The McGill Tribune Vol. 41 Issue 25 by The Tribune

M CG I L L T R I B U N E H E T

t a s i n s c e

Vol 41 Issue 25 | Apr 5, 2022 Published by the SPT, a student society of McGill University mcgilltribune.com | @mcgilltribune

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 Sepideh Afshar, Aubrey Quinney & Matthew Molinaro opinion@mcgilltribune.com Science & Technology Editors Adam Matthews-Kott & Shafaq Nami 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 Sarah Farnand & Sophia Gorbounov sports@mcgilltribune.com Design Editors Jinny Moon & Xiaotian Wang design@mcgilltribune.com Photo Editor Anoushka Oke photo@mcgilltribune.com Multimedia Editor Wendy Lin multimedia@mcgilltribune.com Web Developers Abby de Gala & Sneha Senthil webdev@mcgilltribune.com Copy Editor Jackie Lee copy@mcgilltribune.com 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

TRIBUNE OFFICE 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by the Tribune Publication Society to be libellous, sexist, racist, homophobic or solely promotional in nature will not be published.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.

Table of contents 4

News

Opinion

Feature

Photos

Student Life

Cartoon

Science & Technology

Arts & Entertainment

Sports

Thank you The McGill Tribune would like to sincerely thank all of the Contributors, Staff, and Editors who have been involved with the paper this year. Whether you contributed by writing articles, chasing breaking news, taking photos, filming videos, or creating illustrations, your hard work has made the Tribune a better newspaper. Despite the uncertainty and strain of the pandemic, your enthusiasm and drive kept us excited and inspired. It is without a doubt a challenge to balance extracurricular activities on top of academic work, so you should all be proud of your contributions this year, no matter your level of involvement. To all our graduates: We wish you the best of luck and hope that the experiences you had at the Tribune stay with you. For those returning in the Fall—whether you contributed once or every single week— we hope to work with you again soon. It is always a privilege to tell stories and immerse ourselves in the vibrant McGill community. To all those who have shared their stories with us— thank you for trusting us. To our readers and the student body—thank you for giving us feedback and engaging with our content. The Tribune is beyond grateful for your continued support of fearless independent student journalism.

Staff Sehrish Ahmed Ghazal Azizi Valentina de la Borbolla Léa Bourget Tillie Burlock El Bush Autumn Chu Elissa Dresdner Mika Drygas Sébastien Géroli Saumya Gogte Suzanna Graham Bronte Grimmer Karthikeya Guatam Charlotte Hayes Rose Kaissar Arian Kamel

Leo Larman Brown Shani Laskin Elena Lee Louis Lussier-Piette Dima Kiwan Abby McCormick Adam Menikefs Zoe Mineret Juliet Morrison Sara Chiarotto O’Brien Mikaela Shadick Erin Smith Courtney Squires Niamh Stafford Dante Ventulieri Corey Zhu

Contributors Anna Berglas Ella Gomes Signy Harnad Paulina Kasak Chloé Kichenane Crystal Lin Sabrina Nelson

Joseph Pappas Adrienne Roy Brian Schatteman Kimaya Tekade Osman Varsi Monty Weatherall

THE MCGILL TRIBUNE EDITORIAL BOARD

news@mcgilltribune.com | NEWS

MUNACA to vote on whether to strike following McGill’s proposal to reduce salary increases

Union will hold vote on April 6

Leo Larman Brown Staff Writer

cGill University’s Non-Academic Certified Association (MUNACA), a union that represents approximately 2,000 support staff employees, such as laboratory assistants and service representatives, will vote whether to go on strike on April 6. This is after McGill proposed measures that would decrease members’ pay increases that were negotiated in the previous collective agreement (CA). The previous CA expired in November 2018, and the two parties have yet to come to an agreement on a new one. The announcement to put a strike to vote comes amidst a strike by floor fellows, who are represented by the Association of McGill University Support Employees (AMUSE). MUNACA members receive two forms of salary increases. The first increase

compensates for inflation. The second, called a step increase, is when employees do not get their full salary when they first get the job, instead agreeing to receive a 2.97 per cent increase yearly, capped at 12 years—when employees would reach the maximum salary set by the CA. McGill has proposed a reduction of the step increase to 1.97 per cent and a lower top salary. According to MUNACA representatives, the proposal would result in members earning less money per year, and step increases being eliminated for those who have reached the newly proposed top salary—even if they were scheduled to receive more according to the previous CA. McGill has stated that the pay decreases will allow the university to raise the base salary of lower-earning MUNACA members. Thomas Chalmers, MUNACA president, told The McGill Tribune that it was these measures that

prompted MUNACA members to vote on a strike mandate. “The disrespect has to stop,” Chalmers said. “If not, then the ultimate tool we have is a strike mandate [....] It’s a misnomer that unions want to go on strike: They don’t. It’s disruptive, it’s difficult, but at times, and this is one of them, it’s the right thing to do, to stand up and say you can’t treat us like shit.” Nancy Crowe, MUNACA vice-president labour relations, believes McGill’s justification—compromising certain MUNACA members’ salary increases for lowerearners—is unfair, and ultimately unbelievable, considering how well some top McGill administrators are paid. “There were decisions made to pay Suzanne [Fortier] and not others,’’ Crowe said. “Their priority becomes clear.” Fortier was paid over $860,000 dollars last year. In a statement to The

McGill Tribune, Frédérique Mazerolle, a McGill media relations officer, stated that the university believes its offer to MUNACA employees is fair and covers inflation by allowing for an average salary increase of 21 per cent over the 5 year period the new CA would cover. “In January 2022, discussions continued, now in the presence of a conciliator [and] on March 10, 2022, McGill presented its latest offer,” Mazerolle wrote. “Despite this, on March 28, 2022, the McGill administration was informed that the union will seek a strike mandate from its members.” Chalmers, however, believes that McGill’s proposed changes are dishonest and that the step increase is not a salary increase because employees will earn less than a full salary when they begin working. “You don’t get paid the amount of the position right away, you have to go through

McGill Residences face COVID-19 surge as preventative measures loosen up

Some floor fellows and students raise concerns at McGill’s management

Sabrina Nelson Contributor

TUESDAY, APRIL 5 2022

etween March 20 and 26, McGill reported 473 COVID-19 cases on campus, an increase of 330 from the previous week. Along with the rise in cases, many preventative measures are being lifted by both the Quebec government and McGill. After the province disabled the vaccine passport application, McGill announced it would drop vaccine passports at McGill starting March 28, and that all in person final exams would go ahead as scheduled. Starting April 1, McGill will also be consolidating rapid testing in residences into a single site at Carrefour Sherbrooke. Previously, there were four sites—Carrefour Sherbrooke, New Residence Hall, McConnell Hall, and Macdonald Campus Laird Hall—and rapid testing was only available for symptomatic students living in residence. On the McGill subreddit, students and floor fellows living in residences have expressed concern regarding the sudden increase in cases and the lack of preventative action taken by the university. Christian Tonnesen, vice-president floor fellow, suspects that the number of cases reported by McGill is not representative

of the actual number of COVID-19 cases within the campus community, noting that students often do not inform McGill of their positive test results. “I have had many floor fellows approach me and let me know that they suspect, and/or have often been told, that a majority of their students have COVID-19, or have been in close contact with someone who does have it,” Tonnesen wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune. “It strikes me as ironic that for an institution that was very hardline on COVID-19 and took many precautions regarding isolating students and relocating them last year, to have them throw up their hands and say, ‘Welp, we tried, but there are not enough rooms. Good luck everyone.’” Nina McConnell, a U1 Economics student living in New Residence, approves of McGill’s management of the new wave. For her, tight restrictions at the start of the year, like visitor limits, made socializing difficult and felt arbitrary at times. “I appreciate the loosening up of the restrictions even despite what’s going on,” McConnell said. “There was a period when it was a little scary when they were out of isolation rooms in residence, but other than that I think they’ve been handling it pretty well. We still need to mask, we still go

down to the dining hall and are distanced. But I think, overall, it’s better to manage it this way than to have the extremely tight restrictions that were happening at the beginning of the year when there were less cases.” Dr. Anne Gatignol, a professor in the Department of Medicine at McGill, believes that loosening restrictions will increase contamination, which she believes is inevitable at some point. Nevertheless, given that so many students have been contracting COVID-19, Gatignol encourages students to take precautions to protect themselves against the new variant and other respiratory infections. “If you remove the mask, you increase the circulation of all respiratory viruses, and we already see an increase in flu and colds due to many other viruses,” Gatignol said. “As SARS-CoV2 Omicron BA.2 variant circulates and is more contagious than the original Omicron, it would be much better to keep masks on most of the time when distancing is not possible. It would protect against COVID, but also against the flu and other respiratory infections.” Frédérique Mazérolle, media relations officer at McGill, wrote to the Tribune that McGill had revised its protocols in residence to support student

“McGill is punishing loyalty,” said Thomas Chalmers. (montreal.ctvnews.ca) these steps to get to the value of that position,” Chalmers said. “We understand that it takes time for people to learn the job [...] but it’s disingenuous to say that you’re covering inflation.” Floor fellows, represented by AMUSE, went on strike for similar reasons; however, AMUSE President James Newman cited that a lack of respect was also a central reason. “What it came down to was an issue of respect. Throughout the negotiations there was a very strong lack of it,” Newman said. “You can see they’re doing the exact same thing to MUNACA.”

safety in light of the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in Quebec. She explained that appropriate measures will remain in place, and that McGill will remain vigilant as the pandemic evolves. “We urge students that test positive to continue isolating in their rooms and to report their test results to the McGill Case Management group. In the event that our self-isolation rooms reach capacity, and in order to accommodate all students in residence, a new room may be temporarily assigned if necessary,” Mazérolle wrote. “If there is increased demand in the future for rapid testing in residences, we will ensure that testing is ramped up to meet capacity.” Tonnesen believes that the current measures McGill has implemented to tackle the surge are insufficient. As a result, he explained, floor fellows have had to work with students to create their own COVID-19 safety measures as best as they can. “Since McGill is failing to act, there are groups of students and floor fellows in residences with shared bathrooms who have had to do the work McGill hasn’t, such as creating ‘COVID’ and ‘NON-COVID’ sinks and bathrooms in residences with shared facilities or organizing food delivery,” Tonnesen wrote. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say McGill has weighed the pros and cons and decided that the COVID disaster in residence will hopefully pass with minimal media coverage and is therefore not worth the financial cost of ensuring the bare minimum safety requirements for students and floor fellows.”

SSMU BoD meeting dominated by discussions about McGill Palestine Solidarity Policy MRO Elena Lee Staff Writer

he Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Board of Directors (BoD) convened on March 31 with all directors present except vice-president (VP) Student Affairs Claire Downie. Downie had submitted her notice of resignation to the SSMU leadership and campus media outlets earlier in the day, explaining that her resignation was due to the SSMU’s harmful work environment. SSMU president Darshan Daryanani presented a working document with a timeline of events, beginning March 21 with the adoption of the Palestine Solidarity Policy and ending with the March 29 meeting between himself, VP finance Eric Sader, VP student life Karla Heisele Cubilla, and Deputy Provost Fabrice Labeau. Daryanani clarified in an email to the Tribune that the discussion with

Director Coussa reminded those in attendance that SSMU’s mission, which the Legislative Council and the Board are mandated to respect, includes divesting for human rights as per the 2021 Divest for Human Rights Policy. (Azwar Ali / The McGill Tribune)

Labeau featured the Palestine Solidarity Policy, the notice of default, the MoA, and the MRO. The SSMU is still in its 30-day grace period regarding the notice of default and in the process of reviewing the remedies requested by McGill before taking any formal steps. Daryanani also thanked the Legislative Council for passing a motion regarding McGill’s MRO at its March 24 meeting and announced that the executive committee approved $5,000 on March 28 to retain legal counsel regarding the official notice of default. The SSMU leadership further expressed their intent to uphold student democracy, evidenced by two statements to the McGill community following the March 24 MRO email. In the question period following Daryanani’s executive committee report and announcement, Director Yara Coussa asked Daryanani if there was a precedent for McGill using MRO communications to publicly pressure SSMU. “Yes, the MRO has been used as a tool to inform SSMU,” Daryanani said. “[On November 28] 2019, [Labeau] came to Legislative Council and spoke publicly regarding a particular motion, [the Motion Regarding Free Trip Offers to Student Leaders], and once the motion was adopted by the Legislative Council, the deputy provost also sent an email to the student body.” All of the Legislative Council motions on the agenda were promptly ratified with unanimous approval. The remainder of the Board’s public session was dominated by discussions about Coussa’s motion to publish the Legislative Council-mandated statement by April 5. In

SSMU executive requirements pose unique challenges for international students

SSMU constitution conflicts with immigration laws and student status Juliet Morrison Staff writer

summer, Daryanani was informed by the Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) Fabrice Labeau that doing so would violate section 11.4 of the Society’s Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with McGill, which stipulates that officers of the Association must be undergraduate students. “Unfortunately, this placed me in a vulnerable situation as not complying with this would have led to a default of the Memorandum, which is dangerous for the SSMU,” Daryanani wrote in an email to the The McGill Tribune. “I faced a dilemma with SSMU, having to request for [its maximum credit] requirement to be waived. Ultimately, SSMU and McGill’s rules are inconsistent [with the government’s] and have resulted in major challenges and barriers.” In an email to the Tribune, the associate director of

SOUNDBITE “I would encourage all directors to vote in favour of this statement pending the approval of legal, because I think that as directors we have a duty to SSMU and SSMU’s mission, and our long-term stability as a Society depends on our ability to carry out our mission. That’s not something we’ll be able to do if we are dependent on the university. It’s our duty as directors to approve this motion in order to send out a message that we are independent from the university, and we have agency, and that we take a stance against this form of pressure.” —Director Coussa during the debate period on the ratification of the motion regarding the Legislative Council-mandated statement against the MRO.

International Student Services, Anastasia Koutouzov, stated that international students face distinctive challenges if they wish to become SSMU executives because of immigration requirements. “Student executive positions at McGill require a major time commitment, and some students choose to pursue their studies part-time while serving in these roles,” Koutouzou wrote. “This option isn’t available to international students, as they are required by Immigration policies to remain full-time throughout the duration of their studies (except for their last term).” According to the MoA renewed in 2019, McGill must “ensure the availability” of up to 12 academic credits to SSMU directors and officers that count toward their degrees. These credits are registered as “independent reading and research” courses or an equivalent on academic transcripts. The provision allows executives to only take independent study courses during their tenure so they can focus on their duties for the SSMU while respecting minimum course credit requirements.

Discussing the importance of international students in student government, Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) president Adin Chan, U3 Arts, emphasized the makeup of international students in the McGill body. “We have multiple international students on executive both this year and in years past,” Chan wrote in an email to the Tribune. “[International students] bring a unique perspective that is often missing in student government. In order for our student governments to be representative of our student body, it is crucial that international students, who make up approximately 30 per cent of the McGill student body, are also meaningfully represented in the executives of student associations.”

Another barrier for international students is that they are not allowed to serve as a Director on the Board of Directors (BoD), primarily because of Quebec laws around liquor permits and the BoD’s governance over Gert’s. (Madison EdwardWright / The McGill Tribune)

TUESDAY, APRIL 5 2022

nternational students holding an executive position in the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) face significant challenges due to conflicting credit requirements imposed by Quebec immigration laws and the SSMU constitution. To contend with their 40 to 70 hour weekly workload, SSMU requires executives to drop to part-time status, enrolling in a maximum of one or two classes per semester. However, this contradicts the Certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) requirement that international students must maintain full-time student status during their studies—the equivalent of a minimum of 12 credits per semester. These restrictions have deterred international students

from running for SSMU executive positions in the past. Adhering to SSMU’s requirements can jeopardize future renewals of study permits and even, depending on the situation, put international students at risk of deportation. As an international student from Indonesia, SSMU president Darshan Daryanani, U3 Arts, has experienced challenges with the conflicting SSMU and immigration requirements. Daryanani was supposed to graduate at the end of the Summer 2021 term, before he assumed the role of SSMU president. He intended to take up his position at the SSMU after having completed his undergraduate degree, and use a post-graduate work permit that would have allowed him to work at the Society without having to take any courses. However, at the end of the

MOMENT OF THE MEETING During the question period, council representative Mary Zhang asked the Board if Downie’s resignation could have been prevented, and how they plan to mitigate the vacancy. Delouvrier responded that he was saddened to hear of Downie’s resignation, and that he would answer objectively by directly quoting Downie’s letter, in which she said the resignation was preventable.

NEWS | news@mcgilltribune.com

Concerns abound over legality of SSMU’s potential actions against notice of default and the MRO

a lengthy debate period, directors and members of the gallery alike expressed concerns over the back-and-forth between the university and SSMU escalating into a costly legal feud. The motion was ultimately ratified after the addition of three amendments regarding a legal review of the statement before its publication. “As a director, I feel strongly about legal consultation on [SSMU’s statement in response to the MRO],” said Charlotte Gurung, a Council representative to the Board. “I do think the statement is great, but I think that we’re in a precarious situation with McGill, and just because they have made a public statement, and that is potentially a misstep for them, I don’t think we need to be justifying us making a public statement without legal consultation because that could just as well be a misstep for us.”

news@mcgilltribune.com | NEWS

Tribune Explains

McGill’s Office of First Nations and Inuit Education

McGill partnerships with Indigenous education authorities bring in-community programs to adult learners Shani Laskin Staff Writer

cGill’s Office for First Nation and Inuit Education (OFNIE), nested under the Department of Integrated Studies in Education and part of the university’s Faculty of Education, has been in operation since 1975. In the decades since its inception, the office has amassed partnerships with five different Indigenous education organizations across Quebec: The Cree School Board, Kativik Ilisarniliriniq, the Listuguj Education Training and Employment Directorate, the Kahnawà:ke Education Centre, and the Naskapi Education Committee. Currently, the office provides six in-community postsecondary programs, including certificates in education, Indigenous language and culture, and Bachelors of Education degrees.. Assistant director Jim Howden remarked that despite its age, it is often underappreciated at McGill. “We are probably one of the best-kept secrets here at McGill,” said Howden.

What are the office’s current priorities? The office is always working to improve its current programs as well as expand them to other communities and more students. In an interview with The McGill Tribune, Howden noted that the Listuguj Education Training and Employee Directorate had its first graduating

class in the Bachelor of Education First Nations and Inuit program in 2020. The four-year program graduated 15 students. Its success influenced the Kahnawà:ke Education Centre to create a similar program with OFNIE for their students. These programs, Howden explained, are useful in providing a path for Indigenous people to become educators in their own communities. “And that’s a truly remarkable feat,” said Howden. “Because, it’s creating Indigenous teachers for Indigenous children in Indigenous communities, and so there’s less need for non-Indigenous teachers like myself.” Greta Cheechoo, director of education services at the Cree School Board and graduate of two programs partnered with OFNIE, spoke to the Tribune about the value of offering Bachelor of Education programs. “The programs help the communities to have [many] qualified and competent teachers to teach in our schools,” said Cheechoo.

What do OFNIE partnerships bring to Indigenous communities? Many of the students pursuing Bachelors of Education or education certificates with OFNIE are adult learners going back to school. Bethany Douglas, a postsecondary counsellor for the Kahnawà:ke Education Centre, explained the significance of having in-community education opportunities as opposed to programs offered on a university campus. For Douglas, the urgency,

Tribune Explains

Winter 2022 exams amid sixth wave of COVID-19

Despite the increasing number of COVID cases, McGill says safety measures are sufficient Joseph Pappas Contributor

TUESDAY, APRIL 5 2022

cGill’s Winter 2022 final exams will take place in a hybrid format from April 13 to 29, amid increasing COVID-19 cases and waning restrictions. Experts say that Quebec is officially in a sixth wave fuelled by the highly contagious BA.2 subvariant, a trend evident in McGill’s rising case numbers. At the same time, Quebec is standing by its plan to end restrictions and begin “living with the virus.” McGill, for its part, has rolled back measures like the vaccine passport and strict isolation for those who test positive in residences. The McGill Tribune looked into the updated exam procedures that students can expect for Winter 2022 exams.

What are the distancing and masking guidelines for exam rooms? Students are required to wear masks for the entirety of their exams. According to Frédérique Mazerolle, McGill media relations officer, “Ventilation in exam rooms

McGill maintains that it will apply the lessons the admin has learned throughout the pandemic to their decisions regarding the Winter 2022 Final Exam period. (Corey Zhu / The McGill Tribune)

has been verified based on room capacities. In some cases, rooms are at reduced capacity based on ventilation assessments.” Mazerolle emphasized that members of the McGill community can feel safe writing in-person final exams due to these ventilation measures, as well as McGill’s over 96 per cent vaccination rate, as of April 2022. What should students do if they test positive for COVID-19 before an exam? Just like the Fall 2021 semester, students are directed to fill out the COVID-19 accommodation form and isolate for the required five-day period if they test positive. Those who test positive may not attend inperson exams, and should seek alternate accommodations

uniqueness, and usefulness of the partnership with McGill allows these groups to offer the degrees in their students’ communities. “Our cohort is made up of primarily mature learners, adult students who are returning to school after being out of the school system for a few years. Many have families of their own and have been working in the field of education already for a number of years,” said Douglas. “It would be impossible for most, if not all, our students, to leave full-time jobs to attend post-secondary full time. Our program is in-community, with community instructors as much as possible, so our students have access to a unique program that isn’t found on any [other] campus.” OFNIE meets annually with a steering committee that provides feedback and guides the office in course delivery and successful programming. Howden emphasized that the partnership between McGill and the associated education organizations is collaborative. “We co-create,” said Howden. “We don’t parachute in with the BA program [....] It truly is a discussion working through and creating new courses.”

What role do Indigenous leaders take in these partnered degrees? While the number varies depending on the partnership, many of OFNIE’s program instructors are Indigenous. Howden spoke to the importance of highlighting Indigenous knowledge and leadership in course delivery. “There’s a lot more Indigenous knowledge that is brought in, there’s a lot more of the beliefs and values of the community,” said Howden. “We work with the communities, scholars, knowledge holders, and elders in some situations where they deliver the course. We encourage and welcome the McGill presence at every step of the way. But we also favour the Indigenous instructors that know the culture that know the programs that know the children.”

including deferred exams or supplemental exams when necessary. Students should also report any COVID-19 cases to McGill’s Case Management Group. What are the accommodations available to students who cannot attend an in-person exam? Those who cannot go to inperson exams, for any reason, are encouraged to email their instructors to explain their situation as soon as possible. Students can also apply for deferred exams, approvals for which are not always guaranteed and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. While the university continues to offer accommodations for healthrelated issues, according to the dean of students, online exams will not be offered as an alternative to in-person exams when students are unable to attend, so students should plan to be in Montreal for any in-person exams. Are accommodations available for students with ongoing health issues? According to Robin Beech,

McGill’s dean of students, students with ongoing health issues are expected to have already completed the COVID-19 Academic Accommodations Request Form on Minerva, and to have sent the relevant medical documentation to the Office of Students with Disabilities. For immunocompromised students who have not yet filled out the accommodations form, it is recommended to contact the Office of the Dean of Students as soon as possible. Mazerolle maintained that McGill has learned to quickly adapt to the changing circumstances of the pandemic, and that the health and wellbeing of the community remain the university’s top priorities. The dean of students, Robin Beech, encourages students with questions regarding final exams or COVID-19 procedures to reach out to his office at deanofstudents@mcgill.ca. Additionally, students should report their COVID-19 cases directly to McGill’s Case Management Group at 514398-2920.

Campus conversations: Resistance to an end, I can confidently say that I am still the surface in 2020. Take how in the span of four building that home, brick by brick. McGill threw days, and in the height of the Black Lives Matter a whole set of challenges my way, which I only uprisings, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau paused Sepideh Afshar overcame with the help of friends and a partner for 21 seconds in front of journalists and kneeled in Opinion Editor in crime. Throughout the process of overcoming front of his workspace––or rather, Parliament Hill. Resistance, to me, is to be vocal about the experiences of gender dysphoria and internalized Not real: These actions, performed for happinessinjustices you see and experience. For about oppression, I have learnt that resistance comes in focussed and order-seeking Canadians, symbolize a year, I was part of a sorority at McGill. In this more shapes than one. how catering resistance to an audience undermines predominantly white space, I found myself silenced At first, I believed resistance was only needed radical, meaningful measures. concerning the overt racism I was experiencing. I in the face of harmful social constructions which This resistance is performative, self-serving, felt that my whole social circle, which was primarily marginalized individuals like myself. I learnt of narrow-minded, superficial, exclusive, static. They made up of people in Greek life, would ostracize gender fluidity and found a meaningful connection tell you if you want to see fake resistance, go to me if I spoke out about the way I was personally with not only the non-binary Twitter leftists, or washed experiencing the institutionalized racism I had been label, but a whole set of up celebrities, policing each I wonder if I’m a fake so vocal about in the past. I put so much effort into theories linked to the topic, other over terms that will be resistor. Elite univertrying to justify my silence to myself, effectively such as gender performativity. irrelevant in 10 years; look sity life intentionally voiding the sorority girls and advisors around me I saw gender everywhere and at your radicalized, convoyseparates itself from of any responsibility. For months, I was wracked worked tirelessly to unlearn supporting high school with guilt. I felt personally responsible for the the wrongs I saw all around classmate’s Instagram grassroots organizracism any marginalized people joining the sorority me. Throughout my second stories; scroll through your ing. I’m still navigatmight face––because at that point, I had become year of university, my passion family members’ Facebook. ing what it is to exist the token person of colour. I had students telling for gender and sexuality rights The results jar you, and in all-Black spaces me they felt safe joining because of my presence burned and I felt restless to shortages of fake resistance one day, and spaces and the positive experience I painted sorority life change the world. are yet to be seen in this where I’m the only to be. Over time, this guilt wore me down and took Midway through my third stage of the pandemic. one the next. a real toll on my mental health. I had joined with year, however, I began to feel I wonder if I’m a fake a fierce confidence that I could eradicate racism in a growing pressure in my mind resistor. Elite university Alpha Phi, naive to the institutionalized racism I to unlearn all the progressive conceptions I had life intentionally separates itself from grassroots was unprepared to tackle. It was only when I was newly built. It became increasingly hard to not organizing. I’m still navigating what it is to exist disciplined, partly for the pro-Palestine content on see genders walking down the street. Especially in all-Black spaces one day, and spaces where my Instagram, that I realized the fiery resistance as my classes became more specialized, my I’m the only one the next. The stories of racism I had in me when I joined the sorority had turned understanding of how the problematic world and microaggressions I’ve dealt with at McGill to complicity. So I resisted in worked took a toll on my and in my lifetime are far too common, too easy the only way I could think of: optimism. An anger roared to overcome to make me a real resistor––even Silent resistance, esSpeaking out. inside me; I was constantly if they’re wrong, everyone knows questions pecially concerning I posted about my having to choose between like ‘what are you,’ ‘where are you really from’; issues that so many negative experiences on fight or flight. Only those everyone knows that no one, from the state to social media and made sure closest to me would hear private business owners, leaves Black men alone, work hard to bury, is everybody around me knew society get the better of me unsupervised, uncontrolled. We begin to have not enough. When I of the terrible things I faced when I pondered escaping to nothing left to do but laugh and indulge in fake finally felt confident while part of Alpha Phi. Bermuda. resistance. I tell myself it’s natural to think that. enough to speak on Silent resistance, especially On top of societal The words of others, the people whose my experience, it was concerning issues that so expectations chipping away at resistance is as real as it comes, give me solace in not just for myself. many work hard to bury, is me, gender dysphoria started these doubts. The masterful Toni Morrison reminds not enough. When I finally felt to creep back into my life, us that we should insist on being shocked, on never confident enough to speak on my experience, it and this time, in one of the most intimate areas— being immune, on being surprised at the success of was not just for myself. My goal was not to receive sex. I have felt dysphoria with my upper body for racist systems. The fact that fake resistance even an apology or to get revenge on an organization several years. It was only when I met my partner becomes common suggests an immunity that took so much away from me––I just could not that I started to experience gender euphoria. In my we ought not recognize the Sepideh who was silent in the face final year, however, I no longer felt comfortable to have in the of oppression. Once I left the sorority, I regained during sex, often letting the moment die out. It face of injustice. that spark. I know the importance that my voice was only thanks to my partner’s creativeness in Even as McGill holds and the impact that it can have and for that queering sex, blending so-called male/female works its way to reason, I continue to be vocal. I talk and post about boundaries, that I rekindled that side of myself. institutionalizing my experiences and I write articles about issues So while challenges can come from many anti-racism efforts, that matter to me because that is what I know places, resistance usually comes from two: if we lose our resistance to be. Yourself and relationships with those closest to shock––if we give in you. As my time at McGill comes to an end, I feel to fake resistance and pride in resisting those challenges, and thankful how it stymies any for those who helped me through them. effort to mobilize the masses––we lose our power.

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OPINION | opinion@mcgilltribune.com

Resisting silence

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Queering resistance

If I had to sum up my time spent at university, it would be three years of unlearning harmful social constructs and building an identity that I can truly call home. Even as my degree comes

Notes on fake resistance Matthew Molinaro Opinion Editor

Resistance has to be real, any potential stakeholder in a collective political uprising will tell you. That means there remains an excess of fake resistance to be disavowed. Much of it rose to

TUESDAY, APRIL 5 2022

Aubrey Quinney Opinion Editor

opinion@mcgilltribune.com | OPINION

EDITORIAL

The Church’s apology requires devoted action

The McGill Tribune Editorial Board Content warning: : Colonial violence, residential schools

n April 1, Pope Francis made a long-overdue apology to Indigenous peoples in Canada for the role Catholic leaders and administrators played in committing cultural genocide through the residential school system. The Pope called these leaders’ behaviour “deplorable” and asked for both God’s forgiveness and the forgiveness of Indigenous peoples for how Catholics wounded, abused, and disrespected Indigenous people’s identities, cultures, and spiritual values. Though his words serve as an important acknowledgement and indictment of the Church’s crimes, this apology is only one step toward reconciliation in Canada. Various Indigenous leaders have expressed both relief and concern in response, while also emphasizing that it is not their responsibility to accept it—rather, it is the Church’s responsibility to make good on their promise to actively redress the broad, historic, and enduring harm it inflicted. Repairing past wrongs requires substantive commitment to dismantling the Church’s doctrine that enabled, and continues to enable, Canadian settler colonialism. The impact of the Catholic Church’s apology can only be realized when it is accompanied by structural changes that place Indigenous humanity over absolving Catholic and Canadian guilt. The Pope’s apology comes after decades of Indigenous advocacy and must be matched with the material demands Indigenous leaders have made.

OFF THE BOARD Wendy Lin Multimedia Editor

TUESDAY, APRIL 5 2022

he first year of university is a major transition for all students. For me, the biggest change was not just moving across the country, but instead learning to adapt to a completely different environment, both culturally and socially. Culturally, as I grew as a Taiwanese immigrant in a small, predominantly white town, I was almost always the anomaly at school and work. Besides just looking different on the outside, I found that having “two” cultures caused me to have a different worldview than many of my classmates. Socially, I had to sacrifice some of my passions in order to keep up with the university course load. As I reflect back on my first year,

If the Catholic Church does not follow through on its promises, such as the $29-million payment for programs that benefit residential school survivors, the apology may look self-serving. At times, the Church appears to entertain the dangerous notion that restorative justice measures relitigate dark pasts at the expense of present struggles, but in reality, the past and present cannot be separated. Residential schools, led by Catholic organizations along with other Christian denominations, tore children from their families in order to “civilize” them and to legitimate Canadian rule over the land that belonged to generations of Indigenous people. The “schools” worked to eradicate Indigenous cultures, and were sites of state-sanctioned physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological abuse. Intergenerational trauma from these “schools” endures in various structural forms––from fractured families to poverty to houselessness to immense mental distress–– all of which undermine Indigenous self-determination. As such, reparations in the form of a lump sum payment, while crucial, is not enough. Following the discovery of the initial 215 unmarked graves in Kamloops, Indigenous community leaders continue to search the sites of former residential schools. Investigators have found over 1,800 so far, but this number is rapidly increasing. Given the scale of this tragedy, any attempts to overcredit the Pope’s apology, however innocuous, should be put into perspective. No matter how thorough and apologetic the Pope’s words may seem, he must use his institutional power to accept and amplify current Indigenous struggles against the reprehensible crimes carried out at the hands of the Catholic Church.

Given how embedded the Catholic Church is throughout Canada and Quebec to this day, Canadians must remain resistant; the apology should only ground solidarity moving forward. This acknowledgement is not only a much-needed apology, but also a statement that allows activists to hold the Church accountable. The Church and Canada must unequivocally denounce the Doctrine of Discovery that Christian, European imperial powers used to justify their claims to ownership when conquering Indigenous land. To do so would be to repudiate a racist, long-standing doctrine and would also follow up on previous apologies Popes have made for Catholic sins. At the same time, Pope Francis and Catholics should not use this apology to salvage the Church’s optics and save face for its harmful actions around the globe. Governments and church officials should follow Indigenous leaders’ demands by actively resisting and rethinking policies in Quebec. Catholic-influenced Quebec social welfare programs should be scrutinized when Catholic-run shelters, for example, can further marginalize Indigenous people. When a group of the Kanien’kehá:ka kahnistensera (Mohawk Mothers) suspect that there are unmarked graves under Royal Victoria Hospital and have taken McGill to court, students must stand in solidarity and remember that reconciliation is an uncomfortable process that requires everyone to confront McGill and Canada’s shameful history. The Pope’s trip to Canada, set for late July, is an opportunity for the Church to actively listen to those affected and to be held accountable. No one can remain passive in the face of persisting settler colonial injustice.

Redefining the I’s in Identity I realize that I depended on a lot of tangible things to make up my identity, things that do not make me “me.” Throughout my life, apart from the occasional microaggression or case of stereotyping, my differences did not, for the most part, really bother me. However, I recognized that being different was not always a positive thing. I had grown used to doing almost everything in my power to fit in with the crowd around me. At university, I found that this was often no longer possible. I remember one particular interaction which triggered me to question my identity based on my outward appearance. It occurred on a fall evening when a fire alarm went off in my residence. As we waited outside for the all-clear, I worked my way through the crowds of students, hoping to find my friends. Before I could make it to them, I was stopped by a student, and her first and only question to me was whether or not I spoke Chinese. Annoyed by her intrusion, I angrily said no, even though I did know how to speak Mandarin, and walked off into the direction of my friends. It was not until later that night that I realized I was not bothered by her stopping me, it was her question that disturbed me. Why was that her first and only question? Could she not have asked me what floor I lived on, my faculty, or even who I was looking for? I became frustrated that so much of what I

indicated to others had to do with how I look or the languages I speak. This event, however, resulted in long term upset that I could not pinpoint the cause of at the time. I was not new to the idea of having an identity crisis, I just never imagined that I would have one—how could I question my identity if I was so confident? This crisis was only worsened when other factors I considered so important to my identity crumbled down. Throughout grade school, my schedule was jam-packed with band performances, orchestra rehearsals, and skating practices. I could not imagine a life without all the time I spent pursuing these passions, and assumed that I would still be able to continue these activities in university. At the Fall Activities Night, I made sure to check in with the music societies and the skating club and tried out for as many groups as I could. However, my course load piled up, and by the time November came around, the midsemester stress coupled with seasonal affective disorder caused me to fall down a mental health spiral. I could not even find solace in my grades because I was struggling so much in my classes, nor could I make the time to join any clubs or groups, leading me to lose all social and creative outlets that I’d relied on so heavily back in high school. I’d completely lost my sense of identity. Looking back, I can

see how trying to understand myself and my identity through my hobbies was a mistake. My second mistake was believing that suppressing a part of my identity would make it easier for me to accept who I was. I did not fully accept my culture in that I was constantly trying to set myself apart from other people of similar backgrounds. First year is just the beginning of a journey of self discovery that continues throughout university. Though I am still trying to figure out why certain interactions made me upset, I think that acknowledging is the first step in allowing growth and self acceptance. I have learned, and am still learning, that I wanted so badly to define myself on my own terms that I ended up suppressing core parts of my identity while placing too much importance on futile interests. Identity is not something that comes easily for everyone, but it is certainly a rite of passage that everyone experiences, albeit in totally different ways.

Erratum A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that The McGill Nightly was McGill’s first own satire publication. In fact, McGill has had multiple satire publications throughout its history and the Nightly was not the first. The Tribune regrets this error.

COMMENTARY

Between climate denial and climate anxiety

uring their time occupying the Arts Building, Divest McGill screened movies and documentaries shining light on the climate emergency. As the chilling images of fires, floods, and famines flashed across screens, the air became heavy. Silence reigned, and only a few deep breaths disturbed it from time to time. It brought forth the concept of “climate anxiety,” the distress caused by today’s environmental crisis. This feeling, which particularly affects younger generations, was reflected in the banners urging McGill to divest from fossil fuels. Yet, although the climate crisis raises anxiety among McGill students, the urgency of the issue is often downplayed, despite scientific consensus. That week, the urgency of the climate crisis attenuated until it reached complete silence just past the Roddick Gates. On the other side of the gates, all one could hear was a muffled sound; the quiet but familiar melody of denial. The skyscrapers of downtown Montreal are not yet threatened by rising sealevels nor global warming, even though Quebec’s average yearly temperature has increased by 1.2 degrees Celsius from 1979 to 2016. Among the many studies alerting the public to the climate emergency are

COMMENTARY

the Assessment Reports, one of the most influential sets of documents published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). However, regardless of its eminence, the latest report published on Feb. 28 was barely covered by the media. Unlike the war in Ukraine, which is rightfully receiving its share of attention from most news outlets, journalists are blatantly overlooking the release of this deeply alarming document. With a focus on how societies could continue to adapt to climate change, the newest report is a damning ultimatum to humanity, calling attention to the brief and rapidly closing window of opportunity to act against climate change. As the global temperature increases to 2.7 to 3 degrees Celsius from the pre-industrial era, the damaging effects could be

irreversible. Entire ecosystems will be in jeopardy, endangered species’ extinction risks will be 10 times higher than they are today, the numbers of deaths due to heat waves could be multiplied by a factor of two or three, and three billion people could be suffering from chronic water shortages. With entire populations seeing their existence threatened, especially those in coastal regions, sitting in silence is not an option. Canada will not be spared the consequences of climate change, as the country will experience extreme weather conditions and longer fire seasons. The report shows that certain areas that would have suffered from wildfire only once every 400 years will now be subject to it every 50 if gas emissions are not lowered. Moreover, climate injustice will

Research shows that climate change, just like the houselessness and poverty it causes, can cause depression, anxiety, and mental distress. (LinkedIn)

The threat of incel violence runs deeper than we think

Valentina de la Borbolla Staff Writer

According to Public Safety Canada, Canadians are amongst the most active in online incel forums. (newamerica.org) and the media have fuelled a public debate on whether incels pose a national security threat as terrorists, or whether their danger is overestimated. This debate, however, does very little to address the daily instances of misogynistic violence that feminine-presenting people experience in spaces like their homes, public transportation, and even university campuses. Those who argue that the media inflates the incel threat also tend to claim that the problem is first and foremost a mental health issue. According to this logic, incels should not be treated as terrorists or violent threats, but rather understood as lonely men struggling with mental health. However, this debate is unhelpful in

stopping men from adopting incel ideology. Although noncarceral alternatives to justice are necessary to reimagine our deeply racist and ableist society, the fact that the first instinct is to claim that these men are acting out of distress, and not hatred, proves how much we are willing to excuse the behavior of white men. Instead of engaging in a debate over semantics, we should reframe what we understand as violence. The question of whether incels are violent terrorists should not depend on how many people they victimize or kill. This approach fails to address the root causes of misogyny and violent nature of incels in the first place. Incels are not violent only when they kill. Regardless

of physical action, their rhetoric is violent in and of itself because it rests on the idea that they are entitled to women’s bodies. The links between incel rhetoric and other discriminatory ideologies particularly endangers women experiencing intersectional oppression. Incels blame women for their feelings of inadequacy, and although they express anger at systemic issues of discrimination that also affect men, like fatphobia, their main grievance is a nostalgia for the past when the concept of consent had not entered public consciousness. Although their views push misogyny to the extreme, incel ideology and rhetoric exists far beyond their chat forums, even creeping into university spaces. As such, we should reframe our conceptions of what counts as violence to include the systems of oppression that protect men at all costs, at the expense of others. At McGill, class debates about women’s rights, queer identity, and racism manifest as frequent instances of marginalized people’s lives being treated as debatable topics. These daily forms of oppression alienate non-men in classrooms and send

a clear message that people’s humanity can be contested, potentially reinforcing budding incel ideology. Furthermore, these oppressive systemic factors, such as class discussions upheld by professors, force marginalized people into positions of resistance, whether they want to or not. Where the incel movement is afforded compassion, or even pity, the existence and experiences of women and queer and racialized people receives unfiltered contention. This should force us to question what we are willing to tolerate and what we categorize as violence. Whether incels should be labelled terrorists or not does little to prevent violence—it only encourages preventative action after someone has been murdered. Violence exists on a spectrum and men must understand the consequences of their complicity in pushing that spectrum to the extreme. It is their responsibility, as well as that of university administrations and instructors, to identify signifiers of misogyny, violence, and incel arguments and to counteract them well before they morph into murder.

TUESDAY, APRIL 5 2022

n February 2018, a young man stabbed a woman in a Toronto massage parlour. That same year, another man killed 10 people in a van attack in Toronto. In December 1989, a man barged into Montreal’s École Polytechnique just a few miles away from McGill and murdered 14 engineering students, all of them women. The common thread linking these attacks is incel ideology. Incels, or “involuntary celibates,” men who, frustrated at their perceived ostracization from society, blame women and sexually active men for their own lack of sexual activity. The incel movement is a misogynistic one, oftentimes borrowing violent tactics and rhetoric from white supremacists and homophobic movements. Although incels are mostly active on online forums, away from public scrutiny, they rose to popular attention after the 2018 Toronto van attack. The perpetrator was a selfidentifying incel whose social media accounts were filled with misogynistic posts. Since the attack, security experts

particularly affect certain Indigenous peoples in Canada; for example, rising temperatures will threaten the Anishinaabe tradition of “manoomin,” or wild rice, harvest. With each sinister prediction, the report describes a dystopia that is nearer and nearer to our certain future. Humanity is at risk: Approximately 150,000 people die every year in poor communities because of climate change, while universities like McGill continue to invest millions of dollars in pipeline projects that intrude on Indigenous territory. Once again, the trappings of capitalism prove to be the environment’s biggest threat. Yet, the report clearly emphasizes the negative economic impacts of the climate crisis on Canada, from rebuilding entire infrastructures to coping with a weakened agricultural sector. Beyond the anger and distress, this report ultimately raises a new feeling among young people: The impression of being powerless, condemned to watch future generations grow up in a world which can no longer support them. It is time to walk back into the Arts building, where McGill students can transform this feeling of helplessness into empowerment by carrying on individual and collective action while also calling out institutions in their assault on the environment.

OPINION | opinion@mcgilltribune.com

Chloé Kichenane Contributor

It’s a lot, and it’s honest work The fight to recognize sexual labour Sophia Gorbounov Sports Editor

can’t quite remember when I first learned about the existence of sex work. Certainly, I learned about sex at some point in a middle-school classroom, probably among a group of snickering teens. Yet the idea of sex as a job did not exist in my mind until cinematic depictions introduced me to the stereotypical image of a sex worker: A woman in the night, heavily made up, dressed up in provocative clothing, standing at the corners of dark streets and getting into strangers’ cars. At the time, I didn’t see this as work. I saw what she did as a shameful, criminal act, almost a threat to society. Because I believed that sex work was not an “admirable” profession, I did not see it as a profession at all. It took the longer portion of my life to understand that no matter my opinions on the task itself, sex work is real work. The moral status of sex work has long been debated, both by a sex-conservative establishment and radical feminists. Is it sex? Is it work? Can it be both? These are questions that have divided feminist circles for the last century. Some feminists, whom critics accuse of participating in “carceral feminism,” advocate for increasing legal penalties. For them, sex work and sex trafficking live on the same spectrum of degradation

and exploitation. Many carceral feminists, like the radical feminist Catherine MacKinnon, or the anti-prostitution advocate Julie Bindel, believe that sex work should be outlawed altogether, with the ultimate goal of abolishing it. Clearly, there are problems with this framework. But on the other hand, critics of carceral feminism can sometimes veer into a romanticized version of sex work—one in which exploitation is never a factor. In the book Revolting Prostitutes: The Fight for Sex Workers Rights, activists and sex workers Juno Mac and Molly Smith argue that this philosophical binary creates two inverse images of sex workers: The “happy hooker,” an empowered, often young, white woman who participates in sex work as a form of liberation and autonomy, versus the young girl, stolen from her bed in the middle of the night and forced into sex trafficking—the latter of which does not even constitute sex work at all. Ultimately, these two characters form a reductive dichotomy of sexual labour. The first image ignores the realities of migrant women, for instance, who are coerced or threatened into exploitative sexual labour due to the potential threat of deportation or other consequences. The second image paints all sex workers as helpless victims and strips them of their autonomy. The truth of the matter is that there is no one kind of sex work. Safe and wellcompensated sex workers exist, as do those who exist in volatile spaces with poor working conditions. Sex work is what McGill law professor Angela Campbell calls a “morally ambiguous” profession. As she wrote in her 2013 book, Sister Wives, Surrogates and Sex Workers: Outlaws by Choice?, prevailing perceptions of sex work are dominated by a choicecoercion binary. “I think we think of people as enlightened or as exploited and subject to [societal] pressures,” Campbell said. But, she added, “Any of us can be subject to forces that feel coercive.”

Whether or not something is coercive depends on who you ask. To those with the privilege of having a secure, legally unambiguous job, the complex choice to enter sex work can look like a product of exploitation and restriction. But Campbell pointed out that activities deemed degrading by some, like selling services on the street, can be viewed entirely differently by those actually working. “There are people who appear to be in circumstances that are very limiting, when in fact they exercise incredible resilience and resistance in their own communities,” Campbell said. At least in some ways, sex work has become more normalized in recent years. Nathan*’s path into sex work began during the pandemic. He explained that returning to his home country of Malaysia with a schedule full of online classes presented him with a newfound amount of free time. “Everything was up in the air, school became ridiculously easy and all of a sudden I had all this time,” Nathan said. “A pimp in Malaysia reached out through my Instagram [...] and asked if I’d be interested in doing this and I thought ‘Why not?’ I had nothing to lose if I tried it out. If I like it, then it’s money.” For Nathan, sex work tends to be transactional, rather than something sexually fulfilling for the service provider. “When we have sex with our clients, it’s a service in exchange for something else,” Nathan said. “You’re offering something that you wouldn’t normally do and you’re doing it for the perks, not for the pleasure [....] When you really think about it, what’s the difference between sex work and just giving somebody a regular massage?” But, of course, the two professions aren’t the same in the eyes of the law. “[By] taking it one step further and making it an erotic massage, suddenly it’s sex work and it’s illegal,” he added. Despite its history of being stifled and criminalized, sex work re-

mains one of the oldest professions in the world. In Canada, the history of sex work legislation is impressively convoluted and ambiguous. The first recorded sex work laws were introduced in Nova Scotia in 1759, but the legislation was centred on removing “vagrants”—anyone considered undesirable—from the street. The real legislative history began after the Canadian Confederation was formed in 1867, when these vagrancy laws were combined in the Canadian Criminal Code with more sweeping laws that forbade brothels and pimps from employing women. Since then, legislators have expanded the definitions of criminal conduct; by 1985, the Parliament passed a law that barred public communication for the purposes of “prostitution.” Finally, in 2014, after a Supreme Court overruling of previous sex work laws, Canada implemented Bill C-36. This bill followed the lines of the Nordic Model framework, meaning that the purchase—but not the selling—of sex is illegal. On the surface, the Nordic model seems like the ideal compromise for sex work critics and advocates alike: Punish the buyer, but not the seller; protect the woman, arrest the man. But although the Nordic model has been hailed by many as the ultimate fix to sex work legislation, it only increases financial precarity for sex workers. If one half of the transaction is outlawed, how is a sex worker supposed to find the means to live? The Nordic model criminalizes the entire goal of sex work—the compensation. Thus, even though the selling of sex is not illegal, sex work falls into a grey category of illegal occupations. Secrecy is incentivized in this model, since a sex worker who exposes an abusive client to arrest risks losing income or putting themselves in danger. The ultimate result is that sex workers are at much higher risks of experiencing labour violations. More recently, advocates for sex work have moved away from the word “legalization” toward the word “decriminalization.” The dis-

tinction is crucial. Legalization typically involves the regulation of certain streams of sex work. However, exactly what kind of sex work is allowed is up to legislators, who can potentially criminalize many categories of sex work. On the flip side, decriminalization implies fully removing sex work from the list of criminal offences and treating sex work just like any other type of work. This would open the doors to labour rights for sex workers, as their form of employment would fall under the Canada Labour Code. “When sex work is viewed as criminal, sex workers’ clients and other third parties are constantly trying to evade law enforcement, and when you’re evading law enforcement, it means that you’re in isolation, you can’t access services you need,” explained Jenn Clamen. “It means you don’t tell people you’re working in the industry.” Clamen is the National Coordinator for the Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform (CASWLR) have been working nonstop to help provide the support and resources that sex workers need. The organization formed in 2012 in the middle of a constitutional challenge called the Bedford case. Terri Jean Bedford, a Canadian dominatrix, initiated the now historic 2007 lawsuit, arguing that Canada’s anti-prostitution laws were unconstitutional. After a seven-day trial in 2009 and a year of judicial deliberation, Bedford and her two colleagues, Valerie Scott and Amy Lebovitch, won the suit in its entirety, and it was their work that led to the eventual Supreme Court decision to overturn previous sex work laws in 2013. Since we continue to live in a country where sex work is criminalized, organizations like the Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform (CASWLR) have been working nonstop to help provide the support and resources that sex workers need. Despite the fact that the selling of sex is not criminalized, sex workers continue to fear the police, and rightly so—over-policing of sex workers remains a critical issue. Ultimately, it tends to be the most marginalized and vulnerable who experience the most policing. “Even in a decriminalized sex industry, there are still many sex workers in our community that will be over-surveilled and under-protected,” Clamen said. “Police racially and socially profile Indigenous women, Black women, migrant women, trans women, and women who use drugs.” Indeed, the heavy policing of sex work is a problem worldwide. In their book, Mac and Smith recount some of the atrocities committed by law enforcement, including sting operations where police would pose as clients, have sex with a work-

er, and then proceed to arrest them. Interestingly enough, officers who purchase sex with the goal of arrest are legally protected and hailed for their actions, whereas those selling the sex are shamed and punished. Some of that has changed during the pandemic. Digital sex work has become increasingly accepted, particularly during the surge of interest into OnlyFans, a content creation platform favoured by many sex workers. One online sex worker who goes by the cam name Leena Archephina explained that the competition is tough, noting that she has to be creative in order to be noticed more. “It’s kind of difficult,” Archephina said. “[Camming] is a women-based industry [....] If you have to go through Craigslist to find clients and it’s not regulated, then it’s very sussy. You could run into malicious people.” In some ways, digital sex work can be safer––but there are no guarantees. Safety is also, inevitably, contingent on identity. Nathan explained that being a masculine person in sex work allowed him the safety net of knowing he would be able to speak up if he was uncomfortable. “Being a cis dude can be a lot safer, just because of physical strength,” Nathan said. “In a situation where you’re with a client who’s aggressive or stronger than you are, it can easily turn into a very sour situation [...] so my whole brand was that I’m this alpha top who is dominant and won’t give into any sort of situation where I would be more submissive in the dynamic.” But not everyone has that luxury, and clients can quickly turn violent. Archepina emphasized that there is always a power dynamic between a sex worker and their client. “I have a friend that met up with someone and the dude went apeshit,” she said. “He started saying ‘I’ve killed a man,’ and to be stuck in a room with something like that can be very scary [....] If it was regulated and there was a place you could go to meet [with sex workers] where there’s actual protection [it] would be best.” This lack of safety is a far cry from many other jobs. When I look for employment on LinkedIn, I can assume that a safe workspace environment is a given. I’m lucky enough that I barely need to know my rights, because the occupation I ended up in is not likely to put me at risk of seeing those

rights taken away. All of these privileges sound so fundamental to me that I can’t fathom a reality where they aren’t. But this uncertaintly is a reality for so many sex workers across the world. Until sex workers are legally protected, piling on more and more punitive measures will do nothing but drive the job further underground. No matter our ideological inclinations, we have to accept that sex work will not cease to exist. It’s time to think about sex work as a profession in need of labour rights, rather than an occupation on which to project our moral baggage. New legislation centred on decriminalization would create better safety nets for those seeking to exit the sex industry as well as those still in it, by providing stable avenues to leave the profession instead of evictions, fines, and nonsense end-demand laws. While sex workers have a vast array of experiences, what unifies them is that they all deserve the same fundamental rights that are bestowed upon those in other professions. Sex work is work, and it’s about time we start treating it that way.

Design by Jinny Moon, Design Editor

photo@mcgilltribune.com | PHOTOGRAPHY

A Year of Resistance

Every Child Matters (October 2021):

Students participate in a march organized by the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal and the Assembly of First Nations Quebec and Labrador honouring the survivors of residential schools and those who never returned home. (Léa Bourget)

No Coastal GasLink Pipeline (November 2021):

Before eventually marching to the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) building to join students from other Montreal schools in protesting the bank’s investment in fossil fuels, students from Divest McGill gathered at the Y-intersection for a teach-in, displaying banners and signs. (Brian Schatteman)

Mohawk Mothers (November 2021):

TUESDAY, APRIL 5 2022

In a solidarity march led by Mohawk Mothers and the Milton Parc Citizens’ Committee, attendees demand a halt to the construction project at the old Royal Victoria Hospital—a site at which there are suspected unmarked graves of Indigenous children from the MK ULTRA experiments of the 1950s and 60s—until an Indigenous-led investigation takes place. (Sabrina Nelson)

AMUSE rally (March 2022):

support of floor fellows on Students stood outside in the rain in er meal plan in the new colstrike, seeking fairer pay and a bett nized by the Association of lective agreement. The rally was orga es (AMUSE). (Autumn Chu) McGill University Support Employe

Wet’suwet’en strong (November 2021):

uwet’en Nation speaks Marlene Hale from the Small Frog Clan of the Wet’s ders persecuted and at a protest in solidarity with Indigenous land defen (Anoushka Oke) policed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Occupy McGill (March 2022

): Divest McGill pitched tents at the Y-in tersection as a part of their Occupy McGill action; students occupied the McCall MacBain Arts Building for eleven days before taking their occu pation outdoors. They hoped to edu cate more students on McGill’s investm ents in fossil fuel energy companies and push for a more democratic univ ersity structure. (Brian Schatteman )

Tried and true hangover cures Dante Ventulieri Staff Writer

Solution 2: The bed

Solution 3: The Elkay

If you’re feeling hungover but want to push yourself to study, take a step back and assess your_____: If you can afford to rest for a couple more hours, you’ll be left with fewer, but ultimately more productive, hours to study. Even if you have to wake up early, don’t ignore any rest throughout the day. Naps of even 20 minutes, whether at your place, on the bus, or on campus, can be great for reducing fatigue and other hangover symptoms. Close your blinds and turn on the “do not disturb” phone setting so that your sleep can be as restful as possible.

Since alcohol is a diuretic, the best hangover preventative is to drink plenty of water the night of the party and, at the very least, drink a glass of water or two before you go to sleep. But if you wake up and remember that you barely drank a drop of water all night, start rehydrating as soon as you can. Fill up a big bottle of water and keep it with you the entire day.

he end of the semester is fast approaching, and with that, an influx of graduation parties and end-of-year get-togethers await you. Don’t get too ahead of yourself though: Finals are also right around the corner, so you can’t slack off just yet. Excessive drinking and hangover symptoms can ruin that fragile work-life balance so many of us seek to perfect. So, whether it’s nausea, headaches, fatigue, or simply regret, the Tribune has vetted some hangover remedies to get you back into tip-top shape.

Solution 1: The pantry Eating well in the morning can make all the difference after a big night out. While some people swear by greasy foods like bacon or hash browns, they can upset your stomach and leave you feeling worse. It’s recommended to eat foods that will hydrate you, pump up your blood sugar, and replace lost nutrients like salt and potassium. Fruits, including oranges, strawberries, and bananas, are a good place to start. Staples for treating colds also work for treating hangovers—toast, bagels, and bouillon soup can nourish you without upsetting your stomach.

Solution 4: The gym supplies Beyond rehydrating with water, it’s important to replenish the electrolytes you lost. Electrolytes,

which include nutrients like sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, come bottled, as a gel, and in powdered form. If you’re looking for a drink, Gatorade, Vitamin Water, and Bai are some of the readily available choices. For electrolyte powder, try Nuun or Biosteel.

Solution 5: The medicine cabinet If your head is pounding, reach for some ibuprofen, commonly found in Advil. It is recommended to avoid acetaminophen, commonly found in Tylenol, as acetaminophen reacts negatively to remaining alcohol in the body. When combined with frequent and heavy alcohol use, repeated doses of acetaminophen can result in liver damage.

STUDENT LIFE | studentlife@mcgilltribune.com

With finals right around the corner, you’ll need to be ready to study by 10 a.m.

Solution 6: The nightstand

The best solution is to not drink, but once that’s been ignored, these remedies should help. (independent.co.uk)

A common hangover symptom is sensitivity to light and sound. It’s easy to control your environment when you live alone, but if you have roommates or need to head out, insulate yourself by grabbing your sunglasses, baseball cap, and earplugs. A pair of earbuds with rubber tips will do wonders at keeping ambient noise at bay.

Word on the Y: Experiences with burnout McGill students share ways they manage academic burnout

me this year, I’m happy I have this new knowledge and set of skills to tackle future ones and I feel more hopeful for the future than I have in years.” —C.S., U0 Science

Abby McCormick Staff Writer

Academic burnout can take a major toll on students and staff alike, but can be avoided and managed with healthy coping strategies. (Osman Warsi / The McGill Tribune) appointment with my local wellness advisor and got connected to a counsellor at the Wellness Hub, and though I can’t speak for everyone’s experience, it’s personally been one of the best choices I’ve made this year. They’ve

helped me to pay attention to things I didn’t even know were going on in my body, have a way better sense of what is healthy for me, and learn that it’s okay to lighten my load. Even though many unexpected stresses and barriers have hit

“Continuous uncertainty surrounding whether I get to have in-person classes has led to burnout for me in my first two years at McGill. What gets me through rough patches is having established habits and routines with regards to my schoolwork that establish a sort of bare minimum, so I at least never fall too far behind. I guess it’s not really a solution for burnout, but it minimizes the damage.” —Jacob Van Oorschot, U1 Science “Burnout has hit me really hard with the McGill workload. Things tend to snowball one way or another. I have found it helpful to turn the snowball around toward productivity by forcing myself to get moving so that I am likely to continue that momentum.” —Ophelia Kaya, U2 Arts

“It was like I could not focus on anything. I could not delay gratification and I had a hard time getting easy things done, like cooking and doing laundry. I’m not out of it yet, but I had to take a step back from school and other activities to start my recovery.” —L.R., U2 Science

TUESDAY, APRIL 5 2022

ith finals season upon us, McGill students and faculty alike are entering a period of intense academic stress and anxiety. The turmoils of the past months, from online classes to several spikes in COVID-19 cases, have offered no relief. These high-pressure situations are the perfect recipe for burnout and the exhaustion that comes from prolonged stress. While these moments can leave you feeling alone, it is important to remember that many other McGill students face similar mental and physical fatigue. Here are some of their experiences with learning to combat burnout. “I did not know what burnout was until a few months ago as I was starting my first year as a university student. Back when I burned out in middle and high school, I thought I was simply disinterested or lazy, which just caused the negative cycle of thoughts to continue to persist. I recently booked an

“I struggled with burnout for a few years in high school and into my first year of university. I felt so much pressure to perform well and get good marks. I had taken on too many responsibilities and my expectations for myself were too high. I began to detach and make excuses for why I couldn’t do things. I eventually reached out to a therapist who helped me realize I needed to change my expectations and just do enough, that I couldn’t do everything. I took a step back and focussed more on what I could enjoy in each thing I was doing, rather than what I was achieving in every aspect of my life.” —C.W., U0 Arts

studentlife@mcgilltribune.com | STUDENT LIFE

Exam-season survival guide

How to get through the final(s) stretch in one piece Holly Wethey, Wendy Zhao, & Jackie Lee Student Life Editors & Copy Editor

f there’s one thing we can learn from Montreal’s frigid winters, it’s that they always beget spring; a period of stasis, then, is essential for growth. As we enter a new season—as well as exam season—remember that amid the hustle culture of academia, rest itself is a radical act of resistance. To help you prioritize your well-being during this transitional period, the Tribune has compiled a list of simple reminders. Though they may seem obvious, they are important to remember nonetheless.

Always ask for an extension

Asking for extensions can be anxietyinducing. If you’re feeling too ashamed or intimidated to reach out, just remember: Professors and TAs are people too. In reaching out, even just to check in, you’re giving others the opportunity to help you. Many are happy to accommodate students or compromise on deadlines to an extent. There’s no need to trauma-dump in your email—keep it simple and polite. Outline briefly where you’re struggling and offer a time frame or plan that would allow

you to complete the work in full. If the deadline is imminent, consider requesting an incomplete, or K grade—an alternative option of which many professors aren’t aware. Since they do not impact your GPA, K grades are a good last resort if completing a course is just out of reach. Get in contact with your professor ASAP to iron out the details.

Get enough sleep With academic and personal schedules that can stretch late into the night, cordoning a full eight hours for sleep can seem unattainable. But a goodnight’s rest is essential to your well-being. Ask yourself if ratcheting up sleep debt is worth it: Sleep deprivation will impact your mood and productivity, and can seriously compromise your health. Some studies even suggest that it can take up to four days of adequate rest to make up just one hour of lost sleep. Yikes! Resting will only improve your GPA in the long term. Instead of powering through the week and hibernating all weekend, try to wake at a consistent time and take short naps to supplement the rest (ha)—but remember not to nap too close to bedtime, and be sure to set an alarm to avoid the dreaded nap hangover.

Classes are ending; so too are any dreaded 8:30 a.m. lectures. Try switching up your studying to align not with your academic time table, but your body’s schedule. If you’re most productive at night, don’t feel pressured to be an early bird. No matter your specific chronotype, at the end— ish—of the day, just sleep.

Normalize having “you time” “Live in the moment” is an adage that rings closer to a tired cliché belonging on a Forever-21 T-shirt than actionable advice. Yet it still holds true: There is more to life than non-stop hustle. Between exam cramming or paper bullshitting, there still exists slow, quiet moments to appreciate. Try your best to set aside breaks for yourself without screen time. Although there’s nothing easier than mindlessly scrolling, you’re likely to feel more guilty than invigorated in the end. Consider spending a study break engaging in an activity you’ll feel accomplished in completing: Listen to a new playlist on a walk; cook a hearty meal; bake a tasty treat. If you’re tight on time, clearing your mind can be as simple as breathing mindfully. Practicing mindfulness techniques can also prove helpful in calming yourself down if any mid-exam

panic begins to set in.

And remember: Don’t define yourself by your work Being invested in studying is a good thing—that passion is precious. However, defining your self-worth by the quality or quantity of your work can destabilize your sense of self when you inevitably fail to surpass your self-imposed and impossibly high standards. And if you instinctively cringed from the word “fail” in that last sentence, take a moment to reflect. Don’t be afraid of failure. External factors like scholarships or job applications can make it seem like your life hinges on your grades—but valuing a high GPA for whatever reason is not mutually exclusive to the responsibility you have to your own health. The way your work is received ultimately does not define you, and neither does a letter on a transcript. Amidst toxic attitudes in academia that your worth is tied to your work, it’s a powerful and liberating act to decide that the work you produce and the grades you receive are but a reductive representation of you. Plus, distancing yourself from your academic performance can be healthy, actually. (Even though acing an exam is a hell of an addicting dopamine hit, we know!)

Graduating students look back at their time at McGill–and forward, too

The formative years of undergrad Sabrina Nelson Staff Writer

TUESDAY, APRIL 5 2022

s the Winter semester comes to a close, the class of 2022 is getting ready to graduate. Some will take a gap year to travel or to work, whilst others may be heading to graduate school. The options are endless––but what’s certain is that graduation marks both the end of an era and the start of a new chapter. While Alena Russell, U3 Arts, is excited to be graduating and going into the “real world,” she is also anxious. Before heading to graduate school to study art history, Russell will be taking a break from academia. To kick off her gap year, she’s travelling to Greece in May.

This year’s Spring Convocation in-person ceremonies will take place over seven different days. (Osman Warsi / The McGIll Tribune)

“I am nervous about big changes and goodbyes, but I am really looking forward to my gap year,” Russell said. “I’m hoping to work a little and get some experience, but I am also excited to be able to travel, as I have not travelled much outside of the U.S. I am looking to prioritize life experiences and personal growth this coming year, and take a breather from academia.” Looking back at her time at McGill, Russell explained that the university has been the backdrop for many of her most valuable moments and relationships. “McGill has given me amazing friends and meaningful experiences that have helped me grow into an adult,” Russell said. “I would love to go back and experience that chaotic joy again. Living in dorms, exploring a new city, and figuring out what I wanted to study was so formative and meaningful to me looking back on it now.” Students in the Arts program often face internal doubt and external pressure about their futures and the practicality of their degrees—if not graduate school, then what? Despite not knowing exactly what her post-McGill life will look like, Victoria Fortunato, U3 Arts, reflected on how her undergraduate degree helped her develop more than book smarts. “I feel fairly prepared to enter the real world,” Fortunato said. “It’s something I was always planning for and thinking about throughout university [....] Many McGill classes have helped me understand more about myself and the world, and I find that really necessary for me to feel comfortable with the fact that I’m leaving.” For some, the transition to life after McGill will be fairly straightforward. Others, however, like Natika Bikraj, U3 Science, have noticed a scarcity in resources for finding a career post-graduation. “I don’t think McGill prepares us for life after

graduation, especially in science. In terms of trying to expose students to different job opportunities, it’s very academia-focussed,” Bikraj explained. Despite her misgivings, Bikraj says she will always remember the community she found at McGill and the moments she shared with friends. “My favourite memories at McGill have all been the times I was hanging out with my friends, making cocktails and having board game nights,” Bikraj said. Ruxi Chirila, U3 Arts, would have been among the graduating cohort this year as well if not for the pandemic. However, like many other students who have spent most of their time at McGill online, Chirila is taking an extra semester. Though she’ll be missing out on the formal hurrahs of the end-of-year spring season, like grad balls and summer grad trips, the extra time brings its own perks. “Because my first year went online at the start of the pandemic, being able to take an extra semester has overall helped me feel like my undergraduate degree isn’t being cut too short,” Chirila said. “It’s also provided me the space to take four-course semesters, giving me more time to take on a larger role in my extracurriculars and experience a healthier school-life balance.” Like Bikraj, Fortunato’s experiences meeting new people at McGill has had a huge impact on her. Her most memorable experience at McGill has been meeting people from around the world who have different perspectives. “Coming to McGill has shaped me to be the person I am today. I’ve met so many amazing people thanks to McGill, both students, and professors alike.” Fortunato said. “I’ve had numerous moments in class where I’ve thought, ‘I’m so glad I’m here.’ I’ve been lucky to experience classes and meet people that have changed my life.”

Ask Ainsley: How should I handle rejection? Dear Ainsley, It’s been a rough couple of weeks for me. I’ve sent out over 20 summer job applications, got two interviews, and no offers. I’m entering my final year next year and am worried that I’ll be unprepared to enter the workforce without professional experience. Plus, though I know I shouldn’t compare myself with others, seeing my friends all getting offers and being set for the summer months makes me feel awful about myself. How do I stop feeling this way? From, SAD (Searching Aimlessly Daily) Dear SAD, feel you! Rejection, though a universal experience, is never

easy. Despite the urge you may have to hop on Indeed.com and immediately start the job search again, we suggest you take an adequate amount of time to feel. Take a few hours, or however much time you need, to spend alone with yourself. It’s important to acknowledge, rather than suppress, any painful emotions so they don’t fester and hinder you from putting yourself out there in the future. At the same time, avoid overanalyzing your every decision throughout the failed hiring process—you won’t arrive at any concrete answers and this kind of circular thinking will only compound negative emotions. After the grieving process, remind yourself that these instances of rejection do not define your worth or skill level in any way. The recruiters on the other side of the job board are not omniscient. They’re

fallible, messy humans just like you. A one-page cover letter, C.V., and 15-minute interview can’t accurately encapsulate all of your assets and skills, and is an inherently unnatural way of meeting people. Mastering this process, like any other exam or course, is a matter of practice. As students just entering into the workforce, rejections don’t reflect on your inherent abilities, but rather on your familiarity and experience navigating the specific forms of self-presentation that job searches typically require. It’s cheesy, but my word of encouragement to you is— don’t give up. Forget obsessing over your past applications, and instead reflect on the areas you can improve on. You may be avoiding your friends who have received acceptances out of anxiety or jealousy—and of course, we know that you’re

happy for them, but a tinge of envy is only natural. However, rather than indulging in those negative emotions and cutting off a source of support during a difficult time, take advantage of their wisdom: Ask if they’re willing to read over your future cover letters and host mock interviews with you. Do they have any unique tactics? Especially if these folks are in the same field as you, it’s likely that the jobs they’ve applied for have similar expectations to your own prospects. By seeking to learn from your friends’ successes, it will be easier to see their achievements as logical results rather than a personal affront to your competence. Putting yourself out there is an accomplishment in itself—with each interview, you’ll become more prepared for the next one, and each

cover letter you compose is a great writing experience. It’s also important to remember that rejection is normal, even necessary. Regardless of you who are, everyone has had the experience of sending out dozens of resumes without receiving a response. Many famous writers have been rejected at one point or another—try, like them, to shift your mindset entirely. If you frame your goal around receiving 100 rejections instead of acceptances, your success will be inevitable! It’s a matter of putting yourself out there, even when the going gets tough. I hope you find this advice helpful as you navigate your job search. Remember, all you need is one yes.

STUDENT LIFE | studentlife@mcgilltribune.com

Remaining resilient when applications are met with radio-silence

Sincerely, Ainsley

Crossword Corner: Signs of Spring Do you know the new season’s harbingers?

DOWN:

2. Sketchy site to find an apartment 3. Heavily salted in the winter 7. Large orange orb that quenches your thirst 13. Found in submisssions without prooffreading 14. Instead of the megabus, a convenient road-trip with strangers 15. Sun protector and slang for lie 17. McGill’s Masters of Bureaucracy 20. Viral cousin to the wordsearch 22. Quintessential Montreal open-air dining space 23. Gerts til it: 24: Smelly foliage 25. Bad at texting

ACROSS:

1. “Wyd?” @ 1 a.m. 4. Sprawling fields and picnics here 5. “Beach Day Everyday” said the: 6. McGill’s favourite retired girlboss 8. Omen of change 9. Does not melt, but relieves awkward meetings? 10. Signs of construction, rue: 11. Admin antagonist in our boxes 12. Jardin: 16. Etymologically relating to a religious feast 17. Definition of Montreal spring and kings? 18. Eating ____ in Ottomass 19. You literally see so much of them? 21. Ekklēsia 23. Not a sandwich 25. Stage before REM

ANSWERS:

TUESDAY, APRIL 5 2022

DOWN: 2. Craigslist 3. Pavements 7. Orange Julep 13. Typos 14. Rideshare 15. Cap 17. SSMU 20. Wordle 22. Terrasse 23. Hurts 24. Ginkgo 25. Dry

ACROSS: 1. Bootycall 4. Jeanne Mance 5. Froshies 6. BigSuze 8. Harbinger 9. Icebreaker 10. Barrée 11. Fabrice Labeau

12. Botanique 16. Festival 17. Short 18. Ass 19. Nudists 21. Convocation 23. Hotdog 25. Deepsleep

TUESDAY, APRIL 5 2022

design@mcgilltribune.com | COMIC

Keep on Commuting

Corey Zhu, Staff Illustrator

Better conflict recovery starts with environmental restoration Sara Chiarotto O’Brien Staff Writer

n Feb. 24, Russian troops launched an illegal invasion of Ukraine that rapidly escalated into full-blown war. On televisions and on the front pages of newspapers, the world watched as families were split apart on crowded train platforms and cities were leveled by bomb blasts. Ukrainian civilians faced the harrowing decision of whether to flee or fight. But while the political and social aspects of Ukraine’s humanitarian crisis have garnered the lion’s share of media attention over the past two months, there is a less obvious, but no less insidious, threat to Eastern Europe that few are talking about: Irreparable environmental damage. Too often, pollution, destruction of infrastructure, and biodiversity loss are seen as unfortunate, but inevitable, costs of warfare whose alleviation should come secondary to humanitarian aid. However, no understanding of the human costs of war is complete without also considering the environmental costs. “People still view the protection of civilians and the protection of the environment as somehow separate from one another, when instead they are two sides of the same coin,” wrote Doug Weir, founder of the Conflict and Environment Observatory, in an email to The McGill Tribune. Weir’s observatory is a notfor-profit research organization that has been reporting on the intersection of warfare and environmental damage since 2018. Weir described how Putin’s army has indiscriminately bombed more than 500 industrial zones in Ukraine, releasing toxic fuels and waste into the air, water, and soil. This contamination will present health threats for decades to come. Coal, for example, is produced across Ukraine, and the subsequent release of fly ash from damaged production facilities can cause asthma, cancer, and neurological disorders in humans under direct exposure or consumption. Even more troubling is Russia’s

occupation of nuclear sites such as Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia. In the days following Russia’s occupation of Chernobyl, public monitors showed spikes in radiation readings around the site’s buildings before Russian soldiers cut off access to the plant’s information systems. Some speculate that controlling potentially lethal nuclear sites is part of a long-term Russian military strategy. Unfortunately, Russia’s tactics are nothing new. As long as there has been human conflict, the environment has been both a victim and a weapon of war. Ancient Assyrian texts reference victors salting the fields of their enemies to prevent future crops from ever taking root even after the conflict has ended. Political scientists have long studied these tactics, but not always through a purely environmental lens. Daniel Douek, a professor in McGill’s Department of Political Science, teaches courses on African politics and Middle Eastern foreign policy. In an interview with the Tribune, he detailed examples of devastating environmental damage in other wars. In Iraq, for instance, Saddam Hussein responded to dissent from Marsh Arabs by cutting off their water supply, forcing 85 per cent of the population to flee their homes and migrate elsewhere. “That wasn’t a strategy of conquest or subjugation so much, it’s just a strategy of spitefulness,” Douek said. He sees similarities between Hussein’s actions in Iraq and Putin’s occupation of nuclear zones. “[Putin is] kind of intimating that he’s willing to target Chernobyl or target some of the other nuclear power plants, and thus release catastrophic radiation,” Douek said. It is not only despotic dictators who resort to catastrophic environmental measures in times of conflict. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military used Agent Orange, a chemical herbicide, around roads, cities, and agricultural areas in Vietnam, despite knowing that it causes physical disability and damage to the nervous, muscular, and cardiovascular systems. Thousands of civilians and U.S. soldiers are still dealing with the fallout today.

Though Russia has not, and hopefully will not, use chemical weapons, the destruction of coal mines and nuclear power plants is likely to have long-lasting health effects, the likes of which are becoming apparent as reports surface of Russian soldiers suffering radiation poisoning due to the mismanagement of occupied nuclear plants. Then, there’s the question of climate change, burning hot on everyone’s mind as the world edges closer to the UN’s 2050 deadline for net-zero emissions. Beyond the toxins released from jet fuel, explosions, and chemical weapons, armed conflict also contributes enormously to fossil fuel emissions. Since 2001, the U.S. military alone has emitted more than 1.2 billion tons of CO2, the same as entire countries such as Portugal or Denmark. And that’s just at the domestic level—the U.S. does not record or publish data on the emissions they produce overseas or on air missions, so the true number is much higher. Despite the noted effects of war on the environment, some, including Chris Ragan, director of McGill’s Max Bell School of Public Policy, believe those effects should be understood in the context of broader societal structures. “Climate change is a longrun problem,” Ragan said. “It is not fundamentally about war—it is not fundamentally about peace, for that matter. It is fundamentally about how our economies are structured, and in particular, the massive use of fossil fuels.” Though the emissions generated by war may not make or break the longterm environmental damage we’ve done to the planet, the resulting disruption to energy markets caused by sanctions against Russia could lead to new innovations in the energy sector. “I actually think this moment, and hopefully it isn’t much longer than a moment, […] is going to spark a very serious rethink about our reliance on Russian oil and gas,” Ragan said. No matter what the future holds for Ukraine, policy makers will need to decide what role the West will play in helping Ukrainians in their recovery. Ragan cited

TUESDAY, APRIL 5 2022

In times of war, people switch from fuel sources such as gas or propane to woodfire (Daniel Berehulak / The New York Times)

the need for a new kind of Marshall Plan, a reference to the U.S.-led financial and infrastructural rebuilding program that helped Europe recover from World War II. Though there’s a dearth of academic research surrounding war’s impact on the environment, there are few clear strategies for repairing urban or rural environments damaged during conflict. Jon Unruh, a geography professor at McGill, specializes in migration, resettlement, and environmental change during times of conflict. Unruh is also one of few researchers who tackle the subject of conflict recovery through an explicitly environmental lens. It’s given him insight into the ways that human behaviour changes to inadvertently harm the environment during times of war. “When very large numbers of people switch into a crisis livelihood, they do things that tend toward a very short-term decision making horizon [….] That’s a problem, because very shortterm decision making in terms of one’s livelihood is always [...] extracting from the environment,” Unruh said. Changing one’s fuel source from ordinary gasoline to wood is one example that, along with off-cycle crop harvesting, offers a short-term solution at the expense of the environment. For example, in temporary refugee camps, it’s common to use wood burning stoves using local materials because they are more accessible than natural gas or propane. However, this can deplete the surrounding area of resources. In a world where 40 per cent of wars result from failed peace agreements, and where climate change will increase the risk of violent conflict, any recovery strategy that does not consider environmental recovery is doomed to fail. It’s unlikely that the damaging tactics of war will change anytime soon, but the way we respond to them can. Right now, world leaders face a challenge of daunting scale, but they also face an opportunity to chart a new course forward and to pioneer new strategies for conflict recovery that will allow humans and the environment to work in tandem.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY | citech@mcgilltribune.com

War: The enemy of air, land, and sea

scitech@mcgilltribune.com | SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | arts@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, APRIL 5 2022

Tannic acid might help develop a drug to treat COVID-19 Naturally occurring polyphenol compound may inhibit SARS-Cov2

Kimaya Tekade Contributor

lthough most of us would like to forget about the pandemic as Canada eases its restrictions yet again, the threat of COVID-19 overwhelming the health-care system is still present as the country enters a sixth wave. A team of researchers from McGill, Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), Université de Montréal, and Université du Québec à Montréal is still looking for suitable drug candidates to treat severe cases of COVID-19. In a recent paper published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, the team shared their discovery that tannic acid (TA), a naturally occurring polyphenol compound, shows promising results in inhibiting the activity of the SARS-CoV2 virus. The researchers took a multidisciplinary approach to this collaborative project, with each contributor working on different experimental techniques, from molecular modelling simulations to enzyme assays in the lab. Currently, the best weapon against the virus is the vaccine, which is a preventative measure. With mutative

SARS-CoV2 variants like Omicron emerging with increased infectivity, there is a pressing need to find effective and accessible drug candidates. Roger Gaudreault, one of the authors on this paper and a researcher at the Université de Montréal, explained why TA is an ideal drug candidate. “As TA is a natural product obtained from plants, some of which are recognized for their use in food,” Gaudreault said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “It appears that it will be a drug candidate of great relevance.” According to Hannah Wiebe, a graduate student in McGill’s Department of Chemistry and one of the authors on the study, developing therapeutic drugs from natural products is actually not uncommon. Nearly 50 per cent of drugs developed

Tannic acid is used as an aromatic ingredient in both soft drinks and juices. (CDC)

in the last four decades are naturally derived. The spike protein present on the outer membrane of the SARS-CoV2 virus facilitates its entry into human cells. It binds to the surface receptors, called ACE2, which are present on several tissue cells in humans. Both the spike protein and its ACE2 receptor serve as important targets for therapeutic drugs to prevent the entry of the virus into cells, stopping it from propagating throughout the body. Researchers found that, along with TA, two other natural polyphenol compounds called TGG and corilagin showed significant reduction in the binding between the spike protein and ACE2 receptors. Strikingly, TA reduced the binding by 95 per cent, the most effective of them all. TA was also able to inhibit the enzymatic activity of other proteins involved in establishing an infection, which makes TA a very promising option as a multi-target drug. Wiebe cautioned that their work is a very preliminary finding, limited to in vitro studies—meaning within an artificial environment—on isolated chemicals and proteins. It can often be hard to predict whether the same

effects will be seen in real viruses and cells, or even COVID-19 patients, if the drug makes it to clinical trials. The current antiviral drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration include Remdesivir, Paxlovid and Molnupiravir, which have substantial side effects or very low rates of effectiveness. They are also extremely expensive and thus inaccessible to much of the world population. Gaudreault emphasized that as with most polyphenols, TA’s efficacy is contingent on its bioavailability, which in turn depends on multiple factors such as the properties of the molecule itself, intestinal microbiota, pH values, and consumption alongside other compounds. He also said that while developing therapeutics, it is also important to consider the intervariability between individual COVID-19 cases. The discovery that TA might be able to inhibit the entry and multiplication of SARS-CoV2 in human cells paves the way for development of an efficient and accessible therapeutic drug. The main challenge now is to take this discovery from the lab to preclinical trials, and ultimately, to treat COVID-19 patients.

Finding self-love as an exiled love poet

McGill Classics play brings Ovid’s greatest oeuvre to life in modernized retelling Suzanna Graham Staff Writer

or Ancient Romans, “following your heart” rarely resulted in finding true love—more often than not, it ended in untimely death, being transformed into a tree, or thousands of years of exile. According to Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the 2022 edition of the McGill Classics Play, love is to blame for the many divine mishaps recorded in Roman mythology. However, as the play unfolds, Metamorphoses reveals that love is a power that one should embrace, not reject. Publius Ovidius Naso (43 BCE–17 CE), commonly known as Ovid, was one of the most famous writers from what is called the “Golden Age of Latin Literature.” While Ovid gained success from his love poems, he was also forced into exile in 8 CE for allegedly encouraging illicit love in his elegy Ars Amatoria—an exile that was only revoked in 2017, more than 2,000 years later. Fortunately, most of Ovid’s poetry survived, including his most well-known work: The narrative poem the

Metamorphoses. Although no less impressive in artistry, the McGill Classics Play, supported by a non-profit venture of the same name, is a tradition slightly younger than Ovid’s poetry. In 2011, Lynn Kozak, a McGill Classics professor, offered a simple challenge to ambitious Classics students: Translate original Greek or Roman texts and adapt them into original amateur theatre productions. Since then, the McGill Classics Play has staged a diverse array of impressive works, ranging from Sophocles’ Philoktetes to Euripides’ Hekabe. This year, Taryn Power, U3 Arts, and Keisuke Nakajima, BA ‘21, took on the roles of codirectors. After nearly a year of hard work, they successfully adapted Ovid’s poetry into a narrative that tackles questions about the nature of love. “We did the translations ourselves,” Nakajima said in an email to The McGill Tribune. “A lot of the dialogues [and] monologues are taken from Ovid’s poems [....] On the other hand, there are a few scenes

where we took more creative freedom.” Some of these liberties included Orpheus’ (El Bush, U1 Arts) love of wearing Crocs in sport-mode, a Romeoand-Juliet-inspired dialogue between star-crossed lovers

for interpretation. Nakajima and Power spent time carefully interpreting each line. For example, a skit starring Iphis (Sierra Burgoyne, U3 Science) describes a situation where Iphis, who is biologically female, presents themselves

In their directorial debuts, Nakajima and Power have successfully modernized and reconstructed Ovid’s most famous work. (Facebook) Pyramus (Alexandra An) and Thisbe (Emma Weiser, U1 Arts), and the main narrative that ties the story together: Ovid’s (Gabrielle Gaston, U3 Arts) creative slump after his exile. Luckily for him, Amor (Fiona Vail, U2 Arts), a goddess of love, comes to joyfully persuade him to retell his favourite stories in hopes of rekindling his love for poetry—and possibly for the goddess Amor as well. Ovid’s work often played with gender and sexuality— meaning that the play was ripe

as a man to protect themselves from their father’s misogynistic beliefs. . “There was essentially two readings of the story in Ovid, and we ended up choosing one,” Power said. “One is that it’s a lesbian story, and then the other one is that it’s a story about gender non-conformity. We ended up going with the second one, just because honestly, I think it’s more ‘Ovid’ [....] It’s very much not like a physical metamorphosis. It’s all performative.”

The directors’ translations of the texts themselves were exercises in creativity and critical thinking. The play features several original funny folk tunes and wistful ballads created by Troy Lebane (U4 Music Education) and musician Taya Kendall, which further emphasize the themes of love and heartbreak in Ovid’s poems. The success of Ovid’s Metamorphoses only confirms the cast and crew’s resilience: They created a show from a dead language, brought characters to life, and produced a performance all within the chaos of a pandemic. The love that the directors have for the production goes to show that Ovid’s words on love—although from a different time and language— continue to bear weight today. “It’s truly been a production where everyone’s been helping,” Power said. “Troy did the music, my best friend Taya did music and graphic design and everything else. Grace, [the set designer], has literally devoted her life to this play, and so I couldn’t ask for more support outside the cast and inside the cast.”

The long awaited return of Donald Glover’s show is worth the hype Arian Kamel Staff Writer Warning: Spoilers ahead

he third season of Atlanta may very well be its best. Picking up from its season two finale nearly four years ago, Atlanta leaves behind its titular setting for Europe, just as it does with its old rules for fresh fury. Donald Glover, the show’s creator, showrunner, and lead actor, abandons any form of predictable clichés for frenzied, yet thematically consistent vignette-style storytelling. The David Lynch-like traces of horror-slash-surrealism that Atlanta once teased take centre stage, elevating

‘Atlanta’ Season three follows Earn (Donald Glover) navigating a foreign Europe for his cousin’s (Bryan Tyree Henry) hugely successful rap tour. (amazon.com)

its comedy in ways I didn’t think possible. But at its core, Atlanta remains the same, following the down-on-his-luck Earn (Donald Glover) trying to make something of himself as a music manager for his talented cousin and rising hiphop star Alfred (Bryan Tyree Henry). Immensely intelligent and perpetually stupid, Earn can never seem to live up to his potenial. Unlike many of its contemporaries, Atlanta doesn’t try to fart soliloquies; rather, it leaves itself bare and doesn’t take itself too seriously. For example, the season’s pilot opens on a quiet night, where two friends are fishing on an eerie lake. The white friend explains to his Black friend the cursed lake’s history, and how there used to be a town—inhabited solely by Black residents—that was flooded by the government, drowning many. Apparently the town was once so prosperous they were “almost white,” since whiteness was really something to be bought, nothing more than a mirage. With each word growing more ominous, the white man suddenly turns to reveal a pair of empty eye sockets and shrieks as ghosts pull the Black friend into the

lake. This type of commentary—laced in mythos and quite funny—is what makes this season so spectacular. The season’s pilot is a bottle episode based on the Hart family murders, an enraging case of foster parenting gone wrong. The moments stolen from real life are more terrifying than any of the episode’s supernatural contortions. Episodes two and three return to the previous season’s storyline as Alfred’s European rap tour proves to be a huge success. The familiar cast navigate their way through unfamiliar European countries, which on the surface appear more friendly than the America they’re used to—the key word being ‘appear.’ From commercialized blackface to the wealthy’s fetishization of white saviourism, the ironies, hypocrisies, and absurdities of racism remain, just worn under a different mask. Glover achieves creative freedoms rarely seen in Hollywood. Atlanta isn’t afraid to offend, tackling Sinterklaas and depression in the same episode that portrays an elderly Tupac Shakur’s assisted suicide—and still managing to make it hilarious.

There are moments Atlanta sends me into a near-fatal laughing fit, but as I catch my breath I can’t help but question whether it’s intended to be funny. Atlanta blurs the line between comedy and political commentary, but whether this is to make itself more palatable for wider audiences or make the real problems more bearable is unclear. Perhaps Donald Glover isn’t certain himself. Or, perhaps attempting to pry into the show’s intentions is a pointless exercise in conjecture, rather than taking it for what it is. A famous T.S. Elliot quote comes to mind: “I meant what I said. If I could have said it any differently, I would have.” Without exposing too much, there is one scene in the first episode I believe best encapsulates both the humor and the poignancy of Atlanta season three: Loquacious, a young Black boy paraded by his insane white foster parents, holds a “Free Hugs” sign at a farmer’s market, before a white man approaches and asks, “Aw. Is Hugs your father?”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | arts@mcgilltribune.com

‘Atlanta’ season three is chaotic in the best way

Atlanta season three streams on Apple TV+, with new episodes releasing every Thursday.

The enemies to lovers trope: Tried-and-true or time for something new?

The popular cliché trades in fairytale romances for prevailing passion Ella Gomes Contributor

rom impassioned kisses in the rain to meet-cutes in high school hallways, romantic literature and entertainment have never failed to engage audiences through beloved clichés. One that continues to withstand the test of time is the enemies-to-lovers trope, in which two characters’ mutual hatred toward one another progressively transforms into feverish love. Boasting both a long record of positive receptions and a rocky history, this dynamic keeps us coming back for more through

era’s stiff social rules of etiquette and formality has enraptured audiences for centuries, as demonstrated by the resonating power of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy’s hate-turned-love relationship in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (1813). The enemies-to-lovers narrative functions effectively in period dramas as it shocks readers with an emotional aspect of the Regency era that was firmly suppressed by the upper class, and therefore rarely included in the epoch’s representation in media. Audiences are unable to look away from these period-era characters, as they are brought to life through outward expressions of the same emotions that we feel today. This relatability is not restricted to previous historical contexts: People often feel most connected to characters who are at their most vulnerable, regardless of the divide in life experiences. However, the cliché’s “enemy” aspect can sometimes go too far. In some cases, this relationship trope is filled with disturbing demonstrations of loathing, before all is magically forgiven and the characters

end up together—as is the case in the relationship between Claire (Molly Ringwald) and John Bender (Judd Nelson) in The Breakfast Club (1985). Although Claire and Bender eventually realize their feelings for one another, this resolution implicitly recontextualizes the string of mutual acts of hatred toward one another as “flirting.” At one point, Bender sexually assaults Claire, peering under her skirt and making her clearly uncomfortable. Films should demonstrate the persistence of love despite each characters’ initial resistance toward it without making characters minimize and forgive inexcusable actions, including sexual assault. The main flaw of the enemiesto-lovers storyline is thus its reluctance to hold characters accountable in favour of moving the plot forward. Meanwhile, representations of 2SLGBTQIA+ couples fare no better under the trope. While the celebrated Netflix series Sex Education has received praise for its authenticity and inclusivity, the relationship between Eric (Ncuti Gatwa) and Adam (Connor Swindells), his former bully, has

been criticized for perpetuating the idea that racialized and queer characters should forgive people who have abused and mistreated them for the sake of love. Nevertheless, we continue to feel the addictive comfort in watching love triumph over hate, especially considering the numerous ways different people and institutions try to place restrictions on who can love who, and how. Whether lovers are first enemies due to family rivalries (Romeo and Juliet (1597)), class divides (Titanic (1997)), or other forms of division, witnessing the heartwarming resilience of love in the face of hate momentarily restores our faith in humanity. Demand for enemies-tolovers content shows no signs of disappearing any time soon. From TikTok’s fascination with Sally Thorne’s romance-novelturned-movie The Hating Game, as well as Bridgerton’s newest season, viewers and readers alike continue to be captivated by the evolution from enmity to endearment. While many critics may be determined to hate it, if there’s anything that the trope has shown, love often follows closely behind.

TUESDAY, APRIL 5 2022

Audiences delight in watching connections prevail over conflict. (Sébastien Géroli / The McGill Tribune)

touching demonstrations of love’s resilience in spite of denial. In the case of period pieces, the trope engages readers by placing familiar feelings in historical contexts, challenging the disconnect we often feel between our lived experiences and those of people from centuries past. The second season of Shonda Rhimes’s whimsical and provocative period drama Bridgerton, released on Netflix March 25, centres around a hate-to-love storyline between Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey) and Kate Sharma (Simone Ashley). Based on Julia Quinn’s eight-part book series of the same name, the show follows the large, wealthy Bridgerton family as they navigate London’s competitive seasons of Regency-era courtship. Through extravagant balls, romantic promenades, and passionate declarations of devotion, both verbal and physical, viewers witness each Bridgerton child find and express love in ways rarely, if ever, depicted in period pieces. The contrast between ardent displays of adoration and disgust within the Regency

arts@mcgilltribune.com | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Oscars 2022 fashion roundup

The outfits that slapped the most throughout the night Anna Berglas, Signy Harnad, Paulina Kasak, Adrienne Roy Contributors

n spite of falling ratings, one recent trend of contemporary Academy Awards ceremonies has steadily risen in popularity—fashion commentary. Millions of creators across social media channel their inner Miranda Priestly each year to judge the always extravagant, sometimes ostentatious outfits worn by celebrities on different red carpets throughout the night. Here are some of the best outfits from this year’s event, as selected by members of the Arts & Entertainment team.

Lily James — Post-Pam Princesscore There are no two ways about it: Lily James has entered her bombshell era. The Pam & Tommy actress transformed from Baywatch megastar to red carpet marvel at the 2022 Academy Awards, rocking a lacy Atelier Versace number complete with a thigh-high slit, pink platforms, and a long train adorned with embroidered flowers. Doing away with her striking resemblance to Pamela Anderson, James traded in her signature blonde locks for a sultry brunette hairstyle. But don’t be fooled—the British actress hasn’t shed her old skin just yet. On the contrary, James’s ethereal look, dripping in TikTok’s viral princesscore aesthetic, served up a nod to her breakout performance in 2015’s Cinderella. We, too, wish we could appoint Versace to be our very own Fairy Godmother.

Zendaya — Secret Service Realness Zendaya has come a long way since her days on the Disney Channel, not just as an actress, but as a fashion mogul, too. Though she was not nominated in any individual categories, the film Dune, in which she starred, was up for 10 awards, including Best Picture. The face of Valentino’s Spring 2022 campaign surprised the world by swapping her dazzling red carpet outfit for a fierce Sportsmax suit at the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party. The jacket’s prominent shoulder pads and perfectly cinched

waist created a stunning silhouette. Complementing the garment, Zendaya beautifully executed an edgy, Secret Servicetype look: Her slicked-back low ponytail, dark eyeshadow, and eyeliner tied the look together.

Timothée Chalamet — The Hottest Bad-Boy in Hollywood Chalamet donned a black and bedazzled Louis Vuitton lace jacket, which belongs to the Spring 2022 womens wear collection and opened to reveal Chalamet’s bare chest. The pairing of the nontraditional bold jacket and the peek of skin was a powerful choice, and especially striking in light of previous complaints about the dullness of men’s red carpet fashion. Chalamet’s Cartier pendant necklace—a white gold panther with emerald eyes—served as the final ornamentation to his smoldering appearance. Chalamet effortlessly pulled off the fit, with black dress pants anchoring the sparkle of his top.

Jessica Chastain — All that Glitters is Glory California-born actress Jessica Chastain took the red carpet by storm with a dazzling floor length gown that gave off a sparkling glow. Its bottom section’s beautiful lavender tone epitomized elegance—much like the actress herself. The top of the dress had a rose gold hue and sequins, which perfectly complemented Chastain’s red hair. The ruffled tulle bottom added an extra flair to her already stunning look. Custom-made by Gucci, the dress’ flowy material and sparkles was an echo of old Hollywood glamour. Such a style managed to match Chastain’s prestige for the night, for she indeed won the Academy ‘CODA’ won all three awards it Award for Best Actress for was nominated for at the March her lead role in The Eyes of 27 ceremony. (Mika Drygas / The Tammy Faye. McGill Tribune)

Could be good The Arts Undergraduate Theatre Society presents SWEET CHARITY

McGill’s AUTS presents Bobe Fosse’s story of love and optimism in 1960s New York City. Mainline Theatre Apr. 7–Apr. 9, 7:30 p.m. or 2:00 p.m. Tickets required: $15 or $10 for students

FAC x canvas x AHCSSA Vernissage and Journal Launch

McGill’s Fine Arts Commission, Canvas Journal, and the Art History Communication Studies Association join for the FAC’s Spring Gallery Show and Canvas’ newest journal release. Apr. 5, 5 p.m.–8 p.m. Leacock Building Free

Spilt Red Wine Art Night – Celebrating Indigenous Artists

Round 15 of Spilt Red Wine Poetry highlights the work of Indigenous film, painting, poetry, and other aesthetic forms. Apr. 9, 7 p.m. Location TBD Free Lorde’s “Solar Power” Tour Lorde and special invitée Remi Wolf perform at Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier. Apr. 7, 6:45 p.m. Place des Arts Tickets required, prices vary

Visual artist Sampson McFerrin exhibits an intimate presentation of his favourite work yet ‘Checarré’ combines travel, reminiscence, dialogue, and allure into a perfect square

Karthikeya Gautam Staff Writer

TUESDAY, APRIL 5 2022

ampson McFerrin, Montreal-based visual artist and Print Media student, opened his Checarré exhibition the first weekend of April, issuing a display of his artistic adroitness in all its blossoming splendour. Providing a candid presentation of his maturing technique, Checarré features a multiplicity of art forms, ranging from oil to acrylic, inkjet to photopolymer, photography to sketch work— all arranged in a striking visual concoction embellishing the brick-walls of McFerrin’s Montreal apartment. In an interview with The McGill Tribune, McFerrin acknowledged the lack of uniformity in his artwork, noting that his aesthetic is still evolving. His aim with Checarré is to open his work

to public opinion by taking a creative backseat. McFerrin engages with this goal through the exhibition’s name, a witty triple-entendre itself.

A 36X36” acrylic made by Sampson, ‘Rain Pants Party,’ is not only his personal favourite piece, but also a work he believes to embody his code of artistic success. (Karthikeya Gautam / The McGill Tribune) “Checarré is a mix of two words,” McFerrin said. “Firstly, it is ‘checking-in’ to see where my art is at right now, where it has been, and where it is headed

to in the future. The second word, carrée, is French for square. A lot of my works have ended up in squares, despite having initially framed them differently. My brother added a further note to that—chez moi. Because the exhibition is at my apartment.” McFerrin does not cite any single individual for inspiring this creative enterprise. Instead, he credits his experiences abroad over the years as a major driver behind his work. “I have spent over three years of my life on a bike, sleeping in a tent, in almost 30 countries around the world,” McFerrin said. “That experience has made me who I am, given me the belief systems that I have, along with the flexible mindset I approach every day with.” McFerrin places value on a piece of art by following

a unique code, wherein an artwork’s worth is extracted from a quartet of interconnected sources—the aesthetic value the artist derives from it, the aesthetic value the audience derives from it, whether it has a personal connection with the artist, and whether it has a personal connection with the audience. In creating a piece, he tries to achieve all four, as he believes them all to be of equal importance. “To spark dialogue or conversation is [an] inspiration for me,” McFerrin said. “Discussing my pieces with others, so that it’s not just me in the process, is what’s important. A piece can just grow by others’ involvement in it.” Rain Pants Party, a 36x36inch acrylic made by McFerrin, is not only his personal favourite, but also a piece he believes fulfills all four sources

of value. “When my brother, my best friend, and I were biking across Canada, there was a particular day when it was raining heavily outside, and we were wearing our rain pants,” McFerrin explained. “The farmers we were staying with said that we can cook our meal and stay dry in their barn. So, we took off our raincoats, sitting there in the barn in our rain pants, listening to tunes and having fun. That’s when we said, it’s a rain pants party.” While McFerrin has no galas or exhibits planned for the near future, he is optimistic about spreading his work and message as his artistic vision progresses. The second opening of Checarré will occur on April 10 at 3546 Avenue Lorne, Apartment #6, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Varsity highlights of the 2021-2022 season

Redbirds and Martlets share their most memorable moments of the year tell me to relax and that no one was close behind me. That helped me regain composure and finish with a strong last kilometer to finish seventh.”

Stephanie Desjardins

Karl Hunger

(Martlets hockey, fifth-year)

Mika Chang

(Martlets hockey forward, first-year)

(Redbirds rugby captain, fourth-year)

SPORTS | sports@mcgilltribune.com

Sarah Farnand, Sophia Gorbounov & Madison McLauchlan Sports Editors & Managing Editor

21 This year, three McGill teams went on to the national championships: Men’s basketball, women’s volleyball, and women’s hockey, the first two of which also won their RSEQ championships. (McGill Athletics) “The season was challenging with the pandemic coming back at full swing right after the Christmas break. We fought adversity throughout the entire season with restrictions, practicing, and playing with masks. The girls fought hard physically and mentally for the last eight months and showed tremendous character and grit. I think my greatest memory this year is just being at the rink and being surrounded with amazing people every day who push you to become a better hockey player and person.”

Matthew Beaudet

(Monique Francoeur) “I think my most memorable varsity moment was the first game of the season where I got to share the field with my brother Brad. He scored the first try in McGill Redbirds history. We embraced almost halfway down the field. I vividly remember telling him I couldn’t let him go, or else I might burst into tears. As an older brother who couldn’t be outdone by his younger sibling, I scored two tries of my own that very same game. I remember my mom and dad being so proud of us both after the game. That is truly one of the greatest moments of my McGill rugby career.”

Charlene Robitaille

(Martlets volleyball captain, fourth-year)

(Redbirds track runner, second-year)

(Mathieu Belanger)

“I know I won’t be very original, but my favourite moment is when we won the provincial at home, and when the whole team ran to hug our coach. [It was] the first time she won provincials in 30 years! It was 25-14 on the fourth set for us. I was already starting to cry a little bit on the court because I knew we were going to win [...] We will for sure have the same objective to win another provincial championship and go back to the Canadians. We had the advantage of playing against really good teams last week, the girls from Canada West were extremely good, so we now know what we have to improve and focus on next year.”

“Getting to go to nationals was an incredible experience and what made it even more special was getting to go with the group we had. Having gone through so much adversity this year, with COVID outbreaks and general obstacles, [it] was something that [...] brought us closer together. I think both on and off the ice, I’ve been able to step out of my comfort zone, which is something I’m proud of. It’s intimidating as a first year to join an incredibly talented group of new faces, but coming out of this year having developed on the ice and having created lifelong friendships is a huge win in itself.”

Jamal Mayali

(Redbirds basketball guard, fifth-year)

(McGill Athletics) “My favourite moment was when we won the Quebec championship. It really was special to see all of us happy to achieve that and in the fashion we did it in [....] Adversity definitely was felt when the season was put to a halt earlier this year. It was really challenging because as a team we had a really good first semester and, at the time, that break may have put our momentum to a halt. However, we hit the ground running once the season was back up.”

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“My favourite moment this year was competing at the U Sports Cross Country championships. The atmosphere was great, with people cheering all along the course, and I was excited to run at this high level meet for the first time. The race itself was very difficult due to the hilly course, cold weather, and fast pace. I was aiming to finish top 10 at this race and I knew I could do it, but at the same time a lot can go wrong in cross-country races. I started struggling and lost contact with the leaders at about 6.5 kilometres (out of eight kilometres) and started worrying that I was going to start dropping places rapidly, but then I heard one of my teammates’ dad

(McGill Athletics)

(Marc St-Pierre)

sports@mcgilltribune.com | SPORTS TUESDAY, APRIL 5 2022

When money trumps morals: Do human rights have a place in the professional sports world? The FIA’s swift condemnation of Russia sets a new precedent in the sports world Zoé Mineret Staff Writer

n Feb. 25, the F é d é r a t i o n Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the governing agency of Formula 1, announced its decision to cancel the Russian Grand Prix. The decision came after concern from both stakeholders and drivers following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The FIA also announced that Russian and Belarusian drivers would only be allowed to compete under a neutral flag, while Russian and Belarusian members of FIA commissions would have to temporarily step down from their positions. Formula 1’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is not an isolated case, but rather a reflection of a broader movement observed across the sports world. A number of international organizations either cancelled events to be hosted in Russia or prohibited Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing. For example, FIFA and UEFA have announced that they were suspending all Russian international and club teams, preventing them from playing in the 2022 World Cup, which Russia hosted in 2018. The International Volleyball Federation also cancelled Russia’s hosting of the men’s 2022 Volleyball World Championship. This universal condemnation of Russia’s war crimes by the sports world is honourable. It reflects a willingness to publicly oppose the Russian government, and it demonstrates to fans across the world that there are tangible, even financial, consequences when a state violates human rights. From this, a new question arises: Why is the sports world denouncing Russia’s actions while they overlook human rights abuses in other countries? The sports world’s complicity in human rights violations are not only errors of the past. On the contrary,

sports organizations often ignore the atrocities of various states to maintain lucrative contracts. FIFA is set to hold the World Cup in Qatar, despite numerous reports of human rights abuses linked to the construction of both the arenas and stands needed to host the tournament. Migrant workers have reported working without pay, having their passports stolen by officers, and being denied the right to leave the premises. Noah Edmunds, a U2 student studying political science and an avid soccer fan, told The McGill Tribune that he believes that FIFA’s decision to host the World Cup in Qatar is motivated by financial reasons only. “I think that by holding the World Cup in Qatar, FIFA is blatantly ignoring the signs that Qatar has a poor human rights record,” Edmunds said. “I think that there are a lot of countries that are more appropriate to host the World Cup [....] I think that this is an attempt by both parties to increase their profits. If FIFA really cared to promote a fair and equal society for the game of football, it would be wise to avoid these [...] countries.” It is crucial to underline that FIFA is not only actively supporting these labour abuses but is also creating a demand for it. FIFA’s lack of concern truly shows that in the world of sports, money trumps morality. Another recent case of blatant disregard for human rights has been the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) maintained the location of the event, despite the country’s ongoing genocide targeting the Uyghur Muslim population. The genocide has been publicly recognized by countries including the U.S., Canada, and France. Despite global knowledge of the horrors happening in Xinjiang at the hands of the Chinese government, the Winter Olympics carried on. Elliott Rozental, U0 Engineering, believes that the IOC’s refusal

Though many countries have both recognized and taken immediate action against the Russian government after the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war, only a handful of countries have publicly condemned the Uyghur genocide in Xinjiang. (Enterprise.press) to acknowledge the gravity of China’s actions makes them complicit in human rights abuses. “I think we should stop holding the biggest sports competition in countries that violate human rights. I think that doing nothing is like allowing these acts,” Rozental said. “I agree that it may not stop them directly, but it is something we have the power to do and it’s already a first step toward progress. I think that the organizers and leaders of sport events like the Olympics should stop turning a blind eye to their horrible acts, and sanction the countries at fault. ” Similarly, the FIA was one of the first organizations to denounce Russia’s actions and remove the Russian Grand Prix. Yet, Western sports organizations seem to only be concerned about human rights violations when white or European people are suffering, while simultaneously exploiting what value they can from Middle Eastern countries and ignoring the abuses faced by the population. The Formula 1 calendar routinely hosts races in countries whose governments have perpetrated human rights abuses against their own citizens, such as Bahrain and Qatar. However, what is considered a human rights violation in one country, such as suppression of freedom, is often observed across other

countries without particular concern. For example, the U.S. failed to respect its domestic human rights agenda, but there has been no controversy regarding their hosting of the Austin Grand Prix. The U.S. also backs the Saudi-led coalition that has killed hundreds of thousands of Yemeni civilians—and the FIA continues to host races in both countries. The FIA’s lack of concern for some of these atrocities demonstrates their hypocrisy: They only seem to care about this issue when it benefits them. Juliette Barlier, U1 Arts, explained how the publicity surrounding Formula 1 is almost always only positive. “In regards to Formula 1, I’ve only ever heard good things about it,” Barlier said. “But the fact that I have no idea that it’s being held in countries with very serious human rights violations just shows how little it’s talked about and how much these violations are covered up, while the sport is being praised.” The sports world’s recent sanctions against Russia have completely upset the narrative regarding the usual response to questions of human rights in sports. A widely accepted take among stakeholders in pro sports is that sports are for entertainment, not politics. Proponents of this view often argue that sports

organizations should not be arbiters of justice and that it is not their duty to punish human rights violations. Some also say that expecting organizations to make decisions of this magnitude reflects a Manichean worldview, whereby all actions are labelled as either “good” or “bad.” However, the lightning speed with which sports organizations worldwide have sanctioned Russia is indicative that there is a possibility for change. Organizations have shown that they can impart a judgment on what is right and what is wrong. It is now of crucial importance that sports fans look to the world’s reaction to Russia to continue advocating for better attention to human rights in sports. When sports organizations publicly make a profit by condoning abuse in the countries where they choose to hold events, they are telling their fans that they prioritize money over the lives and freedoms of others. Fans should also hold themselves accountable— people should not have their fundamental human rights violated just for a fan to see their country win the World Cup. It may be too hopeful to expect professional sports to change entirely, but the worldwide reaction to the Russian war shows that it can be done.

McGill must stop resisting before Athletics ceases existing Monty Weatherall Contributor

to provide the services the athlete community needs. Everyone needs to get behind divestment.” On Feb. 17, 2022, the Legislative Council met to discuss, amongst other things, putting the Athletics Facility Improvement fee back up to vote in the Winter 2022 referendum. The motion was postponed indefinitely. The current SSMU representative for Athletics, Sêdami-Habib Djossou, went into the meeting with the goal of getting the fee reinstated. “My main aim was to make an amendment to the moratorium, not remove it,” he said. “The amendment would make an exception to the Athletics Facilities Fee because of the intense impact the moratorium is having on Athletics and Recreation. The renovations are essential, and we may have to discontinue some services in order to afford them.” The amendment argued that the self-funded A&R program is being financially targeted due to McGill’s refusal to divest, a decision that they have no control over. “If I am honest, the question period was really tense,” Djossou continued. “There was a huge concern about what the amendment would do. A member of Divest McGill said that if we allow the amendment to go through it will push the message that we don’t care that much. It will undermine all the efforts made so far.” Joseph, who also attended the meeting, was frustrated that a student group and Athletics were positioned on opposite sides of the issue. “It felt as though the discussion was being framed as Athletics against Divest,” they said. “It was very difficult for me, being attached to both. Ultimately, the Divest [argument] was

that it would ruin the momentum of the campaign.” With the issue yet again at a standstill, it is easy for both sides in the Legislative Council debate to point fingers at one another—and this would certainly be convenient for the McGill administration. The administration’s refusal to divest is pitting students against each other, when energies should be focussed on holding those with power to account. The more energy spent by students fighting amongst themselves, the less is spent on collective action. However, both groups are keen to show that the issue is not with each other. The moratorium does not represent one group of students seeking to worsen the university experience for another group. Instead, it represents a blatant refusal from the administration to ethically invest its money, with students ultimately shouldering the cost. Universities all over the country, including Concordia, UQAM, University of Toronto, uOttawa, University of British Columbia, and many more, have divested, or at least pledged to—. What, then, is McGill’s excuse? The Athletics Facility Improvement fee will not be reinstated this year after the motion was postponed, and it will take nothing less than divestment for the student group to lift the moratorium. At this point, any amendment to the moratorium will be seen as a victory for the administration. With the clock ticking for both the Athletics and Recreation budget as well as our planet, McGill needs to make the smart choice to divest from fossil fuels, and invest in the future of our athletes.

*Joseph’s name has been changed to preserve their anonymity.

The Divest McGill occupation of the Arts building lasted 11 days before being shut down by a COVID-19 outbreak. (Brian Schatteman / The McGill Tribune)

TUESDAY, APRIL 5 2022

s another school year draws to a close, it offers an opportunity to reflect on the areas of the McGill community that have evolved—as well as those that have stayed tragically stagnant. A year marked by the return to in-person classes, sports games, social events, and cycles of relaxed restrictions followed by lockdowns has brought a whirlwind of changes to student life. However, for Divest McGill, the year has looked frustratingly similar to every other: Strong student support and protests backing their fight for change, and those in power refusing to budge. To make matters worse, this year has also shown that the administration’s refusal to divest is beginning to form cracks across other areas of student life at McGill. Their unwillingness to compromise is having unintended consequences for students, including in areas such as McGill Athletics and Recreation (A&R). Divest McGill and McGill Athletics are, on the surface, two organizations few would guess are interconnected. But due to student tactics to get administration to divest, compounded by the McGill administration’s unwavering stance, A&R is getting hit where it hurts: The balance sheet. In Winter 2019, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Legislative Council put the renewal of the Athletics Facility Improvement Fee to referendum. The 10-dollar fee created in 2004 went toward maintaining and improving the facilities, and the renewal would have funded air conditioning for the fieldhouse and locker rooms. However, since the fee renewal came amidst the #ChangeTheName movement, a counter ‘No’ campaign was heavily supported by students, including Indigenous students, who pointed out that approving this fee would allow McGill to continue to fund their programs under a racist team name and mascot. The referendum question ultimately failed with 58 per cent voting ‘No,’ and the Athletics Facility Improvement fee was removed from student fees for the next five years. “This means that there is a loss of $500,000 per semester for the Athletics department,” Evelyn SilversonTokatlidis, Varsity Council president, said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. As the administration dragged their feet on changing the varsity team name, the loss was compounded by SSMU identifying blocking ancillary fees as an effective way to apply pressure on the university to divest. As a result, the Legislative Council passed a Policy on

Moratorium on McGill fees until Fossil Fuel Divestment. This meant that for the next five years, no new ancillary fees— which serve programs such as the McGill Writing Centre and the World University Services Canada Refugee Program, as well as A&R—could be added to student’s bills until McGill divests, with the Athletics Facility Improvement fee locked on the outside. A total of $1,200,000 would be withheld from Athletics and Recreation over the next five semesters. Since the university does not provide funding for the facilities of A&R, the implications of this moratorium has wide-ranging impacts. Facility upgrades such as air conditioning in the fieldhouse and gym that would benefit all students, not just athletes, have been pushed back. Longer-term projects, such as the renovation of the locker rooms, fieldhouse resurfacing, and turf improvements all have uncertain timelines because of inadequate funds. “Almost a quarter of the student body uses McGill athletics facilities,” Silverson-Tokatlidis said. “The refusal to divest by McGill is impacting the quality of these facilities for a huge amount of the student population.” In an interview with the Tribune, Joseph,* a representative from Divest McGill and a varsity athlete, explained how the facilities are in dire need of improvement, making it harder for them to train and enjoy their time as a student athlete. “We understand that there are updates to the Athletics facilities that are urgent. My coach talks about them and how much money needs to be put into it,” they said. “Being an athlete has created my identity, it has made me who I am. But the fact that McGill is refusing to divest means they are refusing

SPORTS | sports@mcgilltribune.com

McGill’s refusal to divest is blocking funding for Athletics and Recreation

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