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a, Opinion

Commentary: Pinkwashing event ignores LGBTQ progress in Israel

by Isaiah Grossman on

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I got off the bus at the station and eagerly looked around. Excitement rushed through my veins as I saw him. With a huge smile on my face, I fell into his arms; this was my boyfriend. We walked along the water’s edge, hand in hand, as people passed us with hidden smiles of pride and support. I wasn’t used to that, but then I reminded myself: I was in Israel.

As a person who has benefitted personally from the LGBTQ rights that Israel upholds, I was deeply offended when I found out about McGill’s Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights’ (SPHR) Pinkwashing event, “Palestine is a Queer Issue: A Workshop on Israeli Pinkwashing and Homonationalism,” a workshop which seeks to inform students about alleged Israeli pinkwashing. Pinkwashing is the idea that Israel has and promotes LGBTQ rights in order to distract from its treatment of Palestinians. It does not take into account the fact that hundreds of thousands of citizens of Israel, and tourists like myself, are actually benefitting every single minute of every single day from these rights, which are in place because Israel was founded on principles of equality

As stated in the Declaration of Independence, Israel upholds equal rights for all inhabitants regardless of religion, race, or sex. Israel holds regular free and democratic elections and has an independent judiciary. All of these are the requirements and fundamental aspects of a liberal democratic country. Furthermore, Israel is a proud supporter of LGBTQ rights, unheard of in the Middle East and still uncommon throughout the world.

LGBTQ rights are human rights and should never be reduced to claims of political scheming.

The attempts of naysayers to turn around the progress of LGBTQ citizens’ rights in Israel and use it as an attack on Israel is astounding. The term pinkwashing is offensive to all those who fought hard for equal LGBTQ rights in Israel, to all citizens and visitors of Israel who have directly benefited from these laws, and to anyone who earnestly defends and promotes LGBTQ rights anywhere in the world. To shame Israel, or any country, for having progressive laws protecting a minority is appalling.

Israel promotes its LGBTQ rights, along with all of its citizens’ minority rights, not to distract from the Palestinian’s plight, but out of pride of being a liberal democracy. In fact, the first step towards LGBTQ rights, namely not enforcing previous bans on homosexual activity, occurred in Israel in the early 1960s. However, having LGBTQ rights does not make Israel the democracy that it is. Israel’s regular representational elections and independent judiciary do that. Instead, LGBTQ rights are just one example of how Israel extends human rights to all of its citizens.

Unfortunately, Israel has legitimate security concerns, and has the responsibility as a democracy to protect all of its citizens including Jews, Christians, Muslims, Druze and LGBTQ. Israel ensures that it upholds the fundamental human rights of each of these groups. Both Palestinians and Israelis have committed reprehensible acts, and as such, claiming one to be an innocent victim is not helpful. Clearly, this discussion is complex, and not the simplistic case of aggressor versus innocent victim, and adding the claim of pinkwashing into the mix is egregious. LGBTQ rights are human rights and should never be reduced to claims of political scheming. They should only be used as a beacon of hope for equality, much needed in the region. The only way forward is open, two-sided dialogue—not one-sided censures, divestments, or movements such as the offensive pinkwashing event, which are not helpful for the pursuit of reconciliation or peace.

 

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a, Science & Technology

Protecting against piracy using DRMs

by Clare Lyle on

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Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology has permeated our phones, our computers, even our coffee makers. In theory, DRM is meant to protect content creators from piracy; however, its critics are quick to disagree. According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, DRM technologies “impede innovation, security, and basic user rights and expectations, while failing to inhibit copyright infringement.” 

Although DRM is not at the front of most people’s minds when they read a book on an e-reader or listen to music on an iPhone, it plays a major role in how media is consumed and what sources it can be accessed from. DRM ensures that eBooks bought from Amazon can only be read on a Kindle, and Microsoft can limit the number of computers that can run a single licence of Office. 

While it’s possible to get around DRM and, for example, read books from the Kindle store on a Nook, the expertise and time required to do so provides enough of a barrier that the average consumer is forced to either own two different devices, or purchase content from only a single provider. The pervasiveness of DRM turns it into something to be assumed rather than questioned.

Occasionally, DRM does win the spotlight. When Microsoft initially unveiled the Xbox One, gamers were outraged because of the “always-online” functionality that prevented players from borrowing games from friends or purchasing second-hand editions. The reaction of the Xbox community was so overwhelmingly negative that Microsoft ended up scrapping the concept. 

Ignoring consumer opposition to DRM can land a company in hot water, as Keurig has recently discovered. The coffee machine giant released its ‘Keurig 2.0’ in 2014, quietly adding a feature that prevented new machines from reading K-cups that it hadn’t produced. Despite consumer backlash, Keurig has stood by its decision to add DRM to the coffee industry. It saw a 12 per cent decline in revenue in Canada in the financial quarter following the Keurig 2.0 release.

DRM opposition can be seen as being moral. Opponents think that the practice goes against individual rights and gives too much power to large corporations. On a more practical level, DRM can also lead to major security vulnerabilities. In the early 2000s, Sony used software called XCP to restrict customer use of the music on CDs produced by the company. It was later revealed that this software left users’ computers vulnerable to third-party attacks. 

DRM is also criticized for its inefficacy. In theory, the technology is intended to prevent piracy. In practice, it is still possible for users to circumvent these restrictions. In fact, many methods of doing so can be found with a quick Google search; typing “Keurig 2.0” into the search engine prompts “keurig 2.0 hack” as one of the first suggestions. Jailbroken iPhones, an array of file conversion software, and programs that rip movies off of DVDs are all examples of how easy it is to get around DRM.

For most, DRM is little more than an inconvenience, like traffic jams. Its ubiquity causes it to fall off of the radar, except for the occasional media frenzy. This becomes a problem when the inconvenience turns into a liability, as was the case with Sony in 2005. Without an informed consumer base, it’s easy for DRM to be used in such a way that consumer rights are compromised. This leads to DRM’s greatest danger: It’s everywhere, but no one realizes.

Parti Québécois leader Pauline Marois addresses her supporters in victory rally, minutes before fatal shooting. (Simon Poitrimolt / McGill Tribune)
a, Opinion

Commentary: Language requirements necessary for Quebec’s culture and economy

by Albert Park on

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Quebec’s incessant language war found new fuel as McGill and Concordia recently released statements criticizing the province’s strict French language requirement for granting permanent residency, which was introduced in 2013 by the Parti Québécois (PQ). The universities claim that strict rules requiring proficiency in French are making it difficult to attract foreign professors.

The Liberal Party of Quebec responded to these complaints and instituted changes in December 2014 to make it easier for candidates with doctoral degrees to gain permanent resident status by giving them more ‘points’ in the immigration process. It would not be fair or necessary to implement further changes to make it easier for foreign professors to come to Quebec. The provincial government subsidizes universities with taxpayer money. Considering that the majority of taxpayers in Quebec are French-speaking, it is safe to assume that it wouldn’t represent the majority’s wishes to allow easier immigration for non-francophones to teach in Quebec’s universities.

Many anglophones have continued to demand that the government reform language laws to make it even easier for professors to bypass the requirements, in the hopes that this would allow universities to obtain the best talents possible. However, this mandate fails to look at the issue from a wider perspective. The clear goal of the strict language standards is to protect the French language in Quebec. All Quebec institutions—including McGill and Concordia—have a lot to gain from the preservation of the native language in the long run, which is what attracts many students to Montreal and to their universities. Therefore, the regulations are best left alone.

“All Quebec institutions […] have a lot to gain from the preservation of the native language in the long run.”

The urgency of the decline of the French language in Canada is another main factor necessitating strict language regulations. According to Statistics Canada, in 1981, 25 per cent of Canadians reported using French as the main language in their home, and in 2011, this percentage shrank to 21 per cent. While this drop is alarming enough for francophones, the truly worrisome part is that the decreasing use of French in Quebec itself is contributing to the decline rather than offsetting it. While there are many factors contributing to this decline of French in Quebec, the influx of non-French speaking immigrants constitutes a large part of the decline in French usage.

The Quebec government seeks to stop the movement away from the French language. Unless the movement away from using French is slowed, division and hostility between anglophones and francophones will reach a boiling point. According to some, political division and threats of separation are already key players behind Quebec’s poor economy. Investors and researchers do not want to put time or resources into a province that is as politically volatile as Quebec. Therefore, preserving the native language and maintaining political stability by keeping the majority happy is one way for Quebec to attract more business in the future, which will, in itself, attract more foreign workers and professors.

Furthermore, the idea of bringing in foreign professors and other workers at the cost of Quebec’s language and culture is counterproductive. Many people come to Quebec for the distinct lifestyle it offers—some even come to learn French. As McGill Principal Suzanne Fortier said in 2013, “McGill can attract the best professors and the best researchers because it attracts the best students. And we can attract the best students because they are attracted to Quebec.” Quebec’s identity is based around being the only French-speaking province in Canada, and if the language continues to get phased out, the province may not attract as many newcomers. While the strict language requirements may seem harsh, they are an efficient way to ensure the survival of the French language in Quebec, which will improve its economy and preserve its identity in the long run.

Have your say, write for opinion. Email [email protected]

a, Off the Board, Opinion

Off the board: Broadening the feminist scope – In defence of Lana Del Rey

by Jack Neal on

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In a now-famous interview with Fader Magazine, Lana Del Rey was quoted saying, “For me, the issue of feminism is just not an interesting concept,” and that she is “more interested in intergalactic explorations.” This resulted in backlash, harsh criticisms, and a firm ‘anti-feminist’ label on her and her subsequent album, Ultraviolence.

At first, it’s not hard to see where this backlash stems from. Del Rey’s entire musical persona is that of a damsel-in-distress, stuck on the wrong side of the American dream, in which she was so brainwashed and confused between love and abuse that her ‘lover’ “hit [her] and it felt like a kiss.” Thus, critics such as Nolan Feeney the New York Times insisted that Del Rey was not only anti-feminist, but also glorifying domestic violence. Even Lorde weighed in on the controversy, stating that, “This type of shirt-tugging, don’t leave me stuff just isn’t healthy for young girls to hear.” It is true that Del Rey’s drug and sex-filled lyrical themes don’t paint the most traditionally empowering image of the modern woman. 

However, her outspokenness against the traditional feminist image of a powerful, independent woman is what makes Del Rey not only a controversial figure, but also an easy target. Strong, independent, and charismatic women such as Beyoncé and Lorde are the poster girls for the feminist movement. They are people who strive for a dominant position within society, and this shows in their music and how the public perceives them. Del Rey, on the other hand, comes across as a lonely, depressed, and desperate character; unsure of herself and lost in a whirlwind of American flags, red dresses, and men. Beneath the makeup and ’60s-bouffant hair, however, Del Rey is a reflection of our own loud voices, ideas, and frustrations. Silenced by her critics and feminist detractors, she is a model onto which society projects and pins up its own dangerously skewed perceptions. 

In an interview with the Huffington Post, Kim Gordon, founder of the band Sonic Youth, discussed the issue that many critics have with Del Rey: “Lana Del Rey […] believes women can do whatever they want, which, in her world, tilts towards self-destruction.” Del Rey is labelled anti-feminist because she is accused of undermining everything that women have worked hard in order to move away from. Therefore, her wallowing around in a lonely room of drugs, depression, and dependency is seen as detrimental to the feminist movement. 

However, these criticisms of Del Rey’s work and the lifestyle she chooses go completely against the values that feminist movement should be upholding. Why can’t there be a soft, broken, and vulnerable feminist? 

Society should be accepting of women of all personalities, choices, and lifestyles—not ignoring them because they don’t fit within the standard feminist mould.

Rejecting Lana Del Rey and her form of femininity is detrimental to the movement. Focusing the spotlight on super-women like Beyoncé creates an unrealistic and unachievable model for women to strive for, and deepens the stereotype of a feminist woman as someone who is conventionally ‘powerful.’ Society should be accepting of women of all personalities, choices, and lifestyles—not ignoring them because they don’t fit within the ‘standard’ feminist mould. In the monologue to her music video for “Ride,” Del Rey asks, “Who are you? Are you in touch with all of your darkest fantasies?” before confidently declaring: “I am; I am fucking crazy…. But I am free.” This notion of being free perfectly encapsulates Del Rey’s stance towards the feminist movement: Women should be free to be themselves, even if that self is flawed, and at times weak and disempowered. In her interview with Fader Magazine, Del Rey expanded on her attitude towards feminism, stating that, “[Her] idea of a true feminist is a woman who feels free enough to do whatever she wants.” She takes her freedom for granted, living the way she wants, with whoever she wants, all while defying the critics of her actions in the process.

Del Rey fills a gap within the feminist movement. She stands for the dark, the submissive, and the misjudged. Her very existence, and the criticism she’s received, is reflective of the anti-feminism that still exists today, but those who are attacking her choices and lifestyle are the very people who also claim to want equality. By accepting one type of woman as the ideal of feminism, the movement narrows itself and becomes unable to branch out and reach the broader range of individuals who are trying to exist, shutting them down because they do not fit into the categories that have been created in the name of ‘progress.’

Have your say, write for opinion. Email [email protected]

a, Editorial, Opinion

Editorial: Communication key for student engagement in austerity mobilization

by McGill Tribune Editorial Board on

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The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) and the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) recently adopted a joint anti-austerity stance at a summit in the Thomson House that brought together the two student unions. Both groups have put forward their own motions in Fall 2014 affirming solidarity against Quebec’s austerity measures, and further cuts to the university’s budget. While there is clear concern within the student unions regarding the cuts to McGill’s operating budget, the timeline for the current year is running out, and further efforts are required to communicate the severity of the losses to students in order to bring about necessary mobilization in opposition to austerity.

Student executives must continue to increase awareness about austerity and convey the gravity of the cuts to the student body, particularly amidst the relatively quiet discourse on austerity at McGill. If students can see the impacts that the austerity measures will have, not only on the university as a whole, but also on the specific services and resources that they use on a daily basis, it would likely be easier for SSMU and PGSS to mobilize students to take action against austerity.

Actions and conversations regarding the austerity measures taking place within both student societies have included the creation of a SSMU mobilization committee, which has begun strategizing for an anti-austerity campaign, the hiring of an Austerity Measures Researcher, as well as scheduled meetings with l’Association pour une Solidarité Syndicale Etudiante (l’ASSE) and the Fédération Etudiante Universitaire du Quebec (FEUQ) to discuss mobilization.

Despite the attention that SSMU and PGSS have given to the austerity measures, the student body itself has been noticeably complacent about the cuts facing the university, which amount to a sum of $15 million in the 2014 to 2015 year. Student detachment from the issue became a roadblock against progress at the summit when quorum was lost during a motion to mandate SSMU and PGSS to create a Joint Anti-Austerity Mobilization Working Group. This incident highlighted the need for student engagement if SSMU and PGSS are to undertake concrete actions to respond to the cuts facing the university. The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) and the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) recently adopted a joint anti-austerity stance at a summit in the Thomson House that brought together the two student unions. Both groups have put forward their own motions in Fall 2014 affirming solidarity against Quebec’s austerity measures, and further cuts to the university’s budget. While there is clear concern within the student unions regarding the cuts to McGill’s operating budget, the timeline for the current year is running out, and further efforts are required to communicate the severity of the losses to students in order to bring about necessary mobilization in opposition to austerity.

SSMU […] needs to initiate further conversations with students if it wants to mobilize united and fully-informed faction of students to combat the austerity measures.

Student mobilization en masse is necessary to effectuate changes regarding austerity. One-sided lobbying undertaken by student societies lack clout without the support of large swaths of the student body.

Two upcoming events—“Put Your Politics Where Your Mouth Is: Austerity Bites,” hosted by the Midnight Kitchen, and “Anti-Austerity Activities Night,” which is being hosted by SSMU—are seeking to bridge the gap between students and their representatives regarding conversations about austerity. Both seek to inform students about the austerity measures imposed on McGill and to encourage them to mobilize against the cuts. SSMU is collaborating with the students hosting both events, but needs to initiate further conversations with students if it wants to mobilize a united and fully-informed faction of students to combat the austerity measures.

The terms that student society executives spend in office pass by quickly. The fast turnover rate of executives therefore necessitates shorter consultation periods with students in order to leave more time for executives to implement changes.

Moving forward, SSMU and PGSS need to engage students in order to make progress against the austerity measures. In addition to the oft-cited need to improve communication with students, the student unions can improve the visibility of the actions that they are already undertaking unilaterally to combat austerity. The turnover rate of student society executives is substantial, and improving the visibility of the actions that have been taken or are in progress will help to keep students engaged in combating austerity from year to year. If made aware of the constructive and ongoing steps that their student unions have taken, students will hopefully be more likely to become engaged in supporting the movement against austerity themselves.

This article was corrected Tuesday, March 10, 2015.

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a, Men's Varsity, Sports

Basketball: Redmen season ended by Bishop’s in RSEQ Finals

by Aaron Rose on

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McGill Redmen
63

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bishop's Gaiters
68

 

 

 

 

It was too little too late for the McGill Redmen on their quest for their third straight RSEQ Championship. After trouncing the fourth-seeded Concordia Stingers 74-60 on Friday night, the Redmen faced off against the third-seeded Bishop’s Gaiters in the RSEQ Finals in front of Bishop’s home crowd. The Gaiters were looking to “exorcise their McGill demons,” as the Bishop’s commentator repeatedly explained, after watching his team fall to McGill in back-to-back championship games over the past two seasons. This time, the veteran Gaiters squad came out firing, downing McGill 68-63 and moving on to the CIS Championships.

McGill started hot against Concordia in the semifinals, jumping out to a 25-7 lead by the end of the first quarter. The Redmen upped their lead to 22 in the third on a red-hot 53 per cent shooting percentage in the second half. Second-year forward Michael Peterkin led the way for the Redmen, scoring 16 points while shooting 70 per cent from the floor.

“I just played with confidence and a lot of emotion,” Peterkin said. “I wanted to help my team out in any way I could.”

Senior guard Ave Bross logged significant minutes off the bench, recording 10 points and eight boards–just two rebounds shy of what would have been his first career double-double. RSEQ Defensive-Player-of-the-Year Dele Ogundokun recorded 14 points and a pair of steals, while second-year guard Jenning Leung finished in double-digits with a 10-point game.

Unfortunately for McGill, the fun didn’t last long.  In the final, the Redmen started slow against the Gaiters, shooting 39 per cent from the field and a pitiful 12.5 per cent from behind the arc in the first half. Bishop’s took advantage, connecting on 56 per cent of their shots, including four from deep, to grab an eight-point lead heading into the half.

The Gaiters stretched their lead to 20 late in the third before the Redmen came storming back on a 25-5 run to tie the game up at 60.

“We knew if we got it close in the fourth, we would have a chance to win,” RSEQ Rookie-of-the-Year Noah Daoust said. “We kept our focus and believed in our abilities.” 

Daoust finished off his impressive rookie campaign with 17 points off the bench for the Redmen, including a big three-pointer to tie the game up at 63.

McGill regained the ball down by three with 40 seconds left. Although it’s tough to doubt the game-time decisions of two-time RSEQ Coach-of-the-Year David DeAveiro, it was strange to see two of McGill’s best three-point shooters, Thomas Lacy (33 per cent) and Regis Ivaniukas (31 per cent), on the bench for that possession. DeAveiro decided to play four of his five starters and replace struggling centre Francois Bourque with the red-hot Daoust in the final seconds. 

“I ended up getting a pass from [Leung] for an open shot at the top of the key,” fourth-year captain Vincent Dufort said. “[I] thought about shooting before I caught the ball and ended up fumbling [it]. [The ball] happened to go to [Daoust], and he had to take a contested shot. It was an unfortunate outcome, but you have to give the Gaiters credit.”

Bishop’s grabbed the rebound and added a pair of free throws to close out the game.

The majority of the Redmen team is expected to return next year, including all five starters. While the loss to Bishop’s will be tough to accept right now, expect the Redmen to bounce back and make some noise in the CIS tournament next season.

“Seeing Bishop’s hoist the championship was tough to watch,” Peterkin said. “It will motivate us to come back and unleash havoc on the conference and the rest of the nation next season.”

a, Chill Thrills, Student Life

Chill Thrills: Nuit Blanche—Fresh Paint Gallery

by Mingye Chen on

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Nuit Blanche kicked off on Saturday, Feb. 28, marking the end of this year’s Montréal en Lumière. The month-long celebration of lights, food, arts, and culture concluded with a full day and night of free art installations, gallery showings, and live music. Nuit Blanche has historically been an event tailored to encourage the people of Montreal to discover a variety of artists and explore new venues. One such gallery embraced this spirit of exploration and discovery. Fresh Paint Gallery, located at 221 Saint Catherine, is a space for talented street artists to display their work. Taking graffiti to the next level, Fresh Paint is a non-profit gallery that is dedicated to showcasing up-and-coming artists.

The murals within Fresh Paint Gallery line the entry into the stairwell of the gallery. The graffiti and tags extend beyond the walls and cover the steps of the stairs as well. In celebration of Nuit Blanche, Fresh Paint Gallery painted over one of its mural walls in preparation for the four artists—MSHL, Isaac Holland, MAG Illustrations, and Cgo—all working to create a new mural with the concept of exquisite corpse-art tag team style. Fresh Paint calls this “Art Attack,” and artists paint directly onto a wall infusing creativity and style in the gallery.

According to Adrien Fumex, Fresh Paint Gallery manager since its conception in 2011, Nuit Blanche generates a much-needed interest in alternative arts.

“Graffiti is not generally associated with positive things. We are trying to destigmatize street art and show that it does have a place in the Montreal arts scene,” Fumex said. “Nuit Blanche is huge every year. We get hundreds of new visitors of all ages throughout the night. Some of which never would have stepped inside otherwise.”

Volunteers run the show at Fresh Paint. Entry is by donation, and all proceeds go towards leasing the location and other administrative expenses. According to Concordia Sociology student Alisa Sou, many students volunteer at Fresh Paint.

“It is very accessible to get involved,” Sou said. “If you want to volunteer here, just come in and say hi. I have only been volunteering here for a month now and the team is incredible. It brings people of all ages together that have never really experienced street art.”

The ephemeral nature of the artwork at Fresh Paint is one of its many charms. Previous work is not preserved, but instead painted over live in a new exhibition, emulating the nature of street art. Every new mural is a risk and a testament to the skill of Montreal’s local artists. At Fresh Paint’s Nuit Blanche event, artists covered the wall over the span of five hours while spectators sat right behind the painters. 

Sarah Faye, a Montreal HEC Business School student and Nuit Blanche spectator, expressed positive sentiments towards her experience at Nuit Blanche.

“For students, what’s fun about Nuit Blanche is that it makes experiencing art in Montreal more fun and more accessible. It’s really nice to see street art and street dance be represented and brought together like this,” she said. “There’s also good wine that is free, so that’s always fun to have in a gallery.”

The gallery is open all year and has Art Attack events every three months. They also host a famous monthly graffiti battle named Beaux Dégâts at Foufones Electriques. 

 

a, Art, Arts & Entertainment

Disaster and Everything After

by Alexander Bullis on

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For over two decades, Montreal photographer Benoit Aquin has made a name for himself through his blunt and captivating portrayals of environmental and human disasters. His unique investigative style of photography, in combination with his precise artistic vision, has earned him international acclaim and recognition. In July 2013, when a 74-car freight train was derailed in the small Quebec town of Lac-Mégantic, Aquin was one of the few photographers with access to the epicentre of the disaster. His photo series Mégantic, now on display at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA), provides a terrifying glimpse into the surreal landscape of the small town in the aftermath of overwhelming destruction.

Visitors of the exhibition are met upon arrival by the prominently displayed centrepiece of the exhibition: The striking diptych “Debris,” which occupies its own wall. It shows a twisted and tangled mess of oil-soaked metal, each panel mirroring the other to form a blossoming web of shrapnel and destruction.  The irony of the beauty and butterfly-like appearance of the violently destroyed debris generates a powerful and lasting mental image.

The series consistently utilizes the emotional and visual power of extreme lighting contrasts, a technique well established by Aquin in his previous series, Quebec’s Far North. However, in comparison to his earlier works, Aquin uses blackness and predominantly dark fields more frequently, rather than light colours, to evoke a sense of dread and reverence. This technique is exemplified by what has become one of the most famous photographs from the series, “Zone d’Exclusion.” In this image, the temporary fence surrounding the disaster’s exclusion zone is presented in such a way that only pure blackness is visible behind it. The foreboding angle at which the fence is presented, in conjunction with the complete obscurity of all that lies beyond it, captures the essence of terror and devastation that lie within the site of the disaster. 

One of the most striking features of Aquin’s style in the series is his general avoidance of human subjects. While there are occasional images in which residents or aide workers are featured, the vast majority of the photos are devoid of people in the foreground. This effectively creates a feeling of isolation, contributing to the alien and nightmarish feel to the scenes he illustrates. 

Aquin’s focus in his previous work has strongly been the environmental impacts of both human and natural disasters, and as such, photographs in the Mégantic series frequently revolve around the widespread environmental destruction resulting from the catastrophe. Burned plants splashed with black oil and the polluted shores of the Chaudière River feature prominently throughout the gallery. Many photos centre on the human response to the pollution and, at times, highlight the absurdity and inadequacy of the methods. “Riviere Chaudière No. 6” shows several oil nets tossed into the river, while the banks are littered with oil and debris in other photos. The stark contrast between photos of the river before and after the incident indicates the true gravity of the disaster’s ecological impacts.

While environmental destruction is carefully documented, Aquin in no way overlooks the profound human tragedy of the event. He tastefully shows glimpses into the suffering and pain caused by the loss of nearly 50 lives. His most direct analysis of this is through the haunting work, “Andreé-Anne Sevigny, Jeune Victime,” a simple photograph of a listing of the funeral for a young woman who perished in the disaster. Photographs of abandoned homes, burned banknotes, and empty store shelves fill the gallery, emphasizing just how widespread the social implications of the destruction are. 

Aquin’s years of experience in photographing disasters perfectly prepared him to document the horror and destruction of the Lac-Mégantic catastrophe. Through his understated yet painfully revealing work, his Mégantic series brings to light the true costs of one of the most devastating tragedies in Canadian history in an unforgettable and profound way.

Mégantic will be presented at the MMFA (1380 Sherbrooke) until Sunday, May 24. Student admission is $12.

a, Baseball, Sports

Changing the game: Spicing up Major League Baseball

by Elie Waitzer, Adrian Knowler, Raphael Uribe Arango, Anthony Snell on

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With MLB’s attendance levels and television ratings on the decline, baseball’s new commissioner Rob Manfred has unveiled a controversial set of rule changes intended to speed up the pace of play and broaden the appeal of America’s pastime. The Tribune Sports section weighs in.

  • Not-so-sweet relief

    t’s happening more and more every season, and it will be taken to a whole other level come October: It’s the dreaded pitching change and the mind-numbing loop of car commercials that go along with it. As recently as the 1970s, around 60 per cent of games featured only two pitchers per side. This means that if you went to the ballgame on any given day, you were likely to see one pitching change per team all game. Today, thanks to the trend of using highly specialized relievers late in games to exploit batter handedness, it’s twice as likely you’ll see four or more pitching changes per team than one. 

    Legendary Cardinal skipper Tony La Russa is often praised for revolutionizing the bullpen, but as much excitement the Royals’ dominant relief trio provided in last season’s World Series, MLB has to face the facts: The over-use of relief pitchers in baseball is the number one culprit both in lengthening games and in dampening offence. If Manfred wants to boost run scoring and shorten games, he should institute a structured limit on pitching changes. Barring injury, each manager should get two changes over the first through sixth innings, and two more over the last three innings. This would also add a new strategic dimension to the game, with intriguing spillover effects such as increasing the value of individual relief pitchers, reducing the need for an overly large bullpen, and freeing up space on the bench for speedy pinch runners.

    -Elie Waitzer

    Boxed in

    Making the batter stay within the batter’s box during the entirety of the at-bat is sure to improve baseball. As much as baseball fans wish to preserve the ‘purity’ of the game, this rule will definitely increase the pace. Watching a player like Jonny Gomes fiddle around with his helmet, gloves, cleats, and bat is not only boring to the viewers, but also unfair to his opponent on the mound. The delays break the pitcher’s rhythm and makes an already long game even longer. This rule will shorten games and help turn around the poor broadcast ratings that have plagued the MLB for the past few seasons. 

    Professional baseball is at a crossroads. Sports fans can respect the quirks and mind games that give ballplayers character and make them more interesting to fans, but the league has to recognize that for the sport to survive in the 21st century , there need to be some changes. MLB must tiptoe the line between re-invigorating interest in America’s favourite pasttime and stripping away the subtle intricacies that make baseball the beautiful sport that it is. 

    –Anthony Snell

     

     

    Slippery slope

    MLB’s new pace of play rule changes will backfire, and the consequences could damage the league and the game itself. The league’s motivation for implementing new rules was to get baseball moving at a faster pace in an effort to appeal to a broader audience, but Manfred has lost sight of the fact that baseball is already plenty exciting to those who take the time to understand, analyze, and enjoy the game. The joy of watching baseball for those who love it doesn’t come from bone-crunching tackles, fistfights, or freakish athleticism. If football is shot-gunning a beer, baseball is sipping a glass of cognac. 

    Slightly shorter games won’t do anything to attract fans that weren’t interested before. They will only alienate already loyal fans, and disrupt the players who have no problem with baseball’s current pace. Legendary Red Sox slugger David Ortiz has already stated that he won’t follow the new rules, and will accept the fines he’ll receive. With the average MLB salary set to break four million dollars this year, players are still going to take their sweet time adjusting their batting gloves. The most worrying part about all of this is that it represents the beginning of a slippery slope for MLB. This round of changes will arguably have minimal impact on the integrity of the game, but the purists should hold on to their pitchforks for the next time the league tries to ‘spice up’ the game.

    – Adrian Knowler

     

    Time is of the essence

    A breath of fresh air is descending upon Major League Baseball. The new rules that are designed to make the game faster will have a positive impact. The faster tempo will mean that the crowds in the stadium will appreciate the sport more and the audiences watching it on TV will feel more enthralled by this magnificent sport.

    The best way to accomplish this would be to put time limits on the various baseball ‘traditions’ that lengthen the game excessively. Things like mound visits should have a hard cap set at 30 seconds, and even the newfangled instant replay process should be timed to trim down the length of each game. The delay of games caused by these ‘timeouts’ makes crowds yawn in despair and head to the bathroom, or even the exits. This sport isn’t cricket, for heaven’s sake.

    -Raphael Uribe Arango

     

     

     

     

     

     

 

a, Out on the Town, Student Life

Out on the Town: Café M opens in lower plateau

by Laura Plamondon on

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After opening its doors this past Jan. 25, Café M has already became a favourite among the lower plateau neighbourhood. Situated on Avenue des Pins, Café M is an ideal place for anyone looking for good quality coffee and a relaxed atmosphere.

 Walter Guiet, the owner of Café M, did not delay when he decided to open the coffee shop. 

“I am very instinctive,” Guiet said. “Once I decided to open my café, it took me three days to find this location and two months’ worth of renovations and I was ready to entertain my first customer.”

Guiet said he aims to recreate an inviting and friendly coffee shop that welcomes any individual.

“I wanted to find the spirit of the small cafés I used to go to when I was a kid growing up,” Guiet said. “I’ll always remember this one café in Ireland. I stayed there for three weeks. Everyone knew each other and enjoyed each other’s company. That is what I want my café to be like.”

Guiet said he sees his customers as friends, not clients, and encourages his employees to engage with the people walking through his door.

“I want people to think, ‘I’m going to get coffee at my friend Walter’s,’ not just ‘I’m going to go get coffee at Café M,’” Guiet said.

Guiet has a strong connection to the coffees he offers, and only chooses those he supports.

“I fell in love with this coffee, ‘The Verve,’ when I was in New York and was inspired by the story and ‘peace and love’ vibe behind the brand,” Guiet said. “‘The Verve’ started off with these three guys in California [who] were obsessed with surfing and coffee and decided to launch their own line of coffee. I also believe in supporting local Montreal coffee bean roasters such as ‘Barrista.’” 

Guiet discovered that Montreal is an exigent city when it comes to coffee; however, individuals living in the city are ready to pay extra for good quality.

“People know their coffee; I can’t just sell them anything, since they won’t come back,” Guiet said. “I’m constantly developing my selection and looking at what my customers want in order to cater to their wishes. It seems to be working. I have received positive feedback with customers saying the coffee has just the right amount of bitterness.”  

Café M’s European flare is accentuated with its homemade soups and pastries. With brownies, gingerbread, and matcha muffins, Café M’s selection is always fresh and different every day. 

Finally, in accordance with his French upbringing in the Alps, Guiet offers a typical Alpine dish, called ‘Tartiflette.’

“Tartiflette is an Alpine dish made with onions, bacon bits, cream, and a choice of cheese toppings—feta or brie,” Guiet explained.

Overall, Café M brings a level of warmth and comfort to Montreal’s snowy streets, enhanced by its service, goods, and décor. The interior gives off a beach-like vibe, filled with Westfalias—specially converted Volkswagen camper vans that were popular in the 1950s—and surfboards. In the future, Guiet said that he hopes Café M will expand its menu, and already plans to create salads, smoothies, juices, and other healthier options for the spring and summer months. 

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