Volume 44, Issue 10

Volume 44, Issue 10 • February 13, 2024 • thelinknewspaper.ca

" So much head, so little time…" Since 1980

CONCORDIA’S INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION SINCE 1980

NEWS

ASAC’s vibrant presence How the African Student Association of Concordia is fostering community Anaïssa Dauphin

@ceo.anaxssa

ASAC GAME ATTENDEES PLAYING TUG OF WAR. PHOTO DOROTHY MOMBRUN he African Student Association essence that HBCUs offer their air for her, after her experience of anticipated by its members. demic halted student life in 2020.

T of Concordia (ASAC) serves students. Seeing that there are feeling misunderstood by school“I enjoy coming to their events “Things have been up and down as both a sense of familiarity and no HBCUs in Canada, initiatives mates. “A lot of people who I was because they’re so fun, it feels like since COVID happened, all the home for African international students and local Black students alike.

When asked how members would describe ASAC, all seem to muster the same sentiment towards the association: family, community and home.

In an environment where many Black and Afro-descendant students feel they are a minority, ASAC serves as a home away from home, and as a hub of relatability for other Black students who do not see much of themselves represented when sitting in a classroom.

ASAC is an initiative that began in the late 1980s to represent the African diaspora at the university. It has been decorated as one of Concordia’s most popular associations and has received various awards during its time at the institution: Most Improved Association in 1997 by the International Associations Council, Best Cultural Club in 2014 and Most Active Club in 2021 by the Concordia Student Union.

In a landscape where the United States’ historically Black colleges or universities (HBCUs)—like Spelman College and Howard University—stand as bastions of representation and African American culture, ASAC offers a cultural aspect and a community that brings forth the thelinknewspaper.ca

like ASAC ensure a safe haven for Afro-descendants students who are seeking similitude during their university journey.

“I had no family here, so going to [ASAC] events and relating to people who had similar cultures was nice,” says current ASAC President Blen Abate, while reflecting on the association. “There’s a kind of culture shock when you’re from somewhere else. The Canadian lifestyle is so different, so it’s nice to have people that you can relate to and go through this with.”

Abate, who is originally from Ethiopia, joined ASAC because it acted as a speed-friending tool for her. “I was new to the city, I needed to go explore things. ASAC had a road trip, so I went, and I met a bunch of people who are now some of my closest friends,” she explains.

ASAC’s team of executives and ambassadors includes a blend of cultures from many countries in Africa and the Caribbean.

“With your community, you can be yourself, and since joining ASAC, I’ve met my people. I was actually able to build that university life that everybody talks about,” says Iman Kande, the director of multimedia at ASAC. Kande expresses how the association is like a breath of fresh

in class with couldn’t understand certain things that were normal to me, so I thought I might as well hang out with people that kinda grew up the same as me. People who get me,” she says.

Many Black students can feel lost and left to themselves in academia, and depending on their field of study, they can sometimes be one of the only Black individuals in their classrooms.

ASAC tries to counter this feeling with events and encouraging participation from Black students to become ambassadors or executive members, where Black students can come out of their shell and be their authentic selves in a safe environment.

The vice-president of ASAC’s Outreach for Loyola, Jemimah Kananiro, added that: “When I’m with my Canadian friends I code switch a lot. But then with ASAC, you can see who I truly am. I’m able to do things I never thought I would. It’s like a family.”

According to ASAC’s mission, the association aspires to be a haven for international African students and students who are of African descent. “It’s really about building different types of activities to reunite people, and for the community to come together,” Kananiro says.

ASAC’s events are also widely

[a] home away from home. ASAC is amazing because it brings everyone together, not just African students but even Caribbean people who want to know more about their descendants. It brings all of us together,” says Josephine Ohioma, an ASAC ambassador while on the sidelines of ASAC’s Field Day Fundraiser event.

ASAC is continuing to prepare more engaging events for students, as its much-anticipated gala Uzuri, is approaching. The event allows students to dress in their finest African traditional wear to celebrate and enjoy a plethora of dance, poetry, modelling and singing performances. “We don’t get to go to weddings and events back home.

Having these galas where we can wear our traditional clothing is nice, so we can have that aspect of our culture still be a part of our lives,” Abate says.

Uzuri will highlight Afrofuturism and showcase African culture and talent from Concordia, and Montreal as a whole.

“It’s our biggest event of the year, we have some unique performances. We also have a lot of new ideas, we’re really excited to see everything and I think that people will love it,” Abate adds.

ASAC has been working to rebuild its foundation since the pan-

plans they (past executives) had kinda went down. Now we’re stable and able to do more things,” says Abate. She said that this year’s team is dedicated to making a bigger impact on Concordia’s community.

ASAC wants to make it known that Concordia students should stay put for more workshops, events and community engagement.

However, ASAC does not limit itself to Concordia. The association is known throughout Montreal universities. “It’s actually a magical thing, because all the different African associations in Montreal work together, we all go to each other’s events. There’s only one word and it’s community, honestly,” Kande says.

“We want to organize events that reunite all the African associations.

It could be a thing where people from all over the world choose to attend Concordia because of all the huge events and impact that we’d be able to have if we continue to work together,” she adds.

One may look at it as another club at Concordia, but its members say ASAC is a symbol of solidarity, love, shared roots, and inclusivity.

“At the end of the day, we’re all a family, ASAC is for everyone who just wants to enjoy themselves,” Kande says.

FEBRUARY 13, 2024 • NEWS 3

NEWS

Better feedback avenues for CHS in the works Two students working on creating feedback form for Concordia Health Services after personal negative experiences Hannah Vogan and Maria Cholakova @hannahvogann, @_maria_cholakova_

STUDENTS ARE WORKING ON A FEEDBACK FORM FOR CHS. PHOTO JOYS SEKPON 2019, Cory Shallow, a Con- of me, and it was stuck because I Iitedncordia University student, vis- was so swollen," she said.

Concordia Health Services After her experience with (CHS) due to an allergic reaction.

She asked CHS for an appointment with an allergist. However, according to Shallow, the CHS doctor refused and instead sent Shallow for an evaluation for Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The assessment included inserting a tube up Shallow's nostril and into her stomach. The tube was attached to a monitor bigger than a Sony Walkman and had to be kept there for 24 hours.

Shallow described the experience as invasive. Due to complications, Shallow went back to CHS to get the tube removed.

"My throat was closed. It was kind of terrifying for hours, as the tube [kept] moving. [The] tube [...] was grinding against the irritated, swelling tissue of my throat," she said. "Literally, one of the most traumatic, painful days of my life."

When she went back to CHS, Shallow claimed that the nurses refused to remove the tube due to their fear of being held liable.

Abandoned by the services she pays for in her tuition, Shallow walked to the Jewish General Hospital. However, due to its long waiting times, she hailed a cab and went to the Glen Centre for Specialized Medicine. When the medical professionals in the GERD department noticed Shallow's condition, "they yanked the tube out

CHS, Shallow demanded that the CHS doctor be never assigned to her in the future.

Shallow is one of many students who have had negative experiences with CHS. In 2019, Sarah Richman had an incident with a CHS doctor, leaving her feeling dissatisfied and dismissed.

Some time later, Richman posted a social media callout to see if others had similar experiences with the same doctor. She was met with a flood of responses that echoed hers. This is how Richman met Shallow. The two had both experienced malpractice from the same doctor and joined forces as co-complainants to ultimately fight for every person who replied to Richman's post.

These messages led Richman to make a formal complaint. She emailed a detailed letter to the head of CHS about what could be done to prevent this from happening in the future. After being presented with no adequate solutions, she submitted her complaint to the Collège des médecins du Québec and waited a year, only for her complaint to be rejected.

When Richman felt ready to give up, Shallow encouraged her to take her case to the Concordia Student Union’s (CSU) Advocacy Centre. They then tried to get the

4 NEWS • FEBRUARY 13, 2024

attention of the Office of Rights and Responsibilities (ORR). ORR turned them away after asserting it only handles professor-related and educational complaints; CHS complaints must be managed through a separate entity.

The two had hit a roadblock, and Richman had gone full circle in her complaint process. Student advocacy had set Shallow and Richman up with an appointment with Elana Bloom, Concordia’s director of Health and Wellness.

The entire complaint process took Richman over three years.

During her persistent attempt to get a sufficient response to her complaint, she found no formal complaint process for CHS. What was first a quest to obtain justice for herself and others mistreated by this doctor at CHS has now shifted to a desire to work with the administration. She aimed to create a document that simplifies receiving feedback from students and simplifies the process of students giving feedback.

According to Richman and Shallow's recollection and notes transcribed by Shallow during the meeting with Bloom, they discussed their prolonged complaint process, how complaints concerning CHS are addressed and a feedback form that aims to correct the current feedback procedure. The two shared with The Link that they received a green light from Bloom for a plan to collaborate on the proposed feedback form.

Richman's motivation to mobilize the creation of the form came from her turmoil. "I don't want people to go through the shit that I went through," she said.

The Link met with Bloom to discuss CHS and the potential creation of a feedback form. Although she claimed to have not spoken to any student about said form, she said that CHS is open to improving services for students and collaborating on its construction.

Ideally, the form will be used by students immediately following their appointment at CHS as a general inquiry into how the student's services went.

Shallow has been transcribing

for the Access Centre for Students with Disabilities for nearly eight years and studied qualitative research under Dr. Theresa Bianco, the former undergraduate program director of psychology.

With these skills, Shallow will dedicate herself to interviewing subjects and collecting, transcribing and analyzing data. Shallow will then make a code sheet for each interview and aggregate the data to reveal common dynamics, highlighting perceived strengths and weaknesses in CHS. With this form, they hope to provide the administration with malleable feedback and promote a paper trail so that feedback is centralized and turned into data more efficiently. Currently, any student who has a complaint with CHS must chat directly with either Bloom, a manager or receptionist at the CHS. To alleviate CHS's busy schedule, the duo is "trying to make it as easy as possible for them, so we are not adding something else to their already full plate," Richman said.

Bloom explained that all information regarding patients is privileged medical information, and the CHS does not "divulge any information without the patient's permission."

To spread the word, Richman created a QR code for students to scan and get involved with their Discord. The Discord is a space for students to talk about their experience with CHS and potentially schedule an interview with Shallow. It is meant to be a safe online space for students to share their stories and learn about other resources on campus.

"It doesn't matter if they are on the Discord to lurk, it doesn't matter if they are on the Discord to talk; whatever it is, as long as they are there, they are helping," Richman said.

To create a sufficient sample size, Shallow hopes to interview at least 20 students from diverse medical backgrounds to get as accurate a sample size as possible.

The whole process is entirely anonymous. The duo doesn't ask for names; the only verification

needed is a screenshot of the student's Moodle page or schedule.

"We want this to be well-rounded and to be based in as many experiences as possible so that it can be as effective as possible," Richman said.

To make an appointment for an interview with Shallow, the student has to mention the admin on Discord and schedule an appointment that is most convenient for them, which would take less than ten minutes.

Students who don't feel comfortable being interviewed can also use the Discord to chat.

Once they have achieved the ideal sample size and created their research form, they will present it to Concordia. The university will then be able to tweak and adjust the form before implementing it.

Although the duo is eager to collaborate with the administration, they describe the CSU as open to incorporating the form into their annual undergraduate survey should Concordia turn down the form. "At the end of the day, we are trying to help Concordia," Richman said.

According to Tanou Bah, the student life coordinator at the CSU, adapting the feedback form would be another way to reach more students. “In the past, the CSU has done investigations of student services, to see if they are meeting students’ needs,” saidBah. “We are happy to hold [the feedback form] and present it on behalf of students to health services and the administration.”

If students want to share their stories to help the duo create the feedback form, they can join the ConU Health Caucus Server on Discord or use the QR code.

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NEWS

Holistic support for Indigenous communities First Peoples Justice Centre offers guidance while navigating colonial justice systems Catherine Hamelin

@catou.h

he First Peoples Justice Centre ity-based justice solutions. in the same way as in the urban T of Tiohtià:ke/Montreal is a ser“There are underlying nuan- area, leading to different amounts vice providing help to Indigenous ces [for Indigenous people] when of money being allocated. In turn, people as they maneuver through the colonial justice system.

Through decolonial methods, they provide a wide variety of support and adapted services fine-tuned to the community’s needs. “[The centre is] tailored to supporting the Indigenous community here, so people know that they come here to have a safe space, feel at home, and take meaningful steps to address conflicts that they were in or harm they received,” said Amy Edward, the restorative justice coordinator at the centre.

The centre’s employees are all trained to assist Indigenous people in different ways.

Apart from offering support with the justice system, as Edward explained, they also help with wellness and people’s goals. Depending on the situation, the centre can offer housing and employment assistance, as well as access to food security so that they are on a good path moving forward.

Indigenous people who do not want to go to the criminal courtroom are granted a similarly meaningful process through the centre. Edward finds the traditional justice system to be harmful to Indigenous people due to the lack of acknowledgement of past colonial damages.

According to the Indigenous Justice Strategy report, Canadian courts of justice are “colonial systems that do not work for their communities.” More importantly, the subjects of the report expressed the need to have programs that offer commun-

PHOTO CATHERINE HAMELIN thelinknewspaper.ca

it comes to intergenerational trauma, when it comes to substance mismanagement, and when it comes to family and community dynamics,” she said. “The reality is we work with a lot of folks who are in situations of homelessness.”

According to a 2022 study, one in ten off-reserve Indigenous people have experienced unsheltered homelessness. The study attributes this high rate to “systemic barriers to employment and education, racial discrimination in the housing market, and the intergenerational effects of colonization and residential school experiences.”

Ellen Filippelli, the executive director of the centre, explained that the government expects the Indigenous community to move forward and ignore the hurt that was inflicted on their people.

“Just imagine for a moment.

Somebody going into your home [...] and searching for any child who’s four-years-old and over and is taking them all out of your house, and you never see them again,” she said. “We’re supposed to be okay with this.”

According to Filippelli, the centre’s work also remains limited due to a restricted amount of funding. “We’re trying to do twice as much with half the money,” she said. Filipelli added that with more financial assistance, the centre hopes to change the colonial perspectives the federal and provincial governments hold of Indigenous people.

Filippelli explained that the government doesn't recognize Indigenous people in the territories

many of them must commute to the city due to resources not being available on their land.

“The government always talks about truth and reconciliation.

Well, let’s talk about the truth first,” said Filippelli. “The truth is that they’re not treating us any differently or with the right respect that they should be and acknowledging stuff like this, like funding our programs. Fully. Not half, not quarter; fully.”

Despite their monetary limitations, Corey Thomas, the transition coordinator at the centre, explained that in order to help people reintegrate into society, the centre will pay 100 per cent of their rent for the first six months and 50 per cent for the next three months. That way, they can focus more on their reintegration and less on financial matters.

Thomas also analyzes what their conditions are, as well as what their obligations will be once they are released. He sees what is realistic for the individual with a parole officer.

Every Indigenous individual is welcome to use their services. The centre aims to treat members as extended family.

“We not only [provide] service [to] Indigenous people, but they are programs that are run

by Indigenous people, who have life experience and have passed through a lot of the terminals that our clients have,” said Filipelli. “It makes that connection right away with our people, and they feel it.”

PHOTO CATHERINE HAMELIN

Tuition hikes threaten fee levy groups’ funding With predicted lower enrollment rates, student services and fee levy groups are set to lose funding in the coming years Geneviève Sylvestre

@gen_sylvestre

oncordia student groups and Associations’ (ASFA) academic C unions are all funded, at least coordinator, said that it’s hard to in part, with a fee levy collected plan next year's budget considfrom student’s tuition, based on the number of credits they are taking. The government’s proposed tuition hikes are suspected to lead to a drop in enrollment and, by extension, a drop in funding for these groups.

Applications from out-ofprovince students are down 30 per cent this year at Concordia due to the Coalition Avenir Québec’s (CAQ) proposed tuition hikes. Concordia has said that it expects to lose $62 million in revenue per year for the following four years and that departments are expecting to lose 65 to 90 per cent of their out-ofprovince student population.

Angelica Antonakopoulos, the Arts and Science Federation of

ering all of the uncertainty.

“If the 60 per cent loss in enrollment of out-of-province and international students holds true, we're set to lose anywhere from $20,000 to $100,000, which is a lot. That's a huge variation,” Antonakopoulos said.

ASFA is mandated to organize events, give out awards and fund the department-specific member associations of the arts and science department. As a non-profit group, they aim to use all of their budget every year, but the hike has forced them to cut back on spending.

“What we are primarily concontinues on p. 6

FEBRUARY 13, 2024 • NEWS 5

NEWS continued from p. 5 cerned about is our funding is going to gradually decrease by any capacity as a result of this tuition increase, and inflation is as high as it's ever been historically. So it's going to get more expensive for us to keep the lights on,” said Antonakopoulos. “Chances are, we'll just have to thin out what we can offer and the diversity of what we can offer in general.”

ASFA isn’t the only association on campus worried about the effect of the tuition hikes on feelevy groups. Hannah Jackson, the Concordia Student Union’s (CSU) external affairs and mobilization coordinator, is concerned about what Concordia’s climate of austerity could mean for student life.

“Even if you're not an international or out-of-province stu-

dent, you're going to risk cuts to your classes and you might see cuts to the services that the Concordia administration provides, such as Concordia Health Services. It's not just a problem if you're only an out-of-province student or an international student,” Jackson said.

The CSU attempts to provide salary increases to personnel, budget increases for clubs when requested, and grants for grassroots community groups.

These could cease if the tuition hike comes into effect. “We have a very finite source of income, which is student tuition, and if that is going to decrease, then we don't really have any ways to keep growing, to develop new services and improve the services that we already have," Jackson said.

The Centre for Gender Ad-

vocacy is a Concordia fee-levy group that provides services like LGBTQIA2S+ resources and information as well as pay-whatyou-can gender-affirming gear.

Rayah Ghosh, the advocacy coordinator, said that while the centre does receive grants on top of a fee levy, they will still be affected. “I think a large part of it is just the tangible resources we give out.

Workshops we can still do because we have trained officials within our organization that could do it on a volunteer basis from time to time, but I think the main concern would be tangible resources like binders and health care,” Ghosh said.

“Tuition hikes affect all of us, but they are targeted at the most vulnerable students in our community,” said Jackson. “The diversity and cultural richness of Montreal and Quebec are something

that makes this place an amazing place to live, and people deserve to be able to afford to come here—not just rich people—and they deserve to be able to stay.”

The CAQ’s proposed tuition hikes for out-of-province students would see their fees go up 30 per cent, at a minimum $12,000 a year. As for international students, they will have to pay a minimum of $20,000 dollars a year, with $3,000 allocated to the government.

GRAPHIC SAMANTHA LEPINE

Before the meals hit the wheels How Santropol Roulant extends a helping hand to those who struggle to fill their plate Justine Beaussier

@ju.st1ne

ocated in the middle of the and external donors. cerns. For instance, one of the he was struggling with his dayWhile all of these resources alL Plateau, Santropol Roulant Santropol Roulant has now volunteers is visually impaired to-day tasks. In 2012 Desai start- low the Santropol Roulant to gain adapted the concept of Meals-on- grown to be a productive and cre- and the kitchen is adjusted to his ed utilizing the Meals-on-Wheels a little autonomy and visibility, it Wheels (or Popote Roulante) to deliver 115 to 130 meals, five days a week, to low-income individuals and those who suffer from social isolation.

In 1995, two workers from Café Santropol decided to create Santropol Roulant. The creation of the organization came from the desire to encourage employment and community involvement opportunities for Montreal youth.

The community food hub Santropol Roulant began as a branch of the nearby Café Santropol, however, after a few years, the organization became independent with the help of a growing number of volunteers

BEIN ALS E M

ative place with its five collectives and numerous projects in schools or with other associations.

Susan Kazenel has been volunteering at Santropol Roulant since 1999. She currently volunteers in the kitchen making meals.

She reflects on how the kitchen, since its origin, has quadrupled in size. “Sometimes I stop by the old place and wonder; ‘how did we do it,’” she says.

Clare Shuley, the fundraising and communications coordinator of the Santropol Roulant, explained that their mission works towards food security and social inclusion.

Before the meals hit the wheels, the kitchen adapts to every volunteer’s needs, as social inclusiveness is one of the association's conA R P E A T R I P O N N I F Y O A R DELI AW VERY CKED A P .

G

6 NEWS • FEBRUARY 13, 2024

needs when he comes to volunteer thrice a week.

The meals are also adaptable and made according to the beneficiaries' needs. They can, for example, be gluten-free or softer for those who have difficulty chewing. Meal recipients will call the organization as the volunteers cook around 9 a.m to 1 p.m., to choose the options they desire.

Once the meals are ready, a secondary team of volunteers enters the kitchen to pack the meals into boxes. Then, at about 3 p.m., the last round of volunteers will come to collect the meals in their Popote Roulante bags that they design themselves with the help of Protogear, a textile prototyping service. When the bags are filled, all delivery personnel leave Santropol Roulant to bike, walk or drive to the beneficiaries homes.

The homemade meals are then distributed between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to recipients, where delivery personnel might stay for a quick conversation. Shuley explains that, for some beneficiaries, this meal delivery will be their only social interaction of the day. This moment can make a big difference to their daily lives, even if it is only a few minutes, she explains.

After Jitendra Desai lost his wife to cancer, he started developing complications with his heart;

service thanks to a hospital social worker who recommended him to Santropol Roulant. The 84-yearold is also a vegetarian and has his meals catered to his needs.

“It is not only the food, it is also all the services they offer,” says Desai. “ The pizza delivery service was not operating but Santropol still delivered me my meal,” he says, referring to a very snowy day.

Santropol Roulant relies on a wide range of funding to sustain itself. The meals made daily cost around $17 each to make, however private foundations, individual donors as well as government grants, help alleviate their costs. Those who benefit from Mealson-Wheels pay around $6 per meal they receive.

Another mission of Santropol Roulant is to fight for food security.

Some beneficiaries with financial difficulties are able to benefit from a price reduction and pay for their meal at a subsidized price of $4.50. In some cases, the meals can even be free.

also relies heavily on volunteers to provide these services. Shuley highlights the fact that it is a great place for students who want to meet people and create intergenerational relations. It is a bilingual association, so French and English speakers are both welcome.

PHOTOS

IRIS DUCOURNAU

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FRINGE ARTS

Remembering Chile, now and forever Colectiva Crear Poder Popular commemorates the 50th anniversary of Chile’s coup d’état through traditional textile art Olivia Johnson

@24601ivia

arolina Echeverria has a tap- Report, also known as the Report a member of the collective and C estry decorated with more of the National Commission on Montreal-based artist. “So even than 1200 dolls in her studio. Truth and Reconciliation. The people who haven't lived through Chilean music plays, as people stitch clothing and accessories for the figures that will eventually be added to the piece.

The tapestry called No Me Olviden or “Forget me not” in Spanish, is a co-creation between artists and participants in Chile and Quebec. The project will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Chile’s coup d'etat.

The textile artistic collective Crear Poder Popular started the project in 2023 in partnership with the museologist Adrian Silva Pino from the Universidad Austral de Chile. Poder popular refers to a form of political power of working-class people in Chile.

The collective invites participants to create small fabric dolls using “arpillera,” a traditional art form from Chile characterized by brightly coloured patchwork pictures which are made predominantly by groups of women.

“We wanted to get away from all the images that people have been using for 50 years,” explained Carolina Echeverria, one of the co-founders of the collective. “Of La Moneda [presidential palace] burning, the people's faces in black and white, the horror, the drama, the terrible. Instead, we decided to choose the concept that [democratically elected socialist President] Allende led people in Chile to such an amazing moment of transitioning and to a more just society in a peaceful way.”

Every Tuesday, the collective hosts a doll-making workshop.

The goal is to create 3200 dolls, one for each person on the Rettig

report was published in 1991 and documented human rights violations that occurred during the military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet in Chile between September 11, 1973, and March 11, 1990.

The Rettig Report documented 3,438 cases of torture, disappearances, kidnappings, and executions, committed by the military regime and provided recommendations for reparations and justice for the victims and their families. This report has played a crucial role in Chile's process of reckoning with its authoritarian past and has been instrumental in ongoing efforts for truth, justice, and reconciliation in the country.

“You feel like you're really getting in touch with these people.

We're having a communion with them,” said Teresa Alejandra Peñafiel, a member of the collective.

“One family knew that we were representing their loved one and it was so emotional for them. Even if it's a small figure, it is important for people to know that we still remember those who were affected.”

When participants arrive at Echeviera’s studio, they can choose from a list of stories from the report.

The collective encourages visitors to choose a story that touches them.

Participants then make the doll as well as clothing and accessories to match their chosen story. As the workshop continues, everyone takes turns reading the stories out loud, concluding with “Presente, ahora y siempre” — Present, now and forever.

“A sense of community is present,” said Denise Olivares,

it can feel a sense of empathy.”

According to Echeverria, every aspect of the project is collaborative. She believes that she believes that collaborative art pieces are the strongest thing you can do to keep memory alive.

“The more people are working on this piece, the more the memory will stay alive,” she said.

“People will remember. You will remember this conversation. [Participants] will remember making these figures. They will remember how the stories touched them. That's what we're trying to achieve.”

The collective is also working on digitizing the list of names and translating the stories in English, Spanish, and French. Writers are rewriting the stories in first person with the goal of making each story unique. Peñafiel explained that the collective wants the names in the report to represent more than a statistic.

“In Chile, there's a lot of people that want to forget. They say it’s over,” said Peñafiel. “But it's impossible for people that have been through this to just forget. You can put it aside for a while to continue your life but you can never forget.

And you should never forget because remembering is what's going to permit us to transform all this horror into something better.”

If you would like to participate in the creation of No Me Olviden, Colectiva Crear Poder Popular hosts workshops every Tuesday from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Femininity Jessica Lauren freshly ripened, she waits patiently for the Orange to be split freshly stained, She wipes the sweet chocolate off her White shirt freshly showered, she watches her forced Pink belly turn pale again GRAPHIC MYRIAM OUAZZANNI

Isabella Presley Let me tell you how much I love you, Like how the sun and moon dance at twilight.

The way your eyes encapsulate me, The beating of my heart forever racing.

Let me tell you how much I love you, The way your smile has my blood burning Like a calm flame.

I imagine your laugh and the way your voice, Envelopes my name.

Let me tell you how much I love you, May it not be in vain.

GRAPHIC ISABELLA PRESLEY

NO ME OLVIDEN THE TAPESTRY, PHOTO OLIVIA JOHNSON thelinknewspaper.ca

FEBRUARY 13, 2024• FRINGE ARTS 7

FRINGE ARTS

Debunking Israelism Cinema Politica Concordia and IJVC’s screening of Israelism examines the cult of Israel in Jewish America Olivia Shan

PHOTO OLIVIA SHAN n Monday, Feb. 5, Cinema and the harm that this conflation O Politica Concordia (CPC), in brings to both Palestinians and collaboration with Independent the Jewish diaspora.

Jewish Voices Concordia (IJVC), presented a screening of indie documentary Israelism. The screening was followed by a Q&A discussion with the film’s producer and supervising editor Brian A. Kates.

Israelism offers a rare and sobering look at the way American Jewish communities have instilled the state of Israel as a fundamental component of being Jewish,

On the night of the screening, CPC and IJVC members welcomed early attendees at the entrance of room H-110, which was getting increasingly crowded well before the start of the event.

Coordinators collected admission cash donations and hosted a small merchandise table full of books pertaining to Israel and Palestine, while the auditorium

8 FRINGE ARTS • FEBRUARY 13, 2024

promptly filled up with students and activists of all ages. After a brief introductory note from moderator Saskia Recke-Smith, a leader of IJVC at Concordia, representatives from the other co-presenters of the event— Paju and Voix Juives— took a few minutes to briefly introduce their respective organizations.

The term “Israelism” is used by the filmmakers to draw a distinction between historical Zionism and the current pro-Israel ideology: a concrete propagandist movement which places Israel and Israeli interests above all else. Israelism mainly follows the perspectives of two Jewish Americans, Simone Zimmerman and Eitan, who describe their gradual disillusionment with the notions that have been indoctrinated in them for most of their lives. The belief that Israel was their “promised land,” and that it was their duty, as Jewish people, to serve in its military, and to defend its reputation from “antisemites” and “self-hating Jews” became deeply entrenched.

After Zimmerman and Eitan started openly speaking out against the erasure and dehumanization of Palestinians, they endured severe backlash and ostracization. Even so, the film argues that there is a general new shift among young Jewish people especially, who seem more willing to have difficult conversations about Israel’s war crimes against Palestine and to reconsider the role it has had in their communities.

Though the documentary went relatively unnoticed during its initial release in early 2023, the escalating atrocities in Palestine post-Oct. 7 have expectedly renewed its place in our current political discourses. Recke-Smith acknowledged that there was some apprehension among IJVC members on how the controversial film would be received; in the past months, several screenings had been cancelled or banned in the US and Canada.

Nonetheless, IJVC felt it was necessary to showcase an alternative voice to the “one-sided” Jewish perspective that has been grossly overrepresented in current discussions of Israel and Palestine.

“Sometimes non-Jews don’t understand why there is this obsession with Israel from people who have never been there and don’t come from there—looking into what goes into that indoctrination is an important thing to be aware of right now. It made sense that this was one of the first events we put out,” said Recke-Smith. In the discussion segment following the screening, Kates expressed how Israelism should be treated as an educational tool, and that the filmmakers hoped to spark more openness and inclusivity in broader inter-Jewish dialogues.

Audience members commented on how the film could have benefitted from the inclusion of more Palestinian voices. ReckeSmith agreed that while the film’s depiction of the Israel-Palestine conflict is not “radical by any means,” it was conceived as an intertextual film to incite reflec-

tion within the Jewish community; particularly in regards to the way Jewish youth are educated about the Holocaust, which too often turns into re-traumatization. “This is at the core of the blind trust and faith in the state of Israel,” Recke-Smith said.

Israelism also convincingly lays out how, in a disturbing recent trend, the American right wing has been insidiously exploiting Jewish devotion to Israel to further their personal agendas.

Many Jewish Americans choose to back right-wing politicians that tout unconditional support for Israel, while not realizing that right wing rhetoric has been directly fueling the concerning rise of antisemitism and anti-Jewish hate crimes. Ultimately, equating pro-Israel to pro-Jewish, or anti-Zionism to antisemitism, harms all Jewish people. Israelism advocates earnestly and effectively for a more critical understanding of Zionism within and beyond the diaspora.

Nathan Nguyen, an international development and cultural studies double-major, was surprised and impressed with the film’s case study: “It’s fascinating to see how indoctrination works inside these communities. The two main protagonists are so inspiring, and I don’t think the film would have been so effective if it didn’t include their perspectives.”

IJVC and CPC hope that this event will encourage more students to get involved in anti-Zionist, pro-Palestine organizing on campus and in the broader Montreal.

thelinknewspaper.ca

SPORTS

From Stinger to pro player After a stellar university career, Brigitte Laganière joins the PWHL Alice Martin

@_alcmrtn

BRIGITTE LAGANIÈRE TAKES THE ICE FOR THE FIRST TIME DURING THE PWHL MONTREAL HOME OPENER ON JAN. 16.

oming into the Stingers the historical first season of the leap from varsity to professional she said that Chu has taken a big fensive opportunities. Defensively, C women’s hockey program in PWHL is really special,” said Chu. hockey was significant. mentorship role in her life. she was really sound,” said Chu. 2016, Brigitte Laganière thought So far, Laganière has played “The speed of play is just high“I learned so much from them,” Although Laganière now plays she’d spend most of her rookie season watching the team from the benches. However, her hardworking spirit and competitive nature brought her to the Stingers’ second-line from the get-go. Now, that same dedication allowed her to reach the professional level.

Laganière held a cornerstone role within the Stingers. During her six years with the team, she helped secure a bronze and a gold medal at the U Sports National Championships, the latter of which she won as an alternate captain.

“It was the six best years of my life,” said Laganière. “When I got to Concordia, I didn’t know how to speak English. I didn’t really have a lot of confidence and I thought I’d be in the stands a lot.

But from my first year, they took me under their wing and really helped me grow as a player, and also as a professional.”

This year, Laganière was recruited to play for the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Montreal team. The moment she found out, she sent a text to her former Stingers head coach, Julie Chu. “I think I told her like, ‘I made it,’ laughed Laganière.

Chu emphasized how proud she was of her former defender.

“There's only a handful of people right now that are playing professional women's hockey. So, for her to have that opportunity during thelinknewspaper.ca

six games and collected an assist for PWHL Montreal. “It’s fun. Of course, there’s pressure because all the girls are really good,” she said of her PWHL teammates.

“Every practice, you really need to give 100 per cent. But, the atmosphere is great, the coaching staff is incredible and really qualified.”

Laganière was recruited by PWHL Montreal out of training camps. She filled important gaps when the team had significant injuries on defence, according to head coach Kori Cheverie.

“She shows a lot of grit, passion, and determination and she was able to fill a role for us that was really important,” said Cheverie. “We knew we'd be very fortunate to have her on the team moving forward, even when those defenders did come back.”

Cheverie added that she likes how coachable Laganière is and the positive impact she has on the team.

“If we give her feedback, she's working on it,” Cheverie said. “She is great with the players in the locker room. We love having her around. She's coming from a team at Concordia who had a lot of success and, you know, we're trying to have success with our team as well.”

Before joining the PWHL, Laganière played with La Force de Montréal in the-now disbanded Premier Hockey Federation (PHF), which she joined right after university. Laganière said the

er every step. Shots get faster, you have less reaction time. It’s also more physical because the girls get bigger and stronger,” she said.

The PWHL has also distinguished itself in the women’s hockey world as more physical, with body checking being allowed. Laganière had to adapt to this new part of the game, as both U Sports women’s hockey and the PHF didn’t allow it.

“Most of us have never played with checking, so you have to learn how to check and how to receive a check,” said Laganière. “I’m still getting used to it on that level, but with every practice we see how to place your body correctly with the other player. [The physical aspect] is the toughest adaptation to get used to, that’s for sure. It’s fun though, you have to be ready.”

To help her adjust to the higher level of play, Laganière is well surrounded. At PWHL Montreal, she plays with teammates like Marie-Philip Poulin, Erin Ambrose and Ann-Renée Desbiens, who all play on the Canadian national team.

“I learn from them everyday, like how [Poulin] is ready and performs at every game,” she said. “It’s really cool to be near them and to see how they prepare for games or practices.”

Laganière has also stayed in close contact with her coaches at Concordia. She credited associate head coach Caroline Ouellette with being an inspiration to her growing up playing hockey, and

said Laganière. “They are incredible coaches and they really helped me become the person I am today.”

Chu recalls fondly and vividly how she recruited Laganière.

She had been told by the head coach of the Cégep de Saint-Laurent Patriotes that they had a defender—Laganière—they should look at. Laganière ended up scoring during the game Chu attended. Thereafter, Chu brought Laganière on a visit to Concordia.

“We got really lucky finding someone that was as talented, as driven, as funny, as great to be around as her,” said Chu. Laganière played five seasons, with one season being cancelled due to COVID, amassing 58 points in 95 total games as a Stingers.

In her last season varsity as alternate captain for Stingers, she finished fifth in the Réseasu des sports étudiants du Québec (RSEQ) with three goals and 14 assists, totalling 17 points in 15 games. Her hard work garnered her an academic All-Canadian label, an RSEQ AllStar selection and two awards: The Denise Beaudet Award for leadership, community and strong academics, as well as the Joe and Ben Weider Athletic Leadership Award.

On the ice, Chu praised her as a complete player.

“She was able to play a really big role blocking shots on our penalty kill. She was on our power play, being more dynamic, creating of-

professionally, she never had a professional women’s league to aim for when she started playing hockey.

However, since the PWHL started its inaugural season, she says that younger Stingers players now have an extra source of motivation to put in time and effort on the ice.

“There’s something after university. You won’t have to tell yourself there’s only one year left.

I can push and go to the next level,” said Laganière. “They can dream about [making] it.”

In the PWHL, Laganière said her highlight was seeing the record-breaking 13,000 fans attend their game against PWHL Minnesota on Jan. 6 at the Xcel Energy Centre.

“It was insane. I never thought I’d live [to see] that in my life,” said Laganière. “There was only the very top section that wasn’t complete. The atmosphere was incredible and it really made women’s hockey shine.”

As she looks towards the future, she hopes for fans to keep showing up and to encourage the legacy of women’s hockey.

“My hope is that all the games we play will always have 13,000 fans in the stands,” she said. “I really hope that people like to see women’s hockey and that we’ll continue to make it shine. It’s only the start and it’ll only get better as it grows.”

FEBRUARY 13, 2024• SPORTS 9

SPORTS

Top five winter Stingers for 2023-24 Hockey and basketball teams have talent to spare 4 - Jaheem Joseph Guard, Men’s Basketball

EMMY FECTEAU (RIGHT) AND ZOÉ THIBAULT (LEFT) CELEBRATE AFTER ÉMILIE LUSSIER’S SECOND GOAL OF THE NIGHT. PHOTO YANN RIFFLARD. oncordia Stingers fans have brought maturity and leadership C certainly gotten their money’s during his three years with the worth this winter. An abundance team. This season, he established of skilled players fills the hockey and basketball rosters, but there are five Stingers that leave a particular mark on their respective teams.

5 - Phélix Martineau Centre, Men’s Hockey The men’s hockey captain kicks off the top five. Joining the Stingers following an American Hockey League stint, Martineau

himself as a premier playmaker, putting up 20 assists in 24 games.

His seven goals force opponents to respect his shooting ability and open up more passing lanes for his teammates. Martineau’s effectiveness in every facet of the game makes him a versatile option and allows his team to thrive.

Joseph played his first full campaign with the Stingers this season.

His 15.3 points per game sit third in the RSEQ. With a six-foot-five frame, he is a force when driving to the rim, but he is also tied for the bronze medal in Stingers threepoint shooting at 33.3 per cent.

His ability to score from anywhere makes him nearly impossible to guard. Defensively, his 24 steals and 82 total rebounds sit third and eighth in the RSEQ, respectively. The Ottawa native has turned into an all-around monster for the Stingers, but there’s one teammate that barely edges him out.

3 - Sami Jahan Guard, Men’s Basketball The most experienced starter on the team is also the most impactful. Jahan brings stability, leadership and points to the table. The fourth-year guard has always been a prolific scorer. He recently hit 1,500 career points as a Stinger, and his 15.4 points per game in 2023-24 is second-best

Stingers seniors night honours the careers of graduating players Eight hockey players say goodbye to the men’s and women’s program Catriona Ray and Alice Martin @catrioughna, @_alcmrtn

THE HONOURED STINGERS WOMEN'S HOCKEY PLAYERS (LEFT TO RIGHT): SANDRINE VEILLETTE (OUT OF UNIFORM), MADISON OAKES, EMMY FECTEAU, ROSALIE BÉGIN-CYR AND JUSTINE YELLE. PHOTO YANN RIFFLARD. he men’s and women’s hockey ceremonies before playing against T programs honoured a total of the Université de Québec à Troiseight players who will be moving Rivières (UQTR) Patriotes. They on from their varsity careers during seniors night on Feb. 3 and Feb. 4 at the Ed Meagher Arena.

The men’s team kicked off the

bid farewell to three forwards: third-year captain Phélix Martineau, fourth-year Charles-Antoine Giguère and fourth-year alternate

10 SPORTS • FEBRUARY 13, 2024

captain Tyler Hylland.

“That's the game of the year where I have some memories about when I recruited these guys that are now graduating,” said men’s hockey head coach MarcAndré Elément. “I'm emotional when it's stuff like that, it's like [seeing] your kids leave.”

The following day, the women’s team took their turn to say goodbye. After a resounding win, they recognized their five graduating seniors: third-year defender Sandrine Veillette, fifth-year alternate captain and forward Rosalie Bégin-Cyr, fifth-year goaltender Madison Oakes, third-year forward Justine Yelle, and fourthyear captain and forward Emmy Fecteau.

Women’s hockey head coach Julie Chu also highlighted how important it is to honour players who contributed to the program.

“Those graduates have made a huge impact on our program, have helped to create the identity of who we are and what we want to live every single day, so we’re really grateful for them,” Chu said.

Jared Lackman-Mincoff in the RSEQ. His ability to score from mid range, long range, and in the paint make him effective everywhere on the floor. Jahan’s 53 assists—fifth-most in Quebec— complement his scoring touch and justify his role as the Stingers’ primary ball-handler. His 63 defensive rebounds lead Concordia and put him sixth in Quebec. Jahan always steps up in crunch time, and has helped the Stingers grind out several close victories this season.

2 - Émilie Lussier Forward, Women’s Hockey Lussier has picked up where she left off following her 100 points in 51 career games with John Abbott College. Her 34 points in 22 games are the fifth-highest in all of U Sports, and second among rookies. Her unique ability to become a ghost in the offensive zone coupled with her lethal shot make her an extremely valuable asset to the Stingers. Playing on the second line for most of the season has allowed her to blossom into a star instead of worrying about carrying the load. The future looks bright for her at Concordia.

Before joining the program, Martineau played professionally for the Laval Rocket. He then left to pursue studies in engineering.

After three years with the Stingers, he now leaves to start a career in his field.

Giguère is leaving to pursue a career in finance. “I’ll remember [my time with the Stingers] my whole life. I remember my first year like it was last week. I had a great time here and I built great relationships with my teammates,” he said.

Hylland, who is finishing a degree in human relations, said his highlight was arriving with a new cohort of dedicated players. “We were part of a culture shift in the men's hockey program where we were coming to stay and to help build this program for years to come [...] We've taken a step up in quality in the last four years.”

Elément noted that the players had left a big footprint on the program and that they will be a part of the team’s future success.

“They gave us so much time, they gave so much energy, so much passion,” he said. “People don't know how much commitment it is to play hockey and be student-athletes. I'm so proud of them.”

Oakes plans to pursue a career in electrical engineering after their graduation this semester, while Yelle will leave Concordia with a degree in finance.

Bégin-Cyr returned to the Stingers this season after gradu-

@jared_lm02

1 - Emmy Fecteau Centre, Women’s Hockey The captain of the top-ranked U Sports women’s hockey team is undoubtedly the most impactful Stinger. Although Fecteau’s production has taken a slight dip this season, her offensive impact remains elite thanks to her fluid transition game and tremendous release. Off the ice, the fourthyear forward coaches young girls and recently became one of eight players to take home the Governor General’s medal for academic excellence. She has all the tools anybody could possibly want in a hockey player. When it’s all said and done, she will be one of the greatest Stingers to ever lace up skates at Ed Meagher Arena.

The PWHL—and perhaps Hockey Canada—will have their eyes firmly set on Fecteau as she wraps up her Stingers career.

Go check our website for honourable mentions.

ating last year, so for her, seniors’ night was nothing new. “It’s a special night, and we appreciate it and we enjoyed it, but now we know that the most important part is coming, so we’re starting to prepare for it,” she said.

Fecteau, who joined the Stingers in 2019, will graduate with a bachelor’s in teaching English as a second language, but she doesn’t plan on immediately pursuing a teaching career.

Both Fecteau and Bégin-Cyr plan to try for the Professional Women’s Hockey League.

“I have an agent, he’s helping me, and there’s going to be a draft where I hope I’m going to be drafted,” said Fecteau. “For sure, I’d like to play for Montreal.

It’s close to my family, my friends are here, but if I’m drafted somewhere else, it’s fine.”

When asked about what sort of legacy she wanted to leave with the team, Begin-Cyr took a moment to reflect. “We’re building a great culture of working hard and being team first and just enjoying every moment,” she said. “I think the girls are really enjoying being Stingers.”

Fecteau, when asked the same question, “I want the team to continue having the team first mentality, and working for one another, and working hard on and off the ice.”

thelinknewspaper.ca

SPORTS

Stingers show their Pride The Concordia’s hockey teams’ successful first Pride Games in photo Alice Martin

@_alcmrtn

The Stingers men’s and women’s hockey teams held their first-ever Pride Games on Feb. 3 and Feb. 4 at the Ed Meagher Arena. The event was meant to advocate for the inclusion of LGBTQIA2S+ athletes in the sport and featured pre-game tabling by queer organizations and support groups. For the occasion, players also sported Pride Tape on their sticks.

PHOTO ALICE MARTIN thelinknewspaper.ca

FEBRUARY 13, 2024• SPORTS 11

OPINIONS

The importance of Black Intersectionality Why Black History Month is performative Indya Borden

@captaindya

s a queer Black person, Black words “unity,” “empowered” and of excellence. The ordinary Black A History Month (BHM) is a time “confident” on them. folk that go to work, provide for to celebrate all my ancestors with While the corporation did their families, enjoy the outdoors, pride and teach non-Black folks about why February is so important to us. But do I really have to?

One month a year is unlikely to create lasting impacts on bigots who call their biracial family members the N-word behind closed doors and to their faces.

While BHM can be useful for themed activities in the office and infographics on Instagram, the performative and capitalist nature of this festivity has taken over its true significance.

BHM is not inherently performative, but its symbolism must be recounted in order to fully comprehend how far we have strayed from the plot.

In Canada, the inaugural Canadian proclamation was issued in 1979 by Toronto. In 1993, the Ontario Black History Society successfully filed a petition in Ontario to proclaim February as Black History Month in the country.

In the United States, during February 1926, BHM was originally titled “Negro History Week.”

Carter G. Woodson, founder of the Association for the Study of African American History, came up with the idea to “encourage Black Americans to become more interested in their own history and heritage.” Negro History Week was strategically set in February to coincide with the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln and the former slave turned abolitionist leader, Frederick Douglass, underscoring the period’s historical significance. It was only in 1976 on the 50th anniversary of the beginning of Negro History Week that the shift was made to BHM. This transition was due to the widespread success and adoption of the celebration across many states.

With the original intention of this celebration being specifically for Black people to learn more about their heritage, it is difficult to say that it remains this when big corporations profit off this month for BHM products to be sold for consumers to feel as though they are learning about Black history and unlearning biases.

I’m referring to Bath & Body Works’ 2022 BHM collection with their original candles covered in Kente Cloth designs with the

contribute the funds from the product line to the National Urban League and the Columbus Urban League, the backlash from Black customers on social media was extremely telling.

BHM becomes performative through these gimmicks. Capitalists exploit minorities for profit, remaining silent on supporting the Black community during the other eleven months of the year.

Another factor contributing to the performative nature of BHM is its focus on celebrating the most distinguished Black figures—scientists, doctors, and activists— who undoubtedly merit recognition. I’m proud of my ancestors who have paved the way for our community. However, confining this acknowledgment to just 28 days a year, solely on our revolutionary members, overlooks the broader Black community.

Contrary to popular belief, Black people are not a monolith. We do not have to change the course of history to be celebrated and honoured. There is this unspoken pressure for us to be great by what we do rather than who we are.

Experiencing racism, sexism, and homophobia, my identity as a queer Black person is a triple threat, ironically. I often get asked which I identify with the most. After years of reflection, I've realized that my Black identity is an undeniable part of who I am. Although I have been misgendered in the past, I am more often than not female-presenting.

Being Black first, female-presenting second and queer third does not change the fact that I cannot just be one. That is the importance of intersectionality in the Black community.

BHM should encapsulate every version of us. The emo, the nerdy, artsy and a million other ways Black people exist on Earth. Star athletes, musicians, and intellectuals earn their place in history with the title of "The first Black..." for their achievements, but Black mediocrity should also be recognized. Let me explain, by Black mediocrity, I’m not referring to the harmful stereotypes and molds Black people are put into everyday, I’m referring to the non-revolutionaries. As in mediocrity is a synonym for ordinary, it implies a level of acceptance but falls short

12 OPINIONS • FEBRUARY 13, 2024

are not talked enough about. As if Black people exist on a pendulum, if we’re not excellent, we’re inferior which leaves no room for us to be ordinary, hence the importance of Black mediocrity. Black excellence should be celebrated 365 days a year, its significance is relevant all the time, but do I get a gold star for getting out of bed and going to class today? Can I be celebrated for doing the bare minimum? I know I won’t be talked about in future Black History Month teachings for simply kissing girls and choosing not to ascribe to the gender binary, I must do something remarkable which further perpetuates why BHM is performative.

From Marsha P. Johnson to Malcolm X to Audre Lorde, my ancestors’ contributions have shaped the world in more ways than one. Their names will never be forgotten. At the same time, Black-owned businesses, artists, writers, and just everyday people whose only achievement today was taking a shower, deserve grace and acknowledgement all day, every day of the year. Not just during the shortest month of the year.

GRAPHICS MYRIAM OUAZZANNI & MEIJI GRACE ESTRADA thelinknewspaper.ca

OPINIONS

Eugenics and Feminism: The exclusion of Black women Unveiling the dark legacy of the Famous Five Lory Saint-Fleur with files from Anthony Issa

@itsjustloryy

“If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” his was said by Shirley T Chisholm, the first Black woman to be elected to the United

States Congress.

As a Black woman, I have always felt somehow excluded from the feminist movement. Throughout my 22 years of living, I have been perceived as Black first and a woman second. This intersection of sexism and racism is part of daily life for millions of women who look like me—with ancestors perceived and used like objects and seen as possessions.

The history of women's suffrage in Canada, especially during its first wave, is marked by the systemic exclusion of Black women through stark racial and class divisions. The movement catered to a specific demographic: white, Christian and Protestant women.

Despite getting the right to vote simultaneously as every other woman in Canada, the rights and freedoms of Black women were still restricted by virtue of their gender, skin colour and social class. First Nations women were also not granted the right to vote until 1960, and the Indian Act further complicated matters by stripping Indigenous women of their full Indigeneity based on marriage.

Furthermore, this legacy of racism, eugenics, and anti-immigration sentiment was explicit amongst the suffragette movement—which included Canada’s Famous Five.

The Famous Five were a group of influential Canadian women who advanced women's rights in the early 20th century. They initiated the Persons Case, a constitutional ruling that gave women the right to be appointed to the Senate.

This group included suffragists Emily Murphy, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney and Irene Parlby. As a result of their work, women were finally addressed as people, but these acclaimed women were not without their flaws.

Despite their work towards feminism, they refused to fight for

thelinknewspaper.ca

GRAPHIC JUDE M women of colour, promoted white supremacy and were staunch supporters of eugenics.

Eugenics is a racist and ableist scientific theory, described by the National Human Genome Research Institute, as the belief in "racial improvement" by "improving the human population through controlled breeding."

In the early 20th century, Alberta's feminist movement, including the efforts of the Famous Five, championed “Maternal Feminism” and “Political Motherhood.” This form of feminism was tied to the belief in eugenics and white supremacy. Maternal Feminism emerged as white settler Canadians were trying to form a distinct identity post-World War I Canada to differentiate themselves from European influences.

This new identity was envisioned to be nurtured by mothers, considered the guardians of this “white race.” These efforts were focused on a vision of a future Canadian identity as neurotypical, able-bodied and predominantly white, favouring Anglo-Saxon Protestants.

This period was marked by a surge in social reformers con-

cerned with issues like prostitution, child labour and poverty.

Maternal feminists sought solutions in public health, religious instruction, and temperance, aiming to “protect” white women.

The Famous Five were part of this movement, and their activism in women's political rights was intertwined with these reform efforts.

Emily Murphy, under her pseudonym Janey Canuck, penned Black Candle, a racist anti-drug treatise that unjustly targeted Chinese immigrants, African Americans and other minorities. Racism and classism are persistent throughout her work.

In her book, she provocatively states, “Still, it behooves the people of Canada […] to consider the desirability of these visitors— for they are visitors—and to say whether or not we shall be ‘at home’ to them for the future.”

Her writings under this alias also revealed her eugenic beliefs.

For instance, in a Vancouver Sun column, she wrote, “we protect the public against diseased and distempered cattle. We should similarly protect them against the offal of humanity.”

Murphy advocated for eu-

genics, championing both selective breeding and the active sterilization of those she deemed "inferior" in society. She labelled "mentally defective" children as societal burdens and a strain on state resources.

She also argued against the rights of visible minorities and people with disabilities to reproduce. “Some of the opponents to the Sterilization Act had a good deal to say about private liberty, quite forgetful of the fact that social necessity is of infinitely greater moment. Since I know of no way of driving home a nail other than by hammering it, let me emphasize again that insane people are not entitled to progeny.”

The influence of the Famous Five extends beyond racist literature as they were actively involved in promoting eugenic policies within Canada.

As members of the United Farm Women of Alberta, McClung, Murphy and McKinney played major roles in advocating for and passing resolutions on immigration control as well as compulsory sterilization, aiming to "check the inflow of the mentally weak and degenerate immi-

gration from Europe."

By involving themselves in broader social reform movements, the Famous Five infused racist and classist policies that manifested in support for eugenics aimed at “improving” the Canadian population.

These fascist policies were supported alongside restrictive immigration measures like the Chinese Head Tax to control the racial makeup of the Canadian population.

Many more laws were created to push the anti-immigration and pro-eugenics policies.

Laws like the Sexual Sterilization Acts of 1929 in Alberta and 1933 in British Columbia, passed under the guise of these beliefs, enabling government-run institutions to sterilize people. Those sterilized included minority groups like disabled people, Indigenous children and Black women without their knowledge or consent.

These actions not only perpetuated white supremacy but also controlled the Black population through coerced sterilization, often without informing the women that the procedure was irreversible.

The Eugenic feminism of the Famous Five is contradictory.

Feminism advocates for equality, yet eugenic thought breeds superiority. This undermines the core principles of feminism, as it promotes inequality and is entrenched in white supremacy.

The legacy of these laws is still evident in the 21st century, manifesting in the forced sterilization of Native American women. Eugenics in Canada continue to target people of colour and disabled individuals, in order to eliminate "undesirable" traits.

This history casts a shadow over the legacy of the Famous Five and it raises a crucial question: While the Famous Five made significant contributions to women's rights in Canada, can their involvement in eugenics and racial purity agendas be overlooked?

FEBRUARY 13, 2024• OPINIONS 13

OPINIONS @ Don't

me:

Valentine’s Day is lovely Stop hating on Cupid, he’s trying to help Casey Kiss

@cm18141

alentine’s Day is one of my fa- and friends and I loved it all the whom I love, it’s always been a V vourite holidays. I know that same. It’s really important to not favourite holiday—second only it might not be the most popular let anyone single-shame you. to Christmas. Back when I was take, but hear me out.

Valentine’s Day is about love, and that doesn’t have to mean just romantic love. Whether it’s you and your partner, or your best pals, it’s a great excuse to celebrate and spend quality time with the people you care most about.

Love is friendship, and who doesn’t love a Galentine’s Day? Pull out your favourite snacks, some boozes, and your favourite movies or board games to have a nice night in.

Love doesn’t have to be an extravagant declaration screaming in the rain “I love you!” It can be a quiet night with good music, a couple laughs and your besties.

For the first 18 years of my life, I only ever celebrated with family

@ Don't

For those of us spending it with a partner though, it’s also a great time to reconnect. Finding time to be romantic or spend intentional quality time together is a struggle. It’s easy to fall into a routine with your partner taking them for granted. Having this one day to kind of force yourselves to really be present with each other and appreciate each other is a gift.

Despite the stereotypical Valentine’s Day, you don’t have to go out for an expensive dinner and drain your bank account on gifts and roses. It’s really just about being romantic and intentional for a day, no matter how that looks for you.

Personally, I’ve always loved Valentine’s Day. Through being single, to now with my partner

single, I’d celebrate with friends, but more importantly, I always bought myself a small gift. From ridiculously sized squishmallows and extra overpriced coffees to some skincare I’ve been meaning to get but is a little pricey.

Self-love is just as important as any other type of love. Even now, with my partner, I continue to buy myself a small gift every year as a tradition. To celebrate myself as a small act of self-love.

Don’t let capitalism turn Valentine’s Day into a heart-shaped consumerist box and ruin it. Remember that love is something you define, and it’s a day to remind you of, and to celebrate all the love you have in your life.

me:

Valentine’s Day sucks Social media, consumerism, and the environment: Valentine’s Day is cancelled Lory Saint-Fleur

@itsjustloryy

rom the exorbitant price of tain authenticity. Genuine tokens cially if you are unhappy with it. It 360,000 metric tons of carbon F flowers to an enormous pink of affection have been reduced to perpetuates that romantic love is emissions. Valentine’s Day decorateddy bear, Valentine’s Day has materialistic transactions. In 2020, the only form of love worth being tions and gifts also produce waste turned into a lucrative business.

Between 2009 and 2023, the total spending on this holiday by consumers has doubled.

There is pressure to get the most expensive and impressive gift for your loved one. This pressure has become more palpable, as social media lets us witness a thousand different lives daily.

The contemporary celebration of love has evolved into Instagram-worthy proposals to trending hashtags, emphasizing both carefully crafted online identities and private moments.

While the gestures and gifts are beautiful, they are missing a cer-

14 OPINIONS • FEBRUARY 13, 2024

the dating app Plenty of Fish came out with a study exploring the pressure of Valentine’s Day on dating. After surveying 2000 single people between the ages of 18 and 70, it was discovered that one in five participants wished the holiday was simply cancelled, while 43 per cent expressed that it was the most stressful holiday of the year.

The study gives us insight into many other feelings that singles have during Valentine’s Day, such as the fact that 15 per cent of participants feel lonely and 8 per cent experience dread.

The holiday is often a reminder of your relationship status, espe-

celebrated. Platonic relationships also deserve to be celebrated for having as much importance and impact in a person’s life.

While there are platonic alternatives like Galentine’s Day— mainly celebrated by women on Feb. 13 and originating from a 2010 episode of Parks and Recreation—the study showed that only 16 per cent of women prefer it over the traditional holiday.

Including the pressure and the emotional turmoil of the holiday, the consumerism of Valentine’s Day creates an incredible amount of waste. The transportation of flowers, on its own, produces

and are rarely recycled for the next year. As 50 per cent of waste in the US comes from plastic, textiles and paper, the unsustainable materials used for these gifts contribute to the statistic.

Valentine’s Day sucks. It only creates pressure, and unwanted feelings while simultaneously killing the planet. Unless we find a more sustainable way to celebrate this holiday, perhaps by focusing on homemade gifts, I believe we should make the choice to not celebrate it at all.

GRAPHICS OLIVIA SHAN thelinknewspaper.ca

EDITORIAL

PHOTO IVAN DE JACQUELIN

It’s broke, don’t fix it n Feb. 5, the Quebec govIn 2017, preserving the OlymBut, sure, fixing a roof that will short for the Olympic Stadium. end of the day, it is solely a promO ernment confirmed that the pic Stadium was justified through likely cave in with enough snow It’s funny to see the Legault gov- ise given by a man who has shelled Olympic Stadium’s roof repair its heritage status. Since “my fath- mounted on top of it for a couple ernment concerned with revenue out numerous empty ones. would cost $870 million.

Ever since the roof was completed in 1987, it has never really worked as intended. Portions of the roof notoriously collapsed in 1991 and 1999, yet the city believes a facelift will solve the impending dome doom.

Another option for the Olympic Stadium is to entirely demolish it, a task proving harder than imagined. Politicians, engineers and board members are unsurprisingly against the demolition and have said that demolishing the stadium could run up to $2 billion, despite financial and engineering experts questioning the exact figure.

Volume 44, Issue 10 Tuesday, February 13, 2024 Concordia University Library Building, Room LB-717 1400 de Maisonneuve Blvd. W. Montreal, Quebec H3G 2V8 Editor: 514-848-2424 x. 7407 Arts: 514-848-2424 x. 5813 News: 514-848-2424 x. 8682 Business: 514-848-7406 Advertising: 514-848-7406

er, your father, paid for it, built it. [...] It’s impossible, foolish to think about dismantling it,” said Michel Labrecque, head of the Olympic installation board at the time.

At the heart of the current roof renovation project is a blatant disregard for larger problems directly impacting citizens.

Clearly, Labrecque’s reasoning is that the roof is an ongoing issue which needs a solution since past generations paid dearly for it. Yet, the worry for other long-standing issues like basic human needs— cost of living adjustments, the healthcare and housing crises, unjust pay for public sector workers— are not as dire.

car shows a year should be our utmost priority.

Speaking of car shows, the empty promise is to generate revenue for the city through additional events that could be held thanks to the renovation. Tourism minister Caroline Proulx said the renovated stadium could accommodate large shows for mega-celebrities like Taylor Swift or Beyoncé. With all these potential events, it is estimated the stadium itself could generate a whopping $1.5 billion over 10 years—or barely half of the construction fees. It’s to note that the ideal outcome for the roof would be that it lives to see 50 years. The future is

when actions such as a decrease in funding for Montreal’s English universities—and the consequent diminishing enrollment numbers—will have the opposite effect.

Less student traffic will have consequences on the workforce down the line but, immediately, neighbouring downtown shops and restaurants reliant on student traffic will be greatly affected.

The impact of the decision to cut funding alone has had repercussions, but the benefits from extra events remain to be seen.

The other promise was for housing to be constructed in the residential neighbourhood surrounding Olympic Park. At the

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CONTRIBUTORS: Anaïssa Dauphin, Joys Sekpon, Catherine Hamelin, Geneviève Sylvestre, Samantha Lepine, Justine Beaussier, Iris Ducournau, Olivia Johnson, Jessica Lauren, Isabella Presley, Olivia Shan, Jared Lackman-Mincoff, Yann Rifflard, Catriona Ray, Indya Borden, Lory Saint-Fleur, Jude M., Scar, Casey Kiss.

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Corrections for Vol. 44, Issue 9: In the article “Stingers cross-country and track and field team changes leadership” on p. 10, coach Justin Pfefferle was listed as the coach of both the cross-country and track and field teams at Dawson College. Dawson College doesn't have a track and field team. The Link regrets this error.

The estimated revenues for the stadium, too, are a promise, and they will likely not be as high as predicted. Cost overruns have plagued the Olympic Stadium since its inception. When construction began in 1970, the budget had been set for $134 million, but the final costs were well over a billion dollars.

The Big O might need a new top, but it’s a bottomless money pit at best.

Editor-in-Chief ZACHARY FORTIER Managing Editor AUTUMN DAREY Coordinating Editor OPEN Creative Director MEIJI GRACE ESTRADA Co-News Editors MARIA CHOLAKOVA INESS RIFAY

Features Editor HANNAH VOGAN Outreach Coordinator PANOS MICHALAKOPOULOS Fringe Arts Editor GABRIELLE LAPERRIÈRE-LEBLANC Sports Editor ALICE MARTIN Opinions Editor ANTHONY ISSA Photo Editor DOROTHY MOMBRUN Video Editor DANA HACHWA Graphics Editor MYRIAM OUAZZANI Copy Editor CONOR TOMALTY Operations Manager ADAM GIBBARD Systems Administrator SHREYA SAVANT Bookkeeper MIKE TALAMANTES Distribution GUY LANDRY

The graphic for the article “On food, porn and bloody vaginas” on p. 14 was incorrectly attributed. The graphic was by Semira Kosciuk. The Link regrets this error.

In the article “The reality of learning French in six months” the original article stated “41,438 people took Francisation Québec courses from April 1 to Sept. 30 of this year.” Those figures were for last year, 2023. The Link regrets this error. thelinknewspaper.ca

FEBRUARY 13, 2024• EDITORIAL 15