The McGill Tribune Vol. 36 Issue 20

NEWS “In conversation with Kevin O’Leary” pg. 02

FEATURE “Beyond semantics: The colorful story of Milton-Parc ” pg. 8-9

The McGill Tribune

EDITORIAL: McGILL ADMINISTRATION MUST SUPPORT THE INDEPENDENCE OF STUDENT SOCIETIES pg. 05

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017 VOL. 36 ISSUE 20 PUBLISHED BY THE SPT, A STUDENT SOCIETY OF MCGILL UNIVERSITY

McGILLTRIBUNE.COM

McGill administration and SSMU meet to discuss Igor Sadikov Fortier reminds Executives of constitutional standards for representatives Domenic Casciato Staff Writer

The Pirates of Penzance’s cast mastered effortless physicality. (Alex Gardiner / The McGill Tribune)

Kitsch, tongue-twisters, and true love

McGill’s Savoy Society presents ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ Niklas Kaemmerer Contributor It shames me to admit that before The McGill Savoy Society’s presentation of The Pirates of Penzance, I had never seen a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta. Although I was familiar with the general tone and the plot of the operetta, I entered Moyse Hall with an open mind. Upon reading that the Savoy Society

director, Roger Andrews, had directed this specific operetta four times—yes, four separate times—I knew I’d be in good hands.

The two-act operetta follows Frederic (Sebastian Comtois), a pirate’s apprentice finally free of his servitude after 21 years of loyal labour. Mistakenly conscripted to the Pirate King’s (Aaron Meredith) boisterous gang at the fragile age of eight, Frederic struggles with choosing between his intense sense of

duty towards his adopted family and his love for the Major-General’s (Scott Cope) beautiful daughter, Mabel (Sevan Kochkarian). The resulting conflict between both groups involves exactly the campy sort of tomfoolery one would expect from a Gilbert & Sullivan classic: A chorus of cowardly policemen, a surprisingly haunting interpretive ballet performance from a grown man in a nightgown, and an unfortunate technicality involving leap years.

PG. 10

Study shows correlation between heavy snowfall and heart attacks

Montreal researchers offer health justifications to avoid shovelling snow Angelina Giordano Contributor Shovelling snow is a winter chore generally met with dread. But, as Dr. Nathalie Auger and her team at the Quebec Public Health Institute recently showed in a study published by the Canadian

Medical Association Journal on Feb. 13, there may be real health risks involved.

Auger’s study hits home for a lot of Canadians, especially in Quebec, for whom snow is a huge part of everyday life.

The study was designed to discover if, during the winter months of November through April

from the years 1981-2014, the amount of hospital admissions or deaths due to myocardial infarction (MI)—known colloquially as heart attack— increased as a result of heavy snowfall in Quebec.

Auger’s team collected thousands of medical records and then analyzed the data to find out whether or not their hypothesis held.

PG. 13

On Feb. 17, protesters demonstrated around the James Administration Building in response to the McGill administration’s alleged threat to terminate the Students’ Society of McGill University’s (SSMU) Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) if SSMU did not release a public statement calling for the resignation of Arts Representative Igor Sadikov. Sadikov caused controversy after posting a tweet reading “punch a zionist [sic] today,” on Feb. 6.

At a meeting on Feb. 13, the SSMU Board of Directors (BoD) made the executive decision to censure Sadikov, who is also a Director on the BoD, but not to impeach him. The BoD posted a press release that included a formal apology from Sadikov. Protesters claimed that sometime after SSMU’s decision, a meeting was held between Principal and ViceChancellor Suzanne Fortier, Sadikov, and SSMU President Ben Ger. It was alleged that during this meeting, Fortier threatened to revoke all funding from SSMU if the Society did not publicly call for Sadikov’s resignation.

Kyle Shaw, U3 Arts, and protester said that this threat is a breach of student democracy.

PG. 03

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Tuesday, February 21, 2017

In conversation with Kevin O’Leary

Candidate for Conservative Party leadership discusses social and economic policies

O’Leary voiced fiscally conservative ideas and socially liberal views. (Lauren Benson-Armer / The McGill Tribune)

Calvin Trottier-Chi News Editor Candidate for leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada Kevin O’Leary came to McGill University on Feb. 13. He elaborated on his platform for jobs and social inclusivity in an exclusive interview with The McGill Tribune, as well as in a speech at the Shatner Building.

Of foremost importance to O’Leary is the economy. He was particularly critical of Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate, which has fallen below three per cent, and felt that Canada has the capacity to improve.

“We have to start thinking about making

this country competitive with the rest of the world because Canada is the richest country on earth in terms of resources, and water, and minerals, and timber, and energy,” O’Leary said.

“In order to maintain the contract that we have as Canadians with each other, including funding the arts and all the social programs [which] support the poor and immigrants that need to get started here, we either grow at three per cent or you are going to be living in a deficit for 38 years.”

O’Leary argued that Canada must open itself to international investment to enjoy economic benefits. Given Donald Trump’s intentions to cut carbon taxes, O’Leary was dismayed that Prime Minister Trudeau has not

followed suit to keep Canada competitive.

“If you compare capital flowing around the world, where does it want to rest itself to invest? If your taxes are too high, if your regulatory environment is too punitive, if you have carbon tax when none of your competitors do, capital tends to follow the path of least resistance and goes to other countries, which is what’s happening now. That’s the problem, and we need to get ourselves in synch,” O’Leary said.

Specifically, O’Leary hopes to attract industries from Asia to Canada and to create jobs by developing fracking in Nova Scotia.

O’Leary also emphasized engaging with youth voters, hoping to provide them with prosperous financial futures.

“My job as Prime Minister is to provide you an environment where you can choose your path and have a high probability of success,” O’Leary said. “[Youth] unemployment rate’s more like 15 per cent, it’s really failed because there’s no growth. These people need jobs.”

After O’Leary’s speech, in which he reiterated the importance of the economy and millennial voters, McGill students in attendance asked for his opinion on a series of topics, including health care, housing, O’Leary’s personal investments, the environment, inclusivity, and comparisons to Trump. O’Leary also spoke about his childhood living around the world while his mother worked for the International Labor Organization.

“There’re two elements of our educational system that are missing: Tolerance for cul-

tures and religion, and also financial literacy,” O’Leary said. “What someone wears, how they want to live their lives, we should accommodate all of that in this country, and I learned that as a child in Cambodia. What headdress was worn in the street did not define who a person was, it was their style, their culture. We have to accommodate that. That ends up being a competitive weapon for this country.”

Another clarification that students sought was distinguishment of O’Leary from Trump.

O’Leary referenced the fact that his family immigrated to Canada before he was born.

“If we built a wall around Canada, I wouldn’t exist,” O’Leary said. “I wouldn’t be here. So, I do not agree on many of [Trump’s] policies, he’s dealing with other problems in the U.S. that we don’t have here in Canada. We’re going to have a very inclusive economy, a very inclusive country, I don’t care what your race or religion is, you can come here as I did.”

The event was organized by the Conservative Association of McGill, with the President Adam Wilson, U3 Arts, pleased with the turnout of approximately 300 people. Wilson spoke of O’Leary’s inclusive social direction being an appealing draw for young voters.

“I think the fact that he cuts through all the social things that people don’t like the conservatives for [will] attract young people,” Wilson said. “I think that some people don’t like conservative fiscal policy, but a lot of people [who do] won’t vote for the conservatives because there are people in the conservative party who are anti-LGBT or anti-choice.”

SSMU loses approximately $6,000 worth of sheet music

The Symphonic Band Club’s quest for compensation Margherita de Castro Contributor In June 2016, the Vice-Principal (VP) Large Events of the Symphonic Band Club Jerry Xie visited room 428 in the Shatner Building–where the club stored its equipment–only to find $6,000 worth of sheet music missing. The previous month, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) had accidentally misplaced the sheet music when they cleared out all SSMU clubs’ offices in the building. Although the Symphonic Band Club has reached out to SSMU executives numerous times throughout this academic year, the club has yet to receive compensation for the lost property.

Last year’s SSMU VP Clubs and Services Kimber Bialik reallocated SSMU club office space to Student Services and general space that can be booked. In October 2015, Bialik sent notices informing all student clubs to clear their offices before May 2016. The Symphonic Band, however, remained unaware of the plans because Bialik sent the announcement to an older email address.

The Symphonic Band, founded in 2008, had used its office to store instruments, podiums, and scores.

Xie found the instruments in subbasement 17, but was not able to recover

any of the sheet music. The Band’s music library contained roughly 80 works, each costing $70-90.

Brian Kennish, the SSMU building coordinator, confirmed SSMU’s role in the misplacement of the sheet music.

“Unfortunately, it is very likely that the items that you are referring to were removed and recycled,” Kennish informed the Symphonic Band’s President via email on June 28, 2016. “The porters have followed the mandate to empty certain fourth floor rooms that were needed to be repaired and painted for new tenants.”

The Symphonic Band hosts a concert each semester. Previously, the club would purchase three new pieces and perform these along with three pieces from their archive. The band now has to use the dues it collects from its musicians solely to acquire new music, deferring funds away from subsidizing the rental of musical instruments.

President of the Symphonic Band Jonathan Palozzi explained that this is not a sustainable solution.

“Without music, we are not a club,” Palozzi said. “We need music to play. We cannot buy all new music

every semester. It is too expensive and we do not have that much money.

Why do we have to forgo our opportunity for funding to fix [SSMU’s] mistake? I don’t think that’s fair.”

In August 2016, Palozzi began negotiating with SSMU’s current executives for a compensation scheme.

According to Palozzi, the executives explained that SSMU did not have the money to repay the club for the missing sheet music. Allegedly, the only suggestion they offered at the time was for the club to ask retailer JP Musical Instruments for the music.

In October 2016, Palozzi inquired as to whether he could pursue reimbursement via an insurance claim.

SSMU VP Finance Niall Carolan told Palozzi that he would discuss the matter with the Security Manager and inform him of any progress.

Palozzi has since continuously followed up until February 2017 with sporadic responses from SSMU executives. Requests for comment from SSMU executives were not returned.

“I am very disappointed in SSMU’s actions or lack thereof,” Xie said. “Their negligence gives me the feeling that we as a SSMU group and we as individuals do not matter. It has been seven months since we first discovered this error and the constant lack of information and willingness

to help to the best of their ability really showcases the lack of integrity of the executives that represent us students.”

Currently, the Symphonic Club hopes to come up with a reimbursement scheme by contacting SSMU’s insurance broker directly.

Sheet music was mistakenly recycled after emails requesting that the Symphonic Band clear their office were sent to the wrong email address in October 2015. (Felicia Chang / The McGill Tribune)

news 3

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

McGill administration and SSMU meet to discuss Igor Sadikov Fortier reminds Executives of constitutional standards for representatives

PGSS strikes motion for Athletics and Recreation fee increase Council members concerned over the reclassification of postdoctoral candidates

Domenic Casciato Staff Writer Continued from page 1.

“This is the administration way of overstepping its boundaries,” Shaw said. “[I believe] one of the main reasons [the university is] doing this, and Suzanne Fortier said it herself, is because they’ve been receiving a lot of pressure from donors [....] It’s purely plutocracy in that regard, where the rich donors are deciding what’s going to happen in our student democracy [...] and I find that deplorable.”

Ger wrote in a message to The McGill Tribune that the administration never threatened to withhold student fees collected by the university on behalf of SSMU. A prior report in The McGill Daily on Feb. 17 suggested that Fortier had made such a threat, citing an anonymous source close to the SSMU executive. The claims expressed in the The Daily were corroborated by Vice-President (VP) University Affairs Erin Sobat.

“The MoA and Constitution were both referenced in the discussion, however it was not said that they would take away SSMU’s funds,” Ger wrote. “The University was considering putting [a statement] out but it wasn’t a threat. Where VP Sobat was coming from […] the executive can see where that interpretation could have happened, but he was acting on his own. It was not our interpretation that [the administration] was doing that.”

The Daily wrote that Fortier called Sadikov’s behaviour a violation of the SSMU Constitution. According to sections 12 Event of Default and 13 Remedies of the MoA, SSMU violating its own constitution is a breach of its MoA with McGill, enabling the university to withhold SSMU funding. Fortier acknowledged that members of McGill’s senior leadership team met with members of the SSMU Executive Committee on Feb. 15 to remind the executives that they had an obligation to abide by the terms of SSMU’s constitution.

“The University’s senior leaders shared their strong belief that the SSMU executives should ask for the resignation of SSMU Board member Igor Sadikov, who recently sent a Tweet inciting violence against a specific group,” Fortier wrote in a comment to The McGill Tribune.

“While McGill’s administration normally does not recommend a course of action to the SSMU leadership, this situation is exceptional. With any incitement to violence, it is the administration’s duty to intervene.”

Ger said that, during the meeting, the administration sought to confirm SSMU’s interpretation of the constitution.

“The MoA was referenced in viewing the situation,” Ger said.

“The university was [saying], ‘Look the constitution lays out specific principles. You need to adhere to those.’ They basically [said], ‘Here’s the constitution. It’s our opinion that this is the case, is it yours?’ Ultimately, the executive said, ‘Yes it is our agreement between our bodies because technically, we’re tied to it. We consulted legal to see what the potential threats were and one of us [Sobat] came away with a different grasp of the situation.”

In an email sent to the student body on Feb. 17, SSMU VP Internal Affairs Daniel Lawrie announced that SSMU recommended Sadikov’s resignation due to his violations of the SSMU Constitution (16.1 Standard of Care), which requires every Director, Councillor, Officer, and member of any committee of the Board of Directors or Legislative Council of the Society to conduct himself in good faith with a view to the best interests of the Society.

“Every [member of the SSMU BoD or Legislative Council] must uphold the Standard of Care for all members of the community as outlined in our Constitution,” Lawrie wrote. “It is the decision of the Executive Committee that Councillor Sadikov’s recent actions did not uphold this responsibility. More specifically, we believe that Councillor Sadikov’s actions were an incitement of violence and, for that reason alone, we have recommended that he resign from his position as a Director and as an Arts Representative to the Legislative Council.”

The Associate Vice-Principal of Innovation and Partnerships presented a new program that will allow graduate students to have easier access to funding. (Lauren Benson-Armer / The McGill Tribune)

Aaron Rose Sports Editor On Feb. 15, the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) Legislative Council vetoed a motion from McGill Athletics and Recreation proposing an ancillary fee increase. Council members also discussed potential changes to the status of postdoctoral students at McGill, their legal battle with the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), and a new grant program for postgraduate students.

Athletics Ancillary Fee Increase Referendum Advisory The Legislative Council struck down a motion to increase the McGill Athletics student ancillary fee.

According to McGill Athletics and Recreation Executive Director Marc Gélinas, the proposed three per cent raise to the postgraduate fee is due largely to an increase in staff salaries and the cost of building upkeep. The new fee would be $3.63 per term for postgraduate students.

“The new AMUSE agreement was [the reason for] a significant portion of that increase in salaries,” Gélinas said. “We probably employ about [500] or 600 students [who are members of AMUSE].”

Despite McGill Athletics and Recreation presenting statistics regarding postgraduate student gym usage and a budget adjusted for the fee increase, Council members wanted to see alternative methods of boosting revenue, such as increasing ticket sales, sponsorships, and efforts to rent out gym facilities more often. The Associate Director of McGill Athletics Philip Quintal explained their intentions to diversify revenue.

“We want to increase our revenues outside of those generated from student fees, with minimal impact to student programs,” Quintal said.

The McGill Athletics and Recreation fee increase will be voted on at the General Meeting on March 15.

Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) settlement The CFS is a student union that represents universities across Canada. The ongoing struggle over the validity of PGSS’ 2010 referendum regarding their continued membership as part of the CFS has concluded, with PGSS reaching an undisclosed settlement with the CFS. In 2009, PGSS decided to hold a referendum to split from CFS. After CFS refused to acknowledge the validity of the 2010 referendum results, the two organizations became entrenched in a lengthy legal battle.

“We have had to deal with PGSS bleeding

money on this CFS case,” Secretary General Victor Frankel said. “Now that we can finally stop the bleeding, we can finally get some blood flowing to the other systems.”

Pleased with the results of the settlement, Frankel assured the Legislative Council that PGSS’ legal and financial situation has improved since last year.

Change in status of postdoctoral students After McGill’s decision to reclassify 400 postdoctoral candidates as university employees instead of postgraduate students, PGSS has been concerned with the potential loss of all postdoctoral PGSS members.

“What we’re trying to do is plan for the worst and hope for the best,” Frankel said. “We think [McGill] is going to try to [make] them all employees, rather than students.”

Due to this change, PGSS will have to account for fewer students in next year’s budget and postdoctoral events.

Graduate innovation fund With a mandate to promote and expand McGill’s innovation agenda and create entrepreneurship opportunities for McGill students, Associate VicePrincipal of Innovation and Partnerships Angelique Mannella is creating the new Post-Graduate Campus Organisation program for postgraduate researchers to collaborate and receive funding from the university.

“The goal of this initiative is really to catalyze a community of innovators and entrepreneurs [...] at McGill,” Mannella said. “Part of that will be to provide capital, but also opportunities to learn about innovation, product development, entrepreneurship, [to] help build the community, and additionally [... to] provide mentorship for [the] teams that do receive the funding.”

Aside from standard application grants, Mannella envisions a “pitch night” where groups present their ideas to a panel. According to Mannella, this event will allow McGill students to receive funding for their research more easily.

“Investment in an ecosystem has long-term benefits that will come back,” Mannella said. “What I’ve seen [...] from innovation entrepreneurship ecosystems that are really thriving is that where people get their first lift for their ideas, [that support] actually comes back and returns in other ways [....] I think that by looking at the long-term benefits, you will see that there are returns.”

Council members did not have time to vote on a proposed fee to fund Mannella’s initiative before the meeting ended. The motion will be voted on at the next PGSS meeting on March 15.

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AVEQ says that projected budget deficit was overestimated

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

SSMU unconcerned, continues to consider affiliation Cherry Ng Staff Writer The Association for the Voice of Education in Quebec (AVEQ) is a provincial-level student association designed to represent Quebec university students. It serves as a way to increase bargaining power provincially and with universities. It has recently publicly released its 2016-2017 budget, projecting that the association will record a revenue of $228,690 and run a $73,597 deficit. Their cash holdings are estimated to fall 70 per cent this year. Currently, AVEQ’s largest expenses include staff and executive salaries–which run between $61,118 and $77,599–administrative costs, and their mobilization and associative development budget. Other large expenses include $10,000 to $12,000 in accounting and legal fees.

AVEQ is a provincial-level student association designed to represent Quebec university students. It was formed after the Fédération Étudiante Universitaire du Quebec (FÉUQ) fell apart in the spring of 2015. The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) was one of the founding members of the FÉUQ in 1989, but affiliated and unaffiliated three times before permanently ending their membership in Fall 2006. As for the FÉUQ’s successor, SSMU has continued to consider affiliation with AVEQ since its creation in 2015.

Affiliation with AVEQ was put forward at the SSMU Winter 2016 referendum, which would have involved a non-opt-outable fee of $3.50 per semester. Though the referendum failed, SSMU remains an observer at AVEQ meetings. Ten to 11 other university associations are currently observing at the AVEQ meetings. In addition, Université du Quebec à Chicoutimi (UQAC) will propose a referendum to affiliate in Winter 2017 and the Université du Quebec à Trois-Rivieres (UQTR) will run one in Fall 2017.

AVEQ is financed by student fees, with its only sources of

revenue currently being Concordia Student Union (CSU) and the Université du Québec à Rimouski’s student association (AGECAR) student fees. Given the nature of student fees, Stethem wrote that the organization’s projected deficit for next year was an overestimation.

“On the revenue side, the exact number of students who will be paying fees can be difficult to estimate, particularly in a first full year of operation,” Stetham wrote. “Notably, we did not have a clear picture of numbers and specifics for summer students, which is the main factor contributing to extra revenues in the order of $30,000-$40,000.”

AVEQ Advisor to the Executive Isaac Stetham explained that the organization’s expenses have increased between 2015-

Two university student unions are currently affiliated with AVEQ but at least 10 others, including SSMU, are considering affiliation referendums.

(Vanessa Wong / The McGill Tribune)

2016 and 2016-2017 because AVEQ was not in operation until the final four months of the 2015-2016 fiscal year.

“The previous year, we had an interim team of five part-time staff working from the end of January,” Stetham wrote in an email to The McGill Tribune. “This year, we have three full-time executive positions filled, a full-time staff position, plus additional parttime staff [....] We now have a number of research projects, more travel for meetings and government representation, more material being produced, events organized, and so forth.”

The organization will reduce its expenditure if it runs into a deficit next year, but Stetham wrote that it is unlikely that it will have to do so.

“Depending on how things go over the next two and a half months, we should either significantly cut, or altogether eliminate the deficit that was projected in the budget,” Stetham wrote. “[...]

Our hope is that a combination of more accurate budgeting of the [accounting and legal fees], and a potential increase in revenue from new member associations, will enable us to, at the very least, maintain our current level of operations while avoiding a deficit.”

SSMU Vice-President (VP) External Affairs David Aird maintained that AVEQ is financially stable. “[AVEQ’s deficit] is not concerning because of the projected revenues in the future,” Aird said. “[....] The deficit will vanish if we [affiliate]. And even if McGill doesn’t join, AVEQ will be fine.”

CSU External Affairs and Mobilization Coordinator Aloyse Muller reports that Concordia’s affiliation with AVEQ has proven beneficial to the student body.

“We are very satisfied with how the culture of decision-making has proven very efficient and open and transparent,” Muller said. “At Concordia, we had to face a tuition hike on international students and so we fought [against] that with the help of AVEQ.”

McGill Senate discusses 2017-2022 Strategic Academic Plan

Goals include increasing enriched learning opportunities and hiring female professors Domenic Casciato Staff Writer The McGill Senate met on Feb.15 for an open discussion on McGill’s Strategic Academic Plan for 2017 to 2022, a presentation of the Staffing Report for 2016, and to pass a motion formally recognizing the celebration of Black History Month by the university.

Open discussion on the McGill University Strategic Academic Plan 20172022 Vice-Principal and Provost (Academic) Christopher Manfredi presented McGill’s Strategic Academic Plan for the next five years. The Plan identifies five key objectives for McGill’s academics: Be open to the world, expand diversity, lead innovation, connect across disciplines and sectors, and connect to [the Montreal] community.

The plan includes reducing McGill’s carbon footprint, doubling the number of students enrolled in enriched learning opportunities, such as studies and internships abroad, increasing the number of female full-time professors by 25 per cent, and increasing student aid to 30 per cent of net tuition revenues from the current 10 per cent.

Associate Professor Ronald Gehr of the Faculty of Engineering raised concerns that expansion of enriched learning opportunities should not come at the expense of existing programs.

“I’m speaking specifically about the Bellairs research institute in Barbados, at which there are two full session internship programs,” Gehr said. “[...]

They literally do not have a working blackboard, [and] the wastewater from this facility is discharged into a hole.

We’ve been trying for many years to upgrade this facility and we’ve always been told, ‘Well sorry, there’s no budget.’ If we’re going to make this commitment to [enriched learning], we really should start at home.”

The university’s Strategic Academic Plan will be finalized and presented to Senate for approval in April 2017.

McGill University Staffing Report 2015-2016 Manfredi also presented Senate with the 2015-2016 McGill University Staffing Report, which details the increase of 522 staff employed at McGill from 2011 to 2016. Of these 522 new hires, 464 are Contract Academic Staff (CAS), a classification including lecturers and professors who are employed for temporary contracts. The report attributes this growth to the expansion of student services, an increase in the number of staff necessary for external reporting, and shifts in competency and skill requirements for multiple faculties. The report also notes that the rate of hiring is slowing, likely due to financial constraints imposed by reduced provincial government funding.

Manfredi responded to concerns about the university’s increased reliance on CAS hires, who lack the same job security as tenured academic staff.

“Our philosophy is that we should be delivering most of our teaching programs through the use of tenure-track faculty, which is, in fact, what we do,” Manfredi said. “I would suggest [...] that among research universities in North America, McGill probably makes less use of CAS. [....] Yes, we have 464 more CAS now than we did five years ago, but 428.2 of those are in the Faculty of Medicine. [....] Quite frankly, when I look at this, I’m not concerned.”

Motion Regarding the Annual Celebration of Black History Month Senator Charles Keita of the Faculty of Arts drafted and presented a motion calling for the formal recognition and celebration of Black History Month

by McGill.

“Until [SEDE started organizing its celebration] this year, there was no official body on the campus that celebrated [Black History Month],” Keita said. “Quebec, Canada, [...] all of North America [celebrates Black History Month], and it would be frowned upon if McGill, as an institution, didn’t decide to equally celebrate it.”

The motion, which also called for McGill to explore academic opportunities that highlight the contributions and scholarship of the black community, was unanimously approved.

Senate names student aid and increased number of female professors as priorities in the Strategic Academic Plan. (Lauren Benson-Armer / The McGill Tribune)

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

OPINION 5

e d ito r i a l Editor-in-Chief Julia Dick editor@mcgilltribune.com Creative Director Natalie Vineberg nvineberg@mcgilltribune.com Managing Editors April Barrett abarrett@mcgilltribune.com Nicholas Jasinski njasinski@mcgilltribune.com News Editors Holly Cabrera, Sara Cullen, Calvin Trottier-Chi news@mcgilltribune.com Opinion Editors Jackie Houston & David Watson opinion@mcgilltribune.com Science & Technology Editor Lydia Kaprelian scitech@mcgilltribune.com Student Living Editor Audrey Carleton studentliving@mcgilltribune.com Features Editor Albert Park features@mcgilltribune.com Arts & Entertainment Editors Selin Altuntur & Evelyn Goessling arts@mcgilltribune.com Sports Editors Joe Khammar & Aaron Rose sports@mcgilltribune.com Design Editors Domitille Biehlmann & Daniel Freed design@mcgilltribune.com Photo Editor Lauren Benson-Armer photo@mcgilltribune.com Multimedia Editor Noah Sutton multimedia@mcgilltribune.com Web Developers Clare Lyle webdev@mcgilltribune.com Daniel Lutes online@mcgilltribune.com Copy Editor Areni Nicoghosian copy@mcgilltribune.com

McGill administration must support the independence of student societies On Feb. 17, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Executive Committee released a statement requesting the resignation of Igor Sadikov from his positions as a director and as an Arts representative to the SSMU Legislative Council. The request comes after Sadikov tweeted “punch a zionist [sic] today,” which the SSMU executives deemed “an incitement of violence” in violation of the Standard of Care outlined in the SSMU Constitution. The Feb. 17 statement came two days after a meeting between the SSMU executives and McGill Principal and ViceChancellor Suzanne Fortier, during which Fortier claims she shared her “strong belief” that SSMU should call on Sadikov to resign.

This meeting between Fortier and SSMU executives calls the relationship between student governance bodies and the university administration into question. The administration is justified in wanting to respond to the current situation; however, the administration must take care that the manner in which it exercises its authority does not undermine the independence of SSMU. Recent events demonstrate how susceptible student societies may be to pressure from the administration.

Under Quebec law, SSMU is a corporation independent from Mc-

O ff t h e B o a r d

Business Manager Mingye Chen business@mcgilltribune.com Advertising Executive Zain Hussain ads@mcgilltribune.com Publisher Chad Ronalds

TPS Board of Directors

Mingye Chen, Julia Dick, Audrey Carleton, Shrinkhala Dawadi, Arman Bery, Clare Fogarty, Arden Li

Staff Writers

Andy Wang, Alexandra Gardiner, Ariella Garmaise, Arman Bery, Ava Zwolinski, Cherry Ng, Daria Kisleva, Domenic Casciato, Elli Slavitch, Eric Noble-Marks, Flaminia Cooper, Gabriel Rincon, Hannah Taylor, Izze Siemann, Julia Métraux, Morgan Davis, Nicole Spadotto, Patrick Beacham, Rebecca Zhuang

Contributors

Andre Morin, Angelina Giordano, Anthony Kuan Christopher Buddle, Christopher Li, Daniel Griffin, Grace Bahler, Janine Xu, Kate Lord, Laura Oprescu, Margherita de Castro, Marie Labrosse, Micaela Wiseman, Miguel Principe, Natalia Malinowski, Niklas Kaemmerer, Robin Nyamekye, Sophie Brzozowski

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David Watson Opinion Editor It’s been an odd political year.

As news from the United States continues to descend into absurdity, in Canada the Conservative Party leadership race drudges on, complete with a cast of characters large enough to carry a Marvel movie. The Conservative race came to McGill on Feb. 13, as TV celebrity-turned leadership hopeful Kevin O’Leary held an event on campus where he spoke to students and took questions from the audience.

On the surface, O’Leary’s entry into the race seems like a political disaster for Canada. His rocky business career and arrogant TV-persona antics read like a mirror image of Donald Trump’s—another Trump is the last thing North America, or any

Gill, run by its 10-member Board of Directors (BoD). The relationship between SSMU and McGill is determined by a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) that guarantees SSMU’s independence from McGill. However, McGill can declare SSMU to have defaulted on the MoA if it judges that the society violated its own constitution.

Maintaining SSMU’s operational independence from the university is crucial—while McGill must balance the interests of many groups, SSMU is the only body on campus that exists solely to represent the interests of students. The society remains the most accessible governing body to students; if its independence is violated, students lose their most direct means to affect change at the upper levels of the university’s administration.

The McGill administration’s desire to intervene in the Sadikov affair is understandable: It must ensure the safety of its students after an incitement to violence, while maintaining its image in the face of a media storm in response to the tweet.

In order to avoid even the appearance of compromising SSMU’s autonomy, McGill must ensure that it engages with SSMU transparently.

McGill can express its concern over SSMU and the decisions of its BoD,

but it must ultimately respect that it does not decide who sits on SSMU Council—students do. Secret meetings with SSMU executives give the appearance that the administration is meddling in student governance.

Even if the meeting is not coercive, the opacity of the process damages the image of both parties. Fortier’s justification that the Sadikov case is an “exceptional” circumstance is also worrisome, as this condition seems to have been unilaterally defined by the administration, and could be used to justify interventions in the future.

The administration must also ensure its actions do not preempt the student governance process. When a Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) motion was passed at the Winter 2016 General Assembly, Fortier waited until the motion had been defeated in online ratification to express the administration’s stance on BDS. In her statement, which condemned BDS, Fortier noted, “The University as an institution has not commented publicly until now out of respect for the student governance process.”

This standard of respect should apply equally to the current case—the student governance process is still ongoing, as the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) will vote on Sadikov’s impeachment on Feb 22.

The administration’s actions

reflect a failure on SSMU’s part as well. To the administration, and to many students, the SSMU BoD failed its constituents by choosing not to impeach Sadikov, revealing the need for means of additional recourse within SSMU.The Judicial Board has been able to fill this role in past cases, but it does not have the authority to overturn BoD decisions.

If a minority of students ever feel that they have been wronged—and especially they have been made to feel less safe—by a SSMU decision, channels for recourse must be fair and accessible.

In the meantime, the administration must make it clear that its role in this matter was not coercive. Further, it must clarify what it defines as “exceptional” so that it may be held accountable to this standard in future instances. SSMU’s representative autonomy is meaningless unless it is clear that it is able to make decisions with which the administration does not agree.

Lauren Benson-Armer, Aaron Rose, Clare Lyle, and Natalie Vineberg believe that the McGill administration is justified in intervening with student governance if the student governance process fails to rectify extreme circumstances, such as cases of incited violence.

O’Leary’s candidacy could have an upside other remotely habitable region, needs right now. Despite the glaring flaws with O’Leary’s campaign—his lack of political experience and fluency in French being the main two—there are a few redeeming qualities to his candidacy. It’s a long shot, but O’Leary is bringing a few new ideas to the table that might even end up being beneficial for Canadian democracy in the long-run.

The political landscape has recently been shifting to the right in many Western countries. From the election of Donald Trump in the U.S., to Brexit in the United Kingdom, to the rise of right-wing politicians such as France’s Marine Le Pen and the Front National in Europe, the trend has been towards more regressive, bitter, and inward-looking policies.

When Kellie Leitch emerged as an early star in the Conservative race, it seemed like the Canadian right might be headed in the same direction. But since entering the race, O’Leary has quickly eclipsed Leitch in the polls; and his vision for the Conservatives looks nothing like that of a Leitch or a Trump.

Unlike Leitch or Trump, O’Leary has not adopted the anti-immigrant stance that has taken right-wing politics by storm. He touts his own heritage as the son of Irish and Lebanese immigrants as a testament to the value

of open societies. “There’s no walls in my world. I wouldn’t exist if Canada had walls,” O’Leary claimed when announcing his candidacy on Jan. 18—a sentiment he reiterated at McGill.

O’Leary’s most interesting contribution to the Conservative race by far has been his liberal stance on social issues. As O’Leary took care to explain to his audience at McGill, his desire to win the support of young voters led him to come out staunchly in favour of reproductive rights, LGBTQI rights, and marijuana legalization. O’Leary’s decision to focus on the young voters is a sound strategy: In the 2015 federal election, turnout in the 18-25 demographic jumped significantly, and favoured the Liberals by 45 per cent, compared to just 20 per cent for the Conservatives.

Strategy aside, O’Leary’s liberal positions on these issues should mean good news for young Canadians. If the Conservative Party liberalizes its stance on these issues, it could present itself as a more viable alternative to young, socially-liberal Canadians, meaning these voters will have a more appealing array of parties to choose from on election day. Young voters who might otherwise dismiss the Conservative Party out of hand for their outdated social values would instead be faced with three viable options—

the Liberals, Conservatives, and the NDP—the next time they vote. With more options, young voters would be able to demand more from each party in return for their support, and debates could focus on other pressing issues, like the economy, environmental policy, or foreign policy.

Ideally, this realignment of the Conservative Party on social issues could happen without ceding control of the party to a political novice like O’Leary. Fellow leadership candidate Michael Chong has also expressed progressive views on these issues, and comes without the lack of political experience or French that mars O’Leary’s campaign. Whatever the result of O’Leary’s leadership bid, young Canadians should hope to see these select few of his ideas incorporated into the Conservative Party platform going forward.

Of course, there is no guarantee that an eventual O’Leary election platform would look anything like the promises he made to an audience of students in the opening month of his campaign for the party nomination.

But at a time when populist candidates in other countries are dragging their politics further to the right, Canadians can at least be thankful that our reality-show candidate seems intend on taking his party in a more moderate direction.

6 OPINION

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

L a u g h in g M a tt e r s Montreal must unite in the noble cause for winter cycling

Anthony Kuan Contributor

Montreal has recently become the battleground of a grand, revolutionary conflict: The winter cyclists’ struggle to cross the Jacques Cartier Bridge in the face of oppressive civil authorities. The city exercised a tyrannical measure when it resolved to close the bicycle path of the Jacques Cartier Bridge for the winter. This decision has left scars on the unassuming hearts of winter cycling enthusiasts, while depriving us all of an indispensable means of transportation.

But in this vast discontent, there has arisen a solemn hope, a glowing flame in the shade of repression: The Collectif Transport

c o m m e nt a r y

Christopher Buddle McGill Dean of Students What is the “McGill context?”

When do student activities count as a McGill event? Are events hosted off-campus still considered a McGill context? What about Frosh, or a house party in Milton-Parc?

These are difficult, but nonetheless important, questions because some of McGill’s policies only apply to a McGill context. For example, a student may allege that another student assaulted them, but if this didn’t happen on campus or at an official McGill event, follow-through with our formal disciplinary process might not be possible. Recent events at Queen’s and elsewhere show that we aren’t alone in wrestling with this issue. As Dean of Students, I want to clarify some of these

Rive Sud. This valiant group of winter cycling activists has assembled on behalf of all the city’s cyclists to defy the seasonal despotism that has shaken our consciousness. Resisting the fetters of law and society, these brave citizens have embarked on an epic campaign to personally shovel the snow off the bridge in order to cycle to their heart’s content. The dedication of these heroes must inspire us to action.

As the city streets become flooded by the wet and icy dregs of blackened snow, the bicycle becomes the only feasible means of transport. A bicycle can move with no greater speed than when navigating murky puddles and icy asphalt. Upon intense deliberation of the matter, it is clear that there is no car, no bus, nor train that can commute in a snowstorm with the same comfort as a bicycle. In closing the Jacques Cartier Bridge’s cycling lanes, the city is deliberately opposing these most fundamental premises.

Although Montreal permits bikes to travel in the middle of St-André and Mentana streets, the fundamental right to cycle from through the winter is not guaranteed city-wide. Yet Montreal has the temerity to claim itself as a

world leader for winter cycling, having hosted the prestigious 2017 Winter Cycling Congress on Feb. 8. So long as the Collectif Transport Rive Sud has to battle authorities for winter bridge access and reforms from the city remain pitifully modest, the city will never become the cycling utopia it claims to be.

Much more work remains to advance the winter cycling cause, both by Montreal and by cyclists themselves. As a preliminary step, all police manpower should be redirected to winter cycling maintenance. The city is spending millions of dollars to pay the police to direct street traffic—it should really be spending millions of dollars to pay the police to shovel the Jacques Cartier Bridge. And of course, Montreal should pay a large indemnity to the winter cyclists it has hitherto impeded, if it wishes to demonstrate its sincere remorse.

Further, it is an outrage that only 10 per cent of summer cyclists continue to cycle in the winter: The winter cycling movement calls for Montreal residents travel exclusively by bicycle. To forward this measure, movement by car, train, and foot must be universally proscribed from November

to March; bicycles must be our only means of winter transportation. These recommendations are admittedly modest, but this is perhaps the greatest urban winter sport-related challenge of our time—progress must be gradual.

Montréal has callously exploited the patience of winter cyclists in the city, and improvements do not appear to be forthcoming. Closing the Jacques Cartier Bridge’s cycling lanes and penal-

izing the few civilians who have confronted these fundamental violations of human dignity represent the moral bankruptcy of this city and its administration. The public must unequivocally engage with the Collectif Transport Rive Sud and its allies if we ever want to grip our handlebars with pride. We shall bike on the ice, we shall bike on the snow, we shall bike on the mud and in the puddles—and we shall never surrender.

Winter cyclists brave the conditions of Montreal streets.(Elli Slavitch / The McGill Tribune)

Clarifying the McGill context in Carnival and future events definitions and make certain that we can use our disciplinary processes should a student violate the Code of Conduct, with the broader goal of ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all students.

Faculty student societies at McGill are separate legal entities from the university, and any events they plan off-campus—including most Frosh activities—are not legally defined as a McGill context. If things go wrong during these events, it’s the respective student society’s responsibility to deal with it. Most students don’t know that events planned by student societies aren’t under the umbrella of McGill, and don’t realize that McGill’s Code of Conduct—one way to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students—may not apply. Yet student societies and McGill have the shared goal of ensuring all events are not only fun, but also safe for every student. We need to work together to achieve this.

A pilot project that the McGill administration did in collaboration with Winter Carnival this year—a weeklong event held in January of each year, organized by the Management Undergraduate Society (MUS) of McGill— allowed us to make important progress toward clarifying the McGill context. Historically, Winter Carnival has had a mixed reputation. However, this year’s MUS Vice President Events Ramzi Cotran wanted to change the

culture to make student safety a priority, alongside Carnival’s other goals of raising money for cancer research, and being a fun event. He worked with Associate Dean Liette Lapointe from the Desautels Faculty of Management, and together with the MUS executive team, they approached me to discuss how we could work together to revisit the question of the McGill context with Carnival.

In December of 2016, I, as a representative of McGill, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the MUS executives. The MoU, approved by the Dean of the Desautels Faculty Management Isabelle Bajeux and the upper leadership at McGill, included several agreements, but fundamentally meant that the Code of Student Conduct would apply to Carnival events. Per the MoU, myself and the MUS admin and executives would work together on preparing communication and educational materials around consent education.

We would discuss in detail all Carnival events with security services so that all of us were satisfied with safety measures and security. If incidents occurred, there would be a clear reporting structure, involvement of Disciplinary Officers and follow-through with disciplinary procedures. Finally, there would be a full debrief after Carnival to assess the success of the project.

Our efforts paid off—The 2017 Carnival was a success, and there was a very positive culture shift. Other than a few minor injuries and some logistical challenges, there were no major reported incidents. I offer my congratulations to Ramzi Cotran, MUS President Rachel Burk and the rest of the executive team, Associate Dean Lapointe, Dean Bajeux, Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) Ollivier Dyens, and others for taking this step.

This is important progress towards a renewed and ongoing productive

off off tt hh ee bo bo aa rr dd

relationship with all Faculty student societies, especially as we look ahead to the 2017 Frosh. McGill and student societies can work together on educational materials and training, discuss venue security with our security services team, and put in place appropriate safeguards—using the Code of Conduct. This collaborative approach benefits the entire McGill community, and will provide all students with safe, respectful and engaging events that are even better than they are today.

ERRATUM An article from issue 19 title “Anti-Zionist tweet prompts lengthy question period at SSMU Council” incorrectly stated that there were 10 motions on the agenda, when in fact six of these were notices of motions and only four were motions to be voted on in the Feb. 9 Council session.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 7

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

‘When Five Years Pass’ substitutes tropes for substance TNC attempts an ambitious rendition of the surrealist play Ariella Garmaise Staff Writer At face value, McGill’s student-run theatre company Tuesday Night Café (TNC) has the makings of quality independent theatre.

The TNC stage is charming and intimate, nestled beneath the gorgeous­ —yet often overlooked—Islamic Studies Library. TNC is small, but puts on five productions per year, allowing for the constant introduction of new and innovative material. As such, It was all the more disappointing, then, that TNC’s production of When Five Years Pass failed to deliver the experimentalism or comedy for which the original play is famous.

Written in 1931 by Spanish playwright Federico Garcia Lorca, When Five Years Pass is often described as an “impossible comedy.”

The play follows a man who must wait five years to marry his fiancé, only to be abandoned by her the evening before his wedding.

Influenced by his surrealist friends, such as Salvador Dali, Lorca’s play explores the past, present, and future as intermingling forces.

When it was released, When Five Years Pass was praised as a ground-breaking and original work. TNC’s production did not follow the original’s guiding experimental philosophy.

Directed by Anna Lytvynova, the play fumbled through its philosophical musings, substituting substance with recycled avant-garde tropes. “[The play blends] together issues of gender, love, identity, and the human body in a world of dismantled and non-linear time,” TNC’s advertisements proclaimed. Perhaps this is the production’s core flaw: It is guided

When Five Years Pass’s aesthetic was distinct and minimal. (Noah Sutton / The McGill Tribune) by vague philosophical buzzwords, but is ultimately unable to present an ideology or framework with which to approach these issues.

“If we are not constrained by a linear narrative or a sequential temporality, we can explore more in terms of theme,” Director Lytvynova explained. What these themes are is never quite clear.

These confusing intentions were abetted by the excess of theatre clichés, which not only made for an aesthetically off-putting production, but also hindered the play’s attempts at originality. Almost all of the actors were dressed entirely in black with white face paint, as if straight from a French

theatre parody. Without a hint of irony or selfawareness, Pink Floyd’s “Time” was chosen to mark the intermission.

Despite these poor artistic choices, When Five Years Pass had the benefit of an enchanting set, designed by Darah Miah. It was this aesthetic—weird and distinct, yet not taking itself too seriously—that the play should have followed on all fronts. The furniture was minimal with a whimsical seafoam green palette. Cream-coloured fans framed the stage, made from old book pages.

To explore the fluidity of time and body, When Five Years Pass features actors cast in multiple roles. Some performers were up for

the challenge: Derin Hotamisligil’s command of voice and movement created three separate but equally engaging performances as a dead child, father and harlequin. On par with Hotamisligil was Yevgen Kravchenko, who mastered both a football player’s confident stride and a clown’s whimsical saunter. Despite these strong performances, the multi-casting inhibited the relationships between actors on stage – performers fell victim to broad (onionstatic.com) character portrayals, and neglected to connect with one another. Ryan Mernin’s Young Man and Sarah Mitchell’s Girlfriend are the play’s central relationship, as the Young Man struggles to cope with his breakup. However, the hilariously cruel irony of a broken five-year engagement was lost as the actors attempted to out-scream each other, neglecting intimacy, resentment, relying instead on volume.

When Five Years Pass is an ambitious undertaking—which is to be commended—yet, it was the production’s inability to commit to such aspiration that led to its undoing. While the cast and crew are undeniably talented, had the production focused on this raw ability, rather than borrowed gimmicks, they could have presented a genuine exploration of love and time. Instead, When Five Years Pass felt like a little girl trying on her mother’s high heels—not the right fit.

When Five Years Pass is playing Feb. 22-25 at 8 p.m. in Morris Hall, 3485 Rue McTavish in the Islamic Studies Building.

Tickets are $6 for students and seniors, and $10 general admission.

‘(Sm)all Good Things’ blends humour and street art Station 16 hosts the work of Montreal artist Eric Clement Sophie Brzozowski Contributor Whether it’s due to genuine humility or intentionally contrived coziness, the Station 16 gallery feels approachable. Sandwiched between an Irish pub and a stylish hair salon on Boulevard Saint-Laurent and Rue Milton, the gallery specializes in graffiti and street-art inspired exhibits, making it the perfect location to house Eric Clement’s most recent exhibit, (Sm)all Good Things.

Born and raised in Montreal, Clement’s career dates back to his CEGEP days at John Abbot, where he first began studying fine arts. Not long after starting his degree, he took an extended leave of absence from school to pursue music with his band, Side C. Several years later, he returned to university to finish education at Concordia.

Although he never saw success as a musician, Clement’s musical career was certainly more than just the experimental phase of a wayward artist— hip hop culture has inspired his current work.

Hip hop’s influence on contemporary street art is nothing new. From Kehinde Wiley to JeanMichel Basquiat, artists have been incorporating urban culture into their work for decades; however, Clement’s work is a departure from his predecessors. His aesthetic is devoid of all the grittiness that is typically characteristic of hip hop visual art. Instead, his pieces are a whimsical fusion of contemporary cultural references and

the nostalgic style of ’60s pop art. One painting, entitled “Thor,” features a stern viking head covered in what appears to be melted chocolate sitting atop a pez dispenser.

The paintings, true to the title of the exhibit, are small—about the size of a standard paperback novel—and simple. The exhibit is composed of 33 canvases and one T-shirt. Often featuring a familiar, but slightly altered logo or cartoon character alongside some sardonic phrase in a comic book font, the colourful paintings seem to be satiricalof the apathy and ennui of the millennial generation.

It might seem strange for a graffiti artist, whose best known work is a graphic mural on the wall of an alleyway between Saint-Laurent and Clark, to suddenly start a project that limits him to the confines of a 6x8 inch canvas—especially with subjet matter that includes Drake lyrics and poop emojis. But perhaps this is the point: His work has a sense of humor, setting him apart in an industry that is notorious for being pretentious and elitist.

In a world where one can purchase a t-shirt with a Banksy print on it at Urban Outfitters for $40, this free exhibit is a welcome change. Using a cheeky mix of sincere humility and contrived charisma, Clement is making a name for himself as a new kind of artist. (Sm)all Good Things is perfect for anyone looking for a laugh.

Eric Clement’s graphic work draws inspiration from youth and hip hop culture. (Photos courtesy of Station 16 Gallery)

(Sm)all Good Things will show at Station 16 until March 4 with free admission.

“

Beyond semantics: The colorful story of Milton-Parc

By Robin Nyamekye (Photos by Christopher Li)

In recent years, [...] there is now a relationship between McGill and the neighbourhood, because at first, McGill would say, ‘If it’s beyond our [gates], we don’t want to hear about it.’ But now, at Frosh, there is an introduction about our neighbourhood,” said Andrée Deveault, who has been a Milton-Parc resident since the 1970s, having graduated from McGill in 1978.

Regardless of whether they live there or not, most McGill students are familiar with the ‘place beyond the gates.’ Situated directly east of McGill’s downtown campus, the Milton-Parc neighbourhood—often referred to as the “McGill Ghetto” by students—is a residential area located within the borough of Plateau-Mont-Royal, with borders defined north to south by Boulevard StLaurent and Rue University, and east to west by Rue Sherbrooke and Avenue des Pins. With a population of around 11,150 residents, Milton-Parc is one of the most densely populated neighbourhoods in the city of Montreal. Statistics provided by Mcgill indicate that approximately 2,500 students live either in the MiltonParc neighbourhood or close by.

Although exact statistics on the number of students living in the area are difficult to ascertain, the available data indicates that permanent residents comprise the majority of the population in Milton-Parc, numbering around 7,650, making McGill students the minority. Why is it, then, that most people refer to the area as the “McGill Ghetto”?

While the colloquial term has been used by students and outsiders to describe the area for decades, its exact origin is unknown. Non-student residents of the area are aware of this misnomer. According to Adrian KingEdwards, founder of the Word Bookstore located on Milton, who has lived in Milton-Parc since 1972 after graduating from McGill in 1971, the term has been used for a long time.

“It was always there, as far as I know, [...] as far as I go back,” he said.

Deveault remembers the term being used when she was a McGill student back in the ‘70s. She explained that even today, it seems that more people are familiar with the misnomer than the actual name for the neighbourhood.

“When I was a student in the ‘70s, it was already a term” she said. “Actually, to call it Milton-Parc is fairly recent. Many people don’t know what you’re talking about, so then I give them the little blurb, ‘You know, some people call it the McGill Ghetto,’ and then they go, ‘Oh, right, I know what you mean.’ But it should be called Milton-Parc.”

The correct title “Milton-Parc” conveys a much deeper meaning than “McGill Ghetto,” a myopic moniker for a place where McGill students reside. To call the area the Milton-Parc neighbourhood also represents an understanding that its residents live in a distinct community, where they interact with many other people from all different walks of life. In essence, the correct term reflects the dynamic living experience offered by the area, which should be respected and explored.

The term “McGill Ghetto,” though seemingly harmless, is inaccurate and even objectionable for various reasons. Aside from a few student residences, such as Royal Victoria College and New Residence Hall, McGill holds no form of ownership over the neighbourhood.

Furthermore, to refer to the area as a “ghetto” connotes characterizations of poverty or socio-ethnic homogeneity—neither of which accurately apply to this geographic area. King-Edwards claims that the use of the word could be considered demeaning for this reason. “[The term] carries a derogatory ring to it [....],” he said. “It is sort of ironic in a sense [because] the students that used to live here were not affluent, but to talk about the student ghetto now when it's full of affluent students is really not accurate.”

To Hélène Brisson, a long time permanent resident who was born on Avenue des Pins and now serves as the vice-president of the Milton Parc Citizen’s Committee (MPCC)—a membership-based organization that seeks to advocate for citizen rights on issues such as housing, neighbourhood ecology, and economic development for local enterprises—the term is more than just incorrect.

She sees it as a misrepresentation of an active and dynamic neighbourhood.

“Yes, of course there is a strong McGill presence,

but clearly it gives a false impression,” she said. “The area, Milton-Parc, is not just the stopping point for a transient student population or other transient populations, it’s a vibrant and thriving Montreal neighbourhood.”

The permanent residents are a diverse group: Some have been homeowners for generations, others are members of housing cooperatives, and some are long-term tenants.

Most have unique stories that demonstrate their longstanding connection to the community, making one think twice about using the term “McGill Ghetto” to describe the historically rich and unique area.

King-Edwards recollected his own connection to the community. Over the years, he has moved through three different residences in the borough, while running The Word, which has become a vital part of the community, for 41 years.

“My first place was on Lorne. I had a basement, basically [a] closet, for eight dollars a week, and then I lived on Hutchison,” he said. “I’ve lived on Milton, and now I’m on Aylmer. The neighbourhood has changed a lot. It used to be much poorer because it used to be rooming houses, and the situation where I had a room for eight dollars a week was not unusual, since most places were rooms for elderly people and students.”

Similarly, Deveault was a McGill student in the ‘70s before she became a long-time co-op resident—a living arrangement that provides not-for-profit housing for their members. She describes the sense of camaraderie and stability that comes from living in the co-ops. Milton-Parc is the home of the largest cooperative housing project in Canada, La communauté milton-parc.

“Being a member of a co-op, I find, it’s like a little village,” she said. “When I go do my groceries, I always see someone that I know enough to say hello or at least nod.”

Another permanent resident of over 38 years, who asked to remain anonymous, discussed the role the cooperative housing program played in formulating the borough’s permanent resident demographic. She works on projects to preserve the old buildings in the area. Those who have wandered the neighbourhood will notice how its building’s architecture stand out compared to the neighbouring downtown area. Buildings are typically no higher than four stories, with the occasional high-rise apartment building wedged between Montreal walk-ups. According to her, one of the main objectives of the preservation project was to encourage long-term residency in the area.

“We wanted families, and people who were going to live here and not just be landlords,” she said. “A lot of these homes are actually quite big and so families can live here. We formed a big housing co-op, we have 20 different groups in this area now.”

King-Edwards emphasized the fact that there are many families in the area that make up the population. He recollected his own experience of starting a family in the community.

“While a lot of [residents] are students, there’s this assumption of ownership and students need to realize that they are sharing in a community, and it doesn’t look like it because it’s downtown, but there are more people than you think, that live here as families—as I did with my kids,” he said. “I brought up my family here on Aylmer, and the people who live across the street from me are [the] second-

generation from the same house. The people next door to us have been here for years and years.”

Therefore, it is crucial for members of the McGill community to remember that there are some people in the neighbourhood that are seeking a relatively calm, stable lifestyle. Unfortunately, some non-student residents articulate that the term “McGill Ghetto” provides a false sense of entitlement to McGill students who live in the area.

In a way, the title makes the students think they have a free pass to disregard the concerns and needs of neighbours who are not students, and, thus, follow disruptive schedules and take up unruly activities for their amusement, such as latenight partying. Deveault spoke about how some students even interpret the term “McGill Ghetto” as a justification for vandalism.

“If the students use [the term “McGill Ghetto”], some students then by a leap of imagination, think that they own the place and that can lead to behaviour that’s [disruptive….],” she said. “Sometimes they will go wild and think, ‘This is our place’ and its called a “McGill Ghetto” and we are within our right to treat it as we wish.’ No, just a minute, [...] you live here but there are other residents, and we have to live decently together. I don’t mind students singing during Frosh week, but vandalism no, and peeing on my fence, no.”

Another resident of the area suggests that instead of the “McGill Ghetto,” people should refer to the area as a community.

“The name itself should not allow people to think, ‘Oh, because it’s a student ghetto, I can be as wild as I want to be,’” she said. “Rules of neighbourliness and respect of others should always be, even if you call it a ghetto, but anyway we could like it to be called a community because all of these elements of respect for neighbours, and sharing of space are implied in the term.”

King-Edwards provides an alternative narrative, suggesting that this respect for the diversity of the community runs in both directions. He believes that living among students, and the vigorous rowdiness that comes with it, is part of the experience and even a perk of living in Milton-Parc.

“There is another side of it too, in that people will often move into this area and then start complaining viciously about the students, which is also really wrong,” he said. “There are a lot of students here, and if you’re going to move into this area, you have to recognize that. If you want a quiet suburban life, you shouldn’t be living here. I’ve seen that happen quite often, where people will move in and really dislike the noise and the flurry in September [....] We find that in the summertime, before the students come back, there is a real nice quiet flow to everything and then students come back, and it's fantastic! There is all this energy, and it’s exciting, and everybody’s happy and I really enjoy that.”

In recognizing and respecting these different lifestyles within the community, there is an opportunity to build a healthy relationship between McGill students and permanent residents of the area. In recent years, primarily due to the work of Brisson and the MPCC, communication has been established between permanent residents and various representatives of the university. Further, McGill has recently developed formal relations with the

community, with the establishment of the Community Action and Relations Endeavor (C.A.R.E.) in 2010. The C.A.R.E. agreement is a strategic community relations framework developed by former SSMU VP External Sebastian Ronderos-Morgan and Brisson, with the aim to promote harmonious relations among the permanent residents of Milton-Parc, McGill students living in and around the area, and the McGill administration.

Even before C.A.R.E was established, on July 7, 2008, a public meeting organized by former dean of students Jane Everett, brought various representatives from McGill and long-time residents of the neighbourhood together to discuss ways to improve community relations. At this meeting, a consensus was founded: The parties agreed to use the correct term for the area, the”Milton-Parc neighbourhood” rather than “McGill Ghetto.” This decision was meant to signify not only a change in terminology, but a shift in perception to acknowledge the area as a distinct and separate neighbourhood, independent of the university.

Since then, community relations have improved considerably. For instance, Brisson talked about the increased coordination and communication between organizers and residents during large events, such as Frosh and St. Patrick’s day.

“Certainly Frosh was a big issue for everyone and over the years, it took time and a lot of discussion, and, in the end, we have managed to change it [...] everybody [including students, the administration, the residents, the police, and merchants] has a stake in the neighbourhood and that’s how it should be,” she said.

Beyond using the correct terminology to refer to their neighbourhood, students should realize that wherever they go, they must respect the area that they’re in. It's important for them to learn to live with others: Once they move out of this neighbourhood and go on to become permanent residents of another area, such skills in neighbourly etiquette will be essential. Moreover, the opportunity to build a deep connection and understanding with their community is a valuable experience, and one that benefits all residents of the area, not exclusively students or permanent residents.

Deveault expressed her pleasure towards being able to interact with students in her neighbourhood.

“These days with the snowstorms, I go on the sidewalk with my shovel and a dollar sign and I find students to come and shovel for me,” Deveault said. “It’s really really nice, because it's hard for me to shovel [....] I like to have the students here, it's nice to have young people around and have a relationship.”

The correct title “Milton-Parc” conveys a much deeper meaning than “McGill Ghetto,” a myopic moniker for a place where McGill students reside.

10 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Tuesday, February 21, 2017 fr o m t h e v ie w p o int

Arkells, Morning Report Tour

Ontario band brings a new energy to Metropolis

Natalia Malinowski Contributor After scoring Metropolis, one of the most renowned musical venues in Montreal, Arkells definitely put on a show.

Their Saturday Feb. 18 set was perplexing: A stark contrast between raw Canadian-born talent adored for their lyrics and zest, and choreographed dance moves that were the epitome of cringe-worthy. Witnessing this duality in the performance was like riding an emotional rollercoaster through the hour and a half set list.

Originally from Hamilton Ontario, the five members of Arkells caught their big break in 2011 with the release of their most acclaimed album, Michigan Left. They’ve made their way to the top of Canadian alternative rock music, winning four Junos and a gold record. Their music is known for pop hooks with rock n’ roll roots—making their songs almost immediate classics.

On Saturday night, Arkells certainly performed, but not in the way that was expected.

Starting with “A Little Rain (A

Arkells deliver an energizing performance on Feb. 18. (Natalie Vineberg / The McGill Tribune) Song for Pete),” Max Kerman’s impeccable vocals set the bar high for the crowd. Then came the choreographed dance moves— the five band members moved up and down the stage in horrific unison, giving me flashbacks to my sixth grade talent show. It appeared as though the band was afraid that their music wouldn’t be enough, and were making an

obvious effort to keep the crowd entertained.

Soon after, they switched their attention back to the music.

Their well-known song, “Passenger’s Seat,” sent vibrations that reset their momentum and had the audience swaying left to right, completely lost in the song. Smashing “11:11” out of the park, the great

acoustics provided by the venue allowed the music to resonate throughout the crowd. However, they fell back on clearly rehearsed jokes, a proposal on stage, and even a small karaoke stint by the opener Frank Turner.

Arkells undoubtedly have chemistry, yet their delivery felt somewhat forced.

As the end of the concert

neared, my faith in the concert was restored. The entire crowd was grinning and dancing, reciting the well-known words to tunes like “Whistleblower” and “Leather Jacket.” Everyone was feeding off each other’s energy and excitement, reflecting the liveliness of the band.

Leaving the concert left me confused as to where the band is headed. Perhaps they are looking to become the kind of big act that sells out the Bell Centre, putting on shows with back-up dancers and confetti falling from the ceiling. Or, maybe, they are they still in an awkward, intermediate stage between being “big” enough to play at the Metropolis in Montreal and fearing that the large crowd will not enjoy themselves.

Arkells needs to realize that their musical talent is strong enough to entertain crowds. They have such a active Canadian community of music lovers supporting them; Metropolis was filled with people there to listen and connect with the music, not to see high leg kicks and tacky dance moves. Here’s to hoping that Arkells drop the act and focus on their music.

Kitsch, tongue-twisters, and true love

McGill’s Savoy Society presents ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ Niklas Kaemmerer Contributor Continued from page 1.

The operetta truly shone when it embraces its joyful camp and exuberant silliness. From the first act’s introduction of the daughters to the Major-General’s ballet performance, almost every scene was delivered with a wink and a chuckle, reminding the audience that they were in on the joke.

Perhaps because of the immensely difficult vocal work necessary for the operetta, the Pirates cast shone across the board. In the lead role, Comtois embraced his character’s naïveté and masterfully guided the audience through the plot, providing a stable anchor in a sea of ridiculous characters. It’s clear, however, that Kochkarian’s Mabel was set to be the star of the show; her vocal prowess was repeatedly on display, and she drew the largest applause from the audience over the course of the night. Kochkarian expertly wove her way around the vocal acrobatics integral to the role of Mabel and effortlessly imbued

nerve and confidence into the take-charge character.

The scene-stealers of the show, however, were not the leading couple, but the trio of larger-than-life supporting characters. Cope’s portrayal of the Major-General proved that he was born for the role, perfectly encompassing the man’s influential yet fundamentally silly persona. Cope embraced Gilbert’s tongue-twisting wordplay and delivers every syllable of the infamous “Modern Major General” song with the confidence and skill of a top-tier performer.

Meredith’s Pirate King bridged the gap between the unnamed pirate gang and the audience, demonstrating that physical comedy is an exceptional talent when done right. Olivia Barnes’ Ruth was also a sight to behold: From the first scene to the last, the audience’s biggest chuckles erupted directly because of Barnes’ knack for lively characterization and outrageous comedy. Even as the scene shifted from her character, my eyes followed her for her outrageous reactions alone.

Despite the overall

The Pirates of Penzance’s cast mastered effortless physicality. (Alex Gardiner / The McGill Tribune) strengths of the show, it was not without its weaknesses: The show dragged on occasionally, especially during the slower songs; the choreography shones during group numbers, but was uninspired in duets. The chorus, although wonderful during the

first act, clearly felt the fatigue set in as the choreography became unsynchronized, namely during the police line.

Overall, the show was a thoroughly enjoyable experience as long as one embraced the inherent campiness. From the

oddly good-hearted pirates, to the exuberant chorus of sisters, and the cowardly band of policemen, the show was filled to the brim with charisma and quirk. The Savoy Society put on a madly entertaining show definitely worth the trip to Moyse Hall.

STUDENT LIVING 11

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

With whom to room

Advice on living with friends, randoms, or alone

Miguel Principe & Janine Xu Contributors Many McGill students are now planning their accommodations for the upcoming year. In doing so, one of the biggest questions they face is with whom to share their living space. The McGill Tribune spoke with students with a variety of living experiences, who shared their thoughts and advice.

Just Friends: Living with BFFs Catherine Ross, B.A. ‘16, is currently doing her Master’s in Geology at McGill. Throughout her time at university, she has lived both with friends and by herself. In her second year of undergrad, she moved into an apartment west of campus with a close friend. The year after, she lived in the Milton-Parc Community with several other close friends.

“It was a lot of fun,” Ross said about her experience living with friends. “We had a lot of late night snack runs and movie nights.”

Sharing an apartment with friends can feel like an endless slumber party, especially for students who are new to the experience. It’s also extremely convenient and offers peace of mind to stressed students and first-time apartmentseekers, as they can navigate the complex world of apartment hunting with someone trustworthy.

Though Ross thought she knew everything about her friends before living with them, it proved to be an entirely new experience that she wasn’t completely prepared for.

The roommates found it difficult to

communicate problems to each other, even though all were close friends. Common conflicts over chores, noise levels, or having people over tend to take on a more personal note when they arise between friends. Confronting a roommate about these issues can seem like a personal attack, but not saying anything can lead to animosity.

Fights have higher stakes, as the friendship itself can be put on the line.

“You really have to address [these] problems in a way that’s helpful,” Ross advised. “Like, don’t just say [to your roommate], ‘You never wash the dishes.’ [Offer] some kind of advice with it.”

Ross emphasized the importance of effective communication and not letting small daily frustrations—like not doing the dishes, or taking too long in the bathroom—build up until they lead to resentment.

“I think it’s nice to live with your friends because you get to hang out all the time,” Ross said. “But it’s important to set boundaries [and make sure] that everyone is respectful.”

Stranger Things: Living with “Randoms”

For other students, the obvious choice is to live with new people. This situation allows you to preserve current friendships from potential conflict that can arise when living together, but still enables you to have roommates, which can be financially and socially desirable.

The closeness of your relationship with a

new roommate is entirely dependent on factors such as lifestyle and how much energy you want to put into fostering friendships with your roommates. For Vincent Li, U2 Arts, who chose to live with three roommates who were all in their final year at McGill, his busy schedule has kept these relationships at a relative distance.

“I’m very busy with my own life. I normally go out at 8 in the morning [...] and normally go back home at 9 p.m.,” Li said. “[My roommates and I] don’t really have time to chill or talk.”

Though his living situation turned out positively, Li still acknowledges that living with strangers can be a risk. Should you decide to live with strangers, you should at least have basic knowledge of your future roommates’ sleeping habits, level of noise, and personality to ensure that arguments don’t arise due to conflicts in these areas.

“Living with strangers is taking a lot of risks,” Li said. “[....] So, [one should] find the middle ground to get the ideal situation [like living with] people that you meet maybe four times a semester and you find them very easy to talk to and you have the same living habits.”

Home Alone: Living the studio life For Ross, who currently lives in a studio apartment in the Plateau, living alone offers a chance to have her own private space. For students with roommate compatibility issues, or for those who simply do not want to deal with the inconveniences that can arise from sharing a

living space, living alone can enable complete and utter freedom.

However, this independence has downsides as well, according to Ross. She has found that without anyone around, she is less disciplined about completing household chores, which has also spilled over into her academic productivity. “[I’ve become] more dirty,” Ross admitted, with a laugh. “I thought living alone was going to make me really productive [with homework].

But it actually does the opposite. Because when you have other people around—I don’t know, I’m quite competitive—it motivated me, just seeing other people working.”

Another issue that arises with living alone is loneliness. For those who like quiet and space to recharge, the solitude can be a blessing. For others, like Ross, living alone can cause a craving for more social interaction.

“I’m pretty extroverted, so if I do feel the need to hang out with people, [I will],” Ross said.

“But you don’t have anyone to come home and talk to.”

In the end, Ross believes that your living experience is all about what you make of it. Living in a studio apartment can be isolating; therefore, it’s important to stay connected with friends.

-------An extended version of this article is available online at mcgilltribune.com/ student-living.

Interacting with my ‘Dopplenamers’ On internet friendships and shared names Daniel Griffin Contributor What do you do when someone has the same name as you?

Is your first instinct to befriend them—or rather, to fight them to establish dominance? Encountering another person with the same name, better known as a ‘Dopplenamer,’ brings ambiguity to one’s sense of self. An individual’s identity is often partially built around his or her name—so what happens to one’s identity when his or her name is shared? The Dopplenamer prompts mirror-like self-reflection that enables interpersonal identification, providing an opportunity to experiment with one’s concept of self.

I’ve had my fair share of encounters with Dopplenamers.

It is time I addressed, to my friends, my family, and, perhaps most importantly, my fellow Daniel Griffins, why I have such an inordinate amount of friends on Facebook with whom I share a name.

Let’s go back to 2011. It was simpler times, when “Party Rock Anthem” was number one on the charts and Inception was blowing the minds of stoners across the world. You may not want to think back that far but, that’s where my story begins; 15-year-old me, lonely, on Facebook. I took it upon myself to friend request every Daniel Griffin that I could find on Facebook, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. I was blocked by some, mocked by others, and told to “fuck off” by one individual from New Zealand. However, in general, I found that I had expanded my social media presence to include a geographically-assorted group of new “friends.”

My initial interest in my new friends quickly faded. They soon became much like every other friend on my Facebook newsfeed: A small picture and blurb of text. Yet, over the next few years, I caught glimpses of each of them as they revealed select moments of their lives to their Facebook friends. In the same place that these strangers shared the most minute details of their lives, such as arguments with their significant others or what kind of Jeep they’d buy if they had the money, I also

Sharing a name with someone can be weird. Being their friend on Facebook is weirder. (Daria Kiseleva / The McGill Tribune)

witnessed major life changes. Across the globe, Daniel Griffins were getting married, having children, going to college, experiencing breakups, coming out of the closet, and showcasing their art at galleries. To see one’s own name within the contexts of the life achievements of others was an indescribable feeling.

Not all news from the Daniel Griffins of Facebook was positive, however. Some updates were quite rattling. I was 17 when another Daniel Griffin, aged 19, suddenly died. I had seen the horrible wake of young death before, but this was

entirely different. I had no relation to the young man except for by name, and suddenly my feed was inundated by the posts of mourning friends and family on his wall. I found myself encountering a simple sentence, a possibility that I had never considered, so captivating in its unsettling plainness: “Daniel Griffin is dead.”

Even after this shock, I continued to see my name in contexts that I had never before imagined. The Daniel Griffins can be an odd bunch. There are serial meme posters, 9/11 conspiracy theorists, religious zealots, drug addicts, and more. It’s astounding how many people are willing to offer up extremely personal accounts of their lives to an audience that includes me, a perfect stranger. This common willingness of Facebook users to share the intimacies of their lives speaks to just how lonely people are; the modern human faces alienation and takes to the web in response. As a result, identity has become something that is performed through likes, posts, and profile pictures. I’ve come to realize my search for other Daniel Griffins reflects this performance of identity as I used social media to compare concepts of name, friendship, and personhood.

I often wonder what my Dopplenamers think of my online presence. As I have watched them over the years, at least some have been watching back. I have received many birthday wishes and certain Daniel Griffins have thrown me the occasional like on a photo. Their consideration has really touched me. Other times, I have introduced them to my friends at school over video chat, and once, through strange coincidence, I met one of my Internet Dopplenamers at a bar in Athens, Georgia.

On lazy Sundays, I scroll through post after post, penned by different Daniel Griffins. I visit their profiles and wonder if they think I’m crazy or narcissistic or boring. I wonder if they think of me at all. In all honesty, I find myself deeply invested in their judgment. My investigation of online personalities has imbued me with great interest in how I present my own digital persona. I look at my Facebook, having gathered a legion of Dopplenamers, and feel like the great unifier of Daniel Griffins.

I hope they look well upon my efforts.

12

STUDENT LIVING

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

The finstagram phenomenon: A peak into the private

McGill students poke fun and let loose on ‘fake’ Instagram accounts

‘Finstagram’ accounts break from the mold of controlled online perceptions.

(Vaishnavi Kapil / The McGill Tribune)

Grace Bahler Contributor Commonly referred to as ‘finstagram,’ or ‘finsta,’ the ‘Fake Instagram’ phenomenon is on the rise. A rather curious oxymoron, the trend is taking over the popular and ever-evolving Instagram app.

Over the past decade, the world has witnessed a digital boom, revolutionizing how—and what—people share. Within seconds, social media users can broadcast their new job promotion or upcoming travel plans to hundreds of followers and ‘friends.’

Social media has given individuals control over how others perceive their lives.

Users tend to post about of their high moments and none of their lows, effusing an image of perfection. This tendency to share only the happiest moments of one’s life manifests itself more so on Instagram—currently the top photo-sharing application—than

on other platforms, such as Facebook or Twitter. Of the millions of user accounts, most contain photos of friends, family, smiling people, and happy memories—a testament to the constant projection of perfection.

According to Urban Dictionary, finstagram stands for “a mixture of fake & Instagram.” In practice, the way some McGill students use their extra—and extra-goofy—accounts conveys a sense of realness and humanness that their official profiles do not.

Hana Geadah, U1 Arts & Science, is among the many students who have a finstagram—except unlike most others, she has two.

Her “mainstream” finsta, as she calls it, is the classic personal account filled with photos she deems to be as too intimate or too ugly for her official Instagram page. But her second account takes an altered, offbeat approach—it is dedicated to her hookups.

Geadah made her hookup finsta in May 2016, inspired by a friend of a friend. Only close friends who she approves can follow this private account. She has her own protocol for posting on this account, too. A photo and short bio accompany every hookup, briefly describing the individual and the encounter. And if she happens to come into contact with that person again, Geadah turns to Instagram’s story feature to keep her followers informed with a photo of the person, as well as a status-update.

“I like it because I can just be really sassy about the people who I hook up with,” Geadah said, with a laugh. “And, it’s also good because basically my best friends who follow the account can just see, and if they want to talk to me about it they can.”

On a platform as vast and revealing as Instagram, the posting of one’s private life seems counter-intuitive. But through her second finsta, Geadah is breaking many stigmas surrounding sex, being a woman, and being queer.

“I feel like there’s a stigma or a shame about ‘look at all these people I hookup with,’ [more so] as a girl, especially as a queer girl,” Geadah said. “I remember when I had a girlfriend, I felt super self-conscious about posting on my real Instagram, pictures with her.”

Geadah’s use of her finsta as a platform of real and unrestrained expression defies the ways in which individuals control their image on social media. The finstagram trend isn’t restricted to the typical

self-management of one’s account; the possibilities for creativity and expression are endless.

Jamie Woods* and Emma Buscher*, both U1 Arts, also employ this creative use of finstagram. Best friends and avid finsta users, their take on the trend is unique: They run each other’s accounts. Woods created Buscher’s account originally as a birthday joke, but it’s still active months later. For the pair, running each other’s finstas means letting go of the constant need to micromanage one’s image. It’s also a telling sign of trust in one another.

“I really like finstas because I feel there’s just this kind of togetherness and community about the way we run them,” Buscher said. “[…] Even though it’s run by someone else, you can trust them, and I think that’s really important.”

The two friends often post embarrassing selfies of each other, and fun selfie submissions from their followers. They also strive to promote self-care amid academic stress. Woods and Buscher know each others’ midterm and exam schedules, and aim to post kind words for each other to see.

“Every single time one or the other [have] a test coming up, [we] always post an encouraging post, like, ‘Look at them go,’” Buscher said.

Having control of each other’s finsta accounts is an essential counter to the social pressure to have everything seem perfect on their official Instagram accounts.

“It’s definitely a paradox,” Woods said. “[…] Your finsta is supposed to be your fake-self, but it’s really your actual self versus the rinsta, which is more how you want people to perceive you on a social level [....] We derive so much of our self-worth in how people perceive us on social media.”

The rise of finstas is a large collective statement on social media; it is a rebuke of the constant management of image, a challenged to the need to portray perfection. Rarely will one find posts about a failed exam or a panic attack, but these accounts are moving in the direction of normalizing the imperfections that everyone has, but rarely shows.

---------------------------------------*Names have been changed at the request of the source.

Studying to Stravinsky

The benefits of listening to classical music during midterm season Marie Labrosse Contributor In the midst of the dreary midterm season, concentrating on studying for long periods at a time can be a challenge for any McGill student. The advent of technology makes a plethora of hacks to circumvent distraction available to students at the mere click of a mouse, from time management solutions, such as the Pomodoro Technique, to distraction blocking apps, like the infamous “Cold Turkey” application. Just one click also produces one of the most basic productivity methods of all: Access to an appropriate study soundtrack.

Even a brief glance at the almost exclusively headphone-clad McLennan population exemplifies the extent to which many university students already apply the simple act of listening to music when studying.

“I can only study with music playing because I feel like it makes time go by faster,” Johanna Cottin, U3 Arts, said.

Listening to background music not only makes studying a more pleasant experience; researchers have also discovered some demonstrable benefits for productivity. A study conducted at the University of Helsinki found that engaging in intellectual activity while simultaneously listening to music has a variety of effects on brain activity.

Listening to classical music encourages the activity of genes associated with dopamine secretion and transport, synaptic transmission, and learning and memory. The heightened presence of the dopamine

neurotransmitter engages the brain’s reward system, while synaptic transmission contributes to the process of communication between neurons.

The effect of both of these processes illustrates classical music’s positive impact on intellectual capacity.

Brayden Culligan, U2 Arts, who listens to classical music as well as jazz and ambient electronica music, reports similar boosts in his productivity when he studies while listening to music.

“Classical music certainly feels as though it heightens my ability to focus, and seemingly aids in pacing my thoughts,” Culligan said. “I can’t focus well without [music], so I suppose that’s demonstrative of the, at least perceived, benefits of listening to these kinds of music.”

The advantages of listening to classical music extend beyond stimulating the efficiency of study sessions—it can ease mental health issues, including those related to the stresses of academia.

University of Toronto researchers found that listening to the classical genre before bedtime alleviates insomnia symptoms by helping listeners fall asleep faster and achieve a better quality of sleep. According to the Duke Cancer Institute, listening to classical music can also reduce anxiety. Listening to classical music can, therefore, alleviate both academic anxiety and stress-induced sleeplessness before exams.

However, in order to reap the benefits of music on study productivity, it is important to

listen exclusively to classical or other similar low-intensity genres. A 2010 study published in the Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning conducted in Taiwan shows that music with a higher intensity, such as hip hop, is more distracting and negatively affects concentration and performance. Researchers have coined the phenomenon wherein a subject’s attention capacity is “drained” by a distraction the “Attention Drainage Effect Theory.” After testing hip-hop music on participants, the Taiwanese study suggests avoiding music with heavy beats and fast tempos in order to avoid the “Attention Drainage Effect.”

Instinctively, students tend to gravitate towards instrumental music as a low-intensity musical backdrop for their study sessions.

“I’m definitely exponentially more efficient while listening to lyric-less music, there’s no chance I can focus with lyrics—sung or spoken— playing through my headphones,” Culligan said.

Nevertheless, even within the instrumental genre, some musical pieces can still have an “Attention Drainage Effect” on students. As a rule of thumb, the most effective soundtrack to a study session consists of restrained pieces that provide a neutral setting for working. Solo piano pieces, for instance, are favourable to large orchestral pieces, as is music with a consistent tempo and dynamics.

Studying with instrumental music provides a simple yet surprisingly effective productivity boost.

Classical music and other low-intensity genres

Studies have shown that listening to classical music while studying can ease anxiety and boost productivity.

(Amanda Fiore/ The McGill Tribune)

create a serene atmosphere, which both enhances brain activity and soothes qualms before big tests, making this a useful study tool during midterms.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

science & technology 13

Study shows correlation between heavy snowfall and heart attacks

Montreal researchers offer health justifications to avoid shovelling snow Angelina Giordano Contributor Continued from page 1.

A study from the Quebec Public Health Insitute documented a higher incidence of heart attacks following heavy snowfall. (Daria Kiseleva / The McGill Tribune)

The study was designed to collect measures of the quantity of the snowfall in centimetres and the duration of the snowfall in hours. These results were adjusted for minimum daily temperatures. The study then tested to see whether or not the risk of MI was highest the day of the snowfall, the day after, or two days or three days after the snow fall.

In the end, the temperature didn’t play a role in increasing or decreasing the risk of MI. So, what did?

Auger and her team theorized that the cardiovascular energy involved with shovelling plays a significant role. “[Shovelling requires] more than 75 per cent of

the maximum heart rate,” Auger explained.

The excess stress puts people with existing heart problems at risk.

Out of the 128,073 individual hospital admissions and the 68,155 deaths due to MI during the months from November through April, the probability of a heart attack among men dramatically increased the closer the day was to a snowfall, but this association was not noticeably among women.

Ten per cent of all heart problems occurred when there were more than five centimetres of snow on the ground. Sixty per cent of all hospital admissions and deaths involved men while thirty-three per cent of all heart attacks occurred the day immediately after snowfall.

Auger explained that she was still unsure as to exactly why men are at

higher risk after a snowfall than women. Her team can only speculate that it may be because men shovel more snow than women, or that, perhaps, women have mastered a technique of shovelling that causes less strain to their hearts.

This correlation may become increasingly prevalent as extreme weather events, such as heavy snowfalls become more frequent.

Auger explained that the study has already received a lot of attention.

“Certainly it’s always good [and] interesting when our research generates news,” Auger said.

The main takeaway for the average person is to use caution after heavy snowfalls and try to avoid shovelling if you know that you have a high risk of MI issues.

Systemic discrimination of indigenous children in Canadian public policy Dr. Cindy Blackstock holds the government accountable to health inequities Kate Lord Contributor “What if 165,000 children were told by a government that they were going to get less education, less health, less child welfare, and less [access to] clean water […] because of their race?” Dr. Cindy Blackstock, of the Gitksan First Nation, asked in her keynote address at the third annual McGill Nurses for Global Health Conference on Indigenous Health on Feb. 10.

“How many of you would be out marching in the streets against […] racial discrimination against children? It’s happening right now by the Canadian government. It has been going on since confederation, and […] we have been trained our entire lives to look away.”

Blackstock, a social worker with 25 years of experience in child protection and indigenous children’s rights, has spent her career fighting for culturallybased equity for the indigenous peoples of Canada and holding the government accountable for racial discrimination. She joined McGill as a professor in the School of Social Work in August 2016.

She advocated for a call to action among academics and the general public in the audience.

“I believed if we documented the inequalities, if we documented the harms to kids, that we could

work with the government to create evidence-based and economically-tested solutions, and the government of Canada would do the right thing,” Blackstock said. “We did that in 2000 [when] we found the shortfall in social welfare to be 78 cents on the dollar.

So if you’re a First Nations child, even if you have higher needs because of the residential schools, you’re getting less funding to stay safely in your families [….] We provided 17 recommendations for reform and Canada acted on none of them.”

With little apparent action from the federal government despite numerous reports since the early 2000s, the Assembly of First Nations and the Family Caring Society, for which Blackstock serves as the Executive Director, filed a human rights case against the Canadian government in 2007.

“We alleged that Canada’s refusal to provide equitable child welfare care and its refusal to ensure that First Nations children can access public services on the same grounds that other children can, amounts to racial discrimination,” Blackstock said.

Over the next eight years, the Canadian government tried to get the case dismissed on legal technicalities, Blackstock explained. Finally, the case went to trial in front of the Canadian

Human Rights Tribunal in 2013.

“The tribunal [issued] a decision in January of last year, finding Canada is racially discriminating against 165,000 children and ordered it to stop immediately [.…] And what did the Canadian government do? Not very much,” Blackstock said. “It has been since subject to two failure to comply orders by the tribunal and there is another set of hearings on failing to comply in March.”

In just one example of the inequities faced by indigenous peoples in the health care system, Blackstock described that Ontario pays for mental health services for at-risk children. However, this funding is not provided to indigenous children, meaning the children most at-risk are denied this service.

“So when the tribunal’s ruling came down in January, [the Canadian government officials] were to immediately provide that service if they complied with the order,” Blackstock said. “But, they didn’t.”

Despite her evident frustration with the Canadian government’s continual lack of meaningful action towards such a devastating issue, Blackstock expressed her optimism for the future.

“My biggest hope is with the country’s children,” Blackstock said. “In the tribunal, […] the first

group to come was actually a group of high school students [.…] They stayed the whole two days, and then they come back to the next set of hearings with other friends [.…] By 2012, there are so many kids coming to the case that we had to book them in shifts. So, please

join me in giving this country the best 150th birthday present we can give it: A generation of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children who never have to recover from their childhoods. And a generation of non-Aboriginal kids who never have to say they’re sorry.”

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Tuesday, February 21, 2017

14 science & technology

Where pornography and sexual education intertwine McGill graduate spearheads Pornhub’s new sex ed initiative

Andy Wang Staff Writer Pornhub, the largest online provider of pornography, launched a new initiative website on Feb. 1. Called the Sexual Wellness Center, it is the first sexual education website undertaken by a pornographic website.

“At the Pornhub Sexual Wellness Center, we are fully dedicated to your health and education, and to create a place where information pertaining to the physical, psychological, and even the most intimate aspects of sex is available to all,” Dr. Laurie Betito, 1988 McGill University graduate in psychology and Montreal-based clinical psychologist, explained.

Betito is the creator of Pornhub’s new initiative and the author of the majority of its content. The Sexual Wellness Center also brings in experts to contribute articles about reproductive health, anatomy, and sexuallytransmitted infections, including Dr. Zhana Vranglova, an associate professor of psychology at New York University.

Pornhub had an estimated 21.2 billion visits in 2015, which, according to Betito, is an enormous population who the Sexual Wellness Center would be able to reach.

“Pornography, is [...] all just fantasy,” Betito said. “But, unfortunately, it is sometimes the only sort of sexual education people receive and if it’s possible that this website could

Since its launch on Feb. 1, Pornhub’s Sexual Wellness Center has already received hundreds of questions from site visitors. (pornhub.com)

potentially reach millions of people, it would be a step in the right direction.”

The Sexual Wellness Center also encourages visitors to send in questions regarding any aspect of sex. Betito’s latest responses answer questions regarding the female orgasm and male virginity.

“In just a few weeks, we have received hundreds of questions, telling us that the site has already gained some traction,” Betito said.

According to statistics published by the Guttmacher Institute, a U.S. sexual and reproductive health think tank, 76 per cent of public and private

U.S. schools taught abstinence as the best method of avoiding pregnancy.

Furthermore, 88 per cent of all U.S. schools allowed parents to remove their children from sexual education classes.

Instead, the extensive accessibility of pornography influences children’s and young adults’ views on sex, in particular with respect to its physical aspects.

Not everyone agrees that Pornhub’s sex education initiative is decidedly beneficial. Quartz had a more skeptical outlook on the website.

“The ironies of Pornhub’s endeavor, of course, are clear,” Leah Fessler wrote in Quartz. “If any industry

has negatively impacted young people’s understanding of healthy sexual behavior, it’s mainstream porn. And if any company epitomizes mainstream porn, it’s Pornhub. [Pornhub’s Sexual Wellness Center’s] site collectively feels like a wash of disconnected, elementary, and at times, even inaccurate information which, without proper context, serves limited educative power.”

It is too early to determine the efficacy of the Sexual Wellness Center as the site only launched a few weeks ago. However, according to Betito, Pornhub releases an annual report on

the viewership of its content and this new initiative is very likely to also be included in the statistics.

There are still some technical issues to address as the Sexual Wellness Center is set in motion. From Pornhub’s main site, it is currently impossible to navigate to the Sexual Wellness Center.

Betito responded that she is working on resolving the issue and increasing the visibility of the site.

“Pornhub has told me they are working on it,” Betito explained. “We just got started a couple of weeks ago.

They will also post some banners to advertise in between the videos.”

Betito also responded to accusations that Pornhub is pursuing sex ed just to get more clicks.

“I want to make it clear that this is not some sort of publicity stunt by Pornhub to attract more people to their site,” Betito said. “They already have enough traffic as it is.”

Aesthetically, the Sexual Wellness Center has distinguished itself from its mainstream partner. The website’s pale blue background is in stark contrast to the black and orange theme featuring Pornhub’s more explicit materials.

With Pornhub’s bold new initiative, other pornographic websites may follow suit. Just this month, the adult website xHamster protested Utah’s refusal to adopt a comprehensive sexual education program by redirecting traffic from the state to websites hosting sexual education videos. Utah currently provides abstinence education only.

Saving Earth, one house at a time

Antonino Lagana presents the benefits of geothermal energy at Engineers-in-Action event Izze Siemann Staff Writer One of the biggest issues concerning attempts at reducing greenhouse gas emissions is the world’s complete dependency on burning fossil fuels for energy.

Currently, modern livelihoods rely on continuous advancements in electricity, transportation, and technology.

Antonino Lagana, the principal engineer at engineering company Stantec and a 1993 McGill University graduate in Mechanical Engineering, works to combat this issue from the roots by reducing the demand for energy altogether.

The Engineers-in-Action event, created by members of the McGill Energy Association (MEA), Sustainability in Engineering at McGill (SEAM), and the Engineering Career Centre (ECC), brought Lagana to campus on Feb. 17 to share Stantec’s mission with McGill students and staff.

“We collaborate across disciplines and industries to bring buildings, energy and resource, environmental, and infrastructure projects to life,” Stantec’s website reads.

Lagana highlighted the importance of this mission throughout

his presentation. While the cost of constructing an energy-efficient building is very high, Lagana demonstrated how the projects he’s worked on generally pay off in the long run.

Development of energy alternatives are necessary as experts agree fossil fuels will inevitably run out. Regardless of the evidence of this fact and its future repercussions, energyefficient technologies are far from omnipresent.

The principal reason behind the lack of applied energy conservation measures stems from the expense for producers and consumers alike.

However, energy-efficient technologies often reduce demand resulting in investment pay back.

The core of this reduction in energy demand is geothermal energy.

Through a system of geothermal wells and heat pumps, energy usage becomes 75 per cent more efficient than even the most efficient gas boilers.

Geothermal wells generate heat from rocks deep below Earth’s surface and transform it into energy for the building. Pipes containing water at 0 degrees C absorb heat from rocks 500 to 600 feet below the surface. The water then re-enters the house at four degrees

C and the heat pump brings the water to the appropriate temperature to heat or cool a home.

This highly efficient system requires extensive planning. Each individual building or home is subject to a variety of conditions that all require evaluation by engineers prior to the installation of a geothermal system.

“It’s like being a detective,” Lagana explained. “It’s finding all of the opportunities and putting them all together. The combination of the best conservation of energy measures with the best pay-back for the customer.”

Lagana mentioned an IKEA warehouse in Kansas that accepted the challenge of becoming more energy efficient. This project required the construction of 46 geothermal wells, each at 600 feet deep.

While installing geothermal energy systems is a highly technical process, Lagana confirmed that the benefits outweigh the costs.

In this example, IKEA was promised an eight-year payback period.

They are held to this promise by an energy performance contract.

“An energy performance contract is an agreement between an organization and energy savings

McGill Engineering grad Anthony Lagana discussed geothermal energy at an event on Feb. 17. (Lauren Benson-Armer / The McGill Tribune)

company, which guarantees energy savings and can provide financing for departments that have little or no access to capital funding,” according to Natural Resources Canada.

These contracts provide customers with many benefits. For example, they are used to calculate estimated investment returns with the current cost of energy, not taking into account that energy prices will likely increase, thus also increasing the probability of achieving the payback.

However, many factors beyond human control may have an impact on the return as well. If an extraordinarily mild winter comes about, houses would require less heating, and therefore receive a lower payback.

Natural Resources Canada looks to slash greenhouse gas emissions by applying these geothermal techniques to all government buildings, beginning with military bases. This change represents the first steps toward a drastic reduction in energy demand.

SPORTS 15

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Redmen lead Canada to hockey bronze at FISU Games

Kazakhstan another world for Redmen Pompei and Chiarlitti

Redmen Mathieu Pompei and Nathan Chiarlitti representing Canada at the FISU Hockey Championship in Almaty, Kazakhstan. (Photo courtesy of Nathan Chiarlitti)

Arman Bery Staff Writer When one thinks of the ideal venue for the International University Sports Federation (FISU) 2017 Winter University Games, Kazakhstan probably isn’t the hockey mecca that comes to mind. However,

for McGill Redmen Hockey centre Mathieu Pompei and defenceman Nathan Chiarlitti, the opportunity to head to the Kazakh city of Almaty to represent Canadian universities was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

“I was honestly just super excited,” Chiarlitti said. “It was not only a great opportunity to play with

other great university players, but also represent Canada.”

Both seniors are coming to the end of their varsity hockey careers and are looking to soak in as much of these last few games as they can.

“As a fifth-year player, this is probably one of the last times I will have such a special opportunity,” Pompei said.

The two agreed the time spent at the rink with their team was a highlight of the trip. Just missing the finals after a 4-1 semi-finals loss to Russia, the team faced off against the Czech Republic in the bronze medal game on Feb. 8. “[There] was no way we were leaving that game without a medal after we lost to Russia,” Chiarlitti said. “Unfortunately, I had to miss the game due to injury, but it was still super fun cheering from the sidelines.”

In the bronze medal game, Team Canada jumped ahead early against the Czechs, clinching third place with a 4-3 victory.

“The feeling was pretty surreal getting the medal,” Pompei said.

“We truly put our everything into this tournament [...] to make sure we accomplished our goal.”

The team had just one practice, hours before heading out to Kazakh-

stan, the team had to bond on the fly. Chemistry formed through years of practice and games needed to be emulated in only hours. The team’s only practice was at York University before the tournament and was a crucial time for the players to mingle and become comfortable with each other.

Because the team had little-tono time to develop relationships before leaving, they became friends by exploring the area in and around the athletic village in Almaty. Through these interactions, the team grew together and players even made friends on other teams.

“Being around a bunch of great athletes from around the world was an amazing experience,” Pompei said.

However, both Redmen were amongst the five players chosen to briefly head into the town to interact with locals.

“We actually got to go play with some of the local kids of the community at the closest ice rink,” Chiarlitti said.

Travelling through the city, both were surprised by the mayhem on the Kazakh streets.

“The driving was kinda weird,” Chiarlitti said. “There would be lines [...] on the road, but people would

just be driving on the lines, ignoring lanes, and making new lanes.”

Outside of the city centre, the team had lunch in the scenic TransIli Alatau mountains.

“One day we did go up to the ski hills,” Chiralitti said. “It was super picturesque up in the middle of the mountains.”

Reflecting on Pompei and Chiarlitti’s two and a half weeks abroad, the gratitude for their family and friends back home was as strong as ever.

“You know, honestly I was just so excited to get home and share my medal with everyone,” said Pompei.

“Being able to share this accomplishment with everyone that helped me to get where I am today is truly a special feeling.”

With the Redmen in the midst of a playoff push, the two have had to adjust quickly to the 11-hour time difference since returning back to Canada.

“I know I am going to feel it once the season is over, but physically, I feel totally ready to chase a championship,” Pompei said. “Mentally, I am as focused as ever.”

McGill takes on UQTR at home in the first game of a best two out of three OUA East Semifinals on Feb 22.

Habs dump Michel Therrien for Claude Julien (again)

Strong start gives way to serious struggles for Canadiens André Morin Contributor Only in Montreal will a hockey team sitting atop their division fire their head coach. This was exactly the scenario last Tuesday Feb. 14, when the Canadiens terminated Head Coach Michel Therrien.

Earlier this year, Therrien was selected to coach the Atlantic Division at the NHL All-Star Game on Jan. 29. At the time, his team had a comfortable lead in the Atlantic Division and he was in the running for the Jack Adams Trophy for best NHL coach. Two and a half weeks later, he now finds himself unemployed.

On what must have been a heartbreaking Valentine’s Day for Therrien, the 53-year-old was dismissed to be replaced by former Canadiens’ head coach Claude Julien. Longtime Habs fans probably brushed aside the initial headlines, thinking they were just old news. Julien was hired by the Canadiens in the middle of the 2002-2003 season to replace Therrien after his first stint with the team. Fifteen years later, there’s a combination of shock and déjà vu in Montreal.

While firing a winning head

Michel Therrien is out as Canadiens head coach to be replaced by the second coming of Claude Julien. (habstounding.wordpress.com) coach might sound ridiculous anywhere else, job security isn’t part of coaching in Montreal.

Canadiens fans demand more than just a winning team: The expectation year in and year out is to win the Stanley Cup. Being first in the division meant nothing to the Habs’ front office who doubted Therrien’s ability to lead

the team down the final 24 game stretch and into the playoffs.

After starting the season 13-1-1, the Habs went a mediocre 18-187. In Therrien’s final 10 games as head coach, they were a pitiful 3-6-1.

Last year, the team had a similarly strong start and early Stanley Cup favourites, but the

squad imploded soon after goaltender Carey Price was injured.

Refusing to endure another disappointing season without change, Canadiens General Manager Marc Bergevin made the proactive decision to replace Therrien.

Besides the team’s recent struggles, Julien’s departure from the Boston Bruins on Feb.

7 likely pushed the Canadiens to make their coaching change.

Simply put, Julien is a talented coach who can speak French.

While linguistic skills shouldn’t be the key factor in hockey coaching, in Montreal, if you can’t speak French, you can’t coach the Habs. Luckily for Canadiens fans, their new coach is also a proven commodity. During his ten-year stint with the Boston Bruins, he took them to the Stanley Cup finals twice, winning in 2011. Having a francophone coach of that calibre, along with current problems the Canadiens are experiencing, likely pushed Bergevin to offer Julien the position.

Even though the new coach arrives late in the season, he will face the same pressure–if not more–to win as Therrien.

Being a former Canadiens coach means he knows the expectations placed upon him. The Canadiens and their fans have no patience when it comes to winning and, as seen with Therrien, can be heartless. While going back to an ex isn’t always the best idea, when they’ve gone out and made something of themselves, it can’t be all bad to try again to make the most of it.

Tuesday, February 21. 2017

16 sports

Peterkin led McGill with 15 points against Bishop’s on Feb. 18. (Lauren Benson-Armer / The McGill Tribune)

Redmen basketball send off graduating class with big victory over Gaiters

Peterkin and Leung combine for 29 points Patrick Beacham Staff Writer McGill Redmen basketball (12-3) took a swift 89-71 victory over the Bishop’s Gaiters (2-12) on Saturday Feb. 18, just days after clinching the top seed in the RSEQ playoffs. Prior to the game, the Redmen honoured their four graduating members–Jenning Leung, Michael Peterkin, Daniel Pieper, and Regis Ivaniukas–as part of Senior Day festivities.

As per usual, the Redmen jumped out with an early lead and never looked back. With an 18-point advantage at halftime, McGill continued to pile it on before Head Coach David DeAveiro went deep into his bench up 27 at the start of the fourth quarter.

With forward Francois Bourque recovering from a calf injury, graduating senior forward Pieper got the start in the final regular season home game of his career.

“It was special to share the starting lineup with my teammates for the first time,” Pieper said. “I appreciated every minute of the evening playing with the guys at home one last time.”

While Pieper did not play many minutes early in his career with the Redmen, he saw his role expand late this season as he grew into a contributor off the bench.

“Before [...] McGill, I thought I knew basketball,” Pieper said.

“Once I joined the team, I realized I barely knew anything. The three years have taught me more about the game [than] I knew was possible.”

Forward Peterkin led the way for the Redmen, scoring 15 points with 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Since beginning his career as a starter for the Redmen, Peterkin has become the key to McGill’s depth, accepting his new role as the team’s sixth-man.

“As long as we are winning games and improving as a team, I’m happy with whatever role allows me to be a part of that,” Peterkin said.

Coming off the bench has allowed Peterkin to grow with the Redmen. He’s currently fourth on the team in minutes per game and has become a key asset on both offence and defence. “[Peterkin] just has a chance to take over a game [and] impose his will on people,” DeAveiro said. “He just knows he can make a difference in every game now and he plans to do that.”

Never one to hog the spotlight, the veteran forward took the opportunity to credit his teammates after his stellar performance.

“The great thing about our team is that night-in and night-out there are different scorers,” Peterkin said.

Point guard Leung finished his home career with 14 points and

seven assists against the Gaiters. Unlike Peterkin–who was thrown into the fire in his first season–Leung worked his way up from a walk-on freshmen who got almost no playing time to a second team all-star last season. He has now become one of McGill’s key players.

“I just got more comfortable on the team,” Leung said. “I learned a lot during my first and second year from the coaches and the players, just how to play under control, get to my spots, and understand what the coaches were looking for.”

Unable to play due to injury, the team also said goodbye to Ivaniukas. The senior guard took last season off and struggled with a shoulder injury this season limiting his playing time.

“When I came to McGill in my first season it was always me first and team second,” Ivaniukas said. “After taking my third year off and dealing with the injuries I’ve had to face it, makes you put things into perspective […. I’ve] found a different way to contribute to the team now that I’m unable to play, and even though my role has changed I appreciate every minute I spend with the guys.”

With one final game against Laval before their first round rematch against in the RSEQ Final Four, the team is trying to stay healthy and enter the playoffs in full stride. If the Redmen manage to knock off Laval in the first round, this senior class will move on to their fourth consecutive RSEQ finals appearance. “[Laval has] been struggling in the latter part of the season, but the playoffs is a different game,” Peterkin said. “They play very well against us.”

Despite an injury to starting Redmen point guard Kendrick Jolin, who will be out for the foreseeable future, this senior class looks poised to capture their third RSEQ championship in three years. If they win, the team will head to the CIS national tournament on March 9 where these seniors have previously failed to advance past the first round.

“I think we’re right up there with some of the best teams in the country,” Leung said. “Especially with how we’re playing right now.

Our team has really been clicking in the past few games and if we were to make it to nationals I’d say we have a good chance of making it over the hump.”

The Redmen finish up their regular season on Feb. 23 before they head to the RSEQ Final Four on March 3 and 4. If they’re able to capture another title, they’ll head out to Halifax for the CIS tournament.

While the team might be looking towards the CIS playoffs, Head Coach DeAveiro doesn’t want to jump ahead.

“We just try to win every game,” DeAveiro said. “One game at a time.”