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Behind the Bench, Sports

Militarism in American sports: What Team USA’s approach to baseball says about sports culture

by Alex Hawes Silva on

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The World Baseball Classic (WBC) is one of the most captivating tournaments in international sport—a stage where national identity shines not just through competition but also through energy and celebration. Teams played with joy and spirit just as much as athleticism throughout the ups and downs of every game. Players from Team Italy sip espresso from Moka pots after home runs, while the Dominican Republic National Baseball Team turns every big hit into a moment of collective joy by dancing and embracing each other in celebration. 

Against this backdrop, the United States National Baseball Team stood out, not due to its electric energy, but for its cold restraint. The contrast has sparked a broader conversation about the role of militarism in American sports culture and what it communicates globally.

This theme of militarism was only amplified when Team USA invited Robert O’Neill, a former SEAL Team 6 member, to deliver a motivational speech in the locker room. O’Neill is widely known for his role in the 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden. In recent years, however, he has gained attention for controversial social media commentary, making him an increasingly polarizing figure in the public sphere.

His presence in the locker room symbolized a longstanding pattern of military imagery being meshed into American sport. From camouflage uniforms to pregame flyovers and “Salute to Service” campaigns, U.S. sports have long incorporated military symbolism into their culture. Yet, in the context of an international tournament defined by cultural expression and joy, the tone Team USA has conveyed felt significantly different. Bringing an even colder energy, catcher Cal Raleigh was seen wearing a shirt reading “Front Toward Enemy,” a phrase associated with the Claymore mine. While it was likely intended as a symbol of toughness or focus, the message holds overt military connotations. In a tournament where other teams lean into identity through food, music, and communal celebration, this kind of imagery is quite jarring.

The WBC lets nations choose how to represent themselves. For many countries, baseball is a point of cultural pride, an opportunity to be joyful and proud of where they come from. The Dominican Republic’s exuberance reflects a relationship with the sport that is deeply connected to the nation’s identity. Italy’s espresso rituals speak to its people’s cultural traditions and humour. On the other hand, Team USA chooses to platform its government’s insistence on foreign interference. Their inability to forgo discipline and focus—ultimately reminiscent of ‘military mentality’—may reflect broader cultural values of efficiency and become a testament to how seamlessly the emphasis of military presence has embedded itself into common culture in the U.S. It brings important questions to light: What do we lose when we stop prioritizing and emphasizing joy? Is this lack of whimsy worth it to uphold the image of the U.S. as a nation not to be reckoned with? Couldn’t the real trophy be the friends we made along the way?

From Olympic boycotts to national anthems and flag ceremonies, international competition has always carried political undertones and has raised questions surrounding the relationship between sport and politics. In the case of American sports, the integration of military symbolism runs deep, and is shaped by decades of partnerships and cultural reinforcement. The integration of military symbolism has become a defining factor instead of just a facet of what it means to be American, and these symbols tend to speak not only to how nations see themselves, but also how they wish to be perceived. Having such a prevalent military attitude during a time when the U.S. military is waging war on the Middle East can convey a message of hate and malice to international audiences who are watching the WBC.

With Pete Hegseth calling the U.S. a Christian nation and intertwining the national identity with war—“Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle”—the notion is only deepened. 

To meld together the United States’ identity with battle and war implies that those are actions to be proud of, despite the thousands of lives lost in the pursuit of those ‘values.’ A display of military dominance has no place on the global stage of WBC—which, at its core, is a celebratory tournament of baseball across the world.Baseball and the culture that surrounds it are as much about joy as they are about competition. The success of the WBC shows that fans are drawn to authenticity, energy, and connection, which are all qualities that transcend borders. There is no place for the continued normalization of the American military-industrial complex at international sports tournaments.

Science & Technology

Beating the fake-spring blues with science events at McGill

by Leanne Cherry on

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Now that we have returned to daylight savings, our days should feel longer, brighter, warmer—in theory, that is. Somehow, both the ground and the sky remain the same colour of lifeless grey. And not only are our skies dark, but our homes are as well, after recent winds of 120 kilometres an hour left over 300,000 Quebec residents without power. To add insult to injury, exam season is right around the corner. These are trying times, fellow McGillians. So, what better way to ease your woes than to participate in science-based activities around campus?

Physical Society Colloquia

It may feel a little bit intimidating to attend a seminar on the mechanics of our planet and our universe, especially if your specialty lies outside of the Department of Physics. However, do not let that stop you from checking out the weekly Physical Society Colloquia. While these talks target Physics undergrad students, we can confirm, as SciTech editors who are not majoring in Physics, that they remain interesting and accessible to all. If you are in need of plans on Friday, March 27, then head to the Ernest Rutherford Physics Building at 3:30 p.m. for a talk on dark matter and dark energy—the mysterious substances that make up 95 per cent of our universe. The event takes place in room 112 of the Keys Auditorium, followed by wine and cheese.

HPV Walk-In Vaccine Event

On March 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the Student Wellness Hub invites students to a walk-in vaccination event for Human Papillomavirus (HPV), completely free of charge, in Room 5001 of the Brown Student Services Building. HPV is an incredibly common sexually transmitted disease, with experts estimating that around 75 per cent of sexually active Canadians will contract it at some point in their lives. Some strains of HPV can cause cancer, making vaccination an excellent way to protect against this. In fact, if you are vaccinated before being exposed to the virus, the HPV vaccine is 97 percent effective in preventing cervical cancer and cell changes that could lead to cancer. Plus, it’s almost 100 percent effective in preventing external genital warts. 

Moreover, given the concerning rise in vaccine hesitancy seen in recent years, it is critical to remember that vaccines in Canada have been proven to be both safe and effective. They are a public health miracle and have saved more than 150 million lives around the globe over the past 50 years. The event does not require registration, so if you are looking to get an HPV vaccine, all you have to do is show up with either your government or student ID. 

Undergraduate Science Showcase

Every year, McGill students dedicate entire semesters working on research projects in their departments, and many science classes afford students several opportunities to write for and contribute to the scientific fields they care about most. To celebrate this hard work, McGill’s Office of Science Education (OSE) hosts the annual Undergraduate Science Showcase, giving students the chance to present their work in a science-fair-style format. This year’s event—happening on March 25 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the University Centre—will feature work from hundreds of students, including posters and field studies projects, as well as hors d’oeuvres and DJ sets. Registration is free, and the link can be found on OSE’s website.

Aurora Gala ‘26

Finally, if learning more about science isn’t your thing, then at the very least, you can spend some quality time with fellow science students at the Aurora Gala. On the evening of March 26, join a number of different McGill student societies and associations from 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. at Pangea Restaurant & Bar in Old Port for an end-of-year celebration. Tickets range from $20-25 CAD and are available on the McGill Undergraduate Geography Society’s event page.

Student Life

P[h]assion is a ritual we must uphold 

by Brooke Barak, Parisa Rasul on

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Student-organized events are a playground for creativity and innovation. Designers, unrestricted by large corporations or monetization, are instead fueled by true passion—or in this case, P[h]assion. P[h]assion is a non-profit organization at McGill that has fundraised over $150,000 CAD for various Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) foundations, including their primary partner AIDS Community Care Montreal (ACCM), thanks to events centred on fashion. On March 14, P[h]assion held its annual spring fashion show to help raise awareness and funds for ACCM. This year’s theme was “RITUAL.”

Alina Lu, U4 Management, and co-director of P[h]assion, explained the show’s theme in a written statement to The Tribune.

“For us, RITUAL is a journey through the experiences, spaces, and practices that shape daily life around the world [….] Some rituals are collective, rooted in culture, community, and shared belief. Others are deeply personal, unfolding in moments of solitude and everyday routine [….] It shapes identity, creates connection, and brings meaning to the ordinary.”

Lu and her colleagues aim to paint awareness onto a visual landscape, such as fashion, to encourage people to make contact with realities they would otherwise turn away from. By contributing to these creative events, either behind the scenes or as audience members, students learn to see art as a medium for change.

“Fashion is an art form that has always been inherently political, standing alongside and amplifying social movements throughout history including the AIDS movement of the 1980s,” Lu continued. “[Fashion] is both deeply personal and profoundly collective [….] In the context of the cause we stand for, history is especially meaningful. We are always intentional about honouring it and using P[h]assion as a platform to carry forward the legacy of those who used it as a tool for change.”

The runway, set in Centre St Jax, a church located on rue St. Catherine, solidified the show’s theme. The quiet light streaming through the stained glass and the arched reverberant architecture served as a backdrop for a collective religious identity formed through ritual. The community P[h]assion has built went hand in hand with supporting other communities, both Montreal designers and communities struggling with AIDS and HIV.

Alongside the setting, clothing pieces themselves are integral to the coming-together of any fashion show. One dress, from the collection of designer Maya Ginzburg, particularly stood out to //The Tribune//. The garment was held together by strings attaching black squares to make a long silhouette. The back was open, consisting only of thin black strings stretching between the two sides of the dress. The dress was beautifully intricate and seemingly fragile, reflecting the delicate nature of rituals themselves. 

Lu highlighted an additional piece from the Maya Ginzburg collection.

“[Another] dress [highlighted] forest fires in Canadian [forests] using charred wood and wood heels, it’s such a beautiful piece intersecting fashion and nature.”

The evening’s theme tied directly to the club’s main goal of spreading awareness and generating support for HIV/AIDS. 

“Rituals can foster empathy and understanding. By showcasing diverse stories and lived experiences through fashion, we want to humanize and bring visibility to the communities affected by HIV/AIDS,” Lu wrote.

“RITUAL” not only displayed but convinced audiences of the importance of P[h]assion’s mission to engage the McGill community in both art and social justice. Each collection offered its own unique perspective on the importance of the club’s cause, coming together to create a meaningful show representative of P[h]assion’s mission. 

News

McGill Senate questions application of revised identification policy

by Shea McDonnell on

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The McGill Senate convened on March 18 for its third meeting of the Winter 2026 semester. The meeting began with a memorial for the late Professor David Harpp in the Department of Chemistry. McGill’s President and Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini shared his Feb. 25 speech for the Montreal Chamber of Commerce with the Senate, as well as his visit to India with Prime Minister Mark Carney to discuss the opening of a Centre for Excellence in AI. 

Next, Vice-President (VP) of Administration and Finance Fabrice Labeau opened the discussion with a revised identification (ID) policy proposal following the policy’s initial proposal in the Senate’s Jan. 14 meeting. The proposal would allow authorized personnel to request student identification on campus property for “legitimate purposes” outlined in the policy.  

Post-Graduate Students’ Society University Affairs Officer Amina Bourai raised questions regarding the initial proposal’s academic necessity and potential safeguards, referencing an open letter from the McGill community opposing the proposed policy.

“[The open letter] has now been signed by over 500 members of the McGill community, including undergraduate and graduate students, staff, alumni, and faculty,” Bourai said. “This reflects a broad and urgent level of concern across the university about both the necessity of this policy and its potential impacts.” 

Furthermore, among other concerns of the policy’s safeguards, Bourai questioned the need to change McGill’s current security apparatus.

“What remains unclear is why [the existing frameworks] are inadequate and why a broad identification policy that doesn’t require any suspected wrongdoing is a proportionate response [….] How exactly is security supposed to handle the exclusion of people? Physically carry them outside or are we calling the police?”

In response to Bourai’s initial questions, Labeau presented his revised proposal with consultations from other senators. Labeau cited increased theft on campus as a reason for the policy, while also taking into account concerns about discretion in asking for ID.

“We heard a lot of comments about the fact that too many people had too much power and that was never the intent. We’ve clarified in this version that the role of an individual that is qualified to ask for identification is really limited to a specific place and time,” Labeau said. 

Labeau acknowledged that the consultations were useful, yet the policy’s passing would ultimately go through the Board of Governors (BoG), a point echoed by Saini. Labeau also clarified the definition of “authorized personnel” allowed to request ID, listing exam invigilators, campus security, and faculty or staff acting in an official capacity at on-campus events. 

Faculty of Law Professor Victor Muñiz-Fraticelli then raised a question about the administration’s intention with the proposal and the practical application of this policy.  

“We’re a bit like Athens under Pericles and not like Sparta,” Muñiz-Fraticelli said. “We are open to the world with Sparta, maybe Yale perhaps as a point of comparison, which closed itself from surrounding the community. And no one in Canada is asked to carry government-provided ID when they walk around the street.”

Additional concerns included adequate training for campus security under the policy and its potential effect on peaceful protests on campus. Particularly, the need for sufficient efforts to prevent profiling was brought up by Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Professor Alissa Levine.

“The only times in my life when I’ve been asked to produce ID have been when I was in the presence of a friend or colleague of colour,” Levine said. “I am concerned there will be no records kept. I think the intent was to reassure and it actually might have the opposite effect in terms of how it’s carried out.” 

The BoG will vote to pass the proposal at its next meeting on April 23. 

Soundbite: 

“I’m wondering if McGill intends to post guards at the entrances and gates of the university, to ask any tourist who wants to see the arts building, or any cyclist who wants to commute, to produce their papers or be excluded from the publicly funded campus.”—Senator Victor Muñiz-Fraticelli.

Moment of the Meeting: 

Senators voted to add a 12th day to the examination period for the Fall 2026 term to alleviate evening exams, in turn shortening Winter break.

Commentary, Opinion

Quebec must take online misogyny seriously

by Sofia Sada on

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Despite efforts to advocate for women’s rights, including Quebec’s investments in combating domestic violence, there is a sense of ‘rolling back’—from bills meant to cut federal funding for causes such as the Women’s Program to public figures experiencing harassment online. 

Quebec Solidaire co-spokesperson Ruba Ghazal and author India Desjardins have spoken out about the online hate they have received for simply existing as women in a public position. They are not outliers; many women who speak out—especially on polarizing issues—face violent insults. In response to this problem, Ghazal has proposed a system outside of involving police forces: A 24/7 hotline to help cyberbullying victims. 

The mishandled issue of cyberbullying reflects a broader pattern where hate against women is dismissed. With the rise of the manosphere—male-centred online communities promoting anti-women ideologies—it is important that women are not silenced. 

Although social media is often regarded as a space for self-expression, many women censor themselves or leave online discourse out of fear. A Canadian survey found that 4 out of 10 women who experience cyberbullying choose to completely remove themselves from social media. Harassment is not only an emotional attack; it is also an active filter that asserts who has the right to speak and influence others. 

Because institutions shape what speech is acceptable, they also have a responsibility to address online misogyny. However, rather than assuming that a resolution is outside of the realm of possibility, universities such as McGill must take concrete steps to address online misogyny. This could include expanding their Code of Student Conduct to explicitly cover harassment in digital spaces, implementing clear reporting mechanisms for students targeted online, and establishing dedicated support systems, such as trained staff or hotlines, to respond to these complaints. While enforcement may be complicated by anonymity, universities can still investigate cases tied to identifiable students and set institutional standards to make such behaviour unacceptable. 

Some may argue that it is too difficult to respond to these online attacks given the anonymity of users and the huge amount of content in the digital space. Yet, as the popularity of the manosphere demonstrates, online misogyny has consequences that extend beyond individual harm; it can lead to severe psychological harm, loss of economic opportunities, and even physical violence against women. Although implementing effective responses is challenging, Ghazal’s proposed hotline points to alternatives to institutional inaction and overreliance on policing by offering a support-based approach for survivors of harassment.

Universities, however, cannot afford to treat this issue as external to their responsibility. Young adulthood is both the age at which many men are drawn into misogynistic online spaces and the age at which women are most likely to experience gender-based violence, placing universities at the centre of this dynamic. At McGill, reports of misogyny in academic spaces, student governance, and campus life demonstrate that these harms are not confined to the digital sphere and shape students’ everyday experiences. But unlike social media platforms, universities have the ability to impose meaningful consequences through their codes of conduct and to provide direct support to affected students. 

Universities, media outlets, and public agencies have failed to act because online misogyny is often treated as background noise rather than as an issue requiring intervention, but the link between online harassment and real-world violence, where misogynistic content normalizes hostile behaviour toward women, cannot be overlooked. Universities and media outlets have the resources to take action and should strive to change these norms rather than reproduce them. 

Online misogyny is not inevitable, but rather a problem that institutions have yet to take seriously. As long as it is dismissed by institutions, the burden will always fall on women to simply endure it. Institutions must recognize their roles in sustaining misogynistic systems of oppression and implement concrete policies to properly support women.

Science & Technology

Spotlighting Canadian women in science

by Malika Logossou on

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Women have long driven scientific discoveries in Canada, yet their contributions often remain unrecognized and overlooked. Spotlighting the work of these innovators is crucial, as it ensures they are remembered without misattribution. The Tribune has compiled a list of women whose groundbreaking achievements continue to inspire future generations.

Elizabeth Elsie MacGill

Elizabeth Elsie MacGill was the first woman to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering in Canada, and later, in 1929, became the world’s first woman to earn a Master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering. She led the Canadian production of Hawker Hurricane fighter planes during World War II, earning her the nickname “Queen of Hurricanes” in a male-dominated field. MacGill also served as the national president of the Canadian Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs from 1962 to 1964, and then as a member of the Royal Commission on the Status of Women in Canada from 1967 to 1970.

Anne Innis Dagg

In 1956, at the age of 23, Anne Innis Dagg became the first Canadian biologist and Western researcher to study giraffes in their natural habitat. Despite publishing 20 research papers, universities continually sidelined her: The University of Guelph denied her tenure, and the University of Waterloo rejected her application because she was married. However, in 2010, giraffologists rediscovered Dagg’s contributions to the field, and filmmaker Alison Reid highlighted her journey in an award-winning documentary based on Dagg’s memoir. In 2019, she was named an honorary member of the Canadian Society of Zoologists and a Member of the Order of Canada.

Annette Herscovics

In 1969, Annette Herscovics shaped the future of medicine when she discovered that thyroglobulin—a key precursor to thyroid hormone–goes through carbohydrate modifications. This was one of the earliest discoveries in glycoproteins, and it took place here, at McGill. A few years later, in 1974, she found the universal process by which carbohydrates attach to proteins in nucleated cells while researching at Harvard.

Nadine Caron

Nadine Caron, a member of the Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation, was the first Indigenous woman to graduate from the University of British Columbia’s medical school and became the first female Indigenous general surgeon in Canada in 2005. Her expertise is broad, and she leads projects on cancer as well as healthcare services in rural and remote settings. In 2025, Caron joined six other individuals as inductees into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame. 

Roberta Bondar

Roberta Bondar, neurologist, medical researcher, and educator, contributed tremendously to the field of space science and medicine. In 1992, she became the first Canadian woman astronaut to go to space, breaking gender barriers in both medicine and aerospace. She also led NASA’s head of space medicine for over a decade. Bondard holds the NASA Space Medal, has been named Officer of the Order of Canada and is an appointee to The Order of Ontario. She was also inducted into the International Women’s Forum Hall of Fame, the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame, and has received 24 honorary doctorates.

Donna Strickland

Donna Strickland, a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Waterloo, pioneered the development of chirped pulse amplification, enabling the creation of the highest-intensity lasers possible. In 2018, she became the third woman to ever win the Nobel Prize in Physics. Her work has large implications, revolutionizing laser applications, from leading to more precise corneal surgery in patients to the machining of small glass parts for use in cell phones.

Juliet Daniel

Juliet Daniel is a major pioneer in cancer biology who has been credited with finding the ‘missing puzzle piece’ explaining why Black women experience higher breast cancer mortality rates than other racial groups. Her research focuses on colon cancer, as well as triple-negative breast cancers, which are most prevalent in young women of African and Hispanic descent. Daniel’s research is critical to the advancement and study of breast cancer and has earned her several awards, including the Black Excellence in STEM & Medicine Mentorship Award in 2022 from the Canadian Black Scientists Network and WXN Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Award in 2020. She was also featured in “Millennium Minds: 100 Black Canadians” in 2000, a testament to her achievements.

Basketball, Sports

March Madness 2026 features a freshman phenom, a defending dynasty, and 64 reasons to believe

by Zain Ahmed on

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At this year’s March Madness basketball bonanza, 68 men’s teams and 68 women’s teams will tip off their pursuit of a national championship. The men’s tournament features the Duke University Blue Devils as the clear frontrunner, anchored by arguably the most dominant freshman college basketball has seen in years. The women’s bracket pits defending champions, the University of Connecticut Huskies, against a field of challengers led by the South Carolina Gamecocks, Texas Longhorns, and UCLA Bruins.

Men’s Tournament:

Duke’s path in the East Region feels like destiny. The Blue Devils enter as the top overall seed with a 32–2 record, powered by Cameron Boozer, the frontrunner for National Player of the Year. The 6-foot-9 forward averages 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 56.5 percent from the field. His versatility is staggering: He scores inside and out, dominates the glass, and creates plays for teammates with court vision rare for any player, let alone a freshman.

Duke possesses one of the nation’s most complete defensive profiles, ranking among the top teams in rebounding and consistently forcing opponents into low-percentage possessions. Their 17–2 record in Quadrant 1 games includes victories over the Michigan Wolverines and Florida Gators, two other number one seeds.

The concern is health. Starting point guard Caleb Foster suffered a fractured foot and is unlikely to return unless the Blue Devils reach the Final Four. His absence, coupled with that of Patrick Ngongba II due to injury, has thrust Cayden Boozer, Cameron’s twin brother, into a larger role. If Cayden maintains his Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Tournament form, Duke’s margin for error increases. If not, the pressure on Cameron intensifies.

Duke’s likely Elite Eight opponent is UConn, the second seed in the East. The Huskies possess size, shooting, and a methodical offensive system that can neutralize Duke’s length. The West Region features the Arizona Wildcats as the top seed, built on defensive suffocation and efficient offence. In the Midwest, Michigan enters with Yaxel Lendeborg, a dominant forward whose size makes them a nightmare matchup. The South belongs to Florida, fueled by explosive offence.

Prediction: Duke defeats Arizona in the final. Cameron Boozer’s dominance proves insurmountable, and the Blue Devils capture their first national championship since 2015.

Women’s Tournament

Defending champion UConn seeks their third consecutive national title, a feat that would cement this era of Huskies basketball as one of the program’s greatest dynasties. UConn’s success stems from balance: Elite guard play, interior dominance, and suffocating defence. Their tournament experience gives them an edge in close games.

South Carolina presents as their most formidable challenge. The Gamecocks boast the nation’s most dominant defence and a roster loaded with athleticism. They defend the rim ferociously and turn defence into offence seamlessly. If South Carolina and UConn meet in the Final Four, it will be a clash of styles: UConn’s precision against South Carolina’s physicality.

Texas brings size and scoring punch, while UCLA rounds out the top seeds with a potent offence led by elite guard play. The Iowa Hawkeyes possess one of the nation’s most explosive offensive lineups, and the Louisiana State University Tigers combine athleticism with championship swagger. 

Prediction: UConn defeats South Carolina in the championship game. The Huskies’ experience and ability to execute in crunch time prove decisive as they complete the three-peat in Phoenix.

March Madness thrives on unpredictability. The California Baptist Lancers’ Dominique Daniels Jr. averages 23.2 points per game, and their matchup with the Kansas Jayhawks could produce an upset. The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Rams have the defensive intensity to frustrate higher seeds. On the women’s side, the Princeton Tigers enter with a disciplined system that can frustrate opponents.

The beauty of March Madness lies in its refusal to respect conventional wisdom. Injuries, fatigue, and nights of bad shooting derail favourites. Role players become heroes. That is why brackets get filled out and millions watch.

And so the chaos begins. Duke and UConn carry championship expectations. Cameron Boozer enters his first National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) tournament in what is already considered one of college basketball’s all-time great freshman seasons. The next three weeks will produce moments that define careers and games that live in March Madness lore.

Duke and UConn are my picks. But if March has taught us anything, it is that the bracket never unfolds as predicted. That is why we watch.

Brackets and predictions were completed before the first games of the 2026 NCAA tournaments.

Arts & Entertainment, Music

Open mic nights at Turbo Haüs: A safe space for artistic self-expression

by Gretta Iraheta Palacios on

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Tuesday nights at Turbo Haüs are synonymous with music and connection, and March 17 was no different. Located minutes away from the Plateau, the cocktail bar is committed to actively supporting the Montreal music scene. Open Haüs Nights give performers the opportunity to show off their skills and connect with other musicians, all in the spirit of enjoying the raw live performance experience.

While the bar is rather small and nearly completely hidden on rue St.-Denis, its intimate atmosphere is offset by its eccentric decor. A massive statue of a surreal, freakish woman greets visitors near the bar’s entryway, while artworks depicting alien-like figures adorn the walls.

A wall separates the seating and bar area from a spacious dance floor and stage. Along the walls, several coat racks are propped up, allowing visitors to enjoy the music in total comfort. At 7:00 p.m., musicians can sign up to perform, with the first act typically taking the stage around 8:00 p.m.

The venue provides a full backline, further encouraging participation. Musicians who may not have their own instruments can join in on the fun, too, or can experiment with a different kind of sound by picking up a new instrument. This setup also alleviates the burden of transporting one’s own equipment. Artists performed a mixture of their own original work and covers, with genres ranging from folk to rap to alternative rock. 

The crowd is a melting pot of regulars, new attendees and performers. From the first act, a strong sense of community and camaraderie is felt. As a young duo was on stage, one of the bar’s employees ran into the dancefloor area, requesting a song. Another performer, El Totoso, encouraged audience members to provide feedback on one of his original songs, which he plans to perform to the person to whom he dedicated it. Casual interactions such as these foster the bar’s intimate and inviting atmosphere.

Singer-songwriter Danny Durand, a regular performer at Turbo Haüs’s open mic nights, revealed in an interview with The Tribune that he values the safe space that the venue creates for experimentation. The low-stakes environment allows musicians to take risks without fear of judgment. If a musician slips up, it can be easily brushed off. And since the crowd consists of many regulars, performers grow comfortable with the familiar crowd.

“It’s not a show like at the Bell Centre,” Durand said. “It doesn’t matter if you try something and it doesn’t work.”

Durand also credits the bar’s distinct energy for shaping the style of his performances. The musician recalled feeling inclined to perform his work with a more aggressive tone by leaning into the rock atmosphere within the bar, a tone that strays from his usual folktronica sound.

These open mic nights represent an earnest commitment to live performance and creativity. For instance, there is no advertised setlist. While musicians can take the opportunity to promote their own work, they don’t have to. They’re offered the safety to perform any work just for the sake of having fun and sharing a project with whoever lends their ear. This freedom allows musicians to be authentic and vulnerable in their performance without it feeling too daunting.

“It’s like music is a flower and this is the pot. This is the soil where it grows from,” Durand explained.

In a world dictated by social media algorithms, both well-established and aspiring musicians feel the pressure to constantly adapt to the ever-changing digital world to increase the reach of their work. However, Turbo Haüs’ accessible and nonthreatening space builds community through music in a world that promotes social isolation. Open mic nights remind musicians that there is an audience who will heartily listen to what they have to say.

Open Haüs Nights are held every Tuesday night from 7:00 p.m. to midnight at Turbo Haüs.

Editorial, Opinion

Protect trans students, not transphobic educators.

by The Tribune Editorial Board on

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A high school educator is suing the Quebec government, claiming a provincial policy that allows students over the age of 14 to change their name and pronouns without parental consent violates her Canadian Charter rights. The policy, introduced by the Quebec Education Ministry in 2021, requires educators to use students’ preferred names and pronouns, even when the parents are unaware. The teacher has claimed that this obligation obstructed her freedoms of expression and conscience.

With anti-trans sentiments rising across North America, Quebec must enshrine trans student dignity and anonymity in policy and in practice, rather than validating the transphobic biases of educators. Institutions across Canada have a profound duty to ensure that transphobia is neither normalized nor accepted, and that trans-inclusive policies are enforced effectively and completely.

This lawsuit communicates a clear message: The transphobic ‘discomfort’ of a teacher deserves more legal recognition than the identity and human rights of trans individuals. This negligence of inclusivity in schools is a fundamental safety concern; 46 per cent of transgender and non-binary youth have considered suicide in the past year, citing non-recognition of their identities, violence, and bullying as key factors. 

Confidentiality is critical to protecting the physical and emotional safety of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, particularly for those who are uncomfortable coming out at home. Trans youth are far more likely to be kicked out of their homes or later become unhoused and experience disproportionate levels of violence as early as age 15, making schools a crucial space for safety and discovery. 

Yet, the educator invoking this lawsuit has erroneously equated confidentiality with withholding vital information from family members. While mandated reporting policies may require teaching professionals to share privately-disclosed information for safety reasons, confidentiality in the context of a student’s gender identity does not fall under this umbrella. Forcibly outing trans students to parents only exposes them to heightened risk at home.

Confidentiality may seem basic in the context of policy imperatives such as healthcare access, but it is foundational to trans safety. A study of patient-clinician relations found that doctors using patients’ preferred pronouns reduced the likelihood of trans youth suicide by more than 30 per cent, proving the importance of identity-affirmation to the well-being of trans individuals. 

This lawsuit stands alongside several legal challenges to trans rights across Quebec. French-Language Minister Jean-François Roberge’s policy to ban gender-inclusive language from government communications in French poses a significant risk to inclusivity in the province. Roberge has repeatedly asserted that French gender-neutral pronouns are “grammatically incorrect.” This fallacious argument interprets the gendered nature of the French language as requiring an equivalent binary at the level of identity and neglects the evolving nature of grammar and syntax. Trans individuals deserve to see their identities represented in the language of the law, as the normalization of gender-neutral pronouns in official, public contexts reaffirms 2SLGBTQIA+ identity rights. 

Homophobic and transphobic discourse at the level of political rhetoric and legislation also leads to anti-2SLGBTQIA+ sentiment in inter-personal contexts. Over 40 per cent of Quebec high school students surveyed in 2025 stated they would feel uncomfortable if their best friend was gay, compared to only 25 per cent in 2017. Quebec is entering a period of major backsliding where queerness has been de-normalized and the alleged ‘discomfort’ of a cisgender person is prioritized over the rights of transgender people.

The Canadian and Quebec governments must take active steps to ensure that such anti-trans sentiment is curbed and trans rights are protected under the law. McGill too must dedicate itself to protecting 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals through language, confidentiality, and policy. While the university offers a preferred first name policy, it is not well enforced: Professor of Religious Studies Douglas B. Farrow repeatedly violated the preferred first name policy, expressing hostile views towards trans and queer individuals, with minimal intervention from the administration. Further, in 2023, McGill’s Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism hosted a debate titled “Sex vs. Gender (Identity): The Divorce of LGB from T,” inviting notoriously transphobic and trans-exclusionary speaker Robert Wintemute as its host. 

Both McGill and the Quebec government possess explicit constitutional and policy bases mandating the protection of trans rights, yet both fail to defend 2SLGBTQIA+ rights against rising hateful extremism. Quebec must reject this lawsuit and strengthen confidentiality protections for trans students; McGill must ensure neither faculty nor campus events are empowered to platform trans-exclusionary rhetoric.

Arts & Entertainment, Pop Rhetoric

An anatomy of the rise and fall of Lil Timmy Tim

by Loriane Chagnon on

More in Arts & Entertainment:

In a tragic case of male ego coming to the fore, Timothée Chalamet, who went from playing European sad boys to a despicable American table tennis player in search of glory, lost this year’s biggest acting award to Sinners’ Michael B. Jordan. In a February 2026 conversation with former colleagueMatthew McConaughey, Chalamet threw shade at ballet and opera, showing us How to Lose an Oscar in Ten Days. Under fire for defending the need to “keep movie theatres alive” while attacking other art forms, he has alienated many of his once devoted fans. 

“I don’t want to be working in ballet or opera,” the actor said, “Where it’s like, ‘Hey, let’s keep this thing alive, even though no one cares about this anymore.’” Quick to backtrack his comment, Chalamet then claimed he respects both communities.

As karma would have it, he did not win a BAFTA Actor Award or an Oscar a few weeks later, despite having been considered the front-runner throughout the whole award season. Members of the ballet and opera communities openly rejoiced at Chalamet’s downfall and took to social media to voice their grievances with the actor’s remarks. Notably, the English National Ballet commented on the situation, saying that these art forms are “not only alive and well, but thriving.” Other companies took this as a promotional opportunity, with the Los Angeles Music Center offering a 20 per cent discount on ballets this summer by using the code “CHALAMET.”

As such, we may ask ourselves: Is Chalamet onto something? As someone who has grown up with a profound love for the performing arts, it seems to me that Chalamet misspoke, but the public may have slightly blown it out of proportion. Ballet and opera are not dying, but they have historically been extremely exclusive art forms, associated with the European aristocracy—an exclusivity that many wish to uphold. These are art forms that have largely catered to the elite and privileged and tend to feature predominantly white, slender, and able-bodied artists. Thus, Chalamet may have opened up an important conversation about the accessibility of these performing arts. Still,  undermining other art forms to argue the value of your own is not the right approach.  

In my view, then, Chalamet, whose family has a background in the performing arts, spoke with arrogance but did point to something important: Cinema and ballet cater to vastly different audiences, and the former is a lot more accessible than the latter. It would be a lie to say that “no one cares” about ballet and opera, but these are two art forms that have not given many people the opportunity to care, which is something that needs to be improved should they wish to avoid proving Chalamet’s statement correct.

Chalamet’s biggest problem is that he has used method acting throughout his Oscar campaign, but the character he was campaigning for, Marty Mauser, is a terrible person. There has been a recent debate around method acting and Kristen Stewart’s comments that male actors use the gendered practice of method acting to mask vulnerability and assert control, while women who do the same are labelled as difficult or crazy. It could be argued, then, that Chalamet’s comments are a continuation of his choice of relying on method acting for the Marty Supreme campaign. We may then question the gendered component of the practice of method acting and the validity of using it as an excuse to act like a bad person.

Ultimately, it seems to me that while Chalamet should not have shamed other art forms to promote his own, it has forced our society to have important conversations about the accessibility of the performing arts and the validity of method acting. Having these conversations matters if we wish to uphold the egalitarian ethos of democracy and strive to flatten the structural injustices that burden our society. 

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