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a, Student Life

Navigating sexual health resources at McGill

by Tiffany Le on

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McGill provides many resources that seek to combat the stigma around sex and gynecological health, as well as provide safe and judgment-free service. Below is a list of four resources available to McGill students which aid in matters ranging from sexual health and contraception to counselling and education.

Shag Shop

 

While McGill’s safe sex and health store, the Shag Shop, lost its physical space last year, this hasn’t stopped it from providing students with the same merchandise as always. The Shag Shop now has an online store where students can order condoms, lubricants, toys, pregnancy tests, menstrual products, and different contraceptive options from the comfort of their own homes. Simply fill out a form and choose a payment method, and students will be emailed a pick-up location within 72 hours. The Shag Shop is also a great resource to ask questions about sexual health; a peer health educator is always on hand to answer any concerns and can be reached by email, Facebook, or at 514-398-2087. Healthy McGill kiosks are also located all over campus with free safer sex supplies that change each month.

Student Health Services

 

Located in room 4508 of the Brown Building, Student Health Services clinic is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Appointment bookings happen on the fifteenth of every month for appointments in the following month through a phone line that opens at 8 a.m. sharp. Students can book general check-ups, STI testing, PAP smears and more. While there is a stigma surrounding health matters related to sexuality, it is important to note that physicians do not judge—they are dedicated to making sure their patients are healthy. If students are suffering from any symptoms, the clinic also offers walk-in services; however, students must arrive early because slots fill up quickly. McGill ID cards, and either a provincial health care or McGill Blue Cross health insurance card are required at every appointment. For Macdonald Campus students, another option is the MAC clinic which opens Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in room 124 of the Centennial Centre.

Union for Gender Empowerment (UGE)

 

UGE is a trans*-positive feminist service located in room 413 of the SSMU Building. In addition to being an inclusive and intersectional space with a lending library and gender empowerment items, UGE coordinates a co-op stocking pay-what-you-can ecologically responsible menstrual products. They also offer DIY sex toys and safer-sex supplies. The space is also a great information hub; UGE houses a resource binder that can point one to abortion services, counselling, and queer and trans-friendly health services around Montreal. On their website, they also offer to custom order bras and undergarments to make it more accessible for those who feel uncomfortable or unsafe, or have limited financial capacity. Finally, UGE website also has a list of all gender-neutral washrooms at McGill compiled by the Social Equity and Diversity Education Office (SEDE).

Sexual Assault Centre of the McGill Students’ Society (SACOMSS)

 

A volunteer-run organization committed to supporting survivors of sexual assault and their allies, SACOMSS offers many services through direct support, advocacy, and outreach. Their services include drop-in appointments to their clinic in room B-27 of the SSMU building, a support line, support groups and more. SACOMSS’ hours of operation are posted on their Facebook page. SACOMSS also offers information and referrals as well as sexual assault sensitivity training to groups within McGill and Montreal.

IQ Mensa
a, Fact or Fiction, Science & Technology

Does having a high IQ mean you’re smart?

by Shrinkhala Dawadi on

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News of 12-year-old Lydia Sebastian scoring 162—the top score—on a Mensa IQ test made headlines last week. People were astounded that a child had scored higher than both Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking. 

While there’s actually no evidence that Einstein or Hawking ever took the Mensa IQ test, Sebastian’s score is still impressive—but not for the reason people think it is. 

Without having had taken IQ tests, Hawking and Einstein were both considered to be brilliant. But if they had, would their scores have been just as high, or higher, than Sebastian’s? Probably not.

IQ tests aren’t a measure of someone’s intelligence; rather, they’re a measure of someone’s cognitive ability, like reading comprehension or vocabulary size. Ultimately, these scores aren’t an empirical, scientific fact; they’re as much influenced by society and culture—as are fashion trends. Someone like Sebastian has trained herself to think like the test. Einstein or Hawking, on the other hand, thought like a physicist. 

We can attribute this disparity to the fact that intelligence is a nebulous concept. According to Joel Schneider, a psychologist at Illinois State University, intelligence really depends on what traits society values in a person. 

“We use [intelligence] to describe people who are able to acquire useful knowledge, and who can solve consequential problems using some combination of logic, intuition, creativity, experience, and wisdom,” Schneider said during an interview for Scientific American. “[Do you] see what I just did there? I [just] tried to define intelligence with a bunch of terms that are just as vague as the thing I am trying to define [….] Terms like useful knowledge and consequential problems are abstractions that take on specific meanings only in specific cultural contexts.”

Intelligence might constitute different qualities for an engineer than for an athlete. An engineer would need to have an in-depth knowledge of math and physics. An athlete would have to have great kinesthetic sense—that is, have an acute knowledge of how certain parts of their body are moving in relation to other parts. In both cases, these skills can be honed over time, with practice. 

People have to access the resources required to practice a skill before they can get better at it. However, consider a child who was brought up in a middle-class family and went to a good school. This environment is more likely to value strong cognitive abilities, and foster this kind of development through the societal normalization of going to school and then university. Conversely, children who are raised in poorer, more violent neighbourhoods aren’t going to have the same societal pressures—or the same kinds of opportunities—to do well in school or university. Intelligence for these kids won’t necessarily translate into better reading comprehension scores. Knowing how to do calculus probably won’t be a priority for a teenager who needs to work a part-time job in order to supplement their parents’ income.

In fact, research has shown that a person’s socioeconomic status has a huge impact on their IQ score. Eric Turkheimer, a psychologist at the University of Virginia, studied the tests scores of twins who came from a range of families. He measured both genetic variability between the twins and socioeconomic variability between families. Turkheimer’s results showed that for poorer families, environmental conditions had a greater impact on test scores than genetics did. For richer families, genes played a larger part in determining their test scores than the environment. 

“IQ scores reflect some varying combination of differences in native ability and differences in opportunities,” Brink Lindsey explained in The Atlantic. “Among rich kids, good opportunities for developing the relevant cognitive skills are plentiful, so IQ differences are driven primarily by genetic factors. For less advantaged kids, though, test scores say more about the environmental deficits they face than they do about native ability.”

A 12-year-old getting the highest score on the Mensa IQ test is impressive. But it doesn’t mean that Lydia Sebastian is inherently a genius; rather, it’s a testament to the hard work and dedication she’s put in over her short life to hone her cognitive abilities. Consider the popular apocryphal quote:

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” 

This quote, which is often incorrectly attributed to Einstein, perfectly encapsulates that intelligence is as subjective as today’s society.

a, Martlets, Men's Varsity, Sports

The week that was for McGill Athletics: Sept. 15

by McGill Tribune Sports on

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In this week's edition of the week that was for McGill Athletics the McGill Tribune Sports team looks at Martlet and Redmen soccer

Hover over the numbers to learn more. If you're on mobile all you have to do is click!

By the numbers

15

 

 

The number of points scored by Caroline Suchorski for the Martlets in a second-half comeback win over Sherbrooke.

 

 

 

 

3

 

 

The number of points both the Martlet and Redmen soccer teams secured in its opening weekend.

 

 

 

 

13

 

 

The number of years since the Redmen cross country team last won the McGill Open.

 

 

 

 

Tribune Athletes-of-the-Week

Max Murdoch

Lacrosse, Attacker

Freshman – Arts

 

In his first two games with McGill, Max Murdoch has racked up a team-high 11 points. His offensive explosion was highlighted by a hat-trick in his CUFLA debut on Friday night against Concordia. He would finish that game with a whopping seven points on three goals and four assists. The 6’4”, 215 pound Murdoch is a big reason why McGill is currently 2-0 with a league-leading +33 goal differential through just two games.

 

 

Caroline Suchorski

Rugby, Centre

Senior – Sciences

With McGill down 18-10 in the second half, Caroline Suchorski reeled off four unanswered tries in under 30 minutes to propel the Martlets past the Martlets for their first win of the season. The veteran centre was held in check in McGill’s season-opening loss to Laval, but with her team in need of a jolt, she broke out for a hat-trick. With All-Star Brianna Miller lost to graduation, the Martlets will rely heavily on Suchorski’s veteran presence.

 

 

 

REDMEN SOCCER

The Redmen had a topsy-turvy week, losing 4-0 to Concordia in the season opener on Friday and then dismantling defending RSEQ champions Sherbrooke 5-0 two days later. McGill shared the ball against Sherbrooke; they completed 69 per cent of their 495 passes—214 more passes than their opposition—and five different players scored. Roberto Bonalumi, who assisted Conor O’Loughlin for the third goal, was named player-of-the-game.

MARTLET SOCCER

Sophomore striker Audrey-Ann Coughlan and senior forward Daphnee Morency-Roussin led the way as the Martlets easily handled the Concordia Stingers in the season opener on Friday. Senior forward Rebecca Green, who was among the team’s leaders in every offensive category last season, rounded out the scoring with a late goal. Junior goalkeeper Cassandra Fafalios faced three shots and saved them all to record a shutout. The martlets were unable to continue the momentum on Sunday, falling to Sherbrooke 3-1 in their home opener.

(Photos courtesy of berecruited.com and McGill Athletics)

a, McGill, News

McGill Faculty of Management hires first female dean

by Kiara Bernard on

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Following a 21-year tenure at George Washington University, Isabelle Bajeux-Besnainou has joined McGill University as the new dean of the Desautels Faculty of Management.

Bajeux-Besnainou, a native of France, began her career in academia in at the University of Paris where she obtained her Bachelors of Business Administration and doctorate in Mathematics Applied to Finance. She sought out the position at McGill after being contacted by a consultant who expressed the University's interest in her as a candidate.

“Montreal is just an amazing city,” she said. “Being bilingual—French, English—it is a great fit. It is a very international city; it’s a very exciting place. McGill has an impeccable reputation and I was just really excited by the opportunity.”

Bajeux-Besnainou enters her position at Desautels as the first female dean in the history of the Faculty. This experience, however, is not a new one for her. As a finance professor, she has worked and gained experience in very male dominated environments, such as serving as the only woman in the Finance Department at George Washington University.

Bajeux-Besnainou expresses an interest in working on the challenges that the field can pose to women who want to work as leaders in management.

“As you progress in the business world you see less and less women, and we need to find a way to encourage women to take leadership positions,” she said.

Her advice to young women or students pursuing a degree or career in management  is to believe in yourself.  

“I’m really trying always to address women in business, finance being one area where we always see less women trying to go [into the field],” she said.  “And I’m always trying to tell them there is no limitation on what you can do.”

Bajeux-Besnainou’s prior experiences in a university setting provided her with an intimate understanding of the complex structure of a university and its dynamics, as well as how students can be inspired to succeed.

“I think that my past experience is helping me every minute of the job,” she said. “Having the experience of academia in general and understanding how universities work is probably the most important part.”

Hoping for many improvements for the Faculty of Management during her time at McGill,  Bajeux-Besnainou has a vision for the Faculty from an administrative standpoint that will be developed by working alongside existing faculty members.

“I want to build that [vision for the faculty] with Faculty members here,” she said. “And my first priorities are really to listen and to learn, and this is what I’m doing every minute.”

Hiring Process

Peter Todd, the former dean of Management, stepped down in April, 2013. Professor Morty Yalovsky, Associate Dean (Academic), stepped in as the interim dean of Desautels. According to Stephen Strople, secretary-general of McGill University, an advisory committee specific to the task of appointing a new dean to the Faculty of Management conducted its search from Fall 2013 to Winter 2015. Strople explained how a McGill advisory committee begins the hiring process.

“One of the first things the committee would have done is develop the candidate brief, which is a summary of what really the committee is looking for,” Strople explained. “It would include a section on the university, and a section on the faculty. So the candidate brief is really used to try and interest individuals in becoming candidates.”

The committee considered applicants from various backgrounds, vetting potential qualified candidates to determine how equipped they were to fill the vacancy.

“Committees [look] for a diversity of candidates,” Strople said. “So for example, in this process, the committee did consider a large number of prospects—over 100, so there would be a very wide spectrum of people”

After securing her nomination through an extensive review conducted by the advisory committee, Bajeux-Besnainou was appointed as the new dean based on the final recommendation by Principal Suzanne Fortier to the Board of Governors.

Nao Feburary 15
a, Arts & Entertainment, Music

Five albums you might have missed this summer

by Eric Noble-Marks on

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Summer has come and gone. The temperature is starting to drop, the leaves are changing, and legions of students have packed up their records and headed back to campuses nationwide. Alas, nothing gold can stay. But hey, it’s not all bad. Though it lacked the star power of previous summers and there were a couple major disappointments (still waiting on that album, Frank Ocean), this summer still featured its fair share of strong albums. With that in mind, here are five summer releases that you might have overlooked.

Kamasi Washington – The Epic

At long last, jazz is experiencing somewhat of a mainstream renaissance in 2015 and saxophonist Kamasi Washington is an important reason why. You might have heard him already on Kendrick Lamar’s jazz-hop masterpiece, To Pimp a Butterfly or on Flying Lotus’ You’re Dead! On the aptly-named The Epic, Washington more than lives up to the standard set in his previous collaborations. Throughout its nearly three-hour runtime, The Epic manages to push musical boundaries while maintaining a sound that’s both fresh and accessible to jazz regulars and newcomers alike. Highlights include the frantic bebop of “Miss Understanding” and a blissed-out rendition of “Claire De Lune.”

Jamie XX – In Colour

Many know Jamie XX for his work in the influential post-rock band The XX or his collaborations with Gil-Scott Heron. For all intents and purposes, In Colour establishes him as a solo force to be reckoned with as well. It’s a record with a little bit for everyone: For U.K. Garage enthusiasts, there’s the squelching “Gosh”; for those whose tastes are more subdued, “Loud Places” features a spellbinding turn from Jamie’s, The XX bandmate Romy Madley Croft. But the highlight of the record has to be “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times),” which perfectly incorporates the ridiculous vocal stylings of rapper Young Thug into an airy, soul-sampling groove.

Destroyer – Poison Season

Dan Bejar is at it again. In addition to his work in the New Pornographers, Bejar has been creating interesting, accessible, and slightly batty music as Destroyer since the mid-90s. Poison Season, his first album since 2011’s critically-acclaimed Kaputt, is no different. Equal parts chamber music and Young Americans-style “plastic soul,” the album is musically diverse without sounding scattershot. What really distinguishes Bejar from the rest of the pack however, are his wry, fantastic lyrics and vocal cadence. For example, on the Springsteen-esque “Dream Lover,” Bejar croons “aw shit here comes the sun” like it’s a term of endearment. The record is full of moments like that.

FKA Twigs – M3L355X EP

Since the release of FKA Twig’s album last summer, both fans and critics alike have been eagerly anticipating the experimental artists’ next release. The five song /M3L355X/ (pronounced “Melissa”) EP doesn’t disappoint; it’s every bit as powerful, mind-bending, and sexy as its predecessor, LP1. Tracks like “Figure 8” and “I’m Your Doll” showcase Bennett’s hypnotic production and hair-raising vocals. “In Time” sports a pitch-shifted chorus that’s disorienting but not overbearing. In fact it may be the best track on the EP. “Glass and Patron” has been labeled a modern-day “Vogue” by critics. This comparison doesn’t quite do FKA Twigs justice: Madonna, whilst a boundary-pusher and tastemaker in her own right, has never been as captivating as this.

Nao – February 15 EP

If there’s one release that came out this summer that deserves more credit, it’s this one. With only one EP to her name, 2013’s excellent So Good, Nao continues to impress with the very solid February 15. Tracks like “Zillionaire” mix Badu-esque swagger with the esoteric bleeps and bloops of Jai Paul. It’s the ballads however, where Nao really establishes herself. “It’s You” is a shimmering pop song reminiscent of Whitney Houston, and “Apple Cherry” features arguably the best vocal turn of any singer I’ve heard this year. Bring on the debut LP.

NFL Fantasy Football
a, Football, Sports

Draft or drop: Fantasy football

by Zach Lanys on

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Draft

Sam Bradford

Quarterback, Philadelphia Eagles (average draft position (ADP) among quarterbacks: 14.2)

Since Chip Kelly became the Eagles head coach in 2013, only Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, and Andrew Luck have had more fantasy points than the revolving door of quarterbacks taking snaps under centre in Philadelphia. Sam Bradford is injury-prone and he has failed to live up to his No. 1 pick pedigree, but he’s finally playing in an offensive system similar to the one he excelled in at the University of Oklahoma. Bradford completed 86 per cent of his passes in the pre-season, avoided being sacked, and a passer rating close to 150. If there was ever a time for the former Sooner to break out, it would be 2015.

Jeremy Hill

Running back, Cincinnati Bengals (ADP among running backs: 8.2)

Hill averaged 5.1 yards per carry last season to go with nine touchdowns on only 222 carries. By comparison, last season’s rushing champion DeMarco Murray, who carried the ball a league-high 392 times, scored 13 touchdowns and averaged 4.7 yards per carry. Obviously, with a higher workload, Hill’s average yardage should should, but he is the undisputed No. 1 running back in Cincinnati for the first time. There’s no reason why Hill shouldn’t be able to outperform his ADP and finish as a top-five back by the end of the season.

Owen Daniels

Tight end, Denver Broncos (ADP among tight ends: 12.2)

Expect big things from Daniels, who’s a legitimate steal where he is currently being taken in most drafts. Tight end-loving quarterback Peyton Manning—he threw 12 touchdowns to the since departedJulius Thomas in 2014—will be targeting Daniels early and often

Allen Robinson

Wide receiver, Jacksonville Jaguars (ADP among wide receivers: 31.7)

Robinson has been the de facto No. 1 wideout in Jacksonville since Cecil Shorts left town, and is about the only person on the team that seems to have developed any sort of chemistry with quarterback Blake Bortles. Don’t expect Robinson to suddenly become an All-Pro receiver, however. He is part of a young offence that has the potential to develop over the season. At his current ADP he’s a solid option to either start in the flex, or stash on the bench until the rest of the Jaguars offence picks it up.

Drop

Julius Thomas

Tight end, Jacksonville Jaguars (ADP among tight ends: 11.2)

There’s no denying Thomas’ raw physical talent and sheer athleticism, but he’s going from a future Hall-of-Fame quarterback to an unproven passer who’s just his second full season in the league in Bortles. He has missed multiple games in both seasons he’s played, and is already out for a month heading into 2015. It would be much better to wait a few rounds and take tight ends like Dwayne Allen, Zach Ertz, and Owen Daniels who will give similar production over the course of the season at a much lower draft slot.

Matthew Stafford

Quarterback, Detroit Lions (ADP among quarterbacks: 10.5)

Matthew Stafford has one of the biggest arms in the league and he’s never afraid to sling the ball 50 yards downfield to Calvin Johnson. In a modern league that’s so obsessed with quarterback efficiency, it’s nice to see an old fashioned gunslinger; however, since his career-best 2011 season, his stats have been incredibly disappointing, especially from a fantasy perspective. His yardage has gone down four straight seasons and he hasn’t thrown for more than 30 touchdowns since he tossed 41 in 2011. At his current ADP, there are plenty of better options available later in your draft that will provide you with much more value.

Kickers and Defence:

Don’t bother drafting these positions early. Defence is such an unpredictable position to draft that  it’s smarter to pick up off the waiver wire who. Don’t waste a valuable draft slot on a kicker or a defence before the rest of the team is filled out. There will always be serviceable options available later on—don’t overreach. *All ADP info taken from fantasypros.com

a, Men's Varsity, Sports

Lacrosse: Redmen trounce Stingers in home opener

by Elie Waitzer on

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McGill Redmen
23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Concordia Stingers
0

 

 

 

 

 

 

It felt like summer never happened for the Redmen lacrosse team. McGill (2-0) picked up right where they left off last season, defeating a critically undermanned Concordia (0-1) 23-0 in the home opener on Friday night in Molson Stadium. The Redmen easily dismantled their opponents and dispelled any thoughts of a hangover from last season’s heartbreaking Bagatteway Cup Final loss against the Guelph Gryphons.

The scoring came early and often, with McGill getting out to a 9-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Senior midfielder Rhys Burnell led the onslaught, notching a hat trick in the first 12 minutes of the contest before resting for the final three quarters. Burnell netted a career-high 14 goals in 10 games as a junior last season, and should easily break that mark as he takes on a greater offensive load this year.

“[Burnell] has been developing steadily for four seasons,” Head Coach Tim Murdoch said.  “He’s a great finisher, a tough player, and he hustles really well.”

Rookie attackman Max Murdoch had a strong debut, breaking out to score seven points on three goals, and four assists in just three quarters. His ability to whip accurate passes around the net will add a scary new dimension to the already prolific Redmen offence. 

McGill led 15-0 at halftime, even with the starting defence and several seniors sitting on the bench after the first quarter. For Concordia, there was no rest for the weary. The Stingers fielded just 13 players in comparison to McGill’s 31; fans who happened to sit close to the Concordia bench could hear their beleaguered head coach yelling at his players to switch only when absolutely necessary. 

Still, Murdoch made sure to give credit Concordia’s goaltender, Philippe Carmant, who faced a nightmarish barrage of shots. 

“I was very impressed by [Carmant],” Murdoch said. “I don’t even know how many shots we had and he made a ton of saves. If not the player-of-the-game, [he was] certainly the guy who worked hardest in the game, and he’s only a freshman.”

In a blowout like Friday night’s, Murdoch emphasized that he aimed to involve the whole team in the win to afford opportunities for player development and foster synergy among players who may not get much playing time together.

“We showed a lot of good consistency tonight,” Murdoch said. “It’s about trying to execute regardless of the caliber of your opponent. Everyone who was healthy got into the game and played well.”

On Saturday, the Redmen defeated the Carleton Ravens (0-1) 17-7 to extend their undefeated streak in the regular season to 28 consecutive games dating back to the 2012-2013 season. Junior attackman Spencer Bromley and senior midfielder Anders Bjella each had hat tricks. McGill will kick off a four-game road-trip with a rematch against Carleton on Wednesday, in Ottawa.

Moment of the game

Freshman Cyrus Wickersham tallied the first goal of his McGill career at the end of the first half. He would add an assist and another goal in garbage time to finish with three points. 

Sound bites

On sending a message to  the Guelph Gryphons with the win:  “Guelph is concentrating on their week and we’re concentrating on ours. The message we want to send to ourselves is that if we’re playing well, we shouldn’t really have too much trouble with anybody.” —Head Coach Tim Murdoch

Quick hitters

McGill outshot Concordia 51-5. Carmant, the Concordia goaltender, saved 28 shots.

AUS McGill Lounge
a, McGill, News

AUS Council discusses errors in financing, $20,000 in additional audit costs

by Calvin Trottier-Chi on

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The Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) held its first Council meeting of the semester Wednesday, addressing errors in its financial record, its Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with McGill, and the election of a new Arts Representative to the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU).

Mirza Ali Shakir, vice-president (VP) finance, presented a review of the previous year’s finances. According to Shakir’s executive report, the AUS had underestimated its 2014 Frosh deficit by over $20,000. Another mistake resulting from misclassification was a double entry in their Quickbooks accounting software of $106,000. Shakir attributed these errors to the absence of a VP finance throughout the 2014-2015 academic year.

“We started [last] year with no VP finance, and we ended the year with no VP finance,” Shakir said “This meant that there were poor accounting practices in place, which led to our accounts being messed up.”

The mistakes in AUS’ financial record also led to an increase in projected audit costs.

“The audit, which cost $11,000 last year, is projected to be around $20,000 to $30,000 [this year],” Shakir said. “So an effect of poor accounting practices [is] costing $20,000 more.”

In an e-mail to the Tribune, Shakir clarified the reasons behind last year’s miscalculations.

“[The errors were] mostly caused by high turnover in the VP Finance portfolio, inadequate training for our bookkeeping staff, and minor accounting entry errors.” he wrote.

AUS President Jacob Greenspon is optimistic about the Society’s financial status for this year. “Our current VP Finance is very [capable],” he said.” I’m positive we have moved forward from this actually very well, and hopefully we’re not going to get into that sort of issue again.”

Despite these challenges, Christine Koppenaal, VP social, praised the success of this year’s Arts Frosh. She underscored that additional services for students were provided through the Frosh bursary and the Sober Buddy program.

“We are very, very close to breaking even [on the 2015 Frosh budget],” Koppenaal said. “In the future we’re going to recommend[that] there is a larger buffer going into Frosh to prevent [it] from running a deficit at all, but in an ideal world, since this is student service, we would be as close to breaking even as possible.”

According to Shakir’s executive report, the AUS had underestimated its 2014 Frosh deficit by over $20,000. Another mistake resulting from misclassification was a double entry in their Quickbooks accounting software of $106,000.

Council also addressed its ongoing MoA negotiations with McGill. The MoA outlines the legal responsibilities of AUS and its subsidiaries, including SNAX, a student-run food-retail outlet. In November, 2014 McGill’s decided to prevent SNAX from selling sandwiches due to concerns that it was competing with other food retail outlets on campus drew controversy.

“Sandwiches were a major issue [last year], and they’re pretty much the biggest sticking point with SNAX in these [MoA] negotiations,” Greenspon said. “The negotiations are ongoing, we’re looking to have them wrapped up by the end of this year.”

Negotiations between the AUS and McGill on aspects of the MoA, such as competition and good faith, are still ongoing. According to Greenspon, a focal point of negotiations is SNAX’s willingness to run at cost, thus enabling it to charge lower prices for food than other vendors on campus.

“SNAX does run at cost and does employ students,” he said.”They are concerned about that and want to have some sort of barrier control of the pricing that SNAX charges for its products.”

The possibility of sandwiches returning to the menu remains uncertain, according to Greenspon, though SNAX has undergone changes with an improved point-of-sale system for transparency.

“Recently we did get an offer from McGill to allow SNAX to sell sandwiches, however there are some more concessions from the AUS,” he said. “We’re still waiting to meet with [McGill] again to come up with a formal response to this offer.”

AUS is also seeking a replacement for the position of Arts Representative to SSMU. Samiha Sharif resigned for personal reasons, effective as of Sept. 3. Kat Svikhnushin, VP Internal of the McGill Religious Studies Undergraduate Society (RSUS), was elected in a unanimous vote to serve as interim Arts Representative. Council announced nomination procedures for the by-election via an email announcement on Sept. 10, and stated that online polling will take place from Sept. 30 to Oct. 2.

New England Patriots Deflategate
a, Baseball, Basketball, Football, Hockey, Sports

ICYMI: Summer sports roundup

by Ellie Solloway on

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Blue Jays heat up

After a mediocre finish in 2014 for the Toronto Blue Jays, the team is on its  way to securing a post-season spot this fall after an impressive summer showing. Trade deadline acquisition David Price has been tremendous on the mound, boasting the seventh-best ERA in the MLB. Meanwhile, third baseman Josh Donaldson has thrust himself into the AL MVP conversation with a league-leading 105 runs and 115 RBIs. The big question is if they can hold off the equally hot New York Yankees, who trail the Jays by 1.5 games in the AL East, to clinch their first pennant since 1993. Toronto can thank its stellar 47-25 home record for its success this far. Montreal baseball fans can only hope the fan frenzy in Toronto will signal to MLB that Canada is ready for another baseball team.

Canada second overall in Pan Am Games medal count

Athletes from 31 countries across the Americas came to Toronto to compete in dozens of events this summer at the Pan Am Games from July 10-26. From bowling to boxing, rhythmic gymnastics to rowing, the Games celebrated international sports communities of all kinds. The United States of America was the overall medal count champion, taking home 265 medals, followed by Canada and Brazil. Supported by an enthusiastic home crowd, the Canadian team was headlined by artistic gymnast Ellie Black, who won five medals in various gymnastic events. The Games serve as Olympic qualifiers for 15 sports at the 2016 Summer Olympics.The Parapan Games, featuring the same countries but focusing on inclusivity of disabled athletes, saw the same top three countries medal but in reverse order.

NHL off-season moves

The NHL season doesn’t start for another month but the off-season action still proved to be entertainment enough to satisfy hockey fans during the summer months. The Montreal Canadiens had a particularly busy three months after a disappointing second round exit in the playoffs last year. The team inked former Carolina Hurricane Alex Semin to a one-year deal, and traded for Zack Kassian, sending fan favorite Brandon Prust to the Vancouver Canucks in return. Canadiens General Manager Marc Bergevin opted to keep the team’s core intact, resigning current players like Alex Galchenyuk and Torrey Mitchell to multi-year contracts. Around the NHL, there were many other surprising, big-name moves. Most notably the 2015 Stanley Cup-winning Chicago Blackhawks traded Patrick Sharp to the Dallas Stars, Brandon Saad to the Columbus Blue Jackets and Antti Raanta to the New York Rangers. NHL pre-season action begins on Sept. 20.

Player intrigue

On Sept. 3, a U.S. District Court judge overturned Tom Brady’s four-game suspension for allegedly deflating balls in the playoffs, sparking criticism of the NFL’s handling of the incident. Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane is under criminal investigation for rape allegations brought to light in August. While Kane has not been charged, his history of criminal behavior has led some to believe that the Blackhawks will trade him just a year after signing him to a $84 million contract. The Montreal Alouettes made international headlines earlier this summer after signing Michael Sam, the first and only openly gay player to sign with a NFL team. Montreal’s diverse and inclusive fan base seemed to be the perfect support for Sam. In August, however, he left the team after one game citing mental health concerns.

a, Student Life

Kicking back at McGill’s student bars

by Audrey Carleton on

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The average university student is, more often than not, stressed about schoolwork, on a tight budget, and always in need of ways to relax. It follows that there are a multitude of places to de-stress over drinks at a very low cost. In addition to the good deals, drinking on campus—rather than venturing to Crescent or Saint-Laurent—support student initiatives and build campus community. The following is a full list of the best places on campus to grab a drink with friends after a long day of classes. 

Open-Air Pub

 

Braving the harsh Montreal winters not only builds a McGill student’s character, it also fosters a greater appreciation of the little time when Montreal is actually warm. There is no greater way to enjoy the good weather than with inexpensive brews, burgers, and live music on campus, an unique experience one can only find at OAP. Brought to students by the Engineering Undergraduate Society (EUS), the set-up of OAP at Three Bares Park is designed by McGill engineering students, and includes a stage for various local McGill and Montreal musical acts to perform every night.

“I feel like [OAP] is a nice way to end off the summer and welcome in the new school year,” Emma Little, U1 Engineering said. “Beyond the burgers and cheap beer, the atmosphere is very low-key, lax and inviting.” During the first two weeks of school, OAP brings McGill students closer to one another and to the Montreal music scene, taking full advantage of Montreal’s beautiful weather and the stress-free freedom of the add/drop period.

Gerts

 

Gerts, the student bar in the basement of the Shatner building, is the year-round watering hole where any and all brands of McGill students can be found, regardless of major, faculty, or affiliation. Since its founding in 1974, Gerts has aimed to build community by providing a safe and accessible place for students to gather, socialize, and unwind. Clubs and student groups can rent out Gerts’ to host themed fundraising events, allowing students to contribute to good causes while enjoying cheap drinks. Lines are longest on Wednesday evenings—more commonly known as “Sangria Wednesdays”—when McGill students gather for good deals on tasty pitchers of Sangria, among other inexpensive drinks available at the bar.

According to Zach Brown, “[Gerts] is loud, but not overly so […] it’s not too chill, but it’s not too live and overwhelming either. The atmosphere is pretty friendly, even if you’re by yourself or with one or two people.” Despite newfound competition with Ace Bar, an off-campus bistro-pub that similarly offers Sangria and fills up quickly on Wednesday nights, many McGill students have remained loyal to this on-campus gem, carrying on the long-lived saying, “Gerts ‘til it hurts.”

Blues Pub

 

Another piece of paradise put on by the EUS, Blues Pub is a weekly pub held on Friday evenings in the Engineering Common Room, located in the basement of McConnell Engineering. Timed perfectly with the end of the schoolweek, Blues Pub provides students with a space to unwind and socialize after a long week of classes, over cheap beers and grilled cheese. Each Friday’s event is hosted by a different Engineering department, club, or committee, along with a different theme in decor and music.

“The environment at Blues Pub is quirky, because it’s usually almost only engineers, so you’ll always see friends and people you know,” Isaac Eckert, U2 Science, explained. “Everyone knows everyone.”

4 à 7

 

The Management Undergraduate Society (MUS) never fails to host great events throughout the year that bring students closer together. Among these gems is the MUS’ happy hour, 4 à 7, held on select Thursday afternoons from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the basement of Bronfman, to celebrate the near end of the week. Beers and grilled cheese cost a mere one or two dollars respectively, making 4 à 7 one of the most cost-effective ways to start the weekend early.

“4 à 7 is very social and welcoming,” said Michael Kalman, U1 Marketing. “Walking in, you get lots of high fives and fist bumps. It’s a good place to meet up with friends.” Though 4 à 7 is mostly frequented by Desautels students, the events are open to all faculties, even those with 4 p.m. classes.

Bar des Arts

 

A product of the Arts Undergraduate Society, Bar des Arts (BDA) is a weekly pub night held on Thursdays from 5p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Arts Lounge, located in the basement of Leacock. Student departmental associations and clubs within the Faculty of Arts can apply to be featured at BDA, using this platform as a way to gain publicity within the faculty and student body. In addition to competitively cheap brews, BDA often serves staple foods that the average McGill student has grown to love, such as samosas and poutine. BDA’s timing on Thursdays puts it in competition with Desautels’ 4 à 7, creating a playful rivalry between the two student pubs, but it’s hard to go wrong attending either one on Thursday afternoons.

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