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a, Sports

NHL preview

by Drew Allen, Wyatt Fine-Gagné, Benjamin Follows, Osama Haque, Anthony Snell, David Stein on

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Western Conference

Central Division 

Chicago Blackhawks: Can you say back-to-back championships? Because that’s what the Blackhawks have been thinking of all summer. With an amazing array of offence and defence, the Blackhawks aren’t worried about just getting by in the regular season. Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, and Patrick Sharp headline what is undoubtedly the best top six in the Western Conference. In addition, their rich offence is matched by one of the best defensive lineups in the NHL, with both Jonny Oduya and Duncan Keith anchoring their back line. Meanwhile, between the pipes, Corey Crawford isn’t half bad either.  They have speed, power, and finesse. The only question now is, can they be stopped?

Colorado Avalanche: After a disappointing season that was mercifully shortened due to the lockout, the Avalanche hope to turn a new leaf entering the 2013-2014 campaign. Over the summer, legendary alumni Patrick Roy and Joe Sakic assumed important roles within the organization, in a move designed to energize both the players and the fans. Colorado then selected Nathan MacKinnon first overall in the draft with the hope that the skilled centre will turn out to be another star in their already-strong nucleus of young players. Twenty-year-old captain Gabriel Landeskog is also looking to dominate this season after struggling with injuries for most of last year. The Avalanche look to have some serious dark horse potential in the West this season if Roy can bring the same intensity and competitive drive to coaching as he did when he strapped on the pads.

Dallas Stars: After missing the playoffs for the fifth consecutive year, the Dallas Stars’ push for the playoffs this year began in the off-season with a major shake-up of their roster. The acquisitions of Sergei Gonchar, Tyler Seguin, and Shawn Horcoff bring a mix of youth and leadership to an otherwise lackluster Dallas offence. The addition of Lindy Ruff behind the bench provides Dallas with a seasoned head coach who knows how to win not only in the regular season, but the playoffs as well. While these new acquisitions provide the Stars with a flurry of new weapons, their road back to the post-season will be a challenge in the highly competitive Western Conference.

Minnesota Wild: In the summer of 2012, the Wild spent over $200 million to snag two NHL superstars: Minnesota-born Zach Parise, and star blue-liner Ryan Suter. It seems the team is hoping its investment will finally translate into a winning season. The only major personnel changes in 2013 were the acquisition of center Jason Pominville and Matt Cooke. Young forward Mikael Granlund should provide a burst of talent, eager to make his mark on the NHL in his first full season. Nonetheless, the Wild are a few players short of making a real playoff push; a lack of depth and size will probably deny them a chance from sneaking into the playoffs.

Nashville Predators: The Predators are once again in dire need of some offensive firepower this year to compete with the rest of the league. Their off-season moves were little help—it will be a miracle if new signing Matt Cullen can even hit 35 points this season. The team’s chances lie on the shoulders of younger players such as Colin Wilson, Craig Smith, and Seth Jones. Nashville should have no problems defending in its own zone thanks to the superstar combo of Shea Weber and Pekka Rinne. It can only get better for the lowest scoring team in the league as they hope to climb out of the league’s cellar.

St. Louis Blues: Alex Pietrangelo, Kevin Shattenkirk, and Jay Bouwmeester—three All-Star calibre defencemen—are ready to headline the Blues’ attempt to ascend to the top of the Central Division. On paper, St. Louis has the capacity to dominate games defensively. If the offence can follow captain David Backes’ example and put points on the scoreboard, the Blues will be in good position. All they need now is to solidify their options in net, and St. Louis will have all the pieces to make a deep run in the post-season.

Winnipeg Jets: In order for the Winnipeg Jets to make a serious run at the playoffs this season, a lot will have to go right for the organization. Specifically, the Jets will rely upon goaltender Ondrej Pavelic to deliver top-notch performances on a nightly basis. Offensively, the Jets will need to find secondary scoring, a factor that eluded them last season. The Jets also have to make sure that they use home-ice to their advantage this year (the MTS Center is one of the loudest buildings in the NHL). If the Jets can stay healthy and get off to a good start, they will have a chance to compete in the Western Conference playoff race.

 

Pacific Division 

Anaheim Ducks: An impressive regular season earned the Anaheim Ducks the second seed in the Western Conference. However, a first round upset to the Detroit Red Wings erased the sense of accomplishment. The Ducks’ star duo of Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry remains, while starting goaltender Jonas Hiller should provide another solid season in net. The biggest question mark for Anaheim will be their defence, as veteran Sheldon Souray is likely out until January, and Francois Beauchemin is returning to the ice this season after knee surgery. As long as Getzlaf and Perry can offset the offensive loss of winger Bobby Ryan the Ducks should erase the dismay of last season and make a deep playoff run.

(via The Canadian Press)
(via The Canadian Press)

Calgary Flames: Calgary’s future looks bleak as Jarome Iginla and Mikka Kiprusoff­—two fan favourites who have embodied Flames hockey for a decade­—are no longer with the organization. Without any major signings, the Flames seem content to continue rebuilding. They have a few good prospects in the pipeline, but lack the seasoning to make an impact this season. Flames fans will be spending most of this season watching their goaltender try to keep pucks out of the net. KHL star Karri Rämö will compete with Joey MacDonald for the honour to mask the mistakes of a talent deprived squad. If Calgary somehow makes it out of the NHL’s bottom five, the season will be deemed a success.

Edmonton Oilers: Every avid hockey fan has been patiently waiting for Edmonton to finally have its dominant breakout season. With budding superstars Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins anchoring their top six, the sky is the limit for this team. Young defenceman Justin Schultz will look to match last year’s point production and hopefully contribute defensively in his own zone. With the additions of veteran defenceman and new captain Andrew Ference, along with winger David Perron, the Oilers just might have what it takes to finally make a respectable playoff push. The only question that remains is whether goaltender Devan Dubnyk has the ability to carry an Oilers team brimming with potential to their first playoff berth since 2007.

Los Angeles Kings: Coming off a fifth-place finish in the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Kings hope to bring back their fortunes of two years ago when they won the Stanley Cup. The Kings should be primed for another playoff run with the core of their title winning lineup still intact. Just as any championship team will tell you, the Kings’ success this year will depend largely on the play of goaltender, Jonathan Quick, a former Conn Smythe Trophy winner. Quick hopes to build upon his previous years of success and prove his status as an elite NHL goaltender and should lead Los Angeles deep into the post-season once again.

Phoenix Coyotes: The Phoenix Coyotes aim to return to the playoffs after a disappointing 10th-place finish in the lockout-shortened season. The Coyotes were relatively quiet in the offseason, as they believe they have a roster that can contend in the Western Conference. After all, it is virtually the same roster that captured a division title only two years ago. The one splash that the Coyotes did make was the addition of veteran forward Mike Ribeiro, who will provide a calming presence to the team. With a full training camp and complete 82-game season, the Coyotes feel confident that they will be able to return to the playoffs.

 San Jose Sharks: After an upset sweep of the third-seeded Vancouver Canucks in last year’s playoffs and a narrow Game 7 loss to the Kings, the San Jose Sharks are looking to carry the momentum of its unexpected playoff run into this upcoming season. With nine consecutive playoff appearances under its belt, San Jose is still chasing after the franchise’s first Stanley Cup Championship. With young stars Logan Couture and Joe Pavelski locked in for the foreseeable future, as well as veteran leadership from Joe Thornton and Antti Niemi, the San Jose Sharks will undoubtedly be a force to contend with in the Western Conference.

Vancouver Canucks: The ever unpredictable John Tortorella debuts behind the bench for the Canucks this season. Vancouver’s notoriously critical fans and media should prepare for insult and belittlement at the hands of their extremely vocal coach. Vancouverites will be relieved to finally begin a season with a clear-cut option for no. 1 goaltender, Cory Schneider. Vancouver opted to trade Schneider and keep perennial scapegoat Roberto Luongo. Offensively, Swedish twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin will spearhead the squad once more along with gritty forward Ryan Kesler. If Luongo can finally live up to his $6.7 million contractg and the team as a whole starts playing with more heart, then a trip to the Western Conference finals is not out of the question.

 

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

Boston Bruins: It’s very rare that a Stanley Cup runner-up makes it back to the final, but that is the task at hand for the Bruins this year. The off-season was a welcome period of rest for a roster that was hobbling by the end of the playoffs. The team returning this year is largely the same, although one-time future of the franchise Tyler Seguin was shipped to Dallas after a poor playoff performance and reports of off-ice problems. Loui Eriksson came back the other way and should provide offence as well as a veteran presence on the wing. Jarome Iginla, who spurned the Bruins at last year’s trade deadline, brings veteran leadership to a squad that has the capability to win it all.

Buffalo Sabres: Rebuilding is the name of the game in Buffalo. The Sabres have missed the playoffs in four of the past six years, and last season brought significant changes. Long-time coach Lindy Ruff was fired and Ron Rolston, coach of their AHL affiliate, was brought in as the interim head coach. The team’s core remains largely unchanged, but rumours of the exits of Thomas Vanek and Ryan Miller floated around during the off-season and will only continue with the two slated to hit free agency following this season. If Buffalo’s playoff chances disappear early, both Vanek and Miller could find themselves on the block as the team moves towards a younger core.

Detroit Red Wings:  Last season provided a scare for the most consistent franchise in the NHL, with the team just scraping into the playoffs and falling in the second round. As always, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg will be the ones leading the charge once the puck drops this year. On top of that, a savvy front office was able to add Daniel Alfredsson and Stephen Weiss to supplement the production of the fan favourites. Defensively, Niklas Kronwall leads a unit that should play with the tenacity and grit that the ‘hockeytown’ loves to see. Detroit will undoubtedly make the playoffs once again on the backs of their veterans, but lack the youth to sustain a deep post-season run.

Florida Panthers:  After signing veteran goaltender Tim Thomas to a one-year deal, some intrigue will definitely surround the Panthers this year. However, most people would agree that the team’s core is not ready to challenge for a post-season position in the immediate future. Despite a wealth of young talent in their system, they are probably still a few years away from contending in the newly formatted Atlantic division. Many of the components from Florida’s 2012 squad that won the Southeast Division are still in place, but unless a lot goes right for the Panthers as it did then, it will likely be another long season in Sunrise.

Montreal Canadiens: It has now been more than 20 years since the Habs last won a Stanley Cup. The team that finished second place last season has fans hoping that the end of that drought is just around the corner. Veterans Daniel Briere and Douglas Murray were brought in and should be welcome improvements over the outgoing Michael Ryder and Tomas Kaberle. The young core of Alex Galchenyuk, Brendan Gallagher, and P.K. Subban will also benefit from another year of development. The Canadiens limped into the post-season last year, bringing about questions as to how they would have fared over a full 82-game season. They are not the division favourites, but the Habs should be strong nonetheless.

Ottawa Senators: Despite being plagued by injuries Ottawa managed to squeak into the playoffs last season, largely due to a strong defence. Key players Jason Spezza, Erik Karlsson, and goaltender Craig Anderson all missed significant time but are healthy to begin this season. The Senators also enter the post-Daniel Alfredsson era, as the captain of 13 years left for Detroit in the off-season. The Sens traded for right-winger Bobby Ryan, which should help fill the hole Alfredsson leaves on the first line. Clarke MacArthur will also help generate offence, which was a weak point last season. Provided they can stay healthy, Ottawa should be a playoff team.

Tampa Bay Lightning: The Lightning will be looking to turn the corner this season after buying out long-time captain and fan-favorite Vincent Lecavalier over the summer. The team is still thin on the blueline and lacks a bona fide number one goalie, despite Ben Bishop’s occasional flashes of brilliance. In Vinny’s absence, it is expected that the team’s 2009 second overall pick Victor Hedman will take on a more prominent role this year. With Steven Stamkos and Martin St Louis still on board, the Lightning shouldn’t have any problems scoring, but their offensive prowess will likely not be enough to get the Bolts into the playoffs this season.

Toronto Maple Leafs: The Leafs surprised many last year with a fifth-place finish and a trip to the playoffs. However, significant regression could be in store for Toronto this season. They were consistently outshot, and advanced statistics suggest that the team was quite lucky. Dave Nonis was one of the busier GMs this past off-season, trading for goaltender Jonathan Bernier and centre Dave Bolland, signing free agent David Clarkson, and re-signing several core players. While certainly improved, the Leafs still lack a true top-line centre and sit too close to the salary cap to make any significant moves. That said, this is still a fast, young team that could sneak into the playoffs and pose problems for their opposition.

 

Metropolitan Division

Carolina Hurricanes: Expectations are raised this season in Carolina as Kirk Muller begins his first full 82-game season behind the Hurricanes bench. The squad is counting on goaltender Cam Ward to have a bounce-back season if it plans on fighting for a playoff spot. Up front, the team will be highly dependent on the Staal brothers, Jeff Skinner and Alexander Semin to carry the load offensively. Ex-Hab Mike Komisarek will try to re-establish himself as an NHL-caliber defenceman after a disastrous stint with the Maple Leafs. If it all falls into place, the Hurricanes have a chance to sneak into the playoffs.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Believe it or not, the Jackets might actually be a threat this year. By signing one of the hottest free agents, Nathan Horton, they are looking more and more like contenders. The acquisition is indicative of how far the Jackets have come. They finally have an offensive lineup that can produce. Their defence is equally dependable, with Jack Johnson and James Wisneiwski leading a stout backline. Backing them up is Vezina Trophy winner, Sergei Bobrovsky, who returns for another season with the Jackets. With all that said, Columbus has a solid chance of making the playoffs this season.

New Jersey Devils:  The scoring struggles that plagued the Devils last season have only been accentuated over the summer as top offensive threats, Ilya Kovalchuk and David Clarkson, have departed. The team will count on off-season acquisitions Jaromir Jagr and Ryan Clowe to add a desperately-needed scoring touch. Elsewhere, a strong defensive core that held opponents to a league-low 23 shots per game last season returns its key components and welcomes goaltender Cory Schneider. If the Devils can’t solve their offensive woes, they will miss the playoffs for the third time in four years.

New York Islanders:  The Islanders managed to end a six-year playoff drought last season, and are expected to improve upon the result. Superstar John Tavares will be under pressure to perform not only as an elite scorer but also as a leader, taking over from former captain Mark Streit, who left for Philadelphia this summer. Streit’s departure also leaves a hole on the blueline that was not filled over the off-season. Instead, the defence will rely on the development of younger players such as Matt Donovan and Griffin Reinhart.  If the Islanders want to win a playoff series for the first time since 1993, they will need to continue to mature as a squad.

New York Rangers: The Alain Vigneault experiment will certainly be interesting. The new head coach will allow for more freedom, and focus on individual play more than former bench boss John Tortorella. The keys for success will hinge on offensive output, as goaltender Henrik Lundqvist is one of the league’s best and has the luxury of playing behind a stout defence. Vigneault will attempt to get the most out of his star forwards, and also fix a powerplay that was among the league’s worst in the lockout-shortened season. Although they have the ability to be a top contender, it is more likely that the Rangers will spend the season fighting for a spot in the post-season.

Philadelphia Flyers: After missing the playoffs for only the second time since 1994, the Flyers had a busy off-season. They added two crucial veterans in centre Vincent Lecavalier and defenceman Mark Streit. The Flyers biggest move of the summer, however, was buying out the remaining portion of goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov’s contract. They begin the season with two solid options to replace him in Steve Mason and Ray Emery, both of whom have had success starting in the past. Although the Flyers are not considered favourites to lift the Stanley Cup, they could get hot at the right time and make a lot of noise in the playoffs.

Pittsburgh Penguins: The Pittsburgh Penguins ended last season on a sour note, suffering a sweep at the hands of the Bruins in the Eastern Conference Finals. Their elimination can be attributed to two main factors—a lack of scoring and poor goaltending. If the Penguins hope to hoist the Stanley Cup this season, their star-studded offence must find a way to produce against physically imposing teams. At the other end of the ice, goaltender Marc-André Fleury must rekindle the consistent brilliance that he displayed during Pittsburgh’s 2009 championship. If the Penguins play up to their potential this season, they will once again be a favourite to win the Stanley Cup.

Washington Capitals: The Washington Capitals will once again be an offensive juggernaut. With Alexander Ovechkin leading the charge following an MVP  winning season, the team should light up the scoreboard more often than not. Mikhail Grabovski will look to bounce back this season, mitigating the loss of Mike Ribeiro to unrestricted free agency this summer. In net, Braden Holtby will try to solidify himself as the team’s undisputed number one goaltender. Overall though, Washington’s success will depend on its ability to shed its historical choking habit in the playoffs.

a, News

Dean of Medicine discusses challenges facing the faculty

by Emma Windfeld on

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Changes to the Faculty of Medicine

On Sept. 26, David Eidelman, vice-principal (health affairs) and dean of the Faculty of Medicine, announced changes to the faculty at the first Board of Governors meeting this academic year. The curriculum for the four-year undergraduate medical program offered by McGill’s Faculty of Medicine has undergone a major revision for the first time in 15 years, according to Eidelman. Changes include an increased focus on primary care and working in inter-professional teams.

The Faculty of Medicine currently faces challenges due to reduced funding. Additionally, the MUHC’s move to Glen Campus represents great opportunities, but also a shift in the practice of medicine that must be planned for and adapted to, according to Eidelman.

“[We’re in a] tough political environment, one in which the value of research and training individuals to build social capital is being challenged,” Eidelman said.

Eidelman also mentioned the proposed Charter of Values, which would limit the ability of public sector employees to wear conspicuous religious symbols or clothing in the workplace.

“This would have a devastating effect for our faculty,” Eidelman said.

Eidelman also announced that the Faculty of Medicine’s admission process will undergo its periodic external review on Oct. 8. The review will be led by Harold Reiter, the head of admissions services for DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University. Armand Aalamian, a general practitioner in McGill’s Department of Family Medicine, will act as an internal reviewer.

“We regularly review all of our programs, typically every five years or so or when required in the context of a change or renewal of leadership,” Eidelman said. “As at least five years have passed since the last time we did this for admissions, we are doing it now.”

 

New Mental Health Program

Provost Anthony Masi announced that Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) Ollivier Dyens is designing a new program to deal with mental health issues on campus, in response to an increase in the number of people seeking help for mental health problems across the country.

“The program is oriented towards stressors for students,” Masi said. “[Mental health is] one of the main stressors at the university.”

The program will be officially announced at the joint Board of Governors-Senate meeting on Nov. 12.

a, Arts & Entertainment

Letters to My Grandma: a story of racial bias, love, and amnesty

by Haviva Yesgat on

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Award-winning Indo-Canadian playwright, Anusree Roy, has crafted a slightly humorous—yet incredibly captivating—one-woman play. Letters to My Grandma triggers sentiments of fear, horror, and awe.

Roy introduces viewers to a young Indian woman by the name of Malobee. While aiming to build a new life in Montreal, she struggles to adapt to Canadian society.  Like her Hindu grandmother during the Indian partition in 1947, Malobee is faced with the prospect of living in a world that is not as accepting as she may have wished. Presented with a grandmother’s heartbreaking story of survival and sacrifice in this period, audiences are forced to question whether people’s judgment of one another has really changed over generations since.

The Teesri Duniya Theatre company is used to dealing with similar subject matter. It is dedicated to promoting and producing works that are socially relevant within various cultures. Established in 1981 as a South Asian theatre company, it now claims to promote multiculturalism, multilingualism, and acceptance among nations.

Although Letters to My Grandma is a multi-generational story presented to spectators in a fractured narrative, the impeccable acting put forth by the gifted Sehar Bojhani makes it fairly easy to follow. Having taken part in productions such as The Life of Jude and The Taming of the Shrew, she is able to brilliantly capture the personas of the four distinctive characters. Perfecting postures, accents, and character nuances, this one-woman show exceptionally showcases the different facets of the narrative. Bojhani’s talent of drawing people into the emotions of four different and uniquely lively women results in giggles, enchantment, and disbelief among the audience.

Letters to My Grandma features a modest set.  Decorated with orange and red Indian drapes, set designer Stephanie Lambert and director Lib Spry must be commended for a rare form of subtle yet notable creativity. Whether situated in India’s treacherous war zones or Malobee’s humble bedroom, the set does a fine job of taking on the role of exceptionally different environments. For instance, Malobee’s bed easily takes on the form of a horrifically daunting escape truck. The crew’s proficient transformation of a simple North American bedroom into a 1947 Indian war zone is impressive. Its simplicity allows the audience to dive further into their imagination.

Coincidentally, the presentation of Letters to My Grandma comes with impeccable timing. With much controversy surrounding Quebec’s Charter of Values, the performance of this play in Montreal stands for more than just entertainment. After a well-deserved standing ovation for the cast and crew, a few words of reinforcement were shared with viewers.

“This is for Pauline,” says Rahul Varma, creative director of the Teesri Duniya Theatre, to the audience, pointing at the kurta pajama he wears. As an attentive audience listens he continues, “Equality doesn’t come by removing the hijab, it comes from removing the prejudice.”

This brief yet striking statement was followed by heavy applause, reminding people that Malobee’s obstacles are, in fact, extremely relevant.

Roy says that she has one main objective with her work: “I want people to know that change is possible no matter what.”

Letters to My Grandma plays until Oct. 13 at Centre Culturel Calixa-Lavallée (parc Lafontaine). Student tickets are $15 with valid photo ID.

a, Opinion

The Blackberry slump

by Julie Vanderperre on

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Blackberry, the Canadian tech giant that once led global smartphone sales, has experienced a steep decline over the past three years. The company’s employees are facing huge layoffs, and its stock has dwindled below $9 per share. Despite this dismal deterioration—or perhaps because of it—Blackberry’s largest shareholder, Fairfax Financial Holdings, has offered to take Blackberry private in a $4.7 billion deal.

In the face of such a severe slump, Fairfax Financial CEO Prem Watsa, the so-called “Warren Buffet of Canada,” seems confident in his company’s ability to revive Blackberry’s stagnant situation. His optimism can be attributed to several significant assets that Blackberry still has.  Among these is Blackberry’s powerful security system; a huge attraction for businesses and government clients.  Second is Blackberry’s patent portfolio, which gives the company legal ownership of a wealth of intellectual property.

One branch of the company that Watsa is not particularly eager to acquire, however, is Blackberry’s hardware division.  In the past four years, Blackberry’s smartphone market share has dwindled from nearly 50 per cent in 2009 to roughly 3 per cent currently; the largest decline that any smartphone maker has seen. If the takeover goes forward, it is highly unlikely that Fairfax Financial will continue to produce Blackberry handhelds.

The deterioration of Blackberry as a leading smartphone maker can be attributed to certain shortcomings on the part of the company, as well as powerful competition from competitors, namely Apple and Google’s Android operating system. One underlying flaw was Blackberry’s complacency. In the rapidly evolving smartphone industry, the ability to innovate and adapt to changes in consumer preferences is paramount. Apple revolutionized the smartphone industry with its sleek, streamlined, and easily navigable iPhones, and the Android offered increased functionality with its versatile, easily modified operating systems. Blackberry, which was both reluctant to abandon its signature keypad, and adamant in clinging to its niche of phones catered to businesspeople, quickly fell behind.

By the time that Blackberry finally released the Z10 last February, its first phone without a keypad and first new operating system in two years, it was already too late.  Apple was already on its sixth generation iPhone, and Android had released several updates for the fourth version of its mobile operating system.

More recently, Apple’s latest iPhone release, as well as its heavily redesigned operating software, iOS 7, has completely overshadowed Blackberry as a contender in the smartphone market.  Apple sold nine million of its new iPhones in the first weekend, compared to 2.7 million Blackberry 10 devices in the entire first quarter.

Blackberry’s reign as a leader in the smartphone market has come to a close.  However, whether Fairfax Financial can actually restore some of the Canadian tech company’s former glory in its other divisions, or if the buyout is simply a last-ditch effort to salvage a large investment turned sour, is up for debate. A remaining source of hope for Canada’s prized technology company lies in Fairfax’s domestic approach to Blackberry’s restoration. Fairfax Financial is seeking Canadian equity, most likely in the form of pension funds, to complete the deal.

Spokesman Paul Rivett has been quoted stating that Fairfax is seeking “a strong Canadian solution” for the revival of what was once one of Canada’s most successful companies. Although it seems that Blackberry has lost its foothold in the smartphone industry in the face of American tech giants, a domestic recovery for the company’s more secure markets is possible, and could preserve Canadian influence in the global technology industry.

a, Editorial, Opinion

Mental health programs demand further action, awareness

on

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On Thursday, Sept. 19, McGill rescinded the one-time $20 fee to access its Mental Health Services (MHS), a decision that came in the wake of negative feedback about the added financial burden to users of those services. We applaud the responsiveness this decision demonstrates on the part of the university. However, it is only one small step in the right direction, and more must be done to promote wellness on campus.

The importance of mental health to McGill students was underscored by the administration’s swift about-face on the fee, which was announced at the beginning of September. These services were also a major talking point during the most recent election cycle for the executive of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU), as both presidential candidates advocated improvements to the university’s mental health services in their platforms. Last year also saw the first Mental Health Awareness Week hosted on campus.

Mental health is an issue that deserves serious consideration by the McGill community. According to statistics revealed by then-Deputy Provost for Student Life and Learning Morton Mendelson at a March Senate meeting—in response to a question from a Senate member—McGill Mental Health Services (MHS) saw a 25 per cent increase in new students and a 20 per cent increase in emergency drop-in visits from previous years.

The number of students hospitalized at the McGill University Health Center (MUHC) in the Fall 2012 term was 14—a seven-fold increase from the average of approximately one to two cases per term.

Still, mental health services are often overloaded. As of this week, wait times for initial appointments are often two and a half to three weeks. According to the statistics revealed in the March Senate meeting,  the wait time for a regular therapy visit can go as long as five weeks, and during exam periods, the wait for an initial visit goes up to six weeks. Improving these wait times would require a reallocation of the university’s already limited budgetary resources; the money to support rescinding the fee is being reshuffled from a yet-to-be-identified portion of the Student Life and Learning portfolio.

A major issue is that students  often don’t know of on-campus alternatives, such as McGill Counselling Services, a distinct branch of  McGill Student Services. Counselling takes a different approach from MHS, less focused on perscription-based solutions and more focused on  therapy. Wait times for this service are generally shorter than for MHS, with diagnostic appointments available—as of this week—as soon as a day after a drop-in intake visit.

Counselling also offers a wide array of workshops, including stress reduction techniques, and coping with perfectionism. A simple way that McGill could promote wellness is by increasing awareness of these services. Additionally, McGill could facilitate a list of off-campus mental health services, including info on fees, location, and language to increase student options.

Student-run resources include McGill Nightline, a listening  and referal service, and the Sexual Assault Centre of the McGill Students’ Society (SACOMSS). None of these services should be considered a replacement for a properly staffed MHS, but students in some situations may find these better places to seek help.

One of the most important steps toward advancing mental health at McGill is reducing the stigma associated with seeking help, and normalizing discussion of mental health on our campus. Too often, students feel ashamed in looking for guidance in times of crisis; what made the now-rescinded fee so pernicious was that it hit students right at the moment they were least equipped to deal with another roadblock getting assistance with their issues.

While students do need to seek out help, once they come to the door they should be treated with the utmost respect and humanity, traits that are often lacking from the rest of the university’s vast bureaucracy.

Talking about these issues is the first step to improving awareness. To that end, we welcome initiatives like the upcoming Students in Mind conference this weekend, Oct. 5, for opening up the conversation.

It is imperative that ongoing progress on these issues continues, even in this environment of constraint.

 

Mental Health Services at McGill
McGill Mental Health Service 514-398-6019
McGill Counselling Service 514-398-3601
McGill Nightline 514-398-6246
Sexual Assault Centre of the McGill Students’ Society 514-398-8500
a, News

Overcoming obstacles to mental health on campus

by Kathy Anduo Lui on

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Mental health issues come with a slew of negative connotations. Often people view mental illness as a single disorder instead of an umbrella term for a complex variety of distinct issues that are quite common—including eating disorders, anxiety, and attention deficit disorder.

According to a Statistics Canada Survey, mental illness is most commonly experienced  between 15 and 24 years of age. Consequently, university is the ideal place to dispel misconceptions and tackle the problems surrounding mental health.

The stigma surrounding mental health is ingrained in our everyday practices. The media industry sensationalizes the violence and unpredictability of persons with mental health conditions—for instance, Pat’s erratic behaviour in Silver Linings Playbook. These portrayals are not merely harmful in perpetuating inaccurate stereotypes, but they contribute directly to the attitudes that individuals facing mental health issues come to internalise.

“Sometimes families, or even certain cultures can be disapproving of psychological or medical interventions,” adds Dr. Robert Franck, clinical director of McGill’s Mental Health Services, in contextualizing negative perceptions.

“Many people associate seeking assitance from a mental health service as being a sign of personal weakness at best, or that they are ‘crazy’ at worst,” says Franck.

Although the origins and nature of stigma vary, it remains one of the largest barriers to students seeking much needed help.

As a university, McGill is an environment where students attempt to exude nothing less than perfection. Academic stress and anxiety mark a majority of students’ mental health issues, and many students do not articulate such troubles out of the fear of being ostracized. Indeed the scope of stigmatization and cultural norms may impede individuals from even reaching out to close family members and friends.

As difficult as it is to take that first step in seeking help, there are additional roadblocks to students seeking professional assistance.

“The biggest problem we have is our therapy wait-list,” Franck explains. “It is essential that students be able to have rapid and timely access to regular therapy sessions.” According to Franck, these wait times are not conducive to ameliorating stress levels, and can actually lend a hand in increasing them.

Aside from disheartening wait times, students have also expressed frustration with the way the professional system treats mental health problems. Emilie Macisaac, U3, said she sees health professionals as individuals who “put you in a box because they are not familiar with your personal history and will treat you as a generalized case.”

The direction in which McGill Mental Health Services are moving puts a growing emphasis on promoting positive mental health outlooks at a broader level through the creation of an inclusive campus body with strong coping capabilities. A systematic approach to campus mental health was a big topic during the Canadian Association of College and University Student Service conference held at McGill last June.

Moreover, Franck said McGill’s Mental Health Services has been awarded a five-year Bell Canada grant to create an online tool that can assess students at risk, helping the office reach more students in need. The upcoming project is planned to start in the Winter semester.

Other projects include the development of a student Peer Support Network, which includes workshops aimed at developing students’ skills in areas such as active listening, in order to enable them to talk to and help a peer in need.

Most immediately, the Students in Mind Conference is set to take place on Oct. 5. As the first student-run conference on mental health at McGill, the conference will teach concrete strategies in mental health support and care, not only for oneself but also for the larger community.

Despite the overwhelming systemic problems preventing access to mental health services, Franck believes the reality of a more open and understanding community is promising. “Fortunately, younger people are increasingly challenging these negative perceptions and trying to reach out and get connected when they are in distress,” he says.

a, Letters to the Editor, Opinion

Letter: AUS denounces barriers at Milton Gates

by Justin Fletcher on

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Dear Associate Vice-Principal Couvrette and Provost Masi,

The Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) of McGill University Legislative Council voted at the September 18 meeting to take a stance of disapproval against the erection of the new barriers at the Milton Gates, expressing concerns about accessibility, the consultation process, community relations, utility of the gates, and cost.

After consulting with the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD), it is evident that these gates do not follow the principles of Universal Design, one of which is “Size and Space for Approach and Use: appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user’s body size, posture, or mobility.”

The barriers do not consider many groups of people who enter through the Milton Gates, including but not limited to, people with physical disabilities, people with strollers, and children. The AUS has an Equity Policy, which states that the “AUS strives to create a community that exceeds social standards of equitable treatment.”

Because the barriers do not consider the needs of disadvantaged groups on the basis of physical ability and size, it is within the scope of the AUS to write such a statement to improve community standards.

The Arts Undergraduate Society, an incorporated student association that represents all B.A. and B.A. & Sc. students on campus, was neither consulted nor informed about this project. We find this problematic, as we represent 7,692 unique stakeholders in the McGill community.

Furthermore, these gates represent a symbolic division between McGill’s campus and the Montreal community, namely the neighbouring Milton-Parc Community. It is important to consider the ramifications of the subliminal message that these gates conjure for those who come to campus.

The article in the McGill Reporter states that the Gates were installed to reinforce the “walk your bike” rule on campus.

Regarding the utility of the gates, bikers’ abilities to bike directly through the gates or remount their bicycle after dismounting illustrate that the gates do not achieve their desired purpose.

We, therefore, question the dedication of financial and time resources to this project. We believe this money could have been better spent on projects that would have a more positive impact on the McGill campus.

Based on the aforementioned concerns, the Arts Undergraduate Society Legislative Council disapproves of the barriers at the Milton Gates. Before any future projects are considered and implemented to improve the safety of all members of the McGill community, we ask respectfully that you consult with students and consider the abilities, needs, and preferences of all members of the campus community.

We look forward to your response.

Justin Fletcher is the president of the Arts Undergraduate Society. This letter was submitted on behalf of the AUS Legislative Council.

a, News

What happened last week in Canada?

by Jannet Li on

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Citizenship oath ruled constitutional 

On Friday, an Ontario Superior Court ruled the Canadian citizenship oath to the Queen constitutional, despite being a violation of the right to free speech. The ruling comes after three permanent residents challenged the law that requires new citizens to take the oath, saying that they oppose the monarchy on religious or moral grounds.

The judge acknowledged that requiring the oath violates freedom of expression, but that section one of the charter allows for it on the grounds that this form of compelled speech is a “reasonable limit” to the right of expression. He said the complainants’ opposition to the oath is based on a literal understanding of the text.

“Once the Queen is understood […] as an equality-protecting Canadian institution rather than as an aristocratic English overlord, the denial of a charter freedom is reasonable,” Ontario Superior Court Justice Edward Morgan said in the ruling.

A lawyer representing the complainants told The Globe and Mail that he would urge his clients to appeal the ruling.

 

Ottawa crash raises concern over black-box rules

A bus crash in Ottawa that killed six last Wednesday has raised concerns over the lack of standard data-recording rules for buses. Unlike trains, which are required by Transport Canada to use a black box to record data, buses are not subject to recording standards.

The discussion stems from conflicting accounts of the events surrounding the crash, which involved the collision of the bus with a Via Rail train. Some eyewitnesses say the bus did not slow down, while others say the driver attempted to brake twice.

The train’s black box has already been retrieved and sent for analysis. In a locomotive, the recorder captures specific data known to specialists. However, the programming and information captured by bus’ black boxes vary by manufacturer and sometimes even by model.

Dr. Robert McElroy, a U.S. transportation safety advocate and accident reconstructionist, told CBC that implementing standards for recording devices on vehicles would give analysts more information to determine the causes of accidents and ways they can be prevented in the future.

 

Rona Ambrose speaks out against own department’s decision

Health Minister Rona Ambrose has publically criticized her own department’s decision to amend a special access program in order to provide heroin to addicts in exceptional cases.

Ambrose told The Canadian Press that other methods used to treat drug addiction, such as methadone, are effective, and that providing addicts with heroin is contrary to the ‘spirit and intent’ of the program and goes against the federal government’s anti-drug policy.

“The special access program was designed to treat unusual cases and medical emergencies; it was not intended as a way to give illicit drugs to drug addicts,” Ambrose said in a public statement on Friday.

According to The Canadian Press, it is unclear whether Ambrose intends to act against the current decision, or merely to prevent similar decisions from occurring in the future.

New Democratic Party (NDP) MP Libby Davies spoke out in favour of the program.

“Medicalized heroin maintenance has been used very successfully and in places like Europe is seen as part of treatment,” Davies said. “[This is] another example of the Conservative government ignoring sound public policy, driven by expert advice, and instead making decisions based on political dogma.”

 

B.C. cheese farm causes E. coli outbreak

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is investigating an E. coli outbreak that has been linked to the death of an elderly woman. The outbreak has been traced to Gort’s Gouda Cheese Farm in Salmon Arm, B.C.

The CFIA has recalled 15 types of raw-milk cheese products manufactured at Gort’s which were sold online and in locations throughout B.C. and Alberta between May 27 to Sept. 14. In addition to one death, the Public Health Agency of Canada has confirmed that 12 other people have fallen ill—four from B.C. and eight from Alberta.

E. coli is a bacteria that can cause food poisoning, kidney failure, and—in rare cases—death. Kathy Wikkerink, owner of the farm since 2007, apologized for the outbreak in an interview with The Vancouver Sun.

“We are so sorry and we are trying to get to the source of the E. coli, but we don’t know the source and we don’t know what happened,” she said.

 

Coca-Cola cancels campaign

Coca-Cola’s new Canadian marketing campaign was cancelled following an incident in an Edmonton restaurant where a customer discovered the words “you retard” under his Vitaminwater bottle cap. The campaign paired randomly generated English and French words under bottle caps.

Shannon Denny, Brand Communications Director for Coca-Cola Refreshments Canada, explained that the bottle caps were made with the intention that consumers could collect them and form entertaining sentences. However, the English and French words were approved separately, so in this case “retard” was meant to be understood in its French definition as “late.”

“We were really, really shocked. [We] didn’t know if this were a joke,” said Blake Loates, the wife of the customer who discovered the offensive phrase.

Loates, who has a sister who has cerebral palsy and autism, told The Vancouver Sun that her father was “appalled and hurt” when she told him about the incident, and that he wrote a letter to Coca-Cola explaining Loates’ sister’s story.

Coca-Cola Refreshments Canada will be destroying all bottles of Vitaminwater with words printed on the caps.

a, Opinion

For better schools, demand better funding

by Avik Jain on

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The Fraser Institute recently released a report advocating the implementation of merit pay in the public school system to compensate teachers based on student performance. The libertarian think tank’s findings quickly drew fire from union and left-wing commentators. The study, composed by Dr. Rodney Clifton from the University of Manitoba, also proposed abolishing teacher tenure protections so that chronically underperforming educators can be dismissed more easily.

 The Fraser Institute assumes that the introduction of merit pay would be beneficial to ensure teacher quality and student achievement. However, to enact these policies nationwide, the current system would need to be federalized at great cost. Tracking  student performance and linking it to over 700,000 teachers would require the creation of an extensive administrative bureaucracy the think tank neglected to take into account.

 On the issue of tenure, however, the unions are dead wrong. It is not hard to detect a consistently ineffective teacher. There are few other professions in which seniority trumps ability, and labour leaders need to admit that while most teachers may be in the profession for the right reasons, there are some teachers who are generally uninterested in the general performance of their students. Education graduates with stellar student-teaching credentials and a passion to instruct should not be kept out of the profession to uphold the outdated practice of tenure productions which often keep primary and secondary students languishing in stifling environments.

The unions are correct, however, in insisting that social forces outside of the classroom can hamper  teacher effectiveness. Even though Canada has lower rates of child poverty than the US, not all young Canadians have the advantages necessary for effortless academic achievement.

With a new influx of foreign competition, how Canada’s next generation performs in the classroom is crucial for maintaining our global competitiveness. Above-average rankings and adequately equipped university freshmen are not going to cut it anymore. Standards need to be raised, but a system that is too test driven, as many Asian systems are, is not the answer. Students shouldn’t fear their teachers and be forced to memorize throughout the night in cram schools. The reason western teaching methods have reached all corners of the globe is because we teach our children to think for themselves and innovate. While it’s possible to increase the frequency of standardized testing, to hold students to an arbitrary intellectual standard would be detrimental, not to mention unfeasible.

Those who tackle education from a purely corporate perspective seem to claim that by overhauling learning through their model, quality will improve at no added cost. While there is room for increased competition in the teaching profession, if we truly want to better public education, we need to increase teacher pay, better fund our schools, and focus our system on student needs. Anybody who claims that these aspirations can be achieved without significantly increased education funding needs to go back to school.

a, Arts & Entertainment

Players’ debut more than just entertaining

by Chris Lutes on

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Hearing the title of this play conjures up the image of something dreadful: a stuffy costume drama, a ‘comedy’ of errors, or a farce by some witless Oscar Wilde wannabe. Those labels couldn’t be further from the truth.

This play, after all, comes from the delightfully twisted mind of Joe Orton, the biggest rockstar in British theatre since, well, Oscar Wilde. His dialogue could be read aloud by the most amateur of community theatres and still be wildly entertaining. Thankfully, the McGill Players’ Theatre’s production of Entertaining Mr. Sloane does so much more than that, managing to elevate the material beyond its already unimpeachable status.

    The play centers around a boyish, pansexual sociopath (the titular Mr. Sloane, played by Daniel Carter) who comes into the lodging of a family comprised of a flirtatious sister (Pam Austin), a shrewd brother (Stephen Reimer), and an ailing father (Frederick Gietz). As the family members become more acquainted with Sloane, they become increasingly entangled in his web of manipulations until everything falls apart in a poignant and satisfying third act.

    The key to the story is that every character is a terrible person in one way or another—but no one is worse than Mr. Sloane. While the other characters betray each other for understandable reasons, Mr. Sloane manipulates others simply for his own amusement. Although Sloane’s lack of purpose could make the play feel aimless, director Nikolay Shargorodsky chooses to play up the sexual politics underlying the plot, which infuses the action with some needed weight and perspective.

    The performances are often pitch perfect, albeit a tad inconsistent at times. At first, Carter doesn’t seem to grasp the confidence needed for the title role, but he greatly improves by the time Act II rolls around. His performance reaches its apex in a scene where Sloane commits an act of cruelty. As the light behind his eyes extinguishes, we see just what kind of psycho we’re dealing with. This kind of acting can’t be easy to pull off—it’s a testament to Carter’s abilities that he is able to balance this dark side with a brattish impudence, never losing sight of who his character really is.

    More sympathetic is Austin, as a middle-aged divorcee and landlady to Sloane. She takes a role that could very easily become that of a cloying sexpot and manages to undercut it with a gasping loneliness that adds another dimension to the character.

    Perhaps the most consistently great performance comes from Reimer, who really understands how to sell a funny line. He has the gestures of the classic straight man, alternating proper and exasperated.

    Rounding out the cast is Gietz, who absolutely nails the physicality and frailty of his character, but tends to exaggerate dialogue that would benefit from a subtler interpretation. Altogether, the cast really sells the rhythm of the dialogue. One of the great joys of the play is seeing the characters interact in different permutations and bounce wit off of each other.

    The set itself is rather bare-boned—a few chairs, a couch, some dressers and some lamps stand atop a stark white floor. Instead of having flashy design of a big-budget play, the props act as more of a backdrop, letting the actors fill the stage with their performances (with the help of the production staff’s stellar blocking).

    The standout element of the production is the lighting. Although its function is utilitarian for the majority of its run, when it changes, it manages to alter the tone of the play, throwing shadows across the set and deepening our thematic understanding of the characters. Such added depth illustrates how much thought was put into the production.

    Overall, Entertaining Mr. Sloane is a thoroughly entertaining and engaging production and a strong start to the Players’ Theatre fall season.

    Entertaining Mr. Sloane is playing at Players’ Theatre from Sept. 25 to Sept. 28. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Student admission is $6.

 

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