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Science & Technology

Stepping forward: How technology is improving gait for Parkinson’s and aging adults

by Lana Liquard on

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The ability to walk is something most people take for granted. But for individuals with Parkinson’s disease and age-related mobility challenges, it can be a daily struggle. Slow, shuffling steps, difficulty maintaining balance, and unstable walking patterns make simple movements feel like obstacles. 

Nancy Mayo, a professor at McGill’s School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, addresses these challenges with her company, PhysioBiometrics. Her team has developed a wearable device called the Heel2Toe sensor, designed to help people improve and regain control over their walking patterns, or gait. 

The Heel2Toe sensor is a small device that attaches to the side of a sneaker. It emits a sound when a strong heel strike is detected, reinforcing a standard heel-to-toe walking pattern. By providing real-time auditory feedback, the sensor helps wearers make immediate adjustments, in turn promoting better steps, posture, balance, and coordination. 

Mayo conducted a pilot study to test the Heel2Toe sensor in action. Participants were divided into two groups: One using the Heel2Toe sensor, and the other following a workbook-based exercise program. Over three months, those in the sensor group demonstrated significant improvements in their walking ability, with 13 out of 14 participants increasing their walking distance by an average of 66.4 metres in the Six-Minute Walk Test. 

To better understand how the Heel2Toe sensor works, The Tribune attended a class run by Natasha Hassija, a PhD student in Rehabilitation Sciences. The class, held biweekly over five weeks, is part of a research project aimed at determining the benefit of combining the Walk-BEST—BEtter, faster, longer, STronger—coaching sessions with at-home practice using the Heel2Toe sensor in participants over 50 years old. 

“We are trying to see the benefit of expert coaching plus technology-assisted home practice. We have tested each component separately—now we are combining them,” Hassija explained in an interview with The Tribune. 

The session began with participants reflecting on their progress, sharing how they felt about their walking since the previous class. The exercises done during the session were structured around basic elements of proper walking: Heel-to-toe stepping, engaging the hip, arm movement, posture, breathing, and walking while engaging the brain. 

Each exercise focused on different aspects of movement, some targeting physical elements like balance, flexibility, and pace, while others targeted cognitive aspects, for example, by continually subtracting seven from 100 while walking. Every exercise concluded with a moment of self-reflection, encouraging participants to be aware of their movement. 

After the class concluded, The Tribune met with Mayo to discuss her research further. She highlighted a key challenge in Parkinson’s gait training. 

“Because of the nature of the condition, where dopamine-producing cells die, it’s difficult for people with Parkinson’s to perform automatic movements. Telling them to ‘walk properly’ isn’t enough—their brain doesn’t let them,” Mayo said.

This is where the Heel2Toe sensor makes a difference. Mayo explained that the device provides an external cue, stimulating the dopamine system and reinforcing correct movements.

“One classic example is arm swinging,” Mayo noted. “Most people swing their arms naturally while walking, but those with Parkinson’s don’t, which affects their balance. The sensor helps retrain those movements.”

She also explained that many older adults unknowingly reinforce problematic gait patterns, which can lead to instability and falls. 

“If you walk badly for 10,000 hours, your brain will own that bad walking pattern. We have to unprogram that,” Mayo said. “Our program is breaking that cycle and getting them to walk BEST.” 

This research is part of an ongoing effort to integrate technology into rehabilitation. While technology alone may not be a complete solution for mobility challenges seen in both Parkinson’s disease and other aging-related conditions, the integration of structured exercise programs with innovative tools like the Heel2Toe sensor represents a promising step forward.

Mayo emphasized the importance of quality, as opposed to quantity, when trying to improve gait. 

“Walk better before you walk more. Taking thousands of bad steps won’t help, but practicing good ones will.”

Campus Spotlight, Private, Student Life

How P[h]assion weaves creativity with activism

by Tamiyana Roemer on

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Fashion has long been more than just clothing—it is a language of identity, activism, and community. For Montreal’s queer youth, style serves as a powerful form of self-expression, allowing individuals to navigate their identities while participating in a larger cultural dialogue. This intersection of fashion and advocacy is at the heart of P[h]assion, a student-run charity that has integrated clothing with activism to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS for over 15 years. 

Like many urban landscapes, Montreal hosts an eclectic fashion scene where bold self-expression flourishes. Fashion is not only worn, but lived: Designers, artists, and everyday trendsetters turn the streets into runways, showcasing a spirit of individuality, adaptability, and resilience.

In the 1980s, Montreal’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community grappled with the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which disproportionately affected queer individuals. As they dealt with both the health crisis and social stigmatization of the disease, many turned to fashion, art, and activism to channel feelings of grief and uncertainty. 2SLGBTQIA+ grassroots activism in Montreal also paved the way for organizations like AIDS Community Care Montreal (ACCM), which emerged to provide crucial support, advocating for healthcare access and social services while fostering solidarity within the community. In recent years, P[h]assion has built a close partnership with ACCM, using fashion as a medium for empowerment and visibility. 

“Together, [we have] created spaces where queer youth and others can explore their creativity while accessing the support and resources they need to thrive,” shared Lucy Kaskie, U3 Arts and the club’s Director of Communications, in a written statement to The Tribune.

One way P[h]assion achieves this is through its annual spring fashion show, which provides a space for students to showcase their creativity while advocating for social change. The theme of its 2024 show was “Disrupt,” setting the stage for an evening of bold, daring fashion, and encouraging students to push boundaries. Nicole Lazarovici, U3 Management and co-president of P[h]assion, explained why fashion is such a powerful medium. 

“A people’s culture is woven into every stitch and fabric that shapes a garment,” Lazarovici said. “This garment then becomes a visual narrative tool, telling the stories of both the joys and the hardships of our people’s past, present, and future. At its very root, fashion has always been a collaborative effort to […] create community.”

Beyond advocacy, P[h]assion encourages students to embrace their identities while contributing to a broader conversation about inclusivity and empowerment. The organization achieves this through various initiatives, including mentorship programs and creative workshops, ensuring that young designers, models, and organizers feel seen and valued. 

One key example of this integration is their work with local designer Oscar Mendoza, whose designs incorporate bold colors and intricate patterns. In Fall 2024, P[h]assion worked with Mendoza on a photoshoot that highlighted his vibrant pieces, embodying the city’s spirit of diversity and pride.

“Above all, we hope students walk away with a sense of community and belonging,” wrote Taryn Stibbe, U3 Arts and the other Co-President of P[h]assion. “Whether as designers, models, or organizers, everyone plays an equally important role in shaping our impact, and we hope students carry that sense of purpose beyond the club.”

Through creative partnerships and advocacy, P[h]assion works toward a future where self-expression is embraced and celebrated. By integrating fashion with activism, they provide students and community members with opportunities to connect, create, and support causes beyond the runway. Their efforts cement fashion’s capacity for change, helping individuals find confidence in their identities while contributing to a larger movement for equality and representation.

McGill, News

Students express concern over changes to future Frosh schedule

by Asher Kui on

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McGill Campus Life and Engagement (CLE) recently opened leader-volunteer applications for freshmen orientation events. With the university’s decision to delay the Fall 2025 move-in date for first-year students in the downtown campus by one week to Aug. 23 and Aug. 24, many McGill students have expressed concerns over the schedules for Frosh, a set of student-run orientation activities, and other orientation events.

On Nov. 13, McGill Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) Senators Anzhu Wei and Vivian Wright raised questions to the McGill Senate concerning this move-in delay, as it limits possible dates for orientation events for first years. In particular, Frosh events will now coincide with the first week of classes, which according to Wei and Wright, may affect the transition to university for incoming students.

In an interview with The Tribune, Wei explained that difficulties in scheduling Fall 2025 Frosh may be attributed to two reasons: McGill’s term length, and its finances.

“In order to have a [week-long] reading week, [McGill has] to push back the start of school earlier […] to have the same number of school days,” Wei said. “For the 2025-26 school year, [school would have] to start before Labour Day.”

Wei described how McGill’s decision to postpone the first-year move-in date leaves only a few days before classes begin for Frosh to take place, in an effort for the university to cut residence costs.

“The reason that [McGill provided] is that they didn’t have the resources […] to open residences earlier,” Wei said. “They needed the time to train resident workers. It is a financial reason that they’re not opening [residences] earlier.”

In addition, the McGill Media Relations Office (MRO) wrote to The Tribune that the adjusted move-in dates will allow for maintenance and renovation in residences.

Elisha-Grace King, U1 Arts & Science, expressed concerns about the potential new timing of Frosh.

“Frosh being before classes started gave me a lot of time to meet new people and explore the McGill area,” King said. “The extra free time [was] good downtime as Frosh is super exhausting with the amount of walking and late-night events that [took] place.”

Both Wei and King speculated how the shortened period between move-in, Frosh, and the start of classes may be harmful to incoming students.

“I think it’s going to have a really big negative impact on first-year students,” Wei said. “To not give them that time to be able to adjust and be able to find their foothold in Montreal, I think it’s just pretty horrible.”

“Starting first year and adjusting to the university pace can be quite overwhelming,” King said. “If Frosh happens [alongside classes], new students might not have a strong foundation of friends to lean on when things get stressful at school.”

Wei noted that the AUS has discussed their concerns with Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) Angela Campbell and Dean of Students Tony Mittermaier. He reported that while Campbell and Mittermaier acknowledged the AUS’s concerns, the University remains unwilling to reverse the change in Frosh timing.

In a written statement to The Tribune, the MRO affirmed that Campbell, members of CLE, and student leaders have had discussions regarding the well-being of first-year students.

“Our Student Life and Learning units have always worked with student leaders to provide the best student experience at McGill and will continue to do so,” the MRO wrote. “Student leaders were understandably concerned about Frosh overlapping with classes, so the group explored a number of options.”

The MRO concluded its statement by announcing a tentative decision on the Frosh schedule.

“Frosh would start on Aug. 29, after the start of classes, and run through Labour Day weekend to Sept. 1, with the possibility of some Sept. 2 events, to be determined in the coming months,” the MRO wrote. “The final Frosh schedule will be communicated to students during the summer.”

King suggested that McGill should ensure there are no scheduling conflicts between Frosh events and classes.


“Making sure students have time to settle into both the academic and social aspects of McGill are key to setting them up for success,” she said.

Science & Technology

SCAnning the genome to uncover the genetics of a neurological disorder

by Antoine Larocque on

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Recent advances in molecular biology techniques are bringing new insights into complex diseases. These insights extend to spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs), a group of progressive neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the deterioration of the cerebellum—a brain structure critical for balance and movement coordination.

In 2019, between 30 and 48 per cent of SCA patients remained without a genetic diagnosis—a test that identifies the genes responsible for a given disease. This was partly due to the limitations of short-read genetic sequencing, a technique which involves breaking DNA into small fragments before determining the order of DNA units that make up the fragments. While this technique is useful, it struggles to accurately resolve repetitive DNA regions in the genome—a challenge in diagnosing certain types of SCA.

Recognizing the need for improved diagnostic tools, Bernard Brais, the director of McGill’s Rare Neurological Disease Research Group, and his collaborators published a review article analyzing how the advent of long-read sequencing has revolutionized SCA research in recent years.

Unlike short-read sequencing, long-read sequencing can accurately detect repetitive sequences in the genome, revealing previously hidden genetic variants. This technology has led to the identification of three new SCA variants: SCA4, SCA51, and, in particular, SCA27B.

SCA27B stands out from other SCA variants due to its distinct genetic signature: A high number of trinucleotide [guanine-adenine-adenine (GAA)] repeats within an intron—a segment of DNA that does not code for proteins—of the fibroblast growth factor 14 (FGF14) gene.

FGF14 plays a key role in stabilizing ion channels crucial for the function of Purkinje cells, specialized neurons in the cerebellum involved in motor control and learning

“We suspect that if [individuals] have less of it, the channels cannot perform as well, and then it leads to all types of problems in the cell,” Brais said in an interview with The Tribune.

Patients with SCA27B typically carry more than 250 GAA repeats in one copy of the FGF14 gene. However, some individuals with fewer than 300 GAA repeats never develop SCA symptoms, suggesting additional genetic considerations influence disease onset.

The purity of the GAA repeat sequence also plays a crucial role in SCA27B development. Asian populations, for example, rarely develop SCA27B since their FGF14 gene contains a mix of triplet nucleotides, making the repeat sequence more stable.

However, individuals inheriting a pure GAA repeat sequence may experience expansion over time, particularly in the cerebellum. 

“We think that, with time, the error grows, and it will grow because it is a pure sequence that, for whatever reason, is prone to errors,” Brais commented. “When the DNA is patched up, it makes errors, and [the error] continues to grow.”

Additionally, between 15 and 50 per cent of SCA patients have no family history of this disease. Research suggests that a short 17-base-pair DNA sequence upstream of the FGF14 seems key in stabilizing the GAA repeat sequence length. Therefore, people without this controlling region are more likely to develop SCA27B.

“Somewhere in the history of Europeans, some people probably lost this controlling region, and that makes this region more unstable, so it changes size,” Brais explained. “If it goes past a certain size, it will continue to increase even more, and if it passes a threshold size, then [the person] will develop the disease.”

The discovery of SCA27B represents a major step in refining SCA diagnosis, especially among individuals of European descent. Initially identified in French Canadians, where it accounts for nearly 60 per cent of SCA cases, SCA27B was later recognized as one of the most prevalent SCA variants worldwide.

“It is really worthwhile studying French Canadian genetics to find the cause of diseases,” Brais said.

Beyond ataxias, studying SCA genetics could offer broader insights into neurological disorders associated with aging. 

“I think it’s opening the door to a better understanding of aging in terms of memory or movement, like for Parkinson’s disease. But this is not the same; it’s aging in terms of balance,” Brais said.

Art, Arts & Entertainment

‘Little Burgundy – Evolving Montreal’ tells the story of a neighbourhood through the lens of Black resilience

by Hannah Nobile on

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When British-Canadian photographer Andrew Jackson first visited Montreal, he set out to find the city’s Black spaces. His search led him to the neighbourhood of Little Burgundy, formerly known as Saint-Antoine, where he encountered a paradox: Why is Little Burgundy considered a Black space when only 11 per cent of its residents are Black? The answer: An ongoing history of gentrification displacing what was once a thriving Black neighbourhood.

In the 19th century, Little Burgundy emerged as the home of Montreal’s most prominent English-speaking Black community. The city attracted Black workers from across North America and the Caribbean for employment within the expanding Canadian railway industry that prospered off the exploitation of low-wage labour. Home to 90 per cent of the city’s Black population, Little Burgundy flourished with cornerstone cultural institutions and activist groups. But from the 1960s onward, city plans for urban renewal tore the neighbourhood apart. Residents and organizations were expropriated while homes and Black-owned businesses were demolished. By 1996, a gentrified Little Burgundy housed a dwindling two per cent of the city’s Black population—leaving behind a gutted community. 

However, Little Burgundy wasn’t culturally acknowledged as a Black space until the 1980s. 

“I began to think about what happens when spaces become termed as Black. There are very few benefits from that definition […] Little Burgundy became a Black space when it was linked to notions of criminality and failure,” Jackson said in an interview with The Tribune.

His exhibition challenges that perspective. When the McCord Stewart Museum commissioned Jackson to document the sites and locals of Little Burgundy in the third iteration of its Evolving Montreal series capturing the transformation of the city’s neighbourhoods, he set out to explore the racialization of the space and how perceptions differ between Black and non-Black individuals. The exhibition features photographs and three poignant, uplifting short films exploring the stories of people and organizations within the community.

“For a Black person, a Black space is a space of sanctuary, it’s a space of survival, it’s a space that holds personal or communal memories,” he explained.

Jackson points to his photo of a boarded-up window and notes how an outsider could look at this and see a sign of failure, while the person living beyond those walls is reminded of their 10th birthday, a meal shared with loved ones, or a first kiss.

This duality of understanding forms the basis of his work. Among the frames adorning the walls, there are close-ups focusing on details throughout Little Burgundy’s streets, whether it be a crack in the sidewalk or the way the sunlight hits an apartment window. These shots, representing a surface-level impression of the area, are then contrasted with intimate portraits of the individuals that inhabit that space. 

Among them is Jason Fraser, an outspoken leader in Little Burgundy who directs a men’s group at the Tyndale St-Georges Community Centre.

“There’s a lot of things in Little Burgundy that taught me how to be a family man, that taught me how to love my community, that taught me how to represent it in a good way [….] I hope my kids continue to be proud of Little Burgundy and that everyone continues to talk about Little Burgundy, not in the negative but in the positive. That’s my goal,” Fraser said.

By spotlighting the individuality of the people within Little Burgundy, Jackson fosters a sense of shared connection with the viewer. It provides a glimpse into a resilient Black community that would otherwise be invisible to those who have shaped their understanding of the space from negative cultural assumptions. The residents of Little Burgundy have a lifetime of personal memories and experiences that outsiders couldn’t know. This exhibition amplifies their voice.  

“As a Black Canadian looking across the border at what’s happening in America, I think right now that making Black people, Black bodies visible, giving an opportunity for Black voices to be heard is a political act. It’s an act of resilience in the face of that erasure,” said Jackson.

Little Burgundy will continue to change. Jackson’s documentary photography stands as a challenge to the erasure of its history and to its negative associations. Instead, it ensures that its legacy is not lost to gentrification. The exhibition isn’t just a visual testament to resilience but also a catalyst for dialogue on the ongoing transition of the community that through time, has been shaped, empowered, and threatened, yet remains at the heart of Montreal’s identity.

Little Burgundy – Evolving Montreal will be exhibited at the McCord Stewart Museum until Sept. 28.

A portion of these interviews were translated from French.

Out on the Town, Student Life

Unmissable events happening this month

by Malika Logossou on

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With the roads defrosting, the weather warming, and the clock springing forward, Montreal is back and better than ever with a bunch of activities to take advantage of the (relatively) temperate temperatures. Lucky for you, The Tribune has compiled a list to keep you occupied in the upcoming weeks—if you’re one of the lucky few who has a lull between midterms and finals, anyways.

1. Festival Art Souterrain

From March 15 to April 16, the 16th annual Festival Art Souterrain will transform Montreal’s underground city into a contemporary art exhibition. The festival will feature 30 artists and five exhibit venues, as well as free artistic activities following this year’s theme: The environment. Entrance is free, although some activities, such as guided tours, require purchasing a ticket. 

One of the perks of the festival is that it is underground—as much as we enjoy the weather getting warmer, it is still freezing outside, and there’s always the inevitable late-March snowstorm. The Underground City spans across 33 kilometers, serving as a pedestrian network right under the heart of Montreal that connects metro stations, shopping centers, and cultural landmarks. This festival is the perfect way to explore art while staying warm and getting to know one of Montreal’s most famous landmarks. 

2. International Festival of Films on Art

If you’d rather see your art through a video camera, this festival may be for you! From March 13 to March 30, the International Festival of Films on Art will be presenting hundreds of short and feature-length films on art and culture in cinemas in various locations downtown in light of its 43rd edition. This festival is your chance to watch captivating movies, paintings, photography, music, and dance, exploring Montreal’s rich artistic culture. The virtual edition extends until March 30, allowing you to enjoy the art from the comfort of your home if you are unable to make it in person. 

3. Cabane Panache

If you live in Quebec and you’ve never been to a cabane à sucre, can you really say you have lived the Quebec experience? Even if you have been to one before, not going to Cabane Panache this year would mean missing out on one of the province’s sweetest traditions! From March 20 to 23, on Promenade Wellington, you can find maple syrup delights, live folk music, and expanded festivities. This year’s edition is special as it is part of Verdun’s 150th-anniversary celebrations. Be sure not to miss out on the largest urban sugar shack festival, and bring some of your friends along while you are at it. Additionally, it is not too far from McGill by metro, as it is located near De l’Église metro station. 

4. Montreal’s St. Patrick’s Parade

On March 16, Montreal’s St. Patrick’s Parade will take place on Rue de Maisonneuve, from Fort St. to Jeanne-Mance, starting at noon. It has happened annually since 1824, making it the second most famous Irish parade in North America, behind New York. Expect floats, marching bands, musicians, and performers flooding the streets. Whether you have Irish roots or just love a good celebration, this event is a must-see! 

5. The Montreal National Women’s Show

From March 28 to March 30, enjoy a weekend of fashion, beauty, wellness, and lifestyle at the Montreal National Women’s Show. At the Palais des Congrès, the show will feature over 320 exhibitors providing attendees with food, wine tastings, fashion shows, celebrity guests, free beauty makeovers, health and beauty tips, cooking demonstrations, interior-design advice and travel ideas. Conferences and workshops complete the program of this event dedicated to women. 

Montreal has covered you for March, so mark your calendars and make the most of these upcoming events!

McGill, News

McGill Food Coalition’s weekly calendar plants seeds for alternative food system

by Eliza Lee on

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Throughout the Winter 2025 semester, the McGill Food Coalition (MFC) has posted a weekly calendar compiling food service events on campus, from free lunches to events discussing food sustainability. MFC is a student-run group that represents and coordinates projects between food advocacy groups, including the Student Nutrition Accessibility Club (SNAC), Midnight Kitchen, and Happy Belly. 

In an interview with The Tribune, Mia Szabo, U3 Arts and a project leader for the MFC, explained that the calendar seeks to improve students’ access to nutritious, affordable, and sustainable foods. She added that by compiling the services of its member groups, the calendar enables students to more easily incorporate them into weekly meal planning. 

“On Monday, I can get SNAC groceries,” Szabo said. “On Wednesday, I can go to Midnight Kitchen. On Friday, there’s Happy Belly, and in between, there’s workshops.”

Szabo also drew attention to the symbolic significance of the calendar in showing that student food advocacy groups are united in their efforts to combat food insecurity. 

“We really want to convey a sense of cohesiveness across the different groups, which in the past, might not even know that each other existed,” Szabo said. “We’re all working towards a common goal, which is servicing McGill students and the McGill community.”

Szabo emphasized that the calendar contributes to MFC’s larger commitment to creating an alternative food system on campus, filling gaps left by the traditional food system centred upon for-profit companies. 

Élèves des Champs—a student-run ecological garden on the Macdonald Campus—is among the member groups of MFC. Reflecting on the MFC’s work beyond the calendar, Sam Liptay, U3 Science and representative from Élèves des Champs, echoed the coalition’s role in tackling food insecurity holistically and addressing common obstacles between student groups. 

“Something that people [have been asking] is, ‘What are the limits to growth for each group?’, and trying to assess those and see if this can be overcome, and see if there [are] commonalities,” Liptay said. 

For Jeanne Arnould, U4 Arts and a representative from DefaultVeg McGill, MFC is a key way to increase the visibility of food advocacy groups for students, something that is crucial given that it can be challenging to find an updated list of active clubs and services on campus. DefaultVeg promotes plant-based eating through catering services and other food sustainability events, such as vegan snack nights. 

“When you do have a club, you need to go table at Activities Night and hope that some people will be interested, otherwise your student club or group kind of dies,” Arnould told The Tribune. “So [MFC’s] initiative to actually structure [these groups under a coalition] is really, really valuable.”

In a written statement, Hugo-Victor Solomon, Vice-President External of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU), noted that rising inflation and the lack of food options on campus are among the main drivers of food insecurity for students. However, Solomon believes that SSMU signing a new Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with McGill on Feb. 28 may help bring more food venues to the University Centre.

“I’m happy to say that given the signing of the new 5-year MoA, […] it’ll be a lot easier to secure contractors in a more streamlined process through having a management agreement with the University in place—and to get more food service tenants in the building ASAP,” Solomon wrote.

Although Solomon reported that SSMU is not currently collaborating with MFC “in any official capacity,” he wrote that the student union will seek to work with them to revise SSMU’s Food Security Policy in the future. 

Lia Boretsky, U4 Science and co-president of SNAC, hopes to see greater collaboration between student groups under MFC and underscored the mutual benefit that comes from this work. Boretsky recalled several weeks when SNAC was able to prevent wasting leftover produce from their weekly Good Food Box distribution service by offering it to Midnight Kitchen for their lunch program. 

“It’s more effective when we work together and collaborate, rather than just being our own [groups], because then things go to waste,” Boretsky said. “We all have the same mission, and if we come together and be more strategic […] it’s going to have a better result for the students.”

Editorial, Opinion

Censorship of genocide is inherently anti-education

by The Tribune Editorial Board on

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Quebec Minister of Higher Education Pascale Déry has recently come under fire for her interference in course content at Dawson College, where she demanded that a French language course about Palestinian literature avoid sensitive topics. Shortly after, Déry made a similar intervention in a Palestinian literature course at Vanier College. The minister justified these investigations by claiming that the content was “explosive” and that students deserve a “healthy and safe” environment. Déry’s interventions are not unlike McGill’s own actions towards rejecting discussion of Palestine in classrooms, the exclusion of the word “Palestine” or “genocide” in the university’s email communications with the student body, and the Post Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS)’s removal of words such as “Gaza” and “genocide” from their motions of solidarity with Palestine. 

Stifling discussion of Israel’s genocide in Gaza—or any other major geopolitical crisis—dismisses the lived realities of those involved, stunts positive change, and enables educational institutions to remain passive in their own contribution to acts of violence around the world. Suppressing conversation, especially that which is the most contentious and the most uncomfortable, heightens tensions and propagates misinformation. 

Israel’s genocide in Gaza touches so many students in traumatic and deeply distressing ways, and the university setting is uniquely equipped to facilitate discussion around it in a respectful and informed space. As experts and professionals, university professors can act as knowledgeable mediators and encourage evidence-based dialogue in their students. In this way, not only is open discussion of weighty subjects itself destigmatized, but students are open to learning from one another instead of festering in repressed feelings and unspoken polarized conflict.

Geopolitical tensions do not cease to exist if a university chooses not to talk about them. Such silence sends the message that the lives affected by and lost to these injustices are not worth addressing in the classroom, thus enabling a false sense of detachment from those realities. McGill itself is instrumental in the genocide, as it continues to invest over $70 million CAD in more than 50 companies complicit in upholding Israel’s apartheid regime. The symbolic weight of these investments is greater than their monetary value; McGill is a world-class institution of higher education, whose actions set a precedent for other educational institutions in Canada and abroad. 

Suppression of uncomfortable discussion not only pacifies past violence, but reproduces it. After an unidentified group in support of Palestine broke windows in McGill’s Leacock Building in February, President and Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini sent a message to students classifying these protestors as threats to students though no one was harmed. His message ignored the purpose of the protest entirely, instead criminalizing the pro-Palestine cause. This rhetorical tactic imbues reductive biases into the discussion of the genocide in Gaza, while simultaneously villainizing protest—by students or otherwise—and discouraging future action. It is in this fear-mongering environment, where certain causes are hand-picked as acceptable or not based on their convenience for the university, where polarizing narratives and heightened tension are encouraged in place of constructive dialogue and progress. 

McGill’s student body and faculty must continue to hold the university accountable for its ongoing complicity in violence and its suppression of crucial discussion. McGill and its student body must also show consistent and energetic solidarity with Dawson College, Vanier College, and the entire CEGEP system, where the grassroots of student activism in Quebec is growing. 

Ultimately, amidst censorship, suppression, and polarizing curation, it is critical that each of us individually continue to have uncomfortable conversations, both to educate others and to learn from others with an open mind. This could be with friends, family, classmates, or professors, but it must continue. We, as students, must challenge our professors when a syllabus is devoid of Palestinian, women, 2SLGBTQ+, BIPOC voices, and professors—especially those protected by tenure—must encourage and facilitate uncomfortable conversations. The power of individuals and their communal discourses in the fight against suppression is immense—neither the administration nor the McGill community can forget it.

Commentary, Opinion

Quebec’s budget cuts to sexual violence survey put students at risk

by Defne Feyzioglu on

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Quebec recently cancelled a survey investigating sexual violence on CEGEP and higher education campuses. This cancellation sets a damaging precedent for future policies on sexual violence and student protection, as well as for the salience of institutional accountability, creating a less regulated and more dangerous campus environment. Without data evidencing the frequency and severity of this crisis, it becomes invisible, and institutions can get away with ignoring it.

In Canada, one in three women above the age of 15 report to have experienced sexual assault at least once. This prevalence is reflected acutely on Quebec campuses, where 14 per cent of all reports and complaints to the Quebec ombudsman are related to sexual violence. The need for stronger protections and data-driven policies is vital. Yet, the government has removed a key mechanism for understanding and addressing campus sexual violence. How can an issue be addressed when those in power don’t consider it significant enough to research?

Without the survey, there is no longer a direct, survivor-centred means to monitor sexual violence and available safety measures on Quebec campuses. The Quebec government has justified this cancellation as a cost-saving measure. However, survivors pay the real price. The absence of data does not suggest the absence of violence. It only means that survivors are left unsupported and without a system willing to acknowledge their experiences. Thus, students will continue to face sexual violence with fewer protections and less institutional support. Quebec Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry stated that a broader provincial mental health survey will incorporate data about sexual violence, but merging a specific issue into a general study risks diluting critical insights and overlooking key patterns. Without a dedicated survey, the true scope of the crisis may be misrepresented or ignored entirely. 

The government is not just neglecting its responsibility; it is deliberately turning its back on a problem that causes profound trauma for thousands of women, and demands urgent and ongoing attention. When the government fails, it is up to institutions to step up, take initiative, and ensure that student safety is not sacrificed for bureaucratic convenience. A campus without proper reporting mechanisms does not protect students; it protects perpetrators. Silence does not create safety but guarantees invisibility.

This invisibility is not distributed equally. 2SLGBTQIA+ students, students with disabilities, international students, racialized students, and women already experience sexual violence on campus at disproportionately high rates. The cancellation of this survey makes the severity of their realities even easier to erase. By cutting research funding, the government merely shifts the burden onto underfunded and understaffed organizations like the Office for Sexual Violence, Response, Support, and Education (OSVRSE), leaving it to them to fill the gaps while struggling with limited resources. 

Higher education campuses are not responsible for Quebec’s failure, but in the face of the cancellation of this survey, they have an important choice: Follow the Quebec government’s pattern of neglect or take real, independent action. If the province refuses to track sexual violence, institutions themselves must. McGill must acknowledge that safety does not start with response but with prevention. A commitment to student safety is a choice that must be reflected in action, policy, and transparency.

The government’s decision to erase data instead of addressing sexual violence is not just an oversight. Though there are still a number of alternative forms of data collection in regards to sexual violence, they are not as tailored to Quebec’s school campuses in particular as the cancelled survey was, and thus hold less weight in institutional protections of sexual violence on campuses. Sexual violence is still happening, and will only intensify if the importance of sexual violence data is forgotten. The loss of data makes it difficult to assess whether the measures Quebec has taken to improve campus safety are working, and whose stories of sexual violence are going unheard.

Sports

Tennis world no. 1 Jannik Sinner suspended for three months amidst doping controversy

by Ethan Kahn on

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Tennis is full of exciting young superstars, from Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz to the U.S.’s Ben Shelton; however, nobody may be as talented or as dominant as Jannik Sinner. The 23-year-old from the South Tyrol region of Italy has racked up three Grand Slam wins and over $56 million CAD in prize money. Yet his meteoric rise to the top of the tennis world has hit a considerable speed-bump. 

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), an international organization comprised of more than 140 countries helping fight against performance-enhancing drugs in sports, handed Sinner a three-month suspension from Feb. 9 to May 4 after he tested positive for the performance enhancer Clostebol. The suspension stipulates that for its duration, Sinner is not allowed to participate in any Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour events. 

The circumstances of Sinner’s suspension and the question of whether or not he intended to cheat or gained any advantages from Clostebol are murky at best. Sinner’s original positive test was from March 10, 2024, after he beat Jan-Lennard Struff in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. Sinner’s physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi was using an over-the-counter spray that contained the steroid Clostebol for a cut on his finger. Naldi massaged Sinner throughout the tournament, and Sinner’s team argued that the Italian superstar was inadvertently exposed to Clostebol through Naldi. The International Tennis Integrity Association (ITIA) issued two bans for Sinner, both of which were reversed on appeal.

Following Sinner’s dominant U.S. Open win in September to claim his second Grand Slam title, WADA announced that they were filing an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, where they sought to ban Sinner from any tennis competition for one to two years. This launched another lengthy legal battle and thrust Sinner into the spotlight yet again. This time, he could not escape unscathed. WADA gave him a three-month ban, which, considering their initial one- to two-year goal, let Sinner off lightly.

However, their explanation for their decision did nothing to put the case to bed. WADA not only acknowledged that Sinner’s team was able to prove any Clostebol use was completely unintentional, but also said that their findings did not indicate that Sinner gained any competitive advantage from his accidental exposure to the steroid. When considering these facts, it seems that Sinner was hard done by.

Many questions have been raised by critics on the handling of Sinner’s case and whether or not it creates a double standard for elite athletes. While it is true that Sinner’s punishment may not be the correct decision, he avoided two provisional suspensions through emergency appeals to lift them. Any other player would likely have been forced to serve at least one of the provisional suspensions handed down by the ITIA. Twenty-four-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic sounded off, saying that there were inconsistencies in the treatment of Sinner versus other players who had similar cases.

While the legal drama seems to be in the past for now, Sinner will have to work hard to return to his best. Three months away from competition is a massive challenge in a sport that requires an incredible amount of focus. Sinner will need to get back into the right mindset before his return to competition at the Italian Open on home soil in Rome, which begins May 7. Fans will be hoping this saga is a mere blip on Sinner’s path to greatness, and that he will use this experience to motivate himself to reach the incredible heights that those in the tennis world know he can achieve.

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