The McGill Tribune Vol. 41 Issue 6 by The Tribune

The McGill Tribune TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19 2021 | VOL. 41 | ISSUE 6

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Published by the SPT, a student society of McGill University

EDITORIAL

FEATURE

STUDENT LIFE

In the minimum wage fight, a living wage is right

The darker side of pre-med

Falling for Montreal

PG. 5

PGs. 8-9

PG. 13

(Elissa Dresdner / The McGill Tribune)

Redbirds Hockey leaves RMC reeling with 10-2 victory

PG. 15

McGill floor fellows fight for better wages, meal plans, working conditions as collective agreement negotiations drag on Negotiations have lasted 15 months and are still ongoing Cassandra Betts Contributor It has been 15 months since the expiration of the col-

lective agreement (CA) between floor fellows—upper-year students who live in residences to support students—and McGill. A new agreement has yet to be instated as parties remain in deadlock over issues such as the fellows’ wages,

campfire escalates to a wildfire, it is nearly impossible to identify the exact moment at which disaster became inevitable. But it might not be impossible for much longer. PG. 10

meal plan dollars, guest policies, and the university’s reluctance to include harm-reduction and anti-oppressive principles in the CA. PG. 2

‘Orcs in Space’ is bloody cute Justin Roiland and François Vigneault’s newest graphic novel makes gore adorable Lowell Wolfe Arts & Entertainment Editor Fantastical bloodthirsty main characters? Check. High-speed space-chases? Check. Modesty? Not quite. Orcs in Space, Justin Roiland’s

new graphic novel published by Oni Press, features 100 pages of amusing, carefree adventures in an uncanny outer space backdrop, all illustrated by Montreal-based artist François Vigneault. PG. 12

NEWS

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19 2021

McGill floor fellows fight for better wages, meal plans, working conditions as collective agreement negotiations drag on

Negotiations have lasted 15 months and are still ongoing Cassandra Betts Contributor Continued from page 1. Floor fellows have been operating on a grey interim agreement since the previous CA expired on July 2, 2020. This means that they are compensated according to the expired agreement and also defer to the rules and regulations set out within it. In an interview with The McGill Tribune, Chris Soong, a first-year doctoral student studying Collaborative Piano and floor fellow in Solin Hall, explained why a CA is important for floor fellows. “[Having a CA] lets us know what we will be responsible for and how we are going to be treated through the year,” said Soong. “Without the collective agreement, if something slips through, there is nothing to hold the administration accountable.” Under the expired CA, floor fellows receive a meal plan valued at $4,500 a year, the majority of which must be spent on campus at dining halls and cafeterias.

McGill brought in a conciliator to facilitate the negotiation process in June 2021, but parties are still unable to come to an agreement. (Elissa Dresdner / The McGill Tribune) According to sources, Solin Hall floor fellows are allocated $100 a month for groceries, although the average monthly expenditure on food costs in Quebec is estimated to be $328 per person. According to Christian Tonnesen, U4 Science and vicepresident floor fellow of the Association of McGill University Support Employees (AMUSE) Unit

B, the union representing the floor fellows, AMUSE has proposed to increase the amount of the meal plan to $5,600 a year. They are also pushing for Solin Hall floor fellows to receive at least half of their compensation in grocery credits—money that can be spent at grocery stores instead of campus dining halls and cafeterias. Soong calculated how far $4,500 goes in

a dining hall and concluded that the budget, on average, provides for a meal and a half per day. The meal plan for Floor Fellows has not increased since 2017, although the mandatory meal plan prices for students living in residences have gone up from $4,575 in 2017 to $5,475 in 2020. Floor fellows live in residence for free and receive minimum wage—$13.50 an hour—for an expected 13 hours of work per week. This work includes being on duty, which consists of remaining in the building, being sober and accessible to all students, completing supervision rounds. Floor fellows are also responsible for scheduling and attending meetings with the Residence Life Manager, planning activities, and being available to support residents in crisis. In view of these responsibilities, Tonnesen explained, floor fellows are seeking a pay increase. “The pay is not substantial, especially considering the emotional and physical toll the job takes on us,” Tonnesen said. “We proposed that [pay be increased] to $18 […] and [McGill] came back with a crisp

$13.64 an hour.” AMUSE is fighting for other changes in the CA, such as modifying restrictions on guest policies and compensating Floor Fellows for extra hours during move-in week. Another issue in the negotiation process is McGill’s refusal to include harm reduction and anti-oppressive principles directly in the CA. “[In residence, anti-oppression looks like] recognizing that the institutions we participate in are deeply seated in racism and colonialism and actively helping students unlearn these microaggressions,” said Tonnesen. “Harm reduction is the basic principle of meeting people where they are at in regards to substance use [.…] I have seen a degradation of [harm reduction] policies. That is the reasoning for needing it in the CA.” McGill media relations officer Frédérique Mazerolle declined to comment on details about the ongoing discussion with AMUSE Unit B, writing in an email to the Tribune that “the University will let the conciliation process run its course.”

McGill holds annual Queer History Month themed ‘Coming Together’

Members of the McGill community reflect on the importance of the annual month Lily Cason News Editor

hroughout October, McGill is holding a series of events in honour of Queer History Month, ranging from public talks to workshops, centred around the theme, “Coming Together.” The month opened with a homecoming event called “Return of the Rainbow,” which featured Kanien’kehá:ka Elder Kawennotas Sedalia. The event brought together former and current McGill queer community members, including staff, students, and faculty, to foster connections through relationship-building activities and to provide a safe space to share personal stories. McGill’s Equity Education Advisor (Gender Equity and 2SLGBTQIA+ Education), Andrea Clegg, shared the meaning behind this year’s theme in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “The theme ‘Coming Together’ is connected to the opening up of communities, including the McGill campus, in relation to the pandemic,” Clegg said. “[It is about] having a renewed opportunity to come together and celebrate and affirm our identities, something [...] that varied communities have been impacted by in terms of the COVID pandemic.” Honouring Queer History Month at McGill is important, explained Clegg, in that it provides space for celebrating members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and also

includes a commitment to work toward further equality at the university. “[Queer History Month at McGill] is an opportunity to come together, connect, celebrate our achievements, and identify ways we still need to continue to move forward on issues,” Clegg said. While the month is primarily organized by the Office of the Provost and viceprincipal (Academic) (OPVPA), they

partner with many other groups to organize a wide range of events. One such group is McGill’s Subcommittee on Queer People (SQP), which submitted a formal motion to the McGill Senate in May 2021 for Queer History Month to be held and hosted by the Return of the Rainbow event. Hiba Zafran, chair of the SQP, underscored the importance of adopting an intersectional approach in an email to The McGill Tribune.

“Equity and accountability are only possible when we both resist white supremacy and coloniality, and queer-ify, amplify and rebuild our ways of doing— together,” Zafran wrote. “It is our collective responsibility to promote the wisdom of, and leadership by, those of us with experiential knowledge. Queer History Month is one of the spaces where we can come together to envision such a politics and ethics for belonging.” A handful of student-run groups helped organize Queer History Month as well. Queer McGill, a SSMU support service and the oldest queer organization on campus, hosted a documentary screening on Oct. 13 as part of the month’s programming. Jordan Elbualy, U4 Arts and an event coordinator for Queer McGill, spoke to the Tribune ahead of the screening and expressed his appreciation for the month’s events. “I think [Queer History Month] shows that the administration cares about us a little bit,” Elbualy said. “I like it. It kind of takes the pressure off of Queer McGill’s shoulders not being the only Queer advocacy agency at McGill [and the Queer History Month organizers] do some really good work.” For more information on Queer History Month and the events being held, visit the official page.

Due to COVID-19, all events organized by the Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) are held online, but some partner events throughout the month will be in person. (Kate Addison / The McGill Tribune)

Queer students looking for support can visit Queer McGill’s Facebook.

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19 2021

NEWS

McGill to discuss one-year assessment of anti-Black racism and EDI plans at upcoming Senate meeting

The reports gauge the two plans’ effectiveness and level of student engagement Madison Edward-Wright News Editor

n the spring and fall of 2020 respectively, McGill released updated versions of their Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Strategic Plan (2020-2025) and their Action Plan to Address Anti-Black Racism (ABR) (2020-2025). Reports assessing the plans’ first years in action were presented to McGill’s

First-year evaluations were discussed at the Sept. 7 Board of Governors meeting. (Kate Addison / The McGill Tribune)

Board of Governors on Sept. 7 by Angela Campbell, professor in the Faculty of Law and associate provost (Equity and Academic Policies), and Terri Givens, professor in the department of Political Science and provost’s academic lead and advisor (Action Plan to Address Anti-Black Racism). The Senate will be discussing the reports at their next meeting on Oct. 20. The Action Plan to Address Anti-Black Racism aims to confront systemic racism at McGill by tracking five main pillars: Student experiences, community outreach, design of physical space, research, and workforce makeup. The plan also seeks to acknowledge and act upon the university’s connection to the transatlantic slave trade. The EDI Strategic Plan examines inequities according to the same five aforementioned elements Campbell stated The McGill Tribune in a student media round table that these plans signal McGill’s commitment to implementing change. “The Student Services team led and facilitated [the creation] of spaces last year called ‘Being Black at McGill’ and that has been really helpful to developing a specific plan within Student Services to serve the needs of Black students at the university,” Campbell said. “[The creation of these spaces] really

focussed on not just having a plan, but serious commitment to implementation.” Campbell also highlighted the role of student organizations in the rollout of the AntiBlack Racism and EDI plans. “Throughout the last year and going on this year, we have been meeting every month with the [McGill African Students Society (MASS)] and the [Black Students’ Network (BSN)] to make sure that we get their feedback,” Campbell said. “It is one thing to have a plan, but it is another thing to hear on the ground how [the plan] is impacting, or not, the lives and the lived experiences of our students.” The Post-Graduate Students’ Society BIPOC Grad Network coordinator, Vivian Miyata, acknowledged the importance of communicating with campus organizations, but pointed out that not all BIPOC students are represented in these organizations. “It is important to create consistent outreach to members of the Black community at McGill who aren’t in BSN or other associations, to make sure that any Black student who wants their voice heard has the opportunity to do so,” Miyala wrote in an email to the Tribune. A central part of both the EDI Strategic Plan and the Anti-Black Racism Plan is

the implementation of an online module— based on the same structure as the It Takes All of Us—that will focus on educating the McGill community about systemic racism. The module is still in development, but once complete, will be mandatory for students, staff, and faculty. Campbell and Givens mentioned that the module will be important, but that it is only a small part of the work needed to address systemic racism. “This is such difficult, deep work, and it takes time,” Givens said. “We are trying to change culture in terms of developing a culture that is welcoming to Black students, to Black faculty, and so you have to take a broad approach to make sure that you are approaching [systemic racism] from different levels and different perspectives.” Miyata believes that online modular learning is a step in the right direction, but that the university must also commit to holding those who engage in racist and discriminatory behaviour accountable. “I believe that the sexual violence learning program and anti-racism modules that will be similar to [It Takes All of Us] are important, but ineffective unless there are real consequences for students who exhibit behaviour that opposes the teachings in them,” Miyata wrote.

Opposition to the New Vic Project prompts debate at SSMU Legislative Council meeting

Councillors also approved fee to create fund to support queer students Juliet Morrison Contributor

Medicine Representative Benson Wan questioned why the fee would be exempt from SSMU’s opt-out program. Cooper responded that non-opt-outable fees for equity programs are standard for SSMU, citing the Indigenous Equity Fund. “It is non-opt-outable, because it is specifically a fee to support minority students in the context of McGill,” Cooper said. “McGill’s

he Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) held its third Legislative Council meeting of the Fall on Oct. 14. The meeting’s agenda included a discussion about SSMU’s opposition to McGill’s New Vic Project, a presentation from the Office of Sustainability, and councillor nominations to the SSMU Board of Directors. In response to concerns over the SSMU’s stance against the New Vic Project, vice-president (VP) External Sacha Delouvrier cited various SSMU mandates—including its dedication to affordable student housing—as part of the rationale behind the group’s opposition to the project. “SSMU has committed itself through legislation to support the Royal Vic for the Public campaign, which is incompatible with the privatization inherent in McGill’s project,” Delouvrier said. “SSMU’s Affordable Student Housing Committee has further committed itself [...] to support the Milton Park’s housing and social efforts as a community partner.” During the ensuing debate, councillors and other members of the

SSMU president Darshan Daryanani was absent for a third consecutive meeting. (Kate Addison / The McGill Tribune) gallery raised concerns about the lack of consultation between SSMU and the heads of the initiative. Members also questioned SSMU’s opposition to the project, pointing out that the blueprints for New Vic promise space for on-site sustainability research and state they have dedication to “healing the planet.” Citing his experience as a former student at Macdonald Campus, where sustainability research was shut down due to a lack of facility space, Councillor Tiniacos felt it was a good thing that McGill’s proposal for the Royal Vic would give more space for sustainability projects. “Does the executive understand that opposing this project is opposing sustainable research [itself] and the mandate of the university’s [...] basis

of education and research?” Tiniacos asked. Delouvrier maintained that the Royal Vic site could be used in a more beneficial way, suggesting that an affordable student housing project as a better alternative. The Council also passed a motion to create the Queer Improvement and Partnership Solidarity (QUIPS) Fund and Fee. VP University Affairs Claire Downie and Gender and Sexuality Commissioner Grey Cooper introduced the motion, stating that the proposed fund would provide financial support for queer students with urgent needs and would also help finance grassroots research that would otherwise not be supported due to institutionalized homophobia.

general community, and the committee as a whole, believes that should be the precedent, that all SSMU members help support [minority students].” The council also unanimously approved a motion proposed by VP Internal Sarah Paulin to revise aspects of the Francophone Affairs Committee to increase its productivity and broaden its scope.

MOMENT OF THE MEETING VP Finance Eric Sader announced a surplus of $300,000 from the previous projection of the SSMU budget for 2021-2022. According to Sader, the previous VP Finance took a more “conservative” approach to the budget given that last year was online. Sader said he was consulting with department heads, executives, and other staff on where the money should be allocated, but said it would most go toward hiring additional SSMU staff in “overworked portfolios.”

SOUND BITE “We take pride in presenting the annual report to all the student associations as a measure of transparency and accountability. Since the students contribute to half of the fund, we feel it is important to showcase what our office has been able to do by distributing those funds in the community and in the impacts that the those projects yielded.” —Executive Director of Sustainability Francois Miller on the Office of Sustainability’s 2021 Fiscal Year report

NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19 2021

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Tribune Explains: McGill’s new COVID-19 initiatives

The university will implement four new policies to slow the virus’ spread Lily Cason News Editor

n a university-wide email sent out Oct. 7, McGill announced four new COVID-19 initiatives to help track and curtail the spread of COVID-19 on campus. The protocols, which are being implemented throughout October, include measuring CO2 levels to assess the efficiency of ventilation systems; testing wastewater in student residence buildings; distributing thermometers to those in residence; and establishing a new COVID-19 dashboard to distribute weekly updated data.

to track whether ventilation systems are operating properly. Some of McGill’s classrooms and exam rooms already have CO2 monitors, but others do not—a fact that prompted the university to conduct a systematic review of CO2 levels in spaces that previously went unassessed. Testing began on Oct. 4 and continues to be carried out by internal and external Subject Matter Experts (SME). The analysis is set to wrap up on Oct. 26. McGill has yet to announce next steps after the SMEs data is collected. Currently, the “Ventilation in your building” page details the ventilation statuses in specific rooms on campus. What is wastewater sampling and how would it help prevent COVID-19?

McGill says it will adhere to the American Society of Heating and Air-Conditioning Engineers’ protocols when assessing CO2 levels on campus. (Sabrina Girard-Lamas / The McGill Tribune) Why is McGill measuring CO2 levels in some of its buildings? CO2 builds up when ventilation is poor, so measuring CO2 levels is a way

Wastewater sampling is currently underway at La Citadelle, Carrefour Sherbrooke, Royal Victoria College, and Solin Hall. McGill says it will expand the sampling to other residences soon. By sampling the wastewater from these buildings for evidence of the COVID-19 virus, McGill hopes to be able to detect potential COVID-19 outbreaks early. The university has devised three alert levels— vigilance, precursor, and outbreak—that can be activated at residences depending on the results of wastewater sampling. To support self-monitoring for potential symptoms of COVID-19, the university has decided to dispense 80 forehead thermometers to floor fellows and reception desks—which will be available to students upon request—and 750 personal stick thermometers, which are being given

to students directly. What is the new COVID-19 Situation Dashboard? Another initiative McGill has rolled out is the implementation of a COVID-19 Situation Dashboard, which is updated every Tuesday and provides COVID-19 information from the past week. The dashboard provides information about campus and library traffic data, the number of new cases on campus, the number of cases linked to McGill classrooms, the number of calls to the Case Management Group (CMG), and the amount of contact tracing the CMG has conducted. This is more data than was previously available to the McGill community through the COVID-19 case tracker, which only stated the number of confirmed cases in a given week and whether there was evidence of community transmission. What prompted McGill to implement these extra protocols? Frédérique Mazerolle, a McGill media relations officer, says these new measures were devised in conjunction with public health officials and demonstrate McGill’s ongoing vigilance toward protecting the community. “McGill University is working closely with public health officials to adopt policies and put into practice measures to protect students, staff and faculty. The University will continue to take a prudent planning approach that

McGill partners with Centraide to host walk/run fundraiser in annual campaign

The fundraiser will be held virtually over October Madison Edward-Wright News Editor

cGill announced on Oct. 12 that it is partnering with Centraide of Greater Montreal for its 2021 Centraide Campaign. The campaign, managed by the McGill Centraide Committee, will raise funds to help alleviate financial burdens of Montrealers in need, providing support for rent, food, education, and other necessities. The main event of the Centraide campaign is the virtual “Let’s Move for Centraide” walk/run. Participants choose a day between Oct. 15 and Nov. 19 to complete a five- or 10-kilometre run or walk that can be completed indoors on a treadmill or outdoors. To certify that they have completed the walk/run, participants must track their activity using an app like Strava Run or Nike Run Club and then submit the activity record to

McGill. Participation in “Let’s Move for Centraide” costs 20 dollars, withall proceeds donated to Centraide. Four major donors— Stephen Bronfman, Mitch Garber, Andrew Lutfy, and Lino A. Saputo—will match every donation of 10,000 dollars that McGill makes to Centraide. Darshan Daryanani, the Students’ Society of McGill University president and member of the McGill Centraide Committee, believes the campaign will have a positive impact on local communities. “This year, McGill’s target is to raise $425,000,” Daryanani wrote in an email to the McGill Tribune. “Each agency [supported by Centraide] has a different culturally appropriate and community-based approach, which will help to create inclusive and resilient communities and break the cycle of poverty and social exclusion locally.”

Another event that will be occurring toward the end of the McGill 2021 Centraide Campaign is a zumba class, hosted by Ender Nava. The fee to participate in the class is $10, and all proceeds from the class will be donated to Centraide. The COVID-19 pandemic affected Montrealers in different ways, but the marginalized and diverse communities supported by organizations like Centraide were hit harder than most. McGill reported that in Quebec, 24,000 women dropped out of the labour market and 12.9 per cent of the lowest-paid workers in the area lost their jobs since the onset of the pandemic. As a result of this trend, Centraide established four emergency funds: Centraide COVID-19 Emergency Fund, Youth Fund, Emergency Community Support Fund, and the New Horizons for Seniors Program. The McGill

allows us to adapt as the health and wellbeing of our community remains a top priority,” Mazerolle wrote in an email to the Tribune. “The initiatives [...] will provide new means of monitoring, keep the community informed with the latest data from around the McGill community and encourage and facilitate vaccination, which remains the best way to keep individuals, and the community at-large, safe.” What is the McGill community’s reaction to these new measures? David Juncker, chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, believes these new initiatives are useful, but wished they were implemented sooner. Juncker feels that there is still more that McGill could do to keep the community safe, such as requiring vaccination and implementing rapid testing. “I wish they had started [CO2 measurements] at the beginning of the semester, and I would encourage [McGill] to proceed faster and to make the results available publicly as soon as possible,” Juncker wrote in an email to the Tribune. “[T]he university should develop a strategy for using rapid tests under different modalities based on epidemiological modeling and cost-benefit analysis. Depending on the situation, twice a week screening for everyone could help catch many cases. Alternatively, rapid tests could be used as tests-to-stay or teststo-enter for people who [...] have mild symptoms.”

administration acknowledged these funds are an important step in helping Montrealers overcome the consequences of the pandemic. “As a COVID-19 response, Centraide established different funds, projects and programs to help vulnerable people and those weakened by the health crisis,” wrote Frédérique Mazerolle, a McGill media relations officer. “McGill is committed more than ever to our partnership with Centraide and the need to extend our support, kindness, and compassion to vulnerable Montrealers.” Some students, however, such as Doris Tian, U2 Arts, were unaware of the campaign. Ultimately, Tian was happy to learn of McGill’s efforts. “I had not heard of the Centraide campaign before, either from McGill or outside the McGill bubble,” Tian wrote. “It seems like a very timely philanthropic campaign to launch in the aftermath of COVID, and I am glad McGill is promoting social initiatives such as this one.” Sophie Hart, U3 Arts and lead organizer at Mobilizing

Centraide of Greater Montreal aims to eliminate poverty and social exclusion. (reporter.mcgill.ca) for Milton-Parc, discussed the influence that a campaign such as this can have on the relationship between students and the larger Montreal community. “I think it is great [that] McGill is inviting students to think about their role as citizens in Montreal and the importance of student involvement, whether it be volunteering or donating, to community organizations,” Hart wrote in an email to the Tribune. “COVID-19 helped many people see the importance of community and care for one another, so I hope this campaign will be successful and will encourage student learning about community organizations.”

opinion@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19 2021

Editor-in-Chief Sequoia Kim editor@mcgilltribune.com

In the minimum wage fight, a living wage is right

Creative Director Ruobing Chen rchen@mcgilltribune.com

The McGill Tribune Editorial Board

EDITORIAL BOARD

Managing Editors Kennedy McKee-Braide kmckee-braide@mcgilltribune.com Madison Mclauchlan mmclauchlan@mcgilltribune.com Maya Abuali mabuali@mcgilltribune.com News Editors Lily Cason, Ella Fitzhugh & Madison Edward-Wright news@mcgilltribune.com Opinion Editors Jonah Fried, Matthew Molinaro & Sepideh Afshar opinion@mcgilltribune.com Science & Technology Editors Shafaq Nami & Youssef Wahba scitech@mcgilltribune.com Student Life Editors Holly Wethey & Wendy Zhao studentlife@mcgilltribune.com Features Editor Tasmin Chu features@mcgilltribune.com Arts & Entertainment Editors Lowell Wolfe & Michelle Siegel arts@mcgilltribune.com Sports Editors Adam Burton & Sarah Farnand sports@mcgilltribune.com Design Editors Jinny Moon & Xiaotian Wang design@mcgilltribune.com Photo Editor Kate Addison photo@mcgilltribune.com Multimedia Editors Farah Jay & Noah Vaton multimedia@mcgilltribune.com Web Developers Abby de Gala & Marwan Shiraz Khan webdev@mcgilltribune.com Copy Editor Jackie Lee copy@mcgilltribune.com

n Oct. 7, a group of anti-poverty advocacy groups and unions in Quebec, including La Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ), Syndicat de professionnelles et professionnels du gouvernement du Québec (SPGQ), and Collectif pour un Québec sans pauvreté, sent out a memo demanding that Quebec increase their minimum wage to $18/hour—a marked shift from their 2016 demand of $15/hour. The groups cited the province’s increasing costs of living that threaten to push workers deeper into poverty as the driving force behind their renewed calls for a living wage. Not only would an $18/hour wage make Quebec a more egalitarian society, it would simultaneously increase the purchasing power of the population—especially for women, a move that may help reduce the widening income gap. On behalf of the students, parents, immigrants, and other diverse communities that make up much of the minimumwage earning class, Quebec must concede to these demands and move toward a living wage.

OFF THE BOARD Madison McLauchlan Managing Editor

Social Media Editor Taneeshaa Pradhan socialmedia@mcgilltribune.com Business Manager Marilie Pilon business@mcgilltribune.com

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

CONTRIBUTORS Avryl Bender, Cassandra Betts, Sylvie Bourque, Ella Buckingham, El Bush, Ian Clements, Elissa Dresdner, Saumya Gogte, Ella Gomes, Sophia Gorbounov, Suzanna Graham, Zoe Karkossa, Abby McCormick, Juliet Morrison, Sara Chiarotto O’Brien, Annika Pavlin, Catherine Plawutsky, Dana Prather, Erin Smith, Kyle Tsang

TRIBUNE OFFICE Shatner University Centre, 3480 McTavish, Suite 110 Montreal, QC H3A 0E7 - T: 519.546.8263 The McGill Tribune is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the Société de Publication de la Tribune, a student society of McGill University. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of The McGill Tribune and the Société de Publication de la Tribune, and does not necessarily represent the views of McGill University. Letters to the editor may be sent to editor@ mcgilltribune.com and must include the contributor’s name, program and year and contact information. Letters should be kept under 300 words and submitted only to the Tribune. Submissions judged by the Tribune Publication Society to be libellous, sexist, racist, homophobic or solely promotional in nature will not be published. The Tribune reserves the right to edit all contributions. Editorials are decided upon and written by the editorial board. All other opinions are strictly those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the McGill Tribune, its editors or its staff.

Content warning: Mention of sexual violence.

n the train home a few weeks ago, I was about to pop on my headphones and listen to Kendrick Lamar when I overheard a conversation between two young white girls discussing their music taste. “I don’t understand how you can listen to rap,” one of the girls said. “All they talk about is money, drugs, and raping women.” Her friend agreed, adding that country music was much better and less controversial—as though the socalled purity of music is intrinsically

Quebec’s minimum wage currently sits at $13.50/hour without tips and at $10.80/hour with tips, ranking among the lowest of Canada’s provinces. Some might explain away the lower wage by pointing to Montreal’s lauded affordability in comparison to the devastating housing and cost of living crises in cities like Toronto and Vancouver. Ontario and British Columbia’s minimum wages are $14.35/hour and $15.20/hour, respectively. However, it remains that the average minimum-wage earner cannot afford rent in any of these provinces. In Montreal, only one-fifth of neighbourhoods have affordable one-bedroom options for minimum wage earners, and next to no affordable options for twobedroom apartments. Added to the inflation of grocery prices, workers in Montreal face challenges to their physical needs and safety. These issues, compounded by the strain of deteriorating mental health, simultaneously decrease productivity and cause long lasting cyclical and detrimental impacts on the working class. By refusing to increase an unlivable minimum wage, Quebec sends a clear message to the workers that their basic needs and dignity are not a

OPINION

EDITORIAL priority. An $18/hour wage would protect workers’ lives. No government posturing or corporate social responsibility can make up for the lack of a living wage. Currently, workers sacrifice their physical and mental health, family time, and upward mobility in education for just enough money to scrape by. Facing an economy where a university degree is no longer enough to secure financial success in the future, many lowincome and international students grapple with the additional burden of paying tuition without the benefits of intergenerational wealth. International students in particular are subjected to miscommunication and below minimum wage earnings. The $10.80/hour tipped wage alone raises questions. Even though wages should not depend on performance, workers end up relying on arbitrary factors like their customers’ unpredictable goodwill, wallet, and even what time of day it is. Factors like cultural norms, vaccine scepticism, explicit and implicit gender, racial, and sexual biases, and the restaurant’s prices cause disparities in tipping. Quebec should not regulate an unregulatable practice. While this move may appear to

place a drastic and unreasonable burden on the province, living on minimum wage should not be synonymous with poverty. With pandemic benefits and restrictions steadily lifting, changing to a living wage could potentially solve labour shortages and stimulate economic participation by incentivizing workers to re-enter the local economy as well as mitigating tipping disparities. Though not without a fight, the living wage campaign has glimmers of hope. The federal minimum wage’s increase to $15/hour for federal workers will put pressure on the Quebec government facing a re-election campaign in 2022. The signatories can look optimistically at Canadian labour history where groups like the Canadian Union of Postal Workers’ “militant” strikes and walkouts for above average wages succeeded in sending workers’ rights shock waves across the country. Quebec is no stranger to acquiescing to demands: Facing strikes, Quebec recently increased daycare workers’ pay. Without essential workers, society falls into disarray. Without a living wage, workers suffer inhumanely. Quebec should go the distance to implement a living wage, and if not, should expect resistance.

Grappling with my love for misogynistic rap tied to its artistic value. I was immediately filled with a sense of indignation: Who were they to denounce an entire genre of music, one that was rooted in the history of Black liberation, one that has been used as a form of protest against oppressive structures since its inception? I knew that this stranger’s take was incredibly ignorant, but I still felt chastened. The next song in my queue was “My Dawg” by 21 Savage & Metro Boomin, where 21 raps about catching snitches and gang murder, among other concepts far removed from my life experience. Despite the murky content, it’s a sonically energizing track that I often reach for. I know music streams provide inadvertent support for these male rappers, but as a woman, how far can that support go without compromising my moral principles? When I first started seriously listening to harder rap, I was in the midst of a tumultuous emotional period, and sad indie music was not cutting it. Listening to the pugnacious bars of Kodak Black or Skepta empowered me to feel like “that bitch,” ready to embrace an overexaggerated bravado and propel myself forward despite the setbacks thrown my way. These rap and drill tracks provide a taste of what it’s like to walk through the world as a

man—and a powerful one, at that. Rap music puts up an impenetrable barrier of confidence between myself and the world. Blasting gangsta rap through my headphones and hearing the bass pulsate through my core is the closest I come to feeling dangerous, a major deviation from my typical feeling of fear as a woman of short stature. Listening to violent, gritty bars fuels me in a way that no other type of music does—it holds affective power and allows me to feel and channel my rage—an emotion that women are often told is inappropriate. Black women, in particular, are doubly affected as they must navigate the “angry Black woman” stereotype. This moral dilemma reminds me of the notion of disidentification, a concept proposed by queer theorist José Esteban Muñoz that explains how gender, sexual, and racial minorities can engage with mainstream art forms that are created within a structure of oppression. Choosing to align yourself for or against a cultural product are not the only two options—you can repurpose the art to suit your life and identity. Appreciating culture without endorsing it is possible, and even necessary, for engaging with works as subjective as music. My love of female rappers,

thankfully, does not pose the same moral dilemma. My favourites, like Megan Thee Stallion and Little Simz, are talented artists who rarely bring down other women in their music. Separately from thematic content, problematic moguls in the rap industry should be held accountable for the harm they cause people, as with any other individual with widespread influence. Rap has its fair share of problematic personas—Chris Brown and Tory Lanez spring to mind—but then again, so does country music, which is rooted in white supremacy and has a serious domestic violence problem. Stereotyping an entire genre of artistry, especially one whose artists are overwhelmingly people of colour, is a narrow-minded cop-out that does not help to dismantle the rampant misogyny within the music industry. Cultural products are whatever you make them, as music is a deeply personal experience, aurally, and emotionally. Engaging critically with the rap I adore continues to teach me about many different lived perspectives—both those who benefit from the patriarchy and systems of oppressions, and those who fall victim to it—all with a chip on my shoulder and a rhythm in my step.

OPINION

COMMENTARY

opinion@mcgilltribune.com

McGill should reduce harm, not safety

El Bush Contributor

niversity is a time of experimentation, exploration, and self-discovery. For some students, this includes experimenting with drugs. However, users rarely have access to comprehensive education regarding safe drug use—a necessary component of a harm reduction approach. For many first-year students, their only “harm reduction” measure is an informal tradition: Floor fellows instruct students to write down the name of the drugs they are doing and tuck it into their left shoe. In the event of an overdose, floor fellows can refer to the note to help identify the drugs and respond appropriately. However, beyond this, there are very few harm reduction initiatives implemented across campus on behalf of McGill, especially in residences—a move that does more harm than good. McGill has a responsibility to make sure that students’ experimentation with drugs is as safe as possible. Instead of prioritizing their students’ well-being, however, McGill recently adopted a zero-tolerance policy on drug consumption, further stigmatizing drug use on campus. Consequently, students themselves have taken on the responsibility of making harm reduction resources available on campus. McGill’s lack of care for their students’ health and safety places an unfair burden upon students to make campus safer. Drug use happens across all university campuses, and McGill is no exception. Students are not naive to this reality, and many

COMMENTARY Michael Dickinson Contributor

n the morning of Sept. 14, several campus buildings were evacuated and morning classes were cancelled as police responded to a suspicious package in the McCall MacBain Arts Building. Four days later, two men were stabbed just steps away from campus on Sherbrooke Street, and one of them later died. Although Montreal has a lower crime rate than most Canadian cities, security remains a concern for the McGill community. It is a shame that the administration offered little information about the threats, because students should not be kept in the dark about safety. McGill must develop better safety protocols and be more communicative with students about security risks on campus. The university has some procedures in place to respond to safety issues, but these protocols are limited and vague. The only directive given to those who discover something suspicious is to avoid touching it, call Security Services, and wait for further instructions. Although McGill has an active shooter protocol, they have not publicized a procedure for

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19 2021

are committed to addressing the gaps in knowledge that exist. One student-led group, Making Drugs More Accurate (MDMA), has made it their mission to address the lack of harm reduction education on campus. By providing accessible drug testing, education, and safe spaces, MDMA makes it safer for McGill students to experiment with drugs. What is perhaps most telling about the state of harm reduction at McGill is the overwhelmingly positive student response to their initiative. According to the founder of MDMA, the group handled over 40 orders contain-

ing 160 different substance samples that were tested and deemed safe to use over the course of a mere 48-hour period. The group’s online following only continues to grow because of their willingness to do what the administration refuses to. This is not the first time students have taken matters into their own hands to protect their peers. A petition on change.org demanding a commitment to harm reduction began circulating in May and has since gained traction, with 400 signatures as of Oct. 18. The petition is demonstrative that McGill students

Residences’ require harm reduction approaches as often they are spaces where experimentation occurs (The Montreal Gazette)

will continue to protect each other even if their university fails to. In the petition, students call on McGill to adopt a compassionate, educational, and non-punitive approach to drug use in residences and across campus as a whole. This approach might include adopting harm reduction techniques set forth by the National Harm Reduction Coalition and making resources such as naloxone available in all residence buildings and campus partners. Additionally, the petition calls upon McGill to embrace the recent postponed motion brought before the Students’ Society of McGill University Legislative Council in March 2020. The motion serves as an exposé against McGill for actively rolling back harm reduction policies by removing floor fellow training and online resources. The lack of institutionalized harm reduction resources on campus renders countless students without support when it comes to the safe consumption of drugs. If not for the student mobilization Making Drugs More Accurate sparked, the state of harm reduction at McGill would be virtually non-existent. If McGill refuses to implement life-saving harm reduction measures itself, it must at the very least provide support to student-led harm reduction initiatives and invest in a safer McGill community for all students. The administration’s blatant ignorance and avoidance of the topic of harm reduction can no longer be overlooked. Even if students are willing to take on this burden, it is ultimately McGill’s responsibility to alleviate the pressure by providing adequate resources.

A secure campus requires open communication dangerous individuals armed with other weapons, such as knives. The university’s lack of preparedness for situations like this is especially alarming in the wake of the Sherbrooke Street stabbing. Even though 81 per cent of Montreal’s fatal crimes occur during the evening or night, McGill employs more security guards during the day. This overlooks the many students who remain on campus at night for clubs, events, or studying. Without proper plans to respond to campus threats, students are put in unnecessary danger. McGill should institute evacuation drills for staff and the administration, and should clearly communicate them to students so that if an unexpected crisis arises again, people are prepared to respond appropriately. Even when the administration does create safety directives, McGill’s notoriously poor communication systems exacerbate dangerous situations. Students whose classes were cancelled or who were evacuated from their lecture halls deserved to understand what was happening, as well as what precautions to take without succumbing to unnecessary fear. Furthermore, the university should have immediately warned students to avoid the area where the stabbing

took place, rather than leaving them to find out hours later through social media. McGill may wish to keep certain aspects of their security plans secret to prevent perpetrators from learning about them. However, it is cruel to keep students and staff uninformed and afraid during what they speculated was a bomb threat—and potentially fatal to withhold information about a stabbing next to campus when the suspects remain at large. The university’s inability to be forthcoming during active threats exemplifies a broader pattern of lax safety throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Although McGill regularly provides updates from the Emergency Operations Centre and attempts to enact contact tracing, communication regarding COVID-19 transmission on campus remains insufficient. As a result, some students in the Faculty of Law began disclosing COVID-19 cases to each other on Facebook, alleging that the university was downplaying the number of cases on campus. The administration eventually blocked them from maintaining their own student-run reporting system. When McGill is not only withholding information, but preventing people from sharing amongst themselves, it erodes

McGill’s notoriously poor communication systems exacerbate dangerous situations. (Francois Sauvé / Radio Canada and CBC) students’ trust in the university and calls into question whether the school truly cares about its students’ safety. If the administration is not willing to prioritize safety, students should use the resources available to them to take precautions. Those who need assistance travelling at night can use the Students’ Society of McGill University’s WALKSAFE service, which relaunched on Oct. 8, as well as DriveSafe, when it resumes operations. Students can

also subscribe to the university’s emergency notification system to receive alerts via text message, the McGill app, or their computers. However, the administration must do its part to keep students safe by using the alert software to tell students about safety threats and must adequately prepare for threats before they take place. Attending class or walking home from the library at night should not scare students, but McGill’s poor security communications should.

scitech@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19 2021

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Where mother-ofpearl becomes glass

Mollusk shells inspire McGill scientists to create fracture-resistant glass Mikaela Shadick Contributor

any would agree that one of the foremost attributes of glass is its fragility. However, a team of McGill researchers have found a surprising model after which to fashion a more durable glass. The team has enlisted nacre, more commonly known as “mother-of-pearl,” to improve glass’ fracture toughness, impact resistance, and light refraction, and created a glass that is as resilient to fragmentation as plastic. “The methods for improvement [of glass composites] offer infinite variation and opportunities for novelty,” Allen Ehrlicher, an associate professor in McGill’s Department of Bioengineering and a member of the research team, wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune. Ehrlicher and his team foresee such a durable glass composite as having the potential to vastly improve common applications, such as cell-phone screens. Using small fragments of glass and acrylic material, the researchers were able to adjust flexibility and collision resistance by varying how long the composite was spun in a centrifuge. This allowed them to align microscopic glass tablets into layers of parallel planes, leading to an overall denser structure with greater resiliency. To increase the transmittance of light and the overall transparency of the composite, the researchers made the opaque glass and acrylic solid take on the refractive index of glass through the selection of both hard and soft materials. According to Ehrlicher, hard substances provide a necessary backbone for the composite, while more pliable ones increase transparency by preventing the reflection of light, also known as refraction. This allows the clarity of the composite to be identical to that of more common glass forms, including those which are laminated and tempered with heat, but are comparatively weaker. “Mollusk shell in bioinspired materials is broadly recognized as an archetype of tough composite materials, and offers a design template in its brick and mortar architecture as well as [a] combination of rigid tablets and ductile connective material,” Ehrlicher wrote. “For the material to not shatter, the material must flex and the energy of deformation must be absorbed more gradually than catastrophically.” It is mainly due to the mollusk shell’s structure, rather than the material itself, that such deformative

properties can be achieved. “[Deformation] occurs through toughening mechanisms in the plastic connective phase between the glass flakes,” Ehrlicher wrote. “By allowing the plastic phase to gradually break, develop cavities, and let the glass tablets slide, this prevents the overall material from breaking, similar to a myriad of mechanical ‘fuses.’ Toughening mechanisms are the processes which allow the material to not be fragile or brittle like conventional glass.” Nacre has both hard and soft phases that allow for a high level of rigidity while still being able to absorb and resist impact. Thus, the researchers fashioned their composite out of both stiff and deformable material, resulting in a high level of interface strength due to strong bonding between the different phases. The researchers have calculated that their composite is three times stronger than normal glass and over five times more fracture resistant, a sign that this design

could have significant real-world applications. Even more compelling is that Ehrlicher believes this glass composite is comparatively easier to manufacture than traditional glass. The team is currently in talks with companies regarding its wide-scale production. It is hard to believe that nacre, most commonly a protective lining for many mollusk species, could be behind such an exciting scientific development. Yet, Ehrlicher thinks the sky is the limit for nacre and its other biological counterparts. “Bioinspired materials has become a field in its own right,” Ehrlicher wrote. While Ehrlicher and his colleagues specialize in cell mechanics, the realm of bio-inspired materials remains an open canvas for experimentation and development. It seems that as scientists discover more about the minutiae of nature, the potential for innovation will only grow.

(newatlas.com)

(biologydictionary.com)

(Allen Ehrlicher)

The darker side of pre-med

The toxic culture of the pre-medical path Sarah Farnand, Sports Editor

GPA is a 3.95. Getting admitted to these schools is unlikely, given their acceptance rates of 5.6 per cent and 8.3 per cent respectively. Such high standards can motivate and reward desperation, intimidation, and sabotage instead of collaboration and kindness.

At least until university. In a study at the University of Minnesota, researchers found that only 16.5 per cent of students who planned at the start of undergrad on going to medical school actually graduated university with sufficient course work to do so. The study analyzed a sample of 15,442 students across 102 universities, all from different demographics and socio-economic backgrounds. In my own life, I frequently hear friends who used to consider themselves “pre-med” have decided to switch to another career path. While some students’ interests may have changed after arriving to McGill, others said that they were driven away by the toxic culture that pervades the community. Even for those still on the pre-med track, the environment can prove to be extremely destructive. As a pre-med myself, I have experienced this phenomenon in many different forms during my time at McGill. Whether my classmates ignore my questions in class group chats, refuse to provide help with assignments or labs, or just constantly try to one-up my accomplishments, being immersed in such a cutthroat environment has taken its toll.

These high admission standards take their toll on aspiring doctors as well, leading directly to another harmful aspect of pre-med culture: Glorifying burnout. It can be hard not to feel guilty for taking a night off, especially when your GPA can determine so much about your future.

or many pre-medical students, dreams of practising medicine have been playing through their minds since they were children. It’s the allure of being able to save someone’s life, help a person feel better, or finally provide that answer a patient has been looking for. Of course, some people have other reasons for pursuing medicine, like taking home a high salary, pleasing parents, or satisfying the narcissistic desire to prove to themselves they are smart enough. By high school, many students are convinced that medicine is their dream career.

Sabine El Khoury, a D2 Dentistry student, had similar experiences in her undergraduate years, when she was given misleading advice from another student about how to prepare for medical and dental school interviews. The student told her that prep was unnecessary, although it turned out she had practiced for the interviews relentlessly. “In my experience, I have been lied to my face about something by someone who I thought was a friend. I asked them what they were doing and they lied to me just because of the competition,” El Khoury said in an interview with the Tribune. “So I feel that [the environment] is toxic, and it is toxic unnecessarily because that person who lied to me didn’t end up getting into [medical school].” The constant competition can be exhausting, agreed Alex Schneider, U2 Science, who hopes to one day become a surgeon. Currently, most Schneider’s friends are in the faculty of Arts. “I just am not friends with a lot of pre-med students because I feel like all they want to think about is pre-med,” said Schneider. “I have put in the time and the work. But when I want to hang out with my friends I do not want to think about class and be in competition with all these people because I think that’s where it can be mentally exhausting.” Part of the problem is the extremely low acceptance rates at most medical schools, which tend to require very high GPA and Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores. At McGill, the average undergraduate GPA for someone entering the Faculty of Medicine is 3.99 for those outside of Quebec and 3.91 for those who attended a Quebec university. At the University of Toronto’s medical school, the average undergraduate

Of course, medical school is extraordinarily difficult, and high standards are necessary to ensure that a student has the necessary knowledge. However, some schools like the University of Toronto have attempted to even the playing field by simply requiring a minimum MCAT score--but not evaluating it as a competitive factor during admissions. Indeed, a more holistic approach might help create more well-rounded doctors. Selecting students only on the basis of their stellar grades might come at the cost of interpersonal skills and bedside manner, potentially causing worse outcomes for patients overall.

El Khoury wishes she made more time for friends during her time in undergrad, instead of constantly excusing herself to study. “Looking back I realize that I didn’t make as many friends as I wanted to because I was focused so much on school,” El Khoury said. “If people were going out, I would say ‘I can’t, because I have to study.’” While student burnout is not unique to McGill, the university’s lack of resources for students who intend to study medicine can leave them adrift. While advisors in the Faculty of Science can offer advice for pre-med students, their expertise in premed is poorly advertised. Instead, students turn to online spaces, such as the r/premed subreddit, which do not necessarily have the most accurate advice. One helpful resource the university does have is Medical Direction (MD), a completely student-run premedical society that supports students interested in medical professions. While the university does have a one-year pre-med program for incoming CEGEP students, it is only available to Quebec students. Shreya Program Direction, t o

Mahasenan, Director for

the Medical admitted

falling into the trap of endless online resources, such as the over-abundance of information available from the nonprofit Student Doctor Network. In her opinion, the kind of lifestyle promoted by many of these sites is unsustainable and usually produces burnout. One article she recalls reading during first year boasted that no successful pre-med would stop studying to go out on a Friday night. Another post suggested that anyone who performed poorly in a first-year class was “barely smart enough to be in school, let alone be a doctor.” “You get a couple of years in and you realize a lot of the burnout you have could have been avoided by simply not making yourself grind on a Friday night,” Shreya said. After struggling to find the right information, she ended up turning towards Medical Direction to talk with other students about their experiences. “I would very much say that Medical Direction is students helping students,” Mahasenan said. “I think that’s what united a lot of people in the executive body [of Medical Direction]. We were those people who thought it was odd that there weren’t a lot of pre-med services or resources on campus.” In many schools in the United States, such as UC Berkeley and the University of Texas at Austin, there are specific advisors that help guide pre-med students through the process of obtaining prerequisites and applying to medical school. Having resources like this at McGill—and advertising them to students explicitly—could help pre-med students feel less isolated and less inclined to turn towards those harmful online rabbit holes. The lack of resources can make the journey into medicine even harder for those facing financial stress or other barriers, visible or not. Basing acceptance off students’ standardized tests like the MCAT can give those with more money and resources an unfair advantage. It’s far easier to do well on the MCAT when you have enough money to afford expensive prep resources and enough time to undergo hours of tutoring. By putting a lot of weight on the MCAT for medical school admissions, schools often end up rewarding wealthy, predominantly white students. “Medicine is not always the most equitable field in terms of access, and people run into so many associated costs that come with paying for the MCAT or paying for applications,” Mahasenan said. In an attempt to bridge the gap, Medical Direction provides resources to students who have to work extra hard to get to the same place as more privileged students. The club offers upwards of $1500 in bursary awards and other support for students. No matter where one falls on the income spectrum, however, achievement has costs beyond the financial. Prem e d

culture is the perfect recipe for poor mental health, with gruelling competition often leading to insecurity and imposter syndrome, where you doubt your abilities and grapple with feelings of fraud. A study by the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego discovered a greater prevalence and severity of major depressive disorder (MDD) among premedical students, especially female and Hispanic students. This finding, on top of the fact that almost 50 per cent of university-age students in Montreal report anxiety and depression symptoms, paints an extremely alarming picture. El Khoury explained how once she began to apply to medical and dental schools, she noticed her mental health deteriorate. “I started having mental health problems during the end of undergrad when it was time to apply to all these schools because it was very stressful,” El Khoury said. “I was in the [mindset] where I thought that I didn’t deserve to get in because you hear about all these stories of people with 4.0’s that don’t get in. So I was unnecessarily hard on myself.” Given the sheer number of pre-med students at McGill, there need to be more mental health resources in addition to the current resources such as the Student Wellness Hub and keep.meSAFE, and these resources need to be more publicized and easier to access. For current pre-med students taking large first-year prerequisite classes and feeling lost and alone, there are initiatives such as FRezCa, where students can go to residence cafeterias for help in subjects they are struggling in. A good starting place for solving these issues could be in the actual classroom. In fact, some professors are already trying to change their students’ mindsets. Laura Pavelka, a faculty lecturer in the Department of Chemistry, has found that her students often hold themselves to unduly high standards. Pavelka also notices that students with the goal of medical school are particularly stressed and anxious. “Part of that anxiety stems from the idea that anything but a 4.0 is failure,” Pavelka wrote in an email to the Tribune. “I find this extremely upsetting on many levels, as practicing doctors need so much more than strong academics. This drive for academic success can be at a detriment to many interpersonal skills and empathetic personality traits.” The pressure also stems from high-stakes testing, which is common practice among science classes. Pavelka believes that professors should instead try to model what students will be expected to do in the workforce. “High-stakes testing is the biggest issue that I see,” Dr. Pavelka wrote. “When so much rides on one assessment, it is inevitably going to lead to a hypercompetitive and high anxiety situation for all students. Outside of a university class structure, learning is much more self-directed, collaborative, and low-stakes.” Most of all, Dr. Pavelka emphasized that it can be unrealistic to know what your future holds at the age of 17 or 18. I identify with her words immensely. As someone who changes my mind every few weeks about what I want to do for a living, it is important to remember that changing your dream does not mean you failed--it just means you have grown. For many, giving up the pre-medical path is the right choice. As for those who stay, it is important to advocate for yourself and your own mental wellness. After all, for a system ostensibly focused on health, the well-being of students in pre-med and medical programs is a shockingly low priority.

Design by Jinny Moon, Design Editor

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

scitech@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19 2021

Deep learning algorithm predicts early warning signals of climate tipping points New research could improve climate strategies, medical interventions Sara Chiarotto O’Brien Contributor Continued from page 1. On Sept. 28, Thomas Bury, a researcher in McGill’s Department of Physiology, and Chris Bauch, a professor at the University of Waterloo, published a paper detailing the development of a new deep learning (DL) algorithm, that identifies early warning signals (EWS) of tipping points in dynamical systems. Dynamical systems are all around us and are defined as systems in which many variables interact and evolve over time. From the Earth’s climate to the human body, the organizations and organisms that dictate our quality of life are complex and unpredictable. DL algorithms can improve their output automatically through experience and the use of data. But even with the help of DL systems, there remains the problem of not having enough data. Artificial intelligence algorithms need to be trained on data sets in order to learn how to recognize and predict patterns. Many of the areas researchers hope to explore, such as climatic dynamics or heartbeats, do not

yet have enough data to properly train an algorithm. However, data does not need to be taken from field experiments for it to be an accurate reflection of real events. Previous research into dynamical systems revealed key patterns about how data changes close to tipping points. By simplifying these patterns and building computer models to represent them, it is possible to generate vast amounts of simulated data that reflect real systems without actually collecting observations in the field. Using simulated data representing dynamical systems with and without tipping points, Bury and Bauch trained their DL algorithm to recognize which features corresponded to systems with tipping points. Once trained, the algorithm was able to examine new situations, real and simulated, and successfully make predictions about the likelihood of future tipping points. Bury, who has been studying tipping points since 2015, is interested in early warning signals in both ecological and medical contexts. “I am inspired to study tipping points because they arise in such diverse areas of science and

Predicting tipping points before they happen could help humans avoid the worst when it comes to long-term climate changes. (noaa.gov) society,” Bury said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “This algorithm, for the first time, combines deep learning and dynamical systems theory to predict tipping points, and does so with better accuracy than previous approaches.” Although their algorithm is still undergoing testing to avoid unexplained inaccuracies, the possible applications of such an algorithm are endless. The ability to predict regional tipping points in climate systems could enable governments to prepare for natural disasters, such as floods or droughts, and better adapt to the effects of

climate change. The algorithm can also be applied to unpredictable events at the individual level. For patients with cardiac arrhythmia, a condition that heightens the risk of sudden death by heart attack, data taken from heart monitors could be used to predict if and when a patient might experience a heart attack. “Our approach may provide individuals [and] societies with greater forewarning to these events, and therefore allow mitigative [and] preventative strategies to be implemented in advance of the tipping point,” Bury said.

In the world of mathematics, Bury and Bauch are some of the first to study deep learning and dynamical systems simultaneously. “I find this research particularly exciting as it has shown that the combination of two seemingly disparate areas of mathematics, deep learning and dynamical systems, provides better prediction of tipping points than either area [...] has managed on its own,” Bury said. Though researchers cannot yet predict the next drought or medical emergency with absolute accuracy, it seems that it’s now only a matter of time before it can.

Reading for meaning: A new intervention for children with hyperlexia New tablet app shows promise for improved reading comprehension and language skills Zoe Karkossa Contributor Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder often have difficulty thriving in a modern education system that is not designed for their needs. Developing language skills, in particular, can be challenging for these children. Between 6 to 21 per cent of children with autism have a syndrome called hyperlexia, where they demonstrate a strong interest in letters and words from a very young age and learn

Some of the children Macdonald worked with were asked by their teacher to read to other children; while it may not improve their reading comprehension, it can be a boost to their self esteem. (Saumya Gogte / The McGill Tribune)

to decode what they are reading very quickly—but generally have trouble associating words with their meanings. Children with hyperlexia also have a harder time developing certain literacy skills—specifically reading comprehension—compared to neurotypical children. Reading comprehension development typically relies on certain precursors such as phonological awareness, the ability to identify and manipulate sounds, and phoneme-grapheme correspondence, the ability to understand the relationship between letters and sounds. Dianne Macdonald, a lecturer at Concordia University and speech-language pathologist, seeks to investigate the importance of these precursors for children with autism. “These kids are not taking the same route as typically developing kids, they are following their own pathway,” Macdonald said in an interview with //The McGill Tribune//. “They don’t need those precursors in order to read words like typically developing kids.” Despite displaying a below-average ability in tasks related to common pre-reading skills, children with autism, both with and without hyperlexia, showed advanced wordreading abilities. Contrary to neurotypical children, these precursor abilities were not necessary for them to decode and read words. According to the Simple View of Reading, a widely accepted theory in literacy research, reading comprehension results from a combination of decoding skills and language comprehension. Although children with hyperlexia display very strong decoding skills, they lack essential language comprehension skills—essentially, they need practice understanding what they can already read. In a follow-up study, Macdonald and her team designed a tablet app intended to help bridge this comprehension gap. Based on the dual coding theory of literacy, the app pairs

written words with their corresponding images. The key idea was to expose children to the concept that the words represented the accompanying pictures, to help them practice assigning meaning to words. Children with autism, both with and without hyperlexia, as well as a control group of neurotypical children all showed increased listening comprehension following time with the app. In addition, those in the hyperlexic group showed a significant increase in reading comprehension. Although expressive language skills did not see improvement, Macdonald remains optimistic, noting that hyperlexic children’s receptive fluency improved, a skill that precedes expressive fluency. “If we can start focussing on reading comprehension really early for them then […] they get into school potentially better prepared language-wise,” Macdonald said. The results show promise for the efficacy of such earlyage interventions. Many participating children actively enjoyed using the app, and some parents requested to have their child continue using it after the completion of the study. Macdonald emphasizes that significant progress can be achieved by focussing on children’s strengths while tailoring interventions to fit their needs. By taking into account the skills and interests of children with autism, educators and parents can help them learn and grow in a positive environment. “If we can find that sweet spot where we are incorporating the real talents [of kids with exceptionalities] and their interests and their strengths to support their challenges, I think that we can make really great gains,” Macdonald said. Macdonald has made a web-based version of the app freely available online, and hopes parents and children will make use of the resource. She is currently looking to make the app open-source to allow other people to contribute and help tailor the app to more children’s needs.

arts@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19 2021

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

MMFA’s ‘The World of Yousuf Karsh: A Private Essence’ captures moving portraits of the 20th century Armenian-Canadian photographer showcases the diversity of individuality Ella Buckingham Contributor

ituated on the third floor of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, The World of Yousuf Karsh: A Private Essence displays 111 works by Yousuf Karsh, one of Canada’s most well-known portrait photographers. Having immigrated to Canada from Armenia at a young age, he eventually gained fame and recognition on the world stage for his work as a portraitist. At first glance, the exhibit exudes a serious air, akin to the feeling of flipping through a grandparent’s childhood album. The tone of the Sunday morning crowd studying Karsh’s photos was one of quiet wonder. The exhibition reflects many of the qualities that make Karsh’s work so unique; though at first the portraits appear unassuming, upon further examination they stun with their breadth of knowledge and experience. Filled to the brim with Karsh’s signature silver gelatin black and white photographs, the first of the exhibition’s three rooms is similar to the quiet stoicism of a library. However, the portraits lose this solemnity once viewed up close, for beneath all their formality, the people pictured emit a warmth and liveliness. Arranged in chronological order, the photos in the first room are simple scenes, like his first wife standing beneath a tree or his teacher reading the newspaper. After 1941, they explode into a myriad of celebrity portraits, becoming a window into 20th-century high society. Displayed prominently at the entrance is Karsh’s most

famous photo, The Roaring Lion, which depicts Winston Churchill on a visit to Canada in 1941. It is the same picture, interestingly enough, used on the five-pound British note. Dominating the room with its stateliness and singularity, the portrait is a reflection of what many describe as the charac-

Karsh considered his portraits of Canadian workers to be some of the most significant in his career. (montrealcentreville.ca)

teristics of Churchill himself. This capturing of a person’s essence extends through all of Karsh’s work, from Audrey Hepburn and Nelson Mandela to Canadian steelworkers and farmers. Although primarily known for his celebrity portraits, Karsh considered his photographs of Canadian workers to be an important part of his portfolio. Karsh depicts these workers as they stand covered in motor oil or knee-deep in grain, looking perfectly at ease next to neighbouring photos of Albert Einstein and Glenn Gould. While the exhibit presents only a few of these modest shots, one of Karsh’s quotes regarding assembly workers speaks volumes: “I tell you, these workers are the peers of those men who are better known. I say this not in disparagement of the great ones, but in humble recognition of the same qualities of greatness in these industrial workers.” Karsh masterfully captures each individual’s nuanced personality, highlighting even the most subtle expressions. Next to the photographs, short anecdotes of Karsh’s conversations with the people in his portraits enhance the overall experience, allowing viewers to feel as though they know these individuals personally, as if they had been transported back in time to the 20th century. In The World of Yousuf Karsh: A Private Essence the complexity and greatness of individual personhood are fully encapsulated. The World of Yousuf Karsh: A Private Essence is on display at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts located at 1380 Sherbrooke St. W until January 30, 2022.

The multifaceted stories of ‘Personal Attention Roleplay’

Helen Chau Bradley’s new short story collection is a complex exploration of intimacy

ontreal-based writer and fiction editor Helen Chau Bradley is set to release their debut story collection Personal Attention Roleplay on Nov. 23 under Metonymy Press. The McGill Tribune reviews the stories ahead of this upcoming release.

“Only The Lonely,” Ian Clements Contributor “Only The Lonely” follows the relationships of an unemployed Meals on Wheels volunteer living in Montreal. The story begins with the unnamed protagonist’s romantic relationship with V, a polarizing figure in their community. The protagonist also develops a friendship with Joe, a Meals on Wheels client, for whom they sing and play songs on the guitar for. The story skillfully explores themes of queer loneliness and power dynamics within different relationships. The story’s characterization of emotional investment and intimacy is stripped down and raw, yet descriptive and wryly humourous.

“The End of Gods and Heroes,” Suzanna Graham Contributor “The End of Gods and Heroes” is a wholesome story that discusses the complexities of friendship and growing up. Childhood friends Tommy and Shirin bond over a fantastical game of gods and heroes, where they imagine themselves as characters in their

favourite Greek myths. Although their childhood innocence protects them, the girls use these morals as a guide while they question family identity, loyalty, and betrayal. In the end, they must decide what it means to be a hero, and if they themselves are truly worthy of this title.

“Personal Attention Roleplay,” Dana Prather Contributor This titular story finds an unnamed 20-something-year-old “listicle” writer navigating a situationship with her roommate Jasmine. Written from a second-person perspective, the reader is enveloped in every sensation the protagonist experiences, from intense pain caused by Jasmine’s increasingly distant behaviour to the serenity felt when watching ASMR videos. As her connection with Jasmine crumbles, she becomes entranced by YukiASMR, a YouTuber espousing the virtues of a minimalist life. Seamlessly blending themes of queer identity and obsession, “Personal Attention Roleplay” will leave you satisfied, but deeply unsettled.

“Sheila” Ella Gomes Contributor “Sheila” follows strong-willed May and her energetic daughter Mimi as they pass a harsh winter day in a cozy record store in Toronto. While tracing the lifetime of a Rach-

maninoff record from purchase to destruction, readers learn of May’s rocky history with Mrs. Timoransky, an outwardly chilly piano teacher, and Sheila, a haunting figure from her past. With references to the uncontrollable “animal instinct” and transitions into adulthood, “Sheila” reads like an ode to unexpected change and the natural cycles of adaptation that guide our lives.

“The Queue,”

returning to her local pool after a harrowing experience in the waters by her family cottage. Bradley uses beautifully descriptive words, flowing seamlessly back and forth between the main character’s past and present experiences. Weaving alliteration into a story of ambiguity and suspense, Bradley’s writing embodies the smooth waters of the lake this intriguing mystery takes place in.

Sylvie Bourque Contributor Drawing inspiration from Vladimir Sorokin’s novel “The Queue,” which tells the story of people waiting in line solely through their dialogue, Bradley modernizes the tale to fit the 21st century. Weaving in relevant discussions and dialogue, the queue represents shared feelings of community, and isolation, that many experienced over the pandemic. While some try to find humour in discussing COVID-19, Bradley explores deep and divisive topics such as public health measures, politics, and police brutality—themes that reveal how the pandemic infiltrates the most fundamental aspects of peoples’ livelihoods. Bradley’s story reveals how the pandemic has uncovered a universal desire for reconnection.

“Surface Dive,” Avryl Bender Contributor In “Surface Dive,” Bradley tells the story of an experienced swimmer finally

“The Ends of Gods and Heroes” ties epic tropes into an evaluation of contemporary adolescence. (metonymypress.com)

12 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

arts@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19 2021

‘Orcs in Space’ is bloody cute Justin Roiland and François Vigneault’s newest graphic novel makes gore adorable Lowell Wolfe Arts & Entertainment Editor

Slated to be the first volume of many, Orcs in Space follows three goblin ruffians who, by a stroke of luck, obtain access to the galaxy’s most technologically advanced spaceship and its A.I. operator—who eventually becomes their close companion and confidant. Gor, Kravis, and Mongtar are not afraid to spill blood—and other fluids—on the run in this brash but comedic space odyssey. Alongside these non-traditional heroines stands an array of enemies and allies as diverse as the stars in the sky. Cyborgs, pirates, and tentacled seductresses beware. Vigneault’s illustrations leap from the page. Loaded with vibrant hues, his cartoony style soaks the novel’s characters and settings in gaudy, unmoderated detail. Such creativity reigns without restraint throughout Orcs in Space: Every scene, whether it be a bar fight at “the hippest club in the galaxy,” or a laser-blaster shootout with “Space Rats,” presents a smörgåsbord of details that keep the reader engaged and amused. Orcs in Space secures the reader’s laughter as if holding a knife to their throats. Each protagonist—one little, one big, and one extremely bloodthirsty—fills a different conversational niche, keeping the plot animated and humorous. Ironic and selfreferential Gen-Z comedy bleeds into the realm of the uncanny and bizarre; zany and avant-garde plot twists remind the reader that the story is, literally, out of this world. Jokes leave the reader constantly gasping for breath. Just as the story takes place in many weightless environments, Orcs in Space makes no claims of having gravitas. Its tight plot and eccentric graphics provide a purely fun and brazen read that will have the reader turning pages at light speed to see the next dismemberment. However, the narrative’s easygoing atmosphere does not override artistic integrity; on the contrary, it bolsters it. The novel presents aesthetics, characterization, and plot development with expertise. Readers may be just going for a joyride, but they should still buckle their seatbelts.

Continued from page 1.

While the graphic novel is humorous and grotesque, its illustrations are topnotch. (comicsbookcase.com)

Volume two of Orcs in Space is currently slated for a February 2022 release. Vigneault’s other works include Titan (2020) and 13e Avenue (2020).

No Clue Collective & Friends Pop-Up

Features handmade items and local artists.

Oct. 23, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. 5445 Ave de Gaspé Free

“Our Unconscious Territories” Artist Talk

Explore your psyche and feel the breath of life through art that lifts the veil of consciousness. Oct. 21, 5 p.m.–8 p.m. Jano Lapin Gallery Free

Conversation with MultiDisciplinary Artist Ron Siu Learn how this Toronto-based visual artist uses a variety of techniques to explore themes from a queer and intersectional perspective. Oct. 22, 5 p.m. Atelier Circulaire Free

Greenhouse Pumpkin Carving

An in-person pumpkin carving and decorating workshop. Payment goes to families in need. Oct. 23, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Les Fermes Lufa Tickets required, $10

‘Human Weighted Blanket’ aims to smother anxiety through platonic touch ‘Artivist’ Red Jay uses healing hands to ease pandemic struggles

Suzanna Graham Contributor

fter months of strict isolation and social distancing regulations, many are missing the comfort of a good hug. Self-proclaimed “Artivist” Red Jay, a.k.a. Joshua Oliver, has created a remedy for the loneliness the pandemic has fostered. On World Mental Health Day, October 10, Red Jay presented a two-part exhibit called the “Human Weighted Blanket,” which offered a professional platonic touch workshop both in person and online. Red Jay was inspired by a viral tweet about two nurses’ ingenuity in an ICU ward in Brazil. To soothe COVID-19 patients whose illness made it impossible for loved ones’ physical comfort, nurses filled gloves with warm water to simulate human touch, calling it “the hand of God.” Jay also drew inspiration from the 1950s “happenings” movement, which implicated viewers in performative and situational art forms. These acts of creative kindness led him to create his own performance piece to highlight—and help ease—mental health struggles. By gathering a group of professional touch therapists, Red Jay hosted a space for people craving human touch. One half of the exhibit is a short video, which Jay calls a “virtual hug.” The film de-

Four platonic touch therapists soothe participants in a social experiment that attempts to combat pandemic-related mental health deterioration. (Suzanna Graham / The McGill Tribune) picts three participants affected by anxiety, depression, and complex post-traumatic stress disorder who are invited to test a “special” weighted blanket. Unbeknownst to them, the “blanket” is a session with four professional touch therapists who specialize in somatic bodywork, massage, and cuddling—quite literally a “Human Weighted Blanket.” From there, they calm the participants through a combination of group meditation and massage

therapy. Although each participant’s time with the touch therapists is short, the participants visibly relax. One participant, named Bella, described how their struggles with gender dysphoria caused them to associate their body with pain. However, after their experience with the “Human Weighted Blanket,” Bella realized their potential to heal and associate positivity with their body. The exhibit’s other half sees partici-

pants—chosen at random from consenting bystanders at the exhibit—and viewers get to see the therapists and the “Human Weighted Blanket” in action. Each participant starts their session by talking with the therapists. The professionals ask how they can be helpful and also give a quick overview of the types of therapies they offer. The participants lead the session, deciding their positions, setting boundaries, and communicating with the professionals throughout the entire process. “The way to make a cuddle good is by expressing what it is that [the participant] desire[s], but the most important thing is establishing communication and trust,” professional touch therapist Sharon Lopez said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. Given that the experience is a collaboration between the experts and participants, the therapists adapt to the person’s needs and comforts. By constantly checking in with their participant, the therapists can maintain consistent consent, making it a positive experience for both parties. Although the idea of being cuddled by strangers may seem odd, participants find comfort and peace in the trusting warmth of the “Human Weighted Blanket.” At a time when human interaction is scarce, Red Jay celebrates the healing potential of physical platonic touch that was taken away during the pandemic.

studentlife@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19 2021

STUDENT LIFE

Falling for Montreal

Seven things to do in the city this Autumn Holly Wethey Student Life Editor

ith a winning combination of abundant outdoor activities and cultural events, Montreal thrives during the fall season. The McGill Tribune has compiled a list of seven ways to enjoy the city this autumn— none of which include pumpkin spice lattes. 1. Go apple picking Though there will be no apple picking at Macdonald campus this year, other farms nearby offer this same iconic fall experience. Among these are Dunham Fruit Paradise in Dunham, Apple Heart orchard in Frelighsburg, and Verger Denis Charbonneau orchard in Mont-Saint-Grégoire, all an hour out from Montreal. When you get home, bake your apples into a delicious pie and pair it with a delightful autumnal recipe. 2. Explore the Gardens of Light Though the Botanical Gardens are breathtaking at any time of the year, the same location houses the breathtaking Gardens of Light until October 31. Featuring hundreds of colourful silk lanterns in the Chinese garden, this attraction provides the perfect atmosphere for a fall walk. 3. Have a fall picnic With the leaves changing colour and filling the city with golden hues, fall is a great time to explore Montreal’s parks. If you’d like a more active walk, hike up Mont Royal. Consider climbing to the top to watch the sunrise at the observatory or

the sunset from this lookout point. Other beautiful spots to visit include Parc La Fontaine or Parc Jean Drapeau, where you can look out over the city. Bring along a blanket, some snacks, and some sweet apple cider or this rich mulled wine for the ultimate picnic experience. 4. Attend a spooky event Spooky season is officially upon us, along with a multitude of Halloween-themed events. If you don’t mind driving, visit La Ferme Forget’s corn maze in Laval, which is open at night from 6 to 11 p.m. For those who prefer to stay in the city, a Haunted Montreal ghost tour is sure to give you chills. Alternatively, head over to St. Helen’s Island for La Ronde Fright Fest, a festival that takes place every weekend from October 2 to 31, to delight in haunted houses, plays, and rides. 5. Get ready for Halloween at a local thrift shop If you’re looking for a unique Halloween look but don’t want to break the bank on a costume, try shopping for your costume at a thrift store. Lots of thrift stores close to McGill and offer a wide selection of vintage items. Eva B also notoriously stocks up on Halloween costume items close to the end of the month. However, if a traditional costume doesn’t appeal to you, try out one of these McGill-themed choices, or an even more obscure costume option from the Tribune archives. 6. Stock up on pumpkins If you’d like to add a splash of seasonal decor to your apartment, consider going pumpkin picking. Les Citrouillards is a pumpkin patch in Saint-Eustache, only a 35-minute drive

Haunted Montreal offers several spooky events, including haunted walking tours of Griffintown, Mount Royal, and Downtown Montreal. (Kate Addison & Ruobing Chen / The Mcgill Tribune)

from McGill. Carve out creative designs or whip up a pumpkin pie. Funk and Pumpkins, running from October 1 to 31 at the Botanical Gardens, also showcases a large variety of plants from the squash family, and hosts a variety of other spooky activities. 7. Bask in fall flavours at a local market Take the metro or BIXI to Jean Talon Market to get your fix of fall produce and other seasonal foods. If you’re keen to head in the other direction, check out Atwater Market. Or, if you’d like to stay close to campus, pay a visit to McGill’s very own farmer’s market. Vegetables in season include squash, turnip, and rutabagas, among others. When you get home, try out one (or all!) of these nine creative takes on squash recipes.

Uncovering Montreal’s indie coffee shops

A tour of the city’s hidden cafe gems Abby McCormick Contributor

2. Pikolo Espresso Bar – 3418b Park Avenue

3. Structure Coffee Roasters – 460 McGill Street

offee has long been synonymous with university life—students rely on caffeine boosts to fuel up for early morning classes or power through latenight study sessions. Luckily, those in pursuit of a perfect study spot and cup of coffee can explore Montreal’s many indie coffee shops and roasters. The McGill Tribune highlights the distinct stories and features behind a selection of these shops. 1. Le Brȗloir – 318 Rue Fleury Ouest

If you’re in need of a caffeine boost or a study space located just minutes away from McGill’s main campus, look no further than Pikolo Espresso Bar. Pikolo is a quaint, timeless coffee shop known for its classic lattes, lightly roasted coffees, and delicious baked goods. Pikolo Espresso Bar’s founder, Marie-Eve Laroche, has been passionate about coffee for years. After working in a coffee shop in Whistler, British Columbia as well as on a coffee plantation, Laroche opened up Pikolo in July 2011. Laroche’s time working on a coffee plantation was a major turning point for Laroche’s love of coffee and knowledge of her craft. “That’s really where I went deeper into understanding coffee from crop to cup,” Laroche said. “I realized, ‘Wow, this is what I wanna do.’” Pikolo’s unique environment and community, fostered by students, are its greatest attractions. The shop hosts a warm, cozy, and comfortable ambience, with oldfashioned, rustic undertones. “[Pikolo’s atmosphere] is very vintage and industrial, which really fits with the neighbourhood and the old building,” Laroche said. “It has a lot of character, and a fun, young energy.”

Structure Coffee Roasters, located just outside of Montreal’s historic Old Port, is a communityoriented roaster and coffee shop. One of Structure’s co-owners, Marco Dieckmann, discovered his passion for coffee after visiting locally owned coffee shops across 40 different countries. “There’s no better travel guide to a city than getting to know a local coffee shop,” Dieckmann explained. “[Structure] is our Montreal take on specialty coffee [....] Our coffee is both roasted and packaged with care in Montreal.” Incorporating elements of Japanese and Scandinavian style into its design, Structure blends the heritage of its location with its modern ethos. “While being in a centuryold building, we wanted to give a contemporary approach to presenting the coffee,” Dieckmann said. Above all, Dieckmann recognizes that the cafe is about more than just the coffee and values the close relationships Structure has fostered. “The whole coffee business is about people [and] the relationship between the baristas and clients,” Dieckmann said. “The coffee connects the people.”

Le Brȗloir, roaster and coffee shop, prides itself on providing highquality coffee products to customers. Since its opening 10 years ago, Le Brȗloir has become a centrepiece of its neighbourhood, fostering a of community of local coffee lovers. It has subsequently expanded to include Le Petit Brȗloir, a smaller sister shop, located a short walk away from the McGill campus at 8485 St. Laurent Boulevard. Vincent D’Aoust, the owner of Le Brȗloir, enjoys seeing community members from all walks of life enter the cafe. “The essence of our coffee shop is bringing people together,” D’Aoust said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “[We provide] a very warm atmosphere [with a] close-knit, eclectic

As a part of the Canada-Honduras Agro-Forestry Value Chain project, The Brûloir coffee team travels to Honduras annually to create relationships with local coffee bean farmers. (Marie-Eve Lalonde / Pikolo Espresso Bar)

clientele that ranges from young students to neighbouring families to retirees.” Le Brȗloir has a unique roasting process: it uses an in-house roaster to produce its coffee, where coffee beans are heated to different temperatures based on the type of roast, allowing the shop to create a variety of flavours. Le Brȗloir has built close

relationships with farmers in Honduras, whom they purchase their coffee beans from. In supporting individual smallscale farmers, Le Brȗloir hopes to help support an ethical supply chain. “We serve coffee, but we understand the supply chain,” D’Aoust explained. “Having relationships [with the farmers] makes us more passionate about what we do.”

STUDENT LIFE

studentlife@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19 2021

A feathered allure: Flocking to McGill’s birding community

Taking a bird’s eye view of the beloved pastime Wendy Zhao Student Life Editor

he founders of the McGill Students’ Birding Club (MSBC) met six years ago while taking WILD 420, an ornithology course at McGill. Since the club’s creation, birders of the McGill community have had a place to congregate and share their love for our feathered friends. On the club’s Facebook group, members share photos and videos of their sightings as well as news on conservation threats to local bird habitats. Members sometimes request the community’s help in identifying a certain species spotted outside their window or a specific high-pitched call heard on a hike. A few months ago, one member posted an audio recording of bird sounds they recorded on MontRoyal and said they planned to use it in composing a piece for the McGill Symphony Orchestra. One aspect that unites those who flock to the bird-watching community is a curiosity for the environment, explained Anthony Zerafa, M.Sc.’19 and one of the club’s four founders. “I’ve always had a deep fascination in the natural world, not just birds,” Zerafa said. “[Bird watchers] are

A field trip of the McGill Students’ Birding Club to Forêt Montmorency, in the vast boreal forest of Québec. Spruce Grouse, Boreal Chickadees, and Yellow-bellied Flycatchers were just some of the highlights from that trip. (Anthony Zerafa / McGill Birding Club)

interested in the world around them and want to learn more.” With such an appreciation for the wild, many bird watchers are either already involved in environment conservation efforts or have become involved through birding. “When you start to appreciate and learn about the wildlife that can be found around you, you then want to ensure that that wildlife is protected,” Zerafa said. “You want the place you like to go birdwatching, where you may have had many fond memories, to continue to be a good habitat for the birds.”

After an excursion, birders will often post about their experiences and list the species they spot, taking care to note rarities. Though a successful birding trip requires patience, quiet, and more observance than action, the excitement lies in the accumulation of experience and knowledge. “It really can be overwhelming at times when you first start out, but once you start to get a sense of the different birds that are in the environment and what you can see at different times of years, it quickly becomes addictive,” Zerafa said. “It’s very much like

Pokemon Go, but in real life.” Even as someone with no birding experience, I was reeled in by the passion and flair with which the bird watchers recounted their sightings. As each encounter is unpredictable, the accounts can resemble action adventures, keeping both the birder and reader hooked. “Guess it’s time to head home,” one member wrote in a post shared to the Facebook page. “But no! The surprise: A ring-necked pheasant saunters out of the nearest shrubbery, to hang with his buddies the Fox sparrows. Much celebratory dancing.” In the U.K., birding’s allure is only sometimes a relaxing pastime—other times, it is channeled into aggressive fervor. British twitching, extreme competitive birdwatching, leads to fierce rivalries, “twitcher madness,” and even tricks of sabotage. However, for McGill’s community of bird watchers—and for most elsewhere—the hobby remains rooted in a communal appreciation of the vast number of species waiting to be admired. “I mean, who cares in reality, if you’ve seen the most birds,” Zerafa said. “It’s mostly just personal competition, trying to challenge yourself to see as many species as possible.” Prior to the pandemic, the club

hosted weekly bird watching outings and annual day trips to farther birding locations, including Amherst Island in Kingston, Ontario or Victoriaville, a two-hour drive from Montreal. They hope to resume excursions in the upcoming weeks.

Beginner’s Guide to Birding in Montreal

Locations Montreal Botanical Garden: The Garden’s diverse mix of habitats attract a large variety of species and is free to visit during the winter months. Mont Royal Cemetery: The Cemetery’s many fruit trees make it a prime spot for bird watchers. Morgan Arboretum at MacDonald Campus: The Arboretum has one of the highest numbers of breeding species on the island. Tools Binoculars: Scan for movement, then train your binoculars when you believe you have spotted a bird. Mentor: In order to identify a bird from sight, sometimes only sound, prior knowledge is needed. Zerafa recommends joining others’ excursions or having an experienced mentor provide guidance.

Friendsgiving takes many forms among students Celebrating Thanksgiving with chosen family Holly Wethey & Wendy Zhao Student Life editors

riendsgiving, a Thanksgiving celebration among friends, holds a beloved place in the hearts of students, sometimes even more than its familial alternative. For those who find themselves away from home or simply wish to gather with loved ones, Friendsgiving celebrations foster unique forms of bonding and expressions of gratitude among students. Especially due to the fraught history of Thanksgiving, many students choose to focus on expressing gratitude through alternative celebrations. Though it borrows its name from Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving is popular precisely for its casual structure. Since it’s not beholden to any set of familial traditions, it can take different forms for each group of friends. For Cathleen Ma, U2 Arts and a second-generation Chinese immigrant, Thanksgiving has never been a part of her family tradition or culture. In university, she used the reading break to see friends kept apart by busy schedules. This year, Ma took part in a Friendsgiving potluck celebration. Some brought store-bought items for a stressfree evening, while others made cultural foods. The dinner table was transformed into a mosaic of diverse offerings, including Riz Frit, a Mauritian rice dish, a vibrant veggie stir-fry, rotisserie chicken, and even Madeleines. “It wasn’t traditional at all,” Ma said. “There was a huge variety of dishes that people made that I could never make at home.” An occasion often used to gather with one’s chosen family, Friendsgiving conjures images of exclusive, tightly knit groups. But platonic bonds, unlike blood relations, can be more easily formed between strangers. With people bringing their siblings and acquaintances from different

social circles, Ma’s friendsgiving brought new and old friends together. “It definitely differed from our usual get-togethers because there was [others’] family there [...] and it wasn’t just a singular friend group,” Ma said. “It was an opportunity to get to know all these different people.” Faith Ruetas, U2 Arts, celebrated the holiday on a smaller scale with her roommate. They made lentil and mushroom Wellington, a dish the two had never tried before, and then went the lazier route for dessert, indulging in a premade blueberry pie. When away from loved ones, one of the best reassurances one can give them is the snapshot of a good

OuYang and Fernandez spent the evening with plenty of food, dim lights, and a mix of jazz and classical music. (nytimes.com)

meal. Before eating, Ruetas and her roommate arranged and decorated their dinner table before sending pictures to their families. “I was really proud of our spread,” Ruetas said. “My popo responded with one word: ‘Wow.’ Even though we’re in different provinces, I’m happy I was still able to share something with her.” Arantza Fernandez and Christal OuYang, both U3 Arts, also celebrated the holiday together this year. Though Fernandez is from Mexico, where Thanksgiving isn’t typically celebrated, her time in Montreal led her to observe the holiday with her family. “It’s not a thing in Mexico,” Fernandez explained. “Last year when I [was] back home in Mexico, I forced my family to have Thanksgiving with me.” OuYang has always stayed in Montreal for the holiday. “I’m from Vancouver, and I usually do not go home for Thanksgiving just because Thanksgiving is not really like a big celebration for us,” OuYang explained. This year, Fernandez and OuYang organized a dinner among friends where each person brought something to the table. “I think Friendsgiving is having all of the people you care about come together and everybody contributes something in a collaborative effort,” OuYang said. The meal consisted of chicken, cranberry walnut salad, vegan shepherd’s pie, cranberry sauce, a green bean casserole, carrot cake, banana bread, and wine. They turned all the lights off and listened to a playlist combining jazz and classical music. “We played a little game where we were not allowed to talk until we finished all the food and drinks,” OuYang explained. “[We got] to really appreciate each other’s company without words.”

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19 2021

sports@mcgilltribune.com

SPORTS

The NHLPA is leaving player health on the sidelines After physical injury, players face real danger and little protection from their own teams Erin Smith Contributor

n Oct. 7, the Montreal Canadiens announced that goaltender Carey Price voluntarily entered the National Hockey League’s player assistance program (NHLPA). The program supports NHL players and their families through mental health struggles, substance abuse issues, and other related matters. Earlier that week, Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Robin Lehner tweeted about the situation of Jack Eichel and others whose safety was jeopardized for the advancement of their team. This controversy has launched the NHL and NHLPA into the spotlight, exposing the dangers players face off the ice. While NHL players’ mental health is slowly becoming more of a priority, their physical health is being neglected by their teams in favour of winning results. It has become increasingly clear that the success of the NHL and its teams is prioritized over the physical health of athletes. Nowhere has this been more

obvious than in the case of Jack Eichel. Since March 2020, the excaptain of the Buffalo Sabres has been out with a herniated disk in his neck. Over the summer, the team and Eichel were at an impasse: Eichel preferred a disk replacement surgery, while the team insisted on a fusion procedure. He remained without operation into September 2020, where he failed to pass his physical and was revoked of his captaincy. Eichel’s wishes to take time to recover were ignored and he was penalized for not yielding to the Sabres’ desires. This instance shows a concerning lack of respect for player health and bodily autonomy, prompting one to question the NHLPA’s ethics. In his tweet regarding the Eichel situation, former Sabre Robin Lehner divulged that he experienced a comparable situation while on the team. Though he did not provide many details, many speculate that the team cut his post-ankle-surgery recovery short—a move which may have led to his bad ankle sprain. On the same day, he tweeted that teams were giving

their players benzodiazepines and Ambien in order to help them sleep on planes. Benzodiazepines can become addictive for some people in a matter of days—in 2020 the FDA ordered a new warning to be put on the drug’s label due to its role in opioid overdoses. Lehner himself admitted to becoming addicted after being given Ambien by a former team. Tragedy has already resulted from teams putting their interests ahead of their players. In response to Robin Lehner’s tweets, former NHL player Daniel Carcillo tweeted the story of his best friend, the late Steve Montador. The Chicago Blackhawks cleared him four times in the span of twelve weeks and attempted to have him continue playing following his nineteenth concussion. He decided to seek further treatment, against the advice of his team and management, and was deemed fit to play following two weeks of this treatment. Once he signed his fit to play agreement, he was relegated to the American Hockey League. Roughly two years later, Steve Montador died of chronic

Buffalo Sabres General Manager, Kevyn Adams may suspend ex-captain Jack Eichel without pay for disagreeing on treatments options for a herniated disk. (Bruce Bennett / Getty Images) traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative disease directly caused by repeated blows to the head. The NHL and NHLPA had a direct hand in the death of Montador due to their repeated failure to care for his health. Montreal has seen its star goalie, Carey Price, approach the NHL for help in his mental health journey, with abundant support outpouring from players and fans alike. While this is a hopeful step

forward, there is a distinct lack of mechanisms and programs to protect the physical health of the league’s athletes. This has left Jack Eichel hanging in a longterm injury reserve limbo and Dan Carcillo without a best friend. Lacking substantive support for physical health, players have become another cog in the moneymaking machine of the NHL, and their humanity has been left behind.

Redbirds Hockey leaves RMC reeling with 10-2 victory

Forward Eric Uba struck twice to secure McGill’s eight-point differential Madison McLauchlan Managing Editor

total of nine different McGill hockey players scored in the span of 60 minutes on Oct. 16, when the Redbirds (1–1) hosted Royal Military College (RMC) (0–1) for the second of six pre-season games. The Redbirds scored early and often, demolishing the visitors with a fatal 10-2 final score. From the puck drop, it was an intense affair—being only the second game in front of a home crowd, the game was lively and, at times, rowdy. Fourth-year forward and alternate captain Jordan-Ty Fournier took an interference penalty within the first minute, setting a precedent for what became an aggressive matchup, racking up 23 penalties overall. McGill scored four times when the call was in their favour, in contrast to RMC, who failed to capitalize on their nearly 20 minutes of power play time. The Redbirds dominated the ice in the first two periods, winning face-offs and never letting the puck linger in their defensive zone for too long. After third-year forward Blake Hayward opened the floodgates with a goal on McGill’s second power play, McGill converted six more times consecutively. Rookies Brandon Frattaroli, Caiden Daley, and Alex Plamondon tallied once each in their first victory suited up as Redbirds. RMC’s frustration was evident, through both the aggression they exhibited and the time-out they took midway through a fiveon-three power play. Despite the advantage, RMC still could not maneuver past the wall

of Scott Walford, who was awarded the first star of the game for one goal and two assists. First-year goaltender Lucas Pfeil allowed zero goals on 16 shots over 35 minutes, before first-year Alexis Shank replaced him. Despite only manning the nets for a portion of the game, Shank, a Montreal Canadiens prospect who saved nine out of eleven shots, was optimistic about what the game meant for the team’s upcoming season. “Our [...] goal is to go for the cup,” Shank said. “But right now we [are just] focussing on the process, and good things [are going] to happen.” Teammate William Cyr, boasting one goal and one assist, was pleased with the team’s offensive chemistry. “I think we battled well together, and we did what we did in practice,” Cyr said.

“We converged well [at] the net and we took rebounds [....] I think we have a great group, we’re having fun out there and just battling every day. We’re all working out and working hard, and we’ll get better each day.” Cyr was unbothered by the several penalties his teammates took, as the Redbirds killed off every single one. “Last two games, we had more than 16 penalties,” Cyr admitted. “When it’s 7-1, 7-2, for sure they will call against us, so it’s preseason, it was a good game [for everybody]. We had fun and just battled together, even though we played on the penalty kill like 15 times.” First-year forward Olivier Mathieu, who had one assist, felt that the team accomplished what they set out to do, evidenced by the final score.

“Our coaches have put a pretty good system in to beat those big teams, and I think we executed the system pretty [well],” Mathieu said. “Our coach, during the second intermission, said to make sure we follow the game plan and not to lose our heads.” The Redbirds play their next two preseason games against rival Concordia, on Oct. 22 and 23, in preparation for the regular season kickoff on Nov. 3.

MOMENT OF THE GAME Just over a minute into the second period, defenceman William Cyr buried a stunning, but unlikely, long shot from the blue line, bringing the score to 4-0 for McGill.

QUOTABLE “The ambiance was incredible. I don’t know how many people were there tonight, but on Wednesday, there weren’t many people [....] It was actually a tough one, we lost Wednesday, [but we] bounced back. It’s just 20 games, we can’t afford to lose two in a row. Just winning with the boys, it’s actually a pretty good vibe right now.” — First-year Olivier Mathieu on playing in front of a crowd again.

STAT CORNER The McGill Redbirds fended off 18 minutes of penalty offensive onslaught by RMC. (Elissa Dresdner / The McGill Tribune)

The McGill Redbirds have not scored ten goals in a single game since 2011, when they beat Ottawa 10-5.

SPORTS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19 2021

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Slow but promising start for McGill Women’s basketball Martlets lose 67-54 to Windsor Lancers in a dynamic game Sophia Gorbounov Contributor

played in a while, but we still find we’re getting beat a lot. We really have to work on our on-ball defence [and] getting in the gaps.” In an email to the Tribune, new head coach Rikki Bowles pointed out that the team this year is almost all fresh blood with strong potential. “Our team is young this season, with 13 of our 14 players in their first or second year of eligibility,” Bowles wrote. “We are focussed on getting better each day, learning from the Windsor game as we prepare for Ottawa this Saturday.” With a final score of 67-54, the game went to the Windsor Lancers. The Martlets, however, ought not to be dismissed too early. With a team of energetic and committed players, the long season ahead holds much promise for McGill.

n Oct. 17, the McGill women’s basketball team (0–1) faced off against the Windsor Lancers (1–1), in a highenergy game that resulted in a 67-54 loss for the Martlets. After the pandemic halted games for over a year, the team was eager to be on the court. With a tipoff by centre Amelie Rochon that almost hit the referee in the face, the horses were out of the gate. Early into the first quarter, it was evident that the Martlets’ strength lay in their offence, with defence struggling to prevent the Lancers’ early attempts to score. However, the first points of the game went to McGill, with two free throws by first-year guard Iman Ibrahim. Though they initially had the lead, the Martlets quickly lost it, and remained just behind their opponents throughout the first quarter. In the closing seconds, as coaches, teammates, and spectators began to count down, the Martlets scored two threepointers in a row—both from Ibrahim. Cheers erupted throughout the gym at her incredible shots. The second quarter was a period of strife for the McGill team, with a score of 34-17 at the halfway mark. Their vivacity did not diminish until just before halftime, when lost shots and ball fumbles began to dim the team’s spirit. Emma-Jane Scotten, a first-year guard, agreed that morale was not at its peak. “The energy was okay,” Scotten said. “I just think we need to be a little bit more positive on the bench and in the game, just bring in more energy and really play as a team.” Yet, the end of the quarter saw McGill score 10 points in three minutes, ending the first half only seven points behind, with a score

Sunday marked head coach Rikki Bowles’ first game since her appointment to the position last May. (Matt Garies / McGill Athletics) of 37-30. After a slow and steady comeback at the end of the second quarter, the team had the opportunity to turn the odds back in their favour. Unfortunately, Windsor’s defence was strong, and McGill stayed at 32 points for half of the third quarter. After many successful shots, guard and forward Maddy Colpitts was forced to sit out after an ankle injury that left her unable to play the rest of the game. Before the end of the third quarter, Scotten and guard Jessica Salanon scored a field goal and three-pointer respectively, leaving the score at 53-39 for Windsor. Martlets defence struggled to contain the Lancers. Scotten said that the team will need to communicate and work cohesively to improve their defensive strategies. “I think that’s what hurt us today,” Scotten said. “We haven’t

MOMENT OF THE GAME Ibrahim scored two three-point field goals back-to-back after a points dry spell for McGill, bringing back the spirit of the whole crowd.

QUOTABLE “We really want to work on helping each other out. We’re all connected when we play, so we have to play together as a team if we want to improve.” — First-year Emma-Jane Scotten

STAT CORNER With 16 points, Iman Ibrahim dominated the number of points and successful field goals scored by all players.

McGill’s Men’s basketball falls to Ottawa despite inspiring comeback attempt Redbirds unable to convert in Coach Thorne’s 500th coaching appearance for McGill Kyle Tsang Contributor

he McGill men’s basketball team (1–2) began this season’s back-to-back schedule on Oct. 15 with a heartbreaking defeat, losing 70-64 at home to the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees (2–0) despite an inspiring second-half comeback performance. The Gee-Gees started the game off strong with an effective full-court man-to-man press, preventing McGill from establishing any sort of offensive rhythm. Ottawa’s suffocating defence put heavy pressure on McGill throughout the quarter, forcing six early turnovers that translated into extra points for the Gee-Gees. McGill ended the frustrating first quarter

trailing by 11 points. The second quarter was more of the same: Ottawa’s full-court press continued to force more McGill turnovers for easy Gee-Gee baskets at the rim. While McGill’s defensive intensity kept fans from leaving the game before the half ended, McGill consistently failed to build up any offensive momentum throughout the quarter. The halftime score was 3920, with Ottawa dominating the paint throughout the half. The halftime break served as a much needed reset for the Redbirds. Fifth-year guard Sam Jenkins explained that during the intermission, his coach gave the team a pep talk about working more cohesively. “Coach Thorne’s message at halftime was to play our game on both

Fifth-year guard, Sam Jenkins led the Redbirds in points with 29 throughout the game. (Sam Jenkins / McGill Athletics)

sides of the ball,” Jenkins said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “[To play] as a team rather than five individuals.” During the third quarter, McGill breathed life back into the home crowd. The Redbirds took better care of the ball, leading to far better offence in the third quarter—McGill were one point shy from scoring as much as they did in the entire first half. However, despite McGill establishing a great offensive flow, the third quarter ended with the Redbirds trailing 52-39 going into the final frame. Despite the disappointing result, third-year guard Cameron Elliot was impressed with his team’s effort in the second half of the game. “I thought we had a great second half, making a big comeback after a slow start,” Elliot said. “We did a lot of good things that allowed us to compete with one of the best teams in the country.” Fifth-year guard Sam Jenkins agreed with Elliot, citing Coach Thorne’s directives as crucial for their success. “On offence, we slowed down and started sharing the ball,” Jenkins said. “Coach stresses playing for your teammates first rather than looking for our own [opportunities], and I think that was reflected in our [second] half assist numbers.” With momentum on their side, the Redbirds started the fourth quarter with intensity as Jamal Mayali hit a

huge and-one three, bringing the crowd to a frenzy as he stepped up to the line for a four-point play. McGill would go on to give the Gee-Gees a taste of their own medicine, launching their own man-to-man press which helped them force turnovers in consecutive defensive possessions. McGill looked poised to make an unbelievable comeback as the Gee-Gees were only up by six with eight minutes to play. However, Ottawa’s top performer Maxime Boursiquot killed any hope left within McGill’s crowd. Finishing with 20 points on a perfect nine for nine from the field, including a huge corner three to stop the bleeding, Boursiquot put the Gee-Gees back up by eight. The home crowd was only further stunned by crafty guard Kevin

Civil, who finished a tough running layup through traffic, pushing the lead to double digits. With their backs against the wall once again, McGill’s mental toughness shined through, keeping the game close with intense defence and timely shot-making. Once more, Sam Jenkins kept McGill in the game with a barrage of three-pointers throughout the fourth quarter, capping off an excellent performance and finishing with a game-high 29 points on an efficient 12-19 shooting from the field. While a costly turnover with 48 seconds left would effectively end McGill’s inspiring comeback attempt, McGill’s effort and resilience brought a loud roar of approval from the home fans as the final whistle blew.

MOMENT OF THE GAME Fifth-year guard Jamal Mayali hit a tough and-one three at the nine-minute mark, sparking a mini McGill run early on in the fourth. This play helped McGill cut what was once a 20 point lead to six.

QUOTABLE “To be a competitor means you always want to be the best. If you don’t believe you can beat the team you’re lining up against, you never stand a chance. I think we have a chance to beat every team we play. It’s not going to be easy but I think we can be one of the best teams in the country.” —Third-year guard Cameron Elliot on the upcoming season

STAT CORNER Ottawa was clearly the more successful team near the hoop, holding a 4022 advantage for points in the paint.