranked as the first choice by the majority of students—then they are elected. If no candidate has enough first place ranks to warrant a majority, then the candidate with the least amount of first place votes is eliminated. The rankings are then re-counted.

Ibrahim stated that he was looking forward to working with El-Sharawy.

“[I’m] definitely looking forward to working with Omar,” Ibrahim said. “I was on Council with him two years ago and I know he has a lot of ideas. What I especially appreciate about Omar is that he is willing to identify issues at SSMU that can be improved upon, and I hope that is something we’ll actualize with his time here. I’m looking forward to having him as part of the team.”

El-Sharawy explained that he was excited to join the SSMU executive team.

"I am ecstatic to become the next VP Internal,” he said. “Although I will only have four months, I will ensure to continue the great work of the executive team and [the Students’ Society Network Program] (SSPN) who have managed to uphold the VP Internal responsibilities, create new platforms to engage the student body and promote student engagement and consultation. I am excited to become part of such a hard working executive team and work together to tackle our weaknesses and improve our strengths."

The other candidates were Lou Bernardi, who got 4388 points, Jason Rutman, who got 3639 points, and Tim Mapley, who got 3241 points.

This most recent by-election was called as the previous election for VP Internal failed to elect a student to the position, and 51.7 per cent of students voted “No” to Alexei Simakov, the only candidate running. The position was left vacant after Lola Baraldi resigned earlier this year.

El-Sharawy’s term is scheduled to begin in January.

With additional reporting by Laura Hanrahan.
a, Opinion

SSMU VP Internal byelection endorsement: Omar El-Sharawy

by McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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In order to present the most informed endorsements as possible, we reached out to each of the candidates and did research on their platforms and Facebook campagins. The Tribune Editorial Board debated and discussed the candidates in depth and voted on our endorsement for the position. The endorsement required a two-thirds majority vote. Should you have questions about our endorsement process, please email us at [email protected] Tribune has also has profiles of the candidates. 

The Tribune endorses a “Yes” vote for Omar El-Sharawy in the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Vice-President (VP) Internal byelection. El-Sharawy approaches the position with the most experience out of all of the candidates, having served as a Frosh coordinator, Inter-Residence Council (IRC) VP External, and Science Undergraduate Society (SUS) representative to SSMU. These relevant experiences make him the most-well prepared of the candidates running to assume the VP Internal position mid-year; his platform makes him the most exciting.

In terms of concrete plans, El-Sharawy proposes several ideas for each relevant aspect of the Internal portfolio. Notably, he would seek to increase inter-faculty communication and collaboration during Frosh, improve communication with students by continuing to explore new platforms through which to disseminate information and listserv content, and ensure the success of future events by improving planning and student consultation. Additionally, El-Sharawy has shown an understanding of the temporary nature of this mandate: His platform is focused on achieving objectives slated for the second half of the year, including proactively transitioning to a successor. The combination of his experience with his realistic and creative proposals makes him the most viable candidate.

While Kahli Douglas’ platform includes practical objectives that the SSMU VP Internal should seek to fulfill, she lacks vision for how to achieve them. Douglas failed to elaborate on how she hoped to achieve such goals as engaging and communicating with students, or improving Frosh.

Similarly, Tim Mapley’s campaign platform lacks any concrete ideas to implement as VP Internal. While he does understand that the most important aspects of the position are communication, events, equity, and engagement, he offers little on how to further improve or address these issues.

Lou Bernardi and Jason Rutman are both running as protest candidates, but have added little in the way of constructive criticism. Though all candidates have a right to run whatever campaign they choose, offering to prolong what has an already lengthy process does not address the underlying problems these two candidates argue exist.

a, News, SSMU

SSMU VP Internal byelection profiles

by McGill Tribune on

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These transcripts were lightly edited for grammar, punctuation and clarity. All candidates were asked the same questions. The Tribune has also made an endorsement for the Students' Society of McGill University (SSMU) Vice-President (VP) Internal byelection.

Omar El-Sharawy

How do you plan on overseeing the different aspects of your portfolio?

Frosh

As the only candidate who has been a Frosh coordinator, I believe I have the most experience to ensure a fun, safe inclusive Frosh. Although I will not directly oversee the planning of the 2016 Frosh, I will ensure to not only fully train and prepare the incoming VP Internal but support and share my experience.

Things I believe SSMU can improve on compared to last year is more transparent inter-faculty communication and collaboration. This was an issue visible to the Frosh coordinator community especially during beach day, where confusion lead to a small fraction of the students only attending beach day for less than an hour due to poor planning and lack of communication. In addition, I would ensure that venue booking is confirmed much earlier than SSMU had done last summer. I believe SSMU at times can be stubborn and refuse the help of other faculties, when a faculty like the [Management Undergraduate Society] (MUS)’ experience and support with multiple concerts under their portfolio could be very beneficial. I would also maintain the great communication between SSMU and the campus life and engagement team which was demonstrated by former VP Internals [Lola] Baraldi and [J. Daniel] Chaim.

Francophone affairs

As a student organization in one of the most bilingual cities, the French element of Quebec and our local students will not be neglected. Although I am not fluent in French, I plan to further support the Francophone commissioners to certify and maintain the French emergence into our community and culture. Supporting the francophone community could range from further promotion of the Franc-Jeu club, McGill’s only French-speaking theatre club, promotion of French-speaking mini courses and maintaining a French translation of the listservs.

Old McGill Yearbook:

SSMU Council has already taken the right steps to slowly tackling the issue surrounding the constant deficits and sustainability of the yearbook. In the most recent voting session, the two-part plebiscite question regarding the Old McGill Yearbook passed, but only with a slight majority for question 1 (56.9 per cent), while question 2 was more favourable with 76.6 per cent approval. Although this is a step in the right direction to tackle the yearbook dilemma, which causes a [large annual deficit], I believe there could be other options to present to the student body.

Considering that voter turnout was 16.7 per cent [for the referendum] and that the first part of the question did not receive overwhelming support, different sustainable methods should be presented to the student body. SSMU could make the yearbook accessible online and can distribute it through listservs, social media, and the SSMU website (and it could be further promoted through faculty associations). This would eliminate printing costs, and would thus be more sustainable and more accessible to students. This is just one solution, however if after further consultation, the student body wants to maintain the yearbook’s hard-copy production, I will be more than happy to act upon students’ wishes.

Communications:

The VP Internal is responsible for publicizing, maintaining, and editing the listserv to insure it remains engaging and appealing to the students. In the recent past, listservs have often been the topic of controversy—not only because of their content, but also because of their diminishing outreach. Sadly, listservs are no longer appealing to students, as they are long, tedious, and verbose. That is something I plan to change. Along with [distributing the listserv through] the traditional platform of email [and] through a short YouTube video created on a biweekly basis and/or through easily accessible Snapchat stories. I plan to offer students more platforms [to easily access] the information [in a] concise way.

Equity:

During my three years [at] McGill, I have sat as VP External of [the Inter-residence Council] (IRC), [the Science Undergraduate Society] (SUS) representative to SSMU, and was hired as a Frosh coordinator. In each position, I was expected to do at least 6 hours of equity training. Along with my own participation in workshops facilitated by Healthy McGill, such as the alcohol consumption and sexual assault workshop. Over the years I have attended over 40 hours of equity training and [I will be sure] to implement my training while planning and executing events. Therefore, I believe I can ensure [I] create events, enhance communications and fulfill my mandate while remaining respectful to the diverse McGill community.

How do you plan on coming in halfway through the term and adjusting, knowing that you have four months left?

I believe for any candidate running, there will be a large learning curve as they adapt to the responsibilities as VP Internal. However, I believe sitting on SSMU [Council] for two years will make my  learning curve less steep. I was lucky to observe and learn firsthand from former VP Internals Chaim and [Brian] Farnan and therefore improve from their mistakes while continuing their great work. Since 4Floors and Frosh [are] over, this will allow me to focus on improving other aspects of my portfolio while becoming more of a facilitator and a support tool for Students’ Society Programming Network (SSPN) to continue their great work to plan future events. Although I will have a short time in my position, I will try and build a strong foundation of improvements which the student body feels are necessary so the new incoming VP Internal of 2016 can build upon my work

Is there anything you’d like us to know about you as a candidate and your platform?

I believe that any executive team of a student council [at] McGill has an extremely difficult job trying to please such a diverse student body. I have reached out to multiple people in student leadership positions […] for their views on what we need to improve not only relevant to my portfolio but to SSMU as a whole. I believe my platform speaks to the majority of the students and what they view should change and improve about SSMU

Why did you not run in the last election?

After sitting on SSMU Council for two years, multiple councils and committees, and being a Frosh coordinator all summer long, I wanted to take a step back and focus on my academics and adapting to my new field of study (especially after transferring faculties) and pursue my other passions such as music (where I joined Tonal Ecstasy).  However, after being away from student politics and strongly adapting to my new academic workload, I felt I was prepared to return to my true passion, which is attempting to make a positive impact on the McGill community.

Kahli Douglas

How do you plan on overseeing the different aspects of your portfolio?

Frosh

I plan on working closely with faculty associations to ensure the framework is in place for next year's Frosh. I would like to have meetings with the Milton-Parc community and the [police] to get feedback and hear their thoughts. As a Frosh leader the past two years, I've witnessed the improvements, but I also see where changes can still to be made. We're on the right track and learning from the strengths of each association's own frosh can greatly benefit the Frosh experience at McGill for both froshies and the community.

Francophone Affairs

I would like to work closely with the Francophone Commissioner and involve non-francophone groups in the discussions on how we can promote French on campus and [promote] better integration within the Montreal community. I would like to look into planning events in French, such as film screenings and guest speakers, as well as [increase the] promotion of French mini-courses [….] As a francophile that has spent years trying to master the language, I believe immersion is important and despite living in Montreal, McGill could offer more in terms of French programming.

The Old McGill Yearbook

The yearbook is up for review and reform right now, and while an online version of it would certainly be cheaper and sustainable, there is something to say for having a hard copy of a yearbook that is print [….] This is a time when getting student feedback is absolutely necessary on how to proceed as there are currently, […] two main schools of thought: one preferring to go digital and another wanting to see a fee included in tuition to pay for the yearbook in its current form. I would like to gather student feedback and work with students on creating a sustainable option that appeals to the most people possible.

Communications

Communications are key to getting students involved and properly informed. While the listserv does have its downfalls, it is a great way of transmitting updates on current SSMU happenings. I would like to implement more interactive ways of spreading information to and learning about the student body. Roundtable meetings with [student] faculty associations and student groups are a good way of exchanging relevant information between the association and SSMU […] to learn more about what each association and group is currently facing[….] I would like to table regularly on campus and have chats with students to form an open dialogue and potentially some of my office hours could be accessible to different students that wouldn't otherwise come into the office.

Equity

Equity is something we should all be striving for and we should be involving students in these discussions, as we all have different experiences and the intersectionality of those experiences with our self-identity makes different services, even SSMU in general, more accessible to some over others. I want to work with [the Social Equity and Diversity Education office] (SEDE) and the [Office of Students with Disabilities] (OSD) to ensure SSMU is doing all they can in making equitable decisions and programming.

How do you plan on coming in halfway through the term and adjusting, knowing that you have four months left?

am ready to cannonball into the deep end. I plan on immersing myself and dedicating my time to this position.[Although it is] a short term to hold a position, I am giving these four months to SSMU and to the students. I plan on acquainting myself with the people I'll be working with, getting lots of input, and being open to adapting. By working hard, thinking critically, and staying organized, I know I can do a lot in the time that's left.

Is there anything you’d like us to know about you as a candidate and your platform?

Since coming to McGill, I've been very focused on contributing to the community. Working with Walksafe for the past two and a half years has taught me the value of hard work and the power of having a vision. As a Frosh leader the past two years I have formed bonds with fellow students and witnessed the importance of inclusivity and creating safe spaces for students. As a volunteer teaching young students conflict resolution with Peace by Peace, I've seen how creating a culture of respect and understanding truly changes group dynamics. My experiences have shaped who I am and how I approach people and problems. I would like to create an open dialogue on campus where students are encouraged to contribute as I'd like SSMU to represent an amalgamation of all our ideas rather than those of just the person holding the position.

Why did you not run in the last election?

It wasn't until recently that I learned I could afford to take the time away from my studies and fully commit to the position. I didn't want to run if I couldn't dedicate myself to the job. I highly value this position and all of its duties and want to make sure that, if elected, I am giving adequate time to each aspect of the portfolio.

Jason Rutman

How do you plan on overseeing the different aspects of your portfolio?

Frosh

In my opinion, Frosh simply isn’t long or wild enough. If elected, my first order of business, after erecting a 5m [tall] marble statue of myself outside the SSMU Club building, would be to declare independence from McGill and establish Frosh in the place of normal classes. The bonding and lifelong memories created during Frosh are simply too important to pass up on, and I believe that they are far more important than anything you can learn in class.

Francophone Affairs

Francophone affairs are an important part of my platform. I regularly watch French language soap operas, with my favourite being Plus belle la vie. I’ve watched all 11 seasons and I can assure you that those characters have engaged in numerous affairs. There were many cases where a husband cheated on his wife or a boyfriend cheated on his girlfriend, so I’m definitely knowledgeable about francophone affairs. I think my experience watching these programs gives me an advantage over the other candidates.

Old McGill Yearbook

The yearbook is an important issue. SSMU […] is currently in the red because of these yearbooks and this is really hurting their progress on completing the Death Star. Everyone, myself included, was really looking forward to seeing the Death Star completed before graduating, so seeing this pushed back is disappointing. If elected, I would focus all our efforts away from yearbooks and towards the Death Star.

Communication

Communication has always been a priority for me. I’ve taken CCOM 206, a communications course offered for engineering students and I received an A, so you could say that I’m a masterful communicator. Whether I’m on the bus yelling at strangers, or alone in my room talking to a mirror, I’m adept at expressing my point of view.

Equity

Equity is also important. It’s so prevalent in day to day life. Say, for example, that you own a car worth $15,000 but owe $5,000 on that car. That car represents $10,000 equity. I believe that it’s imperative that all students graduate with basic knowledge of finance and economics to ensure that they make smart financial decisions in the future.

How do you plan on coming in halfway through the term and adjusting, knowing that you have four months left?

As soon as I am elected, I will stage a coup, removing the other members from SSMU […] and declaring myself the eternal president. Afterwards, my plan is to move SSMU […] headquarters to Copenhagen, Denmark for an undetermined period of time.

Is there anything you’d like us to know about you as a candidate and your platform?

I feel as though gingers are underrepresented in student body politics. Being a full-blooded ginger myself, I want to bring [ginger issues] to the forefront. For example, SSMU […] currently distributes sunblock during Frosh only. However, I think, as a ginger, that it should be distributed year round. It’s an important issue that I believe needs addressing.

Why did you not run in the last election?

I was running in the New York City marathon when I fell in an open manhole and got trapped. To escape I had to saw off my own arm, yet despite the blood loss finished the race with a time of 127 hours. After the race, upon awaking from my coma, I decided that it was time that I really did something with my life.

Lou Bernardi

How do you plan on overseeing the different aspects of your portfolio?

Not at all, I'd resign immediately.

How do you plan on coming in halfway through the term and adjusting, knowing that you have four months left?

I plan on resigning immediately so the next guy only has to have the position for three and a half months. That would be so much less stress on their shoulders. I realize sometimes, that I am truly a giver in life.

Is there anything you'd like us to know about you as a candidate and your platform?

I am the most qualified joke candidate to run this election. I come hot off the campaign trail of the federal elections where I ran for member of parliament, unfortunately losing to another status quo candidate.

Why did you not run in the last election?

Last year’s election drama for president was hilarious and terrible, however the need to mock something wasn’t strong enough until this [most recent round] of elections.

NFL Fantasy Football
a, Football, Sports

Fantasy football: Week 11 Takeaways

by Josh Blatt on

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With the fantasy football regular season nearing a close, many owners are fighting to reach the playoffs. Week 11 saw some surprising players post massive games, while once reliable options underachieved. Across the NFL, running backs combined for a meager 11 rushing touchdowns and only two quarterbacks threw for over 300 yards. Let’s turn the attention to some key fantasy football takeaways from Week 11 action.

Rawls’ Theory

Seattle Seahawks backup running back Thomas Rawls put up one of the biggest fantasy performances of year in Seattle’s 29-13 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Injured lead back Marshawn Lynch was a late scratch prior to kickoff, so Rawls took the ball and ran with it, exploding for 209 yards on 30 carries, 49 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. With Lynch likely to miss Week 12 and possibly even longer with a sports hernia, Rawls is in line for a heavy workload going forward. He is the top waiver add this week and is a strong number one fantasy football running back.

Fallen Ravens

Just when things couldn’t get any worse for the 3-7 Baltimore Ravens, they lost two of their best players to season-ending injuries in Week 11. Quarterback Joe Flacco tore both his ACL and MCL in the final drive of the team’s comeback win against the St. Louis Rams. Flacco is not expected to return until Week 1 next season, and running back Justin Forsett broke both bones in his forearm in the first quarter of the match and will be placed on Injured Reserve. Second-string back Buck Allen will now assume lead duties and should be owned in all fantasy leagues with some welcoming matchups ahead in the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins, who rank 32nd and 31st in rush yards allowed per game, respectively.

Winston arrives

In a 45-17 demolition of the Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston completed 19-of-29 passes for 246 yards and five touchdowns. The performance was easily the best of Winston’s rookie campaign so far, even though running back Doug Martin carried most of the load with a 235 yard day on the ground. Winston could once again post some nice numbers next Sunday against the collapsing Indianapolis Colts.

Lacy laces ‘em up

There may be no bigger fantasy football disappointment this season than Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy. Lacy’s nagging ankle injuries and poor play have gotten him demoted to a change-of-pace role in the offence; however, in Week 11 against the Minnesota Vikings, the Alabama product showed glimpses of the old Lacy, rushing for 100 yards on 22 carries. The 100 yards are a single-game high for Lacy this season, while the 22 carries are more than he has received in his three previous games combined. Lacy will be a high-risk, high-reward play in Week 12 when the Packers face the Chicago Bears on Thanksgiving.

Brock got us all Misty

Playing in place of an injured and ineffective Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns in Denver’s win over the Bears. Osweiler showed good composure and confidence in the pocket. Head Coach Gary Kubiak announced that Osweiler will get his second start this Sunday night versus the undefeated New England Patriots. The fourth-year quarterback is a fine option for those in a crunch, but expectations should be tempered in a tough primetime matchup against coaching mastermind Bill Belichick.

a, Opinion

A student’s take on SSMU elections

by Alessandra Puopolo on

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Two weeks ago the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) bylection for Vice-President (VP) Internal turned ugly… again. SSMU elections have been a source of controversy for years with the most recent one marred by a particularly malicious online culture. While much of the student body is generally disenchanted and uninterested in SSMU, the election drama habitually pulls many into the fray. Upon seeing the spectacle that each of the campaign pages had become, many students did not care which candidate was right or how they justified themselves, and decided that they did not want anyone who engaged in that sort of behaviour to represent them. In future elections, in order to prevent election issues from being overshadowed by vicious Facebook campaign pages and Reddit threads, candidates’ use of social media should be limited.

In theory, Facebook event pages and Reddit AMA sessions should help to facilitate dialogue about campus issues between students and those running to represent them. At McGill, they have given rise to a myriad of vindictive comments, posting of personal information, and allowed candidates to selectively respond to questions. Since I have attended McGill, online elections campaigns have polarized the student body, drawing far more users concerned with election drama than those who actually want to discuss ways to improve SSMU. While some students do use the Facebook pages to ask constructive questions about a candidate’s platform, the overall tone of these campaign pages is sarcastic and accusatory. Many questions remain unanswered or receive unwarranted backlash. Candidates themselves have even participated in mocking other students’ questions. Additionally, many posts rapidly diverge from the election topics and candidates all together, as students take turns insulting one another.

Social media has the great quality of quickly and easily transmitting information; however, it lacks accountability. Campaign pages quickly become awash with trolls who post offensive comments and seek to further exacerbate student tensions. Students have taken to posting outrageous personal attacks of candidates on their event pages and seek to find and publically denounce anything even slightly controversial that a candidate may have done in the past.

In forthcoming elections, restrictions must be placed on candidates use of social media. Admittedly, such action would remove an avenue of communication between students and those vying to represent them. Therefore, more opportunities for discussion between the student body and candidates need to be created. SSMU could host more debates with a longer duration and give students more chances to submit questions beforehand and during the elections via email, Twitter, and in person. A question box could even be placed in SSMU where students could anonymously submit questions. These inquiries would of course have to be reviewed before debate night to ensure that they actually pertain to the election. If these reforms are made students will no longer be able to simply hide behind screens and point fingers. This can assist in eliminating the bad-natured disputes that seems to characterise and consume every election.

SSMU has scheduled a discussion for all students—Restructuring SSMU—for Thursday, Nov. 26. Hopefully students will take this chance to voice the concerns that they have with the student union, and brainstorm ideas on how to improve future elections, starting with limiting social media. It’s by no means a perfect solution, but it’s a step towards improving election culture at McGill.

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