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Editorial, Opinion

Winter 2026 Referendum Endorsements

by The Tribune Editorial Board on

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The Tribune’s Editorial Board presents its endorsements for the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Winter 2026 Referendum questions. The endorsements reflect a majority vote of the editorial board, with the option for editors with conflicts of interest to abstain from pertinent questions.

Increase of the SSMU ECOLE Project Fee: Yes

The Tribune endorses a ‘Yes’ vote to increase the opt-outable SSMU ECOLE Project fee from $2 CAD to $4 CAD per semester beginning in Fall 2026 until Winter 2028 (inclusive). The ECOLE Project provides subsidized housing for 11 McGill students who are responsible for alternative research and sustainability projects. Their home also functions as a community hub, where free space booking services, educational events, and annual symposiums take place. Since operating costs continue to rise, and the fee has not increased since its creation in 2015, a majority vote ‘No’ would result in significant service reductions by Fall 2027.

Renewal of the Anti-Violence Fee: Yes

The Tribune endorses a ‘Yes’ vote on the renewal of the opt-outable $0.45 CAD SSMU Anti-Violence Fee, starting in Fall 2026 until Winter 2031 (inclusive). The fee allows SSMU to address violence and harassment through staffing, training programs, advocacy initiatives, and investigation support for survivors. A majority ‘No’ vote would end funding for the enforcement of the SSMU Gendered and Sexual Violence Policy, as well as other anti-violence mandates. The awareness and accountability assisted by this fee make continued anti-violence funding essential to building a safer campus. Therefore, The Tribune endorses a Yes’ vote on this fee. 

Renewal of the WUSC Student Refugee Program Fee: Yes

The Tribune endorses a ‘Yes’ vote to renew the World Service University Canada (WUSC) Student Refugee Program Fee. The non-opt-outable student levy of $4.00 CAD per student per semester enables the sustainable sponsorship of approximately six refugee students annually. The current fee is set to expire at the end of the Winter 2026 semester, and a renewal would allow it to continue starting Fall 2026 until Winter 2031 (inclusive). A majority vote of no will prevent WUSC McGill from sponsoring refugee students in the future, ultimately suspending the student refugee program. In the face of ongoing displacement and humanitarian crises, the global demand for refugee education and resettlement support is crucial. The Student Refugee Program relies on this funding; therefore, The Tribune encourages students to vote Yes’ to renew the fee. 

Increase of the McGill Student Services Ancillary Fee: Yes

The Tribune endorses a ‘Yes’ vote to increase the McGill Student Services Ancillary Fee. This non-opt-outable fee increase of four per cent over the next three academic years will support McGill’s Student Services in its ability to offer effective services and programming. Student Services units include the Student Wellness Hub, Student Accessibility and Achievement, Scholarship and Student Aid, the Career Planning Service, the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, International Student Services, and Campus Life and Engagement. Specifically, the fee increase would make possible online appointment booking for the Student Wellness Hub, support mental health care, and finance the hiring of a permanent counsellor with an Indigenous specialty.  At present, the Student Services Ancillary Fee increases at a rate determined by the Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur indexation factor, but the fee has not been increased beyond these adjustments in the past four years. Given the chronically underfunded, understaffed, and insufficient nature of the Wellness Hub and the notable shortcomings of McGill’s programming with respect to accessibility and mobility, it is imperative that students vote ‘Yes’ for this fee increase.

Increasing and renaming of the SSMU Grocery Program Fee: Yes 

The Tribune endorses a ‘Yes’ vote to increase and rename the SSMU Grocery Program Fee. The opt-outable fee from $1 CAD to $2 CAD per semester beginning in Fall 2026 and ending in Winter 2028 (inclusive) will allow the program to continue providing free groceries and food-related resources to students in need. With rising food prices, higher living costs in Montreal, and inflation, the program plays a critical role in addressing food insecurity on campus. The SSMU Grocery Program Fee would also be renamed “SSMU Food Bank.”

Renewal of the SSMU Daycare Fee: Yes 

The Tribune endorses a ‘Yes’ vote to renew the SSMU Daycare Fee. The non-opt-outable fee will remain at a rate of $3 CAD per semester, starting in Fall 2026 until Winter 2031 (inclusive). Established in 1999, the SSMU Daycare supports student parents and members of the McGill community, providing high-quality education, care, and resources for children and parents. The renewal of the fee will ensure the daycare maintains its programs and services, promoting the well-being of families in the McGill community.  

Renewal of the McGill Writing Centre Ancillary Fee: Yes

The Tribune endorses a ‘Yes’ vote to renew the McGill Writing Centre Ancillary Fee. The non-opt-outable fee of $1.50 CAD per semester is payable by all SSMU members, starting Fall 2026 and ending Winter 2031, inclusively. The Writing Centre currently provides undergraduate students with seven hours of services per semester, offering tutoring services and collaborative guidance to strengthen students’ writing skills. Additionally, the Centre hosts Creative Writing Hubs, Wednesday All Writes, Friday Wrap Ups, and presentation tutoring that aims to improve public speaking skills. According to a survey, 100 per cent of students would recommend the Centre to a friend. A majority ‘No’ vote will result in undergraduates’ discontinued access to services provided by the Centre. Although non-opt-outable, the fee that students are paying is competitive for the services they will receive. The Writing Centre is an important tool for students with limited writing proficiency, and voting ‘Yes’ aligns with McGill’s broader goal of expanding student accessibility.

Renewal of the University Centre Fee: Yes

The Tribune endorses a ‘Yes’ vote to renew the University Centre Fee. This non-opt-outable fee accommodates increased costs under the lease agreement between McGill and SSMU. SSMU maintains that the renewal of this fee, which includes a 5.6 per cent increase from the current $10.53 fee per full-time student per term, to $11.12 per full-time student per term, is necessary to accommodate SSMU infrastructure and space-related costs for its own and student association-related activities. A majority ‘No’ vote will terminate the fee, forcing SSMU to cover building, infrastructure, and capital costs from its operating budget. This will significantly reduce SSMU’s capacity to financially support student spaces. A majority ‘Yes’ vote will renew the fee from Fall 2026 to Winter 2031 at a 5.6 per cent yearly increase. 

Ratification of the Board of Directors Members-At Large: Abstain

A majority ‘Yes’ vote will confirm the SSMU’s Board of Directors’ four Members-At-Large, Hannah Lilles, Simon Ngassam, Adam Corbier, and Rajan Duncan, as members of the Board. The Members-at-Large are unelected, appointed by the Board’s Nomination Committee. The SSMU Board of Directors is responsible for the Society’s Human Resources, legal, financial, and operational affairs. As The Tribune could not reach the Members-at-Large in time for publication,  The Tribune  Editorial Board abstains from endorsement.

Editorial, Opinion

Winter 2026 PGSS Executive Endorsements

by The Tribune Editorial Board on

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The Tribune’s Editorial Board presents its endorsements of the candidates for the 2025-2026 Post-Graduate Students’ Society of McGill University (PGSS) Executive Committee. Editors researched and communicated with each candidate before leading an Editorial Board discussion on the candidates’ qualifications and vision for their prospective roles. Editors with conflicts of interest abstained from discussing, writing, and editing relevant reviews. Candidates who did not respond to The Tribune’s request for comment or were unable to attend an interview were not considered for endorsement.  

Secretary General

Donald Morard III: 

Endorsement: Yes

Morard is running unopposed for the role of Secretary General. As a fourth-year PhD student, he has been involved in his department’s Post-Graduate Students Association (PGSA), is a PGSS student-member for McGill’s Senate, and is part of the Association of Graduate Students Employed at McGill (AGSEM). Morard wishes to make PGSS governance more accessible to its members by introducing ‘middle-ground’ roles—between regular members and councillors, for example. He is also planning to work with the Internal Affairs Officer to organize more social activities and make the association more engaging to its members, with the hope that informal events will generate interest and participation in student democracy through committees and high voter turnout. Morard would also work on securing more funding opportunities for students by building relationships with external agencies that would support student research, as he says McGill does not have a “real plan” to bring in external funding for its students. Overall, he aims to ensure the organization is doing its best to represent students, build greater buy-in among students, and use his role not just to stand against austerity, but to push back.  The Tribune endorses Donald Morard for the position of External Affairs Officer.

External Affairs Officer

Zoe Neubauer 

Endorsement: Yes

Neubauer is running unopposed for a second term for the role of External Affairs Officer. In their first term, they reestablished a strong connection with AGSEM, represented PGSS at the provincial level with the Quebec Student Union, and took on a position on the McGill Community Council, which allowed them to foster more relationships with groups at McGill. Moving into the next term of their PGSS position, Neubauer is looking forward to achieving more at the McGill Community Council, creating a policy for interacting with unions, and continuing to raise awareness and rally students against austerity. Neubauer believes they have learned from their first term and are looking forward to improving in the position. The Tribune endorses Neubeauer for the position of External Affairs Officer.

University Affairs Officer

Amina Bouraï 

Endorsement: Yes

Amina Bouraï is running unopposed for her second term as University Affairs Officer. Bouraï prioritized increasing student engagement in and awareness of the PGSS’s governance structures, a goal she has made significant progress on through recruitment and advocacy.  In the past year, Bouraï has filled 95 per cent of university committee positions, ensuring graduate student representation in decision-making spaces. She also successfully chaired the Library Improvement Fund Committee (LIFC), through which she mobilized funding that had gone unused for several PGSS administrations. During Senate meetings, Bouraï has used her platform as a student-member to advocate for students’ rights, particularly in the context of the Code of Student Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures and the proposed Identification Policy for Access to Properties Owned, Occupied, or Used by the University. Finally, Bouraï emphasized her goal of addressing food insecurity among graduate students, particularly given the recent end of graduate student access to the Free Lunches Program following Midnight Kitchen’s closure. Bouraï’s dedication to protecting student rights and facilitating graduate involvement in PGSS governance is undeniable. The Tribune endorses Amina Bouraï for the position of University Affairs Officer.

PGSS Internal Affairs Officer

Drishti Kothari
Endorsement: Yes

Drishti Kothari’s core priorities in running for Internal Affairs Officer are to increase graduate student engagement, make programming more reflective of diverse faculties and departments, and ensure PGSS is visibly serving students’ needs. She proposes several concrete strategies: expanding communications beyond the PGSS newsletter and Instagram to platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, and Discord; building informal, direct channels with PGSAs through one‑on‑one relationship‑building; and using regular tabling and in‑person outreach so students can easily learn what PGSS offers and access resources. She also wants to create a structured “experience map” of how students feel at different points in the semester across faculties, and then design events that respond to overlapping needs rather than faculty‑specific activities. Further, Kothari wants to rework Orientation Week to make smaller, interest‑based and academically focused sessions that both welcome students and gather information about what they expect from PGSS over the course of their degrees. The Tribune endorses Drishti Kothari for the position of Internal Affairs Officer.

PGSS Deputy Secretary General

Sam Gleave Riemann 

Endorsement: Yes

Sam Gleave Riemann describes himself as a “pro-democracy, anti-austerity” candidate who supports social justice outcomes through strong democratic processes. His campaign emphasizes protecting employee rights for PGSS staff, being proactive in communicating with PGSAs and unions such as AGSEM—with whom he has preexisting relationships—and fostering inter-departmental collaboration to target shared issues such as supervision and funding. Considering that the Deputy Secretary General role is a new addition to PGSS’s executive structure, Gleave Riemann recognizes that it will largely be shaped by his actions during the next term. His vision for the role is operational, centred on file management, improving internal information systems, and negotiating contracts, such as those for health insurance. He emphasized the importance of diverse skill sets within the executive board and advocated for the use of multiple strategies to address challenges while drawing on each member’s strengths.  Given his dedication to fair democratic processes at PGSS and his extensive experience at McGill, The Tribune endorses Sam Gleave Riemann for the position of Deputy Secretary General. 

Editorial, Opinion

Winter 2026 SSMU Executive Endorsements

by The Tribune Editorial Board on

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The Tribune’s Editorial Board presents its endorsements of the candidates for the 2025-2026 Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Executive Committee. Editors researched and communicated with each candidate before leading an Editorial Board discussion on the candidates’ qualifications and vision for their prospective roles. Editors with conflicts of interest abstained from discussing, writing, and editing relevant reviews. Candidates who did not respond to The Tribune’s request for comment or were unable to attend an interview were not considered for endorsement.  

President

Laurence Desjardins*

Endorsement: No 

Desjardins’ platform reflects student voices and concerns through its emphasis on the Boycott, Divest, Sanction movement, the CU200 Divestment movement, and improving the quality of services provided by Student Accessibility and Achievement (SAA). As the presidential candidate of the S.T.A.N.D coalition, Desjardins aims for a more collaborative and results-oriented operation within SSMU’s governance structure through transparent discussions with other executives. S.T.A.N.D also claims to have direct contacts with McGill clubs and services, which may allow more direct communication between SSMU and the broader McGill community. Desjardins has gained bureaucratic experience working with multiple community groups on and off campus, including the Gender, Sexuality, Feminism, and Social Justice Students’ Association, La table de quartier Peter-McGill, and the Quebec Public Interest Research Group (QPIRG) McGill. However, Desjardins fails to clearly outline the specific strategies and tactics needed to realize their outlined goals. Moreover, Desjardins’ lack of internal SSMU experience may pose a challenge in navigating the duties of the role. Given these concerns, The Tribune cannot endorse their candidacy. If elected, Desjardins must present concrete, attainable strategies and familiarize themselves promptly with SSMU’s structures to ensure a smooth transition into the role.

Hamza Abu Alkhair 

Endorsement: Abstain

Abu Alkhair was unable to participate in an interview with The Tribune due to extenuating circumstances.

VP Clubs and Services

Mars Gagawchuk*

Endorsement: Yes, with reservations

Gagawchuk’s campaign centres on improving transparency and communication between SSMU and the clubs and services it supports. Her platform prioritizes reinstating the Services Committee, reforming reimbursement processes that require students to pay expenses out-of-pocket, and expanding mental health support. She also emphasizes addressing food insecurity through reinstating Midnight Kitchen and improving accessibility to student spaces. Drawing on experience in student organizing and as a communications coordinator for the Gender, Sexuality, feminist, and Social Justice Studies Students’ Association, Gagawchuk frames her campaign around a ‘student-first’ approach to SSMU governance. Her emphasis on transparency and improving internal processes reflects a commitment to rebuilding trust between SSMU and student groups. However, Gagawchuk’s experience lies primarily in student organizing and community advocacy, and in her interview with The Tribune she spoke vaguely about the administrative processes that make up a significant portion of the VP Clubs and Services portfolio. The Tribune  endorses Gagawchuk, with reservations, believing her to be a strong candidate and encourages her to develop clear operational strategies to implement her proposals and navigate the day-to-day administrative responsibilities of the role.

Acadia Knickerbocker 

Endorsement: Yes, with reservations

Knickerbocker’s platform for VP Clubs and Services is distinguished by its strong emphasis on administrative reform and its clear understanding of the structural barriers clubs and services currently face. Her proposals to complete key logistical and financial reforms over the summer—including restructuring access to club finances, ensuring services have their own bank accounts, and streamlining forms and procedures—reflect a practical and proactive approach to the portfolio. Her prior experience in SSMU governance and with the McGill Students’ Running Club as VP race director further demonstrates that she is well-prepared for the role. While Knickerbocker’s platform is strong, The Tribune encourages her to develop clearer positions on broader issues that student groups are facing, particularly where advocacy and political stance-taking are necessary. Even so, Knickerbocker presents a concrete, actionable vision for improving the day-to-day functioning of clubs and services. As such, The Tribune endorses her with reservations.

Kareem El Hosini

Endorsement: Abstain 

El Hosini could not be reached in time for comment.

VP External Affairs

Justice Bongiovanni 

Endorsement: Abstain

Bongiovanni could not be reached in time for comment.

Safia Haiboub*

Endorsement: Yes, with reservations

Safia Haiboub’s campaign for VP External Affairs highlighted community advocacy, specifically in campaigns against Bill C-12 and Bill 21, in addition to increasing representation for Arab and Muslim students. Haiboub also aims to hold more job fairs throughout the year while ensuring she receives feedback from the student body. The last two pillars of her campaign are to maintain solidarity with the Mohawk Mothers by spreading awareness of their cause and divesting from RBC, which is a top financier of fossil fuels. In her first semester of administration, she also aims to bring back Midnight Kitchen and increase grocery programs on campus. While most of her initiatives seem well-intentioned, Haiboub provides little tangible support or strategies for implementing them. For this reason, The Tribune endorses Haiboub with reservations. 

Harry Wang 

Endorsement: Yes

Harry Wang’s platform for VP External focused on achievable priorities, including addressing housing affordability through a dedicated committee, avoiding tuition hikes during Quebec’s upcoming provincial election, and advocating for greater financial support for low-income students through collaboration with McGill administration and government partners. Wang also proposes concrete affordability initiatives, including creating an SSMU housing committee and a centralized housing platform to help students find reliable rental listings and understand their tenant rights, as well as negotiating expanded transportation discounts with VIA Rail and airlines. Drawing on his experience as a student trustee representing over 50,000 students in Ontario and his current role as SSMU Parliamentarian, Wang stresses the importance of rebuilding trust in the SSMU by increasing transparency and institutional memory, increasing consultation with student groups and improving communication through clearer documentation and accessible social media updates. His focus on practical outcomes and consultation with diverse student groups positions him as an attentive advocate of both policy impact and democratic accountability. As such, The Tribune endorses Harry Wang for VP External. 

VP Internal Affairs

Sophie Smithson 

Endorsement: Yes

Smithon’s vision for the role of VP Internal Affairs focuses on strengthening community-building through accessible programming and improved event organization. Her platform proposes expanding free and low-barrier events, reviving Winter Carnival, and introducing regularized “Chill Nights” featuring smaller activities such as workshops, craft nights, and student markets. Drawing on extensive experience organizing large-scale events through the Engineering Undergraduate Society—including Frosh and Engineering Week—Smithson emphasizes practical improvements to event logistics, accessibility, and communication with students. She demonstrates strong preparation for the VP Internal role through her experience managing large-scale student programming and event logistics. Her focus on reducing financial and social barriers to participation, improving communication with students, and strengthening collaboration between campus groups reflects a thoughtful and practical approach to student engagement. The Tribune endorses Smithon, believing her operational experience prepares her well to strengthen campus programming and community life for McGillians. 

Mia Duddy-Hayashibara*

Endorsement: Yes, with reservations

Duddy-Hayashibara’s campaign for the role of VP Internal demonstrates a strong drive to create change on campus, with plans to reinstate some of the 24 sports teams cut by McGill Athletics in Fall 2025, though her strategy for doing so remains unclear. She also intends to work alongside the VP External to restructure SSMU’s current free lunch service back into Midnight Kitchen, for which Duddy-Hayashibara was previously a volunteer. She explains actionable ways SSMU could better represent students’ decisions on the Policy Against Genocide in Palestine by cutting ties with companies complicit in Israel’s ongoing genocide, such as excluding companies like the Royal Bank of Canada from career and tech fairs. She also intends to host workshops to educate new students on the policy. While Duddy-Hayashibara has prior experience as an SSMUnion member, she has not served in an SSMU governance role, raising concerns about her ability to carry out her plans if elected. As such, The Tribune endorses Duddy-Hayashibara with reservation. 

Anna El Murr

Endorsement: No 

El Murr’s platform for VP Internal is centred on strengthening student engagement and improving the connection between the executive team and the broader student body. Her proposals to make events more accessible and inclusive—such as sober-friendly, free or low-cost activities, as well as wellness events, animal therapy, and cooking classes tied to food security—show a clear commitment to fostering community on campus. El Murr also emphasizes improving communication with students through more targeted listservs, bilingual outreach, social media visibility, and regular feedback mechanisms such as surveys. Her experience in the ChESS First Year Council, MERTW, and as an Engineering representative at SSMU suggests a genuine commitment to student involvement across campus. However, her platform lacks concrete details on how these ideas would be carried out over the course of her mandate. While her enthusiasm and focus on inclusivity are commendable, her limited experience in executive positions raises questions about her readiness for the role. For these reasons, The Tribune does not endorse her candidacy for VP Internal.

Maggie Tang 

Endorsement: No

Tang’s campaign focuses on safety, inclusivity, and “good vibes.” Her platform foregrounds goals of making the SSMU more accessible and engaging by promoting a community-based culture and aesthetic content. If elected, she will focus on creating more SSMU events—such as reimplementing a Winter Carnival and SSMU’s Got Talent—and on offering more free events and lowering ticket prices. Despite Tang’s relevant experience—she is currently serving as the SSMU’s Internal Administrator and a Faculty of Arts Senator—she fails to outline concrete, actionable steps she will take to make events and the broader McGill community more inclusive and accessible. Furthermore, her campaign frames the VP Internal role as apolitical; The Tribune believes it is imperative that the VP Internal understands the political nature of inclusivity and accessibility.  If elected, we encourage Tang to tailor specific goals to her position and to recognize the political nature of inclusivity. However, due to the aforementioned concerns, The Tribune does not endorse Tang as VP Internal. 

VP University Affairs

Cecelia Callaghan*

Endorsement: Yes, with reservations 

Callaghan’s campaign focuses on pushing back against McGill’s austerity measures, creating a clear AI policy on campus, and fostering student activism by opposing the proposed Identification Policy and pressuring the administration to acknowledge and act on the Policy Against Genocide in Palestine. Callaghan also wants to improve access to gender-affirming care and expand support for trans students by working closely with the Trans Patient Union. Her campaign additionally advocates for improved access to mental health resources on campus, including improved SAA support. However, The Tribune  urges Callaghan to narrow down specific actions, acknowledging the need for a candidate with more tangible goals and previous experience in SSMU politics. As such,  The Tribune endorses Callaghan as VP University Affairs with reservations. 

Meghan Lai

Endorsement: Yes, with reservations 

Bringing in experience as Education Student Senator for the 2025-26 school year, Meghan Lai’s campaign expands her previous work in student politics in advocating for overlooked groups on campus and striving to enhance the student experience. She is running on a three-pillar platform, focused on academics, thriving student services, and a supportive community on campus. Lai wants to work to consolidate power away from the Board of Governors, believing the Senate is more democratically diverse. Additionally, she believes there should be a universal AI policy across campus, rather than variation across different departments. While Lai has a considerable amount of experience, making her a favourable candidate, her platform does not engage deeply with social justice advocacy on campus, which The Tribune believes is an integral part of the role.  For this reason, The Tribune endorses Lai as VP University Affairs with reservations. 

*Students for Transparency, Anti-Austerity, New Voices and Direct Democracy (S.T.A.N.D coalition)

Behind the Bench, Sports

Cut varsity teams shut out of McGill24 fundraising despite promise of continued support

by Zain Ahmed on

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Less than two weeks before McGill24—the university’s annual day of giving each March 11—McGill’s Field Hockey team received an email that changed everything. After submitting their McGill Crowdfunding proposal, they learned the team could no longer participate because they were not managed by a McGill unit. The notice came from someone unfamiliar to the team and offered no alternative path forward.

For Field Hockey, Women’s Rugby, and Track and Field—three of the teams cut from varsity status in November—McGill24 was their largest annual revenue source, where alumni rallied and donations were matched by the university. This year, that lifeline disappeared, and teams were left without any financial structure to support their endeavours next year. 

In an interview with The Tribune, Avery Berry, U2 Arts & Science and forward on the Field Hockey team, explained the financial reality.

“We were basically all self-funded, so [funding from McGill24] was incredibly important to us because it went to keeping us alive [….] It allowed us to stay afloat as a team,” Berry explained.

The news arrived months after the cuts were made, leaving teams scrambling with no clear path to raise funds. For some, like Track and Field, the situation proved even more complex. McGill’s Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams, despite being a Track and Field subsidiary, were not cut. They retained access to McGill24 but were explicitly told they could not share any funds with Track and Field, even though the Cross Country runners are athletes who compete in both seasons. In previous years, both teams crowdfunded as one.

Mia Blackmore, U2 Arts distance runner and Track and Field captain, described the administration’s position in an interview with The Tribune.

“We weren’t allowed to raise money through Cross Country and then use it for any sort of track event, and we weren’t even allowed to use it for an athlete who does distance running in track season and does distance running in Cross Country season,” Blackmore said. 

Teams were encouraged by McGill Athletics to apply for club status with the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) to restore McGill24 access. But after completing the registration process, the promise evaporated in what Alicia Gilmore, U3 Arts and second row on the Martlets Rugby team, described as a bureaucratic runaround.

“[McGill Athletics] were kind of telling us that ‘we still like you guys, we just can’t keep supporting you through this route,’ and then of course they wouldn’t let us do McGill24. It just felt like another lie,” Gilmore said. 

This exclusion stands in stark contrast to the commitment from McGill Athletics when the cuts were announced, which promised that they would be treated as varsity programs through the end of the 2025-26 academic year. 

“It completely contradicts it. As soon as you hear that news, it diminishes you as an athlete and as a team. To now, with just a semester left of the school year, […] it’s difficult,” Berry stated.

For Track and Field, the consequences extend beyond a fundraising day. Unlike Rugby and Field Hockey, which can compete in club leagues next year, McGill Athletics will not sign the forms necessary for Track and Field to compete in Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) or U SPORTS events—the only university competitions available. The sport is an international institution with no barriers to entry and even has external endeavours such as the McGill Olympic Club and a local club for youth development. 

“Even if we raised $100,000 CAD through McGill24, we won’t be able to compete next year, so it doesn’t even matter. Sure, the money is great, but we won’t be able to compete, so there really is no point,” Blackmore said. “All of our athletes do this for a love of the sport. We aren’t Olympians, but we absolutely give 110 per cent every week.”

The financial impact varies by team. Rugby raised $82,000 CAD through an independent campaign shortly after the cuts were announced, eclipsing what they typically made through McGill24. Field Hockey and Track, however, relied heavily on the matched donations and institutional framework. Without it, they face uncertain futures operating with drastically reduced budgets while trying to maintain competitive programs.

Athletes say what stings most is not just the loss of funding, but the exclusionary message it sends. McGill24 continues for remaining varsity teams, including newly added programs. Meanwhile, teams that represented McGill for decades have been removed from the day’s promotion and donor outreach.

“To see that the teams that are now being added in are allowed to be involved in McGill24 feels like too quick a turnover of our varsity status and being replaced by the new agenda that McGill Athletics is hoping to pursue,” Berry said.

Sports Editor Clara Smyrski is captain of the McGill Field Hockey team. She was not involved in the writing, editing, or publication of any Field Hockey-related content in this article.

Prof Profiles, Science & Technology

Meet your prof: Alex Ketchum

by Antoine Larocque on

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Food. Gender. Tech. Queer history. What do these topics have in common? They are all key research areas for Alex Ketchum, a historian and an Associate Professor in McGill’s Institute for Gender, Sexuality and Feminist Studies, whose research explores how these topics intersect.

Ketchum has long been interested in feminist and queer theory, incorporating them into her studies. She pursued her Bachelor’s degree at Wesleyan University, and both her Master’s in History with a specialization in Gender and Women’s Studies and her PhD in History at McGill. 

Ketchum studied feminism in the 1970s—a salient period in second-wave feminism when women first stood up against the oppression inherent in unpaid domestic labour—for her honours undergraduate thesis. She wrote about the Bloodroot Vegetarian Restaurant in Bridgeport, Connecticut—a feminist establishment which has since permanently closed after 48 years of operation. Her Master’s and PhD expanded on her previous work by focusing on the history of feminist restaurants across Canada and the United States.

Ketchum’s work materialized in two books. Ingredients for Revolution examines the labour dynamics of feminist restaurants and how they challenged traditional hierarchical restaurant structures by experimenting with new ways of organizing labour and compensating staff. Queers at the Table is a collection of essays, recipes, and comics that illustrate the relationship between queerness and food. 

In 2019, Ketchum launched a speaker series through which she organized over 100 events spotlighting feminism and accessible communications and technologies. As part of this project, Ketchum was named one of the 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics in 2021.

While researching the themes of feminist communications technologies for the speaker series, she became interested in queer groups such as the High Tech Gays and Digital Queers, which organized 2SLGBTQIA+ workers in tech companies, particularly in Silicon Valley and the Pacific Northwest. These workers brought together their technical expertise to support 2SLGBTQIA+ nonprofits and community organizers.

“Queer people transformed the internet,” Ketchum said in an interview with The Tribune. “The internet transformed queer people. But [what came out of this project] is a larger argument about the kind of mundane aspect of activism and information. Activism is much more than marches […], but so much of it is about teaching people and information sharing.”

To conduct her research, Ketchum primarily combines interviews, literature reviews, and archival research.

“I love going to archives more than anything in the world,” Ketchum said. “It is my favourite part of research. I am looking through photographs, […] audio materials, or old foam clips.”

Ketchum noted, however, that researching marginalized communities presents challenges.

“When […] you are doing research around marginalized communities, […] you sometimes have to deal with different kinds of pushback or backlash, like trolling, doxing and death threats,” she said. “As we are seeing an increase in homophobia and transphobia, it is emboldening bigots, so there is just starting to be a bit more harassment [….] Also, sometimes work on different marginalized communities is not taken as seriously.”

Ketchum is committed to making her work accessible beyond academia. In her book, Engage in Public Scholarship!, she argues that academic research should be communicated in ways that reach broader audiences. 

Her most recent research project explores how space programs have historically defined the “ideal astronaut” and excluded queer people from space exploration. It also examines how the 2SLGBTQIA+ community responded through activism and creative visions of a more inclusive future in space.

“If you look at my […] career, it might seem like I had a plan, […] but a lot of times, when we look at other people’s careers, we do not see how winding the path was. But I think the thing that has helped me through the different trials and tribulations is I kept following the passion and making decisions about things that I was interested in and trusting my gut about staying committed to my values.”

For people interested in this research, Ketchum is also organizing the Queer Food Conference at McGill from May 1 to May 3, 2026, for which students can register.

Basketball, Sports

RSEQ basketball champion Martlets return to national stage

by Jenna Payette on

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The McGill Women’s Basketball Team capped their 2025-26 season with a return to the national spotlight, winning the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) Championship before finishing fourth at the U SPORTS Final 8 in Quebec City. The run combined defensive grit, timely performances, and a young core that proved it could contend with the nation’s best.

The Martlets delivered their biggest statement on Feb. 28, travelling to Quebec City to upset the top-seeded Laval University Rouge et Or 51-45 and capture the RSEQ championship. The victory secured McGill’s first conference title since 2018 and the 14th provincial banner in program history.

True to the Martlets’ identity, the game was defined by their defensive prowess. McGill controlled the pace early, building a small but steady lead through the first half behind strong rebounding and disciplined defensive pressure. Laval slowly chipped away at the deficit and briefly tied the game early in the fourth quarter, setting the stage for a tense finish.

At that point, McGill’s depth made the difference. Guard Daniella Mbengo delivered a spark off the bench, finishing with a game-high 18 points and scoring on back-to-back possessions midway through the final frame to restore the Martlets’ lead.

McGill then relied on composure and execution down the stretch, hitting key free throws and controlling the boards in the final minutes to seal the upset on Laval’s home court.

Forward Emilia Diaz-Ruiz played a crucial role inside the paint, collecting a team-high 11 rebounds while sustaining a broken nose from earlier in the playoffs. Teammates Lily Rose Chatila and Emma-Jane Scotten also contributed key minutes and timely baskets that helped propel the Martlets to the title. 

With the RSEQ trophy in hand, McGill entered the national tournament as the sixth seed and opened against third seed University of Calgary Dinos.

The Martlets quickly showed they belonged on the national stage. The teams were deadlocked at halftime after a tightly contested first half, with McGill matching Calgary possession-for-possession. But the Dinos gradually created separation in the second half, pulling away in the fourth quarter to secure a 58-45 win.

Diaz-Ruiz again stood out for McGill, recording a double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds and earning player of the game honours for the Martlets.

The loss moved McGill into the consolation bracket, where the Martlets faced the seventh-seeded Carleton University Ravens in another tightly contested matchup. The game quickly became one of the most dramatic contests of the tournament. After trailing early, McGill surged back with a dominant second quarter to take a halftime lead, setting the stage for a gritty second half. 

Diaz-Ruiz once again led the Martlets offensively, finishing with 21 points and repeatedly answering Carleton’s scoring runs. Late free throws from the sophomore forward gave McGill a narrow lead with less than a minute remaining.

But the Ravens had one final push. After blocking what could have been a McGill game-winning attempt, Carleton quickly transitioned the other way and converted a layup at the buzzer to escape with a 64-62 victory.

The heartbreaking finish brought McGill’s season to a close with a 17–11 overall record and a well-deserved fourth-place national finish.

Beyond the action on the court, one of McGill’s most meaningful moments came during the tournament’s off-court honours. Emilia Diaz-Ruiz was named the national recipient of the Sylvia Sweeney Award, which recognizes outstanding community service by a student-athlete.

The sophomore’s impact extends well beyond basketball. A chemical engineering student with an impressive academic record, Diaz-Ruiz is deeply involved in campus initiatives, including leadership roles with the National Society of Black Engineers and other student organizations focused on outreach and mentorship.

The honour carries particular significance at McGill, as the award’s namesake, former national team captain Sylvia Sweeney, once starred for the Martlets. Diaz-Ruiz is the first McGill athlete to receive the award since it was created in 1994.

The Martlets ultimately finished just outside the podium, but their RSEQ championship and national semifinal appearance made one thing clear: McGill women’s basketball has re-established itself among Canada’s elite.

Off the Board, Opinion

Reaping the consequences of ‘just a joke’

by Clara Smyrski on

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On Feb. 19, the U.S. Women’s Hockey team won Olympic gold against Team Canada four minutes into the overtime period. Three days later, viewers experienced déjà vu when the U.S. Men’s Hockey team won in a similar 2-1 overtime against Team Canada.

As an increasingly unproud American, this was a bittersweet moment for me as I grappled with my extreme distaste for current U.S. leadership and the new-age patriotism this leadership has forcibly fostered. 

Just one day later, a video circulated on social media of U.S President Donald Trump inviting the men’s team to a celebratory White House visit, and I was quickly reminded of why I remain distinctly unpatriotic. After the team enthusiastically accepted the invitation, Trump said, “I must tell you, we’re going to have to bring the women’s team,” which was met with an uproar of laughter from the players. Trump continued, “I do believe I probably would be impeached [if I didn’t invite them].”

When the invitation was indeed extended to the women’s team, they politely declined, citing “previously scheduled academic and professional commitments.”

The video was subject to significant backlash—from Megan Rapinoe calling Trump’s remark “trash” to Flava Flav inviting the team to an alternate celebratory trip to Las Vegas. At the centre of the criticism is gold medal game-winner Jack Hughes, who appeared on Good Morning America and responded to the online hate.

“I think we are so tight with [the women’s team]. After we won the gold medal, we were in the cafeteria at 3:30 a.m. […] with them,” Hughes said. “I think everyone in that locker room knows how much we support them, how proud we are of them.”

Hughes wields the close relationship between the teams to shield the implications behind his actions. In an interview with the Daily Mail, he blames the criticism on people being pessimistic and overly-sensitive, saying they are making something out of “almost nothing.”

And that’s just it. For Hughes, a 24-year-old who secured the first gold medal for the U.S. men in 46 years, it is //almost nothing//. Allowing sexist remarks behind closed doors is so normalized and ingrained in our society that it doesn’t even register as significant to him.

When women’s sports are still receiving less funding and less coverage than men’s, this is definitely not almost nothing. This incident shows that you can represent your country at the highest level, inspire a generation of women, consistently outperform men, and still be mocked and laughed at. It is not funny, it is not a joke—and yes, it is that serious.

The repercussions of this incident speak to a broader movement: Women are increasingly disinterested in marriage and dating. There are more single women than ever, and this change is by choice. A survey from the American Enterprise Institute found that almost half of college-educated women attribute their singlehood to an inability to find someone who meets their expectations, whereas only a quarter of men say the same. Women don’t feel that there are suitable options for them and would rather be alone than in a relationship with someone who doesn’t respect them as an equal.

During this time of increased singlehood, there has also been a rise in the so-called “male loneliness epidemic.” While a 2025 Pew Research Center study found that there is only a one per cent difference between loneliness in men and women, men are complaining that women have abandoned them. 

Men blame women for being disinterested while lacking any accountability or reflection on //why// that is. Women have known that the kindness shown to their faces doesn’t always survive the walk to the next room. What has changed is that women now have the autonomy to do something about it. The male loneliness epidemic and women’s retreat from dating aren’t isolated social phenomena; they are a direct response from the former to the latter. Cause and effect.

This video of a single moment reflects a pattern of performative allyship that is unacceptable. Women no longer need to put up with a dynamic where they are celebrated in public and diminished in private. The loneliness epidemic, the declining marriage rates, the women opting out altogether—these are not crises that happened to men; they are consequences. You reap what you sow.

Research Briefs, Science & Technology

Rethinking our relationship with academic emotions

by Amy Gelfand on

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Have you ever stressed about your schoolwork, only for that stress to create even more stress? This phenomenon—stressing about stress—is a metacognitive experience very common among students of all ages. Academic emotions impact motivation, engagement in learning processes, and learning outcomes. However, it remains unclear which emotion regulation strategies actually support learning in an academic context.

Luyao Xu, a doctoral student and research assistant at McGill, and Krista R. Muis, director of the eMUIS Lab, co-authored a systematic review exploring emotional regulation (ER) methods in self-regulated learning published in Educational Psychology Review. Xu analyzed numerous studies and articles on emotion regulation tactics elicited during learning, focusing on how emotional experiences correlate with learning performance outcomes and how the regulation strategies applied can mitigate negative impacts.

Psychology research has shown that certain emotional regulation strategies are more effective than others. Many scholars view reappraisal—a way to reevaluate a bad outcome as an opportunity to improve rather than a personal failure—as an effective strategy. Suppression, on the other hand, which involves pushing emotions aside without addressing them, is generally viewed as unhelpful in learning contexts. But do these results hold true across academic contexts?

“Recently, meta-emotive knowledge is getting more attention, like whether regulating anxiety using reappraisal is not a good idea when students are approaching an exam, because they may have used up their cognitive resources for ER rather than engaging in learning,” Zu said in an interview with The Tribune.

Zu explained that competence-oriented strategies, which improve skills in subject areas to prevent negative emotions from interfering with learning, may be more efficient than strategies typically used in clinical psychology.  

“The effectiveness of the ER strategy depends on the context in which the emotion occurred. In certain contexts, students may not raise a need for regulation,” Zu explained. “For example, maybe when the exam is near, I do not identify myself as someone who needs to regulate [my] anxiety. Instead, I need to focus on reviewing the materials to get a good grade. So, […] distracting myself from my learning material is not a good way to regulate my emotions. In this case, trying to enhance my abilities is a more adaptive strategy.”

Raising awareness of academic emotions is an important step in encouraging learners to monitor how their emotions impact their well-being, learning processes, and performance outcomes. For instance, a student who recognizes that emotions are a normal part of learning may become less anxious about anxiety, allowing those emotions to shift from a burden to a tool that can support learning.

“In the learning context, the adaptiveness of ER strategy may not reflect on improved emotional experience, but rather on an improved learning performance,” Zu said. “In the learning context, most of the time, students’ ultimate goal is their learning outcome rather than their emotional experience. Since this emotional experience does have an impact on the learning processes, students regulate these emotions to prevent their negative impact.”

In response, Zu proposes the Integrated Model of Emotion Regulation in Self-Regulated Learning, linking ER, academic motivation, and learning performance on a person-level. This model focuses on students’ habitual use of ER in overall learning as well as at a task-level, examining how strategies interact with emotional states to influence task outcomes.

Emotions provide important bodily signals that can help individuals interpret and respond to their environment. When students become aware of their emotional patterns, regulation strategies can turn emotions into intentional tools that support personal flourishing.

Commentary, Opinion

Passing bills ‘on division’ threatens Canadian democracy

by Tarannom Moheq on

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Canada’s current Parliament has passed 50 per cent of its bills through a ‘division’ vote instead of a ‘tallied’ vote in the House of Commons. Parliament has previously used this practice to fast-track legislation or opt for simplicity during online sessions. Today, it is justified in the name of stability, creating a united front in the face of geopolitical rivalries. 

However, this priority not only threatens Canadian democracy—it reflects democratic backsliding in contemporary society. Citizens, unaware of how their representatives would have voted, are ousted from the political process and forced to trust their elected officials under ignorance, while bills are passed on potentially non-existent consensuses in Parliament. 

Division voting is beneficial for minority governments, as it allows bills to bypass the need for majority approval from Members of Parliament (MPs). This eases the creation of legislation in highly divided times, though at the cost of certain groups’ political power.

Existing dissenting voices in Parliament have been stifled by this practice to avoid bringing down the government or causing a snap election; two of the bills passed on division under the current Parliament were confidence votes. A confidence vote is one in which a ‘no’ vote means that the prime minister no longer holds the support––confidence––of Parliament, obligating a consequent general election. By passing bills and motions frequently through division votes, Canada assumes the appearance of a stable, functioning government in the context of rising international tensions. Under pressure from the trade war with the United States, Prime Minister Mark Carney likely aspires to present national unity and a coordinated government.

However, this obscures the reality that this Parliament has been inefficient. As the completion of Carney’s first year nears, only 12 bills have passed, a stark contrast to previous governments that were able to pass over 50 within the same timeframe. Not only is Parliament inefficient, but half of the few bills that were successful only passed through a division vote, speaking to the fragility of the government and disagreement across the nation. 

These confidence bills were passed on division to ensure this Parliament’s continuation while acknowledging the objections of other parties. However, acknowledgement alone does not imply democracy; impact does. When the influence of major portions of Parliament is removed from the decision-making sphere, their constituents lose power as well—even more so as constituents are unable to tell how their representatives vote. While division votes can only happen with the consent of most MPs, their lack of transparency greatly threatens Canadian democratic values.

The issue of democratic participation is not one foreign to Montrealers and McGillians. Last fall’s municipal election saw the lowest voter turnout in years at a mere 37 per cent. Low voter turnout is also visible in the context of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU)’s elections and referenda; despite holding a quorum of only 15 per cent, resolutions frequently fail to reach this threshold. 

Political inactivity is widespread at the local level, and will only worsen with the continued use of on division bill passing. With its high frequency of use, this procedural tactic is an abuse to Canada’s democratic system and excludes significant numbers of people by assuming a consensus that may not exist. 

By ignoring or accepting Parliament’s use of this tactic, we are at risk of creating a culture apathetic to political participation—that is, to democracy. It is imperative that we stay vigilant and continue to monitor these developments, as democracy does not always vanish overnight but instead may slip away quietly when no one is paying attention. 

Commentary, Opinion

Quebec cannot afford ‘gender equality’ without feminism

by Defne Feyzioglu on

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Content warning: Mentions of gender-based violence, including intimate partner violence and femicide

Masculinist sentiment is gaining traction across the world while global backlash against feminism and gender equality is intensifying. Simultaneously, gender-based violence remains widespread, reproductive and bodily autonomy are increasingly policed, and gender-diverse people continue to face exclusion in public policy and everyday life. During these critical times, Bernard Drainville, the current Environment Minister in Quebec, and potential successor to Francois Legault as leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), explicitly stated that he did not wish to be identified as a feminist, but only as a supporter of gender equality. This is a statement that clearly embodies where Quebec—and global—politics are headed: A broader political moment wherein the language of equality is embraced, but the movements needed to achieve it are rejected. 

Feminism, at its core, is the belief that everyone should have equal rights, regardless of their gender identity or sex. A politician who actively distances himself from feminism while claiming to support gender equality raises a larger question about what kind of equality he is willing to defend. Rejecting feminism is not a neutral branding choice; it is a refusal to name and confront the systems that make inequality possible in the first place.

Drainville’s equality proposals mainly focus on homeownership and in vitro fertilization. While easing women’s path to property ownership and making fertility treatment more accessible are steps in the right direction, they remain insufficient. These policies frame gender equality largely through economic participation and family formation rather than addressing freedom from violence, bodily autonomy, and protection for those who face intersectional forms of discrimination and state exclusion. Drainville offers only a narrow and selective vision of equality. 

This perspective becomes even more overt in his broader policies. By introducing initiatives like Bill 94, an expansion of Bill 21 that bans religious symbols for teachers and school staff, Drainville advances legislation that outright dismisses intersectional realities and excludes the people feminism seeks to protect. He also rejected gender-neutral bathrooms in schools in 2023, saying that the matter was out of the question for Quebec. Drainville then refused to convene a legislative committee on gender identity, arguing that doing so would only expose what he named a sensitive issue to political exploitation. Rather than confronting inequality as a structural issue, the version of equality he proposes is extremely limited in scope.

Gender inequality is experienced daily through violence, exclusion, and state neglect. Intimate partner violence and sexual violence affect people of all genders, but remain deeply gendered in who is most affected and how that violence operates. Worldwide in 2024, 83,000 women and girls were intentionally killed—50,000 by their intimate partners or family members. On a daily basis, this number reached 137—approximately one death every ten minutes. Quebec is not exempt from this reality. Femicides, the gender-based killings of women and girls, are the byproducts of ongoing patriarchal systems that normalize coercive control, misogyny, and violence; the province has reported seven femicides since the beginning of 2026. 

When gender-related murders happen on a scale so large that they can be reported as a daily statistic, it becomes clear that gender-based violence is a global crisis and a human rights violation, as it strips women and gender-diverse people of their rights to safety, dignity, freedom, and life itself. Given this reality, a commitment to equality that stops short of feminism is deeply inadequate to address the structural conditions in which this violence persists. 

Drainville’s statement is not a mere semantic happenstance, but a conscious, harmful choice. In an age where the need for feminism is urgent, vague statements about supporting gender equality or policies that will “attract young women” are not enough. Anything less than explicit and continuous feminist practices is a limited political strategy that recycles traditional gender roles as progress instead of confronting the conditions that sustain inequality in the first place. Feminism saves lives, and ambiguity is not neutrality—it is participation in a patriarchal order. 

If you or someone you know is experiencing gender-based violence, please refer to the resources below:

SOS violence conjugale: 1 800 363-9010 (bilingual service available) 

Sexual Violence Helpline: 1-888-933-9007

Sheltersafe.ca 

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