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McGill, News

McGill Senate discusses smashed windows and budget cuts at Feb. 12 meeting

by Kellie Elrick on

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Smashed windows of campus buildings, academic freedom, and upcoming budget cuts were among the discussion items at the McGill Senate’s Feb. 12 meeting.

The meeting began with memorial tributes to Patrick Dias in the Faculty of Education, Patrick Farrell in the Department of Chemistry, and Abraham Fuks in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. McGill President and Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini, the Senate Chair, then moved to the Report of the Senate Steering Committee. 

Saini then addressed the Senate regarding the protestors who smashed windows of the Leacock, McCall-MacBain Arts, Dawson Hall, and James Administration Buildings on the night of Feb. 5. Saini noted that “an anarchist group […] with no known connection to McGill” has taken responsibility, stating they were protesting McGill’s refusal to divest from companies with ties to the state of Israel. The base repairs are expected to cost McGill hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

“Even higher, though, is the price to our collective morale,” Saini said. “Our campus cannot continue to bear the brunt of outrage caused by a war half a world away.”

Saini then read two written statements from instructors whose classes were writing exams in Leacock when the protestors smashed the building’s windows before concluding that the university cannot make decisions “rooted in response to threats.” From there, he opened the floor to comments.

Arts Senator Anzhu Wei noted students’ frustration with a lack of communicable channels with McGill, particularly surrounding the university’s investments in companies connected to Israel. Wei highlighted that 78.7 per cent of voting students in the Fall 2023 referendum voted in favour of the Policy Against Genocide in Palestine, which called on McGill to divest from such companies. An injunction subsequently suspended the policy. 

“I’m not saying that McGill should make any decisions in response to violence or intimidation,” Wei said. “I think where a lot of the frustration comes from is that disconnect between what students want and what students want to say and what they perceive McGill to be taking in as input.”

The Senate moved on to address McGill’s expected budget cuts as the result of a projected $15 million CAD deficit for the current fiscal year. Engineering Senator Nathaniel Quitoriano asked what role the Senate would have in determining how the cuts will be allocated given the Senate’s jurisdiction over academic matters at McGill. Saini responded that budget cuts are administrative in nature, but situations of academic concern would be brought to the Senate, such as the hypothetical amalgamation of departments.

“Or, in an extreme scenario, there’s a suggestion to eliminate a faculty to save money,” Saini said.

The Senate then addressed questions from members. The first—submitted by Wei and Arts Senator Vivian Wright, concerning artificial intelligence and pedagogy—was deferred to Provost and Executive Vice-President (Academic) Christopher Manfredi, who was not present but provided a written response. Manfredi also answered the second question—submitted by Quitoriano and Member-at-Large Christa Scholtz—about the Report on the Policy on Indigenous Membership. 

Student Senator Abe Berglas raised concerns regarding this report’s accessibility. 

“It’s quite difficult, if you start from the main page of the Office of Indigenous Initiatives [website], to find the report. I wouldn’t have been able to find it if I didn’t work backwards from the full hyperlink,” said Berglas.

Saini noted the feedback before turning Senators’ attention to the annual reports on the Action Plan to Address Anti-Black Racism, Student Life and Learning, the Committee on Student Services, the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Strategic Plan, and the EDI Committee.

The meeting ended with a confidential session regarding an honourary degree.

Moment of the Meeting: 

The two written statements from instructors—who were teaching and invigilating when the protestors smashed windows in Leacock—reported a climate of uncertainty, with one noting that some students screamed out that there was a shooting, while another described locking the doors and calling security. 

Soundbite: 

“If you think that the university should have a role in thinking through these issues, such as the ones raised by BDS, I suggest that we just have an academic conference where we talk about these things [….] I think it would be wrong to not do things just because the [protestors who smashed the windows] want something.” — Senator Catherine Lu in response to Saini’s request for comments in regard to academic freedom.

A previous version of this article stated that Catherine Lu was an Arts Senator. In fact, Lu is an Arts Faculty Senator. The Tribune regrets this error.

McGill, News

Adrien Wing leads panel discussion on critical race theory and intersectionality

by Defne Feyzioglu on

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On Feb. 12, Professor Adrien Wing, Director of the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights, explored the role of critical race theory (CRT) in challenging institutionalized oppression at a panel hosted by McGill’s Faculty of Law. Organized to commemorate Black History Month, the panel highlighted the historical patterns of racial exclusion that persist in modern governance and spoke to the need for systemic change. 

The panel began with Wing’s presentation on CRT and intersectionality. CRT refers to an academic approach that examines race as a social construct and functions under the assumption that racism is not solely the product of individual bias. It analyzes how racial inequality has been deeply embedded in many parts of Western society, particularly in its legal systems and social institutions. 

During the panel, Wing discussed how CRT can shed light on how racism is ingrained in legal and economic systems. She pointed to the GI Bill in the United States—a policy that provided WWII veterans with funds for housing and education while systematically excluding Black veterans. 

“We weren’t told the truth,” Wing said. “Black veterans were not given that money. Critical race [theory] helps to deconstruct that, and say the system is racist, has been racist since the beginning, as well as sexist, homophobic and other ‘-isms.’”

After Wing’s presentation, the three panellists, jurist Tamara Thermitus, McGill Faculty of Law Professor Sarah Riley Case, and McGill Adams-Burke Fellow Lena Dzifa Phillips, continued the discussion. 

Building on Wing’s examination of systematic racism in legal structures, Phillips turned the conversation to the gap between constitutional ideas and their real-world application, questioning whether legal frameworks designed to promote equality are effectively implemented. 

“We know that today constitutional statehood is still elusive,” she said, “But how would you describe the present-day operationalization of the very progressive norms and ideals that are included in those constitutional projects?”

In response, Wing emphasized the fluid nature of legal texts, noting that their meanings change over time and in different geographical contexts. 

The discussion continued with a question from Case, in which she referred to the work of Columbia University Professor David Scott. Case highlighted that initiatives such as anti-colonial or civil rights movements have not always led to the expected structural changes. She asked how past efforts toward justice should be reexamined in the present moment.

“David Scott, a Jamaican scholar, Black studies and Caribbean studies, who calls our present moment of post-revolutionary conjuncture in the context of decolonization […] asks, ‘How can we reevaluate now, at this post-revolutionary conjuncture, what’s necessary for transformation?’ So, I wanted to know, what do you think?” Case asked. 

Wing responded by rejecting the idea of a “post-revolutionary” time, which implies a successful revolution that resulted in lasting change. She questioned whether there had ever been a shift that effectively addressed structural racism. 

Wing also challenged the idea that diversity and inclusion programs are enough to address racial inequality. Although these initiatives may help individuals, she argued that they fail to dismantle the structures that uphold systemic oppression. 

“These programs are band-aids on cancer,” Wing said, “They will help a few people, but they will not help deal with great structural injustices. That’s not what they’re about. They weren’t meant to do that.” 

Rather than focusing solely on personal change, Wing emphasized the importance of confronting the deeper economic and systematic realities that prevent meaningful change.

Throughout the conversation, Wing and the panellists underscored that addressing systemic oppression requires more than theoretical discussions or surface-level policy changes. They noted that, while legal and institutional frameworks shift over time, the structures that sustain inequality remain, raising questions about the effectiveness of current approaches to transformation.

Wing urged the audience to commit themselves to efforts to oppose these systems of oppression and emphasized the need for sustained engagement in the fight for justice. 

“In your lifetime—and the lifetime of my grandchildren—we will not end racism, sexism, homophobia, any other ‘-ism.’ We will not end it,” Wing said. “But each of you will be judged by the quality of your [resistance].”

News, PGSS

PGSS councillors debate McGill’s proposed labour cuts and referendum question selection

by Charlotte Hayes on

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The Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) of McGill University held its second council meeting of 2025 on Feb. 12. After approving the agenda, PGSS councillors moved on to discuss budget cuts, hiring freezes, and questions for the upcoming referendum. 

The first discussion item was the potential impact of staff cuts in the Faculty of Arts on Teaching Assistant (TA) positions. This follows Provost and Executive Vice-President (Academic) Christopher Manfredi’s announcement that the university will cut 250-500 positions in response to a $15 million CAD budget deficit for the upcoming fiscal year. 

Zoe Neubauer, a third-year PhD candidate in History, explained that an internal survey in the Graduate Department of History and Classical Studies found that proposed cuts to the teaching support budget would adversely impact graduate students’ education, scholarly research, and quality of life. They requested that the PGSS circulate the survey results to all Post-Graduate Student Associations (PGSAs) in the Faculty of Arts and formally condemn the university’s proposed labour cuts.

All new business items involved adding questions to the upcoming PGSS referendum taking place April 7-14. One of the motions sought to add a referendum question on PGSS lobbying the government to make labour rights applicable to graduate research. In other words, it sought to add a question to the referendum to get the PGSS to ask the Government of Quebec to classify graduate research as a job, not just part of academic coursework. 

This motion sparked a 27-minute debate among attendees. Opponents raised concerns that such a change could affect the tax status of grants and awards and put students’ education at risk if they failed to meet job requirements. 

“Making the argument to consider grad students—Master’s and PhD students—completely as employees will completely […] disregard the fact that [they] are still students,” PGSS External Affairs Officer Naga Thovinakere said.

Supporters argued that the broader PGSS membership should decide these debates through a referendum vote and with campaigning from ‘Vote Yes’ or ‘Vote No’ committees rather than just the 60 voting members present. 

“The debates that we’re having right now and the nitty-gritty can be further dealt with [in the future],” Sheheryar Ahmed, External Affairs and PGSS representative from Graduate Islamic Studies, said. “Right now, we should focus on whether or not this should be a question that the general student body should have an opinion on.”

With 14 votes in favour and 18 against, the motion did not pass.

The council voted in favour of adding a question to the referendum on approving a new provider for online primary and mental health care for members. This referendum question stands to switch PGSS’s telemedical services from current provider Dialogue, for which members pay $45 CAD per year, to Digital Doctor, a service hosted by Maple, for $25 CAD per year, maintaining the current opt-out option. 

In addition to Digital Doctor primary care, councillors also passed a motion to add a question to the referendum regarding mental health care under the service. This would be an additional $30 CAD per year fee that members could add to their Digital Doctor primary care subscription, allowing access to online mental health care; this motion also passed with an overwhelming majority. 

Moment of the Meeting:

In its final motion of the night, the council voted to include a referendum question proposing a significant reduction to the PGSS Special Projects fee. If approved, the fee would drop from $4.60 CAD to $1.50 CAD, citing severe underuse. According to the motion, the fund has primarily served as a contingency for potential legal fees and website maintenance rather than supporting new projects in recent years.

Sound bite: 

“It’s useful [and] important to have access to some kind of virtual healthcare platform. [It is] just too bad that this requires us giving money to privatized healthcare, and it’s unfortunate that the state of our public healthcare system means that [private virtual healthcare] is something we want to do, which I and my members are opposed to [….] But I’m not opposed because we’re not going to fix the public healthcare system at PGSS [council].” — School of Urban Planning PGSA representative Brenagh Rapoport, discussing the switch to Digital Doctor. 

A previous version of this article did not list Zoe Neubauer’s name. The Tribune regrets this error.

Science & Technology

Confronting anti-Black racism in Canada’s healthcare system

by Sarah McDonald on

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With a national identity built upon the idea of being a cultural “melting pot,” racism often gets swept under the rug in Canada. Despite curating this idealized image of inclusivity, racism is ingrained in the nation’s history and institutions, including the Canadian medical system. 

Khandideh Williams, a PhD Candidate in McGill’s Department of Family Medicine, shed light on inequities in healthcare through her recent publication in BMC Public Health, which explores how Black individuals perceive and experience anti-Black racism in Canadian healthcare.

“I started my work in 2020, which as we know, a lot was happening in 2020, including the murder of George Floyd. His murder brought about widespread conversations about anti-Black racism both at McGill and within my department,” Williams said in an interview with The Tribune. “It was through engaging in those discussions and learning more about anti-Black racism myself on my own time that I realized that that’s something I would like to focus on.” 

Williams interviewed 32 Black volunteers in Montreal who represented 20 different ethnicities and whose ages ranged from young adults to seniors. The diversity of the participants was reflected in their experiences of racism, supporting William’s hypothesis.

“The Black community, especially [in] Montreal, is extremely diverse. Whether we’re talking about place of birth, mother tongue, or ethnicity, we’re an extremely diverse group with diverse worldviews, ideas, and ways in which we approach different situations,” Williams said. “So for my project, I approached it with this logic that if the Black community itself is diverse, then it follows that experiences of racism are diverse.”

Williams’ research focused on two central questions: Did participants perceive racism during their healthcare interactions, and how did their unique identities and social positions influence their experiences and perceptions of racism?

For participants, the perceived racism was most often subtle and covert, manifesting itself through microaggressions and harmful stereotypes. 

“One common stereotype was that of the strong Black woman: ‘Black women don’t feel pain, so they don’t need anesthesia. They don’t need pain medication because they’re strong; their skin is stronger.’ Or that ‘Black men are drug dealers; they’re delinquents. So, we’re also not going to give them drugs because they’re going to abuse it,’” Williams said. 

The study also revealed that Black immigrants’ perceptions of anti-Black racism in Canada varied depending on their country of origin. For example, participants who had come from the UK and the U.S. found racism to be more openly discussed and overtly expressed in those countries than it was in Canada. They noted that the socially taboo nature of race discussions in Canada often made it harder to identify racism in their everyday lives. 

Contrastingly, immigrants from African countries may not have had prior experiences with anti-Black racism before coming to Canada.

“In Nigeria, in many African countries, Black people are the dominant group [….] Blackness or race is not necessarily what people use to classify people in such societies,” Williams explained. “So when [a participant from Nigeria] came here, he knew that there was this thing called Blackness, but he didn’t really understand its implications until he and his mother experienced it.” 

Williams’ research also highlights the impact of intersectionality on racism. Experiences and perceptions of racism are informed by more factors than just race, including gender and age. Williams is now focusing on a second phase of her project—a quantitative analysis with data from Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia—to determine if these intersectional trends are consistent across Canada.

Ultimately, Williams’ work highlights the urgent need for open conversations about race and racism in Canada. We can’t make our communities and institutions equitable until we acknowledge that they are fundamentally unjust.

“I think our country is still battling with their comfort in even tackling the issue. To tackle an issue means to first acknowledge that it exists,” Williams said. “But I think many people are not yet ready to do that.”

Martlets, Men's Varsity, Sports

The faces of McGill’s athletic legacy

by Kaitlyn Schramm on

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For the majority of university athletes, recognition comes in the form of trophies, accolades, and team victories. A special way McGill honours its varsity athletes is by wrapping doors in the Athletic Complex with their images, featuring team members from a range of sports from artistic swimming to rugby. The doors were recently rewrapped to feature current student-athletes. 

Martlets Soccer midfielder Elisabeth Pronovost, U3 Science, reflected on the experience, sharing that it feels surreal to see her photograph every time she goes to the gym and even joking that she sometimes hides her face when using her door so McGill students don’t make the connection. 

“I feel really at home at McGill, and knowing that I represent the team on that door just makes me feel like it’s both ways,” she shared. “It’s not just me enjoying McGill, but also I’m really a part of it.”

Beyond showcasing the athletes themselves, the photographs represent team memories and unique journeys that have brought these athletes to McGill. For artistic swimmer Sonia Dunn, U1 Science, that journey began at five years old. 

“One of my elementary school friends, her older sister did artistic swimming, and she invited me to her year-end show as a playdate because she found the sport really boring,” Dunn recalled. “She even brought toys so we could go play somewhere else. But I didn’t want to leave—I was just captivated from the beginning.” 

That moment sparked her dedication to the sport, a passion that has now earned her a place memorialized in the athletic centre. For artistic swimming, the rewrapping of the doors celebrates more than Dunn’s athleticism; it provides recognition of an underappreciated sport.

“McGill is one of the only universities in Canada where artistic swimming is a varsity sport, while at a lot of other schools, it’s just a club,” Dunn explained. “So, to have the additional honour of being recognized in the sports complex is really special. Obviously, it’s kind of a niche sport, so any recognition we can get is definitely a positive.”

That sense of pride extends past the walls of the athletics complex. Whether it’s the roar of the home crowd at McGill’s annual November artistic swimming meet or the soccer team’s trip to Paraguay to promote women in sports, the connections formed through competition are unforgettable. 

Nicolas Vicente Louis, U3 Management, recalled a particular bonding moment with the rugby team. 

“We had a trip to Quebec planned two winters ago, and 30 of us guys split between five or six cars, we just went away for the weekend,” Vicente Louis recalled. “[We] had a blast. We rented a chalet and just had a good time and a half.”

For those whose faces now grace the athletic complex doors, the honour is both a personal milestone and an inspiration for future athletes. Vicente Louis spoke about growing up playing rugby with his younger brother, who is currently playing rugby in high school in London. 

“There’s only one guy out of the 45 who gets a door. It’s very special […] and even in a few years, when we come back for alumni games, if my picture’s still up there, it’ll be a cool souvenir,” Vicente Louis reflected. “An added benefit is that it’ll help incentivize my little brother to come and join the team.” 

More than just a photograph, the doors tell the stories of McGill’s athletes—stories of perseverance, community, and the deep passion that makes them more than just competitors. They are a lasting tribute to the spirit of McGill sports.

“I truly feel like the team is a family, and the coaching staff is also part of that family. Representing McGill, to me, means so much and it’s like a part of who I am—a part of my identity now,” Pronovost expressed.

Art, Arts & Entertainment

Reclaiming space: Celebrating Indigenous artistry at McGill 

by Isla Vaillant on

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Art has always offered new ways of seeing, providing glimpses into diverse worldviews and creating futures that we can strive to inhabit. On the evening of Feb. 7, the University Centre Ballroom saw a group of artists, students, and educators interrogating these multiform possibilities, recognizing the potential for art to be a reclamation of space, a form of liberation, a medicine, and an education. Indigenization and Art, an event hosted by the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) celebrated Indigenous artists and identities, casting the spotlight on Zoe Gesaset-Gloqowej Lee (Chinese-Mi’kmaq), Jenni Makahnouk (Anishinaabe), and Chelazon Leroux (Dene First Nation) to share their teachings and art with the McGill community. 

The room was gently abustle with students, milling amongst a host of local Indigenous art vendors. Monalisa Simon (Inuk), owner of Oddly Monalisa Creations, designs cute, concealable self-defence tools for women, responding to the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People across Canada and the U.S.. While the crisis demands systemic change rather than placing responsibility on individuals to protect themselves, Simon responds with practical creativity, imbuing self-defence with elements of individuality and empowerment. A table nearby summoned a large crowd with their bucket of soapstone, encouraging guests to try carving. People sat on the floor, hands busy as they chatted amicably with representatives from Atelier Tlachiuak, a grassroots collective of Indigenous artists, the majority of whom are Inuit, in Tiohtià:ke. The collective provided space for unhoused artists and promoted “art’s power to heal, unite, and drive social change.” 

The night would not be complete without its speakers, interviewed by Raymond Jordan Johnson-Brown (Arts, U3)—a social media personality, and Gender, Sexuality, Feminist and Social Justice Studies (GSFS) student at McGill. Institutions “work for Indigenous communities but not often with them,” Johnson-Brown remarked. He saw this gathering as an opportunity for further dialogue and collaboration between Indigenous and settler folks, facilitated by art.

On McGill’s campus, where many of the night’s contributors do not see themselves or their communities reflected, art can operate as a potent method to reclaim space through visibility, serving as an assertion of presence, permanence, and continuity. For Lee, designer, muralist, and McGill undergraduate student, her artwork—in this case, a mural intended for the SSMU lobby—is a recognition of Indigenous presence within the McGill community. Lee’s practice investigates legacy and self-recognition, blending influences from the people she loves and the aesthetics which inspire her such as Pinterest art and risograph printing. The mural will depict “traditional medicines from across the country” such as sweetgrass, cedar, and Saskatoon berries. 

The second speaker was Jenni Makahnouk, an Anishinaabekwe beader and McGill’s first Anishinaabekwe valedictorian. Makahnouk critiqued the institution’s emphasis on French and English languages, stating she feels represented by neither. She seeks to uplift Ojibwe and other Algonquin languages, using beading as a methodology to explore the ties between language and craft. For Makahnouk, beading is both an artistic and educational practice—one that resists colonial linguistic structures while fostering cultural healing. She reminds the audience that “Indigenous art is still art,” deserving recognition as “luxury goods” rather than pigeonholed as simple handicrafts. 

The grand finale of the evening was carried out by the dazzling Chelazon Leroux: Drag artist, comedian, and educator. Leroux views drag as a means of storytelling, humour, and healing—integral practices for many Indigenous communities. Raised in Treaty 8 Territory, Fond Du Lac First Nation, they describe drag as a “superhero” persona that helped them navigate intergenerational trauma and explore their Two-Spirit identity, which they describe as being “the blessing of carrying both the feminine and masculine spirits.” When explaining that many Indigenous worldviews are defined by one’s role in supporting their community, Leroux said that being Two-Spirit is a responsibility to bridge the genders, providing a third way to serve the community. Leroux closed the night with a vivacious performance, their shimmering hair flashing as they danced to Doechii. The evening highlighted art’s power to reclaim space, challenge institutionalized erasure, and foster connection—affirming Indigenous presence and creativity as integral to the McGill community.

Zoe Gesaset-Gloqowej Lee is a Design Editor at The Tribune. Though quoted, she was not involved in the editing or publication of this article.

Science & Technology

Black History Month panel investigates representation in genetics research

by Michelle Yankovsky on

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On Feb. 12, McGill’s DNA to RNA (D2R) initiative hosted a webinar in honour of Black History Month. Led by Mariloue Daudier, Senior Advisor, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for D2R, the session explored the opportunities and challenges faced by Black individuals in genetics research. The webinar featured three guest speakers who shared their insights on the importance of Black representation in RNA research and therapeutics.

Daudier began with an introduction to D2R—a McGill-led research initiative with the goal of developing an inclusive Canadian approach to genomic-based RNA therapeutics. She described a brief history of Black people in Canada, explaining that Black people continue to face equity and inclusion issues today, with particular barriers to representation in research.

However, she noted McGill’s commitment to addressing these issues and highlighted the university’s anti-Black racism action plan.

“Why this is so important to me is because by always putting Black people in the broad category of racialized individuals, we lose track of the actual representation and issues faced by the Black communities [specifically],” Daudier said. “I think [McGill’s action plan is] really a game changer to make life better for Black communities.”

The first speaker, Paul Wankah, an Assistant Professor in McGill’s Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, discussed the importance of Black representation in research, as well as issues of mistrust between Black communities and the medical field.

Wankah presented findings from various studies, examining the different ethnic groups represented within these findings. Notably, he presented a study that looked at racial and ethnic representation across several clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccine, a prevalent RNA therapeutic. This study revealed that Black participants made up only five to seven per cent of the trial population, as compared to white participants, who made up 83 to 89 per cent.

“Here we have evidence that there is under-representation of Black people in genomic research and therapeutics,” Wankah said. “[The authors] argue that the dominance of European and American genomic research is related to advances in genomic technologies within these countries, and them having better funding opportunities, might be why [Caucasians] are much more represented in genomic research.”

Wankah then explained the origin of mistrust between Black communities and the field of medicine, referencing historical abuses in healthcare research that have led to hesitancy among Black people to participate in such studies. 

“We need more studies to understand and develop strategies to close this diversity gap,” Wankah concluded.

The second speaker, Momar Ndao, an Associate Professor in McGill’s Department of Medicine, addressed the issue of medical mistrust in Black communities abroad, focusing on his lived experience in Senegal. 

Ndao discussed gender roles as an important factor in vaccine decision-making, particularly in developing countries. He asserted that in these communities, the father makes the primary decision for their kids’ vaccination status. With limited access to information, they may be hesitant to trust the effectiveness of vaccines.

“We absolutely need to work together to make sure vaccines and technologies can be transferred [to developing countries],” Ndao said, emphasizing the importance of targeting rural areas in developing nations rather than just capital cities.

The final speaker, Loydie Jerome-Majewska, a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, discussed the importance of Black inclusion in pediatrics. She began by discussing the prejudice faced by Black physicians, particularly when patients select a physician for their care.

She referenced a study that found Black babies had higher survival rates when cared for by Black physicians.

“We need researchers and participants that are Black in order to really understand the diseases that impact children and contribute to their low birth weight,” Jerome-Majewska said.

This powerful finding highlights the need for greater involvement of Black physicians in pediatric care and research. Jerome-Majewska concluded by reiterating the realities behind Black individuals’ mistrust of medical research, both as participants and as researchers themselves.

Editorial, Opinion

Lip service won’t save lives amid the Indigenous domestic violence crisis

by The Tribune Editorial Board on

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This Valentine’s Day, the Centre for Gender Advocacy and The Native Women’’s Shelter of Montreal’’s Iskewu Project co-hosted their annual memorial march and vigil in honour of Montreal’s Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S+). 

With the Canadian government offering little more than mere lip service to the MMIWG2S+ crisis, marching Montrealers demanded tangible action, remembrance, and broader awareness. The ongoing national inquiry into MMIWG2S+ has resulted in countless studies highlighting that colonial and patriarchal policies were sources of intergenerational trauma, which in turn cause Indigenous women to be overrepresented among those missing and murdered. However, the government, universities, and other institutions have taken minimal action to address its roots, and in some cases—such as McGill’s ongoing legal battles with the Kanien’keha:ka Kahnistensera (Mohawk Mothers) over McGill’s New Vic Project—actively aggressed Indigenous communities.

The federal government’s initiatives to tackle the MMIWG2S+ crisis include a crisis line for those affected or in need of assistance, closely mirroring Quebec’s recent $900,000 CAD investment into a phone support line for Indigenous domestic violence survivors, an issue distinct from MMIWG2S+ yet deeply rooted in similar systemic challenges. 

The funding will be directed by the Espace Femmes Premières Nations Québec (EFPNQ) and Femmes Autochtones du Québec to offer over-the-phone hotline services in French, English, and several Indigenous languages, through which survivors can seek help in instances of intimate partner violence. Given that Indigenous women are about 3.5 times more likely to experience intimate partner violence than non-Indigenous women, this investment represents a crucial step.

However, 363 First Nation communities across Canada still lack standard cellular services, limiting the efficacy of this program and underscoring the need to address the deep roots of the Indigenous intimate partner violence crisis. Canada’s history of settler colonialism, the persistence of colonial dynamics in legal frameworks, and the residential school system, which only ended in 1996, form webs of intergenerational trauma and sow general distrust in Canadian systems among Indigenous peoples. With these previous and ongoing violences in mind, skepticism of a phone line and associated resources funded and distributed by the government is natural. 

Given the chronic underfunding of resources for survivors of intimate partner violence, such as Quebec’s appalling shortage of shelter space that led to 3,300 women getting turned away last year, a phone line initiative may well be part of the solution. However, immediate crisis response, although crucial, must be accompanied by preventative systemic change that tackles domestic violence before it occurs, effectively breaking intergenerational cycles. Additionally, it is imperative that solutions, including this hotline, are culturally- and community-informed, possessing sensitivity to the diversity of individuals under the Indigenous umbrella and offering resources both on- and off-reserve. 

Given the Canadian Government’s 46.6 per cent rate of inaction on its proposed initiatives to tackle the MMIWG2S+ crisis in 2023, the government must transform its current approaches to supporting Indigenous survivors of domestic violence. High grocery prices in Indigenous communities (potentially worsened by U.S. tariffs), inadequate healthcare systems, and flaws in foster care systems merely scratch the surface of environmental conditions that stand in the way of what would otherwise be a terminable cycle of violence. 

McGill, as both an educational and research institution, has the responsibility to foster a generation of academics and future leaders who will fight for meaningful policy changes to end the crises and violence Indigenous communities face. The university can use its own endowment to fund research on Indigenous domestic abuse and create scholarship on anti-Indigenous systemic racism—for example, by expanding the current Indigenous Studies Program to include a major. Additionally, McGill must serve as a model through its own reporting systems, which have been chronically undervalued and underfunded despite their cruciality. In the face of budget cuts, McGill must demonstrate continued commitment to supporting survivors of intimate partner violence, and to educate on Indigenous history and culture. Creating spaces on campus for discourse will mobilize the next generation to become involved in programming like the MMIWG2S+ march and vigil last week, fostering an engaged student body that will participate in community movements and initiatives to support Indigenous peoples.

Art, Arts & Entertainment

When there are no words

by Jamie Xie on

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When I was little and my parents were checking out at the grocery aisle, I would wander over to the greeting cards and wait. It was only upon discovering the floral-fronted sympathy cards that I began to realize death was all around us. With a history as banal as its subject matter, death is the unknowable reality of our everyday lives. It is one of the few universal experiences we all share and yet our relationship to it is anything but simple. In navigating loss, we often ask: What is there to be said when words fail? 

Hosted in the Osler Library of the History of Medicine until Apr. 1 and curated by the Maude Abbott Medical Museum of the Pathology Society, When There Are No Words explores the shifting sociocultural attitude towards grief through a collection of uniquely Québécois sympathy cards. The exhibit examines evolving perspectives across four primary chronological periods—Confederation to World War 1, World War I to the Quiet Revolution, the Quiet Revolution to the end of the millennium and contemporary times—tracing Quebec’s transition from a predominantly French Catholic society to an increasingly secular, multicultural one through our popular understanding of loss. 

Originating out of necessity, in a time when letters were the primary means of remote communication, sympathy cards were initially responses to funeral invitations and simple tokens to not yet provide support but rather acknowledge grief in a time where there are no words. Often featuring black motifs and restrained text, the cards offered support without having to mention the effectively unmentionable topics of death directly, exercising sensitive restraint and respect through euphemism. Through depictions of angels and written phrases such as “pray for us and the souls of purgatory,” the cards from this era reflect the Catholic overtones that dominated society, filtering into every aspect of life—even death.

From World War I through the Quiet Revolution, an “enlightened” perspective on death emerged. Sympathy cards from this period embraced minimalist pastel palettes and imagery intertwining religion and nature—gardens, gates—reframing death as a journey rather than a final departure. Handwritten cards added a personal touch but mostly echoed printed text, reinforcing tradition over individuality. 

The Quiet Revolution marked one of Quebec’s most profound cultural shifts, particularly in its ever-growing detachment from Catholicism. As Quebec secularized, skepticism of the Church grew. With rising resentment, home wakes declined, and sympathy cards shifted from funeral invitations to secular expressions of empathy. By the end of the millennium, sympathy cards had begun to trade out religious aspects for themes of nature and individualist spirituality. 

With an understanding shaped by recent scientific advancements, death is increasingly interpreted through the contemporary lens as a medical phenomenon. Sympathy cards can come from healthcare and ICU workers, reaching out to patients and their families. With personalized handwritten messages and cursive fonts mimicking the intimacy of handwriting, these cards reflect the highly individualized nature of loss. The collection’s inclusion of many more English cards than in earlier periods also reflects the changing demographics of Quebec.

In this time, we begin to reevaluate our understanding of loss, particularly the nonlinear, decentralized grief which affects not just family members but everyone who was close to the deceased. When a husband dies he leaves his wife a widow, but what is there to be said about the silently bereaved—such as the mourning of miscarriages, stillbirths, pets, ex-partners, or the passing of friends and coworkers? When society fails to acknowledge grief, is it made any less real?  

“There is a poem by Kenneth Patchen,” said Rick Fraser, Director of the Maude Abbott Medical Museum in an interview with The Tribune. “‘There are so many little dyings that it doesn’t matter which of them is death.’ I think he was expressing that we lose things all the time. There are little deaths and there are big deaths and we must pay attention to each of them because they are all a part of our lives.”

An exhibit that captures the quiet weight of grief, When There Are No Words gives voice to what words often fail to express. Quebec’s sympathy cards are not relics of the past—they are privileged living artifacts that evolve alongside us. They portray Québécois sympathy in its most intimate form. As the exhibit reminds us all—sometimes it really is the thought that counts. 

When There Are No Words is on view at the Osler Library until Mar. 30.

Science & Technology

Breaking down silos: SUSAN’s global initiative to advance sustainability

by Val Muñoz on

More in Science & Technology:

From governance and policy to social sustainability and economics, solving global environmental issues demands collaboration across all fields. 

Juan C. Serpa, Associate Professor of Operations Management at McGill, has constructed a groundbreaking initiative designed to bridge the gap between different academic disciplines, fostering collaboration in the fight for sustainability. His project, the Sustainability Academic Network (SUSAN), has become a central hub for researchers, students, and organizations, connecting over 3,000 institutions and classifying sustainability efforts into 60 distinct themes with the help of generative AI.

“We’ve been working on this for two years and released it six weeks ago, and it suddenly became viral,” Serpa shared in an interview with The Tribune. “We’ve had 8,000 users sign up already.” 

The rapid success of SUSAN reflects the growing demand for a centralized space where sustainability-focused individuals can easily connect, share resources, and collaborate across various disciplines. 

“Universities have traditionally been organized in silos,” Serpa explained. “We think about engineering, business, medicine, and arts separately. But sustainability isn’t like that. It requires input from all these fields. To tackle challenges like solar power, we need engineers, policymakers, business leaders, and more—all working together.”

SUSAN is a platform designed to address this need, uniting researchers across disciplines and promoting collaboration on projects ranging from renewable energy solutions to social sustainability initiatives. 

Serpa believes that sustainability is a unique challenge in academia. 

“If I were going to create the law academic network or the medical academic network, they don’t need this. They talk with each other already. They have their own mechanisms,” Serpa said. “Sustainability crosses the boundaries, and that’s why we need a platform like this.”

For many students and academics, finding sustainability-related events, conferences, and networking opportunities is a time-consuming task, requiring them to visit multiple websites and sift through scattered resources. SUSAN solves this problem by consolidating all these resources in one place. Whether you are looking for conferences, networking opportunities, or simply to connect with others working on similar projects, the platform serves as a comprehensive hub for all things sustainability. 

As SUSAN continues to grow, it faces the challenges of sudden success. Serpa anticipated that within the next few months, the platform could reach 100,000 users, which may put stress on its current financial model. Despite this, he is committed to ensuring that the platform remains independent from corporate influence and stays true to its goal as an academic initiative. 

“It’s a good problem to have,” Serpa said. “But as we grow, we need to think about how we can ensure this platform remains focused on its mission: Helping sustainability initiatives thrive.” 

Serpa’s vision for SUSAN goes beyond academic connections. He hopes that the platform will serve as a community space for anyone interested in sustainability, from students launching their careers to grassroots organizations hosting local events. He envisions a global network where universities like McGill and institutions worldwide come together, share resources, and work collaboratively to build a sustainable future. 

“There are already sustainability events happening all over Montreal, and we want to create a central calendar for all of them,” Serpa said. “By connecting universities, communities, and organizations, we can maximize our collective impact.” 

With its potential to grow into a vital resource for sustainability efforts worldwide, Serpa is optimistic about the platform’s future. 

“I don’t want it to be my own platform. I want it to be something that is from the research community,” he said.

As the world grapples with urgent environmental challenges, initiatives like SUSAN showcase the power of collaboration—and how enthusiastic people are about collaborating across disciplines to solve today’s pressing issues. For students, researchers, or simply anyone passionate about sustainability, this platform could be the gateway to making a difference.

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