Canada and McGill must confront their roles in eco-racism against Indigenous peoples
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FEATURE
Where Did All the Whimsy Go?
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY PGS. 8-9
From mountains to oceans: Climate change and ecosystem dynamics
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Protestors and Concordia University security clash at SPHR rally
Students continue to pressure McGill administration to meet demands of divestment
Shani Laskin Managing Editor
Astudent rally in support of Palestine resulted in tense interactions between protestors and Concordia University security on Sept. 12. The rally was organized in conjunction between chapters of Students for Palestine’s Honour and Re-
sistance (SPHR) at McGill and Concordia—formerly known as Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights—and Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) Montreal. It began in front of the Arts Building at McGill and proceeded to various buildings at Concordia where it was met by tens of security officers.
At 1 p.m., nearly 100 protestors met and engaged in call-andresponse chants to condemn Israel’s siege on Gaza and McGill’s
Law faculty union suspends its strike on Friday, resumes on Monday
McGill maintains its court case against AMPL’s certification
Ghazal Azizi
Contributor
The Association of McGill Professors of Law (AMPL) has been periodically on strike since April 24, 2024. The union, which represents tenured and tenuretrack professors at the Faculty of Law, received its certification in November 2022, after
a year-long legal battle with McGill at Quebec’s Tribunal administratif du travail (TAT).
After more than a year at the bargaining table, McGill and AMPL have yet to arrive at a collective agreement (CA) and the university continues to challenge the union’s certification with an appeal case at the TAT.
On Sept. 12, AMPL an-
nounced that it had suspended its strike to extend “an olive branch” to the university and would return to work on the condition that McGill drop its judicial review of AMPL’s certification by Sunday, Sept. 15. Since the university has decided to maintain its case against the union, AMPL has resumed its strike, effective Sept. 16.
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response to student mobilization in recent months. Some slogans explicitly called out McGill President Deep Saini with protestors chanting, “Deep Saini, pick a side: justice or genocide.”
In a speech made to attendees, Alex*, a representative of SPHR at McGill, said the rally was a response to a call to action from National Students for Justice in Palestine which included picketing classes on campus.
Canada and McGill must confront their roles in ecoracism against Indigenous peoples
The Tribune Editorial Board
As the climate crisis steadily worsens in Canada, so do the livelihoods and environments of Indigenous peoples who bear the disproportionate brunt of its effects. Climate change is eroding both access to resources and foundations of Indigenous tradition, ritual,
and history. These impacts on Indigenous communities are not incidental. They stem directly from systemic eco-racism, perpetuated by blatant disregard for Indigenous ownership of land and self-determination, as well as Canada’s prioritization of fossil fuel companies, infrastructure projects, and large public institutions such as McGill.
McGill prides itself on
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its cutting-edge sustainability models and practices, such as its carbon offset program, green roof agriculture, and an online sustainability module. The latest and most ostentatious claim to sustainability is McGill’s New Vic Project— an $870 million CAD renovation of the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) to extend McGill’s STEM and research facilities.
(Bruno Cotler / The Tribune), PG. 3
Law faculty union suspends its strike on Friday, resumes on Monday McGill maintains its court case against AMPL’s certification
Ghazal Azizi Contributor
Continued from page 1.
In August, the university filed a request for arbitration, which Minister of Labour Jean Boulet granted, appointing Maître Jean Allard. After the appointment of an arbitrator, each side must choose an assessor—an advisor who works with the arbitrator—and have a premeeting with Allard. If the arbitrator concludes that there is no possibility of a resolution, then Allard would order interest arbitration—a formal court process at which point any ongoing strike must end. However, the union believes that McGill’s request for arbitration is driven by an intent to de-accredit the union.
“The wheels of justice turn very slowly,” AMPL Vice President Kirsten Anker said in an interview with The Tribune. “If McGill was hoping to use arbitration as a shortcut to ending the strike without making any concessions to us, that plan is not going to happen [...], which, of course, means that the semester will be at risk by that stage.”
According to Anker, when the university failed to attend a scheduled negotiation meeting during the summer, AMPL offered to forego a strike and accept arbitration on the CA’s monetary issues if McGill ended its judicial review case. AMPL believes the university’s ongoing challenge to its certification is an attempt to drain the union’s funds and morale rather than overturning the TAT’s decision, given they find McGill’s chances of winning the appeal to be low.
“There are different ways to win in a legal battle and this is what we think the judicial review campaign is about, to either win outright
on the law or continue with appeals and challenges [...] that would exhaust us,” Anker said.
In solidarity with AMPL, representatives from the Canadian Association of University Teachers, the Association of Graduate Students Employed at McGill, and Concordia University Professional Employees Union attended and spoke at the union’s rally on Sept. 11 in front of the James Administration Building. At the rally, AMPL Secretary Richard Janda reissued the union’s offer from the summer.
“We accept arbitration on all monetary matters so [they] are off the table if you accept our existence. Accept our existence, stop this proceeding before the courts and let’s put into a collective agreement all the non-monetary matters we’ve agreed upon,” Janda said in his speech.
“This isn’t about money, folks [....] This is about governance. This is about trying to make the university again a collegial institution.”
The union says “the humanitarian suspension” of its strike, which they announced the day after the rally, arose as a goodwill gesture that the union is open to returning to work and as an attempt to draw attention to its offer.
“We reissued the offer on the understanding that if it’s not accepted by noon on Sunday, then we’ll go back on strike,” Janda said. “So it’s partly [...] adjusted towards the administration. It’s also adjusted towards students because in particular, there are some time-sensitive processes [such as] getting forms in for graduate students, contracts for research assistants and setting them up with work.”
Shortly after the clock struck noon, on Sunday, Sept.15, AMPL announced through their social media chan-
nels that its strike’s hiatus had expired, given the university had disregarded the union’s offer.
“The things that we cared about were refused,” Anker said. “So they did not agree to abandon their judicial review. The only thing that they did offer was to have an expedited [...] schedule with the arbitrator.”
In an earlier statement to The Tribune on Sept.13, the McGill Media Relations Office (MRO) expressed content with AMPL’s decision to suspend its strike and said the university is eager to discuss the union’s concerns in the presence of the arbitrator. However, in response to The Tribune’s request for an explanation on why the university had yet to drop its judicial review case against AMPL, the MRO restated the university’s ongoing stance that a single-faculty union is too small of a bargaining unit.
“McGill counts more than 1,700 professors whose appointment, tenure, salary, sabbatical leaves, and retirement are subject to the same regulations. If subsets as small as 42 or so professors, as in AMPL’s case, unionize and negotiate collective agreements, we could see over a dozen new unions join McGill’s current 16,” the MRO wrote in an email.
“Labour relations at McGill would become unmanageably complex, cumbersome, and costly. [...] Challenging the description of AMPL’s bargaining unit is not about opposing the unionization of professors. It is about protecting the future of McGill as an equitable and unionized employer,” the MRO continued.
The MRO also stressed McGill’s efforts to mitigate the strike’s effects on the student body and named some of its measures to ensure law students can complete their fall semesters.
“The Dean of Law [...] has been holding weekly Zoom sessions so that he and the Associate Dean (Academic) can take live questions from students and receive their concerns,” the MRO wrote. “Public information and measures
we’ve taken are also posted on a dedicated webpage. Other measures taken included working with the Registrar’s office on ways to extend the add/drop period, allowing for late payment of fees without penalty, and providing optional sessions offered by the Dean and alumni.”
Anker told The Tribune that Provost and Executive Vice-President (Academic), Christopher Manfredi is now the negotiation lead on McGill’s end. To Anker, this is a hopeful sign that a resolution may be on the horizon.
She also reiterated that in any strike or labour dispute, third parties are the most affected.
“Strikes are inconvenient,” Anker said. “That is the only power lever that unions have against their employers, and there are always third parties who are affected. And we feel that, and we know that it’s just [about] the minimization.”
Anker touched on the community’s concerns that the union’s strike has had impacts on incoming and returning law students. She stressed that AMPL’s negotiations with McGill will pave the way for other faculty unions..
“Students don’t necessarily understand the full picture of this yet, if they’re just focusing on the narrow [...] legal arguments,” Anker said. “You can lose a litigation, but win in a broader strategic sense, and getting parties to spend money and time and energy on something is part of the strategy.”
“If [students think] that it’s going to stop at the lower level court, perhaps they’ve misunderstood what the project is here, because it’s not going to stop there on the McGill side. [....] And if, by any chance, we fall on a judge who doesn’t understand labour law, or [one who] sympathizes with McGill, then that’s the end of our union movement,” Anker continued. “Framing [the strike] as [...] inconveniencing students [...] as if it’s some minor thing [...] misrepresents what’s at stake here.”
In solidarity with AMPL, representatives from the Canadian Association of University Teachers, the Association of Graduate Students Employed at McGill, and Concordia University Professional Employees Union attended and spoke at the union’s rally on Sept. 11. (Drea Garcia Avila / The Tribune)
(Drea Garcia Avila / The Tribune)
Protestors and Concordia University security clash at SPHR rally Students continue to pressure McGill administration to meet demands of divestment
Shani Laskin Managing Editor
Continued from page 1.
“We are here to remind Saini, [McGill Deputy Provost Fabrice] Labeau, and [McGill Interim Deputy Provost Angela] Campbell that there will be no business or classes as usual during a genocide,” Alex
told the crowd. “The student movement has emerged out of this summer, stronger, more united, and more resilient. So to our administration, we tell you, remember, the power is with us [...] and until we achieve full liberation and victory, long live the student intifada.”
Around 1:40 p.m., the group began making their way to Concordia’s Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Integrated Complex. There, tensions between protestors and Concordia University security guards bubbled as protestors continued chanting against the blockaded doors.
After about 15 minutes, as the group moved to the Henry F. Hall Building, a group of security guards ran past to intercept them. Protestors began to run to get ahead of the security officers. Inside the building, chants of “cops off cam -
pus” echoed through the lobby as protestors tried to get past the security officer who blocked the escalators. Some protestors climbed over the escalator railing, forcing the guard to give in and ushering a wave of protestors to the second floor.
Protestors remained in the building for about 10 minutes, before going back outside to unveil a large banner which read “Dear McGill, you repress the students. This is how we respond: long live the student intifada.” Around 2:45 p.m., organizers dispersed the rally.
In a statement to The Tribune , Independent Jewish Voices McGill (IJV) condemned the continuous on-site police presence at pro-Palestine protests.
“Last Thursday, members of Concordia security called the police immediately on discovery of a picket that was disrupting class, and worked in tandem with the SPVM upon their arrival,” IJV wrote. “This continues a pattern of collaboration and militarization on our campuses that deeply endangers the student body. Universities like McGill and Concordia have claimed to care about creating ‘safe’ spaces for students, while simultaneously inviting police brutality onto campus.”
After McGill ordered the dismantling of the Palestine Solidarity Encampment in July, Saini wrote that the Board of Governors (BoG) Committee on Sustainability and Social Responsibility (CSSR) would
“explore the question of divestment from direct investments in companies that derive a dominant portion of their direct revenues from the production of military weapons, regardless of the countries in which they operate.” To this end, McGill Secretary-General Edyta Rogowska sent an email on Sept. 11 with a webform for students and staff to offer their opinions on the question of divestment. The CSSR is expected to present their findings to the BoG in December 2024.
“McGill is moving forward on a range of measures that reflect our community’s challenges over the last year,” McGill’s Media Relations Office wrote to The Tribune . “All submissions will be read and carefully considered by the Board of Governors’ Committee on Sustainability and Social Responsibility and treated in the strictest confidence.”
For some organizers on campus, this step is too little, too late.
“The email that was sent out [...] is redundant after a year of students making their demands heard clearly,” Alex said in an interview with The Tribune . “Our demand for divestment is simple and achievable through already established processes. McGill could divest tomorrow if they chose to.”
*Alex’s name has been changed to preserve their anonymity.
Attendees speak to the power of art to effect political change Suppart Collective hosts art showcase in support of the Mohawk Mothers
Fabienne de Cartier News Editor
Singers, poets, visual artists, and members of the broader Montreal community gathered at Bar Milton Parc on Sept. 12 for a fundraising art showcase in support of the Kanien’kehá:ka Kahnistensera (Mohawk Mothers), who are currently involved in an ongoing lawsuit with McGill and investigation into possible unmarked graves on the site of McGill’s New Vic Project. The event was hosted by Suppart, a collective of eight organizers who host weekly showcases with local artists to fundraise for various causes.
Suppart is a non-hierarchical, consensusbased organization, whose mission is to champion young artists and promote social change. In addition to the Mohawk Mothers, the group is fundraising for the International Solidarity Movement, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, and Comm-Un. Suppart founder Maddy Hay told The Tribune that she sees communitybuilding as the key to fostering social change.
“The dream was to create a consistent safe space where young artists and friends could come together to support each other and the causes,” Hay said.
Suppart began fundraising for the Mohawk Mothers this summer. Since 2015, the Mohawk Mothers have been working to prevent construction at the former site of the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH), where McGill seeks to build their New Vic Project. On the site, the CIA and Canadian government ran the MK-
ULTRA mind control and chemical interrogation experiments from the 1950s to the 1970s, which allegedly disproportionately targeted Indigenous youth. The Mothers believe there may be unmarked graves at the site and have been advocating for a comprehensive investigation.
In April 2023, the Mohawk Mothers reached a settlement agreement with McGill, the Société québécoise des infrastructures, the RVH, the City of Montreal, and the Attorney General of Canada, which mandated that a panel of archaeologists appointed by all parties support archival, testimonial investigations, and archeological work at the site. However, after the panel disbanded in August 2023, various hearings have ultimately left the panel dissolved. In the latest decision on Aug. 17, the Court of Appeal of Quebec ruled that the panel would not be re-established as the Superior Court of Quebec had ruled in November 2023.
In a written statement to The Tribune, the McGill Media Relations Office (MRO) highlighted that, although the panel would not be re-established to direct excavation work on the site, the recommendations the panel made in their July 2023 final report remain in force. Moreover, the MRO noted that, as per the panel’s recommendation, an archaeologist will monitor excavation on McGill’s section of the site in the fall of 2025, when excavation work is scheduled to begin.
Karonhia’no:ron, who performed poetry at the event, is a McGill graduate student who joined Suppart through their work with the Mo-
After visiting the West Bank in June, Maddy Hay, a Suppart Collective organizer, began fundraising for the International Solidarity Movement. (Fabienne de Cartier / The Tribune)
hawk Mothers. Karonhia’no:ron explained that the latest ruling represents a loss for the Mothers and spoke to the importance of fundraising for them in the wake of the decision.
“The funds are important [...] because the Mothers are not represented by lawyers. So whenever there is a decision in favour of McGill or Quebec, it’s at the cost of the Mothers,” Karonhia’no:ron said.
Karonhia’no:ron also noted that, in addition to raising money, the showcases they host aim to promote social change and awareness through community building.
“It’s a great way to not just have more people know about the Mothers, but have
more people that know each other and support each other,” Karonhia’no:ron said.
Poet Robin Warren—who goes by the stage name Rusty—performed at the event and echoed Karonhia’no:ron’s sentiment, stressing the sociopolitical power of art.
“One of the things that interests me about Suppart is that they blend art and activism together,” Warren said. “Art has always been at the forefront of political action [.…] [When you] start listening to other people that write, you can feel their hurt, you can know what they’re hurting about, and you can better understand [their] issues.”
Nine BoG members sit on the Committee on Sustainability and Social Responsibility. (Shani Laskin/ The Tribune)
QPIRG launches paid membership program for non-McGill students
Initiative seeks to raise revenue and awareness of organizational mandate
Mairin Burke Staff Writer
The Quebec Public Interest Research Group at McGill (QPIRG) is rolling out a Community Membership program this fall. Although only McGill students were previously eligible for membership at QPIRG—a grassroots collective concerned with anti-oppressive social and environmental justice—this new program will allow those in the greater Montreal community the opportunity to connect more deeply with the organization.
QPIRG offers a variety of services such as Rad Frosh, event series such as Culture Shock and Spring Into Action, and access to an Alternative Library and a free textbook loan program. Any McGill student who has paid their student fees for the semester, including the $5 CAD optoutable QPIRG fee, is automatically a member of QPIRG. Although membership was previously reserved for McGill students, QPIRG’s programming has always been open to the general public.
The new Community Membership program has introduced two tiers of non-student enrollment: A basic annual membership option, which is equivalent to a student membership, and a “Friend of QPIRG” option.
The basic membership, which operates on a pay-what-you-can model with a suggested fee of $10 CAD, entitles the holder to printer access for 500 political posters and 100 personal prints annually, a reserved copy of the planner and re-
source guide that QPIRG publishes every year, and a membership card. The “Friend of QPIRG” option, priced at $15 CAD, further entitles purchasers to a QPIRG tote bag, a personal thank you postcard, and “bonus surprises throughout the year.”
Nelly Wat, QPIRG’s full-time Outreach and Promotions Coordinator, explained that the organization began to consider implementing a nonstudent membership system as early as February 2024 to address their increasingly limited finances. Citing a rise in the cost of resources, Wat stated that QPIRG has had to cut the budgets of their Working Group, which are collectives that undertake research and action through organizing around a specific social justice issue. Current working groups include The Black Healing Centre, Solidarity for Palestine’s Honour and Resistance (formerly Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights) at McGill, and The Trans Patient Union. QPIRG has also had to indefinitely suspend discretionary funding opportunities for small-scale projects to keep their external services available.
“As long as we’re able to address this budget crisis we’re in, [our] events will remain free,” Wat said.
Nhuan Dong, a non-student member of QPIRG who also sits on the organization’s board, told The Tribune that the new membership program also seeks to increase QPIRG’s connection with the community.
“We have been having financial issues with
operational costs [...] and also were trying to find a way to re-engage with non-student community members in a more meaningful way so that people feel they are really a part of [QPIRG] instead of loosely connected.”
QPIRG offers social justice research funding and opportunities to students through initiatives such as a Community University Research Exchange.
As a McGill alumnus (BA ‘24) who was employed by the QPIRG Alternative Library during his time as a student, Dong expressed how meaningful QPIRG continues to be in allowing him to maintain connections and seek personal development opportunities. Dong noted that the organization was especially important in supporting him in transitioning from the university to the workforce.
Wat echoed this sentiment, explaining that the membership model will only provide a small supplement to revenue and is more about heightening McGill students’ awareness of what the QPIRG entries on their Minerva statements contribute to.
“Community members access our services
for free. They don’t pay a fee levy to QPIRG, but students do. So [this] would level the playing field […] and help students realize they get a lot for their dollar.”
In an email to The Tribune, Carl Bystram, another representative from QPIRG, added that the fee increase would draw students’ attention to the financial contributions they provide to the organization through student fees while promoting their services.
“We hope that the membership campaign will encourage them to learn about our events, campaigns, programs and services, and to hopefully directly benefit from the organization that they have helped to build,” Bystram wrote.
The talk was part of a series that critiques technological “solutions” Professor Johnathan Flowers discusses ableist algorithms in virtual lecture
Russel Ismael Contributor
Professor Johnathan Flowers of California State University, Northridge gave a virtual talk entitled “Ableist Algorithms and Digital Disability” as part of the “Disrupting Disruptions: Feminist Publishing, Communications and Technologies” speaker series on Sept. 11. Organized by professor Alex Ketchum of the McGill Institute for Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies (IGSF), the series explores the intersection of feminist studies, technology, and history.
Flowers’ talk centred around the ableist connotations of discussions around AI. He began by discussing the recent controversy surrounding National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), a non-profit that connects writers with each other for support in crafting a novel. The organization was criticized by the public after it encouraged writers with physical or cognitive disabilities that impair their writing to use AI if they need it. Flowers argued that this upholds ableist structures through what is called a “technocapitalist disability rhetoric,” where disabilities are seen as problems to be solved through technology, which undermines the personhood of disabled people.
Despite the world becoming more AIdriven, Flowers continues to caution against the extensive use of this technology, arguing that it perpetuates oppressive practices. He argued that
AI is a product of “technoableism,” the idea of technology as a means of eliminating disability, instead of addressing the systemic issues disabled individuals experience.
“The increasing integration of algorithmic technologies into our daily lives not only relies on structures of ableism in society, but imposes new ableist social and political structures through their everyday applications,” Flowers explained.
Flowers described AI as a ‘political technology’ in the same sense that Langdon Winner, a political theorist, describes all technologies. Winner’s work states that technologies are inherently political, as they can create or reinforce existing social orders. Drawing from Winner, Flowers emphasized that AI is mired in ableist and colonialist roots, and that referring to it as an ‘algorithmic platform’ is more appropriate since ‘AI’ conceals the power dynamics at play.
“The term ‘artificial intelligence’ implicitly enables the ableist, eugenicist, and racist purposes to which these technologies are routinely put—to be perceived as unmitigated goods and advancements in society,” Flowers explained.
Additionally, Flowers stated that since the discourse surrounding AI is often centred on the technology itself, it often ignores the benefits it has for people. He used the example of Phonak, a hearing aid company, and explained that the company stated their latest hearing aids were the first of its kind to adopt AI technology.
“The [Phonak] advertisement positions the advances in technology as the primary focus of the description, rather than the material benefits it may
bring to disabled persons,” Flowers said. “This reframing relies on a milder form of technoableism that positions algorithmic technologies as the future solution to ‘problems’ of disability.”
Computer algorithms perpetuating ableist structures is a familiar concept to Ketchum, whose research focuses on how marginalized groups respond to digital technologies. She noted that algorithmic ‘gatekeeping’ can affect academics who produce and disseminate feminist scholarship in digital spaces.
“[O]ne issue is that some major academic journal publishers announced that they are selling their database of articles to train AI—a labour issue, an environmental issue, and also (though legally contested) a copyright issue,” Ketchum wrote to The Tribune
Ketchum proposed that feminist publishing and communications can resist ableist algorithms by opting out and not using generative AI.
Jeremy Frandon, a PhD student in Information Systems Engineering at Concordia University, noted that “AI objectivity” is shaped by the datasets it uses, potentially embedding systemic biases.
“Research groups try to gather data that represents the real world and that is free of sampling bias, but creating a quality dataset is such a challenge that some papers are published just to present a new dataset,” Frandon wrote to The Tribune
For Flowers, it is crucial to pay attention to the motivations of those who created AI technologies, as well as the biases within the technologies themselves.
“We must attend to the political and social purposes that motivate the introduction of these technologies, rather than simply try to understand the technologies themselves.”
(Holden Callif/ The Tribune)
Research shows that generative AI can produce racist content based on different dialects. (Rohan Khanna / The Tribune)
Editor-in-Chief
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Canada and McGill must confront their roles in eco-racism against
Indigenous peoples
The Tribune Editorial Board
Continued from page 1.
McGill claims that this new infrastructure will be a hub for sustainability systems.
There is clear irony in a socalled “sustainability” project being built on stolen Indigenous land; these two realities cannot coexist.
The RVH is built not only on unceded traditional Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) territory, but was also the site of violent, unethical psychiatric experiments conducted on Indigenous peoples as part of the MKULTRA project through McGill’s Allan Memorial Institute.
The Mohawk Mothers are still in the midst of a legal battle with McGill to stop construction on the RVH site due to the possibility of unmarked graves on the land. However, despite its violent past and blatant disregard for the Indigenous history of the land, McGill stated just two weeks ago that the New Vic Project will move forward.
Performative activism on the part of both McGill and Canada propagates the invisibility of the Indigenous lived experience of eco-racism. These perfunctory gestures are a convenient substitute for the complete paradigm shift required to move in the direction of eco-justice. In its Frequently Asked Questions page for the New Vic Project, McGill states that it is working towards “Indigenous physical representation” in the building’s design, mentioning the Mohawk Mothers’ legal battle without addressing the necessity for rethinking the project altogether.
The New Vic Project is just one of innumerable instances of eco-racism against Indigenous communities which are rendered invisible by Canadian institutions. The Aamjiwnaang First Nation people spoke out in April about the carcinogenic benzene poisoning on their land from the INEOS Styrolution chemical plant in Sarnia, Ontario. The company called the omissions a “concern,” but have no concrete
Dana Prather Arts & Entertainment Editor
Memes make the world go round. Well, not exactly, but they certainly helped me get through my summer internship. Between the stress of research projects and meetings, I found respite in scrolling through my Instagram Explore page and grinning at jokes that the pilgrims would have found incomprehensible (if not explicitly blasphemous).
During one of these breaks, I stumbled upon a post from @ OfficialMcGillMemes that had gone viral. Without getting into the nitty-gritty, the meme used a format from the animated film Inside Out that likened developing class consciousness
plans to terminate or rectify their operations. Such acts of environmental racism treat Indigenous spaces as worthless and a waste of lucrative land, thus devaluing Indigenous culture itself.
Eco-racism against Indigenous communities in Canada exposes the true extent of the climate crisis, which manifests as cultural and psychological crises in addition to purely environmental ones for the groups who are most affected. The dispossession of land, inability to honour ancestral history, and restrictions from essential natural resources are factors of the environmental crisis felt exclusively by Indigenous communities. However, the colonial attitude that deems Indigenous land and life as expendable also systematically excludes the acute environmental crises experienced by Indigenous peoples from the concept of the “climate emergency.”
Both McGill and Canada boast progressive efforts towards
sustainability. However, no system of “sustainability” is—per McGill’s statement—“benefitting all of humanity” if it ignores the foundational ties that Indigenous peoples have to their land and resources, much of which is unceded and occupied by others.
The history of ecoviolence and racism against Indigenous peoples at the hands of both McGill and Canada are insurmountable, and thus there are innumerable steps to be taken towards eco-justice. The federal government must aid in relocating Indigenous people who have experienced adverse effects from infrastructure, chemical poisoning, and other pollutants on their land. All projects and initiatives must be conducted hand-inhand with Indigenous peoples and in line with their priorities. Indigenous sovereignty must be acknowledged and codified. There must be a pervasive awareness that these eco-violences are not just events in a racist, colonial past, but palpable and ongoing today.
The revolution will not be memeified
in response to seeing the McGill senior administration’s ballooning paycheques to the characters discovering a new emotion. I stopped to read the post. I chuckled. I heaved a frustrated sigh at the situation. Then I moved on, not thinking twice about the meme or its McGill-related subject matter.
It’s safe to say that much of the McGill student body is familiar with memes about the university—how else would we preserve crucial institutional memory if not through videos of Flood Girl, photos of the Lettuce Club, or screenshots of our esteemed administration’s online blunders? But this particular post seemed to have popped the McGill bubble and spread to far-reaching corners of the internet; rather than garnering the account’s average of 300 or so likes, or even their previous personal best of nearly 1,400, this post boasts over 15,000 likes as of this article’s publication.
Using humour to cope with difficult situations is nothing new, particularly for Gen Z. As the first generation to grow up with phones at our fingertips, many of us are accustomed to getting some or even all of our news from
social media platforms. When you consider that we are bearing witness to countless atrocities and abuses of power through our phones in real-time, every day, it seems like the only option is to resort to humour or risk losing all hope.
Still, seeing how the niche account’s Pixar-inspired meme had gone semi-viral gave me pause. Why did this post in particular resonate with people?
Not everyone who liked the post currently goes to or has ever attended McGill, but surely many have. If even a third of those people were students who organized a protest or circulated a petition against McGill’s decision to raise senior administrators’ salaries while neglecting AGSEM members’ right to a living wage, the potential for shifting the status quo would be enormous.
Social media has given us the freedom to engage by reposting an aesthetic infographic or commenting under a topical meme, then letting these movements go out of sight, out of mind when we put our phones down. The actions suggested above are undeniably more strenuous and emotionally-taxing pursuits than engaging in online
activism, but they are well worth it. The remedy for despair is direct action and community-building, not memes.
It should be stated that this is as much a critique of my own hypocrisy for engaging with more political memes than tangible activism as anyone else’s. If I had gone to half as many rallies as I had scrolled through satirical Onion articles about the ongoing siege on Gaza or chuckled at a post calling out McGill’s overreliance on the police, I probably wouldn’t be writing this. However, as I was reminded by a chant at a recent student rally, “We keep us safe.” The only way we effect change is by showing up for each other offline and fighting for it.
Silly as it may sound, coming across this post was the reminder I needed that sitting on the sidelines never leads to progress. Attend a rally. Sign a petition. Stand up against injustice in the ways you know how. Memes can be an effective way to start a conversation, but they can’t be the end of the discussion. Sure, you can argue that it isn’t that serious. But unless our memes are accompanied by concrete action, the joke will still be on us, whether we’re in on it or not.
Bruno Cotler, Diana Yamada, Evelyn Li, Holden Callif, Reya Khanna, Sofia Stankovic
Luken Castaneda Garces Contributor
ICoComelon and our toxic quest for self-improvement
, like many others, feel a constant need to improve myself. When many kids hit puberty, they hear a voice in the back of their minds telling them they can be smarter, funnier, cooler, more cultured, and more attractive. This voice says there are endless possibilities regarding what they can achieve. One must only set their mind to it, and it can be theirs. For the past 10 years of my life, I and some of my friends have lived this way. We find something we don’t like about ourselves and work obsessively hard to change it, and then the cycle repeats itself. What’s more, this obsession has infiltrated our leisure time. We’ve been living as machines, by treating ourselves as some kind of software that we can endlessly update—but that is not a sustainable or enjoyable way of living. True growth and self-love arise when people embrace their limitations as human beings and accept that they are good enough as they are.
Living in a cycle of self-improvement makes people unhappy because they always feel like they’re falling short. Many over-achievers and academically curious people on university campuses such as McGill have a drive to acquire enormous amounts of knowledge. However, these endeavours often stem from a place of insecurity of not being “intellectual” or not
COMMENTARY
Samathar Senso Contributor
Wsounding “smart enough,” rather than a genuine pursuit of truth. Compulsively listening to audiobooks while cooking and podcasts while working out for the sake of being productive evoke a sheer sense of shame regarding the pursuit of guilt-free pleasure. People watch classic movies and read classic books because they find them beautiful, but also because they know they’re acquiring cultural capital while doing so. This mindset diminishes the simple pleasures of daily life and fosters a sense of constant inadequacy, making it difficult to truly relax and savour life, generating a deep-rooted feeling of dissatisfaction.
However, this dissatisfaction evaporates once people come to accept their own limitations and allow themselves genuine pleasure without the constraints of self-optimization. On a recent podcast episode of The Ezra Klein Show, the host grapples with the idea of pleasurable entertainment and educational value. In the episode, Klein and author Jia Tolentino discuss the kids’ show CoComelon CoComelon gets a lot of scrutiny from parents because the show essentially does not provide any educational value to its viewers—mostly kids ages 0 to 4. Tolentino suggests that while parents’ concerns might be well-intentioned, they externalize their obsession with self-improvement onto their children. Consequently, kids grow up believing they must optimize their free time, which leaves no room for simple pleasures such
as CoComelon. Demanding this sort of productive leisure from children leads them to grow up thinking they will never be good enough, and therefore, must keep improving themselves even in their spare time.
McGill students can reap enormous benefits from adopting a healthier relationship with pleasurable leisure time. Full-time students have always been at a high risk of burnout, but those risks have skyrocketed ever since the COVID-19 pandemic. Juggling five classes, a part-time job, working out, and a social life is no easy task; so, adding a self-imposed pressure to remain productive during our spare time is a refusal to attend to our human needs. If you feel like binge-watching Bridgerton instead of reading Dante’s Inferno because you are too mentally tired, your body’s signaling to you that it needs that. It is not an act of laziness to occasionally succumb to pure pleasure and self-enjoyment. In fact, it is a political act by refusing to equate an individual’s self-worth with how productive they can be.
Engaging in leisure activities purely for enjoyment can actually boost creativity and problem-solving skills.
Self-improvement is not a bad thing. There is value in growing and bettering oneself, and having this collective growth as students benefits our community. Nonetheless, this behaviour becomes destructive when it becomes so pervasive that it dominates every aspect of our lives. Let’s embrace a kind of fun that is unconstrained from 21st-century capitalist pressures, and accept that we are good enough as we are.
To fly or not to fly: Soaring into Canada’s uncompetitive skies
ith midterms approaching at a rapid pace, McGill’s reading break is an alluring opportunity for well-deserved rest, gruelling lastminute study sessions, or maybe even a quick trip back home. Given that 50 per cent of McGill’s incoming students come from out-of-province or abroad, the Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport can expect an influx of McGill students in the coming weeks. As students look forward to a muchneeded break, the reality of air travel costs remains a persistent challenge. For many, getting home has become an increasingly unattainable expense. Here in Canada, our air travel choices are scarce and often lead us toward Air Canada. With consistently high airfares, declining customer service, and questionable competition practices, we can’t help but want better for our skyways—and our wallets.
In 2022, Air Canada accounted for 51 per cent of available domestic flights across Canada— a significant figure in any industry, particularly within the national airline market—and this dominance was not achieved naturally. The Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce raised concerns that Air Canada and WestJet— Canada’s second-largest airline—were possibly colluding by dividing flight maps amongst themselves in order to quash further competition and raise prices. This year, the airlines collectively made up 82 per cent of domestic flights compared to 74 per cent in April 2023. Similarly,
the Minister of Transport raised concerns over Air Canada’s proposed acquisition of Air Transat, one of its only competitors on over 83 flight routes, as it potentially represents an anti-competitive practice. This proposal was almost given a pass until the European Commission barred the transaction, citing the desire to maintain a competitive market as a primary reason.
The current aviation landscape in Canada isn’t surprising given the circumstances under which Air Canada was created in 1937. The company was founded as a crown corporation, meaning it was operated as a private entity but owned by the federal government, which gave the airline a complete monopoly
on domestic air travel until 1959. Given this history, the federal government has a responsibility to address the current monopolistic landscape and ensure that competition in the airline industry serves the public interest.
The scarce presence of budget airlines in Canada, such as Spirit Airlines or Ryanair in the U.S., also means consumers don’t have a choice but to reach deep inside their pockets and pay inflated ticket costs. While ticket prices are steadily declining after a surge during the pandemic, prices remain 10 per cent above what they were in 2019. Postpandemic, two of Canada’s few budget airlines—Lynx Airlines and Sunwing—
both ceased operations with Lynx Airlines shutting down and Sunwing being absorbed by WestJet. Swoop, another low-cost Canadian airline, had a similar fate and was absorbed by WestJet a few days after Sunwing.
With the time constraints associated with long-haul intercity bus services and our rail system’s continuous shortcomings, flying has become the only viable option for many travellers to reach their destinations. As of recently, Air Canada has plans to take over the Canadian rail network by joining forces with the French rail company SNCF to build a long-awaited high-speed electric train corridor between Windsor, Ontario and Québec City. Instead of seeking new business ventures as an attempt to expand its monopoly, Air Canada should focus on improving client experience. This is especially true after the airline ranked at the bottom in a recent survey on customer satisfaction, with Spirit and Frontier, two budget airlines, being the only carriers ranking lower for economy class.
To break free from this monopolistic hold, the federal government must take swift and decisive action to encourage competition in the Canadian airline industry. Interventions like blocking anticompetitive mergers and promoting the growth of budget airlines could provide travellers, including McGill students, with more affordable and diverse travel opportunities. As McGill’s student body increasingly looks toward travel for respite or reconnection, it’s time for Canada to open its skies to better options.
(Holden Callif / The Tribune)
In a recent poll, Air Canada ranked ninth out of 11 airlines in terms of economy-class seat satisfaction among North American competitors (Sophie_Schuyler / The Tribune)
The contradiction of The Art of Banksy Without Limits
How the exhibition might be in opposition to the famed street artist’s ideals
Nell Casey Contributor
Art from the renowned Banksy— whose real identity remains unclear—has made its way to Montreal. The Art of Banksy Without Limits , an internationally-touring exhibition being held at La Maison du Festival, advertises 170 works by the world-famous street artist. However, only 40 of the works have had their provenance verified by a Banksy expert. The Montreal Gazette compares this display to a Rolling Stones cover band, as many of these artworks pay tribute to the original but are not entirely the same. Still, the over 130 non-original works on display pay homage to the work of Bansky, encapsulating the style, spirit, and message of the original pieces.
Art inspired by and relating to Bansky’s Dismaland and The Walled Off Hotel , a morbid parody of Disneyland and a hotel exhibition located right across from Palestine’s West Bank barrier, respectively, are among the artworks featured throughout the exhibit. These pieces have been arranged to create a vignette of what the real work might look like. While it may not be the original display, Bansky’s twisted humour—alongside his anti-war activism and disdain for capitalism—is still conveyed to the viewer. Other galleries in the exhibition display photos, videos, and even holograms ex -
plaining how Banksy started his career, highlighting his involvement in various global issues centred in his art.
Due to the static nature of Banksy’s street art, it can be rare to catch one of his pieces in person. However, this exhibition has travelled all around the globe from St. Petersburg, to Madrid, to Las Vegas, and many other cities, allowing the public to view works that had previously existed only on the buildings he used as his canvases. Furthermore, the exhibit displays paintings and recreations of Banksy’s work that either cannot be moved or no longer exist. Without these recreations, it would not be possible to experience Dismaland or The Walled Off Hotel without travelling to England or Palestine.
As a street artist, many of Banksy’s works are painted over and taken down, especially due to their controversial public reception. They may only last for a short time before they disappear—sometimes by design. In 2018, his famous Girl With Balloon painting was sold at an auction for $1.4 million USD. Upon sale, the work self-destructed, as the artist had installed a paper shredder into the frame as a protest against his art being used for profit.
The gallery may preserve Banksy’s work into a singular space, with the pieces protected by four walls and a steep entrance fee, but when spray painted on a building, Banksy’s art is left for any passerby to see.
The Bachelorette has lost the plot
While the exhibit has been successful in concentrating and entrenching the work and message of Bansky into one display, the $25 CAD entry fee seems to go entirely against the artist’s anti-capitalist beliefs.
Nevertheless, producer Sorina Burlacu maintains that their aim is to spread the spirit of Banksy’s art and asserts that if Banksy disagreed with the exhibition, he would have interfered. Judging by the artist’s previous actions, Banksy has no fear of sharing his opinion. Most of his art makes statements as such, so if he were really opposed to this travelling exhibition, he would likely have let the public know.
Regardless of whether Banksy himself endorses the exhibition, the commercialization of his work does raise the question of
Franchise routinely fails its women of colour leads
Shani Laskin Managing Editor
Jesse Palmer’s piercing gaze finds me through my computer screen as he tells me, “Tonight we’re going to watch something that we have never seen before in Bachelor Nation history.” I groan. I’ve spent more hours of my life than I would like to admit watching ABC’s The Bachelor , The Bachelorette , and Bachelor in Paradise . Over the years, I’ve found that the “never seen before” controversy is always a variation of the same thing: The men behave reproachfully, the women are labelled as “strong,” and the show remains entirely performative in achieving its stated goal of finding love.
The Bachelor franchise has long been criticized for its deeply patriarchal, gendered, and racist norms. Under the guise of progress, the network began assembling more diverse casts and putting women of colour in the spotlight, starting with the first-ever Black Bachelorette— Rachel Lindsay—in 2017. However, the show’s creators and fans consistently fail the women of colour leads—showing that while representation in the media is essential, it only goes so far when these women are sabotaged from the start.
Of the 23 leads over the course of the show’s history, all but five have been white—and don’t get me started on The Bachelor which has had one non-white lead in the nearly 30 years it has been run -
ning. Jenn Tran, the latest Bachelorette, was the franchise’s first Asian-American lead, and perhaps one of the best leads that the show has seen: Charismatic, confident, strong-willed, and funny. However, the producers undermined her from the start.
The leads are generally picked from the previous season’s runners-up and are chosen prior to the “After the Final Rose” (AFR) episode of each season. Tran was in the final six of Joey Graziadei’s season, marking a departure from the show’s usual tempo. Because of this, fans predicted that the Bachelorette would either be Daisy Kent or Maria Georgas, two of the final four from the season. At the AFR for Graziadei’s season, host Jesse Palmer sat down with Kent and asked if she wanted to be the Bachelorette. Kent declined and minutes later, Tran was announced as the lead. Simultaneously, rumours swirled online that Georgas had been considered for the role and declined. From the start, the producers made it clear that they thought Tran to be the third pick after two white women.
This is far from the first time a woman of colour has been the second choice. Clare Crawley (season 16) left after the first three weeks with her frontrunner, Dale Moss. With only seven weeks left, the producers replaced Crawley with Tayshia Adams, the series’s second lead woman of colour. Even though the men were cast with Crawley in mind, the producers did not restart the season or introduce a different cast. Adams was
whether the The Art of Banksy Without Limits actually adheres to the ideals that Banksy is known for. While the concentration of his pieces in one place has allowed people to view the work that typically could only be seen on the other side of the world, the entrance fee commodifies his work in a way that Banksy has explicitly condemned.
The Art of Banksy Without Limits can be viewed at La Maison du Festival until Oct. 18.
left to try to find love and a particularly expedited engagement with the 21 men who were initially there for Crawley.
The creators of the show are not the only ones who place unrealistic expectations on women of colour leads; the fans have an equal part to play. Many fans of the show expect BIPOC leads to perfectly represent every aspect of their identity and lash out when this is inevitably not achieved. Tran, a VietnameseAmerican woman, received online hate ranging from criticism over her showing moments of insecurity on camera to insults about her proficiency in Vietnamese.
In a TikTok Tran posted on Aug. 26, she stated, “The thing that I have come to learn about […] the entertainment industry is that people want to put you into a box at all times. Whether it’s the box of ‘You’re Asian’ or its the box of ‘You’re American.’”
In the pursuit of novel drama and higher ratings, the Bachelor franchise is
purposefully putting women in harm’s way. Tran and other women of colour on the show are simply not afforded the same grace as their white counterparts. The show must reckon with its unacceptable treatment of women of colour and find a way to genuinely allow them to take the wheel in their “journey” for love and connection. That would truly be something
A version of Banksy’s famous Girl With Balloon was stolen (and then recovered) in London last week. ( Evelyn Li / The Tribune )
The Bachelor announced Grant Ellis as the next lead. ( Evelyn Li / The Tribune )
Damong you,
ear readers, writers, and the dreamers
Why do we make art? This question crossed my mind the other day as I wandered through an art gallery in my hometown. I stared at abstract doodles framed neatly on the walls, each one whispering in an enigmatic language only the artist seemed to understand. I leaned in closer, noticing the distinct strokes of paint, each bristle defining a line of thought, a feeling. Suddenly, it all seemed to make sense—or so I told myself, as though the work was revealing a story meant just for me.
How does a person keep creating art for an entire lifetime? The critiques, the competition, the vulnerability of exposing your soul to the world. You must find a delicate balance between fully embracing the creative process and maintaining a sense of perspective—engaging deeply with your work while managing the emotional intensity it brings. And yet, that’s the beautiful paradox of creation. The thrill of creating is in the act itself, not the outcome. It’s in the comfort it brings, the freedom it offers, like waking up and falling deeper into a dream at the same time. The more you create, the more alive you truly feel.
As a writer, I often ask myself these questions, especially during moments of self-doubt or writer’s block. For me, the passion and persistence for the craft have always been a part of who I am. Why let anything remain dull when you can reshape it through imagination into something worth writing about?
Sarah Wolfson, author and course lecturer at the McGill Writing Centre, shares this sentiment, saying, “I write because my brain is captivated by the world in ways that come through me as language.” For Wolfson, writing is not just an artistic endeavour, but an interpretive lens through which an artist sees their life.
I’ve always felt that I use writing and my imagination to explore my own longings, and to offer readers a glimpse of their desires mirrored in the stories I tell. As a child, I wished for whimsical adventures, fairytale moments, and coming-of-age fantasies. Sunset road trips with your best friends, arms surfing freely out the window, conversations drowning out the radio’s melodies. I dreamt of secret hideaways, treehouses
to escape from weekend chores. I wanted the thrill of first love, where every glance between a pair of hopeful eyes felt electric, sending sparks flying into the air. These ideas made my heart ache with a sweet kind of longing, the magic I hoped to find just around the corner. Many of these whimsical memories came to life beneath pen and paper, despite being silly little moments that never happened at all.
However, as I’ve gotten older, it’s become harder to tap into the boundless imagination I once had, making it more difficult to craft truly creative stories. I have spent painful hours trying to shape memories and moments into something real. I gaze at the empty page placed down before me, ignoring the mountains of crumpled white sheets and remnants of failed attempts—broken pencils, smeared lead, and eraser bits strewn across the desk. Frustration seeps through my skin, my hands gripping the pen tightly, my fingers burdened by the weight of self-doubt. The sweat pooling on my brow feels as futile as the blank page staring back at me.
Where Did All the
Rediscovering the magic in everyday moments
into stories.
To explain how my life is shaped by writing, I want to outline my creative process in three steps, showing how ideas take shape from initial inspiration to drafting and refining the piece. By illustrating these stages, I hope to convey what being a writer means to me: Crafting something real out of imagined moments and finding inspiration in the mundane. While the artistic process differs for everyone, the happiness and fulfilment that come from creating art are universal. Living as an artist transforms everyday events into something extraordinary.
Gazing at the wall before me, I window shop for new lives, imagining a version of myself that writes with ease and grace. I yearn for perfection, comparing my work to others, hoping it will transform into something great. This kind of tension and pressure is terrible for a writer—it tamps down your curiosity, and locks away the whimsy and fun of the creative process. To recapture my childlike love for stories, I had to change my approach, and recognize that writing isn’t about waiting for some divine inspiration to strike; it’s about embracing the messy, joyful, and often unpredictable journey of turning ideas
Written by Jenna Durante, Science
Designed by Mia Helfrich,
Finding your inspiration
Inspiration is the spark that sets the story ablaze. But where does this elusive muse come from?
Reflecting on her own creative process, Rachel Barker, U2 Arts, shared, “Often I am inspired by an existing piece of literature or art that strikes a chord with me and propels me to write about something. For example, I watched a Fran Lebowitz interview where she spoke on how people love musicians because they give us the ability to express the inexpressible. I found this beautiful and true, and it inspired me to write about the power of music as it relates to memory.”
Understanding the true nature of inspiration reveals its profound impact on our creative journey. The world around us is a constant source of wonder. Let curiosity be your guide and write about the things that interest you the most. For me, inspiration finds its way into my mind at the most seemingly insignificant moments.
Schooom! As the train shut themselves behind self upon the moving nied by the familiar bells marking my journey tination.
To my surprise, the with an unexpected tumnal Sunday morning. commuters, a tapestry workers embarking on deavours and the waiters it in time for their abundance of committed adorned in their finest and fitted slacks for pantyhose and dainty women. The churchgoers the hustlers, the waiters, newspaper, and the who likely missed their music was playing so forgot where they were though there are two ride the train: Those who rush to get to their final those who do not have Often, I find comfort templation of my surroundings these commutes. As of commuters around, wonder where they were dren clung to their parents’ others swung carelessly derground playground It was as if the subway microcosm of human with their own unspoken eyes scanning the crowd, ing for a sense of recognition I reached for a crumpled my bag, quickly scribbling the scene: the frantic ing glances, the silent I wanted to return to later, hoping to weave rative that captured shared commute. Below, I noted that I at the store, and some practical thought lingering it was time to get off
The Writer’s Toolbox In Stephen King’s advises authors to “Write closed, rewrite with the
the Whimsy Go?
moments through creative writing and imagination
Science and Technology Editor
Helfrich, Design Editor
train doors swiftly behind me, I found mymoving platform, accompamelody of chiming journey to the next desthe station thrummed liveliness for an aumorning. Amidst the tapestry of purpose: The on weekend office enwaiters rushing to make midday shifts. An committed churchgoers sit finest attire, long coats the gentlemen and dainty dress shoes for the churchgoers scatter among waiters, the readers of the headphone boppers their stop because their so loud they simply were going. It seems as types of people who who are always in a final destination, and have a care in the world. comfort in the quiet consurroundings during I observed the flow around, I couldn’t help but were all going. Chilparents’ arms while carelessly around the unplayground of the subway car. subway car itself was a human desire—each person unspoken stories, their crowd, perhaps searchrecognition or belonging. crumpled up receipt in scribbling down notes on frantic shuffle, the fleetsilent quest for visibility. to these observations weave them into a narthe experience of our
I needed to get eggs some milk too. With the lingering in my mind, at my stop.
Barker echoed this sentiment, explaining, “Write without judgement, and write a lot! Do not attach your identity to what arises on the page—instead consider writing as a process with ups and downs, and ride out the downs.”
So I closed my door. Once the teapot, a porcelain relic, finally finished steeping, I carefully poured its contents into my favourite chipped mug, its edge worn smooth from years of use. My room, softly lit by an amber glow, cast gentle shadows over the rows of leather-bound books stacked neatly on my towering bookshelf. I settled into the high-backed chair at my desk, a piece that anchored the room with its worn surface and intricate wooden carvings. The window to my left framed the quiet street where ivy crept along stone-clad walls, the air still filled with the scent of fresh paper and sweet lemon tea.
Here, the first step in my creative process could begin. At this stage, it’s just you and the story. Write freely, without worrying about anyone else’s opinions. Start with an outline or write down whatever comes to mind. The first draft is your playground, a space where you can explore ideas, experiment with characters, and let the plot evolve naturally.
on paper. Sometimes it just starts with a word and the rest falls into place after that.” And, when feeling stuck, she shares that it’s good to take a break.
“Going on a walk will do wonders. Bonus points if a sunset or sunrise is involved,” Lepki explained.
After countless hours of writing, the sun surrendered to the horizon, and the blank page was now littered with tangled commas and scratched-out adverbs. I rubbed my aching temples as they begged for a much-needed break. I grabbed my shoes and stepped outside, deciding to let the park be my escape. The sky, a portrait of soft pinks and golds, laid a dreamlike cast over the blossoming trees.
As I lay in the uncut grass, I found myself watching the clouds take on new shapes. I invited the cloud people, enchanted creatures, and little fairies I dreamt up to join me. They gathered around my mind’s eye, eager to read my story, their tiny wings fluttering as they whispered newfound ideas and sprinkled their magic over the words that had felt so stuck before. There was something in the stillness of the moment, in the way the sky turned to dusk, that made me believe they would guide the story exactly where it needed to go.
Embracing the Writing Process
At the heart of all this introspection and crafting, I’ve realized that writing is daunting and delightful, and sometimes both at once. You start with the spark of an idea, fumble through drafts, question every sentence, but somehow—through the chaos of it all—you create something new. You breathe life into words, new words that you dreamed up on a onceblank piece of paper.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in trying to write the “perfect” piece, overthinking every word choice or doubting your creative worth. I often seek validation from peers and readers, but I’ve had to realize that perfection isn’t the goal to strive for. It’s about exploration, growth, and allowing yourself the freedom to make mistakes. This is where the real beauty of the creative process lies. Even if the final piece isn’t flawless, the act of creation lets you reinterpret your life to make the mundane magical. You must unclench your tired hands and go outside, look around, return to observing instead of being preoccupied by the final product.
Whether you’re writing, painting, or composing, reframing ordinary moments as extraordinary transforms your perception, like seeing your life through a more vibrant lens. Creativity offers a new way of looking at the world—one where even the smallest details hold meaning, and the quietest moments carry an untold story.
I stare once more at the page before me. This time, though, something feels different. The weight of self-doubt lingers, but it softens with the understanding that perfection isn’t what I need. The crumpled sheets, the broken pencils—they are all part of the process. And no matter what I write next, I continue to create anyway, trusting that somewhere in the mess, a story is waiting to unfold.
As Wolfson said, “A writer is someone who moves through the world alert to its textures and stories. So cultivate the practices of observing and thinking like a writer.”
King’s On Writing, he “Write with the door the door open.”
Lydia Lepki, U2 Arts, shares her approach to sparking creativity: “I like to jot down some thoughts first, preferably
Opening my front door, I let the story breathe and invite others in, allowing feedback and revisions. This is where the story becomes more than just yours—it becomes a shared experience.
Writing is not just about the finished piece; it’s about the journey, the act of discovering the extraordinary in the ordinary. It may seem complex at times, but the beauty of language reveals itself when you are truly immersed in the craft. After all, every unfinished sentence, every imperfect draft, is simply part of the dance between imagination and reality. And in that dance, there is always room for wonder.
Invasive fans have GOT TO GO!
Pop artist Chappell Roan has demanded an end to harassment from fans
Jordana Curnoe Contributor
Should rising artists expect the harassment that comes with fame?
Chappell Roan, a 26-year-old rising pop artist from Missouri, thinks not. She’s not a human billboard, and as she has made abundantly clear in recent interviews and social media posts, she is not willing to tolerate obsessive fandom culture. The recent invasive events she has experienced have prompted her to remind fans that, like her drag name, her stage personality is a persona, not an identity. She has made clear in multiple interviews that she does this so that her fame doesn’t consume her since her musical persona can be so exhausting to portray.
In an Instagram post from Aug. 23, Roan compares the unwanted physical touch and harassment she has received to blaming a woman in a short skirt for the harmful actions of a harasser and expecting her to deal with the consequences. Roan later explained on TikTok that while she is grateful for her success, she will not tolerate stalking or harassment. She says that harmful behaviour towards famous women in the past has normalized these attitudes—but it shouldn’t have.
Roan argued in her TikTok that if she were not a celebrity, shouting at her or stalking her and her family would be considered forms of harassment. Though some fans may feel they know her through her music or social media presence, they are still strangers to her, so why does it make a difference that she’s also famous?
Stalking, both in-person and online, is never justified.
The sudden public scrutiny and lack of privacy accompanying fame can be extremely harsh and unanticipated, especially for someone like Roan, who first gained fame as a teenager.
Roan isn’t dramatizing the threats to her safety. Obsessive fan behaviour can be incredibly harmful, and in extreme cases, even deadly. Famous singers, like Christina Grimmie, have been killed by obsessive “fans.” In July, American singer Halsey shared in a deleted
Tumblr post that though her fans have been incredibly supportive, they are also the quickest to criticize her. These same people have been trying to morph Halsey and Roan into divas who only have time for themselves when both artists are simply trying to protect their safety.
Of course, this type of misguided portrayal is always harshest on famous women, even more so against queer women because of the preexisting discrimination which tries to undermine the validity of their success. Following the criticism, Roan received much emotion -
al support from other artists like Elton John, who advised her to stop if she was being pushed too hard.
Much of this obsessive behaviour is sparked by social media, which makes fan-celebrity relationships even more intimate and accessible than in previous years. Celebrities can share mundane or funny details of their lives just as a friend would, and they can interact with fans directly and immediately by replying to comments. Roan first achieved fame with the release of her single “Pink Pony Club” at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when touring was restricted, so the only way for the singer to maintain a connection with fans was through a screen. These online interactions can make fans feel like the relationship is two-sided, especially if they interact or react to her posts frequently. In reality, it’s purely parasocial.
As a result, some fans feel that it’s acceptable to share personal information online with the artist and expect empathy from someone they have never met. Perhaps the reason fans are so angry is because Roan is telling them she was never actually as close to them as they believed, but she has profited off of them.
Roan has made it clear on multiple occasions that she loves her fans. Her recent comments have upset some people who believe she is obligated to give up her time and privacy for them. They need to be reminded that Chappell Roan might be their favourite artist’s favourite artist—maybe even an inspiration—but not a friend.
‘Two by Two, Together’ bridges the gap between art and viewer
Museum of Fine Arts exhibit encourages dialogue between diverse artworks
Charlotte Sovka & Simona Culotta Contributors
Two by Two, Together , the latest exhibition at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA), displays works that have been acquired by the museum over the past five years. Open as of Sept. 11, the exhibition groups together a multitude of works by both local and international artists from 440 BCE to the present day.
The pieces are arranged based on time period, theme, subject, material, and function. As the curator, Iris Amizlev was thinking about how to group these diverse and, in some cases, seemingly unrelated pieces. In an interview with The Tribune , she explained that her process began by asking herself: “How could I make these pieces sing?” The resulting groupings— a pair of self-portraits by Rembrandt, a print of multicoloured vases next to ancient Roman glasswork, and a wall dedicated to various depictions of the female form—speak to the ways in which art can create dialogue across time, place, and medium.
Amizlev elaborated that her objective for the exhibit was to contribute to the works’ storytelling and inspire creative thought processes among viewers. Rather than displaying each piece independently
in a traditional manner, she sought to create a more interconnected experience.
This intention is visible through the exhibit’s layout. While many art exhibits are organized linearly, funnelling viewers towards pieces via separate rooms and hallways, the works in Two by Two, Together are all displayed within one airy room. This openness allows viewers to jump between pieces freely. Although the paintings, photographs, relics, and displays are certainly the focal point of the exhibit’s message, the thoughtful curation further emphasizes its focus on discourse through time and space.
In one corner, Still Life with Tomatoes (1720-1806) by Italian artist Carlo Magini is displayed next to the abstract Pears and Avocados (1944) by Madeleine Laliberte. While these pieces are strongly connected through their respective depictions of produce, there is also a juxtaposition between their art styles and time periods. By pairing hyperrealism and pure abstraction side-by-side, while maintaining the same theme, these works invite the audience to consider how similar subjects can act as a link between the otherwise contrasted pieces.
In addition, the exhibition demonstrates the MMFA’s commitment to displaying works by artists from groups who have historically been underrepresented
in the art world. Nunatta Sapujjijingit [Protectors of Our Land] (2021), a monumental whalebone carving by Inuk artist Manasie Akpaliapik, combines traditional Inuit legends with symbols of colonialism to bring attention to the effects of climate change. A sculpted face by Māori artist Riki Henare Manuel highlights Indigenous artists reclaiming control over their cultures amidst ongoing colonialism.
Some may assume that a museum curator’s take on art is more valid than someone who looks at art simply for fun, but Two by Two, Together challenges this notion. In our interview, Amizlev expressed her hope that viewers to participate in the discourse prompted by the exhibit, noting that she prioritized playfulness and creativity when curating the exhibit. Visitors should think about how they would group these pieces together, embrace connections between diverse works, and in so doing discover their own subjective viewpoints. In a field where such dialogue is often reserved for those with a formal education in art, it feels especially powerful that the MMFA has put together an exhibition where the viewer, be they an art history major or someone just looking for something to do on a Sunday, has
the opportunity to play an active role. Two by Two Together runs until Oct. 5, 2025. Tickets are available online or in person at the MMFA.
Chappell Roan’s choice of drag name was inspired by her grandfather, Dennis Chappell, and his favourite song, “The Strawberry Roan.” ( Zoe Lee / The Tribune )
The majority of pieces selected for ‘Two by Two, Together’ have never before been exhibited in Montreal. ( Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun )
Balancing your health and studies
How to manage your physical and mental health throughout the semester
Yasmine Mkaddam Contributor
With the countless deadlines and exams progressively piling on your responsibilities, it can be difficult to maintain a healthy mind and body. These tricks and habits can help you balance your time and take on this new semester with confidence.
Taking care of your body
For your own success and comfort, it is crucial to maintain a healthy routine. It’s easy to lose track of eating, exercising, and sleeping during the semester, but trying to persevere through your studies while being malnourished, dehydrated, and sleep-deprived can make it even harder to succeed in your studies.
It can be hard to stay on top of grocery shopping and cooking when the semester gets busy, but eating well brings up your energy levels and helps you feel your best. While access to healthy food is a luxury for many, the IRCGM offers services to find food banks close to you and groups like Food not Bombs offer balanced meals for anyone who needs them. On campus, Midnight Kitchen provides weekly vegan and nut-free meals to students
in need each week. Also take a moment to check out The Cheap Sheet, a booklet created yearly by McGill Student Services, which lists affordable, reduced-price, and sometimes free options for goods like groceries, textbooks, and clothes.
Keeping an eye on high-sugar drinks and caffeine intake is also important for your body’s well-being. These drinks are dehydrating and a large consumption can eventually create health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, and more. Opting for hydrating beverages with vitamins and electrolytes will give you more energy and help you carry yourself through the day.
Giving your body rest by sleeping six to nine hours a night enhances your energy, mood, concentration, and your long-term memory. Taking a power nap of 20 to 30 minutes per day can also help you recover your energy during the day without the grogginess that can come with a longer midday nap.
Managing
your mental health
With summer giving way to the long Canadian winter, it can be hard to keep up your energy levels and positivity. To help maintain your spirits during the cold winter months, try to spend your personal time engaged in activities you enjoy. If you’re looking for new ways to get out of your home, McGill has countless
social clubs and Montréal offers plenty of fun activities that can boost your serotonin. That said, accepting the low-motivation and lowenergy days as well as acknowledging that your body and mind deserve care is a step that must not be overlooked.
For students with mental illnesses or declining mental health, seeking support through therapy and healthy coping mechanisms is critical. The McGill Student Wellness Hub offers one-on-one appointments or online counsellors.
Keeping track of your commitments
As lectures, labs, and assignments start to pile up, it’s easy to get lost in a sea of deadlines. Monitoring your responsibilities with a calendar and using a reminders app can help you be more productive and up-to-date. To-do lists can also help, although it’s worth spending some time to determine what method of keeping track of tasks best suits your personality and needs.
Setting yourself attainable and realistic goals will help you maintain consistency in your projects and create a routine you can keep up with. It’s also important to keep an eye on what activities are making it more difficult to meet your goals. For instance, social media can suck up
hours of your time without you realizing it: Tracking your screen time can help you learn how much time you’re spending on these platforms and how it’s impacting your life. Multitasking is a better option—like using your screen time or putting your music on blast while working out.
Pups & Yoga, a five-minute walk from McGill, offers relaxing yoga sessions with puppies you can cuddle during the session. ( Zoe Lee / The Tribune)
Why you should join a club in your first year
An introduction to clubs and advice from activities night
Bianca Tri Staff Writer
Whether it’s your first year or your last, clubs are an integral part of student life at McGill. A cursory glance at someone’s laptop in the library can reveal their extracurricular alliances from publication clubs to environmental groups. With the buzz of Activities Night fading away into the rearview and hundreds of club listservs pestering you with general meeting details, you may start to wonder: “Should I join a club this semester?” Going straight to the biggest source of club recruitment on campus can reveal exactly why joining a club can make or break your first year of university. First, a basic rundown:
What is a club and what kinds of clubs are out there?
The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) has over 250 official student-run clubs registered. Clubs are generally interest groups and can be sorted into ten categories: Athletic and recreational sports; charity and environment; community outreach and volunteering; fine art, dance, and performance; health and wellness; language and publications; leisure activity and hobby; networking and leadership development; political and social activism; and religion and culture. There are also 17 student-run services and 11 independent student groups.
How do I join a club?
The best way to find out is to reach out to a club directly! Getting in touch
with a club through their website, social media, or by email can make you aware of whether there is a membership fee, an online channel to join, a tryout, or other parameters to start your club journey.
What will clubs expect from me?
There are usually two levels of membership in a club: General members and executives. General members are typically expected to attend club meetings and events. Executive members have more specific roles such as President, Finance, or Design, and manage the club’s dayto-day activities. However, this structure varies—for example, services are composed of executive members and the people they provide for are the McGill community. As such, you don’t need to sign up for anything to use services like WALKSAFE.
The tasks associated with each role vary between clubs, so it’s best to review each club constitution on the SSMU website to know more.
Why should I join a club?
In deciding whether or not to join a club, the choice comes down to your available time and personal goals.
Brianna Luo, U3 Science, stresses how athletic clubs can offer a low-pressure alternative to sports that require tryouts and competition.
“[A] lot of sports have tryouts but the McGill Climbing Club doesn’t, and I think that McGill clubs are so welcoming and it’s fun to be around people who have similar passions and even to learn a new passion,” she said in an interview with
The Tribune
Clubs can also help when you want to explore something that the university may not offer, as Lachi Ezeokafor, U3 Arts, mentioned in an interview with The Tribune
“You should join a club in your first year to expand your horizons, and get away from studying, because life is about doing what you enjoy. Arts clubs like Dsign Lab give students a creative outlet especially because there’s no fine arts faculty at McGill.”
Culture clubs are also known for bringing together people who want to connect over their shared experiences.
Dominique-Louise Magleo, U3 Arts, shared her thoughts with The Tribune
“[Clubs] will give you a sense of community,” she said. However, Magleo cautions first years against pledging your time to too many associations.
“Some people sign up for everything but don’t go to any of the meetings. You have to truly put effort into a club,” she added.
Learning new skills, sharing your passion, and meeting new people are the main highlights of joining clubs. Balancing the time commitment with other responsibilities may be a challenge for incoming students, but it’s a challenge that many club-goers recommend. The world of extracurriculars cannot wait for you to dive in!
“Club” as a weapon and “club” as a group of people etymologically come from the same word: “Klubba,” explaining why everyone who’s in a club loves to beat people over the head about it. ( Holden Callif / The Tribune )
Comparing prices at go-to student grocery stores
How do Metro, Provigo, and Segal’s stack up against each other?
Ella Paulin Managing Editor
With rising prices and an increasing cost of living, many students are keeping a close eye on grocery prices, but comparing deals across stores can be time-consuming and tedious. Luckily, we’ve done some of the work for you! The Tribune visited Metro, Provigo, and Segal’s to compare prices for 12 staple grocery items—ranging across produce, dairy, meat, and dry goods. All of the prices listed are sticker prices, not taking into account sales or two-for-one deals.
Metro
Total price: $70.24 CAD ($63.21 CAD with the student discount)
3575 Avenue du Parc Suite 5100
The Avenue du Parc Metro, tucked away in the basement of Les Galeries du Parc, is conveniently located for many students living in the McGill Ghetto—especially for first-year students living in New Residence Hall, which is connected via an elevator. Overall, Metro’s prices for the items we looked at were higher than those at Segal’s and about even with those at Provigo. For example, both
Provigo and Metro had 900g of pasta for $3.79 CAD and apples for $2.79 CAD/ lb. However, Metro has a 10 per cent student discount on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays for purchases of over $50.00 CAD, which helps make its prices more competitive with those of the other stores.
Provigo
Total price: $57.78 CAD ($52.00 CAD with student discount)
3421 Avenue du Parc
Like Metro, the Provigo on Avenue du Parc has a student points reward system; however, it’s slightly more complicated to use. At Provigo, you need to have a PC Optimum card that was registered using your student ID. If you check out using that card on Mondays, you can get 10 per cent of your purchase in PC Optimum points, which you can then spend on future purchases.
While Provigo’s prices across the board are higher than Segal’s, the total price for the goods we surveyed is significantly lower due to the lower price of chicken. While Segal’s is known for its cheap produce and dry goods, their meat selection is smaller and more expensive than Provigo’s. The latter had the cheapest prices for chicken of any of the stores, coming in at just $8.80 CAD/kg for bone -
Activities in Montréal you can’t miss
less chicken breasts. Provigo also had the cheapest and widest selection of sliced breads, and competitive prices for eggs and oranges compared with Segal’s.
Segal’s
Total price: $64.55 CAD
4001 Boulevard Saint-Laurent
Segal’s is slightly further away from campus and is closed on Sundays, but its low prices keep students coming back. If possible, try to avoid shopping there at peak times, as the aisles can get pretty crowded. Segal’s easily beats the other two stores for produce prices— with $0.69 CAD for an orange, $2.99 CAD/lb for grapes, and just $1.00 CAD/ lb for potatoes. Segal’s also had the cheapest prices for staples like butter, eggs, and cereal, although the prices for butter and eggs were relatively similar across all three stores.
Take advantage of the city before the colder seasons take over
Malika Logossou & Auxane Bussac Student Life Editors
Despite this week’s high temperatures and blue skies, McGill students know that the warm weather will not last forever. Still, students are enjoying every last bit of summer: Campus is buzzing with people walking around, getting hot dogs, studying outside, or simply laying down for a nap on the Lower Field. While Montréal’s outdoor events calendar is winding down for the winter, a few events are still happening here and there while we all pretend the cold isn’t coming. The Tribune offers a few recommendations for those who refuse to accept that fall is right around the corner.
Village au Pied-du-Courant 2380 Notre Dame Street East
Since June 13, Pied-du-Courant has welcomed the people of Montréal for a fun outdoorsy festival every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The entrance is free until 7:00 p.m., and then it costs $5 CAD—only card payment is accepted onsite—which makes it one of the cheapest festivals in town. Every day, new musicians and/or DJs are introduced—check out their Instagram for more information. Located in the Old Port, the Village au Pied-du-Courant has a breathtaking view of the Saint-Laurent River and one of the beautiful bridges that cross it. You’ll also find plenty of drinks and food on the site. You have until Sept. 21 to jump on this opportunity. Furry friends are also welcome!
Aire Commune
Esplanade Louvain, Avenue de l’Esplanade/De Louvain Ouest
If you’re looking for something to do on the remaining Thursday nights of September, Aire Commune should be on your radar. From 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., the Esplanade Louvain throws outdoor parties featuring performances from a variety of artists. Each week, the style of music being played varies based on the theme of the party. While the entrance used to be free, the festival has become the victim of its own success. The price to attend now ranges between $7.42 CAD until 6:30 PM
and $11.12 CAD if you arrive later. Nonetheless, Aire Commune ensures an awesome time, which makes it a great place to decompress and have a drink with friends after class. Try their amazing poutine if you get a chance!
Piknic Electronik
Parc Jean-Drapeau
A longtime student favourite for summer festivals, the famous Piknic festival takes place in Parc Jean-Drapeau. It opened its doors on May 19 and will last until Oct. 6, welcoming thousands of people partying on weekends. Piknic offers two types of events: Off Piknic—a con -
cert event with popular artists coming to perform—and Piknic Electronik on Sundays, where DJs play one after the other from 4:00 p.m. onwards. While the former usually exceeds $80 CAD, the latter is much cheaper with tickets starting at $24 CAD. Piknic also offers student-friendly passes for the season, such as the Student Back-To-School Pass for $60 CAD. Overall, Piknic never disappoints and is a great place to party with Montrealers from distant horizons.
The Gardens of Light
Montréal Botanical Garden
If you are a fan of immersive experiences and breathtaking light displays, the Gardens of Light in the Botanical Garden is a must-see. This year, running from Aug. 30 until Oct. 31, the Japanese, Chinese, and First Nations gardens will come alive with spectacular illuminations. This edition will feature projections inspired by elements of Japanese culture such as the seven autumn plants, the two most famous butterflies in Chinese culture— Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai—as well as fundamental principles of Indigenous culture through Innu poet Joséphine Bacon’s words and Métis artist Moe Clark’s songs. Take advantage of their 25 per cent discount from Sept. 2 to Oct. 8 when purchasing tickets for visits on Mondays and Tuesdays. Show your student ID to pay $12.25 CAD instead of the regular adult price $15.75 CAD. Montréalers also get a discount, so make sure to bring all your loved ones.
Provigo’s parent company is Loblaw’s, which also owns Maxi, Pharmaprix, and No Name. (Bruno Cotler / The Tribune)
Montréal has hosted the world’s largest jazz festival for over three decades. (Rohan Khanna / The Tribune)
Byte-sized Care: Is AI the code to cracking the mental health crisis? McGill researchers explore doctors’ perspectives on AI’s role in healthcare
Russel Ismael Contributor
Across Canada, 1.6 million children face mental health issues in an ongoing crisis which is exacerbated by a shortage of mental healthcare professionals. Given the potential benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) in diagnosing, preventing, and treating mental illnesses, some people are turning to AI for solutions. But should the future of mental healthcare go digital?
Professors in McGill’s Department of Family Medicine, Samira Abbasgholizadeh-Rahimi and Mark Yaffe, along with Master’s student Pooria Ghadiri, explored this question by consulting with some of Montreal’s pri - mary-care physicians (PCPs).
According to Rahimi, investigating how AI affects adolescent mental health is an important but under-researched topic.
“I believe adolescent mental health is a very important issue that’s not properly studied, specifically when it comes to the intersection of adolescent mental health and the use of advanced technologies like [AI],” Rahimi explained in an interview with The Tribune . “There are different areas that we can look into [regarding AI] in terms of prevention, [...] in terms of identification, or high-risk populations.”
Before beginning their research process, Rahimi inquired with the Jewish Gen-
eral Hospital about im plementing AI in mental healthcare. She wanted to determine if AI could improve treatment plans for adolescents by ad dressing the challenges clinicians face when treating them.
“We discussed a lot about the no-shows of adolescents, difficulty of building trust [with patients] to share [medi cal] information, helping young adults [stick with] their treatment, as [...] there is low adherence to these medications sometimes,” Rahimi explained.
There are at least 41 chatbots designed for mental health purposes.
Yet despite AI’s promises of a novel solution, PCPs are largely uncertain about the idea.
“I think it’s important to recognize that in healthcare, things tend to be very much oriented to evidence-based practices and evidence-based outcomes,” Yaffe said in an interview with The Tribune . “There is still a lot of concern about the ability of AI to deliver the goods in a way that is acceptable to doctors, patients, society, and our regulatory bodies.”
He punctuated his point by stating that there is no research that identifies “the sin-
gle best” AI that can diagnose a patient.
“Remember that mental health is an extremely broad area for diagnosis, and we’re dealing with depression, anxiety, psychosis, drug abuse, suicidality, and the list goes on,” Yaffe said.
Rahimi also stated that current data laws limit AI capabilities in healthcare. However, she is hopeful for a paradigm shift as public education about AI potential increases.
“I’ve been presenting [AI in healthcare] in different seminars and webinars in terms of its potential, and in a majority of my presentations, I get at least one question in terms of how dangerous these devices
are, if there are going to be killer robots in the future,” Rahimi said. “I think there is a lot of need for increasing awareness among the population [...] so they can have a better understanding of what AI is.”
There are also restrictions found at the clinical level, as Yaffe explained that Canadian medical colleges, like the Collège des médecins du Québec, set standards of care by looking at physician practices to assess their validity.
“[Medical colleges] look at what outcomes the physicians get from whatever it is that they’re doing. They seek feedback from society at large about acceptability.” Yaffe said. “I think that one has to ask, before saying ‘Let’s put this into action,’ ‘What are the concerns?’”
By holding healthcare to high standards, physicians can maintain public trust in their work. While AI shows promise, both Rahimi and Yaffe conclude that more research and education must be done before it can be accepted by not only the public but also medical regulatory bodies.
“Our research was an attempt to learn more about what Montreal [PCPs] understood about the potential use of AI in the assessment of adolescents’ mental health care,” Yaffe explained. “Varied expressions of both enthusiasm and caution suggest these physicians will approach AI with the same responsibility they employ with constantly evolving technologies and treatments.”
Telemedicine: A path to modernize healthcare for seniors McGill research explores challenges for older adults using telemedicine
K. Coco Zhang Science & Technology Editor
The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the economy, society, and healthcare system. While this crisis has presented the healthcare delivery system with unprecedented challenges, it has catalyzed the rapid adoption of telemedicine—remote clinical services.
Telemedicine allows patients to chat with healthcare professionals about their physical and mental health or receive a diagnosis via video or phone consultations. Although it has the potential to improve healthcare access and quality, its use may present unique challenges for older adults.
In a recently published paper, Dr. Vladimir Khanassov, assistant professor in McGill’s Department of Family Medicine and Director of the Care of the Elderly Training Program, and his team investigated potential advantages and barriers to telemedicine use in primary care for older adults. They also proposed recommendations to improve older adults’ experiences with telemedicine.
“Unlike younger generations, it is often difficult for older adults to use technology, so my objective was to identify the barriers for the elderly patients to access telemedicine for issues that would sometimes require hours of wait in the emergency room, but when they have access to telemedicine, their problems should be solved in five to ten minutes,” Khanassov said in an interview with The Tribune
Khanassov’s team found that most older adults preferred phone calls over video sessions for ease of use. Nonetheless, telephone consultations have several disadvantages.
Telephone consultations are restricted to verbal communication, meaning the physicians cannot observe the patient’s body language, facial expressions, and environment. This lack of visual contact can cause essential details to be overlooked and potentially result in diagnostic errors.
However, telemedicine has certain limitations regardless of whether it is conducted over the phone or video.
“For example, it is difficult to treat abdominal pain in telemedicine because you have to touch the belly,” Khanassov said.
The study also highlighted miscommunication-related concerns due to language or hearing barriers.
“Language barrier is a significant challenge to telephone consultations because healthcare professionals cannot explain everything over the phone,” Khanassov said. “Elderly patients often have hearing problems, which make telephone consultations difficult. When they cannot fully understand questions, they cannot see the body language of the healthcare professional or make any visual contact.”
Furthermore, telephone consultations may be inconvenient for older adults with limited literacy or cognitive impairment, as they may struggle to effectively express their medical condition over the phone.
Older adults also often encounter techni-
cal challenges associated with video consultations, such as internet connection problems, difficulties in handling video devices, and video quality issues.
“When you do a video call, there is usually a privacy statement that patients need to accept. The elderly patients sometimes do not see the button that they have to click to accept, so they cannot access video consultations, and that would create an obstacle,” Khanassov said.
The rates of virtual care use for all health care visits across provider categories in Canada rose from 10-20 per cent in 2019 to 60 per cent in April 2020, falling back to 40 per cent of all visits in 2021.
( Drea Garcia Avila / The Tribune )
Despite these disadvantages, patients interviewed in the study expressed several advantages associated with telemedicine, including maintaining continuity of care, saving time, reducing exposure to potential high-risk environments, and improving the patient-physician relationship.
Not only does telemedicine benefit older patients, but it also helps improve the work efficiency of healthcare professionals.
“For nurses, telemedicine helps them to complete tasks more quickly. For example, they can assess the blood pressure over the phone because patients will take the blood pressure, write it down, and report it to the
nurses who will then assess the numbers. This process would be more time-consuming if the consultation was in-person,” Khanassov said.
Khanassov also emphasized the importance of supporting older adults in navigating telemedicine platforms and highlighted future directions for telemedicine research.
“This study allows us to see that elderly patients appreciate telemedicine and would like to have access to telemedicine, so we just need to adjust the technology for them,” Khanassov said. “Based on the study, we most likely need to do more randomized, controlled trials to look at the difference in clinical outcomes of certain conditions for telemedicine versus in-person visits, such as the number of emergency visits and admissions.”
( Diana Yamada / The Tribune )
Empowering perfectionist students with personalized support
An innovative approach to student mental health and well-being
Lana Liquard Staff Writer
Perfectionism in students has become an epidemic. In today’s high-pressure society, younger generations are increasingly striving for unattainable standards, often at the expense of their mental health. Anxiety and depression are rising among students, especially in competitive academic environments like McGill University.
David Dunkley, Associate Professor in McGill’s Department of Psychiatry and Department of Psychology and Senior Researcher at the Lady Davis Institute, recently published a paper in the American Psychological Association that sheds light on how targeted interventions may provide a lifeline for perfectionistic students.
At the core of this study is the Perfectionism Coping Processes Model (PCPM), developed by Dunkley and his team to help participants better understand their daily emotional experiences. The novel intervention is the explanatory feedback intervention (EFI), which is a therapy session in which students receive personalized feedback based on their daily emotional experience. This intervention aims to support students with higher self-critical perfectionism.
The goal is to increase self-awareness surrounding daily mood fluctuations and provide students with the best targets to handle highstress situations. The structured feedback process helps individuals identify emotional patterns that lead to distress, empowering them to
Perfectionism has two main dimensions: Personal standards (PS), where individuals set high self-expectations, and self-critical (SC), marked by concerns about external criticism and constant selfscrutiny. ( Reya Khanna / The Tribune )
shift from avoidance strategies to more constructive coping mechanisms.
Empowerment was one of the study’s key outcomes, with participants reporting feeling more informed, optimistic, and in control. Beyond feeling empowered, the intervention additionally improved participants’ coping skills. Specifically, it increased coping self-efficacy and encouraged problem-focused coping by actively addressing problems rather than avoiding them. A significant reduction in depressive and anxious symptoms was also observed, particularly because the intervention helped participants engage with their mental health more proactively.
“[EFI] is an individualized intervention,” Dunkley said in an interview with The Tribune “Often, interventions are onesize-fits-all. Self-help books [are] just giving people modules, things to work on, lots of which doesn’t apply to them.”
The study highlights how tailored interventions, like the EFI, offer a more effective solution for perfectionistic individuals who might not benefit from generic approaches.
“Streamlining interventions is critical, [as] perfectionistic people have negative helpseeking attitudes and don’t tolerate interventions they don’t need,” Dunkley said.
The power of this research lies in its advocacy for individuals to become their own agents in addressing their mental health support.
“Let’s try to see how the person can help themselves, because they need to do that anyway,” Dunkley emphasized.
This approach differs from more traditional treatments like medication, by focusing on teaching patients how to navigate their daily lives and improve their mood gradually.
In addition, the study has significant clinical implications. EFI provides students with individualized feedback, helping them gain a deeper understanding of themselves, demystifying their mental health needs.
As one of the study’s key strengths, EFI “fast-tracks” treatment. Therapists often need several sessions to begin understanding a patient’s needs, especially if that patient is introverted. With the EFI, therapists can cover in one session what would normally be covered in multiple.
“If [the patient] already has something that shows them what they need to work on and explains it in a way that’s more constructive and destigmatizing, then hopefully they will be more open to and better informed to seek treatment,” Dunkley said.
Looking ahead, Dunkley and his team hope this type of intervention will become available to McGill students through the Student Wellness Hub.
Dunkley is launching a follow-up study in September, incorporating a new model, the Perfectionism and Emotion Regulation Processes Model (PERPM) with the PCPM framework, focusing on emotional regulation in perfectionism.
Ultimately, this study shows how a singlesession intervention like EFI can significantly impact students struggling with perfectionism. This intervention is broadly applicable and has the potential to benefit anyone facing similar challenges.
By helping individuals understand their mental health in a personalized and empowering way, this research opens the door to more effective, streamlined mental health treatments that could transform how we approach perfectionism and other mental health challenges students face.
From mountains to oceans: Climate change and ecosystem dynamics
Rethinking our outlook on climate and the future of biodiversity
Jenna Durante Science & Technology Editor
As the planet warms, natural dynamics are in constant flux, adjusting to the new environmental pressures imposed by climate change. From the depths of the oceans to the highest mountain peaks, the shift in species’ habitat ranges driven by changing temperatures and other climate factors is dramatically altering ecosystems across the globe. The movement of species impacts not just survival; it affects profound changes in biodiversity, ecosystems, and human livelihood.
Jake Lawlor, a PhD candidate in biology at McGill, explores the effects of these changes in a recently published paper in Nature Reviews Earth and Environment. He highlights that a species’ range is the geographical area where it naturally exists, thrives, and reproduces. As climate change alters temperatures, precipitation patterns, and ecosystems, species shift their ranges to find suitable habitats.
However, climate change does not affect all species in the same ways or to the same degree.
“Some things that we think might affect species range shifts are what we call species traits; characteristics of the species and how they live and how they move that might allow them to keep up with temperature or not,” Lawlor said in an interview with The Tribune
Many species shift at different speeds due to various factors like dispersal ability, competition for land, and resource availability. For
instance, wind-dispersed plants can rapidly move to new areas, while marine invertebrates with limited mobility struggle to keep up with changing temperatures. Additionally, species interactions complicate these movements. Butterflies migrating up mountains may find their progress halted if their host plants cannot move upward quickly enough.
“There’s some non-temperature factors, precipitation patterns, or humidity, or the number of hours of daylight as you go up latitude, that set limits on species,” Lawlor explained. “The hard thing about this is there’s a lot of variables that probably matter, and it’s kind of hard picking apart in specific cases, why a species isn’t shifting when we think it should.”
The impacts of these range shifts are significant and multifaceted. On the one hand, they can help maintain biodiversity by allowing species to find new habitats. On the other hand, they have the potential to destabilize existing natural and human systems.
For example, species suited to warmer conditions will replace cold-adapted species, a phenomenon known as thermophilization. This disruption can upset ecological balances as seen with the expansion of the barren-forming urchin in Australia, which has devastated kelp forests, shifting mangrove species and altering coastal ecosystems.
Lawlor also highlighted the effects range shifts have on human environments, altering human relationships with species.
“Most of the relationships that humans have with species in general, whether it’s har-
vest species, medicinal species, resource species or economic species, [...] were built under the assumption that species are going to stay where they are,” Lawlor explained.
For example, fishers along the Atlantic coast of the US and Canada are facing the need to travel farther to catch the same species they once collected closer to shore. This shift requires adjustments in fishing practices, gear, and markets to account for the changing distribution of target species.
Canada is home to an estimated 80,000 different species, including mammals, birds, fish, plants, amphibians, reptiles, and insects. ( Holden Callif / The Tribune)
Lawlor emphasized the importance of observing and adapting to these changes.
Similarly, conservation strategies such as national parks and marine protected areas, originally designed to protect species within fixed boundaries, may become less effective as species move beyond these areas. Consequently, conservation plans need to be flexible to continue supporting biodiversity effectively.
“I think we should look around and observe the species that are with us here now,” Lawlor said. “For example, even the trees up and down the streets of Montréal have thermal tolerance ranges as well. So as the Earth keeps warming, all the species around us are going to change, and all the ways that we interact with our environments are going to change too.”
Canadian Sail Grand Prix team sees growing popularity and prowess
How the 2023-2024 season played out for Team Canada
Emilia Oliver Contributor
Every year, 10 teams from different nations compete on F50 foiling catamaran sailboats at some of the most incredible sailing venues around the world in the Sail Grand Prix (SailGP). Fans of all ages come out to watch the world’s best sailors race the fastest sailboats ever made against beautiful backdrops. At each event, all 10 teams complete six fleet races building up to a winner-takes-all final which determines the event champion. The season concludes with a Grand Final, where the top three teams of the season compete for a prize of $7 million USD.
In recent years, the SailGP franchise has seen a significant increase in its fanbase—a boom in viewers across social media platforms and an in-person attendance of more than 200,000 spectators, as well as a 48 per cent increase in broadcast viewership over the past year. As the sport’s popularity grows, so does its appeal to sponsors. Therefore, knowing what attracts more spectators is key. Is it the speed, the spectacular boats with 28-metre-tall sails, or the full-speed crashes that get fans hooked? It’s probably a mix of them all.
However, as Sail World managing editor Mark Jardine stated in an article, fans crave access to the sailors’ personalities and rivalries. Jardine compares the SailGP competition to Formula One (F1), and notes how very few F1 fans know the speed record of any competition. Instead, a large
part of its success lies in the great rivalries between drivers—like Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen—showcased to fans with on-board cameras during the racing and at press conferences. The popularity of a documentary by the Canadian SailGP team, “Against All Odds,” indicates that perhaps the same principle is true for fans of sailing.
“Against All Odds” follows the Canadian SailGP team through the 2023-2024 season. The team, led by Phil Robertson, started off the season strong, finishing in third and second respectively at their first two events. The rookies on the team seemed to have gotten the hang of the very technically challenging F50 boat in record time. However, things took an unfortunate turn in Saint-Tropez, when the team’s lucky streak was cut short by extremely harsh wind conditions, and spectators began to believe the Canadians beginners’ luck had run out.
In Sydney, the team faced an even bigger obstacle when their wing was smashed during haul-out by a flash storm, almost certainly putting an end to their season. Canadian SailGP fans celebrated when it was announced that the league and sponsors had decided to fund and produce a brand new wing in time for the next event in Christchurch—Robertson’s hometown in New Zealand.
The rookies and veterans pulled through to surprise everyone and win the Christchurch event. The team was making history. Not too long after, Canada set a new SailGP speed record of 101.98 km/h
American sports go global
while testing the new T-Foils in San Francisco. Also breaking records were the Canadian fans at home; the first ever Canadian SailGP event was held in the Halifax Harbour in June 2024, and was attended by record-setting shoreside crowds of 50,000 people. Tickets for the event sold out within 12 minutes of going on sale, and every merchandise-selling record in the history of the competition was broken.
The Canadian SailGP team’s high, however, has been short-lived. In the recently-announced 2024-2025 schedule, the Canadian event has been replaced by an event in the United Arab Emirates.
SailGP also recently announced that two new teams will be joining the competition this November, meaning that one of the current teams will be benched to leave room for the newcomers. It has not been officially announced which team will be cut, but historically there are few teams without home regattas. Canadian fans are therefore wondering if the scrapping of the Halifax event is a preview of more disappointing news to come. Regardless of what the future holds for the Canadian team, SailGP will continue to be an exhilarating display of top athletes using a force of nature to produce some fascinating racing.
NFL and NBA’s overseas games drive revenue and popularity
Matias Plasencia Sanchez Contributor
American sports have leapt beyond borders, turning the world into their playground. At the forefront of this transition is the National Football League (NFL). In 2005, the NFL organized its first overseas game when the Arizona Cardinals faced off against the San Francisco 49ers at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The game brought over 103,000 fans in attendance—one of the largest crowds to watch a regular-season game in NFL history.
In 2007, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the inauguration of the NFL International Series, which entailed regular season games played overseas every year. The goal was to increase the popularity of the sport outside of the U.S. by hosting games throughout Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom. Increased social media usage has led the NFL to continue to grow in popularity, with searches for “NFL shop Europe” increasing 240 per cent outside of the U.S. over the past year.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has been playing seasonal games overseas for decades before the NFL. The first international game featuring an NBA team occurred in 1979 when the Washington Wizards, formerly the Washington
Bullets, faced off against Maccabi Tel Aviv in Tel Aviv. While the NBA continued to host games abroad, their popularity did not surge until 1992 when Team USA won gold at the Barcelona Olympics. Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson—three of the greatest players in NBA history—teamed up for the first time to make up what is now known as the “dream team” of basketball. This team represented the skill of the NBA and introduced the league in Europe, increasing NBA viewership abroad.
Games played outside of the U.S. and Canada have the potential to earn sports associations tremendous amounts of money. Both leagues already rake in incredible sums each year, with the NBA making roughly $10.6 billion USD in revenue in the 2022-2023 season and the NFL making about $13 billion USD in 2023. Despite these high numbers, these leagues still hope for more. While the NFL’s International Series has yet to bring in substantial revenues, the league plans that it will pay off in the long run. Countries hosting these games may also reap longterm economic benefits, as some reports estimate each host city will have a turnover of around $40 million USD and has the potential to increase tourism.
Having American teams play regular season games overseas is not without its impacts. There are clear environmental
drawbacks to hosting games abroad. For example, hosting international games contributes to more amounts of carbon dioxide emissions due to increased travel distances from teams, coaches, and spectators. During regular season games, the NFL contributes an average of 20.8 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide per game, making it the sport with the largest carbon footprint in major U.S. sports leagues. In comparison, the NBA emits the third largest carbon footprint: 13.7 metric tonnes per game. The NFL’s greater emissions are attributed to the larger distances between NFL venues in the U.S., compared to other major U.S. sports leagues with closer venues.
To promote football outside of the U.S., the NFL hosted the preseason American Bowl, from 1986 to 2005 in foreign cities around the world. (Drea Garcia Avila / The Tribune)
2023 season. These initiatives to reducing domestic mileage do not make up for the steep environmental impact that overseas games result in.
Although both the NFL and the NBA have taken some steps to address these issues such as the NBA and NFL Green Initiatives. In addition to this, the NBA is focusing on reducing flight miles to games within the U.S., reducing travel miles by 11 per cent, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 39 per cent from the 2022-
The globalization of American sports, particularly the NFL and the NBA, has brought significant financial benefits and increased international popularity, but these gains come at an environmental cost. As these leagues continue to expand their global reach, they must balance their economic ambitions with a greater commitment to environmental sustainability.
SailGP teams are currently owned by the competition organizers. (Sofia Stankovic / The Tribune )
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