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Martlet soccer
a, Martlets, Sports

Soccer: Coughlan comes through in the clutch to sink Concordia

by Elie Waitzer on

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McGill Martlets
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Concordia Stingers
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t has become routine, almost inevitable. She slips through defenders like a spectre, haunting the opposing 18-yard-box with her presence. Concordia ties the game up at 1-1 with just 15 minutes to play, but you know that time isn’t an issue. Sure enough, there she is: Audrey-Ann Coughlan, sophomore striker, handling a perfect pass from senior forward Rebecca Green and firing the game-winner into the net at the 85th minute. It’s her second goal of the game. 

“She’s a clutch player,” Head Coach Jose-Luis Valdes said of Coughlan. “From the start of this season, she’s been on fire; and right now […] we know we can count on her to change the game at any point.”

The late goal gave McGill (6-2-2) a thrilling 2-1 victory over Concordia (3-6-1) on Friday night, running the Martlets’ undefeated streak to four straight contests. Sitting at 3-2-1 in late September, it looked as if the Martlets were headed towards another underwhelming season. Since then, however, the team has hit its stride, going 3-0-1 since its last loss. This squad is firing on all cylinders, and it’s out to prove that it belongs with Laval (8-0-0) and Sherbrooke (7-1-2) at the top of the RSEQ. 

“We have a sense of urgency,” Valdes said. “When we need to get something done, we make it happen. Last year we would’ve finished this game with a tie, or maybe even a loss. This year we’ve shown that when things are close, we hold on. The girls are strong mentally. They train hard throughout every practice, and it shows.”

Coughlan’s first strike came on a corner kick in the 33rd minute. The arcing shot curved over the heads of the players bunched in front of the net and collided directly into Stingers goalie Maria Kaperonis. The crowd barely had time to let out a sigh of disappointment before they realized that the ball had bounced out of Kaperonis’ hands and was rolling past the goal line. 

McGill dominated possession of the ball for the entirety of the game, mounting attack after attack in the Stingers’ territory. Concordia’s only real threats came on corners and free kicks, and all were turned away by junior goalie Sarah  Dubois, whose record improves to a perfect 4-0 when she starts over veteran keeper Cassandra Fafalios. 

Valdes attributed the team’s superb defensive effort to the return of captain Zoe Fasoulakis, who had missed several games due to a concussion. 

“[It was] great to have that maturity in the [backfield],” Valdes said of Fasoulakis. “The girls always refer to her to get information, and she always has an answer. The experience shows on the field. It’s calm in the back, there’s no risk, [and] there’s never really a feeling that we’re in trouble. She keeps things under control.”

The Martlets stretched their undefeated streak to five games on Sunday with a 1-1 draw against second-place Sherbrooke. With a playoff spot all but secured, they  will get a chance to make up ground next week in the race for home-field advantage against weaker competition in UQÀM (3-6-1) and Bishop’s (0-8-2). 

Sound Bites

“[Daphnée’s] been out for three weeks now. [She] had a great start to her season, probably her best season in four years, so it’s unfortunate.” –Coach Valdes on the lingering concussion that has kept veteran forward Daphnée Morency-Roussin out of the lineup.

Play of the game

Coughlan’s game-winner in the 85th minute sealed the deal for the Martlets.

Stat of the game

With her second multi-game effort of the season, Coughlan now accounts for 10 of the 18 goals the Martlets have scored all year.

Jose Bautista
a, Baseball, Sports

Looking back at a wild ALDS for the Toronto Blue Jays

by Eyal Wilk on

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On Wednesday night the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Texas Rangers in Game 5 of the ALDS, becoming just the third team in MLB history to come back from two games down in the first round of the playoffs. The tumultuous conclusion to the series, capped by Jose Bautista’s spine-tingling three run home run, is one that will be remembered by baseball fans around the country for years to come. Yet, even without that historic seventh inning there was still plenty to take away from the series: 

Youth rises

The Blue Jays’ bullpen featured both the oldest (LaTroy Hawkins) and youngest (Roberto Osuna) pitchers in the league. As he has done all season, Manager John Gibbons never hesitated to put his faith in youth over experience. The trio of Marcus Stroman, 24, Aaron Sanchez, 22, and Osuna, 20, didn’t disappoint, combining to record 48 per cent of all outs for the Blue Jays during the ALDS.

Stroman, who suffered a not-so-season-ending injury during spring training, ended up starting Games 2 and 5 for the Jays. The 24-year-old gave up just five earned runs while striking out nine over 13 dominant innings,

After Brett Cecil suffered a ‘season ending’ calf tear in Game 2, the weight of the Blue Jays bullpen duties fell squarely on the shoulders of Sanchez and Osuna. The two stepped up big, bringing a level of confidence well beyond their years to the mound. The Sanchez-Osuna combo threw 11 near-perfect, shutout innings of baseball with 11 strikeouts and a WHIP of 0.273.

In the crucial Game 5, the three 20-somethings were the only Jays pitchers to enter the game. Stroman pitched six strong innings, holding the Rangers to two runs and striking out four. Sanchez would earn the win after shepherding his team through the rowdiest seventh inning ever played on the Rogers Centre’s shoddy turf. Roberto Osuna would record the save in epic fashion, striking out four of the five batters he faced.

Moving into the ALCS with a struggling David Price and an injured Cecil, how the Jays young pitchers fair against the Kansas City Royals may very well be the defining factor in the series.

Gibby’s gut

They say that playoff games often end up becoming a chess match between opposing managers, and while Gibbons isn’t necessarily known as a tactician. his managerial decisions—and indecisions—had a tremendous impact on the course of the series.

In the second must-win game of the series, Gibby announced that Jays ace David Price would be the first out of the bullpen should starter R.A. Dickey run into any trouble. After just four and two-thirds innings, with Dickey staked to a six run lead, Gibbons called on Price to lock things down. The ace would struggle over three innings, giving up six hits and three earned runs, and would have to be relieved by Aaron Sanchez in the eighth inning. Toronto would end up winning the game 8-4, but the damage was done. Price would throw 50 pitches, all but guaranteeing that he wouldn’t be available out of the bullpen in a winner-take-all Game 5.

Even though the Jays ended up winning the series, Gibbons needs to allocate his pitching resources more responsibly to give his team a chance to matchup against the Royals’ fearsome bullpen in the ALCS. With Price likely gone to the highest bidder the moment the season ends, Gibbons’ only worry should be figuring out how to squeeze every last drop of value out of his ace.

Home sweet home

The first four games in this bizarre series were won by the road team, with Texas silencing the crowd at the Rogers Centre in Games 1 and 2 and Toronto answering back by taking Games 3 and 4 in Arlington. In many ways, the home team seemed to be at a disadvantage during all but the final game of this series. The majority of the Jays’ players were experiencing the post-season for the first time, and they were under tremendous pressure to perform before their fans. Trailing early in Game 1 and giving up a lead late in Game 2 seemed to take the home crowd out of the game in a dramatic fashion. The silent, disappointed tone set in the Rogers Centre added yet another element that the Jays had to overcome. During the games in Arlington, a Texan silence did exactly the opposite for Toronto, it signified defiance and resilience. Every big hit that shut the crowd up just added fuel for the Jays and motivated them to return home.

In Game 5, however, the home field advantage likely made all the difference for Toronto. While the Rangers have a reputation for choking in the post-season, committing three consecutive errors in the seventh inning of a sudden-death game is not something you can chalk up to reputation, or to divine retribution from the ‘baseball gods.’ It’s something maybe Johnny Cueto could explain, but even he hasn’t had the experience of trying to field a groundball on a notoriously tricky turf with the concentrated roar of 50,000 Canadians bouncing off a closed dome and straight into your eardrums. Though it wasn’t scored as an error, there’s no way Roughned Odor would have misplayed  Josh Donaldson’s game-tying pop-up on home soil.

Since they finished two games behind the Royals during the regular season, the Jays will play up to four away games in the best-of-seven ALCS. Hopefully they can bring their home field momentum from a historic Game 5 to Kauffman Stadium with them.  

NFL Fantasy Football
a, Football, Sports

Fantasy Football: Week 5 takeaways

by Josh Blatt on

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Week 5 in the NFL produced some electrifying games that came down to the wire, with comeback victories for the Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, New York Giants, and Pittsburgh Steelers. Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown threw for 457 yards in a stunning overtime win against the Baltimore Ravens, while Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ streak without an interception at Lambeau Field came to an end after 1,043 days and 586 passes. Here’s your fantasy football takeaways for Week 5:

Chiefs’ arrowhead pointing down

Week 5 could not have gone any worse for the Kansas City Chiefs. Not only did the team blow a 17-3 lead over the Bears, but they also lost superstar running back Jamaal Charles to a non-contact injury in third quarter of the game. An MRI revealed a torn right ACL for the fantasy stud, which immediately sent him to Injured Reserve. Backup running back Charcandrick West is now in line for the bulk of the carries after leapfrogging Knile Davis on the depth chart. West will be the top waiver wire add this week and can be slotted in as a viable second running back. If West is out of reach, make sure to scoop up Knile Davis as a bench stash in hope that he reclaims the job down the line.

The lone star state

The Houston Texans have had a tough start to the season: They currently stand at 1-4 and lack any semblance of an identity. Despite this, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins hasn’t been slowed at all by the team’s woes—he is on pace for an implausible 1,850 yards and 10 touchdowns on 240 targets. Even with the Texans playing musical chairs at quarterback on a weekly basis, the blossoming wide receiver nevertheless gets open at will and reels in whatever is thrown his way. With the Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, and Tennessee Titans on deck, expect Hopkins to continue his string of monstrous games. Start him and reap the benefits.

Tight ends wanted

Other than the superhuman Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots, the tight end position is in a state of disarray this season. To the despair of many, Jimmy Graham, in his first year as a Seattle Seahawk, has only posted one game above 60 yards and found the end zone just twice. Similarly, Kansas City’s Travis Kelce has been quiet since his Week 1 two-touchdown performance. For those in desperate need of a new tight end, help has arrived in the form of Gary Barnidge. Currently ranked third in scoring at the position, the Browns tight end has emerged as a weekly difference maker. This past Sunday, Barnidge hauled in eight catches for 139 yards and an improbable catch-between-the-legs touchdown. He is a must-add and should start every week for your team.

Muscle hamster keeps churning

Following disappointing campaigns in 2013 and 2014, this year was set to be a make-or-break season for Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin.. With the Bucs reportedly losing patience with their fourth-year back, the Muscle Hamster amassed an underwhelming 176 rush yards through three weeks, splitting snaps almost evenly with third-down back, Charles Sims. In the two weeks that have followed, however, Martin has posted over 300 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns. Leave him in your lineups as long as he’s hot, but be warned that his usage rates will be heavily dependent upon the Bucs’ in-game situation.

The Lions’ den is caving in

Falling to 0-5, the Detroit Lions put up another unwatchable performance against the Arizona Cardinals in an embarrassing 42-17 loss. Offensive line protection issues, coupled with ill-advised throws led to quarterback Matt Stafford’s benching after an awful three-interception performance. Not all the blame, however, could be placed on Stafford’s drooping shoulders; the Lions have been ineffective in the run game and future Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson looks like he has lost a step—he has no 100-yard games and just one touchdown up to this point. The Lions’ season is all but over and Stafford cannot be trusted as anything more than a bottom-of-the-barrel second quarterback, whereas Johnson is a nice buy-low target as a number two wide receiver.

Star Wars
a, Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

Five movie trailers that really packed a punch

by Demaris Oxman on

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The best movie trailers are the ones that grab your attention, whether it’s with a stunning shot, dramatic action, or a witty line of dialogue. They’re the ones that spark your curiosity rather than satisfying it. They show off the movie’s good points, but don’t give away any of the best scenes. Below are five examples from the past two decades that packed a punch and left the audience dying to see more.

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

Panning across the surface of the world has become a trademark of fantasy film trailers—it draws the audience into the alternate universe. That’s how this exciting trailer begins, and how it draws viewers’ attention: With a sweeping shot of a dark forest, both beautiful and menacing, perfectly setting the tone of the film. The clips are visually stunning and give the audience just enough background to develop an interest in the plot and the characters without revealing too much of the story. There’s plenty to pique the viewer’s curiosity, but the most magnificent scenes are saved for the film itself.

Spider-Man (2002)

This film marked the dawn of a new age of superhero movies, and its trailer became a model for other films of the genre. Within those two short minutes, viewers see all the ingredients of a classic comic-book film: The hero, his secret powers, the love interest, and the villain. The scenes of Spider-Man swooping along the city skyline highlights the movie’s special effects, while the titular character’s narration draws audiences in, making them invested in the characters before even seeing the movie.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

It’s a bit early to say how the trailer will match up to the movie, but the preview itself is fantastic. The teaser offers only a brief glimpse of the new film, but Star Wars fans see everything they could want ranging from stormtroopers to spaceships. A great trailer for a sequel, it incorporates the most iconic pieces of the original films—the blast of the fanfare is enough to make any nerd jump out of their seat with excitement. The teaser is full of action and adventure scenes in a style faithful to the original trilogy—now all that’s left is for the film to deliver.

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

While the movie itself isn’t for everyone, there’s no denying that the trailer is a fantastic hook for this horror film. The preview perfectly reflects the ‘found-footage’ style of the film itself, and the terror of the filmmaker characters is palpable even in the brief clips. Glimpses of the ‘footage’ are shown just enough to illustrate the premise, but nothing is given away. This is a spine-tingling trailer, promising a movie that will be a nail biter.

Super 8 (2011)

The score is what makes this trailer, especially in the beginning. Even in those scenes of small-town life, the music sets an eerie tone, culminating in an incredible explosion. The scenes build action with paranormal phenomena, along with the brief glimpses into the characters in this town that catch the audience’s attention. It’s hard not to want to know what’s on that train, and yet, while some amazing clips are shown, nothing is given away. Getting inside the characters’ heads, discovering the source of the supernatural chaos—you have to see the movie for all the best bits.

Dial M For Murder
a, Arts & Entertainment, Theatre

Players’ Theatre makes a killing with Dial M for Murder

by Miray Eroglu on

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Dial M For Murder, written by Frederick Knott and directed by Ali Aasim, is a sensational start to the Players’ Theatre’s 2015-2016 season. Filled with moments of suspense and meaningful dialogue, the show keeps the audience guessing right until the final moment.

Set in New York City during the 1950’s, Dial M For Murder opens with Sheila Wendice (Eleonore Lamothe) and her lover, TV screenwriter Max Halliday (Jordan Pollock) discussing the elements that make up a good murder story. According to Max, the most important factor is motive, which usually arises from fear, jealousy, revenge or in order to protect someone you love. This gives the play its thematic framework, and throughout it, the desire for the truth gets wrapped up with discrepancies between fact and fiction. 

Pollock’s consistent moments of comic relief balance out the classiness of the Grace Kelly-inspired performance of Lamothe, and when the story is complicated by the arrival of Sheila’s husband, Tony Wendice (Oskar Flemer), the actor shifts between the amiable and sinister sides of Tony with ease. Each character has a hidden agenda, and spends the duration of the show attempting to cover up something from their past or what they know about the other. Dial M For Murder brings to light the inconsistencies between the face that is shown to the world, and the truth that remains hidden behind the facade.

Throughout the show, these secrets fail to remain hidden, despite their keepers’ best intentions. Tony becomes aware of Sheila’s affair with Max, and, jealous of their illicit relationship and greed for Sheila’s money, plans to murder Sheila. Tony is a master at manipulating the people around him and regards crime as a hobby. He calls his old friend from university, Captain Lesgate (Alastair Pitts) with the false pretense that he wants to purchase a car. Tony then promises Lesgate $1,000 to carry out the murder, as long as Lesgate will do it exactly according to Tony’s plan. 

When things do not go as easily as he hoped they would, Tony finds himself relying on his wit alone as his master plan unravels. Ultimately, Tony’s dark side dominates as he tries to fool the law, resorting to blackmail and deception. Inspector Hubbard (Cain Humeniuk) is responsible for piecing together the elaborate puzzle, which he does with a sense of humour. The play culminates with a satisfying reveal of who knows what as the balance of power between criminal and victim is altered. Overall, however, it would have added more depth to the performance to see some variation to Lamothe’s portrayal of Sheila. While at times when she was reactive to what was happening, there were moments where the audience seemed to be rooting for Sheila; hoping that she would stand up for her version of the truth.

Dial M For Murder observes the relationship between greed, luck, love, and the ultimate price people have to pay in order to get what they want. It is a psychological discourse on individuals and the motives behind their actions.

In essence, Dial M For Murder provides a commentary on how to get away with murder, filled with suspense and ironies framed by the essential query on how one would write the perfect murder. The story comes full circle as the coincidences in life allow events to take an unexpected turn, revealing how sometimes the truth is indeed unbelievable.

 Dial M For Murder is showing from Oct. 21-24 at 8 p.m. at Players’ Theatre (3600 rue McTavish) located on the third floor of the SSMU Building. Student tickets cost $6.

Wavves V
a, Arts & Entertainment

Album Review: V – Wavves

by Sarah Leinwand on

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With it’s reminiscently ’90s punk vibe, Wavves’s new album V presents everything listeners hate to love about angsty rock. The album opens with “Heavy Metal Detox,” which includes classic dissonant, yet upbeat chords that are vaguely reminiscent of MTV’s Daria theme song. The song sets a hopeful tone for the album with the lyrics “I believe we’re not alone,” creating a sense of community between those also living in an angst-filled, dream-like hellscape. The strong instrumentals and vocals tie together nicely and set the album off to a strong start. The harsh sound of the electric guitar is prominent throughout the album, but the finesse in the percussion section is really brought out in the song “Pony,” where drum hits punctuate key moments and tambourine shakes fill silence.

Wavves’ familiar punk sounds persist until the song “My Head Hurts” rolls around, when an unexpectedly harsh guitar interlude interrupts the song. This interlude introduces a tonal switch in the album from upbeat angst to more scratchy guitar solos and scratchy vocals. The next song, “Redlead,” leads right into this new tone. In a clever bonding of lyrics and style, the line “broken and inane” is repeated, making the listener anxious in the anticipation of when the repetition will end. The protagonist seems to have lost himself, ending this song—and the rest of the songs in the album—with discombobulated fade outs, contrasting the previous strong endings.

The next few songs, “Heart Attack,” “Flamezesz,” and “Wait,” blend together in generic wavves of angst and sadness. The disappointing lull finally comes to an end when the album’s original tone comes back with a bang in the album’s penultimate song, “Tarantula.” The album’s finale creeps up behind “Tarantula” with a slower intro, but it slowly meshes into a complete reiteration of the entire album smashed into one song. There is a combination of dreaminess, screaming, edgy guitar riffs, and dissonant sounds that is suggestive of the resolving montage at the end of a movie.

DeafHeaven
a, Arts & Entertainment

Album Review: New Bermuda – Deafheaven

by Ian Rodgers on

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On New Bermuda, Deafheaven maintains the uniqueness of their sound but loses some of the intensity of their previous album, Sunbather. Deafheaven has always existed in an interesting limbo, combining the extremity of black metal with softer shoegaze and post rock sounds. This limbo angered diehard fans but excited many others, launching them into mainstream success uncommon in the metal scene. That success clearly brought conflicted emotions, reflected lyrically in songs like “Luna,” where lead singer George Clarke seems to have found the “Dream House” he searched for in Sunbather, but has been left “sitting quietly in scorching reimagined suburbia.”

New Bermuda mixes the vocals more distinctly than its predecessor, giving Clarke’s poetry more musical immediacy. In general, New Bermuda feels tighter but less ambitious than its predecessor. The album makes excellent use of a variety of effects, with flange sounds contributing to the atmospheric aspect of its softer moments. Interlude tracks are removed and placed within songs, making the contrast between loud and soft somewhat less distinct.

“Luna” is the high point of the album, keeping a balance between the many elements of the band and holding on to its momentum consistently throughout the song. This dynamic balance between hammering intensity and respite is the key to their sound, and by “Baby Blue” the album seems to lose their grip on it. This track opens with interesting guitar leads reminiscent of Explosions in the Sky, but spends far too much time on its outro and gives too much space to some slow, chugging rhythm guitar. There is an interesting wah-pedal heavy guitar solo which expands their sound, but it’s not enough to redeem it.

“Come Back” features some heavy black metal segments and some outstanding riffs, but then spends far too much time on its slow conclusion. The outro feels like it is anticipating some sort of climax for four minutes, and then the song ends.The album closer “Gifts for the Earth” is somewhat similar, although it makes better use of contrast in its outro, incorporating sounds that surprisingly recall Wilco. Overall, the album seems to be Deafheaven trying to figure out a way to proceed, both musically and personally, but in the process it loses some of the triumphant power that made Sunbather so fantastic. Taken on its own, it is a great listen, but unfortunately its context makes it somewhat disappointing.

Grey Gardens
a, Arts & Entertainment, Theatre

Beyond the lens: Grey Gardens places audience within 1975 documentary

by Luka Ciklovan on

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Tuesday Night Café ’s (TNC) inaugural play of the season, Grey Gardens, concerns a little-known facet of American history. In the aftermath of the assassination of U.S. president John F. Kennedy in 1963, it is easy to forget the role that his wife—first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis—came to play for the American public. Easier yet is forgetting the bizarrely tragic tale of Jacqueline’s aunt Edith Ewing Bouvier Beale (Big Edie), and cousin Edith Bouvier Beale (Little Edie) who were both brought to the cultural fore by Albert and David Maysles’ 1975 documentary Grey Gardens. The film highlights the social aftermath of the Beales’ transition from fame to famine, and portrays these once wealthy New York socialites living in the now-dilapidated estate of Grey Gardens, facing conditions of ever increasing squalor and isolation. This central tension is augmented by the direct filming style of the Maysles brothers. Directed by Grace Jackson, TNC’s version successfully sets out to adapt this directness from the screen to the stage, and doesn’t lose out on any post-aristocratic insanity in doing so.

Grey Gardens brilliantly puts the audience into the position of the Maysles brothers as the two are brought face to face with the good, bad, and ugly, found of manor. Jackson uses most of the same lines from the original documentary, mixes in actual scenes from the film via projector, and follows the same general narrative of the documentary. In this way Jackson draws a clear line from her production to the source material, and cements her work as a theatrical adaptation. In setting up the same conditions found in the film, however, the audience is more directly in contact with the awkwardness, sadness, and occasional mirth captured in the film. Having the two Edies’ engage in direct eye contact with the audience, actually feeding the audience with what little scraps of food they had, and posing for pictures that audiences are prone to take, successfully blur the line between spectator and performer in a powerful way that the medium of film simply cannot recreate.

Augmenting this solid directing was equally strong acting. Big Edie‘s (Rachel Stone) culturally aloof and determined persona was portrayed effectivelye by Stone—she rarely acknowledged the audience nor camera, and always shrilly defending her life choices with big vocal crescendos. Stone is noticeably contrasted by Little Edie (Connor Spencer) who had almost constant energetic interaction with the audience. Stone and Spencer—although their accents faltered at times—worked off of each other’s opposing energies brilliantly. The result was an unnerving mixture of intense fighting and brief moments of happiness that made the duo appear simultaneously insane and somehow approachable and charismatic. Jerry (Oren Lefkowitz), the handyman of the estate, is portrayed in a monotonous, ogling manner, and this only adds to the eeriness of the scenes.

The Grey Gardens estate itself, which is central to the show, was designed and acted on in a way that conveyed the squalor that defined it. TNC Stage Managers Holly Hilts and Karlo Trost arranged the stage as a clutter of random objects tossed about, which constantly impeded actors’ movements. As such, the Beales’ poverty is highlighted despite the fact that a large pallet of bright colours sometimes gave off the impression of wealth. When coupled with the long, backstage routes the actors were directed to take to move about the house, it spectacularly demonstrated the inconvenience that the manor itself posed.

By successfully exploring the tragic story of the Beales while offering a powerful translation of one medium into another, TNC’s production of Grey Gardens proved itself as a strong piece and an excellent opener.

Grey Gardens runs at TNC, (Morrice Hall, 3485 Rue McTavish) Wednesday to Saturday, October 21-24.  Performances begin at 8 p.m., with doors at 7:45. Tickets are $6 for students and seniors and $10 

Jardin de lumieres
a, Out on the Town, Student Life

Outdoor activities in Montreal to celebrate fall

by Saloni Singh on

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As the air gets brisker and the school year gets busier, it’s tempting to want to stay indoors more often; however, Montreal’s never-ending calendar of fall festivals, events and activities indicate that the city doesn’t stop for anything, and neither should its residents. Here is a list of four fall activities to check off this October.

Montreal Botanical Garden

From Sept. 4 to Nov. 1, the Gardens of Light event at the Jardin Botanique de Montreal provides some much needed color to the increasingly gloomy days. Every year, hundreds of elaborately designed lanterns in various shapes and sizes bring the garden to life. Apart from being an amazing spectacle of colour and light, the event also serves a deeper purpose—to honour the commencement of the Moon Festival, an important tradition in several East Asian countries that celebrates the harvest moon as a symbol of peace, prosperity and family reunion. While the gardens are usually crowded on the weekends, it is an ideal place to relax and connect with nature, right in the middle of the city, among thousands of exotic plants from around the world. It is also convenient to opt for the Space For Life visitors package, which gives access to the Biodome, Insectarium, and Planetarium, making for a holistic and enriching experience combining nature and science.

Apple picking

There’s no better way to celebrate the start of a busy school year than to take one last excursion to one of Quebec’s peaceful orchards. Apple picking usually runs from mid-August to late October, and is definitely worth the short drive out of the city. Apart from stocking up on fresh apples, many orchards offer events and activities to make the experience all the more fulfilling. Whether it’s going on a tractor ride, visiting the petting zoo, or exploring a hay maze, there are several ways to enjoy the rustic charm. Orchards are also perfect for picnics—the scenic locations provide an idyllic setting for an outing with family and friends, and the colours are great for photography. La Ferme Quinn, Le Verger Labonte, and Les Vergers Petits et Fils are just a few of the farms that deliver a unique apple picking experience. For those concerned about transportation, there are many McGill student organizations, such as McGill’s International Students Network, who plan apple picking events and provide transportation.

La Ronde Fright Fest

For many people, October is just a 30-day countdown to Halloween. Some go trick-or-treating, others throw wild parties, but almost everyone gets into the true, spooky spirit of the holiday. At Montreal’s downtown amusement park, La Ronde, Halloween is a month long festival, starting from Oct. 3 and lasting until Nov. 1. As the sun goes down, the park transforms into the set of a scary movie with zombies and vampires roaming the streets and museums, creepy doll houses, and sinister prisons. Visitors can also take a walk through Maison Rouge: Labyrinth of Terror, an all-new attraction this year that guarantees a spine-chilling adventure. Fright Fest 2015 is recommended for those seeking a new and unusual way to celebrate Halloween, and gain an exhilarating, multi-sensory experience.

Festival du nouveau cinema (Montreal International Festival of New Cinema)

The Festival du Nouveau Cinema presents a refreshing amalgamation of film and technology to visitors from Oct. 7 to Oct. 18, featuring films from all corners of the globe. With movies ranging from edgy and tear-jerking to dramatic and inspiring, viewers can be rest assured that they will find something to suit any preference. Cinema aficionados will be especially delighted by the supplementary events that create a heightened experience such as workshops, installations and meetings with filmmakers. Some of the highlights this year are Gaspar Noe’s Love a provocative exploration of physical relationships, and Jaco van Dormael’s equally controversial Le Tout Nouveau Testament about a 10-year-old girl who is God’s daughter and Jesus Christ’s sister. The festival is enhanced by its settings in interesting historical venues like the Hydro Quebec Agora, allowing participants to explore Montreal along the way.

Melissa Ludtke in the locker rrom
a, Behind the Bench, Sports

Behind the Bench: Ladies in the locker room

by Morgan Alexander on

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Misogyny is alive and thriving in the boys clubs of sports and sports journalism. Three female reporters were temporarily barred from entering the Jacksonville Jaguars’ locker room after the team’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts by an usher who, according to Graham Watson of Yahoo Sports, was unsure whether women were allowed in the room because, “you know how guys are.” The media relations teams for both the Jaguars and the Colts swiftly apologized to the women, but the incident is an unsettling reflection of today’s sports media landscape.

There’s a pervasive myth that sexism in sports journalism doesn’t exist to a serious extent, despite the fact that angry men on Twitter have made it perfectly clear that they think women don’t belong in the sports world. Even when female journalists are not being sent rape threats and called vile names over disagreements about the predictive stats of a minor player, they’re often being objectified—particularly if the women in question are television personalities. The top Google result for “female sports journalists” is an article from Men’s Fitness titled 40 hottest female sports reporters. The introduction to the piece proudly includes the disclaimer: “Some of the most attractive and charming women in the country are filling up the sidelines with awesome commentary and interviews—though we are often too distracted to notice.”

Beyond these blatant objectifications and threats of physical violence are the multiple incidents of sexual harassment that female reporters face daily. There are multiple cringe-worthy videos depicting Erin Andrews, a FOX Sports broadcaster, being harassed by interview subjects, from 50 Cent attempting to kiss her on air to a college football player grinding on her in the middle of a sideline report. In a piece published on Sports Illustrated, multiple female reporters who chose to remain anonymous recounted incidents where they were invited to players’ hotel rooms, denied interviews because they had rejected players’ advances, or were sent seuxally explicit messages from coaches.

This is happening in spite of the fact that multiple universities across Canada are fighting to hire female varsity coaches, and that high-level female athletes, such as unstoppable UFC Champion Ronda Rousey and 21-time Grand Slam Winner Serena Williams, are receiving  increasingly positive coverage. It seems that though barriers are being torn down for women in professional sports, female reporters still face an uphill climb.

This situation is exacerbated by a prevailing argument that women simply aren’t interested in becoming sports journalists, hence the dearth of female reporters. That type of logic is a self-fulfilling prophecy, as potential female role models in the field of sports journalism are often pushed to the sidelines, both literally and metaphorically. Women are then delegated to sideline reporting, where they are generally limited to just a few minutes of screen-time asking basic questions of the players, not delivering critical analysis. There are only a handful of women who serve as anchors on TSN and ESPN, and those who do in-game analysis are subjected to mindless criticism. This is a sorry state of affairs considering that female reporters had to fight numerous legal battles to get the same access to the players as their male counterparts—Melissa Ludtke won the right for female journalists to enter the locker room in 1978. Though sideline reporting is important, it is far less inspiring for young girls who have an interest in journalism.

Often, the reason there isn’t talk of the consistent harassment and irritation faced by female sports journalists is because the women are simply tired of talking about it. Women who are vocal about their experiences in the boys club may receive messages claiming they just aren’t cut out for this field. And women will have to contend with working in male-dominated newsrooms geared towards pleasing a male readership.
It’s unfortunate that after years of fighting for equal access and opportunity for female reporters, three more were barred from a locker room. Unfortunately, these women will join the ranks of many others who deal with daily discrimination on the job; but it’s necessary that their story be heard. Hopefully, this incident will inspire more female professionals to speak out against direct misogyny and ultimately smash through the glass ceiling that has kept them down for so long.

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