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a, Martlets, Men's Varsity, Sports

The week that was for McGill Athletics: March 17

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BY THE NUMBERS

2

The number of silver medals that the McGill Martlet basketball and hockey teams won at the CIS National Championships this past Sunday.  

 

 

 

 

9.1

McGill point guard Dianna Ros’ dismal shooting percentage in the CIS National Women’s Basketball Championship game. The Martlets came up short against the Windsor Lancers, due in part to their shooting woes.   

 

 

 

 

12

Shots turned away by Martlets goaltender Taylor Hough on her way to her first career shutout in McGill’s 1-0 semifinal win over St. Francis Xavier at CIS Nationals.  

 

 

 

 

Tribune Athletes of the Week

Gabrielle Davidson

Hockey, Forward
Junior – Management

The 2013 RSEQ Rookie-of-the-Year has come a long way in two years. After leading the Quebec league in scoring, Davidson added another dimension to her already impressive game this season, tallying 34 assists to go along with 31 goals. She took it to another level in the playoffs, recording 14 points over nine games—none more important than her clutch game-winning goal against St Francis Xavier to propel McGill into the CIS gold medal game. While the Martlets couldn’t overcome a strong Western squad, Davidson’s accomplishments this season are nonetheless impressive. She was named a second team All-Canadian, and first team All-RSEQ on the strength of a dazzling 65-point campaign. Entering her fourth year, Davidson will bring a veteran presence to next season’s Martlet squad, and will look to lead the team back to the CIS finals for another shot at the title. 

(Photos courtesy of McGill Athletics)

a, Editorial, Opinion

Winter 2015 General Assembly Endorsements

by McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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Motion Regarding Unpaid Internships – Yes with reservations

The Tribune supports the sentiment put forward in this motion that advocates for the movement away from unpaid internships, which contribute to social inequalities and to the overall lowering of wages for entry positions and decreasing number of paid positions in the job market. However, many internship possibilities available to McGill students, while unpaid, constitute positive opportunities for students to gain experience and earn credit towards their degrees. 

SSMU must follow through with the motion’s commitment to draft a policy to clarify which unpaid internships would be considered illegal for the purposes of this motion. However, the development of this policy could be difficult in itself, because while SSMU would seek to denounce internships that violate employment laws within the province, the practicality of assessing the legality of the vast array internships—both international and local, which comply to different regulations—offered or promoted by McGill is dubious. In addition, several student groups actively promote internships that may or may not comply with the employment laws. The resolution that their ”new and continued recognition” as SSMU clubs depends on their accordance with these laws would require communicating and coordinating with these clubs prior to implementing this policy.

The resolution to cease crediting internships that are illegal under the applicable employment laws also poses a problem for students seeking to gain returns on their unpaid work. The provision of credit for unpaid internships is a good way to award students with an alternative form of compensation for their work, and should remain in place for students who wish to engage in these internships. Moreover, the elimination or reduction of tuition fees for internship credits disregards the costs associated with faculty supervision of credited internship courses. It is unclear whether the motion proposes to have the administrative fees charged by McGill or SSMU. In either case, covering the costs associated with supervising internships is still necessary.

Motion Regarding the SSMU’s Policy on Accessible Education – No

Although we agree with the intent behind this motion to seek accessible education, it also opposes "any mechanism to raise tuition," which the university has already anticipated for 2015-2016. It recognizes that accessible education is important and that for SSMU to have a tangible impact when lobbying the Quebec government it must ally with other student movements; however, the actions mandated, other than the clause calling on SSMU to “mobilize its members against the provincial austerity measures,” are unrealistic in practice given McGill’s current financial situation, and do not address the need for advocating for more financial aid given the expected increases in tuition set by both McGill and the Quebec government.

This editorial board has previously argued for an upward increase in French students’ tuition as well as transparency, student consultation, and dedication to financial aid in the current deregulation process that the administration is committed to. We deemed these increases necessary in order to ensure that student services that were previously cut are reinstated, the quality of education offered to students is maintained or increased, and that the value of a McGill degree, which has been falling in recent years, is increased.

Within the potential policy to be adapted, this motion calls for the “eventual replacement of any and all ancillary and tuition fees with alternative methods of funding post-secondary education,” without referencing details on what these alternative methods are. Furthermore, although lobbying the government against austerity measures may be effective, particularly with increased student involvement, reducing tuition further without addressing the lack of resources that the university has to provide students with a high-quality educational experience does not offset the cuts from the provincial government.

Motion Regarding Divestment from Companies Profiting from the Illegal Occupation of the Palestinian Territories – No

Although the constitution does call upon SSMU to demonstrate leadership “in matters of human rights [and] social justice,” the motion as it currently stands brought forward presents issues in clarity and representation, particularly in its resolved clauses, which would ultimately dictate the responsibilities of the Council, VP External, and President.

This motion is concerning because it demands that “the SSMU Legislative Council charge all individuals or groups named herein to fulfill these mandates to the best of their ability for a period of [five] years.” As evidenced by the divided voices on campus regarding this issue, it would be preemptive to enact a motion that mandates the President and VP External, both of whom are supposed to represent all undergraduate students, to be bound to this stance for the next five years without giving each year’s constituents the chance to vote on the issue. This risks misrepresenting the majority stance taken by the students for each of the next five years.

The motion also mandates that the Executive Committee—which includes the president and each of the vice-president positions—”educate members of the society about its positions on divestment.” This clause appears to stray from the constitution’s definition of SSMU’s role as a representative body for students to the university; instead it would be broadcasting a stance back to its constituents. The president would also be “mandated to support any recommendations from the Committee to Advise on Social Responsibility (CAMSR) to the Board of Governors” regarding “divestments from the companies profiting from the illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories.” The CAMSR is currently composed of seven members, of which the President is the only student representative. The president’s decisions would thus be bound by CAMSR’s recommendations rather than by the student voice, leaving little room for student consultation. Regardless of whether or not this motion passes with a majority vote, the role of the SSMU executives, as outlined by their contracts, is to be representative of students to the university, and requiring them to relay a position to students would go against their mandate to represent students. 

Motion to Stand in Solidarity with Students and Protesters Demanding Democratic Government Worldwide, in particular, Hong Kong – No

This motion, which was originally brought up during the Fall 2014 General Assembly but was tabled due to a need for more research and consultation, calls on SSMU to stand in solidarity with, issue a statement condemning repressive actions by police actors, and educate McGill students regarding the situation in Hong Kong. Although this editorial board agrees in spirit with the sentiments of the actions that this motion wishes to enact, we are not in support of the broad scope of this motion to include the adoption of a stance toward all jurisdictions included in Appendix A.

The decision to expand this motion to include 79 other jurisdictions dilutes the strength the stance in solidarity with the protesters in Hong Kong. Simply providing a blanket statement in solidarity of these separate movements ignores the intricacies of each individual situation and diverts attention away from the original goal of this motion. Furthermore, asking the student body to vote on a motion with a scope that attempts to encompass so many countries would be an ineffective way of developing a nuanced stance. As such, this motion would have been better served had it stayed closer to the scope of what was initially introduced in the Fall. 

Moreover, the second clause mandates that the SSMU issue its newly-adopted solidarity “through an appropriate mechanism,” without properly identifying what this mechanism is, which was also the way the motion was presented at the Fall GA. This motion, as presented now, still lacks the clarity it needed last semester.

a, Martlets, Sports

Hockey: Martlets dismantle Carabins, lift RSEQ title

by Mayaz Alam on

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McGill Martlets
7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Montreal Carabins
2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With her team down 2-1 against the No. 2 ranked Montreal Carabins in the deciding game of the RSEQ Finals, junior centre Melodie Daoust took over the game like superstars are meant to do, tallying two back-to-back goals to propel the No. 1 ranked McGill Martlets to a 7-2 victory and a RSEQ title.

Daoust, who has only played in eight contests this season due to an injury-related absence, scored three goals on the night, pushing her total to 18 points since her return. Senior winger Leslie Oles added a pair of goals, while forwards Gabrielle Davidson and Olivia Sutter rounded out the scoring with one goal apiece. The well-rounded attack was typical of the Martlets, who had nine different players score during the three-game series. 

In net, junior netminder Taylor Hough started her first game of the post-season, replacing sophomore Brittany Smrke, who had been scorched for five goals on 16 shots in a 5-1 loss during game two of the series. Head Coach Peter Smith’s faith in Hough was rewarded, as the Toronto native was stout in net, overcoming a shaky first period to blank the Carabins in the final two periods. 

In net, junior netminder Taylor Hough started her first game of the post-season instead of sophomore Brittany Smrke who had been scorched for five goals on sixteen shots in a 5-1 loss during game two of the series. Head Coach Peter Smith’s faith in Hough was rewarded, as the Toronto native was stout in net, overcoming a shaky first period to blank the Carabins in the final two periods. 

“[Hough] was ready to go, and I didn’t think our whole team had a great game on Saturday, so we made a switch like that, “Smith explained. “It made a difference and I think it worked out pretty well.”

In Game 1 of the series, the Martlets were able to race out to an early 2-0 lead in the first period, which they stretched to a 6-2 final score behind Oles, a second-team RSEQ All-Star. Oles was one of five McGill athletes to merit league-wide recognition last week. Davidson was joined by reigning CIS Player-of-the-Year Katia Clement-Heydra and defenceman Kelsie Moffat on the first team, while defenceman Brittany Fouracres joined Oles on the second team. All of these individual accolades will be for nought, however, if the Martlets are unable to perform in the coming week.

With the victory in Game 3, McGill moves on to the CIS Championships, where they will be joined by their arch-rivals, the Carabins, in the eight-team tournament in Calgary from March 12 to 15. The two teams, who have been jockeying for pole position in the CIS rankings all season long, will likely face each other for the 10th time with a National Championship on the line–it would only be fitting for the two most recent national champions. While the Martlets will be the No. 1 seed in the tournament, a repeat championship is far from guaranteed, and the squad must maintain its focus.

“It’s a very hard-working group and we need to go out there and play with tempo and pace and play a good team game,” Smith said. “We’ve prepared all year long for this [….] We’re playing real good hockey right now, and we just have to go out there and  be ourselves–nothing less and nothing more.”

a, Montreal, News, PGSS, SSMU

PGSS, SSMU host joint summit on anti-austerity measures

by Cece Zhang on

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Members of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Council and the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) Council gathered for a joint meeting against austerity on Feb. 23. The joint council was the first of its kind, and through it, the two student unions produced a joint statement opposing provincial austerity measures. The two Councils approved two motions—one concerning the creation of a joint anti-austerity mobilization working group, and another on student priorities in McGill’s upcoming budget planning. 

Joint statement against austerity

The Councils passed a joint statement laying out how PGSS and SSMU would stand against the Quebec government’s stance on austerity. The joint statement also authorized the creation of a joint mobilization working group.

“SSMU and PGSS jointly reaffirm the following: Complete and definitive opposition to the austerity measures in their actual form; commitment to support other Quebec student associations in their efforts against such measures,” the statement reads. 

SSMU Medicine representative Joshua Chin expressed his reservations, questioning whether supporting other student unions in their measures against austerity would commit SSMU and PGSS if the other unions decided to strike.

“Will we be committing to supporting their strikes, and will it extend to SSMU and PGSS or even their constituent schools, faculties, or others?” Chin asked, proposing to remove the clause.

Other councillors spoke against removing this clause from the motion, stating that it did not necessitate SSMU and PGSS protesting with other student unions, and that stating support would help the overall movement against austerity.

“History in Quebec student movements show that when Quebec students are united, they have a much stronger voice and they are much more credible,” Frédérick Armstrong of the Post-graduate Philosophy Student Association said. “I would strongly disagree with striking that point, because internal debates should not hinder our efforts against such measures.”

Motion on student priorities in budget planning

The joint council also approved a motion regarding student priorities in upcoming budget planning. The motion identified nine areas of the McGill budget as priorities for students: Research opportunities and funding, diversity of course offerings, experiential learning opportunities, student space on campus, scholarships and financial aid resources, library services, and maintenance of staffing numbers. Councillors also proposed two additional amendments, covering areas of funding transparency and increased funding for student health and mental health services.

PGSS Health Commissioner Elizabeth Cawley brought forth an amendment calling for increased transparency from McGill on funding for services such as the Office of Student Disabilities (OSD). 

“Be it resolved that the SSMU and PGSS express their discontent with the current lack of transparency in funding transfers from the government of Quebec through the central administration earmarked for student services, and call on McGill to increase the transparency of these transfers,” the amendment reads. 

Cawley explained that despite repeated requests from the Student Services committee, McGill has not disclosed details regarding the specific allocation of the earmarked provincial funds. 

“When we made a formal request last year, we were simply told that ‘the university’s finances are audited both internally and externally on a regular basis’,” Cawley said. “Most recently […] there have been issues at UQÀM  [University of Quebec à Montreal] with transfers regarding students with disabilities [….] We want more transparency regarding these transfers and we’re not getting it.”

An amendment proposed by SSMU Medicine Senator David Benrimoh asking that SSMU and PGSS lobby McGill to provide student health, student mental health counselling services, and the OSD with sufficient funding was also passed.

Motion on the anti-austerity working group

A motion discussing the logistics behind the working group mandated by the joint statement was unable to pass before the joint council lost quorum. Discussion on the motion only served as a consultative measure and the motion will need to be passed by SSMU and PGSS in their respective Councils to take effect. 

PGSS External Affairs Officer Julien Ouellet presented the motion, stating that it would be a necessary step towards mobilizing the McGill community.

“To have an impact, we need to be able to mobilize,” Ouellet said. “To have a joint mobilization committee, which other associations within McGill could join, would help us raise awareness on issues such as austerity and to get people more riled up about decisions that will ultimately affect them on a very, very personal level.”

SSMU VP External Amina Moustaqim-Barrette cited concerns regarding the statement that the working group should only use “non-violent and non-defamatory strategies to reach its goal.” She was echoed by SSMU VP University Affairs Claire Stewart-Kanigan. 

“Tactically, it is essential to have disruptive practices of some kind, [but] even civil disobedience and things of that kind can be classified as violent in their creation of disruption to [the] regular functioning of things,” Stewart-Kanigan said. “By saying ‘non-violent,’ it’s giving into the idea you should be using the same word for punching someone in the face that you use for marching down the street and blocking cars, and that’s not something we should be endorsing in our formation of the committee.”

Ouellet maintained that the inclusion of ‘non-violent’ and ‘non-defamatory’ would increase the legitimacy of the working group. 

“Within McGill. we would have a better chance of attracting other accredited unions if we made [it] clear [that] we’re going to be mindful of [the] law,” he said. 

An amendment was passed changing the wording to read “without the express intent to cause physical or psychological harm to people.”

a, Student Life

Student movement establishes a healthy food system

by Keah Hansen on

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Food sustainability initiatives at McGill were scarce until about six years ago. However, with the launch of the student-founded and student-led McGill Food Systems Project (MFSP) in 2008, a culture of food sustainability has experienced a grassroots emergence, with students critically considering and addressing food sustainability issues. Achieving food sustainability at McGill has developed into a two-tier process: Student-initiated research on sustainability is institutionalized by administration to ensure its long-term practice. This innovative process has yielded impressive results, making McGill a leading university in Canadian food sustainability.

Student-initiated

McGill’s food sustainability initiative is a product of the MFSP. The MFSP was founded by three students: Dana Lahey, a sociology and anthropology major; Sarah Archibald, an agriculture and environmental science major; and Jonathan Glencross, an environment major, with assistance from McGill Food and Dining Services (MFDS), and the McGill Office of Sustainability (MOOS). The project’s goal was to create and implement a vision of food sustainability at McGill. Since its launch, two of the founding members, Lahey and Archibald, have graduated and are now project managers for a Toronto-based not-for-profit called Meal Exchange, which works with 35 universities in Canada to address sustainability issues within campuses. 

Ansel Renner, a senior leader of MFSP and U3 Environment student, reflected on the objectives of the project, which works with students to conduct Applied Student Research (ASR) on sustainability.  

“[The MFSP] exists to support student food initiatives with sustainability on campus, addressing the environmental, economic, and social components,” he explained.

Since its inception, the MFSP has supported many food sustainability initiatives at McGill. Projects include the first on-campus farmer’s market in Quebec at McGill’s downtown campus, the Farm to Plate Report, which addressed McGill’s food supply chain, monthly Local Food Days in the McGill dining halls, the McGill Feeding McGill partnership with Macdonald Farm to obtain produce for the residence cafeterias, the McGill Food and Dining Greenhouse Gas Audit, and a recent Constructive Consumerism report from student researchers.   

Renner and the MFSP team are currently working on a McGill Food Manifesto, which is one of the group’s new student-initiated projects. The official statement’s objective for the manifesto is to “create a baseline understanding between a diverse group of food service providers regarding topics such as responsible and ethical purchasing, common knowledge nutritional information, and vegetarian and vegan options.”

According to Renner, the progress of sustainability that McGill has made since MFSP’s founding is one that has flourished.  

“The scene in 2008 was completely different than it is today,” Renner said. “For example, McGill has one of the most expensive dining services, but the quality of the food has really improved and is a resounding conclusion.”

According to Renner, the amount of food wasted in Quebec calls for McGill’s increased involvement in sustainability.

“Quebec is the worst province for food waste in Canada,” he said. “Fifty per cent of food in Montreal is wasted, and most people aren’t aware of that.”

Renner recognized that this new project is more challenging than earlier initiatives.

“The food charter is a bigger undertaking [….] All the low-hanging fruit has been plucked,” he said. 

Renner said that he would like to see further growth of food sustainability awareness at McGill.

“I want McGill to continue to be a leader in Canada,” Renner said. “Six years ago, it was like entering a black box, so difficult to figure out where your food comes from [….] Now it’s easier.” 

McGill-institutionalized

Amelia Brinkerhoff, a fourth-year Environment student, is involved in the institutional aspect of food sustainability at McGill. She works with the MFDS as the Student Sustainability Coordinator. Brinkerhoff got involved with sustainability at McGill to ensure that food sustainability would become a priority and conversation point at McGill.

“After first year, I volunteered with the MFSP in an operational sense,” Brinkerhoff said. “Food sustainability is something I have always felt passionate about, [so I] got involved to continue with that vein.”

Brinkerhoff described why MFDS collaborates with MFSP for food sustainability initiatives.   

“[MFDS] works with [MFSP] because they do Applied Student Research,” Brinkerhoff said. “Every sustainable purchasing project is backed by student research.”

Since the release of the student-researched Farm to Plate Report, MFDS has increased its sustainability practices, such as purchasing local ingredients for the residence dining halls.      

“Forty per cent of everything we purchase is local [and sustainably, consciously chosen]—that tends to be our maximum right now,” Brinkerhoff explained.

According to its website, the MFDS defines Local Food Days as “purchasing seasonal food that has been produced, harvested, caught, or manufactured within a 500km radium of the downtown campus.”

However, Brinkerhoff said that “local” and “sustainable” are broad terms for the MFDS, with economic sustainability also considered along with environmental sustainability.

“We also strive for holistic financial sustainability and try to support Quebec’s local economy,” she said. 

According to Brinkerhoff, working with the Macdonald campus is also important because it is a local food connection and also part of McGill.  

“Local purchasing and working with [Macdonald farm] sets us apart,” Brinkerhoff said. “[MFDS] are the biggest purchasers of Mac produce, and we have worked closely with them to expand our relationship to include beef and eggs as well.”

Another current project in McGill’s dining halls is student composting.

“We have composted in the kitchens for three or four years, and have expanded it this Fall to the cafeterias,” Brinkerhoff explained. “Student feedback with composting has been mostly good. [They] are now more aware of what is going in and out.” 

According to Brinkerhoff, it is important for universities to engage in sustainability. 

“It seems hypocritical for an academic institution to generate research and have a knowledgeable and enthusiastic faculty, yet not engage in sustainability across the board,” she said. “We have an obligation to set an example in all facets of sustainability. Universities should support students in sustainability and sustainability projects—it’s [their duty].”

Despite its room for growth, Brinkerhoff believes McGill is a leader in food sustainability. 

“We definitely rank among the top [institutions in food sustainability] in Canada, and have been approached by other universities,” she said. “People are seeing that our student initiatives are being institutionalized.”

Campus involvement

For students interested in getting involved in the food sustainability culture at McGill, Renner offered three suggestions.

“First, start questioning what it is that you’re eating, where it came from, and who prepared it,” Renner said. “Also, get involved with the food sustainability culture at McGill. Consider joining the farmer’s market, Organic Campus, or one of the student-run cafes [….] Lastly, see something that you think could be improved.” 

Brinkerhoff further recommended that students try the new McGill-oriented sustainability app, “Myko,” which was launched by a team of McGill faculty and students.  The application seeks to educate users on sustainability issues, proposes possible solutions, and help establish goals for positive and lasting change.

Gal Kramer, U1 Geography, volunteers at Organic Campus, a Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) service that promotes local and organic food on campus.  Kramer also stressed the importance for students to be active in food sustainability. 

“Students have both the knowledge and resources to impact food sustainability in our communities,” she said. “This can be achieved through urban farming, a sustainable mindset and local agriculture. It is important because it is all linked to improving public health, and creating healthier societies in general.” 

a, Features

Les nuits illuminées

by Caity Hui on

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Glittering purple and blue, the snow was painted in the soft light of the churning ferris wheel, standing amidst a crowd of milling viewers in the heart of Place des Arts. In the background, a projection danced across the face of a building—one of many art installations at Montreal’s 12th edition of Nuit Blanche.

Each year, Montreal joins hundreds of other cities across the world in an annual celebration that showcases the arts. The concept stemmed from Helsinki’s Night of the Arts festival in 1989 and Jean Blaise, the founder of the Research Centre for Cultural Development in Nantes, France. He organized a festival known as Les Allumées—The Lighted Up—in Nantes in 1990, where he transformed the city into an outdoor art gallery from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., showcasing six different artists from six different cities. Twelve years later, Les Allumées inspired the first installation of Nuit Blanche in Paris—which was also directed by Blaise—and since then has spread to countries like Canada, Australia, and Chile. 

Unlike other cities, however, Nuit Blanche forms part of a greater initiative known as Montreal en lumière. The festival draws around 900,000 fans each year over a 10-day period to experience a range of visual and performing arts. This February, Montreal itself was the muse for its own festival. Renowned Montreal-based chefs contributed to the gastronomy aspect of the festival, while artists found inspiration from the city in the pieces they created for showcase.

Quotes:

“There were so many activities and fun things to see [in the] Place des Arts complex. The ambiance was appropriate for all ages, and I would definitely go again! […] It was great to see Place des Arts filled with so many happy people—everyone came [together] on the cold night to spend time with each other.”

 

— Veronica Li, U3 Arts

 

“Graffiti always struck me as something that belonged outside, defacing the side of my corner [depannéur.] So watching them paint right on the gallery wall seemed so wrong, but I couldn’t look away. It made me sad that it would get painted over for the next exhibition, but that’s kind of the point, isn’t it? Like Nuit Blanche itself, these murals are sort of a one-night-only deal.”

— Mingye Chen, U3 Arts & Science

“For someone who does not live downtown, one of the main reasons to go out on Nuit Blanche is that the metro is open all night. I do not have to worry about how I will get home or spending extra money on a taxi with a student budget. [It allows me] to wander to new places in Montreal. However, this year, I got so exhausted from walking and dancing—in a good way—that I just ended up cabbing.”

 

—Roman Radetskyy, U3 Microbiology & Immunology

“The event was bright and colourful, and a great way to get out of the McGill pocket and see the local music scene. The crowds were lively, which added to the excitement of the event. One of my favourite parts was roasting sausages and marshmallows by the fire pits.” 

 

 

—Katie Lee, U3 Pharmacology

 

a, McGill, News

Greenbriar to be converted into an upper-year residence for 2015-2016

by Shrinkhala Dawadi on

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The Greenbriar apartment-style residence will be designated for upper-year students beginning Fall 2015. The residence is located close to McGill’s downtown campus on University and primarily housing first-year students in studio-style and one-bedroom style apartments.

Director of Student Housing and Hospitality Services (SHHS) Janice Johnson explained that the change was motivated by the increased availability of beds overall in McGill residences and the current popularity of Greenbriar as an on-campus housing option for upper-year students—about 30 upper-year students apply to live in residence each year, most of whom choose Greenbriar. 

“Ever since we created [the residence] La Citadelle, we’ve got more beds than we need to meet the first-year student guarantee,” she said. “Looking at next year’s enrollment numbers […] we thought that Greenbriar was probably the place that would be the most attractive for upper-year [undergraduate] students.”

Second to fourth-year students would be able to apply to live in Greenbriar through a process independent of the general lottery system that is used to place first-year students in residences. 

“It’s more like applying to rent a space anywhere else,” Johnson explained. “We’ll have a web form for students to fill out an application [….] If we have a [first-year] student [who] has particular needs that Greenbriar would fit, I wouldn’t not put them there […] but we’re not going to be assigning a great swath [of first-year] students in Greenbriar.”

Leases for Greenbriar for the 2015-2016 school year would span 12 months, according to Johnson, although she said that she does not currently know how much rent would cost. Students would not be mandated to buy a meal plan.

Faye Siluk, U4 Education and Greenbriar floor fellow, explained that she believed some students might like the option of an upper-year residence.  

“Even though first year is so formative, I think a lot of students still need [the] sense of security and that guaranteed community that comes from [residence],” Siluk said. “It does bring a sense of safety that you maybe wouldn’t get if you’re a little bit young or inexperienced […] and that’s something that a lot of students as well as their families […] might appreciate.”

Siluk also spoke to the structure of the apartments within Greenbriar, stating that they allowed students to live more independently within the residence system.  

“Now that I’m in Greenbriar, I have a lot more privacy,” she said. “I have my own apartment and kitchen, [and] I do feel like I’ve been able to grow and develop [….] It makes sense to me that [an upper-year residence] would be Solin or Greenbriar, because it’s naturally going to be more independent.”

According to Johnson, Greenbriar will not have floor fellows in the 2015-2016 school year, although some on-site support would be provided for residents by relocating the MORE housing office to Greenbriar. 

“There will be an administrative presence in Greenbriar during the days […] in case students have questions, [but the] programming we [will] offer will be at a much more general level, [such as] inviting [students] to stuff that’s happening across residences,” she said.

Johnson continued to highlight that student consultation would take place throughout the year.

“We want to […] talk to students about what they might need and […] see if we need to create something specific for upper year students,” she said.

Siluk spoke to the challenge of creating a community of upper-year students in Greenbriar during the next school year.

“The fact that they’re upper-year students and that they have pre-established communities will make it more challenging than when you’re working with first years,” she said. “I think that if McGill set up some kind of hall council [for Greenbriar…] that plans events and gets given a budget […] than it would really help build a community [….] I do have faith that students make [communities] on their own, it might just be a longer process.”

a, Martlets, Sports

The week that was for McGill Athletics: March 10

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BY THE NUMBERS

4

Number of years in a row the Martlet basketball team has captured the RSEQ Championship.  

 

 

 

18

Points recorded by junior centre Melodie Daoust over the nine games she has played for the Martlet hockey team.  

 

 

 

283

Saves made by the Redmen hockey team’s starting goalkeeper Jacob Gervais-Chouinard over the team’s playoff run.  

 

 

 

Tribune Athletes of the Week

Jenning Leung

Basketball, Guard
Sophomore – Arts

It was a tough week for Leung and the rest of the Redmen basketball team after they bowed out of national title contention with a loss to Bishop’s in the RSEQ Championship game. Though it is likely a small consolation, Leung was impressive in both of McGill’s games this week, notching 10 points and a couple of steals against Concordia in the RSEQ Semifinals and 15 points, six assists, and four steals in the finals. The sophomore point guard will continue on next season as the team’s likely starter, after stealing the job from the graduating Ave Bross. If these performances are any kind of preview, the Redmen have good reason to be confident in their floor general going into next year. 

 

 

 

 

 

Mariam Sylla

Basketball, Forward
Junior – Science

Sylla gave the Martlets a top-tier performance when it was most needed this past week, leading McGill to its fourth consecutive RSEQ Championship. The Conakry, Guinea native collected double-doubles in both the semifinal game and championship, including a season-high 25 points in the latter. On the week, Sylla averaged 23.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game, all while shooting 61.2 per cent from the field and 81.8 per cent at the line. Her most important points came at the end of the championship game, as Sylla drained the game-winning basket with 26 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Sylla was named game MVP of the finals, and after such an impressive season, should end up a CIS All-Canadian for the second consecutive year.

 

 

 

 

 

Beyond the box score

Redmen Hockey

After dominating the OUA East division to the tune of a 21-5 regular season record, the Redmen hockey team came within 61 seconds of punching their ticket to the CIS tournament. Down 1-0 with under two minutes left, the Windsor Lancers pulled goalie Peter Van Buskirk in a last-ditch effort to salvage their season. Mere seconds later, third-year Lancers forward Ryan Green deflected a shot from teammate Julian Luciani to send the game to overtime. McGill had held an edge in shots all game up to that point, and it looked like star goaltender Jacob Gervais-Chouinard had his second playoff shutout in the bag, but the wild goal proved too devastating to overcome for the Redmen, as Green would score the game-winner just five minutes into the extra period to claim the OUA men’s hockey bronze for Windsor.  

Fourth-year centre Guillaume Langelier-Parent put McGill up early in the third period on a pass from winger Neal Prokop, but that was all the offence the Redmen managed to muster. There were no heroics from superstar defenceman Samuel Labrecque, no big-time shots from junior winger Jonathan Brunelle, and no sight of McGill’s lethal power play unit, which was held scoreless on two overtime opportunities.  

After a miraculous playoff run that featured overtime victories, record-breaking performances, and astonishing individual efforts, this squad can be confident that it gave its best effort, and should be back with renewed energy and determination next season. Though the team expects to lose seven seniors to graduation, including Cedric McNicoll, Neal Prokop, Guillaume Langelier-Parent, Marc-Olivier Vachon and, Benoit Levesque, they will be strengthened by a host of core players returning.  

(Photos courtesy of McGill Athletics)

a, Campus Spotlight, Student Life

Campus Spotlight: ASB

by Tiffany Le on

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The “McGill bubble” often makes it difficult to explore the Montreal community. In response, the university started an Alternate Spring Break (ASB) initiative that aims to expand students’ horizons beyond the McGill campus. For students invested in social justice, ASB took place over reading week and offered the opportunity to discover local groups and organizations that play  major philanthropic roles in the city. It involved four days of volunteering and a fifth day to provide a recap of the experience. The events span four different fields with 11 organizations around Montreal.

“A lot of other universities have ASB programs–it is something that is starting to be offered a lot by universities as a complement to classroom learning,” explained Jean Murray, community event organizer for the Social Equity and Diversity Education (SEDE) Office. “There’s a lot that [students] can get out of service learning that they can’t get out of classes.”

Students were able to choose from categories that include health and wellness, food security, youth and education, and anti-poverty. The organizations dealing with each sector are all specialized, with work ranging from enhancing the quality of life among individuals living with HIV and AIDS, to workshops creating better awareness of and more access to healthy food. 

These organizations all play a big role in the Montreal community. Some participating organizations include Santropol Roulant—a Meals-on-Wheels service—to the St. James Drop-In Centre, which offers a safe and supportive environment for the marginalized or homeless.

“At the SEDE office, we’re not working with big international organizations,” Murray said. “We’re really trying to look in places that are for the community by the community. In doing so, students get to see a part of the Montreal community and engage with people who are in the city with them rather than far away.”

Each organization has its own activities planned for the week. Before registering, students can pick and choose between what the different work entails and are able to plan their weeks accordingly. Each day involves four hours of volunteering with many learning opportunities. Many of the programs develop new and valuable skills, from vermicomposting and fertilization to creating resource kits for children’s books. They also demand a variety of different skills. For instance, many of the organizations need help with maintenance jobs, while others are looking for help with food preparation and serving. Some of the more specialized work includes helping with language course registrations at a learning centre and creating a mural using book covers.

ASB is planned by the combined efforts of the SEDE office, Student Services’ Campus Life & Engagement office, and McGill’s School of Continuing Studies’ Personal and Cultural Enrichment (PACE) program. SEDE’s main focus is on fostering a better understanding among varying cultures and communities through education. They hope to develop a more respectful, diverse, and supportive campus. Similarly, PACE offers workshops throughout the year on different topics with the goal of fostering better personal development to lead to a more successful community.

“This is a partnership; we wanted the students to get a lot in terms of learning but we wanted the organizations to be getting a lot out of it as well,” Murray said. “Ideally, these partnerships that we have with these organizations [are] not a one-time thing. We try and stay involved with these organizations and have them participate in other events, such as Community Engagement Day. It’s a similar idea to ASB, but it happens [on] one day in October.”

The ASB program can also be taken as a one-credit Winter semester course, called CPAC 102: Topics in Volunteerism and Community Development. The course is offered through PACE and also includes readings and seven hours of lecture on top of the volunteer work.

 

a, Arts & Entertainment, Music

Deep Cuts: Songs called “Shine a Light”

by Matt Bobkin on

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“Shine a Light”

Artist: The Rolling Stones

Album: Exile on Main St.

Released: May 12, 1972

Though the Rolling Stones’ 1972 double album Exile on Main St. is now considered to be one of the greatest albums of all time, its penultimate track, “Shine a Light,” with its groovy, honky-tonk chorus that is nothing but uplifting, is a step above. Filled with sweet guitar riffs and a relentlessly jammy piano hook, “Shine a Light” is a hootenanny of a track, with beautiful daubs of gospel licks stuffed in there for good measure—without ever feeling bloated. Four minutes of shifting, soulful classic rock, this quintessential Stones cut is a slice of bliss from start to finish.

“Shine a Light”

Artist: Madonna

Album: Shine a Light EP

Year: 1980

The deepest cut of them all comes from the Queen of Pop, the almighty Madge herself—but from 1980, a few years before she became the Material Girl that we all know and love. Though it’s not quite the dance pop Madonna is known for, it still features her airy yet commanding voice, with hints of her future pop dominance, but this time on top of a buoyant bass line and shuffling drums. At a scant 101 seconds, this tune is gone too soon—as was Madonna’s embrace of this sound. Nonetheless, it makes a great impact during its brief runtime.

“Shine a Light”

Artist: Constantines

Album: Shine a Light

Released: August 19, 2003

One of the hits by Guelph, Ontario rockers, Constantines, “Shine a Light,” features irregular time signatures in verses that give way to a heavy chorus. Though not a bleak tune, it’s not a particularly uplifting one either, working to keep the listener on edge: Clean guitar noodling is juxtaposed with a heavy, walking bassline and eerie synths. Compounded with Bry Webb’s raspy, howling vocals, the track plays with mood before jolting to life for a gritty, guitar-driven rock climax. It’s fun, unsettling, and definitely not your standard rock tune, taking calculated breaks and bridges to maximize the impact of the song’s climaxes.

“Shine a Light”

Artist: Wolf Parade

Album: Apologies to the Queen Mary

Released: September 27, 2005

Coming off the heels of labelmates Constantines’ smash album/single of the same name, Montreal art-rockers Wolf Parade’s take on the phrase is a little happier in comparison. Built around a chugging chord progression, this lighthearted, stompy rocker features guitarist Dan Boeckner—now of Divine Fits and synth-rockers Operators—on the mic for some jagged, breathy vocals. With some jangly guitars in the background, Wolf Parade’s track is fun, synthy indie rock at its best, including a great, riff-filled climax to round things out. Though Wolf Parade is no longer active, its “Shine a Light” is just one of many great tunes to come out of the Montreal group—and a reminder of the sharp rock they crafted during their time together.

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