The McGill Tribune Vol. 41 Issue 10

The McGill Tribune TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 2021 | VOL. 41 | ISSUE 10

Published by the SPT, a student society of McGill University

McGILLTRIBUNE.COM | @McGILLTRIBUNE

EDITORIAL

FEATURE

SCITECH

SSMU’s private failings should be public

Coping by cat spotting

In conversation with Dr. Sarkis Meterissan

PG. 5

PGs. 8-9

PG. 7

(Ingrid Pitchen / The McGill Tribune)

The McGill Savoy Society opens their curtains again

PG. 11

Gerts Café celebrates opening with complimentary double shots of espresso Cafe temporarily closed three days after opening due to positive COVID-19 case on site Ghazal Azizi Contributor Gerts Café, the daytime operation of Gerts Campus Bar, officially opened its doors to the McGill commu-

nity on Nov. 8. The official launch comes after the cafe had to postpone its opening due to equipment shipping delays.

Tre Mansdoerfer, BEng’19, originally proposed a cafe model for Gerts during his term as Students’ So-

Restrictions for the unvaccinated are not oppressive Sepideh Afshar Opinion Editor As of Nov. 14, 76.46 per cent of Quebec’s population is fully vaccinated. Even before the first day of vaccine administration in Canada midDecember 2020, COVID-19 vaccines have been shrouded in doubt and conspiracy. Antivaccination (anti-vaxx) pro-

tests have plagued the streets of Montreal almost every weekend for a year, spurred by reasons ranging from protesting vaccine mandates to fighting the implementation of vaccine passports.

Recently, protestors worldwide have adopted a new strategy––making claims that being unvaccinated is akin to oppression experienced by ra-

cial and religious minorities.

Individuals who participate in this rhetoric must understand that their decision to remain unvaccinated, no matter the reason behind it, cannot be analogized to the experiences of those whose fundamental and unchangeable positionalities result in experiences of oppression.

PG. 6

ciety of McGill University (SSMU) president in 20182019, and continued working on the proposal with Jemark Earle, 2020-2021 SSMU president, to eventually pass the motion on Dec. 3, 2020.

PG. 3

Martlet hockey snags a narrow win over UdeM, remaining undefeated

Despite early goal by Carabins, the Martlets battled hard for a 2-1 win in shootout Sophia Gorbounov Contributor On Nov. 14, the McGill women’s hockey team (6–0) played the Université de Montréal Carabins (1–2–1) in a suspenseful game of twists, turns, and

occasional tussles. With a team composed of both rookies and veterans, the Martlets persevered into overtime despite an early goal by their opponents, ultimately emerging victorious with a 2-1 score.

PG. 15

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NEWS

news@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 2021

Demonstrators rally in solidarity with Mohawk Mothers, demanding a halt to New Vic Project

Indigenous-led investigation into possible unmarked graves of Indigenous children at the site among demands Sabrina Nelson Contributor Content warning: Violence against Indigenous children, colonialism

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ohawk Mothers (Kanien’kehá:ka kahnistensera), alongside the Milton Parc Citizens’ Committee (CCPM), led a solidarity march on Nov. 10.

Approximately 40 attendees gathered outside the gates of the Allan Memorial Institute on Pine Avenue at 4:30 p.m. to march in solidarity with the Kanien’kehá:ka community. Suspecting the presence of unmarked graves of Indigenous children at the site of the former Royal Victoria Hospital, the community is demanding that McGill launch an Indigenous-led investigation into the site before proceeding any further with the project.

In the 1950s and 60s, Dr. Donald Ewen Cameron experimented with torture techniques at the Allan Memorial Institute, a former psychiatric hospital next to the old Royal Victoria building. The torture techniques ranged from drug-induced comas to intensive electroconvulsive therapy aimed at reprogramming the brain. In an interview with The McGill Tribune, Kawinaa, a Kanien’kehá:ka kahnistensera (Mohawk Mother), speculated that Indigenous children were among the victims of Cameron’s experimentation, and that they were buried at the site.

“People who were non-natives and who were in for treatment had seen them, and would at night hear digging,” Kawinaa said.

“The public needs to understand that our children are missing and never came home.”

In an email to the Tribune, Frédérique Mazerolle, a McGill media relations officer stated that McGill seeks to work closely with Indigenous communities.

“We are committed to collaborating with governments and Indigenous community leadership to undertake the work necessary to investigate this concern,” Mazerolle wrote. “The critical conversations between Indigenous communities and McGill University will continue through every stage of the New Vic project.”

Kahentinetha, a Mohawk Mother of the Bear Clan and founder of Mohawk Nation News, gave a speech at the march denouncing the government and McGill for failing to genuinely consult Indigenous communities. She insisted that both bodies need to receive consent from Indigenous communities before further developing plans for the site.

“This place was taken from us a long time ago,” Kahentinetha explained. “It was never handed over or sold. It is our responsibility to take care of that land. Now they are trying to make the project bigger. This entity is McGill University. We don’t want an apology, we want something done about this. We want an investigation done by us because this is our jurisdiction.

We want our land and children back to us.”

Mazerolle outlined McGill’s efforts in consulting Indigenous communities on the project.

“Since January 2021, there have been several exchanges, including information sessions and roundtable discussions with Indigenous education organizations, Mohawk alumni, and Elders,” Mazerolle wrote. “Our efforts include initiatives that recognize the history and ongoing presence and contributions of Indigenous peoples on our campuses, and the creation of cultural and living spaces that welcome and support Indigenous students, faculty, staff, and community members.”

March attendee Mia LeBlanc, U3 Arts, believes that McGill’s statements acknowledging and supporting Indigenous

In her speech, Kahentinetha said that settlers had tried to get rid of Indigenous people and kill their children. What would stop them from doing it again to future generations?

(Sabrina Nelson / The McGill Tribune) communities are more performative than genuine.

“I don’t think they really support the Indigenous community,” LeBlanc said in an interview with the Tribune.

At the march, Kawinaa explained to the Tribune that McGill borrowed Indigenous trust money—money the Canadian government held, according to Kahentinetha, for the Iroquois trust fund—to finance the construction of McGill, yet this money was never given back to them.

“McGill is basically owned by the Kanien’kehá:ka people, we founded the school,” Kawinaa said. “McGill needs to acknowledge Indigenous sovereignty.”

SSMU employees’ media relations policy, president’s absence dominate Legislative Council meeting

Councillors ask about possibility of resignation or impeachment Eric Birzneck Contributor

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he Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Legislative Council gathered for their second last meeting of the semester on Nov. 11. At the outset of the meeting, SSMU vice-president (VP) Internal Affairs Sarah Paulin issued an official apology for emails she sent to The McGill Daily. In the emails, she asked the paper to stop investigating SSMU president Darshan Daryanani’s continued absence and to refrain from contacting SSMU employees.

Paulin’s prepared statement, delivered on behalf of the executives, apologized for the

McGill’s downtown campus dance studios remain closed due to the gymnasium being beyond SSMU jurisdiction.

(Jasmine Acharya / The McGill Tribune)

emails and reiterated the SSMU policy governing employees’ media interactions.

“I would like to apologize if any communications that I have made have given the impression that the SSMU is not a transparent organization,” Paulin said. “My intentions were only to ensure any inquiries were directed to the correct parties. Obviously, the SSMU Executive Committee believes that transparency is of the utmost importance when representing the student body. That being said, the SSMU is a student union, but also an employer [….] As such, the SSMU has processes in place to address the media where employees direct any public questions or requests to the Executive Committee.”

During the period that immediately followed, councillors responded to questions submitted ahead of time and questions from gallery members present. Many questions revolved around SSMU’s policies for casual staff and their implications for campus media.

SSMU VP External Sacha Delouvrier responded to a question about whether the stipulation in the Casual Staff Employee Manual that reads that “Employees are not

permitted to address the media and must direct any public question or requests to the General Manager and the President” constitutes a blanket ban on all interactions between SSMU employees and press. Delouvrier stated these media provisions exist because the employee’s main concern is fulfilling their job mandate, not being a media spokesperson.

“Unlike us, [SSMU employees] are not here representing constituents,” Delouvrier said. “As such, it is appropriate that they stay within the scope of their mandate, which is why [the policy] is set as it is right now from a human resources perspective. It’s just safer for the society, for the staff in question, as well as for everyone involved.”

When questions about Daryanani’s absence came up, Paulin reiterated that information about the matter was confidential. During the question period, a member of the gallery accused the SSMU executive team of covering up unspecified internal problems and called for Daryanani’s resignation.

Other members of the gallery also expressed concerns about the implications of the president’s leave—which has been ongoing

since at least September 23—and asked about the possibility of an impeachment or resignation.

Management Representative Nathaniel Saad questioned where the rest of the president’s salary–– which totals around $32,000 annually––would go in the event of a resignation. Delouvrier responded in lieu of the absent VP Finance.

“If no one is appointed to replace this executive […] there [is]

the option to give a bonus to the people who were appointed to take on parts of the portfolio,” Delouvrier said VP Downie also addressed the cancellation of the SSMU referendum earlier in the week, stating it was due to an error with a ballot question. Downie explained that the problem had been corrected and expressed hope that students would vote again.

MOMENT OF THE MEETING

The councillors also discussed the increase in sangria prices at Gerts, which jumped from $12 to $17. VP Downie cited the effects of the pandemic on the supply chain as part of the reason for the increase.

“The global supply chain and realities of it have changed a lot,” Downie said. “There are persistent shortages that we can’t really predict. It’s also been three years since the bar’s been open before and there is a persistent rate of inflation that is to be expected.”

SOUND BITE

“We must remember the president was elected with a majority [.…] It’s simply our role to ensure that the democratic process was respected until further decisions, further measures are taken [....]

The fact that the president has been on leave […] since that McGill Daily article came out is a coincidence of dates.”

-VP External Delouvrier on the president’s role and the timing of his leave.

news@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 2021

NEWS

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All items in SSMU Fall 2021 referendum pass after initial technical difficulties

CKUT radio station, Queer McGill, and QPIRG were among the groups on the ballot Anoushka Oke Staff Writer

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cGill students were invited to vote in the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Fall 2021 referendum between Nov. 9 to Nov. 15. Voting was originally slated to start Nov. 8, and end Nov. 12, but after technical problems and content errors on certain questions, the original ballot was cancelled and the voting period re-opened with a new ballot on Nov. 9.

The SSMU runs a referendum once per semester; the fall referendum takes place early November and the winter one, early March. This semester’s vote was mostly made up of fee referenda—questions involving the addition, removal, preservation, or increase of student fees for certain clubs. The ballot also included a constitutional amendment and a new policy proposal—The McGill Student Union Democratization Initiative (MSUDI).

MSUDI aims to make the various student unions at McGill more democratic. It proposes to do so by creating small general assemblies for the different student unions that would

For results to be considered valid, 10 per cent of the student body needs to vote either way. (Kate Addison / The McGill Tribune) facilitate a form of non-hierarchical direct democracy—including eliminating elected representatives from student unions. MSUDI also proposes that delegates be elected from the smaller assemblies to represent various student interests at the larger union meetings.

In an interview with The McGill Tribune, Bryan Buraga, U4 Arts & Science, explained that the passing of the MSUDI will provide funding for the initiative in its pursuit of democratizing student and faculty

unions on campus like the Arts Undergraduate Society and the Science Undergraduate Society.

“Our student body has spoken,” Buraga said “Things need to change in our student unions [...] We are looking forward to working with our fellow students to build solidarity between one another and put the power of student unions back into [student] hands.”

Campus radio station CKUT, Queer McGill (QM), and the McGill branch of the Quebec Public Interest

Research Group (QPIRG) all ran existence referenda. The referenda will determine whether those organizations will be able to continue operating because if the ballot question for their respective fees failed, they would no longer be able to deliver services in the same capacity.

The referendum passed increases to the Nightline Service fee, the Safety Network fee, and approved the creation of a Queer Equity Support fee and the opt-outable MUSTBUS fee—a bus service that would provide more affordable transport to major cities like Boston, Toronto, and Ottawa. The referendum also passed a constitutional amendment to add a seat to the SSMU Legislative Council for an Outaouais campus representative.

Specific fees often fund more than one student organization. For example, the SSMU Referral Services fee will go toward both Eating Disorder Resources Support Centre (EDRSC) and Queer McGill.

“QM is beyond pleased with the referendum results, both the increase of the Referral Services fee and the creation of the Queer Equity Support fee,” wrote Brooklyn Frizzle, U3 Medicine and Health Sciences and

administrative coordinator of Queer McGill. “These new and increased fees will truly go a long way in supporting an empowered Queer community at McGill.”

For organizations like CKUT on the other hand, a “no” vote would have resulted in CKUT significantly reducing their operations—and likely losing their frequency modulation license (FM).

“Our FM license is dependent on us being a campus community radio station,” said Tia Kattler, U3 Arts and engagement coordinator at CKUT in an interview with the Tribune before referendum results were published. “[Student fees] provide such a significant portion of our spending, we would likely have to cut down on staff as well, and it could very well mean the end of CKUT as it’s known.”

Emma Gurney, U2 Management and QPIRG board member, also worried that losing their funding would take away services the group provides to the McGill community.

She was relieved after having read the referendum results.

“We are responsible and accountable to a larger community,” Gurney said. “I am happy that QPIRG gets to continue existing.”

Gerts Café celebrates opening with complimentary double shots of espresso Cafe temporarily closed three days after opening due to positive COVID-19 case on site Ghazal Azizi Contributor Continued from page 1.

“A student union building should be a building where every room has some sort of utility, both during the day and at night,” Mansdoerfer said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “Gerts bar is the biggest [...] selling point of the building, [so] it should [function] starting at 10 a.m.”

U1 Arts student Ella Brown, who enjoyed a free espresso courtesy of the cafe’s launch event, was impressed with the quality of the coffee.She looks forward to having Gerts Café as an alternative to libraries for studying.

“It seems nicer to study at Gerts Café than working at McLennan or the other libraries,” Brown said. “It has an ambiance that is different from ordinary coffee shops, and the coffee was definitely better at Gerts than at the other cafes around campus that I have tried.”

Kittel Coffee, a Montreal-based specialty coffee roastery, has partnered with Gerts Café as their exclusive supplier. For Nadine Pelaez, the manager of Gerts Café and Bar, a local coffee roastery was key when choosing a supplier, coming second only to quality. Another reason Pelaez chose Kittel was because of its focus on sustainability and transparency. “[The] transparency report on their

website is a big part of the appeal,” Pelaez said in an interview with The McGill Tribune.

“The fact that they had [one] and it was public on their website, and also what was in it [...], was part of why I ended up choosing Kittel.”

Mario Bouthat, a sales representative at Kittel and barista-trainer at Gerts, also emphasized the importance of sustainability for Kittel.

“We negotiate the prices directly with the farmers, [and, with our packaging], we try to minimize the impact on the environment,” Bouthat said. “When you are at least making [the process] as best as you can, you are honoring the usage of resources [and] the

countries of origin.”

Marco Pizarro, U2 Arts, echoed Brown’s enthusiasm about having a cafe on campus, but hopes that Gerts Cafe extends its hours to past 12 p.m.

“During the winter [...] it would be better to have coffee and other hot drinks at Gerts in the afternoon,” Pizarro said. “Especially for people who don’t drink alcohol, it would be a shame not to have non-alcoholic options and [to not be able to] enjoy Gerts later in the day.”

Pelaez assured that there will eventually be some overlap in the hours Gerts’ Café and Bar are open. On Nov. 17, Gerts Café

announced it would extend its hours to open at 8 a.m. and close at 3 p.m.

“Right now, my starting line is at six baristas,” Pelaez said. “[But] slowly, as I hire more people, I can expand the [cafe’s] hours.”

On Nov. 11, SSMU announced in an email that Gerts Student Bar and Cafe would be temporarily closed on Nov. 11 and 12 due to a positive case of COVID-19. SSMU and the Gerts management team informed students that the formal contact tracing process had been initiated to alert those present at both Gerts Bar or Gerts Café on Nov. 8 of the exposure.

“We are coming for Dispatch and Humble Lion,” Gerts’s cafe manager said. (Defne Gurcay / The McGill Tribune)

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NEWS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 2021

news@mcgilltribune.com

McGill Senate and Board of Governors discuss new models of work in a world altered by COVID-19

Members also spoke about tackling the increased demand for faculty advising Isabelle Métivier Contributor

questioned how the New Models of Work Pilot project would manage workplace accommodations for individuals with disabilities. In response, Mercier noted that all of the office equipment introduced by the pilot project will be fully adjustable in terms of height, and that dedicated workspaces could still be provided for individuals with very specific needs.

Manuel Balán, associate Dean of Student Affairs for the Faculty of Arts and professor in the Department

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embers of the McGill Senate and Board of Governors (BoG) convened remotely on Nov. 11 for their joint annual meeting. Discussions centred on how the university should move forward and fulfill its mission— the advancement of learning and the creation and dissemination of knowledge—in a landscape altered by COVID-19. Senators and governors reflected on how these changes have affected McGill’s workplace setting and approach to teaching and learning.

Following presentations about new academic and administrative initiatives, staff members were placed in Zoom breakout rooms to brainstorm potential improvements to McGill’s academic program delivery and “model of work,” referring to the transition toward a hybrid work style for many university staff.

Josephine Nalbantoglu, Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, provided an overview of the interdisciplinary graduate programs McGill has developed in recent years.

Such programs include the Ph.D. in Quantitative Life Sciences (QLS) and the Ad Hoc Master’s Degree in Digital Humanities.

Nalbantoglu commented on McGill’s implementation of stackable master’s degree programs—non-thesis

The New Models of Work pilot project will seek the input of McGill community members through polls and surveys. (Elissa Dresdner / The McGill Tribune) master’s degrees achieved through the accumulation of graduate certificates or diplomas in a given discipline.

“I hope you can see that what this allows us to do is really pivot very fast [to] [...] subjects that students are interested in,” Nalbantoglu said. “And they can get the knowledge [they] want and the skills [they] need to go on to subsequent certificates and build [them] into a master’s.”

Lorraine Mercier, New Model of Work Project Office director, fielded questions from faculty and staff about the office’s pilot project, which was introduced in March 2021 to examine various models of work to determine which one is best suited for McGill’s administrative unit.

In response to the increasingly

hybrid nature of the university’s workforce, the project would implement and oversee the transition of McGill’s workspaces for both administration and faculty members from individual offices to wholly shared office-spaces, including open area workstations and dedicated areas for collaboration.

Mercier hopes that the pilot project’s model will enable McGill to create more efficient workspaces.

“It is a holistic approach,” Mercier said. “We are making changes to the physical space by proposing various space [typologies] for different cognitive focus, collaboration, learning and socialization.”

Adrienne Piggott, Associate director of Faculty Procurement,

of Political Science, spoke about how best to advise students experiencing uncertainty due to the pandemic. He suggested that flexibility—such as providing remote, in-person and group advising formats—as key to managing the increased demand for faculty advising among students.

“We should not be thinking about seeing more students in less time,” Balán said. “We should be thinking about different ways of being able to see students and advise students.”

MOMENT OF THE MEETING

Michael Fronda, Associate Dean (Academic), commented that while much of the meeting’s discussions centred on how new technologies have created increased flexibility in terms of work models and academic program delivery, it is equally important to remember why the institution adheres to certain traditional practices as well. Specifically, he invited staff to consider the value of in-person teaching, repeating the sentiment of Provost McCall-MacBain that McGill is not going to become an online university, and that in-person teaching is a core requirement for the fulfillment of the universities’ mission.

SOUND BITE

“It is super important that new models of work allow for a lot of flexibility and choice so [...] students and employees have the agency to choose a workspace that is firstly compatible with the nature of their work or study and secondly, compatible with their personal or preferred work style.”

—Paige Collins, Arts Senator, responding to the question of what McGill can learn from other sectors regarding its academic program delivery and work environment.

Tribune Explains McGill’s New Office for Mediation and Reporting The OMR oversees formal reports of discrimination, harassment, and sexual assault Lily Cason News Editor What is the Office for Mediation and Reporting (OMR)?

McGill’s OMR was created in response to a review of the university’s Policy on Harassment and Discrimination, which was approved by McGill’s Senate and Board of Governors in May 2021. The OMR oversees all formal reports of harassment, discrimination, and sexual violence at the university and aims to be a central hub for information.

How does the OMR change the process of reporting harassment, discrimination, and sexual violence at McGill from the previous process?

OMR Associate Director Sinead Hunt explained in a roundtable meeting with The McGill Tribune that the office’s goal is to be a central hub for both information and reporting. Hunt previously oversaw reports filed under the Policy on Harassment and Discrimination and Policy Against Sexual Violence in her role as Senior Equity and Inclusion Advisor. She described the OMR’s aim to make the reporting process more

accessible by centralizing information and resources regarding the two related policies.

It also strives to strengthen the university’s response to reports.

“The McGill community is very large,” Hunt said. “So the idea is to create a central site to enhance communications about where McGill university community members can go to obtain information about these policies, and where they can go to file a formal report.

[W]ith this central site we [also] hope to strengthen our capacity and resources around the resolution of formal reports.”

involved parties must consent to the process.

If all parties are on board, a trained mediator facilitates discussion and aims to guide the parties to arrive at a resolution. A formal investigation is when an investigatorassessor, either employed by the OMR or a third party, formally looks into a situation of alleged wrongdoing and writes a report. The report is sent off to the parties involved and the provost, who communicates their final decision to the parties within 15 days.

How does one make use of the OMR? Once a member of the McGill community contacts the OMR, the first step is a consultation where OMR staff help the individual decide if they would like to file a formal report.

“There is a consultation where we provide information, and we are very clear that a consultation itself is not a formal report, [....] that decision rests with the person themselves,” Hunt said. “If they do go ahead and file a report, as I said, we do an initial review. And then it can either go to a mediation or investigation process.”

If the individual chooses mediation, all

The OMR is separate from McGill’s Office for Sexual Violence Response, Support and Education (OSVRSE), which is a support service that does not take formal reports.

(Sabrina Girard-Lamas / The McGill Tribune)

What do students think about the OMR? Despite the OMR’s outreach efforts, Léonie Coke, U2 Arts, had not heard of the OMR when they spoke to The McGill Tribune.

Coke feels that even students who know about OMR might be hesitant to use it because of the university’s poor reputation and history of not properly addressing sexual misconduct. “[I have heard of] situations where students [...] have to go to school with their sexual predators, whether they’re students in their classes or teachers,” Coke said. “I think [McGill’s response is] really not sufficient and it has not been sufficient. I do not think students will be inclined to use this resource because of the way McGill has been handling sexual harassment [...] and punishing sexual offenders or predators.”

A consultation with the Office for Mediation and Reporting can be booked online at https://www.mcgill.ca/omr/bookconsultation or by emailing the office at omr@mcgill.ca.

Sexual violence support services are available through McGill’s Office for Sexual Violence Response, Support and Education (OSVRSE) and the Sexual Assault Centre of the McGill Students’ Society (SACOMSS).

opinion@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, MONTH DAY 2021

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EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Sequoia Kim editor@mcgilltribune.com Creative Director Ruobing Chen rchen@mcgilltribune.com Managing Editors Kennedy McKee-Braide kmckee-braide@mcgilltribune.com Madison Mclauchlan mmclauchlan@mcgilltribune.com Maya Abuali mabuali@mcgilltribune.com

News Editors Lily Cason, Ella Fitzhugh & Madison Edward-Wright news@mcgilltribune.com Opinion Editors Jonah Fried, Matthew Molinaro & Sepideh Afshar opinion@mcgilltribune.com Science & Technology Editors Shafaq Nami & Youssef Wahba scitech@mcgilltribune.com Student Life Editors Holly Wethey & Wendy Zhao studentlife@mcgilltribune.com Features Editor Tasmin Chu features@mcgilltribune.com Arts & Entertainment Editors Lowell Wolfe & Michelle Siegel arts@mcgilltribune.com

OPINION

EDITORIAL

SSMU’s private failings should be public The McGill Tribune Editorial Board

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n Nov. 8, The McGill Daily published an article detailing their efforts to investigate Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) president Darshan Daryanani’s ongoing absence. After reaching out to several councillors and staff as part of their investigation, Daily journalists received a hostile email from vice-president (VP) Internal Sarah Paulin, asking them to cease contacting SSMU employees because they have “no implications on campus.”

Soon after this interaction, the Daily obtained a copy of an email Paulin had sent to all casual and permanent SSMU employees, which read, “You cannot and must not speak to campus media.” At the next SSMU Legislative Council, Paulin apologized and clarified the existing policies that govern

SSMU employee media relations.

Articles 24 and 25 of the SSMU Casual Staff Employee Manual state that regular and casual staff members are responsible for maintaining confidentiality and must direct all media inquiries to the general manager and the president—both of whom have been absent from their positions this year. This vague policy puts employees at risk, leaving them with less autonomy and few channels to seek accountability.

The employee manual may be binding, but its content— specifically article 25—is unclear, and has not been strictly enforced up until now. In the past, SSMU employees, including casual staff, regularly spoke to media about the important work they were doing in their portfolios. Granted, such a policy is necessary to some extent: Some of the union’s affairs warrant confidentiality and since SSMU employees are not

elected, they do not necessarily represent the union’s views.

However, employees should have the prerogative to discuss their portfolios, which directly impact the student body.

SSMU employees may not represent the student body in the same way executives do, but their work and well-being matters. Many SSMU employees contribute to important projects in portfolios such as Black Affairs, Indigenous Affairs, and mental health. Some also work for SSMUowned businesses like Gerts Bar and Café.

Suggesting SSMU employees have no implications on campus diminishes their efforts.

The consequences of the media blanket ban are ever the more severe when it comes to workplace issues, such as sexual harassment or inappropriate behaviour. But going to the media to discuss internal issues

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is rarely an employee’s first resort. SSMU employees could find themselves in a toxic work dynamic where a supervisor— the person they are supposed to turn to report workplace harassment, for example—is their abuser. This stipulation is far too broad, especially without a whistleblower policy. Even if no problems are occurring, having such a policy in place facilitates a healthy workplace.

SSMU’s silencing of their employees’ interactions with campus media removes an important channel of accountability. The student body needs to blow the whistle on SSMU becoming an increasingly private organization. If SSMU wants to commit to transparent reform, they must amend the confidentiality policy to be more explicit in scope, and recognize that their employees’ expertise is valuable to the student body.

Sports Editors Adam Burton & Sarah Farnand sports@mcgilltribune.com Design Editors Jinny Moon & Xiaotian Wang design@mcgilltribune.com Photo Editor Kate Addison photo@mcgilltribune.com Multimedia Editors Farah Jay & Noah Vaton multimedia@mcgilltribune.com Web Developers Abby de Gala & Marwan Shiraz Khan webdev@mcgilltribune.com Copy Editor Jackie Lee copy@mcgilltribune.com Social Media Editor Taneeshaa Pradhan socialmedia@mcgilltribune.com

OFF THE BOARD Michelle Siegel Arts & Entertainment Editor

Business Manager Marilie Pilon business@mcgilltribune.com

TPS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Sequoia Kim, Reem Abdul Majid, Matthew Molinaro, Shafaq Nami, Marilie Pilon, Namrata Rana, Shreya Rastogi

STAFF Léa Bourget, Elissa Dresdner, Saumya Gogte, Bronte Grimmer, Arian Kamel, Louis Lussier-Piette, Adam Matthews-Kott, Abby McCormick, Adam Menikefs, Zoe Mineret, Juliet Morrison, Anoushka Oke, Juwel Rana, Mikaela Shadick, Corey Zhu

CONTRIBUTORS Ghazal Azizi, Avryl Bender, Eric Birzneck, Thomas Croasdale, Sophia Gorbounov, Defne Gurcay, Isabelle Métivier, Daniel Benjamin Miller, Sabrina Nelson, Namrata Rana, Ingrid Pitchen

TRIBUNE OFFICE Shatner University Centre, 3480 McTavish, Suite 110 Montreal, QC H3A 0E7 - T: 519.546.8263 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 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.

In elementary school, I spent most of my Saturdays attending Young People’s Concerts at the New York Philharmonic. My memories of those days are scattered and somewhat fleeting—I was far more enthralled by post-concert trips for hotdogs at Grey’s Papaya and Revson Fountain’s extravagant water jets than the actual performances. Many memories from those trips were even tainted with disdain because, in order to attend,

Maybe I was always playing myself my brother and I had to miss countless birthday parties.

As a kid, I always kicked my brother in the shin when he called me a “fake fan” of classical music. I tolerated the genre, but I was unwilling to sit calmly through the entirety of the concerts—listening was something I insisted on doing in my own way.

So although it would be wrong to say that I was passionate about classical music, it still became an unmistakably important aspect of my upbringing.

I started playing the violin in school in the third grade, and I kept up with it all through high school.

The struggles of learning a string instrument were not necessarily unique to me, but I had a particularly difficult time emotionally dedicating myself to the process. I hated practicing requirements with a burning passion— practicing made sense for more difficult pieces, but I resented being forced to play pieces to a numb redundancy just because of a course requirement.

In middle school, any genuine enthusiasm I had for playing the violin slowly dropped under the pressures of class. I came to associate the actual experience of playing with stress and frustration. It got so bad that I resorted to listening to music instead of working on homework during work periods—it

allowed me to start the latter at home and delay having to practice my violin.

When playing with the district high school orchestra, I once tripped and dropped my music binder and violin, nearly breaking both and thoroughly embarrassing myself in front of a very tall and very cute high school senior. Such moments of pubescent awkwardness overshadowed any other feelings I had about my instrument.

This internal struggle only got harder by the time I was playing in my high school’s orchestra. The course acted as the ultimate reprieve from the stress of my other classes, but also created additional burdens: The decreasing quality of our performances and the exasperation of my music teacher brought a new sense of anxiety and shame to the experience. I was often excited by the more contemporary arrangements we would play, but this would lead to awful feeling associations because of different butcherings of the songs in rehearsal. Most times, it felt like school orchestras and classical music were

things I survived rather than things I loved.

I have not picked up a violin since my senior year of high school. Like many other aspects of my hometown, I intended to leave them behind when I went off to university. My attempts to repress the memories, however, were not as successful as I hoped. I could not escape the stressful memories of my orchestral past, but upon reflection my feelings regarding them grew far more complex.

Hearing certain clips of music often reminds me of times when I played them in school. But thinking of them now fills me with jaded nostalgia—there’s no internal rewriting of the past, as it still does remind me of my misery. Somehow, I have come to look back on that misery fondly, and I look forward to the times that music can transport me back to a different time in my life. Maybe it is morbid, maybe it is some form of selfinflicted schadenfreude, but much like the hot dogs of my childhood, it is not going anywhere.

ERRATUM An article in the November 9, 2021 issue titled “McGill hosts Sustainable Futures Career Days” incorrectly stated that Paul Olioff was Carpentier’s mentor. In fact, he was not. The Tribune regrets this error.

6

OPINION

COMMENTARY

opinion@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, MONTH DAY 2021

Restrictions for the unvaccinated are not oppressive

Sepideh Afshar Opinion Editor Continued from page 1.

One of the most popular arguments against Quebec’s vaccine passport is that it inhibits unvaccinated people from partaking in everyday activities based solely on their decision to remain unvaccinated. This is viewed by some as oppressive––so much so that it has even been compared to living under the Soviet Union, Communist East Germany, or apartheid South Africa. Needless to say, this is not the case. These measures are in place to prioritize public safety; to protect those most vulnerable to COVID-19 as well as those unable to get vaccinated, like children under 12. The prioritization of communal health over individual, unfounded skepticism is not a marker of an oppressive state but instead integral to a fair society. It shows that the state is willing to take the necessary steps to get through this pandemic.

Above all, it is both offensive and completely ignorant to claim experiences that result from choosing to remain unvaccinated are similar to those of racialized and religious minorities. Anti-vaxxers seem to be grasping at straws in an effort to victimize themselves. It is only those who have been privileged their entire lives who would place their mistrust of science above the lives of those around them. Some anti-vaxxers have been seen sporting Stars of David, attempting to equate their experience of being unvaccinated to the oppression that Jewish people faced during the Holocaust. This behaviour is horrifying and unacceptable—if being told to get a life-saving vaccine is the most traumatic thing someone has faced, that is an extremely privileged spot to be in. If this is a method of gaining empathy from marginalized communities, it is an uninformed and ineffective one.

Claims of unfair treatment for being barred from entering restaurants also blatantly disregards the racism that is embedded in anti-vaxx movements. The first protests against vaccinations arose because inoculations were originally part of non-western cultures across China, the Middle East, and North Africa. When an enslaved African man, Onesimus, taught a minister the method, it was met with public outcry—fueled by racist tropes—that the practice must be dangerous. Now, anti-vaxx movements target minority communities who already have justified mistrust of healthcare systems in order to spread misinformation. For example, Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine organization, created a film against the COVID-19 vaccine that was aimed squarely at Black communi-

COMMENTARY

Despite the 509 new COVID-19 cases announced in Montreal on Nov. 15, restrictions continue to be eased for those who are vaccinated. (Nell-Saba-counter-protest) ties, drawing direct links between the vaccine and real healthcare atrocities, such as the eugenics movement. This pointed misinformation only exacerbates the fact that minority communities are already disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

Preying on minority communities and trying to take advantage of the systemic abuses they have faced in medical spaces is representative of the shameless nature of anti-vaxx movements. Tactics like comparisons to genocides and experiences of religious and racial oppression are a corruption of those real experiences. So while choosing to forgo the COVID-19 vaccine is a personal choice, it does not reign over public safety. Despite the controversy it may cause, public health is more important than one person’s selfish refusal to care for others.

Putting a pin in unexamined patriotism

Sepideh Afshar Opinion Editor

N

ovember 11, Remembrance Day, has a longstanding legacy of honouring veterans and their sacrifice made during wartime. Many students who grew up in North America are well acquainted with the tradition of wearing a red poppy to pay their respects both to veterans and soldiers who lost their lives during war. Remembrance day seems to be losing popularity, however: Those who forwent the flower outnumbered those who bore it, and even McGill did not make a notable effort to distribute the pin.

The Royal Canadian Legion’s refusal to budge on the original conception of the poppy is pushing more people away from this traditional act of remembrance.

It appears that the red poppy has increasingly become a symbol of patriotism that is removed from attempts at learning the lessons of war.

While John McCrae’s “In Flanders Fields” inextricably links the poppy and World War I, the poem’s meaning and use has been extended to World War II over time. The omission of armed battles pre-World War I from Remembrance Days’ scope

Polls found that this year, 14 per cent fewer people in Canada would be wearing red poppies than last year. (The Gryphon) allows Canada to paint itself as a defender of good—a dangerous and uninformed view of a country whose history is rooted in the violent massacres of Indigenous populations. Many Indigenous communities across Canada lack access to potable water, and pipelines continue to be built on stolen land, putting their livelihoods at risk. Considering Canada’s ongoing colonial legacy and the patriotism associated with Remembrance Day, some people

refuse to wear the poppy. Though soldiers should be remembered, especially women and racialized people whose contributions are overlooked, the war should not be glorified. The argument that Canadians should be thankful to these soldiers for Canada’s current political and social standing is a deeply flawed one. Remembrance Day cannot exist in a vacuum that disregards all contextual information about Canada’s colonial history.

In an effort to dispel the glorification of war, white poppies are gaining traction. The pins were made to honour veterans while taking an anti-war stance.

They also emphasize the importance of remembering the casualties on all sides of wars—who represent 90 per cent of all conflict victims—as well as people who were killed or imprisoned for refusing to fight. The white poppy is not necessarily meant to replace the original, but to offer different choices to folks who feel that the red poppy does not encompass their views.

After all, being anti-war and socially conscious is not mutually exclusive from having respect for veterans.

Fundamentally, the meaning and execution of Remembrance Day has changed with time, and the updates are not to everyone’s liking. For example, red poppies used to be made by disabled veterans through workshops hosted

by Veterans Affairs Canada, but since 1996, the production moved to a private company.

A key stakeholder in upholding the current—and flawed— cultural understanding of Remembrance Day is The Royal Canadian Legion. The Legion has a monopoly over poppy distribution as well as a trademark

on the symbol itself, no matter the colour of the poppy. The Legion’s condemnation of all other poppies other than the traditional red went so far as to call the white poppy an insult to veterans, and threatened legal action against its distributors. This rejection of alternatives wastes resources that otherwise might be alloted to support veterans themselves, and is a mistake that only further alienates Canadians from Remembrance Day. Finally, Remembrance Day 2021 has been an especially hard one to celebrate because the COVID-19 pandemic has been of great detriment to many veterans. The uncertainty of the pandemic has bred increased rates of anxiety and depression, while the systems in place for supporting them have also been compromised. Disabled veterans struggled to apply for federal support because it was difficult to see doctors, while wait times to receive this help have increased because of a backlog of claims.

Isolation is especially risky for veterans whose experiences have left many with psychological struggles such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. While symbolic shows of support can be significant, this year especially, veterans need more than that.

scitech@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 2021

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

7

In conversation with Dr. Sarkis Meterissan

MUHC surgical oncologist shaves his head in support of breast cancer awareness month, raising over $300,000 Namrata Rana Contributor

O

n average, 76 women in Canada are diagnosed with breast cancer every day. October continues to be an important month for raising awareness and funds to support research and women battling breast cancer across the country. Dr. Sarkis Meterissan, surgical oncologist and director of the MUHC Breast Clinic, is one such supporter. He completed a pledge to dye his hair pink and shave his head in honour of his patients, after raising over $300,000 for the Breast Cancer Wellness program at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC).

“We do a good job medically when treating breast cancers using chemotherapies, but the healing side is often neglected,” Meterissan said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “Money raised by this campaign will help restore a patient’s quality of life for free by providing access to sex therapists, nutritionists, and other psychological resources.”

A study on the mental health of breast cancer survivors who opted to remove cancerous breast tissue through a procedure known as a mastectomy found that these women are more likely to develop depression than women in the general population. In contrast to women with no prior cancer, breast cancer survivors are at a higher risk of anxiety, sleep problems, sexual dysfunction, fatigue, and pain. The psychosocial impact of mastectomies can also lead to low body esteem, including accepting negative social attitudes and internalizing a destructive understanding of one’s body. Not only do women face these challenges

15 Canadian women die from breast cancer each day on average. (muhcfoundation.com) post-operation, but they have to make difficult choices when it comes to treatment options, such as deciding between a mastectomy or conserving breast tissue through reconstruction. In fact, it has been reported that fewer than one in five Canadian women undergo reconstruction.

“Women have taught me to not assume that all women want breast reconstruction after surgery, others are happy with their decision [to not undergo reconstruction] and continue to celebrate their scars,” Meterissan said.

Many patients develop a close bond with their oncolo-

gists, as people diagnosed with cancer often spend several years in treatment. A cancer diagnosis, depending on the severity, can be life-altering: It triggers feelings of loss, uncertainty about the future, and a constant need for emotional support. Patients often turn to their caretakers for both medical and mental support, and oncologists often play a vital role in minimizing their patients’ distress.

“You have multiple experiences from operating, [like] the follow-up and simply getting to know the families over time,” Meterissan said. “I learn from my patients each day.

One of the biggest lessons I have learned in my career is to not [project] your values and feelings of success or defeat onto the patient.”

Meterissan explained the challenges oncologists face in cases of remission, sharing a story of one cancer patient who faced remission within a few months of a tumour removal surgery. After having operated on the patient and successfully excising the tumour, the patient’s cancer returned within a few months, resulting in his passing within the year. When gifted a beautiful photograph of a wild monarch butterfly by the patient’s wife, Meterissan realized that even though his patient’s time was short, he nevertheless made the most of those last few months: The patient attended his son’s wedding, spent time with his loved ones, and captured another summer through the lens of his camera.

“While it initially felt like a failure to me, it is important to recognize what patients value,” Meterissan said.

“For this man, it was the gift of time. Similarly, the myriad of resources we can fund with this fundraiser will give future patients the strength to rebuild their lives. ”

Science Rewind: How Quebec propelled aviation forward Exploring two of the aerospace industry’s most exciting projects

Youssef Wahba Science & Technology Editor A brief history of flight Home to Air Canada, Bombardier and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Montreal has placed itself among the world’s leading aerospace and aviation hubs. In 1856, the first aircraft ever constructed in Canada was a balloon that carried three passengers from Montreal to Pointe-Olivier, Quebec. Flown in 1903, the Wright Flyer was the world’s first successful motor-operated airplane. Since then, there has been exponential growth in inventions and innovations carried out in the aviation sector.

Encouraged by the huge success of the Wright Flyer, Canada hosted its first-ever aviation event in Pointe-Claire, Quebec—25 kilometres west of downtown Montreal. The 1910 event, which lasted one week, was a huge success and had a daily attendance of almost 20,000 visitors. Several professional aviators were present at the event, including France’s Count Jacque de Lesseps—the son of Count Ferdinand de Lesseps, the developer of the Suez Canal that connects the Mediterranean to the Red Sea.

Founded in 1928 in Longueuil, Quebec, Pratt and Whitney Canada (PWC) eventually established itself among the world’s leading aircraft engine manufacturers. A few years later in 1937, Trans-Canada Airways— now known as Air Canada—was founded. Air Canada’s current headquarters are in Montreal, and serve as Canada’s flag carrier and largest airline with over 30,000 employees as of 2019.

In 1963, Canada launched its

first artificial satellite (Alouette 1), making it the first nation other than the U.S. or the Soviet Union to ever construct its own satellite.

Alouette 1 would later on orbit the earth to study its ionosphere. The Quebec-based aerospace company Heroux Devtek provided the landing system for Apollo 11, the spaceflight that landed Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon. In 1984, aboard NASA’s Space Shuttle Challenger, Quebec-born current MP Marc

Air Canada was the first airline ever to operate the Airbus A320. (dirbble.com)

Garneau became the first Canadian astronaut to fly into space.

Recently, in 1996, the CSA was founded and is currently headquartered in Saint-Hubert, Quebec.

Challenger 3500 by Bombardier: Moving toward more eco-friendly jets Designed as a successor to the Challenger 350—the best-selling business jet among global charter operators—the Challenger 3500 is set to become one of the world’s most eco-friendly business jets in the super midsize jet class. When tested, the Challenger 3500 was able to carry out a carbon-neutral flight, becoming the first business jet in industry to do so. Carbon neutrality is achieved when the carbon dioxide emissions are balanced by the removal of the same amount of carbon dioxide via carbon offset projects.

Moreover, Challenger 3500 will be equipped with the eWAS Pilot with OptiFlight, also known as the “eco app,” which provides pilots with updated 4D weather information. This technology allows them to choose the most economical flight routes and to avoid challenging weather conditions for flight.

The OptiFlight software also aims to provide pilots with informa-

tion on how to reduce fuel usage and carbon dioxide emissions during the three main phases of flight: Climb, cruise and descent. The manufacturing of such jets are mainly powered by hydroelectricity, a form of energy that harnesses the motion of water to generate electricity, thus reducing overall carbon dioxide emissions.

CSA’s rover

lunar

exploration

A total of seven rovers were sent from the earth to survey the moon, all of which were manufactured by either the U.S., China, or the Soviet Union. However, the CSArecently announced a partnership with two Canadian companies—MDA (MacDonald, Detwiller, and Associates) and Canadensys—to send a rover to explore the moon.

The rover will enact scientific experiments and gather meaningful data and measurements that will help scientists gain a better understanding of our moon’s surface. Scientists speculate that the rover will face several hurdles to its survival on the moon, including the frigid and dark lunar nights. If Canada manages to send a rover to the moon, it would become the fourth country ever to do so.

Coping by cat spotting Feline encounters during the pandemic Jackie Lee, Copy Editor

exacerbated. My daily state-sanctioned walk was a source of catharsis (I’m outside!) but also stress (I’m outside…).

Each day, like an echo of the proverbial tiger, I traced the same six square blocks of my neighbourhood, nebulously discontent but nonetheless grateful to escape the blue glow of my laptop screen.

Amid this deluge of screen time, my first fully online semester was a study in staying afloat. Tides of academic commitment swallowed my free time, and my work day often bloated into the evening, and then night. Usually, I had to delegate my walks to the wee hours of the night in effort to focus on class and avoid people in the day.

Of course, walking in the dark brings its own flavour of anxiety—I’m no stranger to the classic image of a woman alone at s r name ha night, house keys fisted like claws. I was, us Prime, but he hobby and still am, prone to paranoia. Anything im pt O h it w s g favourite She’s siblin bby Fischer. her ing 4D chess. from a mysterious slam to a literal toaster Bo s: in ig or an m hu lly play ta en m d an ts can prompt an adrenal response out of ea is eating tr onto or T in ed tt po me. For this reason, I couldn’t wander -S alone, even though I knew logically I’d icture a circus tiger. Beholden to be fine. Two of my roommates went to the cruel whims of circumstance, bed at a reasonable hour, but the third, ensnared in a system that Josie, was a fellow night owl like me. We renders its life to nothing more than buddy-systemed our way into a routine: spectacle, it prowls the perimeter Stumble through Zoom class in the of its cramped cage with Sisyphean day, wade through the afternoon in a contempt. Here is a tortured—though depressed nap, before eventually stalking cool as hell—soul. But Jackie, you the streets in feline parody around 1 a.m.

I remember that it rained during say, you’re a university student with a our first midnight excursion, damp soil delicate emotional constitution. How blooming under the drizzle, street lamps could you possibly relate? casting the puddles into oily Enter the pandemic. orange on the concrete.

I am a nervous person Josie and I trekked out by nature, a quality that regardless. Here’s another the COVID-19 circus only fact about me: I distract easily. While the night was more peaceful than nervewracking when we were together, my mind still jumped around, electric with the day’s energy. We reached a small park that bordered an apartment complex. As the rain slowed, we used our hands to deposit snails from the gravel path into the garden, when something shifted at the clamber of our footsteps. Five cats streaked 1, 2, 3, and... pose out of the bushes, leaping !

-Spotted in montr through the garden like eal spooked antelopes before disappearing down the block.

A beat passed. I still had snails catch Although his name is Mofo BFF, in each hand. Buoyed by the bizarre he that skull collar—you know encounter—and an unhealthy dose ed in won’t hesitate to scrap. -Spott of sleep deprivation—we laughed. I eal

P

Montr

declared that since I had spotted the cats first, I was the winner.

What I had won, I didn’t know. But the concept rooted into our shared vernacular, inoculated into our speech like all good inside jokes.

We appointed the site “Cat Park,” and the act of spotting cats was given a name: Well, cat spotting.

The next day Josie and I relayed our adventure to our other roommates, and “Hey, how the competition SQUIRREL!”’s it goin’— began. One point -S in Montre potted for an indoor cat al spotted through the window. Two points for an outdoor cat on ground level; three points for one on a balcony. A staggering six points for every cat on a leash. Photographic evidence was preferred. We operated on an honour system, as with all our other roommatesanctioned processes. On a large sticky note pinned to the fridge four names were scrawled, aligned in equally spaced lanes like horses readied behind the gate of a racetrack. We jockeyed for points, the tally marks gradually congregating into inked clusters that advanced across our score paper as time galloped on.

As we navigated communal life with each other in our stamp-sized apartment, cat spotting became an outlet: An excuse to walk with friends, to delight in grainy photos around our kitchen table. Venturing outside during the day was now a novelty, since I could channel any nervous energy into a careful swivel of the head, hoping to catch a flash of fur in my peripheral vision. This was a pacifist sort of hunt in which a photo was the ultimate trophy—a fulfilling yet harmless coping mechanism during the semester’s growing pains.

Although cat spotting remained an insular practice within our household, it did lead me to connect indirectly with my neighbours, albeit through a feline proxy.

Anxiety crippled my ability to conjure extroversion on demand during those beginning months. Instead of assigning friendly faces to various houses, I mapped the alleyways by its regulars: The brown longhair lived parallel to our apartment, the grey shorthair adjacent; the tortoiseshell resided near the end of

the block on the left. Occasionally, my scars. With each feline interaction, foxes, rabbits, and coyotes, which were efforts led to real conversation. One day I allowed myself to begin to heal. more common in the remote suburban in late April, my roommate Tasmin and I Returning to Montreal in the fall, outposts my coworkers inhabited. embarked on our daily pilgrimage to visit during those first pandemic-induced another local cat, an old soul named Mofo lockdowns, cat spotting was a source of BFF. While feeding Mofo some treats respite—it sparked joy amid the roiling from my stash (I like to give back to the waves of work shifts community when I can), we were greeted and deadlines. by a knot of people gathered on the But beyond balcony over. We learned that they were their fluffy fur, major Mofo fans like Tasmin and I—one of outdoor cats them even lived in my neighbourhood in have a dark Toronto. It was the first time I had spoken u n d e r b e l l y . at length with strangers—students— D o m e s t i c a t e d outside of Zoom since February. cats are not Let me backup—I’ll contextualize native species with a tidbit of Jackie Lore. The aesthetic anywhere in the reasoning behind cat spotting was world. In fact, their definitely in line with my personal brand. introduction has I was happy to play paparazzi with the had a staggering local felines. But there was another toll on wildlife. reason, I think, why I latched onto cat According to spotting. In July 2020, a few months scientists in a prior to that inaugural, rain-soaked report from the vignette, my family made the difficult S m i t h s o n i a n decision to put down one of our cats. Conservation Biology Bella naps on her perc Her name was Raven, and she was an Institute and the Fish h af head shot!” y m r a long day of....sleepin ter o f eight-year-old rescue who had medical and Wildlife Service, y l “Read a g. n Montre -Spotted in Toronto issues that we were no longer equipped domestic cats in the -Spotted i to handle. A perennial dilemma, it had U.S. kill a median of 2.4 simmered ominously on the backburner billion birds and 12.3 b i l l i o n Although of our collective familial consciousness mammals—native ones like shrews, the spring and for years. Until the pandemic erupted, not rats—a year. Stray and house cats summer fostered and like volcanic ash, its billowing together cause disproportionate harm their own stressors consequences touched every facet to ecosystems, more so than indigenous that in many ways eclipsed of lives, including our stalemate predators, since their density is my past struggles, cat spotting was with Raven. What had been put off concentrated in urban or suburban areas. an anchor over which I could bond with indefinitely, a kind of slow-crawling And the consequences are in many cases my team during the isolating tenure of magma, scalded when it finally arrived. I irreparable: Cats have been directly remote work. Whether I was strolling was in the vet’s office alongside her as she linked to the extinction of 63 species of through the farmer’s market or cycling took her last laboured birds, mammals, and reptiles to a friend’s place, it was a reminder breaths, small paws in the wild. Though some that love is found in the most mundane entombed in gauze. see restricting cats to of things, in all life, in all its forms.

It was a traumatizing indoors as unacceptable, These days, I find myself cat spotting experience.

I’d intermediate solutions considerably less. I hustle to campus never before cried like special collars have on my bike and do most of my walking so intensely. so far proven ineffective. between lectures accompanied by sleek After losing Many environmentalists corvids and rotund squirrels. But I don’t Raven, seeing the argue that keeping cats think I will relegate cat spotting to a neighbourhood cats indoors would prevent this relic of the pandemic, a spark of novelty in passing stung. unchecked loss of global during a strange and fugacious period.

My mind projected biodiversity, but whether Students and staff have flocked back to images of Raven’s the majority of outdoor cat campus as restrictions lift, breathing final moments owners would subscribe to new life into the once-empty halls. in nauseating this shift remains to be seen. As winter approaches, we’ll see fewer succession during It’s tough to reconcile cats roaming the streets. But I know the day, with the two sides of these feline I’ll still have a community to cherish. sleep offering friends—the environmental little reprieve. I harm they cause, and the joy I n, Design Editor Design by Jinny Moo learned that I had feel seeing them. Regardless, to acknowledge these cats remained part the pain headof the fabric of my daily on. I sought out life. As the curtain closed His name is Optimus Prime, my favourite but don’t let on my second year of his co nt em po rar y na me kitties—Optimus university, I was excited sake fool yo an old soul. -Spotted in To u: he’s to bring cat spotting Prime and ronto Bobby Fischer— to the corporate world during my walk to and from work. Each during my stint in data entry over the time I passed them, I could crouch summer of 2021. The original game’s on the pavement and extend a hand paper format transposed beautifully in greeting. Patting that sun-dappled into a spreadsheet left pinned on the fur was an anchor, the twisted ball of team’s google chat room. We ended up guilt unraveling by a thread. Grieving expanding the parameters to add other a little dirty if it She’s willing to get tted in Toronto is an ephemeral state with permanent categories of small mammals such as

means attention! -S

po

10

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

scitech@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 2021

Going nuclear: The future of sustainable energy

Public debate surrounding nuclear power plagued by misconceptions Jackie Lee & Madison McLauchlan Copy Editor & Managing Editor

toward more sustainable energy sources.

Nuclear power comes with its own slew of challenges, as exemplified in accidents at the Chernobyl and Fukushima s the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Confer- facilities. The lasting impact of these disasters has painted ence (COP26) drew to a close on Nov. 13, questions nuclear power as being doomed to induce catastrophe—but about the future of climate initiatives saturated in- this ignores the larger picture. It is important to realize that ternational discourse. One thing is certain: To mitigate the the slow violence of fossil fuel emissions far outweighs the worst effects of climate change, the world must halt its use hypothetical fallout of isolated nuclear disasters. Indeed, the of fossil fuels as soon as possible. But where does nuclear fear of apocalyptic nuclear meltdowns is overblown in the power, an industry characterized by its fraught history, fit public consciousness, especially since the aforementioned into this equation? disasters were a result of human incompetence, born from Modern society and the global supply chains that sustain prioritizing profit over safety, not technological inevitability. it are inextricably linked to fossil fuels, as they provide over The crux of the nuclear power debate rests on the pub84 per cent of the world’s energy. While a cold-turkey shift lic understanding of the incongruence between the long term to renewables has been politically unfeasible, nuclear consequences of fossil fuels and the necessity power offers an alternative that could facilitate of immediate climate solutions. Concern the transition away from fosabout nuclear waste contaminating sil fuels communities is lessened when put into the context of worsening fossil fuel pollution. Does an imagined nuclear disaster outweigh the benefits of a carbon-free, consistent energy source? According to Dominic Ryan, a professor in the Department of Physics at McGill, the answer is no: The main barriers to implementing nuclear energy are social, not scientific.

“It’s not a technical or safety issue. It is a political and sociological issue,” Ryan said. “Technically, it can be done. It has been done with decades of experience under the reactors running without any problems.”

Public perceptions of radiation are riddled with misconceptions, Ryan argued. For example, many people are exposed to higher doses of radiation than they might think, through life-saving medical treatCoal ash released from power plants delivers more radiation than nuclear waste ments or diagnostics such as radiotherapy or CT shielded via water or dry cask storage. (Xiaotian Wang / The McGill Tribune)

A

scans. Ironically, the stringent restrictions placed on radiation from nuclear plants are not applied to the fossil fuel industry.

“There are more radiation emissions from a coal plant than there are allowed from a nuclear plant,” Ryan said, noting that radiation from coal is magnified tenfold when burned into fly ash, which then is dispersed into ecosystems and the atmosphere.

Inside a nuclear reactor, fuel rods containing uranium pellets are bundled together to form a reactor core. The process of nuclear fission within all of these pellets triggers a chain reaction, producing enough heat to turn the surrounding water into steam, generating electricity.

The progression in design safety of nuclear reactors is similar to that of aviation, as flying by plane is much safer than it used to be.

“Nobody is getting on a 1950s aircraft to fly around the world,” Ryan said. “They’ve all been replaced and redesigned and improved, and there’s decade’s worth of cycling through improvements and so on, to make them safer. One of the problems you have with nuclear power is that because it fell out of favor rather hard, people aren’t building new designs and trying out new designs.”

In an email to The McGill Tribune, Jean Barrette, a professor in the Department of Physics, agreed that advancements in nuclear technology have minimized the risk of human error.

“One knows today how to build safer and more stable reactors, reactors that are more forgiving in case of errors in operation,” Barrette wrote. “Reactors with reactive feedback will have a tendency to turn itself off in the case of misoperation.”

Nuclear energy is ready to go, but it requires a sea change in both public opinion and the political sphere to be implemented on a scale large enough to make a dent in carbon emissions. “[Nuclear scientists] are extremely concerned with safety because one event hurts everybody,” Ryan said. “The nuclear industry is in the same boat. They know that if a reactor goes problematic, every reactor in the world suddenly comes under scrutiny.”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

arts@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 2021

11

Capitalizing on fanbases is a win-win for artists and companies How celebrity and business collaborations profit off of fan loyalty Suzanna Graham Staff Writer

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elebrity fanbases such as BTS’s ARMY, Beyoncé’s “Beyhive,” and Taylor Swift’s “Swifties” all have one thing in common—they are incredibly loyal. From buying front-row concert tickets to investigating every detail of their artist’s social media posts, these fans follow their idol’s every move. Such devout admirers make perfect marketing targets for celebrities and corporations alike due to the profitability of celebrities’ public images.

A key tactic of this marketing strategy is the use of social media. Creators and businesses alike use collaborations, cryptic posts, and teasers to entice their fanbase, members of which take the bait. Excited fans are quick to feed on every last detail

As loyal fans circulate support for celebrities on social media, companies have taken to using artist collaborations to profit by association. (variety.com)

available on platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, creating speculative hashtag storms that serve as free marketing for the celebrity.

McDonald’s, known for capitalizing on celebrity collaborations, partnered with Grammy-nominated K-pop group BTS this past summer. Along with the group’s growing Western popularity, ARMY members are incredibly dedicated, so McDonald’s utilized the fans’ loyalty to boost sales amidst the pandemic. McDonald’s put a minimal amount of effort into the collaboration with BTS; the company grouped together already available menu items and promoted them as BTS’s “signature order.” The strategy paid off as ARMY members created a Twitter storm about McDonald’s. The fans’ general response can be exemplified in the simple and succinct tweet by BTSsuperfan @seokjinbro_: “give it to me.”

Other companies, such as Starbucks, have taken more subtle approaches to targeting fan bases with their marketing.

On Nov. 8, Starbucks mysteriously tweeted, “It’s Red season.”

Swifties, already anticipating Taylor Swift’s re-release of her Grammy-nominated album Red on Nov. 12, quickly made the connection. Thousands responded, and Twitter user @MadivsTheWorld sums up the reception with the tweet, “yo you can’t mess with a swifte like this.” Starbucks feigned innocence, saying they only meant to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season, and dodged Swift-related questions to encourage fan speculation. They finally spilled the beans; Starbucks announced the Grande Caramel Nonfat Latte (Taylor’s Version) on Twitter—presumably, Swift’s drink of choice.

Businesses and artists alike have also used collaborations to fuel feuds and, subsequently, garner economic returns. In 2018, Canadian rapper Drake used his song “Sicko Mode” to

insult both Kanye West and Adidas, the brand that West collaborated with to create his signature YEEZY shoes. In the song, Drake declares that West “lost my respect, you not a threat,” and that he prefers “checks over stripes.” The latter lyric hypes Nike’s swoosh logo, a company Drake has partnered with, while insulting Adidas’ stripes. Although the slander is weak at best, loyal fans jumped to support Drake and Nike by using the hashtag #checksoverstripes. Although dis-tracks are common in hip-hop music, bringing associated brand names into Drake and West’s rivalry makes the drama seem performative.

Similar to Drake and West, Nike and Adidas are two of the biggest names in the footwear industry, so naturally, they are drawn to opportunities that grant them access to new customers. This “sponsorship” drama, therefore, sounds like a paid publicity stunt to get Drake’s fans to purchase Nike products to ostensibly support him in the feud. This tactic obviously worked, as #checksoverstrips continues to circulate around Twitter even in 2021. While Drake’s music may not be as popular today as it was in 2018, both he and Nike are continuing to profit from social media involvement.

Overlapping celebrity fanbases with brand loyalists is a genius marketing tactic to boost profit and popularity for both parties. For artists, these PR stunts, which are solely focussed on highlighting the celebrity—and the product—bring the fanbase together over their communal love for their influencer. Although celebrities and businesses are preoccupied with profit, they also need to stay relevant. By associating themselves with popular artists, the businesses can sit back, letting the celebrities’ fans’ Twitter hashtags reach larger audiences than their solo marketing ploys. Celebrities and businesses know fanbases are loyal—so why not profit off of them?

Looking back on Leonard Cohen’s legacy

Leonard Cohen’s posthumous presence remains strong in Montreal Thomas Croasdale Contributor

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ov. 7 marked the fifth year anniversary of the passing of Leonard Cohen, a beloved singer-songwriter, poet, novelist, Montrealer, and 1955 McGill alum. Known for the depth and profundity of his work, the prestiged artist will continue to be commemorated by Montrealers, McGill students and staff, and fans around the world.

For Leonard Cohen, the Montreal community was, and would always be, a home. He kept a house just off of StLaurent Blvd, overlooking the numinous Parc du Portugal. He was frequently seen in his later years occupying a stool at the nearby Bagel Etc. Leonard Cohen was thrust into stardom in 1967 with a nervous yet enthralling performance of “Suzanne.” Later in life, powerful tracks such as “Last Year’s Man” and “Hallelujah” would forever establish his reputation as a creator whose works were thematically bold and potent. His deep, rich voice and dynamic lyricism touched the very recesses of listeners’ hearts.

But for some, it’s not the gravity of his voice or words but the grandeur of his guitar playing that satisfies the heart.

He met a Spaniard at Murray Hill Park near his childhood home in Westmount, Montreal who taught him flamenco-style guitar, as well as the simple yet elegant six chord progression that fans came to expect in Cohen’s music.

Blurring the line between poetry and song, Leonard Cohen ultimately became a cultural icon. Known as the “Godfather of Gloom” and “Pop’s Poet Laureate,” his distinctive character and artistic authenticity gave him a legacy that seemed sure to prevail. After his passing, with the inevitable emergence of critics contesting the longevity of his work, we are left to observe how his legacy continues.

“The guy seems to resonate, and five years after his death I don’t really see it changing,” said Brian Trehearne, a professor in the Department of English, in an interview with The McGill Tribune.

“Maybe there’s another cycle coming, in fact, a new generation is discovering it.”

Five years after the passing of beloved singersongwriter Leonard Cohen, we are left to look at the impact of his legacy. (montrealgazette.com)

On the other hand, criticism has been directed at the endurance of some of Cohen’s work. Canadian author Anaka Schofield, for instance, writes that Cohen’s second novel Beautiful Losers “remains a failed, fossilized encounter.”

Despite this discourse, it seems that Leonard Cohen’s spirit trudges on more powerfully than ever. In Montreal alone, two murals depict his visage. The one on Crescent St., made by artists Gene Pendon and El Mac in 2017, is a towering 22 stories high and watches over Montreal in a gaze of enclosing warmth. The other, situated on the side of the Cooper building on St-Laurent Blvd by Kevin Ledo in 2018 is slightly more humble in size, yet just as artistically impressive. As Cohen expresses in his first novel The Favourite Game (1963), his soul is preserved in Montreal: “Some say that no one ever leaves Montreal, for that city, like Canada itself, is designed to preserve the past, a past that happened somewhere else.”

“I think the vast majority of his audience is exactly where they were ten years before he died,” Trehearne said.

“They love his work, and they miss him.”

And so his relevance persists. With the COVID-19 pandemic slowly easing as vaccines are rolled out and restrictions lifted, we may find comfort in a particular verse from “Sisters of Mercy,” which Cohen wrote in a single inspired sitting: “If your life is a leaf that the seasons tear off and condemn / They will blind you with love that is graceful and green as a stem.”

“The Elephant” at Tuesday Night Cafe Theatre A musical that explores themes of power dynamics in the workplace.

Tuesday Night Cafe Theatre Nov. 18–19 & 25–26 Doors 7:40 p.m. // Show 8:00 p.m.

6$ for students // 10$ for general public

Montreal Review of Books – Fall Issue Launch

Writers provide readings and conversation at this first come, first seated event which will be live-streamed on the Montreal Review of Books’ Facebook page.

Atwater Library and Computer Centre Nov. 16, 7 p.m.

Free

Creating Liveable Futures: Black Queer Feminist Organizing, Abolition and Freedom

GRIP McGill and SSMU External Affairs-organized conference on Black, racialized, queer, and feminist antiviolence communities in Canada.

Online Nov. 22, 5 p.m.

Free

Saturday Night Comedy at the ComedyVille Comedy Club

Features five seasoned comedians, with performances in English only. Purchase tickets in advance to reserve table.

The ComedyVille, Comedy Club Montreal, 1152 Rue Metcalfe Nov. 20, 9:00 p.m.–10:30 p.m.

15$

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arts@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 2021

MAI’s new exhibit ‘Making Revolution’ dissects the anatomy of revolutions Short films Exhibit explore struggles in Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, and Iran Avryl Bender Contributor

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n Nov. 11, the vernissage for Making Revolution: Collective Histories, Desired Futures, curated

by Farah Atoui and Viviane Saglier, took place at the Montréal Arts, Interculturels (MAI). This thought-provoking and heartfelt display of short films showcases works from a selection of artists, exploring revolutions and conflicts in Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, and Iran.

Raed and Rania Rafei’s film Prologue sets the stage for Making Revolution, documenting the protest of young political activists at the American University of Beirut (AUB) just before Lebanon’s civil war in 1974. Concerned that their Arab heritage was not being recognized and opposing a 10 per cent increase in tuition, the students organized a protest that lasted 41 days until it was dispersed by police. Raed & Rania Rafei’s 49-minute documentary investigates revolutionary student mobilization, depicting the rise and driving forces of change through the perspective of young activists.

Prayer of Fear is a short video created by Mosireen, a volunteer media activist group that was initially founded to share videos about the 2011 Egyptian revolution. The film features a reading of Mahmoud Ezzat’s poem “Salat al khuf” (“The Prayer of Fear”). Ezzat’s words were inspired by the deaths of hundreds of peaceful protesters at the Rabaa massacre in 2013. Mosireen’s film reveals the severity of devastation experienced during the tragedy—an experience the group described as “truly paralyzing. The worst massacre in modern history […] committed in broad daylight, in Cairo, live on television.”

At those terrifying frontiers where the existence and disappearance of people fade into each other is a multimedia piece created by film-makers Basel Abbas & Ruanne Abou-Rahme.

Inspired by Edward Said’s After the Last Sky, the pair reconstructed Said’s words into a new script—the reworked text reflects on the conflict caused by the complexity of socially constructed nationality and citizenship in Gaza. The artists use moving pictures, written text,

and music to convey imagery of the “March of Return” in the Gaza strip.

Mohammad Shawky Hassan, a video artist and filmmaker who works in both Berlin and Cairo, created And on a Different Note, a production that combines video footage from New York and Cairo. This motion picture reveals human efforts of escapism, to find peace in the privacy of the home, despite the clamorous commotion of the outside world.

As Hassan describes, “time and place stand on parallel lines, refuting the coordinates of existence.” And on a Different Note was selected by the Museum of Modern Art in New York City to be displayed in 2016 as a component of a permanent collection.

Notes on Seeing Double

by Sanaz Sohrabi coalesces a photo of a crowd gathering to see Ayatollah Khomeini’s return to Tehran in 1979 after years of exile with a picture of Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn’s painting The Anatomy Lessons of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp from 1632.

Sobhari’s film flips through photographs of cut-out images that depict crowds of Khomeini’s supporters, which she holds in

Through the projection of short films, MAI’s newest exhibit explores the answer to the question, “what makes a revolution?”. (artere.qc.ca) front of Rembrandt’s painting. In so doing, she shifts the viewer’s attention from Khomeini to a cadaver in the Amsterdam anatomical theatre, this juxtaposition of historical images with modern ones. Centred on the Persian expression “temsaal,” meaning to describe or to shape, the exhibit moulds the original photos of

Khomeini’s return into an image of crowds welcoming the death of revolutionary ideals, or, perhaps the demise of this free state.

Making Revolutions continues until December 11, 2021, at the Montréal, Arts Interculturels (3680, rue Jeanne-Mance, suite 103 Montréal). Book in advance.

Free admission.

Astroworld tragedy renews debate on the safety of mosh pits

The Astroworld tragedy renews debate on the safety of mosh pits Louis Lussier-Piette Staff Writer

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he Travis Scott Astroworld Festival tragedy, which left 10 concertgoers dead and hundreds injured, has renewed discussions on the question of violence at music events, leaving many wondering if such a tragedy would have occurred without the influence of mosh pit culture.

Moshing involves pushing and slamming—or sometimes just vigorously dancing with—fellow concertgoers in a space near the stage called the “pit.” Emerging in the late 1980s from the American hardcore punk scene, moshing has since transcended music genres. May it be at a rock or a hip hop concert, a pit of people moving as a large sweaty mass can often be spotted against the stage.

Criticism of moshing has been around for decades. Mosh pits are often considered hazardous, both to the concertgoers who can get injured and to the concert producers who can get sued for permitting them.

In 2014, the punk-rock festival Warped Tour banned moshing from their events, with a banner that read, “You Mosh, You Crowd Surf, You Get Hurt, We Get Sued, No More Warped Tour.” After two concert deaths due to moshing—one in 1996 in Dublin and one in 2007 in Vancouver—Billy Corgan, the lead singer of American rock band The Smashing Pumpkins, outright banned moshing and any other violence at his shows.

Mosh pits can become a safe place for concert goers when rules of safety are respected by both the crowd and the performers. (parisreview.com) Many fans of moshing, however, disagree with the idea that the practice is too dangerous. For many, the experience of communally moving against a sway of fellow fans is a cathartic experience, where the adrenaline of a high-stress situation mixes with the oxytocin of close human contact.

“Mosh pits are some of the places I’ve felt the most alive,” said Montreal-born concertgoer Fanny Blanchet in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “There’s really nothing like being in a crowd of bodies moving together and against each other.”

In Montrealer Zacharie Masseau’s experience, there is a certain etiquette for

mosh pit participants that prioritizes the safety of those both in and out of the pit.

“With moshing, there are some kind of unwritten rules,” said Masseau in an interview with the Tribune. “Like if you see someone that doesn’t seem too down for it, you can help them out of the pit. And there are certain responsibilities too, that come with where you are in the pit. The people who stand in between the pit and the crowd have the moral obligation to make sure no one outside the pit gets hurt.”

For Masseau, both the audience and the performers must take on the responsibility of making sure the pit remains safe, as the

audience are the ones physically creating the flow and dynamic of the pit, and the performers have the authority to step in if they notice something wrong in their audience.

“Once, in a NOBRO concert in Montreal, someone fell down in the mosh pit and everyone stopped moving until the person was safe,” Masseau said. “The mosh pit went from raging to communal aid in a matter of seconds.”

While moshing culture can be risky for concertgoers, there are a host of other factors that can create unsafe concert environments, from a lack of safety measures and restrictions in concert venues to a lack of diligence from artists and producers. Performers who encourage violence in the audience from the security of their stage must understand the risk they are putting their fans in. At its core, the essence of moshing is not violence, but a sense of community and belonging.

Travis Scott has a history of encouraging rowdiness in his audience rather than pacifying it, and clearly failed to act in the best interest of those who attended his concert. Mosh pits, as a sort of extreme sport for concertgoers, are definitely not for everyone, and fans must always understand the physical risks of moshing before joining the pit. But when done responsibly, they can be a truly joyful experience. Rather than leading to further bans on same moshing, the rapper’s fatal failure should act as a lesson for future performers.

studentlife@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 2021

Sick day survival guide

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Holly Wethey & Wendy Zhao Student Life Editors In the COVID-19 world, it’s easy to panic the moment you let out a single cough or feel a tickle in your throat. Hyperaware as we are of cold symptoms, we are quick to notice when we have the dreaded common cold. Unfortunately, getting sick can take a toll on academics and cause a great deal of stress––and McGill’s policy on medical notes certainly doesn’t help. That being said, there are things you can do that can lessen the anxiety associated with catching a cold. Here are seven tips from The McGill Tribune on how to make it through this flu season.

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Tell your loved ones Having to take care of oneself can be difficult, especially for those new to living away from home. When your body is weakened and your throat strained, it can be an especially arduous task. Even if your loved ones won’t be able to heal your sickness, or are far

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and productive when you eventually do sit down to work.

Try a cold remedy The supposed remedies for colds are many, ranging from Vitamin C to saline sprays. Although it can be tempting to try a bunch of at-home remedies, make sure that those you choose are based on scientific evidence. Proven methods include staying hydrated, gargling salt and water to assuage a sore throat, and taking acetaminophen if experiencing pain. That being said, a warm bowl of chicken soup, though not a scientifically proven remedy, is certainly soothing when you’re feeling under the weather.

How to soothe the seasonal sniffles

Get tested for COVID-19 If you’re experiencing fever, cough, tiredness, or a loss of taste or smell––all common COVID-19 symptoms––it’s best to get yourself checked at your nearest testing clinic. It’s smart to apply for short-term academic accommodations through Minerva because you’ll likely have to miss class in order to self-isolate. Try asking a friend in your classes for missed lecture notes or reaching out to the professor.

STUDENT LIFE

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Cope with restlessness If you’re feeling restless, try doing small, non-exerting tasks in your home. Move your body to the rhythms of a guided yoga video, organize your closet, or declutter your working space. Create a soothing environment.

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from you, text messages or Facetime calls can remedy something arguably just as important—your mood. Added tip: It never hurts to ask your friends if they can leave some soup at your door.

Call your doctor if necessary If your cold symptoms last longer than two weeks, worsen, or you begin to experience high fever, intense chest pain, or shortness of breath, it is a good idea to contact your doctor or the Wellness Hub. This may seem like overkill, but it’s important to check in with a medical professional to make sure that you are not developing an infection.

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Try a cup of hot tea with honey to assuage an itchy throat and endless coughing. (nytimes.com)

Sleep, and don’t feel guilty about it Unfortunately, the onset of flu season collides with the waves of midterms and finals. Though it may feel tempting to continue to be productive even when you’re sick, rest is always more important— and conducive to a faster recovery. Peel your eyes away from that essay or textbook, turn off your alarms, and hibernate under your heaviest blanket for as long as needed. You will feel more energized

Give yourself a break It’s easy to succumb to the guilt associated with a lack of productivity, but if there is ever a time to be unproductive, it’s when you’re feeling sick. Take a break, catch up on some of your favourite series, or read a book you’ve been meaning to read. Though it might not feel that way, resting is one of the most productive things you can do for yourself when you’re

The McGill Savoy Society opens their curtains again

The student theatre troupe prepares for next in-person production, ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ Holly Wethey & Wendy Zhao Student Life Editors

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t’s hard to imagine staging a theatre production––something so full of life and so reliant on personal connections––over livestream and video recordings. However, this is precisely what The McGill Savoy Society, a Gilbert and Sullivan-focussed theatre troupe at McGill, did last year.

The McGill Savoy society specializes in putting on the productions of the Victorianera theatrical duo Gilbert and Sullivan.

Savoy’s shows amalgamate opera with the modern musical, a fast-paced and comedic performance that evokes more humour than the archetypal tragic narrative associated with opera.

The group was fortunate to put on their production of The Gondoliers in 2019, before the pandemic. With theatre venues left empty in 2020, however, they recorded an online show, H.M.S. Pinafore, which is available on YouTube. Alice Wu, U3 Arts and vicepresident of the Savoy Society, described how losing the human aspect of theatre changed the intimate team dynamics essential to their

creative work.

“We went in knowing that we might go online, which is difficult because a huge part of the group is cast bonding, making friends, and building a family together,” Wu said.

“We dance together, we laugh together [....]

It’s hard to replicate that through a flat 2-D screen.”

On stage, the months of work by each actor as well as the creative team come together naturally in a single night of suspense and spontaneity. Online, the process loses that element of unity: Each atomized video performance is stitched together on the screen.

The Savoy’s online productions have their own charms, with actors each performing to the camera, speaking intimately to the viewer. However, Daniel Benjamin Miller, producer at the Savoy Society, admits that the unique creative process and audience experience of live theatre was impossible to reproduce virtually.

“I don’t think we replicated [in-person performance],” Miller wrote to the Tribune.

“We couldn’t have. What we produced was a different product [.…] When you’re on

stage doing it live, there’s something there, both as an actor and as a spectator. When you’re standing at home by yourself in your room, it’s very different. It’s just an entirely different animal.”

Despite these challenges, Wu is grateful for the virtual bonding opportunities Zoom allowed for.

“We had a Zoom party that lasted until 4 a.m.,” Wu said. “It was a special thing. And we were really grateful to have that last year, but obviously it wasn’t the same.”

This year, as the group transitions back to in-person events, the excitement of the cast to be in the same room as one another is palpable.

“There’s something really lovely about being in a space together,” Wu said. “That embodied feeling of being your character, [being able] to move around and dance to sing out [.…] To have that kind of connection [is what] theatre is all about.”

Working together in the same room has not only brought the Savoy Society closer together as a club, it has also allowed for live improvisation during rehearsals—a part Miller believes is a crucial element of their

creative process.

“Savoy is as much a social club as a theatre troupe,” Miller wrote. “But you also see that seep into the performance. A lot of gags make their way into performances from rehearsal.”

Importantly, the Savoy is able to offer students the hands-on experience of theatre production. The ability to connect with new and old community members through this shared project sustains their presence at McGill.

“Especially considering the difficulties all of our groups have been facing right now, I’d really like to see [the Students’ Society of McGil University] step up to back the performing arts,” Miller wrote. “We were all really heavily impacted by the pandemic and, for a lot of people, getting to perform at university is a unique opportunity.”

The Savoy Society’s next production, “The Pirates of Penzance,” is currently in the works. Those interested in joining the creative team or crew can send an email to producer@ mcgillsavoy.ca. To apply to join the orchestra, email ian.plansker@mail.mcgill.ca.

“The Pirates of Penzance” is a comic opera that tells the tale of a young man who becomes indentured to a band of pirates, falling in love along the way. (Ingrid Pitchen / The McGill Tribune)

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STUDENT LIFE

studentlife@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 2021

Fated fortunes and falterings: Mid-term horoscopes

What does mid-term season have in store for you?

Holly Wethey& Wendy Zhao Student Life Editors

each $50, you will ace all of your finals. Our venmo: Ya$$and$lay.

Aries

Virgo

You will soon have a sighting of an iconic figure at McGill, such as Suzanne Fortier or Chris Buddle. Do not take this lightly: This is a sign.

Don’t go to office hours in-person this week.

It may be tempting, but we can assure you that it will be most humiliating. (Hint: It involves spilling your Dispatch cappuccino all over your professor’s new Burberry jacket.)

Taurus

Libra

Beware of campus seagulls. The stars are revealing that they feel particularly aggressive this week. Their next target may just as well be you and your Redpath Cafe croissant.

Cancer Something tells me you haven’t been studying as much as you should this semester. It may be time to reflect on your academic habits.

If you get your work done instead of always putting it aside, you’ll be as free as Britney.

Leo We have a strong conviction that if you pay us

Will the stars align for you this mid-term season?

Trust in The McGill Tribune’s astrological predictions. (Winnie Lee / The McGill Tribune)

Aquarius

Who says that love and academics can’t mix? For the rest of the month, stake out a McLennan crush. It’s the only thing that’ll keep you returning to our favourite brutalist dungeon.

Sagittarius

Pisces

Dear Sagittarius, it’s time. The day has come to power through that bank of lectures you’ve been ignoring. To make the best of an unfortunate necessity, use the viewing experience as an opportunity to transcend your earthly limitsy: Play the recordings at 3x speed, turn off all the lights, set a few candles aflame, and become one with your professor’s voice.

A good cry never hurts a Pisces. Watch your favourite tear-jerker movie this week and indulge in a few solid bouts of sobbing.

We’ve already drafted the accompanying email for you: Dear Professor, an unforeseeable and unavoidable tragedy has unfortunately arisen and which demands my time and attention.

Scorpio

Watch out, love is headed your way! With all your assets, you’re as hot as hot dog guy, and people are starting to take notice. But will you let this distract you from your assignments and exams? Your move, Gemini.

This is your sign to express an unhinged thought in your conference. Shut that selfconscious inner voice up! Contrary to what its jabberings might caution, your ideas— that of a wide-eyed undergraduate—are pure brilliance. Maybe even use that intimate group setting to release some unresolved emotions.

Be bold, Aquarius. Try something new this week, and you may just realize that a fruitful but untravelled path was right underneath your nose this whole time. Bananas, apples, grapes—take your pick! Trust us, your body needs a break from frozen instant meals. Or: Follow it, and you may just find yourself at your local grocery store, buying a muchneeded dose of fruits. Bananas, apples, grapes—take your pick! Trust us, your body needs a break from frozen instant meals. Or: Follow it, and you may just find yourself at your local grocery store, buying a muchneeded dose of fruits.

We know you have a lot of work looming over you right now, but as a wise guru once advised, “Don’t be sad, you’re so sexy.”

Seriously! Look in the mirror, then walk forth into that exam room with your head held high.

Gemini

Capricorn

Demystifying professor office hours

Taking the fear out of chatting with your professor Sabrina Nelson Contributor

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ttending office hours can be daunting, especially if you are a first-year student. Not knowing what to expect or what to ask, students are often intimidated by the idea of talking to a professor on their own.

Olivier Bergeron-Boutin, a political Science course lecturer, remembers feeling intimidated by professors when he was a student at McGill.

“Professors seemed from another world,” Bergeron-Boutin said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “They were so knowledgeable that they seemed unapproachable. I felt out of place.”

Despite their seemingly intimidating nature, office hours exist to allow students to meet with the professors and talk about any doubts or concerns that they may have regarding the course material, and are there for students to use to their advantage.

Derek Nystrom, a professor in the English department,

recognizes the fear of appearing unknowledgeable to a professor even in his daughter, who is in CEGEP. “She said that she was scared to talk to a professor about managing the material for fear of getting it wrong and feeling stupid,” Nystrom said. “I have encouraged her to attend office hours since it is a great way to get to know professors and for them to get to know you.”

These weekly opportunities to meet with professors provide a space for students to develop and deepen their ideas. Athena Paramithiotis, U2 Arts, has made attending office hours a part of her routine.

“My advice is to go to office hours as soon as you have questions about the class content.

I find them to be really helpful,” Paramithiotis explained. “You can talk about the course content, clarify some things, or discuss it in greater depth. You can also ask for advice with an assignment or to go over your past tests and look over the mistakes.”

Most students might assume that office hours are limited to

discussing material related to the course. Yet that is not the case.

Conversations can range from exploring an idea mentioned during the lectures more deeply, to the professor’s research projects, to a half-formed thought e that may not make sense in your head. Both Professor Nystrom and Bergeron-Boutin said that some of the best conversations with students have been improvised.

Besides enabling students to better understand course material, attending office hours allows students to get to know professors on an individual basis. In classes with hundreds of people, it can be difficult to stand out—especially when many courses are still conducted online.

“This ends up being important later if a student decides to ask for a letter of recommendation,” Nystrom said. “It is easier for a professor to remember you if you attended office hours than if you just sat with 200 other students in a class taking notes.”

Since students lead the conversation, it’s helpful to prepare topics of discussion or questions. For those who are

Preparing a set of questions and conversation topics before meeting in office hours can help take the pressure off. (moreismuchmore.com)

still wary of entering into that one-on-one meeting, Nystrom advises students to send an email in advance describing the specific topic they wish to discuss. “[Emailing in advance] allows the professor to have an idea of what you will bring up and thus have the conversation flow,” Nystrom said.

At the end of the day, professors are just people who are there to help and guide you through your studies—they are not going to scrutinize your

misconceptions and think less of you because you don’t remember the complexities of a political theory or haven’t mastered organic chemistry. No professor expects you to come into office hours with a solid knowledge of the material covered in lectures–– that’s why there are office hours.

The purpose of your time as an undergrad is to learn and to make mistakes. So leave your premonitions at home and walk into your professor’s office hours with your head held high.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 2021

sports@mcgilltribune.com

SPORTS

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From the gym to the studio: Athletes who gave music a go A list of hits of misses from athletes who tried breaking into the music industry Zoe Mineret, Adam Burton & Madison McLauchlan Contributor, Sports Editor & Managing Editor

W

hether it be a washed-up child actor or a TikTok star on the come-up, many celebrities try to break into the music industry at some point in their career. Given the historical connection between music and the world of sports, it is unsurprising that several star athletes are also taking their talents to the studio. The following are the Tribune’s picks for the best and worst athletes-turned-musicians.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson on Tech N9ne’s Faceoff As the highest-paid male actor for three years running, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has ascended far beyond his relatively humble roots in WWE wrestling. While his talents on the big screen are undeniable, his recent foray into the music industry on Tech N9ne’s “Face Off” has some raising their eyebrows, and many others rejoicing on TikTok. His feature in “You’re Welcome” from Moana was heartfelt and catchy, but the Rock’s most recent verse is so over the top in its embodiment of “hustle culture” that it’s been satirized en masse. While this video says a lot about Johnson as a person and businessman, the most obvious takeaway is his position as the most marketable man on the planet. His blatant shill of “Mana” or Teramana—his own tequila brand—is just a sign of things to come. With talk of a 2024 presidential campaign, it’s hard to imagine the new heights Johnson could achieve. In the meantime, we’ll stay hungry, waiting to devour more of Johnson’s music.

Caroline Wozniacki — Bestie, why?

In 2012, the Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki was just coming off the peak of her professional career, having been seeded number one in the world for the majority of 2010 and 2011. This was also the year she recorded and released “Oxygen”, a song for a charity effort that can only be described as an assault on the ears. The video, which I implore readers to watch, features a stock-still Wozniacki lip syncing in a studio, an incomprehensible romantic plotline, and of course, tons of tennis balls—all delivered in eyesearing 240-pixel quality. The song makes a swing at Britney, but lands on robotic.

(If it weren’t already bad enough, the bridge gives us the cringeworthy line, “Boy, you’re my matchpoint”.) Courtside, Wozniacki went on to participate in 55 finals, winning 30 singles titles in the process. She will certainly be remembered for her fantastic tennis-playing, and luckily, not for her foray into music.

Guy Lafleur’s disco career The beloved Canadiens hockey player is acclaimed as being the Habs’

top scorer of all time with 518 goals and 728 assists, and for being the first player in NHL history to score 50 goals in six consecutive seasons. He is, however, less known for his 1970s disco album, released as an LP with selections in both English and French to please his loyal Quebecois fans. The record was aptly named Lafleur! and was sold along with an instructional booklet that detailed hockey basics, like how to skate, score, and check. Every song, English or French, relates to the game of hockey in some way, and is a certified disco banger. Though he never followed this album up, Lafleur is one of the few entries on this list that excelled both on the rink and in the studio. And with restrictions on dancing in clubs and bars easing this week in Quebec, there has never been a better time to harken back to the good old days, when the disco was hot and the Canadiens were actually good.

Tech N9ne’s “Face Off ”, featuring the Rock, peaked at #4 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. (sportskeeda.comm)

Yannick Noah, French superstar Yannick Noah is famous throughout France for his incredible tennis career, winning at Roland Garros in 1983 and becoming the French tennis captain in 1991, which led him to win the Davis Cup in 1996 and 1997. However, the tennis player is just as well known for his successful music career. Unlike the others on this list, his music is nationally appreciated for its positive and uplifting messages: His 2006 hit single “Aux arbres citoyens” is about environmentalism, and some of his music royalties go towards related charities such as “Les enfants de la terre” or “Fête le mur”. His 11 albums are a reflection of his French and Cameroonian heritage, which he says has inspired his music. Noah is one of the few artists who has successfully managed to transition from a sports career to a music career, and the Tribune recommends “Destination Ailleurs” to anyone looking for a fun, catchy song to practice their French.

Tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, pictured with husband David Lee, won the Australian Open in 2018. (USA Today)

Guy Lafleur released his first and only full-length LP, Lafleur!, in 1979. (Puck Junk)

Kobe Bryant with K.O.B.E Just like his teammate Shaquille O’Neal—albeit with less success—the Lakers star gave rap a try during his career, signing a record deal with Sony in 1999. Before making his debut as a solo artist, Bryant was featured on a variety of singles, and even collaborated with Destiny’s Child on their hit song “Say My Name”. However, Kobe Bryant’s debut album never saw the light of day after the release of his first single “K.O.B.E”, featuring model Tyra Banks. The song sounds exactly like what one would imagine a Tyra Banks feature to be. She sings the chorus, chanting about how much she loves Bryant: “K-O-B-E / I L-OV-E you.” Bryant raps to a funky beat that nonetheless does not match the overall tone of the song. For Bryant’s fans, however, the song is full of nostalgia: During the filming of the music video, Kobe Bryant met his future wife, Vanessa Bryant. The song encapsulates the spirit and drive of early 2000s Kobe, who managed to capture the hearts of millions of fans all over the world.

Yannick Noah is the last French man to win a Grand Slam, in 1983. (CNN.com)

Kobe Bryant was the first NBA player to remain with the same team for 20 seasons. (LA Times)

16

SPORTS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16 2021

sports@mcgilltribune.com

McGill men’s hockey outplayed in loss to UQTR Redbirds struggled as the Patriotes dominated from puck drop Adam Menikefs Staff Writer The McGill men’s hockey team (1–⁠3) continued their OUA season on Nov. 14 against the Université de Québec à Trois-Rivières (3–⁠1), dropping a 4-1 affair.

The UQTR Patriotes entered McConnell Arena on a two-game win streak, and continued their hot start to the season on Saturday night against the McGill Redbirds.

McGill was able to seize momentum early, drawing a slashing penalty on UQTR forward Vincent Milot-Ouellet just a few minutes into the first frame. However, the powerplay unit was unable to convert the timely opportunity. Unfortunately, this has been a recurring pattern for the Redbirds early in the season, as McGill has only scored on one out of 15 powerplays this year, ranking close to last in the OUA. Just minutes after the unsuccessful power play, McGill took a penalty of their own. The Redbirds’ penalty kill unit held strong again, stopping the UQTR man advantage.

McGill’s unit is the best in the OUA currently, having successfully shut out 18 of the last 19 opponent power plays.

Despite this, the Patriotes would begin the scoring late in the first period, as UQTR forward Simon Lafrance buried a shot past Redbird netminder Emanuel Vella to take a 1-0 lead.

This late-period momentum bolstered the Patriotes going into the

second period, as just five minutes into the frame, UQTR defenceman Justin Bergeron capitalized on a McGill turnover, scoring a tap-in and doubling the Patriotes’ lead.

Defenceman Jacob Golden, a rookie from Toronto who most recently played for the OHL’s London Knights, believed the team played well during the crucial few minutes before the two UQTR goals but was unable to convert chances compared to UQTR. “They got a good break on the first goal as we had a bit of breakdown that they capitalized on,” Golden said.

“They are a good team so you don’t want to be giving them a lead. Even when we were down 2-0 we had sustained pressure in their zone, but we could just not find the back of the net.”

Late in the period, McGill had an opportunity to cut the lead in half following a UQTR penalty. On the ensuing power play, the Redbirds created multiple scoring chances, notably a shot from the high slot that looked like it went in, but did not cross the goalline according to the referee.

Despite not scoring on the man advantage, the momentum seemed to have finally swung in the home team’s favour. Any comeback attempt was quickly squashed by a Redbird penalty with just five seconds left in the second, sending UQTR to the power play again to start the third period.

Although the final frame did not present a miraculous comeback from the Redbirds, the home crowd

MOMENT OF THE GAME First-year defenceman Gabriel Villeneuve blocked two shots on a McGill penalty kill to keep the Redbirds in the game.

QUOTABLE

McGill rookie, Eric Uba scored in the final minutes of the game after the Redbirds pulled their goalie to give them the man advantag. (McGill Athletics) had something to cheer for. With six minutes left and UQTR up 3-0, McGill rookie Eric Uba scored amongst a scrum in front of the net, putting the lone McGill goal of the night on the board.

The Redbirds started the season strong with a 3-2 win against Concordia, but have dropped their last three contests to OUA opponents Ottawa, Carleton, and UQTR. The team has two important home-andaway matchups against Concordia and Ottawa at the end of November.

Looking ahead to the upcoming stretch, Golden highlighted the group’s perseverance and the return of

some key players, including Redbirds captain Samuel Tremblay.

“The next few games are really important,” Golden said. “We are definitely looking to get back in the win column next weekend. I think if we maintain our compete level and clean up some small details of our game, we will have success.

Getting back some key players from injury, such as our captain, Sam, will definitely help.”

McGill hosts rivals Concordia this Friday, Nov. 19, meeting for the first time since a thrilling shootout finish at Concordia in the OUA season opener.

“The last few games we have been a little snake bitten. I think despite the result, our team will use the positive aspects of the performance to build off for the upcoming weekend” Second-year defenceman Jacob Golden

STAT CORNER The Redbirds killed all four UQTR power plays, increasing their OUA leading penalty kill efficiency to 94.7 per cent.

Martlet hockey snags a narrow win over UdeM, remaining undefeated Despite early goal by Carabins, the Martlets battled hard for a 2-1 win in shootout Sophia Gorbounov Contributor

what else we’re capable of.”

Desjardins has high hopes for the season, noting how excited she is to see how the team will develop.

“Obviously, it is only the start of the season and we have a long way to go,” Desjardins said. “But so far, we are playing well. The girls are eager to learn, the energy is high, and that is what we need right now.”

The Martlets play their next game on Nov. 19 against the Concordia Stingers.

Continued from page 1.

The game began with a rush of adrenaline. Within the first 15 seconds, the Martlets narrowly missed a goal, and instead turned the puck over to the Carabins, who scored a few seconds later.

Throughout the first half of the game, the Martlets were strong on defence, successfully blocking nearly all shots on goal. However, they struggled to move the puck past the Carabin’s impenetrable defence and talented goalie, Aube Racine. The Carabins exercised more control over their passes, while the Martlets frequently lost possession.

Despite a slow start, the Martlets came into their own in the third period. Fifth-year team captain Jade Downie-Landry said she noticed the same shift.

“I think we did a really good job at pushing the pace, especially in the third period,” Downie-Landry wrote to //The McGill Tribune//.

“We were down by a goal but we simplified the game and got pucks to the net.”

The team’s strategy paid off. Halfway through the third period, Downie-Landry evened the score during a power play, with assists from forwards Christiana Colizza and Stephanie Desjardins.

Stakes were high in the final period, with the score at 1-1. Both teams saw newfound levels of assertion and aggression, and while overtime was almost certain, Martlets and Carabins alike were gunning for a last-second miracle goal. The Carabins’ offence was strong, but the Martlets’ defence was stronger, and they effectively kept their opponents at bay.

Despite two very close attempts on goal by the Carabins in overtime, the score remained tied and the teams went into a shootout

With this overtime win, the women’s hockey team continues their eight-game win streak.(McGill Athletics) after 20 minutes.

As the shootout began, you could hear a pin drop: Every fan was holding their breath. The first round saw misses for both teams, as did the second round. Finally, Downie-Landry buried her second goal for the team, clinching the win with a 2-1 finish.

After an extended break due to the pandemic, the women’s hockey team now has an exceptional roster with many first-year students. Despite their rookie status, every player on the team is learning and advancing quickly.

Third-year forward Makenzie McCallum was quick to emphasize that she would not trade her teammates for anyone else.

“I am proud of how far we have come this season,” said McCallum. “There are a lot of first-year players, [so] we had a lot of growing to do. We’re a young team with a lot of new players but our progress as a team has been amazing to watch and I can’t wait to see

MOMENT OF THE GAME

textAfter a two-period dry spell for the Martlets, Downie-Landry scored her first goal of the game, sending the team and crowd into an excited frenzy.

QUOTABLE

“I’m looking forward to each and every game I get to play with these girls. We have a great group and it makes coming to the rink the best part of my day.” - Third-year forward Makenzie McCallum

STAT CORNER

The Martlets have won their last three games against the Carabins and have only lost one of their last 10 games against Montreal.