The McGill Tribune Vol. 41 Issue 12 by The Tribune

The McGill Tribune TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 2021 | VOL. 41 | ISSUE 12

Published by the SPT, a student society of McGill University

McGILLTRIBUNE.COM | @McGILLTRIBUNE

EDITORIAL

FEATURE

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Valuing equality over equity stunts science

No, I will not curb my enthusiasm

Cloudberry 101: The ecology of the urban squirrel

PG. 5

PGs. 8-9

PG. 14

(Anoushka Oke / The McGill Tribune)

Montrealers, McGill students march in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en land defenders

PG. 2

SSMU Legislative Council approves motion calling for resignation of President Daryanani All executives chose to abstain from vote, majority of representatives voted in favour Juliet Morrison Staff Writer The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Legislative Council convened on Nov. 25 for their last meeting of Fall 2021. During the meeting, councillors approved a

motion to urge SSMU President Darshan Daryanani to submit a letter of resignation within 48 hours of the motion being ratified by the Board of Directors (BoD). The motion, brought forth by management representative Nathaniel Saad, pushed for Daryanani to be held accountable for failing to fulfill his presidential responsibili-

ties as chief officer and spokesperson of the Society. While presenting the motion, Saad cited the president’s absence from Legislative Council sessions and Executive Committee meetings—which Daryanani is required to attend as president—since the start of the term. PG. 4

Lube: What’s good and what’s just goo?

Martlet Volleyball ends 2021 on a high note, beating Laval 3-2

From water-based jelly, to silicone, to oils, the world of personal lubricant is vast

The McGill women’s team have won four of their last five matches

Margaret Askey Contributor

Ali Jaara Contributor

Consumerism is a curse! There’s nothing like choice paralysis, a phenomenon exemplified by the feeling of

standing in the sexual health aisle of Pharmaprix and staring at the vast lube section: Water-based, siliconebased, massage oils, and more. Here, The McGill Tribune breaks

down which ones are condom-compatible, safe for use with silicone sex toys, or best for stimulating sensation, regardless of your anatomy. PG. 7

The McGill Martlets (7–3) faced the Laval Rouge et Or (6–4) in their second meeting of the season on Nov. 28. With persistence and pace,

the Martlets emerged victorious. Winning three sets to two, the result placed them third in the RSEQ standings, now two points ahead of Laval. During their first meeting of the season on Oct. 29,

Laval won three sets to one. Charlene Robitaille, a fourthyear nutritional science student and middle blocker for the team, remarked that targeted practice has allowed the team to improve since then. PG. 16

NEWS

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 2021

Montrealers, McGill students march in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en land defenders

Students protest Coastal GasLink Pipeline construction and RCMP’s arrests of land defenders Anoushka Oke Staff Writer

he Montreal chapter of the activist group Convergence des luttes anticapitalistes (CLAC) hosted a protest in support of Indigenous sovereignty on Nov. 27, marching in front of and around the Montreal office of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). McGill students and Divest McGill members participated in the demonstration alongside other environmental, Indigenous, and other activist groups. The primary focus of the protest was a recent escalation of the construction of TransCanada Energy’s Coastal GasLink (CGL) pipeline’s through the unceded territory of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation in British Columbia, which has been ongoing since 2019. The project has garnered much criticism, as it began without the proper consent of Wet’suwet’en, and police have been quick to use force to suppress dissenters, using police dogs, destroying property, and threatening people with rifles. This November, the RCMP invaded resistance camps—like the Coyote Camp—violently arresting activists and journalists. Marlene Hale, a land defender from the Small Frog Clan of the Wet’suwet’en nation, spoke at the

protest and expressed her frustration with the Canadian government’s seizure and occupation of their land. Hale described how government officials avoided going through the proper channels of Wet’suwet’en leadership for their consent, instead seeking approval from the twenty band councils, who all signed on to the project. Hale brought this up to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a town hall in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec back in 2019. “[I asked him,] ‘how do you not know that [for] consent in our nation, you’re supposed to go to the hereditary chiefs?’” Hale said. “They know who’s going to sign, who is the weak link, and who they can get [consent from] to do the work they want for as little as they can [....] The consent was not given by the right land title holder, which is the hereditary chief, Woos. Right now, he is on his own territory fighting [the RCMP] to gain access to his own home.” The RCMP has confronted Wet’suwet’en land defenders several times over the last couple of years in an attempt to quell resistance to the pipeline. From Nov. 19 to Nov. 20, they had arrested 29 people, including two journalists, in British Columbia; protestors were trying to interfere with the pipeline’s construction in order to protect the land. The latest wave of arrests spurred protests

Wet’suwet’en people and their allies are defending 20,000 square kilometers of their land, which they describe as their Yintah. “Yin” means the earth or the land, and “tah” means their territory, so together, the word Yintah describes the land as their territory. (Anoushka Oke / The McGill Tribune) across the country, including the one in Montreal this past Saturday. Eve Saint, the daughter of Wet’suwet’en hereditary Chief Woos, described the RCMP’s treatment of the protesters and journalists who were arrested, including Wet’suwet’en land defender Sleydo’. “I just gotta give a lot of love to Sleydo’ because she is a mother, she is an Indigenous Wet’suwet’en mother, [and] she is raising her babies on the Yintah, on the land,” Saint said. “And now, these courts have [...] criminalized her and [are] trying to keep her from moving freely on her own land, on her own territory.” Saint herself has been on the

frontlines of the fight; she was arrested alongside three others at Gidimt’en Checkpoint on Feb. 7, 2020 while defending Wet’suwet’en land. Saint condemned the violence the RCMP has inflicted on her people over the past week. “We have elders that are being dragged off the Yintah, that are being denied their medication, and that had to go to the hospital,” Saint said. “This is at the hands of the RCMP. This is how they look at Wet’suwet’en people, this is how they look at Wet’suwet’en women, mothers, matriarchs, hereditary chiefs. They point their guns at us when they want us off that land so they can steal it.

It is stolen land. They want us dead.” After Saint finished speaking, the group marched toward downtown Montreal, followed by police officers who maintained a heavy presence throughout the demonstration. In a subsequent webinar on Nov. 28, Ellen Gabriel, who is part of the Turtle Clan within the Mohawk nation of Kanehsatà:ke, compared the situation to the Oka crisis that occurred in 1990. At the time, the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) provincial police force violently invaded Kanehsatà:ke land that developers wanted to turn into a golf course. Following SQ raids of Mohawk territory, there was a 78-day standoff as the police faced down Mohawk warriors defending their land. Then-Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa eventually brought in the Canadian military to replace the SQ, and the standoff ended whenMohawk warriors had to surrender. “The fact that the RCMP are being the root squad for Coastal GasLink as the SQ were for the municipality of Oka and the rich developers means that we haven’t gotten very far in the reconciliation process that Trudeau and others keep talking about,” Gabriel said. “This is not reconciliation. [Indigenous peoples] were here long before Europeans arrived, and we are still being treated, 500-plus years later, as if we are disposable, as if our rights don’t matter.”

Suzanne Fortier reflects on McGill’s future and lessons learned from COVID-19

McGill Principal speaks on plans for divestment and pursuit of EDI on campus Madison Edward-Wright & Juliet Morrison News Editor & Staff Writer

s the Fall 2021 semester and McGill’s bicentennial year comes to a close, the McGill administration has started envisioning plans for the university’s academic, ecological, and structural future. From opening a new Office for Mediation and Reporting, to assessing McGill’s Strategic Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Plan and the Anti-Black Racism Action Plan, to adapting to a world changed by COVID-19, the administration is beginning to implement several changes. McGill principal and vice-chancellor Suzanne Fortier reflected on these changes in a round table interview with campus media on Nov. 24. Fortier feels that updating plans and creating new offices are the first steps toward a more equitable and globally in-tuned university. “Next calendar year, we are [entering] a third century of our institution, so it is a great time for us to think about the future,” Fortier said. “We celebrate with the full knowledge that not all of our 200 [years of] history were great [....] As we think about our third century, it is also [about] how do we learn from our past.” Fortier listed reducing the university’s environmental impact and carbon footprint as a key objective in the coming decades, citing McGill’s commitments to reach net-zero by 2040, switch energy systems from gas and oil to electric, and adopt a decarbonization policy. “We have a huge problem right now, which is climate change and the planet,” Fortier said. “We need to evolve to be terra sapiens.”

The term “terra sapiens” refers to the evolution of human action toward a more environmentally aware collective consciousness. Some students, however, like Samuel Helguero, 3L and Divest McGill organizer, feel Fortier’s words do not mark a transition to a greener and cleaner campus. “Suzanne Fortier remains perhaps the most ardent opponent to divestment across all of Canadian universities,” Helguero wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune. “To see her attempt to brand the school as ecological is only ironic.” Another topic Fortier touched on was the recent letter sent by Christopher Manfredi, McGill provost and vice-principal (Academic), to the Office de consultation publique de Montréal (OCPM), which subsequently published it on their website. In the letter, Manfredi explained that McGill would be open to

The roundtable marked the first meeting Principal Fortier has had with student media since 2018. (Kate Addison / The McGill Tribune)

participating in the investigation of unmarked Indigenous graves at the Royal Vic site. Fortier cautioned that McGill cannot embark on the investigation alone. “[McGill] cannot do anything by itself,” Fortier said. “The site does not belong to us, it belongs to the government of Quebec and to the McGill University Health Centre, what people call the Glen [....] It is unlikely that we would find [graves], but we are not totally discrediting the suspicion [...], and we will do our work with the technologies that allow you to see if there are unmarked graves.” The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has forced many institutions, such as McGill and large corporations, to reevaluate the way day-to-day affairs are run. A takeaway for McGill’s governing bodies—the Board of Governors and Senate—as Fortier explained, has been to trust in those who have been educated and trained to handle unforeseen situations and events like a global pandemic. In an interview with the Tribune, U2 Arts student Mata Bocoum described a lack of engagement with key issues such as climate change and technological advancement on McGill’s campus, and felt that the administration could do more to acknowledge campus organizations that focus on those topics. “I am not someone who is very engaged in extracurricular activities [...] so maybe that is why I do not see any promotion for making changes with the climate [...] or technological innovation,” Bocoum said in an interview with the Tribune. “But, I feel like [clubs] are not promoted enough. [Activist groups] should be a focus for promotion because they are very important in the new era, but they are not talked about enough.”

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 2021

NEWS

Queer McGill, SSMU, and UGE form coalition against proposed Bill 2

Coalition disheartened by the university’s silence on the bill’s transphobic sections Ghazal Azizi Contributor Content warning: transphobia On Jan. 29 of this year, a Quebec Superior Court ruling declared six provisions of the province’s Civil Code unconstitutional and discriminatory against the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. In response to an order by Quebec Superior Court judge Gregory Moore, Justice Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette proposed Bill 2 at the Quebec National Assembly on Oct. 21. Though the bill was intended to revise the Civil Code’s sections on 2SLGBTQIA+ issues in accordance with the Superior Court ruling, Bill 2 has been widely criticized for being regressive

and has thus been tabled while awaiting public consultation. Three McGill groups—the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU), Queer McGill, and the Union for Gender Empowerment (UGE)—have formed a coalition under the leadership of Queer McGill’s Trans Working Group to advocate against against the bill. The McGill Coalition Against Bill 2 opposes the distinction between sex and gender on legal documents that Bill 2 would implement, as it will automatically “out” individuals whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. The coalition also objects to the bill’s proposal to require surgery to change their sex on their birth certificate, because it creates

Bill 2 threatens to reverse the 2015 amendment to the Quebece Civil Code that allowed people to change their sex on legal documents without undergoing surgery. (mtlblog.com)

pressures to undergo a sterilizing procedure and assumes that sex defines gender identity. The coalition also protests a section of the bill that would designate a male or female sex to intersex newborns, heightening the risk of surgical intervention on infants. Arwyn Regimbal, U1 Social Work and a member of the coalition, feels that Bill 2 is a misguided response to the Superior Court ruling that provoked it. “Reading the judgement and comparing it to the bill, you can see that there was some intention to negate rights,” Regimbal said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “[Bill 2] interprets the judgement in such a narrow way that on the surface it technically complies with it but when it comes to the spirit of what is being done, it’s quite regressive and actively harmful.” Cal Pease, U3 Science and resource coordinator for Queer McGill, explained that the coalition intends to fight Bill 2 through a three-pronged program that raises awareness, provides resources to those affected by it, and demands changes be made. The coalition has also been advocating for a wider condemnation of sections 23, 24, 26, 30, 33, 41, 42, 43, and 247 of the bill, including putting pressure on the McGill administration to issue a statement. “We call on McGill to publicly denounce these sections of the bill and [to] take a more active stance against transphobia,” said Pease in an interview with the Tribune. “I think a lot of the advocacy on campus is coming from a grassroot perspective, which is wonderful, but it would be good to have that reflected in the

administration as well and [to] have [their] support.” Yara Coussa, U3 Arts and arts representative to SSMU, echoed Pease’s frustration with McGill’s silence. Coussa believes that McGill’s inaction demonstrates compliance with transphobia. “No statement, no message of support,” Coussa said in an interview with the Tribune. “Even if [McGill] did not want to be overtly political, they could have sent out a message of support for trans people. That has not been done.” Despite the absence of a comment on the bill or statement of support from McGill, the coalition is committed to providing resources for the transgender, intersex, non-binary, and other gender-diverse communities on campus. “We have been coming up with various resources and putting them together on a website,” Pease said. “Arwyn made a flow chart about changing your name and sex in Quebec for people who are interested in doing that now, in case the bill takes effect. We are also trying to direct people to the resources that already exist on campus like Queer McGill and UGE.” If you would benefit from support at this challenging time, please note that the following resources are available to assist you: Trans Lifeline: 877-330-6366 Keep.meSafe (24/7 access to licensed counsellors available to all McGill students.) Peer Support Centre at McGill More at McGill Students Against Bill2

McGill holds first in-person convocation since onset of COVID-19 pandemic Vaccination passports and masks were required to enter the venue

Lily Cason News Editor

cGill held its Fall 2021 Convocation ceremonies at Place des Arts on Nov. 25 and Nov. 26, marking the first time that convocation has taken place inperson since Fall 2019. There were four separate ceremonies, two on each day, to honour the approximately 700 students who completed undergraduate, graduate, or certificate programs at McGill as of August 2021. The university announced that the Fall 2021 convocation would be in-person in an Oct. 22 university-wide email sent on behalf of principal and vice-chancellor Suzanne Fortier. In an interview with The McGill Tribune, Sireena Divecha, a member of the Fall 2021 graduating class who earned a degree in materials engineering, recalled waiting anxiously for the news. “I’m so happy. It’s the first convocation since COVID that’s going to be in-person,” Divecha said. “I’m so glad I made it. All through summer I was hoping, waiting for the email where they

said it is going to be in person.” The university implemented a number of COVID-19 safety measures, such as checking vaccination status and enforcing mask mandates, to protect graduates and guests. Sina Hashemi, a member of the Fall 2021 graduating class who received a certificate in oral and maxillofacial surgery, spoke to the Tribune after the first convocation service. Hashemi expressed gratitude that the university, in his experience, closely adhered to COVID-19 measures. “[The ceremony] was very nice,” Hashemi said. “I noticed

they took all the precautions, like cleaning the microphone after every speaker. It was really nice to be back and see everybody, all the graduates sitting together with their families and having live music and whatnot.” Aliia Shakirova, a member of the Fall 2021 graduating class who obtained a master’s degree in atmospheric and oceanic sciences, felt for her friends who only had online ceremonies. “I had a few friends who graduated last year, and they feel very sad that they don’t have any convocation in person,” Shakirova said. “I am from Russia, and I was

The university presented honorary degrees at three of its four ceremonies, recognizing Robert Thirsk, Angela Swan, and Roger Warren. (LoudKJ / twitter.com)

doing a Bachelor’s in Moscow and we didn’t have any sort of convocation at all, so that’s like the first experience for me, so I’m very glad.” Frédérique Mazerolle, a McGill media relations officer, explained in an email to the Tribune that in-person ceremonies are being planned for those who had virtual convocations—the Spring 2020, Fall 2020, and Spring 2021 classes. “This Fall’s ceremonies only included the Fall 2021 Convocation cohort,” Mazerolle wrote. “However, the University is actively planning the in-person ceremonies our past cohorts so richly deserve, the first of which will take place in Spring 2022. Invitations [...] will be sent in the coming months. McGill will continue to take a prudent planning approach that allows us to adapt as the health and well-being of our community remains a top priority.” In addition to its convocation ceremonies, the university held an online Indigenous Scarf Ceremony on Nov. 22—a tradition it introduced in 2011— to recognize the 91 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students in the Fall 2021 graduating class. This year’s ceremony involved speeches,

(mcgill.ca) live music from Mi’kmaq performer Don Barnaby, and the presentation of specially-designed scarves. In his speech, provost and viceprincipal (Academic) Christopher Manfredi commended the graduates for their hard work and reaffirmed the university’s dedication to reconciliation. “You have many reasons to be proud of yourselves and to feel confident in your abilities,” Manfredi said. “As you embark on your next chapter, know that McGill will continue the important work outlined in our 52 calls to action with the aim of truth and reconciliation with Indigenous communities.”

NEWS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 2021

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SSMU Legislative Council approves motion calling for resignation of President Daryanani

All executives chose to abstain from vote, majority of representatives voted in favour Juliet Morrison Staff Writer

of consultation, and stated that the personal refutes were unnecessary. “I understand that we have not completed the necessary consultations for this motion and for that I apologize,” said Coussa. “However, there is no need to be rude and impolite to the mover and seconder who wanted to emphasize the voices of advocacy groups on campus [....] Being a councillor is a learning curve, and we are not perfect here.”

Continued from page 1. “I feel that the Legislative Council has been left in the dark,” Saad said. “The president needs to represent members of the student body which he is not doing, [and] we are currently unaware of whether he is being paid [....] This is an unsustainable situation and allows the situation to potentially replicate in the future. It is a dangerous precedent to set.” Should the president fail to issue a letter of resignation, the motion dictates that the Legislative Council, pursuant to consultations from students and faculties, will call for a special SSMU General Assembly within the first week of the winter semester to vote on whether the president should be impeached. The session’s question period revolved around the president’s absence. SSMU executives reaffirmed that the matter is confidential. “When individuals go on leave it is an HR matter,” vice-president (VP) Finance Éric Sader said. “As such it is not relevant to the Legislative Council or the student body to know the precise details. All that is important is that the president is on leave and the Society is functioning quite well.” When asked why the absence of the president and the general manager has not been communicated to the student body, specifically through SSMU’s most-used student communication channel—the SSMU listserv—vicepresident (VP) Internal Sarah Paulin replied “no comment.”

MOMENT OF THE MEETING The Legislative Council went on to approve the Fall 2021 Budget Revision, presented by VP Sader. (Kate Addison / The McGill Tribune) The motion passed with 19 council representatives in favour and nine abstaining. During the roll-call vote, all five executive members present abstained. In other matters, arts representative Yara Coussa brought forth a motion, seconded by arts representative Ghania Javed, concerning amendments to the internal regulation of student groups. After a debate period, during which SSMU executives disclosed concern about a lack of consultation, the motion was postponed. Executives argued that approval of the motion contradicts the duties of the executives. For example, the motion proposes to limit the VP External’s discretionary ability to provide funding, which is granted by the Society’s constitution. Coussa apologized to the executives for the lack

Councillor Saad called for the vote on the “motion regarding the absence of the SSMU president” to be conducted through a roll-call rather than through normal procedure, which keeps the voting process anonymous.

SOUND BITE “You have all been councillors for a semester. You have all had a chance to speak to each other and debate on contentious topics. I ask that you have compassion for your fellow councillors and some amount of respect for the members of the gallery [....] I require that you please respect these people [....] It is not okay to use the type of personal and direct attacks that we have seen.” —Speaker of Council Alexandre Ashkir responding to comments that were made concerning the motion on amending the internal regulations of student groups.

McGill changes masking policies amid rise in COVID-19 cases on campus

Those who do not comply will have to be tested if exposed to COVID-19 in a classroom Diksha Srishyla Contributor

cGill announced a new masking guideline on Nov. 19 in a university-wide email from the co-chairs of the new Recovery and Operations Resumption Committee (ROR), associate provost (Teaching and Academic Programs) Chris Buddle and deputy provost (Student Life and Learning) Fabrice Labeau. The

update stipulates that community members should replace their procedural masks after every four hours of use. The email also included other updates on McGill’s COVID-19 management, such as details on its rapid testing pilot project. The masking directive comes in the wake of rising cases on campus—there were 28 confirmed cases between Nov. 7 and Nov. 20—and is in line with the Quebec government’s

The WHO recommended in March 2020 that masks be changed every four hours, based on findings from a 2009 study. (Mika Baumeister / Unsplash)

contact tracing protocols. These protocols dictate that those wearing a fresh mask—i.e., one that has been worn for less than four hours—are considered “lowrisk” if exposed to COVID-19 in a classroom. Those wearing a mask for more than four hours when they are exposed in a classroom will be deemed “medium or high risk” and will be required to get a COVID-19 test. In an email to The McGill Tribune, Frédérique Mazerolle, a McGill media relations officer, stated that the university is aiming to make this mandate as easy as possible to adhere to. “Masks are available at the entrance to most buildings on our three campuses,” Mazerolle wrote. “It is important to stress that a number of preventive measures will continue to be in effect for the [Winter 2022] semester. The health and safety of our students and staff is the guiding principle of all of our planning. Our mission is to provide students the safest and best experience possible despite the current global pandemic.” Despite Mazerolle’s insistence that masks are readily available to all, some, like Nagashree Thovinakere, a

graduate student in the Integrated Program in Neuroscience, feel they have to stockpile masks to comply with the new directive. “I have access to masks in the lab where I work, but that is not the case elsewhere on campus,” Thovinakere said in an interview with the Tribune. “So what I have been doing is carrying extra masks with me.” Bridget Griffith, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, stated that the expense of buying masks— when not readily available on campus—adds to the challenge of compliance. Griffith also thought that the policy might be more effective if it drew attention to better mask hygiene and more consistency in wearing masks correctly. “Often, I see people not wearing the mask properly, wearing the masks multiple days in a row or storing the mask in their pocket,” Griffith said. “This puts people in situations more risky than they think they are.” Ashika Jain, a pharmacology graduate student, on the other hand, feels that McGill has done an adequate job in making masks available to the student body.

However, Jain mentioned the new requirement is still somewhat challenging to comply with because of the nature of lab work. “It can be difficult for me [to change my mask every four hours] when I am doing an experiment in particular,” Jain said. “But, since the accessibility for masks has increased, it is feasible.” Mazerolle explained that McGill’s new masking guideline is just one of many initiatives currently in place at the university—McGill has also begun a rapid COVID-19 testing project in the Trottier Engineering Building Cafeteria. “The voluntary rapid COVID-19 testing pilot project for asymptomatic people has been used by more than 500 students, faculty, and staff since its launch on November 8th,” Mazerolle wrote. “The initiative is open to any student, faculty or staff member who wishes to be tested. Individuals that have tested positive are directed to get a confirmatory (PCR) test from an authorized testing site and to selfisolate.” The results of the rapid test arrive within 15-20 minutes. The testing project is set to continue for the rest of the Fall 2021 term.

opinion@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 2021

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 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

Valuing equality over equity stunts science The McGill Tribune Editorial Board

n Nov. 24, The National Post’s Michael Higgins wrote an exclusive article titled “Minority professor denied grants because he hires on merit: ‘People are afraid to think.’” The article documents McGill chemistry professor Patanjali Kambhampati’s refusal to take part in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) hiring practices. Instead, Kambhampati wrote that he would hire the “most qualified people” in the EDI section of his application for a $450,000 grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). In the Post’s article, he also decried that EDI and “woke culture” kill innovation, harm science, and disrupt society. Though Kambhampati’s stance on meritocracy is understandable, his choice to tank his own application for media attention speaks volumes about his commitment to science’s progress. While EDI hiring and practices alone are insufficient to dismantle systemic racism in scientific research, they are nonetheless essential; scientific innovation

OFF THE BOARD Jinny Moon Design Editor

Social Media Editor Taneeshaa Pradhan socialmedia@mcgilltribune.com Business Manager Joseph Abounohra business@mcgilltribune.com

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

STAFF Azwar Ali, 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 Shireen Aamir, Margaret Askey, Ghazal Azizi, Mahnoor Chaudhry, Sophia Flaim, Ella Gomes, Charlotte Hayes, Ali Jaara, Monique Kasonga, Karan Kumar, Joy Mao, Sara Chiarotto O’Brien, Annika Pavlin, Adrienne Roy, Brian Schatteman, Diksha Srishyla

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.

n late September, my mom and I were chatting during one of our routine Facetime calls. An avid TV-watcher, she excitedly asked me if I had heard of Squid Game. The show had just come out, and my mom binged the series in a matter of days. As the semester was soon heading into full swing, I brushed off her rave reviews and told myself that I would get to the show eventually. To my surprise, the Netflix Original quickly became a household name. Companies scrambled to photoshop their logos onto screencaps of dalgona as folks on the internet recreated the candy themselves, the same treat that my parents and their classmates would buy from street vendors outside of

only improves when those at its forefront reflect the diversity of society. EDI hiring exists because institutions often filter out those who do not fit the old mould of the scientist archetype, such as women, people of colour, and lower-income individuals. Kambhampati’s racial colourblindness shows the problem of individuals thinking that they alone can transcend systems of oppression. Institutions, for instance, can still perpetuate systemic racism even without overt racists within them. Valuing merit and skills is not mutually exclusive to EDI: Equitable hiring and practices allow everyone to have a fair shot in academia, not just those who fit individual professors’ subjective and flawed opinions. Kambhampati spoke up to critique governmental agencies’ increasing implementation of EDI principles. EDI, though, is not some new dangerous revolution–– it is about accessibility, which is far more compatible with enhancing current research methods. Kambhampati’s choice shows that he is willing to sacrifice scientific progress in favour of maintaining the status

quo. His equality-over-equity approach continues to ostracize historically excluded groups from science. NSERC and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada’s EDI sections ask to proactively, intentionally, and carefully consider science’s blindspots when composing a team. Though Kambhampati commits himself to helping students of all backgrounds, his overwhelming desire to avoid discriminating against white men is suspect when EDI neither attacks them nor stops them from otherwise having myriad societal benefits. As Kambhampati suggests, EDI is not without its problems, like virtuesignalling. But these problems are not enough to dismiss it entirely— and so publicly. Science does not and cannot exist in a social vacuum: Social issues affect science, and science affects social issues. Consider how science was, on one hand, manipulated to justify racial distinctions, colonialism, and the rigid gender binary, and on the other, the method used to disprove these myths. Consider also the eurocentric grounds for measuring systems like the body mass index (BMI), which has led to inadequate treatment toward

OPINION

EDITORIAL people from other parts of the world. Clearly, science research has a cultural problem, one that prioritizes the interests of white, cisgender, straight, non-disabled men. It is researchers like Kambhampati who weaponize their “minority professor” identity and their own experiences of racism to rationalize their ideologies at the expense of minorities. Newspapers like the National Post and white commentators harp on exceptional cases like Kambhampati to dismiss equity initiatives, foregrounding a single racialized person’s experience to justify anti-woke rhetoric. Though Kambhampati fears selfcensorship and “wokeism,” the more salient question is whether untenured faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students of colour could speak out to the same degree as a tenured professor who can arbitrarily sink potential funding. Science principles itself on objectivity, but subjectively excluding people undermines the scientific method. Without fear, McGill’s Faculty of Science must follow McGill’s equitable hiring practices and stop their professors from stifling equitable science for cultural and academic capital.

The price of popularity their elementary schools. If they successfully popped out the shape in the centre of the candy, vendors would reward them with another one for free. My parents shared these stories as my mom made dalgona for us at home. We’d gather around to watch her stir up sugar and a flick of baking soda with a wooden chopstick. The mixture puffed up in our beaten-up dalgona ladle, one of few things we brought over from Korea when my family immigrated. Growing up in Canada in the mid-late 2000s, many of my peers didn’t know where South Korea was, or that the country even existed at all. Mentions of East Asia in popular media were few and far between, and what little did exist usually glossed over Korea entirely. As kids got older and their senses of humour more “edgy,” talking about being from Korea did eventually garner some recognition—albeit, often in the form of tired, unfunny comments about North Korean dictators. Nevertheless, I was always proud of my heritage, and I longed for the people around me to see what made my home country so special. In the last decade, I seem to have gotten what I so badly wished for as a kid—and then some. Korean music, film, and television have recently exploded in popularity, their presence becoming

unignorable to unsuspecting Western audiences. Squid Game broke viewership records for Netflix. Although I think the Oscars are an elitist, white-maleinfested Hollywood echo chamber, I couldn’t help but hold back tears when Bong Joon-Ho’s Parasite became the first foreign-language film to win Best Picture. Of course, I can’t go without mentioning Korean boy band BTS, who became the first Asian act to win Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards. Korean pop music is a gateway to Korean culture for many, and I can see why the genre is booming outside of Korea. For starters, the K-pop industry knows how to make a catchy song. Artistically, K-pop visuals and choreography never fail to be fun and masterfully produced. The rise of K-pop has also brought insufferable “stans” and “Koreaboos,” whose fancam Twitter replies are at best cringeinducing, and at worst outright disrespectful. The fetishization of Korean idols and culture is also a huge issue in fan communities. Extreme examples include British influencer Oli London, who has undergone 18 surgical procedures to look “more Korean.” London attributes their cosmetic alterations to “loving Korean culture.” They call Jimin

of BTS their ultimate idol, and hope that “having his eyes” will “make Jimin proud” - the statement makes me want to gouge my own eyes out. Oli London’s use of the neopronouns “Kor/Ean” may just be a poor excuse for a publicity stunt, but their words still negatively impact Korean people and invalidate trans communities everywhere. Cultural appropriation also lies in the little things. I’ve seen far too many fans of Korean dramas and K-pop call their favourite male celebrities “oppa.” The Korean honorific is used by female-identifying people to refer to older male family members and significant others. It’s a given that both parties should have a close enough relationship with each other and mutually agree on the term’s usage. I can’t imagine that these unspoken rules are fulfilled when referring to performers on a computer screen. Am I glad that Korean artists, filmmakers, and creatives are getting the international recognition they deserve? Of course. Am I glad that culture vultures and overzealous stans cherry-pick from the Korean experience and act like authorities on a culture they can choose to wear as an accessory? Of course not. Sometimes I wish Korean media never made its way to the spotlight, no matter how deserving it may be.

OPINION

COMMENTARY

opinion@mcgilltribune.com

Movember should spotlight BIPOC men’s mental health

Monique Kasonga Contributor

he Movember movement’s popularity has risen over the past decade since its founding in 2003. Movember is an annual event where participants grow moustaches during November to raise awareness for men’s health concerns, primarily cancer. Recently, however, they expanded their mission to support men’s—often overlooked—mental health struggles. In Canada, men account for 75 per cent of suicides, linking to pervasive stigma around mental health. Many organizations like Movember are working tirelessly to dismantle this culture and destigmatize men’s mental health. Certain marginalized communities face distinct challenges when it comes to their mental health and

BIPOC men at McGill face both the university’s intense academic rigour and lacking mental health resources. (seanstackhouse.com)

COMMENTARY Matthew Molinaro Opinion Editor Content warning: racism, police violence

n the past several days, three high-profile cases have come to deeply unsatisfying conclusions. Two are American––Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse was cleared of all charges after he killed two men during a night of unrest following the shooting of Jacob Blake, and the three white men who murdered Ahmaud Arbery, much like a modern-day lynching, were convicted. The other is Canadian, the least known and covered of the three: Pradel Content, a Black man living in Laval won an ethics case against a police officer who shoved him, made racist comments toward him, and then deleted Content’s phone recording of the 2017 incident. Many have raised concerns about Rittenhouse’s proceedings, questioning whether he would have still been found innocent, or even alive, had he been Black. And though Arbery’s mother expressed her relief at the guilty sentence, it, of course, remains unjust that a Black person still cannot move freely through society without fear. The just application of the law cannot save a Black life taken too early. Content’s case reveals an insidious aspect of Canadian anti-Black racism; that is,

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 2021

their access to support. The lack of diverse voices within discussions of men’s mental health must be brought to light to address concerns unique to BIPOC men, and Movember must take an intersectional approach to create universally effective campaigns. BIPOC communities historically and currently face systemic discrimination, and harmful stereotypes continue to affect the way Black men are treated in medical and social spheres—discouraging conversations about mental health. This rhetoric comes from within communities and from institutions that have historically discriminated against racialized men, such as school systems. Many view mental illness as a personal shortcoming rather than a real, diagnosable, treatable reality. When this reluctance to address mental health is paired with racism, the consequence is Black men often exhibiting searing hatred and distrust toward not only the system, but mental health treatments, and even themselves. Given that BIPOC communities face systemic discrimination in healthcare, there is often a lack trust in the fields of psychology and therapy. But, there is also a gap in representation in psychology. Due to a lack of analogous life experiences, white clinicians frequently underestimate the effects of racism on a person’s mental health, resulting in poor quality of treatment. This lack of diversity widens the gap of experience and knowledge regarding various traumatic and life-altering experiences between physicians and therapy-seeking individuals. This year, a move was made toward addressing mental health concerns amongst racialized men through a partnership between Contiki and Movember. This included a series of virtual panels to discuss challenges to BIPOC mental well-being. The panels aimed to offer tools

and methods that men can take to support and empower themselves and others. This is an excellent step forward to showcase the particularities of racialized men’s mental health and help tackle the issue of lack of resources and treatment. When speaking to McGill students about their work load, there is often a consensus: McGill is notorious for its academic rigour and high expectations. The reality is that many students risk their mental or physical health in order to excel in their coursework. BIPOC students face especially harmful situations when McGill’s demanding academic environment is paired with racially rooted stigma around mental health. McGill, therefore, must increase their mental health resources for their BIPOC students: The university should hire counsellors who can cater to the BIPOC student population. Frameworks that centre white students’ experience cannot be expected to work for racialized individuals. McGill seems to have understood this to some extent; they have recently started to offer mental health resources for the BIPOC community. Particularly, the Student Wellness Hub offered a limited time workshop series called “Being Black at McGill.” The workshop series was a chance for Black students to share their experiences while reflecting on the impact racism and discrimination can have on their mental health. The workshops’ popularity indicates the need for McGill to offer more resources and campaigns to suit the needs of BIPOC students. Movember is a strong and poignant campaign because men’s mental health continues to be overlooked, but we must pay careful attention to the individuals and communities who face the brunt of it and make change for them—because we see them and they deserve more.

Three verdicts, one unjust reality the constant and unhelpful positive comparison to the United States and the “moderate” bureaucracy that holds onto these cases for years. The report did not contain a valid reason for why Michael Boutin, the officer who stopped him, would need to check Content’s licence plate. In a statement by the Centre for ResearchAction on Race Relations, Content shared that he started recording once he exited his car at a gas station. Noticing that Content was filming him, Boutin proceeded to slap the phone out of his hand, throw him against his car, and handcuff him without informing him of the reason for the arrest. Later reports, including ones that led to the ethics violations, found that Boutin filed a false police report and wrote a ticket that suggested Content was using his phone while driving. During their encounter, Content mentioned he was from Florida, to which Boutin replied that he must be lucky to live in Quebec because in the United States they shoot people “like you.” Since this comment targeted his race, the ethics committee found this to violate their ethics code, amongst five other ethics violations. This comment stings even more considering that George Zimmerman, the man who shot and murdered Trayvon Martin, was acquitted of all charges in Florida. Boutin’s lack of ethical standards reveals the lack of oversight in police systems. It is important to

Without the gas station footage, Content would have had to rely on his word versus the police officer’s. (Getty Images) remember that Boutin was not alone at the time—his fellow officer could have easily stopped him. Their choice to stand silent and even erase their actions is in line with Canadian ideals, wherein the propagated culture of politeness and respectability comes at the expense of racialized people and substantive changes to policing. It is concerning that Content’s case not only took four years to conclude, but remained relatively unacknowledged beyond local news articles. The ticket Content received was immediately overturned, but this cannot overturn the immense and mostly unchecked power the police

wield. Without the gas station footage, these police officers might have continued to roam unaffected; the chances of an ethics board believing a Black man’s word against a police officer’s remains, unfortunately, minimal.. Surely, given the officers’ immediately violent response, far more cases are unreported. At the same time, this should not open up the possibility for cameras to be placed everywhere in public. People should not be surveilled at all times, and the police, who already provide plenty of surveillance in Montreal, must be, at the very least, reformed. Hearings on Boutin’s possible

sanctions are expected to begin next month, meaning now more than ever is the time to speak out and rally against racial profiling and excessive policing. On the municipal level, Canadians should treat politicians, including recently re-elected Mayor Plante, who pander to police with suspicion. If not defunding, ethics, bias, and social responsibility should be considered as important as physical, medical, and shooting certifications at the policing level. Much like Arbery’s case, bare minimum successes of the justice system should not be celebrated as victories.

studentlife@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 2021

STUDENT LIFE

Lube: What’s good and what’s just goo?

From water-based jelly, to silicone, to oils, the world of personal lubricant is vast Margaret Askey Contributor

condom to provide extra sensation for the wearer, slather it all over your favourite vibrator, or even use it for the purpose of old-fashioned manual masturbation.

Continued from page 1.

Silicone lube I know I made water-based lube sound like the no-contest champion, but don’t be fooled. Silicone lube can’t be used with silicone toys, but it’s otherwise condom-compatible and plenty of fun. It’s generally thicker in consistency than water-based formulas, giving it a slicker sensation and increased staying power for longer play. And for those that love a true slip-andslide experience? Silicone lube is your friend. Penetrative sex, particularly for those who’ve experienced painful penetration, can be much more pleasant with silicone lube. Its formula makes it last longer than water-based formulas, so those that enjoy drawing things out might find this the best choice.

Although it may seem like an appealing option, coconut oil as a lubricant is an absolute no-go. (cosmopolitan.com)

Water-based lube Water-based lube is at the top of this list and my personal favourite—for good reason. If you’ve ever purchased a sex toy, there’s a good chance it’s made of body-safe silicone. Ironically, the best lube for silicone toys is anything without silicone in it, as silicone lube will degrade the material over time. Water-based lube is also a fan favourite because it’s easier to clean up than other formulas, generally less sticky, and condom-compatible as well. Add a drop or two inside a

to engage in new foreplay and indulge yourself or your partner(s).

Massage oil lubes Speaking of slip-and-slide, it’s high time to get acquainted with the world of massage oils! For those of us with tight shoulders, a massage oil session coupled with some fun partner intimacy can be incredibly relaxing and make for titillating foreplay. There are specific massage oil lubricants on the market, which I would recommend over any gardenvariety massage oil as lube. Not all generic massage oils have been tested for internal use, so it’s best to stick to the products formulated for a sexual purpose. Oil-based formulas are not latex-safe, meaning they can’t be effectively used with latex condoms. But, if pregnancy and physical barriers aren’t of concern for you, massage oil lubes can be an exciting way

Warming (and cooling) lube I was hesitant about the placement of temperature-play lube on this list because I have some beef with it. To its credit, this type of lube can be either water- or silicone-based, making warming or cooling lubricant a versatile bedfellow. The sensation of warmth draws blood flow to the genitals, enhancing the sensation of orgasm for some, and cooling lubes can be a great way for beginners to experiment with temperature play. I find the artificial heat a little disconcerting, not to mention reminiscent of the symptoms of a urinary-tract infection (if you know, you know). However, I won’t let my qualms dissuade you—to each their own. And remember: Coconut oil is not a lubricant I hope that at this point in public sexual health knowledge this wouldn’t have to be a conversation, but there’s no shame in falling victim to Gwyneth Paltrow-esque, granola-girl gospel and erring in your lube choices. Coconut oil is good for hair masks, a dry skin balm, cooking and more, but it is not a sexual lubricant. It compromises latex condoms and dental dams and its high pH might disrupt your vaginal microbiome—not to mention it’s a pain in the ass to clean up. I understand the desire to avoid putting chemical products with long ingredient lists in your body willy-nilly, but hopefully the list above makes you feel more confident in choosing the right water, oil, or silicone-based lube for you.

The McGill-wide 2021 holiday wishlist Gifts for all McGill personalities, far and wide Holly Wethey & Wendy Zhao Student Life Editors

thecoffee is definitely worth it….right?

Soupe Cafe would like to file a complaint against Gerts cafe for having cheaper grilled cheese.

t’s Nov. 30 and the holiday season is officially upon us! With less than a month until Christmas, you may feel overwhelmed about what to ask for this year. But don’t be alarmed—The McGill Tribune has got you covered. Below, you’ll find this year’s McGill wishlist, and hopefully, the items within will provide some inspiration for your own seasonal desires.*

Skateboarders and cyclists are asking for just a few more weeks without snow (however, with chilly days on the forecast, their chances aren’t looking so great). Maxime (RVC) is wondering why no one talks about him (or Fight Club) anymore. Seriously, what happened to this guy?

Upper residence kids are asking for a magical device that will help them float up the hill to Gardner Hall.

Subway wants people to know that they exist (despite being tucked away in the depths of the Arts Building).

Nearly graduated students want to stay in the comfort of academia forever…. Marty the Martlet would like to take one day with his uniform offone day take off his uniform (it’s getting hot in there). SSMU wants student papers to mind their own damn business. Cloudberry wants people to know that he is the only leucistic squirrel on campus (and that he doesn’t have red eyes).

The McGill Nightly wants to officially be recognized as McGill’s most reliable news source. We invite you to read out this wishlist loudly at the Y-intersection. (Joy Mao / The McGill Tribune)

Chris Buddle wanted to be cast in Peaky Blinders. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out (but he kept the page-boy hat, of course).

watching lectures on 2X speed (it’s exhausting!). Desautels Students are—as always—looking for lucrative investments.

McLennan Library wants as many students as possible to stop by and spend the night during finals season (she gets lonely).

Philosophy students want you to stop asking them about the meaning of life; they have absolutely no idea.

Science students want you to stop complaining about having one in-person final.

Minerva wants IT to stop doing construction on her over the weekends. No, really—she doesn’t like to let students down during these stressful times.

Gerts would be thrilled to receive some noisecancelling headphones to drown out the sound of drunk first years singing Taylor Swift.

All students want a week-long reading week.

MyCourses is asking for students to stop

English students would like their parents to stop asking them what they plan to do with their degree.

Redpath cafe is tired of being compared to Tim Hortons. It may be more expensive, but

Big Suze wants…actually, what does this woman desire? We have no idea… Tipsy Cow bar goers on Nov. 10 want that selfie they took with Noah Centineo printed and framed. Then wish he would leave their sacred territory. McLennan frequenters want their red fast pass sticker to unlock a portal to the seventh floor where time is endless and finals don’t exist. The McGill Tribune wants you to have a successful finals season :) *The items listed do not necessarily correspond with the opinions and desires of those on the list.

No, I will not curb my enthusiasm Michelle Siegel, Arts & Entertainment Editor I always freeze up whenever I’m asked to describe myself. From introducing myself at the beginning of each elementary school year to writing college essays in high school, I consistently clam up in confusion when forced to encompass myself in a short paragraph. While basically everyone I know has experienced this sudden sort of panic, for me, it felt different. As I got older, I came to increasingly associate my internal ambiguity with religion, something that I was constantly surrounded with in my hometown. The majority of my classmates followed different sects of Christianity, often talking in class about their church programs and trips. I, on the other hand, was a barely practicing Jewish atheist. Though there were other Jewish kids in my school, the ones I was close to were not very religiously inclined either. I wasn’t close enough with the others to discuss that aspect of our identities. The struggle to define my own Jewish identity was mostly self-imposed as an adolescent. Certainly I was privileged to not have personally faced antisemitism in school. But my Jewishness was often treated as a punchline by myself, my friends, and my family. When I received my acceptance—with a scholarship—to an overtly Christian college in Nashville, my mother and I made sardonic comments about how religious diversity might have played a role in their offer. Different events in history pushed me to further consider that aspect of my identity. From a young age, I was taught about World War II and the Holocaust. My grandmother often told me stories about my grandfather, who immigrated to Ellis Island from Germany as a teenager. He was rejected from the army multiple times because he was an “enemy alien,” though he ended up getting drafted anyway. Books, too, connected me to that time: Over the years, I wrote different school papers on novels about the Holocaust like Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, Night by Elie Wiesel, and The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. The scale and horror of the Holocaust was inescapable in the books I read for school, as well as the countless other films, TV shows, and theatrical works that came generations later. It wasn’t something that I wanted to ignore, or thought should be ignored, but I found it depressing that almost all of the Jewish stories I heard as a child all tied back to the era of World War II. When I spoke with Eddie Paul, a senior librarian at the Jewish Public Library, he explained that the trends in Jewish

literature and media I was noticing were not circumstantial, but quite intentional. “Back in the early part of the 20th century, there was, I think, a professed trend to try to define Jews as being heroic, or possibly tragic, which is just the opposite side of the same coin,” Paul said. “I think what happened in the 1930s and 1940s is what’s primarily responsible for that.” Paul explained that a substantial amount of contemporary Jewish literature in North America focusses on the Holocaust. In the aftermath of the Holocaust, more authors seized on a trend of portraying heroic Jews, with the goal of establishing a greater sense of agency and value in Judaism. This type of media formed a common thread in my own reading, at least in terms of what kinds of Jewish stories were most accessible to me. For a long time, I was content to relate to Jewish culture through these different portraits of the Holocaust rather than try to find a more literal reflection of myself—until I learned what I was missing. Theatre, in particular, was one of the first places that I saw and heard more modern stories of Jewish identity. While in high school, I was the sound effects operator for multiple plays, including the play Letters to Sala by Arlene Hutton. The play is based on the true story of Sala Garncarz Kirschner and her experiences in labour camps during the Holocaust, told through the letters that she wrote to her loved ones and secretly kept with her. As one of the very few Jewish kids in my school’s theatre department, I felt particularly proud to help put on and see such a powerful work. To me, theatre is one of the better mediums for cultural representation because of its fundamental intimacy, a sentiment that I realized resonated with others in the Montreal community. “[Theatre] expands ideas of Jewish identity and it also creates opportunity for curiosity and rapprochement with other communities,” said writer and Segal Centre’s Jewish Programs Manager Sivan Slapak in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “It is a lot of the work we do at the Segal—that is, to reflect different Jewish experiences and identities in our productions, and to find common ground through the arts.” Slapak is the Jewish Programs manager of the Segal Centre, a performing arts organization that works to present and exhibit artists from Montreal

and Canada. Given their commitment to telling Jewish stories, it is no surprise that the organization also firmly stands against antisemitism. The centre also includes the Dora Wasserman Yiddish Theatre, the oldest Yiddish-language theatre in Canada. Theatre, however, wasn’t the only place where I connected with Jewish stories. I felt a lot of kinship with certain films growing up, even if they were as historically distant as some of the novels I read in school. The 1971 film Fiddler on the Roof has long united my family even though none of us relate exactly to the story. Based on the 1964 musical of the same name, the film follows Tevye, a Jewish milkman living in an Eastern European shtetl who grapples with the marriages of his three eldest daughters while external political forces loom over the area. My brother and I often break out into bits of song and dance from the film while cooking, typically to the amusement of our parents. As a musical and a film created to appeal to wider audiences, Fiddler on the Roof fits with the trends of stories about heroic or resilient Jewish characters. But it does it well. Although the film closely follows Tevye’s journey and reconciliations with his Jewish faith, the creators depicted the characters and plots responsibly and authentically, avoiding a descent into offensive parody. “When the respect and commitment to authenticity is there, the portrayals work, and the story becomes universal rather than niche and ‘Other,’” said Slapak. All too often, the only stories explicitly characterized as Jewish include stereotypes and tropes like overbearing mothers, nice Jewish boys, and spoiled Jewish-American Princesses. Though these stereotypes might be rooted in fact to some degree or another, they are nevertheless reductive and should not be considered the end-all-be-all representation of a Jewish identity or community. “Perhaps the most reliable stereotype is [...] the angst-

ridden Jew, the [one] who is almost obsessed with the fetishes of identity,” Paul said. “[Stereotypical stories] might have entertainment value, but I don’t think these stereotypes are going to [last].” Despite Paul’s salient points, the so-called “angstridden” Jew who struggles with their identity definitely rings true when it comes to my own journey in defining my identity. Recent films have turned more toward this trope, to varying levels of effectiveness— at least in my opinion as a somewhat angsty, identity-unsure Jewish woman. I’m thinking of 2020’s An American Pickle, starring Seth Rogen, which didn’t quite resonate with me even though the protagonist’s complicated connections with his heritage were technically familiar. Ultimately, the messaging in the film that should have made me feel the most seen were bogged down by the convoluted mix of other subplots and tones throughout the movie. Where An American Pickle mostly failed, Shiva Baby, directed by Emma Seligman and released in the same year, more than succeeded. I had a lot in common with the main character: Religious insecurity, apathy, as well as an unclear life direction. What I love about the film is that it is unapologetically Jewish. It takes place almost entirely during a shiva, a Jewish mourning ritual where loved ones gather in the deceased’s home to find community and support. The power and resonance of the film, to me, rests on the relatability of the protagonist’s issues and the fact that her own expressions of Judaism form the backbone of the story. Shiva Baby exemplifies a shift toward more contemporary and progressive portrayals of Jewish characters. Jewish stories are being told more explicitly than ever, explained Morton Weinfeld, a professor of sociology and the chair of Canadian Ethnic Studies at McGill in an interview with the Tribune. “[There is] a slight tendency now to see more overt shows about Jewish issues or religion,” Weinfeld said. “Certainly if you watch Curb Your Enthusiasm, which I do, the most recent episode was extremely Jewish [....] You would not have seen that 20 or 30 or 40 years ago.” But what makes a story Jewi sh? Having Jewish

characters? The broader question of what makes Jewish stories meaningful doesn’t really have an answer—though the cultural ties of geography have a large role, both for myself and for other Jewish individuals across Canada. Weinfeld noted that in the 20th century, television programming was the major source of Jewish representation in North American comedy. “The most famous Jewish comedians were a duo named Wayne and Shuster,” Weinfeld said. “I think they held the record for the most appearances [on the Ed Sullivan Show].” As Weinfeld recalls, Wayne and Shuster were beloved by Jews across Canada. They “had double naches,” Weinfeld said, using a Yiddish word that meaning pride at the achievements of one’s children , since the duo was not just Jewish, but Canadian. “[They] made Canadian Jews feel very heard.” Wayne and Shuster showed that meaningful representation didn’t necessarily have to involve tragedy; it could also be comedy. While the tragic stories of Jewish history are equally important to tell, it’s important to show more individuals and characters with agency and pride in their Jewishness to explore and reveal the expansive beauty of Jewish cultures to wider audiences. That, in other words, is what makes a Jewish story meaningful. “One way to look at that is through [characters] that wrestle issues of modern Jewish life, wrestle with Jewish identity, wrestle with Jewish themes. If the answer to that is yes, then the characters are probably more relevant,” Weinfeld said. It’s not enough, though, to just throw in Jewish people into a narrative. Weinfeld brought up television shows like Friends, which had several Jewish characters, but none of them ever had substantial plots focussing on that aspect of their identities. It’s not enough to just have characters who are explicitly Jewish in name or appearance. Their stories should involve their Jewish identity beyond the superficial. Regardless of the medium, it’s important to tell Jewish stories that actually showcase Jewish culture. Everyone deserves to experience the

naches of seeing their culture represented in media. That’s the value of storytelling. As Paul puts it, “People remember stories. People are not going to remember dates, they’re not going to remember names of rabbis, or kings, or queens, or princes, or so on, but they’ll remember stories. So the narrative is what sustains the myth, and the myth is what sustains identity, and identity is what allows these populations to find meaning in their life.” Hearing and telling stories have been the most important way of exploring and discovering my own sense of Jewish identity. For a long time, I felt conflicted about defining where my Judaism fits in with my identity. Because of my distinct lack of religious ties, I sometimes felt that it wasn’t a label I could fully own. But throughout the last few years of my life, I’ve started to question that belief. I am eternally grateful for the Jewish creators—Emma Seligman, Larry David, Beanie Feldstein, and others—who have helped me feel more seen and validated in who I am, even without religion. While my identity is informed by many things—my hometown, my family, my education, among many other things—getting to live in new places, like Montreal, has been invaluable in expanding the world of Jewish culture, media, and identity for me. The media I’ve consumed has allowed me to fully see that there is no one way to be Jewish. Connecting with myself and my Jewish culture through media is a phenomenon that I will never be able to curb my enthusiasm for.

Design by Jinny Moon, Design Editor

STUDENT LIFE

studentlife@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 2021

Wending your way through winter commutes

Winter walkers, bikers, and drivers of McGill Mahnoor Chaudhry Contributor

he arrival of winter, with its sub-zero temperatures and snow-packed roads, transforms students’ lifestyles— especially when it comes to their daily commute. Much of the student body can be seen walking or biking to school in the summer months, but far fewer cyclists are spotted on the roads once the first signs of winter approach. Though some bike owners might still be seen bracing the wind chill, Bixi, the

city’s affordable and convenient public bike rental service, ended their season on Nov. 15. This means that many, including Arantza Fernandez, U3 Arts, have had to resort to other ways of travel. “It was so easy to take the bike,” Fernandez said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “I would be at school in five minutes, and I could come and go as much as I wanted. Now I have to walk to school, which takes me almost 15-20 minutes.” However, unlike the weather these days, all is not bleak. Opting to walk to campus can bring about some positive and unexpected

Montreal’s winter biking community, known as “hurlus,” is consistently vocal about biking conditions in the city. (cycling-passion.com)

changes in one’s daily routine. “The good thing is I now get to call people when I walk, like my parents at home,” Fernandez said. Nevertheless, many cyclists still pedal their way through the snow to get to their classes—and many start gearing up for the winter months far in advance. Danyal Chaudhry, U1 Science and frequent winter biker, is familiar with the preparation process. “Biking saves me a lot of time, and it is not as dreadful as you think when you have the proper gear for it,” Chaudhry said. “If you have big winter tires, some headlights for darker days and are wearing layers, you should not have much trouble biking to campus.” It’s important for cyclists to know how to equip themselves and their rides to ensure safe travel. Experts suggest proper winter tires to prepare your bike for the snowy months, and regular cleaning throughout to prevent ice buildup and breakage from frozen parts. Although self-preparation is needed, efficient snow plowing is also crucial to avoid wipeouts. Montreal’s winter bikers have formed a community that vocalizes and lobbies for these concerns. They call themselves the “hurlus,” French for “weirdos.” Bikers are not alone in having to change their travel routes to school. Ibrahim Naveed, U3 Science, has become cautious, albeit hesitant, when walking to campus now; the dilemma of missing classes due to harsh weather is not unknown to the student body.

“The weather has made me reluctant to walk to class and I often think of taking the bus or, sometimes, not going to campus at all if it’s too cold out,” Naveed explained. “In the summer, I would normally just take my bag and run to campus, but now I have to make sure I am properly bundled up to prevent myself from freezing to death.” With many layering up in their winter boots and parkas to walk to campus, car commuters who live farther from McGill or in areas with limited public transit face different challenges. For them, endless lines of traffic, inescapable construction reroutes, and icy roads increase the risk of danger and can lead to longer travel times. The Montreal Gazette offers a comprehensive guide for those who choose to travel by car in the winter. The SAAQ is another helpful resource. With all these complications, many students opt for public transport, including the bus, metro, or commuter train. This is when the OPUS discount for McGill students comes in handy, reducing the monthly fee from $90.50 to $54 per month. “I would never buy the OPUS monthly pass at its normal rate,” Naveed said.“But with the discount and the changing weather, I think it’s worth it, at least for the winter months.” And so, every year, cylists, pedestrians, and car commuters alike prepare for safety and convenience; amidst the fierce Montreal winters, this small travel routine becomes a big part of our lives.

Ask Ainsley: Should I get a part-time job next semester? Know your limit, play within it Dear Ainsley, I’m not sure if I should get a part-time job for next semester. I do want to start building toward financial independence, but I’m worried that an added commitment to schoolwork and extracurriculars will be difficult to manage. A lot of my friends tell me they’re able to balance working part time while taking a full course load. I’m torn— what should I do? Sincerely, Worked up about Work (WUAW) Dear WUAW, “Work hard, play hard” is a refrain common to the university experience, but how each student interprets it is entirely unique. For many, financial constraints necessitate a part-time job. But if you have a bit of wiggle room, it is important to reflect on your priorities before potentially undertaking more responsibilities. Think carefully about your schedule. If you do get a job, is there a chance you’ll be asked to pick up extra shifts? Is your transportation reliable? Do you have courses in person as well as online? How long

does your coursework actually take you to complete? Anywhere between 10 to 20 hours per week, adjusted to fit your specific timetable, should allow you to complete academic work while also getting enough rest. Working a part-time job can help you network, refine your time management skills, or even practice speaking French or English if applicable. The decision is ultimately up to you, but remember that life is made up of checks and balances. Stretching yourself too thin in effort to accomplish everything will inevitably lead you to falter, so compromise is essential. Don’t feel pressured to take five courses—you can drop down to four. Select your extracurriculars carefully to ensure they align with your personal or professional goals without causing further stress. Does this club boost your CV, but impede on your well-being? Whittle down extraneous commitments to allow yourself time to breathe. Look at a calendar and sketch in potential work shifts: Do you have enough availability to properly commit yourself? Most workplaces are collaborative environments; if you have to bail on a shift to study, you’re letting down your team. While academics are, for the most

Keep a lookout on myFuture, McGill’s career platform, for Work Study job postings, as they are typically more accommodating of student schedules. (nytimes.com)

part, solitary in consequence, jobs affect others around you. It’s important to bear all this in mind before dedicating your time. It is difficult to juggle academics, extracurriculars, and part-time work while still leaving time to rest, but it is still possible. If you find your social life slipping through the cracks, try allocating some time each week to seeing

friends or talking with loved ones. Once the hangouts or chats are scheduled, they will gradually stop feeling like—as terrible as it is to say—time wasted. There’s no need to feel guilty for seeking out connection, especially during the transitory and tumultuous time that is university. University and productivity culture in general have misled our

perceptions toward rest: Too often the definitions of self care—sleep, food, and time with friends—are just the bare minimum required to function. Be sure not to treat self care only as a reward. You don’t deserve rest; you need it. Nothing is more important than your health. None of this is to say you shouldn’t try your best to reach your goals or succeed academically. Know your limit, and play within it: Be diligent, yet also realistic so that you can sustain your physical and mental health. As most of us are under 25 years of age, our brains are still developing. It’s tempting to fill your plate with responsibilities, but remember that the state of your health will shape your future in the long term just as much as your GPA or that extra resume bullet point. Know that if working is a financial necessity, there are resources available to you at McGill that offer support. Consider looking into government and student aid, as well as the Work-Study program, which connects students in financial need to jobs on or near campus with flexible schedules. I hope you can make a decision that works best for you. Sincerely, Ainsley

arts@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 2021

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

‘Get Back’ is a time capsule of a pivotal breakup in music history Peter Jackson’s Beatles docuseries is nostalgic, yet gut-wrenching Adrienne Roy Contributor Warning: Spoilers ahead Before John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr were The Beatles, they were The Quarrymen—a happy-go-lucky skiffle group. With Starr joining in 1962, The Quarrymen became The Beatles and catapulted into stardom. They will always be known for bringing some much-needed flair and gaiety to rock and roll in the 1960s. In 1966, Lennon, with harmless intentions, declared The Beatles to be “more famous than Jesus,” sparking extensive outrage. Afterwards, The Beatles struggled to regain their rhythm, only performing once before breaking up. The weeks leading up to their final bow in 1969 were taped, and are now viewable as a docuseries. Directed by Peter Jackson, Get Back revives The Beatles’ last weeks together through hours of undisclosed tapings and audio recordings, initially conceived for the band’s 1970 documentary Let it Be,

Pulling back the curtains on The Beatles’ breakup. (Shireen Aamir / The McGill Tribune)

which was released alongside their 12th and final studio album of the same name. This mini-series is lengthy—consisting of three two-and-a-half to three-hour episodes—but enjoyable for any ‘60s to ‘70s era rock fan. The series was released on Disney+ over the course of Nov. 25-27. The ultimate difference between Let it Be and Get Back is that the former is a documentary, and the latter is a documentary behind that documentary. The viewer is not watching The Beatles scramble to finish their penultimate album and prepare for their last live show; rather, they are practically with the band in London, sitting in Twickenham (and Apple) Studios, trying to piece together a perfect farewell as if it was their own. Get Back is a fly-on-the-wall experience, intimate and raw. The series is particularly difficult to watch because each artist is so clearly out of sync with one another that an immaculate ending is not feasible—the viewer watches on as The Beatles come to terms with this for themselves. Sandwiched between awkward moments are periods of brief levity, where the boys lounge and laugh while smoking like chimneys. These bits, however, are few and far between. Michael Edward Lindsay-Hogg, director of the Let it Be documentary, does an impeccable job capturing those shots—zooming in on Harrison’s face when his ideas were ignored, or capturing Lennon’s gaze being anywhere except where it should be. But, to fully appreciate these moments, the viewer must be completely engaged at all times; since the sound quality is lacking, some of the most decisive shots are completely silent. Get Back demands dedication and patience from viewers because of the eight-hour runtime. The series could be half as long without losing much substance, and it still would capture the discomfort of a band desperately trying to end on a high note. The last hour of the series delights the viewer with footage from The Beatles’ final concert upon the rooftop of Apple Studios in London. The lead up to the showing was messy, with the last-minute venue choice encapsulating the chaos of The Beatles’ last days together. Despite the organizational hurdles, the concert feels playful and irreverent, which was what made these artists famous in the first place. Lindsay-Hogg’s cinematography is phenomenal, from capturing footage of fans climbing to nearby rooftops, to honing in on McCartney’s eyes lighting up as he performs live for the first time in years. There is something profoundly cathartic, as a Beatles fan, to watch them perform “I’ve Got a Feeling” for the last time. It’s no coincidence that Get Back was the album’s working name before it became Let it Be. The docuseries represents the trials and tribulations not only of being in a boy band for nearly a decade, but of realizing that nothing could be done to revive its spirit. The Beatles’ breakup is still widely misunderstood in the media, tainted by false speculation and racist underpinnings of John and Yoko Ono’s relationship. Get Back pulls back the curtain to reveal that no individual or isolated incident, nor problematic bandmate (or partner) alone led to their breakup. The real reason is quite simple: Like most good things, it had to come to an end.

A modern approach to long-form poetry readings Concordia professors read from their new poetry collections Louis Lussier-Piette Staff Writer Content Warning: Mention of suicide On Nov. 26, Concordia professors Jason Camlot and John Emil Vincent held a reading of their new poetry books, Vlarf and Bitter in the Belly, respectively. Hosted by English literature professor Katherine McLoed at Concordia’s 4th Space, the long-form reading was inspired by literary events held in the 1960s at Concordia—then called Sir George Williams University. At the time, authors would read their entire book in front of an audience, often starting in the late evening and going on into the night. Although not quite as ambitious in duration, the event offered its attendees two hours of poetry without pause. To accommodate a wider audience, the university also broadcasted the readings on Zoom and YouTube. John Emil Vincent is a poet and a professor of creative writing at Concordia University. Bitter in the Belly is his most personal poetry book to date, navigating one of his best friends’ suicide in a way that mixes tragedy with absurdity. The many laughs and gasps of the audience throughout his readings attested to Vincent’s skills as an orator and as a writer. When he approached the subject of his

best friend’s premature death, the audience’s gaze remained fixed on the stage, captivated by the candour of his words. His poem “Your Essay on Black Box,” titled after an essay written by his friend before his death, is an homage to their friendship. “There are no expressions the world takes in change until change has passed until the moment relaxes,” Vincent read. “And the world touches its face gingerly.” Jason Camlot took a different approach than his fellow professor. Poet, English pro-

fessor, and research chair in literature and sound studies at Concordia, Camlot brought his scholarly research on 19th-century literature into his book Vlarf, a modern approach to the Victorian poetry canon. Before he started his reading, Camlot asked the audience a question that was on everyone’s mind: What exactly is vlarf? “Wikipedia explains that vlarf poetry was an avant-garde poetry movement of the early 21st century,” Camlot said. “One of their central methods was to mine the internet with odd

Among the poems read at the event, Camlot’s “Fudge in Entropy” and Vincent’s ”Your Essay on Black Box” were particularly loved by the audience. (eventbrite.com)

search terms, then distill the results into often hilarious and sometimes disturbing poems, plays, and other tasks.” Inspired by this modernist trend, Camlot uses techniques such as erasure, bout-rimé, and mimesis to reimagine the works of John Stuart Mill, John Ruskin, and other Victorian thinkers. The work that inspired the cover of Vlarf, and one of the longest poems in the book, is titled “Fudge in Entropy,” a meditative monologue spoken from the voice of a guinea pig, inspired by the works of Robert Browning. The audience laughed as Camlot took on the role of the guinea pig, which narrates its life under the care of its poet-owner. With an absurd tone, the piece explores poetry’s current role in the artistic community. Camlot kept this light-hearted poem for the very end of the event, a perfect conclusion of the two-hour long celebration of poetry. “His poems once were too crowded, now that had to stop,” Camlot read in the guinea pig’s voice, followed by chuckles from the audience. “The painter would make it stop. The overcrowding in his poems was not fatal to people, or to other creatures.” The next poetry event at Concordia’s 4th space will be held on Dec. 1, with readings from poets Caroline Bergvall, Kaie Kellough, and Oana Avasilichioaei.

12 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

arts@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 2021

‘Firebird’ is a stunning, emotionally vulnerable portrait of the cold war

The image+nation Film Festival’s latest pick is worth the watch Charlotte Hayes Contributor Warning: Spoilers ahead For over three decades, the image+nation Film Festival has worked to promote local and international queer filmmakers, and this year is no exception. From Nov. 18-28, the festival played a variety of international 2SLGBTQIA+ films at the Centre PHI, including Firebird, an Estonian film based on Sergey Fetisov’s memoir The Story of Roman, which featured on Nov. 24. This timeless adaptation is a tragic love story with gorgeous cinematography and compelling lead performances. Set on an air force base in Soviet-occupied Estonia, Firebird tells the story of troubled soldier Sergey (Tom Prior), who falls in love with his superior, Roman (Oleg Zagorodnii), while fending off the romantic advances of his friend Luisa (Diana Pozharskaya). The film follows the young couple as they face a multitude of challenges, including the KGB, lofty career goals, and a plane crash. Tested by time, Roman and Sergey’s five-year love story takes them across the Soviet Union, where they

The film’s third act was shot and takes place in Moscow. (eventive.com) fight for their love without being discovered. The film’s highlights are grounded in Prior’s performance. Effortlessly conveying a newfound sense of confidence as Sergey distances himself from his military life, Prior delivers a dynamic performance that matures as time passes in the film. His performance is magnificently complemented by Zagorodnii’s; the two have an electric chemistry that pulls the audience in and leaves them emotionally torn by the end. The instantaneous connection between Sergey and Roman is exhilarating to watch and is never diminished—both actors play their characters with the same love and passion from the moment they meet through to the

end of the film. The film’s cinematography especially stands out. Director of photography Mait Mäekivi takes time to show the beauty of the wartorn Estonian forests throughout the film. Shots linger on subjects and scenery, slowing the film down to allow for a break in dialogue and action. Diverse, changing colour palettes reflect the emotional states of different characters. For example, the lighting grows warmer as Sergey distances himself from his life in the military but darkens when he is pulled back into it during an encounter with an old colleague. The cinematography works in conjunction with Prior’s phenomenal acting to merge character, setting, and time into a visu-

ally stunning experience. The beautiful camera work is complemented by the score and soundtrack. Composer Krzysztof A. Janczak seamlessly integrates the soundtrack into the film to express the intense emotionality of the film. It feels as if the landscapes and score are in perfect harmony, the music corresponding with the changing colour palette and typography. The score is not only emotionally moving but auditorily diverse, making use of a variety of orchestral instruments throughout the film. The constant rotation of instruments perfectly reflects the emotional growth of the characters. The soundtrack adds gags and references that work to alleviate tension and bring a sense of calm or joy to the screen. Firebird may have the best needle-drop of 2021, using “Rasputin” by Boney M. during a scene in the fourth act. Firebird was an exceptional choice on behalf of the festival—the captivating lead performance and eyecatching cinematography will move audiences. Once again, the image+nation Film Festival has delivered an excellent precedent for international queer cinema.

Trivia Night at Gerts

A general trivia night presented by P[h]assion with a secret prize for the winning team of five. RSVP and buy tickets online. Tuesday Nov. 30, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Gerts Bar (3480 Rue McTavish) $10 per person

McGill Jazz Orchestra I Old, New, Borrowed, Blues

An assortment of blues and jazz music performed by McGill musicians. Tickets online or by phone (514-398-4547) Wednesday Dec. 1 7:30 p.m. Pollack Hall (555 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest) $17 for students/seniors, $22 otherwise

Violet Hour (2LGBTQIA+ Book Fair)

A series of readings from various 2LGBTQIA+ authors. Part of a series of bilingual events organized by Fierté Littéraire. In-person and on YouTube. Sunday Dec. 5, 4 p.m. Théâtre La Comédie de Montréal (1113 Boul de Maisonneuve E) Free

NERD OUT! (Open mic)

Otaku Comedy Show and Nerdstock present a nerd-themed open mic show featuring nerdy comedians. Tickets first-come-first-served. (18+) Monday Dec. 6, seating starts at 7:30 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m. Meltdown Bar (2035 Rue St. Denis) Free

‘Reversible Lining’ turns tables while turning heads

Painter Veronika Pausova transforms the observer into the observed

Ella Gomes Contributor

ince Nov. 11, the Bradley Ertaskiran art gallery has been housing Reversible Lining, a solo exhibition by painter Veronika Pausova that draws visitors in by asking them to question their own realities. Combining surrealist whimsy with intricately detailed realism, Pausova carries viewers on a journey that blends truth with fiction while challenging the wandering eyes of a patriarchal society. Pausova is a Prague-born artist, currently working and residing in Toronto, who creates pieces and collections that work with themes of storytelling and narrative. In the case of Reversible Lining, Pausova drew inspiration from a Romantic-era legend closely associated with the creation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. One night, while vacationing together in the Villa Diodati castle in Switzerland, Shelley joined her husband, Percy, and other celebrated artists in a scary story challenge. After becoming too frightened, Percy raced out of the room, claiming to have imagined that one of the women had eyes atop her breasts. Moved by this sublime tale, Pausova jumps into a fascinating exploration of the male gaze and what happens when that judgemental perspective is inverted, shifting the judgement back against the judge. Along the way, she toys with the dichotomy between reality and imagination, teasing its boundary through a combination of realist tech-

Pausova explores representation of the male gaze. (bradleyertaskiran.com) niques and surrealist humour. This juxtaposition comes to life in many forms over the spread of Reversible Lining, playing with the viewer through symbols like expertly painted fingers emerging from garden hoses. The pieces that most directly reference Percy Shelley’s visions showcase simple tank tops resting on hangers, adorned with different ornaments such as eyeballs and flowery tassels resting over the bosom. While the shirts are the subjects of the paintings, these unexpected decorations are what truly captures the viewer’s attention. Pausova markedly references the viewer’s own gaze in a piece depicting a tank-top with moths perched upon the breasts, evoking the age-old expression of “a moth to a flame” in relation to the viewer’s guided attention. Through Pausova’s hand, clothing becomes a back-

ground to attention-grabbing details, facilitating one’s eye straight to the breasts. In doing so, she demonstrates how self-presentation becomes unimportant when the eye already intends to objectify. Absent in every piece are the bodies of those who wear the shirts, perhaps showcasing how the male gaze reduces a human being to only their body. By forcing the viewer to participate in this practice of objectification, Pausova illustrates how ingrained the act is in our society. As she forces readers to confront their own roles in perpetuating the male gaze, Pausova also makes viewers uncomfortable, as eyeballs stare back at visitors from their position on the shirt’s bosom. The stares feel withering, like the eyes are returning any and all judgement. Pausova thus raises the question of what happens when the male gaze is reciprocated. Pieces throughout the exhibit reference other forms of self-presentation. Whether it is chipped nail polish on a toenail or a focussed attention to the design of shoes, these details have a realistic style reminiscent of photography. The photorealistic elements of the paintings coincide with more simple, abstract shapes and lines, leaving viewers puzzled as to whether the piece they are observing is truly a painting or a collage. The destabilized line between art and reality challenges the viewer’s conception of what is objective and subjective. Reversible Lining continues until Dec. 18. The exhibit is open access, and can be found at 3550 Rue Saint-Antoine O, easily accessible through the metro’s green line.

scitech@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 2021

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

No such thing as empty land Agricultural expansion has displaced thousands in South America’s Gran Chaco region Sara Chiarotto O’Brien Contributor

he destruction of the world’s rainforests has long been framed as an environmental problem. Extractive logging, mining, and agricultural practices have led to the loss of millions of acres of wildlife and have emitted massive quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. But for years, activists have argued that there are deep human costs to rainforest destruction as well. Many people who live in these regions have seen their homes destroyed, resources depleted, and lifestyles pushed further to the fringe—all while government and corporate powers dismiss these groups as too small to be worth political consideration. According to a new study published by researchers from Germany, Argentina, the Netherlands, and Canada, including some from McGill, the human costs of deforestation and agricultural expansion in the Gran Chaco region of South America may be even more devastating than initially thought. Using satellite imaging technology, the research group identified and tracked the number of homesteads in South America’s Gran Chaco region over a course of 30 years to trace changes in the number of forest-dependent inhabitants. Between 1985 and 2015, they found that the number of people living in this region declined by 20 per cent, from 28,000 to 23,000 homesteads. Most of the exodus occurred in areas that saw the rapid agricultural expansion of activities like cattle grazing, crop planting, or logging. Yann le Polain de Waroux, an associate professor in McGill’s Department of Geography, explores the way that different social, political, and industrial actors interact at natural frontiers. Le Polain de Waroux has spent time studying different players in the agricultural expansion conflict, looking at both industrial-scale South American farming companies and local Indigenous groups. “I’m interested in spaces where there’s incredible tension between groups with different objectives,” le Polain de Waroux said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. Gran Chaco certainly fits the bill. The region has been a site of intense conflict for decades between industry and forest-dependent peoples, including mestizos, or mixed EuropeanIndigenous homesteaders, and Creole groups, who are the direct descendants of original Spanish settlers who have long traditions of living off the land. Over the last few decades, the amount of uncultivated land in Gran Chaco has dramatically declined. With increased global demand for beef and crops like soy, South American farmers have sought new land to maintain supply. The public narrative surrounding this shift often claimed that these lands belonged to no one, and that there was no harm in converting it to agricultural use. However, le Polain de Waroux points out that this narrative was never based in reality. “These territories have often been constructed by outsiders as empty [land],” le Polain de Waroux said. “This [research] shows that there is a real loss to people when we expand.” Though some of the displacement of forest-dependent peoples is driven by the lack of basic resources like formal education or electricity, as well as the exodus of y o u n g people seeking work in the city, many living in Gran Chaco say the recent intrusion by outsiders is to blame. “The majority perceives it as an attack on their liveli-

hoods and their territories,” le Polain de Waroux said. “Some see [the displacement of forest-dependent peoples] as inevitable, but still as encroachment.” Those most at risk are also those with the least social and political capital are the Indigenous and Creole populations. In recent years, there have been efforts by environmental non-profits and grassroots organizers, such as the World Wildlife Fund and The Nature Conservancy, to preserve the land that these groups depend on. However, le Polain de Waroux maintains that the future of Gran Chaco is uncertain. “In terms of what I think will happen, there’s good reason to think that expansion of cattle lands and croplands will continue at the expense of woodlands,” he said. “[But] there’s also good reason to think there will be some woodlands that will be preserved.” Le Polain de Waroux cited the success of social movements in promoting protective laws, pointing to a landmark 2010 law in Argentina that placed restrictions on the legal methods and limits of clearcutting. Another recent law in Paraguay requires that 25 per cent of all privately owned rural land be kept as forest. Still, will this fragmented land be enough to support communities who depend on it? “It’s extremely hard to say,” said le Polain de Waroux. When it comes to solutions, le Polain de Waroux stressed that preserving the livelihoods of forest-dependent

peoples is not a problem that can be solved through individual action alone. He explained that when responsibility for these problems is shifted to consumers, it can create feelings of guilt that are counterproductive. “These problems are collective action problems,” le Polain de Waroux said. “Perhaps [we should] recognize that some of this is happening and we have zero control over it.” Russian demand for beef and Chinese demand for soy are two major economic factors driving the expansion of South American agriculture, in addition to choices made by Canadian consumers. Ultimately, Le Polain de Waroux believes that change must happen at the institutional level. One way forward is demanding greater transparency in supply chains so that consumers and regulators understand the social and environmental impacts of agricultural products. Demand for agricultural goods is predicted to increase by 70 per cent by 2050. Policy makers and agribusiness will need to innovate their practices in order to meet demand for food without doing further damage to the world’s forests and those who depend on them. “There’s no such thing as empty land,” said le Polain de Waroux. It’s a truth that policy makers would do well to remember.

(firstpost.com)

The number of forest-dependent people living in Gran Chaco declined by 20 per cent from 1985 to 2015, following geographical patterns of agricultural expansion. (Livescience)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

scitech@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 2021

CHIME telescope maps the expanding universe

New telescope at the forefront of dark energy and fast radio burst research Adam Matthews-Kott Staff Writer

n Apr. 28, 2020, an unusually intense fast radio burst (FRB) was detected by the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) telescope located near Penticton, British Columbia. Although it was only partially captured by the telescope, the radio burst was intense enough in magnitude that, according to scientists working on the project, it outpowered the average detected FRB by a factor of 15. Upon detecting the fast radio burst, CHIME observers manually sent out an astronomer’s telegram to other astronomers observing that region of the sky. “[An astronomer’s telegram] is a one-paragraph blurb sent out to the community to basically say ‘hey, I detected something, you guys should point your telescopes at it,’” Paul Scholz, a fellow at the University of Toronto’s Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics, explained to The McGill Tribune. “[Observers using x-ray telescopes] looked back at their data and found that there was also an x-ray event at the time of the fast radio burst.” In conjunction with data other telescopes provided, astronomers discovered that a magnetar located in the Milky Way galaxy was the cause of the fast radio burst. Functionally a neutron star with an immense magnetic field, a magnetar would be capable of producing the type of fast radio burst that CHIME detected. The CHIME telescope itself has a relatively unusual look for a telescope. Resembling four

conjoined halfpipes, CHIME is able to survey a much larger swath of the sky than most other radio telescopes. In addition, the telescope has a broad frequency coverage of 400 to 800 MHz, making CHIME ideal for mapping the presence of hydrogen gas. Since hydrogen gas is the most abundant element in the universe, measuring its expansion rate allows cosmologists to find the expansion rate of the universe itself. “Five to seven billion years ago, [the uni-

change in the expansion history. The way we would like to do that is to measure how fast things are moving and how far away they are, looking back in time.” A side proposal for CHIME was to monitor the radio burst emitted by pulsars visible from the northern hemisphere. Pulsars are neutron stars capable of producing FRBs much like magnetars, but with steady recurring pulses that magnetars lack. However, the project increased in scope,

With the appearance of four conjoined halfpipes, CHIME is one of the select few telescopes off of which Shaun White could do a frontside 900 tail grab. (Dunlap Institute) verse] started accelerating outward. The slowing down diminished and now it’s expanding more rapidly every day,” Mark Halpern, a professor in the physics department at the University of British Columbia, said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “We’re trying to explore this shape

aiming to monitor signals from a wide range of FRBs; the difference was that their origin was completely unknown. “Near the beginning of CHIME, we realized that it would be extremely useful for detecting fast radio bursts,” Scholz explained. “In the decade

before CHIME started up, there had been around 50 FRBs detected. We went from 50 FRBs […] to 500 FRBs in a year.” So far, CHIME has been able to map over 1000 FRBs, including the magnetar detected in April 2020. This has allowed scientists to conclude that magnetars are at least one possible cause for some of the FRBs detected by CHIME. To speed up the identification process, a new system was set up to make the data much more accessible to the wider scientific community. The system, called CHIME VOEvent Service, releases curated samples of the detected FRBs with their original frequency and size. This automation increases the speed at which the detection of fast radio bursts can be communicated to other telescopes, allowing them to work more efficiently with each other. “We can expect many new observations of FRBs to be taken by a variety of telescopes around the world, as they respond to the VOEvent trigger just moments after an FRB occurs,” wrote Andrew Zwaniga, the lead developer of the CHIME/ FRB VOEvent Service and a research assistant in the physics department at McGill, in an email to the Tribune. “This will give a new window into the kinds of signals that may accompany FRBs, such as optical light, X-rays, and gamma-rays. This could be crucial to understanding the engine that produces an FRB.” As it enters its fourth year, the project continues to accumulate data. With every passing year, astronomers get closer and closer to uncovering further glimmers of the mysterious workings of the universe.

Cloudberry 101: The ecology of the urban squirrel A deep dive into the not-so-hidden life of campus squirrels Jackie Lee Copy Editor

lthough the eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is native to eastern North American regions such as Montreal, their adaptive traits allow them to thrive elsewhere, like British Columbia or Europe, where they are categorized as an invasive species. Despite their name, some have dark brown or black coats. But common to each, regardless of colour, is their most notable feature: Big, bushy tails. The etymology of the word “squirrel” comes from the Greek skiouros, from skia, meaning “shadow,” and oura, meaning “tail,” presumably in reference to the shade their fluffy tails cast while they sit with them tucked above their heads. Do they take a winter break? Not quite. Eastern grey squirrels do not hibernate in the winter, but they are less active. They bulk up, eating in excess to put on fat in advance of the colder months to weather frigid nights and foraging sessions. In addition, their fur gets thicker and longer, and they may move from summer leaf nests to insulated dens in the hollows of trees.

Chowing down The eastern grey squirrel has a versatile palate, allowing them to thrive in multiple habitats, including urban ones. As the seasons change, so do their diets. They forage for nuts, seeds, buds, and the flowers of trees, but they are not herbivores, as some might believe—baby birds, eggs, insects and worms are also on the menu. Bird feeders also act as veritable seed buffets, especially in winter when food is scarce. Even as they raid feeders, eastern grey squirrels play an important role in seed dispersal, as they bury more nuts and seeds than they can inevitably eat or recover. Contrary to popular belief, they do not find their stashed goods through memory, but with their highly developed sense of smell. Squirrely behaviour It is also the eastern grey squirrel’s sense of smell that allows them to communicate amongst each other, primarily through twitching and chattering noises. Although generally not aggressive, they are territorial, and will alert nearby squirrels if they sense a predator nearby. Since the eastern grey squirrel can travel up to 25 kilometres an hour, they are often spotted whizzing around campus. The flight initiation distance, or distance from which an animal will

flee from perceived danger, is shorter with urban squirrels because they are more acclimated to the presence of people and are therefore unafraid to get close to humans if it means snagging a snack. What about Cloudberry? Cloudberry is a white squirrel made popular by the McGill reddit page, where students share photos of sightings. In North America, white squirrels are very rare—but most still count as eastern grey squirrels. There are a few different genetic aberrations that can cause the pale coats. Some white squirrels are albinos, meaning they have a mutation on a gene that codes for pigmentation and thus possess red eyes in addition to pale coats. Others are white morphs, who have a different mutated gene which leads to a partial loss of pigmentation, called leucism. Unlike albinos, they retain their black eyes. Cloudberry is not an albino squirrel, but a leucistic one. Run, Cloudberry, run Although leucistic squirrels usually do not survive long in the wild since their white coats make them ultra-visible to predators, many still thrive in urban spaces—and the McGill campus, with its proximity

Squirrels have a one in 100,000 chance of having a white coat. (Corey Zhu / The McGill Tribune) to Mont Royal, green space, and food sources, is no exception. Despite these benefits, the eastern grey squirrel has many defence mechanisms to help protect it from predators. When climbing or descending a tree, they move head first, which allows them to slide inconspicuously around the trunk to keep out

of the sight of danger. Alternatively, they can remain motionless against the bark, which makes them difficult to see. Even if a predator catches them, eastern grey squirrels are willing to lose their tail sheath and some vertebrae to escape. For this reason, it is not uncommon to spot a squirrel with only a partial tail.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 2021

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SPORTS

Under the influence of beer pong Why beer pong is the perfect party game for university students Zoé Mineret Staff Writer

he aromas of warm beer and sweat fill the air as loud cheers regularly erupt from a corner of the party. People rejoice as one team loses, and another team rushes to play against the winners. The festive and joyful atmosphere is the result of a game of beer-pong—a

be played in teams of one, two, or more— friends and strangers alike. A game of beer-pong is also a great way to meet new people. Whether you cannot aim correctly to save your life or you make your shot every time, you’ll either be congratulated by other drunk newbies or receive some well-needed tips from veterans. Just like in other popular games like

The original version of beer pong was invented at Dartmouth College sometime between 1950 and 1960 (Cornhole Worldwide) university classic. Beer pong, also known as “Beirut,” is a timeless party game. All it requires is plastic cups, ping-pong balls, a table, and an endless supply of beer. The game can easily

UNO, players often vehemently disagree about the rules. However, most have a general understanding of its basic tenets: Your shot doesn’t count if your elbow is past the table, and you can ask for the cups

to be rearranged during the game. Common disagreements include whether the other team is allowed to blow on the ball to get it out of the cup, how many balls are allowed during a rebuttal, and whether it counts if a ball bounces before it lands in a cup. Many around campus consider themselves beer pong aficionados and routinely play the game during parties. Marie Delivre, U2 Arts, explained why beer pong is the perfect party activity in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “For me, beer pong is a must-have for any college party,” said Delivre. “It can fulfill so many aspects of having a good party in a single game. Having a beer pong table is an instant facilitator to make friends or drinking buddies. Anyone can join and play as it is a rather easy game with simple rules.” Anyone who has attended parties involving beer pong has witnessed how viciously competitive it can become. During these games, where the fate of your honour and pride are vested in the bounce of an orange ping-pong ball, the ups and downs can bring out a lot of emotion. Octavio Gamet, a U2 Arts student, describes himself as one such fierce competitor. “I love beer pong because it allows me to get drunk while at the same time being able to play a competitive game,” Gamet said in an interview with the Tribune. “When in teams, it creates a group spirit, so we can either win together and scream our heart out when claiming victory, or lose

together and get wasted. A single game is such an emotional roller coaster as any ball thrown has an impact on the game.” Beer pong is a game for all. Everyone has to start somewhere and other players are welcoming to all levels of talent. “A lucky beginner can always have a shot at victory, so the game is not exclusive to students who have experience playing,” Delivre said. The topic of experience brings about the age-old debate of whether beer pong is a game of luck or a game of skill. U1 Engineering student Arno Daskal argues that the game takes a bit of both, and that a little alcohol always helps. “Beer pong definitely requires skill,” Daskal said. “I’ve noticed a huge improvement in my games ever since I started playing more, so I’m sure there is a correlation. However, there is also a fair amount of luck involved.” But not all success comes down to skill, according to Daskal. “The game also needs you to believe in yourself and not be psyched out by the other team. Yet, I’m sure that the biggest impact on performance is not due to skill or luck, but rather due to the amount of alcohol consumed,” he said. When playing your next game of beer pong, remember that you are participating in one of the greatest traditions of higher education. And whether you attribute your talent to luck or skill, remember to keep your elbows behind the table.

Know Your Athlete: Mara Bouchard Bouchard was named 2021 RSEQ women’s soccer conference rookie of the year Adam Menikefs Staff Writer

tarting university is a challenging time of transition for all first-year students, both academically and socially. For student athletes, this period is particularly difficult, as they are presented with the additional challenges of meeting teammates, coaches, and staff that will become critical figures in their daily lives. Mara Bouchard, U1 Arts, is a first-year student on the McGill Martlets soccer team who previously played for Vanier College in Montreal. Despite the barriers that many first-year student athletes face, the midfielder from Granby, Quebec found the adjustment to university life to be smooth and straightforward. “As a rookie and first year on the team, I was very much included by the rest of the players and veterans,” Bouchard said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “I think being from Quebec made it easier to bond with the team, as there are a lot of other members of the squad from

Bouchard was named player of the game six times by the opposing team’s coach (Matt Garies / McGill Athletics) this province.” Bouchard performed well in her rookie season with the Martlets, helping McGill achieve the second best defensive record in the league. Bouchard cited her past experience at the National High Performance Center (CNHP) directed by Soccer Quebec in Montreal as a reason for her success. “Soccer-wise, I thought

it was a great season for me,” Bouchard said. “I was expecting to do well coming from a strong soccer background and playing at CNHP. Especially for my first year, I ended up in a place that I was happy with.” The Martlets had an especially impressive showing this season given the larger share of newcomers to the team. The squad placed third in the RSEQ,

finishing the year with a 7–4–3 record. Although the Martlets fell short in the playoff semi-final game against Université Laval, they ended the season on a hot streak, winning their final four of five regular season matches. In Bouchard’s eyes, this late-season push proved the team successfully achieved their goal for the season. “The result of the semi-final against Laval was obviously not the one we had hoped for,” Bouchard said. “Our goal [for] the year was to become the most improved team. I think we accomplished and proved our goal to everyone, including ourselves.” Heading into the Fall 2022 season, Bouchard is optimistic about the team’s future and is looking forward to building on this past year’s momentum. “This year, finishing third was certainly a success for the program, particularly given the shortcomings of the recent past,” Bouchard said. “Our objective for next year is to continue to improve and earn a playoff spot once again. Our coaches have done an excellent job so far in my time here, and I know they

are going to push us further to properly develop our individual and team play while we all progress toward the ultimate goal of a championship.” Off the pitch, Bouchard is halfway through her first year as a psychology major. However, Bouchard’s top priority after university is to continue pursuing her love of and passion for the beautiful game. “After McGill, I definitely want to keep playing soccer,” Bouchard said. “I am hoping I can find a pro contract in Europe somewhere and hopefully play professionally for a few years after I graduate. If this plan does not work, I will use my degree to pursue my goal of becoming a psychologist. I would love to be employed in this field in the future, and am enjoying studying the subject so far here at university.” Next August, training camp will build upon the strong bonds forged between players and coaches throughout this season. Bouchard looks to lead the midfield next season amongst a dedicated squad that is poised to improve on this season’s success.

SPORTS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30 2021

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Know Your Athlete: Jamal Mayali

Mayali represented Palestine in the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Karan Kumar Contributor

amal Mayali, a fifth-year Political Science student, was named the McGill athlete of the week on Nov. 15 after steering the Redbird basketball team to a win in their opening game of the RSEQ season against Concordia. In 29 minutes of court time, he made nine of 16 field goal attempts and six of 12 attempted three-pointers. With this impressive game record, Mayali is a player to look out for on the Redbirds squad this season. As a product of Bill Crothers Secondary School, a prestigious sports academy in the Greater Toronto Area, Mayali arrived wellsuited to his position on the McGill team. The academy has a gifted athlete program, which exposes students to job opportunities in a variety of sports fields such as management, promotions, coaching, and health sciences. “I learned a lot [at Bill Crothers] from the coaching staff to older veteran players. [The school] helped me to get [attention] from university schools [across Canada],” Mayali said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. After graduating from Bill Crothers in 2017, Mayali enrolled at McGill and has played basketball

for the Redbirds since his first year. Last year, he was also awarded the opportunity to play overseas for the Palestinian National Basketball team in the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup. The opportunity to play in the Asia Cup was a culmination of Mayali’s childhood dream of representing the Palestinian National Basketball team. “The [Palestine Basketball] Federation has been reaching out to me for a couple of years now. [However], I didn’t have time to play for them before as I was in university,” Mayali said. “The pandemic presented an opportunity to play overseas [as the RSEQ season was suspended].” University can be tough to navigate, especially for student athletes. The academic demands and the athleticism required to play varsity sports can take a toll on one’s mind and body. Mayali was honest in admitting his journey at McGill as a student athlete has not been easy. “[To be a student athlete] is tough, I wouldn’t lie to you,” Mayali said. “We practice almost twice a day, six to seven days a week, and with school you have to be able to manage that too.” Apart from basketball, Mayali has a keen passion for martial arts. He competed in boxing as a child and even wanted to pursue it as a

The President of the Palestine Basketball Federation, Ibrahim Habbash, reached out to Mayali’s mother about having him on the team. (Jamal Mayali) career at one point. However, given the full-time demand of the sport, Mayali, on the advice of his mother, decided to pursue basketball and has kept the childhood passion at bay—for now . “[My mother] said, ‘You got to get a degree first and maybe after school [you can consider] fighting again,’” Mayali recalled. As a student athlete, Mayali sees sports, and in particular, team

sports, as an important part of university life. “Individual sports are great, and you learn a lot of things from them, but [the skills] you learn from team sports apply a lot to the real world,” Mayali said. “There are a lot of things only sports can teach us.” The troika motivating Mayali to play basketball at the varsity level is his country, his parents,

and his teammates. “[To play for] my country Palestine motivates me [along with] the commitment that my parents have put into me and supporting my goals since I was young, and my teammates,” Mayali said. To him, the Redbirds Basketball team is “kind of like an army regiment—you are fighting for the guy next to you.”

Martlet Volleyball ends 2021 on a high note, beating Laval 3-2 The McGill women’s team have won four of their last five matches Ali Jaara Contributor Continued from page 1. “For the last two weeks, we really concentrated on defence, being aggressive on the first contact, and improving serves,” Robitaille said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “Last month, when we faced Laval, our serves were easy to return so

Eight players between the two teams reached double digits in points, potentially the most ever recorded during a McGill league game (Matt Garies / McGill Athletics)

they were in control. It was a great win tonight and the goal is to continue to practice a lot and to fight, be present, and stay together.” The match was a hard-fought battle that sent spectators on an emotional roller coaster. The Martlets came out strong in the first set with a quick 6-3 lead, sparking confidence in the team as they dominated the set 25-17. The second set proved to be a closer competition as the Rouge et Or adjusted—the two teams were neck-and-neck. The Martlets were relentless as their eyes glared with hunger for victory. However, after a Laval time-out, the Rouge et Or regrouped and came out to win the second set 26-24. With the teams tied 1-1, McGill found a way to break through Laval’s defence, which led to a dominant 25-13 set win for the Martlets. Second-year setter Audrey Trottier had a great impact in the third set, making an amazing block followed by a spike of her own, leading Laval to call another timeout. Though McGill was looking for the game-winning set in the fourth, the Rouge et Or fought hard to stay in the game. Miscommunication from the Martlets resulted in a 2624 Rouge et Or set win to force a fifth set. Nevertheless, the Martlets proved that they came to win as they maintained a lead throughout the whole set (15-12) to seal their seventh win of the season. Two incredible performances paved the way for the Martlet victory: Charlene Robitaille had herself a game, stacking 15 kills with a whopping 0.414 hitting percentage along with four aces. Victoria Iannotti, a third-year software engineering student and power-hitter for the team, led the team with 19 kills on a 0.372 hitting percentage and 16 digs. Coach Béliveau was pleased with the team’s performance, but noted that there is always room for improvement.

“Today my team did an outstanding job on defence, it was amazing,” Béliveau said. “We still have a lot to improve. I am happy with our serving. Our digs were good today but I think we can do a little better towards the centre of the court eventually. I am happy to see improvements in aspects that we worked on.” The Martlets will now have a little over a month off from competition before taking on first-place Sherbrooke on Jan. 7.

MOMENT OF THE GAME Third-year Victoria Iannotti buried a huge spike at the end of the fifth set to clinch the win for the Martlets.

QUOTABLE “For many players, because of the pandemic, it was their first time stepping on the court. They did really well under this pressure and I am happy we came out with the victory.” -Coach Béliveau on the team’s performance.

STAT CORNER The team had a season-high 57 kills and 73 total points.