McGill Tribune Vol. 32 Issue 1

TRIBUNE

THE Mcgill

Published by the Tribune Publication Society

MTL's Choice places P 13

NFL PREVIEWS P 18

RECORD FRUIT SALAD p2

curiosity delivers

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Volume No. 31 Issue No. 1

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Quebec elects PQ minority government

Parti Québécois leader Pauline Marois addresses her supporters in victory rally, minutes before fatal shooting. (Simon Poitrimolt / McGill Tribune)

Shooting at PQ victory rally claims one victim; Marois announces plan to freeze university tuition Elisa Muyl and Adam Sadinsky Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor The Parti Québécois (PQ) won 54 seats last night in a tightly contested election called in August by the Parti Liberal de Québec (PLQ).

The results were announced to an ecstatic crowd of supporters, gathered at the party’s election night rally at Metropolis in downtown Montreal.

As the results rolled in after 8 p.m., Pauline Marois, leader of the PQ, was officially confirmed the first female premier of Quebec. The announcement was followed by a series of televised speeches given by heads of the other parties from their bases. The evening was to conclude with Marois’ victory speech at the Metropolis at 11:30 p.m.

Two tragic shootings, one fatal.

The night’s festivities were marred by a tragic turn of events.

Around midnight, a gunman burst into the venue and fatally shot one bystander, critically wounding another. He fired several shots outside of the venue’s back door. The victim was an electrical technician employed by Metropolis. A contract bus driver for the PQ remains in critical condition but is alive.

According to the Montreal police’s Twitter account, the suspect is reported to have cried “Les anglais se réveillent!” (The English are rising) before opening fire on the crowd. No motives have been assigned to the shooting, as the crime is still under investigation.

In an interview with the Tribune, political science professor Jacob Levy de-emphasized the shooting as signaling a trend in Quebec society.

“I think one shouldn’t read

too much into something like that,” Levy said. “It tends to be a mistake to read into one disturbed person’s actions as a sign of the broader times. The killer was clearly motivated by something political and probably something intercommunal, but that doesn’t mean that other Anglos … are in a state of high agitation. That may be the case, but this event doesn’t show it.”

Liberals remain, under a PQ minority The race was hotly contested, with the PQ defeating the Liberal Party by a margin of .73 percentage points of the popular vote. The Coalition Avenir Québec made significant gains for a new party, and Québec Solidaire doubled their seats in the National Assembly.

Though the Liberals won 50 seats, the head of the party, Jean Charest, lost his Sherbrooke seat to

PQ Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Serge Cardin. The loss in Sherbrooke marks the end of Charest’s 28-year career, as he resigned on Wednesday from his position as leader of the Liberal Party.

Despite Charest’s defeat, the Liberals won more seats than suggested by polls prior to the election.

“To my surprise, [the Liberals] are alive and kicking,” Levy said.

“They are probably better off without Charest, and are able to start rebuilding and reorganizing effective tomorrow … [for] the election that we’ll probably have in a year and a half or so.”

Indeed, if the PQ cannot find common ground with the opposition parties, this parliament could be short lived. Quebec’s most recent minority government, led by Charest, lasted just 17 months. Prospects seem contingent on collaboration and leadership.

PQ MNA Bernard Drainville was optimistic about the election’s prospects for his party.

“For the moment, for tonight, what we know is that the Quebeckers voted to remove the Liberals and put them at the door,” Drainville said, addressing the Tribune and other members of the press.

Tuition and Bill 78 The PQ has already begun to make policy changes that distinguish them from the Liberals. At her first press conference as Premier-Elect on Wednesday, Marois announced that one of the new government’s first priorities would be to freeze university tuition and to repeal Bill 78, also known as Law 12. The announcement comes as a response to student strikes and demonstrations, which were one of the causes for the late-summer election, and has left See “ELECTION” on page 3

NEWS

CAMPUS

New hotel residence opens, still under construction

La Citadelle offers first-year students an opportunity to engage in community-building around food and cooking Bea Britneff News Editor This fall, McGill opened its third hotel-style residence, La Citadelle. Located at 410 Sherbrooke Street West, the residence is also home to the new “food” chapter of McGill Residence’s Living-Learning Communities (LLC).

Formerly a Courtyard Marriott Hotel, La Citadelle houses 286 male and female students in both single and double rooms.

The need for a new residence arose from overbooking in previous years. “[We] needed more space to be able to serve all of the first-year students looking for residences and the upper-year students wanting to stay in residence,” Executive Director of Residences and Student Housing Michael Porritt said. “Hotels are the [buildings] that have been available in locations that make sense and they serve the students well.”

La Citadelle, McGill’s most expensive residence to date, features 24-hour security and front desk services, a fitness centre, study rooms on the second floor, and a new wireless system that is four times faster than the one in other residences. Each room contains a private bathroom, a 40-inch, wall-mounted LCD television, and controls for air conditioning and heating.

La Citadelle features a spacious dining area next to its communal kitchen. (Simon Poitrimolt / McGill Tribune) Perhaps La Citadelle’s most defining feature is its large communal kitchen, situated on the top floor.

“The [kitchen] can hold 40 [people] at a time and there is a separate sitting area to eat,” Porritt said. “That should be plenty of space [but] we’ll evaluate it as the year goes.”

Students living in La Citadelle must also purchase a mandatory reduced meal plan, which ensures they have the option of dining in McGill cafeterias as well. The Citadelle meal plan allows students complete flex-

ibility to eat in any of the dining halls on campus.

“I think I’ll keep a balance [between cooking and eating in the dining halls], but I might use the kitchen more because I like cooking,” Camille Brechignac, U1 political science, said. “The place is just so awesome and friendly that I think I will enjoy going there.”

With the new communal kitchen at its disposal, La Citadelle is also host hall to McGill’s Food LLC. The LLCs are programs “designed to foster a unique sense of community that

celebrates the wide range of interests” in McGill residences, according to the McGill housing website.

On top of facilitating a community kitchen, La Citadelle’s Food LLC will host activities and events such as field trips to local farms, cooking challenges, tutorials from local chefs, and groups discussions on food politics, nutrition and sustainability.

This will provide students with opportunities to better their understanding of culture and society. “[The Food LLC] hasn’t

started yet, mainly because the kitchen is not ready yet,” Rana Badawi, U1 political science and member of the Food LLC, said.

“We just started with some activities … to get to know each other.”

Construction of the communal kitchen is expected to conclude this week. However, the kitchen is not the only room in La Citadelle that remains under construction. The fitness centre is not yet open, with gym equipment scheduled to arrive this week; the study rooms are yet to be finished. Students at La Citadelle pointed to the ongoing construction as an inconvenience.

“The construction is … kind of noisy in the morning,” Mike Kik, U0 management, said.

Despite the disruptions, some residents of La Citadelle praised the welcoming atmosphere of their residence.

“All the [staff] are very friendly,” Brechignac said. “The floor fellows are very cool … and [the directors] are very open to any [suggestions] we might have, as we are the first generation of La Citadelle.”

“We have the features of a hotel but we feel that we are a community, too,” Badawi said.

“It’s different than all the other residences … we have the best of both worlds.”

CAMPUS

McGill fruit salad breaks world record

McGill Food and Dining Services highlights local farming, gives back to city organizations Leah Brainerd Contributor With the help of around 300 volunteers, McGill set the new Guinness World Record for the largest fruit salad Aug. 28 on lower field.

Weighing 11,197 lbs, the fruit salad surpassed the previous record of 10,440 lbs held by California State University in Fresno. The event, organized by Food and Dining Services, sought to highlight local farming, environmental sustainability, and Montreal community organizations.

Oliver de Volpi, executive chef of McGill Food and Dining Services, explained why his team chose to break this world record in particular.

“Food and Dining chose a fruit

salad because we thought it emphasized different points that we feel, as a department, are important—local ingredients, using our own farm at Macdonald campus, and nutrition,” de Volpi said.

Volunteers helped prepare the salad by cutting approximately 12,000 lbs of fruit, loading it into an inflatable swimming pool, and serving it to audience members.

One of the volunteers, Dave D’Oyen, U3 arts, said he thoroughly enjoyed participating in the event and spoke enthusiastically about the anticipation of weighing the final product as well as the satisfaction of breaking the previous record.

“We surpassed [our] target by far,” D’Oyen said. “The goal was

just 11,000 lbs of fruit and we even went beyond that. What [the audience is] eating right now isn’t even from the pool […] That is how much fruit came here today. The pool was not touched.”

The salad was a blend of 4,960 lbs of watermelon, 2,231 lbs of pineapple, 357 lbs of strawberries, and several other ingredients. Fifty per cent of the fruit used was grown at the MacDonald campus farm.

Despite the magnitude of the salad, organizers were careful to minimize the amount of waste created. All the fruit peels, as well as all the containers, wooden spoons, and compostable bowls at the event were composted.

“We [also] have our own com-

post we are starting up with this and we will be donating [the remaining fruit salad] to local missions and charities in Montreal,” de Volpi said.

Organiations who received some of the salad include Old Brewery Mission, Welcome Hall Mission, Meals on Wheels, and Dans La Rue. In addition, 300 portions of fruit salad will be sold on campus, with proceeds going to Centraide.

“It is a pure demonstration of what people in numbers can do and that to me is truly impressive,” Volunteer Joaquim Miro, U2 management, said.

(Carolina Millán Ronchetti / McGill Tribune)

Curiosity delivers. |

NEWS

| Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012

CAMPUS

Orientation Week features “À la carte” events New integrated orientation provides options for underage and non-drinking students Bea Britneff News Editor The orientation week makeover initiated by McGill in the fall of 2011 continued this year, with increased integration of Discover McGill, faculty frosh and events organized by the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU). Orientation week also featured a new component of non-alcoholic activities organized by student-run clubs and McGill services, called À la carte activities. The modifications aimed to make all events and activities more inclusive, sustainable, and community-oriented.

One major change was the integration of SSMU-organized events with faculty-organized events, and the absence of a separate SSMU frosh. According to SSMU President Josh Redel, SSMU frosh had been marked in previous years by poor attendance and unpopularity among first-year students. “[This year] we were working toward an integrative model, and in terms of that, SSMU frosh didn’t necessarily make sense,” Redel said.

SSMU took care of organizing the opening night concert, Beach Day, the all-ages components, and an additional day of frosh. The fac-

ulty associations were then responsible for organizing their facultyspecific events.

Several working groups and a 50-member Orientation Planning Group (OPG) were established to help organize orientation week. The working groups were composed of student leaders from SSMU and faculty associations, as well as staff members from McGill Student Services and the First-Year Office. The OPG also included advisors from McGill administration, Ancillary Services, and residences.

“The groups were a combination of students who [were] the primary stakeholders in the events,” Student Life Coordinator Mitchell Miller said. “The administration [was involved] for sustainability reasons.… [Administrators] have been here for several years and have seen successes and weaknesses that they can talk about.”

One of the more noticeable additions to orientation week were À la carte events. These events – which included workshops, activities, and tours hosted by different clubs and university-run services – were created to complement frosh and to cater to the varied interests and backgrounds of incoming students. “[The À la carte events] were

designed to … first, keep students busy during their first week, and to diversify the huge Discover McGill component,” Redel said.

“They also provided alternatives for students who didn’t want to do frosh, but don’t want to be deprived of an orientation experience,” AUS Vice-President Events Josh Greenberg said.

In past years, frosh had been criticized by students for lacking non-alcoholic events for underage first-years or those who did not wish to drink. The new À la carte component helped solve this issue, as none of the events involved alcohol.

Beyond the À la carte section, SSMU and faculty associations also strove to organize more all-ages, night-time events than were offered in previous years, such as the toga party at the SSMU ballroom.

“Many of the faculty frosh committees joined forces in order to accommodate everyone’s underage students … creating a neat opportunity for students to connect with other faculties,” Greenberg said.

Despite positive reception to structural changes, not all elements of frosh were seamless.

“I waited 7.5 hours on Beach Day … for a bus,” Josh Thon, U0 engineering student, said. “I think

[transportation] could’ve been better organized.”

This year also witnessed a sharp increase in the price of frosh admission, with faculties charging over $100 per person, in comparison to approximately $70 in past years.

Despite the price increase, many students thought that the events were worth the expense.

“For a little over $25 a day, the kind of activities we did and the kind of fun we had was definitely worth it,” Thon said.

Overall, both orientation organizers and first-year students expressed satisfaction with the results and their experience throughout the week.

“I know a lot more people here now,” Emma Hart, U0 music student, said. “I’m really comfortable walking around campus and [enjoy] recognizing several people along the way.” “[Orientation week] certainly wasn’t perfect,” Redel said. “However, this year was a really big step forward [regarding] all of McGill working together towards a [successful] orientation.”

3

Election continued from COVER

some students hopeful for the future of Quebec education.

“It sounds like there is a lot of relief from students—from seeing things on social media and Twitter—that the announcement has come so early,” SSMU VP External Robin Reid-Fraser said. “[But] obviously students are going to keep paying attention to what happens after.”

“If there’s a minor possibility of [resolving the tuition dispute], we’ll do it ....” PQ member JeanFrançois Lisée told the Tribune in French. “We’re the ones who won … so we’ll do our best to deliver 100 per cent of our promises.”

It remains to be seen whether the rest of the National Assembly will allow these changes, although the PQ might try to use an orderin-council, a governmental decree, to put them into effect. The newly elected premier also told the press that her party would implement changes to Bill 101, Quebec’s controversial language law, such as limiting access to anglophone CEGEPs. “Quebeckers have made their choice, and we will respect the choice and work with all the other elected MNA in Quebec,” Marois said in her election night address in French.

—With files from Erica Friesen and Carolina Millán Ronchetti.

CITY

McGill accommodates incoming students from CEGEPs on strike Options for the 150 students affected by the student strike vary depending on faculty and department Kegan Chang and Kyle Ng Contributors Months after the Quebec government’s proposed tuition increases caused many CEGEP students to boycott classes, McGill is facing the need to accommodate over 150 students who were accepted before the cancellation of their CEGEP semester prevented the completion of their previous degree.

The student boycott, in response to the Québec government’s proposed tuition increases, meant that students in these schools did not, or could not, attend classes.

This left some students a few credits short of a diploma.

In order to allow students to earn these lost credits, affected CEGEPs are holding make-up sessions that run from August to late September. Jean Beauchesne, president of the CEGEP Federation, said that these sessions are the last chance for

students to earn their missing credits.

“There are no more alternatives after this,” he said in July. “There is no more room to manoeuvre after these makeup sessions. Beyond that, there will be failures.”

These make-up sessions, however, create problems for graduating CEGEP students. Those who planned to begin their studies at McGill this fall still face the need to complete their CEGEP degree.

For students who attended CEGEP outside of Montreal, the problem of these missing credits is worsened because they cannot simultaneously finish their CEGEP classes while commencing their university courses.

Andre Costopoulos, associate dean of arts (student affairs), stated that of the 1,900 students admitted to the faculty of arts this year, only around 50 came from affected CEGEPs. According to Costopoulos,

many of these affected students are entering French language and literature programs and, after academic consultation, have opted to start their term in January.

The situation is more difficult for students in programs such as economics and social work, which have year-long courses. In these circumstances, each department worked on a case-by-case basis, allowing students to make decisions based on their schedules and the number of remaining CEGEP courses they have to complete. Costopoulos also noted that there will be additional accommodations made available for social work students.

“Because of the larger number of students going into social work, those students will also be able to complete their CEGEP full-time during September, start two of the three mandatory courses part-time, and [the school of] Social Work will put on the final mandatory course in

summer,” he said.

Costopoulos also stated that the measures taken to accommodate CEGEP students were chiefly McGill’s own initiatives.

“The provincial level hasn’t given any specific instructions …

What they’ve said [under Bill 78] is that ‘these are the schedules of the CEGEP students. Accommodate them.’ ” Due to the stringent nature of pre-requisites, the faculty of science opted to create four classes that target incoming CEGEP students affected by the strike, allowing them to fulfil normal requirements.

These classes will begin in October, include condensed schedules, and require departmental approval.

For example, the condensed course for BIOL 200 has space for 35 students—22 of which were filled as of Sept. 4.

“We will probably have a special orientation meeting for these

students when they arrive,” Nicole Allard, director of advising services for the faculty of science, said.

Haley Dinel, the Students’ Society of McGill University’s (SSMU) VP University Affairs, said that SSMU will make every effort to help late-arriving CEGEP students transition into campus life, although no special orientation or Frosh activities will be prepared, as those students were eligible to attend all events previously organized.

“When school starts, we will send out a message to all of these students, asking if they are encountering any issues and reassuring them that SSMU is available to help them for anything,” Dinel said. “We want to make sure that no one’s experience at McGill is hindered because their CEGEP was on strike.”

Meet your

Compiled by Bea Britneff and Erica Friesen

ssmu What have you accomplished this summer?

We have finally [finalized] the tenants we have in the second floor cafeteria. We also finished Gerts!

The half-million dollar renovations are finally completed. We’re really happy that we could negotiate a new beer contract, and the food at Gerts was also something we worked on.

It’s a really good selection; we tried our best to make sure it’s pretty decent and reasonably priced.

Orientation week took quite a big part of our time. There was approximately 12 months of planning; it was really time-consuming, not only for the six executives, but for all our full-time staff here over the summer. We’re really excited about how it turned out.

The other interesting thing we’ve been working on is changes to the General Assembly (GA). We have new requirements for how GAs will be run, with particular regard to online voting and online ratification of GA motions afterwards. We’ve been working hard to make sure that

JOSH redel president

[GAs] still maintain some of the culture that they have possessed in the past. I’m really confident that [GAs] are going to be pretty different this year and I hope people are [encouraged] to come out and not [simply] vote online.

What are your long-term Goals for the Year?

Something I would like to continue this year is working on a stronger coalition between student faculty associations and the school associations as well. Projects always seem to happen [a certain] way, where you have SSMU doing overarching projects and faculties just doing projects within, but I think that we can bring everyone together a bit more and work closely on campuswide projects even with the faculty associations.

We have a lot of outdoor space projects planned for this year, in particular focusing on winter life outside. The goal is to get people outside, to take a break from studying because winter is a low point in

terms of mental health.

How do you envision your role on the Board of Governors?

I’ve been finding out over the summer about what it means to be on a board in general, not necessarily McGill’s. My role is interesting —technically, I’m not the SSMU rep to the board of governors and it’s unprofessional to bring the SSMU opinion to the table. I’m supposed to bring Josh Redel’s opinion as a student to the board. So how do you play that? I envision myself being tough with how they move forward.

It’s great that [the governors] are there because they have experience with different industries and, theoretically, with educational institutions, but I’m there because I’m currently attending an educational institution. So I see my role as tempering their very corporate view of an educational institution.

Photos by Alexandra Allaire and Carolina Millán Ronchetti

allison cooper Vp clubs & services What have you accomplished this summer?

jp briggs Vp finance & operations

I’ve been working on having meetings with all of the services to go through all of their budgets and get them better set up for this year. I’ve also been working on office allocations on the fourth floor. Instead of office moving day—which is really chaotic—we’re going to have an orientation. We’re also going to be doing midterm reviews of these services to make sure they’re actually being used;for example, that groups actually know they have a locker.

My other role is as cobuilding manager. Lease negotiations have been a big conversation all summer.

There are a lot of building renovations, like to the legal

JP Briggs was not available for comment.

information clinic, which is getting much-needed space.

I’ve also been talking to our lawyers and trying to rewrite all the bylaws. This was a big project last year, but they didn’t really get to bylaw book 3, which is the one I deal with a lot.

What are your long-term goals for the year?

Improving all of the staff exit report systems and the VP Clubs and Services exit report. Last year, the office switched mid-year to this new document online management system, which makes a really big difference in how we work day-to-day.

My big long-term plan that I’ve been working on this summer is a better club management system. What

I’d really like to see, ideally, would be an online document management system that we and clubs could use in the office; so that when you’re transitioning between executives you could just pass on your login name and password for your clubs and they could see their constitution. We’re also trying to improve the club accounting process, because it really is a problem that no clubs do their own audits. So JP and I have been working to make these little accounting kits for all the clubs.

How do you plan on running Activities Night this year?

Fall Activities Night is going to be traditional, but we’ve been talking about a lot of ideas for Winter Ac-

tivities Night. One idea we were bouncing around for Winter Activities Night was to have a differently themed night each night, for about a week. So one night might be Musical Groups Night. You go if that’s what you’re interested in, and we could have different groups perform... it would basically work more with club categories and get clubs to be in touch with each other. I really don’t see too many other ways [Fall Activities Night] could be executed, because it is a really hard time for clubs to get organized. But we can play around with Winter Activities Night a bit more and make it a bit creative. I’m definitely looking for suggestions and feedback.

haley dinel vp university affairs

What have you accomplished THIS summer?

My main goal over the summer was to create new relationships, meeting with a lot of different people around campus. In terms of SSMU, we have a bunch of new policies; for example, a new communications policy that deals with social media.

I’m also really excited about our new “SSMU explains” videos. They should be an interactive way to get people to understand who we are in two minutes, so students don’t have to read through the whole website.

Another project is going to be an interactive map of the campus, which will have key information that students might need to know about.

What are your long-term goals for the year?

My main goal is addressing McGill equity. McGill doesn’t have an

michael szpejda vp internal

What have you accomplished this summer?

Over the summer, it’s been a lot of gathering information and putting out information and keeping track of what’s been going on, particularly around the student movement. We also put a letter together in regards to a potential change in federal policy regarding student immigration.

They asked for comments from student unions; so along with my political attaché and some of the other execs, we put together a letter and sent that in.

I’ve also been organizing street teams during frosh. We had groups of people out in the Milton-Parc neighbourhood giving out water and food and making sure that Froshies were safe.

What have you accomplished this summer?

Organizing frosh. We took a step forward significantly toward the integrated orientation model, in the sense that it was the first year it was truly a cooperative working relationship, not only between all the faculties and SSMU, but also with the First Year Office and Student Services. The first month or so, we spent a lot of time renegotiating our beer contract. That took a long time, but now we have Sleeman on campus.

We’re also looking into making the Listserv more integrative.

We’re looking to use Mail Chimp, which is currently used by the Management Undergraduate Society — it’s great because you get diagnostics, so you can see how

I’ve been talking about having people living in apartments in the Milton-Parc neighbourhood serve as resource people for students who are just moving into their own apartments for the first time. There’s a lot we could do to try and improve the relations between students and the other members there.

What are your LONgTERM goals for the year?

One of my personal goals is to continue to make political issues relevant and accessible to people who aren’t already super knowledgeable and involved.

There are a lot of issues that I would like there to at least be more conversations around—like what’s happening with the econ-

many people actually read it and whether or not it’s a total waste of time. So, we’ll do a test run and see how people respond to that, and if that doesn’t work, we can find other ways, maybe even having a video news update or something like that.

We’re really trying to make the social media more interactive this year, integrating the Facebook and Twitter accounts so that it’s something we can pre-manage, and is more of something that people actually want to follow because we’ll have constant updates. So that should really start to become apparent around mid-September.

What are your LONg-TERM goals for the year?

equity policy, and one of our equity commissioners told us that having one is not feasible. So we suggested that we create a McGill statement regarding this value. If we espouse it as a community, as something that we all believe is important, then we should make a statement to that effect. So it’s very possible that this year we’re going to have a change to the mission statement of the university that would include something about equity. There are also going to be a lot of academic issues this year because there wasn’t a lot of time last year to cover them. For example, we have a lot of support from professors for the creation of a Native Studies program.

Last semester you talked to the Tribune a lot about safe space. What are your plans regarding that topic?

One of the big things for this about more than the usual events.

For example, for the end-of-year concert, we’re looking to do a two to three day SSMU music festival, and have one or two larger acts, but also showcase a lot of McGill and Montreal talent.

I also want to do a lot of smaller things that build McGill as a community. Next week I’m starting some movies in the park, since the one we had during Frosh week was really well received. It’s not something that takes an outstanding amount of effort, but it’s something people really appreciate. And then hopefully trying to bring back a couple of smaller things like the apple picking, and a trip to Mac Campus, so that there’s something to do almost every week.

I want to make my portfolio

omy or the environment. There are specific issues like the tuition hike that can really divide people, but there are also a lot of issues that we need to realize are going to affect all of us one way or another. We should try to make that information accessible for people ,and then find ways for people to get involved in whatever capacity they’re most comfortable with.

How do you see your role as the VP External with regards to the student movement this year?

A lot of it depends on what the other students decide to do.

Whatever happens, I will relay that information as those things continue to take place. Students who are already active here can

year is reconciling the student body.

One of the research projects I’m going to use to help rebuild that kind of safe area is called McGill 101, which will be a public lecture series about the history of McGill, in the context of Montreal and Canada and on its own, the history of activism, and a bit about governance.

But safe space is also between McGill [administration] and students.

The events of last year have really given the ear of McGill to us, and [the administration has] come to us a lot more than they did in the past.

I’ve been trying to encourage admin to get on the ground a little more— even just having lunch at McConnell. Furthermore, last year, a lot of admin felt personally vilified. We need to foster constructive dialogue.

I definitely want to make sure that everyone is fairly represented and that everyone’s voice is heard.

WHAT LESSONS FROM FROSH PLANNING WILL impact the way you run other events THIS YEAR? Definitely the new openness towards having an all-age event every single night of frosh. The numbers for the beer tent this year show a record low in consumption, which I think shows that having all these alternative activities is a good thing. Frosh also really established a lot of camaraderie between the faculties and with SSMU. This year, there was a lot more cooperation, and that’s going to help everyone move forward a lot. Hopefully everyone keeps working together because all of the faculties have something unique that they do, and to have other faculties participate in that would be great.

robin reid-fraser Vp external

find ways to organize themselves, but I think another big part of my position is having very basic intro-level information available, especially for first-years. If the PQ ends up having their big summit about education, then I think that’ll be a really interesting opportunity, because education and access to education don’t just involve the price of tuition. As an English school with many international students, it would be a very interesting debate to have on campus. One way or another, I want to be a source of information but also be as receptive as possible to the different opinions that there are on this campus.

THE Mcgill

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Editor-in-Chief Elisa Muyl editor@mcgilltribune.com Managing Editors Carolina Millan-Ronchetti cmillanronchetti@mcgilltribune.com Adam Sadinsky asadinsky@mcgilltribune.com Production Manager Sam Reynolds sreynolds@mcgilltribune.com News Editors Bea Britneff and Erica Freisen news@mcgilltribune.com Opinion Editor Anand Bery opinion@mcgilltribune.com Science & Technology Editor Leigh Miller scitech@mcgilltribune.com Student Living Editor Jacqui Galbraith arts@mcgilltribune.com Arts & Entertainment Editor Chris Liu and Ilia Blinderman arts@mcgilltribune.com Sports Editors Steven Lampert and Jeff Downey sports@mcgilltribune.com Photo Editor Alexandra Allaire and Simon Poitrimolt photo@mcgilltribune.com Senior Design Editor Susanne Wang design@mcgilltribune.com Online Editor Victor Temprano online@mcgilltribune.com Copy Editor Adrien Hu copy@mcgilltribune.com Advertising Manager Myriam Richard cpm@ssmu.mcgill.ca Publisher Chad Ronalds

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Contributors Rebecca Babcock, Leah Brainerd, Kegan Chang, Kyle Ng, Joshua Freedman, Ryan Reisert, Adam Taras, Susan Westfall, Haley Kemp, Hilary Dyck, Jesse Heesoo Kim, Mari Lynn Knadle

Tribune Offices Editorial Shatner University Centre Suite 110, 3480 McTavish Montreal, QC H3A 0E7 T: 514.398.6789

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The McGill Tribune is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the Société de Publication de la Tribune, a student society of McGill University. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility

editorial All the curiosity that’s fit to deliver The McGill Tribune has covered McGill and Montreal since 1981, initially as the official newspaper of the Student Society of McGill University (SSMU). Since its independence from SSMU in 2010, the Tribune has been operated autonomously by the Tribune Publication Society (TPS). All McGill students are automatically members of the TPS by virtue of their student dues, which support the newspaper, and anyone can attend the meetings of our Board of Directors.

We publish every week on Tuesdays, and cover issues of interest to the student body. To meet this criteria, the Tribune does not adhere to a constitution or agenda when it comes to editorial stance. Our editorial board changes annually, and the views of the paper fluctuate in accordance. Instead, what guides the Tribune is a consistent commitment to critical thinking and open-mindedness in our stories and editorials.

We operate under the idea that we

are a newspaper by and for McGill students, and we seek to report in a manner that encourages our readers to think inquisitively about issues of importance to the McGill community. This concept drives the way in which the Tribune presents facts, asks questions, and comments on student life.

Our brand of reporting is unique both naturally and by design.

Students who choose to become editors of a student journal are internally motivated to cover issues they deem important to student life. They remain persistent in face of the often demanding task of recording student life at McGill. Editors hail from diverse backgrounds, and are drawn to the Tribune’s even-keeled coverage and worldview. Each section has its own personality that changes year to year. As a result, our sections operate independently of the whole, and editors are fairly autonomous in choosing what they want to cover.

The analytical nature of our

coverage is also structural: we editorialize on issues we choose to discuss and editorials are written based on a consensus we’ve reached following an extensive discussion. Rather than addressing each issue with a predetermined set of principles, editorials are written on a case-by-case basis.

Our ideologically-varied editorial board allows for tough editorial meetings and a multifaceted analysis of the issues at hand. Our columnists boast a range of political views, because a broad range of opinions have their place at the Tribune. Our structure allows us to remain committed to critical thinking and to reflect the views of the current editorial board.

As a result, during any given week, the Tribune’s editorial stance is not a foregone conclusion but subject to shift based on an analysis of the facts.

It’s difficult, if not impossible, to separate a writer’s narrative from an ideal of objective fact. Therefore, we seek instead to incorporate the

Students’ issues missing from campaign rhetoric On Tuesday, Quebeckers went to the polls in a historic election that seemed poised to change the future direction of the province. The election call came in August, amid the continually escalating student movement against tuition hikes that began early in January. One might have expected that the student issues that dominated the lead-up to the campaign would have continued to dominate the rhetoric of the major parties once the writ was dropped.

This, however, did not materialize.

The student movement’s primary objective was to oppose a government that asked students to foot the bill for education before weeding out the inefficiencies and corruption present within its own administration. A move towards limiting government funding for education is antithetical to the values Quebec has based itself on since the Quiet Revolution. Clearly, the Liberal Party of Quebec was not a choice for the students.

The movement was not rooted in the desire for sovereignty nor the

protection of Quebec values and culture. The Parti Québécois has attempted to court the student vote solely through its opposition of the Charest government and not by making promises on issues important to students. They hijacked the campaign to talk about sovereignty when, at the time, most of Quebec didn’t feel the issue deserved centre stage. Once elected, Ms. Marois announced that she would freeze the hike and repeal Bill 78. During the campaign, however, she was nearly silent. Clearly, the PQ was not a choice for the students on the issue.

Francois Legault of the Coalition Avenir Québec is not Jean Charest, but his policies on tuition echo the former Premier’s. He believes that the answer to the tuition question is to lower the hike while simultaneously forcing universities to “streamline their management.”

Doing so would likely result in a further cutting of student services as well as a decrease in the quality of education that students receive and deserve. The CAQ was not a choice

for the students.

Ironically, the issues that were most salient in media were not those that were of primary concern to the student movement. Instead, the common wedge issues of sovereignty and language laws dominated. None of the three major parties’ websites mention tuition fees in their key platform issues. Only the fourthplace party, Québec Solidaire, mentioned undergraduate tuition in its policy priorities.

The lack of emphasis on student issues during political campaigns is not a new phenomenon. It is widely known that students do not turn out on election days, and political parties treat them accordingly. Show up to the polls, and they will show some love.

It might be possible that Mr. Charest really did fear the students, as he made it very difficult for them to express themselves and vote. The timing of the election call, which meant campaigns were held in the summer, was inconvenient for students. Many, including the CAQ, ac-

of The McGill Tribune and the Société de Publication de la Tribune. and does not necessarily represent the views of McGill University.

Letters to the editor may be sent to editor@mcgilltribune.com and must include the contributor’s name, program and year and contact information. Letters should be kept under 300 words and submitted only to the Tribune. Submissions judged by the Tribune Publication Society to be libellous, sexist, racist, homophobic or solely promotional in nature will not be published. The Tribune reserves the right to edit all contributions. Editorials are decided upon and written by the editorial board. All other opinions are strictly those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the McGill Tribune, its editors or its staff. Please recycle this newspaper.

views all those who wish to contribute, by having open and critical discussions on topics of interest to the community. The Tribune’s commitment to tackling each issue anew, independently of a constitution and through a multifarious lens, can be best summed up by the tagline at the bottom of this year’s new logo: Curiosity Delivers.

It’s likely the coming year will be just as exciting and engaging as the last. As always, we will continue to work to cover McGill critically, fairly, and impartially. Make sure to pick us up every Tuesday and to check out our revamped website, www.mcgilltribune.com.

As always, we welcome your feedback in the form of letters to the editor sent to editor@mcgilltribune.com. For up-to-date coverage, follow us on Twitter (@mcgill_tribune), like us on Facebook, and stay curious.

Follow us on Twitter! @mcgill_tribune

cuse Mr. Charest of abruptly calling the election in the summer in order to pre-empt the Charbonneau Commission’s investigation into corruption slated for the fall. The timing, however, may have also been aimed at keeping students from the voting booth. The election took place at the beginning of September, just as many students returned to class.

Large students of students from outside the province could not register to vote in time and, moreover, were outside Quebec for the majority of the campaign.

The lack of representation of student interests and discussion of student issues seemed disrespectful to those who were, in large part, the reason this election was originally called. Polls may emerge in the upcoming weeks showing that students did not turn out to vote, and that the parties were smart in tiptoeing around the issue. Politics, however, should not be based merely on who comes out to vote, but on the needs and interests of all constituents.

commentary A choice with no good options The voting options in Quebec’s election yesterday were akin to the choice between being punched in the gut and being punched in the face; both are extremely painful or something to be avoided at all costs.

Unfortunately, the responsibility of an active citizen, especially in an election this important, forced me to choose between a slate of unappealing candidates.

The long-ruling Liberals were attractive in the sense that they were the most staunchly Federalist party contesting this election, and I was assured that no sovereignty shenanigans would happen under their

watch. They have also, rightly in my mind, pointed out that social spending in Quebec is out of control, although whether or not raising tuition fees is the appropriate response to this fact can be argued.

However, the alleged corruption that wafts from the Charest government makes even holding my nose to vote for them would prove difficult.

The PQ ran an extremely nativist campaign. Pauline Marois threatened to empower French language laws, promising to make it harder for Francophone students to go to English CEGEPs. On one occasion, Marois even shamefully stated that crucifixes are acceptable in public venues, but other displays of religion are not. The PQ has also stated

that they will push for a new referendum, and it is not hard to imagine that they will try to extort Ottawa for a favoured status for Quebec based on perceived and imagined slights.

On top of this, the PQ has flipflopped on the tuition increase issue, opportunistically supporting the student protestors when it was popular, and then walking away slowly from this position when the opinion polls turned against them.

The new CAQ party at first seemed quite promising. They are comprised of former Federalist and Sovereigntists, and have proposed avoiding any referendum talks for the near future. Instead, the CAQ has suggested that Quebec should focus on pressing social and economic is-

sues. While this seems admirable in theory, the reality is that leader Francois Legault had been very vague on how he would solve many of the problems facing Quebec. Not to mention the fact that Legault was a former PQ cabinet minister is troubling. Ludicrously, the CAQ has also mused about charging McGill medical graduates a fine if they practice outside of Quebec. In addition, any political party that gives themselves an acronym that leads so easily to sophomoric jokes is probably not ready for the big-time.

Quebec Solidaire is a no-go for me, because like the PQ, they are a hard line sovereigntist party. Also, they also will be lucky to win any seat besides Amir Khadir’s, which,

essentially, would make a vote for them feel wasted.

The only viable option in my mind was to vote for the Liberal party—the lesser of four evils. No, they aren’t very competent. Yes, they are probably corrupt. But at the end of the day, they are the most Anglo-friendly party relative to all others, and a vote for them seems like the best option for avoiding another referendum, keeping Canada united, and hopefully bringing social peace to Quebec. These facts alone, as disappointing as they are, had me checking a box next to Jacques Chagnon in Westmount-St Louis yesterday.

up to you to ask. In my case, it was up me to gather up the courage to knock on the Tribune’s office door unsolicited. The independence I’ve learned at McGill isn’t a go-italone one, but one that’s given the confidence to begin to ask for help, to distinguish between the right and the wrong questions, and to know that if I want to do something, I need to be proactive in seeking out the next steps.

The Tribune has provided a smaller, more supportive world within McGill. At the Tribune, I’ve become a stronger writer, a more confident speaker, and hopefully more organized. All of this is to say that you can find your people or your “thing” here; but at McGill it’s

incumbent upon you to take that first step.

I’m not particularly fit to give advice just because of my position at the Tribune—I have just been lucky enough to get the opportunity to share my experience with you. Though I expect I would have adjusted almost anywhere with a roof, a campus, and the offer of a degree, I feel very happy that I ended up here. It’s not for everyone, but for me, McGill’s size has offered an opportunity to learn how to do things myself, and the Tribune’s inclusiveness has afforded me the support I needed to grow in other ways. That was my experience: yours is your own, and it doesn’t matter what you do with it, as long as you know that it counts.

— Joshua Freedman

From the editor-in-chief Welcome to McGill I have been at McGill and in Montreal for exactly three years now, give or take a few American Thanksgivings. When my parents left after driving me up to Montreal, being in a new place really hit home. What was I doing in Canada, alone? For the first few weeks of school, I felt like I was holding my breath. Now, I’ve made my home the Tribune office, and I know the nightly janitor by name.

It’s hard to know when exactly I stopped being new here and started being the person welcoming you in a column. Getting comfortable here has been a long process, one that I

think I’m only gradually undergoing.

Many of you first arriving at McGill are experiencing something similar; for the first time in your life, you’re on your own. Transitioning to college is hard in general—and, in addition to the typical “college stuff” that you need to get used to, there’s a steep learning curve at McGill in particular. It’s a big school, in (what most people consider to be) a big city, and is notoriously bureaucratic and disjointed. The first time I realized how much red tape surrounded McGill was when I tried to register for courses and couldn’t figure out Minerva. This feeling came again when I emailed my advisor for help and she responded, “Please email someone else.”

There was no immediate sense of community that I got.

Oddly, the impersonal experience at McGill is what I have grown to love about it. Sure, it’s tough, but it’s given me the opportunity to grow up in the best way possible: on my own.

I’ve learned that if I want to get something done, the best way to do it is to get it done myself.

That said, this doesn’t mean that we’re completely on our own. Within McGill, there are many institutional and student-run organizations that can help to shrink and provide context to McGill’s big world. There are resources available to give you the help or the friendliness you need—but it’s

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Student living

top eight

Things to do in Montreal with your parents

Eight great opportunities to enjoy the finer parts of the city without breaking your bank Susan Westfall Contributor School has begun and you are undoubtedly running around campus and beyond, discovering the new hot-spots. Montreal has a wide variety of student-friendly haunts, but do not restrict yourself­ —there are a lot of events outside the student bubble (and price range) for which you may want to save up. Also, you could take advantage of visits from your family and indulge yourself — and them, of course — to some of the finer (read: more expensive) attractions Montreal has to offer.

1. Hop-On, Hop-Off Double Decker Bus Tour The best way to discover Montreal is to jump on this tour bus as it guides you through all the attractions Montreal has to offer. You are given the opportunity to get off the bus at 10 different locations to soak up the full Montreal experience.

During the peak months, tours run every 30 minutes and take about 2 hours. The cost is $52.17 per person, so definitely indulge with your parents. For tour routes, visit: http://www.quebectours.org/

2. Kava Tours Montreal, and Quebec in general, are the homes to countless micro-breweries and vineyards. On this tantalizing wine-tasting adventure, explore the vineyards of Quebec and learn about their histories. Perhaps this could be your first experience with the famous French tradition of ‘Wine-and-Cheese’, but it certainly will not be your last! Tours are either half-day or full-day, priced at $89 or $129, respectively. For more information, visit: http://www.kavatours.com/

3. Cirque Du Soleil This world renowned circus has been taken to new levels of aweinspiring choreography in the shows offered by this gravity defying band of acrobats. The Cirque du Soleil is a spectacle not to be missed, and what better place to see it than in its hometown, Montreal? The innovative acrobatic routines, impressive strength and graceful musicality grow and improve with each new show, year after year, leaving its audiences breathless. Ticket prices vary depending on the show, and

range from $50 to $150. For details, visit: http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/

4. Just For Laughs The Just For Laughs festival runs annually in July, when hundreds of comedians come to Montreal for a variety of indoor and free outdoor performances over the course of a few days. Aside from the festival, you can find hilarious shows by world-renowned comedians year round. Tickets range from $50 - $100 depending on the artist, so it is definitely a place to bring your parents to the next time they are in town. For details on events, check out: www.hahaha.com

5. Montreal Canadiens Hall of Fame Whether you are new to Canada and need to be officially introduced to the world of hockey, or you just aren’t a Habs fan yet, you must entertain a visit to the museum of hockey’s legends. Explore the history of the greatest sport ever invented and get a thorough introduction to the rowdy nights and hockey fever

that you are sure to hear and experience during the season. For information on admission prices and hours of operation, visit: http://canadiens.nhl.com/

6. Botanical Gardens The Botanical Gardens is a 75 acre outdoor complex where you can meander around for a relaxing afternoon. In autumn, be sure to visit The Magic of Lanterns, where countless lanterns are lit in honour of Chinese history. Normal rates for the Botanical Gardens are $17.75 for adults and $13.50 for student, but additional charges apply for entrance into special events. For more information, go to: http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/

7. O Noir This restaurant is like no other in Montreal. For one, your senses will be elevated by a dining experience in complete darkness. Embrace what it is like to be blind for a few hours—like every waiter and waitress serving you. That’s right, no watches, cell phones, matches or candles – complete darkness. O Noir is located at 1631 Saint Catherine

Street, right in the heart of downtown Montreal near the Guy Concordia metro station. Unfortunately, the extreme uniqueness of this restaurant is reflected in its pricing, as a three course meal will cost you $41.

For reservation details, visit: www.onoir.com/montreal/

8. The Biodome The Biodome is a unique nature experience. Simulations of four ecosystems have been constructed inside the Velodrome, a cycling track made for the 1967 Olympics.

In the Biodome, you can experience the tropical rain forests of South America, the marine ecosystems of the Saint-Lawrence, the forests of the Laurentians, and finally, the chilled Arctic and Antarctic. Prices for adults are $17.75, or $13.50 with a valid student card. For hours of operation, visit: http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/

The Montreal Biodome. (xoopla.com)

out and about

Ikea for Dummies

An inaugural trip to the Montreal mecca of assemble-it-yourself furniture Jacqui Galbraith Student Living Editor What does every student moving into their first apartment need, aside from a fire evacuation plan?

A trip to Ikea, of course. My parents bought all of their furniture in the eighties and have unfortunately been able to make it last well into the new millennium. So, no Ikea for us. I was also led to believe that assembling Ikea furniture is comparable to wall painting on the scale of household chore fun – more enjoyable than vacuuming, but not quite as fun as hanging posters or artwork – it wasn’t the furniture I was excited for.

Going to Ikea for the first time was an event for me. My father rented an absolute tank of a vehicle to help my sister and me move our collective belongings from apartment to apartment which of course meant we were driving in Montreal for the first time. In the end, my roommate’s iPhone was the only thing that saved us from an unexpected and inconve-

nient detour to Ottawa. By the time we actually made it to the store, I was confident that if we could handle the jungles of Montreal’s roadways, we could easily find our way through the store. But even if we weren’t the ‘accomplished navigators’ we obviously are, it wouldn’t have mattered because the good people of Ikea were considerate enough to include directions on the floor! We were directed through the store by a set of yellow arrows and some whimsical footprints, which only improved the experience in my opinion.

Our journey through Ikea began with my roommates explaining to me how the notecard and pencil system works. This was interrupted when I noticed that there was a ball pit directly to the left of the entrance.

I guess the idea is that people will bring their families for a fun day at Ikea, where children can don their numbered bibs and explore the toy section while adults wander through the showrooms.

We worked our way through the store, and by the time we made

it to the cafeteria, we were ready for a break. I was delighted to find that you can purchase red wine or choose from a variety of beers should you find yourself in need of a pick-meup during your excursion. Luckily, I didn’t have to waste any time deciding what I would get for lunch, because every single person I spoke to about my impending trip told me, in no uncertain terms, that I had to get the Swedish meatballs. One of my roommates had actually been asked by her boyfriend to bring some back with her, since he couldn’t be there himself. I’ve also heard that some university students have a habit of making the trip out with the specific intention of purchasing this Scandinavian delicacy.

Eventually we went downstairs to pick up our boxes, and after a surprisingly painless round with the self-checkout, we were out the door. We had to dodge a dauntingly long line for home delivery though, so take a car. If you don’t have one, go with a friend. If you don’t have any friends with cars, make some

new ones. Of course, we also had to dodge the cheap frozen yogurt, hot dogs, and cinnamon buns that tempted us as we walked to the exit.

Luckily, after those meatballs, we were able to resist.

The last chapter in my Ikea saga wrapped up back at my apartment, where I assembled my first piece of Ikea furniture: a bookcase. Following this experience, I completely understand why people love assembling Ikea products so much. It’s not so hard that you get frustrated with it, but it’s just difficult enough, that you feel pretty darn good about yourself by the time you’re done.

You take the pieces, you put them together and you turned them into something new. If I hadn’t assembled it, it wouldn’t be a bookcase, it would just be a pile of wood and a series of screws. Definitely an ego boost.

After all that, I guess I would call myself an Ikea convert. I’m still a fan of garage sales and the occasional Walmart trip, but Ikea has definitely moved up a few notches

(foture.net) in my book. If you have the time and the means, I would seriously recommend a trip. Even if you don’t, I can almost guarantee that somewhere on McGill Classifieds, at this very moment, someone is selling something from Ikea. Just make sure you have a screwdriver!

Curiosity delivers. |

STUDENT LIVING

| Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012

9

odds and ends

Frosh: a senior (citizen’s) perspective

First-years aren’t the only ones who need an Advil by the end of Orientation Week Elisa Muyl Editor in Chief

Every year, McGill’s campus goes quiet as students flock home for the summer. The laws of physics that govern summertime seem to slow down time and campus becomes calm, almost quaint. It persists in this way for almost three months, unperturbed by the bustle of Downtown Montreal. But then—a strangely familiar call sounds. “McGill once, McGill twice….” rumbles from the depths of SSMU, through the Roddick gates, letting Montreal know: Frosh is upon us.

I have a lot of trepidation about this “Frosh.” Why do they need to chant so loudly? I’m skeptical about how many friendships will outlast

Campus calendar

this first week. They seem to be drinking a lot of alcohol. Where are their parents? Trying to cross campus is like negotiating an obstacle course during the zombie apocalypse, except the zombies are drunk and in search of pizza. What is the point of this anyway—how many of you will remember how to get around campus? Good, then can one of you help me to get around Ferrier? I’m confused.

Before Frosh, McGill was peaceful and quiet. I could read my books while I walked around campus without worrying about bumping into anyone. I had my pick of seats in the library. I could even do a few yoga moves in the SSMU lounge, to the occasional passing security guard’s amusement.

Overnight, this changed. I arrived one day to find that McGill was once again, a living, breathing, and drinking organism. Now, SSMU is occupied by girls in cut-offs, drinking from what look like sippy cups. Wide-eyed freshmen have overtaken campus, walking behind excited parents wielding cameras, waiting in line at the Fido booth and eating all of the free ice cream.

I can’t imagine what this is doing to McGill’s reputation. Frankly, those shorts are too short for my taste. What, did your sleeves take the day off? I really don’t approve of all of this yelling and carrying on. When I was your age, I worked during the summer. I had a career to think about. You kids don’t know how lucky you have it: when I did

Frosh we had to walk up three sets of stairs to get to 737. Upstairs both ways!

Frosh makes me uncomfortable because it’s a reminder of how old I am. I know that in three years, this generation of freshman will look back with the same mixture of amusement, horror, and nostalgia I’m feeling now. Some will find Frosh to be just as ridiculous as I do; others will continue to love it and will partake in the madness again and again. All I can offer this chanting army of incoming Hype weekers and Four-Floors participants is this: you’ll understand when you’re older.

Sunday Science films: Amazing Journeys

Barbeque with the Principal

Gerts Welcome Back Corn Roast

A documentary about six different

Everyday this week until Saturday,

Thursday, September 13th

Friday, September 7th

species and their migrating patterns

September 8th

12:30PM-1:30PM

11:00AM-6:00PM

12:00PM-9:00PM

Outside the James Administration building

SSMU Basement

Sunday, September 9th, 3:00PM

Redpath Museum Admission by donation

Open Air Pub

Y intersection

Live Jazz

Tue, Wed, Thu , Fri 6pm-8pm

Live classical music every Sunday 6pm - 8pm

DJ’s Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat from 10pm Complete listings

www.bilykun.com NoW air CoNDiTioNNeD! 354 Mont Royal Est 514 845-5392

Bike Drive: Give your old bike new life Donate rideable used bikes, 20’’ wheels or bigger Saturday, September 8th, 10:00AM- 1:00PM

Marianopolis College

Segal’s Segal’s is the cheapest option students have found. It looks like a hole in the wall on Saint-Laurent, and boasts around the same variety of cereal. Bring your own bags, because they don’t provide any, or grab a free wooden crate on your way out. Also, make sure to use cash because they charge to use debit.

4 Freres: Open 24 hours. Located at the heart of Saint-Laurent, at Clarke. Expensive, tempting, and perfect for late-night grocery needs, exam-time snacking, or a post-clubbing frozen pizza.

Toonie Chow

Looking for a late night snack on your way home? The ever-popular “Toonie Chow” serves $2 chow mien out of the front window of 3754 St. Laurent. Bonus tip: Ask for a “historian” when you order and you’ll get a free spring roll.

Plateau Provigo

Plateau Provigo is the fancy Provigo. It has all the perks of the Sherbrooke Provigo but with a classier feel — plus it has a mysterious downstairs.

Marche Lobo

Didn’t sign up for a meal plan and living on a tight budget? You can always try Midnight Kitchen. This non-profit, volunteer-run food collective provides healthy vegan food by donation every week-day in the Shatner building. The lineup starts around noon; so be sure to bring your own Tupperware and utensils, or rent some for free at the Plate Club!

A hungry student’s guide to McGill compiled

by Jacqui Galbraith

Provigo Infusion

Provigo is solid. It’s big enough that you can find what you need, and it offers fairly standard fare. As prices go, it’s not incredibly cheap, but it does offer 10% student discounts on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays on purchases over $50. It also provides free delivery of groceries for purchases over that amount, if you don’t live within comfortable walking distance of the Sherbrooke location.

Eaton Centre

Calling all tea lovers! Infusion, the cafeteria in the Strathcona Music building, has a wide assortment of loose leaf teas, blooming teas, and beautiful crystal teapots and tea sets.

If you want to shake things up a little bit without breaking the bank, venture down to the Eaton Centre on St. Catherine’s. It boasts an eclectic food court full of options for all tastes and budgets, and the people-watching opportunities are unparalleled.

Frostbite ice cream parlor is a hidden gem of the engineering world at McGill, and offers two-dollar ice cream on Tuesdays. Located just inside the McConnell Engineering building, through the main entrance and left twice, Frostbite is a great way to beat the heat on campus.

Bonus: If you get less than 30% on a midterm, you can drown your sorrows in a frozen treat for free!

Midnight Kitchen

In the underground complex Galleries de Parc, one floor down, is Metro. Metro offers a surprising variety of goods, and prices are similar to those at Provigo. What makes Metro special is the SAQ directly across from it. Everything you need in one simple place!

Eden is expensive, but it’s also your one-stop shop for all kinds of fancy groceries you shouldn’t be buying. These include seaweed sheets, edamame hummus and high-grade muesli. Eden is conveniently located in Galleries de Parc, at the intersection of Parc and Prince Arthur.

Tim Hortons

Frostbite

Metro

Eden

Marche Lobo is the place for your cheap fruits and veggies. Moreover, it sells unusual produce like bok choy. Admittedly, it’s not always the best produce, but it is certainly cheap and nearby. You may want to make sure you don’t wait too long before eating it though.

If you’re looking to get your daily dose of caffeine at the Tim Horton’s in the Redpath Cafeteria, make sure to avoid going around the half hour.

Leaving your morning class five minutes early may be worthwhile if you want to avoid a 45 minute lineup. The Timmy’s on University and Sherbrooke is also a good bet, since it’s practically right across campus.

Plus, it offers a much wider variety of food options, including soups and sandwiches.

Food for thought

4 Freres

Sinfully Asian Super Sandwich Super Sandwich is a quick and cheap alternative if you’re becoming disenchanted with the circus that is the Arts building Subway. Located in the basement of the Cartier building on Peel (just behind the McGill bookstore), Super Sandwich delivers quality food with startling speed.

Prices are extremely reasonable, especially for vegetarian options, and extras like pop or chips come cheap as well.

Conveniently located right off of McTavish, in the Bronfman building, Sinfully Asian is definitely the place to get your sushi fix. Prices can be a little steep for some budgets; but if you go towards the end of the day, you might get lucky enough to nab a two-for-one deal.

Photos by Simon

Science & technology upcoming

Fall 2012

SCIENCE EVENTS

If you could eat science and technology, fall at McGill would be one big free lunch. Here are some upcoming events on and off campus.

Check out the Tribune website for more SciTech events throughout the year!

DOWNTOWN CAMPUS Soup and Science — come for the soup, stay for the science

beer at Gerts afterwards, and you’ve got yourself an awesome casual date. The first Freaky Friday will be Monster Ants and Genetic Engineering and Super 8 on October 26th.

Friday afternoons at 5 p.m.

Redpath Museum Free

Sunday Afternoon Science Movies — add a little wonder to your weekend

This wildly popular lunchtime lec- Watch documentaries from NOVA, ture series brings students and pro- CBC, Science, Disneynature and fessors together to discuss research. similar networks on the big screen Each professor is given five minutes in the museum. This could make a to present their research, then pre- nice study break come midterm seasenters and students discuss the re- son, or a decent hangover cure. This search over free weekend’s documensoup and sandtary is Amazing Jourwiches.

This neys, the story of six fall’s lectures migrating species. will cover topics Sundays at 3 p.m. that range from Redpath Museum ‘weakly electric Suggested student fish’ to earthdonation $2 (includes quake physics. refreshments) It’s a great opportunity to get Redpath Museum hired for lab Special Events — work, to get indinosaur bones Soup and Science (McGill Tribune) spired by cutting by flashlight and edge research, or much more simply to eat free food. Be sure to The Redpath Museum holds inexget there early as it fills up quickly. pensive or free events throughout If you miss this session, there’s an- the year including late night flashother in the winter. light tours on Nuit Blanche. UpcomSeptember 10-14th at 11:30 a.m. ing free events include a presentaRedpath Museum tion on First Nation culture (SepFree tember 30th from 1-3 p.m.) and the Women in Science, Engineering, and Freaky Fridays — science fact Medicine Symposium (October 13th from 1:30-7 p.m.). Dinosaur bones, meets science fiction At Freaky Fridays, informal lectures mummies, and a geological garden are paired with popular movies. can also be seen by daylight, durExamples of past ‘freakies’ include ing the museum’s regular hours. For Climate Science and Geology — A Tale more information visit the Redpath of Three Histories and The Day After To- Museum website (www.mcgill.ca/ morrow, as well as Oxytocin Me Baby redpath/).

—The Truth About the So-Called Love Hormone and The Notebook. Get a Cutting Edge Lectures in Science

McGill researchers lecture on their latest findings for the general public.

The first lecture of the fall, In Search of the Source of Earthquakes, includes a chance to look at rocks formed during earthquakes.

September 13th at 6 p.m.

Redpath Museum Free

Hack Ta Ville [Hack Your City]

SSMU is inviting you to hack the city of Montreal—for the greater good.

Help write programs to improve various aspects of Montreal—transportation, urban planning, agriculture, sustainable development, land use, housing, parks, public spaces, and more. New hackers can take workshops to improve their skills. Cheap food and coffee will be on hand for hackers of every skill level.

September 8th from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

SSMU Ballroom Free

5th McGill Conference on Global Food Security — "Food Prices and Political Instability"

During this two-day conference, speakers and participants from over 25 countries will deliver concrete ideas to improve global food security. Students can attend this highlevel, international event for less than 15 per cent of the normal registration fee. Those who can’t make the conference can always attend the public lecture that kicks it off.

Public Lecture October 16th at 5 p.m.

Moyse Hall $10 Conference October 17-18th New Residence Hall $55 for students (includes food and a networking cocktail party)

McGill Sustainability Fair 2012

The McGill Office of Sustainabil-

By: Leigh Miller

ity is holding a fair that will answer questions like: where can I recycle my old electronics, how do I get money for a sustainable project, and what are those green lumps on McTavish Street. The question they’ll answer best: how can I get involved with making McGill more sustainable?

September 21st all day Tent on Lower Field Free

Montreal

The Biodome is celebrating its 20th birthday with free admission for anyone born in 1992. The Montreal

MACDONALD CAMPUS The Montreal Biodome (techeasy.com) Food for Thought Lecture Series — “Macdonald – Across the Oceans Science Center is turning 10 this year. Although the center is designed and Around the World” This fall lecture series focuses on international research; many lectures will discuss health issues in developing countries. The first lecture starts close to home with Why Canada Could Be the Next Bioenergy Powerhouse. However, the international way in which biofuel technology is being developed upholds the theme of the series. Lectures run bi-monthly from September to November.

September 11th – November 20th from 7-8:30 p.m.

Raymond Building R2-045 Free

for a younger crowd, cool and interactive exhibits never get old.

Biodome Tuesday - Sunday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., $13.50 for students Montreal Science Center Thursday - Saturday from 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. and Sunday - Wednedsay from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. $11.50

OUTSIDE THE MCGILL BUBBLE

A lecture series put on by McGill in November

Concordia Public Lectures Darwin's Mad Dream: What Error and Invention Tell Us About How Science Works is one upcoming public lecture at Concordia.

October 11th at 8 p.m.

Oscar Peterson Concert Hall Free

KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR… The Trottier Symposium — Food: A Serving of Science

Concordia President’s Conference Series, — Experiencing the Media Mix: Anime, Manga, Video Games A lecture series and video game development conference that will end in a massive gaming event in February.

tech guide

A Guide to cell phone plans in Montreal For the overwhelmed student Leigh Miller Science and Technology Editor Purchasing a cell phone plan in Montreal can be a complicated undertaking. Browsing through the many contracts offered by over half a dozen companies (some of which are actually the same company) is enough to make any student swear off phones and opt for email and Skype. Before resorting to drastic measures, use the following tools to start your research.

Cell phone providers in Canada are mostly owned by three big cor-

porations: TELUS, Rogers, and Bell.

TELUS owns Koodo; Rogers owns Fido and Chat-r; and Bell owns a stake in Virgin Mobile. These providers operate Canada-wide, which means that they might be better for Canadians from outside Montreal who want to keep their phones yearround.

Carriers with a more limited range can be good choices if you only plan to use your phone in Montreal. These providers include Quebec-based Videotron and Public Mobile. Public Mobile is only available in certain cities.

Most of these providers offer a variety of plans: prepaid, text-heavy, talk and data, along with other plans to fit any usage. Finding the right package is a matter of deciding what you need and pricing those needs for every provider.

This is a daunting task for a student in back-to-school mode. Luckily, there are third-party websites which compare plans side by side.

Two of these websites are www. comparecellular.com and www.cellphones.ca. Both sites compare providers for specific types of plans.

Choose the Montreal region

and input attributes like unlimited texting, 200 anytime minutes, or price under $25 per month, and these sites provide a list of plans that meets your criteria.

Select plans to compare, and the site will generate a detailed report that shows you every attribute of the plan, whether it’s an hour longer for unlimited night and weekend talk, or more memory on your voice mail.

These sites also provide reviews of carriers, maps of coverage areas, as well as store locators. Since wireless providers are constantly

changing their available plans, both sites update plan information frequently. It’s a good idea to check the provider website to ensure a desired plan is still offered.

Most providers also sell phones.

Buying a phone with a contract may seem like a good deal, but the price of the phone is spread over the term of the contract in small monthly payments.

Alternative places to purchase phones include the McGill Classifieds (www.mcgill.ca/classified/ phones) and Craigslist (http://montreal.en.craigslist.ca/moa/).

arts & entertainment Montreal’s

Whether you’re a wobbly kneed freshman recovering from Frosh, or a grizzled vet back in the trenches, the following spots will satisfy your weekly dose of culture.

Choice Picks Eva B’s true highlight however is in its back room: “The Pile.” The Pile is analogous to a child’s bedroom: filled to the brim with clothes, onto which the shopper jumps in (shoeless, of course) from a wooden ladder. The real beauty of the Pile lies neither in the fun of the infinite dig nor in the occasional amusing bikini top. The true joy is the price—any item in the heap can be yours in exchange for a single loonie. You can leave your house with three dollars and return with a sweater, a scarf, and any other treasure you may have unearthed.

With regards to finding the store, abandon any hopes of seeing “Eva B” written anywhere near eye-level. Instead, watch for the colourful, Victorian exterior with a huge sign.

Enjoy the plunge!

—Eva B is located at 2013 Saint Laurent.

(some held at sister venue La Sala Rossa across the street). The big bartop to the left and the friendly folk behind it will get you hooked up with vegetarian wraps, sandwiches, and more (try the spicy tofu sandwich with a pint of St. Ambroise Apricot).

Don’t overlook the Distrobo, a machine tucked to the left of the bar that dispenses an ever-changing assortment of ‘zines, buttons, and tapes for $2. Take advantage of the $4 pint special from 5-7 p.m.

—Casa del Popolo is located at 4873 St. Laurent. For further information about their free events and more, check out casadelpopolo.com.

(youareyourmedia.wordpress.com)

By Marri Lynn Knadle The ‘House of the People,’ or Casa del Popolo as it’s known, is a Montreal community staple you can’t miss. For almost 13 years, it’s been fulfilling a particular set of desires common to the Montreal citizenry: good vegetarian food, good coffee, good liquor, good tunes, and great local art.

High ceilings give you air to think and breathe while you’re sipping your fair trade. Sink into one of Popolo’s unpretentiously eclectic couches or chairs, and lose yourself in thought. Make sure you enjoy the art on the walls; it might change before your next visit.

A giant blackboard to the right of the door lists upcoming shows

By Ilia Blinderman Locals will proudly inform you (in addition to boldly asserting that Harvard is America’s McGill) that Montreal is Canada’s worthy answer to New York, While the general sentiment is somewhat bucolic, Montreal does hold few gems that would fit snugly on the ground floor of a refurbished textile factory in Williamsburg. In the realm of coffee shops, few exude the redolence of hipster grunge quite as pungently as Le Cagibi.

A vegetarian eatery, music venue, and café rolled into one, Le Cagibi occupies prime real estate in the Mecca of nonchalance commonly known as the Mile End. Decorated with a

hodgepodge of old furniture, ramshackle chairs, and tables placed ad-hoc on the wooden floors, Le Cagibi consists of two homey, dimly illuminated rooms. On occasional evenings, small acts remove the table from a low-lying stage and set up musical shop. If you’re fortunate, you’ll catch a low-key performance on a winter evening while drinking a big bowl of coffee ($4). Otherwise, if your habits tend towards the matinal, start a day of study with the Morning Rumble.

—Le Cagibi sits on the corner of Saint Viateur and Saint Laurent.If you’re in the mood to catch a show, check out the calendar at www.lecagibi.ca

By Jesse Heesoo Kim South of Sherbrooke, where Saint Laurent assumes a dingy, morose air, is the home of vintage boutique Eva B. Don’t let its ghastly facade repel you— upon entering the shop’s cozy interior, you’re likely to be welcomed with a cup of warm tea.

Embellished with a wall covered with 25 cent books, hand-made jewelry, and antiques from typewriters to giraffe statuettes, there are few wares that this “Queen of Thrift Stores” lacks.Then, there are the vintage finds—main floor racks are bulging with enough chunky turtlenecks and fuzzy plaid pants to outfit the cast of Fresh Prince.

The basement, meanwhile, seats a selection of unique Halloween costumes available to rent for the night.

CASA DEL POPOLO 4873 Saint-Laurent.

EVA B 2013 Saint-Laurent.

(Alexandra Allaire / McGill Tribune)

www.mcgilltribune.com

LE CAGIBI 5490 Saint-Laurent.

(www.nightlifemagazine.ca)

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Arts & Entertainment

| Thursday, September 6, 2012

14

Film review

Bodybuilders have feelings too Teddy Bear as painful as it is poignant Chris Liu A&E Editor Teddy Bear is a study in contrasts. The dissonance between a tattooed, muscle-bound hulk of a man and his utter domination by those thin and frail is a wonder to behold.

This is the state in which Dennis, the titular character of Teddy Bear, is introduced: so nervous on his date that he mindlessly copies her order and ends up with food to which he is allergic. “Why did you order it?” “I didn’t think it had shrimp.” A look.

“In a shrimp cocktail?”

Though clad in Schwarzenegger-esque musculature, Dennis (Kim Kold) is more reminiscent of a painfully awkward adolescent. Many aspects of Dennis’ life suggests a man in stasis: from the fact that he’s still living with his mother at age 38, to his computer, which runs Windows 98.

Many lacking Dennis’ physique manage to get the better of him—in one memorable scene, he is emasculated at a urinal by a prostitute.

One individual who does this with unfaltering persistency is Dennis’ own mother, played with a convincing mix of infirmity and callousness

by Elsebeth Steentoft. Manifesting physical frailty and an indomitable

Dennis (Kim Kold) and Toi (Lamaiporn Hougaard) share a tender embrace. (www.filmmovementcanada.com) will, she is Dennis’ very antithesis.

Her tactics are formidable: a Molotov cocktail of shame and pity. The size disadvantage is more than compensated by her adroit grasp of psychological manipulation. Some may find her almost sympathetic, but I disagree; if anything, the character is not and Steentoft makes her so.

The cinematography master-

Film review

Roman Holiday

Woody Allen romances viewers with To Rome With Love Ilia Blinderman A&E Editor

Despite a longstanding love of film, I’ve never been drawn to Woody Allen’s neurotic charm.

My review of To Rome With Love, therefore, should have been nothing more than another addition to the burgeoning disappointment of the majority of film critics. In fact, I was so taken aback by its simple charm and unaffectedly playful honesty that I followed To Rome With Love with three more of Allen’s films.

Having proclaimed his love for New York, Barcelona, and Paris, Allen has finally turned towards this clever homage to Rome. The film follows four concurrent stories: a young architect (Jesse Eisenberg) falling in love with his girlfriend’s affected best friend (Ellen Page); a white-collar nobody (Roberto Benigni) who gains brusque, illustrious fame; a retired record company executive (Woody Allen) who at-

tempts to recapture his glory days, and a provincial couple who have just moved to Rome. Apart from disappointingly flat performances surrounding Page and Eisenberg (excluding a brief appearance by Alec Baldwin), and Allen’s onscreen wife (Judy Davis) appearing somewhat forced, the cast is largely attuned to Allen’s vision.

The film’s impact, however, is much greater than the individual performances. While a number of critics hectored To Rome With Love for its absence of cohesion, this charge speaks more to a cerebral indolence on the part of the authors than to the quality of their subject.

Allen’s object of study in these stories is allure: the siren call of fame, the desire to taste spurious grandeur.

Such is Allen’s Rome – deceptively glamorous; and in spite of its somewhat aggrandized romantic nature, simply another city filled with indelibly joyous bubbling life.

fully accentuates this atmosphere, shooting a bedside conversation at a diagonal angle to emphasize Dennis’ mass, or pulling back to a welledited reveal of the pair’s relative heights (for the record, she is below Dennis’ shoulder). The hand-held camera conveys intimacy to the point where I felt awkward prying.

A proliferation of medium shots, as

opposed to tight close-ups, has the effect of hitting home Dennis’ loneliness. Even in group gatherings, the camera manages to frame him alone.

Much of the film takes place in Thailand, where Dennis travels in search of love. The filmmakers should be commended for their breakaway from stereotypes; the audience’s first look at the “exotic

East” is composed of spacious highways and English billboards, projecting the very core of modernization and globalization.

The film is very modest in its general arc. Writer-director Mads Matthiesen valorizes a love that is old-fashioned. A throwback, the kind based on chance and hard knocks. Individual scenes pulse with warmth, yet the plot unfolds in a predictable fashion. Teddy Bear personifies the unfortunate instance in which the whole is less than the sum of its parts. However, this drawback neither diminishes the pleasure obtained from watching Dennis’ personal growth, nor the frustration felt when the solution, so simple to the audience, remains just out of reach.

One can see the film’s “moment of truth” coming from a mile away – the imminent collision of Dennis’ two worlds, the promise of a train wreck – unfolding with awkward timidity. This is not quite so.

The climax is skipped over for the denouement. There’s no yelling, no triumphant catharsis — just an acknowledgement that love is a complicated, messy, beautiful thing.

—Teddy Bear opens Friday, September 7th at Cinema du Parc, 3575 avenue du Parc.

Arts & Entertainment 15 Life and death meet the quotidien Album reviews Thursday, September 6, 2012 |

| Curiosity delivers.

VISUAL ART

Exhibition celebrates indigenous culture and contemporary artistry

A Tseltal wood-carved jaguar greets visitors. (Carolina Millán Ronchetti / McGill Tribune)

Carolina Millán Ronchetti Managing Editor This September, the aesthetic of mortality is on display in Montreal for Life and Death, Expressions of Daily Activities in the Worldview of the Contemporary Indigenous Peoples, an exhibit at the Espacio Mexico exploring the spaces between the funeral and the festive.

The intimate venue, showcasing roughly 40 arts and crafts pieces from 14 of the 68 surviving indigenous groups in Mexico, is the country’s first state-supported exhibition of indigenous art at an international location. The majority of the pieces were created by young artists who blend ancient techniques learned in their close communities with avant-garde approaches. By including works that represent traditional approaches and juxtaposing them with modern interpretations of indigenous art, the exhibit traces the cultural evolution of these communities while celebrating the survival of ancient techniques.

Phil Price, a member of the public relations department of the Mexican Contemporary Indigenous Art Museum (MAIC), explains that the exhibit aims to shape the contemporary portrayal of indigenous groups. “[We seek …] a flip in the mentality with which indigenous groups are seen and more importantly how they see themselves,” Price said.

“Indigenous groups are labelled in a rather general manner as ‘poor,’ referring specifically to an economic context. Widely ignored, however, is their incredibly rich culture, traditions, language and artistic knowledge.”

This richness of the groups’

culture and tradition is immediately apparent upon entering the exhibit.

Organized geographically, the display guides viewers through the indigenous groups from the north, centre, and south of Mexico, showcasing arts and crafts in different media.

The central theme surrounding this panoply is the close relationship between life and death. From the northern desert areas of the nation, the exhibit explores pottery made with different types of clay and dyed with pastes consisting of crushed insects. String and percussion musical instruments, as well as traditional decorations used in ritual dances are also present.

The portrayal of indigenous groups belonging to Central Mexico is remarkably varied, forming an amalgam of the native and the European. Some of the more memorable displays included colourfully painted celebrations of nature and agriculture, mixing Christian imagery with indigenous Nahua symbols and mud skulls clad in nun attire, inspired by the national “Day of the Dead” celebration.

In the South, rainforest imagery permeates the artwork. These include an imposing carving of a jaguar, peyote-inspired art employing beads representing a creation myth, and traditional textiles.

Additionally, the exhibit showcases music samples from each region and traditional poetry, displayed in the original languages as well as in English and French.

Ulimately, the exhibition succeeds at showcasing the breadth and diversity of Mexican indigenous traditions. The striking differences in texture, media, and imagery vary starkly—from the austere neutral colours and rustic wooden

shapes of the north, to the eclectic and intricate bead designs of the south. Although the display depicts Mexico as a nation with remarkably vivid indigenous culture, the lack of focus hinders the overall effect of the exhibit. The various media employed make it much more difficult to connect to the character of each indigenous group. This leaves the exhibit toeing the treacherous line of tokenizing each indigenous group by reducing them to a single salient characteristic. A narrowing of scope would lead to a more true appreciation of the complexities characterizing each community.

Despite the loose connection between some of the selections, this artistic sampler accomplishes its aim of highlighting the resilience of indigenous culture in Mexico. While the display takes into account how different groups’ techniques often adapted to include European motifs and approaches, it also celebrates the survival of indigenous culture and traditional art forms despite centuries of colonization. “[Our proposition is for] this expansive ancestral wisdom to be something not just consigned to history books,” Price said. “Instead, from this living and breathing diversity, contemporary society can learn as we ponder our own existence and look towards constructing a sustainable future for human beings and the planet.”

—Life and Death, Expressions of Daily Activities in the Worldview of the Contemporary Indigenous Peoples, brought by the Mexican Contemporary Indigenous Art Museum (MAIC) and organized by the NGO Espacios de Arte Nomada (EAN), is on display until Sept. 14 at Espacio Mexico (2055 Peel St.) Admission is free of charge.

Purity Ring Shrines

Mother Mother The Sticks

Last Gang Records

Last Gang Records

The debut album from Montreal duo Purity Ring defies definability. Airy, synth-pop, electro: each label is only a piece of the puzzle.

The picture only becomes clear once one listens to their tracks.

“Obedear” is a subdued single full of the swirling, jangling pop that Purity Ring is known for. Lead singer Megan James has a pristine nymph-like voice, yet sings lyrics like “tear our skin up out from the bottom.” Such contrast gives Purity Ring an eerie, unexpected presence.

With each listen, new notes, beats, sounds, and feelings are discovered.

A surprising strength of this album is that it simply doesn’t make much sense. While the lyrics may be clear to the duo, listeners are faced with abstract verses filled with word associations unlikely to be endorsed

by Webster’s Dictionary. The line in “Amenamy,” “plug up your wormholes and give them/to feeders and spirits be freer” is just one of the many examples of Purity Ring’s avant-garde lyricism.

While the songs share similarities—which could also be a point of criticism— the album altogether is nothing short of breathtaking.

Best listened to with a beer, comfy clothes, and preferably outside with a couple of friends, the wildfire word-of-mouth spread of Shrines has happened for good reason.

—Haley Kemp

Ever since the release of their debut album Touch Up in 2007, BC’s indie rock darlings Mother Mother have been know for their catchy rhythms and haunting harmonies. Three albums and a whirlwind global tour later, they have returned with The Sticks.

The Sticks aims for a cohesive theme, a feature absent from the group’s previous albums; both lyrically and structurally, the tracks attempt to distill the modern world.

The general arc of the album aims at the contemporary lifestyle, beseeching man to “take off your cage, and go back to the wild.” The artists’ efforts, however, are mixed.

While some songs create beautiful juxtapositions, others fall flat — relying on rhythmic sequences self-plagiarized from their previous work. The album’s lyrics are dark: songs like “Little Pistols” contrast soft violins and acoustic guitar with phrases like, “I want brimstone in my garden/I want roses set on fire.”

“Bit by Bit” is arguably one of the album’s strongest tracks. “Bit by bit I’m going to get my bricks back in the sticks”) skillfully ties in their motifs. It is one of the few nonacoustic songs that does not emerge as overbearing.

Mother Mother should, however, give more consideration to their thematic goals. Tracks are fattened with diagetic noise; the crooning children and cawing gulls do nothing except add bulk. The hypocrisy of an album that lyrically preaches natural simplicity but musically practices self-indulgent excess is difficult to miss.

Without a doubt, Mother Mother knows the formula for catchy songs. Their harmonies are strong and the band uses an assortment of instruments with noticeable adroitness. Still, this formula is not groundbreaking. While The Sticks is palatable and conceptually interesting, it offers nothing we haven’t heard before.

—Hilary Dyck

www.mcgilltribune.com

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SPORTS

McGill sports REDMEN football

T

he Redmen football team has recently become a confounding disappointment for McGill Athletics and their fans. As a heavily bankrolled team, results akin to McGill’s hockey successes should rightfully be strived for and expected. Unfortunately, this has not been the case.

Both of the last two seasons have ended without a tally in the victory

MARTLET soccer

T

he Martlet soccer team entered last season with high expectations, regarded as one of the best teams in the country. As the hosts of Nationals, they automatically qualified, and made it all the way to the CIS semifinal only to come up short in their final two matches.

REDMEN SOCCER

A

fter an impressive fall 2011 regular season, the Redmen soccer team advanced to the RSEQ final, only to fall to University of Montreal. With this result, however, they still managed to qualify for nationals, eventually ending up fifth in the country. Once the

REdmen Baseball

T

he McGill Redmen baseball team suffered from a national champions’ hangover last season, when they failed to return to the tournament. This year, however, the team appears re-energized following an offseason coaching change. Head Coach Ernie D’Alessandro stepped down from his position, ending his

previews

CONTrIBUTORS: Rebecca Babcock, Jeff Downey, Steven Lampert photos by: sam reynolds, ryan reisert

column. However, the recent showing of promise and offseason dedication by the squad leads to the belief that the overused expression “things will be better this year” might actually have substance this season.

McGill excitedly welcomes Clint Uttley to his first full season as head coach following the completion of his interim duties. His desire to increase practice drive and intensity can already be observed. Whether or not this will translate to on-field success remains a question, but the direction is undoubtedly encourag-

ing. Stepping off the sidelines and onto the field, McGill must primarily battle the mental errors and egregious turnovers that have plagued them over the past few years. This will rest primarily in the hands of the starting quarterback, whose identity remains unclear. The opening day starter, untested second year Dallon Kuprowski showed promise, whilst substitute and former CIS Rookie of the Year Jonathon Collin struggled as he battles to complete a return from injury. Regardless of who ultimately gets the consistent nod,

cool-headed leadership and reduced turnovers must become the top priorities.

The sole bright spot for the Redmen continues to rest in special teams as rookie kicker Sammy Rassy is as consistent as they come.

Unquestionably, McGill will not be a break-out threat this season. However, if solid growth as a unit and an improved mental game is witnessed, some greatly needed victories will come and help kick-start the sputtering program.

These setbacks left the squad with a hollow, fourth-place national finish. After such a disappointing result, the Martlets looked eager and more focused this summer. They played very well in early exhibition games and tournaments notably winning the annual Old Four Tournament in late August. Fourth-year midfielder Julia Bahen, likely the team’s most consistently strong player, will be called upon often to lead the squad. The finishing will

be left to emerging third-year star forward Stephanie Avery, who has already had an impressive start to her campaign. Another potential offensive threat is McGill’s freshman midfielder Kristina Pearkes, who tallied two goals and an assist in a standout performance in an exhibition match against Windsor. She should lock down a starting spot and progress as the season develops. Barring the spot filled

by Pearkes, most of the Martlets’

starting lineup returns, leaving them with an older and more experienced team. This camaraderie should translate into success. With this in mind, anything short of another CIS semifinal appearance will be viewed as a disappointment.

season had passed, Head Coach David Simon stepped down from his position, leaving ex-Redmen goalkeeper Jose Valdes at the helm. Valdes looks to steer this team back to nationals, which may not be an easy task. Many of the leaders from last year’s squad have graduated, meaning that some of the returning players must step up. For starters, new team captain and fifth-year midfielder Jeremy Hurdle will be called upon

on both ends of the pitch. Offensively, third-year forward Sebastian Munro, and exciting freshman Marc Palaci-Olgun will be relied upon as primary scorers, and should create chances frequently.

The backend is led by dual-threat Alexis Pradle, who was arguably one of the team’s best defenders last season. He will lead the group in front of sophomore goalkeeper Charles Kelly. Kelly should benefit from last year’s CIS Champion-

ship experience and Valdes, being a former Redmen goalkeeper, will only help his development. The Redmen had decent exhibition results, but the RSEQ will be even more competitive. McGill lost to every division rival except Concordia at least once last season. This must change if they are to achieve RSEQ success.

16-year tenure with the Redmen.

Leading the transition will be new bench boss Jason Starr. Starr, a former Redman himself, has been on the team’s coaching staff for the past seven seasons. He brings a new attitude to a Redmen team that looked complacent for much of last season.

Training camp has been one of the most competitive in recent memory, and Starr is giving every player his chance to fight for playing time.

On the field, McGill welcomes eight new players to the roster, most

notably, 2010 team MVP, Max Tierno, who missed the 2011 season on exchange. Aside from Tierno, look for veteran outfielders Chris Ames and Adam Gordon, as well as first baseman Casey Auerbach to lead the club throughout the year. The pitching staff is yet untested, and will likely determine how successful this Redmen edition becomes.

Looking forward, Carleton is hosting nationals this season, and thus receives an automatic berth in the tournament. This leaves only one

qualifying spot in the Northern Division up for grabs. The Redmen’s toughest challenge for the berth will likely come from Concordia—the team that ended McGill’s 2011 campaign. However, the Redmen have had months to digest last season’s disappointment, and enter looking focused and hungry to return to their championship form.

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sports briefs

Martlet Rugby

Redmen Football Redmen drop season opener to Laval

Rugby women down CIS Champs The McGill Martlet rugby team dominated their first preseason game, defeating the defending CIS champion Guelph Gryphons 89-0 on Sunday. The 89-point difference is the largest margin of victory for McGill since a 109-0 victory over Bishop’s last season. Brianna Miller led the way for the Martlets tallying 19 points in the match. Freshman Diana Foster had an impressive showing in her first game, adding 15 points on three tries. This game also proved to be a successful debut for new Head Coach John Lavery, who took over the duties in June.

The team followed up their impressive performance on Monday with another overpowering performance, crushing St. Lawrence College 69-0. The Martlets head to Ottawa on Sept. 9 for their official season opener against Carleton.

— Steven Lampert

The McGill Redmen football team dropped their 2012 opener on Sunday 33-15 against No.2-ranked, and perennial RSEQ powerhouse, the Laval Rouge et Or. Head Coach Clint Uttley wasn’t too happy with the result. “We did not play well, we did not execute in the red-zone, [and] we had 10 penalties which is too much,” he said. McGill led throughout the entire first quarter, finishing it at 9-7, thanks to three field goals by freshman kicker Boris Bede, who eventually ended up 5-5 on field goal attempts in the game.

Following the first quarter however, Laval took back control, exposing the middle of the Redmen defence and compiling 182 rushing yards on the day. Freshman wide receiver Shaquille Johnson impressed, leading McGill with 85 all-purpose yards, which included six receptions for 57 yards. Junior linebacker Alexandre Bernard was a standout on the defensive side, tallying nine tackles in the loss. The Redmen return to Molson Stadium on Sept. 7 for their home opener against Sherbrooke.

— Steven Lampert

SPORTS

Redmen & Martlet Soccer

Footy teams start preseason play

Both the Redmen and the Martlet soccer teams took to the field over Labour Day weekend in a pair of exhibition tournaments.

The Martlets found themselves in Fredericton in the UNB Fall Classic. They left the event with a 7-0 romping against the hosts, and a 1-1 tie against the PEI Panthers. The weekend was highlighted by strong play on both sides of the ball, principally by striker Stephanie Avery who slotted a hat trick against UNB. On the men’s side, Sherbrooke played host to the preseason action, and the Redmen emerged with a 1-1 record. They defeated UNB 4-0, primarily due to their strong defensive play. The 2-1 loss came at the hands of the St. FX X-Men in a thrilling, hard-fought match.

Both teams start the official campaign Sept.6 at Molson Stadium.

— Jeff Downey

stage (but inexplicably didn’t take a pentalty kick in Portugal’s semifinal match against Spain). International soccer fans now turn to qualifying for World Cup 2014 in Brazil where, if we had to wager, we’d put a couple of Euros (or maybe not ...) on Spain.

Around the

W

ater cooler

In case you were too busy looking after kids, getting coffee for your very prestigious boss, or … tanning, here’s what you missed this past summer in the world of sports: EURO 2012 — The tournament started off amid accusations of racism by European Football Championship hosts, Poland and Ukraine, and ended the same way things usu-

ally have in soccer these days: with Spain lifting a trophy. Mario Balotelli was a breakout star for runnerup Italy while Christiano Ronaldo finally performed on the international

OLYMPICS — Following the Euro Cup, the world turned its attention to London, as the Games of the XXX Olympiad welcomed athletes from 205 nations. Usain Bolt was clearly still eating his chicken nuggets as he defended both his 100 and 200-metre titles, becoming the first runner ever to accomplish the feat. Michael Phelps concluded his last Olympics in style, becoming the most decorated Olympian of all time with a total of 22 medals. Rosanngh MacLennan bounced to Canada’s only gold medal of the games in trampoline, while our women’s soccer team was unfairly bounced from the semifinal against the USA due to what many called questionable refereeing. The red and white finished with 18 medals, the same amount they earned in Beijing four years ago.

BASEBALL — The Nationals, Orioles, Pirates, Rays, A’s, and

| Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012

Martlet swimming Two Silvers for Grand’Maison in London

McGill’s own Valerie Grand’Maison took home two swimming silver medals this week at the Paralympic Games in London. Her first came on Sunday in the 50-metre freestyle. On Monday, she was looking to improve on her second place performance in Beijing 2008 in the 100-metre freestyle, but fell short—missing out on the gold by .51 seconds. Four years ago, Grand’Maison was Canada’s most decorated Paralympic swimmer, winning three gold medals, two silver, and one bronze. Just making it to London should be seen as a success for the McGill swimmer, as she dealt with a shoulder tear only a year and a half ago.

Grand’Maison is McGill’s only Paralympic athlete, joining 14 Olympians who competed earlier this summer in London. She is accompanied by Martlet swimming Head Coach Peter Carpenter, and will compete in two more events before returning back to Canada.

— Adam Sadisnky

Reds are all in playoff contention.

The Angels, Red Sox, and Phillies are not. What? A surprising summer has led to the MLB standings being turned on their heads. Former Expos fans will finally see their old team make the playoffs (sorry, we had to), but the decision to shut down ace Stephen Strasburg before the team’s first playoff appearance in 31 years was probably made by the same person who built the Olympic Stadium. The Nats’ beltway rivals in Baltimore are also experiencing a renaissance, and are currently tied with the Yankees for first place in the AL East. Elsewhere in that division, Edwin Encarnacion seems to be playing on a team by himself in Toronto and the Boston Red Sox are completely imploding… again.

HOCKEY — It looks like the NHL is heading towards another lockout. Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr better figure this out soon, or poker might once again rise to television glory. Seriously though, if there’s no Canadiens hockey keeping people busy a couple of nights a week in Montreal, Montrealers might just take to the streets...

17

SCOREBOARD (Scores since Aug. 17) REDMEN BASKETBALL Lost 80-66 vs. Northeastern (NCAA) Lost 74-59 vs. UNLV (NCAA) MARTLET BASKETBALL Lost 71-54 vs. Youngstown State REDMEN FOOTBALL Lost 23-9 @ Queen’s Lost 33-15 @ Laval REDMEN RUGBY Lost 24-0 @ Queen’s Won 19-0 vs. Dartmouth (@ Kingston, ON) MARTLET RUGBY Won 89-0 vs. Guelph REDMEN SOCCER Lost 3-2 vs. Dawson College (CEGEP) Lost 2-1 @ Toronto (4-3 on PK) Won 2-1 vs. Queen’s (@ Toronto, ON) Won 4-0 vs. UNB (@ Sherbrooke, QC) Lost 201 vs. St. FX (@ Sherbrooke, QC) MARTLET SOCCER Tied 0-0 @ Ottawa Won 7-0 vs. Windsor Won 2-1 @ Toronto (3-1 on PK) Won 2-1 vs. Western (@ Toronto, ON) Won 3-0 vs. College Ahuntsic Won 7-0 @ UNB Tied 1-1 vs. UPEI (@ Fredericton, NB)

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FC NORTH

FC SOUTH

Pittsburgh Steelers — After getting a dose of Tebow-mania, the Steelers exited the 2011 playoffs earlier than expected. However, much of the roster that helped the team finish 12-4 last season is set to return, and expectations in Steeltown are high once more.

New offensive coordinator Todd Haley promises to open up the offence and let QB Ben Roethlisberger find his group of talented pass catchers led by speedy Mike Wallace and budding star Antonio Brown. While veterans Troy Polamalu and James Harrison drive the defence, the unit is slowly being infused with youthful talent, and looks to re-emerge as one of the top groups in the league.

Baltimore Ravens — The Ravens have been Super Bowl contenders for the past couple of seasons and 2012 is no different. The defensive unit took a massive hit after it was announced that Terrell Suggs, 2011 Defensive Player of the Year, tore his ACL and will miss all of this season. While this undoubtedly leaves a huge hole in the defence, the Ravens still boast a talented group of players led by leader Ray Lewis. Meanwhile, Baltimore waits for QB Joe Flacco to take the next step, as the team will only go as far as he takes them.

Cincinnati Bengals — Although it is expected to take a couple of seasons, the Bengals’ rebuilding project is off to a fast and promising start. Led by rookie QB Andy Dalton and WR AJ Green, Cincinnati qualified for the playoffs last season— a result that no pundit saw coming. The offence should continue improving as Dalton and Green grow together. The Bengals’ defence surprised last year, proving to be a strong unit comprised of youthful talent at every level.

Cincinnati fans feel rejuvenated and hope last season’s unexpected success wasn’t an aberration.

Cleveland Browns — Mirroring the foundation of their Ohio rivals, the Browns look for a fresh start led by a new rookie quarterback and running back. Although 28 years old, Brandon Weeden steps into his first season in the NFL with high hopes and a strong arm.

He’ll be aided by former Alabama star RB Trent Richardson, who some are comparing to Adrian Peterson.

The Browns hope these two players will spark an offence that has been sputtering over the past couple of years. Though the defence is a unit in progress, the core is there with DE Jabaal Sheard, MLB D’Qwell Jackson, and CB Joe Haden. Finally, things don’t look so bleak for the Browns.

Houston Texans — The Texans are the most skilled team in the division. With a highflying offence and crippling run defence, there isn’t a lot the Texans can’t match favourably against. The only problem they may face is a worrisome trend of injuries to their star players. Andre Johnson can be an absolute monster receiver, but all of that is contingent on his ability to get on the field. The problem is he can’t seem to stay healthy. In the past two campaigns, Johnson has missed out on 12 regular season games. If the Texans continually smother offences as they are poised to do, and Johnson stays healthy, they should roll into the playoffs.

Tennessee Titans — There is some uncertainty in the Titans’ camp stemming from the pivotal quarterback and running back positions. The newly named sophomore starting quarterback Jake Locker is fairly untested, but does have the benefit of an offensive line that rarely yields sacks. This guaranteed time in the pocket should give him the ability to overcome any starting jitters that he may have. Running back Chris Johnson is also a frustrating uncertainty after last year’s disappointing campaign. Should he bounce back and show glimmers of what he is capable of, a playoff berth is not unthinkable for the Titans.

Indianapolis Colts — Unless the Colts’ horseshoe logo comes to life and starts providing their aptly named starting quarterback Andrew Luck some luck, the prospects are bleak for the Colts this season. This year will be all about maturing and refining Luck’s superstar potential, especially if Donald Brown continues to fall short of expectations carrying the ball.

Much can be said on the other side of the ball where an explosive pass rush is in place; but a reliable pass defence is not. Although the Colts shouldn’t be counted out, 2013-2014 seems more like their time.

Jacksonville Jaguars — This isn’t going to be good. A once consistent playoff contender, the Jags have experienced a speedy fall from grace. Aside from the pint sized power and prowess of Maurice Jones-Drew, there isn’t a lot to be thankful for in Jacksonville. A sloppy sophomore quarterback in Blaine Gabbert and a ubiquitous blend of mediocrity on defence buries any hope of the Jaguars putting together a .500 record this season.

season CONTrIBUTORS: Jeff Downey, Steven Lampert, Adam sadinsky, adam taras

FC EAST New England Patriots — No question exists as to whether the Pats are the division’s top dogs. Fresh off a 14-2 regular season and a run to the Super Bowl, this team is hungry to get back to the big dance and win it. The offence, as always, will be top notch, but defence will be what makes or breaks this season. Chandler Jones and Dont’a Hightower were drafted for this very purpose. They will be key to reviving what was the NFL’s last ranked defense in 2011.

Buffalo Bills — The Bills showed promise last year and the pressure is now on in Orchard Park for this team to get back to the playoffs after a lengthy hiatus. Buffalo splurged on a contract extension to QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, as well as on defensive end Mario Williams, who will be called upon to anchor the defensive line. Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller will share the running duties, but the big question will be whether Fitzpatrick has enough aerial weapons, besides standout Steve Johnson.

New York Jets — Today’s NFL requires that a championship team possess a gamechanging, starting quarterback. The Jets have two pretenders. Neither Mark Sanchez nor Tim Tebow has enough skill to lead this team to match the greatness of their tenants at the Met Life Stadium. The defensive core, highlighted by Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie is solid.

However, the Jets won’t score enough points to keep up with the cream of the crop in the AFC. Miami Dolphins — The ‘fins haven’t won a playoff game since 2000 and this year won’t be any different. Led by Joe Philbin, this is a team building towards future success which isn’t quite on the horizon. Reggie Bush, Jake Long, and Cameron Wake are some of the few household names on this squad. However, it will be up to rookie QB Ryan Tannehill who will be tasked with restoring Miami to greatness.

PREVIEW FC WEST

Denver Broncos — The Broncos finished first in the AFC west last season and upset the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the playoffs. They did that with Tim Tebow. Fast forward to this year, and they now have future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning behind the center. Combine Manning with the same strong defense from last year, and the possibilities are endless. Even though Manning missed last year, he played 12 injury-free seasons prior. Thus, there is no reason to doubt that he can’t bounce back and regain his all-pro form. Also, look for talented receivers Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker to break out. The Broncos are real contenders.

Kansas City Chiefs — The Chiefs are a very deep team. Not only do the Chiefs have burner Jamaal Charles back from an ACL tear, they’ve also added RB Peyton Hillis to create arguably the best one-two punch in the NFL. To add to the arsenal, Dexter McCluster has moved from running back to a slot receiver and should flourish in that position.

However, the biggest spotlight this season is on QB Matt Cassel. After an impressive 2010, he took a big step backwards in 2011 throwing nine interceptions and only 10 touchdowns. That being said, the Chiefs’ strong running game should open up the passing game for Cassel, who shouldn’t need to be a hero.

Oakland Raiders — It’s simple. If RB Darren McFadden can stay healthy, Oakland could be a dark horse to win the division. That’s a big ‘if’ though, since he hasn’t played a full season his whole career. If he isn’t healthy, Oakland’s chances are bleak, especially without backup RB Michael Bush who left for Chicago. QB Carson Palmer is still a question mark but should play better than last year considering he spent a full offseason getting comfortable with his role on the team.

San Diego Chargers — For the last couple of years, the Chargers have been surrounded by hype but haven’t lived up to expectations. This year, after losing WR Vincent Jackson and star RB Ryan Matthews for at least the first few games of the season, there isn’t much hype around this year’s team—for good reason. Coupled with their weak defence, fans should not expect much coming out of San Diego this year.

FC NORTH

FC SOUTH

Green Bay Packers — While Green Bay’s promising 2011 season ended on a sour note, there is no reason to believe that the Packers won’t be back as a top Super Bowl contender this year. Having finished second last in total defence last season, their unit will need improvement if they’re to reach New Orleans. The team spent their first six draft picks on the defensive side of the ball—notably OLB Nick Perry and DE Jerel Worthy, both players who can put pressure on the quarterback. Their offensive talent is undeniable and will be reliable barring major injury. Undoubtedly, Aaron Rodgers will pick apart defences with his many weapons. However, Green Bay’s fate will ultimately be determined on the other side of the ball.

New Orleans Saints — The Saints’ offseason revolved around the extensive punishments handed out as a result of the bounty scandal. Although they lose Head Coach Sean Payton for the entire year, this will not stop New Orleans from continuing their winning ways. Drew Brees is still a phenomenal quarterback, not only in his reads and accuracy, but also his ability to utilize all his options so effectively. While this may be a testament to Payton’s coaching, it is not remotely farfetched to assume that Brees—and the rest of the team—will be able to follow this path right back into the postseason and Lombardi contention. The only weakness to be found is a sub-par pass defence that is further decimated by their offseason scandal and subsequent suspensions.

Detroit Lions — 2011 may go down as the year the Detroit franchise finally turned things around. Fresh off their first winning season since 2000, the Lions—led by emerging QB Matthew Stafford and star WR Calvin Johnson—boast one of the most exciting offences in the league. However, like their Cheesehead counterparts in Wisconsin, the defence is shaky and will need to improve before Detroit becomes a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

Carolina Panthers — The NFL has become a quarterback’s league, and the Carolina Panthers have one definite talent at the position. Despite all the hype and predictions heading into last season, Cam Newton surpassed even the highest expectations and made his mark in the history books by amassing a first year record of 4051 passing yards, and an astonishing 706 rushing yards. Coupled with a dynamic running game, the offence is a juggernaut. The defence is somewhat suspect, especially on the passing end, but that shouldn’t prevent the Panthers from improving in 2012.

Chicago Bears — After a tumultuous end to last season, marked by injuries to both their starting quarterback and running back, the Bears look rejuvenated. They hope to reach the same level of success they experienced in the 2010 campaign when they reached the NFC Championship game. While the reunion of Brandon Marshall and Jay Cutler should prove lethal, the Bears’ offence will sputter if they don’t receive better offensive line play.

Between Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, and Julius Peppers, the Bears will be tough on defence. However, the secondary will need to play well against the arms of Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford if they are to contend for a division title.

Minnesota Vikings — It wasn’t too long ago that the Vikings were contending for a championship. However, Brett Favre is (thankfully) gone, and year two of the Christian Ponder era begins. Unfortunately, he won’t have his security blanket in star RB Adrian Peterson for some of the season. Other than Percy Harvin, the rest of the offence is marked by few playmakers. Jared Allen, likely the NFL’s best pass rusher, leads the Vikings’ defence, but the rest of the personnel looks bleak. Rebuilding is the name of the game in Minny this season.

Atlanta Falcons — It’s still difficult to consider the Falcons a legitimate Super Bowl threat. Over the past four years, they have consistently put on strong regular season performances, followed by disappointing postseasons. In these playoff appearances, QB Matt Ryan has been sub-par and the defence has underperformed. Until they learn to play as a unit and break through their mental blocks, Atlanta shouldn’t be seen as a postseason or even a divisional threat.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers — 2011-2012 was a disastrous campaign for the Bucs on essentially all accounts. While it isn’t hard to imagine a slightly better performance this time around, there isn’t a whole lot to be excited about in Tampa besides a potentially exciting group of draft picks. The young crop could mature and become relevant NFL players at some point, but this won’t be the year.

(suttonstylepoints.wordpress.com)

FC EAST Philadelphia Eagles — Vince Young called this a dream team going into last season, and despite being a year late, his prediction might soon come true. The Eagles are stacked with weapons on both sides of the ball that put them squarely in the chase for the Superdome in February. If Michael Vick can escape his injury prone ways and LeSean McCoy continues to excel with a shiny contract extension in hand, this team has what it takes to go all the way.

New York Giants — This team takes clutch to a whole new level. A battle-tested unit, the Giants will scare anyone in the NFC if they can return to the playoffs. The team will have to deal with the league’s toughest schedule; but if anyone can overcome that adversity, it is this group. Mario Manningham and Brandon Jacobs are gone, but Victor Cruz and Ahmad Bradshaw should be able to carry the load for New York—oh, and Eli as well.

Dallas Cowboys — Jerry Jones thinks his team can contend in the NFC this season, but we disagree. This is an aging unit that, despite possessing some up-and-coming players like Sean Lee, won’t even be able to compete with two teams within its own division.

The old mainstays Romo, Ware, Austin, and Jones remain; but considering the Cowboys have only won one playoff game since 1996, there is no reason to believe that the trend is going to change in 2012.

Washington Redskins — While Americans decide on whether or not to send a new president to Washington, the local team finally has a quarterback it can believe in. Robert Griffin III is the number one story for the Redskins and is expected to inject some energy into a lifeless franchise. Washington is still a few pieces away from being a contender and should hover around the 4-6 win mark, but brighter days may be ahead.

FC WEST San Francisco 49ers — The Niners took the league by storm last year when they came within inches of a Super Bowl birth. This year, however, they won’t be able to sneak up on teams. Their elite defensive core from last season remains intact, and that should be enough to help overcome the target on their backs. On the offensive side of the ball, the focus is on QB Alex Smith who finally put together a good season last year, but returns with a chip on his shoulder after the 49ers openly pursued Peyton Manning. One question remains: can Smith take on this challenge and improve, or will he regress and lose confidence in his game? Should he prove he deserves to be the guy in San Fran, then the 49ers should run away with the West and prove that they are serious Super Bowl contenders.

Seattle Seahawks — The Seahawks are a mediocre team on paper, yet each year they seem to find a way to win games. RB Marshawn Lynch was a beast last season and often put the team on his back. However, the Seahawks will need rookie QB Russell Wilson to perform if they want to have any shot at overtaking the 49ers in the division and earning a postseason berth.

St. Louis Rams — The Rams failed to do anything right last year, finishing with an abysmal 2-14 record. That being said, there is no reason that a healthy QB Sam Bradford can’t bounce back and live up to his draft day potential. Still, that is far from certain—especially if the Rams’ offensive line doesn’t pick up their play. Don’t expect a complete turnaround, but the Rams should be better than last year.

Arizona Cardinals — The Cardinals have an unproven quarterback, injuries at running back, a weak defense, and Larry Fitzgerald. Apart from Fitzgerald, nothing seems remotely promising. Plus, Larry surely cannot throw the ball to himself. Look for Arizona to struggle this season.

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SCHOOL photos by Alexandra Allaire, Simon Poitrimolt and Sam Reynolds