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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.

Adele, "Hello"
a, Arts & Entertainment, Music

Pop Rhetoric: Adele’s “Hello” and discussions of identity

by Saif Cheval on

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In the last few years, female artists have taken an incredibly strong stance on feminism, creating art that focuses on the tense dialogue surrounding gender, race, and identity. Whether this requires a change from their old style or leans into their existing art depends on the artist: For someone like Nicki Minaj, being in control has always been her persona, while Taylor Swift has only more recently increased her focus on being a feminist icon—creating pop songs and videos that empower as much as they delight. So when Adele—who swept the Grammys in 2012 and has been absent since—came back with a video “about nothing,” there was a risk that some of her old fans would be left feeling underwhelmed.

Adele’s video for “Hello”—her first single in over three years—has collected over 450 million views on YouTube in less than four weeks. It has absolutely shattered records. In the sales department, the single itself has been just as successful: The song was the first since the 1990s to sell over one million copies in its first week, while also  racking up nearly 80 million plays on Spotify since its release. Adele’s return has no doubt been triumphant, and the anticipation for her upcoming album, 25, is now at a feverous pitch.

What’s interesting about Adele’s incredible success is how personal the work itself is. The lyrics to “Hello,” according to Adele in an interview with Rolling Stone, are a message to her former self, phoning in from adulthood. The video is deeply introspective as well—a sepia-toned documentary of what looks like a romantic fallout, with several lingering shots of Adele meandering through a forest, belting out the chorus, and looking pensive.

Several close-up shots last longer than one would expect, allowing her face to be examined and her emotions easily accessed. She allows herself to be vulnerable. Parallel to her side of the story, is her ‘lover,’—Tristan Wilds—captured in various states of emotion through a handheld camera-style of filming. We see him excited and happy, but also embarrassed. We see him intense, feverish, and brooding. And then, during his departure; angry, hurt, and betrayed. Both Wilds and Adele’s characters are invariably human and relatable. But how, then, does this relate to the wider discussion of gender politics?

By not relating at all.

Too much of identity has become exclusive—creating narratives that pertain to a singular identity rather than a collective. Race, sexual orientation, and gender have gradually become terms of separation, and force people into carefully created slots. There are, of course, an infinite number of slots to chose from, but to join one ultimately requires distance from another. Labels have divided society throughout history, and they will continue to divide until they are refuted.

When questioned about feminism, Adele responded very simply: “I’m a feminist [….] I believe that everyone should be treated the same, including race and sexuality.” Her art mirrors that.

Though Adele’s last album focused heavily on heartbreak—themes that certain people would incorrectly attribute to a ‘feminine sensitivity’—her heartbreak was as much female as it was male, as much white as it was black. “Hello” continues the trend. Everyone can grasp the exhausting feeling of speaking to past lovers, old friends, or former selves. It is an art beyond the labels that separate people.

This is the genius of “Hello.” Though Adele’s fan base certainly propelled the initial numbers, those 450 million views spawned from the universal nature of her art. It is the inclusive tale she spins—the natural tones showcasing a beautiful woman feeling her music—that drew people in. “Hello” is a song that doesn’t have to make a statement, because it exists as one. It doesn’t need a squad of slender supermodels dressed as soldiers, or incredibly toned women celebrating their sexuality. Adele, in her loose-fitting clothes, captivates us with just her voice.

“Hello” is a pop song, and Adele is, as David Attenborough states, a “pop predator” on the hunt. But in the increasingly political climate of pop, Adele’s song and video shine. The numbers speak for themselves, and Adele’s belief in equality is natural—it is her music that shows this: She doesn’t have to declare it. “Hello,” with its amazing success, will stand as a testament to that.

a, News, PGSS

PGSS Internal Affairs Officer resigns

by Sara Cullen on

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On Nov. 11, Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) Council announced the resignation of the internal affairs officer (IAO) Sahil Kumar. Kumar cited personal reasons for submitting his resignation.

“My trajectory through graduate studies has taken a new turn, and now requires a greater time commitment,” Kumar said. “I did not want to see the portfolio suffer and have decided that this would be the best option to move forward. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with [all] of the PGSS executives and commissioners over these last seven months.”

Kumar’s term as IAO will end on Dec. 3. PGSS Secretary-General Danielle Toccalino said that the position will not be left vacant while a new IAO is elected.

“[Kumar] will be in the position until [Dec. 3,] and the new IAO by-election will finish shortly thereafter so the position will not be empty for more than a few days,” Toccalino said.

Kumar will remain on a leave of absence until Dec. 3.

“During my leave of absence, I have […] been overseeing the PGSS Newswire, trivia night, and other vital duties of the IAO to avoid these responsibilities being placed on other executives or staff members during the byelection period,” Kumar said. “Once the new IAO has been elected, this will allow a seamless transition from my term to the next IAO’s term.”

At the Council, meeting dates for the upcoming byelection were approved. There will be a two-week nomination period ending on Nov. 26, followed by one week of campaigning, and one week of voting.

Colby Briggs, PGSS chief returning officer, said that the nomination period is the most difficult part of the process, however, two people have already expressed interest in the IAO position.

“I’ve got two inquiries already, we hopefully will do an information session next week,” Briggs said. “But we’re kind of going through a bit of a restructuring with the [membership and special projects fee increase] not passing [last week….] We’re trying to cut down on expenses as much as possible.”

Kumar said that he would remain available as a resource after the appointment of a new IAO.

“The new IAO will be left in a good position with the majority of the structures and logistics in place,” Kumar said. “The interim IAO will also receive a thorough exit report, and I will make myself available as a resource.”

Despite his resignation from the PGSS executive, Kumar expressed that he hopes the new IAO will be able to pick up where he left off.

“The position has a lot of potential for new ideas and room for improvements to the existing structure,” Kumar said. “I’ve done my best to advance some of these structures during my time in office and I hope the interim [IAO] can continue to institutionalize these changes for the position. I hope to see an interim [IAO] that can also work well with the rest of the executive team and ensure the remainder of the year is a success.”

According to Briggs, it was important for the new executive to learn from the outgoing IAO, and that teamwork is one of the biggest assets to the position.

“All the executives have always been super dedicated, so it’s just a matter [of whether] somebody can come and work as a part of a team, because [the executives] really are a team,”  Briggs said.

a, Student Life

What to expect when attending a screening of The Room

by Aislinn Kalob on

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Some dismiss The Room as the “worst movie ever made,” while others believe that Writer, Director, Producer, and Star, Tommy Wiseau, is a creative genius who’s succeeded in crafting a timeless piece of outsider art.  

Released in 2003, The Room has since garnered a cult following, continuing to draw viewers to public screenings more than a decade after it grossed only $1,800 during its two-week stint at the box office.  For those who haven’t yet had the unique, ritualized experience of attending a screening of The Room, your next chance here in Montreal is Friday, Nov. 27 at Cinema du Parc. 

Here are a few key things to keep in mind if you’re going to be an active audience participant. 

Bring your own spoons

Despite the alleged $6 million budget of The Room, it appears that Wiseau couldn’t afford to decorate the set of Johnny and Lisa’s apartment beyond framed stock photos—the one of a spoon garnering the most concerted mockery from fans. Throughout the movie, audience members will throw their own plastic utensils at the screen. So, watch your head any time you hear someone call out, “Spoon!” and make sure you have a few of your own to throw.

Or bring your own football

If you come with a friend, sit at separate ends of the aisle and “toss the ball around” any time characters do so in the movie. If Johnny and the gang can do it in a parking lot wearing tuxedos, you can do it in a movie theatre.

Oh, hi Denny

Denny is a child of indeterminate age who lives next door, and shows up seemingly at random.  Make sure to mimic Wiseau’s flat, unsurprised intonation in greeting Denny (“Oh, hi Denny”) in any scene.  Confused as to why he just entered their apartment without knocking, and then joins the couple for a pillow fight in the upstairs bedroom? Johnny would never let on. Remember to say goodbye to Denny when he leaves, which is never a moment too soon.

Meanwhile, back in San Francisco

Call this out whenever Wiseau makes it apparent the location of the film using a generic, wide-angle shot of the city. As a bonus, Wiseau’s artistic licence with B-roll footage provides a consistent and predictable reminder of the film’s setting. Between many scenes, viewers are subjected to a long, slow tracking shot of the Golden Gate Bridge.  During this shot, chant “Go, go, go!” as if to encourage the panning to complete the length of the bridge. Cheer if it reaches the other riverbank. 

Seventh-inning stretch

Be advised: There are five painfully long and uncomfortably graphic sex scenes throughout the movie. It is acceptable to vocally express your discomfort at each and every one of these borderline pornographic displays. But if you need to get up to use the bathroom, buy some popcorn, or just take a well-deserved break, it is advised to do so during the longest sex scene in The Room.  This happens towards the end of the film, so you can simultaneously avoid seeing it. The A.V. Club has aptly dubbed it the “seventh-inning stretch.”

 

Missouri football student activism
a, Behind the Bench, Football, Martlets, Men's Varsity

Behind the Bench: Athletes as activists

by Nicholas Jasinski on

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Following weeks of protests over racial tensions at the University of Missouri, dozens of members of the school’s football team announced that they would not practice or play in any games until members of the university administration resigned. Within days, the president of the multi-campus university system stepped down, and the chancellor of the main campus in Columbia promised to step down to a less prominent role. The disturbing issues that players were protesting included multiple specific incidents of racism targeted at black students, but also the overall lack of action from the administration to address the racially charged atmosphere on campuses.

The Missouri football team’s protest is the largest and most high-profile example of college athletes using their status and visibility to effect change in non-sport related issues they care about. The notion that an entire team in the most dominant college football league in the United States could go on strike drew national attention to the plight of black students at the University of Missouri. Critics will point to the fact that the administration’s immediate response was due solely to the financial impact that the football team has—generating $35.64 million for the school in 2014—and the million dollar fine that Mizzou would have incurred had they missed their upcoming match-up against Brigham Young University.

But it goes deeper than that. The football team’s threatened strike proved that student-athletes have a unique visibility and potential for leadership as activists at all universities. Members of collegiate sports teams—whether recruited or not, and whether their programs generate millions of dollars or not—are still representatives of their schools and have a platform to be leaders and role models for their fellow students, especially in the social media age.

“We just wanted to use our platform to take a stance as fellow concerned students on an issue," University of Missouri defensive back Ian Simon told the New York Times. "We love the game, but at the end of the day, it is just that—a game."

At McGill, a school already known for its activist student body, athletes still have the ability to lead social movements. Events such as McGill Athletics’ Movember challenge, and the many fundraisers that various teams put on are a starting point, and demonstrate that the Redmen and Martlets have a desire to use their unique voices to make a difference.

“Being a student athlete shows amazing dedication and a different position within the school,” said senior MArtlet swimmer Katie Caldwell. “we should take a responsibility to make a change where possible.”

History is full of examples of athletes stepping up and taking stands on social issues that they believe in. One of the best-known images in sports is of San Jose State sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos standing on the 1986 Olympic victory podium. They had their right arms raised high in the air and their fists clenched in black power salutes. NBA Hall-of-Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was well known to have joined student protests at UCLA while a student-athlete there in the late ’60s.

"Let this be a testament to all of the athletes across the country that you do have power," Mizzou defensive end Charles Harris said during the team’s protest. And he’s right. When players make it clear that they care about an issue, other voices will follow.

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