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a, Sports

Inexperience, offensive woes plague Redmen

by Mayaz Alam on

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Last Thursday, a frigid September night, the McGill Redmen (0-0-2) faced the No. 5 ranked Montreal Carabins (2-0-0) in the RSEQ opener for both squads. It was also Head Coach Marc Mounicot’s first RSEQ game with the team.

Throughout the match, a young Redmen squad played with tenacity and grit against a bigger and more talented Carabins squad. The Redmen backline attempted to set the tone for the rest of the team, refusing to be intimidated. Left-back Clovis Fowo repeatedly lunged into multiple tackles in an attempt to control the physicality of the game. Fowo’s initial attempts were deemed nothing more than fouls in the first half. However, the leniency that was afforded early on was replaced by a flood of yellow cards, one of which was handed out to Fowo.

The affair ran much like a hockey game; there were three distinct periods of flow in which either side took control. McGill’s period of strong play occurred in the middle third. The Redmen had, “more confidence, more flow [and] more commitment in the will of playing football,” according to Mounicot.

Two notable plays marked this segment. Freshman midfield maestro Michael McIntyre had a role in both. The first play was a dipping free kick that McIntyre shot over the wall that pulled McGill even in the 42nd minute. The second key play was a through ball at the start of the second half by McIntyre to another freshman, Alexander King, who put a well-placed shot past the keeper only to see it hit the inside of the post and bounce out.

Despite flashes of brilliance later on, the Redmen started out poorly. The over-zealousness of the backline led to multiple miscues. The Carabins’ midfielders repeatedly played balls over the Redmen defence and onto the feet of oncoming Montreal forwards within the first 10 minutes.

Mounicot characterized the initial play as “a bit shaky because of nerves and the quality of the opposition.” Aditionally, Mounicot noted that his team had to change its line-up compared to the last game because of injuries to freshman forward, Mawuena Mallet and defender, Dominic Bell, both of whom started the previous game against Cape Breton.

The lack of chemistry resulted in the first goal, a header by Vincent Da Bruille off of a cross by Samuel LeBlanc, that McGill sophomore goalkeeper Max Leblond, had no chance of stopping. Poor marking left Da Bruille with space to direct a powerful shot past Leblond’s outstretched arms.

Similarly, the second goal, conceded in the 51st minute, was off of another header. This time Alexandre Haddad connected for Université de Montréal off a free kick that crossed into the box.

Mounicot remarked that the key for the squad going forward involved, “getting all [of their] players healthy.” Veterans such as senior William Hoyle and talented freshmen such as Graham Kasper have yet to see the field, while Bell has only been able to play two halves due to injuries.

Mounicot also felt that his squad “showed[…]resilience and quality” that will help them achieve their goal of making the top four of the RSEQ. Realizing this goal hinges on the development of the nearly 20 freshmen that make up the roster. If the talented newcomers can mature and gel with returning players, success is not out of the question.

A determined Redmen squad compounded the tough loss against Montreal with another nail-biter against Sherbrooke University (1-0-1) by a score of 1-0 on Sunday. The Vert et Or played host to McGill and  were able to rack up the three points on a penalty shot from Gwen Duguet with six minutes remaining. The Redmen now face a tall task against the defending RSEQ Champions, the UQTR Patriotes(1-1-0), in a home game at Molson Stadium on Friday, Sept. 13.

a, Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

Despite ethereal visuals, Gravity is full of narrative antimatter

by Chris Liu on

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For a space film, Gravity is fairly un-spacey. Sandra Bullock and George Clooney star as astronauts who must struggle to survive when a space mission goes horribly wrong. Gravity doesn’t disappoint visually—director Alfonso Cuarón’s famous long takes seem particularly amiable to outer space—but the film repudiates much of the intellectual legwork done by previous sci-fi masterpieces. Insofar as Gravity’s message is being reduced to humanity finding itself in adversity, the film is as thematically sophisticated as a made-for-TV space horror. But such a criticism may mean little to some. As a straightforward action flick, Gravity is certainly meritorious, with some flashy technical bells and whistles thrown in.

Astronauts Ryan Stone (Bullock) and Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney) are in the midst of a spacewalk when news arrives that a recently-destroyed satellite has caused unexpected debris fields. In no time, space shrapnel is punching holes through their space shuttle (and, in particularly gruesome fashion, their shuttlemates).

To say much more would go beyond the film’s relatively tight-lipped trailers. But know that Gravity is narratively taunt, with a distinctive ability to wring impressive levels of tension from its premise. Cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki recieved acclaim for his acrobatic camerawork in Tree of Life, and the space environment—in which there is no ‘up’ or ‘down’—provides the perfect setup for Lubezki to repeat his magic. The mindboggling depth of space itself is similarly well-captured, aided with perhaps one of the rare instances in which 3D is actually a benefit (though I did attend the IMAX screening, which tends to do 3D better).

Where Gravity burns up is in its screenplay, and by extension, the performances. Clooney ramps up his charm machine to full throttle, but receives limited screen time (and a late appearance seems gimmicky and forced). In contrast, Bullock’s character is underwrit for a protagonist, resulting in a mundane performance, save for a triumphant climax.

What’s frustrating is that Gravity had so much potential. Other directors have done more, with less of a premise— Rodrigo Cortés’ Buried comes to mind— whereas Stone’s character starts off interesting and becomes adulterated and bland. We’re introduced to a fascinatingly lonely woman, one lonelier on earth than in space. Instead of growing in complexity, she grows flatter. Similarly, the first half of the story floats the idea that while space is inhospitable, earth itself may not be much better. This relatively fresh thematic territory is quickly abandoned. Space is death. Earth is life. On with the show.

Like space itself, Gravity may leave viewers feeling a bit cold. Many critics now like to play a  game when entering a Cuarón film: counting the seconds until the next edit. Cuarón’s Children of Men (2006) was impressive for featuring long takes that dazzled the mind and redefined what was cinematically possible. But in this case, optical feats of strength don’t add up to a great movie. Gravity is still a decidedly entertaining action film. But considering the output to be expected from the profound storyweaver that gave the world Y Tu Mama También, Gravity leaves the film fan yearning for a little more.

Gravity had its North American premiere at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival, and is set to be released in theatres Oct. 4.

a, Science & Technology, Student Research

Research in Brief: Prosthetic digital musical instruments

by Caity Hui on

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After three years developing their project, McGill Music PhD students Joseph Mallock and Ian Hattwick have designed and produced the first prosthetic digital instruments in the world.

Under the supervision of Input Devices and Music Interaction Lab (IDMIL) Director Marcelo Wanderley, the team collaborated with composers, choreographers, musicians, and dancers to produce a prosthetic device that could endure extensive use in dance performance while appearing visually striking.

“We wanted the objects to suggest a purpose beyond that of a costume, but we were quite happy that that purpose might remain ambiguous,” explained one of the researchers in a short documentary about the project.

Each prosthetic contains a variety of sensors, power supplies and wireless data transceivers which respond to touch, movement, and orientation to create sound. The music is produced in real time through an open-source peer-to-peer software system developed by IDMIL, which processes the signals from the prosthetics.

What remains most striking is the semblance between these digital instruments and the human skeleton. Illuminated from within by small LED lights, the transparent pieces resemble human forms, including articulated spines, curved visors, and rib cages that were constructed through 3D printing and laser cutting.

Current versions of the prosthetics toured across Canada and parts of Europe earlier this year in a piece known as Les Gestes, written specifically for the digital musical instruments.

a, Features

Through the looking glass

by Spoon Jung on

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The Montreal Comiccon, making its eighth debut this weekend at Palais des congrès, is an amalgamation of ‘geekdom’—a place where the various streams of geek culture coalesce into one exciting weekend. The representation of interests runs the gamut from Plain Jane board games to intricately detailed cosplaying, with the whole eclectic occasion accompanied by celebrity guests and corporate sponsors. It has grown from an event hosting fewer than 700 people in its first years to over 32,000 attendees at last year’s convention. And that’s just Montreal—the San Diego Comiccon (SDCC) hosts over 130,000 people each year.

Comiccon and SDCC have their roots in the original comic book convention format—where local comic book shop owners could liquidate their stock in one sitting and fans from all over the area could gather and meet each other. However, the ‘comic book convention’ has grown into something far greater than its humble origins could have ever predicted.

It has been a few years now since the geek movement started gaining momentum in popular culture. In 1989, Batman grossed over $400 million dollars. Marvel Studios jumped on the bandwagon starting with Blade in 1998, then Spider-Man in 2000. And it’s a good thing they did— Marvel’s The Avengers is the third highest grossing film of all time, at a titanic $1.51 billion. The Dark Knight, too, shattered people’s expectations about what a superhero movie could achieve in plot development and characterization. These films have not only done well commercially, but have also been met with critical acclaim and widespread appeal. People started taking these movies seriously, and by proxy, the community that existed around these franchises.

The growth of conventions begs the question—is it the fans who are changing, or is it the way that people view this particular subculture?

Several individuals immersed in this community have offered their perspectives on the evolution of geek culture.

Among them is Cliff Caporale, the programming director for Montreal Comiccon. Caporale described Comiccon as “a genre convention for fans to get to meet some of the people behind the things they love most. It’s also a chance to be surrounded by like-minded people that share similar interests. We hope to please as many geeks as possible, even if you are only 0.5 per cent geek.”

Caporale explained that they wanted to expand the event to cater to more fans.

“After a few years, we wanted to grow the event. We were able to add a diverse selection for fans, and expand further into other genres like horror, Franco-Belgian comics, anime, and fantasy. This year we take it further, adding Canadian pop culture, geek improv, and music.” By widening the scope of the convention’s offerings, more and more people will likely be able to find themselves at home in this community.

To Caporale, the diversity of interests in geekdom is most definitely a benefit for the city.

“Montreal Comiccon [is] becoming one of the city’s spotlight events,” he said. “Montreal has a very interesting cultural identity that can allow for the city’s Comiccon to become a true international event. You won’t find another genre convention that will have a cast member from Star Trek, one from Galaxie près de chez vous [Quebec’s most popular—and maybe only—sci-fi show from the late 90s], a North American comic book artist, and a Belgian comic book artist in the same room.  It’s pretty cool that we’ve gone from being a tiny event seven years back to become one of the top 20 genre events in North America, and in the top three for Canada.”

But other people have been noticing a shift in what people consider ‘geek culture’ as well. Alain Veilette is one of the owners of Foonzo, a video game bar located on 1245 Drummond in the heart of downtown Montreal, and has experienced these changes firsthand. Acting as a nexus between geeks and providers, Veillete has been able to closely observe the changing attitudes toward geek culture.

“It’s more and more socially acceptable [to be interested in this culture],” Veillete says. “Video games that are coming out today—a lot of them gross more profits than movies. I just saw a couple of pictures in L.A. of this huge building downtown, and the building was covered in a huge poster of Grand Theft Auto V. It may not sound like much, but I mean could you imagine? Fifteen years ago, you would’ve only expected Nike to appear up there.”

However, with such a wide array of interests represented in conventions like Comiccon, some fans have expressed concerns that ‘geekdom’ has started dividing. Alex Havas, a U2 computer science student at McGill who describes himself as a geek who was “born with a controller for an umbilical cord,” shared his thoughts on the issue.

“The idea is that ‘geek’ has now become a [synonym] for ‘obsession,’ and to try to unify [those terms] under a single flag is kind of silly. Really, the best way for any sort of unification within geek culture is to live and let live. You can keep rivalries, as long as they’re fun. [For example], ‘Who would win in a fight, Star Trek Redshirts or Stormtroopers?’”

Havas shed further light on other dichotomous attitudes regarding geek culture, explicating the division between perceptions of the community.

“There are two sides: there’s ‘casual geekdom,’ which is very acceptable. Say you like Game of Thrones. That’s high fantasy with dragons and knights and stuff, and that’s fine, but then you say you go to bed with one of those full-body anime pillows…”

As such, Havas has been wary about the development of people’s attitudes toward the concept of ‘geekdom.’

“There’s a bit of apprehension about people saying things like, ‘Oh, we love geeks now!’ It’s like, ‘No, you don’t like my geek. You like this glossed-over kind of geek.’ There’s heavy scrutiny on people who are not already established as inside the group already. [Before,] it didn’t matter [what you were interested in]. As long as you waved that banner proudly, you were one of us. Now there’s this kind of— I think— fear of homogenization; the idea that there’s one image of [the glossed-over] geek that no one wants to conform to.”

Beatrice Soucy, a first-year medical student at Université de Montréal and a self-proclaimed geek, has also noticed such changes within the ‘geek culture.’

“When I was younger, I went to a school that didn’t care for geeks. Then I got into university and realized people had the same interests as me. I think the public has been opening up in a way. Video games are more accessible than [they were] a generation ago.”

But Soucy has noted that though changes in attitudes have occurred, there is still a gender-based stigma that exists in the subculture.

“People are still surprised when I end up ‘showing’ myself as a geek,” Soucy said. “Some guys will actually hate girls being there. They don’t like girls trying to get into their niche, so [they] can get kind of aggressive or demeaning about that,” Soucy said. “There are still very sexist games and costumes. The moment we start criticizing it, there’s so much hate from the community. [might be] why there aren’t more [female] gamers out there— it’s because they face such shunning and rejection that they don’t really see the point [of getting involved].”

Veilette has noticed a promising trend, however.

“We’ve only been around for two and a half years, and I don’t think it’s long enough to really see a huge shift, but there is noticeable change regarding female gamers. Honestly, I think that they’ve been out there the whole time.”

Caporale corroborated Veilette’s observation.

“Our audience was generally male, 70-30, when we first started, but as time has gone on, we are starting to see it be closer to 55 per cent male.”

Alhough it may not be simple to pinpoint the way this subculture is changing, it’s clear that these changes are manifesting themselves in multiple ways, whether that be through events like the Montreal Comiccon or through the types of people who frequent Foonzo on a Friday night. And though some people may have identified with this community since the day they could read their first comic book panel, whereas others are only starting to discover their favourite video games and superheroes, maybe being able to articulate exactly how ‘geekdom’ is changing isn’t what’s important. The evolution of Comiccon and ‘geek culture’ may mean different things to each individual, and that can truly contribute to the complexity of this community. Embrace it; live long and prosper!

a, News

Residents seek to save Parc Oxygène from development

by Chesley Ju on

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On Sept. 3, residents of the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough expressed their concerns for preserving of green space in the neighbourhood at a conference and question and answer session with the borough’s mayor, Luc Ferrandez. Debate on the topic centered around the preservation of Parc Oxygène, a privately -owned alleyway that has been serving as a park for over 20 years.

Parc Oxygène was originally an alleyway used by motorists as a shortcut through the residential neighborhood bordered by Prince Arthur street and Pine Avenue. Although members of the neighborhood protested that this use of the alleyway was dangerous, the city did not act in response to these claims. In 1989, the alleyway was converted into a park, which residents of the community currently take care of.

In the past few years, a condominium proposal as well as multiple construction ideas—including parking lots and small residential housing—have been suggested to replace the park area. As a long-time resident of the area surrounding the park, Norman Nawrocki has been very active in the fight to preserve one of the area’s only remaining green spaces. He explained that residents are attempting to save the park from development by requesting that the city purchase the land and declare it an official park.

“It is a community-created green space;  [it] has been this [way] for 23 years, and needs to be preserved as such,” he said. “The greater interests and rights of the community take precedence over the rights and interests of a private developer.”

Some community members, however, were skeptical of the claim that private developers threaten the park. One community member, who asked only to be identified as Clement, said he believes the park will not be dramatically developed due to space constraints.

“I would be very surprised if a condo went up in that area, whether it is or isn’t an official city park—at most maybe a parking space, or small housing [developments], but no condo,” he said. “The space is too tiny.”

Ferrandez argued that the costs of purchasing the piece of land is not worth the investment.

“[There is a] six million dollar price tag on such a small urban space,” Ferrandez said. “[The space is] so small that [it] might not be sufficient to guarantee legal paperwork with which to present enough evidence for saving the park.”

He also stated that, as mayor, he could not take action to save Parc Oxygène.

“The mayor simply cannot get involved in a legal battle between private developers and members of the community,” he said. “It isn’t my place, and that’s all I have to say on the matter. We cannot legally sustain a project like Parc Oxygène.”

Nawrocki expressed disagreement, and argued that the benefits of the green space for the borough are substantial enough that the mayor should step in to save the park.

“It provides a public space for people— including McGill students— to hang out in and socialize, enjoying the trees, flowers, birds, bees, peace, and fresh air,” he said. “It has a history and is now an important part of the local community.”

Kira Page, a member of the Quebec Public Interest Research Group McGill (QPIRG), explained the importance of the issue to McGill students, many of whom reside in the area near the park. She said QPIRG has worked together with Nawrocki for some time to raise awareness of the issue.

“Over the last several years, McGill students have been attending events to help save the park, helping spread the word about Parc Oxygène, […] all the while learning about the history of the neighbourhood we study in,” Page said.

a, Science & Technology

Vulnerability to alcoholism linked to the brain’s reward system

by Krishanth Manokaran on

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(McGill Tribune)While long-term alcohol use has been known to have various effects on the brain, including memory impairment and nerve damage, a more recent study suggests there might be another effect to add to that long list. Those who are vulnerable to alcoholism also experience a larger dopamine (reward system) response when consuming a large drink, as found in a study conducted by Marco Leyton, a researcher at the Mental Illness and Addiction axis at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC).

“Dopamine is a chemical made in the brain. When released in the part of the brain called the striatum, it activates a circuit that fosters interest in natural rewards,” explained Leyton. “We need a system like this to survive both as individuals and as a species. Dopamine activation stimulates our interest in food, the opportunity to have sex, and plays an important role in motivation.”

According to Leyton, a sip of alcohol activates the brain’s dopamine system in two ways. Alcohol acts pharmacologically in the dopamine cell-body region, where it removes the inhibitory input on the cells— similar to releasing a brake— causing an influx of dopamine. Once people have some experience with alcohol, environmental cues associated with drinking can also fire-up the dopamine system, suggesting that this system has conditioning effects. “Some people might be especially sensitive to developing these [conditioned] effects,” added Leyton.

For the study, researchers recruited 26 social drinkers aged 18 to 30 in the Montreal area. The subjects at higher risk of alcoholism were then identified based on personality traits and having a lower intoxication response to alcohol—they did not feel as drunk, despite drinking the same amount as the other subjects.

Each participant then underwent two positron emission tomography (PET) brain scan exams after drinking a fairly large serving of either juice or alcohol (about three to four drinks in 15 minutes).

“The PET scans are to compare the brain scan signals obtained when people drink juice versus alcohol,” Leyton explained. The difference between the two scans is the change in dopamine release.”

The analysis indicated that people categorized as “high-risk” for alcohol-use problems experienced a large dopamine response after drinking the alcoholic beverage; this effect did not occur in the people categorized as “low-risk” for alcohol-use problems. Since dopamine triggers the brain’s reward system, subjects who experienced a higher release were positively reinforced for drinking and therefore were at a higher risk for alcoholism. These findings were subsequently published this January in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

“Still, there are a number of issues that need following up,” said Leyton. He explained that, since this study is the first report of an altered dopamine response to alcohol consumption in people at risk, the study will need to be replicated.

“While both of these are well-established indices, it will be important to learn whether the brain dopamine response also predicts which individuals will go on to develop an alcohol-use disorder,” Leyton explained.

He believes it is likely that many pathways in the brain lead to alcoholism and looks to further investigate whether this dopamine response to alcohol contributes to one specific pathway or many.

a, Opinion

Editorial: PQ overstepping its bounds with ban on religious symbols

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Last Wednesday, Sept. 4, the Parti Québécois (PQ) marked its one-year anniversary of minority governance. Over the past year the government has had various troubles, including, most prominently for this editorial board, the party’s complete duplicity on university tuition, first freezing tuition increases and then enacting harsh budget cuts. However, it seems as if the PQ has found itself a distraction from the year’s  political missteps.

In late August, news was leaked that the PQ government was considering enacting what it called a “Charter of Quebec Values.” Chief among the provisions is a set of restrictions on provincial government employees wearing various religious symbols while at work. Much of the early coverage framed the provision as a means of capitalizing on the “integration” wedge issue, already awakened by the debate earlier in the summer over an attempt by the Quebec Soccer Federation to ban the wearing of Sikh headwear during matches in the province. That attempt was quickly abandoned after receiving justified repudiation from all quarters, including an official statement from FIFA that torpedoed the provision’s rather dubious justification of player safety.

“Restricting religious freedom […] is a losing proposition for immigrants and also for Quebec itself.”

It might be just as well that the PQ wants to drive these wedges back into the electorate. Polling shows that the actual issue of sovereignty—ostensibly the PQ’s raison d’etre—is at best a politically dormant proposition. These attempts to assert control over religious and cultural minorities, which have the added side benefit of stirring up federal-provincial friction, do well in polls with significant parts of the Quebec electorate, even in the face of opposition from quarters normally supportive of sovereignty.

Despite the popular support it enjoys in some quarters, the current Charter of Quebec Values is a decidedly ill-considered project. Forcing government workers to choose between their jobs and their religion, particularly in situations where observing a religion presents little, if any, disruption to the work environment, is the kind of pernicious intrusion on individual rights that has no place in a free society. This restriction, which would function as a de facto bar from employment for individuals of certain religious groups, raises serious questions on the Charter.

On a more practical level, restricting religious freedom—in a manner that will inevitably have a disparate impact on mostly nonwhite, non-Christian religious practitioners, is a losing proposition not just for immigrants to the province but also for Quebec itself. The province has long been losing population to the rest of Canada, and with relatively low birth rates, immigrants have long been counted on to stem the province’s population decline.

By instituting such a policy, Quebec risks losing valuable contributors to society. For example, increases in hospital wait times are being threatened if Sikh and Muslim doctors are driven out of practicing while observing their religions.

This editorial board believes  that to create such an environment of hostility to outsiders—be it based on language, ethnicity, or religion—will only make this province less appealing to newcomers, including McGill students. From the board’s vantage point, multiculturalism is not, as Premier Marois seems to view it, a failed social policy precipitating violence, but rather, one of the guiding values not only of this institution and its student body, but also of this nation. We hope that Marois will stop pandering to baser instincts of provincial public opinion and instead look at the bigger picture.

a, Science & Technology

The science of chemical warfare

by Jennifer Lee on

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As members of the international community condemn the horrific chemical attacks on the suburbs of Damascus, Syria that began Aug. 18, the past few days have cast a spotlight on the mechanisms behind chemical warfare. The recent series of events in Syria have reopened an analysis as to what exactly makes chemical weapons so much more immoral than those employed in conventional artillery warfare.

 

Why the distinction between ‘chemical’ and ‘conventional’ arms? 

Chemical agents conjure a certain psychological terror among civilians in part due to the entirely indiscriminate nature of gas attacks, and the fact that often no smell, sight, or even sound precedes the victim’s imminent death. If not a clean death, the sheer physical brutality of chemical maiming is cruel and usually carries long-term generational and environmental effects.

Often referred to as the ‘poor man’s weapon of mass destruction,’ critics, such as political scientist Dominic Tierney claim Western powers are quick to condemn the use of chemicals due to the vast array of powerful and expensive conventional arms these countries hold at their advantage.

“In fact, people likely die more quickly and in less pain from sarin poisoning than if they bled to death from a shrapnel wound,” said Stan Brown, a chemistry professor and chemical weapons expert at Queen’s University in an interview with the National Post.

Still, there is a remarkably low technological and monetary barrier preventing rogue actors from obtaining chemical weaponry in very large quantities. Many technologies, equipment, and materials used throughout the world for civilian purposes can easily be gathered to produce and manufacture chemical weapons agents, and there lies its greatest threat. An artillery shell the size of a suitcase full of sarin gas is lethal enough to kill an entire football stadium of civilians—a much greater effect than explosives of equivalent size.

By understanding the biological mechanisms of these chemical agents, research quickly illuminates why and how chemical weaponry pose such a threat.

 

Sarin gas

Widely suspected as the chemical employed in Damascus last week in the killing of 1,500 civilians, sarin gas affects the nerve endings of victims’ muscles through the nervous system. Eyewitness’ accounts of the recent attacks relay harrowing images of children running from their houses, convulsing, and gasping for breath before collapsing to the floor. Typically, sufferers experience frightening symptoms, such as foaming at the mouth and violent full-body convulsions. At high enough doses, sarin ultimately results in asphyxiation.

Under normal conditions, nerve cells release the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, a molecule that transmits signals from neurons to cells, to stimulate the muscle. The neurotransmitter crosses a tiny gap, known as a synapse, binding to the surface of adjacent muscle cells in order to excite the tissue and facilitate muscular movement. Then the enzyme acetylcholinesterase quickly degrades the acetylcholine in the synapse to prevent overstimulation of the cell, and relax the muscles.

The chemical compound, sarin, inhibits acetylcholinesterase. Therefore, when sarin gas enters the nervous system, it prevents acetylcholinesterase from degrading acetylcholine. A dangerous build up of acetylcholine can occur within minutes, resulting in a continual excitatory response in the muscles. This stimulation causes muscle seizures and impairs the respiratory system, ultimately resulting in respiratory arrest and the victim’s death.

In addition to its use in Damascus, sarin gas was employed in Iraq by Iraqi military forces against the Kurds in the 80’s, along with a number of cult terrorist attacks in Japan in the 90’s in an effort to bring down the government and install the group’s founder as the ‘emperor’ of Japan.

 

Mustard gas

Sulfur mustard carries an odor resembling that of mustard plants or horseradish; it is a potent vesicant—a chemical agent that produces blistering on exposed skin and mucosal membranes.

Often, mustard gas is used medicinally in wart removal. However, ingestion of even a very small amount of the compound can be fatal, leaving soldiers and civilians with painful internal and external disfigurations.

Upon entering the body, the chemical reacts with the water surrounding the body’s cells and loses a chloride ion, leaving behind an ion intermediate that reacts quickly with a number of enzymes and proteins on cell surfaces. Since this chemical process occurs most quickly in warm, moist conditions, the mucous membranes, eyes and respiratory tract are the most affected areas of the body. However, much is still unknown about the exact mechanism of tissue injury. The chemical can also mutate nucleotides—organic molecules that form the basic building blocks of DNA; this explains the long-term carcinogenic properties of mustard gas.

Since its first use in World War I, documented mustard gas use includes the Iran-Iraq war in 1984. In recent weeks, French intelligence has accused the Syrian Assad regime of having stockpiled 1,000 tonnes of both sarin and mustard gas, but this claim is still under much contention.

a, Sports

Fall team previews: part II

by Mayaz Akanm Ben Carter-Whitney, Remi Lu & Wyatt Fine-Gagné on

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Redmen rugby

Entering yet another season as the defending RSEQ champions, the Redmen (1-0-0) have something of a dynasty to uphold. Last year came right down to the wire as the team forfeited the first half of its otherwise undefeated season due to an ineligible player, but came roaring back to win the rest of its games. The icing on the cake was beating cross-town rivals Concordia in the final, securing a seventh consecutive RESQ title.

Although a sizeable number of players from last year’s roster were lost to graduation, expectations for McGill are lofty. Fortunately, the team is showing no signs of loosening its grip on what has been, in the last decade, McGill’s championship to lose. A strong contingent of returning starters, including last year’s MVP Cameron Perrin, will seek to step forward both on the field and in the locker room to make sure that a winning culture remains.

Head Coach Craig Beemer also returns for his sixth year at the helm, bringing with him an incredible 66-6 coaching record. Beemer has expressed confidence both in this year’s squad and in the continued depth of developing talent in McGill’s program.

The Redmen shrugged off any remaining fears of a championship hangover on Friday, opening their season with a 7-5 win over the Sherbrooke Vert et Or. McGill’s next challenge will be the Montreal Carabins (0-0-1) as the teams take to Stade CEPSUM on Sept. 15.

 

Marlet rugby (Sarah Papadopoli / McGill Tribune)

New Head Coach Matthew Stephens steps into his first role as a CIS head coach. His main challenge will be to coax consistency out of a squad that has lost in the RSEQ semi-finals five straight years. Too often last year, the Martlets, “stooped to the level of another team or let [the opponent] control the game,” according to starting-wing Deanna Foster.

Foster, a sophomore political science major, commented that the team is trying to “play the game to our strengths,” by “exploiting the whole field[…] because we are fast and have the skills to[…]send the other team a message in the first 10 minutes of the game.”

Emily Barber, a junior hooker, says the team is intent on not following in the footsteps of its predecessors. “The biggest challenge[…]is remaining focused and committed to getting better each and every game of the season,“ Barber said.

Luckily for Stephens he welcomes back a skilled crew from last year’s team, including standouts Barber, Brianna Miller, and Caroline Suchorski, all of whom hope to build off of a successful summer spent representing Team Canada in international play.

The trio highlights a veteran core that looks to improve on last year’s tumultuous season. Miller, a fly-half who earned All-Canadian and RSEQ Player-of-the-Year honours, will lead a group of backs that should light up the scoreboard on a consistent basis.

The shift in outlook has so far proven to be successful as McGill (1-1) blew out the Sherbrooke Vert et Or 48-12 to kick off the RSEQ season. If Stephens can help the squad achieve its vast potential, the Martlets have a chance to win the RSEQ championship and emerge as a dark-horse candidate at Nationals.

 

(Mike King / McGill Tribune)Redmen lacrosse 

The Redmen Lacrosse season ended with a poetic finish, in which McGill captain Jishan Sharples scored the game-winning goal against the University of Western Ontario to win the previously elusive Baggataway Cup. Sharples, who had once planned to attend Western Ontario, decided instead to take his talents to McGill. The team finished with a 9-1 overall record to end atop the Eastern Conference, setting a lofty precedent for this year.

The Redmen (2-0) enter the season with a roster filled both with youthful talent and hardened veterans. Though the team has lost Sharples; all-time leading scorer Ryan Besse; and All-Canadians Kyle Robinson and Jeff O’Neil, the Redmen still have a good number of veterans to help anchor the team. Furthermore, McGill has a young and exciting group of rookies and sophomores whose development will provide excellent depth for a squad with championship aspirations.

McGill’s success last season stemmed from its team-first mentality and outstanding offensive and defensive cohesiveness. The veteran presence on the team will continue to keep the offence composed, hopefully maintaining the spectacular Redmen passing game. The fresh young talent adds an explosive component that can complement and enhance last season’s team dynamic.

The season has so far been promising for McGill, with statement victories against the Trent Excalibur and Queen’s Gaels. The games have shown the strength of the Redmen depth at midfield, with the McGill players wearing down the opposition and gritting out tough games. Standout goalie and third-year philosophy major Riley McGillis, has continued his unparalleled performance around the league, validating his 2011 Goalie-of-the-Year award.

An examination of the CUFLA this season shows that McGill has a good chance of repeating as champions. As it stands right now, the Western Conference is wide open, but it is safe to say that the East will be McGill’s to lose.

McGill plays its home-opener at Molson Stadium against the Concordia Stingers this Saturday, Sept. 14 at 6:00 p.m.

 

Redmen Baseball(Benjamin Gordon / McGill Tribune)

The 2012 season saw the McGill Redmen (1-1) reach the CIBA National semifinals before falling to eventual champions St. Clair College.

Entering his second year at the position, Head Coach Jason Starr has high hopes for his squad. While the team lost a few key veterans in the off-season, its core remains largely intact.

This season represents a transition year in terms of leadership, with players such as sophomore Tyler Welence taking a more prominent role both on and off the field. The Redmen should also benefit from the return of former CIBA All-Canadian Channing Arndt, who spent the past two years at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee.

This year’s rookie class is one of the strongest in recent memory. With a few players slated to be key contributors, and more than a few prospects in the mix, the depth and talent on this team should match any Redmen team of the past few years.

Third-year starting pitcher Elliott Ariganello is not shy about goals for the team.

“We definitely have big expectations this season. We have a few additions to the rotation and a solid line-up, top to bottom. We’re certainly looking to play for a National Championship.”

A strong start to the season is more important than ever as the traditionally strong Northern Conference will become even more difficult with the addition of a team from the Université de Montréal. Unlike many teams in their inaugural seasons, the Carabins should be quite competitive. Cross-town rivals Concordia have also improved with a solid rookie-class of their own.

A tough conference will mean the Redmen may face multiple obstacles on the road to repeating last season’s success. However, despite the stiffer competition, the Redmen have enough potential that, when healthy, a national championship is a realistic possibility.

a, News

Fortier begins term as principal

by Sam Pinto on

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On Sept. 5, Dr. Suzanne Fortier began her five-year term as McGill’s principal and vice chancellor, succeeding Principal Heather Munroe-Blum, whose term ended on June 30. Fortier is the 17th person—and the second woman— to fill the position.

“Dr. Fortier was selected based on her outstanding scholarship, commitment to academic excellence, and demonstrated ability to lead McGill,” states the email to the McGill community on March 5 announcing her appointment. “She is well known as a leader and passionate advocate of higher education and research in Canada and internationally, and has demonstrated success in building collaborative partnerships.”

A two-time alma mater of McGill, Fortier previously held the position of president of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). Other positions she has held include vice principal (Academic) at Queen’s University, as well as membership on the boards of the Canada Foundation for Innovation, Genome Canada, and the Canada Research Chairs.

On her first day on the job, Fortier sent an email to the McGill community in which she expressed excitement and enthusiasm for returning to McGill.

“I have greatly benefited from my education at McGill,” she wrote. “It opened doors that I could not even have imagined as a young woman growing up in a small Quebec village, from working with a future Nobel Prize laureate to being the president of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.”

Fortier has posted a schedule on the McGill website of all of her public appearances at McGill events over the next few months. One of the first events she attended was the Shaughnessy Cup football game against Concordia last Friday. Wearing a Redmen jersey, she posed for a photo with the football team while holding the trophy after McGill’s 32-19 win.

Other upcoming events that Fortier plans to attend include the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Activities Night, a lunch organized for the entire McGill community, and an International Student Services Reception for new international students.

In anticipation of their new relationship, Secretary General of the Post-Graduate Students Society (PGSS) Jonathan Mooney expressed confidence that his working-relationship with Dr. Fortier would be a productive one.

“I hope to work with Mme. Fortier on Board [of Governors] and Senate to enhance opportunities for critical discussion and engagement at these governing bodies,” he said. “My goal is to build a relationship characterized by transparency and trust so that we can collaborate freely on issues of common interest.”

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