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McGill, News

Student living at La Citadelle claims lack of support from McGill following the death of her roommate

by Daniel Miksha on

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Content Warning: Mentions of suicide

Mabel,* U0 Arts, woke up in her shared dorm room in La Citadelle Residence on Jan. 11 and realized something was seriously wrong. In the moment, Mabel wasn’t sure who to turn to. With her friend Alex,* U0 Arts, Mabel decided to go down to the lobby of La Citadelle to ask for help at the front desk. After police arrived, they found that her roommate had passed away. As Mabel tried to recover in the coming weeks, she found herself tangled in bureaucracy and felt unsupported by McGill’s response to her needs.

Alex described the man at the front desk of La Citadelle who called the police as inconsiderate and said he didn’t seem to be taking the issue seriously.

“When he called the police, he said, ‘These girls are complaining that their roommate is unresponsive in the bathroom,’” Alex told The Tribune. “He just did not take it seriously at all. [He wasn’t acting like] he was calling the police about somebody’s life. And then he was saying, ‘You guys should have come down earlier.’ He was just being so insensitive.”

The McGill Media Relations Office (MRO) did not respond to The Tribune’s request to comment on this interaction.

When the police arrived at La Citadelle, they found that Mabel’s roommate had passed away. The Quebec coroner’s office has not confirmed the cause of death.

Mabel was connected with McGill’s Suicide Case Manager, and they spoke over the phone. 

“At that point, I really didn’t want to talk about it because it was a few hours after it happened, and I just kind of wanted to, I don’t know, sit, just be able to process my feelings,” Mabel said.

Mabel told The Tribune that she never met the Suicide Case Manager in person, but they kept in contact through email. 

Since her room had to be treated as a crime scene, Mabel received a key card from the Building Manager to room 2503 in La Citadelle, where she could move her belongings over the next few days.

On Jan. 11, Mabel was allowed one trip to retrieve essentials from her room. She claims she was not told when she would be able to retrieve the rest of her belongings and had to reach out to McGill Student Housing and Hospitality Services (SHHS) by email multiple times before she received a response.

Room 2503 had a different layout from the room she was living in before, and Mabel said she was surrounded by friends and had the space and stability she needed to start to heal. However, 10 days after she moved in, Mabel reported receiving an email from SHHS telling her she had to move out. 

 In an email exchange acquired by The Tribune, Mabel explained to SHHS  that she thought she would be able to stay in room 2503 for the remainder of the semester.

“At the time of receiving this room, I was under the impression that this room was a permanent solution, as communicated by the Building Manager, who assured me it would not be rented out to anyone else and stated that offering me this room was the least he could do under the circumstances,” Mabel wrote to SHHS.

Mabel claimed that prior to being offered room 2503, she was told she could consider living with a friend. She said if she had known her stay in room 2503 would only be temporary, she might have chosen the option to move in with a friend instead. 

In her email, Mabel expressed her desire to stay in room 2503, saying it gave her a sense of safety she did not want to lose. 

“When I moved into this room, it became a space of stability for me after a deeply traumatic experience,” Mabel wrote. “The prospect of having to move again is overwhelming and disruptive to both my academic and personal life [….] All of this combined has caused considerable physical and mental distress, including nightmares and difficulty focusing on my studies.”

Mabel wrote to SHHS that she was distressed by the prospect of having to move into a room that had a similar floor plan to the one she woke up in on Jan. 11.

“Moving to a room with a similar setup and bathroom as my previous one would be particularly traumatic given what I witnessed there firsthand [….] Being placed in a similar environment would trigger those memories, severely affecting my mental well-being,” Mabel wrote to SHHS.

According to an email obtained by The Tribune, SHHS offered Mabel accommodation in other residences, and the option of moving into a single room in La Citadelle. However, Mabel wanted to stay in La Citadelle in order to remain close to her friends and was wary that a single room would be too isolating.

“Throughout this process, McGill administration has repeatedly assured me that they would help me with anything I need to recover from this experience,” Mabel wrote to SHHS. “The support I require is to remain in the space where I feel safe and can begin to rebuild after what I went through. This room has become a place where I can grieve and process what happened, with the support of friends. ”

In the email communications, a spokesperson for SHHS expressed their sympathies and recommended Mabel reach out to the Suicide Crisis Manager she had been put in contact with. However, they made it clear that Mabel was expected to move into a room reserved by SHHS by the end of the week, despite her concerns.

“When I reached out to [the Suicide Case Manager], hoping to hear about the situation, she didn’t really support me through it,” Mabel told The Tribune. “She was like, ‘Yeah, I’m sorry, you just have to move out.’” 

In an email acquired by The Tribune, SHHS explained to Mabel that room 2503 is not a permanent rentable space for students, and was only made temporarily available under exceptional circumstances.

The Tribune reached out to the MRO to inquire whether any steps were taken to make 2503 a workable space for Mabel to live in for the rest of the semester but was not provided any specific answers.

“As a matter of respect for the privacy of those grieving, as well as for the protection of personal information – consistent with McGill policy and in accordance with the law – we will not comment on details of services offered or rendered to any individual student,” MRO wrote to The Tribune.

Six days after being told she had to live in a different room, Mabel moved her belongings into room 1803 of La Citadelle. McGill offered to provide her with boxes and tape for the move, which she refused. McGill’s response to her needs following the passing of her roommate left Mabel frustrated and questioning McGill’s care for students’ mental health.

The MRO maintained that McGill is committed to supporting students living in residences, particularly those impacted by the passing of the student on Jan. 11.

“Our principal focus is on efforts to extend concrete support to members of our campus community who were close to the deceased student,” the MRO wrote. “This occurs through our Student Wellness Hub, the Office of the Dean of Students, and the Residences team.” 

For Mabel, these existing supports are not enough. 

“[McGill is] such a bureaucratic system,” Mabel told The Tribune. “It’s very much a whole facade, I think, the whole support thing. They’re here to talk. They’re here for therapy or counselling, but in a situation like [this one], you need to be very much aware of specific people’s needs.” 

If you are in distress, or need someone to talk to, support is available through the Student Wellness Hub. If you or someone you know needs immediate help, call 9-8-8, Canada’s suicide crisis line, or 9-1-1.

*Mabel and Alex’s names have been changed to preserve their anonymity.

McGill, News, SSMU

SSMU’s VP Finance could be hired, versus elected, after the Winter 2025 Referendum

by Mairin Burke on

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The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Legislative Council approved the Motion Regarding Amendment to the Constitution on Feb. 13. Two items of the motion are now up for student vote on the Winter 2025 Referendum ballot: The decision to hire instead of elect the SSMU Vice-President (VP) Finance, and the choice to cut the SSMU VP Sustainability and Operations role entirely.

Hugo-Victor Solomon, current SSMU VP External, began drafting a motion in the Fall term to make VP Finance hired after learning that under a VP Finance with no fiscal or accounting experience who dispensed funding liberally, the SSMU went into a $1.3 million CAD deficit.

Both Solomon and SSMU President Dymetri Taylor attributed current VP Finance Pauline Jolicouer’s background in finance as a reason why SSMU has managed to achieve a $290,000 CAD surplus this year. Solomon described the prevention of disaster and positive ripple effect having a strong VP Finance has on SSMU’s operations.

“Given that SSMU does manage a portfolio of essentially $10 million [CAD], you want to have faith that someone in that position knows how to do their job, so that everyone else can do theirs,” Solomon said.

Gursween Padda, VP Finance of the South Asian Studies Students Association, expressed a hired SSMU VP Finance could ensure their financial competency and timely reimbursement for SSMU clubs and services.

“[A VP Finance’s] nucleus is really money, and making sure they’re getting the money they need to run and not go into debt,” Padda told The Tribune. “And that requires particular skills.”

According to section 10.3 of the SSMU Constitution, if the referendum question passes, the VP Finance will be hired by the Board of Directors (BoD) at the same time other executives are elected by the student body. Anyone interested can put their name forward for consideration, just as in an election. Taylor clarified that either a Board-appointed hiring committee, or the Legislative Council, would look predominantly at these candidates’ experience in finance to select a VP, although Taylor reported SSMU is still deciding between “options on the table” for selecting this committee.

Padda expressed that she felt it would be best to have an external body hire the SSMU VP Finance, to avoid conflicts of interest.

“When the governing body has so much power that they can choose who’s elected or not, that’s not democracy,” Padda said.

The appointed candidate would then be placed on SSMU’s Referendum ballot for ratification by the student body, providing what Solomon termed a “veto” mechanism in case SSMU members are not in favour of the recommended candidate. If students invoke this “veto” privilege, SSMU would have to hold an additional special Referendum to appoint a new candidate, or the BoD may “delegate them responsibility of the position [without] the voting power,” according to Solomon. This would mirror Hamza Abu Alkhair’s appointment to Director of Clubs and Services in January 2025.

Taylor and Solomon described how concerns about the VP Finance role emerged alongside discussions about the VP Sustainability and Operations’ utility, following Meg Baltes’ resignation in November 2024. Both Taylor and Solomon reported that after the SSMU by-election to establish a new VP Sustainability and Operations failed to meet quorum, executives did not experience any internal issues with portfolio management. 

Solomon’s motion thus seeks to eliminate the VP Sustainability and Operations role and formally designate its responsibilities to the VP Internal, excluding building oversight, which would be delegated to the President. Taylor explained how from an executive standpoint, the VP Sustainability and Operations role is expendable, having been established in 2016 but only occupied twice since. 

“Compared to all the other portfolios, the VP Internal and the VP Sus-Ops likely have, quote-unquote, the ‘least’ amount of work,” Taylor said. “They’re both kind of the halves of what makes the actual position in its entirety.”
Solomon and Taylor additionally argued for the $42,000 CAD cutting the role would save. Taylor described some potential uses as hiring a third porter for the University Centre to help extend building hours, or contracting internal security for Gert’s. The two also cited a consultation process listed in the Motion of speaking extensively with SSMU paid staff, before soliciting general student feedback in mid-January through the SSMU Instagram.

Student Life, Student of the Week

Student of the Week: Khadijatu-Dimalya Ibrahim

by Malika Logossou on

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Khadijatu-Dimalya Ibrahim is driven by a simple yet powerful belief: Change starts at home. Before tackling global issues, she prioritizes uplifting and supporting those immediately around her. A U2 student in Software Engineering and Islamic and African Studies, Ibrahim is a source of positivity and kindness, dedicated to leaving a lasting impact on and off campus. 

As co-founder of the Black Muslim Association (BMA), Ibrahim has helped create space for Black Muslim students to find community, education, and self-empowerment. Her impact has not gone unnoticed; this year, she received the Centre Culturel Islamique de Québec (CCIQ) Memorial Award, which honours the six men who lost their lives during the 2017 Quebec City mosque attack. The award recognized her work advocating for Muslim inclusion, particularly for Black Muslims.

Ibrahim’s advocacy began well before her time at McGill. As President of Dawson College’s Muslim Student Association (MSA), she led initiatives combining activism and community care. In 2021, she spearheaded a bake sale that raised $4,000 CAD for the Nisa Foundation, a non-profit organization providing shelter, financial assistance, and resources for Muslim women and families in need. Ibrahim also hosted an event called  “Try the Hijab,” inviting non-Muslims to experience wearing the hijab to challenge misconceptions and humanize the experience of women wearing the hijab.

Her desire to embrace intersectionality and create spaces for others to do so in a world that often forces compromise led her to co-found BMA at McGill. 

“It’s wanting to balance both of my identities without having to forego any of them,” she shared with The Tribune. “In certain spaces, it’s more my ethnicity that takes precedence; it just so happens that there are some activities I can’t do. There is a cognitive dissonance where you pick, [and] either leave your faith at the door [or your ethnicity], and I wanted both activities that deal with my faith and people that look like me too.”

Through the BMA, Ibrahim seeks to educate Black Muslim students about their rich history, culture, and religion, all while challenging stereotypes around African culture. The association hosts events fostering unity and support for Muslim communities in Montreal, including a recent food drive on Feb. 1 for the Sister Sabria Foundation. While she aims to challenge anti-Muslim prejudice, her primary focus is on building a strong community for Black Muslims on campus, with hopes of expanding her reach internationally, particularly to the U.S. and African countries. 

“Black spaces are important for ourselves​​—for us, by us,” she told The Tribune. “We really want to […] allow people to enjoy who they are.” 

However, her work is not limited to the Black Muslim population. While balancing academics and extracurriculars, Ibrahim also finds time to volunteer at the Bilal Islamic and Cultural Center of Quebec in Montreal, organizing local events to strengthen bonds and representation.

Receiving the CCIQ Memorial Award on Jan. 3 was deeply meaningful for Ibrahim. It highlighted the importance of remembering the 2017 tragedy, combating Islamophobia, and humanizing Muslim communities. Ibrahim shared how her father, a devout man who attends mosque each morning, is constantly subject to the lingering fear of Islamophobic violence. 

“I saw my dad in these men. And, even if I didn’t see my dad in these men, they are human lives,” she explained.

Appearing on CityNews Montreal to discuss her award was another milestone in her advocacy, allowing Ibrahim to reach an audience beyond social media.

Looking ahead, Ibrahim hopes people take away from her experience that university degrees, personal interests, and even hobbies can play an important role in helping local communities and creating cultural spaces.

“University is the only place where you’re sheltered but also an adult. You can easily protest, and while it can be a process where you are lonely, university makes you navigate with [like-minded people],” she said. Ibrahim’s work exemplifies the power of leadership and self-empowerment. By embracing her intersectionality and challenging the barriers that come with it, she has created a space for others to do the same.

“The main point is […] equipping us with the knowledge we need to be proud and confident whether it comes to our culture or our faith as well.”

Campus Spotlight, Student Life

News of a policy change comes out of the Blues

by Auxane Bussac on

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Blues Pub is one of the several student-run bars on campus, providing cheap beverages, delicious food—the grilled cheese is top-tier—and entertainment. While Blues is run by the Engineering Undergraduate Society (EUS), it has made the McConnell Engineering Building basement a classic Friday night pit-stop for students from all faculties. One of Blues’ distinguishable features is that it offers live musical performances from bands and DJs, creating an authentic vibe and welcoming environment—which might explain the reaction of students after being hit with news of an amendment to Blues’ policy. 

On Feb. 11, Instagram was turned upside down when Blues announced that only students with a Faculty of Engineering McGill ID would be allowed entry. Engineering students would still be allowed two 18+ guests. The announcement resulted in a swift public outcry from unhappy students. While the rationale behind the decision was not made public, students speculated that overcrowding at Blues may have been a driving factor.

Pinak Ghosh, a recent graduate from the Faculty of Engineering and a regular at Blues for years, commented on the bar’s crowd evolution since the pandemic.

“I remember the first Blues back from COVID, during E-Week Feb. 2022. Since then I’ve been a regular [….] When I first went it really was just engineers, only the graduating students really had an attachment to Blues [….] Since they introduced live music many more people from other faculties started coming,” he wrote in a statement to The Tribune.

Though the spacious McConnell basement’s circular area can fit a large crowd, it has its limits. According to Álvaro Tomassoni, U2 Engineering, the growing popularity of Blues has recently led to overcrowding issues that could explain the introduction of the policy—though he considers it a bit extreme. 

“The lineups at Blues have gotten significantly longer than what I’m used to, especially compared to last year [….] I don’t think [Blues] should be closed to other faculties of course, but I think there should be an order of people who can go in first,” Tomassoni said in an interview with The Tribune. 

The following day, Blues Pub deleted its initial publication and subsequently posted another announcement apologizing for the policy change, revoking it, and stating that the upcoming Friday night Blues would continue as usual, with no priority for engineers. They also announced the formation of a working group “in order to better hear the engineering community.” While some cheered on student activism, others highlighted how quickly things can escalate on social media. The comments on the initial announcement were filled with students sharing their opinions—both support for the policy and critiques of its consequences were expressed blatantly.

Other student bars on campus took this as an opportunity to promote their own activities. On the same day, Bar des Arts (BdA), 4à7, Detention Den, and MUSA Bar posted a joint statement in a humouristic video intended to “condemn [Blues Pub’s] protectionist policies” and welcome students from all faculties to attend their events.

Though the ban was lifted, the overcrowding issue remains salient. Tomassoni offered a potential solution which would allow Engineering students to take advantage of their priority access while still accommodating students from other faculties—therefore making everybody happy.

“I think a good idea to [prioritize people in Engineering] would be to make it so that from 4 to 6, which is happy hour, […] you can only go in if you’re an engineer and you can have one guest. And then from 6 p.m., it’s open to everyone else,” he suggested. 

Looking forward, the creation of a working group will foster discussion about other ways to manage Blues’ crowd, allowing students’ voices to be heard and Blues to remain a welcoming environment for all. As Blues’ second commandment states: “Thou Shalt Bring Engineers and Friendgineers Alike.”

Campus Spotlight, Student Life

Queer McGill’s Black History Month event calls for year-round activism

by Tamiyana Roemer on

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Black History Month is a time to reflect on, honour, and uplift Black voices—but the work does not stop when March begins. This was the core message of Queer McGill’s Black History Month event, where attendees were encouraged to consider how they can support and celebrate Black communities every day of the year. 

Held in the University Center on Feb. 18, the event featured a mini-market showcasing Black-owned businesses and artists, followed by a panel discussion with community leaders and activists. Panelists spoke on allyship, systemic issues, and the intersections of Black history and 2SLGBTQIA+ culture.

Panelist Joan Lee, president of the West Island Black Community Association, highlighted the importance of community attendance.

“When there’s events like this, people need to really come out and celebrate each other,” Lee shared. “Come to the event and learn: Learn about different ways of life, learn about different cultures.”

Panelist Lee-Anne Millaire Lafleur, owner of Caribbean restaurant Resto Palme and mother of three, further highlighted the need for collective responsibility, noting that conversations about systemic issues should not fall solely on the Black community.

“I have to have a conversation with my boys about [how they have to act when they] meet a police officer, [but] if we really want change […] everybody has to have that conversation with their sons,” she explained. “Our community has to know our history, […] but for the future, it can’t just be us [….] If my sons are out with other boys who aren’t Black, those boys need to understand that their actions could have consequences on my sons because of the system we live in.”

Jaqq Strapp, a performer and writer, noted the significance of Queer McGill’s event—not just because it celebrated Black History Month, but because a non-Black group organized it.

“Something about this event that I want to bring forth is the fact that those that organized it are not Black, and the fact that there was still intention to actually put together a Black History Month [event is] pretty significant,” he said. “What happens [often] in February is that everything gets dropped on the shoulders of Black people, and it can actually be, in all honesty, a very tiring month for us.”

Strapp asked the audience members to internalize a key question, encouraging attendees to reflect on their role in meaningful allyship: “How can I be more intentional with including and not tokenizing Black people 365, or 366 if there’s a leap day, days a year?” 

Anushka Manoj, U3 Arts and one of Queer McGill’s Events Coordinators, acknowledged the historical lack of BIPOC representation within the organization.

“Historically, Queer McGill has been dominated by white people within the queer community who come from more privileged communities, so as women of colour, when [Valeria and I] got elected, our whole agenda for this year was to do more for marginalized communities […] at McGill,” she told The Tribune.

Valeria Muñoz, a Master’s student in Educational Leadership and another Events Coordinator for Queer McGill, echoed this sentiment in a statement to The Tribune.

“This is not a one-off thing—this is something deeply rooted in what we should all advocate for,” Muñoz wrote.


Manoj and Muñoz also planned a South Asian Pride Film Festival on Feb. 23, featuring four South Asian short films by queer filmmakers. Looking forward, they hope to continue sparking conversations about race, queerness, and activism beyond designated heritage months. 

Queer McGill’s Black History Month event was more than a celebration—it was a call to action. By fostering conversations on activism, allyship, and intersectionality, the event emphasized that Black history and voices should be uplifted all year round, not just in February.

Basketball, Cross-Country / Track, Hockey, Sports

Game changers on and off the field—the stories of four Black Canadian women athletes

by Ethan Kahn on

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Black athletes have consistently pushed boundaries in both sport and civil rights to further opportunities for others. In many cases, the success or popularity of a sport can largely be attributed to the hard work and dedication of Black competitors. It is especially crucial to recognize the contributions of these trailblazers during Black History Month, to fully acknowledge their impacts. Alongside the modern superstars growing their respective sports, it is equally important to thank past athletes who may not have been as popular or well-known during their time, but whose advocacy has led to greater opportunities for modern Black athletes.

Kingston, Ontario’s Aaliyah Edwards may only be a 22-year-old rookie, but she has proven that she can hang with the best. The sixth overall selection in last year’s WNBA draft by the Washington Mystics, Edwards was Team Canada’s youngest player at the Tokyo Olympics at 18 years old, and was a two-time U.S. Basketball Writers Association All-American during her time at the University of Connecticut. Her community in Kingston remains incredibly important to her. This past summer, she ran a co-ed basketball development camp in Kingston intended to inspire young hoopers across the province. The camp helped athletes realize that their basketball dreams may be reachable.

Some athletes have the chance to shine, only to have the opportunity to compete on the world stage swept out from underneath them. What sets them apart is how they respond. While Canadian Sports Hall of Fame inductee Barbara Howard’s time in the spotlight may have been short, her 40 years off the track are the greatest part of her lasting legacy. Howard first gained attention when, in a time trial, she set a mark in the 100-yard dash that was good enough to break the Commonwealth Games record. 

In 1938, Howard became the first woman athlete of colour to represent Canada in an international sporting competition. However, she never got the opportunity to compete again, as the Second World War derailed plans for future competition. Undeterred, Howard returned to Vancouver to teach at an elementary school for four decades. She continued to break barriers, being the first member of a visible minority to be hired by the Vancouver School Board.

Sarah Nurse has become one of the biggest hockey superstars in the nation. A decorated forward with two Olympic medals and five World Championship medals for Team Canada, Nurse is a dominant force for the Toronto Sceptres in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). Few athletes can claim as much responsibility for their sport’s success as Nurse. As the creator of the Professional Women’s Hockey Players’ Association, Nurse was part of the team that founded the PWHL itself, an incredible achievement. She then joined the executive committee for the league’s labour union, advocating for her fellow PWHL athletes.

Like Nurse, Angela James had no equal on the ice. The current crop of PWHL stars owe much of their success to James, a women’s hockey pioneer. In a time when women’s professional hockey leagues were few and far between, James showed her true dominance on the international stage. She won four World Championships as the team captain, and was one of the first three women to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. In her international career, James recorded 33 goals and 21 assists for a total of 54 points. She was inducted into the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2021.

These athletes should be lauded for their continuous efforts to grow women’s athletics across the board. Their influence in their sports, coupled with their advocacy away from the playing field, makes them perfect role models for young athletes. James and Howard did not receive nearly enough attention in their playing days, and their inductions into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame show a renewed effort in ensuring that their legacies are preserved forever. For Nurse and Edwards, their work away from competition may be the most important aspect of their careers, and should be given an enormous amount of credit for being a driving force in the popularity of women’s sports.

Local Stories, Student Life

Flipping the lens: A look at the influencers of McGill University

by Bianca Tri on

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The number of social media influencers has ballooned in recent years, with TikTok alone reporting over a million creators. But which McGillians are joining the trend? Who among the student body documents campus construction, fieldhouse exams, and library crash-outs? The Tribune interviewed three students who post their daily lives—and more—online, getting to the heart of what compels them to share their stories with the world. 

Sheng Qi, U4 Engineering, known online as The Potential Dropout, began his page as a way to cope with the struggles of being a STEM student. He started posting day-in-the-life videos and comedic content in Fall 2021, during his first semester at McGill. In an interview with The Tribune, he explained how his first video sparked his career online.

“I was filming my calculus final and having a mental breakdown,” Qi said. “The next day, the video had half a million views.”

Similarly, Anna Bistour, U2 Arts, garnered unexpected success overnight.

“I started posting [on TikTok] during COVID and doing short videos on YouTube,” Bistour said. “When I went to the U.S. [on exchange], I thought it would be cool if people were interested in what I do. I was sitting in the airport, [and] when I arrived in the U.S., a video I posted reached 500k views.”

Bistour—who came to Canada from France—makes content sharing her daily life in North America with her inquisitive French followers. However, she emphasizes that her overall goal is to uplift students worldwide.

“I aspire to make relatable videos, so I answer a lot of questions and show people what they want to see about North America—then America, now Canada—so that they can have a closer idea of what life is [like] as an international student,” she said.

Amanda Round, a first-year Master of Science student, who became known for her educational videos on different university programs in Canada, expressed a similar goal.

“I was super type A as a student so when I was looking at programs I went out and talked to alumni and professors and I had all this random knowledge and I wanted to fill that gap,” she shared.

While Qi started with relatable content, he has also dabbled in more educational videos, including chemistry tutorials on YouTube. He also launched his own tutoring and events start-up, which is currently in the hiring phase. In his interview with The Tribune, he mentioned Khan Academy as one of his dream collaborations. 

Bistour was also interested in pursuing collaborations.

“I’ve always been into studying and school […], so my dream collaboration would be with an organization like UNESCO,” Bistour said. “School takes up a big part of my life, so I want to show people that it’s cooler than it sounds.”

Round spoke about her upcoming side account, where she plans to explain pertinent science topics to the Canadian public.

“I’m trying to do content related to scientific literacy and trying to make these topics, which are important to the Canadian public, accessible,” Round said.

When asked to share some wisdom for anyone interested in starting a public media account, Bistour warned that TikTok can often be a black hole of endless scrolling. However, she appreciates the platform for the community she’s made on it, and the impact you can make on others by using the app.

“Social media is a tight-knit group. I’ve met a lot of people on it,” Bistour said. “Especially people from France [who] have become interested in McGill. One girl told me that she got here because of me, so it’s very rewarding. I know I’m not the only one who does that, but it’s really cool to connect and have shared experiences.”

Round gave a few words of encouragement for anyone aspiring to share their perspectives online.

“I encourage you to get on social media and create content,” Round said. “Only you can communicate in your own way. If you have something to say, you should do it.”

Commentary, Opinion

President Deep Saini owes McGill students more than his own partisan renditions

by Lachlan DeAtley on

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McGill President and Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini’s recent messaging surrounding the on-campus pro-Palestine protests against investments and ties to Israel have repeatedly characterized those involved as violent and vandalizing, leaving little mention of the intent behind their actions. His language does not merely criticize the breaking of windows—to me, it paints the protestors as threats to order itself, erasing the political urgency that led to their demonstration.

This fear-mongering language—referencing mob rule, cacophony, and terror—functions to spread antagonism towards the protestors’ destruction of property, both on the night of Feb. 5, when protestors smashed the windows of various McGill buildings, and prior. Saini’s brief mention of the university’s resolute stance on Boycott, Divest, and Sanction (BDS) regarding the State of Israel hints that the property damage stood for more than vandalism; however, his critical language suggests the contrary.

These evident biases in the frequent messages to the McGill community beg the question of the president’s obligations. On the one hand, he speaks on behalf of the administration, representing those at whom the damages were directed. However, he is also addressing the McGill community directly, and therefore owes his audience a comprehensive and nonpartisan truth that avoids the demonizing language he employs. In the latter regard, Saini’s rhetoric strays far from the mark.

Given the growing antagonism between the administration and the protestor body, Saini’s rhetoric only fosters further division, rather than bridging the divide. His duty, rather than offering his own vision of the protestors, should be to service the broader McGill community with information and resources such that individuals may draw their own conclusions. His position as President of McGill means that his language does not merely inform the McGill community—it actively influences their perception. When such communication is dismissive of the central motivation behind the political activism it condemns, Saini’s audience must contend with the blurred lines between fact and presidential opinion. Saini thus fails his presidential duty to the McGill community, which notably demands a leadership role in promoting McGill’s broad well-being. In assuming such a role, he obligates himself to each constituency of the university—the administration, the faculty, and the student body—in equal part. As such, his commitment to community well-being calls for constituents who are, if not in agreement, then in decorum; Saini’s harsh rhetoric definitively harms this presidential ideal.  

This is not to say that Saini ought to promote the protestors’ actions as noble or well-meaning. On the contrary, doing so would fail his imperative in equal measure to his reductive condemnations. Rather, the notices Saini issues to the McGill community are obliged to fact and incontrovertible truth—or as close to this as such a memo can manage. That is, it is his imperative to present the community not with an argument, but the firm basis on which his audience may construct one, be it for or against those in question. The president’s current language, describing the Feb. 5 protestors as violent vandals, disrupting peace and education, serves no purpose but to curate the information reaching his audience, and thus influence student-held views; or perhaps it only serves to alienate the student body. His rhetoric reminds me of what I saw in the mainstream media, demonizing pro-Palestinian protestors rather than truly listening to their demands, engaging with their arguments, and walking a moderate line between the parties in dispute. 

This being said, it is crucial that students turn their attention to the motives behind Saini’s presentation of student protest. As it stands, Saini presents the McGill community with a highly curated and reductive view of events focused on the physical destruction of property while ignoring the pressing message behind the protests. This stands firmly against the McGill community’s right to unambiguous, axiomatic truth on which to form its own decisive opinion. As such, his imagery and language deserve at once criticism and skepticism. Indeed, Saini’s communications—while riddled with notions of antagonism and presumption in line with the administration’s ongoing use of disparaging language surrounding the BDS goals—are not to be completely neglected. However, they cannot be taken as a source, nor even a cross-section, of truth. Rather, Deep Saini’s words are best regarded as they are: Another divisive, albeit reputed, man’s opinion.

Arts & Entertainment, Theatre

Fairies square off against lords in ‘Iolanthe’

by Ella Paulin on

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From Feb. 14-22, the McGill Savoy Society brought Gilbert and Sullivan’s 1882 comic opera, Iolanthe, to life at Theatre Plaza. The show follows young shepherd Strephon (Matthew Erskine, BA 2022), and his beloved Phyllis (Aniela Stanek, U0 Arts). After he joyfully announces their engagement, a few wrinkles become apparent: She is a ward of the state, and he is just a lowly shepherd (even if he is secretly a fairy). When the engagement is rejected by parliament, he does what any half-fey suitor would do, and calls in his mother’s company of fairies. The company—that apparently is the collective noun for fairies—in turn does what any company of fairies would do, and infiltrates the British House of Peers.

“What makes Iolanthe special is its magic,” Erskine told The Tribune. “It’s a show about fairies, half-fairy, half-mortal shepherds, and sneering peers. It’s just imbued with such magic and wonders.”

The story unravels from there, by turns tragic and comic, chronicling the rising and falling fortunes of our star-crossed lovers. 

“Iolanthe is a really amazing operetta because it threads that line between a really great comedy and also some dark and tragic bits that you don’t see in a lot of comic operas,” Michael Quinsey, BA 2022 and Stage Director of the production, commented. “You have some nice dark music that’s a lot of fun to work with, and on top of that, there’s some huge energetic ensembles that are just so much fun to put together on stage.”

Unfortunately for Strephon, while he is scheming how to gain permission for the engagement, Phyllis spots him with his fairy mother—who looks much younger than she really is—and assumes that he is flirting with her. 

“She’s a girl’s girl. I feel like she’s very in love with both herself and Strephon,” Stanek said about her character. “She’s in her own little world, […] but by the end of the show, she’s become a lot more accepting of other people.”

A particularly energetic turning point comes towards the end of the first act, as Strephon is inducted into the House of Peers, as part of the fairies’ master plan. In an eerily current turn of events, our hero is suddenly vested with complete control to both make and approve laws. But fear not! Rather than slashing foreign aid budgets, he directs his unbridled executive power towards the noble aims of more lenient sentencing for criminals and support for the poor. 

Unfortunately, even the satisfaction of a well-implemented social welfare policy is not enough to fill the woman-sized hole in Strephon’s heart, and he pines after Phyllis hopelessly.

As it turns out, Strephon is not the only one pining away—the Lord Chancellor (Samuel Valentim-Gervais) also has eyes for Phyllis. When she rejects him (and all of her other suitors, for that matter), the Chancellor spirals into despair, delivering a truly impressive patter song on a timeless theme: Bedrot. Reassuringly, it seems that even the Victorians couldn’t get out of bed, as he bemoans his unrequited love with his faithful teddy bear. 

The second act culminates with an aria from Strephon’s fairy mother, Iolanthe, strikingly moving after the comedic first act, in which she sacrifices her own life in a selfless plea for her son’s marriage rights. Luckily for the characters, her tragic sacrifice is brief, and the Fairy Queen (Ashley Bissonnette) collaborates with the House of Peers to revise all necessary rules in order to save Iolanthe’s life, approve the marriage between Strephon and Phyllis, and pair up all the rest of the fairies with parliamentarian partners. 

With all of the conflicts simultaneously resolved by the Fairy Queen, whose bouncy incompetence is a perfect equal and opposite to the pomp and circumstance of the Lords, they all dance off stage in a fittingly whimsical finale for a thoroughly whimsical production. 

Iolanthe was onstage at Theatre Plaza from Feb. 14-22.

Science & Technology

CogSURF connects minds, empowering the next generation of cognitive scientists

by Michelle Yankovsky on

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The Cognitive Science Undergraduate Research Forum (CogSURF), Montreal’s first undergraduate-led conference of its kind, will host its inaugural event on Feb. 27 at the University Centre. This event aims to showcase undergraduate talent and break down the barriers to open science for undergraduate students across Montreal. With over 340 registrations, CogSURF will offer a day filled with presentations, networking opportunities, and showcases of research disciplines across the cognitive sciences.

Le Thuy Duong Nguyen, a U3 student in McGill’s Honours in Cognitive Science program and executive chair of CogSURF, began developing the conference in July 2024, where she assembled an executive board of undergraduate students from McGill.

“I personally found my passion for science and research through going to open conferences,” Nguyen said in an interview with The Tribune. “This was really a big mission of mine—to create something that would be accessible to all levels, universities, and disciplines to converge at one big event.”

Maria Lagakos, CogSURF’s executive co-director of partnerships and fellow U3 Honours in Cognitive Science student, explained some of the difficulties in the early stages of developing CogSURF.

“We really did this from the ground up,” Lagakos said in an interview with The Tribune. “As undergraduate students, we’ve had limited experience with conferences [….] It’s a little bit harder usually for undergrads to get involved in these large-scale conferences.”

Nguyen also discussed the development of CogSURF’s slogan: Connecting Minds, Making Waves.

“It’s been a really fun experience coming up with our slogan, which is really integral to our mission,” Nguyen said. “The logo itself has been a long process in the making. We went through so many iterations, and converged on this one where different waves represent different disciplines that are converging at this one conference.”

The event will open with a speech by Nguyen, followed by a presentation from keynote speaker Nancy Kanwisher, a professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at MIT.

“[Kanwisher] is my absolute role model and scientific hero,” Nguyen expressed, reflecting on how Kanwisher presented at one of the very first conferences Nguyen attended, sparking her interest in cognitive science research.

Afterward, there will be a flash talk session, where undergraduate students showcase their research in three-minute thesis-style presentations. Following lunch, CogSURF will hold a poster presentation session where 30 committee-selected undergraduate students will present their innovations, after which another flash talk session will take place. The day will also include a panel discussion featuring experts from a wide range of disciplines and institutions, including Ian Gold, Karim Jerbi, Doina Precup, Stevan Harnad, and Charles Reiss.

“I think we have top-notch speakers. This is my ideal panel scenario, and I’m really excited for it,” Nguyen said.

The closing ceremony will then announce the award recipients, and to commemorate the evening, CogSURF will host a ‘5 à 7’ networking event at the McGill Faculty Club.

Benjamin Lévesque-Kinder, a third-year undergraduate student in McGill’s Neuroscience program and executive co-director of partnerships at CogSURF, spoke about the future of the organization.

“Right now we’re hosting [CogSURF] at McGill, but we would really love to see it hosted by UdeM, Concordia, and UQÀM, in a way that most conferences do, where they jump around [locations],” Levesque-Kinder said in an interview with The Tribune. “The host institution brings their own perspective and intellectual background into it.”

The executives emphasized the importance of inter-university collaborations, which they believe is essential for CogSURF to become an annual conference attracting students from across Canada and beyond. CogSURF serves as an important step for undergraduate students to get involved in open science research, increasing accessibility and transparency in the cognitive sciences field.

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