SSMU Legislative Council rejects proposed antisemitism policy after
Theatre needs political engagement, not escapism
OFF THE BOARD PGS. 8-9 PG. 4
Choosing not to be political is inherently taking a political stance
Tens of thousands of students walk out in support of Palestine McGill contingent joins Concordia at Henry F. Hall Building
Taisto Witt
Hannah Nobile
Hannah Nobile
Taisto Witt Hannah Nobile
Taisto Witt
Hannah Nobile
Hannah Nobile
Drea Garcia Avila
Hannah Nobile
Tens of thousands of students walk out in support of Palestine across Montreal
McGill contingent joins Concordia at Henry F. Hall Building
Jasjot Grewal Editor-in-Chief
On Nov. 21, over 80,000 Cégep, college, and university students across Montreal walked out of their classrooms to call out their institutions’s complicity in the ongoing genocide in Palestine. At McGill, students walked out of classes at 1 p.m., organized by Students for Palestine’s Honour and Resistance (SPHR) at McGill in collaboration with Law Students For Palestine at McGill, Divest McGill, Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) McGill, Profs4Palestine, and the Association of Graduate Students Employed at McGill. Protestors gathered outside of the University Centre before heading to Concordia University. There, groups from McGill, Concordia, and other adjacent Montreal institutions and communities filed into the Henry F. Hall Building, going from one floor to the next. Afterward, the protest once again filled the streets of downtown Montreal before dispersing at around 3:45 p.m.
The protest began in front of the University Centre, which houses the offices of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU). In a statement to The Tribune, a representative from SPHR at McGill who wished to remain anonymous explained that along with walking out of campuses in support of Palestine, the McGill contingent was also walking out for what they believed to be inaction from SSMU.
SPHR submitted a motion through SSMU channels for the entire body to join departmental strikes across McGill in support of Palestine, which would have brought together roughly 24,000 students. The SSMU-wide Strike General Assembly (GA) would have required a 500-person quorum. While 12 GAs were hosted across various departments in the days leading up to Nov. 21, the facilitation of a SSMU-wide strike GA was denied.
“They deflected to obscure legal ‘constraints’ which they had extrapolated so ridiculously and conveniently as to not allow the SSMU to make any public statement in relation to Palestine. After confronting them for over two weeks, we learned that this pretense was clearly a ridiculous and misconstrued interpretation of their legal limitations regarding the injunction,” the SPHR representative wrote.
In a statement to The Tribune, SSMU President Dymetri Taylor shared that the SSMU Steering Committee denied SPHR’s first motion for a strike GA because it had actionables taken verbatim from the Policy Against Genocide in Palestine (PAGIP), which a present court injunction has forbidden SSMU from enacting in any part.
“We communicated as much that, due to the ongoing case and injunction against the SSMU, we cannot do anything that the Courts would perceive as us enacting the [PAGIP]. If we did, we would be in contempt of the Court, leading to further sanctions against the SSMU, potential fines, or worse,”
Taylor wrote.
Taylor also shared that SPHR then worked on another draft of the strike motion, which called for a strike general assembly and a referendum to vote on the strike scheduled for Nov. 2829.
“This time, it was not as clear as to whether or not we would be in violation of the injunction, thus, we sent it to our Legal Counsel. Another issue before that, however, is the fact that more than 50% of the students who signed the petition were from a single Faculty, which is not permissible under our internal regulations,” Taylor wrote. “We have been waiting for a legal opinion since November 14th, and they take time to procure.”
“And now finally, we see their inaction in the face of this strike [....] We have honestly let the SSMU get away with not being a representative force for way too long.”
However, the SPHR representative expressed frustration toward SSMU for its “colossal failures” in representing the student body over the past year.
“We see a clear pattern of this within the SSMU where last year they failed to contest the injunction on the historic PAGIP. This year, when we’ve seen them revoke SPHR’s status [as a] club [...], fail to adequately address the current condition on campus, and fail to adequately take a stand in solidarity with the student body as they’ve been disciplined, arrested and criminalized,” they wrote.
A representative from IJV McGill who wished to remain anonymous encouraged students to join in on the national protest for Palestine.
“It’s been over a year of genocide. It’s been over 76 years of occupation. There are chances for you to get involved. There [is] rally after rally. Make your voice heard,” they said in an interview with The Tribune. “I understand that it’s scary on campus right now with our administration placing literal surveillance on us. But you have a voice, and you can use that.”
SSMU Legislative Council rejects proposed antisemitism policy after prolonged debate
After over three hours of discussion, a split vote leaves no SSMU policy in place to address
antisemitism
Nell Pollak Opinion Editor
On Nov. 21, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) held its penultimate Legislative Council meeting of the semester. Following over three hours of debate surrounding definitions of antisemitism and consultation processes, the Council failed to pass the proposed Policy Against Antisemitism after a secret ballot vote.
The Council meeting began with Executive Reports, where SSMU Vice-President (VP) Finance Pauline Jolicoeur announced SSMU is no
longer projecting a deficit this 2024-2025 fiscal year. VP University Affairs Abe Berglas reported efforts to recommence paused gender-neutral bathroom initiatives and plans for a campus demilitarization event in January with student stakeholders, specifically from marginalized demographics.
A majority of the prolonged meeting was dedicated towards a proposed antisemitism policy that had been tabled at the Nov. 7 Legislative Council meeting. The motion for the policy, presented by VP External Affairs Hugo-Victor Solomon, aimed to establish specific guidelines for combatting antisemitism while defining SSMU’s role in protecting Jewish students and providing resources for support and advocacy. The motion largely drew from the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism rather than the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition, a decision that became central to the evening’s debate.
Some General Members present felt that Solomon was unqualified to modify existing definitions of antisemitism. Nicole Nashen, VP of the Jewish Law Student Association (JLSA), spoke on behalf of her constituency.
“I want to express that members of the JLSA and the members of the Jewish community at McGill at large […] feel that this policy does not protect us against antisemitism,” Nashen said.
Solomon, who identified himself as “a proud Jewish member of this assembly,” emphasized the proposed motion’s inclusive approach to protecting a diverse
Jewish student body, regardless of political ideology.
“When looking at other definitions that members of the gallery have raised such as the IHRA, those definitions frankly have eleven components […] specifically seven of which are about Israel,” Solomon said. “And this policy, which has 35 components, does specifically address the intersection of antisemitism and racism in the form of discrimination towards Jews of colour.”
Solomon detailed consultations with Jewish campus groups in producing this policy, including Hillel McGill, Chabad at McGill, The McGill Chavurah, Independent Jewish Voices McGill, and the McGill Jewish Studies Students’ Association (JSSA). Following a motion for Solomon to provide the emails from his consultations, specifically with Chabad at McGill, he noted that of the five groups contacted, a majority participated in the collaborative process, though JSSA declined to participate, citing their focus beyond Jewish life.
Solomon consulted the Dean of Students’ Office and Jewish Students Liaison, among other parties, regarding the policy’s implementation at McGill.
SSMU VP Internal Affairs Zeena Zahida defended the policy’s approach during the debate.
“This policy does not limit what is considered antisemitism, but more clearly defines it to protect all Jewish students, Zionist and anti-Zionist alike,” she said. “To very clearly clarify the line between political discourse, valid political discourse, and antisemitism is a good thing objectively for everybody on campus.”
The debate intensified around the policy’s approach to discussions of Israel and Palestine. Crit-
ics favoured adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which Nashen argued “provides clear guidelines” and has been adopted by Canada and most European nations. Supporters of the policy defended its recognition of diverse Jewish perspectives and experiences, arguing it would protect all students from antisemitism regardless of their stance on the state of Israel.
The Council ratified their last motion on antisemitism in 2018, which expired one year after passing without renewal. After lengthy debates and multiple amendment attempts, the Council was unable to pass the newly-proposed policy. There remains no SSMU policy in place protecting Jewish students against antisemitism.
Moment of the Meeting:
In a final vote, the motion failed with 10 executives opposed, 10 in favour, and five abstaining. Half of the room cheered in elation at the results, while the other side shook their heads in disbelief.
Soundbite:
“This policy would actively combat that innate fear of being doxxed both from McGill admin and from students [...] It highlights the use of this policy as it protects anti-Zionist Jews like myself who are being harassed and yelled at on campus for expressing my political and personal beliefs on what it means to be Jewish.” — General Member Alice Maitlis on the importance of passing the policy.
The council meeting discussed two circulated letters—one supporting and one opposing the motion on antisemitism—with hundreds of student signatures between them. ( Holden Callif / The Tribune )
Geography, Anthropology, and Philosophy students’ associations passed motions to strike. ( Drea Garcia-Avila / The Tribune )
Trans Day of Remembrance protest honours the past and looks toward the future
Community gathers to mourn, offer support, and demand rights
Ella Paulin Managing Editor
Over a hundred people gathered on the evening of Nov. 20 to mark Transgender Day of Remembrance, an annual observance that serves to honour and remember transgender people who have lost their lives due to transphobia and discrimination. The event, organized by a group of Montreal activists, began with a vigil and series of speeches at Dorchester Square, followed by a march that weaved through downtown Montreal and the Village and ended in front of the Radio Canada headquarters on Avenue Papineau.
“Trans Day of Remembrance is an espe-
cially important event for the trans community because it faces a higher mortality rate - simply put, trans people tend to often have community members to grieve, and it is deeply meaningful to do it as a community,” Quebec Public Interest Research Group (QPIRG) wrote in an email to The Tribune
Following the election of Donald Trump, whose campaign focused heavily on anti-trans policies and transphobic rhetoric, anxiety about increasing American and Canadian legislation against trans rights was palpable.
“It’s devastating news for trans people who live in the US,” added Celeste Trianon, a jurist and activist for trans rights in Montreal, in an interview with The Tribune. “Trump has fully gone down the rabbit hole of attacking trans people as much as he can, especially trans women.”
The organizers also recognized the ties between trans rights activism and Palestinian human rights.
“We, as queer and trans people, have been able to work within the pro-Palestinian
movement to fight for liberation and an end to genocide,” a representative from the Divest for Palestine Collective said, addressing the crowd. “Not only that, but also to knit a larger web of solidarity between our struggles, which all converge together.”
While many of the speeches reiterated the need for continued solidarity and activism, they also emphasized Trans Day of Remembrance as an opportunity to make space for mourning, rest, and community support.
“I’m thankful for each and every one of you who’s here today to remember and honour the siblings who have lost due to transphobia,” said Montreal-based activist Alice Winterland, addressing the crowd. “Let us mourn those we’ve lost today. Let us celebrate their lives, and finally, let us find solidarity amongst each other and other queer people in the community.”
Recognizing the difficulty of a day for mourning, several volunteers were designated as active listeners for anyone who needed to discuss feelings brought up by the day or the event. They additionally provided free food, encouraged attendees to wear masks, and supplied wheelchairs for those who needed them during the march.
After the speeches and food, protestors unfolded a large trans flag, which spread from one side of the street to the other. They marched along Sainte Catherine Street through downtown Montreal. As the protest moved
through the Gay Village, people spilled out of clubs and restaurants to join in with the chanting, joining in for refrains like “We’re here, we’re queer! We’re fabulous, don’t fuck with us!” and “Fight for Black trans women!”
Finally, the protestors arrived at the Radio-Canada headquarters on Avenue Papineau, where they called on the organization to increase their support for trans-Canadians and report more actively on trans issues, with chants like “Every time the media lies, another trans kid dies!” Celeste noted that there were no mainstream media organizations covering the protest.
“It shows how trans rights are represented in the media as an issue that is not worthy of reporting, that trans lives are not worth reporting on,” she told The Tribune
A representative from the Union for Gender Empowerment also spoke about the importance of events like this to break the silence surrounding the mistreatment of trans individuals.
“The amount of violence that occurs in our lives, whether it’s social violence, whether it’s what sociologists call deaths of despair, whether it’s interpersonal violence, [...] all of these things occur very quietly, to the ears of the outside world,” they shared in a voice memo to The Tribune. “Trans Day of Remembrance is about claiming that, it’s about saying these things actually do occur. They’re occurring to us. And they deserve to be remembered, right here, right now.”
Attendees provided input on a draft document outlining McGill’s Accessibility Strategy Staff and students stress the importance of consultation at accessibility town hall
Eliza Lee News Editor
Over 100 staff and students gathered on Nov. 22 for a virtual town hall to share their thoughts on the McGill Accessibility Strategy (MAS), the university’s proposed plan to increase accessibility for disabled community members and to address ableism on campus. There, attendees provided input on a draft document outlining the MAS and discussed the institutional barriers that inhibit disabled people from full participation at the university.
The town hall was one of the four community consultation meetings the university convened for the development of the MAS. Meetings for administrative staff, academic staff, and students took place on Oct. 22, Oct. 25, and Oct. 28, respectively.
Executive Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Christopher Manfredi began the meeting by stressing that the attendees’ feedback matters to the process of implementing the MAS, as they shape both the short- and long-term efforts by the university.
“Your feedback today is key to making sure we’re creating something that has a real impact, something that not only makes our spaces more accessible, but also fosters a community where everyone feels that they truly belong,” Manfredi said.
For the remainder of the town hall, community members discussed a wide array of opinions on the draft document and shared ac-
cessibility concerns across the university as a research and learning environment.
Samuel Ragot, a PhD student in the School of Social Work, drew attention to the language of the draft document. Ragot noted that the definition of disability in the document does not reference “barriers” against people with disabilities or the idea of “social participation,” terminology that is commonly used in disability policy. He also proposed that the draft document incorporate the “nothing about us without us” principle—the idea that decisions should not be made without the involvement of those impacted.
Ragot went on to speak on the importance of recognizing the societal ableism in Quebec.
“Disability discrimination is still the number-one cause for complaints to the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse,” Ragot said. “There is huge work on this to be done.”
Some attendees drew attention to the way that disabled graduate students are often left behind by McGill’s regulations surrounding disability. They cited the lack of a centralized way to apply accommodations they receive as a student to work they perform as an employee—for example, in a lab or as a teaching assistant.
Many also emphasized the importance of giving disabled staff and students the chance to provide input in the creation of the MAS. During the meeting, organizers from McGill clarified that following the town hall, the draft document will be revised and then be
sent through the university’s governance structures to be put before the Senate and the Board of Governors for approval.
Shari Brotman—associate professor in the School of Social Work and the Interim Chair of the Subcommittee on Persons with Disabilities within McGill’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee—urged the university to consider “reintroducing” the document to the community for more feedback before its submission to the relevant governance bodies.
McGill established a working group to create the McGill Accessibility Strategy in 2022. ( Nell Tov / The Tribune )
“It really is my perspective that there needs to be more consistent and ongoing communication with the broader community of people with disabilities at McGill, since there were a lot of important suggestions and recommendations for strengthening the Strategy raised at the Town Hall,” Brotman said.
Assistant professor in the School of Population and Global Health, Ananya Banerjee, underscored the need for the draft document to reflect a disability justice lens. This framework recognizes that those with disabilities are not a monolithic group, and that Indigenous,
racialized, queer, and other marginalized individuals are at the intersection of multiple systems of oppression that shape their experiences with ableism. Banerjee also discussed the ways that McGill’s health insurance fails to adequately serve staff and students with disabilities, as those under the plan might still pay significant out-of-pocket costs for medication and other medical needs.
For Banerjee, although equity, diversity and inclusion work has done important work at the university, disability remains “an oversight.”
“On paper, we’re trying to be more inclusive [...] but the reality is that it depends on our schools and our departments if they are willing to put in the work to support all of us,” Banerjee said.
The first Transgender Day of Remembrance was in 1999, to memorialize the deaths of Rita Hester and Chanelle Pickett. ( Drea Garcia-Avila / The Tribune )
McGill projects $37 million CAD deficit by 2028 due to government tuition changes, budget cuts
Government measures lower McGill’s enrollment-driven revenue
Oscar Macquet Contributor
Provost and Executive Vice-President (Academic) Christopher Manfredi hosted a virtual town hall on McGill’s finances and the 2024-2025 budget on Nov. 19, addressing the university’s growing fiscal challenges. The meeting discussed McGill’s projected $37 million CAD deficit by fiscal year 2028, driven by governmental pressures on enrollment-driven revenue, including a restructuring of governmental funding policy, tuition increases for out-of-province students, and partial re-regulation of tuition for international students.
Manfredi opened the town hall by outlining McGill’s primarily incremental budget model, where each faculty is attributed a permanent base budget that is adjusted annually to take into account university policy and salary adjustments. By centralizing faculties’ revenue streams within the university, the incremental budget model promotes fiscal stability, providing a safeguard against sudden changes in government funding policy that could disproportionately impact certain faculties.
The Provost forecasted that the university’s deficit for the fiscal year 2024 is expected to slightly surpass the provisional budget’s estimated $12.1 million CAD shortfall approved by the Board of Governors in April. With roughly 80 per cent of McGill’s revenue being enroll-
ment-driven, Manfredi emphasized changes in government policies as the main factors behind the fiscal deficit.
McGill estimates the implementation costs of the Canada Award Program, designed to mitigate out-of-province tuition hikes, are $3 to $4 million CAD for this year. Additionally, the partial re-regulation of tuition for international students, which allows the provincial government to claim a larger portion of tuition fees, has resulted in a revenue decrease of $5,000 CAD per student. The Provost highlighted the provincial government’s decision in the spring to revamp the funding formula for universities as the key driver for McGill’s declining revenues in relation to its expenditures.
“That had an impact of a net revenue loss for McGill for this fiscal year of $9 million [CAD], and as it rolls out over the next four years, that will mean a $37 million [CAD] loss by fiscal year 2028,” Manfredi said. “That’s $37 million [CAD] out of our revenue that we’re going to have to find somewhere else.”
Manfredi noted that the reduced spending capacity of the university and governmental caps on infrastructure spending have also negatively impacted academic units, forcing the university to cut down on hiring.
“It’s limited the local ability to replace administrative staff, and that, of course, has led to reduced levels of support for students and increases in delays,” Manfredi said.“The cap on capital spending has resulted in delays on
construction and renovation projects, and those delays were felt differentially across the university.”
Moving forward, Manfredi has signalled a shift of McGill’s incremental budget model in favour of a hybrid model, geared towards incentivizing individual faculties to increase their revenue streams by increasing productivity and reducing costs. The next town hall on McGill’s finances is scheduled for January 2025, where the fiscal year 2025 budget will be presented alongside detailed plans for expenditure reductions and budgetary reforms.
Government-mandated tuition changes and reduced funding are set to cost McGill $9 million CAD this year alone, Provost Christopher Manfredi revealed. ( Mia Helfrich / The Tribune )
Students Society of McGill University (SSMU) Vice-President University Affairs Abe Berglas expressed their concerns regarding cuts to infrastructure spending projects. They stressed the potential discriminatory implications of these cuts on disabled students in particular.
“Whenever you lower service standards, it affects some groups a lot more than other groups. A project that is being limited is the Universal Access Capital Projects Fund, and
Candidates face off in SSMU by-election debate
that’s a fund about infrastructure projects that relate to accessibility for campus,” Berglas said in an interview with The Tribune. “There are other projects regarding accessibility that will also slow down, and it affects everyone, but it also disproportionately affects disabled students.”
President of the Association of Graduate Students Employed at McGill (AGSEM) Magnus L’Argent also raised concerns regarding the announced rising security costs on campus after meeting with Manfredi on Nov. 14.
“AGSEM hopes Provost Manfredi is much more transparent in the future with the security practices and budget of McGill,” Magnus wrote to The Tribune
Opponents present their platforms and efforts to boost student e ngagement
Defne Feyzioglu
Contributor
On Nov. 19, roughly 20 students met over Zoom for a candidates’ debate as a part of the by-election to fill vacancies in the Vice-President (VP) Student Life and VP Operations and Sustainability executive positions at the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU). This election follows the resignations of the former VP Student Life and current VP Operations and Sustainability, Chloé Muñoz and Meg Baltes, respectively. The voting period began on Nov. 20 and will continue until Nov. 29.
The debate started with opening statements from candidates for the VP Student Life position—Alice Postovskiy, U3 Arts, and Justice Bongiovanni, U1 Arts. The opening statements were followed by a brief Q&A period.
During the debate, Postovskiy expressed plans to actively support services and clubs with simplified finances and procedures, bring student groups together, and ensure better communication from SSMU. Postovskiy highlighted her involvement in student life at McGill, particularly in the Union for Gender Empowerment, a SSMU service.
“I’ve seen how much community and support means to students, [...] we support each other,” Postovskiy said. “I’ve worked to make things easier for student groups at SSMU, in the Services Committee, and also directly collaborating with the previous two Vice-Presidents Student Life.”
In Bongiovanni’s opening statement, he highlighted the diversity of McGill’s student
body and explained his plans to make dietaryrestricted and culturally-appropriate foods more accessible on campus. Bongiovanni also underlined the lack of support for certain groups that require more community centres, stating that it is possible to achieve this with proper coordination.
“My action plan includes five integral steps: Reopening student-run cafés and employ[ing] more students at those cafés and cooperatives. We want to also support more food cooperatives, invest over $10,000 [CAD] in the food security programs […] and we have several of them already available,” Bongiovanni said.
In the second part of the debate, candidates for the position of VP Operations and Sustainability, Arya Cheuk, U1 Arts and Science, and Kareem El Hosini, U3 Engineering, took questions and explained their visions for the role.
Cheuk, Sustainability Officer of the McGill Undergraduate Geography Society (MUGS), explained that accessibility is a major issue on campus. In addition, Cheuk repeated her objective for a greener McGill, and described her past initiatives towards this goal, such as implementing compost bins at the Burnside Building.
“I want to re-emphasize my desire to make McGill a leader in sustainability,” Cheuk said. “I’ve seen that this is possible in the past as we’ve seen the divestment of fossil fuels in the Carbon Underground 200 list that happened in 2022, and I wish to bring back this level of solidarity and unison within the student body to enact climate change mitigation policies.”
The deadline for students to apply for the VP Student Life and VP Operations and Sustainability positions was Nov. 15. ( Eliot Loose / The Tribune )
Next, El Hosini explained that his platform is based on three principles: Efficiency, transparency, and enrichment. El Hosini is also committed to increasing the accessibility of services and resources provided by SSMU for students.
“My goal is to make use of all of the SSMU,” El Hosini said. “[To] give as [many] resources as possible to the students and be able to bring in more accessible revenuegenerating businesses to the SSMU where we can create value [for] the students there, where they can enjoy the space and feel welcomed.”
El Hosini also underlined how his experience in operations and logistics from previous engineering internships would enhance his
focus on efficiency in the role.
In an interview with The Tribune, SSMU President Dymetri Taylor explained that while SSMU has organized candidate debates for previous elections, student attendance has been minimal, in part due to a lack of effective advertisement. For Taylor, the debate is unlikely to significantly increase voter turnout and engagement with the by-election more broadly, but he hopes to introduce more clear frameworks around the debates to make the events more standardized in the future.
“I don’t believe the debates [system] in its current context will really hit what it could. I think it needs to have that structure behind it,” Taylor said.
Editor-in-Chief
Jasjot Grewal editor@thetribune.ca
Creative Director
Drea Garcia Avila dgarciaavila@thetribune.ca
Managing Editors
Yusur Al-Sharqi yal-sharqi@thetribune.ca
Shani Laskin slaskin@thetribune.ca
Ella Paulin epaulin@thetribune.ca
News Editors
Fabienne de Cartier
Eliza Lee
Titouan Le Ster news@thetribune.ca
Opinion Editors
Lulu Calame
Monique Kasonga
Nell Pollak opinion@thetribune.ca
Science & Technology Editors
Jenna Durante Coco Zhang scitech@thetribune.ca
Student Life Editors
Auxane Bussac
Malika Logossou studentlife@thetribune.ca
Features Editor Amalia Mairet features@thetribune.ca
Arts & Entertainment Editors
Kellie Elrick Dana Prather arts@thetribune.ca
Sports Editors Lialah Mavani
Anoushka Oke sports@thetribune.ca
Design Editors Mia Helfrich Zoe Lee design@thetribune.ca
Photo Editor Rohan Khanna photo@thetribune.ca
Multimedia Editor multimedia@thetribune.ca
Web Developer Roberta Du webdev@thetribune.ca
Copy Editor Matt Adelberg copy@thetribune.ca
Social Media Editor Aliya Singh socialmedia@thetribune.ca
Business Manager Sophie Smith business@thetribune.ca
McGill must
be
held accountable for its continued colonialism
The Tribune Editorial Board
On Nov. 17, organizers planted a white pine tree during a Haudenosaunee peace ceremony on McGill’s Lower Field as a symbol of peace, unity, and collaboration. The tree signified solidarity with the brutally dismantled Palestine Solidarity Encampment that resided at the same site, and the continuation of demands for McGill’s divestment from the genocide in Gaza. The next day, the McGill administration uprooted this tree—a violent action that is directly emblematic of McGill’s institutional hypocrisy towards Indigenous peoples’ land rights and McGill’s intolerance toward pro-Palestinian protests.
Though physically small, this white pine—rightfully planted on unceded Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) land—represented a revolutionary opportunity for McGill to take the first step in productive and holistic reparations. Allowing the white pine to grow would have been a symbol of respect for the Kanien’kehá:ka peoples’ sovereignty over the land upon which McGill is settled. However, by forcibly uprooting the white pine less than 24 hours after it
was planted in an act of fundamental violence, McGill proved once again that its priorities lie in colonial control, not in solidarity.
Excising the white pine exposes the truth behind McGill’s performative attempts at genuine reconciliation, and the non-commitment to the values it endorses in its lecture halls. McGill’s Land Acknowledgement— read before most administrationhosted events—calls only for two actions: To acknowledge and thank the Indigenous peoples for the settlement on and use of their land. These empty commitments are reflected in McGill’s continuation of the colonial New Vic Project despite protest from the Kanien’kehá:ka Kahnistensera (Mohawk Mothers) that the construction exists on the site of potential unmarked graves. The administration’s shallow claims are further evidenced by the absence of an Indigenous Studies major program at the university. McGill’s support for Indigenous rights and history is contained within narrow performative boundaries, stopping far short of even the minimum commitment to Indigenous presence in curricula, faculty, and positions of decisionmaking authority.
The white pine was an explicit symbol of peace, yet even
Lialah Mavani Sports Editor
I’m not political.”
Hearing these words spread around campus frustrates me. How can you “not be political” when politics inherently concerns humanity? It doesn’t make sense. During nightly family dinners growing up, conversations would start with “How was your day?” but quickly turn into political discussions about current events. My family is very opinionated—my mother an academic, my father an entrepreneur, and my brother a law
to that, McGill reciprocated with destruction—proving that what McGill fears is not potential “violence” of the human rights movements endorsed through the planting ceremony, but rather enacted de-colonial thought. McGill’s unconscionable actions towards the solidarity ceremony mirror their violent dismantling of the Palestine Solidarity Encampment in July, highlighting McGill’s tendency to vilify any threat to their colonial authority. It is shameful that McGill frames a tree planted in peace as an act of vandalism, while McGill itself has committed and continues to contribute to such cruel acts of colonial violence concerning both Quebec’s Indigenous communities and the Israeli state’s killing of thousands of Palestinians.
The planting of the white pine presented an opportunity for the McGill administration to spark conversation between themselves, Indigenous peoples, and those calling for divestment from Israeli enterprises. By removing the white pine—a sacred symbol of peace— the McGill administration exposed the stark discrepancy between its self-proclaimed values of fostering critical thinkers who advocate for justice, and its continued colonial practices. McGill must acknowledge this foundational hypocrisy in its institutional actions.
McGill must recognize the Kanien’kehá:ka as the rightful land owners to the grounds of McGill in order to forge a path forward where Indigenous land rights are honoured and reparations are offered to the greatest possible extent. McGill must acknowledge, too, its continued active investment in the genocide in Gaza, and divest from its Israeli ties. The university must make space for Indigenous ways of thinking within its academic curricula and environment, encouraging the growth of peaceful movements that work towards true reconciliation. It is time that McGill established an Indigenous Studies major concentration, and thus redefine mainstream colonial narratives in education. First and foremost, McGill must abandon its performative activism which only leaves room for continued violence.
Each of us at McGill has a part to play as well: We must show up— to student protests and walkouts, to campus governance meetings, and on behalf of those communities threatened or killed by McGill’s continued colonial presence. We can not allow McGill to refer to colonialism as a regrettable concept of the past as they continue their colonial endeavour into the present.
Choosing not to be political is inherently taking a political stance
student. As the youngest member at the table, I was intimidated. For the most part, I would listen but would not contribute. I never felt like I knew enough. Now, I’ve realized that politics concerns everyone, including those of us who aren’t academics or entrepreneurs or law students. Each of our voices can make an impact on our communities.
So, I can empathize with shying away from the intimidating nature of news and larger political discussions—but politics is more than just media and debates. We should not choose to ignore current events as a whole because we find them too daunting. While genocides, conflicts, wars, and elections are reduced to headlines for us to read—or choose to ignore—they tell the stories that are realities for people all over the world. As students and citizens in the global community, we have a responsibility to participate in these conversations.
We have the privilege to observe from afar, but our privilege is power. We cannot choose to avoid
confronting issues like the genocide in Palestine because we are scared, we don’t know enough, or we find them upsetting. These are the lived experiences that Palestinians are confronting every day.
As students on a politically engaged campus, we have the responsibility to engage in conversations, acknowledge our privilege, and denounce the state of Israel’s cultural and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. The Israeli regime has killed over 44,970 Palestinians: Tens of thousands of innocent people. How can we ignore this?
What especially frustrates me is those who are not racialized who aren’t openly having discussions around Palestine, or who choose to be “apolitical.” It is no secret that the skin colour you are born with is either one that directly benefits you or one that can limit you. Whiteness can act as a shield that some are lucky enough to hide behind, whereas racialized people are more likely to be at risk of violence when attending protests. For example, the Service de police de la Ville de
Montréal (SPVM) targets BIPOC Montreallers, so attending protests or speaking out impacts students of colour in disproportionate ways. It is even more important that white students, teachers, and staff amplify voices of colour in discussions around Palestine.
Reposting the latest infographic circling around Instagram is not enough. It’s about the willingness to engage and learn from others around you. Doing your part can be a range of small day-today actions: Staying informed from alternative news sources, being critical of the media you consume, having conversations with those around you, attending protests or strikes, or wearing a Keffiyeh or a pin on your backpack. These small actions make a difference. These acts are small shows of resistance, compelling those around you to take a second to acknowledge the existence of Palestine and McGill’s direct involvement in the genocide. Being “apolitical” is no longer a choice when your silence is a complicit act of violence. We must do better.
Celine Li, Ella Gomes, Jasjot Grewal, Sophie Smith
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Alex Hawes Silva, Amelia Clark, Asher Kui, Annabella Lawlor, Bianca Sugunasiri, Bianca Tri, Charlotte Hayes, Daniel Miksha, Daniel Pyo, Ellen Lurie, Ethan Kahn, Jamie Xie, Luken Castañeda Garces, Mahin Siddiki, Mairin Burke, Olivia Ardito, Reuben Noam, Samathar Senso, Sarah McDonald, Tamiyana Roemer, Zain Ahmed.
Aiqing Qiu, Anna Seger, Ariella Morgan, Eliot Loose, Hannah Nobile, Lilly Guilbeault, Nour Khouri, Ruby Reimer, Ryan Dvorak.
Anahi Pellathy, Clara Smyrski, Defne Feyzioglu, Geoffrey Nelson, Helene Saleska, KC Carder, Louis Terrien, Naiya Patel, Oscar Macquet, Russel Ismael, Siena Torres, Zoe Laxton
Bruno Cotler, Clio Blazer, Emiko Kamiya, Holden Callif, Rhíanna Spencer-Moore, Sophie Schuyler, Taisto Witt
Ellen Lurie Staff Writer
ACould pedestrianizing Rue Sainte-Catherine ease our seasonal blues?
last-minute battery replacement for your beloved laptop that’s well past its prime.
A new top for a first date when you have nothing to wear. A warm pair of gloves because, yes, Montreal really is as cold as your mom warned it would be. A trip to the Eaton Centre’s Time Out Market when dining hall food just isn’t cutting it. Rue Sainte-Catherine has it all.
McGill students and Montrealers alike faithfully flock to Sainte-Catherine’s urban thoroughfare in astounding numbers: Half a million pedestrians are estimated to walk the street every day. Its unique popularity lies in the fact that—beyond the usual shopping outlets, cultural centres, and public squares—Sainte-Catherine takes on a unique form during the summer, one that it should arguably occupy all year round.
Transforming into a pedestrian-only street between the months of May and October, Rue Sainte-Catherine is home to a high volume of festivals and cultural activities, including the Montreal Pride Parade, the annual Rue SainteCatherine Sidewalk Sale, and the Montreal International Jazz Festival. On a more basic level, the pedestrianized street is also opened to streetvending by local retailers, used by businesses to expand outdoor seating arrangements, and even made available for temporary art installations.
Rue Sainte-Catherine is not alone in this practice of seasonal pedestrianization. In fact, Montreal has been strategically pedestrianizing its streets for years post-pandemic, with many significant thoroughfares like Mont-Royal Avenue
COMMENTARY
Malika Logossou Student Life Editor
ceasing to admit car traffic during the summer and fall months. Clearly, the city’s Urban Planning and Development department is gradually adopting a broader practice of pro-pedestrian modifications to the city’s landscape.
However, the opportunity for increased community activity and walkability is not convincing enough for every Montrealer to embrace year-long car-free legislation. Business owners and residents alike have expressed concerns about the full-time pedestrianization project. They fear that economic activity will be slowed and general aesthetics hindered without deliveries and trash collection services being taken on by vehicles. Montreal residents have also theorized that converting Rue Sainte-Catherine to pedestrian-only will force congestion out to neighbouring streets.
These concerns—while completely understandable—overlook the proven benefits of the pedestrianization policy. Such a car-free policy would not occur in isolation; pedestrianization legislation is coupled with improvements in public transportation and developments in pedestrian and bike infrastructure. The vacuum created by a lack of cars on Rue Sainte-Catherine would thus be quickly filled, presenting a transformative opportunity for the city to turn what was once a street into a vibrant urban zone.
With the street no longer being plagued by vehicular air pollution, the sound of irritable honks from drivers, and a general inefficiency in space usage, Sainte-Catherine could become home to a green community space. Such a shift in the street’s presentation bears additional relevance when considering that, once a street becomes
11.2-kilometre-long Rue Sainte-Catherine is Montreal’s longest commercial street, home to over 1,200 restaurants, bars, and shops. (Bruno Cotler / The Tribune)
increasingly designed around the well-being of its pedestrians, foot traffic has been shown to increase.
When pedestrian presence increases, it’s not just the vibe of the city that’s bolstered; local economies are too. For example, when Toronto’s Public Works and Infrastructure Committee implemented a 2016 resolution to replace on-street parking with bike lanes on the major thoroughfare Bloor Street, both monthly spending by customers and the number of customers themselves increased. The alleged decline in consumer activity that has been causing anxiety among Sainte-Catherine merchants is, truly, a myth, and the data shows this. Business—particularly restaurant—owners tend to overrepresent the significance of cars to
economic activity due to the dominance of services like Uber Eats and GrubHub. In reality, the real spenders are the pedestrians walking by and peering into storefronts.
The pedestrianization of Rue SainteCatherine is a crucial step towards promoting Montreal’s cultural life, improving the city’s environmental health and boosting small business finances. While disruption to the car-oriented status quo may be intimidating for long-time residents, this change is necessary to set an urban landscape standard for generations to come.
Besides, Rue Sainte-Catherine is perpetually under construction anyway. Montrealers might be more used to the idea of a car-free future than they realize.
Anti-Black racism permeates Quebec’s journalism and legal system
Content Warning: Mentions of anti-Black racism and violence.
Last month, an incident in Longueuil—a 20-minute drive from Montreal— shocked me tremendously. On Oct. 2, a 46-year-old woman by the name of Stéphanie Borel threw boiling water at a 10-year-old Black boy, leaving him with second-degree burns on his face, head, torso, and back—injuries that will scar him for life.
The victim told Radio-Canada that he and his friends were walking home from school through a shortcut near Borel’s residence when she specifically targeted him, the only Black child in the group. Borel claimed she assaulted him because he had been knocking on her door for three years. However, this is impossible considering the boy’s family had moved to the neighbourhood in Jan. 2024, and the victim had been attending school near her home for just one month. Despite the premeditated nature of the assault—Borel boiled water in advance and timed the attack—police arrested and released her on the same day.
The incident initially did not receive the attention and outrage from the Quebec public that it deserved until social media accounts like @wsc.montreal and @wscofficial_ posted about the incident on Instagram, fuelling public outrage. Haitian-Canadian activist Renzel Dashington criticized the police’s handling of the case, highlighting the stark double standard in how
they treat Black victims and white perpetrators. Joel DeBellefeuille, Executive Director of the Red Coalition, sent a letter to the Longueuil police chief and mayor condemning the delay in justice and stating that it undermines trust between law enforcement and racialized communities.
Public pressure finally led to Borel’s rearrest on Oct. 11 under the “acquisition of new investigative elements,” over a week after the incident. By Oct. 17, police released Borel again under stricter conditions which included staying away from the victim’s home and school. Her court date is set for Jan. 23, 2025.
This horrific incident underscores a troubling reality: Black lives are not prioritized within Quebec’s justice system, which places the burden on Black communities to bring to light the very injustices they face. They are repeatedly compelled to mobilize and fight for their humanity, a burden no community should have to bear. The reliance on social media platforms illustrates how the Quebec justice system maintains this double burden, failing to prioritize the safety, dignity, and justice of racialized people unless forced by public scrutiny. Without public pressure, Borel might have faced no further consequences. Had the victim not been a person of colour, the police’s response likely would have been rapid, with immediate media coverage and decisive legal action. Had a person of colour committed the crime, news outlets would have emphasized both the crime and the perpetrator’s race. This immediate inaction not only shows the racial biases in media coverage between Black and white crimes—as Borel received a light sentence despite online backlash—but also the
In American media, white defendants are 50 per cent more likely to be referred to by name than Black defendants and white victims are four times more likely to be presented in photos with friends and family than Black victims of crime, perpetuating a pattern of dehumanization. (Clio Blazer/ The Tribune)
undervaluation of Black lives, reflecting systemic racial issues within Quebec’s journalism and criminal justice system. This neglect perpetuates the marginalization of Black Canadians, who, in 2023, were the most targeted group of hate crimes based on ethnicity and race reported to the police.
The systemic racism embedded in policing and judicial systems must be actively dismantled through improved training, stricter accountability measures, and reforms that ensure equal treatment for all victims, regardless of race. As students and community members, we hold a unique position of privilege in dismantling these biases. Our access to education and resources entails a responsibility to educate ourselves on systemic racism and
to confront our own biases to ensure these are not perpetuated in institutions and beyond. It is important to recognize that this discrimination in Quebec affects everyone—not just marginalized groups. For some people, such as Borel, the effect of systemic racism is beneficial due to white privilege. For others, it can be fatal. Failing to address these issues sends a message that people of colour are not worthy of receiving justice and that responding to the crimes they are victims of is not an urgent priority. Supporting anti-racism initiatives, amplifying stories like this one, and advocating for institutional reforms are essential steps forward. Justice should be inherent, not conditional.
Know Your Athlete: Mika Chang
Highlighting her journey to becoming a top athlete for Martlets Ice Hockey
Clara Smyrski Contributor
With 1:50 left in double overtime, Mika Chang, U3 Engineering, found the back of the net to secure Martlets Hockey’s victory over the Montreal Carabins on Nov. 17. The left winger from Toronto sat down with The Tribune to talk about her ice hockey career, balancing athletics with academics, and her goals for the rest of the season.
Chang first hit the ice at five years old when her parents enrolled her in hockey, following in her older brother’s footsteps. Determined to keep up with him, she developed a competitive drive that sparked her love for the sport. She spent the first 10 years of her hockey career playing on men’s teams and shared how that set her up for a successful future.
“[Men’s hockey] is very fast-paced and skilled, and everyone holds themself to a very high standard,” she said. “Even 10 years ago, girls’ hockey was a lot less developed than it is now, so there were less opportunities for girls to play. So, I think the opportunity for exposure was greater and there was greater competition because there were so many boys playing minor hockey in Toronto.”
While playing men’s hockey, her team, Ted Reeve Thunder, won the prestigious International Silver Stick tournament. She started playing women’s hockey in grade nine, and the following year, McGill coaches scouted her at a local tournament. Before coming to McGill, Chang played for the Brampton Ju-
nior Canadettes and the Mississauga Junior Hurricanes. She lost most of her grade 11 and 12 playing years due to an ACL tear and the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these setbacks, she earned a spot on the McGill Varsity team as a freshman in 2021 and has been a valuable member ever since, playing 73 games and scoring 5 goals and 7 assists in her first three seasons.
Chang shared that the Martlet’s victory on Nov. 17 was a team effort and an important win.
“Our team has [...] come so close to winning in so many games but [they] just weren’t going our way,” she said. “To finally secure a win made it feel like all our work was built up for something, and that we are more than capable of beating great teams. It instilled a level of confidence, and it meant a lot to our team. Everyone contributed so much in all different areas; it was a big team effort.”
As a senior on the team, Chang is a leader on and off the ice. She told The Tribune that her biggest goal this season is to support the younger players.
“I [want] to help foster and develop the younger people into gaining confidence earlier on in their careers,” she explained. “I feel like, for me, this season is the first where I really feel confident on the ice and feel like I can contribute, so hopefully [I can] kind of [spread] that and just [create] a better team environment for everyone.”
Chang is a talent not just on the ice, but also in the classroom; she was one of the 12
Women’s Ice Hockey members to be initiated into the 2024 President’s Student-Athlete Honour Roll. There is nothing easy about studying bioengineering while playing a varsity sport, but Chang says her support system of teammates and friends has been vital for her success.
Playing a high-level, highly competitive sport for 16 years teaches an athlete many lessons, and Chang highlights one specifically
for young athletes.
“I think the most important thing that I’ve taken away is always to just have fun,” she said. “Obviously, there are times when you need to take things seriously, but at the end of the day, if you don’t love it, then you’re not going to have fun. And having fun with your teammates [...] on the ice is always the most important thing because that can make or break your experience.”
The rise of YouTube boxing: A golden age or a gilded cage?
Jake Paul defeated Mike Tyson in an underwhelming face-off on Nov. 15
Zain Ahmed Staff Writer
The recent clash between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson has ignited the debate surrounding the burgeoning phenomenon of YouTube boxing. This peculiar intersection of sports and entertainment has seen a meteoric rise, driven by a blend of celebrity, controversy, and colossal paydays. While some hail it as a renaissance for the sport, others view it as a cynical exploitation of nostalgia and a dilution of boxing’s core principles.
At the heart of this debate lies the economic allure of YouTube boxing. The business model is simple yet lucrative: Pair a popular YouTuber or influencer with a recognizable name from the world of combat sports, hype the fight relentlessly, and rake in the profits. Pay-per-view revenue, merchandise sales, and sponsorship deals form the bedrock of this fruitful enterprise. Paul, the poster boy of the movement, has mastered the art of generating buzz. His confrontational style, coupled with his willingness to take on established fighters, has captivated a massive audience. The fight against Tyson, a legendary figure in the sport, was a masterclass in generating hype. The age disparity, the contrasting styles, and the sheer spectacle of it all made for compelling viewing.
The first bell sounded, and boxing fans collectively let out defeated sighs across the globe, watching the titan Mike Tyson stumble around the ring—heavily aged and compara-
tively frail—while Paul taunted, danced, and cackled. Was this really a display of boxing, or just new-age theatre for a $40 million USD payout? With a strong emphasis on trash talk, big noise, and social media buzz, and a neglect of honed skill and the ‘killer instinct,’ influencer boxing portrays a lack of authenticity that seems to offend die-hard boxing fans that grew up watching the likes of Muhammad Ali, who embodied the discipline, charisma, and fortitude that boxing demands of its athletes.
However much money “hype” fights generate, they also raise concerns about the integrity of the sport. Some argue that these exhibition matches, often featuring mismatched opponents, dilute the value of genuine boxing contests. The focus shifts from technical skill and athletic prowess to entertainment value and shock factor. This shift could dilute the sport’s prestige and erode the respect it has earned over centuries.
Moreover, the financial disparities between traditional boxing and YouTube boxing are stark. While top-tier boxers may earn millions of dollars per fight, the majority of fighters struggle to make a decent living, with purses worth next to nothing compared to the one per cent, the likes of Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, and more. On the other hand, YouTube boxing offers lucrative opportunities to a select group, often at the expense of the sport’s broader ecosystem.
As the dust settles on the Paul-Tyson fight, it is clear that YouTube boxing is here to stay. However, the future of the sport will
depend on striking a balance between entertainment and authenticity. By prioritizing competitive integrity and ensuring fair compensation for all fighters, pioneered by Jake Paul and his company, Most Valuable Promotions, YouTube boxing can evolve into a force for good, rather than one of destruction. This means implementing stricter regulations, investing in proper training facilities, and promoting the development of young talent. By fostering a culture of respect and professionalism, YouTube boxing can help elevate the
sport and attract a more diverse audience. Ultimately, key players in YouTube boxing will determine its legacy through their choices. If YouTube boxing continues to prioritize spectacle over substance, it risks becoming a fleeting fad that leaves a negative impact on the sport. However, if it can evolve into a platform that celebrates both entertainment and athleticism, it has the potential to revitalize boxing and attract a new generation of fans.
‘Iron’ Mike Tyson retired from boxing in 2005 with a record of 50–7 with 44 KOs. ( Eliot Loose / The Tribune )
The Martlets are 1–6–0 in their conference as they continue to work for a spot at Nationals. ( Drea Garcia-Avila / The Tribune )
“Why theatre?”
Friends, acquaintances, extended family members, and even artists in other mediums ask me this question regularly. Most times, it’s accompanied by a puzzled smile and a furrowed brow, a friendly face that communicates the rest of their unfinished question: “Why theatre now?” Why pursue a career in theatre, a notoriously rocky industry, at a time when the country’s arts and culture sector is already in a precarious state of decline? In an urgent call to action released this March, the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT) painted an alarming picture of an industry in crisis. Since 2019, theatres’ operating costs have, on average, increased by roughly 35 to 41 per cent while their attendance rates have decreased by nearly half. Clearly, the theatre industry is not doing enough to entice audiences back to live theatre post-pandemic. Once a cheap, popular form of entertainment, theatre has become synonymous for much of the public with artistic elitism, an art form reserved for the few well-off retirees or wealthy business people who can afford it.
So why should the average person spend time and money to attend the theatre when streaming services offer a near-endless array of film and television options to watch from the comfort of their own home? The answer to this question lies in live theatre’s capacity to build community and engage its audience members with the political and social realities of our current moment. In a time when the scale of violence and suffering around the world can feel as all-consuming as it is daunting, theatre must not be reduced to detached escapism—rather, the art form must engage with the world around us.
Strong as I am in these convictions, my original “why” for getting involved with theatre was fairly straightforward and entirely apolitical: My parents believed I needed an outlet for my incessant chatter and big feelings. Perhaps they assumed (not incorrectly) that my boisterous personality and dizzyingly high energy levels made becoming a theatre kid a natural fit. Whatever the case, they signed my eight-year-old self up for a summer drama camp, which I attended for a week and fell in love with all things theatre.
Having found the activity that made me the happiest, I stuck with theatre throughout the rest of my schooling. I acted in plays, took musical theatre lessons, and got involved with improv, forming a close circle of like-minded theatre kid friends along the way. Ever the entertainer, I loved the feeling of making people laugh or smile with a silly voice or song. As I entered high school, I
Theatre needs political
The power of live performance
began to see the art form as more than a fun pastime for the artists and easy entertainment for the audience. By working on plays that used the imaginary to grapple with themes of political violence, mental illness, and sexual assault, I saw how audience members connected with and were moved by the stories happening onstage.
Katherine Zien, an associate professor dually appointed in the Department of English’s Drama & Theatre and Cultural Studies streams, spoke to why theatre’s live format might make it especially effective at engaging audiences with political and social issues. While reading a book, watching a movie, or looking at a painting whose content is political can certainly prompt reflection, it is far easier for the viewer to disengage with these forms of media if they have a dissenting opinion, feel discomfort, or even react with disinterest; all they have to do is put down the book, turn off the screen, or walk away from the artwork. By contrast, the tacit social contract of the theatre—the societal norm present in most traditional theatrical spaces that the audience sit quietly, watch the show, and only make noise when it’s finished— dissuades audience members from disengaging with a piece of theatre, even when it explores difficult subject matter.
“[As an audience member] I’m going to just try to follow along with whatever you’ve put out there for me, and [...] I’m going to generously give my time and money over to this thing,” Zien remarked in an interview with The Tribune. Zien acknowledged that, while there is no way to know how an audience member will react to or engage with political content, the simple act of sharing space with the performers may make the audience more open to listening.
“When you think about going and sitting in a space with strangers and respecting people who are performing, [...] there’s a real act of care and generosity that I see there.”
While my understanding of theatre’s potential to engage with wider issues was still forming, these early experiences with more politically-minded theatre bolstered my dedication to the art form. By the time I was approaching graduation, I felt ready and excited to audition for post-secondary theatre programs. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic stopped me in my tracks. As the world ground to a halt in March 2020, theatres everywhere shuttered their doors. Now in university classes or acting conservatories, I watched as the upperclassmen friends I’d made during my early high school years spent their days trying to do voicework and movement in front of computer screens. Meanwhile, we watched, helpless, as hundreds of thousands of people died, many of whom
Written by Dana Prather, Arts
Designed by Mia Helfrich,
belonged to vulnerable and underserved communities. We watched in horror as videos of the murder of George Floyd circulated online, forcing folks across the United States and Canada to contend with the brutal violence and discrimination embedded in our policing systems. All the while, tides of doubt crept into my mind, lapping away at my convictions about the importance of theatre, wearing them down until one thought remained: Why theatre? What was the point of trying to be a theatre artist at a time like this?
Shaken and unsure, I ultimately made the difficult decision to leave theatre behind and enroll in Cognitive Science at McGill. In my first year of university, I deliberately took a break from performing. I convinced myself it was for the best; trying to get involved with university theatre would have meant voluntarily spending even more hours in front of my computer screen on Zoom. While I still loved the art form, I felt too jaded to dedicate my time to it; what use was escaping into a play in the midst of the very real issues around me?
By the time lockdown restrictions began to ease up during my second year, I decided to return to acting, if only as an extracurricular. I missed the joy of working with others on a shared passion project. Eager to fill this missing piece of my social life, I joined Tuesday Night Cafe Theatre (TNC), a nonhierarchical student theatre company.
This desire to make friends and be a part of a larger community is a common motivator for joining theatre and was echoed by Molly Frost, U3 Arts, a student theatre artist and the current Executive Director of TNC. Having arrived at McGill in the fall of 2021, when most classes were still being delivered in a hybrid environment or in-person with strict masking restrictions, Frost joined McGill’s Savoy Society and later TNC with the hopes of branching out and meeting folks outside of her program.
engagement, not escapism
performance in
confronting social realities
Arts and Entertainment Editor
Helfrich, Design Editor
“It was very fun [...] meeting the people on the exec team, and seeing the space. Not to sound corny or cliché, but I kind of fell in love with it. [...] It was a great sense of community,” Frost said. “I think [being in theatre] just sort of like fast tracks a path to friendship, [...] even if you’re not, like, best friends seeing each other all the time, it still [provides connections with] people that you know and that you care about and respect.”
Alongside my search for this sense of community, I was drawn to TNC because of their expressly political mandate, which dictates that the company produce plays that are experimental, subversive, and engage with intersectionality. This commitment to political engagement helped assuage my worries about theatre’s tendency towards navel-gazing.
While some may believe theatre should be apolitical, I believe art does not exist in a vacuum. Whether it’s embedded in the text itself, the casting, or apparent by omission, theatre will speak to its sociopolitical context. Catherine Hernandez, an acclaimed author, screenwriter, and playwright, expressed her belief that artists have a responsibility to engage with their real-life context.
“To me, activism and artmaking is dreaming of possibilities. When you are part of a movement, you contribute your talents, whatever they may be,” Hernandez wrote in an email to The Tribune “I’ve chosen the role of an artist by dreaming new worlds into being, where all people have a place; have an equal right to live and love with equal access to resources.”
Historically, theatre’s ephemeral format has proven useful to artists looking to explore and disseminate more radical political messaging while minimizing the threat of financial or political repercussions.
“Theatre has often
benefited from being overlooked. [For instance,] Latin American theatre artists [living under] dictatorship have really benefited from not always being recorded,” Zien explained. “They could do and say things that were subversive because it was live.”
This upside to being overlooked resonates with student theatre companies like TNC, whose budget is comprised of funding from the Department of English, ticket sales, donations. The group is not beholden to the desires of Students’ Society of McGill (SSMU), the potential censorship of governmental arts organizations, or the whims of the theatre-going public. As such, it may be easier for them to weather the potential financial risks that come with taking a controversial political stance.
By contrast, artists like Rahul Varma, co-founder and current Artistic Director of Teesri Duniya Theatre, are all too familiar with the threat of censorship and financial ruin to political theatre. Founded in 1981, Teesri Duniya is a prominent professional theatre company whose works centre on a diverse range of BIPOC voices. While many other companies stayed silent on their positions or released vague statements in response to the horrific events of Oct. 7 and Israel’s ensuing siege on Gaza, Varma insisted that Teesri dive in headfirst.
“I think that it surprises me that in the theatre community, the response has been pretty mute, and many of the theatre artists are privately talking about it, but not publicly,” Varma expressed. “We as theatre artists, what we have is a voice and our craft. If we suppress our [voices] and talk privately but not publicly, we are basically breaking our connection with the public. We are an instrument of communication, and we do communicate with artistic beauty [....] If we do not do this, we are just betraying our own sector, our own craft, our own discipline. So I think that silence is not an option. By default, silence goes to support the dominant force.”
To ensure Teesri’s actions were going beyond lip service, Varma shelved previously planned productions and instead spent late 2023 and early 2024 prepar- ing an entirely new season entitled “Staging Freedom.”
Described as “a theatrical response to war, occupa-
tion, and genocide,” this new theme tied together various plays, workshops, and events focused on championing Palestinian rights.
Despite facing budget cuts to his operational funding from various governmental organizations that he maintains are a direct result of his company’s outspoken stance on Palestine, Varma believes that the community’s response has made the high-stress changes worth it. Audiences received the company’s first show of the season, Two Birds One Stone by Natasha Greenblatt and Rimah Jabr, with open arms. A touching auto-fictional account of its two playwrights’ friendship and their respective connections to the occupied Palestinian territories, the piece’s series of moderated post-show talkbacks offered an avenue for productive, engaging community discussions.
Hernandez has been similarly vocal about her pro-Palestinian perspective, both through her words and her actions. Earlier this year, she removed her novel Behind You from consideration for the 2024 Scotiabank Giller Prize in protest of the relationship between the award’s primary sponsor and Elbit Systems, an Israeli weapons manufacturer that serves as a primary supplier to the IDF.
“I want people to understand that the ability to speak up for what is right is not some magical talent you’re born with. It’s a skill. And like any skill it takes practice and bravery.
This last year has been a personal exercise in learning to be brave despite being among the hundreds of authors who have experienced censorship and repression due to our activism. I have lost opportunities and employment. The future of my career is uncertain.,” Hernandez expressed. “But what I fear most is the continued violence worldwide due to predatory capitalism. As an artist, I know my work—be it my paintings or writing—is to encourage others to be brave with me.”
Theatre, like all artforms, is inextricably intertwined with the social and the political. The choice of what scripts to platform, how to run a company, and the emphasis placed on community-building are all reflective of one’s values. As audiences, we must continue to support local theatre and engage with politically conscious productions. As theatre makers, it is crucial that we use our voices and our platforms to speak truth to power and explicitly oppose violence and injustice through our works. Theatre is at its best when it is community-oriented and politically-minded, and we must do all we can to keep it that way.
The Tribune’s sports highlights of the week
McGill cross-country laces up at the U SPORTS Championships while Rafael Nadal finally hangs them up
Alex Hawes & Zain Ahmed Staff Writers
From McGill cross-country to international tennis, The Tribune shares our sports highlights of the week.
McGill: Cross Country Shines at U SPORTS Championships
In a remarkable display of athletic prowess, the McGill Cross Country team made their mark at the U SPORTS Canadian Championships in Kelowna, BC. The team’s outstanding performance resulted in an impressive haul of five AllStar awards, solidifying their position as a force to be reckoned with in Canadian university athletics.
Sophie Courville, a standout runner, secured a top-30 finish in the nation, with a time of 28:20 in the 8km race, showcasing her exceptional talent. Her impressive performance both earned her individual recognition and contributed significantly to the team’s overall success. Abene Glasgow, a promising first-year, burst onto the scene with a stellar performance (28:54) that earned her a well-deserved spot on the All-Star second team. Her inclusion in this higher-level group highlights her immense potential and bodes well for the future of McGill Cross Country. The Redbirds also found success at the races. Placing 10th overall in their
race, three Redbirds blazed the trail for the team, earning All-Star honours following the race. Luca Messenger-Jones flew to first team status, with a time of 24:50, while the Redbirds winner, Devin Chapple (24:28), and runner-up, Samuel Hepworth (24:33), made the second team.
The team’s collective effort and unwavering commitment were instrumental in achieving the outstanding result. Their hard work, perseverance, and strong spirit have brought pride to McGill and lit a fire under the whole Martlets and Redbirds track community ahead of the indoor season.
International: Tennis royalty Rafael Nadal renounces his throne
Rafael Nadal officially retired from professional tennis on Nov. 19 at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, concluding an astounding 23-year-long career. His final match was for Team Spain, though the team was eliminated by the Netherlands in the quarterfinals. After only losing his first match in the Davis Cup tournament, and his final one against Botic van de Zandschulp, Nadal left it all out on the court. He played his last sets with passion, receiving a standing ovation and heartfelt tributes from fans and players worldwide—including close friend and
rival Roger Federer, who expressed admiration for Nadal’s achievements and devotion to the sport.
Nadal leaves behind a legacy as one of the greatest tennis players in history. Over his career, he secured 22 Grand Slam titles, including a record 14 French Open victories and an Olympic gold medal. Nadal’s legendary rivalries, particularly with Federer and Novak Djokovic, defined an era of tennis that brought a global spotlight to the sport. Despite numerous injuries, including a degenerative foot condition, Nadal still amassed 92
titles in total and held the world numberone ranking for over four years. Nadal waved goodbye to his fans with tears in his eyes, stepping off the court for the very last time.
Reflecting on his journey, Nadal expressed gratitude for his fans, pride in his dedication and continuous love for the sport. His retirement marks the end of an unparalleled era in tennis, as one of the last remaining tennis greats to retire. Nadal leaves behind him an exceptional career, and his impact will last for years to come.
Glaring double standards as Israel continues Nations League campaign
FIFA and UEFA extend Russia’s ban but allow Israel to continue play
Zoe Laxton Contributor
Israel’s participation in major sporting events, like the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Nations League soccer tournament or the Olympic Games, has raised controversy among fans and activists alike. The double standard of sports governing bodies allowing Israel to compete has been particularly noticeable in the wake of FIFA and UEFA extending Russia’s international soccer suspension on Nov. 18. Russia was originally suspended just four days after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 for violating international law. However, Israel continues to participate in the UEFA Nations League, despite ongoing violations of international law through its continuous human rights abuses in Palestine.
FIFA justifies its ban against Russia as part of its human rights policy, where it claims to stand by its commitment to take any measures necessary to avoid contributing to human rights abuses. FIFA banned South Africa from the World Cup from 1961 to 1992 because of the oppressive apartheid regime. Yet, this standard does not seem to apply to Israel. Article 76 (3) of FIFA’s statutes states that “member associations and their clubs may not play on the territory of another member association without the latter’s approval.” Despite this, the Israel Football Association (IFA) has at least eight clubs that play on occupied Palestinian territory in the West Bank.
FIFA has been aware of this breach since 2013, but Israel has faced no repercussions. The Palestinian national football team, on the other hand, faces a deteriorating security situation as a result of Israel’s occupation. Israeli forces have killed around 350 professional Palestinian athletes since Oct. 7, 2023, and Israel’s bombing campaigns have destroyed almost all the sporting facilities available in Gaza and the West Bank. The Human Rights Watch and the Palestinian Football Association argue that, by allowing Israel to compete, FIFA and UEFA are supporting and legitimizing the occupation.
While not a European country, Israel has been a part of UEFA since 1994. Originally, the IFA was a founding member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in 1954. However, some AFC members, such as Kuwait and all of the Arab League nations, boycotted matches against Israel due to the occupation and treatment of Palestinians. Eventually, the AFC expelled Israel in a motion led by Kuwait in 1974. UEFA invited Israel to participate in European competitions starting in 1992 and permanently accepted it in 1994, despite Israel’s geographic location.
There was similar controversy over Israel’s ability to participate in the Paris Olympic Games this summer, while Russian athletes had to compete as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN). At least 30 of the 88 Israeli Olympians publicly supported Israel’s actions. Palestine’s Olympic Committee called this out, pointing to the contradictory attitude the athletics com-
munity appears to have toward the treatment of Russian and Israeli athletes
During the opening ceremonies, spectators booed the Israeli national anthem, but France maintained its commitment to protecting Israeli athletes. Russia, on the other hand, was banned on the grounds of violating the ancient Greek tradition of Olympic Truce. Palestine’s Olympic Committee accused Israel of violating that same truce by continuing its violence in Gaza. Some athletes also disagreed with Israel’s presence, such as Tajikistan’s judoka Nurali Emomali, who refused to shake hands with his Israeli opponent.
In July 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found Israel guilty of a long list of human rights abuses and violations of international law. The ICJ deemed the Israeli occupation illegal and set out the standards of reparations that Israeli authorities owed Palestinian civilians. Similarly, on Nov. 21, 2024, the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the war crimes Israel has committed since Oct. 7, 2023. The warrant also included Israel’s Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant and a senior Hamas official, Mohammed Deif (although Israel states he was killed in a targeted July airstrike).
How can Israel, a country convicted of so many violations of international law, human rights, and sporting regulations still be allowed to compete? FIFA and UEFA seem to apply scrutiny over human rights selectively. As people continue to demonstrate
against Israel’s participation, it seems unlikely that the country will face any restrictions on its ability to compete in the future. If FIFA and UEFA want to promote unity, diplomacy, and peace through sport, they must apply pressure to all countries committing human rights violations.
Rafael Nadal plays tennis with his left hand, despite being right-handed otherwise. ( Ariella Morgan / The Tribune )
Céline Haidar, a rising Lebanese soccer star is in a coma after an Israeli air strike critically wounded her on Nov. 19. ( Mia Helfrich / The Tribune)
Bianca Sugunasiri Staff Writer
It often seems that once people attain positions of power, they lose all sense of rational thought. The entire concept of a PR team centres around the expectation that they will conduct themselves poorly. Thanks to the skills of such organizations, the public does not get to experience the unfiltered incompetence so often exhibited by these individuals; for example, when the President of the United States (POTUS) publicly declares that his wife is having “a cunty morning.” If you have ever felt personally victimized by the dumbassery that surrounds you, then POTUS: Or Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive is for you.
In a delicious twist of irony, POTUS centres around seven women in the White House—the President never appears on stage (except briefly as two legs hanging out of a box). Despite the President being incapacitated, and half the Secret Service higher than a kite, they somehow are still efficient in their work, in a way that would mystify reality. The satire is a chaotic flurry of witty dialogue and caffeine addiction as the women rush to circumvent the POTUS’ most recent ineptitude. Each woman is distinct in her role and personality, embodying a different comedic archetype. It features characters like Harriet (Ava
Director
Maddy Mackintosh has worked at Parliament, in Ottawa, Ontario, as a political staffer for several summers. (Rhíanna Spencer-Moore / The Tribune)
Maika, U3 Arts), POTUS’s right-hand woman (otherwise known as the superior presidential choice); Jean (Gabrielle Germain, U3 Arts), his press secretary who is constantly de-escalating PR nightmares; and Chris (Dana Prather, U4 ArtSci), a has-been reporter struggling with a breast pump. The seven distinctive women are united by their exasperation with the POTUS’ inadequacy and sheer disregard for common sense.
POTUS by Selina Fillinger is originally a Broadway production that was adapted by Director Maddy Mackintosh (U3 Arts) and her crew at Tuesday Night Café Theatre (TNC). The team made adjustments in set design and
blocking to cater to the space and resources available with skillful ingenuity. The original performance features a revolving stage, with multiple sets for different offices of cabinet members. Unfortunately, McGill’s budget does not cover climate control— let alone a mechanical stage—so TNC created an innovative solution for set changes. Each set change featured a fade to black with an influx of party lights blasting pop songs; the audience was so busy jamming out to Chappell Roan that they barely noticed the set being refurbished. The crew continued thinking outside the box—literally—with the blocking to emphasize a moment where the chaos erupted to levels that could not be contained. Cast members scrambled through the audience, continuing the scene outside of the stage, extracting fits of laughter from the crowd. The visual appeal of the production extended seamlessly from the set to the costumes. Each character wore a bright and indicative costume that skirted the line of professionalism and absolute “cuntiness,” with Margaret’s bedazzled platform Crocs as one example.
The acting is not to be overshadowed by
the masterful set composition. The core of the dialogue was a back-and-forth flurry of quips, moving at a blistering pace. Every member of the cast executed their witticisms with practiced ease. The audience barely had time to get out a laugh before the next sardonic comment.
Actors walked the tightrope of satire and mockery like accomplished gymnasts. Maika and Germain were particularly complementary to one another, having some of the most auditorily satisfying repartees. A special mention to Maya Kanitkar, U3 Science, as Bernadette— the POTUS’s slightly unhinged sister, who not only gave every character bi-panic, but likely everyone in the audience as well.
Although POTUS may appear to be a guilty pleasure piece, it is anything but frivolous. Mackintosh deliberately scheduled the piece’s performance for November, following the recent U.S. election. In an interview with The Tribune, she expressed that she wanted, most of all, for the play to discourage apathy. It takes incredible skill to turn something sardonic into a positive motivator; satire can be harsh and gritty, but the sense of positivity and community displayed by the cast resonates both on and off the stage. When reality itself becomes a comedy, one might as well profit from it as entertainment.
Arts & Entertainment Editor Dana Prather performed the role of Chris in ‘POTUS’ and was not involved in the editing or publication of this article.
Jasjot Grewal Editor-in-Chief
Representation is power. Representation is a political act,” Kat Setzer, Director of Programming for image+nation’s 37th Festival Film LGBT2SQueer Montréal, told The Tribune
image+nation culture queer, a nonprofit dedicated to encouraging and nurturing 2SLGBTQIA+ culture and storytelling, kicked off their annual film festival on Nov. 20 with their opening night screening of Queer , Luca Guadagnino’s highly anticipated new work. The festival—which lasts until Nov. 30 and screens films across various Montreal theatres over the course of 10 days, alongside virtual screenings—platforms queer and trans filmmakers and stories, aiming to explore their individuality and universality. This year’s projects focus on Indigiqueer, Québecois, Canadian, and Acadian perspectives, among others.
“We know what’s going to be happening in the world in [...] the next four years, the erosion of our rights, and the attacks. I mean, it has already kind of started. So that’s the reason why a Queer Film Festival is important and essential,” Setzer said.
2024 short film Landfill by filmmaker Jess Lee, adapted from Anna Leventhal’s 2014 short story collection Sweet Afflic -
tion , is one of the 150 films the festival is screening. The film follows Alice (Moe Angelos), a lesbian elder who has been diagnosed with a terminal uterine tumour as a direct result of living close to and working at BGD Manufacturing, a local factory. Alice struggles to decide upon the legacy she wants to leave behind: Her legacy coach (Fariba Bonakdar) encourages her to become an organ donor and a documentary filmmaker (Sarah Levesque), enthralled with the story of capitalism’s dire environmental and health impacts, expresses interest in interviewing Alice to expose and hold accountable corporate greed.
“[Alice is] in a [long-term care home], considering her ideas of legacy amongst the community there,” Lee explained to The Tribune . “It just speaks to different notions of dying, aging, legacy, environment, capitalism.”
Alice does not want to solely blame BGD Manufacturing CEO (Gillian Doria) for her condition, citing she knows that “it’s much more than that.” In what is presumably some of her life’s final weeks and days, Alice puts on a faux inspirational persona for the documentary filmmaker, critiquing the media’s tendency to commodify tragedy.
Alice explains that when positive adjectives are paired with pain, they take on a whole new meaning. While joy is a positive feeling, the joyous torment that Alice
experiences depicts her melancholic approach to her final days, as she recalls her life’s accomplishments.
Alice talks directly to viewers while inching closer to death in her care room, shaking her dog’s collar while flashbacks to memories of walking her dog cut in and out of the screen.
image+nation recently revamped their website to expand their reach and traffic. ( image+nation)
“5,025 walks. 52 miles of floors mopped. 70 hours watching movie stars kiss. Three women who called me darling. Nine scars, 13 funerals, and so on,” Alice says, before giving the camera one final sombre smile.
As a queer elder, Alice’s story highlights the unique burdens placed on marginalized communities, who are often left most vulnerable to systemic neglect and environmental harm. Alice is both relatable and deeply compelling, with her queerness woven seamlessly into her identity rather than sensationalized or marginalized. While not the central conflict of the story, her queerness is intrinsic to her perspective, reminding audiences that queer lives are not only worth fighting for but also worth representing in
all their complexity.
Angelos’ stellar performance illustrates the beauty of life, transforming the mundane into profound markers of existence. From the day she first met the BGD CEO and thought to herself that it was remarkable the company had a woman CEO, to joking around with Ruth (Cat Lemieux), her new friend from her care unit, Alice never ceased to find and capture moments of sardonic joy. Her life served as a counterpoint to the corporate greed that dehumanized her and countless others. Alice is blunt, slightly mischievous, and ever-loveable—and her legacy is a life well-lived.
image+nation runs from Nov. 20Nov. 30 in Montreal theatres. Tickets are available at https://www.image-nation. org
Twelve Vacancies Film Festival plunges into the uncanny A sold-out screening
Siena Torres Contributor
Oof Canadian student-made short films entranced the audience
n Nov. 22, the second edition of Twelve Vacancies Film Festival (TVFF) ran its selections to a sold-out audience at 3475 rue Peel. The atmosphere was lively as the venue filled with local filmmakers, friends, family, and other audience members excited to view the short films. A group of volunteers and coordinators kept the crowd entertained with a selection of stickers and free popcorn—and by asking viewers for their Letterboxd “Four Favourites” to please the cinema nerd inside all of us.
TVFF is a non-profit, student-run festival that selects its programming through a student jury. Per its mis -
sion statement, the festival focuses on “screening the uncanny, experimental, and weird” with under-10-minute short films created by youth or student Canadian filmmakers. McGill student Amelia McCluskey, U3 Arts, has been the primary coordinator of the TVFF since its inception earlier this year.
The 12 chosen films ranged from a few one-minute-long experimental stylistic shorts to intense ten-minute character studies. Some of my personal standouts included “Tucker’s Puppets” by Jaida Sanada, a bizarre study on fear materialized through a televised puppet show. It features a hilarious plot point that shockingly involves the infamous Tucker Carlson. Another, “Over the Hatch” by Nevin Louie, is set in the Plateau, following the filmmaker and his roommates’ quest to access their apartment’s roof, told with effective dry and situational humour.
“Look” follows a lonely young girl who makes a new friend who may be too good to be true. In an interview with The Tribune , Georgia Acken, the 17-year-old actor and first-time director behind the work, expressed that her debut film has been received as more sobering and emotional than she had anticipated prior to the premiere. While first writing the script on a plane, she intended it to be firmly in the horror genre because she was fascinated with children in horror films. Creating the film was a collaborative effort, as she cast her little sister in the central role of Ellie
and filmed it on her family’s scenic property in British Columbia. Her work as an actress, particularly with women filmmakers, was instrumental in her filmmaking process for “Look.”
“It’s been so cool to watch them work, and I feel like I’ve learned so much from them about filmmaking […] and being the boss of your own creation,” Acken said.
“Ant Detective,” directed by Quinn Funk, a film production student at the University of British Columbia (UBC), kept the crowd very entertained with impeccable comedic timing. The short animated film follows a clueless detective who doesn’t realize that his magnifying glass may be the cause of the very trail of homicides he’s following. In an interview, Quinn revealed his animation style inspiration came from seeing storyboards of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse , where the animators used boxes for the background and would animate 2D characters in front. “Ant Detective” follows this by using a mix of paper drawings, animation, and real-life cinematography that blend into a unique visual style.
At the end of the screening, everyone in attendance voted for their favourite film of the night. The Fan Favourite
Award went to “Play Along” by Esandi Amarakoon, a local Montreal filmmaker. The surreal, inventive multi-media short film tells the story of a child dealing with the weariness they feel regarding their parent. Using a blend of animation and yarn, the film achieved a unique, visually stunning style. The ending left room for debates on its hopeful or melancholic potential.
Twelve Vacancies is an exciting new film festival for McGill and the larger Montreal cultural scene. As my first short-film festival, I left with a new appreciation for the medium and felt galvanized by the creativity that I saw to see more short films.
Twelve Vacancies Film Festival ran at 3475 Rue Peel on Nov. 22. TVFF will accept short film submissions in early 2025 for their next screening in the winter semester.
Putting the “pop” in pop rhetoric: Sounds of a parched summer
Is there a common link between some of the best songs of the summer?
KC Carder Contributor
Summer 2024 was great fun for pop music fans: Between Charli XCX’s groundbreaking album brat , the feud between rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake, and new releases from artists such as Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan, it is undeniable that this summer has seen a resurgence of excitement in pop music as a whole. Yet many of these pop songs share a crucial element that the public seems to overlook: The role of the beverage. Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso,” Addison Rae’s “Diet Pepsi,” and Chappell Roan’s “Red Wine Supernova” and “Coffee” all position a drink as the focal theme of the song.
This is not the first time that a drink has been a prominent part of a hit song. There have been numerous popular songs across genres that prominently feature a drink or the act of drinking: Deana Carter’s “Strawberry Wine” details a summer romance, and Rupert Holmes’ “Escape (The Piña Colada Song)” tells a silly story about a man bored of his relationship. However, this summer saw three songs related to non-alcoholic beverages topping the charts; while there are allusions to wine in “Coffee,” it is only for a line in
the chorus, with most of the focus being put on the titular beverage.
Is it all froth, or is there a deeper meaning brewing here? The fact that there are four top songs related to drinks hardly feels like a coincidence. It is apparent that, in each of these songs, the role of the drink is to act as a distinct metaphor. In “Espresso,” Carpenter uses drinking the caffeinated beverage as a metaphor for her charisma and allure, which allows her to stay on someone’s mind—she’s the caffeine that is keeping her partner awake. In “Coffee,” Roan explores grabbing coffee to reconnect with an old flame, with the point of the song being that anything further would risk a more intimate relapse. Both “Red Wine Supernova” and “Diet Pepsi” only refer to the titular drinks in their choruses, but they both centre the relationship between beverages and love, as well as acting as references to musical beverage consumption of the past. Roan’s “Red Wine Supernova” references the Oasis hit “Champagne Supernova,” and Rae’s “Diet Pepsi” tips its hat to the Lana Del Rey track “Diet Mountain Dew.”
Is there anything particular about the summer of 2024 that has us all, for lack of a better word, thirsty? It seems unlikely considering there’s a simpler explanation available: Having a drink, be it boozy or
non-alcoholic, is a very common experience. Coffee shops are a prime spot for people to hang out with their friends, study, or just get some energy for the day, with some people even incorporating a visit to their local cafe in the morning as a vital component of their daily routine. Similarly, bars act as a social place for all occasions, giving people a space to congregate while they have a drink or two after work or on the weekend. Soft drinks, particularly soda or pop, serve as a common drink choice for many during dinner. Ultimately, it is clear that beverages are tied to the day-to-day lives of millions, which makes it no surprise that songwriters would turn to the idea for their own songs.
So while it
would be funny to suggest that people have experienced a sudden burst of thirst, the truth of this phenomenon is more rooted in the beverage’s universalizing power, making it a prime target for metaphors. We can only wait and see if this trend of beverage-themed pop hits continues into summer 2025 or if it will go flat.
TVFF presented the screening in collaboration with CKUT and The Veg Magazine. (Quinn Funk / Twelve Vacancies)
(Georgia Acken / Twelve Vacancies)
Winter in Montréaland
What first-time students need to know to stay warm this winter
Geoffrey Nelson
Contributor
As we approach the frigid winter months, students from warmer climates who are spending their first winter in Canada may be wondering how to best prepare themselves.
Gearing oneself up for winter can be anxiety-inducing for many, from the high prices of apparel like winter coats to confusing labeling practices. Figuring out what is necessary is a personal journey, as everyone’s body reacts to the cold differently. Here are the five categories you should focus on to stay warm and cozy in spite of Montreal’s winter.
Head
Overlooking keeping your head warm is a common mistake. A solid piece of headwear can be the difference between a bearable and terrible hike to McMed. Hats, scarves, and balaclavas are good choices depending on the severity of the temperature. An ideal hat should cover your ears and forehead, as those areas get cold faster. When searching for the material, wool is the gold standard. Wool absorbs and releases up to 30 per cent of its weight in moisture, so it will keep you warm or cool depending on the weather.
Upper body
A good coat is crucial for both comfort and safety. There are three things to keep in mind when determining what coat to get. First, is the coat well-insulated? A quality coat will have an insulation type that can release moisture and retain heat. Generally speaking, wool, synthetic, and down insulation are the most common types of lining in coats. Down or down/synthetic coats can be a solid choice as the material is ultra-light and warm. Down coats are usually packed in a unit called “fill power” which is the volume in cubic inches that one ounce of down fills up. Aim for a fill power of 600-800.
The second question you want to ask is: What type of coat am I looking for? From parkas to fleece-lined jean jackets, it’s hard to know what the best choice is. Generally speaking, a
most of the winter, a good pair of pants should be sufficient. However, if you plan on skiing or skating this winter season, snow pants could be a worthwhile investment. Snow pants should always be water-repellent or waterproof. In the winter, getting wet can easily lead to frostbite or hypothermia. I would recommend getting a pair with suspenders; although they aren’t the most fashionable option, knowing that your pants won’t fall down when you’re moving around a lot is comforting.
Hands Often overlooked, your hands are some of the most important parts of a winter outfit. Cold fingers can genuinely spoil a good day. When choosing winter handwear, the mittens versus gloves debate can be fierce. They both have pros
ing the right pair of boots is very important. To keep solid footing, the sole of your boot should be rubber and have a traction-positive lug pattern. If the boot is waterproof, it will most likely be warm; there is not much reason to look for insulation. If the boot is leather or made of GoreTex, it will be 100 per cent waterproof. Choose a boot that rises to the middle of your shin to ensure that snow won’t get in when walking home from a night out at Gerts (reopening in January!)
Anahi Pellathy Contributor
BThis winter is expected to see the arrival of La Niña, a synonym of colder-than-usual temperatures. (Eliot Loose / The Tribune)
Paws and priorities: Navigating pet ownership in university
Pet ownership in university poses rewards, challenges, and trade-offs
etween the lure of companionship and the realities of student life, university pet ownership comes with emotional rewards—but also financial, logistical, and ethical challenges. Here’s what students had to say about the benefits and burdens of owning pets.
For many, pets provide essential emotional support. Kate Rood, U1 Arts, got her kitten, Princess Meow Meow, two months ago after a particularly difficult academic year.
“School was so stressful last year, I was like, ‘I need a therapy animal,’” Rood said in an interview with The Tribune “She’s really comforting.”
While the emotional rewards of pet ownership are undeniable, students like Rajan Duncan, U1 Arts, urge students to consider the significant responsibilities that come with caring for an animal.
“If you’re not prepared to commit yourself to that type of emotional relationship, or the costs that that relationship entails, then it’s wrong to get a pet,” he said in an interview with The Tribune
On a similar note, Lyna Rochdi, U2 Arts, said pets can benefit mental health, but students must consider their ability to provide proper care. She recommends the therapy dogs at the Student Wellness Hub for those seeking emotional support without the commitment of pet ownership.
Besides ownership, other options such as fostering are available. Avigail Friedman, U3 Arts, has been fostering cats
cess, and she received cats a few days later.
Friedman, who lives alone, also said her cats offer a sense of companionship around the apartment. Beyond personal benefits, she finds fostering rewarding because she can help cats from difficult circumstances.
The lack of stability in student life seemed to be a common obstacle to getting a pet. Despite her positive experience fostering, Friedman expressed that she isn’t ready to adopt.
ownership right now. Her frequent travel would make consistent care impossible.
Even students who already own pets acknowledge these challenges. Rood shared that her cat prevented her from doing an exchange semester, but will not hinder her mobility after graduation.
“I’m just going to take her with me,” she said. “She’s going to have to follow me wherever I go.”
Additionally, several students cited financial constraints as a possible deterrent.
According to Global News, the average monthly cost of owning a cat in Canada is $80 to $200 CAD. Initial costs range from $1,875 to $3,345 CAD in the first year, straining student budgets.
“It is definitely a privilege to own a pet,” Rochdi said. “It takes a lot of resources to care for yourself and another being.”
While the fostering organization provided some items for her cats, Friedman said she covers food and litter.
“I like to think of it like a hobby,” she explained. “Instead of spending money on some hobby, I’m spending it on the cats in my home.”
According to the 2024-2025 McGill Residence Handbook, pets are prohibited from McGill residences unless a student has obtained permission from Student Accessibility & Achievement to keep a service animal. Additionally, many student apartments in Montreal do not allow pets.
For instance, Rood said her apartment complex initially did not allow pets. However, she decided to go forward with getting a cat anyway.
“I ended up talking to my landlord, and luckily, she was like, the biggest cat mom in the world. She said the cat was so cute and that it was okay,” Rood shared.
Ultimately, Rood maintains that pet ownership is feasible for students, as long as they understand the responsibilities and costs it entails.
“In university, you get your first taste of independence, and having to care for an animal all the time kind of takes that away a little bit,” she said. “But I would do it 10 times over again. I love this cat.”
My mom ran for Congress. This is what I learned The home life
Helene Saleska Contributor
Fbehind the American election cycle
or the last four years, my mom has been running for Congress in Tucson, Arizona. She started her political journey in the state legislature when I was 11. When she first ran for Congress, she lost by such a narrow margin that many asked her to run again; so she did. Her race this time was one of the closest and most high-profile in the country, as it could have been one of the four seats needed by Democrats to gain a majority in the House of Representatives.
I came to McGill a year and a half ago, far from where American politics run both my parents’ lives. While most people know about the presidential elections, few know the nitty-gritty of the campaigns behind them.
My biggest takeaways from watching a congressional campaign behind the scenes are how gruelling the work is, how constrained candidates are in what they can say or do to appeal to voters, please their own party, and prevent an avalanche of spending against them, and most importantly, how almost everything in American politics is about money—a whopping $36 million USD was spent in my mom’s race by both sides.
Every time I accompanied my mom
to an event, people were excited to meet the candidate’s daughter. They recognized me from her TV ads, asking “Aren’t you proud of your mom? Isn’t she cool? Are you going to run for office like her?”
But I just see her as my mom. At home, she is loving, caring, and quirky. She doesn’t understand technology or pop culture, she hates scary movies, laughs easily, sings or hums when she walks around the house, and loves to accumulate a ridiculous number of houseplants. She’s smart, and very opinionated, having worked as an environmental lawyer before politics.
But this isn’t who she is during the campaign. Her fiery candidate persona is like a superhero alter ego, albeit one constrained by her consultants and the “D-triple-C” (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee). They told her reproductive rights were her strongest issue— crucial because abortion care in Arizona is abysmal—despite water and climate issues being her professional strength. In the state legislature, she championed bipartisan progressive criminal justice reform, which she was discouraged from mentioning in the campaign because her opponent was accusing her of wanting to defund the police. I noticed she was also overly cautious when speaking on controversial topics, like Israel’s siege on
Gaza. This was a point of contention in our household: I wanted her to speak out more strongly against it.
The conservative district also played a role. She was asked in an interview once, “Is there a crisis on the border?” She answered “No,” and followed it with a thorough answer about the need for more officers to process asylum-seeking migrants, and the need to secure the border from drug and human trafficking. But her opponent clipped her saying “No,” and ran it in a TV ad, making his whole campaign against her about that one word. The political system is so inflated with money—which mostly goes to TV hit ads—that it pushes candidates to be centrist and robotic.
I flew home to Arizona for her (and the presidential) election night. Initially, energy was high, but as the night wore on, the ambiance took a plunge. First North Carolina went for Trump, and then the rest of the swing states, one by
one. We were all in shock, but my mom’s race took a week to finish being counted. She was ahead on election night, but little by little, her opponent surpassed her, winning the election in the Trump wave that swept the nation.
It’s incredibly disappointing. Her campaign was exciting and important, and she could have done so much as a congresswoman. Looking back, I feel she was squeezed into a mold that the party had for her, one which flattened her into something much less nuanced and certainly less interesting than she is.
The Montreal Vegan Festival showcases veganism beyond the plate
Annual festival ate once again
Louis Terrien & Contributor
The Montreal Vegan Festival is an event celebrated not only for its culinary experience, but also for its invitation to rethink our approaches to food, beverages, and even fashion, all while supporting local entrepreneurs. From Nov. 9 to 10, the Grand Quai du Port de Montréal hosted this immersive experience into the world of veganism, where speakers shared insightful speeches about their journey. Contrary to common misconceptions, veganism isn’t just about food, and neither is the festival; rather, the event highlights veganism as a lifestyle centred on sustainability that pertains to a broad range of products and choices. Through conferences, culinary workshops, tastings, and local initiatives, the festival introduced attendees to the vegan lifestyle.
This year, the festival gave the floor to two spokespeople: Marie-Michelle Chouinard and Lloyd Rose. Known as Une Maman Végane on Instagram, Chouinard shares vegan recipes and her journey as a vegan mom and food lover with her followers. Through her blog, cookbook, and strong social media presence, Chouinard has made a name for herself in the vegan world. Rose, a famous vegan chef, author of Crazy Good Vegan, and creator of Plantcrazii, joined Chouinard for a cooking demo.
The festival also welcomed many exhibitors looking to promote their products. This year, over 100 stands offered vegan food and drink samples, as well as vegan cosmetics, clothing, and tattoos—even the Communauté
du Droit animalier Québec (DAQ) presented its services.
Notably, while all of the products sold were vegan, veganism wasn’t the primary concern for all vendors. For example, Ah! Tout Cru dans le bec commercializes organic raw walnut butters and recipes to incorporate them in daily meals. Company representative Philippe Rhinan talked to The Tribune about how the products’ veganism was a happy accident, not a primary goal .
“[Our product] happened to be vegan,” Rhinan said. “I realized that I didn’t engage with the vegan community when they’re the ones who need germinated seeds and nuts, [so] my battle is to make [our product] as available
as possible.”
Ariane Boudreau, a representative for Dr. Mist, a natural multi-use deodorant and topical antihistamine, also elaborated on her company’s vision of veganism.
“Vegan people are really cautious about what they eat, but [veganism is also about] what you put on your body. Deodorant plays a role [in that sense],” she stated in an interview with The Tribune. “Because we produce something that fits with vegan people’s values, I think that we belong [in the Festival], and it attracts customers as well.”
Imagine fresh vegetables and fruits growing on the rooftops of Montreal, just steps away from your apartment: That’s exactly
what Lufa Farms does. From an ecological standpoint, the heat saved from the offices below reduces their energy consumption by 50 per cent compared to traditional ground-level greenhouses.
Constantin Schlumberger, a Lufa Farms team member, explained how their online service is truly time-saving—especially for busy students.
“I can enjoy a beer with friends, pick up my phone, place an order using my favourites list, and have it delivered to my home the next day,” he said.
This eco-conscious approach is also budget-friendly, making it perfect for students: The company offers 30 per cent off your first four orders, including a free tote bag. With just a few clicks, you can stock your fridge with fresh and locally sourced products, all from the comfort of your home. Lufa Farms’ model of responsible consumption illustrates the impact of small and medium-sized companies within a short food circuit.
The festival also enabled consumers to directly engage with producers, something rarely possible when buying products that have travelLed thousands of miles.
“When [people] come to the festival, they see where the products come from, and build trust,” Schlumberger shared about traceability.
The Montreal Vegan Festival is an excellent place to take your first step into the world of veganism. With surprising wonders and flavours all around, the festival helps attendees learn about how to be vegan and realize how veganism is everywhere—even beyond your plate!
Interviews were translated from French.
I participated in a campaign ad for my mom. (Emiko Kamiya / The Tribune)
La Cabane à Tuque, a restaurant offering vegan alternatives to the traditional quebecois fare, hosted a stand at the Festival. (Mia Helfrich / The Tribubune)
Auxane Bussac Student Life Editor
McGill Robotics team engineers innovation from the ground up— literally
The seas, skies, and even Mars—McGill Robotics has it all
Russel Ismael
Contributor
McGill clubs are no strangers to design and innovation, with the Faculty of Engineering hosting countless engineering teams. From concrete canoes to rockets, students have many avenues to exercise their creativity. One such team, McGill Robotics, offers students the chance to translate their mechanical fantasies into reality.
McGill Robotics is composed of three subteams—the drone, Mars rover, and autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) groups—and a university outreach program called ‘RoboHacks,’ a robotics competition where a group is given a time limit to craft their own robot.
In an interview with The Tribune, the Robotics team’s senior members explained the nuances of running an ensemble as multifaceted as theirs.
“We are building a hybrid VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) drone, so it can hover and also fly like a fixed-wing plane,” Emma Sinasac, U4 Mechanical Engineering and a project manager for the drone subteam, explained. “Our main competition goals are to fly to waypoints autonomously, find objects on the ground using computer vision, and drop a small payload on those objects.”
The drone design has been iterated on for two years, with their current drone—affectionately named Flappy—being sent to the Student
Unmanned Aerial Systems Competition in June 2025.
The Mars rover group, co-headed by Tina Zhang, U3 Electrical Engineering, will also compete in the Canadian International Rover Competition. At the competition, Zhang explained that they will pick up payloads, perform “rescue missions,” and traverse certain terrain.
“Uniquely in the Mars Rover [subteam], we have a science division as well. We perform soil sample analyses to determine, depending on the [competition] year, signs of life or whether there have been kerosene spills,” Zhang said.
Zhang also said that their rover Galileo boasts one of the fastest drive systems amongst the competitors, and her team is still making speed-altering enhancements.
Like Zhang, Celina Belleville, U2 Mechanical Engineering and AUV project manager, is also no stranger to innovation. The AUV team’s Douglas vehicle was completely redesigned last school year in anticipation of the RoboSub competition.
“The competition itself takes place in a pool, and there’s a variety of different tasks,” Belleville explained. “Last year, we tried to achieve the buoy tasks, which [involved] identifying objects underwater and using [Douglas’] own software system to find, locate, and then travel to certain locations.”
Belleville also said that the AUV team is planning to incorporate torpedo and grabber
systems for this year’s competition.
Despite each subteam having different goals, they emphasize collaboration across teams. Adrien Moulin, U4 Computer Science and a team captain, highlighted how interconnected their work is.
“Even if the projects all work for a very specific goal for their robot, we enforce some kind of standardization,” Moulin said. “When we do a design review, or even just through the daily work sessions, people share a lot of knowledge.”
Martin Paiva, U3 Electrical Engineering and one of the team captains, further explained why continuous advancement is one of their leading philosophies.
“The whole point of a design team is to teach new students things we’d never see in class. If we build the same robot every year over and over again, no one would learn anything,” Paiva said.
Above all, enthusiasm trumps all aspects when it comes to the Robotics team.
“One of the team mantras is ‘Team Before Machine,’” Moulin stated. “It’s the idea that when you join the team, you’re not just adding a line to your CV—you’re going to get trained and learn something, and the team is going to be there for you to bring your knowl-
edge. That’s why everyone can join, as long as they’re willing to learn.”
McGill Robotics believes their focus on ‘team before machine’ is one of the group’s selling points to newcomers.
“You’re not just joining a team, you’re not only going to discover robotics, you’re going to make friends, and that is what we want to encourage,” Paiva said.
16th annual McGill Global Health Night: Advancing global health
Exploring equity, innovation, and collaboration in global health
Naiya Patel Contributor
What does it take to achieve health equity in a world marked by systemic inequities and global crises?
The McGill Department of Global and Public Health held its 16th annual McGill Global Health Night on Nov. 21 to help explore this question. Students, professors, and global health workers presented their findings and perspectives on equitable approaches in clinical research settings and public health.
Global Health Programs Update
The event began with a student poster session and welcome remarks, followed by an update from Madhukar Pai, Inaugural Chair of McGill’s Department of Global and Public Health.
“How do you teach global health to young people in the midst of polycrises, and how do you give them any hope at the end of that class?” Pai said in his talk.
Despite these challenges, Pai finds hope in the resilience and determination of young people. He explained the dedication of McGill students is evident, along with the institution’s commitment to empowering them through initiatives like the Global Health Scholars Program and a new bachelor’s program in population and global health, set to launch in 2026.
Pai believes that through support and investment in youth, McGill can foster a new generation committed to advancing global
health and equity.
Importance of Global Health and McGill’s Contributions
The event also featured insights from Victor J. Dzau, President of the US National Academy of Medicine and Chair of the SPGH International Advisory Board, who highlighted the critical importance of addressing global health inequities through innovation, collaboration, and equitable access to care.
Reflecting on his experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dzau highlighted collaborative efforts to address urgent health challenges, such as equitable vaccine distribution.
“No matter what our challenges are, health is a universal human right to everyone, regardless of income, status, geography, et cetera,” Dzau said in his talk.
Dzau highlighted the need to bridge the equity gap and improve access to medical innovations, emphasizing McGill’s role in uniting young people to advance global health equity. He acknowledged McGill’s legacy, spotlighting figures like Joanne Liu and Madhukar Pai for their continuous efforts for health equity.
Uprooting Health Inequities
The evening concluded with a powerful keynote from Oni Blackstock, the Founder and Executive Director of the consulting firm Health Justice, whose talk focused on tackling systemic inequities and fostering inclusive approaches to global health.
Blackstock highlighted a quote that she
resonates strongly with: Epidemics don’t happen in isolation; they emerge along the fissures of our society and reflect patterns of marginalization, exclusion, and discrimination. This quote was from Mary Bassett, former New York City and New York State health commissioner.
Sharing insights from her career, Blackstock detailed a collaborative approach to creating transformative change in communities disproportionately impacted by healthcare inequities. Her experience in working with HIV patients facing discrimination set the trajectory for the rest of her career.
Blackstock highlighted the systemic barriers that grassroots organizations, particularly those led by marginalized groups, face in accessing funding. For example, many of these organizations operate from homes rather than formal office spaces and rely on mutual aid and crowdsourcing instead of maintaining annual budgets. Funding opportunities often require applicants to meet criteria that favour wellestablished organizations, leaving smaller, community-based groups—often serving the
most impacted populations—unable to qualify. She showcased her efforts to reimagine these funding processes, prioritizing capacity building and inclusivity.
Finally, Blackstock stressed the importance of building meaningful relationships with community-based organizations to foster bi-directional engagement in global health. Her talk served as a powerful reminder of the need for equity-driven solutions that empower communities and tackle structural barriers head-on.
Overall, Global Health Night celebrated the achievements of McGill’s students, faculty, and alumni in advancing global health equity. The annual event demonstrates the university’s work towards fostering inclusive solutions for urgent health challenges.
One of Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics state that a robot cannot allow a human to come to harm. ( Zoe Lee / The Tribune )
By 2019, despite early progress, universal health coverage (UHC) had stalled, with 4.5 billion people still lacking full access to essential health services. ( Daniel Pyo / The Tribune )
Ketones: The key to enhanced muscle growth and synthesis
Exploring the potential of ketone monoesters to boost muscle growth
Daniel Pyo Staff Writer
Protein shakes and pre-workout supplements have been shown to be effective for muscle recovery and building. However, there are a number of ongoing research endeavours to explore a new class of chemical structures that could forge revolutionary pathways for muscle growth through ketone monoesters.
Given the abundance of existing protein supplements such as whey protein, what makes ketone monoesters significant?
Sarkis Hannaian, a PhD candidate in McGill’s Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, is studying the “mammalian target of rapamycin” (mTOR)—a molecule within the body that regulates metabolism-related processes. Despite mTOR’s diverse roles in different cells, Hannaian’s research centres on its impact on protein function, specifically within skeletal muscle cells, which are fundamental to muscle development during exercise and everyday activities.
As an important signaling molecule in cellular development, mTOR functions as a master switch that regulates cell growth and protein synthesis, and is crucial for muscle development and repair. Hannaian’s study showcased how different nutrients, like ketone monoester and whey protein, affect the activity and position of mTOR within muscle cells.
“This molecule helps us understand how ketones affect and ultimately enhance muscle
growth and recovery,” Hannaian explained during an interview with The Tribune mTOR activity is negatively regulated by proteins such as TSC2, which belongs to the tuberous sclerosis complex and acts as an inhibitor. TSC2, when active, works like a brake on mTOR, preventing the protein synthesis that mTOR usually promotes. Without TSC2 inhibition, mTOR is unable to effectively stimulate protein synthesis in muscle cells, thereby slowing down muscle growth and repair.
Dietary supplements, such as whey protein, can decrease TSC2 activity, which normally inhibits mTOR. Consuming whey protein triggers the release of amino acids that activate pathways to deactivate TSC2. This deactivation boosts mTOR activity and, consequently, promotes protein production and muscle growth.
In the case of ketone monoesters, on the other hand, the body metabolizes them directly into energy, especially when carbohydrate intake is low. This means they can serve as a fast-acting, alternative energy source that influences mTOR signalling.
“The ingestion of ketones through this ketone monoester drink can help dissociate mTOR from its negative regulator,” Hannaian said.
Research suggests that five hours after ingesting ketone supplements, participants showed improved mTOR activity in muscles, especially when combined with whey protein. This combination enhanced mTOR activity by reducing the inhibitory effect of TSC2, the
( Ryan Dvorak / The Tribune )
protein that normally regulates mTOR. Consequently, this could enhance muscle growth and repair by stimulating protein synthesis.
Despite the potential benefits, the longterm consequences of ingesting ketones remain unknown. Hannaian’s ongoing research seeks to determine how short-term ketone exposure affects muscle activity and signalling, with the eventual goal of understanding its long-term health implications.
Cost is another significant limitation to the study. A single dose of ketone monoester supplements can range from $40 to $80 CAD, making them financially inaccessible for many. Despite the high expenses, supplementation might be essential for anyone undertaking rigorous endurance workouts or struggling to build muscle naturally.
This approach could be particularly beneficial for populations like the elderly, who often
face muscle atrophy due to reduced physical activity and accessibility issues.
“In five days, you could lose up to a kilogram of muscle, and it takes approximately three to four months to regain this amount with exercise, but often it takes longer in older adults due to decreased metabolic activities,” Hannaian said.
Hannaian plans to continue advocating for research in this field by conducting further studies on patients who could benefit from the newly proposed supplement methods. He also aims to investigate how other chemical analogues, like omega-3 fatty acids, affect muscle protein synthesis.
For athletes and aging adults alike, this molecule represents a potentially exciting frontier. Combining protein with ketones may be a game-changer in fueling muscle growth, recovery, and overall performance.
From the Arctic to freshwater lakes: Diving into aquatic microbial diversity
McGill’s Barrett Lab in the Department of Biology hosts a talk on microbiomes
Samathar Senso Staff Writer
On Nov. 21, McGill’s Barrett Lab hosted a public talk, “Ecology and evolution of aquatic microbiomes: from inland lakes to the Arctic Ocean,” as part of the Conservation, Ecology, Evolution & Behaviour (CEEB) research initiative. In this event, David Walsh, professor in Concordia’s Department of Biology, presented his research on aquatic microbial diversity in both marine and freshwater ecosystems.
To begin, Walsh discussed the importance of his research, noting the scale at which microbes permeate our ecosystems and dominate all other living organisms in terms of population size and total living biomass.
“Plants are still a winner as far as biomass [alone] goes, but most of the biomass of trees is dead, such as cellulose [and] structural polymers, so thinking about living biomass, it’s really the microorganisms,” Walsh explained in his talk.
Overall, microorganisms play a critical role in maintaining a healthy aquatic ecosystem, from phytoplankton generating organic matter for the rest of the food web to bacteria and archaea involved in the recycling of that organic matter. This interconnected cycle highlights how microbial diversity is at the very heart of aquatic ecosystems and directly impacts every level of the food web.
Microbial Diversity of Arctic Marine Ecosystems
Walsh then focused on microbial diversity in the Arctic Ocean. Despite being Earth’s smallest ocean, little data is available on the microbial communities present in the Arctic Oceaneven as the region is undergoing rapid physical and chemical shifts due to climate change.
Increases in global temperatures are causing a decrease in Arctic sea ice extent and permafrost distribution while increasing river discharge, all leading to potentially negative changes in Arctic ecosystems.
“One of our guiding questions is: How will Arctic microbes respond to such changes in the marine and terrestrial ecosystems? Since we have very little fundamental knowledge on what organisms are found in the Arctic Ocean, we have to start assessing the diversity before we can answer these questions about change,” Walsh explained.
To assess current microbial diversity in the Arctic, Walsh and his team at Walsh Lab joined the Joint Ocean Ice Study cruise, a yearly research expedition that surveys the Arctic Ocean.
One major finding was the unique physical structure of the Arctic Ocean water column compared to other oceans. Their research found that the Arctic Ocean has more water salinity stratification, meaning that various depths of water have distinct salinity levels. This creates unique microbial habitats at each depth.
These expeditions allowed for the creation of one of the first metagenomic catalogs of the Arctic Ocean with over 600 bacterial metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), which are collections of genes from microorganism com-
munities.
Microbial Diversity of Freshwater Ecosystems in Canada
Walsh then moved on to discussing freshwater ecosystems in Canada. Despite freshwater lakes being some of the most common and important ecosystems in the country, their microbiomes remain underexplored.
In addition to the effects of climate change, freshwater lakes in Canada face the impacts of agriculture and urban development, such as salinization from road salts, antibiotic accumulation from wastewater treatments, and pesticides. Walsh’s research on freshwater ecosystems focuses on microbial diversity resulting from these environmental stressors.
Nearly 20 per cent of the world’s surface freshwater is found in Canada. ( Ariella Morgan / The Tribune )
To study this event, Walsh and his team joined the Lake Pulse Network, a nationwide survey on over 600 Canadian lakes to study how much Canadian lakes are changing due to human activity.
One of the main observations was the impact of human activity on freshwater salinization and potentially on antibiotic resistance, with over 400 antibiotic resistance genes from human and veterinary antibiotic use found across various freshwater lakes.
“We found that highly urbanized systems
have microbial communities that are adapted to that, and where they are most adapted or influential is in their biodiversity [of xenobiotics—foreign chemical substances like pesticides],” Walsh noted.
Microbial diversity is essential to maintaining our current ecosystems, but to be able to adequately understand the impact human activity has on microbiomes, researchers need to accurately and comprehensively map the current microbial landscape.
“This is just an exploratory study looking at natural distributions [of arctic and freshwater microbiomes], and it begs for experimental studies to be performed,” Walsh acknowledged.
