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a, McGill, News

Thousands march to commemorate missing and murdered indigenous women

by Si Jia Li on

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Approximately 2,000 people marched to raise awareness for missing and murdered indigenous women in downtown Montreal on Saturday. 

The march was organized by Missing Justice, a Montreal grassroots collective focused on indigenous women’s rights. According to Monica van Schiak, who was in charge of the march’s public relations, it was one of the biggest gatherings they’ve ever had. 

“Today’s march is for missing and murdered women—all women,” said van Schiak. “It’s important for us to have many different representatives come, and we made sure to make contact with many different communities.” 

Similar marches also took place on Saturday in dozens of other Canadian cities. The marches are a part of the Annual Memorial March for Missing and Murdered Women, which was founded in 1991 in B.C. after the murder of a Coast Salish woman in Vancouver. 

According to the Human Rights Watch, a non-governmental organization dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world, indigenous women and girls represent only 4.3 per cent of the female population, but 16 per cent of female homicide victims. There are over 1,200 women listed as murdered or missing in Canada.  According to a report released by Amnesty International Canada in December 2014, the issue of missing and murdered women in Canada is a national human rights crisis.

The marchers walked around two kilometres along Sainte-Catherine Street, from Cabot Square to Phillips Square, stopping to hear various speakers and drum performances. Two native drum groups, Odaya and the Buffalo Hut, performed healing songs to memorialize the missing women. 

In Phillips Square, volunteers from Missing Justice had written out the name of every disappeared woman on individual signs. The signs had been left in the snow as a reminder of the tragedy.

The speakers at the march spoke out against the issues of neo-colonialism, racism, and misogyny that they feel are behind the government’s slow reaction to the disappearances. 

“I would like us to take a moment to consider the land beneath the concrete we are standing on,” said a representative from Missing Justice, reading out from the organization’s mission statement before the march began. “To consider that any efforts to address violence against missing women is occurring on unseated Kahnawake land, on Mohawk territory. And I would like for us to reflect on the impossibility of separating violence against women from an ongoing legacy of colonial violence.”

To the protesters in Cabot Square, there were many reasons to gather that day. Celia, a student at the Université de Montréal, who did not provide her last name said that she was there as a feminist in support of women’s issues.

“I like to be informed,  I read many articles,” Celia said. “I noticed that native women don’t have the same services as we do, and I thought we had to do something about it.” 

A representative from Missing Justice spoke to the crowd regarding the broad scope of the issue.

 “I don’t know why any of you are here; I don’t know for whom you are here; I don’t know if there is anything essentially common to our experiences, to what we mean by violence, to what we mean by women, or to what we mean by memorial,” they said. “So my hope is that beyond any sense of a common understanding, we can still walk beside each other today. We can support each other in a unity that’s composed of our unique and complicated realities.” 

A number of different women’s organizations also attended the march. Representatives from the Canadian Association of Congolese Women (CACW), the South Asian Women’s Community Centre, and the Regroupement de Centre des Femmes à Québec all participated to speak out on an issue they felt affects all women. 

One of the guest speakers from the CACW, who provided her name only as Selemona, chanted “Mille femmes qui tombent, deux mille se lèvent,” meaning “A thousand women who fall, two thousand rise up.”  Protesters also held picket signs reading “A thousand is more than just a number.”

John Cree, a Cree man, who led the opening and closing prayers for the event, said that his goal working with Missing Justice is to keep the subject of the missing women prioritized. 

“I was told a long time ago that if you want to destroy a nation, you take away the women, and the nation dies, because that’s our foundation—that’s our strength,” Cree said. “It seems like we’ve lost a lot of native women and nothing has been done. The government hasn’t moved on it, and the police force hasn’t. I wonder if sometimes they don’t want to know what is happening.”

a, Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

California dreamin’: Kevin Costner discusses new sports flick

by Sophie Jewett on

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In the farming town of McFarland, California, Jim White decided to start a cross-country team with boys who seemed to be able to run forever. These teenagers were not your typical, promising athletes; they were the sons of poor immigrant farmers—some even lacked the means to buy running shoes—helping their parents on the farm before school and returning to work again after school. They were faced with challenges such as the prevalence of drugs and gangs, and somehow, with the help of Coach White, they became state champions—nine times. This inspirational true story is being told in Disney’s upcoming McFarland, USA, starring Kevin Costner as Coach White. Both Costner and White spoke to the Tribune about the film and the remarkable circumstances it’s based on. 

Costner first heard the story when he read it in a Sports Illustrated article 10 years ago, and was thoroughly impressed. Speaking as a veteran lead in the inspirational sports movie genre, Costner holds that McFarland, USA is decidedly different from his previous sports films, such as Bull Durham and Field of Dreams. 

“[McFarland, USA] is not a movie about running, it’s not about cross-country,” he asserted. 

To illustrate his point, Costner described his visit to the McFarland farming community as an eye-opening experience to harsh realities of their living conditions, but also to a sense of undying hope for a better life. 

“They’re simply working there, these incredible hours through very difficult weather conditions, every day of their life for one reason and one reason only: To advance their children and to give their children a better opportunity,” he said. “There’s nothing more American than a parent trying to make [….] life better for their children.”

Costner spoke passionately about the McFarland story, and he praised Coach White for his belief in the McFarland kids’ potential. 

“[White was] very level with these kids, and he’s so level to the point that he’s also able to tell them when they’re off course [because] coaching is about the big picture, which is how they’re gonna be as men,” Costner explained.

On the phone, the real Coach White was more humble about his role in the building of the team. 

“I needed a job […] so I wouldn’t get fired again,” the coach chuckled. White noticed that the McFarland boys had a fire within them that he had not seen before. “These boys didn’t slack off and jog and walk like everybody else was doing. They actually loved to run, and so you try to look for things like this in young people.” 

The coach was able to motivate the boys to run for hours with simple techniques. 

“They’ll run for anything, you know. They will. It doesn’t have to be anything but an ice cream cone,” White said.

Some may feel that the inspirational sports film is an exhausted genre. However, McFarland, USA has more to offer than winning racing competitions. The film brings to light social and political issues and their effect on hardworking immigrant communities. To reduce this film to its Hollywood framing is to strip it of its significance to the communities it is depicting. 

“[The film] means an awful lot to the community of McFarland,” White explained. “It is really, really true to [the] life hardships that the kids have to go though working in the fields. It’s so important to understand what they’re really going through.”

This is not to say that the staple themes of teamwork and perseverance in sports films are not also important. McFarland, USA is an inspirational tale of the creation of champions from a seemingly hopeless situation. Costner himself is a seasoned athlete, having played football, baseball, and basketball in his youth, which might be what drew him to the genre. For Costner, good films are a lot like quality sporting competitions. 

“[They] are emotional experiences,” he said. “When movies are working at their very best, they become about moments that you’ll never forget, and we carry [those] moments throughout our whole life.”

a, Opinion

Fears of extremism limiting freedoms in Canada

by Cecile Richetta on

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Since Stephen Harper proposed Bill C-51 against terrorism, several events have taken place that call into question the establishment of laws and rulings to combat extremism that some fear may be growing in Canada. Officially, Bill C-51 gives Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) agents greater power to address “security threats” both at home and abroad. On its website, the Canadian government explains that the bill will “criminalize the advocacy or promotion of terrorism offences,” make it “easier for law enforcement agencies to detain suspected terrorists” before they can harm the population, “enable the effective and responsible sharing of relevant national security information,” and make better use of classified information in order to identify potential threats. This bill has been described as the most far-reaching security law since the aftermath of 9/11. What is most alarming is that Harper has argued that the world is a “dangerous place” and refused to add sunset clauses to the bill, which means that it could remain in place indefinitely.

The day after the proposal of Bill C-51, Montreal mayor Denis Coderre blocked an imam from establishing a community centre in the city, arguing that its establishment could disrupt “public safety and order.” According to Coderre, the imam in question was an “agent of radicalization.” His refusal looked even more dubious in the light of Harper’s recent proposal. No matter how hard Coderre, claimed that “it [had] nothing to do with freedom of speech,” it had been increasingly hard not to see a disturbing link.

Lumping together policies to promote secularism with laws to fight terrorism further encourages people to see a threat in the Muslim community at large.

The combination of Bill C-51 with the recent events in Montreal gave rise to controversial and heated debates. As McGill Law professor, Victor Muniz-Fraticelli, pointed out, having a debate about the establishment of the community centre on political and philosophical grounds is completely acceptable, but the creation of this institution is not a crime—although considering the federal government’s recent policy, it could become one soon. But, as for now, the local politicians unlawfully put a restriction on freedom of religion, speech, and assembly, in the name of ‘greater security.’

Lumping together policies to promote secularism with laws to fight terrorism further encourages people to see a threat in the Muslim community at large. It will become harder to contain fear and anger when citizens are no longer able to differentiate between a real threat and mere paranoia.

Both of these events are inherently flawed and reactive. None of these decisions address the fundamental questions that people should be asking themselves: Why do people join terrorist movements? Why are social conditions in Western countries pushing some citizens to fill in the ranks of extremist groups?

Bill C-51 is also imposing greater surveillance on all citizens by claiming to protect them. The accumulation of private information is just one issue when considering the restrictions in citizens’ ability to express themselves, religiously or not. Now, more than ever, Canadians need to be careful of such marginalizing political speech and pick the right fights. In the face of a common peril, showing a united front is both good and necessary. However, depriving certain citizens of their rights because of their religious beliefs is unjust. Scapegoating all Muslims by associating them with terrorism will never be the appropriate reaction. One can be extremist without being religious, and religious without being extremist. But it seems that for the federal government and CSIS, Canadians are now under scrutiny and are being forced to keep quiet.

This article was corrected Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015.

a, Arts & Entertainment

Drake – If Youre Reading This Its Too Late

by Jessica Fu on

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Last Thursday, Drake dropped his latest opus Beyoncé-style, sending his fans, his peers, and the media alike into a frenzy. In the days since, Billboard has noted that his release is expected to sell upwards of half of a million copies within its first week. Referenced as a mixtape by Drake, the work is really an album in the sense that it is being sold commercially, and in that it fulfills his contractual obligations with his label, Cash Money Records.

Speaking of which, Drake not-so-subtly hints that he will soon be severing ties with Cash Money. In “Now and Forever” he repeats, “It’s over, yeah it’s over yeah, I’m leaving, I’m gone.” The tone here is really the tone of most of the album—confident, in control.

The intro, "Legend," is sonically softer than "Tuscan Leather," and Drake croons about his dominance rather than rapping it. Nonetheless, it’s a highlight, easing us into the rest of the rap-heavy collection of tracks, reminding us that he’s “got this shit mapped out strong.”

Drake's best friend/right-hand man/producer, Noah "40" Shebib, is reliably good and unsurprisingly versatile. From his sensual beat on "Madonna" to his textured, synth-heavy work "6 Man," he does his usual intricate work mixing shadowy sounds with ambience.

And, of course, no Drake effort would be complete without a little help from his mentor. In "Used To," Weezy and Drizzy spit over razor-sharp synths, featuring the intertwining vocals and synergy we loved in “HYFR” or “She Will.” Nonetheless, Lil Wayne’s lyrical contribution leaves something to be desired.

When all that’s said and done, the album feels like it’s lacking a peak—something that provides us with a snapshot of who Drake unconditionally is in this moment. The album is consistently dark and brooding, Drake is unapologetic to everyone he addresses, and even without a few standout tracks, the album itself is a musical success.

a, Opinion

Why Canada should reinstate the mandatory long-form census

by Albert Park on

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The first week of February saw the defeat of a bill to reinstate Canada’s mandatory long-form census, prompting a sigh of discontent and discouragement from many Canadians. While every opposition Member of Parliament (MP) voted in favour, all but one Conservative MP voted against it, preventing the bill from passing 147 to 126. While this issue does not seem extremely alarming at first, it is imperative, not only for economic reasons, but also for the sake of academic research and historical accuracy that the long-form census is made mandatory again.

Since 1971, Statistics Canada has undertaken a mandatory long-form census every five years to produce meaningful data, which has been an integral factor affecting the country’s public and corporate decisions. This system, which garnered much praise from statisticians and economists for its ability to produce reliable and unbiased information, was replaced in 2010 by the Harper government with a voluntary National Household survey that is far less extensive and significantly more costly to implement. The decision was made primarily with the dubious goal of “protecting privacy,” which remains as virtually the sole reason the change is still being supported by the Conservatives to this day.

One does not need to be an expert in statistics to understand that the voluntary survey does an objectively poorer job of returning valuable information, with fewer questions and an average response rate of around 68 per cent compared to the mandatory census’ 93 per cent.

An example of an area suffering heavy difficulties due to this loss of information is public health units. Marginalized populations, such as families with low income, are less likely to complete the voluntary survey. Since they are not represented properly in the resulting data, health units have a hard time targeting their health care programs to the areas that need them the most. This is one of the many ways policy has been hindered by the change.

The low response rate and non-randomized nature of the voluntary census means that the data [people] are accessing will become increasingly innacurrate and biased.

However, the problem goes further, as the change also has large negative impacts on academia. For the past few decades, researchers have relied heavily on data provided by Statistics Canada, mainly through long-form censuses. Their fundamental position in academic research is reflected by the Research Data Centres Program, an initiative to provide research centres in universities around Canada with access to microdata from population and household surveys, which includes results gathered from the long-form census. Among other users, these centres are employed frequently by university students, mainly for post-graduate research. However, the low response rate and non-randomized nature of the voluntary census means that the data they are accessing will become increasingly inaccurate and biased. This essentially means that the next generation of post-graduate students will have access to lower quality information than the generation before them, making their research less effective, and therefore, less applicable to society.

The problem is even more serious when viewed from a long-term perspective. The data provided by the census is a way for historians to understand the growth and development of various periods in Canadian history. Not only does it present the necessary numbers for calculations, but it provides a context and voice to the numbers. For example, the long-form census can effectively trace not only the rate of immigration, but also provide vital information about how newcomers are being integrated into the nation through information about income, jobs, and education. Without this kind of information, it would be significantly more difficult for experts to have a coherent and complete understanding of different trends and changes that occurred in Canada.

Simply put, bringing back the mandatory long-form census is the only way to guarantee that Canada’s identity as a country is correctly portrayed, economic decisions are based in accurate data, and researchers have access to adequate and unbiased information.

a, Campus Spotlight, Student Life

Campus Spotlight: MASS

by Laura Plamondon on

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McGill is an acclaimed institution that attracts students from all over the globe, as evidenced by the number of cultural associations present at the university. However, the international identity of the university has not always been present. Anne-Sophie Tzeuton, U3 Political Science student and VP External for the McGill African Students Society (MASS), explained the incremental growth of MASS throughout the years.

“MASS was started in the 1960s,” Tzeuton said. “It started very small since the population of African students at McGill was limited. It’s been growing steadily since and found its peak in the early 2000s.”

MASS hosts various social and informational events in hopes of promoting African culture to educate students across campus. Recently, it hosted a three-day conference and brought in speakers from Africa and the U.S. to talk about topics ranging from female empowerment to the legitimacy of Africa’s growth. Past social events include ‘The Anioula: A Black and White Charity Banquet,’ one of its annual events that brought together African and non-African cultures alike, with various cultural dishes and performances. Mass’ ultimate goal is to create a community across McGill where all individuals feel welcome, regardless of their culture.

“We have ties and contacts with a lot of African and black associations throughout McGill and Montreal, as well as having active alumni,” Tzeuton said. “We are definitely not in competition, and mostly try to promote each others events, and make sure we are not hosting [the] same [events].”

Tzeuton explained how MASS was initiated, and why she believes the association is important and should be present in all universities.

“In the past, I think the African population was so small that it was necessary to promote our culture,” she said. “Today, I believe that not having such associations would demonstrate a complete ignorance of the diverse cultural backgrounds our student body has.”

However, Tzeuton said she still feels that perceptions of Africa stray from the truth, and that she wants to help fight these stigmas with MASS.

“There are still much too many stigmas around African culture,” she said. “I’m constantly aware of how ignorant people are when it comes to their image of Africa. Too many people still see the continent as only synonymous with war, poverty, and sickness.”

On a personal note, Tzeuton explained how coming to Montreal from France and engaging with such a strong community has helped her reconnect with her African heritage and grow as a person.

“I’ve learned so much about my culture being in contact with [the] African youth who actually want to improve things and change the negative perceptions linked with the African culture,” she said. “I feel that growing up, I was deprived of all this knowledge about my African heritage and this has changed incredibly since coming to Montreal.”

Tzeuton stressed the desire to see Africans as well as non-Africans become members and join MASS’ events, believing that the underlying role of the association is to promote diversity.

“People have to be constantly reminded that the club is not exclusively for Africans,” Tzeuton said. “We understand that it is difficult to be a minority, but non-Africans usually love our events once they diverge from their comfort zone. We want people to come and appreciate a culture that we are so proud of. At least if they do have questions they should come to us instead of keeping them to themselves.”

Saul Muskin, U3 International Management major, applauded the creation of a club to facilitate inter-cultural dialogue. 

“I think it’s cool that a club like [MASS] exists and it’s great that Africans and non-Africans can celebrate African culture together through their events,” he said. 

Ines Blondet, U3 double concentration in International Business and Marketing, also commented on the positive nature of the club.

“I really loved [MASS]—they have amazing events. I’ve been to their African party and I loved the dancing,” she said. “I’m thinking of going to the Gala since they have a ton of performances, dancing, theatre, and singing.”

For the future, Tzeuton said that she wants to see MASS organise events that target a broader audience.

“I’d like to see more cultural events at MASS, more chill events like having an African movie night, or dance classes that would help non-Africans feel less self-conscious about coming to our events,” Tzeuton said. “Overall, I’d like for the association to host events that target a broader audience.”

 

a, Opinion

Towards a new system of social security

by Justin Hatherly on

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The Canadian government has a wide array of programs in place to alleviate poverty. At the federal level alone, the government spends 10 per cent of GDP on a multitude of cash transfer programs. Despite this, around nine per cent of Canadians still live in poverty. The solution could be to guarantee an income to all Canadians who fall below a certain threshold through a Negative Income Tax (NIT).

An NIT is a variant of a basic income, which is a payment granted unconditionally to all citizens regardless of financial need. Currently, individuals are allowed to earn a certain amount of income tax-free. Under a NIT, if an individual earned no income at all, they would get a cash payment from the government of half the tax-free allowance. For each additional dollar earned, the transfer would be reduced by 50 cents. As such, the supplemental income received as a result of a transfer will be half the remaining amount that the person needs to reach the upper limit of no income taxation. Once individuals reach the threshold, they would neither pay income tax nor receive a cash transfer.

Though seemingly radical, there are many advantages to an NIT. Presently, the current myriad of welfare programs fails to provide adequate income security to those in need. By replacing them with an NIT, a floor could be created below the living standard of every Canadian citizen that is above the poverty line. In addition, the NIT does not impose heavy disincentives on low-income people seeking to work. Under many of the current welfare programs, for each dollar of income a recipient earns, the individuals can often have benefits scaled back by two dollars. In contrast, as demonstrated in the example above, the NIT would always leave a recipient better off in work than on assistance. If set at an appropriate level, the NIT could provide a more generous level of income support than most of our existing cash transfer payments.

The NIT would allow many who currently suffer from poverty to live as responsible, independent citizens.

In an age of increasing economic uncertainty, the NIT could also help Canadians adjust to economic shocks. Technological innovation, while bringing benefits to the population at large, is likely to destroy many jobs in its wake. Given that many people who lose their jobs are likely to have difficulty finding new ones in a similar industry or at a similar skill level, the NIT could provide a broader sense of economic security.

Perhaps most importantly, the NIT would also allow many who currently suffer from poverty to live as responsible, independent citizens. The present set of welfare programs often treat beneficiaries in a paternalistic manner. They often stipulate what recipients can spend their money and can be sources of shame as well. Under the NIT, the poor would be given cash and regarded as responsible adults, capable of spending the money they receive on what they need most.

The NIT is also superior to a flat basic income that is given to all citizens regardless of initial income. While this would reduce poverty, it would do nothing to improve income inequality and would cost far more than a targeted program.

To be politically viable and affordable, the NIT should replace all existing cash transfers. This would mean that all existing programs that provide cash assistance to Canadians, ranging from Employment Insurance to provincial social assistance, would be abolished. Instead, an NIT would create a more adequate safety net and do away with large proportions of Canada’s vast welfare bureaucracy.

Although Canada is a very developed nation, it is still an unfortunate reality that many citizens still struggle to meet basic necessities. The NIT, if designed correctly, could create the means for Canada to attempt to eradicate much of the poverty that remains.

a, Martlets, Men's Varsity, Sports

The week that was for McGill Athletics: February 17th

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Athletes of the week

Jonathan Brunelle

In an elimination match against the Concordia Stingers, junior forward Jonathan Brunelle shone when his team needed him the, while tallying five points for the McGill Redmen. The Boisbrand, QC native and alumnus of the QMJHL tallied eight points total during the three-game OUA East playoffs. Brunelle has scored 37 points–the second-highest total on the team–during this season on 12 goals and 25 assists. If past performance–he has five game-winning goals on the season–is a good predictor for future potential, Brunelle will come through once again.

Melodie Daoust

It’s not very often that the No. 2 team in the CIS can add a late season addition that also happens to be the best player in the country, but former Olympian Melodie Daoust is just that. In her debut weekend, following a prolonged absence due to injury, Daoust did not miss a beat, tallying two goals and four assists in the Martlets’ two victories over the weekend. The physical and health education major from Valleyfield, QC, joins the Martlets just ahead of their playoff race, an important addition for a team that has shown that it is not invincible. With Daoust back in the lineup, it may not take long for the Martlets to return to their title-winning ways. 

Beyond the box score

Redmen Basketball 

It was a relatively quiet week for the Redmen (9-4) basketball team, with just one game on the docket. The Redmen took on the Bishop’s Gaiters (7-7) on the road and triumphed 56-46 in front of a crowd of over 400. Senior guard and team captain Vincent Dufort led the way with a double-double, including 15 points and 11 rebounds, while going 5-11 from the field and 5-5 from the free throw line. Burgeoning sophomore centre Francois Bourque continued to dominate on the glass, pulling down 11 rebounds of his own and adding six points as well. The Redmen managed to come out on top despite some shooting struggles. McGill shot 37.5 per cent from the field, and went just 4-20 from beyond the arc. The Redmen need just one more win in order to lock down first-place in the RSEQ, and that may come Thursday as McGill plays host to last-place UQÀM (4-9).

Martlet Basketball 

Alex Kiss-Rusk, last week’s Tribune Athlete of the Week, continued to shine for the Martlets (12-1), posting a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds to lead her team over the Bishop’s Gaiters (0-14) by a margin of 51-34 on Saturday. Despite the lopsided score, the Martlets were a mess coming out of the gates, managing a measly four points in the first quarter. Strong performances from frontcourt veterans Kiss-Rusk, Mariam Sylla, and Gabriela Hebert in the third quarter led to a 19-4 run that put the game away for McGill’s 12th victory of the season. The Martlets are now one win away from clinching a first-place finish atop the RSEQ for the fifth consecutive year, and could do so at home against UQÀM on Thursday night.

Redmen and Martlet Track and Field

The annual Redmen Classic brought out the best in McGill’s athletes on Saturday night in the Tomlinson Fieldhouse. The McGill Track and Field team captured five gold medals, with Hao Xu and Steven Murray qualifying for the CIS Nationals in the men’s high jump and men’s 300m events. Xu, a mechanical engineering student from Houston, matched the CIS qualifying standard with a 2.03m jump. Murray, a senior sprinter from Burlington, ON, qualified with a blazing time of 34.86 seconds in the 300m. Murray was also part of the winning men’s 4x200m relay team, along with junior Tim Kong, freshman Ryan McLelland, and junior Javier Montalvo. Their time of 1:29.90 was 44 tenths of a second off of the CIS qualifying time. Lenny Dion, also a senior linebacker on the Redmen football squad, won the shot put event with a distance of 12.45m bringing home another gold for McGill. 

By the numbers

5 – Average number of goals scored per game by the Redmen hockey team in their three-game series against Concordia.

10 – Number of goals scored by the Martlet hockey team in Friday’s win over Carleton, the most in a regular season game since a 10-0 win on Jan. 28, 2012, also against Carleton.

24.6 – Shooting percentage allowed by the Redmen basketball’s stingy defence in Saturday’s win on the road against Bishop’s. 

.701 – Head Coach David Daveiro’s total winning percentage while at the helm of the Redmen basketball team.

a, Opinion

Low rates of sexual assault in university records highlight problems with reporting

by Sofia Rautionmaa on

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The unfortunate truth about sexual violence is that it is something that many women face in their lifetimes, with an especially worrisome frequency at universities. Over the past couple of years, the media has been flooded with stories about the problem of sexual assault on university campuses. However, across Canada, there is a disconnect between sexual violence occurrences on university campuses and the number actually recorded by schools.

A recent CBC article revealed that sexual assault reporting at Canadian universities is much lower than in the surrounding cities. In a survey conducted at the University of Ottawa, 44 per cent of female students encountered some sort of sexual violence on campus, and yet, the school only has 10 official reports. Sexual violence on campuses is a very prominent issue, yet university reports of sexual assault remain suspiciously low.

In the United States, there is a law requiring universities to make sexual assault records public, unlike in Canada, where no such law exists. McGill University currently has no records available for sexual violence from the past five years, according to the data collected by the CBC. Without any law forcing records to be publicized, it is easy for the truth about the prevalence of sexual assault on university campuses to be misconstrued.

Many Canadian universities shy away from discussing sexual assault to protect their image. This can be extremely discouraging to students, who may think they should not report sexual violence to their university if the school may be hesitant to take disciplinary actions. It can take a very long time for a sexual assault case to be investigated, processed, and handled by the police—even then the case may be dismissed for lack of evidence. Students may therefore want to be able to report injustices to their universities, so that they don’t have to go to the police. Going through the university can be a lot quicker and less painful for survivors than having to be dragged through the criminal justice system.

Without any law forcing records to be publicized, it is easy for the truth about the prevalence of sexual assault on university campuses to be misconstrued.

The University of British Columbia (UBC) was recently interviewed about sexual assault reporting on their campus. The number they have on record from the past five years is about a quarter of the size of that the RCMP has on record, which has a branch located on the UBC campus. With one in four women on average experiencing sexual assault in their lifetimes, it is nearly impossible for university numbers to be that low. “It makes me wonder who students have been trusting in telling and who is collecting the numbers,” said one concerned student and survivor of sexual assault from UBC in an interview with the CBC. Universities need to improve how they are handling and processing these reports given to them.

There also seems to be a lack of support on campus when it comes to helping survivors of sexual assault. Something as simple as where exactly one should report an act of sexual violence is unclear at many universities. From there, students can feel uncomfortable expressing what has happened to them, and it is the job of the schools to give as much non-judgmental support as possible. Students should not have to go searching for help; when an incident like sexual violence occurs, the school should be right there, ready to assist.

Recently, there has been a proposal drafted on how to expand McGill University’s policy on sexual violence on campus. It addresses how to treat the survivor in the case, and is careful to use the word ‘survivor’ as opposed to ‘victim’ to empower the student affected. The drafted sexual assault policy also discusses how to prevent these acts of sexual violence from occurring in the future. Implementing more awareness on campus and creating an organization whose sole purpose is to deal first-hand with all issues concerning sexual violence on campus are included as important steps for the university to undertake to encourage students to report sexual assaults. Information and resources —such as discussions on topics like consent, prevention of sexual assault, and reporting—will be made easily accessible. The sexual assault policy also advocates for the training of members of the McGill community to carry out peer and professional support services. This proposal is a definite step in the right direction, as it addresses many of the key components that universities need to have on their campuses in order to better handle sexual violence incidents.

To begin tackling the issue of sexual assault on campuses, universities need be more supportive and open to their students to make them feel safe and secure if they ever need help. Students who are survivors of sexual violence have already encountered enough pain; schools should not be adding to the difficulty of the situation. It is the job of universities to work as hard as they can to encourage students to report these incidences and make them feel they are not alone.

Porsche

2016 Porsche Cayman GT4 Revealed

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This is some dummy copy. You’re not really supposed to read this dummy copy, it is just a place holder for people who need some type to visualize what the actual copy might look like if it were real content.

If you want to read, I might suggest a good book, perhaps Hemingway or Melville. That’s why they call it, the dummy copy. This, of course, is not the real copy for this entry. Rest assured, the words will expand the concept. With clarity. Conviction. And a little wit.

In today’s competitive market environment, the body copy of your entry must lead the reader through a series of disarmingly simple thoughts.

All your supporting arguments must be communicated with simplicity and charm. And in such a way that the reader will read on. (After all, that’s a reader’s job: to read, isn’t it?) And by the time your readers have reached this point in the finished copy, you will have convinced them that you not only respect their intelligence, but you also understand their needs as consumers.

As a result of which, your entry will repay your efforts. Take your sales; simply put, they will rise. Likewise your credibility. There’s every chance your competitors will wish they’d placed this entry, not you. While your customers will have probably forgotten that your competitors even exist. Which brings us, by a somewhat circuitous route, to another small point, but one which we feel should be raised.

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