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a, Off the Board, Opinion

Michael Angelakos’ coming out and sensationalism in media

by Jack Neal on

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During a recent podcast interview, Michael Angelakos—lead singer of Passion Pit—discussed his sexuality, stating that “I like girls, I like boys, everyone’s fantastic; but you know what? I’m gay. Finally.” The interview revolved around a number of other highly personal topics: His anxiety, bipolar disorder, history of suicide attempts, and his emotional breakdowns—all of which he has been very upfront about over the course of his career. Given his transparency with his mental health issues, Angelakos’ decision to finally and officially ‘come out’ speaks to something larger and more overarching: The sensationalized and socially constructed practice of ‘coming out’ itself.

After the interview was published, publications such as Complex, CBS, and Entertainment Weekly were quick to jump on this one particular snippet of the conversation, glorifying his sexuality as the sole topic that was discussed. Despite developments in social consciousness of identity issues, such as, but not limited to, sexuality, ‘being gay’ is still a headline-maker. Thus, both ‘coming out’ and one’s sexuality—if it’s not straight—is based on divergence from a socially determined norm. Put simply, he did not have to come out as straight; where heterosexuality is assumed, homosexuality is announced. Nevertheless, the ‘less-is-more’ approach he took with discussing his sexuality is a hopeful indication of future progress. “Being as honest and transparent as you can be is actually really really empowering. Because finally you are, you know, it shows that you have guts,” he said in his contribution to the Bring Change 2 Mind campaign.

Put simply, he did not have to come out as straight; where heterosexuality is assumed, homosexuality is announced.

The concept of ‘coming out’ is rooted in categories, labels, and division. In contrast, heterosexuality is linked to the social status quo: It’s easy and ordinary. Moreover, it is also often unintentionally perpetuated and presumed through heteronormative assumption. His sexual confusion was easier to ignore than face: “When you are teetering on the edge of heterosexuality and homosexuality or whatever, and you don’t know what’s going on, it’s so much more comfortable to just keep going back to what you know,” he said in the interview.

There have recently been many methods of coming out; for instance, actress Ellen Page made a public announcement on stage to a large audience, and Olympic diver Tom Daley published a YouTube video to announce that his partner is the same sex—both of which are important in their own way in making a statement. By casually bringing up his sexual desire for men as part of the larger conversation about his relationship with his ex-wife, the media, and his bipolar disorder, it is much more aligned with the more modern notion that sexuality doesn’t define, and thus shouldn’t be defining.

The media’s reaction to his disorder was also sensationalized: Pitchfork wrote an extended article entitled “Inside the Brilliant and Troubled Mind of Passion Pit”—which, while shedding light on his struggles, also inherently enforced and sensationalised his fight with his bipolar disorder. In his experience, recovery was contingent on a diagnosis. Despite improvements in destigmatizing previously taboo topics, such as mental health, acceptance of the implications of these topics on the individual remains in short supply. When the band cancelled its shows in 2012 in order for Angelakos to receive treatment, they received huge backlash from fans and critics. The negative response from his fans when he went ‘public’ about his bipolar disorder was a factor in why he remained silent about his sexuality for longer.

While the understanding of sexuality has transformed over time from stigma to the intersection of sexuality with other aspects of identity, such as race, gender, and class issues, this transformation remains incomplete. There is an inherent irony to the process of coming out: even though the topic was broached subtly in this case, it was quickly sensationalized by the media.

There is the argument that coming out is necessary to raise awareness and shed light on the normality of ‘being gay.’ But there is also the flipside: That coming out is an inherently socially-constructed convention. Angelakos’ experience, while not representative, is a reminder of the media’s participation in the perpetuation of heteronormative social constructs.

 

 

 

 

 

Jack Neal is an Arts & Entertainment editor at the McGill Tribune.

@McGillTribOp | [email protected]

 

 

a, Know Your Athlete, Sports

Know Your Athlete: Nicolas Khandar

by Zikomo Smith on

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Nicolas Khandar, an explosive sophomore running back for the Redmen football team, is a surprising and adaptable man. A Frenchman born and raised, Khandar embraced football after moving away from the Parisian suburbs of his childhood to study in Canada. He later represented the French National Football Team in the IFAF World Championships. Khandar’s passion for football is at the heart of his journey.

“In France, American football is not a big [thing],” Khandar explained. “But [at 13,] my best friend told me—‘Oh you know American football, maybe we have to try it.’ And one day we went to the team near to our houses. It was good.”

Khandar is part of the sport’s growing popularity in France—the Federation Francaise de Football Americain boasts 208 teams and 21,085 players today in comparison with only nine teams back in 1983.

“I like a lot of aspects [of] the sport,” Khandar said. “I like the contact; I like the speed, the American culture.”

Khandar took to football quickly and joined the age group ranks of the French National Team in 2010. He was part of the fourth-place French National Team in last summer’s World Championships in Madrid. The squad blew away the competition—Khandar had two touchdowns in a 53-3 quarterfinal drubbing of Australia—before running into the powerhouse U.S.A. team. in the semifinals. Khandar had the opportunity to play under Head Coach Patrick Esume, who had previous experience as a coaching consultant with various NFL teams, including the Oakland Raiders.

“I have played with the French National Team for, maybe five years,” Khandar said, “I am a little bit nationalistic. [This summer] was a very good experience because I know a lot of the guys in the team. It was a new coaching staff, but it was a good experience.”

Khandar’s French connection got him recruited to the Cégep de Thetford, where he excelled on the football field. He recorded 1,374 yards on 9.5 yards per carry, and scored 12 touchdowns in his sole year at Thetford.

“The [coach] in Thetford, he is a French guy,” Khandar explained. “So he always watches French players, and one day he contacted me and asked me if I wanted to try in Canada, and I went.”

And, even though powerhouse programs like Laval recruited Khandar, his best friend encouraged him to come to McGill—just as he swayed his decision to play football in the first place.

“[I came] because my best friend came to McGill too, and during my visit to McGill, I really appreciated the coach, he was so cool,” Khandar said. “I [also] really liked the academic aspect.”

Khandar had a promising, but injury-riddled, sophomore campaign for McGill. He had a mid-season concussion and was on crutches after McGill’s homecoming matchup with Concordia. Khandar’s game, however, is studded with an array of jukes and excellent acceleration. His best game of the season came against Acadia where he went off for 155 yards and a touchdown on only eight carries.

For now, Khandar will continue studying for his Certificate of English Proficiency, though he hopes to transfer into the school of Dietetics and Human Nutrition. The question remains if he will he stay in Montreal after graduating. For someone used to being flexible and moving across cities, he is unsurprisingly ambivalent.

“If I find work in Montreal after school, maybe I will stay,” Khandar says.

McGill Tribune (MT): Who is your favourite superhero?

Nicolas Khandar (NK): Batman. He doesn’t have a superpower, but I think he can beat every villain because he is so smart and has all the gadgets.

 

MT: Do you prefer French or American rap?

NK: French.

 

MT: Which street do you prefer, Saint-Catherine or Saint-Laurent?

NK: Saint-Catherine. I like the shops, I often go shopping.

 

MT: What’s your favourite NFL team?

NK: Pittsburgh Steelers.

 

MT: Who will win the Super Bowl?

NK: Denver Broncos or Pittsburgh Steelers.

a, Science & Technology

Making it through final exams: ‘Stressing-out’ can make or break you

by Uzair Khan on

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A sense of urgency begins to loom on campus as finals approach. Libraries get more crowded, lines at Tim Hortons get longer, and all-nighters become more frequent. With all the pressure to do well, finals tends to generate a great deal of stress among students. But what exactly is stress? 

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the mere mention of the word stress can cause stress. The Mayo Clinic defines it as “a psychological and physical reaction to the ever-increasing demands of life.” These demands could be small, like finding a new route to class, or drastic, like moving to a new city, getting a new job, or attending a new school. 

As a general principle, the human body likes to maintain a relatively stable internal environment, known as homeostasis. External changes can lead to a physiological response that disturb the body’s homeostasis. This is felt as stress. 

In the past, stress caused by external stimuli served to protect humans from potential threats like predators. Nowadays, despite the emergence of different stimuli and demands from life, the body’s physiological response, or stress mechanism, has remained the same. Also known as the “flight or fight response,” this stress mechanism is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system. 

Whenever the brain senses a threat (stressor) the sympathetic nervous system is activated. A few complex reactions later, the hormone epinephrine is released by the adrenal glands. Epinephrine results in higher pulse rate, increased blood pressure, and rapid breathing. The person experiencing these becomes more alert and all the senses become sharp. As epinephrine’s effects begin to subside, the secondary component of the stress response is activated. Known as the HPA axis, it uses a series of hormonal signals to keep the sympathetic nervous system repressed.

Normally, this benefits the individual by mounting an appropriate response to the stressor. Once the threat is terminated, the body returns to normal through the workings of the parasympathetic nervous system. Problems begin to emerge, however, when a person is constantly bombarded by stressors for a long period of time resulting in chronic stress.

“Persistent epinephrine surges can damage blood vessels and arteries, increasing blood pressure and raising risk of heart attacks and strokes,” a report by Harvard Health Publications reads.

Students during finals are very susceptible to periods of chronic stress. They often put in huge amounts of work and time into their studies. Small doses of stress can be beneficial because increased alertness and sharper senses can make students work at higher levels. Constant stress, however, can be quite harmful. 

The Mayo Clinic reports on its website that overactivation of the stress pathway leads to headaches, muscle tension, fatigue, sleep problems, anxiety, lack of motivation, and depression reports.

These symptoms, if experienced during finals, or any other time of the year, are detrimental to the student. Unfortunately, stress is an integral part of a college student’s life. But it is the way a student responds to the stress that is important. 

A 2008 Associated Press and mtvU survey of college students found that 80 per cent of college students say they frequently or sometimes experience stress. To cope with this stress, a student can rely on family, friends, and the services provided by their respective university. McGill, for example, provides special therapy sessions with kittens and dogs to relieve some stress. Qualified counsellors are also available to provide support.

The world is filled with constant stressors. Stress-management, therefore, is a serious subject that individuals should work on to ensure a healthy future.

a, Editorial, Opinion

Editorial: Unmoderated online culture has become unsustainable in SSMU elections

by McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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Candidates for any elected position may anticipate mudslinging, as it is part and parcel of any campaigning process; however, harassment to the point of dropping out is unacceptable, especially at the student level. This harassment does not necessarily take place between campaign teams—it plays out in online forums where anyone, regardless of whether they are members of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) or not, may engage in criticism and personal attacks. 

SSMU elections have reached a breaking point. It is no longer sustainable for candidates to take part in or be subject to such an intensely negative online culture. While increasing student interest in the short term, online turmoil only serves to further alienate the student body in the long run. Currently, Elections SSMU, which has some control over the candidates insofar as the bylaws mandate, is not equipped to handle the challenges of such a culture; thus, the incentives for both candidates and the electorate who participates in these tactics must be adjusted in order to discourage a negative electoral culture.

The judicial board and Elections SSMU are institutions that ought to protect or sanction candidates when necessary. But the proliferation of a negative online community full of false accounts, personal attacks, and baseless accusations exposes the weaknesses of these channels. Anyone, whether or not they are members of SSMU, may post allegations, complaints, and criticisms related to the candidates. This takes the decision to punish a candidate beyond official channels—when the vote can be influenced by untrue claims, the fairness of an election is reduced. 

For an electorate that vocally laments the lack of representation in SSMU, the engagement in negative commentary perpetuates that cycle itself.

To ensure that accusations are formally investigated, candidates must direct any allegation to Elections SSMU. Anonymity protects those who incite negative commentary from repercussions; candidates become open targets for online harassment. SSMU may not feel the immediate consequences of online polemics, but the impact will quickly manifest itself. The pool of candidates has already been small in recent elections—three out of six executive positions were uncontested in the Winter 2015 election, and there were initially no candidates at all for the VP External position. For an electorate that vocally laments the lack of representation in SSMU, the engagement in negative commentary perpetuates that cycle itself.

Part of the issue is the platform on which campaigns take place. Although Facebook is an inherently personal platform, the shift cannot be blamed on the internet by itself—personal attacks can occur through any medium. Criticism is necessary to encourage a healthy debate and analysis of the viability of candidates, but the balance between reasonable and unreasonable scrutiny has tipped towards the latter. Regardless of whether an allegation is true or not, or what Elections SSMU or the judicial board decides, it is allowed to fester online to limited consequence­—only candidates themselves can be held accountable to byalws. Freedom of expression thus comes into conflict with the fairness of an election.

Although the problem resides in the attitudes of a select few who perpetuate online negativity, Elections SSMU may provide the impetus for change. Currently, it acts when issues are brought forward, and even then its enforcement of these guidelines is inconsistent. Instead, it should set strict, unambiguous rules to which all candidates must adhere during any campaign. Such rules may entail a strict penalty to those who engage negative commentators, making the de-escalation of conflict a priority. It may also establish a positive incentive system whereby campaigns that have a positive online setting—defined by active discussion and criticism without crossing the line to harassment—are rewarded. This will not eliminate the problem, but it may help to mitigate the consequences.

Personality is inevitably a factor at play in SSMU elections, as candidates are individuals rather than partisan. But some members of the McGill community have lost a sense for what is legitimate criticism and inquiry and inexcusable personal attacks—the latter can cause lasting negative impacts on the individuals targeted. While the stakes of student government are certainly high—given that the position is paid and entails extensive responsibilities—a line must be entrenched to protect future candidates and the sustainability of student elections themselves. Candidates must be able to present themselves as peers; they cannot be dehumanized.

a, Opinion

Questioning the value of Canada’s Syrian refugee pledge

by Zachary Carson on

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To the majority of the public’s approval and a minority’s chagrin, the Liberal government has pledged to take in 25,000 refugees before Christmas. Whether dealing with climate change initiatives or Syrian refugees, the Canadian government will set specific policy targets. While setting lofty goals is admirable, it is not always the best solution to a problem; rather it is a political success in and of itself.

When a prime minister announces to the country that the government will strive to achieve a particular goal—say, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by six per cent in the next 12 years—it is usually seen by the public as laudable. Simply setting these targets becomes an accomplishment unto itself. As with the Canadian government’s Kyoto commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions by six per cent by 2012, setting the targets allowed the government to claim they were addressing climate change—regardless of whether or not the goals were achieved. In the end, even though the six per cent reduction was not achievable, the government benefitted. If, instead, the government were to have not set concrete (and unreasonable) targets, much more might have been achieved in the cutting emissions.

Lofty targets often do little to solve continuing problems and fail to address underlying structural issues. Instead, it is sometimes beneficial to take the modest path, working on long term solutions that, while not as noble-looking to the public, ultimately do more.

Specific pledges are not always unreasonable, however, and are often actually achieved. But when goals are met, this can create the problem of seeing ongoing issues as ‘solved.’ When the target is attained, focus is often shifted away to a different issue, even though the initial problem is ongoing and more can be done. Had the Kyoto commitments actually been achieved, it is not hard to see the government claiming to have done their part to address climate change, and seeking to move on to other politically salient issues.

If the Liberal government's pledge to take in 25,000 refugees before Christmas is successful, then it could have the dangerous effect of satisfying the Canadian government’s political requirement to assist in the refugee crisis. Were the government committed to the issue long term, many more refugees might make it to Canada, as there would be no specific amount that Canada would be striving to take in. Twenty-five thousand refugees is a high bar, and could pressure the government to do more than it otherwise would in addressing the current crisis.

The problem is not the first—and certainly not the last of its ilk. It could be more beneficial to restructure Canada’s immigration system to be able to accept a higher number of refugees continually than to spend political capital on a one-time influx of 25,000. The only costs of shifting policy from a temporary target to creating a better immigration system are political. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would not be able to announce— presumably in front of a large crowd (possibly with some grateful newly immigrated Syrians behind him)—that Canada has done a great thing. Instead, a government institution would fulfill its mandate efficiently and quietly in the background. Effective government bureaucracies are invisible when they are working, and invisibility doesn’t score many political points.

Hearing the prime minister announce a new goal that the government has set stirs feelings of pride—a sensation that is magnified when it is actually reached. Setting a high bar on any relevant issue, whether climate change or the refugee crisis, captures the public’s eye and tends to garner high approval; however, lofty targets often do little to solve continuing problems and fail to address underlying structural issues. Instead, it is sometimes beneficial to take the modest path, working on long term solutions, that while not as noble-looking to the public, ultimately do more.

Zachary Carson is a fourth year joint honours political science and international development student. He enjoys listening to Canadaland podcasts, watching Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and dogs.

@McGillTribOp | [email protected]

a, Student Life

Local boutique ibiki brings tranquility and style

by Marina Sulmona on

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Located on Boulevard Saint-Laurent at the intersection of Rue Marie-Anne Ouest, ibiki houses a carefully curated mix of clothing, accessories, and art magazines. The boutique embraces an array of international influences, and brings a penchant for minimalist style to the heart of the Plateau.  

The wide, immaculately clear glass windows enclosing ibiki are adorned with black framing, giving the exterior a polished appearance. Upon stepping into the boutique, shoppers are greeted by staff members who are warm, knowledgeable, and above all, effortlessly cool. It becomes evident that the space is not solely a place for purchasing the latest designer garments—though an ideal location for clothes shopping, the store boasts a more extensive collection of goods.  

Designs by Commes des Garcons, Helmut Lang, and Cheap Monday all occupy their own corners of the store. A display of the latest Nikes graces the back wall. The affordability of the clothing and the locations where designs are sourced from vary; but products high quality and mesh with the store’s aesthetic. 

It is clear upon first glance that the store embraces a clean and simplistic aesthetic. Modular white shelves carefully showcase design, fashion, and architecture magazines from varying corners of the globe. The walls of the store are all a pristine white. Sculptural installations comprised of hangers meticulously pinned against one another decorate blank spaces in the store. They are arranged by the owner, Jonah Leslie, giving a glimpse of the hands-on attitude he has towards his work.  

[URIS id=38789]

 

Leslie set up shop in 2011, after outgrowing his first shop of similar concept, Oldgold. A veteran of the fashion and design world, Leslie approached the inception of ibiki with a similar attitude to his previous endeavours.

“[I want to put] creativity at the forefront, while connecting Montreal to independent designers from around the world,” Leslie wrote in an email to the Tribune. 

With this aim in mind, the project is right on target. 

According to Leslie, the literal meaning of ibiki is ‘snoring’ in Japanese; however, the word takes on another level of complexity as it has meaning in many languages, designating different things in each. It thus can be interpreted in a myriad of ways by its audience. 

“Functionality, wearability, comfort and accessibility are the main criterias in my buys […] amassing a worldly collection of east meets west destined for people here,” Leslie explained.

This worldly influence evident within the store is rooted in Leslie’s affinity for travel and exploration. 

“Since I live here and come from here, it’s certain Montreal influences my subconscious,” Leslie said. “But I tend to take references from elsewhere, and expose myself probably more to culture when I travel. It’s not that I don’t [immerse myself in culture] here, I do. But I ingest more elsewhere, and [distribute] locally.” Although not limited geographically, much of this inspiration comes from Scandinavia, Korea, and Japan. 

The boutique’s forays into differing aspects of design and fashion are ever-expanding. With the addition of stationary and perfume last year, and the print section the year before, it is exciting to consider what will come next.

“The development of the shop is ever-present because it’s a grassroots project started with nothing really, so room for expansion is limitless,” Leslie said. “At least that’s how I look at it.” 

For what comes next, customers can look forward to a print section that brings together works from artists, both international and local, launching this season, and an in-house line the next. Constantly innovating and expanding its collection, ibiki proves to be anything but tired. 

Ibiki is located at 4357 Boulevard Saint-Laurent. You can also find them online at http://ibiki.co.

a, Basketball, Sports

Shooting the Breeze: The cream of the NBA draft crop

by Nicholas Jasinski, Zikomo Smith, Elie Waitzer, Arman Bery on

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The 2015 NBA draft class wasn’t quite as deep as 2014, but the level of talent crammed into the top four was mind boggling. Fans from Philadelphia to Los Angeles were given new hope as their struggling franchises each got a player who could be the key to the future. It’s too early to tell how their careers will pan out, but each of these studs have the potential to turn into something special.

 

  •  

    Kristaps Porzingis

     

  •  

    Karl-Anthony Towns

     

  •  

    Jahlil Okafor

     

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    D’Angelo Russell

     

 

Scary Car
a, Arts & Entertainment, Books

Flashback: “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” (1974)

by Evelyn Goessling on

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The Vietnam War and the correlated counterculture movement disenchanted many young people with the way society functioned, and for some, the outlet to this frustration was murder. The ‘60s also saw a rise in serial killers, including Charles Schmid—also known as the Pied Piper of Tucson—who murdered three young women between 1964 and 1965. During that same year—1965—Bob Dylan wrote the song “Its All Over Now, Baby Blue,” supposedly about the end of his relationship with singer Joan Baez. In 1966, Joyce Carol Oates combined Dylan’s song and the story of the Schmid murders and wrote the short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” in which she brings one victim’s experience to life. There is no explicit connection between Dylan’s song and the Schmid murders, but the farewell ballad has strong connections to the murders and to Oates’ story. The story, especially with its connections to the murder and Dylan’s song, is emblematic of the influence of music  changing societal norms that led some young men to take drastic and tragic action at the cost of innocent lives. 

In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” Connie, the protagonist, is presented as a typical young teen: Vain, jealous, frustrated with her overbearing mother, and obsessed with the boys she meets at a drive-in restaurant near the highway. In “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue,” Dylan cautions, “The highway is for gamblers, better use your sense,” in a foreboding nod to the incident that, for Connie, starts at the restaurant by the side of the road. Just a few months before these words were written, Schmid drove at length into the Arizona desert and murdered his first victim, Alleen Rowe.  

Connie’s idyllic world is constantly infused with the soundtrack of new rock-and-roll tracks that were hitting the radio stations in the ‘60s. Beside the highway, late at night, it’s the music and comfort of the restaurant that draw together the victim, Connie, and her eventual murderer. There on one Saturday night, Connie catches the eye of a strange-looking man, with “shaggy black hair” that looks off, almost like a wig. He “wagged a finger and laughed and said, ‘Gonna get you, baby.’” 

The next day, Connie lounges around the house, parents gone, listening to the radio, her long blonde hair drying in the sun. A car pulls up on the gravel drive and the same man from the previous night emerges. Connie approaches the screen door with caution, allured by the flattery of this man remembering her from the previous night. The man introduces himself as Arnold Friend, and invites her for a drive. In 1966 Dylan wrote, “Strike another match, go start anew / And it’s all over now, Baby Blue.” Dylan’s song reiterates that it’s all over, and there’s nothing more to be done. Arnold speaks to Connie in a similar way, manipulating her into believing that she has no choice but to go with him—both the song and fiction are alike in their genre of defeatism.  

Arnold Friend reminds Connie that she has no home anymore; “The place where you came from ain’t there any more, and where you had in mind to go is cancelled out.” This assertion mirrors both the Dylan line “Leave your stepping stones behind, something calls for you,” and the terrible image of Rowe leaving her home for the last time. 

Arnold’s companion, Ellie, sits in the car playing the radio on the same station that Connie had in the home. Although Connie doesn’t let her in, Arnold creates a line of connection between them through the music, which plays simultaneously inside and outside the house. Arnold blurs the line between inside and outside, between safety and danger. The spell of music is also present in the story of the Schmid murders. As he murdered his first victim, Shmid’s girlfriend at the time sat idly in the car, listening to the radio.

The fact that music is so present in Oates’ story, and also is a small detail in the Schmid murder, is reflective of the fact that music was beginning its transition to the forefront of popular culture; becoming the powerful force that it did during the ‘60s. At that time the music industry was changing rapidly, and some older generations claimed that the new rock ‘n’ roll style was depraved and frivolous. A murder, a song, and a story came to fruition during this time—a love triangle of tragic inspiration.

SSMU General Assembly
a, Opinion

SSMU GA a scapegoat for misplaced priorities

by Luke Devine on

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The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU)’s General Assembly (GA) is defunct. The main forum actively connecting McGill’s student body to its representative council has apparently run its course. The failure of the Fall 2015 GA to reach quorum, and the whopping zero motions submitted, confirms the collapse; however, proposals to address this issue so far lack adequate thought.

Past executive reports have considered either curbing the GA’s frequency to once a year or, more drastically, abolishing it entirely. The latter is particularly troubling as it would drive the wedge between the SSMU and the student body even deeper; rather than blaming student apathy, responsibility lies with SSMU’s neglect of its promotion.

The goals of the GA—namely, to increase transparency and facilitate direct democratic involvement—are laudable. In the past, the GA was the site of heated debate; last year, the Fall and Winter Assemblies attracted lively crowds of 700 and 550 students respectively. Clearly, students are not apathetic. Regardless of what drew the crowd—arguably, such high turnouts were largely a consequence of hot-button issues—the student body was engaged, and the internal operations of SSMU were transparent.

Rather than reducing its frequency, an emphasis on the GA must be renewed, otherwise SSMU risks further diminishing their legitimacy.

SSMU’s executives, it seems, have come to view the tumbling attendance rates as part of a larger, uncontrollable process: The widespread abandonment of an inherently unproductive forum. This symptom, however, points to a greater issue, which has wrongly been interpreted as an intrinsic, irredeemable flaw in the GA process itself—a fumbling of advertising on the part of SSMU’s executives.

As SSMU President Kareem Ibrahim conceded, the SSMU executive team abandoned promotional efforts for this semester’s GA. Bogged down with a host of pressing internal issues, the executives were unable to provide the GA with the attention it required. The picture painted by this excuse isn’t pretty: So caught up in internal issues, SSMU executives simply had no time to ensure that students would show up to engage in a dialogue. While this could be argued as indicative of a rift between SSMU and the student body, it is precisely the GA—with its implicit demand for student engagement—which possesses the power to bridge such a gap. Rather than reducing its frequency, an emphasis on the GA must be renewed, otherwise SSMU risks further diminishing their legitimacy. While it may be tedious to sit through hours of discourse, students must at least know that they have the option of doing so.

A growing number of McGill students are beginning to view SSMU with ambivalence, to put it mildly. The zeitgeist, it seems, has become increasingly hostile towards what is viewed as an insular, esoteric council of ‘SSMU-tocrats’: An ideologically narrow, self-preserving governing body that emphasizes equity, equity, equity. Such a negative trope impresses upon the student consciousness, which leads to disillusionment with the institution as a whole. While this may partially explain the limited participation at the most recent GA, it neglects the role of the assembly as a forum for checks and balances.

For all the time students spend lamenting the lack of representativeness of SSMU, controversial issues draw the crowds. The absence of motions from the most recent GA is indicative of underlying perceptions of SSMU. While a direct line of causality is difficult to draw, the two are certainly connected. Maybe the GA is defunct, or perhaps no motions were submitted because no issues currently burden the student body’s mind. More likely, however, undergraduates no longer view SSMU as an adequate channel to pursue meaningful reform. It is a classic chicken-and-egg problem. While executives must reprioritize a frequent, well-publicized GA, students can try to meet executives halfway. The student body should oppose a reform that threatens to both curb their clout and reduce the availability of mechanisms for communication.

At a GA, students see their representatives in action: Carrying out their regular procedures and addressing proposed motions with direct student involvement. This interaction, while basic, fosters a tie between the student body and SSMU—thus, the GA must be reinvigorated rather than reduced.

Tibetan
a, Art, Arts & Entertainment

From the Viewpoint: Tibetan Cultural Fair

by Alex Bankier on

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My friend and I were in a pretty good mood when we got to the church basement. The Tibetan bazaar in its entirety boasted an elevated circular stage in its centre, surrounded by vendors hawking their wares from tables to passersby. There was Tibetan calligraphy being taught in the corner nearest the entrance, and next to that sat two women behind a table draped with the Amnesty International logo. It was then that we got our first and only reminder that every piece of culture we were about to see was, in essence, under siege from a world power. Almost immediately, I zeroed in on my most treasured destination: The homemade momo station, behind which one could see the dumplings being handrolled and steamed to perfection. The menu also featured samosas, which my friend noted were probably not native to Tibet. The attendant smiled and informed us that the intersection of Indian, Tibetan, Nepalese, Chinese, and Bhutanese cuisine was quite common considering the diaspora of many Tibetan exiles to these countries. My friend and I noted our own ignorance, then promptly bobbed our heads in unison.

Halfway through our visit, a troupe of female dancers took the stage clad in brightly coloured wrap dresses. Whilst striking handheld drums and twirling around each other, the performers sang a pleasantly lilting tune with accompaniment from a musician sporting a Tibetan lute or dramyin. It flowed well and looked polished, and I let myself believe that the performance was a traditional, possibly ancient ritual. Afterward, one of the dancers nonchalantly informed us that the song and dance routine had been conceived and practiced within a three day span. Cue Tony Randall’s shouting in the Odd Couple: "When you assume, you make an ASS out of U and ME!"

Walking amongst all the textiles and jewelry with a constant drum beat in the air, I was struck by how my lack of experience with Tibetan culture left me no index for confirming the veracity of anything I was witnessing. My own preconceived notions concerning Tibetan culture, I reflected, were mostly baseless. Of Tibetan culture I knew only that the yak played some role in Tibetan livelihood, and that China had been violating human rights here for decades—though exactly how, I had no idea.  I had not even searched “Tibet” on Wikipedia until a day after the fair. Was this me being a bit paranoid and a little stupid?  Perhaps. The food was good, the music nice, and the people even nicer.

It was clear that everybody knew everybody; the vendors and fair staff all chatted amiably between sales, while their children ran around with soccer balls and toy swords.  Speaking with one of the vendors, I learned that the Tibetan communities in both Montreal and Toronto—the vendor himself visiting from Toronto—were tightly knit. He then proceeded to regale me with the tale of last night’s booze-soaked merrymaking while I picked out a yak-wool shawl for my mother. I caught a glimpse of a child menacingly waving a plastic cutlass, and felt myself craving yet more momos.  It being my third visit, the affable server joked that at the rate I was eating the dumplings, they might run out.  I fervently hope the man never finds out the altitude at which his joke had soared over my head.  

On the whole, the fair was fun and enlightening, and yet I cannot escape the feeling that my being there was less active engagement with Tibetan culture and more aloof tourism. It’s certainly not every day that one’s own ignorance is made so painfully obvious—as was mine—and, in the end, uncomfortable revelations such as these can be useful stepping stones for curing cultural myopia. It should be common knowledge by now that keeping an open mind is a kickass doctrine for life.  Granted, hallmarks of true open-mindedness may include feelings of uncertainty and discomfort; but then again personal growth is almost never a comfortable experience.  If breaking through one’s comfort zone were easy, life would not be nearly as rewarding, and momos would not be nearly as delicious.  

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