The McGill Tribune Vol. 41 Issue 9

The McGill Tribune TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9 2021 | VOL. 41 | ISSUE 9

McGILLTRIBUNE.COM | @McGILLTRIBUNE

Published by the SPT, a student society of McGill University

EDITORIAL

FEATURE

SPORTS

U of T’s divestment sets a low bar that McGill refuses to reach

Say my name (right)

McGill men’s hockey prevails in shootout against Concordia

PG. 5

PGs. 8-9

PG. 16

(Ruobing Chen / The McGill Tribune)

Tracing the evidence behind forensic science

PG. 12

McGill students seeking psychiatric care at Wellness Hub struggle to get support Students complain of long wait times for referrals and complicated booking processes Isabelle Métivier Contributor Recent discussion threads posted to the McGill subreddit revealed that students seeking to connect with psychiatrists through the Wellness Hub encounter prolonged wait times for appointments and inefficient booking procedures.

In one post, a user explained that they requested

an appointment with a psychiatrist because they needed to renew a prescription.However, they claim they did not receive a response for more than one month after making the initial request and ran out of medication before the appointment was due. In another, a student expressed frustration after repeatedly confronting fully booked time slots while attempting to secure an online appointment for a referral.

PG. 2

Getting inked in Montreal

The stories behind McGill students’ tattoos Abby McCormick Staff Writer Starting university is a symbolic

step in one’s independence and coming of age. This newfound freedom is, for many students, expressed in getting their first tattoos.Whether as a planned

tribute to a loved one or an impulsively chosen design, tattoos serve as a vehicle for expressing one’s personality.

PG. 7

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NEWS

news@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9 2021

SSMU hosts successful second Activities Night after failed first attempt The three-day event was delivered through a hybrid system Madison Edward-Wright News Editor

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he Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) held Activities Night 2.0 from Nov. 1 to Nov. 3. Independent student groups, clubs, athletics groups, and others set up booths on the fourth floor of 2200 Centre Mont-Royal between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. to showcase the breadth of student life at McGill and to encourage students to get involved.

The event was the second Activities Night of the Fall 2021 semester. The first edition, held virtually on the Gather.Town platform, was unsuccessful after a system-wide crash shut down the event. SSMU vice-president (VP) Student Life Karla Heisele Cubilla explained why she decided to host Activities Night 2.0 in person in an email to The McGill Tribune.

“Regulations have significantly changed since Sept.

1,” Heisele Cubilla wrote. “Vaccine passports were implemented, onemetre distancing became possible, and there is a limit of attendees at conventions and conferences.

Given these circumstances, an in-person fair event was possible, and it did not violate any health regulations currently placed by the government.”

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, SSMU implemented several protocols, including physically distanced booths, handsanitizing stations, and mandatory vaccine passports. There was also a hybrid option—students could join a virtual fair on Zoom to visit all the different booths. Many of those who attended the in-person evening, like Jordan Cowie, U1 Management, felt that it was a welcome change.

“The layout is super cool,” Cowie said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “[SSMU] designed it very well, and the space is really close to campus, which is fun [....] Through COVID, we really missed that [inperson] communication, so now we are getting that and it is really fantastic.”

Despite Activities Night being held later than usual in the semester—typically it is held mid-September—Cowie was still happy to attend.

More than 1200 students attended and 210 groups tabled in-person. (ssmu.ca) “I’m just looking at all the clubs McGill has to offer,” Cowie said. “[McGill] boasts a really robust student body, and I think our clubs represent that. It is really cool to see what everyone else is involved in.”

For many students, the inperson event was their first opportunity to get to know the different clubs at McGill in one place. For some brand new groups, such as the McGill Students’ Blood Donation Association (MSBDA), Activities Night 2.0

was their first chance to introduce themselves to students.

“It is really important to start to build out that network, that community, so [that] we can reach out,” said Gian-Carlo Buonamici, U2 Management and MSBDA VP Finance, who tabled for MSBDA. “Eventually, once we have grown and fundraised for our own blood drives on campus, hopefully we will have that basis of support already there.”

Buonamici, who attended the first two nights as a visitor,

echoed Cowie’s statement about participating in the event in person.

“I’ve come for the past two nights as well, and it just feels really good to get a feel for what the McGill community is really like, especially after a year all online,” Buonamici said. “It is nice to see people in person, seeing what people are passionate about, seeing what people are putting their energy towards.”

After two Fall semester Activities Nights, Heisele Cubilla says the SSMU student life team has learned a lot about planning events during the pandemic.

“Activities Night 2.0 was a very successful hybrid event (the first hybrid event of this size at McGill since the pandemic started),” Heisele Cubilla wrote. “Moving forward for the Activities Night Winter 2022 planning, the SSMU team has a structure to build upon and improve the hybrid experience for the next event [....] The event [also] needs to be carried [out] at the beginning of the semester to maximize attendance and participation.”

McGill students seeking psychiatric care at Wellness Hub struggle to get support Students complain of long wait times for referrals and complicated booking processes Isabelle Métivier Contributor Continued from page 1.

In a joint statement from the McGill administration and the Wellness Hub, a McGill media relations officer, Frédérique Mazerolle, noted that wait times for psychiatry appointments via the Wellness Hub are triaged according to their urgency, and can range anywhere from one to two weeks for more urgent cases, to as long as eight to 10 weeks for others.

“Longer wait times for psychiatry are not unique to the Student Wellness Hub,” Mazerolle wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune. “They are an unfortunate reality throughout Quebec’s public healthcare system and in those of other provinces.”

Ambiguity concerning which situations are considered urgent seems to be a further obstacle for students who request psychiatric care. In an interview with the Tribune, Stella*, U2 Education, said they felt discouraged after seeking a referral for a psychiatrist through the Wellness Hub. “The first thing they mentioned was that there was going to be a really long delay and that it was going to be complicated to get a referral,” Stella said.

“If I had insisted, I think they would have [written] me a referral or helped me get the referral, but it was more like […] a last

resort type of thing [....] I felt like I really needed [a referral] before [getting to] that stage.”

Stella added that they eventually received a referral for a psychiatrist after contacting the Wellness Hub and explaining that they felt their situation had worsened. Stella had originally wanted to

speak with a female psychiatrist who had experience with 2SLGBTQIA+ issues.

However, Stella was told the wait for such a psychiatrist would be an extra two weeks, so they opted for the first available psychiatrist.

“I would have preferred a woman psychiatrist, someone with a minimum

of LGBTQ awareness,” Stella explained.

“So in the end I just took [the] first appointment [available]. It was seeing one right away or nothing.”

In an email to the Tribune, Julia Caddy, Students’ Society of McGill University mental health commissioner, noted that students’ perception of psychiatrists as the primary resource for mental health might be preventing some students from receiving more immediate care.

“The assumption is that a psychiatrist should be the go-to for any discussion regarding medications for mental illness,” Caddy wrote. “However, while psychiatrist shortages persist, Quebec and many other regions in Canada rely on general physicians to provide such consultations and prescriptions, especially during the waiting time to see a specialist. This requires that we shift our understanding of psychiatrist appointments to being primarily for complex care, reassessing prescriptions, and assessment/diagnosis.”

Caddy encourages students to reach out to mentalhealth@ssmu.ca if they want support in getting their mental health needs addressed.

“That is what we’re here for,” Caddy wrote. “And we are dedicated to holding both systems and individuals accountable.”

The SSMU Health & Dental Plan covers 80 per cent of fees for appointments with psychologists, psychotherapists, and other mental health professionals.. (Léa Bourget / The MvGill Tribune)

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

news@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9 2021

NEWS

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McGill ends COVID-19 emergency response, transitions to recovery response

The university claims resumption response will allow for regular governance processes Juliet Morrison Staff Writer

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he McGill administration announced on Nov. 1 that its Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), the administrative body coordinating the university’s COVID-19 response, had been deactivated. The announcement, sent in a university-wide email, explained that the university is officially transitioning to a “recovery and resumption” response, with all COVID-19 matters now to be headed by the new Recovery and Operations Resumption Committee (ROR).

The McGill administration cited the community’s high vaccination rates as well as the Quebec government’s recent announcement that it expects to end the province’s

MRO Communications and updates to the Coronavirus website will continue under the new framework. (mcgill.ca)

state of emergency in early 2022, as contributing factors behind the decision to transition from the EOC to the ROR. In an email to The McGill Tribune, Frédérique Mazerolle, a McGill media relations officer, explained that the “recovery and resumption” transition would transfer all COVID-19 matters under the university’s prepandemic administrative structure. Mazerolle stressed that the transition from the EOC to the ROC signals a step toward a post-pandemic environment.

“This new structure was chosen to better align with the university’s day-to-day governance structure and allow for a smoother transition to regular governance processes as the pandemic continues to evolve in the coming months,” Mazerolle wrote. “We do [...] feel confident that we have reached a point where we can shift our focus from emergency response to recovery planning.”

The EOC, composed of senior administration officials with expertise in emergency planning, had been coordinating McGill’s COVID-19 response since January 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic is the longest crisis the EOC has dealt with; previously, it had only dealt with crises lasting mere days or weeks.

However, many members of the McGill community questioned the implementation of the EOC for the COVID-19 pandemic when it was initially being rolled out. Richard Gold, a professor in the Faculty of Law, criticized the administration for its lack of transparency and engagement with the wider community in its operations.

In a statement to the Tribune, Gold welcomed the deactivation of the EOC, arguing that while the members of the EOC may have been diligent in their planning, they did not have adequate knowledge on medical or legal affairs to make COVID-19 related decisions—and that

they “refused to listen to experts at McGill who did.” “[The EOC] provided the administration an excuse to take on powers that it does not rightfully have under McGill’s statutes and regulations,” Gold wrote. “The administration ruled by edict during the pandemic, failing to engage the campus and to be transparent as to the reasons for its actions [....] I hope that the ending of the emergency response signals a return to collegial governance, which has been suspended since spring 2020, and an actual engagement with campus.”

Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) vice-president (VP) Social Affairs Sam Baron also expressed relief in not having to go through the EOC to get approval for community events, citing communication issues with the EOC when he was planning for Frosh 2021 .

“I, frankly, thought it was ridiculous that a fully anonymous body had the final say in almost all decisions made on campus,” Baron wrote in a statement to the Tribune. “Every time I wanted to get something done, I had to ask the EOC for permission. They clearly had too much on their plates to deal with, as I know that my emails to them [...] went unanswered for weeks or months at a time.”

SSMU VP Internal Sarah Paulin also pointed out the administration’s lack of engagement with students and faculty in the decision-making around COVID-19 protocol. However, Paulin questioned the university’s decision to end the emergency response.

“I think the decision was very rushed,” Paulin said in an interview with the Tribune. “It would have been nice to have seen more prudence from the university [....]

Especially since they have provided very little support for faculty and students who have felt unsafe with the way the university is currently operating. [The administration is] very set in their ways.”

McGill hosts Sustainable Futures Career Days

Chantal Carpentier discussed paths toward careers in sustainability and development Anoushka Oke Staff Writer

M

cGill hosted a series of Sustainable Futures Career Days from Nov. 2 to Nov. 3 as part of its Bicentennial programming. The events aimed to equip McGill students with the skills to integrate sustainability into their studies and career goals. The series opened with a keynote delivered by Chantal Line Carpentier, a McGill alumna, and included a workshop on the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals, a panel discussing the steps toward a career in sustainable development, and one-onone student sessions with speakers from previous events.

Carpentier graduated from McGill with a bachelor of agricultural and environmental sciences in 1990 and a master’s degree in science in 1992. Gérald Cadet introduced her at the Career Days opening, noting that her work at the UN as chief of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) at the New York office.

“Previously, she was the major groups coordinator for the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, where she led a consultation with the non-state actors in the negotiations on the Sustainable Development Goals,” Cadet said. “And prior to that, she was a focal point for food security, sustainable agriculture, and

sustainable consumption as a sustainable development officer at DESA, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the UN.” Carpentier began her address by describing her experience at McGill, expressing her gratitude toward her advisor, Paul Olioff, for encouraging and pushing her to try for different opportunities.

Carpentier also emphasized how different aspects of her education helped her in her professional life. In particular, she mentioned the importance of interdisciplinary learning and collaboration with people from different fields.

“We’re very confident in our field [...], but we’re not very confident working with the others,” Carpentier said. “And so, [working with people in different fields] is something that I found was very useful later in my career [....] This is something that is primordial if you want to solve the sustainable development problem that we have.”

Some students, like Clare Scott, U0 Science, believe the Bicentennial Career Days’ theme of sustainability comes off as superficial with McGill as its host.

“I think any events that do promote a culture that supports sustainability and wanting to integrate that into other areas of student life like networking and career planning [are] inherently good,” Scott said.

“But I think there are other things that McGill could be doing that could convince

Carpentier has worked as a policy analyst for Winrock International; the Head of Environment, Economy, and Trade division of the NAFTA Commission for Environmental Cooperation; a Sustainable Development officer for UNDESA; the Major Groups Coordinator for UNDESA; and, now, chief of UNCTAD New York Office. (Noah Buscher / unsplash.com) us a little more that they care about this topic.”

Offering up a call to action outside of the Bicentennial Sustainable Future Career Days’ messages, Scott pointed to the potential that divestment from fossil fuels has to make a concrete impact in countering environmental problems and

promoting sustainability.

“Divesting from their fossil fuel investment is probably one of the more tangible things that I’ve seen promoted around campus throughout student groups,” Scott added. “I think that that would be one of the more impactful things that McGill could do to support sustainability.”

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NEWS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9 2021

news@mcgilltribune.com

Students walk out of Concordia lecture delivered by retired McGill professor

Students condemn Morantz’s suggestion that the Cree community suffered less in residential schools Joseph Pappas & Fanny Sachet Contributors

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tudents in the Algonquian Peoples [FPST: 211] course at Concordia University walked out of a guest lecture delivered by former McGill anthropology professor Toby Morantz on Oct. 28. Morantz was invited to discuss her 2002 book The White Man’s Gonna Getcha: The Colonial Challenge to the Crees of Quebec, which addresses the complex history of Indigenous–Euro-Canadian relations in northern Quebec.

The students who walked out, most of whom were Indigenous, took issue with Morantz’s alleged suggestions that the Cree community suffered less than other Indigenous Peoples in residential schools established in the James Bay Cree territory, and that their attendance at these schools was of their own volition. Terrence Duff, one of the Indigenous students who walked out, shared his experience with The McGill Tribune.

“It was discouraging, it was upsetting, especially when I raised my hand to speak and tell her that my great-grandparents didn’t put my grandmother voluntarily in residential schools, and she said, ‘no no no, that’s not correct,’” Duff said. “I decided to walk out because [...] my grandmother and my mother didn’t have a chance to walk out of a class in residential school, [but] I did.”

On Nov. 1, eight students who attended the lecture sent a letter to Christopher Manfredi, McGill’s provost and viceprincipal academic, calling the lecture offensive and factually inaccurate. The letter alleges that Morantz used derogatory terms such as “drunk Indians” in the lecture and also described herself as a “dying breed,” stating, “they’re only hiring Indians to fill these positions now.”

In an email to the Tribune, Morantz stated that there were miscommunications in her lecture, specifically surrounding her description of Cree residential schools, but ultimately defended

While Indigenous student Terrance Duff expressed that many students were “shocked” over Dr. Morantz’s characterization of Indigenous peoples’ experiences, the professor told the Tribune that she did not sense a tense atmosphere.

(Alessio Patron / unsplash.com) her academic research. Morantz said that she regrets these miscommunications and that students’ reactions were their prerogative.

“In my book, which the students had read, I stated that these schools were ‘less brutal,’” Morantz wrote. “I should have stuck to the terminology, but I was extemporizing [....] It is important for Canadians to know that parents had to make the horrible choice of continuing to live off the land and send their children away to residential school or abandon their way of life and live in the village so the children could attend the elementary

schools, built in the late 1940s.”

On page 247 of her book, Morantz states that “the Crees of James Bay were, comparatively speaking, spared these tragic consequences.” A few sentences later, the text reads that “their attendance at the schools was voluntary; they had been sent there by their parents who wished their children to be educated while they themselves wanted to continue hunting and trapping in the winter rather than take up residence in one of the villages.”

Catherine Richardson, the director of Concordia’s First Peoples Studies program, released a statement on Oct. 29 responding to, and apologizing for, Morantz’s lecture, referring to her lecture as “racist, hateful, and inaccurate.” The statement also reads that Morantz was “improperly vetted” and Richardson said she was “mortified” that “people in positions of institutional stature can abuse power so unethically and destructively.”

Morantz told the Tribune that she was unhappy with Richardson’s statement, and that she sees it as an issue of academic freedom. “[Richardson] was not in the room, did not speak with me and I am sure has never read anything I have written about the history of Indigenous-EuroCanadian relations in the north of Quebec,” Morantz wrote. “I am disappointed that we are further losing the University as a place of open discussion.”

The Tribune reached out to the McGill administration for comment. Frédérique Mazerolle, a McGill media relations officer, did not address Morantz or the lecture, but touched on the university’s concurrent commitments to reconciliation and academic freedom in an email to the Tribune.

“The simultaneous pursuit of these commitments may at times appear difficult to reconcile,” Mazerolle wrote. “While McGill extends robust protection to academic freedom, each of us is expected to abide by responsibilities set within University policies and regulations established through collegial governance processes. We, therefore, underscore McGill’s firm commitment to ensuring an equitable and inclusive campus climate for all.”

Rapid COVID-19 testing project among several new policies on campus

Students and SSMU continue to demand a campus-wide vaccine mandate Ghazal Azizi Contributor McGill introduced a series of updated COVID-19 policies and initiatives late October and early November, including a vaccine passport requirement for entering libraries, an updated self-assessment form, and a rapid COVID-19 testing project. The updated protocols accompany the university’s transition from “emergency response” to “recovery and resumption.”

As of Oct. 27, all individuals

entering McGill libraries are required to present their vaccine passport and valid McGill Identification Card (ID). To expedite the process, McGill has initiated the Fast-Pass program, where fully vaccinated students can acquire a small red sticker placed on McGill IDs to mark their vaccination status and bypass the need to present their VaxiCode to safety ambassadors at entrances.

Claire Downie, Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU)’s vice-president (VP) of university affairs, told The

Although they are now mandating vaccine passports, McGill libraries still require students to wear procedural masks. (mcgill.ca)

McGill Tribune that she is pleased with the new policy, but that she has concerns about the Fast-Pass stickers.

“I question the rollout of [the Fast-Pass program],” Downie said.

“It was a little confusing. There was a huge delay in notifying students, and the stickers being used are not very secure. They are [small] paper stickers when we thought they would be [...] harder to replicate.”

In a statement sent out to the McGill community on Nov. 4, Deputy Provost Fabrice Labeau declared the university will no longer require faculty, staff, and student employees to complete the Minerva self-assessment form prior to visiting campus. Instead, they will be asked to review a self-evaluation webform.

In September, SSMU demanded that the university confer with students in COVID-19 protocol decision-making. Yet, Downie claimed that SSMU was not consulted about the changes addressed in Labeau’s statement.

“Truthfully, we didn’t hear about this change until the email was sent out,” Downie said. “But [...] with a lot of those forms, they are not really monitored.

Everyone is supposed to fill them out before they come to campus, but in reality there aren’t really any repercussions for [those who] don’t.”

Frédérique Mazerolle, a McGill media relations officer, explained that the new webform will help students assess whether they should be coming to campus or not.

“This form does not collect data but directs anyone experiencing COVID-19 related symptoms to the necessary followup steps,” Mazerolle wrote in an email to the Tribune. “If individuals answer ‘yes’ to any of the questions, they will be given follow-up actions.”

Kennedy McDiarmid, U0 Arts, is in favour of vaccine passports to access libraries, though she remains apprehensive about McGill’s reliance on selfassessment surveys.

“I think that the vaccine passport at the libraries is a good thing,” McDiarmid said. “I do not really see a point in [selfassessment] forms, because I think people are pretty good at identifying when they are sick.”

Since the beginning of the semester, SSMU has protested

McGill’s refusal to mandate vaccines for students and faculty.

Downie stressed that a vaccine mandate for students and faculty is still crucial, despite McGill’s 94.9 per cent vaccination rate.

“I still believe that a vaccine mandate would have been the best way forward,” Downie said. “Our [vaccination] rate is close to 95 per cent, which is really great. But at comparable institutions, like Queens [and] the University of Toronto, their [vaccination] rates are above 98 per cent. That three per cent difference is potentially thousands of students.”

Effective Nov. 8, students, faculty, or staff members can receive a rapid COVID-19 antigen detection test on campus. The test results appear within 20 minutes.

However, they cannot be used as a proof of a negative test and need to be confirmed with a PCR test.

“This pilot project is not intended to replace existing health measures for McGill, such as masking and distancing,” Mazerolle explained. “As with all University planning since the beginning of the pandemic, we are following public health directives and evaluating the evolving situation.”

opinion@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9 2021

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

U of T’s divestment sets a low bar that McGill refuses to reach

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

O

n Oct. 27, the University of Toronto (U of T) announced that it would divest from all its direct fossil fuel investments in the next 12 months, with plans to divest from all indirect investments by 2030. It also stated that it will take steps to curb more emissions than it produces to become a “climate-positive campus.” The university is the latest post-secondary institution to get on board with divestment, with Concordia and Harvard having recently made similar announcements. Yet McGill lags behind. Despite numerous performative measures and a steadfast commitment to preaching sustainability at every turn, McGill continues to operate like a business, prioritizing short-term profit above genuine concern about the future of the planet. With the climate crisis worsening with each passing day, it is increasingly important for the university to divest and take aggressive climate action–– not in 10 years, but immediately.

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

OFF THE BOARD Holly Wethey Student Life 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

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

CONTRIBUTORS Ghazal Azizi, Anna Berglas, Valentina de la Borbolla, Alex Hinton, Renata Iskander, Karan Kumar, Isabelle Métivier, Lucca Mole, Sara Chiarotto O’Brien, Joseph Pappas, Annika Pavlin, Fanny Sachet, Emme Smith, Courtney Squires

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.

I

have always been a cautious person. Though I can bring myself to take risks in many areas of my life, when it comes to physical activities I am usually the one who stays behind, choosing instead to sit inside with a good book. It is for this reason that I never considered picking up a skateboard.

On top of the physical

Calls for divestment are not new—in fact, they almost feel worn out. The clock is ticking for the McGill Board of Governors to divest but it might already be too late.

Rather than divesting, McGill’s response to the climate crisis prioritizes individual action, innovation, and technology. Reusable water bottles or early-stage “green tech” solutions have their merits, but are not enough on their own.

The term “sustainability” has turned into a vapid buzzword, and it finds its way into many of McGill’s PR campaigns. This approach is, however, a hollow one. Band-aid sustainability efforts risk becoming a facade for meaningful climate action: Real commitment necessarily involves a thorough and immediate restructuring of systems and institutions—and that starts, but does not end, with divestment and sustainability initiatives.

For a university that places such heavy emphasis on its global standing, it is ironic that McGill shows little interest in being a leader on critical

issues like climate change.

McGill’s alleged commitment only manifests when it serves to benefit the university’s reputation.

For example, McGill had COP26 attendees Dr. Courtney Howard and MSc. Candidate in Bioresource Engineering and Climate Mitigation William Gagnon take over their Instagram account this week. That McGill would showcase sustainability advocates while refusing to yield to student demands to remove the James McGill statue or divest from fossil fuels is a testament to this proverbial facade. Indeed, McGill cannot simultaneously ignore students’ pleas for divestment while also taking credit for the climateconscious students who they position to represent the university favourably on the international stage.

The university’s repeated refusal to divest despite constant pressure by the student body reveals a wider structural issue. The fact that these motions continue to fail at the Board of Governors after their approval at every other level of

OPINION

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EDITORIAL university governance reveals a major discrepancy between students’ views on McGill’s responsibilities and the views of the board—many of whose members have backgrounds in business. Although the bureaucratization and corporate focus of post-secondary institutions is not unique to McGill, the university should nevertheless not be absolved from moral scrutiny.

Commitments to divest from various universities across Canada and the United States are necessary, especially as the window to act on climate change rapidly closes. In the context of U of T’s announcement, the choice to finally divest after years of student activism is not one that should garner applause.

Divestment is long overdue for all universities—but especially those apathetic institutions that have yet to even take that first step. McGill needs to pass motions to divest, and soon, because if anything is to be taken from the “Change the Name” campaign, it is that change takes time, and time is exactly what is running out.

Me and my board: Penny-boarding through Montreal risks of the sport, there is the intimidation factor: The skateboarding community can come across as intense. I had also imagined skating to be one of the activities that can only be learned at a young age. In my head, there was nothing more embarrassing than a 21-year-old skateboarder in full knee pads, elbow pads, and a hot pink helmet. Not only were these thoughts limiting, they were also untrue.

Although skateboarding initially seemed daunting to me, when I started practicing seriously I was able to pick it up within a few weeks. Freshly home from a trip and stuck in quarantine in June 2021, I took a leap and ordered a penny board online. Then came learning. I took it out to the backyard to give it a try, and I won’t lie, it was scary. The first few times, I could not let go of my boyfriend.

Soon enough, however, I was slowly gliding down the parking lot.

I then started skating with a friend in parking lots and quiet streets, still away from the public eye. She taught me to skate one foot at a time and in just a few days, I was making significant progress. The frustrating thing

about skateboarding when you are a woman—thus not the “typical skateboarder”— you tend to draw attention to yourself, resulting in many awkward and sometimes creepy conversations. I have had to fend off many unwanted comments and dismiss the prying eyes of passers-by. Luckily, I was the one on the skateboard, and I could quickly speed away in the opposite direction.

I eventually started skating to campus, which had been my aim all along. But by August, when I still had not made as much progress as I had wanted, I thought my goal remained out of reach. I feared that perhaps it would never happen. That said, on the first day of school, I showed up with my board in hand.

Aside from the obvious benefit of a sport that doubles as a form of transportation, it is also a social one. My boyfriend has a longboard, and some of the best times we had in the summer were spent racing down Montreal bike lanes in the pitch black of night together.

Unfortunately, daytime skating involves the added consideration of cars, whose

drivers often do not feel like collaborating with pesky, unpredictable skateboarders.

In addition to the dirty looks from drivers, skateboarders face another inconvenience: Montreal’s poor road quality.

Every time I go over a bump, I pray I do not fall off.

I have fallen off my skateboard three times: The first time I twisted my ankle, the second time I bruised one knee, and the third time, the other one knee. Although I admit that I am still only a beginner, I place most of the blame on the unpredictable nature of the pavement; skating here is a challenge at the best of times.

Despite this, I keep getting back on the board, and I now consider skateboarding to be one of my favourite activities. As the skateboarding season comes to a close—at least for those of us who do not want to be gliding through the snow—my advice to anyone interested in taking up the sport is to not be afraid to try it out. Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to look a certain way or be fearless to skate. If you want to skate, then skateboarding is for you. Take my word for it— it is never too late to try.

6

OPINION

COMMENTARY

opinion@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9 2021

Point-counterpoint: What should stay in the post-COVID-19 world?

Caution should come first Courtney Squires, Contributor

With restrictions being lifted and parts of the world returning to in-person routines, many are anxious to get back to their pre-pandemic normal. However, preventative measures like mask wearing and physical distancing have proven to have a multitude of non-pandemic related benefits. After the high levels of hygienic scrutiny throughout the last two years, it would be regressive to disregard such simple and effective health measures in a post-pandemic society.

Mask wearing is prevalent in many non-North American countries as a courtesy to protect others from getting sick, and recent data shows there have been significantly less flu-related deaths since mask mandates were put in place. Now, masks have become an accessory, introducing endless colour-coordinating opportunities, and with colder weather approaching, they have joined the winter garment roster. Providing both fashion and function, masks can help hide a surprise pimple, or offer coverage on days when one wants to keep a low profile.

Many have adopted a “better safe than sorry” mindset, and capacity limits in stores and bars means avoiding the stress of having too many people jammed into a tiny room. With the holiday season approaching, the idea of having to elbow a path through the shopping crowds is unappealing, to say the least. And though the distanced line for the Carrefour Sherbrooke Starbucks may be hellish, avoiding larger gatherings and being mindful of enclosed spaces brings not only reduced risk of

A fully hygienic future requires a debate on the efficacy of pandemic measures vs. the unsustainable nature of them being implemented. (BizEd)

COMMENTARY Lucca Mole Contributor

‘‘ “

Oh, she’s tough!” shouted one of the boys during our 11v11 McGill intramural soccer game at the Molson stadium this October. This “insightful” observation was sarcastically directed toward one of the women on the opposing women’s team as she took a missed shot to the stomach. When I played in the match, this was only one of the many instances of derogatory behaviour directed toward the female players.

When the whistle was blown, the boys immediately sought to establish a clear atmosphere of superiority: They chuckled at every header, laughed at every attempt on goal, and walked as slowly as possible back to their side to waste time and aggravate their opponents whenever a centre-kick was taken. This made for some very ugly soccer.

It was incredibly enraging, disappointing, and disheartening to bear witness to yet another display of misogynistic and sexist behaviour––one which I certainly did not

inhaling foul body odor, but also hygienic peace of mind.

This same mindset carries through with the implementation of masks and hand sanitizer at the entrance of most stores and buildings, including McGill’s. Visitors are required to sanitize their hands before entering, something that helps mollify germaphobic worries. Furthermore, this ensures that elevator buttons, railings, and door handles are touched by hands that are 99.8 per cent bacteria free.

Overall, with these hygiene solutions providing benefits for everyday lives, they should stay post-pandemic. But the thing that has been made most clear over the past year is that with scary things like crowds and germs outside, there’s no shame in staying inside.

Futile measures will falter

Valentina de la Borbolla, Contributor Although health measures like mask-wearing provide substantial protection against COVID19 and other diseases, it is unrealistic to expect the general population to maintain these practices that are so closely associated with a state of emergency. As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, it is important to adjust our expectations of individual behaviours, especially when the risk of infection is lower.

In many cases, public health directions have been confusing, contradictory, or downright illogical, like Quebec’s soon-to-be-lifted ban on dancing in clubs. Other measures like temperature checks and surface sanitization provide little more than reassurance, which experts have even called “hygiene theatre.” These inconsistent rules have worsened pandemic fatigue, which in turn makes people disregard public health recommendations, unreasonable or not.

Another key point of contention is how long governments and businesses should continue to enforce mask mandates. While wearing a mask for one’s own personal comfort will likely become more normalized, continued mandates are not sustainable. For one, measures like masks and lockdowns have become increasingly politicized. Masks have found themselves at the centre of culture wars, with some refusing to wear them in supposed acts of resistance. For example, protests against public measures are widespread in many cities, including Montreal. And when the CDC announced it was safe to go maskless in public, many feared doing so at risk of being viewed as anti-maskers. When measures become less about public health and more about political signalling, the likelihood of them being widely accepted decreases. In addition, as government officials express optimism over lowering cases and increasing vaccinations, people’s sense of urgency diminishes.

Furthermore, the fact that these measures would be inconsistently adopted in the long term scales down their efficacy altogether. Like vaccines, masks are most effective when the majority of people are wearing them. Even if it is sensible to continue wearing masks, it will come down to personal choice. However, this is no silver-bullet solution because not everyone will comply.

Going back to normal does not have to be reckless, but it also does not have to be about enforcing futile measures. A fully hygienic future is impossible and holding the expectation that it will be is a recipe for disappointment.

Toxic sports environments are symptomatic of sexism on and off the pitch expect from adult McGill students at a friendly intramural match.

However, the women disregarded the boys’ outright lack of sportsmanship, and continued to support each other and play as hard as possible throughout the entirety of the game. At the end of the match, everyone in the stands, including the referees, supporters, and substitutes, ran onto the pitch in support to join the women’s team in an impromptu, informal match against the boys, ending the evening on a more positive note.

I was a participant in this match and have played in hundreds of others since I was four. Unsurprisingly, this was not the first time I had experienced sexist behaviour from my teammates or opponents.

I have endured so many boys telling me that I was not allowed to play with them because of my gender. And when I did play, they often laughed at me or even sexualized me, as a means to re-affirm their masculinity. These experiences only strengthened me and taught me how to use this kind of behaviour to my advantage. Never-

theless, it is exhausting to have to constantly push my limits to challenge gender-based stereotypes in sport.

Truthfully, the reason this experience at the recent game upset me so much was because it completely dismantled the sense of security and confidence that I had cultivated. Before this match, playing intramural soccer allowed me to feel a kind of freedom that I had experienced as a youngster.

It was the kind of freedom that stems from playing amongst nonjudgemental peers who encouraged me to be myself with no genderbased expectations and no need for performance—something I value highly as a non-binary, queer person.

Since the event, McGill’s intramural faculty met with the captain of the team to discuss possible sanctions. But this is not enough.

Although it may have only been one soccer match, it highlighted the ongoing misogyny and sexism that women, non-binary, genderqueer, and gender non-conforming people continue to face on and off

The derogatory behaviour from the male team ranged from diminutive comments to heckling, emphasizing the ongoing sexism and misogyny in sports.

(Elissa Dresdner / The McGill Tribune) the pitch. It is dangerous to let these issues go unnoticed since they are representative of the larger issues women and female-presenting individuals have to deal with on a daily basis.

This experience should serve as a reminder that, though gender

inequalities are still rife in our everyday lives, we cannot remain silent about them. The fight is not over: We need to be louder than ever, we need to keep defying gender norms. When we continue to play soccer, we show them what it means to “play like a girl.”

STUDENT LIFE

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9 2021

7

Getting inked in Montreal

The stories behind McGill students’ tattoos Abby McCormick Staff Writer Continued from page 1.

Olivia Bjerkelund, U0 Arts, who moved away from Vancouver for university this past September, saw her first year of independence as an ideal opportunity to get her first tattoo.

Ironically, Bjerkelund’s tattoo, a still life jug of lemonade surrounded by plums and daffodils on her inner arm, is representative of her childhood.

“I used to have a plum tree when I was a kid,” Bjerkelund told The McGill Tribune. “The daffodils are there [because] my mom gives me daffodils every year on my birthday.”

Like Bjerkelund, Gracie Thompson, U0 Arts—who already has several tattoos—decided to add to her bodily mosaic after moving to Montreal this September. Thompson made her decision within her first weeks in the city.

“I was with my parents [and] I

saw a little sign that was on a compost bin,” Thompson said. “I thought it was so cute [....] I thought about it for two weeks, then decided to go for it as a ‘welcome to Montreal’ gift.”

In addition to this new piece and her previous collection, Thompson has gotten two other tattoos since moving to Montreal, creating a patchwork on her arms. For Thompson, skin can be a place to memorialize one’s personal growth.

“I like [getting tattoos] because it symbolizes who I was at the time of getting the tattoo,” Thompson said. “It makes you feel so confident [and is] a great conversation starter.”

Students looking to get their first tattoos or add to their existing collections in Montreal are in luck: The city has a wealth of local tattoo artists ranging from those working at established shops to DIY artists, each of them with unique design styles.

Among these artists is Aya Dazig, a multidisciplinary artist who has been tattooing since she was 15. Her journey

in the practice began by tattooing her friends and acquaintances.

“I kind of got into tattooing by accident,” Dazig said. “I would fix my friends’ stick and pokes as a teenager, and [I] had a friend tell me, ‘you should really get into this.’”

Stick and poke tattoos have risen in popularity over the past few years.

It is a method of tattooing that requires only a sterilized needle, pot of ink, and a friend’s—or one’s own—artistic hand.

This DIY technique not only offers students a more affordable alternative to the hefty prices of tattoo parlours, but also an intimate memory to mark the inked design, with many receiving these hand-drawn tattoos from someone they know, and often in a personal space.

Dazig, who started out fixing stick and poke tattoos done by others for friends, turned her passion into a fulltime job this past April. She now works with two other Montreal tattoo artists in a private studio located in the Plateau.

Dazig doesn’t lean toward a specific tattooing style; her inspiration

During the pandemic, many got tattoos as a means of memorializing and healing from trauma. (Saumya Gogte / The McGill Tribune) comes from either her stream of consciousness or a direct reference.

“My main goal is to have all of my work feel intuitive and authentic,” Dazig said.

Dazig believes that students’ desire to get tattoos after starting university is tied to a newfound sense of independence.

“It goes hand in hand with moving out,” Dazig explained. “You have a

new sense of ownership over your life and body.”

Though the permanence of tattoo ink can feel intimidating, Dazig advises students who are considering getting their first tattoos not to overthink how they will view the tattoo in the future.

“Don’t worry about pain or getting something timeless,” Dazig said. “Get something you genuinely like in the moment.”

How to dish up gourmet food with frozen produce Recipes to help prevent food waste Emme Smith Contributor

I

t’s no surprise that frozen produce is considered inferior to its fresh counterpart: Not many of us enjoy flavourless boiled green beans or mushy carrots. But while frozen veggies alone can be unappetizing in flavour and texture, they are an easy way to avoid both food waste and a pricey grocery bill during the colder months. To avoid lackluster meals without sacrificing a healthy diet, The McGill Tribune brings you two easy recipes to bring out the best flavours in frozen fruits and vegetables.

Spiced chicken with lemon yogurt sauce

This spiced chicken recipe is easy to make and perfect for mealprepping. The veggies and spice blend can be customized to your preferences, so you can achieve completely different tastes using the same simple steps.

Try different blends of spices in your dishes for a unique flavour every time. (Emme Smith / The McGill Tribune) Ingredients: • 2 chicken breasts • ¾ cup basmati rice • 1 lemon • 1 ½ cups chicken broth • 1 ½ cups frozen zucchini, sliced • 2 cups frozen carrots, chopped • 1 tbsp Moroccan spice blend (or a different spice blend of your

• • • • • •

choice) 1 tbsp unsalted butter ½ cup plain Greek yogurt Fresh parsley (optional) Kosher salt Black pepper Olive oil

Steps: 1. Preheat the oven to 425°F. 2. Add the chicken broth to a pot, cover, and bring to a boil.

3. Add the rice to boiling water, reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook until the liquid is fully absorbed. Remove the pot from the heat and set aside, still covered.

4. Mix ¼ cup of the Greek yogurt with the spice blend in a large bowl. Pat the chicken dry and add to the bowl. Coat the chicken and set aside to marinate.

5. Juice half the lemon and mix with the remaining Greek yogurt.

Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

6. Heat a nonstick pan over medium high, then add about 2 tbsp of olive oil. When heated, add the frozen carrots and zucchini to the pan. Cook until zucchini is slightly crisped on the outside. Season with salt and pepper. Mix in the veggies with the rice.

7. In the same pan over medium-high heat, add about a tablespoon of olive oil. Cook each of the chicken breasts for about 2 minutes. Add the cooked chicken to a baking sheet and place it in the oven for about 13 minutes, or until cooked through.

8. Juice the other half of the lemon over the rice and veggies. Add optional parsley. Mix together. Thinly slice chicken and serve over rice with lemon yogurt sauce.

• • • • • • • • •

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes 2 cans chickpeas 2 cans coconut milk 2 cups vegetable broth 2 cups frozen kale 4 garlic cloves, minced Kosher salt, to taste Black pepper, to taste ¼ cup olive oil

Steps: 1. Heat about ¼ cup olive oil in a pot over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion, and ginger. Season with salt and pepper. Stir periodically, until the onions start to brown on the edges.

2. Add the turmeric, red pepper flakes, and chickpeas to the pot. Season with salt and pepper, then stir the spices into the chickpeas. Cook until the chickpeas start to crisp, about ten minutes. Crush the chickpeas with a wooden spoon, leaving a few uncrushed for texture.

3. Add the coconut milk and vegetable broth to the pot. Bring the stew to a simmer, making sure to stir the bottom of the pot occasionally. Cook until the stew has thickened to your desired consistency, around 40 minutes.

4. Add the kale, then allow the stew to simmer for around five minutes, or until the kale is tender and any added liquid evaporates.

5. Serve! You can top the dish with red pepper flakes for some extra spice. I ate the stew with some toasted naan.

Chickpea, turmeric, and coconut milk stew

Not only is this recipe easy, but it is filled with bright fall flavours.

Like the other dish, this stew can be easily be adapted to your own taste. Feel free to skip the kale, add potatoes, or even change the spice level. You can serve it over rice, with naan, on a pita, or just enjoy it on its own.

Ingredients: • 1 large yellow onion, chopped • A 2-inch piece of ginger • 1 ½ teaspoons ground turmeric

(Emme Smith / The McGill Tribune)

Say my name (right) Death by a thousand microaggressions Sepideh Afshar Opinion Editor

A

t the start of every school year, my high school held a special assembly to honour seniors. Every senior was called up one by one by the principal to grab special red ties, meant to symbolize their maturity. In my last year, I was so excited for the assembly. But when it came to me, my name was mispronounced. An unsure giggle passed throughout the auditorium. I felt my cheeks get hot, and suddenly, I found myself holding back tears. While everybody else’s names were called, I stood in shame.

I was utterly humiliated, but I was unsure why.

Everybody in that room knew what my name was. Why did a little slip-up matter so much? As it turns out, I had experienced something all too common—a microaggression, or a small, unconscious act of prejudice and racism. At the time, I did not know the term, but I did not need to read an academic article to know that that moment of pure mortification would stay

with me. As Ratna Ghosh, a professor in the Faculty of Education at McGill, put it to me, “Because it’s not overtly racist, it has the ability to make a more important inroad into your psyche.”

Most people do not need to worry about how their names are pronounced—their names are common in the countries they live in. When I was four years old and had just immigrated to Canada from Iran—a place where my name was never an issue—I could not anticipate that it would turn out to be so challenging for those around me. But the chronic mispronunciation must have happened gradually, because by the time I realized that my name was constantly being said incorrectly, it had become a normal, even expected, occurrence.

My name became a constant reminder of my difference. Always at the top of

attendance sheets, I watched new teachers mull over “Sepideh,” giving a sympathetic look to the class before attempting to string the letters together in a way that made sense to them. I developed ways of intervening: The moment a teacher picked up the attendance sheet, I would raise my hand immediately to tell them my name and state that I was present. Unfortunately, this kind of behaviour was less bravery and more a product of my embarrassment.

As it turned out, I wasn’t the only person who developed these kinds of strategies as a kid. Gialina Jiang, a secondyear student at Carleton University, recalled how she used to pretend the botched versions of her name were accurate to get a laugh out of her peers.

“It makes me feel guilty and sad that I needed to [resort] to humour in an uncomfortable situation to get validation from white people, as opposed to being proud of who I am, and my culture and roots,” Jiang said.

These microaggressions usually start in schools, easily the most significant social institution for youth. Chronic mispronunciation of a name is extremely harmful, according to a study done at Santa Clara University. Consequences range from internalized racism within

The power and the damage of microaggressions lie both in their invisibility and in their persistence. students to negative self-perception that inhibits development. One study conducted at the University of Alberta found that students from ethnic minority groups feel disrespected when their names are mispronounced.

Mispronouncing somebody’s name, even by accident, is a surefire way of wearing down a person’s sense of identity, since it minimizes the heritage and richness that goes into a name.

Ghosh maintained that a positive sense of self is crucial for an individual to have agency. The constant mispronunciation of a person’s name, like most microaggressions, slowly chips away at one’s self-perception.

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Unfortunately, be particularly affected, so young.

children can since they are

“Little children—for them, their name is their identity,” Ghosh said.

After living among English-speakers for a while, I started to go by an alternate, Canadian pronunciation of my name.

The phonetic limitations of those whose first language is English make it nearly impossible for them to pronounce my name the way somebody who speaks Persian would. I eventually chose a Canadian pronunciation I preferred: “Suh-pea-day” instead of “suh-pea-duh.” But even after anglicizing my name for the ease of others, teachers continued to mispronounce the modified version of my name for the entirety of my middle and high school years. While I tried to correct them, they only grew annoyed, tired of the interruption it caused.

So I stopped. It is quite an isolating feeling to have your name be an inconvenience to those around you, especially teachers who are supposed to lead by example in the classroom.

“When you want an inclusive culture, in your school, in your classroom, you want to make it safe,” Ghosh said. “The first thing you should be able to do is pronounce a name.”

By the time I was in the eighth grade, I let teachers mispronounce my name as long as the letters were approximately in the right spots. After letting it go for so long, I was taken aback when a teacher at my high school took me aside after she realized her pronunciation wasn’t correct. She sat there, repeating my name, trying to glue it to her memory. Afterwards, she asked me to correct her if she ever made a mistake again, because, she said, it mattered.

Looking back, I am so grateful. My teacher provided me with a kind of validation I had never before received in an academic setting. This marked a turning point in the way I thought about my name, because I

s

Hell

My

nam o e is

said. “I love that [my name] is unique and I love that it represents my origins.”

Many people, however, do decide to change their names for both external and internal reasons. Some want to feel like they belong, while others fear external discrimination. As it turns out, the fear of being discriminated against in job applications is a real one. In a study conducted at the University of Toronto, researchers investigated whether there were advantages to “résumé whitening,” meaning attempts to downplay racial cues in one’s CV. After applying to real-world job openings, the researchers found that a “whitened” résumé, representing an applicant with the name “L. James Smith,” received a call-back rate 15.5 per cent higher than a fictitious Black applicant’s unwhitened résumé with the name “Lamar J. Smith.”

Similar results were found for Asian applicants.

There is real-world bias that exists when it comes to unique names and names that are perceived as racialized.

Jiang knows this well: When she entered university, she changed her first name from Kaixin to Gialina.

“I honestly thought that an employer would choose someone named ‘Gialina’ over someone named ‘Kaixin,’” Jiang explained.

But the choice wasn’t easy. Jiang contends that nobody should have to change their name for the comfort of others.

“The experience of one wanting to change their name […] is a direct reflection of failure within our Canadian institutions [that are] still constructed to benefit those of Eurocentric backgrounds,” Jiang said.

While I wish my high school self could have spoken to all of these women and heard about others’ experiences, I never had the opportunity. I regret not standing up for myself in classrooms where other kids may have been struggling with the same

lo s Helm ei

My na

realized that the effort I had seen from her was the kind

I deserved.

Although there are definitely non-racialized people whose names get mispronounced, mispronunciation often targets people of colour. For racialized minorities, disregarding a name or not putting in the effort to learn how to say it properly is a microaggression.

Ultimately, it’s about putting the same effort into learning someone’s name: People will learn how to say “Saoirse” but give up when it comes to “Taraneh.” But pointing this out can provoke defensive reactions, which is frequently the case with microaggressions. The power and the damage of microaggressions lie both in their invisibility and in their persistence.

Lavinia Auhoma, U1 Arts, wonders if people give up on getting her name right because she’s a person of colour. Ironically, her name is pulled directly from the Shakespeare play //Titus Andronicus.// To her, the difference is context: Though people might try to pronounce a Shakespearean name correctly, they call it a day if they perceive a name as ethnic. She has found that people even try to complicate her name or exoticize it.

“If I was white, I think that fewer people would have a hard time pronouncing my name,” Auhoma said.

Some people have told me the solution is easy: Just use a nickname. But to me, so much in a name gets lost in a shortened version. While picking up a nickname might be easier, it would strip me of a culture and a language that I love and hold very close to my heart. Negar Matin, U3 Science, agrees. She found that trying out a new name in university only led her to feel displaced.

“I didn’t like it,” Matin

thing. But my expectations at that time were still so low you could trip on them. Before my graduation, I was so thrilled to be asked how to pronounce my name, I wrote about it in an article for my school newspaper.

Reading my attempts at optimism are now painful. Even though my name was still actually mispronounced at graduation, I reflected cheerily that at least the mistake was “due to an accent rather than a lack of effort.”

It would be a lie to pretend that entering McGill changed my entire behaviour toward my name. Initially, I tried to enforce my name’s proper Persian pronunciation, only to find that Westerners struggled phonetically to the point where I was the one getting annoyed. I fell back to the Canadian pronunciation. I joined a sorority, where, unsurprisingly, almost nobody tried to get my name right, immediately writing it off as “too difficult” and even making fun of it. It’s been a slow process, but I am gaining the confidence to demand the respect that I deserve. I have developed new tactics, ones that confront any mispronunciation instead of avoiding it. Nowadays, I go back and forth with professors in the middle of class if necessary, repeating my name until they get it right. Otherwise, I type my name into notes, screenshot it, zoom in, and take it to the professor after class.

My name is Sepideh, or . It’s a Persian word that translates approximately to “the first lights in the sky before sunrise.”

When I was born, my dad showed my mom three different names he liked. Out of them all, she chose Sepideh. It’s impossible to let go of the memories attached to my name, and the loving nicknames my family have given me: “Sepid” from my dad, and “saydeh” from my sister. My name represents my heritage and culture. For my own sake, I am not willing to give others the power of inventing easier names for me. I prefer the one I already have.

Design: Xiaotian Wang, Design Editor

10

STUDENT LIFE

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9 2021

Catching up with Mobilizing for Milton-Parc

The group recently re-oriented their mission and changed their name Brontë Grimmer Staff Writer

W

hat a difference a year—and a pandemic—can make. In the fall of 2020, during the months when COVID-19 raged, concern for unhoused neighbours in the area surrounding McGill prompted Sophie Hart to found Meals for Milton-Parc, a student-led mealshare initiative that provided food and care packages.

The group recently shifted its mission and took on a new name—Mobilizing for Milton-Parc (M4MP)—in order to meet the changing needs of unhoused people.

In its early days, M4MP focussed on getting food to those in need and making sure Milton-Parc’s unhoused neighbours felt cared for. Meal distribution was a cornerstone of that effort.

“I felt like we were not doing enough to support vulnerable people in our community,” Hart said. “With the pandemic,

Hotel Dieu, one of M4MP’s partner organizations, is a shelter currently in need of bras, warm sweaters, and winter coats. (Léa Bourget / The McGill Tribune)

services were closing down due to public health requirements.”

What followed was an outpouring of support from the McGill community, much of it driven by social media. In the period between October 2020 and August 2021, M4MP raised close to $20,000 and distributed some 3,000 meals.

With services for the unhoused community returning to full working capacity as pandemic restrictions loosen, M4MP is now shifting gears to focus on supporting both Indigenous-led and non-Indigenous-led organizations in Montreal.

“We started our project because there was a need for us to meet,” Hart said. “But as the pandemic has begun to wind down, the organizations in our community have been able to get back to full capacity. We want them to know how much we appreciate the work they do, and that they have our community supporting them when they need it.”

M4MP now gives financial and material support to organizations such as The Open Door, The Montreal Indigenous Community Network, The Native Friendship Centre of Montreal, and Plein Milieu, to name a few.

With this shift in vision, M4MP has become a conduit for funds, food and material support, community building activities, and settler education projects.

The group runs community building

activities for residents of the Hotel Dieu shelter, which is open 24/7. Since October 2021, M4MP has held art, self-care, and pumpkin-carving events.

“These activities, in my mind, are important to create connections among neighbours as well as to have some fun,” Hart said. “I think people forget that at the end of the day we all like to have fun, connect with neighbours, and talk to new people.”

Much of this programming has been made possible thanks to crowdfunding efforts through M4MP’s Instagram page. This year, M4MP started an “Education Team” that uses its online platform to educate settlers, and to stress the responsibility that they have in amplifying and supporting the voices of marginalized communities. “[The past year] has made me realize how much can be done when caring people work together,” Hart said. “This year has also made me realize how broken the systems in place to support vulnerable people are. I’ve learned so much in such a short time, but what has stood out to me most is that we really need more people to join the care and community field.”

Individuals interested in volunteering can join the Mobilizing for Milton-Parc Interest Group on Facebook and watch the volunteer training video. Donations may be e-transferred to mobilizingformiltonparc@ gmail.com.

Essential attire for winter warmth Dressing head to toe for the Montreal winter Isabella González Staff Writer

A

s we take advantage of the last few sunny fall days in Montreal, it’s easy to forget that a frigid winter is approaching.

Before the snow fully settles upon us, it’s best to prepare ahead of time for the sub-zero temperatures. For those who have yet to experience Montreal’s ice-cold weather, The McGill Tribune brings you a list of essential winter clothing items and practices, from layering to staple winter accessories.

A good jacket Equipping yourself with the perfect winter jacket is crucial to keeping warm.

When it comes to length, the longer the better. To fight off frostbite, invest in a coat that will cocoon your body all the way down to your knees. You’ll feel like a penguin waddling around on campus.

Other important things to look for when hunting for a jacket are its insulation and fabric. For Montreal weather, water-resistant down material is the way to go. The goose down will keep your body insulated, while water-resistant

fabric will be perfect for rainy and snowy days. Some downfree alternatives that are equally as warm are quilted jackets filled with nylon or polyester.

Consider as well a hood for your jacket to keep your head dry and cozy while it rains or snows.

If you don’t love the look of hoods on your jackets, try to find one with a detachable hood for the best of both worlds.

Storage and warmth are what pockets are all about. Look for a jacket with large pockets to store your miscellaneous belongings and protect your hands from the cold.

Black, grey, and white are staple colours that go with anything you wear. However, if you want to add some vibrancy and style to your winter look, pick out a jacket in your favourite bright colour. Not only will it help you stand out, but it will keep you joyful during downcast winter days.

Layering Remember this rule of thumb: You can always take off layers, but you can’t add them once you’ve already left the house.

Good fabrics for layers are

these added features that allow you to express your style. Good items to consider are ear muffs, hats, scarves, and mittens. Depending on how warm your jacket keeps your neck, you might want to add a scarf for more protection against the wind or for added flair.

When choosing between gloves or mittens, mittens are the way to go––wearing them allows your fingers to generate more heat And mittens with button flaps allow you to use your phone whenever need be.

The recent comeback of head-to-toe bodysuits allow an added skin-tight layer of warmth all in the name of fashion. (nytimes.com) always thinner, not thicker. Try shopping for cashmere, fleece, and wool sweaters with long sleeves. Thermal long-sleeved garments are also a great addition underneath a cozy sweater for an extra layer of warmth. These items are always easy to thrift at Value Village if you’re on a budget.

For your bottom half, wearing tights or long underwear underneath your favourite pair of pants ensures that your legs will be warm as you strut through the city.

Layering doesn’t have to be solely practical. For instance,

try wearing funky, patterned turtlenecks underneath your favourite graphic tees to spice up your outfit, or transition your dresses into winter by wearing a thick, ribbed pair of tights and vibrant long sleeves underneath.

Accessories Although accessories may feel like a small component of your outfit, they can be a hefty addition to your warmth. While the majority of your outfit may simply feel like insulation, it’s

Shoes In the early days following the first frost, it’s easy to get away with thick socks and a pair of furlined Doc Martens. As we move further into the season, however, it’s a smart idea to invest in a pair of proper heavy-duty winter boots.

The perfect Montreal winter boot is fur-lined, tall, waterproof, and has good traction for the icy sidewalks. Some brands to look for are Ugg, Sorel, and Merrell.

To keep your boots chic, include striking, colourful laces with beads laced in, and wear long, patterned socks to peek out of your boots for a fun surprise.

scitech@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9 2021

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Alzheimer’s disease: More than a century later Judes Poirier at the forefront of research looking into the disease’s prevention Sara Chiarotto O’Brien Contributor

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n 1901, Alois Alzheimer noticed an abrupt change in his wife August Deter’s behaviour. Though only 50 years old, she began suffering from memory problems, paranoia, and bouts of aggressive behaviour. Five years after being admitted to a psychiatric ward, she passed away a completely different person from the woman he once knew. The experience inspired Alzheimer to conduct years of clinical research that eventually led to the discovery of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, a lethal brain condition that affects memory and cognitive functioning, mostly among the elderly.

While there remains no cure for this disease, researchers at McGill’s Stop-AD research centre have been at the forefront of prevention research for several years. They have learned that Alzheimer’s is not a disease that appears suddenly, but one which develops over the course of a lifetime. By the time symptoms are evident, 70 per cent of neurons are already dead.

The team at Stop-AD was among the first to conduct a long-term study on the brain development of living patients with a high risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Approximately 350 people with a mean age of 63 participated in the study from 2011 to 2017, and their data now informs some of the leading research into Alzheimer’s disease in universities around the globe.

Before this study, Alzheimer’s research was typically conducted in mice or on cadaver brains. Scientists had previously focussed on the buildup of tau and amyloid proteins in the human brain, which were thought to be the main cause of Alzheimer’s, but many treat-

inserted into their DNA. Moreover, many of these genes were only associated with rarer, early-onset forms of human Alzheimer’s and were unrelated to the late-stage forms that affect 98 per cent of patients.

The problem stemmed from researchers

Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia affect more than 44 million people worldwide. (Getty Images) ments targeting these proteins have failed in humans.

Judes Poirier, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University, is an Alzheimer’s researcher and the director of the Molecular Neurobiology Unit at the Douglas Research Centre.

Though the mouse and cadaver models seemed promising to many at the time, Poirier and others have always insisted that Alzheimer’s is a uniquely human disease. In order to test on mice, genes from humans had to be

assuming that protein buildup led to symptoms of dementia. Instead, Poirier’s research has found that toxic proteins called amyloid beta 42 accumulate in the brain more as a result, rather than a cause, of the disease.

“Like tombstones, there are plaques where cells have died,” Poirier said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “However, it is not because there is a tombstone on top of all dead people in a cemetery that it is the tombstone that killed them all.”

This realization, Poirier explained, has

11

steered the field of Alzheimer’s research in a new direction.

“For the vast majority of scientists in my field, the toxic protein spreading is no longer the solution to AD treatments,” Poirier said.

“More than 20 amyloid and tau-based treatments tested in humans [have] systematically failed in humans these past few years [even though they] succeeded in the mouse models.”

Now, Poirier says funding is being funnelled toward methods of prevention rather than cure, with a particular focus on maintaining patients’ cardiovascular health. According to a Stop-AD study, the biggest determinants for a person’s predisposition to Alzheimer’s have little to do with pharmaceuticals, but with the lifestyle choices made years before the disease hits. Links have also been found between the E4 allele of apolipoprotein, a plasma protein which helps regulate cholesterol, and the progression of Alzheimer’s.

Many other diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol, can increase the risk of Alzheimer’s. A healthy diet, regular exercise, and the absence of these other diseases have been shown to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s by anywhere from a few months to five years. For researchers and doctors, this presents a golden opportunity.

“A 10-year delay in Alzheimer’s would result in [a] 93 per cent reduction of cases.

This is feasible,” Poirier said.

If scientists could achieve this, elderly patients with underlying Alzheimer’s would likely pass away long before the disease could affect them, eliminating its impacts for those prone to suffer. Though the research of past decades may not have been as fruitful as hoped, this new direction makes a world without Alzheimer’s seem like a near possibility.

Exploring the beneficial applications of virtual reality

McGill’s “Shared Reality Lab” uses extended reality to improve quality of life Adam Matthews-Kott Staff Writer

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acebook recently announced that it would be rebranding itself as Meta. It will become the parent company of its social media platforms—Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram—and will roll out new ways of experiencing these platforms. Facebook also explained that it would be focussing on developing virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies— both falling under the umbrella term of extended reality (XR).

Jeremy Cooperstock, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at McGill, has been following companies’ movement toward XR technologies, but urges caution about the potential adverse impacts they could have. “[Researchers] have long realized [that] VR, AR, and XR are huge markets, so it’s completely understandable that the big tech players want to be investing in these technologies,” Cooperstock wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune. “However, unlike conventional computing, VR, AR and XR should be viewed as powerful, persuasive technologies, much as social media has demon-

strated itself to be, with the associated potential of causing tremendous harm to society.”

Although commercial ventures like Meta are some of the most wellknown examples of XR because of their grandeur and sensationalism, many research labs are using XR technology to solve medical problems. In these labs, the users’ wellbeing are of the utmost concern.

McGill’s Shared Reality Lab (SRL) is one such endeavour. Led

by Cooperstock, the research group aims to use XR technology to improve the way humans interact with each other and with computer interfaces.

One of SRL’s ongoing projects is the development of a technique for applying mixed reality technology to the treatment of psychosis, called avatar therapy. This therapy creates a visual representation of a patient’s hallucinations so that they can interact with them in a controlled environment, to minimize the distress these symptoms can cause.

“Our purpose was to enable therapists to experiment with various parameters to determine what factors are involved in the success of the therapy, such as degree of realism [of the avatar], fidelity to the patient’s

hallucinations, and active versus passive involvement of the patient in the creation process [of the avatar],” Clara Ducher, a research assistant at SRL, wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune.

Ducher explained that the SRL takes considerations of inherent bias into account as part of the design process well before a project gets off the ground.

“One of the most important things I have learned while working on the avatar therapy project is that our work has ethical aspects that should be discussed from the very early stage of the design, and even after the delivery of the product,” Ducher wrote. “For instance, many character creation interfaces that we can encounter in games are restrictive in the diversity of avatars we can create. This phenomenon does not arise from [the] technical impossibility to make colour or shape variations, but rather from biases inherent to people involved in the design process.”

When considering the benefits that this program could bring to those struggling with mental illness, it is clear that VR has the potential to improve quality of life. But when it comes to commercial ventures such as Facebook, Cooperstock stresses

McGill Researchers are using Extended Reality to treat symptoms of psychosis. (musictech.com) the importance of continual dialogue between companies, researchers, and users.

“As I teach in my Human-Computer Interaction course, for such ‘socially dangerous’ technology, regardless of who is doing the developing, I believe it is critically important that we have active and ongoing conversations to think about risks, policies, and regulations that might be considered,” Cooperstock wrote.

As XR gains popularity in the public consciousness, more products harnessing this technology will become available. Not only will new methods of communication become possible, but new medical treatments may also become more accessible.

With the proper priorities in mind— priorities that emphasize well-being, not profit—XR technology has the potential to do a lot of good for humanity.

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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

scitech@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9 2021

Tracing the evidence behind forensic science In the lab, solving crime has everything to do with probability Madison McLauchlan Managing Editor

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ost viewers are aware that the crime-solving shown on TV is often a sensationalized representation of real-life forensic science, especially when it comes to the analysis of physical evidence.

Trace evidence collection, bloodstain pattern analysis, ballistics, and other forensic techniques are supposed to give investigators the power to pin a suspect to a crime scene and recreate past events with a high degree of certainty.

The way scientists piece together puzzles of evidence is much murkier. Whether it be biological evidence, such as bloodstain patterns or bodily fluids, or physical evidence, like ballistic residue or clothing fibres, we expect that they are held to a scientifically rigorous standard before being used in professional practice. But somehow, in the media, techniques like shoeprint identification are presented as foolproof despite having no large-scale studies to support their use. Other techniques, like bite-mark analysis, are plagued with glaring inaccuracies: For instance, imprints in soft tissue lose their original structure o v e r

time, but may still be used for comparison. Organizations like the Innocence Project report that nearly one quarter of documented exonerations in the U.S. resulted from misapplications of forensic science.

This is not to say that the field is without merit. In Quebec, the Laboratoire de sciences judiciaires et de médecine légale (LSJML) collaborates with law enforcement to review crime-scene evidence, from toxicology to odontology. Vincent Mousseau, a PhD candidate in the School of Criminology at the University of Montreal and associate researcher in the Laboratory for Criminology Research, says that the interpretation of evidence has improved over the years.

“Some practitioners are still reluctant to move from a model where the value of forensic evidence is expressed as a fact [...] to a model where expert opinion is expressed in the form of probabilities, but i m -

UQTR recently opened the very first outdoor facility to study human body decomposition in Canada.

(Ruobing Chen / The McGill Tribune)

portant progress has generally been made,” Mousseau wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune.

“For example, today, forensic biologists from the LSJML communicate their conclusions in probabilistic forms, which is much more rigorous and transparent.”

According to Frank Crispino, director of the Laboratory for Criminology Research (LRC) at Université de Québec à TroisRivières (UQTR), forensic science acts as more of a historical tool rather than a predictive one.

“Forensic science is not about ‘techniques’ [...] but about interpretation as reconstructing a past unobserved and uncontrolled singular event, not a Galilean way of practising science,” Crispino wrote in an email to the Tribune.

Un-

certainty is a seminal part of scientific inquiry, but in the field of forensics, it can be a matter of life or death. Since forensic scientists seek to establish the mechanics of a crime that only happened once, it does not follow the same iterative process as research science—therefore, attributing a piece of evidence to a person or a place can only be established to an imperfect degree of certainty.

Cyril Muehlethaler, co-director of the LRC at UQTR, specializes in the analysis of microtraces such as fibres, or tiny specks of paint, that may be unknowingly left behind by a suspect. These can be particularly relevant in more complex cases, but take much longer to obtain results compared to DNA analysis.

More common identification methods, like fingerprinting, are useful but often mired in quality issues.

“What is often neglected [by the public] is that we deal with traces,”

Muehlethaler wrote. “They are often of bad quality, incomplete, degraded, and can be nonrepresentative of their original source. It can sometimes be tricky to analyze them and evaluate if they share similar properties to a reference piece. For example, having a beautiful fingermark of the whole fingertip is quite uncommon, we often have [...] a trace that can be blurred, distorted, or contaminated with only a few visible ridges and a couple of minutiae.”

Much of forensic science has to do with probability: What is the chance, say, that a DNA sample taken from a weapon matches that of a suspect and no one else? Muehlethaler explained that the translation of laboratory findings into the legal context during investigations can lead to muddled meaning.

Stating that the probability of a DNA sample belonging to a person is 10 times more likely than chance is one thing, but warping that statement to establish a suspect’s culpability is very different.

When asked to testify as expert witnesses in court, scientists are often pressured into giving definitive answers, usually to strengthen a prosecutor’s case.

“We must always prevent ourselves [from] answering these questions and always report with a probability,” Muehlethaler wrote. “It is not our role to incriminate the suspect, we should only provide the evidence and its probative value and leave the decision to the jury.”

Crispino also emphasized that forensic science is only effective alongside a robust investigative protocol.

“What secures the judicial system isn’t forensics, but both serious investigations, [like] reducing the persons of interest for the facts investigated, and a real forensic culture, hence education,” Crispino wrote.

The variety of useful forensic techniques is only growing, as wide-ranging replication studies are conducted and DNA identification techniques are refined, leading to cold cases being solved years after the fact. Scientific rigour leads us to a chilling truth—the past can never really be known for certain.

arts@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9 2021

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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Thinking about race in anthropology through poetry Poet Justin Wright hosts a workshop on reading poetry through an ethnographic lens Louis Lussier-Piette Staff Writer

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n Nov. 3, the McGill Anthropology Graduate Student Association (AGSA) organized the workshop Thinking Through Race with Ethnographic Poetry as part of an ongoing series on racism and racial justice within anthropology. Ethnographic poetry is a research method where anthropologists study an individual’s poetic works in an attempt to understand the poet’s relationship with their culture, community, and audience. This workshop in particular aimed to showcase poetry’s anthropological applications

and reveal how reading poetry can help anthropologists avoid potential racial biases—a pervasive problem in the field.

“The Anthropology Graduate Student Association recently started a working group called the Racial Justice Working Group,” Alejandra MelianMorse, one of the event’s organizers, said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “We have been reflecting on and trying to take more responsibility for racial inequality in our anthropology department. We wanted to do something that was more creative, to help people think in different ways about a topic that is very difficult to approach for many people.”

The McGill Anthropology Graduate Student Association is currently organising workshops, film screenings, and interviews as part of a series on racial justice in anthropology. (sapiens.org)

Justin Wright, a sociocultural anthropologist, performance poet, and the current Poet-InResidence at SAPIENS Magazine facilitated the workshop. Wright discussed how reading poetry is an important component of research methodology in anthropology because it details history through emotional language. They described how poetry can capture the writer’s emotions at a precise moment in time in a way that the factual language used in historical documentation cannot. They also explained how their work as a sociocultural anthropologist examines the many ways Black people experience individual and communal trauma.

“I think of anthropology as a method for tending to Black life,” Wright said. “Poetry also works in that way, as a tool to uncover the unvoiced truth of our past. [A poet] is responding to [their] world, to what is happening at [their] time. A poem is not just a piece of poetry where it’s solely for the author. [A poet] is doing this in service of [their] community, in order to help push them along in a certain way.”

Wright explained their “six questions method” to read poetry as ethnographic material: One must ask themselves who the author and audience are, what the subject of the work is, when and where the work was written, what context pushed the writer to compose the poem, and how it has been received historically.

“[Poetry and creative prose] often speak directly to the author’s lives and rights, to their experiences and their cultures,” Wright said. “We can’t dismiss those kinds of works as anything other than rich experiences, as history’s ways of being. Poetry is a meaning-making language. When we’re talking about reading poetry as ethnographic material, […] we’re talking about heavy research, about engaging its questions in a scholarly manner, in service of ethnography and in service of anthropology.”

Wright fuses their knowledge of anthropology and poetry to explore explorations of Black historical traumas with contemporary representations of Black experiences. They explain the use of such anthropological methods as a means to widen their understanding of different cultural considerations.

“Anthropology helps me figure out a way to orient my poetic devices to get to a certain point, a certain kind of emotional logic, a certain argument,” Wright said. “Anthropology has helped me think about what I’m specifically doing with [my poetry].”

This workshop was one of many other upcoming events in a series exploring the intersection of racial justice and anthropology. Other events include film screenings, creative workshops, as well as interviews with podcasters and content creators.

Sensual dance show ‘Whip’ premiers at MAI Dance duo explores partnership, consent, and trust through performance Anna Berglas Contributor

Stop, Drop & Groove plays Gerts!

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hip is a nuanced dance performance that fuses touch, sound, space, light, and above all, the relation of one human to another. The production, which ran from Nov. 3 to 6, was co-produced by Montreal Arts Interculturels (MAI) and dancer Ralph Escamillan’s performance company FakeKnot, with Escamillan and Daria Mikhaylyuk performing the routine. The show features the two dancers leaping, crawling, and twirling across a 20 by 20 feet square stage—but with one vital twist: They can’t see. Five-foot-long leather hoods obscure their vision entirely.

The long, phallic hoods, paired with the intimate choreography, create a sensuous performance that explores the giving and taking of consent.

The two performers start off in beige clothing and stark black headpieces, with leather cylinders veiling their sight. Their hands extend tentatively, and then finally make contact. The silence is interrupted by a sudden music cue as “Every Breath You Take” by The Police begins playing. A sophisticated hand dance erupts, reminiscent of childhood handshakes. The rapidity and synchronism in their movements are especially impressive considering the dancers’ obscured vision, and the tangle of hands speeds up to the point where it becomes difficult to track whose arms are whose.

Whip features substantial give and take; each dancer has their turn in the spotlight, while the other feels their way across the edges of the stage. The lithe and graceful

This jazz band plays in McGill’s student bar, Gerts, for the first time. Made up of all McGill students and alumni, this match made in heaven is bound to be the best boogie of a Wednesday night you’ve ever had!

November 10, 8:00 PM Gerts Bar Free Whip is the result of intensive collaboration, both onstage in the dancer’s entwined bodies, and offstage in live sound and lighting. (ralphescamillan.com) movements are breathtaking and culminate in brief moments of impassioned contact. In the middle of the show, the dancers undress themselves while still heavily enmeshed in each other. During this moment of heightened vulnerability, spotlights on other parts of the stage leave the dancers’ location in relative darkness, creating a sense of privacy in a completely public space.

The next transformation after the removal of clothes occurs when the dancers shake the leather hoods so that they unfurl to extend down to their feet, while still covering the faces of the dancers and preserving their anonymity. The dancers spin their heads several times so that the leather slaps the ground, creating a violent, whip-like snap. This suggestion of danger combined with the actors’ obscured vision is enthralling to bear witness to. While the majority of the dance was marked by suspenseful, independent movement, the concluding portion of the dance was remarkably sensual and intense. The juxtaposition of such elements gave a liveliness to the intermittent moments of touch.

Equally interesting as the contrast-

ing elements of Whip is the artistic process behind such a show. Escamillan, the artistic director and choreographer, described his creation of the show as a reversal of the expected process—that is, he let light, sound, and costume inform the movement. Originating from the four different corners of the square stage, the pulsing music orients the dancers. The soundtrack maintains tension with the pulsing and bellows of a deep base.

Stefan Nazarevich, the score’s composer, chronicled his musical journey as a backand-forth with the dancers. The conversation between technical elements and dance adds yet another dimension of the reciprocity involved in the show’s artistic processes.

Whip showcases the joy of physical relations between two individuals. Yet, as was made evident by the cohesiveness found in the technical aspects, interdependence extends beyond the performers to the sonic cues and expressive lighting. When placed together, the final impact is a breathtaking narrative, from the first uncertain touch to the final unclothed (with the exception of the leather hoods), whip-snapping spectacle.

Josh Freed Talk & Signing

Renowned, award-winning columnist for The Montreal Gazette Josh Freed signs and discusses his new book Postcards from Pandemica.

November 15, 5:00 PM Librairie Paragraphe Bookstore Free

London Calling || Rock Night at Bar Le Ritz

A rock night to be remembered at Montreal’s best indie venue! New Wave, Post-Punk, Britpop and Alternative tunes for your listening pleasure - no dancing allowed for now, but there will be the best tunes inspired by spirit of the London sound.

November 13, 9:00 PM Bar Le Ritz PDB $7

Jeffrey Shandler: “Yiddish: Biography of a Language”

Jeffrey Shandler in conversation with Zachary M. Baker about Yiddish: Biography of a Language, which tells the multifaceted history of Yiddish in the form of a biographical profile, revealing surprising insights through a series of thematic chapters.

November 10, 7:30 PM Online Stream (via Zoom) $10

14 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

arts@mcgilltribune.com

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9 2021

‘DannyBoy’: A practice in the absurd This navigation through 1980s Ireland is unexpectedly amusing Arian Kamel Staff Writer Warning: This review contains spoilers.

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very once in a while when the moon is hanging high and my coffee tastes especially bitter, I come across a special kind of movie, one that is so strange that I can’t look away. To say that DannyBoy is an example of this phenomenon would be an understatement of the highest magnitude—akin to claiming that Montreal rarely has construction or that Tinder is great for making friends. DannyBoy is a coming-of-age story that follows 19-year-old Daniel (Darrah Byrne) as he attempts to navigate 1980s Ireland, hoping to find love and maybe even a job to support his family along the way. Released in 2020, Irish filmmaker Ferdia MacAnna’s newest film won the Best Feature Film award at the Birmingham International Film Festival. Despite its commendable efforts, this low-budget story ultimately proves amateurish and mind-boggling.

In order to enjoy this film, you can’t take it too seriously. The film reads like a fever dream. Whether it’s the scene where Daniel paints his face white and performs what I can only assume is a satanic dance to win back a love interest Donna (Lucy Jones), or the moment when Daniel pretends to be a dog in a ploy of seduction—and it works.

There is no logical coherence in these scenes whatsoever, but it’s still entertaining.

A certain sense of dissatisfaction permeates the film; each of the characters believes that as long as they attain one

thing, one person, or one dream, they’ll finally be happy.

But of course, that’s rarely the case. The unique setting is also a major draw, since 1980s Ireland isn’t a typical milieu for modern films. Still, the film falls short of its potential.

To call DannyBoy a perfect storm of abnormalities, or perhaps incompetencies, would be harsh, but true. The wardrobe tries to be ‘80s chic, but often feels bloated and repetitive, much like last-minute Halloween costumes.

While the camera jumps from wide angles to close-ups, certain shots lack any sort of rhyme or reason, disorienting the audience in the process. And—not to pour gasoline over a dead horse—the acting was similarly underwhelming. There were a few commendable moments where you could see genuine remorse and regret in a character’s eyes, but they were muddled in a sea of fumbled words and exaggerated expressions. This is best illustrated by heated arguments in the film, which felt almost comedic—the actors yelling their lines at one another while their faces remained frozen.

Despite all its shortcomings, DannyBoy definitely has certain satirical elements. Rather than succumb to its low budget, it creates exaggerated props in a few scenes to look more like arts and crafts projects, presumably to add character. Therefore, the film is clearly aware of some of its technical flaws, and even mocks them, but it is not enough to save its integrity. Self-awareness doesn’t necessarily equate to wit, especially when in so many moments the characters go against themselves, and even reason, to push the plot forward.

Nonetheless, DannyBoy does deserve props for one thing: Potentially the greatest pickup line ever conceived.

The film follows the journey of Daniel trying to find his place in 1980s Ireland and carve out a little piece of the world for himself. (facebook.com) In one delightful scene, Daniel turns to Donna and seductively asks, “What’s for dessert?” a moment after they had literally eaten dessert, which is beyond the realm of my sanity.

The hilarious yet head-scratching DannyBoy can be found on-demand on Apple TV.

‘God of Carnage’ marks Players’ Theatre’s return to in-person theatre Learning to adapt to a socially-distanced stage Suzanna Graham Staff Writer

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ne hundred years after starting the company, and three years after closing their stage for renovations and COVID-19, Players’ Theatre finally returned to in-person shows with Yasmina Reza’s God of Carnage.

Despite the play having only four characters and being produced in a small black-box theatre, the show was full of energy, matched by a full audience ecstatic to experience live theatre once again.

God of Carnage depicts two sets of parents discussing what to do about their children’s playground squabble, which left one son missing two teeth. Veronica Novak (Flora Situ, U1 Arts), whose stubborn nature keeps the play on track, and Michael Novak (Samuel Valentim-Gervais, U3 Science), a passive people-pleaser play the host couple, who spend the majority of the play attempting to convince the other parents to take responsibility for their son’s actions.

Unfortunately for them, Annette Raleigh (Claire Tees, U2 Arts) and Alan Raleigh (Euan Lathrop, U2 Arts) get hilariously distracted

by Annette’s nausea and a cluster of hostile work calls, causing the four’s initial disagreement to dissolve into comedic chaos.

Although all of the actors

After a three-year hiatus, Players’ Theatre celebrates their first live show in their theatre with light-hearted show ‘God of Carnage.’

(Mia Berthier / The McGill Tribune)

embodied their characters well, Lathrop’s performance truly stole the show. His character, a corrupt businessman and irritated husband, participated in every bizarre tangential storyline—from speculating the fate of the Novak family’s pet hamster in the wild to reminiscing about childhood clique behaviors—adding just the right amount of childish enthusiasm to the scene.

Although the play’s performance is a highlight on its own, credit is due for the crew and production team, who had to adapt to COVID-19 safety rules and learn how to produce an in-person show.

In an interview with The McGill Tribune, executive director Basile Guichard, U3 Arts, explained the difficulties of learning how to stage in-person shows.

“When we arrived [on] September 1, [...] all our sets and costumes and props were in boxes under [a] huge tarp,” Guichard said. “We just had to put up all the lights, and figure out the tech booth. We don’t know how to use all this material. Everyone that has [produced] here before has graduated. We had to learn everything to make this possible. Everyone has had to step up.”

Another challenge was creating tension within a socially distanced play. Because the actors are unmasked, which is allowed under

provincial guidelines, they have to stay as far away from each other as possible. With the heated nature of the play, director Max Grosskopf, U3 Arts, and Guichard had to find dramatic ways to create tension without letting the actors touch.

“Sometimes, instead of going toward another actor, you’ll see an actor go away. And so it creates another tension,” Guichard said.

“You know what happens when you’re angry, […] you want to go and fight. But what happens if you feel angry but you distance yourself? It creates a whole different narrative.”

By making the best of a tough situation, Guichard and Grosskopf added interesting blocking and thought-provoking dynamics to the characters’ relationships.

Despite the behind-the-scenes obstacles, God of Carnage is a celebration of live theatre.

“People are able to see live theatre again, [and] get that human interaction,” Guichard said.

“We’ve been missing that element of art and creativity and getting together, creating something out of nothing. And now that we can have it back, it’s just been overwhelming joy and positivity.”

Players’ Theatre’s final show of the semester, a double-feature of And Then There Were None and Breathing Space will run from November 16–19.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9 2021

sports@mcgilltribune.com

SPORTS

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Know Your Athlete: Victor Henry Goalkeeper Victor Henry reflects on his first season with the McGill soccer team Zoé Mineret Staff Writer

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ictor Henry, U2 Science and the second goalkeeper for the McGill men’s soccer team, was born in Washington, D.C. and started playing soccer when he was only four years old. After moving to Paris at the age of five, he continued playing, but struggled to excel—until he tried his hand as a goalkeeper.

“My mother is the one who actually

suggested to my coach that I should try out goalkeeping. She thought that is where I should be,” Henry said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “As soon as I started, I realized that that is where I had true potential.

So I have been goalkeeping ever since.”

Henry became a part of the McGill team this season after being unable to play at McGill last year due to a delay in his study permit.

After participating in the training camp over the summer, he was selected to join the team.

“It’s impressive how serious and

Henry attended a variety of soccer summer camps in the United States as a teenager. (McGill Athletics)

professional the team is, especially in contrast to facilities and teams in France, which are much less valued,” Henry said. “The team gets along extremely well and is hardworking, which adds to the level of professionalism.”

Henry attributes much of his positive experience with the Redbirds to his coaches.

Both Michael Palomo, the goalkeeper coach, and Marc Mounicot, the team’s head coach, are consistent with their advice and expectations, which Henry says has helped him fulfill his potential as a keeper.

As a player with lots of experience in several roles on the pitch, Henry feels that being a goalie is a unique position. It does not require the same skill set or aptitudes as other players as the coordination and the endurance needed are not the same.

“As a goalkeeper, my role is quite different than [that] of my teammates,” Henry said. “I have to communicate with my defenders and centerbacks, as I’m the only player who has a view of the whole field. It’s an aspect of my role that I really enjoy.”

The highlight of the season for Henry was undoubtedly the supporters: Nothing fuels an athlete like an enthusiastic crowd.

Out of all his supporters, Henry says the best encouragement comes from his parents.

“In terms of supporters, my parents are my biggest fans,” Henry said. “They have attended my games throughout my whole life and even came to Montreal at the beginning of the year to watch me play. They also watch

the games on the McGill streaming service.”

Currently pursuing a joint major in mathematics and computer science, Henry hopes to work in software engineering after graduation. With these big dreams, Henry has adapted his schedule around the team’s hours, working in the afternoon before practice and then making time to relax with friends.

“I think having a good discipline in terms of organization is what allows me to do all these things,” Henry said. “My roommates and I are into basketball, so it’s typical for me to come back from school after having studied and been to practice and just watch an NBA game with them.”

Henry is also a big fan of the French National Team and was delighted when they won the Nations League. His favourite players are goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, N’Golo Kanté, and Karim Benzema. He also supports both Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

Henry hopes that the men’s soccer team will make it to the playoffs next year, with the aspiration of reaching nationals. He is currently very happy with his position and is looking forward to getting back to training with the team.

Any soccer fan should keep an eye out for Victor Henry in the following years. If his shutout game against UQAM—where he made seven saves and stopped two penalties— is any indication of his talent, the goalkeeper is set for some impressive performances in the future.

Martlets hockey team defeats Ottawa Gee-Gees in third RSEQ encounter Christiana Colizza shines with two goals for the Martlets Karan Kumar Contributor

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n Nov. 5, the McGill women’s hockey team (3–0) defeated the visiting Ottawa Gee-Gees (1–2) at McConnell Arena by a convincing score of 4-1. The game marked the third straight win for the Martlets in the RSEQ league. The Martlets dominated the game with 35 shots on goal.

Christiana Colizza, a firstyear graduate student studying kinesiology and physical education, was instrumental in the Martlets’ domination, scoring two goals in the first and third periods of the game.

The Martlets opened the scoring only 45 seconds after the initial puck drop when Colizza redirected a shot from fifth-year team captain, Jade DownieLandry.

“I think it was a good game, a team win that’s for sure,” Landry said in an interview with The McGill Tribune. “Everyone is putting a lot of effort in [and] I think [...] it’s paying off. We focused on starting hard when the puck drops [and] that was our focus this game.”

Ottawa goaltender Aurelie

The match-up marked the first meeting between the two teams since Feb. 22, 2020. (McGill Athletics) Dubuc made several key saves in the first period to keep the GeeGees in the game. However, the game drifted away from Ottawa in the second period after goals from Martlet forwards Makenzie McCallum and Quynn Campbell.

Fourth-year forward Marika Labrecque considered the team’s hard work a key factor in their win on Friday.

“We all did our work [on the] little details,” said Labrecque. “We started very strong. Our coach said in the

first five minutes we had to work hard. After the first five minutes we understood [what we had to do]. We learn and work hard every week, and build on each game.”

The final period was evenly contested, with Ottawa managing a consolation goal to spoil Martlet goaltender Tricia Deguire’s shutout bid. Deguire ranks second in wins among McGill’s all-time goaltending leaders with a career record of 82-49-1. The Martlets responded

with 10 minutes left in the third period, securing the win when Colizza scored her second goal.

Martlets Head Coach Alyssa Cecere was satisfied with the team’s performance, especially when it came to puck possession.

“We are taking it one shift at a time and trying to keep the puck within our team and keeping possession as much as possible,” Cecere said in a postgame interview with the Tribune.

“Obviously, with teams that pressure hard, it is not always the case. But it is something we are trying to focus on, keeping that puck and recovering when it is a loose puck.”

Cecere also emphasized her excitement to be back in the arena after over a year of no competition due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“It is great to be back,” Cecere enthused. “The girls are energized [and] they are happy to be back. We are grateful we have this opportunity and taking it one day at a time […] as we know it can be gone quickly.”

McGill currently leads the 2021-22 RSEQ league with six points in three games and 11 goals scored, with only two conceded.

MOMENT OF THE GAME Just under a minute into the first period, Christiana Colizza, assisted by JadeDownie Landry, scored a stunner from close up to the net, taking the Martlets to a 1-0 lead over the Gee-Gees.

QUOTABLE “The progress we have already made is tremendous.

[The team] has lots of youngsters and we have a lot to learn from our veteran players. Just seeing it all unroll is beautiful to see.” - Team captain Jade Downie-Landry on the Martlet’s 2021-22 hockey season so far.

STAT CORNER Martlet goaltender Tricia Deguire had an impressive game, playing in all the three periods and saving 24 of the 25 shots from the Gee-Gees.

16

SPORTS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 9 2021

sports@mcgilltribune.com

Concordia overwhelms McGill to capture RSEQ men’s rugby title Redbirds fall 33-0 in painful loss to Stingers Madison McLauchlan, Adam Burton & Sarah Farnand Managing Editor & Sports Editors

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he beautiful autumn afternoon seemed a good omen as any to the sold-out crowd of McGill (6–2) and Concordia (7–1) fans who gathered at Percival Molson Stadium on Nov. 6 for what they hoped would be a competitive bout of RSEQ rugby. But despite the turnout, the Redbirds fell 33-0 to the Stingers in an unfortunate end to an otherwise stellar season for McGill.

From the get-go, both teams hungered for victory, playing at a faster pace than any other game this season. The first 20 minutes were contained around the centre line, with neither team making much headway before losing the ball on a knock-on. Unfortunately, things went downhill for the Redbirds midway through the first half when Concordia’s Jean-Christophe Vinette opened up the scoring with the Stinger’s first try. Minutes later, McGill came close to scoring a try with a slew of high-quality chances at Concordia’s

McGill last faced Concordia in the RSEQ finals in 2019, losing 38-19.

(Alex Hinton / The McGill Tribune)

try line, but fell victim to tackle after tackle and could not capitalize. At the half, the scoreboard read 21-0 for Concordia.

McGill came back a renewed team at the start of the second half, holding their ground defensively but with nothing to show for it in points. Just over midway through the half, Mohammed Al Moallim of Concordia charged through a gap in the Redbirds formation and touched down on an incredible breakaway. As if to add insult to injury, the Stingers piled on another try in extra time, with Stan Blazkowski scoring and Arthur Du Chauffaut converting to end the match 33-0.

If disheartened McGill fans were hoping to trudge out of the stadium immediately following the end of the match, they were woefully optimistic. As Concordia celebrated their win, RSEQ officials trotted out victory medals. However, a fire alarm set off by a stray flare forced the confused crowd to exit the stands, saving any McGill fan from watching an almost perverse awarding of medals to the Stingers.

Scrum-half Owen Cumming, who led the Redbirds in points scored this season, expressed his frustration with the outcome.

“Today was tough, we had a game plan and it just wasn’t executed how we would have liked it,” Cumming said. “It was a physical and fast-paced game. We sadly just couldn’t get the job done.”

The Redbirds finished their season second in the RSEQ standings, with a 6-2 record overall. The club had not beaten Concordia this season, with their only matchup ending in a narrow 14-6 win for the Stingers. Two years ago, in the last season before the pandemic, Concordia conquered McGill in the finals, making Saturday’s game a difficult pill to swallow—especially for the graduating seniors. Team captain Karl Hunger, whose younger brother, Brad Hunger, is also on the team, is hopeful about the future of Redbirds rugby.

“Unfortunately, it’s my last year so the time has come for me, but I know I’m leaving the club in great hands,” Hunger said. “We’ve got an amazing group of young guys

that I’m so excited to see develop their game.”

Hunger talked about the brotherhood, both literal and figurative, that has developed on the team, and expressed his gratitude toward the teammates he now calls his best friends.

“I’m so proud of the boys for their dedication to the club this season,” Hunger said. “I’ve loved every moment I have shared with my teammates, past and present. I’ve [made] best friends and formed brotherhoods that will last a lifetime. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

MOMENT OF THE GAME With 17 minutes left on the clock, a belligerently drunk McGill student shouted “Number 24 looks like a pumpkin spice kind of guy!” Number 24 Arthur Du Chaffaut gave the fan a knowing look, caught a turnover, and punted the ball forward for a spectacular try, bringing the score to 31-0.

QUOTABLE “Concordia is a good team, and they were certainly the better one on the day. All we can do from this is grow and have more and more guys say they know what being in a final is like going forward. Experience is everything in this league.” —Fourth-year scrum-half Owen Cumming

STAT CORNER The last time McGill men’s rugby finished a game scoreless was in 2012 against Queen’s University.

McGill men’s hockey prevails in shootout against Concordia Redbirds go 3-2 against their cross-town rival in exciting affair Adam Menikefs Staff Writer

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he McGill men’s hockey team (1–1–0) opened their OUA season on Nov. 3 against the Concordia Stingers (1–1–0), defeating their downtown rivals on the road and disappointing the home crowd.

The game began with some physicality and emotion that spilled over from the previous match-up, as the final preseason contest finished just over a week prior to the season opener. Tension was elevated further following an early goal from Concordia five minutes into the game, sending the home fans into a frenzy—particularly the Stingers’ student section that sat beside the McGill bench.

Despite the early deficit, the Redbirds continued to press hard, with solid play from the defencemen and continuous forechecking from the McGill forwards. The consistent pressure yielded positive results for the away squad, as fourth-year forward Jordan Ty-Fournier tipped a slap pass from third-year Blake Hayward past the Concordia netminder, tying the game again and pushing the momentum back in McGill’s favour.

At the end of the first period, McGill and Concordia got into a brawl as the intensity between the two rivals increased. The scrap resulted

McGill goaltender Alexis Shank stopped all nine shootout attempts and had 37 saves in the win. (source)

in two Redbird penalties and one Stinger penalty, giving Concordia a power play to begin the second period. However, McGill successfully defended the penalty kill and thwarted any possible momentum that might have begun the period.

After keeping the home team in check, the Redbirds began to press once again and took advantage of their opportunities. Hayward was involved once again, burying a beautiful goal to take a 2-1 McGill lead halfway through the second period. After scoring, Hayward and the rest of the Redbirds on the ice mildly taunted the Concordia fans after some back and forth between the away players and home fans earlier in the game.

Despite the unforgiving rival crowd, fourth-year defenceman Taylor Ford was happy to be back at the Ed Meagher Arena.

“It was definitely a great feeling to have a rowdy crowd again, even if they were against us. I’ve been around a few years now, so I expected the Concordia crowd to be in our ears all night long,” Ford said in an interview with The McGill Tribune.

Following the McGill goal, the Redbirds held the momentum for the rest of the second frame, but were unable to capitalize due to costly mistakes. This was exemplified late in the second when the away team took a penalty just three seconds into a powerplay, immediately quashing any man advantage opportunity.

These missed chances would come to hurt the Redbirds: Four minutes into the third period, the Stingers tied the game 2-2 on a point shot from Concordia defenceman Marcus Tesik. The crowd went into a frenzy and was suddenly rejuvenated. Concordia would benefit significantly from this jolt, drawing two McGill penalties with under 10 minutes left in the game.

However, the McGill penalty kill unit proved their might once again, blocking multiple shots and killing over a minute and a half of a 5-on-3 power play.

Ford was delighted with the penalty kill unit’s performance, commending their defense against all six of Concordia’s power plays.

“Our penalty kill was great,” Ford said. “Our assistant coach spoke

to us before the game about the 5-on-3, which helped us come up big when Concordia in fact had that opportunity.”

Additionally, Ford credited goalie Alexis Shank for the team’s success.

“The most important part of any penalty kill is the goalie, and I thought [Alexis] stood on his head, not only for the penalty kill, but for the entire game,” Ford said.

After regulation, the score remained even, prompting a 3-on-3 overtime. The extra period was extremely fast-paced, with an abundance of odd man rushes for each side. However, neither team could convert over the seven minutes, sending the game into a shootout.

With each team and fanbase anxiously anticipating each shot, the tension in the arena was palpable. With no goals after 17 straight penalty shots, Jordan-Ty Fournier buried the game winner in the ninth round of the shootout, sending the handful of McGill fans into celebration, and leaving the Concordia faithful disappointed.

McGill plays Carleton University in Ottawa for their next game on Nov. 12.

MOMENT OF THE GAME

Jordan-Ty Fournier scored in the ninth round of the shootout to win the game for McGill.

QUOTABLE

“The younger guys definitely got a taste of what the Concordia and McGill rivalry is all about. As always, it was a great feeling to beat [Concordia]” —- Fourth-Year defenceman Taylor Ford

STAT CORNER

Concordia had six total power plays in the game, compared to just one for the visiting Redbirds.