The Bull & Bear: February 2014 issue

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THE BULL & BEAR

The World in 2050 Meet Molly A look at The Bull & Bear Party Culture Survey Results Grammys 2014: Macklemore Wins, Music Fans Lose A Month With The Nest

P-A-R-T-WHY?

HOOKING UP, DRINKING, DRUGS. ALL FOR WHAT?

February 2014 Issue 006 Vol. 11 bullandbearmcgill.com

A publication of the

Editor's Note

NEWS 4 A Month With the Nest 6 Redesigning McGill Housing

LIFESTYLE

8 Happy Belated Chinese New Year 9 Study Hard, Party Harder, Repeat 10 Meet Molly 12 It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

FEATURE 14 Party Foul 16 The Bull & Bear’s party culture survey results 18 Types of Partiers you Meet at McGill 19 Intern Life: Work Hard, Play Hard 21 Confessions of a Party Photographer

BUSINESS 23 Monetary Policy: The Era of the Dove 25 The World in 2050

OPINION

27 Don’t You Dare Call Me A Prude!

28 Grammys 2014: Macklemore Wins, Music Fans Lose 29 Letter: Brian Farnan’s Email Offends Me 30 Why McGill is Failing You by Not Failing You Cover Design by Sijia Ye

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April Wu, Lead Lifestyle Editor

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very weekend, students brave the snow and sleet to unwind in their own ways, whether it be chilling at a bar with friends, bonding over good food and board games, or participating in the multitude of faculty-organized drinking sprees (#carnivalwithdrawal). Partying seems to be the staple of a balanced university lifestyle, no matter what kind of party floats your boat. This month’s issue, featuring The Bull & Bear party culture survey, was conceived late one night when my roommate and I discussed everything we’ve ever wanted to know about how the typical McGill student gets down – from drinks, to drugs, to hook-ups.

I’m proud to reveal the results for The Bull & Bear party culture survey in our February issue, How McGill’s One Percent Parties.

With 552 respondents to the survey, we were able to catch a small glimpse of how McGill students typically spend their evenings. To complement the survey results, we also feature other aspects of the party life, including “Confessions of a Party Photographer”, “Party Foul: how social media is revolutionizing hiring processes”, and “Intern 101: how to successfully balance working and partying during your summer internship”.

I started as a staff writer for The Bull & Bear in my U1 year, blushing at the incredibly professional sex-themed photo shoot and survey. Now I’m on the brink of graduation, analyzing the results of my own survey and living vicariously through participants’ insane party stories. In my first and last editor’s note, I want to take this opportunity to thank every amazing member of this magazine, and I hope all our readers enjoy this issue.

Let’s yell Timber, McGill!

The Bull & Bear is published by the Management Undergraduate Society. The content of this publication is the responsibility of the Management Undergraduate Society and does not necessarily represent the views of McGill University.

Briefs Your guide to events around campus The 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi February 7th-23rd Go Team Canada! #wearewinter (Go everyone else too!)

McHacks February 22-23 With sponsors including Microsoft, Ericsson and Morgan Stanley, McHacks reminds us that those with Comp-Sci degrees are destined to make more money than the rest of us.

Montréal en Lumiere / Nuit Blanche February 20th to March 4th Stay up all night and take in the sights.

“The Games” by the AUS February 20-22 You’ve seen Management Carnival, E-Week and Science Games. Now check out what Arts has to offer.

Editorial Board Tarun Koshy Executive Editor

Marisa Samek Lifestyle Editor

William Werblow Sijia Ye Chief Layout Editors

Jonathan Craske Lead Business Editor

Alain Kasparian Nat Carson Media Editors

Stéphanie Thomas Lead Opinion Editor

Dafe Oputu Lead News Editor Shannon Epstein Tess Wrobleski News Editors April Wu Lead Lifestyle Editor

Alex Petralia Opinion Editor Flora Bertin Anthony Heinrich Hayley Lim Michelle Paspe Layout Editors Henry Fuz-Keeve Lead Web Editor

News

A Month With The Nest The new student-run cafe is already learning and changing Dafe Oputu, Lead News Editor

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n September 2010, the McGill administration closed the student-run Architecture Cafe, an event that was greeted with student protests and calls for a new student-run cafe. Over three years later, these calls were finally answered when The Nest was established in the SSMU building. Taking the place of Lola Rosa (on the Second Floor of SSMU), The Nest officially opened on January 6th.

Josh Redel the former SSMU President, is the manager of The Nest. Redel is pleased with the reception the cafe has received in its first month of operations. “We’ve had 1,400 customers,” he says, “and we’ve been hearing a lot of feedback, which is really good.”

The process behind creating a student-run cafe has been long and fraught with obstacles. In March 2012, SSMU held a case competition to receive concept ideas for the cafe. “The case competition was phase one,” said Redel, “maybe even phase zero in building a student-run cafe.”

This past summer, a special Operations Management Committee conducted market research to discover what niche the new cafe would fill. As part of the operation, Kathleen Bradley, a third year student and The Nest’s Head Chef, coordinated the cafe’s opening menu. Bradley explained the process behind designing the menu selection. “I drafted the menu based on the result of the Committee’s research,” she said, “at the same time I decided to keep it as local as possible, and make sure we’re on budget.”

Going Through Changes Even with a summer of research, The Nest has faced a few surprises with its menu. “We thought we’d be making 10 pork burritos a day,” says Redel, “we end up doing upwards of 50 a day. We’ve also had many more vegan customers than we expected so we’ve been expanding our vegan options.”

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“You can do all the market research you want,” he explains, “but you don’t know how things are going to sell until people start buying them.”

The Nest has also made changes to its scheduling and hours of operations by staying open one hour later and changing its employees’ shifts.

“We want to make sure our staff - who are all students - have time to go to class and get their assignments done,” says Redel, “at the same time they’re working to make money so we want to make sure they have the hours that they need.

In addition to Redel and Bradley, The Nest employs three cashiers and four prep cooks all of whom are students.

Positive Feedback When McGill shut down the Arch Cafe, the administration claimed that the venture was not sustainable. As part of its mission, The Nest is to be completely environmentally and economically sustainable. “Our mandate is to at least break even,” says Redel, “but we have a bit of surplus to cover any uncertainties in our first year. So far we’re doing very well with that goal.”

At the same time, Redel hopes the cafe will exceed students’ expectations for quantity, quality, price and speedy service. “What we’ve been hearing so far has been very exciting,” says Redel, “people have been commenting that the meal sizes are just right and that it’s cheaper than other places for a good product.”

As far as criticism, Redel says there have been two kinds. “In terms of regular customer criticism, it’s probably what you get anywhere: the food isn’t spicy enough or it’s too spicy. We’ve had some complaints that our bun sandwiches were too much food to eat with soup.”

“We get a bit of a retail bias,” he noted, “unless something is very wrong people aren’t likely to come back and tell you something sucks.”

News

Courtesy of Josh Redel

At a conceptual level, some students feel The Nest falls short of their expectations of a student-run Cafe. “If you’re looking at people who maybe haven’t been to the cafe,” says Redel, “the most common criticism is that it isn’t really a cafe.”

What’s Next?

The Nest has many more changes in its future. As announced last semester, SSMU expects the cafe to extend into catering for student clubs “very soon”. Redel also said The Nest would be looking to offer more treats and snacks in the near future by partnering with existing student operations.

As far as menu design goes, The Nest’s seasonal menu means Bradley’s work is still ongoing. “We have

improve in.

“It’s a very difficult dietary restriction to work with,” he admits, “gluten free bread poses some problems because it isn’t bread. It doesn’t have the same properties in terms of storing, how it works with food and of course it’s more expensive.That’s probably one of our trickier projects we’ll be working on.”

The Nest’s future also depends on what students envision for a student cafe. According to Redel, that could even mean moving the cafe to a better location.

“As far as conceptual changes that’s up to [SSMU VP Finance] Tyler [Hofmeister] and council to start conversations about what a cafe space would look like, what people want. There’s a lot there.”

“Having this counter is just another phase in the

“...People have been commenting that the meal sizes are just right and that it’s cheaper than other places for a good product.” to start thinking of what we’ll be serving next semester,” says Bradley, “but we want to keep offering the type of comfort food that students have been interested in.”

Gluten-free options are one area that Redel hopes to

The Bull & Bear - Feburary 2014

project,” he continued, “we’re doing it this way to make sure there’s demand. If we can get 1,400 customers and actual feedback we can demonstrate that there’s space for a student cafe on campus that’s true to the name.”

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News

McGill Housing Redesign Divides Residence Staff Full-time Hall Director positions become a point of contention for administration and floor fellows

Katie Tully, News Writer

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tarting in the 2014 academic year, the Hall Advisor position within McGill residences will have a new job description. The part-time hall directors in each residence will be replaced by about four fulltime hall advisors who will oversee the nine residences.

The new model will replace hall directors, who are also members of McGill faculty, with full-time professionals whose job is solely dedicated to residence life. “We need people whose full-time commitment and primary focus is residence students,” explained Janice Johnson, the Managing Director of Residence Life.

The new plan is a product of growing concerns from the administration that hall directors who are also employed as faculty members cannot be fully attentive to the needs of their students and floor fellows. Johnson explains that the changes made in the new model are focused on improving the life of students and hall directors in residence.

“Our students need more support. They’re paying a lot of money, they deserve extended programming and our current hall directors are doing their job on top of holding full-time jobs at McGill. It’s hard to ask the hall directors to give more because they’re already giving so much. I really feel it is a responsible decision to look at a more sustainable model proactively.”

Under the new model, residences will still have livein faculty members, but they will serve as more of a mentor to the students. The full-time hall director will then handle all of the disciplinary and administrative work related to the position. In a page published on the McGill housing office’s website, the administration stated that the plan will benefit the residence system by providing full-time support for those working in residence. It also

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Courtesy of Pierre -Léon states that the new model will ensure students have access to hall directors with qualifications in disciplines such as psychology and counselling.

Over the 2013-2014 academic year, the housing office launched a pilot program to test this new model: one hall director oversaw the RVC, Carrefour, and Varcity 515 residences and lived in Carrefour. New Residence has also had a full-time hall advisor overseeing the approximately 720 students in the residence since 2012.

Less is not more After experiencing the program firsthand, the floor fellows involved in the pilot project have, however, found the model to be counter-productive and insufficient. Simrin Desai, a Don at RVC, explained, “the pilot model actually seems to take more time from the director because they’re essentially working three full time jobs. The majority of Residence problems happen at similar times in the day, making it nearly impossible for the director to offer full support. One director cannot split themselves into three pieces which places a lot of pressure on us to pick up the director’s role.”

In addition, floor fellows have found it problematic that the hall directors do not necessarily live in the residences they attend to, as it leads to a lack of familiarity with the residence. “When I talk to my students and mention the directors’ name they ask: ‘who’s he?’. It’s concerning, especially when it comes to disciplinary action, because students may have a harder time respecting a director they lack a connection to,” said RVC Don Courtney Ayukawa.

Former Hall Director of Carrefour Sherbrooke Dr. Nathan Grant Smith also noted this to be a drawback

News of the new policies. “The new system will be reactive, as it is not possible for a director who oversees multiple buildings to build those relationships and to facilitate an open-door atmosphere where students and floor fellows can reach out in a safe and welcoming environment,” stated Smith.

All is not quiet on the western front The professionalization of the role of hall director also worries students that the change in policies will hurt the community that is unique to McGill Residences.

Many students are concerned that the residence system is shifting to the “best practices” model that is present in many other Canadian universities. “They’re shifting from a really awesome community model to one that is much more centralized and bureaucratic.” Former Douglas Hall President Erin Sobat explained: “the new job of the floor fellow is to regulate and to act as administrator.

This new disciplinary role will reduce floor fellows’ freedom.”

Brenda Shanahan, another former hall director at New Residence Hall is also concerned that the program will diminish the sense of community she found as a livein hall advisor. “These moments were found in all hours of the day and night. Some were wild, some were quiet, others were joyful and yes, there was sadness as well.

But that was us living together as a community and that is what will be lost if live-in hall directors are eliminated from residences.”

Another concern is that the nature of the restructured system could threaten the freedom and job security of hall advisors and floor fellows. “The new system allows the residence administration members to have complete control over hall directors because, as full-time Residence employees, their livelihood depends upon towing the line to keep their jobs,” Smith said. Floor Fellow Ayukawa shared this concern: “If it comes to a point where a Hall Director’s livelihood, home, and community are on the line, or ours (the floor fellows) - it could definitely affect our voice to upper residence administration and job security.”

Veni, Vidi, Vici In expanding the model to the entire residence system, more planning is critical. With the announcement of the new model to the general public, the housing office also opened up the floors to collaboration with floor fellows and students in an implementation workgroup.

Despite the recent effort to include floor fellows in the redesign, many floor fellows wished they were consulted earlier. “Something that I think all floor fellows are in agreement upon is that we feel upset we were not told

The Bull & Bear - Feburary 2014

Via benz37 on Flickr about the changes until the decision was already made, especially among the floor fellows who are currently experiencing the model. There was no feedback process, and no consultation with staff. The overall lack of transparency has been extremely frustrating, particularly because these changes are coming from people we would usually trust,” expressed Ayukawa.

In response to frustrations of floor fellows, Johnson assures that this was the most appropriate time to tell floor fellows. “I know the floor fellows feel they weren’t consulted. From my experience in management... it doesn’t matter at what point you start talking to people, it’s never soon enough.” Johnson also agrees that maintaining the unique culture is important when implementing the plan, “whether or not this has good and bad implications is something that we need to examine.

I strongly believe that each hall has own identity, and we need to figure out how we maintain this.”

Despite the negative feedback from floor fellows, “the administration keeps saying the only thing that we can do at this point is to help them implement the new model,” Ayukawa stated. Ayukawa urged that the administration delay the expansion of the new model to all residences for a few years, in order to collect feedback and data from the students that may be used to improve the model. “Sometimes it seems that they are just rushing this process because they fear that if it’s not all done at once it won’t happen at all,” she explained. The administration plans to introduce the redesigned residence model in the fall of this year, although the plan seems to call for significant improvements before it is fully functional.

More information about these changes can be found on the McGill Housing website at http://www.mcgill.ca/students/ housing/life/staff/directors.

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Lifestyle

Happy Belated Chinese New Year Don Wang, Lifestyle Writer

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It’s never too late to celebrate with food

f your year has not been going as well as planned, you have a second chance. January 31st marked the beginning of Chinese New Year, or the Lunar New Year, for 2014. It is an important Chinese holiday that spans a period of two weeks, celebrating the turn of the Chinese calendar while honouring deities and ancestors.

‘Family’ is at the heart of Chinese New Year traditions and festivities; the entire family will thoroughly cleanse their home in order to sweep away any ill fortune of last year and to make way for good luck in the New Year. Other activities include fireworks, late-night games of mahjong, and catching up with distant relatives, but the best part, in my opinion, is the food.

Feasting is mandatory, and in my family, homemade dumplings are a Chinese New Year staple, and they appear on my dining table every year without fail. Dumplings are traditionally eaten on New Year’s Eve and symbolize wealth because they are shaped like ancient gold and silver coins.

There are many types of fillings you can stuff into the dumplings, but the classic dumpling is filled with a blend of ground pork, chopped Napa cabbage, water chestnuts, green onions, and shrimp. However, ground beef with onions and cilantro is also very delicious choice. For the vegetarians, never fear, you can make a meat-free alternative with tofu, Napa cabbage, green onions, ginger and assorted mushrooms. The filling is then wrapped in store-bought dumpling wrappers (you can make your own if you’re feeling adventurous) and sealed with water. The ingredients for homemade dumplings can be easily acquired with a trip to Chinatown.

The traditional method of cooking dumplings is to simply put them in boiling water, and when the dumplings float to the surface, they are ready to be devoured.

However, pan-frying them in a little canola oil is also a

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great way to yield some mouth-wateringly crisp dumplings. Dip in a concoction of soy sauce, red vinegar, sweet chili sauce, and peanut butter to bring out the maximum flavor of the dumplings.

To give your dumplings some extra flair, you can wash some dimes thoroughly with vinegar, boiling water, and baking soda, and wrap it in some of the dumplings. The lucky ones who get the coin in their dumpling will receive good fortune for the year. Just be sure to inform your guests beforehand, so they don’t swallow the dumplings whole!

If dumplings don’t rock your boat, perhaps a steamy aromatic hot pot is more your style. While traditional hot pot requires people to cook their own ingredients at the table, most people may not have a portable gas stove, so this method works like a charm. Throw everything you love including meat, seafood, fish balls, noodles, vegetables, mushrooms, and tofu in some delicious broth and just boil to oblivion. Take the pot to the table and let everyone dig in. A steaming hot pot on a cold winter night eaten alongside some ice-cold beers is how you feast like a king.

Lastly, there would be no Chinese New Year without the signature tangerines that pops up around this time of year. Tangerine season typically ends around January, and the Chinese believe oranges bring wealth and good luck. This belief stems from the fact that the Chinese word for orange and gold sounds similar to the word for luck. Aside from that, we all know that a couple more citrus fruits will give you that vitamin boost to combat the dreaded flu season.

Regardless of the food, Chinese New Year is really about getting together with your family and spending quality time together. Sharing is caring, and food just tastes better when you eat it together with people you love.

Lifestyle

STUDY HARD, PARTY HARDER... REPEAT Time management skills to beat, the sleep, party, study triangle

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he age-old struggle to balance academic achievement and Saturday night debauchery highlights the two keystones of every McGill student’s experience. Is it possible to study hard, party harder, and get enough sleep to continue the cycle? This struggle looks a little something like a triangle with three goals on each point: sleep, party, and study. The conundrum is that you can usually only manage two at a time.The real problem is not that these three goals are incompatible, but that poor time management does not allow the three to coexist. Here is a step-by-step approach to combating FOMO (fear of missing out), FOMC (fear of missing class), and FOSD (fear of sleep deprivation): Step 1 - Good grades First things first. If they are not already, grades should be your first priority. Missing class is the fastest and easiest way to a subpar GPA. Physically going to class is one thing. However, being mentally present is another. Put away that phone, shut down that laptop, and follow your professor with attentiveness and a willingness to learn. Nothing remediates poor grades like a change in attitude.

Instead of dreading class, look at it as a way to better yourself and become a more knowledgeable individual.

If you don’t understand class material, don’t put it off or forget about it. Reach out to your professor, call a friend, or Google it. Procrastination is a slippery slope and falling victim to accumulating piles of readings and assignments is common.

Staying motivated is another struggle for students.

A tactic that helps with self-motivation is envisioning yourself in an end-goal situation. This could be accepting an award, getting that dream job, or maybe even winning the Presidential election. Think about how much joy that would bring you, and then plot out the necessary steps you must take to get there. Make sure the intermediary goals are realistic, tangible, and linked to one another.

After you’ve gotten this part down pat, feel free to move on to the next section. Keep in mind if you’re struggling in school, you may want to put the other two vertices of the college triangle on hold.

Step 2 - Sleep This step is the most difficult to provide advice for because sleep varies greatly from person to person. Dif-

The Bull & Bear - February 2014

Tony Ren, Lifestyle Writer

ferent people require different amounts of sleep and sleep at different times of day. Some things to think about regarding your individual sleep schedule include: How many hours should you sleep? Some people require 12 hours of sleep to feel rejuvenated and others can function perfectly with a mere 5 hours a night. However, most people need 8-9 hours of undisturbed sleep for their bodies and minds to be in tiptop shape.

When should you sleep? This all depends on your circadian rhythm and your personal preference. Some people prefer to sleep later and wake up later, whereas others elect to sleep earlier and wake up earlier. In any case, your sleep schedule should be consistent. Inconsistent sleep schedules can be harmful to your body and completely desynchronize your circadian rhythm.

Should you take naps? For some people, an afternoon nap works wonders. For others, it just makes them feel more tired. Try adding naps to your daily routine and lessening the amount of hours you sleep at night. If this increases your energy, you may want to consider making it a habit.

Once you feel like your sleep schedule is in good shape and you’re having a breeze with school, it is time to add some fun to your weekly planner.

Step 3 – Partying Although Carnival participants may disagree, partying is generally most enjoyable when done in moderation. The key to successful partying is to avoid FOMO and to choose your social events wisely. Going to every event put on by every single association at McGill will doom both your sleep schedule and grades. Selecting one or two nights a week to go out to an extremely fun event or when all your friends are free is smart and will give you the boost you need. Drinking until you pass out or vomit will result in an awful hangover the next day which will impact any plans to complete schoolwork.

Keep a level head by consistently reminding yourself that you still have priorities. This reminder will ensure that you won’t go past your limit. Similarly, remind yourself that fun is a short-term goal while being able to study well results in more fun later.

Everything is a trade-off and part of college is learning to juggle these three aspects of life and part of being a McGill student is being both exemplary at your studies and your partying.

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Lifestyle

MEET MOLLY

What you need to know about the most popular party drug

Chelsey Ju, Lifestyle Writer

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he is the star of the show, the center of attention, and the life of the party. So who, or more importantly, what is “Molly”?

It has gained a considerable amount of popularity in the media over the past decade, evidenced by a frequent presence in song lyrics such as “Like moonshine and molly, feel the warmth we’ll never die, we’re like Diamonds in the sky” from Rihanna’s hit-single. More recently, the

Analogies aside, “Molly” is a common street name for the drug formally known as 3,4-MethyleneDioxy-N-MethylAmphetamine (MDMA).

deaths associated with the use of the drug at the electronic rave festival, Electric Zoo, has sparked even more attention. Despite its pervasiveness in the media, many people are still unaware of what Molly really is and of the risks associated with its use.

“As ecstasy got me standing next to you/Getting sentimental…spillin’ guts to you” - Eminem, Drug Ballad (2000) Fact: To anyone who has ever said, “I’m not doing Molly, I’m doing Ecstasy”, there is only a slight difference

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Lifestyle between MDMA and Ecstasy. MDMA is the term used to refer the “purer” form of the drug while Ecstasy is both a slang term for MDMA or a term used to imply that it is laced with another drug. Nevertheless, the two terms can be used interchangeably. All street names aside, MDMA is a man-made chemical compound and you can never truly know what’s in a cap, unless you’re the one making it.

“Let’s take it back to the first party, when you tried your first molly, and came out of your body” – Kanye West, Blood on the Leaves (2013) Fact: As Kanye suggests, most MDMA users have reported an intense elevation in happiness and sociability. Brain chemistry experiments proved twhat MDMA use causes the elevations of 3 neurotransmitters: serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. Serotonin is associated with mood, sleep, and appetite. The user generally feels social and friendly. Further along the reaction, oxytocin and vasopressin are released. These two hormones are responsible for love, trust, and sociable behaviour, which explain the happy, positive emotions one might feel after popping a pill. Users can generally expect to feel a decrease in neg-

“Popped a Molly, I’m sweating”

– Trinidad James, All Gold Everything (2013)

The Bull & Bear - Feburary 2014

ative emotions such as stress and anxiety, an increase in mental and physical euphoria, an increase in comfort level with social communication, and enhanced sensitivity to physical sensations such as touch. The effects of the drug can vary from person to person and the drug lasts between three to six hours.

Fact: MDMA is also a stimulant, so yes, that does mean it can cause an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and sweating can occur. It is common knowledge to MDMA users to drink lots of water before and during use to prevent dehydration. This practice is based on both on the drug’s scientific properties and common sense as dance environments—where Molly is more commonly consumed—can be very hot. Hyperthermia, an extreme elevation in body temperature, is another common danger associated with MDMA use. Moreover, as ironic as it may sound, it is also important to avoid water intoxication.

When your body sweats profusely for long periods of time, your body’s salt content can drop dangerously low which can cause death. To avoid this grim scenario, drink liquids that contain plenty of electrolytes to replenish the ones being lost.

Although song lyrics often reveal the characteristics of the drug, they do not offer information about MDMA’s dangers or negative side effects. Science, on the other hand, has a few tidbits you should know.

The surge of serotonin that occurs, although blissful at the time, depletes your reserves for a few days following use. This depletion can lead to depression, sleep problems, nausea, anxiety, and the possible craving of another cap (although no firm evidence suggests that MDMA is addictive).

Finally, following the events at Electric Zoo, the question on everyone’s mind is whether or not you can die from just one dose. Research suggests that the chemicals in the drug would not kill an individual but it can be deadly when combined with a hot environment, dehydration, over-hydration, or a pre-existing health condition (such as a history of cardiac problems). Pushing your body past its physical extremes is never healthy in any situation, and MDMA is no exception to this rule.

Like most narcotics, MDMA has risks and high physical consequences which increase with the dosage.

Like all other drugs, if one chooses to indulge it’s important to take the cautious approach and not to expose your body to reckless amounts. There are various drug testing kits available on the market which test what is actually in the pill so you can trust in empirical evidence rather than just take someone’s word for what you are putting in your body.

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Lifestyle

It’s the Most WonderfuL’ Time of the Year

An Unofficial Guide to the oscars Kate Nishida, Lifestyle Writer

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’ve always wondered what other families talk about around the dinner table. Does the conversation consist of current events, philosophical debates, and pop culture trivia? Or, is it merely a recap of one another’s day? Whatever it may be, I am convinced that my family is an anomaly. For as long as I can remember, the conversation has revolved around the one thing – The Academy Awards. In fact, the Awards have strengthened our relationships with one another through the establishment of various familial traditions such as movie theatre excursions, annual betting pools, and our very own holiday--the Oscar Jubilee. My younger brother Steve, a kind of “Oscars” clairvoyant, even began to offer his services, for a small fee of course, to neighbours and friends who were participating in their own Academy Award wagers.

I guess being the sister to a self-proclaimed “Oscar expert” has its perks, since Steve has recently decided to educate me on the art of Oscar predicting. And it truly is an art. “Initial predictions begin three weeks after the previous season ends,” he divulged, “but it’s in October when things start to get serious.” After flipping through his box containing nine years worth of Oscar-related

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documents, I finally understood how the Oscars became a family dinner preoccupation. Without further ado, it is with his expertise and my own two cents that I bring you: The Bull & Bear’s Unofficial Academy Award Predictions! And, if you are not as dedicated to the cause, at least you’ll get some first-rate movie recommendations from the list.

Best Picture This year, the nominees for Best Picture are extraordinarily diverse. From a sci-fi that stars Miss Congeniality floating in space to Joaquin Pheonix’s love affair with his operating system, nine films have been recognized for their extraordinary merit but there are three that stand out from the list: American Hustle, Gravity, and 12 Years a Slave. All three films have been endowed with the sought after “Best Picture”-title in previous ceremonies like the Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG) which is often a telling sign of what to expect at the Oscars. Hustle had one of the most powerful cast ensembles to date with every actor holding their own against Christian “the chameleon” Bale. Since the ma-

Lifestyle jority of voters in the Academy consist of fellow actors, this dream team might be rewarded for their incredible performance.

On the other hand, if voters are basing their decision on the movie experience as a whole, Gravity is a shoe-in. The space-themed sci-fi is a visual masterpiece for which the special effects took three years to produce. Not to mention that special-effects enthusiasts, who are still recovering from Avatar’s controversial loss to The Hurt Locker back in 2009, will likely campaign for Gravity to win. Both films have been critically acclaimed for pushing the boundaries in cinema due to their exceptional images and 3D graphics.

Despite these two worthy choices, I am putting my faith in 12 Years a Slave. It is difficult to fathom that the heart-wrenching events that occur in the film actually took place only 170 years ago. Chiwetel Ejiofor (yes, the guy from Love Actually) and Lupita Nyong’o’s superb performances in their roles as abused slaves made the appalling events even more powerful to witness. Although all three films are equally deserving of the title, the political message relayed in 12 Years is more likely to resonate with and have a lasting effect on voters than Hustle or Gravity.

Best Actress in a Supporting Role This was Jennifer Lawrence’s year. She started 2013 by winning the Best Actress Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook - successfully avoiding being forever pigeonholed as Katniss Everdeen - and aside from Beyonce, she is probably the most beloved celebrity thanks to her killer one-liners. Alas, such accomplishments could actually prevent her from winning the Best Supporting Actress Award for her role in American Hustle. Given that she just won an Oscar last year (at 22 years old, no less), it’s unlikely that her peers will give her the vote for a second win. Instead, look out for 12 Years’ Lupita Nyong’o. The soft-spoken Kenyan actress already took home the SAG which indicates that her fellow actors greatly admired her performance. Nyong’o has also hit every best-dressed list since the film’s debut, causing her to become Hollywood’s most recent “It girl”.

Best Actor in a Support Role The Best Supporting Actor award will undeniably go to Jared Leto for his transformative role as a transsexual suffering from AIDs in Dallas Buyers Club. You might as well give him the Oscar now.

Best Actress in a Leading Role I am fairly certain that Cate Blanchett will win

The Bull & Bear - Feburary 2014

the Best Actress title. It seems as if the sole purpose of Woody Allen’s drama Blue Jasmine was to showcase her ability to portray a wide array of emotions. It is an understatement to say that Blanchett carries the film.

There is a slight chance that Amy Adams (American Hustle) may steal the award, as she has yet to win despite her fives nominations. For those in a betting pool however, I do not recommend putting my money on her.

Best Actor in a Leading Role At last, we have the final and most difficult category to predict – Best Actor in a Leading Role. Unlike the previous groups, the race is still extremely tight and thus it has proven difficult to commit to a prediction. I must admit that I am completely biased in this category. I, like most people, have been waiting for Leonardo DiCaprio to win an Academy Award since bawling my eyes out in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. This year the actor is nominated for his portrayal of white-collar convict Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street. Sadly, it appears that the Academy has an unjustified hatred against Leo, as he has yet to win an Oscar despite several nominations. The heated debate on the actor most deserving of the 2007 title (Leo in Blood Diamond or actual winner Forest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland) is an ever lasting argument in my family. While the entire Twittersphere and I are rooting for Leo, my trusty Oscar expert insists that Matthew McConaughey will once again send Leo home empty handed. Indeed, McConaughey has become Hollywood’s very own Cinderella, transforming from a washed up Rom-Com amateur to a versatile leading man. His notable return to the movie business this year, especially in his role as a homophobic AIDS patient in Dallas Buyers Club, have impressed audiences everywhere.

Best Director Alfonso Cuarón already took home the top prize at the Director’s Guild of America Ceremony (DGAs).

His masterpiece Gravity—comprised of only 156 cuts (a typical feature has about 5000)—illustrates that art film can also be a box-office hit. Cuarón is likely preparing and rehearsing his Oscar acceptance speech as we speak.

Remember to tune in to the 86th Academy Awards on March 2nd. My family and I will be bingeing on cheap Chinese food as we tally our ballots and I encourage you to do the same. Let the countdown begin!

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Feature

Party Foul

The good, the bad, and the sloppy: how social media is revolutionizing the hiring process Tess Wrobleski, News Editor

T

he beginning of the term is filled with a lot of parties — Igloofest, Science Games, and Carnival all provide students numerous chances to party before school kicks into gear. The beginning of term is also a time many students are faced with the arduous task of revising their CVs and researching internship and job opportunities for summer break.

As students look for job opportunities, pictures of those parties plastered over Facebook may seem significantly less fabulous, especially when framed with stories of how questionable Facebook pictures may damage employment prospects.

When a Sweet Thing Turns Sour Catherine Stace, career advisor at Career Planning Services (CaPS), relayed a story shared with her by a McGill alumni, which illustrates just how devastating an “inappropriate” picture on Facebook can be for a prospective candidate. The student was working as an intern for a government office, and when the hiring committee was evaluating candidates for the next internship they asked the student to research the profiles of all the McGill applicants. One applicant had a photograph on her profile which showed her sitting a table with a beer bottle on it.

The office immediately rejected the candidate because of the beer bottle in the picture, despite ambiguity around whether the beer even belonged to the candidate.

Stories such as these are enough to make any job hunter extremely cautious when posting online. “Ask yourself: what does this post say at face value?” Stace recommended. “All of your pictures and comments have a story, but when a hiring committee looks up your profile you’re not

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there to tell the story. Your profile needs to speak well of you on its own, because employers are going to make snap judgements about you from your online profile.”

In a competitive job market, where there are many strong candidates being considered for a given position, companies will seek out trivial reasons to “vet” candidates. Students who dedicate much of their lives to their school work and extracurricular activities in hopes of landing their “dream job” do not want to risk missing an opportunity for something as trivial as a Facebook post.

Stace added that the depth to which a hiring committee will examine an applicant’s online presence depends on the type of job you’re looking for, and how conservative the organization is. “If you’re applying to an NGO, they’re probably not going to look you up, and if they do they won’t be shocked by a beer bottle. But if you’re going to work in a government office – where everything you do is a reflection on their office – they will look up your profile, and they will judge you based on it.”

Stace recounted that in 2006, five students had job offers rescinded because of inappropriate comments or pictures on their Facebook profile, inspiring her to become more active in informing students about the potential ramifications of social media use. “When Facebook was beginning, privacy settings were practically non-existent,” she said. “Since then, the website has intensified the available privacy settings, allowing students to hide pictures or comments they might not want their future employer to see.”

However, privacy settings may not be the best solution for managing one’s online presence. “The idea is not to hide your profile, because on the upside employers want to see good, positive things if they look you up

Feature on Facebook or LinkedIn,” explained Julia Riscaldino, BCom Career Advisor at Soutar Career Centre. “Rather, many students are finding networking tools such as LinkedIn — the professional version of Facebook — extremely useful in building their professional network.”

LinkedIn: Using Social Media to One’s Advantage Over the past few years the number of LinkedIn users has grown immensely: from 70 million in 2010 to 259 million in 2013. According to the LinkedIn Press center, university students are at the forefront of this trend. Of the 259 million users on LinkedIn, 30 million are students or recent graduates, and students make up the fastest-growing demographic of users.1 “The first time we talked to students about LinkedIn about four years ago at workshops only a few people would know what it was, but now when we discuss it virtually all students have heard of it and many have created profiles,” Riscaldino stated. Currently, many McGill students are extremely active on LinkedIn: there are over 5600 people in the “McGill Networking Group” alone, and the McGill University Alumni Network is considered “very active,” with 21,463 members and 78 discussions posted in this month alone.

Riscaldino explained how students can use LinkedIn to connect with current McGill students, as well as McGill alumni employed in a career field that a student finds interesting. There are existing groups for all McGill Faculties, as well as some groups specific to departments and majors. When a student becomes a member of a group on LinkedIn, he or she has access to discussion boards on the group, and can view the profiles of other group members. LinkedIn also provides students with opportunities to connect with companies and employers that interest them.

In the past, finding a job was all about who you know.

“LinkedIn gives you a better chance to create who you know,” Stace commented.

Creating the Profile Riscaldino offered tips on creating a strong LinkedIn presence. Having a professional looking picture on your profile is key, as it allows people to have an immediate connection with you. LinkedIn also allows you to create a title for yourself and a summary, which are featured on your profile. The title could be your major or field of study; the summary allows you to give viewers a well-rounded view of interests that may not appear on a resume. For example, you might write that you are interested in social causes, or are hoping to work in a particular industry.

Most importantly, “make sure your profile is profes-

The Bull & Bear - February 2014

sional, and it upholds anything you’ve said about yourself in your resume about your values or your work ethic,” Riscaldino advised.

Stace suggested researching “the buzzwords” of the industry you’re interested in: for example, people in data mining refer to themselves as “data werewolves.” Knowing these terms, and using them on your profile will attract the attention of potential recruiters in your potential field.

Students who are interested in cultivating an online presence can benefit from visiting either the Soutar Career Centre or Career Planning Services, where professional and peer advisors review LinkedIn profiles and make suggestions. Recently, CaPS held LinkedIn Profile Advising sessions during “Work Your BA,” which were well-attended. Stace commented that CaPS will likely host the sessions again, and would consider lengthening the time for each session. CaPS will also review a student’s Facebook profile for content that might attract negative attention for recruiters.

Changing the Way We Do Business CaPS and the Soutar Career Centre are still experimenting with means for integrating social media advising into their services. Stace has hosted one-on-one advising sessions, as well as extended informational sessions and workshops with great success. “For career centres, the shift is changing the way we do business, and we have to either adapt or close our doors. We’ve chosen to adapt, because our centre is staffed with people who are interested in advancing online opportunities for students,” Stace explained.

For many students, the use of social media in the job search may be daunting. Stace insisted that students are not necessarily at a disadvantage if they steer clear of using social media in their job search. “There are absolutely traditional ways to get a job, she stated. “Pick the way that’s right for you. There are multiple strategies for getting a job; if you’re only using LinkedIn, that’s just one strategy, and it shouldn’t be your only strategy.”

Riscaldino disagreed, stating: “employers are always looking on LinkedIn, and a student who refuses to join social media will miss out on opportunities for employment.

If you have the opportunity to be noticed for certain interests or activities that you are involved with, it is an advantage when it comes to job hunting.” Students can expect that online recruitment will be the norm during their job search, and many students would benefit from embracing the trend earlier rather than later. In less than a decade, many students will be on the other side of the process: researching applicants on LinkedIn, and vetting a candidate for their sloppy picture at Tokyo Thursday.

Statistics via http://press.linkedin.com/about.

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Feature

A look at The Bull & Bear's Party Culture Survey Results Niall Carolan, Lifestyle Writer Infographics by Megan Tan

M

cGill’s reputation precedes itself, not only as one of the most prestigious universities in the country, but also as a mecca of student partying. It is known that McGill students don’t shy away from a night out, or two, or three. The Bull & Bear recently posted a survey delving deeper into McGill’s famed party culture. Questions ranged from “How much have you spent on a single night out?” (the highest amount being $2,600) to “What is your favorite drunk food?” (various slang terms for McD’s). After gathering and examining the results, let’s take a look at some of the main trends surrounding drinking, drugs, and lust at McGill.

Drinks From day one of Frosh, first-year students are exposed to the wild side of university nightlife, followed quickly by Carnival, Hype Weeks, and other faculty organized drinking events. Out of the 557 survey participants, widely made up of U1, U2, and U3 students in Management, Arts, and Science, nearly 60% admitted to going out once or more a week. As for libations, the majority of students stick with beer, but wine, old fashioneds, and shots are not underrepresented in the survey.

Whether it’s shouted at the top of your lungs at predrinks, or in hushed, hung-over tones the morning after, we all like to talk about how much we drink (or drank), but just how merry do we get when we go out? While lacking quantitative boundaries, the majority of students conceded to enjoy getting ‘tipsy’, those resigning themselves to getting ‘buzzed’ and ‘wasted’ followed closely behind.

Drugs There have been previous surveys conducted on McGill drug culture, but this survey focuses specifically on drug use in conjunction with partying. Montreal offers a vibrant, culturally driven nightlife scene, which many McGill students take full advantage of. As a consequence, some drug use can be expected. Of the respondents, 27% use drugs when they go out, 50% of which opted for Marijuana, 34% for MDMA and 13% for cocaine. We will

16

Breakdown by Faculty

look closer at where these drugs fit in with McGill party culture later on, but for now, let’s move on to the most powerful drug of them all.

Lust Love, or more likely, lust, is the third pillar of a balanced university party schedule. The Bull & Bear asked students several questions regarding partying and hooking-up. When ranking components of a good night, “hanging out with friends” was placed first, leaving “looking for a hookup” last. Furthermore, students affirmed to either never, or rarely, having one night stands after social events, and that most rarely expect to hook up with someone on a night out. It seems that while students are entirely social creatures, we may be less sexcrazed than the stereotype suggests.

From drugs to love, and just about every spot you can have a pint in between, The Bull & Bear has looked at some of the major trends in our recent Party survey.

After a little examination and pulling some typical party-character profiles from the data, I hope we offered you a little insight into the wild and wonderful world of McGill party culture.

5%

Time.

RA

27% Half ly

26% R

h Rougthe time

NEVE

All. The.

RE L Y 3 9%

All. The.

R eV e

5 2%

how often are you expecting to hook-up?

N

Feature Time.

1%

one night stands from social events

Drunkenness when Sober : 5% partying Tipsy : 18%

27%

Roughly Half the time

Wasted : 84%

ely Ra2r% 4

Buzzed : 23%

Drink Preference

Getting Blackout Drunk and/or Requiring Medical Attention from Alcohol

yes : 43%

No : 53%

BeeR : 37% shots : 13% Wine : 15%

Party Type Preference

1

Hanging out with friends

2

Relaxing

3

Music

Primary Motivations for Going Out

U2

150

140

U3

155

House party: Hanging at a 82% Bar: 75%

Drugs usage

If yes,

How often?

42%

Roughly half the time All. The.

Rarely

120

48%

100 80

137

U4

60

10%

31

20

What Drugs?

The Bull & Bear - Feburary 2014

Others

40

52

U0

NO 37%

7% 2 S YE

% 50 40

Time.

Cocaine (and its derivatives)

U1

Clubbing: 32%

30

MARIJUANA

Breakdown by year

MDMA (and its derivatives)

160

20 10

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Feature

5 Types of Partiers you Meet at McGill Niall Carolan, Lifestyle Writer Gerts Die-Hard Whether you are dropping in for a pint between lectures or subjecting your liver to Sangria Wednesdays, you support your campus bar generously. As one of the most popular socializing spots on campus, Gerts has bred some of the finest university drinkers for decades. Affordable drinks, food, entertainment, and the guarantee of running into friends keeps students coming back again and again.

Potluck Partier You’re too smart to be caught out in the cold lining up for clubs, and the combination of your friends’ company and strong dep wine has you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. Perhaps representing the more mature side of the student population, potlucks and dinner parties were tied for the third most popular option when asked which type of party students prefer. After too many nights lined up outside Tokyo, I’m sure sharing the company of your friends over good food and wine is a pleasant change.

House Party Hoodlum You’ll start the night socializing with friends and probably end up being held upside down over a keg in another friend’s apartment. The McGill ghetto and Plateau regions are the epicenter of this phenomenon. With sprawling apartment buildings housing some of the rowdiest students in the nation, it’s no wonder these areas are littered with house parties, especially during the hotter months and during Carnival or Hype Week. While most students stated they would throw a house party less than once a month, the committed minority of regular party-throwers seems to be keeping the McGill ghetto happily tipsy.

Bar Hoppin’ and Club Stoppin’ Ever since you came to la belle province, the bright lights of Crescent Street and St.Laurent have pulled you in, while Boustan and 2chow offer instant comfort after a crazy night. McGill students voted St. Laurent and Rue Crescent as most popular for a night out. With numerous bars offering the charm and sociability of house parties, and nightclubs blasting the latest bangers, those looking for a slightly more subdued night out than a rave need look no further than a few streets away.

EDM fanatic You probably have the New City Gas lineup memorized till 2016, and may well be sporting a Circus tattoo somewhere on your body. EDM is surging in Montreal, and our city regularly attracts the biggest names. Just this month, Igloofest has been showcasing some amazing Quebec DJs, while headlining international talent. With loud bass, fantastic light displays, and often obscure dance moves, this party scene is somewhat synonymous with the 34% of students who professed that MDMA is their drug of choice. As EDM is arguably one of the fastest growing genres in our city, rave fans can be rest assured that they’ll be able to shuffle into the wee hours of the afternoon for the foreseeable future.

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Feature

Intern 101: Work Hard, Play Hard Helpful thoughts to help you balance working and partying this summer Arash Nayerahmadi, Business Writer

F

inally landing that summer internship can be a huge weight lifted off your shoulders. You can stop tweaking your cover letter; remove your C.V. from your desktop and uncork that bottle of 2008 Shiraz.

Maybe you can finally start attending class! For some, internships can be a great opportunity to stay with family, enjoy the luxuries of home cooked meals, and make money on the side. For those of us that don’t plan on staying with the parents, summer internships can be a bitter-sweet taste of real life. Many don’t realize that working 8:00am-6:00pm every week is different than going to university for 10 hours a day. And, of course, waking up at 6:30am is not always a walk in the park. That said, planning ahead can make those four months one of the most rewarding experiences of your young life. The question then becomes how to take full advantage of this fantastic opportunity that has taken you so much work to achieve.

Getting Started The first step to prepare for the summer internship is to celebrate. It takes a while to hit you, but all those late nights spent with friends proofreading your cover letters, practicing interview questions and matching your outfits to company colours have paid off. So enjoy your success, throw a party, and buy a few rounds.

Once it’s finally sunk in, and you’ve gotten that new-internship glow out of your system, it’s time to get serious. Chances are if you are on your own, or if your family is not close to your workplace, you will need a place to stay. It’s best to look for a room sooner rather than later. One of the popular options is a university residence. However, as most of you already know, not all residences are created equally. You have to match your personality to the lifestyle you can find. Some places have 4

The Bull & Bear - Feburary 2014

or 5 people sharing a large apartment, and some are separated by large dormitory-like wings full of rooms that share common areas and amenities. Like choosing where to live at school, it’s important to consider that you will not only be working there, but you’ll have to be living there. This the same place you’ll have to unwind after a long day of work, and the same place you’ll be recovering after a long-overdue Saturday night out.

Finding the Time and the Money The reality is that school-life scheduling is not compatible with work-life scheduling. In school, you only have 15- 20 hours of class each week, and you can often attend alternate sections, not to mention the fact that you pick your own classes and can avoid those dreaded morning slots. As an intern, you will find your work schedules to be far less malleable, with punctuality heavily emphasized. The time you might otherwise be able to find for cooking, shopping, and going out at school is often radically different when you are working.

Managing expenses also becomes incredibly important. It’s far too easy to become used to the idea of earning money, especially after making it work as a student. While you’ll certainly be tempted to use your newfound income to rely on takeout, or pay for everyone’s drinks when you go out, you’ll quickly find that your hard earned cash is better spent, or saved, elsewhere. Be rea-

19

Feature sonable with your expenses, and realistic with what is and what isn’t within your means.

“I remember going out one night early in the summer and wanting to show off to all my friends that I was finally making money” says one anonymous U3 student.

“By the end of the night, we’d somehow managed to get the bill up to $650 for about 6 of us” he recalls. “It’s definitely still important to go out when you’re working over the summer, but equally important to keep a level head.”

And for fun?

Scheduling becomes especially important when you look at leisure activites. Gone are the days of being able to go out for a night of partying on a Sunday just because your first class the next day isn’t until 1:00 PM. It is a sobering realization (pun intended) that your social freedoms will quickly have to conform to the demands of working life.

While you are planning your summer life, try to find activities to attend throughout the week. Signing up for organized sports, night classes, and so on, give you a chance to escape the stresses of your workday, all while being able to keep your schedule more or less intact. Being busy after work is a great way of shaking off the stress.

Anxiety might be kicking in by now, thinking it’s all work and no play for your much desired summer months; that you’ll be shackled by the tie while your friends are playing ultimate in the park; that you’ll turn into your parents and won’t go out at nights. Relax. All you have to do is ration your time well. Knowing your limits, both in terms of drinking and scheduling, will go a long way in letting you enjoy the time you have for going out. Nobody wants to be the intern that shows up to the office at 11:30 on a Monday morning, still recovering from last night’s antics.

If you’re planning to stay down or near a university campus, then you’re in luck. Campuses are surrounded by a variety of affordable restaurants, and often a cool collection of bars. For those heading to Toronto for the summer, U of T is near the popular and youthful annex neighbourhood.

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Walking around Bloor St. from St. George to Bathurst, you will pass everything from Vietnamese to Scottish pubs to your classic sports bar. Not to mention the fact that Chinatown is right down the street. Of course, in terms of nightlife, there’s the traditional Maddy’s and the Brunny – if you’re into that. Toronto-specific spots aside, most major cities have something for everyone; whether it’s a Miami style poolside club, or formal black-tie locations.

On the note of office outings, it’s important to be on guard for company parties, or dinners with co-workers. As an intern, you want to get along with the rest of the staff, and “fit in”. What’s important to keep in mind is that your behaviour outside of the office is just as important as your behaviour during the 9-5. It’s crucial to be yourself, don’t cover up your inner personality; there’s a reason recruiters urge you to “relax” during events like this. They want to get to know the real you, and it’s the same for heading out for a drink on a Friday evening. Be yourself and be considerate to the people sharing the table with you and all will be fine.

So there you have it: the rollercoaster of internship life. Enjoy the ups and downs. You would be surprised how quickly you miss school when you are up at 6:30 am. And probably more surprised when you’re back to university and you miss the office, not having homework when you get home, and walking downtown in a suit and sunglasses. Internships: a true love-hate relationship, and easily a better love story than Twilight.

Summer Intern Journal Entry I booked a room with the Wetmore residence at the U of T campus. Upon arrival I was greeted at the front desk, asked to pay the balance in full, a sum of roughly $2000.00, for the three and a half months I would be there. Afterward I was given keys to the room and mailbox. A single elevator served the 4 story building. From the outside it was architecturally adequate: pleasant and efficient in design; it was two buildings that span around a small courtyard with benches, and a pathway leading to the main road. Hauling my baggage to the fourth floor, I arrived at my room, 469.

The 69 cleverly coloured in red with crayons. The room was small but had just enough space to live, especially after renting the small fridge. The kitchen had two stoves, two refrigerators and wall to wall couches. I should mention now that there were about 100 people living per floor who shared this marvelous jungle-to-be. A few days in, the trends developed, people from similar backgrounds joined cliques, and it was a venue where one had the privilege to meet people from all walks of life. A less pleasurable trend was the mess and just disrespect of the kitchen amenities.

By 8:00pm, the kitchen was virtually unusable. The benefits of this campus residence was its proximity to the U of T gym, close by restaurants and grocery stores.

Feature

s n o i s s e f n Co y t r a of a P pher a r g o t Pho Adam Banks, Opinion Writer

I

love parties and I love photography, so it should come as no surprise that I sometimes take jobs as a party photographer. You may have seen me before during Frosh, Carnival, or some random event at Gerts. I’m the guy with a camera in one hand and a drink in the other. If you didn’t see the flash, then you were probably too busy having fun to notice the outside world.

Sometimes my job is fun and sometimes it isn’t, but regardless of how boring the event turns out to be, there is never any shortage of people doing ridiculous things.

I always enjoy the morning after when I get to look through pictures of happy people having fun and enjoying life. And the photos of the people who got embarrassingly too drunk? I enjoy them even more.

I dedicate this FAQ to all of the blackout biddies that have been unjustly photographed while tragically losing all of their lipstick in a dance-floor make-out incident. This is to all the bros who point at the camera without realizing that it’s been done before. This is to the people I cut out of the album because I wasn’t happy with the photo. Finally, this is for anyone who’s just curious about the guy with the camera. I’m here to clear the air about a few things and answer questions I’ve been asked hundreds of times.

The Bull & Bear - Feburary 2014

“How come I’m not in that photo album?”

For those who are wondering why this or that photo never surfaced, it’s nothing personal. Everyone has been victim to at least one unflattering party picture, and I try not to post those online. If it makes you feel any better, the really bad photos rarely leave my computer, often dying a quick death in the trash folder. The fact of the matter is that I take hundreds of photos per night and a lot of them simply don’t make the cut. There are so many reasons why certain photos aren’t posted, and I don’t think anyone has ever given a straight answer for why they never got posted, so here are the most common reasons why they might never see the light of day: Your eyes were closed (happens all the time), you looked too drunk to function, my camera/flash malfunctioned, you spilled a pitcher all over your shirt, you didn’t look at the camera, you weren’t wearing a shirt and/or pants, your pupils were too MDMA-y, I was too drunk to take an in-focus photo, your pose was boring, there was a person pretending to kill you in the background of the photo. The list goes on and on. There are over 9,000 reasons why that photo didn’t get posted. Then again, if you’re actually asking this question, I’m sure you got in another photo somehow.

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Feature “I just noticed that nobody ever takes your picture” Yup. You’ve figured me out. I’m not photogenic.

That’s why I’m the photographer. But will I take a selfie with you? Yes.

“When will those pictures go up?”

Whenever the person who hired me decides to review and approve them. It’s a long process. Not my fault.

“Why do you take make-out pics?”

As far as make-out pictures are concerned, I’m not the type of person to actually post pictures of you making out with some rando; I just take those photos in the hope that you will realize that making out in public places is a terrible idea. Consider it a warning of what could have happened.

Some photographers post make-out photos, but I’m not one of them. The exception to this rule is when I take make-out pictures of couples that are clearly in love with each other. Those are adorable and will sometimes be posted so the world can vicariously experience love through you.

“How funny was that photobomb?”

So funny! You guys are so creative and inventive and I definitely won’t photoshop you out of existence.

“I need a new profile picture” First, let’s discuss etiquette: if I wave my camera in front of your face, it means I want to take your picture but I can’t make myself heard because the club is playing “Timber” for the millionth time.

To the people who want to get photographed, the best way is to just lightly tap me on the shoulder and ask.

The second best way is to be a really attractive person.

While these may seem like pretty easy rules to follow, it tends not to be for the people getting too drunk and reverting to caveman-esque methods of getting my attention. For instance, let’s talk about the worst ways to go about getting a picture. The most annoying way is to jump in front of the photo I’m trying to take of somebody else. Even worse: try to grab my camera. Having a drunk person destroy a thousand dollars’ worth of equipment is my personal nightmare and if you grab my camera you’re on the blacklist forever.

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“Why do you do it?”

Sometimes I get paid in money, sometimes alcohol, other times favours. Sometimes I don’t get paid at all, but I still keep doing it. In the end, it all comes down to the content of these pictures. Party photography isn’t high art—it’s low comedy. The real reason I take photographs at parties is because drunk people are hilarious when caught on film. They aren’t self-conscious about the fact that they’re being photographed. They usually panic and do something stupid. Taking pictures of wasted twenty-somethings is kind of like taking pictures of babies; you just kind of wait for them to do something amusing and then press the shutter button.

“What’s the worst/most ridiculous thing you’ve ever caught on camera?”

I accidentally ended up with a wedding photo mixed in with my frosh photos. Still don’t really know what happened there.

“Do you edit the photos, or to get more to the point, me?”

Do you think your skin is naturally that colour? Is your shirt spill-proof? Any obvious cold sores? If the answer to any of those questions is “yes”, then no. I have never edited a photo in my life.

“I don’t like being in photos…how do I politely avoid you?”

Impossible.

Business

Monetary Policy: The Era of the Dove Natalya Hibbert, Business Writer

Janet Yellen becomes thE first female chair of the US Federal Reserve

J

anet Yellen, the first acknowledged “dove” in monetary policy, was confirmed as the next chair of the Federal Reserve in a 56-26 vote just a few weeks ago. While the significance of Yellen becoming the first chairwoman of the Fed can hardly be understated, there is an entirely different dimension to the discussion of what this signals for the future of US monetary policy.

In the past, the Fed has been dominated by a streak of “hawkish” policies. Yellen, however, is set to launch the Fed on a new path of “dovish” actions over the next several years.

Doves & Hawks The concepts of hawkish and dovish refer to the type of monetary policies that the Fed chairs implement and, in essence, relate to the characteristics of the “birds” (chairpersons) themselves. Doves are considered passive and peaceful animals, unlikely to take aggressive action. In terms of monetary policy, they are characterized as those who lower interest rates to promote economic growth, coined as loose or expansionary monetary policy.

Hawks, on the other hand, are powerful apex predators.

In monetary policy, hawkish policymakers are advocates for tight monetary policy - i.e. raising interest rates. Alan Greenspan, for example, was considered hawkish when he first became chairman of the Fed, but after reducing interest rates several times during the dot-com bubble and stock market crash, was later considered dovish.

A Change of Pace In appointing Yellen to the position of chair, President Obama broke historical precedence in a number of ways. She is the first woman elected to the position

The Bull & Bear - Feburary 2014

in the Fed’s 100 years of existence, and one of the few women leading central banks globally. Although she received resounding support from Democrats, she was less successful in convincing Republicans. The backlash from the political right was expected, given both that Obama’s hand in the selection carries it’s own stigma for the party, as well as the fact that dovish policies tend to upset the wealthier, traditionally right-leaning demographics (lower interest rates could eventually mean that their money is worth less).

Since the 2008 financial crisis, the U.S. and other countries have been struggling with low demand and high unemployment. Under Ben Bernanke, with Yellen as vice president, the Fed kept interest rates at zero and created a bond buy-back program of $85B each month, in a third round of Quantitative Easing (QE3). However, most politicians feel that as the economy continues to show signs of positive growth, it is time to start cutting back. The Fed announced last month that it would accordingly reduce QE3 to $65B and continue to keep interest rates at zero. The Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) agreed to this under the advice of Yellen.

The Stage is Set Yellen has gone on the record stating that her primary focus will be to combat high unemployment. Since inflation is still below the target of 2% (though the hawks think it might rise), the issue remains on the backburner in favour of efforts to promote the development of the labour market.

These policies seem to be working. November of last last year saw the U.S unemployment rate fall to a five-year low of 7%, and the economy grew in the third

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Business quarter of 2013 at its fastest pace in almost two years.

At the same time, however, the Fed’s balance sheet assets have quadrupled as a result of its bond buyback program. Where some would think this was a concern, Yellen has a history of defending this ideal – first at the San Francisco Reserve Bank and then as Ben Bernanke’s deputy.

With her recent appointment, analysts foresee hecontinuing to reduce QE3, coupled with zero interest rates. Some worry about the possibility of her continuing dovish policies even if the growth rate of the economy continues to accelerate, perhaps out of inexperience. However, experience is something Yellen has ample quantity of.

Yellen worked for six years as the chief of the San Francisco Federal Reserve, and has worked for three years as the No. 2 official at the U.S. Federal Reserve.

She also served as the top economic advisor for President Bill Clinton, and worked on the Federal Board when Alan Greenspan was chairman. In addition, she is a well-respected scholar, and has taught at Harvard University, the London School of Economics, and the University of California, Berkeley. She led the Federal Reserve to the 2% target inflation rate and has championed the guidance the Fed has used to shape expectations in the market about the path of interest rates.

As Yellen takes over, analysts expect the tapering of QE3 to continue. Some worry, however, that the tapering may not be quick enough as the growth rate of the economy continues to accelerate. Given her dynamic history, however, it is reasonable to believe that Yellen will have no trouble responding to the indicators of inflation and unemployment, and that a return to hawkish policies for the Fed lies in the very near future What to Look For In essence, her main task will be to navigate the central bank out of its stimulus program as most Republicans, and some of Yellen’s colleagues on board of the FOMC, believe that interest rates close to zero may lead to asset bubbles. In recent months, more and more analysts have been declaring that this “shaving down” is long overdue.

Because the Fed already vowed to keep investors protected by keeping interest rates extremely low, Yellen has no choice but to stand by the decision in order to keep the bank’s credibility intact. Even before her term begins, she is already in a sticky situation: she has to wind down the QE3 while maintaining low interest rates without rattling financial markets or the US economy. To do so, she has two options - wait before making further reductions in the

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buy-back program if the recovery stalls, or wind it down should the job market strengthen unexpectedly. This depends not only on how the unemployment and inflation rates progress during her term, but how she reacts and plans to navigate public expectations effectively.

Another implicit goal not necessarily pertaining to Yellen’s implementation of monetary policy is to get all of the members of the FOMC on the same page. Her power will lie in her ability to prove that her stance on the U.S economy as a whole is what matters, all the while keeping a strong but not “too strong” regulatory role of the Fed. She seems to be comfortable with this role, stating upon nomination that “one of the Federal Reserve’s main strengths is its capacity to vigorously debate diverse views, and then to unite.”

What does this all mean for Canadians? Firstly, the tremors of the program raises bond volatility, which is great for traders, but not so great for investment planning and hiring. As U.S bond yields shift to adjust to the Fed’s reduction of the buy-back program, domestic markets instantaneously react. The question is now whether Yellen can keep to her goals of reaching target inflation, raising interest rates, and reducing buy-back, all while keeping a “strong financial regulatory role.” As of now, the public expects her to keep her dovish character, but with her skills and experience, more and more analysts are expecting a hawk to emerge as she settles in to take the reigns.

Business

the world in 2050 A candid look at the trends that will shape the world we will live and work in.

Guy Rene Kayombya, Business Writer

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bout 2,500 years ago, Greek philosopher Heraclitus warned against any attempts at forecasting the future, proclaiming, “nothing endures but change”. With this view in mind, The Bull & Bear Business section does not present absolute forecasts, but instead thought provoking discussion starters about the collective future. The analysis conducted was based on credible, empirical evidence and led to the identification of four concise trends that will have a lasting influence going forward.

Power Shift The first trend is the fact that the global balance of economic power is, and has been, shifting from developed to developing countries. The result is an inexorable eastward shift of the world’s economic center of gravity.

Succinctly, growth in less industrialized economies has

been outpacing growth in the more industrialized economies in recent years. While this trend is not new, the evolution has reached a tipping point enough to confidently state that the World has changed. Indeed, 2013 was the first year since reliable records began where the combined emerging and developing economies were larger, in absolute terms, than the industralized economies of the world. Despite market commentary citing the risk of an emerging markets slowdown (an estimated 1-2% decrease in GDP), emerging markets will still be growing at a rate that far outpaces that of the traditional economic powers (US, UK, etc.). The most remarkable element of this trend is that we are only at the beginning of its manifestation.

This reshaping of the world economic order is unprecedented, both in terms of scale and speed. The magnitude of this shift is going to produce readjustments affecting not only GDP, but also global spending power, population, and trade. It is bound to have powerful implications on the way education, politics, and business is conducted in a world where China’s economy will overtake the US economy in the next 5 years according to many reports. Another, perhaps more thought-provoking statistic of this new world: for those of us about to embark on our professional journey, a PwC study published last year suggests that economies like Nigeria and Indonesia might outclass their Canadian or French counterparts by the time the class of 2014 retires.

People and Places The second notable trend relates to the phenomenal demographic shifts we are witnessing on a global scale, which are inherently tied to the shift in global spending power. The main driver of these shifts is the ageing of the global population, linked to overall rising life expectancy.

The Bull & Bear - Feburary 2014

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Opinion According to McKinsey, the proportion of North American 60+ year olds is going to double by 2050, reaching a quarter of the global population. By contrast, other countries have populations that are young and growing, promising increasingly large and highly active workforces and consumer markets.

The social and economic impact of these demo-

graphic shifts will be substantial, as the pressure of supporting the growing ranks of retirees will put the shrinking working population under great strain. The pressure to feed, house, educate, and employ ageing populations will no doubt present significant challenges.

Urban Sprawl Over the past number of years, it has become clear that, in addition to the explosion of the Asian middle class, massive urbanization will be the defining economic factor for the next two generations. UN-sourced data shows that the world’s urbanized population is expected to grow by 72% by 2050. Furthermore, a McKinsey report has identified 440 specific cities, many of which are largely unnoticed, that could account for half the global GDP in the next decade.

The unparalleled growth of cities as leading markets, combined with the economic rebalancing phenomenon, is going to create strong pressure on limited natural resources. The global population will continue to expand, reaching an estimated 9.6 billion in 2050, straining energy, water, and food supply to unprecedented levels.

According to recently released data, demand for these basic resources will exceed sustainable capacity by 2030 if current trends continue.

In many parts of the world, the impact of climate

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change will increase the occurrence of extreme weather events, and frequency of water shortages. Their effects will make it more difficult to raise animals and grow crops than before – precisely at a time where there are more mouths to feed. All of this raises questions that have no easy answers.

We have the technology...Right?

Given the growing constraints so far, there is increasing pressure to increase productivity and spur more technological breakthroughs. The constant cycle of innovation is creating new industries faster than ever and revolutionizing existing ones (notably, the impact of 3D

printing on the manufacturing industry).

In 2010 alone, more data was transmitted online than all the previous years before that. The processing of all this data, and other trends such as the rise of the “internet of things,” will also be a defining dynamic of the decades ahead.

As we have seen, some societies are ageing faster than others-mostly in the West. Our supply of working age individuals as a proportion of total population is decreasing - therefore increasing the burden of supporting the ever-expanding ranks of retirees. The median age in Europe is 41 compared to a media of 27 in Southeast Asia and 18 in Sub-Saharan Africa. These figures are powerful. Asia, which is already home to 60% of the world’s population, has, on average, a much younger population than the West.

In view of these facts, it is no surprise that this century is being called the Asian Century. They also push us to predict that the 22nd century will be the African Century. After centuries of western dominance, it appears that in our lifetime, a previously unbroken streak of economic superiority will come to an end.

Opinion

Don’t You Dare Call Me a Prude!

Why slut-shaming should be a relic of the past, much like dinosaurs, pay phones and male perms

Stéphanie Thomas, Lead Opinion Editor

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Illustration by Haley Lim

nasty hussy sex

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The Bull & Bear - Feburary 2014

bitch

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ast week, I was in The Bull & Bear office recounting an epic summer hookup story (it’s really good, but too long to share here) to my fellow editors when one of them pointed out that I seemed “way too proud about it.” Apparently, a woman parading her wild sexual accomplishments like a bro in the motherland of Carnival and at the headquarters of the sex, drugs and party surveys is still a shocking concept worthy of a double take. While some girls would have recoiled in shame and taken a vow of chastity until they were six feet underground, I only stood a little taller. Why? Because I’m secure enough with myself and my choices to not care what others think. I’ve been called a slut before. It didn’t make me cry or flinch, much less change.

From a very young age, women are taught that there are two main categories in which we can fit: the pure, doe-eyed cutie also known as “wife material,” or the evil temptress condemned to a life of misery and a string of married unavailable lovers. The truth is that most us stand somewhere in the middle. While growing up, we are conditioned to feel awkward about sex and ashamed for wanting to experience it, terrorized into believing that it is morally wrong. We are constantly told that the first time is “special,” that you can only “give it away once,” and even that “you should wait until marriage.” We become paranoid that people can tell when we pop our cherries as if the sound of our breathing will start sounding like the melody to “I just had sex.” But after doing the deed, we quickly realize how foolish our previous fears were. No physical traits will give away our secrets, but maybe our astoundingly good mood will.

Boys, on the other hand, are often introduced to porn by their older brothers, celebrate when they finally swipe their V-cards and are encouraged to keep things casual. Sex is seen as fun, dirty and exciting: an adventure to go on multiple times with as many partners as possible. And while these men talk about their hookups like notches on a never-ending bedpost, women are supposed to bury theirs at the back of their closet like a pair of particularly ugly pumps or run the risk of being slut-shamed into social exclusion.

That’s right, our greatest critics are not males; they are our best friends, sisters and mothers. The former will feign outrage for five minutes and then try to get with us because we might have magic powers (aka the ability to do that thing we some-

times practice with a popsicle). The latter will gossip about us behind our backs, leave our names off the invite list and blackball us to infinity and beyond.

So why is it that our own gender reels us back into the pre-feminist era whenever things get a little too graphic? Well, that’s a question I still don’t have a perfect answer for. In the post-Fifty Shades of Grey world, one would expect this kind of judgment to be obsolete. Then again, half of the women who read the series did it on a Kindle so that others around them would be blissfully ignorant of their little adventure into the realm of erotica (#guiltypleasure). If the popularity of those novels taught us anything, it’s that there are millions of interested females. Why can’t we all just be honest and end the perpetual game of hide and seek? As women, we have certain basic carnal needs and our choosing to satisfy them does not prevent us from being fully functioning responsible adults.

We have to flush the ridiculous, usually hypocritical, bullying that is slut-shaming down the drain where it belongs. We need to create a safe space within society where women’s fantasies and sexual experiences are embraced and normalized.

Whether we are in a relationship, casually dating or trying out the one-night stand, we deserve respect not only from our partners, but from everyone.

If you happen to be a woman holding out for “the one,” I applaud your convictions and wish you the best of luck.

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Opinion For those of you who crave the physical and emotional connection that sex can provide, subtlety remains an important tool in retaining a pristine female reputation.

But, if you are ready to dip your toes in the pool of social

change, maybe you should join me in reappropriating the word slut and turning it into a sex-positive label.

The views expressed in this opinion piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Bull & Bear.

Grammys 2014: Macklemore Wins, Music Fans Lose Macklemore’s hattrick is not about race, it’s about quality

Chukwubuikem Nnebe, Opinion Writer

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ccording to the Grammys, Macklemore is literally the quintessence of modern day rap music.

As the winner of all three Grammys for Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Album, Macklemore is apparently now the face of rap music in America.

Just let that sink in for a few seconds.

Yup. Evidently, I’m not the biggest fan of the Recording Academy’s decision to bestow upon Macklemore the three most formally recognized rap honours in the entire music industry. I simply can’t wrap (pun mildly intended) my head around the sheer notion that Macklemore is the musical act that best epitomizes the essence of rap, both as a genre and a culture that were simultaneously born out of a marginalized group’s urgent search for an escape from its daily frustrations.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate Macklemore. He’s a splendid artist and we text all the time – conversations which I cherish so much that I save them on my phone for future reference.

At first, I was certain that the source of my chagrin lay in the fact that Macklemore’s victory was nothing more than a woeful failure for the black artists – specifically Kendrick Lamar – who were robbed of their due recognition. More precisely, my visceral reaction to his triumph was one of resigned, yet completely predictable, disappointment; a reflection of the reality that the masses are willing to be educated on experiences that differ from their own only through the innate privilege and omniscience of the straight white male.

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However, I then realized that first, the entire thesis is far too reminiscent of something straight out of the most radical annals of the McGill Daily, and second, this debate is not, and must not, be misconstrued as being founded on race. Despite how tempting it may be (trust me) to label this issue as yet another chapter in the discourse on American race relations, that’s shamefully easy, and wildly unrepresentative of reality.

That said, Macklemore’s “cleaning up” of the Grammys is not contentious simply because he is white and rapping, but instead because his victory regrettably serves as a testament to how his mainstream appeal makes him the safest choice for an award that is becoming more and more about media exposure and commercial success, instead of actual artistic merit and critical value.

To clarify, by no means am I asserting that “The Heist” was a lousy album, nor am I claiming that Macklemore is at fault for having accepted the awards that were bestowed onto him. What I’m truly lamenting is the inherently flawed nature of the Grammy’s voting process.

To the dismay of many, it is nothing more than a system that places a greater value on the instant recognizability of the most mainstream artists than on the virtuosic merit of musical acts that command respect capturing the true zeitgeist of their genre. Quoting Rob Kenner, a current voting member of the Recording Academy, “the vast majority of the nominations are chosen by people who have little real expertise in a given field.” Egregiously enough, in the final voting process, voting members can vote in up to 20 different categories, regardless

Opinion of how well they even know artists nominated let alone the genre itself. Thus, if you’re voting in a field that you know nothing about, it’s only natural, albeit unfortunate, for you to vote for the one mainstream artist you’ve actually heard of.

That’s exactly why formulating an opinion on this whole Macklemore debate is so tricky. On the one hand, he truly is a talented artist that is part of the movement of making rap more accessible to the mainstream audience.

On the other hand, his victory simply testifies to how oblivious the Academy really is to the veritable ethos of the hiphop community, whose unanimous support for Kendrick Lamar is as obvious as Lamar’s vertical challenges.

Frankly, I have no issue with the fact that Macklemore is white or, consequently, that the personal struggles he chose to recount are dissimilar to the racialized experiences that formed the basis of rap’s emergence. To be quite honest, like most people in the hip-hop community, I actively welcome these fundamental differences as a necessary component in rap’s evolution into a genre to which everyone can relate, regardless of their socioeconomic status or racial background. Rather, my main gripe with Macklemore winning all three rap Grammys is that this result is unreflective of the actual mindset of the hip-hop/rap community, for whom his victory was a

yet another slap in the face.

That said, I must point out that a major element of Macklemore’s mainstream appeal is that his message resonates most with the Academy and its penchant for radio-friendly rap music that preaches the “traditional American values” of tolerance, inclusivity, and equality.

Naturally, I’d be a fool to deplore an artist for espousing such values, especially in a genre like rap where they are so chronically under-represented. Nonetheless, the fact remains that such themes do not accurately speak to the realities of the majority of those who actually listen to hip-hop and identify with it as a culture. Instead, they simply tug at the heartstrings of the mainstream majority whose musical inclinations are limited by what is “safe” enough to be played on the radio.

In light of all this, if the Grammys is all about rewarding those who are most successful in getting their names “out there” to listeners of all genres, then Macklemore’s triple triumph is wholly merited, plain and simple. However, if the Grammys aims to showcase talent that is truly reflective of the ethos of its respective genre, then I think we all know what needs to be done.

The views expressed in this opinion piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Bull & Bear.

Letter: Brian Farnan’s Email Offends Me

S

Ameya Pendse, Contributor

ome people at McGill are a tad sensitive, so let me apologize in advance for my offensive statements.

But it’s okay because we are all oppressed together, right? We’re slowly coming to grips with fact that we are all racist, sexist, patriarchs, and so on. If I learned anything at McGill, it’s that a vocal minority has deemed us all to be both oppressed as well as oppressors. The radical social culture which we, the silent majority, despise has dominated both SSMU and our campus politics for years.

Brian Farnan’s latest email is no exception. To be clear, this article is not meant to attack SSMU VP Internal Bri-

The Bull & Bear - Feburary 2014

an Farnan, but instead to help him and SSMU reevaluate the purpose and priorities of the equity commission.

SSMU’s VP Internal has apparently offended me offended us all, in fact. His rudely written listserv titled “Weekly Listserv: Read Me” was sent to the McGill community on October 15, 2013. Farnan-gate, as my friend likes to call it, began when he used a GIF of U.S. President Barack Obama kicking a door out after a press conference; the GIF followed the quote “honestly midterms, get out of here.” This GIF offended a vocal radical minority. To them, “the image in question was an extension

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Opinion of the cultural, historical and living legacy surrounding people of colour - particularly young men - being portrayed as violent in contemporary culture and media.”

The apology was sent out to the McGill community a whole three and a half months after the initial listserv was sent out, simply demonstrating how out of tune SSMU’s priorities are with the average McGill student.

Today, I ask Brian Farnan to send out another apology because his last email titled “Weekly Listserv: Apology” offended me. I am offended that he thought I would naturally associate the visual of President Obama kicking down a door with the racist stereotype of a coloured person being angry. If anything, he should apologize for promoting racism and its living legacies by pointing it out. I can say with certainty that most in the McGill community did not make this association until we read the email. Isn’t it racist that GIFs of people being angry should only be of white men? One can argue that this is implied. Who knows, we might find out in another three and a half months.

Brian, your GIF didn’t offend me, your apology did.

I am offended that you think I’m so shallow and highstrung that I would be offended by this. If a few people complained to you about this, you should have simply apologized only to them if you genuinely believed the GIF was offensive. I’m offended that SSMU spent so much time reviewing this. They spent my student fees on this when they could have looked into other things that would have actually been useful to students. By sending the second email to the McGill community, you have not only made the majority of us face palm and be ashamed of SSMU and its equity commission, but have also detracted from the true purpose of the equity council. I am forced to question SSMU’s legitimacy and objectivity. Quite frankly, Brian, it’s going to be difficult to ever take you or the equity commission seriously after this. It is unfortunate that SSMU wasted time investigating whether or not a GIF was offensive, because there are real issues that students face.

The views expressed in this opinion piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Bull & Bear.

Why McGill is Failing You by Not Failing You H ow M c G ill G ra d in g I ncent iv iz e s L a z in e s s Wyatt Hnatiw, Opinion Writer

I

don’t go to class very often.

If the slides aren’t posted, I might go. If there’s content in the lecture that I can’t get from the readings, I’ll probably go. If attendance is mandatory, I’ll go, but that is really rare.

Instead, I typically decide that I’d rather go to the gym, watch a movie, play video games or, my personal favourite, stay in bed and sleep.

See, the odds are good that a few days a week when I have class, I’ll have been out late the night before, per-

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haps overindulging and now nursing a hangover. On a morning when I’m still wearing the beer-soaked jeans from power hour and my shirt is long gone, it’s just easier to stay in bed. I’m sure it’ll work out; I’ll definitely go to class on Thursday, or maybe next week. The midterm isn’t for a month or so. I’ll do the readings later, it’ll be fine.

That has been my approach to school for the last four years. Granted it’s probably not the best way to go about my education; I’d be getting better value for my

Opinion out-of-province tuition if I attended every class and sat in the front row. I’m sure my mother would agree.

I don’t get terrible marks though. I am not a straight-A student by any stretch of the imagination but neither am I on the verge of failing. I’m not special.

I put in less than 10 hours of work per week on average, seldom start papers or projects early and never do optional assignments. I don’t possess a supernatural ability to absorb information, I don’t have a photographic memory and I don’t study any of my class material in advance. By all logic, I should not be doing well at university. Yet I do.

Shouldn’t this be more difficult? Post-secondary education is supposed to be what prepares us for our real lives - the last stage before one becomes truly independent--so why can we skate through it?

This is the issue that seems to be omnipresent in the post-secondary education system: it is fully possible to do the absolute minimum in every class and not only pass, but pass well.

Clearly I cannot speak for every class in every faculty; there are difficult courses and some faculties are certainly tougher than others. But among my major, minor and elective courses, I have yet to encounter a class that caused me to drastically change my work ethic.

Over the last four years I’ve realized the way to be successful in class is not to accumulate a great deal of knowledge and understanding, but rather to be good at regurgitation. With the small amount of attention paid to each individual in a 200-person class, a professor or T.A. cannot accurately gauge one’s comprehension of the material. But they can assess you based on what was said in that term paper, that essay question, or the five minutes you speak during a conference.

This allows me to quote key terms from the notes, name drop the authors the professor respects and then spend the rest of my time doing literally anything else.

I’m not proud of how I handle schoolwork; I’m not a good role model for the fresh-faced first years I see in my elective classes. This is just how I have discovered schoolwork can be done.

When it becomes this easy to game the system, do you blame the ones who figured it out or the ones who created it?

If the goal of education is the collection of impressive letter grades, then it’s safe to say that the process has been streamlined. But if the intention is to impart knowledge, then rewarding someone like me is quite possibly the worst way to achieve that. We constantly hear how difficult it is to get a job post-graduation, how a university diploma just isn’t enough. But when a di-

The Bull & Bear - Feburary 2014

ploma is this easy to get, maybe it shouldn’t be.

It’s easy to say that it’s not the university’s job to make me take my education seriously. The tools are there and if I didn’t use them, that’s my fault, not the university’s. But can you blame me if I don’t want to scrutinize every page of the coursepack when there’s an easier method right in front of me? The problem is not that I don’t take my education seriously, it’s that I don’t take McGill’s education seriously.

Put differently here, there are a lot of classes I take here that I do not care about just to get my diploma.

In an educational system that so highly values good grades, it makes sense that I would put the least effort into these while still trying to get good grades. If McGill wants to impress this curriculum on me and actually have me learn something, then at least make me work for it. Handing out easy grades to people gaming the system sends a mixed signal to employers: what does a diploma actually stand for? If McGill wants to remain one of the top schools in Canada, it should concern itself with imparting the best education possible, not creating the easiest path to a degree.

The bright side is that people like me are not total lost causes. The abundance of free time allows us to pursue what we are passionate for instead of memorizing facts. We still cultivate skills, we still learn—we pursue our education. But the feeling remains that had we been pushed a little hard to learn some of the things McGill wanted us to learn, we might be just a little more prepared for the real world.

It’s too late for me though. I’ll be out of here in three months, so even if the difficulty curve were to spike upward it won’t make my McGill education any more effective. I just hope that if we want these four years to mean something, then maybe it should require more effort to get that passing grade, and then maybe then people like me will have to spend a few more hours a week in the library.

The author would like to add that if any of his professors or his mother is reading this, the preceding article is a work of satire and he is currently in the library.

The views expressed in this opinion piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Bull & Bear.

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Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Death: Drama or not, Hollywood’s got some serious shoes to fill