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a, Science & Technology

Silent but deadly

by Clare Lyle on

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Summer is the time to relax, hit the beach, and for some, to get a tan. But swimsuit season brings with it a major public health risk in the form of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Problems that range from wrinkles to skin cancer arise during the summer because this is when UV radiation from the sun is at its most intense.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology Melanoma, melanoma is the second-most common form of cancer in young adults between the ages of 15 and 29, and for 25 to 29 year olds, it’s the most common type. 

“This is not a cancer [for] the elderly,” stated Dr. Ari Demirjian of the Montreal General Hospital. “Melanoma is common [starting] from the age [of] 18 and [is] especially prevalent in young women who use artificial tanning.”

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, approximately 6,500 Canadians are diagnosed with melanoma each year, of whom 1,050 will die—and it shows no signs of slowing. When evaluating the seven most common forms of cancer in the U.S., melanoma is the only one whose rate of incidence is increasing.

“People just don’t think of tanning as a health risk,” explained Alex Cloherty, project manager of the Tanning is Out Challenge at The University of British Columbia Okanagan. “We see that sun-kissed glow as a healthy thing. However, any change in skin colour means that your skin has been damaged.”

To see why sun exposure is so damaging, it’s important to understand what happens when humans are exposed to UV radiation. UV radiation falls into a part of the electromagnetic spectrum called ionizing radiation, which means that it can break chemical bonds like those found in DNA, a process known as photoaging.

“Basically, the UV rays damage the DNA in the cells of the skin,” explained Demirjian. “[This can cause] photoaging, and depending on what part of the DNA is damaged, can lead to cancer.” 

But DNA damage is not unique to skin damage; the World Health Organization lists sun exposure as a major risk factor in cataracts, the world’s leading cause of blindness. 

To help prevent these problems, scientists have developed sunscreens that reflect or absorb UV rays and convert their energy into heat, rendering them relatively benign. While the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends wearing sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, higher is not always better. 

“Let’s take an SPF [of] 60 [or] 30,” Demirjian said. “There’s only [a] two percent difference in overall protection regarding both of those SPFs, so it’s not really double the protection. The reason we suggest 60 for people with skin cancer […] is because people don’t put enough sunscreen on their skin, so even though they think they’re applying 60, due to lack of quantity and not reapplying, they’re not actually getting [the] protection [that] they think [they are].”

And it’s not enough to just apply it once a day. 

“Sunscreens have to be reapplied every two hours,” Demirjian said. “What we recommend is between two to four tablespoons on [the] whole body, depending on the size of the individual.”

Consumers should also ensure that their sunscreen protects from both UVA and UVB rays, known as broad-spectrum protection. This accounts for the two types of UV rays, A and B, which are responsible for sunburns—UVA—and aging and tanning—UVB.  Because SPF refers only to a sunscreen’s ability to block UVA rays, even a high SPF might not fully protect against long-term skin damage.

While this mentality of protecting from the sun holds exceptionally true during the summer, it’s important to realize that the sun is always present.

“We’re not in the sun only when we’re on the beach,” Demirjian said. “Even […] on campus at noon, one still needs to use [sunscreen].”

a, Arts & Entertainment, Music

Pop Rhetoric: The element of surprise

by Campbell McClintock on

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In the face of rampant piracy, record labels have struggled to convince consumers to spend money on music.  More specifically, the album format—once the industry’s largest source of revenue—has become too expensive for the average listener.  Consumers’ listening habits are increasingly shifting towards faster, more digestible formats like iTunes’ $0.99 single, which have fragmented the cohesive conceptual nature of albums in favor of a more selective listening experience. It’s in times like this that the music industry could use it’s own caped crusader to revolutionize the way that way that we listen to music.  

Cue a multi-platinum, 32-year-old superstar in the prime of her career to drop a brand new album out of the blue. Yes, Beyoncé, a woman whose achievements, talents, and renown blew minds everywhere with her surprise release of a self-titled album at the end of 2013. In a case study at Harvard Business School, Marketing Professor Anita Elberse noted that by releasing the album without an accompanying marketing campaign, the move risked wasting millions of dollars. In addition to being a bold marketing strategy, the album could be purchased only as a single package of 14 songs and music videos on iTunes, which encouraged listeners to experience it in its entirety.  The record was a critical and financial success, selling 430,000 digital copies within the first 24 hours of its release and five million copies worldwide by November 2014. Does Beyoncé demonstrate the capacity for the album format to hold up in the age of digital music distribution, or was the album’s success simply the convenient confluence of her celebrity status, the support of major corporations, and the seductive appeal of surprise? 

Beyoncé unquestionably paved the way for other musicians to release surprise albums through similarly unconventional marketing strategies. However, these albums rarely attained the same level praise and unprecedented financial success. In September of 2014, U2 released its 13th studio album, Songs of Innocence, by syncing it automatically onto the Apple devices of 33 million iTunes users at no cost. The album was heavily criticized because it was downloaded without the users’ consent, so much so that it received more attention for being an invasive breach of privacy than for the quality of its content.

After a 14 year-hiatus, D’Angelo released Black Messiah in December of 2014. While the album has long been anticipated by his fans and wasn’t expected to be released until 2015, D’Angelo decided to expedite the release in response to the judicial rulings in the Ferguson and Eric Garner cases in 2014. With the combination of the album’s relevant themes of race, its innovative instrumentation, and listener anticipation that had accumulated over a decade and a half, the album’s surprise release was as warmly received by critics as was Beyoncé. However, most likely because D’Angelo lacks the same celebrity status of Beyoncé, Black Messiah was far less financially successful. It sold only 117,000 copies in the U.S. in its first week of release as opposed to Beyoncé’s 600,000.4  

More recently, a number of albums have had botched releases because of record labels’ failure to uphold their artists’ intentions. Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly was released a week ahead of its scheduled release date because of an error on the part of Interscope Records. Similarly, Sony Music unapologetically unveiled the cover art, tracklist, and release date of Earl Sweatshirt’s I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside a week before its release, despite his desires to leave these details unknown. While each of these albums still garnered much critical claim and delighted fans with the element of surprise, they are unfortunate examples of how easily the bureaucracy of a major record label can undermine the power of an album release. 

For the time being, it seems that Beyoncé is the only surprise album to have achieved critical and financial success without having to sacrifice the cohesion of the album or the artist’s artistic statement—an album, which, while demonstrating the power of alternative marketing and distribution strategies, is more likely an idiosyncratic triumph than a formula for success.

a, Student Life

Three ideal places to enjoy delicious food in the warm weather

by Saloni Singh & Alizeh Ejaz on

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In a city with long winters and relatively short summers, it’s important to have summer to-do lists ready to go. This year, some of Montreal’s best restaurants will open up its patios and bring out the garden chairs, providing the opportunity to soak up the sun on beautiful summer terrasses.

  • Jardin Nelson

    Jardin Nelson, one of the most beautiful restaurants in Montreal, is an ideal place to visit in the summer. This spectacular restaurant owned by Robert Ruel is located in Old Montreal at the historic Maison Cartier, which dates back to 1812. During the summer months, Jardin Nelson’s beautiful courtyard is adorned with plants, bright flowers, and giant parasols. From noon until evening, Jardin Nelson also offers live music played by pop and jazz musicians. The menu also boasts an impressive list of refreshing cocktails and sangrias that enhances the summertime vibe. Although Jardin Nelson is renowned for its crepes, it also offers a variety of pizzas, sandwiches, and a twist on Quebec’s very own duck patê Chinois. Even though it’s usually swarming with tourists, this restored historic building is a must visit, especially for those who desire to bask in Old Port’s charm.

  • Brasserie T!

    Brasserie T! was opened in 2010 in the heart of the Quartier de Spectacles by one of Montreal’s best fine-dining owners, Norman Laprise. What looks like an odd rectangular glass structure to any passer-by at the Place des Arts is actually a classic bistro with an ultramodern décor and fine French food. As the festival season rolls into Montreal, customers will have a front row seat to the International Jazz Festival, Just for Laughs festival, Nuits d’Afrique, or at the very least, the fountain lights show. The main attraction of this simple yet delectable menu of Brasserie T! is meat—specifically the famous tartare, called the Saucisse de Montreal. Among the limited dessert options, the light and heavenly Paris Brêst is a definite winner. Those on a student budget should appreciate the restaurant’s reasonable prices—with main courses served under $25, this is a steal for its fine-dining ambiance. Overall, this well-designed, edgy spot is perfect for dining in the heart of the city over a casual and relaxing meal with friends. However, due to limited seating options, it would be best to plan one’s visit well in advance to beat the crowds rushing to eat at this delightful restaurant.

  • Boris Bistro

    Montreal’s famous Boris Bistro is an absolute delight in the summertime. Located in the heart of Old Montreal, the surrounding location captures the beauty of Montreal’s summer. With its outdoor terrace full of wooden tables and white umbrellas, as well as a magnificent setup of trees, flowers, and walkways, Boris Bistro is one of Montreal’s classiest restaurants and is a favourite within the city. Its fancy interior—white walls, modern glass vases filled with plants and flowers, and plants romantically hanging down the windows—also presents Boris Bistro with the aesthetics for the summer.

    This high-end restaurant not only succeeds in presenting itself aesthetically, but also does a brilliant job with the food it serves. From its scrumptious appetizers—such as the salmon tartare guédille, to its delicious main course meals, including the well-known duck risotto with oyster mushrooms, sagem, and orange cream sauce, Boris Bistro never fails to please its customers. Boris Bistro also has amazing dessert options; the mouth-watering lemon and white chocolate pie is a must-try. Overall, the location, breathtaking setup, and irresistible food of Boris Bistro make it one of the top restaurants to visit in the summer.

a, Opinion

Commentary: Free speech and the hypersensitivity of safe spaces on campus

by Arden Li on

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The term “safe space,” which originated from various social movements in the ‘60s and ‘70s, has since attracted the attention of educational institutions and students who are seeking to balance the need for inclusive and inoffensive communities with their duty to promote academic freedom and freedom of speech. Preoccupied with the idea of providing these spaces—figurative or physical—universities such as McGill too often ignore or overlook the possibility of potentially stifling the school’s academic freedom in the process.

Universities are, first and foremost, designed to encourage the open exchange of knowledge. However, students have struggled to find the perfect balance between maintaining an equitable learning experience and protecting students’ fundamental right to freedom of speech. For example, last year, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Council engaged in a heated debate over where to draw this fine line when a motion to ban the song “Blurred Lines” from the SSMU Building raised concerns about censorship, and ultimately failed to pass. This decision set a precedent against banning artistic content in a student building. It also sent a wider message about respecting the standards of free speech on campus.

Still, many groups continue to prioritize the safety of discussions above freedom of speech, rendering an already hypersensitive community even more so. But what will happen when students step off campus and into the real world, confronted by the very issues they were conditioned to shrink from? Infantilizing students in this mindset leaves them unprepared to tackle those controversial, yet essential, conversations later on. When faced with a societal dilemma, students may struggle to develop an informed opinion, let alone convince others of their own viewpoints.

What’s more, groups can easily abuse the notion of safe space, using it as a tool to manipulate school administration to shut down debates, or as an excuse to evade topics that threaten their own interests. Last November, at Oxford University’s Christ Church college, a feminist group on campus threatened to disrupt a debate on abortion due to the fact that both debaters would have been men. As a result, the college administration cancelled the debate. It’s worrisome that by advocating for a safe space, one group has the power to deny other students the opportunity to learn about significant issues and to eliminate a platform for individuals to voice their ideas.

Given the inherent restrictions of a safe space, it is impossible for an environment to simultaneously be completely ‘safe,’ meaning free of harassment, while remaining intellectually unrestricted.

Of course, for some students who call for a safer space, the pretense they use is, in fact, not a pretense at all but a real plea to spare those who have suffered trauma or abuse from having to relive that anguish again. However, some of the measures that McGill has taken to create the most non-hostile space possible have proven to be ineffective. Specifically at McGill, the implementation of Rez Project in all first-year residences, which aimed to improve students’ awareness of gender issues and consent, is consistently mocked once students leave residence life—hardly the intended outcome. This is not because students don’t care about social concerns, but because the casual, yet forced manner in which they raised extremely personal questions left students feeling more uncomfortable than enlightened.

Given the inherent restrictions of a safe space, it is impossible for an environment to simultaneously be completely ‘safe,’ meaning free of harassment, while remaining intellectually unrestricted. Although the principles of tolerance and respect that safe spaces aim to enforce are indisputably noble, in trying to suppress every uneasy subject, institutions are censoring and even unwittingly silencing the voices of those who are brave enough to take a stand on important issues.

Thus, instead of imposing the same definition of safe space on such a diverse student body, McGill should simply give students the resources to educate and decide for themselves what the concept means to them personally. After all, safe space is ultimately a mindset, one that learning institutions have a duty to foster, but not at the expense of academic freedom.

a, Opinion

Commentary: Canada needs to renew responsibility towards refugees

by Albert Park on

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Just last month, the Canadian government fulfilled its commitment that it made in 2013 to bring 1,300 Syrian refugees into the country by the end of 2014. The government has announced a decision to receive 10,000 additional refugees in the next three years. However, as the civil war in Syria intensifies—with Syrians making up over one-fifth of the 866,000 new asylum claims logged last year—a discussion has arisen regarding whether Canada is doing enough to aid the displaced victims. Looking into Canada’s current level of commitment relative to its historical and present-day duties within the global context, it seems evident that the Canadian government is shirking its responsibilities to protect refugees.

In dissecting the country’s inadequate response to the refugee crisis, many Canadians have questioned the reason behind the significant lag in meeting this commitment. Although there are other reasons, such as unresolved inefficiencies in the refugee system, the main problem stems from the government’s lack of financial support.

According to CTV News, 60 per cent of the refugees are to be sponsored privately by humanitarian groups, with the government responsible for the remaining 40 per cent. Many organizations, such as Amnesty International Canada ,have pointed out the enormous difficulty in accommodating this ratio; each refugee sponsorship costs $12,000 on top of expenses such as housing and health care. To make matters worse, prior to making its commitment in 2013, the government failed to consult these organizations, which were then forced to bear the bulk of the financial burden. Therefore, there were no structured plans or fundraisers set in place by the private groups to help achieve the goal.

The claim that Canada has a responsibility during these times of crisis truly finds meaningful substance in the nation’s history.

Many argue that Canada has no moral responsibility to take in more refugees. However, ethical reasoning aside, it is abundantly clear that Canada is not fulfilling its role in a global sense. The majority of the displaced Syrians have been taken by their neighbouring countries such as Turkey and Lebanon. However, many Western countries have done their part to help—especially Germany and Sweden—with Canada’s contribution almost negligible in comparison. Sweden has taken in at least 40,000 Syrian refugees, despite having about a quarter of Canada’s population. Ultimately, by refusing to make a bigger contribution, Canada is indirectly harming those countries that made commitments to take in refugees, since they are left to shoulder the financial burden that comes with granting asylum. On top of harming Canada’s global image, this also runs the risk of damaging the country’s relationships with its diplomatic partners.

When accused of not doing enough, the Conservative Government brings up the fact that Canada has already pledged $50 million towards improving the situation in Syria. However, the truth of the matter is that this contribution does not even meet the United Nations’ proposed quota of $180 million. Canada will need to contribute significantly more before its monetary aid starts to make up for its poor acceptance of refugees.

Finally, the claim that Canada has a responsibility during these times of crisis truly finds meaningful substance in the nation’s history. Many Canadians recall their country’s refusal to help the refugees aboard MS St. Louis during the Second World War with great shame and regret. Since then Canada has carried the torch when it comes to aiding displaced people, especially in response to the Vietnamese boat people incident in 1978-1981, when the country welcomed so many refugees that they accounted for 25 per cent of Canada’s immigrants. For this kind of leadership and display of efficient humanitarianism, Canada is the only country to have been awarded the Nansen Refugee Award, granted by the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR). Not only have these events earned Canada its reputation as an influential country instilled with deep moral values, but the countless number of refugees who have made Canada their home has blessed the nation with its unique population and culture. In order for Canada to maintain its historical identity and fulfil its duties as a nation, the government must increase its commitment and provide more financial support for refugees.

a, Opinion

Commentary: Alternative resources do not fill gaps in faculty advising

by Kira Smith on

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At the March 18 Senate meeting, Arts Senator Jacob Greenspon raised a question concerning the ratios of faculty advisors to students across faculties. Statistics exposed disparities between faculties—the greatest difference being the Faculty of Arts, with 843 students per advisor, and the Faculty of Law, with 88 students per advisor. In their response to Greenspon’s question, Provost Anthony C. Masi and Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) Ollivier Dyens only briefly acknowledged the disparity, instead focusing on other resources available which help to ensure that “all students have equal access to the same quality of advising.”

However, there are two issues at hand. First, it should be unnecessary to even consider alternative resources in the discussion. The disparities show that all students do not have equal access to faculty advising, and thus, are not being provided with equal opportunities for success. Moreover, the listed initiatives are an inadequate substitute when compared with faculty advising. In the end, providing these alternative resources for all students does not solve the disparities between faculties.

A discussion of the merits of alternative resources may show that despite having their own value, alternatives are not adequate substitutes. Masi and Dyens listed the Ask an Advisor program and the McGill 101 initiative, which include videos explaining different types of advising, as resources to better triage student needs and improve the efficiency of the system. While the two are helpful services, many students will ultimately be referred to faculty advisors—and here, the issue of the lack of access to advisors reemerges.

Given that advising services are essential for students’ academic success, it is only right that these efforts be made to eliminate disparities between faculties and promote interpersonal faculty advising.

The advising checklist, AskMcGill database, and McGill app are other resources cited by Dyens and Masi, but these too cannot compare to the services offered by faculty advisors. The Staff-Student Mentoring Program most closely matches the individual and personalized nature of faculty advising, but is instead geared towards sharing knowledge and exchanging insight, rather than degree-related information. The initiatives listed may reduce the number of students who require faculty advisors, but this fact is irrelevant when considering equal opportunities across the faculties. Faculty advisors can provide information and offer guidance to students, while also giving assistance with managing students’ academic situations during difficult periods. Altogether, these resources cannot match faculty advisors, who have a wealth of knowledge and unique abilities to provide human, personalized service to students.

Greenspon noted recognition of this issue at the Senate meeting. Referencing student satisfaction and the issue of faculty advising, Dyens stated, “It is on our radar […] and we’ll keep progressing on this topic.” Unsatisfied with this response, Faculty of Law Senator, Dan Snyder, posed a question to the Senate, asking how the other initiatives could bring the ratios to equilibrium. After discussing the importance of academic advising to student experience, Dyens responded, “Our focus is to try to get a few more advisors specifically for Arts to narrow that problematic ratio.” In addition, Dean of Arts Christopher Manfredi also added that the faculty has secured a recent philanthropic gift that will support the hiring of at least one additional faculty advisor.

Senate’s discussion gives hope to students in faculties that fall on the lower end of the spectrum in terms of the ratios of advisors to students. While other initiatives are undeniably valuable, they cannot compare to the one-on-one benefits of faculty advising. McGill should increase the number of faculty advisors available in coming years. Given that advising services are essential for students’ academic success, it is only right that these efforts be made to eliminate disparities between faculties and promote interpersonal faculty advising.

a, Arts & Entertainment, Music

Ludacris — Ludaversal

by Alizeh Ejaz on

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After going incognito from the music industry for a while, veteran rapper Ludacris has finally reemerged with a bang, with his long awaited album Ludaversal hitting the shelves on March 31. Over the past five years, Luda remained largely committed to Hollywood, appearing in The Fast and Furious franchise; yet, his return to the rap industry is nothing but a step forward in his career. 

The strength of Luda’s album largely lies in his lyrics, which convey a solid transformation of character from a notorious party animal to a settled-down dad, which is evident in his song “The Grass is Always Greener”: “I used to be out partying every damn night/ Now sometimes I’d rather be with my kids.” Furthermore, the contemptuous tone depicted by the word choice of “fake appearances” and “crap game” in his song “Charge it to the Rap Game” illustrates Luda’s dissatisfaction with the rise of a superficial rap industry. However, the rap industry isn’t the only thing Luda is unhappy with, as he highlights in his song, “Call ya Bluff.” Luda mentions, “Leave the booth and then go lay low hiding behind your security detail,” in order to emphasize his discontent and haughtiness towards the new generational rap artists. 

Although Ludaversal is an impressive album, it lacks consistency in terms of artistic tone. The overarching theme of the album is the significant progress the 37-year-old has made over the past 15 years, yet his song “Ocean Skies” is a melancholic tribute to his father, who dealt with alcoholism. While the more serious tone is a welcome shift from Luacris’ more typically vapid style, it feels out of place in comparison to the rest of the album.

All in all, Ludaversal is Luda’s eager shot-in-the-dark attempt to regain a title he once had.

 
 
 
 
 
a, McGill, News

Student unions throughout Quebec strike to protest austerity measures

by Philippe Dumais on

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On March 23, 60,000 post-secondary students went on strike against the Quebec’s government budgetary policies. 20,000 students voted to hold a one-day strike, while the remaining 40,000 will be on strike until April 2, when another demonstration is expected. 

Although the students were associated under the Association pour une Solidarité Syndicale Étudiante (ASSÉ), one of the largest student unions in the province, ASSÉ did not call for a membership-wide strike vote. Local student unions will be able to hold independent votes on the possibility of striking for a day or an extended period of time, according to ASSÉ spokesperson Camille Godbout.

“Since March 21, we’ve [been] calling for multiplicity of actions against the ongoing austerity measures,” Godbout said.

Godbout continued to explain that she sees the initial mobilization efforts as the beginning of a new movement.  

“My perception is that students are angry at the negative effects of austerity measures,” Godbout said. “The Couillard government [has] cut more than $200 million [from] universities’ budgets. It directly affects students in multiple ways, [through] the reduction of the number of courses offered and […] services, such as psychological support provided to students.”

At McGill, a number of individual departments and faculties have voted to go on strike. The Faculty of Medicine voted for a one-day symbolic strike, while the Department of French Literature voted to strike for a week. Other departments and faculties, including Law, Women’s Studies, and English will hold votes next week. 

Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Vice-President (VP) External Amina Moustaqim-Barrette clarified the procedure required for SSMU to go on strike. 

“Any member of [SSMU] can bring a strike vote to the General Assembly or call a special General Assembly for a strike vote,” she said. 

Moustaqim-Barrette added that SSMU remains committed to take actions against austerity following a motion passed at its Fall General Assembly, and expanded upon her portfolio’s role. 

“I have been acting as a resource person for students looking to get more information or else looking to bring a strike motion to their own departments, faculties, or to SSMU,” she said. “Most of that resource provision is done through a website which provides information and resources on how to get involved, as well as things like strike kits and demonstration buddies for students looking to take action against austerity.”

Vincent Fournier Gosselin, secretary-general of the Fédération des Associations Étudiantes du campus de l’Université de Montréal (FAÉCUM), a student union at the Université de Montréal, explained that about 14,000 students at the Université de Montréal were on strike last week. 

Gosselin added that some associations decided to go on strike for a day, whereas others will do so for an extended period of time.

“Our federation is composed of 83 associations,” he said. “It is the responsibility of their respective general assemblies to decide to go on strike or not.”

Benoit Lacoursière, author of The Quebec Student Movement 1983-2006, explained that he believed that this year’s protests will be different from the 2012 Maple Spring protests, where students mobilized against Jean Charest’s Liberal government’s plan to increase tuition.

“The current strikes try to appeal to a more general sense of citizenship rather than a specific issue such as the tuition fees, as was the case three years ago,” Lacoursière said. “[Students also] seem more prepared and their actions less improvised [….] They are more vocal through social media, but their presence on campuses remain minimal.”

Lacoursière continued to state that students may have difficulties mobilizing this year. He underscored the effects of the Summit of Education, which was held by Pauline Marois’ Parti Québécois government in 2012 as a follow-up to the student protests. After the summit, Marois’ government announced that it would enact a three per cent annual increase on tuition.

“What we see right now is different attitudes [within the student movement] in conflict with each other,” he said.  “There is a certain fatigue by some students who were actively involved in 2012, some others are discouraged by the results of the Summit on Education that followed, [and] some groups also radicalized themselves.”

Lacoursière explained that he was not very optimistic about the expansion of the current protests.  

“At the moment, there are few signs of momentum for students,” he said. “The likeliest scenario is that we will have day strikes throughout the spring instead of a larger grassroot movement.”

a, News, SSMU

SSMU Council discusses austerity measures, sustainability coordinator position

by Elie Waitzer on

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Sustainability plebiscite question

Sustainability Research Commissioner Julie Skarha solicited the opinions of Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Legislative Council on the creation of a Vice-President (VP) Sustainability position on the SSMU executive team. 

A plebiscite question in the 2015 Winter Referendum on whether to institute a VP Sustainability portfolio or create a full-time Sustainability Coordinator position yielded inconclusive results due to a majority abstention. Skarha went on to outline the fundamental differences between the options. 

“A VP Sustainability would be elected by the student body and sit on Council [while] the full-time coordinator […] would be a permanent employee of SSMU focusing on long-term goal setting,” Skarha said.

Another key difference would be the cost to students. According to Skarha, it would cost $10,000 to $20,000 more per year to create a full-time position. SSMU President Courtney Ayukawa cautioned Council members against letting their opinion on the position be influenced by its cost. 

“The decision should be made on the basis of what resources students need the most and not based on the cost to SSMU,” Ayukawa said. 

VP Finance Kathleen Bradley voiced her reservations regarding the VP Sustainability option, highlighting the level of expertise needed in such a role. 

 “I think public perception of executives is not very high. Students would be angry at the thought of wasting [their] dollars on executives,” Bradley said. “There are a wide array of skills involved in sustainability that require an intimate knowledge of how […] bonds and equities are traded, which is not something that I think [every candidate] would be comfortable with.” 

VP Clubs and Services Stefan Fong echoed these sentiments, adding that the long-term nature of sustainability planning would be better suited to a full-time position. 

“Executives tend to change year-to-year […which would] make it difficult to enact change in sustainability,” Fong said. 

Arts & Science Senator Chloe Rourke spoke in favour of having a VP Sustainability. 

“Having an executive makes it much more public,” Rourke said. “Students are more likely to engage with what a VP has to say because of the representation aspect.” 

In the straw poll that followed the discussion, the vast majority of Council members were in favour of instituting a full-time Sustainability Coordinator rather than an executive position.

Motion regarding SSMU’s policy on accessible education 

Councillors voted to send a motion regarding SSMU’s policy on accessible education to an unspecified future referendum. The motion calls for SSMU to adopt a broad five-year policy calling for public re-investment in post-secondary education from all levels of government in light of the recent tuition increases and austerity measures imposed by the Quebec government. Several Council members, however, expressed concerns over the wording of the second clause in the motion.

“Be it resolved that the SSMU [oppose] any mechanism or legislation that would permit a non-consensual increase in student fees for any student,” the clause in question reads.

Engineering Representative Anikke Rioux argued that the motion was not a constructive vehicle for alleviating austerity pressures on students. 

“It’s hard to get the respect of the government without offering any tangible solutions to the problem,” Rioux said. “There’s a huge debt [in the university] and I don’t think this motion is feasible at the moment.”

Rourke took issue with the long-term nature of the motion, stating that five-year legislation should be forward thinking and not reactive to the current issues facing the student body.

“What if [austerity cuts are] not the case five years from now?” Rourke said. “There might not be a need to mobilize against austerity [at that time,] we don’t know, and that’s not something that should be in this motion.”

An amendment from the floor to strike the clause entirely from the motion passed with a majority vote, but VP Internal J. Daniel Chaim and several other Council members still felt there was a need to bring the amended motion to a referendum. 

“Under 100 people stayed at the [General Assembly] to debate this [motion], so I would be nervous to pass [it] at [Council],” Chaim said. 

Council ultimately voted to send this motion to a referendum due to a lack of student consensus at the General Assembly.

Negotiations over women-only gym hours 

In response to the McGill administration ending negotiations over the implementation of women-only gym hours, Council passed a motion that will look to compromise with the university on certain points in efforts to move forward. Administration announced that negotiations would no longer be ongoing on March 16, citing that McGill University sought to keep its facilities secular and co-educational.  

The first clause of the motion aims to re-open negotiations with McGill, and the second clause recognizes the need expressed by the student body for women-only spaces in the fitness centre. Arts Senator Kareem Ibrahim explained the compromise proposed by SSMU to the administration. 

“There will be some points in the week where female-identified people will be able to access women-only space—inclusive of trans identities—but no time in the week where male-identified gym patrons will not be able to access gym space,” he said.

a, Art, Arts & Entertainment

Leveling Up

by Luka Ciklovan on

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Gamer. For a lot of people, the very word conjures up images of a basement-dwelling creature who feeds on Doritos and Mountain Dew, fears sunlight almost as much as social interaction, and guards the bridges of YouTube comments with a fierce, troll-like rage. Given the years of controversy video games have faced around the world—being labeled as a catalyst for antisocial personality disorder or a gateway for sex and crime—this negative stereotyping is not surprising. The fact that the U.S. Supreme Court only recognized video games as an art form in 2011, thus granting the medium First Amendment protection, stands as a testament to the ‘second class’ status of video games that permeates society today. 

In his article “Video Games Can Never Be Art,” critic Robert Ebert attempted to sever any link between video games and art on the grounds that “you cannot win” art. According to Ebert, video games are often riddled with “rules, points, [and] objectives” and can never be art, because art demands that you experience it devoid of any metric of success.  Ebert continued his assault on video games in his piece “Why Did The Chicken Cross the Genders,” claiming that video games will “never be worthy of comparison with the great dramatists, poets, filmmakers, novelists, and composers” due to the notion that they fail to make us more “cultured, civilized, and empathetic.”  Yet, even within a goal-oriented framework, this is precisely what video games—like any other art form—convey. 

No matter how you look at it, at the root of any definition of culture and civilization lies the notion that they lead to a greater understanding of a common human experience, a formation of one’s own identity based on self-reflection in the face of this human experience, and ultimately a sense of belonging to a larger human community as a result of these reflections. Video games offer many powerful ways of imparting these universal concepts and empathizing with the world around us—they only demand that we be receptive. 

Peter Henry, president of the McGill E-Sports Students’ Association, has been a firm advocate for considering video games as art.

“Of course, there’s a creator behind a game, and I feel if there’s an intention—whether it’s books, art, movies, video games—as long as someone is actively working to create a particular experience, it’s art to me,” he explained.

The biggest barrier for people to take video games seriously, according to Henry, lies within the interactive nature of the medium.

“People who play video games a lot have a lot of experience with games, and control schemes in particular, so when you hand Call of Duty to someone who doesn’t even know how to hold the controller, how can you expect them to fully experience the game?” 

He also cites time commitment issues as another factor that limits the accessibility of video games.

“As long as you have a two hour attention span you can see a whole movie, but if you’re not willing to work through a game, which could last anywhere up from 60 hours, you’re not going to get the intended experience,” Henry argued.

One of the most unique ways video games enable us to connect to this sense of culture and empathy is through the unparalleled agency the audience is given within the medium. While video games do often tell an unalterable narrative—much like a novel or film would—they allow us, the player, to decide the precise manner in which it unfolds. This ultimately can make us more attached to the narrative and grasp its underlying themes in a truly powerful way, as we have a greater emotional stake in the game. 

Quantic Dream’s Heavy Rain offers a prime example of this phenomenon. Heavy Rain places you in a situation where you must complete five trials at the hands of the Origami Killer in order to save a loved one. The fact that the players themselves participate in those trials—vicariously choosing how exactly to tackle them through the character of Ethan Carter—forces them to care, to some degree, about the narrative outcome they’ve been attempting to realize for hours on end. Regardless of the fact that there is a clear goal to the game, the player can ultimately experience something beyond the images on screen. 

Another method through which video games are able to convey grander, emotional messages lies within their mechanics, which are the specific rules or systems that govern the video game. The player uses them as a means to engage with the fictional world. The mechanics in chess, for example, enable the players to move their pieces only in accordance with each piece’s respective move set, and require the king to be taken to win. When mechanics begin to convey aspects of the game’s narrative, however, they enable the player to feel the emotions that the developer is trying to convey, and can thus lead the player to new understandings about themselves or the world around them.

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Jordon Magnuson’s Loneliness consists of simple black pixels moving across a white background, allowing the player to feel a permeating sense of alienation as a result of its mechanics. You play as a square that is constantly confronted by groups, or patterns of other squares, but can never interact with any of them as a result of their instantaneous fleeing from you. The player’s inability to successfully interact with anything in the game makes them feel useless, unwanted, and powerless. The game is meant to mirror what thousands of people across the world face everyday, and ultimately familiarizes the players with how they would grapple with such an issue. 

Agency and mechanics, if wielded properly by the developers, are extremely powerful ways for us to explore not only ourselves, but also how we interact and understand the world around us through the medium of video games. For Henry, video games are especially important in providing positive social experiences that may not be as easily conveyed by other artistic forms.

Ultimately, video games are still in their infancy as an art form. We are at the beginnings of a medium that has the power to seriously impact people’s lives in meaningful ways if we only broaden our perspectives and allow it to do so.

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