The Tribune
People-pleasing won’t lead to true friendships
PG. 5
Supreme Court of Canada denies Mohawk Mothers’ appeal
Jasjot Grewal
Editor-in-Chief
The Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear an appeal from the Kanien’kehá:ka Kahnistensera (Mohawk Mothers) on Jan. 15. The Mothers filed a motion with the Court on Oct. 15, seeking a comprehensive investigation into possible unmarked graves at the site of McGill’s New Vic Project, and a reinstatement of the court-appointed archeological panel that previously oversaw the investigation.
Since 2015, the Mohawk Mothers have been advocating against the construction and renovation of the New Vic Project, as it is located on the land of the former Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH). The hospital was the site of the Allan Memorial Institute—one of many locations across North America on which the CIA conducted MK-ULTRA mind control and chemical interrogation experiments. On April 6, 2023, the Mothers reached a historic settlement agreement with McGill, the Société québécoise des infrastructures (SQI), RVH, the City of Montreal, and the Attorney General of Canada, which man-
Indigenous reform cannot end with
In December 2024, Kimberly R. Murray, Canada’s Independent Special Interlocutor for Missing Children and Unmarked Graves and Burial Sites associated with Residential Schools, reached the end of her mandate, concluding a term that had started in June 2022. Her work in this role culminated in a
dated the archival and archeological investigation into the site of the New Vic Project. As per the agreement, this investigation would take place under the oversight of a court-mandated panel of archeologists jointly appointed by all parties.
In August 2023, the Mothers alleged that McGill disbanded the archeological panel before the investigation had been completed. However, McGill maintains that the panel dissolved after completing its mandate and issuing a final report in July 2023. In November 2023, Justice Gregory Moore ruled to reinstate the panel of archaeologists. PG. 2
Kimberly R. Murray
Final Report, presented in October 2024 at the seventh National Gathering on Unmarked Burials, in which she outlined several actionable obligations that Canada’s government and other public institutions have to Indigenous Peoples. Despite the far-reaching and positive impact of Murray’s work under the Special Interlocutor role, the Canadian government has made the conscious decision to neither extend her term nor identify a successor.
Beyond the research Murray conducted to inform this re-
port, her mandate with the Office of the Special Interlocutor (OSI) also involved serving as an impartial third-party mediator in court cases relating to residential schools and unmarked graves. Murray’s role in such cases was to fact-check and to intervene if other parties made derogatory comments about Indigenous peoples, offering a platform through which survivors could be properly represented in legal matters without the fear of being shut down or ridiculed.
(Armen Erzingatzian / The Tribune)
Following ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, student activism for weapons divestment persists
Student organizations continue to demand anti-colonial action from McGill
Kaitlyn Schramm News Editor
On Jan. 19, Israel and Hamas began the first six-week phase of the ceasefire in Gaza including a hostage release deal. The first phase is meant to entail Israeli military withdrawal and the allowance of Palestinian refugees back into Gaza alongside humanitarian aid into the strip. Hamas will also release 33 hostages in the first phase, dispersed across the sixweek period, and Israel will release 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.
This ceasefire deal has brought a tentative end to Israel’s 15-month siege on Gaza which killed at least 45,000 civilians, wounded over 100,000, and destroyed 90 per cent of the housing units in Gaza. Al Jazeera reports that 1,706 Israelis were also killed throughout the period.
Negotiations for the next phases are slated to begin on the 16th day following the commencement of the second phase. While the second and third phases are anticipated to continue the release of hostages and further Gaza’s rebuild, some worry the ceasefire may not persist beyond the first phase of the deal.
In light of the ceasefire, student activists at McGill are continuing to demand the university cut ties with companies involved with funding Israel through weapons manufacturing.
Students for Palestine’s Resistance and Honour (SPHR) at McGill, alongside Engineers for Palestine at McGill, launched an email campaign demanding the removal of weapons companies complicit in the geno -
cide in Palestine from the McGill TechFair, which will be held Jan. 29 and Jan. 30. Companies like MDA Space, Galvion, and Cisco have aided Israel in the engineering of weapons and surveillance technology used in the genocide.
“We will keep holding McGill accountable for its complicity in the genocide of Palestinians and ongoing complicity in the settler-colonial Zionist project,” a representative from SPHR at McGill wrote to The Tribune
On Jan. 22, SPHR at McGill hosted a fundraising poster sale, donating proceeds to La Fondation Canado-Palestinienne du Québec’s Emergency Gaza program.
Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) McGill also reaffirmed its commitment to anti-Zionism following the ceasefire, emphasizing that it still aims to hold McGill accountable for its continued financial involvement with companies complicit with Israel’s genocide of Palestinians.
“As a group, we want to keep trying to educate people about the ongoing history of this conflict, continue to build progressive Jewish community with anti-imperialist values, and protest the ongoing complicity our universities and governments have in the forced displacement and mass murder of the Palestinian people,” an IJV representative wrote to The Tribune IJV also spoke to the importance of critiquing McGill’s colonial actions. The organization noted that McGill removed a Great White Pine sapling planted by a group of Kanien’keha:ka women last November as an example, demanding McGill commit to anticolonial efforts beyond divestment.
“Our administration has spent the last 15 months bankrolling an active genocide, and that responsibility does not disappear with a ceasefire, it can only be addressed through divestment,” IJV wrote.
In a written statement to The Tribune, McGill’s Media Relations Office (MRO) explained that the university’s Board of Governors Committee on Sustainability and Social Responsibility (CSSR) has committed to assessing its investments in companies manufacturing weapons. The committee has yet to present its findings to the Board. In December, the CSSR did not recommend McGill divest from companies with ties to Israel’s siege on Gaza on the grounds that such actions did not constitute social injury. In regard to its academic ties with Israeli institutions, the MRO echoed President and Vice-Chancellor Deep Saini’s remarks from February 2023.
with an institution simply because of where it is located. To do so would be wholly opposed to our institutional principles.”
Students from other universities in Montreal are also demanding change. A representative of SPHR Concordia stated that students will continue to push for divestment regardless of the ceasefire.
“McGill will not unilaterally sever its research and academic ties with Israeli institutions,” the MRO wrote. “Moreover, McGill will not interfere with the academic freedom of individual members of the university community to engage or partner
“The demands to cut ties with five weapons companies partnerships (Lockheed Martin, CAE, Pratt & Whitney, Bombardier, Airbus) in addition to completely divesting from blood money remains,” the SPHR Concordia representative wrote to The Tribune . “Concordia’s responsibility is to not fund this occupation and listen to its students who clearly haven’t given up on divestment.”
Supreme Court of Canada denies Mohawk Mothers’ appeal
Court-mandated archeological panel remains dissolved
Jasjot Grewal Editor-in-Chief
Continued from page 1.
In an interview with The Tribune , Mohawk Mother Kwetiio explained what she believed was Justice Moore’s reasoning behind the decision, emphasizing the importance of having a group of third-party archeologists overseeing the investigation.
“In my understanding, [Justice] Moore agreed with our understanding of the settlement agreement we all signed provided for [...] this panel of unbiased professionals who actually run their own working group on unmarked graves. They are the professionals at it. They are the best at it. They were to oversee the project and give recommendations that we were to follow,” Kwetiio said.
McGill successfully appealed this decision in August 2024 at the Court of Appeal of Quebec. The Mohawk Mothers hoped to reverse the Court’s decision at the Supreme Court of Canada, but were denied. Kwetiio shared that while she was not surprised by the Supreme Court’s decision, she still believes that the panel’s mandate persists.
“It was not unexpected [....] I didn’t think that the system that got us in this predicament in the first place was going to be the system to get us out,” she said. “In our eyes, the panel never went anywhere. They still exist.”
Phillippe Blouin—an anthropologist and associate of the Mothers—emphasized to The Tribune that even though the Mothers’ appeal was denied, the case and investigation remain ongoing. However, he noted that Independent Special Interlocutor Kimberly Murray’s mandate has expired, leaving a fundamental gap in the Canadian legal system’s representation and justice processes for Indigenous folks. Murray was previously involved in the Mothers’ and McGill’s settlement agreement as a third-party mediator.
“Indigenous peoples are just left alone to fight within this court system with infinite hours of work while the opponents invest public money and tuition money into lawyers using procedural tricks to push back against their claim,” Blouin said.
“This is just a case of proving, again, what Kimberly Murray demonstrates in her final report, that there’s a settler amnesty that is enshrined within Canadian law, which makes it almost impossible to make any
institution or person accountable for these crimes.”
Blouin believes that emote sensing methods used on the site have found potential evidence, including the three targets identified by search dogs, and several potential grave zones. Despite this, McGill still maintains no evidence has been found—as stated on their communications page for the New Vic Project—meaning that bodies would have to be exhumed to prove their existence.
“Since work on the New Vic project has been launched, No human remains, unmarked grave indicators or anomalies of any sort have been found,” McGill’s Media Relations Office wrote to The Tribune.
For Blouin, the Mothers’ ultimate goal is to investigate any
potential graves and protect survivors of colonial violence.
“The Mothers are doing this for the truth only. That is their only objective. Denialism [...] and asking Indigenous people to effectively dig the grounds to show the actual bodies—this is extremely disrespectful,” he said. “No one would ask that of a white person, to go dig their ancestors in the ground to prove that they’re there.”
In August 2023, ground-penetrating radar surveys revealed dozens of anomalies on the site of the New Vic Project. (Armen Erzingatzian / The Tribune)
Student activists have been hosting fundraising events on campus to support the reconstruction of Gaza. (Armen Erzingatzian / The Tribune)
SSMU BoD rejects proposal to increase signatures needed to submit question to referendum
Ratification of gender-neutral washroom motion postponed a secon d time
Amelia H. Clark Staff Writer
The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU)’s Board of Directors (BoD) met on Jan. 21 to discuss proposed changes to referendum processes and a motion to increase gender-neutral washrooms in the University Centre.
First, the Board discussed Elina Qureshi’s resignation as a Nominating Committee Director. The Board appointed member-at-large Fawaz Halloum to take her position.
SSMU President Dymetri Taylor then stated that Halloum’s term on the Nominating Committee should last until May 31 rather than Nov. 14, as Quereshi had been appointed as a short-term director. Halloum questioned this reasoning, as in the past, members-at-large serving on committees remained until their terms ended, regardless of their predecessor’s title. As per precedent, the Board decided to end Halloum’s term in November 2025, planning to review the issue further at a later date.
The Board then discussed the motions for ratification approved at the Jan. 16 Legislative Council Meeting. First, the Board unanimously ratified the Motion Regarding the Internal Regulations of Representation and Advocacy, which stipulates that SSMU University Affairs take into account the identity and lived experience of candidates when appointing representatives to the McGill Senate— one of the university’s highest governing bodies.
The Board also ratified the Motion Regarding Interim Club Status for the Green Olive Chinese Christian Club and the Motion Regarding Constitution Changes for the McGill Students Chinese Music Society.
Taylor then summarized the Motion Regarding Interim Provision of Elections and Referenda, which aims to adjust the structure of SSMU’s referendum and executive election process by shortening campaign periods, altering the structure of debates, and increasing the number of signatures required to submit a referendum question to the ballot.
Taylor proposed the current requirement of 100 signatures be increased to 250 to represent approximately one per cent of the student body. He also introduced a mandate that the Legislative Council and the executive board must review submitted initiatives at least two weeks prior to the referendum, to prevent initiatives that are legally unfeasible from reaching the ballot, then having to be annulled.
SSMU Vice-President (VP) External Affairs Hugo-Victor Solomon noted that multiple students have approached him with apprehension about the Motion, expressing concerns that these additional barriers would discourage engagement in the referendum process.
“The way that this is being perceived by a lot of students is that SSMU is trying to make it hard for students to participate in democracy,” Solomon said. “This is a pretty consequential point given the ongoing case regarding the Policy Against Geno-
Technical difficulties at the
and operators at risk
cide [in Palestine].”
Halloum also expressed concerns with the Motion, arguing that the Board’s review of student-submitted initiatives should only pertain to the legal implications of motions, not their subject matter.
“Complicating direct democracy is not the direction we should be going,” Halloum said.
Taylor accepted these critiques as friendly amendments, agreeing to keep the number of required signatures at 100. The Board ended the non-confidential section of the meeting by unanimously ratifying the Motion.
During the confidential section of the meeting, the Board debated the Motion Regarding SSMU Building Gender Neutral Washrooms.
SSMU VP University Affairs Abe Berglas proposed the Motion on Dec. 5, and its ratification was postponed during the previous BoD meeting. This Motion stands to increase the number of genderneutral bathrooms in the University Centre, and has drawn opposition from some Directors who claim that these washrooms would impede safety for some women students.
“The motion is waiting for legal review—but even after being seen by our lawyers, Councillors and Directors have indicated that their concern is about women’s safety,” Berglas wrote to The Tribune. “It’s upsetting to hear that they believe women’s safety is at odds with non sex-segregated spaces, especially when Trump used the same talking points to justify his executive order.”
BoD fixed a technical issue that students faced in the previous election of being unable to receive ballots under their chosen names for upcoming voting term.
Moment of the meeting:
The Board put the Motion Regarding Gender Neutral Washrooms back under legal review, delaying its ratification once more.
Soundbite:
“By taking it to the next Board of Directors instead of involving the Legislative Council, we are taking the Legislative Council out of this referendum process.” — Simone Brown, SSMU Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, on the Motion Regarding Interim Provision of Elections and Referenda.
McGill Students’ Nightline leave callers
McGill’s student-run support service
struggles to resolve problems with its phone infrastructure
Daniel Mishka Staff Writer
Following an upgrade to McGill’s phone infrastructure in February 2024, the McGill Students’ Nightline has been experiencing difficulties with its phone system. The Nightline is a student-run organization providing confidential active listening services, dependent on telephone infrastructure provided by McGill. Despite attempts to resolve these difficulties, the Nightline remains without the resources it needs to operate safely and effectively.
The Nightline provides confidential, anonymous, and non-judgmental listening services to the McGill community, available seven days a week, from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m..
Ava Fuchs, External Coordinator of the Nightline, told The Tribune that she cannot publicly disclose the exact nature of the problems the Nightline is experiencing, out of interest for student safety.
“I can’t disclose exactly what the issues are, but they are related to both volunteer and caller safety,” Fuchs said. “Our volunteers aren’t able to provide all of the functions that we normally would want them to. It’s also related to the safety of the caller if they were in a crisis situation.”
The problems began in February 2024, when the Nightline transitioned from using a private phone system independent of McGill to a newly installed network shared by the
whole university.
Hamza Abu Alkhair, the recently appointed Director of Clubs and Services at the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU), told The Tribune that McGill began migrating its phone systems to Cisco’s Unified Communications System (UCS) in 2023. All new phones installed at McGill are connected to the UCS.
“In the late Fall of 2023, Nightline requested that their phone system be upgraded and UCS was the only available solution,” Abu Alkhair wrote. “Nightline have had their new phones active since February 2024.”
After approaching SSMU with the Nightline’s difficulties in Fall 2024, Fuchs says the Nightline executives received a tepid response, and that SSMU failed to find a solution.
“We tried to get [SSMU] to get [McGill IT Services] to change [the phones] back, or get more information, or get maintenance, but they’ve been pretty unresponsive,” Fuchs stated. “We’ve been [...] on them, and just nothing’s happened. They’ve tried to do a couple of things, and they’re like, ‘It should be working out,’ and it just doesn’t.”
Abu Alkhair acknowledged the issues the Nightline has been experiencing following McGill’s migration to the UCS, and confirmed that all phones used by SSMU have similar problems.
“We have been working with Nightline’s external coordinator and McGill IT to
get these issues resolved since September,” Abu Alkhair wrote to The Tribune. “We have also been coordinating with Nightline and a McGill technician who has been directly in touch with Nightline about these issues.”
Despite SSMU’s efforts, the Nightline’s issues still have not been resolved.
“McGill went directly to Cisco about [these] issues just before the holiday break and they recommended a reboot of the UCS system,” Abu Alkhair wrote to The Tribune “This was tested by Nightline in early January, but [the system] still isn’t working.”
SSMU President Dymetri Taylor says he was only recently informed about the issues the Nightline has been experiencing, but affirmed that SSMU is working to find a solution.
“This is something that has newly cropped up on my radar,” Taylor wrote to The Tribune. “As far as I’m aware, we’re looking into getting them the new and necessary phones to replace the old ones.”
Despite the technical difficulties,
the Nightline continues to serve the McGill community. Fuchs informed The Tribune that the Nightline plans to expand its operations to make their services more accessible for a bilingual student community.
“McGill Students’ Nightline will begin implementing a French language chatline on Wednesdays and Fridays starting in February,” Fuchs wrote. “This new feature is a great way for us to make our services accessible to McGill students and members of the community who feel more comfortable chatting in French.”
The Nightline was founded in 1970, initially providing student support with push-button phones. (Eliot Loose / The Tribune)
The
(Ruby Reimer / The Tribune)
In the headlines: Week of Jan. 28, 2025
McGill: International: National: Local:
The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) reassigns reimbursement duties for gender-affirming care
On Jan. 23, SSMU announced that its Board of Directors (BoD) had decided to delegate reimbursement for gender-affirming care from its StudentCare Gender Affirming Care insurance plan to the office of the SSMU Gender and Sexuality Commissioner. According to the union’s announcement, the Gender and Sexuality Commissioner will be responsible for anonymizing claims and allocating funding for reimbursement. SSMU claims this move will improve access to coverage for students who require it and that it will lead to greater financial sustainability.
The Trans Patient Union (TPU)—a community advocacy and mutual aid organization for trans and nonbinary patients— expressed doubts about the long-term viability of this change but urged those in need to take advantage of it while it lasts in an Instagram story posted on Jan. 24.
“In some ways, this is a good change (no gender dysphoria diagnosis requirement, preemptive claims), but that’s tempered by the face that SSMU is not an insurance company,” TPU wrote.
This organizational change will be in effect for claims made for any procedures done during the Winter 2025 semester. SSMU wrote that students wishing to submit claims for procedures held prior to Jan. 1, 2025, should file directly with StudentCare.
Amazon Canada to close all warehouses in Quebec following union activity
Amazon Canada announced on Jan. 22 that it will shut the doors of all its Quebe warehouses, impacting 1,700 permanent and 250 temporary employees. The closure of the seven facilities in the province comes after 230 employees at a warehouse in Laval unionized last May—only the second group of Amazon workers to unionize in North America.
While Amazon claims this move was made for financial reasons, labour advocates and media outlets have denounced it as an anti-union tactic. According to The Globe and Mail, many workers at a facility in Saint-Hubert were gearing up to join the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN), a trade union which represents about 300,000 workers primarily in Quebec. CSN was reportedly aiming to help five of the seven facilities unionize.
According to multiple media outlets, CSN is considering taking legal action against Amazon Canada. This would follow the precedent set by a 2014 Supreme Court ruling that Walmart had violated Quebec labour code by shutting down a unionized location “without a valid reason.” Amazon stated that the employees affected by the closures, which will take place over the next two months, will be offered up to 14 weeks of pay plus certain transitional benefits.
Six candidates vie for Liberal Party leadership
The Liberal Party of Canada approved six of the seven candidates running for party leadership to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Jan. 27. The approved contenders are former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney, MPs Jaime Battiste, Chrystia Freeland, and Karina Gould, and former MPs Frank Baylis and Ruby Dhalla. MP Chandra Arya. Nepean MP Chandra Arya was not permitted to run with the Party citing he did not satisfy “mandatory criteria.” Elections Canada has yet to approve the candidates.
According to CBC, Carney and Freeland are the current front-runners, securing the most caucus endorsements thus far. The Party will hold a minimum of two debates, although the dates have not yet been set. The Party will choose its new leader on March 9, 2025.
Colombian government to heed Trump’s deportation demands amid threats of trade war
Since Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, the U.S. conservative administration has begun to crack down on illegal immigration, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement already arresting over 1,000 people. The United States government has begun deporting people by aircraft back to their home countries. According to Reuters , Brazil slammed the U.S. for the alleged mistreatment of 88 unauthorized migrants, saying they arrived in Brazil handcuffed.
Columbia had previously refused to accept any deportees who were not treated with “dignity and respect.” Columbian President Gustavo Petro had also announced tariffs on U.S. imports in an attempt to enforce this.
However, Petro was forced to concede after Trump threatened to introduce a 25 per cent emergency tariff on Columbian imports. Trump also threatened to impose a travel ban, visa revocations, and increased inspections of Columbian goods and nationals.
The Tribune Explains: McGill’s carbon offsetting program
The Panama-based watershed restoration is a part of the university’s goal of carbon neutrality
Mahin Siddiki Staff Writer
In 2020, McGill launched the Bayano-McGill Reforestation Project, a carbon offsetting program, alongside the university’s Vision 2020 Climate and Sustainability Action Plan, to help reach its carbon neutrality goals by 2040. The Tribune breaks down what the program is and how it ties into McGill’s long-term sustainability targets.
What are carbon offsets?
Carbon offsets are a mechanism aimed to neutralize the impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Polluting individuals and organizations can purchase carbon offsets through a thirdparty organization to fund agriculture or forestry projects that help remove atmospheric GHGs, or technology-based initiatives such as direct air capture. Once a polluter has measured and quantified their carbon emissions, they can buy equivalent amounts of carbon offsets to compensate. Those who oppose carbon offsetting claim that organizations may overstate the benefits of their contributions. For example, an investigation from The Guardian found that up to 90 per cent of carbon credits from the Verified Carbon Standard—a prominent crediting program—were “phantom credits,” given for projects that were never implemented. Other critics say that carbon offsets focus on minimizing the impacts of carbon emissions, as opposed to eliminating them altogether.
What is McGill’s commitment toward carbon neutrality?
The university outlined three long-term targets for sustainability in its Climate and Sustainability Strategy 2020-2025. First, McGill aimed to receive a Platinum Sustainability Rating, which it achieved in March 2024. Second, McGill seeks to become zero-waste by 2035, and third, to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040.
McGill is taking a three-fold approach to achieving carbon neutrality. First, it intends to reduce GHG emissions wherever possible, including by undertaking large-scale energy efficiency projects such as installing electric boilers. Second, McGill plans to sequester carbon on its forested properties, such as the Morgan Arboretum and the Gault Nature Reserve. Third, McGill seeks to purchase carbon offsets to mitigate the harms caused by air travel and commuting. According to the Climate and Sustainability Strategy, these goals are ranked in order of priority and fall in line with guidelines from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
What is McGill’s carbon offset project?
McGill’s carbon offset program is based in eastern Panama, created in partnership with the Indigenous authorities of the Ipetí- and PiriatíEmberá called the Congreso General Emberá de Alto Bayano, and the Asociación de Mujeres
Artesanas de Ipetí-Emberá—an Indigenous women’s NGO. The project aims to reforest a watershed in Panama called the Upper Bayano.
In a written statement to The Tribune, Shona Watt, Associate Director of the McGill Office of Sustainability, explained that the project is overseen and monitored by local leaders and technicians, alongside professors and students involved in McGill’s Panama Field Study Semester.
The BoD fixed a technical issue that students faced in the previous election of being unable to receive ballots under their chosen names for upcoming voting term. (Anna Seger / The Tribune)
According to Watt, since the project’s implementation in 2020, Emberá community members have planted more than 44,500 trees in the area, with McGill providing the seedlings and finances needed for planting. As a result of this reforestation, McGill estimates that approximately 925 tonnes of carbon emissions are sequestered each year. Watt also explained that the project “provides an important source of livelihood for its participating families, which became especially critical during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In addition to the Bayano-McGill Refor-
estation Project, McGill also supports two other carbon-offsetting projects. One of the projects, Bourse du Carbone Scol’ERE, aims to educate youth and their families in Quebec about their carbon footprints. The other project, Carbone Boréal, is a forest plantation research project which works to restore poorly regenerated forest floors in the Canadian Boreal Forest. McGill’s Climate and Sustainability Strategy for 2025-2030 will be released between Jan. 27 and Jan. 31.
Shani Laksin
Editor-in-Chief
Jasjot Grewal editor@thetribune.ca
Creative Director Drea Garcia Avila dgarciaavila@thetribune.ca
Managing Editors Yusur Al-Sharqi yal-sharqi@thetribune.ca
Shani Laskin slaskin@thetribune.ca
Ella Paulin epaulin@thetribune.ca
News Editors Eliza Lee Kaitlyn Schramm Mairin Burke news@thetribune.ca
Opinion Editors Ellen Lurie
Lulu Calame Monique Kasonga opinion@thetribune.ca
Science & Technology Editors
Coco Zhang Leanne Cherry scitech@thetribune.ca
Student Life Editors Auxane Bussac Malika Logossou studentlife@thetribune.ca
Features Editor Amalia Mairet features@thetribune.ca
Arts & Entertainment Editors Kellie Elrick Charlotte Hayes arts@thetribune.ca
Sports Editors Anoushka Oke Clara Smyrski sports@thetribune.ca
Design Editors Mia Helfrich Zoe Lee design@thetribune.ca
Photo Editor Hannah Nobile photo@thetribune.ca
Multimedia Editor Sahel Delafoulhouse multimedia@thetribune.ca
Web Developer Laura Pantaleon Roberta Du webdev@thetribune.ca
Copy Editor Matt Adelberg copy@thetribune.ca
Social Media Editor Aliya Singh socialmedia@thetribune.ca
Business Manager Celine Li business@thetribune.ca
Indigenous reform cannot end with Kimberly R. Murray
The Tribune Editorial Board
Continued from page 1.
Alongside her work in the courtroom, Murray fought against misinformed and denialist myths surrounding residential schools. A lack of conversation on Canada’s history of Indigenous harm allows the Canadian government to avoid accountability and maintain the status quo without internal reform efforts. As such, Murray dedicated significant portions of her time in the Interlocutor role to emphasizing the government’s obligation to reflect, take accountability, and offer reparations to the families of missing Indigenous children. The Canadian government’s highly intentional decision to neither appoint a replacement to the Interlocutor role nor renew Murray’s mandate will have repercussions on the trust-based relationships established between Indigenous Peoples; the legal frameworks
that Murray worked hard to establish will be jeopardized. This failure to fill Murray’s role also suggests that the government considers its work on Indigenous justice to have concluded with Murray’s term. This places the reality of residential schools in a temporal framework that is untrue to the deep and persistent impact of colonialism in Canada. Given the ways in which Indigenous Canadians remain systemically affected—in sectors from foster care systems to healthcare—by these histories of oppression, Canada must not allow their investigations into residential schools to end with Murray’s term.
Standing beside the Canadian government’s clear choice to not extend the Interlocutor mandate, their choice not to implement the report’s obligations speaks to a broader truth that Canada has failed to treat Indigenous justice as an active battle. When the National Advisory Committee of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)—of which
K. Coco Zhang Science & Technology Editor
CONTRIBUTORS
My life has always seemed to unfold in different stages, each defined by my location and the mindset I had at the time. Now, experiencing my university years in Montreal, I would call this stage “self-realization,” as I have been intellectually challenged and pushed beyond my comfort zone. My senior years of high school in Vancouver were marked by the theme of “feeling lost,” as I navigated a foreign environment. Before that, during my childhood in North China, the overarching theme was “peoplepleasing,” as I struggled to fit in and gain acceptance in my community.
Growing up in a small, close-knit
Murray served as Executive Director—similarly collected testimonies from Indigenous Canadians and outlined their own recommendations in 2015, the Canadian government remained completely inactive.
Funding organizations like TRC and the OSI to collect data and compile actionable suggestions is a convenient front the government can hide behind to claim it is doing its due diligence. Such behaviour begs the question of whether a government founded in past and present colonial oppression will ever meaningfully support long-lasting anticolonial change.
Such failure to take productive and respectful action in reconciling the sustained colonial realities faced by Canada’s Indigenous populations is not limited to the government; other public institutions, like universities, have been similarly passive.
Murray’s report outlined universities’ responsibility to fill their curricula with resources to address myths of
denialism, an obligation that McGill could begin to tackle through the establishment of a full Indigenous Studies Program. Without this program, the burden of education on Indigenous histories, cultures, and identities has fallen on the student at the cost of widespread awareness.
Beyond these internal curricular obligations, Murray also made frequent reference to McGill’s New Vic Project and associated legal battle with the Kanien’kehá:ka Kahnistensera (Mohawk Mothers). Without an Interlocutor to ensure meaningful, considerate dialogue, it is increasingly crucial that McGill approach relations with the Mohawk Mothers in a manner dictated by respect and attentiveness. McGill must commit to recognizing the neo-colonial violence that is taking place on the New Vic site in accordance with the demands of the Mohawk Mothers. It is the university’s responsibility to move beyond bandaid solutions towards long-term justice.
People-pleasing won’t lead to true friendships
community in North China, where a child’s worth was judged solely by grades and physical appearance, I felt isolated. While I cannot speak for all of North China, In my particular environment, I wasn’t the best in my class, and I didn’t meet the societal standards of attractiveness. Because of this, I didn’t have many friends. But I longed for connection, especially since not having friends only led to further social ostracization.
Trying to earn acceptance in this environment was overwhelming; it seemed like the only way to earn friendships was by aligning my behaviour with what I thought would appeal to most people, regardless of how it might conflict with who I was as a person. Without realizing it, I adopted a mindset of peoplepleasing. I became the kind of person who couldn’t say “no” to others, who constantly tried to be agreeable and avoid conflict. I gave gifts to others regularly—even when it wasn’t anyone’s birthday—hoping that small gestures of kindness would make people like me more. I would run errands for my classmates and go out of my way to offer unnecessary favours, driven by the desire to please them and ensure I was seen as helpful, even if they hadn’t asked. I
also found myself constantly agreeing with others, even if I didn’t share their views, just to keep peace and make sure no one had a reason to be upset with me. When I returned home after school, I would spend hours hyperanalyzing my words and behaviours, obsessively wracking my brain for any hint of dissatisfaction from my classmates.
This way of interacting with my peers became a facet of my identity over the years. For nearly a decade throughout my time in China, I continued to prioritize others’ needs and preferences over my own, believing that this was the only way I could make friends. While having friends did provide me with validation, deep down I wasn’t sure whether they liked me for who I truly was, or simply because of my peoplepleasing tendencies. I knew that constantly performing was unhealthy, but I still struggled to break free from that mindset. It was a battle between my desire to be genuine and the years of conditioning that told me my worth depended on my ability to meet others’ expectations.
My mindset and behaviour only began to shift once I moved to Vancouver for my final years of high school. The transition from the
judgmental atmosphere of my community in China to the more diverse and inclusive culture of Vancouver was eye-opening. There, people didn’t define me by my grades or appearance; they valued me for who I was as a person. Suddenly, I found myself surrounded by friends who genuinely appreciated my company and didn’t expect me to constantly appease them to earn their approval. More importantly, I felt no pressure to curate the ways in which I was perceived, or change my mannerisms and my personality in every new interaction. For the first time in my life, I realized that I didn’t have to be a people-pleaser to make friends. My worth wasn’t based on what I could do for others. They liked me for me. It was at that moment that I understood the flaws of the mindset I had been living with for so long. I had spent years setting myself up for superficial relationships by refusing to be my true self and existing exclusively as a mirror for whoever I found myself with. While it may have brought temporary connections, those relationships weren’t fulfilling or meaningful for anyone involved. It is only when I stopped trying to please others that I began to see my life filled with authentic, balanced relationships.
Celine Li, Daniel Miksha, Ella Gomes, Jasjot Grewal Katie Lau
TPS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Alex Hawes Silva, Amelia Clark, Asher Kui, Annabella Lawlor, Bianca Sugunasiri, Bianca Tri, Daniel Miksha, Daniel Pyo, Ethan Kahn, Jamie Xie, Luken Castañeda Garces, Mahin Siddiki, Mairin Burke, Olivia Ardito, Reuben Noam, Samathar Senso, Sarah McDonald, Tamiyana Roemer, Zain Ahmed.
Aiqing Qiu, Anna Seger, Ariella Morgan, Eliot Loose, Lilly Guilbeault, Nour Khouri, Ruby Reimer, Ryan Dvorak.
Dana Prather, Isobel Bray, Michelle Yankovsky, Norah Adams, Nour Khouri, Russel Ismael, Simona Culotta, Zoya Mirza
Armen Erzingatzian, Julia Buckle, Lex Roemer
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
What is Coming is Greater: Gaza’s Victory and the Fight for Divestment
Students for Palestine’s Honour and Resistance (SPHR) at McGill
Facing a genocidal siege, isolated entirely from the outside world, Gaza stood tall and unyielding for 466 days, imposing its own conditions of victory onto the occupier. On Oct. 7, 2023, Gazans broke down the colonial border fences surrounding their city for the first time in a historical confrontation against an occupying force. Over the following 15 months, Gaza’s unbreakable resistance to invasion, bombardment, and siege secured this legacy. Earned through popular struggle, last week’s ceasefire agreement is a culmination of all 76plus years of ongoing resistance against Zionist occupation—a victory for all oppressed and colonized peoples across the world, cementing Gaza as a permanent thorn in Western colonial ambitions. We breathe a sigh of relief at the thought of our people finally able to rest, rebuild, and continue their fight. We honour all the brave martyrs who stood tall in the face of genocidal aggression. Our martyrs are heroes of a
COMMENTARY
Defne Feyzioglu Staff Writer
Wrare kind, and to them we owe the world. We must now turn our attention to rising aggression on the West Bank, particularly in the resilient city of Jenin, known as “Gaza’s sister in resistance.”
As of writing, the Israeli Occupation Forces have commenced their “Iron Wall” operation on Jenin, attempting to isolate the city and eradicate the armed resistance within. The spectre of genocidal violence, as illustrated within Gaza, looms over Jenin, as well as the whole West Bank. Furthermore, Israeli expansionist efforts are not limited to Palestine. The Zionist project, in alliance with the United States, continues its plans to expand its violence towards the broader Middle East, through occupations of Lebanon, invasions into Syria, bombings of Yemen, and threats towards Iran.
As the resistance in Gaza shattered Israel’s façade as a “beacon of liberal democracy” in the Middle East, so too did it illuminate the deep contradictions within our own university. Through increasingly desperate acts of repression, our McGill administrators have exposed their rabid commitment to profit and
donor influence. Every disciplinary action, incident of police brutality, and million spent on public relations, private security, or lawsuits is proof of a longlost battle to maintain public opinion against a student-led movement that has long since proven its resilience.
While our administration redirects student effort towards existing bureaucratic channels and false promises to “explore the question of divestment,” they have simultaneously ignored and undermined these same channels. Notably, our administration’s repeated interference in student governance has resulted in the overturning of initiatives like the Policy Against Genocide in Palestine and the removal of Students for Palestine’s Honour and Resistance (SPHR) as a McGill-affiliated student organization. Our student union has the potential to be a strong proponent of student demands for divestment, but through repeated legal threats facilitated under the Memorandum of Agreement, the McGill administration put massive pressure on our union, creating an atmosphere of inaction, depoliticization, and fear within student democracy.
It is more important than ever that the student movement stays mobilized, drawing strength from the steadfast people of Gaza to guide the fight here in the West, where our governments and institutions remain cogs in the settler occupation of Palestine. Over the past 15 months, we have drawn pivotal lessons from the heroic people of Palestine and each other, informing our strategies as we move forward. As the student movement enters this new chapter, our role is to etch the struggle for Palestinian liberation, return, and dignity into the history of McGill. Building on these lessons, we look to strong mass student coalitions, collective participation in demonstrations, and student governance as the tools of a prolonged fight for divestment. We eagerly anticipate student mobilization in the coming months, ensuring the Palestinian struggle for liberation and the heroic people of Gaza remain the north star of the student movement, settling for nothing less than total divestment, full academic boycott and an end to military research at McGill. What is coming is greater.
Canada’s Online News Act is failing student journalism
hen The Tribune ’s Instagram account went dark last week, it wasn’t just a platform that disappeared: It was a bridge between the newsroom and the McGill community. As social media giants such as Instagram and Facebook block news content in Canada, university newspapers face a critical setback caused by the Online News Act (Bill C-18). The bill mandates Meta and Google to pay news outlets to share their content—but big technology companies have refused, instead blocking individual publications’ pages. Their desire to prioritize capitalistic greed over basic compensation for journalists has limited institutional transparency and accountability. This legislation, intended to protect journalism, has instead jeopardized vital platforms for tomorrow’s reporters and editors—repressing not just current voices, but the future of the field itself.
Since its enactment in 2023, the Online News Act has triggered a standoff with Meta and Google, resulting in platforms like Instagram and Facebook blacking out Canadian news. For smaller outlets, social media isn’t just a distribution channel. It’s a tool for engaging directly with readers in a way legacy media cannot replicate. While
social media platforms have always been flawed—promoting sensationalism, censoring important topics, and prioritizing engagement over accuracy— they have also served as an equalizer in a media landscape dominated by legacy outlets. For university newspapers, social media offers a unique opportunity to connect with readers on their terms, share stories directly, and engage in real-time conversations. This connection is particularly valuable for smaller, resource-strapped publications, which rely on platforms like Instagram to amplify their coverage and promote a sense of community. Losing this access hurts these outlets’ distribution, but it also diminishes the impact of the work they produce.
Alternative news outlets, including student papers, don’t just report: They engage, challenge, and reflect the communities they serve. They provide a space for voices to be heard, fostering conversations that might otherwise be overlooked in mainstream media. By cutting off access to their social media platforms, big tech has weakened the link between these publications and their audiences, leaving critical gaps in public discourse. Tech giants’ decision threatens the core values of inclusivity in journalism, which seeks to give every voice a chance to contribute to the larger narrative. These publications often
tackle issues that mainstream outlets overlook, from student activism to institutional accountability, striving for investigative reporting and amplifying the voices of marginalized communities.
Big tech’s reaction to the Act risks silencing these stories and stifling the next generation of journalists before they even get a chance to begin. At McGill, where there’s no journalism program, student publications are the only way future reporters can learn about the field, tell impactful stories, and build portfolios for a potential career. Journalism thrives on a diversity of voices, perspectives and platforms. When a few giants dominate the media landscape, discussions narrow to prevent critical stories from being told. What good is supporting journalism if the end result is fewer voices, not more?
The social media bans also raise questions about fostering dialogue, holding power accountable, and ensuring that diverse perspectives are heard. By limiting access to platforms where these conversations happen, big tech undermines these ideals. In the process, they may alienate young readers, many of whom rely on social media as their primary source of news. In 2023, 62 per cent of Canadians aged 15 to 24 reported obtaining their news and information from social media platforms, compared to 18 per cent of older Canadians.
For a generation already skeptical of traditional media, this lack of accessibility will further erode trust and engagement with journalism as a whole. Tech giants’ refusal to comply with the bill thus weakens the power of communities to organize and stand up against injustice. Without accessible platforms for sharing information and amplifying urgent causes, collective action becomes far more difficult, undermining the ability to protest and demand accountability.
Open access to information is not optional—it’s the foundation of a thriving democratic society. By making it harder for news outlets and journalists to connect with their audiences, big tech endangers the future of news that it claims to protect. Canada needs to find a way to balance the scales between tech giants and smaller publications without crushing the voices that will define its media landscape in years to come. When The Tribune ’s Instagram went silent, so did its vital link to the McGill community. If tech companies cannot collaborate with the government to increase accessibility, the future of independent journalism–on campus and beyond–will be left in the dark. The standoff following the Online News Act is not just economic but existential, threatening the very soul of journalism.
Everyday and peculiar note-taking apps
From notebooks to iPads, how do McGillians remember their lectures?
Bianca Tri Staff Writer
Changing your note-taking habits isn’t usually at the top of your list of New Year’s resolutions; however, your method can make or break your academic efficiency. With the Winter semester in full swing, having your notetaking system in ship-shape is crucial for beginning the term with a bang. The Tribune interviewed students across campus to discover which methods they prefer and where they stand on the age-old question: Stick with pen and paper, or give up and embrace being an iPad kid?
Traditional methods
Despite the dominance of personal laptops and AI-powered optimizers, some students still opt for the traditional pen-andpaper method. Michel Adamic, PhD student in McGill’s Department of Physics, told The Tribune that he felt most comfortable drawing and writing his studies by hand.
“That’s what I was taught from a young age, so it’s what I’m used to,” Adamic said. “I’m a physicist, so everything needs to be drawn and written down.”
Amihan Del Rosario Tapan, U0 Arts, prefers using a simulated paper tablet called the reMarkable Paper Pro. She expressed her appreciation for the lightweight product as opposed to having traditional books.
“It’s a bit impractical to use real paper.
In the pre-digital era, people kept random and important knowledge in commonplace books. These were like scrapbooks for anything from recipes to measurement tables! ( Julia Buckle / The Tribune )
For the purpose of university, I want to access my notes easily.”
It seems that even between McGill’s upper and lower years, paper—and paper emulators—remain popular.
Online document editors
Ease of access is a common theme amongst digital users. Louisa Zaloom, U1 Arts, stated that Google Docs makes it easy to look up keywords and reference them later. This sentiment was echoed by Devanie Dezémé, U3 Arts.
“If there are any links or videos that we watched in class, even if I’m using Google Docs, it is usually already embedded in my
notes,” Dezémé added.
Kasen Korstanje, U2 Arts, highlighted the availability of OneNote through McGill student emails. OneNote also allows its users to organize their pages into notebooks. This gives the platform a leg above document editors like Google Docs, which can only be organized into folders on Google Drive or tabs.
Collaboration and productivity platforms
Notion is a comprehensive platform often hailed for its aesthetically pleasing templates. Contrary to usual document editors, Notion primarily uses KaTeX expressions as a shortcut to stylize text and insert content. Onur Gul, U2 Arts, expressed his enjoyment of the feature.
“Commands are fast if you’re a fast typer,” he said. “However, you can’t share your notes with someone unless you pay for a plan.”
Digital notebooks
For students looking to combine the tactile experience of writing with the convenience of digital devices, apps like Notability and Goodnotes stand out.
“[Notability] is super versatile and lets me write with a keyboard and with my iPad pen at the same time,” Julien Finn, U3 Arts & Sc., stated.
However, he noted that Notability’s
How to spend a day in Old Montreal Highlights of Montreal’s most charming quarter
Tamiyana Roemer Staff Writer
At the height of the Montreal winter, when temperatures are firmly below freezing, the McGill bubble crystallizes. If you’ve begun to feel that the only journey worth braving the slippery sidewalks is the one to the library, perhaps The Tribune can convince you to explore one of the city’s most charming quarters: Old Montreal. A day there promises cobblestone streets, stunning architecture, and a vibrant mix of shops and eateries. Even in the cold, Old Montreal beckons, promising an adventure worth stepping outside for, no matter the time of year.
Gallery hopping
Old Montreal has a rich selection of galleries, where you can warm up from the winter chill and be inspired by the diverse range of art on display. Founded in 2010, Galerie Images Boréales represents nearly 200 Inuit artists, showcasing works made from materials such as bone, walrus ivory, and serpentine.
Next up is Galerie Blanche, one of Montreal’s most prestigious contemporary art galleries. Established in 2007, the gallery is known for its eclectic collection of contemporary art, featuring works by Québécois, Canadian, and American artists, spanning both figurative and abstract styles. For even more contemporary art, stop at Maël
Galerie, which is dedicated to promoting Québécois artists of all backgrounds, providing a platform to elevate the visual arts profession and highlight its essential role in society.
Shopping
Boutique Olive et Gourmando is a tiny store that offers a selection of gourmet ingredients, kitchen tools, dishware, and decor. The shop celebrates a love for food and the home, showcasing a range of highquality products perfect for both cooking enthusiasts and those looking to elevate their kitchen and dining experiences. At Boutique Édition, the focus is squarely on design, with every item carefully selected for its innovative approach to form, function, and character. Offering a curated collection of distinctive pieces—from jewelry to home decor—the store showcases the work of both Canadian and international designers.
Snacking
L’Amour du Pain has delighted customers with its delicious baked goods for over 20 years. The bakery follows traditional French recipes to create an authentic menu, while using Quebec-grown flours to reduce its environmental footprint and support local farmers. Among their most irresistible treats are the pistachio and raspberry croissants, both praised for their exquisite flavour and buttery layers. L’Amour du Pain’s location is beautifully situated inside Maison Pépin,
best features, including the ability to make unlimited edits, are behind a paywall, limiting what free users can access each month.
On GoodNotes, a free plan only lets you edit three documents. Hopey Ferrer, U1 Arts, says that she enjoys the Goodnotes paid plan, alternating between her tablet and paper.
“I use my iPad for heavy classes and paper for when I really want to focus and rest my eyes,” Ferrer said.
Other methods
Dezémé, though primarily a Google Docs user, enjoys writing directly on lecture PDFs when available.
“This allows me to study anywhere and on any connected device,” she stated.
Angélique Chu, U3 Arts, uses Glean, an application available through McGill’s Student Accessibility & Achievement. The app records and takes notes of lectures, highlighting key points of the lesson for its user.
“[Glean] helps review my notes, due to sensory-processing issues I have,” Chu explained. “I’m fortunate to have access to Glean and other accommodations, but I wish more students were aware of what services that they could have.”
New note-taking technology enters campus ever so often, but it seems that some mediums stand the test of time. One thing’s for certain—you’ll need to try them all for yourself to know what works.
facing the store’s botanical and plant collection.
Bookstore browsing Old Montreal boasts some of the city’s most charming independent bookstores. Librairie Bertrand, established in 1952, is known for its extensive yet thoughtfully curated shelves, offering a bilingual selection that spans everything from literary classics to children’s books. A few blocks away, you can find Maktaba Bookshop, which opened in 2022. Named after the Arabic word for “library” and “bookstore,” it is a unique concept store that prides itself on its commitment to representation, stocking a diverse range of English books while also featuring an in-house boutique that sells vinyl records and exclusive artist-run merchandise. The space includes a sunny and inviting majlis area, a comfortable space where visitors can take off their winter boots, relax on the gorgeous carpet, and enjoy a book for up to 30 minutes.
Old Montreal was crowned Canada’s most Instagrammable destination, topping the nation’s list of the top 50 tourist spots based on an analysis of popular hashtags. (Ruby Reimer / The Tribune)
Sipping
If you’ve ventured off campus in the dead of winter, you’ve earned a hot chocolate—and not just any. You deserve the best this freezing city has to offer. La Cave à Manger has mastered the art of rich, traditional hot chocolate, but if you’ve exhausted this classic drink, they also offer creative variations like pumpkin spice, matcha white chocolate, and even a bright purple ube. Regardless of the flavour, each cup is topped with a homemade marshmallow, brûléed right before your eyes for a perfect, caramelized finish.
Divest McGill: Important Dates
Divest McGill is founded
Feb. Divest McGill submits its first petition to CSSR, and SSMU LC passes motion to support Divest May. The petition was denied
2012 2024 2013 2023 2015 2021
Dec. BoG commits to divest direct holdings in CU200 companies McGill completes divestment of direct holdings
Sep. Divest McGill presents to CSSR a fourth time
Dec. Divest disrupts Board of Governors meeting
UofT commits to divestment
Mar. 12 day occupation of Arts Building
Feb. Divest submits its second petition
Oct. PGSS passes motion in support
Nov. AUS endorses Divest petition
Dec. Faculty of Arts publicly supports Divest
Divest blockade at James Administration Building
Jan. Greg Mikkelson resignation
CSSR rejects Divest’s second petition CSSR begins third assessment of divestment
McGill rejects divestment a third time
Walkout for divestment
Resignation of BoD members Barney and Nystrom over fossil fuel investments
UQAM commits to divestment
Sep. McGill Senate endorsement
For over a decade, Divest McGill ignited defiance against institutional apathy. The student-led activist group, founded in 2012, took on the task of convincing McGill’s Board of Governors (BoG) to withdraw direct investments in the university’s endowment fund from the fossil fuel industry, specifically from the Carbon Underground 200 (CU200)—a list of the world’s top publicly-traded oil, coal, and gas companies based on the potency of their reserves.
Divest McGill used various tactics over 11 years, including sit-ins, walkouts, petitions, an occupation, and formal presentations to the Board— which has the final say over all university affairs. In the process, the group galvanized thousands of McGill community members. Support for the movement came from both students and staff, including governing bodies such as the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU), the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS), and even the McGill Senate—the university’s highest democratic governing body. Despite this, the BoG remained steadfast against the demand for divestment.
Following divestment announcements from institutions such as Université Laval (ULaval), Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM), University of Toronto, and Harvard University, it was clear that McGill was lagging in taking a meaningful stance against the fossil fuel industry.
In Fall 2023, Divest McGill went quiet, in anticipation of a decision from McGill’s BoG.
Then, on Dec. 14, 2023, the BoG approved a motion to divest from direct holdings in CU200 companies. The university had seemingly heeded the calls of dissent.
But what made the BoG change its tune after years of opposition?
Divest’s actions can be understood as a network of pressure on the BoG. Consistent efforts had kept this issue at the forefront of campus consciousness, building awareness as broader trends threatened McGill’s reputation as a leader in sustainability. Divest’s assets were the longevity of the movement, support from the McGill community, ultimately including administration insiders, and just the right amount of reputational damage to the university to make the BoG listen. Though universities are often quick to dismiss student activism, Divest’s successes make it clear that with the right mix of strategy and circumstance, these movements make change.
The early days
tainability and a strong political stance that could chip away at societal acceptance of the fossil fuel industry. At the time, there was little precedent for institutional divestment from fossil fuels in Canada, but calls for change were beginning to emerge.
“It’s about having a clear moral message that profiting off climate change is wrong,” David Summerhays, B.A. ’05 and an original member of Divest, told The Tribune
The fledgling organization’s first steps were to appeal to the Board and gain community support. Summerhays explained the group’s first petition, pitched to what is now called the Board’s Committee on Sustainability and Social Responsibility (CSSR) in February 2013. They gathered 1,200 signatures for the motion, which called for the Investment Committee to get rid of its holdings in fossil fuels corporations within three years. To keep up the momentum, the group then hosted a Valentine’s Day rally calling for the university to “break up” with fossil fuels—the first of many campus demonstrations. Summerhays explained that the group’s initial actions were light-hearted, aimed at gaining the attention of the McGill community. As the group received rejection after rejection from the administration, however, their actions ramped up.
In April 2013, Divest McGill made its first formal presentation to the Board, outlining the social and environmental reasons that divestment was necessary. One month later, the Board unanimously denied the request. In 2015, Divest submitted a second petition, this time supported by 1,300 signatories and a 150-page report detailing the reasons that fossil fuel investment could constitute “social injury,” mandating the university to divest. The Board rejected this too. Summerhays told The Tribune that part of the group’s strategy following this second rejection was to better understand the Board and cater communications to their interests. According to Summerhays, the group was aided by a McGill administrator at the time, who helped clarify the opaque, bureaucratic processes of the Board.
“We had to both negotiate and get to know the administration and their ideas and sort of build pressure on them,” Summerhays said in an interview with The Tribune . “There just came a point where not only [were these] channels not working but also we just had the support of everybody.”
Divest McGill started as just a few activists committed to calling for institutional divestment. They saw this approach as both a move toward sus-
In the first five years of the campaign, Divest secured the support of the SSMU Legislative Council, PGSS, AUS, hundreds of professors, and many faculties including the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Law. Despite rejections from the administration, the McGill community was be-
ELEVEN YEARS OF ECO-RESISTANCE
The anatomy of Divest McGill’s successful student movement
Written by Shani Laskin, Managing Editor & Designed by Mia Helfrich, Design Editor
ginning to champion an institutional severance from fossil fuels.
Divestment goes mainstream
On the national level, divestment grew from a fringe idea into a tangible goal in the mid-2010s as charitable foundations, cities, and cultural, religious, and educational institutions started committing to divesting from fossil fuels.
In 2018, Divest achieved a major victory with an endorsement from the McGill Senate. SSMU President for the 2019-20 school year Bryan Buraga explained in an interview with The Tribune that the university was initially critical and concerned that the Senate was overstepping its purview.
“It actually came in the face of a lot of institutional pushback from the McGill administration, because at the time they were trying to say, ‘Oh, the Senate shouldn’t interfere with the Board of Governors. The Board of Governors is purely financial, whereas the Senate is academic,’” Buraga said. “But through intensive lobbying efforts [...], we were able to successfully convince enough of the Senate members to vote in favour of this resolution for the first time, calling upon the Board of Governors to divest and I think that was a really big turning point.”
Buraga explained that SSMU even withheld a student levy for the administration’s Fiat Lux project, using the leverage of student government to express discontent with McGill’s decision to remain invested in fossil fuel companies.
“Admin was very much against fossil fuel divestment, saying that it was the purview of the Board and a lot of the board members are external— the majority of them are with various corporate ties,” Buraga said. “There’s also a paradigm in which politics is outside of the purview of finance. ‘We[’ve] just got to do what’s best, diversify, minimize financial risk, and that also includes investing in fossil fuels.’ That was very much the mentality at the time.”
Derek Nystrom resigned from their positions on the Board due to its refusal to divest, and Greg Mikkelson, a tenured professor in the Bieler School of Environment, resigned from the university entirely.
The final push
Although this third rejection was disheartening, it re-energized the student body to mobilize for divestment.
Zahur Ashrafuzzaman, B.A.&Sc. ’23, was an organizer with Divest throughout their time at McGill. They explained that when the organization held a 12-day occupation of the Arts Building in 2021, conversations about the possibility of divestment and even democratization of the university’s structures abounded.
“[These are] sustained campaigns. They needed to build momentum and then suddenly the dominoes across the different institutions would fall,” Ashrafuzzaman said. “[McGill] can’t delay forever. Each [action or news article] chips away at their reputation, which they really love to preserve. Each little action makes some impact, especially when taken broadly in hindsight.”
Then in Fall 2023, Divest organizers received an invitation from a Board member to present again, pushing up the date that the Board had previously committed to reconsidering by two years. It seemed that the internal attitudes of the Board had shifted.
In September, three Divest members made their fourth formal presentation to the Board, this time with an invitation and an additional presentation from Political Science Professor Amy Janzwood. The students presented the moral, scientific, and political basis for divestment, including the precedents set by institutions like ULaval in 2017 and UQÀM in 2019.
persuasive, particularly around mobilizing students. But divestment is not just a moral issue, it’s also a financial one, and so making that argument, I think, works very nicely with the broader argument about reputational risk,” Janzwood said in an interview with The Tribune
Janzwood explained that she also relayed the climate anxiety that her students face to the Board.
“I teach exclusively around environmental politics. I teach hundreds of students and every time I teach a course, I ask them how they are related to the climate crisis, how it makes them feel, and I’m always very affected by what they talk about,” Janzwood said. “And so I just concluded by reminding the Board how we are constantly [hearing from] the student body that climate anxiety, despair, dread, these are feelings that my students experience, sometimes on a daily basis.”
Divest’s campaign proved that students take the behind-the-scenes of McGill’s operations seriously, and are willing and able to engage in sustained mobilization for important causes. The movement’s actions set a precedent for the student body’s ability to question the institution’s financial investments and revealed McGill’s pressure points—publicity and reputation—to open avenues for future protest efforts.
“I think [the Board approaches this] sometimes, with the perspective that students are naive about the climate crisis, or naive about how systems work or how decisions like this are made,” Hardie said. “But the perspective that we’re coming from is that we ultimately care very much about preserving life and our collective well-being. And I don’t think it’s us being naive in any sense.”
mal remaining direct CU200 holdings sends an important symbolic message, McGill has long held that maximizing its impact means minimizing its carbon footprint,” the MRO wrote to The Tribune . “This has involved shareholder engagement with companies on decarbonization targets, and focusing divestment efforts on firms that may not extract fossil fuels directly but use them in highly emissions-intensive industries (cement and steel manufacturers, coal and gas-fired electricity generators, and other firms that drive global fossil fuel demand).”
For student organizers such as Lola Milder, U3 Arts, and Hardie, the next steps are still unclear. To many organizers, however, Divest’s journey revealed what they see as an undemocratic structure of decision-making at the university.
“Especially because when so many hundreds, thousands of student hours have gone into asking these institutions, these forums, like the Board of Governors to divest [...] you start to ask, maybe my hours are better spent trying to actually change the shape of this system,” Milder said. “Because right now, it seems like it does not bend to the community’s will or interest.”
What is noteworthy, however, is the success and longevity of Divest. Student movements are notoriously complicated due to high turnover as new students join and veteran organizers graduate. By sustaining the campaign, Divest McGill sent a clear message that the university can not simply wait out one cohort of passionate activists. Rather, the Board had to reckon with persistent student demands and the reality that divestment was a viable pathway.
From 2018 to 2020, rallies ensued even more frequently, including a months-long boycott of Metro Inc. because of BoG member Maryse Betrand’s role on the corporation’s Board of Directors. Around this time in 2019, McGill rejected a third motion to divest. In addition to student mobilization, professors Darin Barney and
“This presentation that we had given was basically done three times before us,” Emily Hardie, U3 Arts, and current Divest member said. “The evidence was already provided for years [...] and that just really shows McGill’s continued hesitation to make this decision again—shows their weakness, which is that it’s really reputation that they are prioritizing.”
Janzwood added the financial reasons to divest including changing regulatory landscapes and that the fossil fuel industry in Canada is projected to decline.
“Moral arguments can be very
Lessons learned
“The perennial question for all divestment movements is the implementation, making sure that the university does what it says it will do. Transparency is always a concern,” Janzwood said.
According to the McGill Media Relations Office (MRO), the divestment process has already been completed. The university will detail the transition in a report slated to be released in April 2025.
“Though divestment from the McGill Investment Pool (MIP)’s mini-
“Divest McGill is a long-standing campaign [....] It was very visible, it was very sustained. These are hard things to do,” Janzwood said. “[With] student turnover, it is hard to keep the institutional memory alive.”
While students’ time at university is short, McGill’s eventual divestment from the CU200 shows that this time can still make an impact lasting long after graduation. Divest’s goal was lofty; one that the university may not have achieved had it not been for years of pressure, spearheaded by students called to fiercely question their institution.
The ups and downs of living with friends Balancing friendship and roommate dynamics, and how to cope with inevitable conflicts
Simona Culotta & Zoya Mirza Contributors
Transitioning from living in our family’s home to sharing a space with peers is already a dramatic shift and challenge to navigate. On top of this, we tend to choose the people who we most get along with or enjoy the presence of—our friends. While the idea of living with your best friends can be exciting at first, it doesn’t take long for the honeymoon phase to fizzle out as you discover each other’s quirks, habits, and, inevitably, flaws
With this in mind, we wanted to explore how McGill students navigate living with their friends long-term, and the real question—if they recommend it. Exchange student Manuela Almenara talked about her experience living with four other girls who also happen to be her friends from back home in Madrid, who decided to do an exchange program at McGill together.
“We’re all friends, so we’re less nitpicky with things and more at ease with each other—we all know each other very well. We’re doing the exchange program together, we’re in it together and are able to work things out,” Almenara said.
Almenara emphasized that living with friends is beneficial for her because their shared history allows them to better adapt to each other’s preferences and resolve issues more smoothly.
Ollie Scott-Hansen, U1 Arts, also talked
Malika Logossou Student Life Editor
As the festive season winds down, many students are looking back on their extravagant holiday spending with regret. With school back in swing, Valentine’s Day around the corner, alongside countless club events, parties, and Igloofest, reigning in spending can seem impossible. One easy way to stretch your budget is to take advantage of student discounts whenever possible. Luckily for you, The Tribune has done a little research and has compiled some of the best deals in town.
3 Brasseurs - 732 Rue Sainte-Catherine
This restaurant offers two irresistible student deals: Get 10 items for just $10 CAD, or get 15 per cent off your meal (excluding drinks) with your student ID. Bonus perk: By showing a ticket from a show or cinema, you can also enjoy 15 per cent off your meal.
Bulk Barn - 1616 Rue Sainte-Catherine | 5445 des Jockeys
If you’re looking to stock up on affordable snacks and ingredients while also saving up, Bulk Barn is the place for you. Students get a 15 per cent discount on Wednesdays and they offer a 15 per cent discount on your purchase on Sundays if you bring a reusable container. Not only is it budget-friendly, but it is also sustainable! Don’t forget to bring your student ID.
about the positive side of living with your friends.
“I feel like it helps with problem-solving a lot more as we know each other well and know that nothing is really ever that deep,” Scott-Hansen told The Tribune
Despite Scott-Hansen and Almenara’s positive experiences, other students had rockier times living with their close friends. Shumyle Shahid, U1 Arts, emphasized how problems actually arose more easily because she chose friends for roommates:
“I feel that it contributed to more conflict as small issues can have overly emotional resonance,” she said. “I
would advise myself to trust my gut and look at long-term practicality rather than short-term fun. I would also advise myself to never live with best friends.”
Looking back, Shahid highlighted the discomfort that can arise when bringing up issues, such as messes or noise, with roommates who are also your friends. It adds a layer of complexity, as emotions and the health of the friendship must be considered when addressing roommate-specific issues.
Almenara emphasized that, in situations like this, it’s key to maintain solid boundaries and clear expectations—even with the best of friends.
Save big, live better Student perks and discounts to take advantage of
Metro - 3575 Avenue du Parc Suite 5100
Metro offers a 10 per cent student discount for purchases over $50 CAD every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. This is perfect if you’re trying to do your groceries without hurting your wallet.
Marché Adonis - 2173 Sainte-Catherine Ouest
Students can benefit from a 10 per cent discount during weekdays at Marché Adonis by showing their student ID. The Tribune also recommends consulting their weekly flyers, as they often offer additional discounts.
B.Cycle Spin - 2000 McGill College Avenue #140
If your New Year’s resolution is to exercise more, B.Cycle has got you covered. With various locations in Downtown, Westmount, the Old Port, and Rockland, they offer an enticing variety of spinning, interval training, pilates, and TRX bar sequences classes. Students get 28 per cent off each class and 31 per cent off of a monthly membership. Simply fill out their student form to unlock the reduced fees.
Via Rail
Via Rail allows you to travel comfortably by train, offering free Wi-Fi onboard, power outlets at the seat, food service, and spacious bathrooms. They have sales every Tuesday on last-minute deals and extend a McGill
“We’re friends, but at the end of the day, we’re also roommates, and it’s important to keep that line clear and respect certain things,” Almenara said.
She also mentioned how she learned patience, noting that it’s an important skill to develop when living with roommates, regardless of whether they’re good friends.
Ammie Dae, U1 Arts, who chose unknown roommates, shared her perspective on navigating this unique living arrangement. She learned to emphasize clear communication, given how unfamiliar she was with her roommates. Although she noted that this was a skill that takes practice, she still has room for improvement.
“Honestly, to be more firm about communicating my dissatisfactions, I may not always have another roommate willing to deal with it on my behalf,” Almenara said.
Dae also noted that shared rules promote respect and prevent one roommate from bearing the responsibility of addressing issues alone.
Many of the issues we worry about or hesitate to bring up with our roommates often aren’t as daunting as they seem. As suggested by Scott-Hansen, effective communication can go a long way in improving everyone’s experience and well-being in the house.
“Always trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, do something about it, don’t ignore it. If something bothers you, do something. It doesn’t take much to solve small problems that seem big,” Scott-Hansen added.
VIA discount if you are travelling for a universitysponsored or paid trip across all fare types, excluding the Escape Fares. The discount is also applicable for faculty and staff personal leisure trips, allowing up to three additional travellers.
DriveSafe
A study showed that 79 per cent of students purchased from a brand for the first time simply because it offered a discount. (
If you are ever in need of a late-night drive, this perk is for you. DriveSafe is a free transportation service run by the SSMU, operating on Thursdays to Saturdays from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m.. Volunteers drive students to and from anywhere on the island of Montreal, Montmorency metro, Longueuil metro, and Kahnawá:ke. This service is especially helpful for commuters or those heading out late, braving the cold weather. To get a ride, simply call their dispatch on their website or fill out their request form.
WalkSafe
Similarly, WalkSafe offers a safe accompaniment service for walking at night, including on public transportation. Available during the Fall and Winter semesters, the service op-
erates Sunday to Thursday from 9 pm to 12 am and Friday to Saturday from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.. You only need to fill out their request form.
Honorable mention: Poulet Rouge McGill698 Rue Sainte-Catherine
Poulet Rouge, a beloved Québécois restaurant chain, specializes in customizable chicken bowls with rice and vegetables, offering vegetarian, Halal, and gluten-free options. Until May 1, you can enjoy a 15 per cent discount by showing your McGill student ID card for the 2024-2025 school year. The deal applies to regular-priced orders and does not work with other offers or promotions. It’s an ideal destination for a budget-friendly lunch near campus, as their meals will fill you up for the remainder of the school day.
Living with strangers can also be a great way to meet potential new friends. ( Ryan Dvorak / The Tribune )
Hannah Nobile / The Tribune )
Zooming in on the streets of Montreal
How street quality varies across different socioeconomic neighbourhoods
Samathar Senso Staff Writer
Streets play a vital role in our day-today life, and their layout can affect everything from physical health to social connections and mental well-being. Well-designed streets that prioritize pedestrian safety and offer accessible, active transport options support encourage a healthier lifestyle. However, these thoughtful design features aren’t always equitably distributed across neighbourhoods.
A recent paper published in the journal Case Studies on Transport Policy studied the quality of streets across Montreal, considering socioeconomic factors like neighbourhood income and population. The research team, which includes Hisham Negm, a doctoral student at McGill’s School of Urban Planning, examined various neighbourhoods around Montreal to conduct their study.
“The goal of the research was to understand how streets are designed differently in Montreal, and if the socioeconomic characteristics of the neighbourhood impact how streets are designed,” Negm said in an interview with The Tribune
To conduct this study, Negm and his team first categorized Montreal neighbourhoods according to two key factors: Population density and income. This allowed them to select and compare streets of simi-
lar population density but different income levels to study if income level was a factor affecting the quality of street design.
The team focused on microscale street elements—small-scale features relating to the physical condition of the street that can have a disproportionate impact on road users. Microscale street elements that positively impact street users, such as well-maintained sidewalks, greenery, and traffic calming measures, were used to assign a quality score for each street based on how many of these features were present.
Negm explained that examining streets at the microscale level allows researchers to look beyond common, but simplistic, metrics like the width of a street or its connec-
tivity to other roads.
“[It’s not about] a bird’seye view of the street,” Negm said. “[It’s about] looking at the details—the elements that make the street what it is for the people who use it.”
To gather data, the team used MAPS-Mini, an adapted version of Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes (MAPS), a street imaging tool that focuses on the microscale features that affect pedestrians and cyclists. They also relied on Google Maps and inperson observations to assess the presence of these features.
The study revealed two key differences between the streets of higher and lower-income neighbourhoods.
“First, streets in lower-income neighbourhoods tended to be of less quality [according to] the MAPS-Mini tool, and second, street assessments done by Google Street View were less reliable than those done on-site for those streets,” Negm explained.
This means that, in Montreal, income level does appear to impact the quality of street design, with lower-income areas generally having fewer of the features that contribute to a safer and more enjoyable street experience.
While the study focused on comparing street features, it did not explore how these differences in design affect residents’ wellbeing.
“We didn’t study how [these built environment features] impact residents directly, but we know that these features vary across different income levels,” Negm said.
Addressing these disparities doesn’t necessarily require a complete overhaul of street designs. In the short term, targeted improvements to the specific features lacking in lower-income areas—repairing broken sidewalks or adding more green space—could have a significant positive impact with a relatively small budget and short construction times.
Negm emphasized the importance of directing resources to the areas where they’re needed most.
“If you can spend a little money to make a huge impact, that’s where the resources should go,” Negm said. “For example, if you have a sidewalk that is broken, fix it, and consider expanding it to improve the overall quality of the street.”
As Canada continues to urbanize, with over 80 per cent of Canadians living in cities today, well-designed city streets are more important than ever. Ensuring that neighbourhoods—regardless of income level— have streets that prioritize safety, health, and social interaction is key to improving the quality of urban life for all citizens.
Frozen zero-cement backfill may cement a carbon-free future
McGill researchers develop a cool innovation for an increasingly hot world
Russel Ismael Contributor
In 2022, cement production accounted for eight per cent of the world’s total carbon emissions, releasing 1.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. As climate change worsens, reducing carbon emissions becomes more necessary than ever. As such, many researchers are seeking alternative methods to produce cement-like materials without the expensive carbon cost.
Fatemeh Tavanaei, a PhD candidate at McGill’s Department of Mining and Material Engineering, recently published a study in the journal Applied Thermal Engineering focusing on alleviating carbon emissions in the mining industry by developing a “frozen zero-cement backfill.” This novel method aims to replace traditional cement with an environmentally-friendly solution, helping make mining operations more sustainable.
Tavanaei’s approach involves using ice sourced from the Arctic region to create a new material mixed with mine tailings—the leftover waste from mining activities. This material provides the necessary structural stability for backfilling, a process where excavated areas are refilled to prevent the collapse of tunnels or shafts.
“The objective is to explore the feasibility of using frozen water from the region to create a new mixture with mine
tailings, which would be environmentally compatible and minimize disruption to the ecosystem,” Tavanaei wrote to The Tribune . “By taking advantage of the natural freezing conditions, this approach eliminates the need for cement, thereby preserving the integrity of the surrounding environment and reducing the carbon footprint of mining activities.”
Tavanaei’s research team conducted a case study for this material in Nunavut’s Chidliak diamond mine, which can only be accessed by air or by trail. Located in the Hall Peninsula of Baffin Island, the area is surrounded by continuous permafrost extending several hundred metres into the ground.
Since transporting material to such a remote location is difficult, Tavanaei’s group tried to minimize the logistical challenges by using the natural Arctic environment in their favour.
“The water required for the frozen zero-cement backfill is readily available in the area. Furthermore, the water used [primarily comes] from the wastewater produced by the processing plant,” Tavanaei wrote. “This approach not only reduces the need for additional water but also contributes to effective wastewater management, making it an environmentally responsible solution.”
Tavanaei and her team are also working to ensure that the frozen zero-cement backfill remains durable long-term, making sure it can withstand changing con -
ditions including climate change effects. Although further research will be needed to fully understand its long-term impacts, Tavanaei is optimistic about its potential.
“While the method is still relatively novel, we have carefully planned for its long-term viability,” Tavanaei wrote. “Our research team is committed to ensuring that the frozen zero-cement backfill can be used effectively and sustainably over extended periods.”
Tavanaei is also hopeful that this backfill method can be adapted to other parts of the world with similarly cold climates. She emphasized the need for careful evaluation to determine if it can be costeffective and environmentally sound in other regions.
“Each case requires an extensive feasibility study to ensure cost-effectiveness and assess potential environmental impacts,” Tavanaei wrote. “Artificial freezing is already used in ground stabilization tech -
niques, and our research group has been involved in developing and optimizing such methods.”
Although frozen zero-cement backfill is still in its early stages, Tavanaei envisions it as a promising solution for a more environmentally conscious future.
“Sometimes, nature provides us with solutions that we may not fully appreciate until we take the time to observe and understand them,” Tavanaei said. “We believe that by closely studying natural processes, we can uncover innovative and sustainable approaches to mining and environmental preservation.”
In QS 2024 rankings, McGill University ranks fifth in the world for Mining Engineering. ( Ariella Morgan / The Tribune)
Perfectionism: A blessing or a curse?
The relationship between self-critical perfectionism and mental health issues
Sarah McDonald Staff Writer
At first glance, being a perfectionist may seem like an advantage in a world where productivity and achievement are so highly valued. As a student, what could possibly be better than having the drive to ensure everything you do is done perfectly?
As it turns out, recent research shows that perfectionism isn’t the asset it might appear to be. This is especially true when it takes on the form of self-critical (SC) perfectionism, which can have detrimental impacts on mental health. SC perfectionism is characterized by constant negative self-evaluations, doubts about one’s abilities, and fixations on mistakes. Personal standards (PS) perfectionism, on the other hand, focuses on achieving goals and having high standards rather than being overly selfcritical.
David Dunkley is an associate professor at McGill’s Department of Psychology and a researcher at the Lady Davis Institute of the Jewish General Hospital who is interested in the impacts of perfectionism on well-being.
“Perfectionism is about setting and striving for high standards and goals, and in itself, it’s not maladaptive,” Dunkley explained in an interview with The Tribune. “It’s the selfcritical aspects of perfectionism that are more closely associated with depression and anxiety symptoms.”
One of his students, Alexandra Richard,
recently published a doctoral dissertation on the relationship between long-term self-critical perfectionism and symptoms of anxiety and depression in the journal Behavioural Therapy
Under Dunkley’s supervision, Richard conducted a study that focused on two key manifestations involved in SC perfectionism: Anxiety sensitivity, which is the fear of interpreting physical symptoms of anxiety as signs of being physically or mentally unwell, and experiential avoidance, which is the tendency to try to avoid or suppress unpleasant thoughts or emotions.
Researchers collected data on the participants’ levels of SC and PS perfectionism, symptoms of anxiety and depression, experiential avoidance, and anxiety sensitivity at
several points over two years, to investigate the complex relationships between these variables.
Richard’s research uncovered significant links between these manifestations and longterm symptoms of anxiety and depression. The study’s findings suggest that by addressing these specific tendencies, it’s possible to reduce the impact that SC perfectionism has on mental health.
The research found that anxiety sensitivity enhances the vulnerability of SC perfectionists who have high levels of experiential avoidance to symptoms of distress, and vice versa. Interestingly, while anxiety sensitivity was a risk factor primarily for symptoms of anxiety, experiential avoidance appears to be a broader risk factor, influencing participants’ levels of general distress as well as anxiety.
“What this study showed was that it is possible to be high on self-critical perfectionism, but not necessarily high on experiential avoidance or anxiety sensitivity [.…] If you can lower [the levels of] just one of those emotion regulation patterns, you’ll be less vulnerable to depressive and anxious symptoms,” Dunkley explained.
It is also important to note that these findings are only relevant to SC perfectionists; PC
participants exhibited no or weak correlations between these variables.
These quantitative findings are in line with prior work on the pathology of perfectionism, and suggest that therapeutic interventions should focus on treating tendencies like anxiety sensitivity and experiential avoidance in order to improve outcomes for SC perfectionists.
The study additionally suggests that different types of perfectionism require different types of interventions. For those with SC perfectionism, introspective practices like mindfulness and self-compassion are found to be particularly helpful.
“This is important work that challenges arguments that anxiety sensitivity and experiential avoidance capture the same process, and also parallels clinical work where targeting and decoupling the co-occurrence of two related processes can be an important treatment goal,” Richard explained in an email to The Tribune
Ultimately, the findings of Richard’s study show us that, while there is still more research to be done, being a SC perfectionist does not automatically lead to depression and anxiety. While we may not be able to control perfectionistic tendencies, there are strategies to limit the negative impact this form of perfectionism has on mental health. The study reminds us that there are ways to manage and improve well-being, even in a world that constantly pushes for perfection.
Should consent for examinations under anesthesia be obligatory?
Canadian medical students’ perspectives on obtaining specific consent
Michelle Yankovsky
Contributor
In recent years, the practice of obtaining consent from medical patients, particularly when conducting examinations under anesthesia (EUAs) of the sensitive pelvic, rectal, or prostate regions, has gained increased attention. While the United States has seen significant media coverage and regulatory changes on this issue, Canada continues to lag behind. Although there are professional guidelines in place requiring specific consent for EUAs, non-consensual exams persist in Canadian medical practice.
In a recent publication in Journal of Surgical Education, Phoebe Friesen, an assistant professor in McGill’s Faculty of Medicine, investigated the perspectives of Canadian medical students on the importance of consent for sensitive EUAs. Her interest grew from discussions with her students, where several expressed discomfort about performing non-consensual pelvic exams on anesthetized patients.
“I felt disturbed when I heard about it,” Friesen said in an interview with The Tribune. “I think there is this ambiguity around consent [....] It’s often something practitioners never [properly] learned, sort of like this paternalistic practice that was just passed on, never questioned, and then passed on again.”
When medical students enter their clinical rotation years, they work with a variety of clinicians, each of whom models a different approach to patient care and consensual practices. This means that the attitudes around consent that a medical student ultimately acquires may reflect the practices of the
particular clinicians they work with.
“You might have one [attending physician] that in the stereotypical way, sees it as primarily a legal act,” Friesen explained. “On the other side of the spectrum, students are going to see incredibly slow, attentive consent, where patients are given an opportunity to ask a lot of questions.”
During her research, Friesen distributed an anonymous questionnaire to 134 medical students across six medical schools in Canada. Of these, 119 completed the survey entirely. The respondents included 79 women, 33 men, and 9 students identifying as trans, genderqueer, two-spirited, nonbinary, or preferred not to answer.
The results indicated that 72 per cent of students believed that specific consent for EUAs was a moral requirement, 20 per cent were unsure, and eight per cent did not consider specific consent for EUAs to be a moral obligation at all. Those who felt specific consent was necessary cited a variety of reasons, including patient rights, autonomy, respect, and integrity. Some students also expressed concerns that non-consensual exams could be exploitative or even constitute assault.
However, some respondents questioned the need for explicit consent, arguing that it could impede educational opportunities.
Some men in medical school also shared that they feel they do not receive enough exposure to certain medical training compared to women in medical school. One respondent wrote, “I have now graduated medical school and still do not feel that my ability to perform pelvic exams is adequate.”
“[The findings on how] eliciting specific consent might be a challenge, particularly for male and racialized students, are really interesting,” Friesen
The US Department of Health and Human Services issued new guidance clarifying that hospitals must obtain written consent for sensitive exams, especially if patients will be under anesthesia. (Zoe Lee / The Tribune )
noted.
Friesen pointed out a key distinction between how medical students and the general public view patient care. In the world of medicine, students may see patients as opportunities for education. However, outside of the medical field, the necessity of consent is understood as an obvious, ethical, and humane boundary.
“People outside of this world [of medicine] just see it as completely obvious that you would ask someone for consent,” Friesen said. “There just really seems to be a difference in logic.”
The findings of this study highlight the
need for greater emphasis on ethics and consent in medical training. Friesen advocates for a more structured and mandatory curriculum that includes comprehensive education on these issues.
“My hope is that McGill will be the first Canadian institution to put forward an explicit policy on this,” Friesen said.
Given that patients have expressed a clear desire for the requirement of consent for EUAs and that the study shows the majority of medical students support this practice, it’s clear that action must be taken to make this the standard moving forward.
68 per cent of people in a Forbes study believed perfectionism led to burnout. ( Drea Garcia Avila / The Tribune )
Mothers, daughters, and the
spaces in between
Hanna Stoltenberg’s sharp prose shines in her debut novel Near Distance
Isobel Bray Contributor
Hanna Stoltenberg’s debut novel
Near Distance is a quiet look at a mother and daughter occupied by different concerns. Karin, the mother, is worried she is losing her youth, and Helene, the daughter, is worried she’s turning out like her mother. They struggle to bridge this emotional gap between them; things go unsaid, old wounds resurface, and tensions flare over a spilled cup of coffee. Yet through all of this, Stoltenberg captures the authenticity of their relationship, showing how they often fall back into a familiar, comfortable rhythm.
Published in Norwegian as Nada in 2019, Stoltenberg’s exploration of complex relationships through understated but descriptive prose has established her as an author to watch. Now, thanks to the efforts of translator Wendy H. Gabrielsen, English-speaking readers can also enjoy the novel.
The story follows Karin, a woman in her fifties working at a jewelry store in her hometown of Oslo. She spends her days socializing with men she meets online and rarely speaks to her daughter Helene. But when Helene discovers her husband is having an affair, she invites Karin on a weekend trip to London. During the trip, we see Helene navigating both her
mother’s presence and this new betrayal.
On the surface, nothing much happens in this book, but with a closer look, you can see the intertwining of two lives shaped by love and unspoken tensions. The novel is an intensely character-driven tale about what it means to be a woman and a mother and how these two identities interact. Yet, despite the lack of obvious plot action, from the beginning, Karin and Helene’s relationship feels off; the reader is immediately aware of past hurts without Stoltenberg needing to spell them out.
At first, Helene inviting Karin to London seems strange given their rocky relationship. Throughout the trip, Stoltenberg reveals how they know each other the way only a mother and daughter could while simultaneously feeling like strangers. She manages to create tension at every moment, even in simple scenes of dress shopping or going out for a drink.
Throughout the novel, the present narrative is balanced with flashbacks of Karin’s life. We witness her efforts to raise Helene and the evolution of their relationship over time. Karin finds a family with Helene and her father Erik but slowly loses it. Stoltenberg’s choice to alternate between timelines adds depth to the otherwise plot-light narrative, revealing enough to immerse readers in the unique mother-daughter bond without over-explanation. The understated nature
of the novel allows readers to draw their own conclusions about the characters and their choices.
Karin never knows where she stands with Helene. She is a spectator in her daughter’s life, seeing her grow into a responsible adult from a distance. Since the novel is told entirely from Karin’s perspective, the reader is similarly kept an arm’s length away from Helene, learning about her only through Karin’s observations.
The brevity of this novel works in its favour. The concise vignettes of Karin’s life are focused and never drag the pace. The minimalist narrative is engaging, even for those who prefer more plotdriven stories. This is also thanks to the tangible, well-written characters who feel authentic and relatable. Some details may seem extraneous at first glance, but when put together, they form a complete characterization of the two characters. Their idiosyncrasies are part of what makes the characters feel so real. They are ordinary people with flaws and strengths, just like the readers who come to know them.
It’s not just Stoltenberg’s keen observations of Karin and Helene that make her writing so striking. Even side characters—passersby, old acquaintances, and fleeting figures—are rendered with the same attention to seemingly mundane detail, making them come alive on the page.
Her style and nuanced way of capturing the relationships between people, both within and outside Karin and Helene’s relationship, recalls the practice of observing strangers on the street. You’re reminded that every individual life is as complex and unknowable as your own. Near Distance was published on Jan. 14 and is now available for purchase.
Unravelling preconceived notions about contemporary art with Ravel Ravel Interval
Anri Sala presents the beauty of our differences with two bare hands
Norah Adams
Contributor
When I find myself pushing open the heavy glass doors of the Montreal Museum of Fine Art’s Contemporary Art Square , I am admittedly apprehensive. I’ve never been drawn to contemporary art pieces, often finding that they lean so esoteric as to feel alienating. My expectation for Anri Sala’s piece, Ravel Ravel Interval (2017), is the same.
When I enter, and the door slams shut behind me, I am greeted by a dark hallway and the delicate sound of piano beckoning me forward. Entranced by the music, my cynicism seems to dissolve in an instant. As I continue to walk down the hallway, the piano gets progressively louder. I reach a doorway at the end of the tunnel and am met with an open room containing two projector screens with a two-metre gap between them.
The screens feature two hands; one belonging to Montreal pianist Louis Lortie and the other to French pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, playing Maurice Ravel’s Left Hand in D Major (1929-1930). The concerto is a one-handed piece commissioned by Paul Wittgenstein, a pianist who lost his right arm in the First World War.
I enter the room and sit on one of the benches in front of the piece. The projector screens are translucent, which allows viewers to see both hands playing simultaneously. Sala’s camera work is intimate,
capturing the concerto at eye level with the pianos’ keys. The two disembodied hands begin their ghostly melody in sync, dancing about the ivory as if performing a pas de deux.
As they continue to play, the hands grow separate from one another: While Lortie tickles the low keys, Bavouzet is on the opposite side of his screen, striking the high ones. Even though both pianists play the same piece, their motions are entirely different. In certain moments, one hand will pause on a rest that the other has yet to reach, while the other continues alone, the orchestra shifting into an impromptu solo. The unique playing styles of both artists become noticeable in the observable distance between them, highlighting the divergences that define the breadth of human creativity. The notes of the pair of pianos tumble against each other as both artists align and separate, providing a layered melody that embodies the stratified nature of individuals within a society.
Eventually, an unseen orchestra joins both pianists; dramatic strings and delicate winds intensify the piece’s pathos. As someone not well-versed in either orchestra or contemporary art, I am shocked by Sala’s piece’s enrapturing quality as I sit facing a combination of the aforementioned forms. The close-up shots make one feel present in the playing of Ravel’s concertos, the distant yet equally visible players allowing viewers a certain level of agency in which pianist’s
rendition they wish to participate. Sala pans out as the music reaches its crescendo to feature a broader view of the piano while the orchestra booms in the background.
The volume and speed of the pianists’ playing rope you in before the experience seemingly ends in a quick cut to both artists’ hands hanging limp, their pianos absent. After following the piece’s life through wavering trills and sharp notes, this feels almost like a death.
Suddenly, the stillness is interrupted by both hands waving slowly as the orchestra recommences. Sala then cuts to the beginning of Ravel’s Left Hand in D Major , and
the whole piece starts anew. As I exit the room and back out the dark hallway, I feel that I—similarly to the two pianists—am experiencing a fresh beginning: A positive relationship with a previously dismissed art movement. Anri Sala’s Ravel Ravel Interval is the perfect exhibit for those wishing to be pulled vigorously into the sphere of contemporary art. Once you open those doors, there is no going back.
Anri Sala’s Ravel Ravel Interval is on display at the MMFA until Apr. 27. Tickets are both available online and in person. (Free for those aged 25 and under).
Near Distance won the 2022 Wigeland Prize for translation. (Natalie Olsen / Biblioasis)
The exhibition’s first iteration, Ravel Ravel (2013), was initially exhibited at the Venice Biennale, where Anri Sala represented France. (Armen Erzingatzian / The Tribune)
David Lynch’s eternal worlds of surreal, torturous beauty
Remembering the painter, director, musician, writer, and visual architect
Annabella Lawlor Staff Writer
How does one memorialize a life?
Through the images they have created or traces they have left behind? How can one encapsulate an entire legacy from the ashes of bodily presence? Treading in the wake of David Lynch’s recent passing, our world can reconstruct these traces from his transcendental cultural voice, his poignant and subversive narratives, and his eternal mark on the world of contemporary cinema.
Having been trained as a painter in university, Lynch’s cinematic career began with his 1967 short film Six Men Getting Sick (Six Times), stemming from his desire to witness his creations in motion. It’s a jarring and elusive piece that set in stone decades of poetic nonconformance to the cinematic form. With his painterly past, Lynch frames each shot as if an oiled canvas, shaded by the intense threat of the looming, chiaroscuro-ed darkness.
In Lost Highway, shadows become a palpable character within each scene, caressing disillusioned expressions of the characters’ gazes and the arching corridors of each shot’s background. Rich in pigment and cinematically expansive, his worlds inhabit the ruinous crevices of our own environment, twisting the figments of our reality into landscapes of surreal inhumanity, and thus manufacturing his films as depraved mirrors of America’s abhorrent corruption and nightmarish truth.
There is an elegiac quality to the disturb-
ing nature of Lynch’s cinematic imagery and narratives. 1977’s Eraserhead’s visually gutwrenching depiction of the aching fears of unexpected fatherhood illustrates a kindness within monstrosity and a bleakness in conventional humanness. Though visually barbaric in its finale, is a father’s greatest fear not the total unravelling and subsequent death of a child? By submitting his narrative to complete abstraction, Lynch encapsulates the violent, burdening emotionality of bearing parental responsibility. He treats his characters with such grace, allowing the full spectrum of their emotions to be rendered on screen: The gross, the extravagant, the sexual, the intense, the immoral—they all intersect in his larger vision of the world. There is an emotional purity that filters through a “caught” idea, no matter how nauseating or cruel.
In an early interview, Lynch stated, “Ideas are so beautiful and they’re so abstract. And they do exist someplace—I don’t know that there’s a name for it. I think they exist, like fish. And I believe that if you sit quietly, like you’re fishing, you will catch ideas. The real, beautiful big ones swim deep down there so you have to be really quiet and wait for them to come along.”
His worlds are mind-bending and emotionally disconcerting, as if existing within mere miles of another desolate landscape in the Lynchian cinematic universe. The elusive town of Twin Peaks, Washington—from the eponymous franchise—is perhaps Lynch’s most fully realized surrealist environment.
MCGE Lilith Fair lights up the night
Dana Prather Contributor
Faced with the frigid winter winds and 5:00 p.m. sunsets of January in Montreal, spending a Wednesday evening staying in, staying warm, and staving off the mid-week slump may seem inevitable. Yet on Jan.15, over 250 students and community members braved the elements and gathered in La Sala Rossa to attend the McGill Collective for Gender Equality’s (MCGE) Lilith Fair, a night of live music inspired by the groundbreaking feminist music festival of
the same name.
The original Lilith Fair was a watershed moment for women in music. Conceived and helmed by Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan, the touring summer festival featured a lineup of all-women musicians such as the Indigo Girls, Alanis Morissette, and Tracy Chapman. In doing so, the festival aimed to defy the music industry’s misogynistic tendency to pit women against each other and instead cultivate a supportive community of artists and a concert environment free from sexual harassment.
Critiques of the festival’s ethos were plentiful. Some were merited—the festival’s
Hidden within the seeming tranquillity of the suburban town lies traumatic abstractions of murder, arson, and incest. Twin Peaks cinematically embodies the architectural ideals of the Gesamtkunstwerk, or the “total work of art,” moving a viewer into total immersion with its creeping synthesizers, plaid-skirted characters, and assaulting pigmented visual qualities.
David Lynch would likely wish for me to finish this piece with a disturbingly close distortion of Laura Dern’s digitally altered, leering grin, but it feels right to end how much of his films do: With a deep realization
of the institutionalized falsities of human nature—the idea that the power of unflinching, pure, depraved creativity overcomes the insistent challenges of our utopian-contemporary world. His visionary mind scars my life with such intense meaning, like so many others who have had the privilege of witnessing his films. His accomplishments aren’t only apparent in the recent adjectivization of his last name, but from his endless creative influence on the vastness of visual culture. There will never be anyone as authentically weird, linguistically Midwestern, and boisterously himself as David Lynch.
first lineup was overwhelmingly white— while others were clearly steeped in homophobia and misogyny. Still, Lilith Fair was an unquestionable success; despite only running for three summers between 1997 and 1999, Lilith Fair grossed over $52 million USD.
To honour the festival’s legacy, coorganizers Dre Pupovac, U2 Arts, and Alex Leitman, U2 Science, recruited five local women-led acts—Revi my Beloved, Lane Ellis, Clothilde, Hanako, and Frown Line— to co-headline the event. From the audience’s excited buzz, as Pupovac introduced the event, it was clear that Lilith Fair’s mission continues to resonate deeply.
“We’re living in times in which we’re watching as women right across the border are fearing for their reproductive healthcare/education rights and feeling as though they’ve lost control over what happens to their own bodies,” Revi wrote in a message to The Tribune, reflecting on the importance of the festival. “As long as women feel threatened or powerless, creating safe spaces for women will always be important, even if it’s just to listen to rock music.”
The first act saw Revi my Beloved’s driving drum beats and infectious energy set the tone for what was sure to be a wild evening. The audience cheered. The stage lights flashed. Then, the room went dark.
What we would soon discover was a neighbourhood-wide power outage had brought the event to a screeching halt. However, the organizers quickly sprang into action.
“In the moment, I kind of just locked into problem-solving mode, so I didn’t have time to think too much,” explained Pupovac. “It was just, like, okay—what do we do?”
Within minutes, MCGE volunteers had illuminated Lane Ellis with their phone flashlights as the singer performed acoustic versions of her own songs and a stunning rendition of “Linger” by The Cranberries. The organizers then invited anyone who wanted to hop onstage and sing to do so, leading to an impromptu singalong until they announced the event’s postponement.
Eager to host Lilith Fair as intended and allow the remaining acts the chance to perform, the organizers worked tirelessly to reschedule, and just four days later, the event was back up and running. Despite the slightly lower turnout, audiences were just as enthusiastic, if not more, the second time around. Ellis’ airy tones and introspective lyrics had lent themselves well to a stripped-back performance, but hearing her songs as intended provoked raucous cheers from the crowd. By contrast, Hanako’s, U2 Arts, blend of folk and dream pop left the room in a reverent hush. Lilith Fair officially wrapped up just after midnight, leaving a tired, beaming crowd to disperse into the chilly night, chatting about when the next Lilith Fair might be.
“If [women and other marginalized groups] want safe spaces, [...] no one’s gonna do it for us,” Avery Albert, a community member who came out to support both versions of the event, reflected. “We really have to cultivate those spaces [ourselves].”
From 2020 to 2022, David Lynch released his daily Weather Report, never missing a day in the process. (Eliot Loose / The Tribune)
60 per cent of the event’s proceeds will go to the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal. (Olivier Mercier / McGill Collective for Gender Equality)
No joking around as Martlets soar to victory in the Jesters University League
Squash team sets their sights on varsity status in order to reach the OUA Playoffs
Zain Ahmed Staff Writer
The McGill Women’s Squash team captured their second straight Jesters League championship on Jan. 18 in a dramatic finale against the University of Toronto (UofT), showcasing both their competitive excellence and remarkable team spirit. The victory represents another milestone in the program’s extraordinary growth over the past four years, achieved entirely through student leadership, community spirit, and sheer determination.
Team captain Chloe Stoneburgh, U4 Management, sat down with The Tribune for an interview.
“It’s literally two completely different things, when I came into then versus what it is now. [In 2020] I stumbled across tryouts on Facebook halfway through the year, and they were still looking for people because they couldn’t even form a team,” she said.
From those humble beginnings, the program has transformed into a formidable force in collegiate squash, bringing home the Jesters League trophy in both the 2023-24 and 202425 seasons.
The championship-deciding competition against UofT epitomized the team’s journey, coming down to the final match with the teams deadlocked at 3-3. The tension was palpable as both teams gathered to watch the decisive first-seed matchup, long after other universi-
ties had departed. Team member Lialah Mavani, U2 Arts, flew in from British Columbia specifically for the tournament, demonstrating the extraordinary commitment that has become the team’s hallmark.
However, despite success, McGill Squash faces a unique challenge: As a club team, they are unable to advance to the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) playoffs, despite competing against and defeating varsity programs throughout the regular season.
Ava Bicknell, U3 Arts, is a team captain currently on exchange in London.
“We can get by, we take ourselves to games, we pay our coaches, we organize our accommodation. All we really need is the varsity title to gain access to the OUA,” she told The Tribune
The team’s recent achievements are particularly noteworthy given their entirely student-run operation. Without varsity status, they handle everything from fundraising and alumni relations to practice scheduling and logistics.
Their success stems from what Stoneburgh describes as “the intrinsic push from student leaders” and a culture that sees nearperfect practice attendance despite no formal requirements.
“There’s a fight that comes from knowing that we’re at this disadvantage; we have great players and we can win,” Stoneburgh explained. “I think there’s this little bit of gritty feist that comes with knowing that we can
win, we fight on and off the court with a chip on our shoulders. We have a point to prove.”
The program, which held varsity status until 2010 when it was released from the varsity program, likely due to budget cuts, has demonstrated remarkable growth through strategic initiatives such as social media presence, alumni engagement, and successful fundraising campaigns. Their recent achievements suggest immense potential for development, particularly if granted the opportunity to compete at the highest level.
“We’re hoping that it’ll boost our reputation even more. Obviously as an academic school, but maybe even being considered for playing competitive squash. That wasn’t really a thing before, and now, with these wins under our belt, we’re hoping that gives recognition,” Bicknell said.
Men’s captain, Mo Kamal, U3 Science, emphasized that the women’s success stems from their team chemistry. He was particularly impressed by the team’s performance in the championship match.
“One thing that really stood out was the passion they brought to every moment. They got
into a zone where they truly peaked, pushing themselves to battle through some incredibly close matches,” Kamal said.
Speaking to the program’s evolution, Kamal reflected on the broader impact of women’s achievements.
“The women’s team’s success is especially meaningful because it highlights the incredible growth of McGill squash. The program has transformed; the women’s team’s great results have played a huge role in driving that change,” Kamal said.
Individual players from McGill Squash will compete in the Canadian University and Collegiate Squash Championships, hosted at McGill from March 14-16.
English FA’s decision to scrap cup replays means less economic parity than ever
Fifth-tier side Tamworth F.C. miss out on $1.5 million CAD windfall after extra-time defeat to Tottenham
Ethan Kahn Staff Writer
The Football Association Cup (FA Cup) is the most prestigious domestic tournament in European football. Comprised of teams throughout the tiers of the English football pyramid—from local semi-pro players who participate for fun to the biggest powerhouses of Europe—squads compete in a single-elimination tournament to determine which is the best team in the United Kingdom. Some of the greatest moments in the competition’s history come from David vs. Goliath stories, where the great teams of the country are upended by teams far below them in skill level and ranking. The most famous example is Wigan’s improbable triumph against Manchester City in the 2013 final.
Wigan’s incredible journey would not be possible without replays, which occur when a game in the tournament ends in a tie. The teams then play another game against one another to decide who advances. Controversially, this past summer, the FA made the decision to do away with cup replays, replacing them with traditional extra time and penalties.
January nearly saw another historic upset, when Vanarama National League (fifth-tier) side Tamworth F.C. played host to perennial Premier League title contenders Tottenham Hotspur. Tottenham were the favourites in the
third-round match-up but soon realized that breaking down Tamworth was easier said than done. The home side went into the game with the confidence of a team that has nothing to lose, and defended their goal bravely, with the game tied 0-0 after 90 minutes of play.
This is where the controversy comes into the fold. The decision to get rid of replays was made in conversation with Premier League teams and stemmed from their desire to lessen the load of an increasingly burdensome schedule. Top teams can play upwards of 60 games depending on how far they progress in certain competitions. Disturbingly, the lower-tier teams, who receive the most benefits from replays, were not able to give input on the decision to do away with them.
That would have meant tiny Tamworth would have had a chance to play in front of more than 60,000 fans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Besides the incredible experience for both players and fans, the game would have a massive economic benefit for the club: Since home and away sides both take 45 per cent of revenue from ticket sales, Tamworth would be in line to make over £800,000 (more than $1.4 million CAD) following the away game. Considering the fact that Tamworth’s 2024 revenue was £1.6 million, this would have been a crucial economic boost to the club. With an increased emphasis on economic power in the modern game, Tamworth
would have been poised to put the funds towards improving their squad.
The decision to do away with cup replays does not just have an economic impact on smaller teams, but it places them at a disadvantage over the course of a game that goes into extra time. Bigger clubs have more squad depth, with more talented bench players than the lower league teams. According to Transfermarkt, the six substitutes that Tottenham brought on over the course of the game had a combined transfer value of around $335 million CAD, which is hundreds of times larger than the value of Tamworth’s entire team. This sort of disparity is exacerbated after 90 gruelling minutes.
In an increasingly polarized footballing world, where top teams are able to spend hundreds of millions of dollars and lower league squads are left out to dry, the FA has embraced the changing tides and aligned themselves
fully with the interests of the largest clubs in England. It is disheartening for the players, supporters, and owners of clubs like Tamworth who are left to fend for themselves in a climate that is rigged against them from the start, and this decision will send shockwaves throughout the English football pyramid by stunting the economic growth of small clubs even further.
Cup replays were cut once before as a temporary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Zoe Lee / The Tribune)
The Jesters Club was founded in England in 1929 to promote the enjoyment of court sports. (Drea Garcia Avila / The Tribune)
Redbirds jumper reflects on track’s successful UOttawa Winter Classic
McGill’s track team breaks nine-year-old school record
Nour Khouri Contributor
“We’re really breaking it down to the essence of what makes an athlete,” is how Robbie Gertsner, a first-year Masters student in Physics, describes his sport of track and field. Through the wide variety of events offered in track and field, these demonstrations of human strength and skill are all present under the umbrella of a single sport. For Gertsner, the beauty of track and field lies in the fact that it places raw athleticism centre-stage.
On Jan.18, the McGill University Track Team achieved remarkable success at the uOttawa Winter Classic. The Martlets and Redbirds secured three gold medals each, cementing their reputation as dominant competitive forces. Beyond the medals, the men’s track team etched their names into McGill history by breaking a nine-year-old school record in the men’s 4x800-metre relay. The team, composed of athletes Sean Adams, Ben Gates, Samuel Hepworth, and Devin Chapple, completed the race in an astonishing seven minutes and 37.9 seconds. This performance narrowly eclipsed the previous record of seven minutes and 38.96 seconds, set on Feb. 26, 2016, by a mere 1.06 seconds.
Despite these impressive accomplishments, Gertsner feels track and field does not always receive the recognition it deserves at McGill.
“Track can go under the radar a little bit, especially at McGill,” he says. “It’s not at the forefront of our sports.”
However, he remains hopeful that moments like these will help raise the profile of McGill’s track athletes and bring greater attention to their dedication and achievements.
Still riding the adrenaline from his recent performance at the 28th Annual McGill Team Challenge, where he broke his personal best in the 60-metre run, Gertsner is already looking ahead to what’s next for his team. When asked about the possibility of bringing home a championship banner, he expressed confidence in their chances.
“I think we have a pretty good shot at the [Réseau du sport étudiant du québec] RSEQ, which is the Quebec provincial championship,” he shared. “Coming into this weekend, the men’s team was ranked first in the RSEQ, and if we continue to push this momentum, I think we’ll have a really good chance.”
However, when asked about his experiences at McGill’s track team compared to Western University, where he completed his undergraduate program, he highlighted a reality far too familiar across most athletic endeavours at McGill: The lack of team cohesion.
“If I’m being completely honest, I wish that we had more of a collective team spirit,” he says. “When I was at Western’s track team, which has consistently been one of the top teams in the country, we had a very collective
The Tribune’s McGill sports moment of the week
Martlets Volleyball win back-to-back against UQAC this weekend
Clara Smyrski Sports Editor
Martlets Volleyball has extended their win streak to five this weekend, with two shut-out games against the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi (UQAC) at Pavillon sportif. The games spotlighted graduate student Elyssa Lajmi, who led the team on both offense and defense. In the first game, Lajmi scored 19 points—16 of which were kills—and put up 14 digs and five blocks on defense to halt UQAC’s advances. In the second game, the power hitter from Thionville, France scored 12.5 points with an impressive three aces.
The Martlets won both matches in threesets, though not without some competition. On Friday, they won their sets 28-26, 25-14, and 25-12, breaking UQAC’s team early and riding out the rest of the match. On Saturday, UQAC showed great effort, but still fell short to the Martlets 25-
17, 25-22, and 25-20. The victory showcased the team’s offensive resilience and unwillingness to give up. Moreover, though Lajmi’s performance was key, the game was nothing short of a full team effort as Coach Rachèle Béliveau made great use of the bench.
This season is also a special one,
team dynamic, which is not quite at that level here at McGill.”
Gertsner believes that for the team to truly gain the edge over competitors, team members should invest themselves in events they are not used to and make an effort to watch their teammates compete and learn about their successes, which can do much good for the team’s results.
“For example, myself as a jumper, I don’t really know much about the distance or throwing events, but if I take the effort in learning what type of distances and times they are run-
as it marks the end of Coach Béliveau’s career at McGill. Béliveau announced in early January that she would retire after this year.
The Martlets are now 9–7 in the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ), where they are tied for third place with Laval University and UQAM. McGill has five games left until the RSEQ playoffs and aim to defeat UQTR this Friday, Jan. 31 at Love Competition Hall. This past weekend may act as a tipping point in the Martlets season as they strive to take home the RSEQ championship banner in March.
With this past weekend’s successes, Martlets Volleyball is on its way to a second-place spot in the conference and a triumphant playoff season.
ning and throwing,” he said. “I think that’s the key in pushing yourself outside your niche group because that’s what connects us all.”
However, Gertsner admitted that he has noticed developments: “Now that the season and races have started, it has improved, and people are cheering for each other.”
With the track and field season far from over, the Redbirds and Martlets have time to prove their efforts in forming a stronger team collective and perhaps even bring the Quebec Provincial Championships banner back home.
The 28th annual McGill track meet is expected to welcome 48 teams and clubs, the largest indoor assembly of its kind in Canada. (Hannah Nobile / The Tribune)
Coach Rachèle Béliveau entered her 34th season this year and remains the winningest coach in McGill history. (Zoe Lee / The Tribune)