The McGill Tribune Vol. 36 Issue 1

NEWS McGill Governance 101: An introduction to campus decision making pg. 02

FEATURE “Digging into different diets: Challenging the portrayal of veganism” pg. 08-09

The McGill Tribune

EDITORIAL: A SAFE ACADEMIC SETTING NEED NOT STIFLE FREE SPEECH pg. 05

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016

VOL. 36 ISSUE 1

PUBLISHED BY THE SPT, A STUDENT SOCIETY OF MCGILL UNIVERSITY

McGILLTRIBUNE.COM

Ask ainsley: what should i expect coming into first year at mcgill?

Dear Ainsley, I am entering my first year at McGill in the Fall, and I’m not quite sure what to expect academically. I’ve heard grade deflation at McGill can be severe, and that classes are rigorous.

What should I expect?

Sincerely, Frightened First Year (FFY)

Dear FFY,

A scene from Osheaga 2016 in Montreal. Read our interview with St. Lucia on pg. 13. (L-A Benoit / McGill Tribune)

In conversation with McGill Olympian Joseph Polossifakis

The 2014 McGill graduate competed for Canada in fencing at the 2016 Rio Olympics

Arman Bery Contributor “I was more of a full-time athlete and did part-time school,” 2014 McGill Management graduate Joseph Polossifakis said, laughing. “[At McGill] my schedule was: Ten to 12 practice, one to four school, five thirty

to seven thirty [practice]. After getting home [...] that day of work, I just wanted to sleep, but of course I had to then start homework and studying. It was a tough couple of years.”

The hard work clearly paid off.

Last month, Polossifakis found himself in the final round of 32 at the 2016 Rio Olympics fencing competition. Four years earlier, he almost gave up on

fencing after missing out on the 2012 London Olympics.

“It was honestly a lot of stubbornness that kept me in the sport,” Polossifakis said. “When I didn’t qualify for London 2012 by a small margin, I almost stopped. I always had a lot of good times, and then some subsequent setbacks which led to me asking myself if I wanted to

continue. [...] I just didn’t want to quit before I had achieved what I set out to do, I would have felt a lot of regret otherwise.”

Polossifakis graduated from McGill in 2014 with a commerce degree. He has always had to balance life and fencing, something that required an unusual amount of sacrifice and determination.

PG. 16

To be honest, I didn’t quite know what to expect going into first year either. In one of my first classes, the teaching assistant (TA) told us that we should be proud of getting a B on an essay. The shock in the room was palpable. The majority of students who get into McGill were at the top of their classes in high school or CEGEP, so being pleased with a 70 per cent isn’t something that most students are used to.

While this may not happen to you, just know that getting a B isn’t the worst thing that can happen, and that there are plenty of other students in the same position as you. That being said, a lot of this also depends on your faculty.

PG. 12

The Tribune Publications Society's

BOARD OF DIRECTORS is looking for undergraduate & graduate student representatives.

If interested, please submit a letter of intent (300 words) to editor@mcgilltribune.com by Monday, September 19, 2016.

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NEWS

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

MCGILL GOVERNANCE 1 0 1

An introduction to campus decision making Jenna Stanwood News Editor

McGill University has an extensive system of government bodies that manage its affairs from the undergraduate level up to administration. Making sense of this immensely complicated system is challenging to the untrained student, so we’re here to help you understand the who’s and what’s of this year’s campus politics.

SSMU Who They Are and What They Do

PGSS (L-A Benoit/ McGill Tribune)

Who They Are and What They Do The Postgraduate Students’ Society (PGSS) represents all graduate students and postdoctoral students. It is comprised of six executives, four commissioners, and eight staff members, who advocate for postgraduates at the university, provincial, and federal levels. The PGSS is housed in Thompson House, and is a source of social activities and support for its members. PGSS Council is the governing body of the society and meets monthly to vote on policies pertaining to the long-term vision of the society. Councillors are elected from various postgraduate faculties and student groups.

Recent Actions Last year, PGSS Council unanimously passed a motion calling on McGill to divest from oil and gas industries. Additionally a traditional territory acknowledgement that will be displayed predominantly on the PGSS website and be read before each Council meeting was approved. PGSS has just completed its second graduate student orientation, which featured expanded programming.

On The Agenda This Year This year, PGSS executives have promised to focus on the political role of the society, increasing their representation in activism on issues approved by their constituency. This includes increased emphasis on environmental sustainability initiatives.

Expanding programming for graduate student orientation will likely be a focus as the new program continues to find success.

(L-A Benoit / McGill Tribune)

The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) represents all undergraduate students at McGill, as well as students in professional degree programs, including law, dentistry, and medicine. SSMU advocates on behalf of students to the administration, and to provincial and federal governments, manages services such as student groups and minicourses, and operates businesses such as Gert’s and the Student-Run Cafeteria (SRC).

SSMU is led by seven executives who are elected annually during the Winter semester.

The Legislative Council is the legislative body of SSMU, and consists of the executives and 30 councillors elected from faculty associations and certain student demographic groups, such as First Year Council. The Legislative Council is responsible for large-scale policy and decisions pertaining to the society’s finances. At least once a semester, members of the society have the opportunity to vote in referenda and participate in General Assemblies, with the resulting policies decided through these platforms becoming SSMU regulations.

The SSMU Judicial Board (J-Board) consists of seven students, most of whom are from the Faculty of Law. They make rulings on cases in which any individual, organization, or referendum associated with the society is alleged to have violated the SSMU Constitution or Bylaws. Decisions of the J-Board can only be overturned by a four-fifths majority vote by SSMU’s Board of Directors.

Recent Actions Last year, SSMU Council passed a Policy on Indigenous Solidarity that laid out ways in which the society can pursue its social justice goals for indigenous students. Council also passed a new climate change policy. In the Winter 2017 referendum, students voted to add a seventh executive portfolio and to redistribute responsibilities among the executives. A motion to increase the society’s budget failed leading to a round of budget cuts.

On The Agenda This Year This is the first year that SSMU has a Vice President (VP) Operations, and a VP Student Life. The roles of most of the executives have been adjusted as well, so it will be a year of precedent-setting for these student leaders. Furthermore, the executives are faced with the added challenge of operating the SSMU on a smaller budget. The SSMU Sexual Assault Policy Working Group’s policy was recently rejected by the administration, ensuring this year will see extensive discussions on the creation of a new policy proposal. Furthermore, the J-Board recently ruled against divisive motions, such as last year’s motion in support of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel, a decision that is sure to be the subject of discussion in coming months.

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NEWS

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

MCGILL SENATE

MCGILL BOARD OF GOVERNORS (L-A Benoit / McGill Tribune)

Who They Are and What They Do

The McGill Senate is an administrative body with jurisdiction over the academic policy of the university. It serves as a platform for representation at the administrative level. There are 107 voting members, including professors, support staff, students, SSMU executives, and representatives from McGill’s senior administration. Thirteen student senators are elected annually to represent each academic faculty. The Senate has multiple committees on specialized issue areas that advise on policy such as honorary degree recipients, enrollment, and student affairs.

Recent Actions

Last year, the Senate passed a motion to establish a statement on academic freedom intended to reaffirm McGill’s commitment to research. They also extensively discussed tuition deregulation and a new commitment to increasing funding for refugee students.

On The Agenda This Year

Last year, the Senate deferred $1.3 billion of maintenance upgrades to campus buildings, renovations that will most likely be a topic of discussion again this year. The Senate will make further revisions to the Student Assessment Policy.

(L-A Benoit / McGill Tribune)

Who They Are and What They Do

The McGill Board of Governors (BoG) has final authority over all university affairs. It is comprised of 25 voting members, including one representative each from PGSS and SSMU, and members of senior administration, as well as two non-voting student observers. The Board manages all university property, appointments of personnel, management of investments and finances, ethics and human resources. Usually, the board meets six times per year.

Recent Actions

Last year, the BoG voted not to divest university investments from fossil fuel companies, a decision that was met by student and alumni backlash. They also launched a study into the acquisition of the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) and how it can be turned into classroom space.

On The Agenda This Year

The acquisition of the RVH site, as well as divestment from fossil fuel companies and ethical investment, are sure to be continued subjects of conversation for the BoG this year. Given the provincial government’s continuing austerity programs, limitations of the university budget will likely be debated.

McTavish blocked by City of Montreal construction Projects to continue through Spring 2017 Nicholas Jasinski Managing Editor Major construction projects on and around McGill’s downtown campus are set to cause inconveniences and challenges for students lasting through the 2016-2017 year. The City of Montreal’s Promenade FleuveMontagne urban project–part of next year’s 375th anniversary celebration of the city’s founding–is a beautification initiative aiming to improve the comfort and safety of pedestrians, who make their way to and from the St. Lawrence River and MountRoyal.

According to the project’s vision, the work will include replacing the sidewalks as well as sewer, water, and gas mains on Sherbrooke from Peel to University. Additionally, McTavish will be made more pedestrian friendly between Sherbrooke and Docteur-Penfield, while maintaining easy access for emergency vehicles. Work is scheduled to take place from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. every week from Monday to Saturday.

According to Associate Vice-Principal (Facilities Management and Ancillary Services) Robert Couvrette, university personnel have been working closely with city officials and Montreal police. This partnership aims to reduce any inconvenience and disruption caused while keeping McGill’s roughly 30,000 downtown students safe as they traverse campus.

“We have had many meetings with the City in preparation for this work and we [...]now [have] a weekly meeting with them,” Couvrette said. “We are in constant communication to be sure every aspect of the project goes well in terms of security, the safety of the McGill community, work coordination [...], and so forth.”

According to McGill’s construction advisory page, the city agreed to halt work during both the Spring and Winter examination periods to allow students to study without disruption by construction activity and heavy machinery. As for the university’s contribution, the number of McGill security personnel on duty

in the areas surrounding the construction has been increased. The MacDonald campus shuttle has been relocated to the east side of McGill College street, just south of Sherbrooke.

Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) Ollivier Dyens advised students to give themselves extra time to get to classes, stay on the designated pathways for crossing construction zones, and to follow instructions from police, McGill security officers, and construction workers.

“Above all, be patient, keep calm, and carry on,” Dyens told the McGill Reporter in August.

“We’re stuck with this City of Montreal road construction for several months. The University is in close touch with the City to try to minimize the disruption, but these are massive infrastructure improvement projects and they will be noisy, dusty, and inconvenient.”

Students have expressed their disappointment with the fact that McTavish has become an open pit for the second time in three academic years.

Pedestrian traffic will remain rerouted for the entirety of the 2016-2017 year.

(Noah Sutton / McGill Tribune) “I have to think a lot more about all of my previously simple commutes again,” Emilie Macfie, U3 Political Science, said.

“I have enough to deal with as a student and each time I get stopped by a huge truck pulling out of McTavish, or find out that my way to class or a meeting is blocked, it adds a lot of inconvenience to my day.”

Couvrette also urged students to be patient and to tolerate any unforeseen delays or problems that might occur during the next eight months, but was optimistic about the project finishing

on time.

“Given that these projects are connected to a centrepiece project for the city’s 375th anniversary next May, there will probably be a greater sense of urgency than might otherwise be the case,” Couvrette said. “Digging up old pipes and other infrastructure is never without surprises; delays are common and aren’t necessarily anyone’s fault. It’s like home renovation - you never know what you’re going to get when you open up a wall.”

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NEWS

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Engineering welcomes new undergraduate program Inaugural class of bioengineering students expected to graduate in 2020 Cherry Ng Contributor The Department of Bioengineering opened its undergraduate program to 30 incoming U0 and U1 students this Fall. According to Antonella Fratino, Administrative Assistant at the Department of Bioengineering, the undergraduate program is the first of its kind in Canada.

After the graduate program was established at McGill in 2012, the proposed undergraduate program underwent two years of extensive internal review within McGill. Program requirements were finalized and courses were approved over the course of the internal review. An external review by the Government of Quebec began in the Fall 2014 and gained final approval by Mme. Hélène David, Quebec’s Minister of Higher Education, three months ago.

According to Fratino, students in the undergraduate program will learn a key set of concepts that focuses on the interdisciplinary, biological nature of engineering.

“We have created a program

that puts emphasis on the fundamental principles of engineering and its underlying bases, such as physics, math, and chemistry,” said Professor Georgios Mitsis, Chair of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Bioengineering. “What makes our department different from other departments is that we wanted to give [our undergraduates] a solid foundation in biology as well.”

“We want to give our students the background to work in both domains of engineering and biology,” Professor Mitsis added.

The curriculum is separated into three streams: Biological materials and mechanics, biomolecular and cellular engineering, and biomedical, diagnostic, and high throughput screening mechanics. Students will also be given the opportunity to undertake a research project and will be required to conduct a senior design project during their final year.

“The undergraduate bioengineering program will allow students to hone in on what direction they want to go into,” Fratino said.

Professor Mitsis hopes the pro-

gram will equip students with the ability to apply biology to engineering and vice versa.

“Biology is astonishing. It is a great source of inspiration,” he said. “If you study a biological entity and you study how it functions and how it adapts to its environment, then you can study that in a quantitative manner and try to replicate its function in an engineering design.

It’s a two-way street: You can try to use engineering to improve human health, like in prosthetics, but you can also use the healthy organism to try to improve engineering design.”

The program will offer courses in all fields of the sciences and aims to produce well-rounded students. Like other McGill engineering programs, entrance into the bioengineering program is highly competitive, requiring satisfactory academic standing and a high GPA. Maya Kenton, a U1 student, entered bioengineering in hopes that the program will allow her to combine pediatric oncology research with engineering design.

Other students hope to go into the biotechnology industry or bioen-

Enrolment in the new bioengineering program opened this Fall.

(Noah Sutton / McGill Tribune) gineering research.

“I don’t know what to expect yet,” Kenton said. “But I’m excited to learn.”

According to Professor Mitsis, the program hopes to accept 60 undergraduate students each year and centralize all bioengineering professors in the downtown campus in the future. Like any new program, they hope to gain more diverse faculty members and to

develop further connections with researchers and companies.

When asked how she felt about the recent launch of the program, Kenton chuckled: “We are the guinea pigs of the department.”

Even so, Kenton is optimistic about the program. “Bioengineering is a wonderful department. In bioengineering, we can make a big impact,” she added. “I think it’s the future.”

Task Force on Indigenous Studies and Education to launch this Fall Final report to be released in June 2017 William Pang News Editor This fall, McGill will be launching a Provost Task Force on Indigenous Studies and Indigenous Education. Led by cochairs Paige Isaac, Coordinator of First Peoples’ House, Hudson Meadwell, Chair of the Department of Political Science, and Angela Campbell, Associate Provost (Policies, Procedures and Equity), the task force will propose initiatives aimed at integrating indigenous perspectives into academic curriculum and research, as well as the retention and recruitment of indigenous students and faculty members.

The task force was first proposed by Christopher Manfredi last Sept., shortly after his appointment as Provost and Vice Principal Academic.

“Last Fall, [during] my first presentation to Senate as provost, I said that I thought McGill had the opportunity to be the leading university east of the OntarioManitoba border [to form a provost task force],” Manfredi said.

Three months later, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada released its final report,

concluding a six-year investigation that interviewed more than 6,000 indigenous men and women who survived abuse in residential schools. These schools, which operated for more than 130 years, were sponsored by the Canadian government in an attempt to assimilate indigenous youths into Euro-Canadian culture.

The Commission called for a total of 94 recommendations to be put in place. Pertaining to post-secondary institutions, the commission urged universities and colleges to introduce degrees in indigenous languages, for law schools to require all students to take a course on Aboriginal People and the law, as well as for medical and nursing schools to provide a mandatory course on indigenous health issues.

“The task force is not just about responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report,” said Manfredi. “That’s obviously an important part of what the task force will look at, but it’s more broadly to think about what contributions McGill can make towards developing its own indigenous studies work and making a contribution to indigenous education.”

Thirteen members in total will serve on the task force, including two students: Ray Aldred, a PhD candidate in philosophy, and Christian Quequish, the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Indigenous Affairs Coordinator. According to Manfredi, the task force will last for nine months, with an initial progress report to be completed this coming Jan. and a final report in June 2017.

Allan Vicaire, the Indigenous Education Advisor and a member of the task force, applauded McGill’s effort in raising awareness about indigenous issues over the years.

“Already in the last five years we have built great programming, and now the task force is an addition to it,” said Vicaire. “I think it’s a really collaborative effort for myself, the First People’s house, the Office of the Dean of Students, and now the task force and the indigenous studies program is another mechanism to bring more exposure about indigenous issues”.

Ben Geobe, an indigenous student PhD candidate at the McGill School of Social Work, applied to the task force because he

The relocation of Hochelaga Rock will be commemorated with the launch of the Task Force on Indigenous Studies and Education. (L-A Benoit / McGill Tribune) wanted to be a voice of a group that has historically been underrepresented. When asked why the task force was necessary, he replied, “My big concern is that I hear a lot of diverse projects that are focused on enriching or helping our neighbours in the Aborigi-

nal, First Nation, and Inuit native communities, but you don’t always hear about it in a coordinated way.”

The task force will officially launch on Sept. 22, in commemoration of the relocation of the Hochelaga Rock.

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Opinion

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

editorial 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 Jenna Stanwood, Sara Cullen, William Pang news@mcgilltribune.com Opinion Editors Emma Avery & 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 Zikomo Smith & Aaron Rose sports@mcgilltribune.com Design Editors Domitille Biehlmann & Daniel Freed design@mcgilltribune.com Photo Editor L-A Benoit 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 Business Manager Mingye Chen business@mcgilltribune.com

A safe academic setting need not stifle free speech As the semester began at the University of Chicago, incoming students received a letter from Dean of Students John “Jay” Elison stating the administration’s staunch opposition to safe spaces and trigger warnings. The letter, and its ensuing criticism, is another example of the polarizing debate surrounding these terms. As the new semester commences at McGill, members of the McGill community must revisit the primary motivations behind antioppression tenants: Empathy and respect.

Despite the designation of several physical spaces on university campuses, including McGill’s, as safe or safer spaces, these are much more than physical entities. Regardless of whether the terms exist, safe spaces are ultimately a mindset compatible with and crucial to a free, academic institution such as McGill.

In light of the University of Chicago letter, it is important to seek greater clarity with regards to safe spaces and trigger warnings at McGill. When academic institutions recoil from these terms, the concepts’ purposes become removed from the fundamental values that they are supposed to protect. Placing blanket bans on safe spaces and trigger warnings, as the University of Chicago did, demonstrates that

off the board

critics have failed to engage with these concepts in a productive way.

A paradox behind the debate regarding safe spaces and freedom of expression is that safe spaces were originally introduced to allow people—regardless of genders, sexualities, classes, religions, races, and ethnicities—to express themselves freely. Extending this mindset into a university classroom should not prohibit free, intellectual discussion. Whether new to campus or returning, members of the McGill community must remind themselves that the purpose of safe spaces should not be to censor, but to promote respect and diversity— two values essential to education at a university.

Academic discussion at universities can be uncomfortable; however, too frequently, safety is wrongly equated with comfort.

Safer spaces, as they are termed at McGill, are commonly seen as places in which everyone should feel free to be themselves without fear of oppression or discrimination; they do not exist to shield students from uncomfortable ideas or topics.

Because academic discussions often broach difficult topics, content or trigger warnings are understandable. A university cannot force its students to make one

choice over the other, nor can it dictate what its members react to emotionally; however, it can help them to engage in difficult conversations by encouraging its faculty and administration conduct these as safely as possible. Ultimately, it is each student’s decision whether or not he or she wants to engage with sensitive material. It is necessary to discuss and analyze indigenous issues, sexual violence, racism, and genocide—to name some examples

“

Safe spaces are ultimately a mindset compatible with and crucial to a free academic institution such as McGill.

”

of potentially disturbing topics—in order to learn about and from society’s mistakes. Those in positions of authority, including professors and student leaders, must be responsible

for fostering these conversations in as safe and inclusive a way as possible.

In order to keep the uncomfortable from veering into the unsafe, all members of the McGill community have a responsibility in the balancing act between freedom of expression and the maintenance of safe spaces. The inherent power dynamics between figures of authority and students, particularly those who identify with minority groups, must be taken into account. Discussions must remain a dialogue rather than an attempted imposition of an individual’s political views. It is imperative that these conversations are not limited to specific perspectives, but strive to include a variety of experiences and viewpoints.

Accepting the diversity of people and opinions in an institution such as McGill can only help to further academic discussions about injustices—both past and present.

Empathy and respect remain fundamental human values whether or not physical safe spaces exist. Such spaces exist because we need to be reminded of their importance—not only in our individual interactions, but in academia as well. When there is proper regard for what these spaces do or do not stand for, safe spaces and free, intellectual debate are not mutually exclusive.

Take a knee: Why Colin Kaepernick’s protest is not in vain

Advertising Executives Richard Blaser, Alexander Beaumont, Zain Hussain ads@mcgilltribune.com Publisher Chad Ronalds

TPS Board of Directors Mingye Chen, Julia Dick

Contributors

Arman Bery, Paul-Enguerrand Fady, Daniel Galef, Jordan Gowling, Joe Khammar, Marie Labrosse, Samuel Rose, Ben Simon, Nicole Spadotto, Andy Wang

Tribune Office Shatner University Centre Suite 110, 3480 McTavish Montreal, QC H3A 0E7 T: 514.398.6789 The McGill Tribune is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the Société de Publication de la Tribune, a student society of McGill University. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of The McGill Tribune and the Société de Publication de la Tribune, and does not necessarily represent the views of McGill University.

Letters to the editor may be sent to editor@mcgilltribune.com and must include the contributor’s name, program and year and contact information. Letters should be kept under 300 words and submitted only to the Tribune. Submissions judged by the Tribune Publication Society to be libellous, sexist, racist, homophobic or solely promotional in nature will not be published. The Tribune reserves the right to edit all contributions. Editorials are decided upon and written by the editorial board. All other opinions are strictly those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the McGill Tribune, its editors or its staff. Please recycle this newspaper.

Zikomo Smith Sports Editor Want to start a fight? Just follow Colin Kaepernick’s lead and kneel in protest of police brutality during the American national anthem at an NFL “Military Appreciation Night.”

Since the Aug. 26 incident, Kaepernick has been derided for disrespecting the troops, desecrating the flag, and hating America. The leastinflamed of the anti-protest group argue that Kaepernick has a right to protest, but employs inappropriate methods. The most inflamed say he should ‘just stick to sports’ and work on resurrecting his recently-disappointing football career.

Lost in this smorgasbord of

patriotic hot-takes and confusions is that Kaepernick has a very clear, actionable protest. For this reason, his protest will succeed past the current, and incorrect, perception that he is disrespecting the military and America. The rhetoric opposing Kaepernick is avoiding his message in order to trot out platitudes about the military and patriotism. That Kaepernick is steadfast in his protest and simple in his message will help blast through those false narratives.

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of colour,” said Kaepernick. “Cops are getting paid leave for killing people, that is not right [....] You can become a cop in six months, and don’t have to have the same amount of training as a cosmetologist—that’s insane.”

Unlike his critics, Kaepernick has the facts on his side. According to crowdsourced databases, over a third of unarmed people killed by police in 2015 were black men, and unarmed African Americans are killed at five times the rate of their white counterparts. Only recently have the police even been required to

report all arrest-related deaths to the US Justice Department. Kaepernick is right: This violence—and lack of accountability for it—is deeply concerning.

The strength of Kaepernick’s message is further enhanced by the fact that he genuinely relates to the issue of police brutality: He experienced injustice at the hands of the police when he and his college roommates had guns pulled on them as they attempted to move into their new house.

Yet Kaepernick’s protest has to navigate a lot of mitigating factors to even get off the ground. The NFL is not usually a place where many players join protests, or do anything to tarnish the NFL’s brand. Cameron Heyward, for example, was fined last year for breaking the NFL’s strict uniform policy when he wore eye black to honour his late father.

The NFL also has a no-distractions culture where talk of anything other than football is frowned upon. Yet Kaepernick’s critics owe it to him to look beyond his sport’s culture, and judge his protest based on the validity and urgency of the issues he raises.

However, one thing works in his favour: The NFL is 68 per cent black, and police brutality affects African-Americans regardless of wealth or status. The outpouring of anguish on Twitter from NFL players after the killings of Philando Castle and Alton Sterling suggests that his colleagues no doubt feel the same. Already, two other NFL players, Eric Reed of the San Francisco 49ers and Jeremy Lane of the Seattle Seahawks, have already joined his protest.

Kaepernick’s protest is still young. It also has to navigate a complex set of forces which are, taken by themselves, not necessarily bad: The business of the NFL, patriotism, the military, and the emotion that the national anthem rightfully stirs up in people. The simplicity of Kaepernick’s message, however, is its strength. He is bringing attention to police brutality against people of colour as a player in a predominantly black league. He is presenting the facts, not in a way that people necessarily like or want to listen to, but he is presenting them nonetheless.

6

OPINION Commentary

Jordan Gowling Contributor Like most new innovations, Uber has been met with backlash, especially from taxi services and government policy. The Quebec government’s Bill 100, drafted to regulate and collect tax revenue from Uber, is one example of the increasing tension between the traditional regulated form of business, and online means of conducting business. Quebec government must recognize a new generation of consumers who pre-

Commentary

Marie Labrosse Contributor Renowned authorities such as the Times Higher Education (THE) and the Centre for World University Rankings (CWUR) have attributed many different rankings to McGill in the past year. With such an onslaught of conflicting figures— sixty-fourth, forty-second, thirtyeighth, thirty-fifth, twenty-fourth— McGill’s position as a leading academic institution is becoming more and more difficult to ascertain, particularly if this decision is based solely on numerical figures.

University ranking systems are often incomplete in nature and

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Why Quebec should get on board with Uber fer services at the click of a button and will not be easily dissuaded from using Uber.

The Quebec government’s outdated solution is exemplified by former Transport Minister Jacques Daoust, who thought Bill 100 would not be met with any opposition. It must have been a shock for Daoust to be called out

by Jonathan Marleau, president of the youth wing of the Quebec Liberal Party. Marleau, like many of others, saw Bill 100 for what it was: An outdated government ploy to eliminate Uber. The government should instead respect the choice of a younger generation of consumers and seek a compromise with Uber, while allowing taxi companies to adapt and compete with the new service.

Understandably, the Quebec government must collect tax revenue from Uber. Yet the company has already presented a way to provide funds for tax revenue by charging each client a seven cent tax per ride. The government

should agree to this type of compromise, and allow licensing of

“

Taxi companies should take note of [Uber’s] service-oriented business practices and try to implement them, instead of lobbying for heavy regulation.

”

drivers and fare pricing to remain under the control of the business.

Ultimately, Quebec policy-makers took a step forward by agreeing to negotiate a pilot project with Uber regarding tax revenue and regulation. However, the project’s future is still uncertain, as it has not yet been completed and may not meet its Sept. 8 deadline.

Montreal taxi drivers have clearly been on the losing side against Uber: They claim to have suffered a 30 per cent drop in customers since the advent of the ridesharing app. No surprise, given Uber as a transportation service surpasses taxi companies in many ways. The online transaction is hassle-free, and the rates are often cheaper. The driver is familiar because each one has an online profile and can be rated for his or her quality. Additionally, more often than not, the drivers themselves can be far more friendly because service is emphasized in Uber’s business model. Taxi companies should take note of these serviceoriented business practices and try to implement them, instead of

lobbying for heavy regulation of Uber. They should demand a pilot project of their own in order to renegotiate the lessening of heavy government regulation that hinders their competition with Uber.

The beauty of Uber’s success is that it is a new, innovative way of thinking about urban transportation. Uber’s Global Mobility Policy Lead, Andrew Salzberg, explained in a CBC interview that the company is also looking into ride sharing as a more environmentally friendly and efficient mode of future city transport.

Uber has demonstrated that the use of phones presents a revolutionary opportunity for getting around, and has set new standards for convenience and service.

The jury is still out on whether Montreal will be like Calgary, where tough policy drives Uber out, or like Toronto, which embraces Uber as an important new mode of transportation. Let us hope that Montreal chooses the latter.

Measuring McGill: Flaws in international university rankings systems diminish their value rely on perception rather than factual evidence, which contributes to the confusion surrounding McGill’s standing in the academic world. At first glance, rankings seem to indicate a decline in McGill’s quality: The university has dropped from 35th place in 2011 in THE’s World University Rankings to 38th in 2016, and has dropped six places in Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings in the past year alone. However, this numerical picture of a deteriorating institution is not supported by sufficient evidence to be plausible.

Extreme caution should be exercised before jumping to conclusions about McGill’s supposed decline. The ranking data itself is unreliable, as information accessible to the general public cannot be traced back farther than 2011. Furthermore, depending on the institution’s chosen method, scores from one year to the next are not necessarily calculated in the same manner. Consequently, not all rankings published by a given institution are equivalent. THE, for instance, states in its 2016 rankings methodology that “because of changes in underly-

ing data we strongly advise against comparison with previous years.”

If ranking methodologies each year are not comparable, then it is virtually impossible to observe a meaningful decline in McGill’s ranking.

Even if McGill’s ranking has fallen in the past five years, this decline is too negligible to credibly be labelled as such. Based on both THE and QS’s figures, McGill remains within the top fifty universities in the world regardless of which ranking one refers to, rendering this decline relatively insignificant on a larger scale. Furthermore, McGill’s global ranking score has progressed from 71.7 to 72.6 since 2011. This suggests that the university’s academic value has increased in absolute terms, making this decline in rankings even less noteworthy.

Many different factors are taken into consideration when ranking institutions calculate a university’s overall score and relative ranking. These factors include faculty-to-student ratio and research influence; however, a large part of this score is determined by public perception of a given university, contributing to the futility of using

Write for opinion

university rankings. In order to measure a university’s reputation, both scholars and employers are called upon via an invitation-only survey

“

The sizeable role of perception in ranking methods therefore generates rankings that cannot be taken as objective truth.

”

to name up to ten universities which they believe to be the best in the world. This highly subjective evaluation of worth makes up 50 per cent of QS’s World Universities scoring

Email opinion@mcgilltribune.com for more information Meetings in the Tribune office (SSMU 110), Mondays at 6:00 p.m.

procedure, and 33 per cent of THE’s method.

The emergence of alternative ranking systems further underlines the growing power of perception in determining universities’ ranks.

THE’s World Reputation Ranking, for instance, only compiles the opinion of scholars. Therefore, the sizeable role of perception in ranking methods generates rankings that cannot be taken as objective truth.

The rankings’ fundamentally biased nature only paints a partial image of McGill’s quality as an academic institution.

The inherent flaws in university ranking systems—including incompleteness, exaggeration, and dependence on perception-based evaluation—lead to the misrepresentation of McGill’s value.

Therefore, it is important for current and prospective students to consider non-numerical factors, such as quality of facilities, faculty, campus location, vibrancy of campus life, and successful or notable alumni when evaluating a school’s value. Such factors can offer a much broader depiction of qualitative excellency.

7

Science & technology

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Art meets science: McGill researchers program drone to paint

McGill computer science lab designs algorithms to create stippled drawings Andy Wang Contributor A group of McGill researchers have developed a technique to create large-scale drawings with a small drone called Crazyflie. The Computer Animation and Interaction Capture Lab, led by Computer Science Associate Professor Paul Kry, published their results in the most recent issue of Expressive. Their research outlines a breakthrough method of using robots to create unique works of art.

This novel research out of Kry’s Lab all started with a NSERC USRA (Undergraduate Summer Research Award) given to an undergraduate student in his lab. Kry’s students spent many hours in the lab to design the intricate algorithms required to create stippled works of art.

Inspired by the myriad blank walls in McGill’s buildings, the team tested their drone by creating drawings of Alan Turing, Grace Kelly, and a teapot.

There have been previous instances of combining robotics and programming with art. A London art gallery exhibited a robotic arm that could produce portraits while a project out of MIT programmed drones to provide rim illumination, where a drone illuminates the contours of a model by providing a threedimensionally adjustable light source.

There are number of advantages with the lab’s design of the painting drone. The drone—a quadrotor flying robot—is much safer to handle than its heavier counterparts. At 27 grams, it weighs about the same as a AA battery.

Instead of the traditional brush

stroke technique of painting, the lab designed the drone to reproduce an image via a stippling technique, which produce dots rather than lines. The rationale is that continuous contact between the brush and the canvas surface—typical to the brush stroke technique—is extremely difficult to maintain and is more prone to errors.

The drone is also self-correcting.

It takes its errors into consideration as it calculates where to paint the next dot.

Despite the drone’s innovative artistic technique, there are several issues that, once resolved, would result in a much more satisfactory user experience. The drone’s lightweight design makes it infeasible to use outdoors because a slight gust of wind could cause it to veer off course. In addition, the battery lasts only five to six minutes, and is somewhat of a

The original portrait of Grace Kelly was transformed into a series of dots to create the template design. On the right is the final drawing created by the Kry Lab. (Photo courtesy of the Computer Animation and Interaction Capture Lab)

Computer Science Professor Paul Kry and Brendan Galea, a McGill Master of Science student.

(Photo courtesy of the Computer Animation and Interaction Capture Lab) nuisance to recharge.

“One solution is to tether it to a power source, but it’s not ideal as it would limit the drone’s range of motion,” Kry said. “I think the better way is to use inductive charging, like the ones used by smartphones.”

Instead of a charging cable, inductive charging could allow the drone to charge wirelessly similar to the charging stations of a Samsung Galaxy.

In addition to physical improvements, there are some improvements that can be made for the drone’s artistic execution. For example, a line is apparent underneath the portrait of Grace Kelly’s left eye.

The artistic quality of Grace Kelly’s ‘tear’ was a result of too much ink on the sponge brush.

“It’s not about robots making art,” Kry said. “It’s a group of computer scientists designing a program to create something aesthetically pleasing. The drone takes the algorithms we designed and turns it into something unique.”

Many of these factors—a little wind here, too much ink there— are often beyond the lab’s control.

Nonetheless, Kry’s lab hopes to expand their artistic repertoire. A further avenue of experimentation includes changing the colour of the ink in certain areas as well as co-ordinating multiple drones to shorten the time required to complete a project.

Kry’s research and algorithm design brings forward an exciting and inventive step to the crossroad of art and science.

from an unlisted satellite from their own space program. So no confirmation of extraterrestrial intelligence (yet!), and a minor blow to the prospect of terrestrial intelligence, as well.

Q: Dear Scientist, why does toast always fall buttered-sidedown?

A: Either due to basic Newtonian mechanics or because your breakfast nook is cursed.

Toast actually does fall flat on its butter statistically more than half the time, but it’s not a fundamental property of the toast . . . it’s a property of the table. Tables vary in height, but just about anywhere someone might sit down to eat breakfast affords a drop just high enough for a piece of toast to rotate 180 degrees—that’s one-pi radians, but who has one pie for breakfast?—give or take. Since the butter is generally on top before everything goes crumpetto-carpet, the slice doesn’t have time to complete a full turn and lands butter-down more often than not. If there are any other queries from the burgeoning field

of Breakfast Science, you’re in luck. I just so happen to be the world expert on cheese danishes.

If you have any questions for the Scientist, send them to scitech@mcgilltribune.com, with the subject line: Ask a scientist. The Scientist awaits your queries!

Ask a Scientist: What Is Ask a Scientist?

Resident scientist answers your questions Daniel Galef Contributor Since this is the first instalment of this column, there are not yet questions to answer.

But, not to worry! The first question we’ll answer will be: “What is Ask a Scientist about?”

In answering it, SciTech hope to drum up enough interest and enthusiasm from you, the readers, to have plenty of questions to answer in future instalments.

Every year The McGill Tribune brings McGill students the best in science and technology journalism in the form of articles, interviews, and podcasts from the heart of the world-class research institution that is McGill University. Each week our intrepid reporters risk their lives and their GPAs to get the scoop on the latest oncampus research, international scientific developments, and allaround neat stuff going on in the worlds of science and technology at McGill and beyond.

In addition to stand-alone articles, we have a number of

recurring columns, offering content along a certain theme or from a particular contributor.

From the BrainSTEM is our science-flavoured opinion column. Fact or Fiction explores and explodes common myths and misconceptions about science.

Research Briefs and Student Research offer insights into the amazing scientific work done right here at McGill by students and faculty alike.

But is it enough? We here at the Tribune think not.

That’s why, this year, we are officially bringing back Ask a Scientist , a recurring column in which you, the reader, submit questions to me, the Scientist.

Please ask the Scientist about the mysteries of life, the universe, and everything. The Scientist will search for answers to those scientific mysteries you’ve always pondered and never asked.

There are many—scientists cannot even estimate precisely how many—great questions to Ask a Scientist ! We’ll make it easy for you to answer all your

burning questions in one reliable place. As you send us your best and worst ideas, here are a small handful of examples to consider, along with brief answers from the Scientist: Q: Dear Scientist, have you heard about this whole SETI mysterious signal thing? Radio astronomers detecting a powerful radio emission from a suspectedhabitable star in the constellation Hercules doesn’t sound like small potatoes. Does this mean aliens are trying to contact us?

A: Absolutely, I’ve heard of SETI, it’s super cool!

Unfortunately, the recent energy surge detected is almost certainly not friendly aliens, and is even probably from Earth. Since no one else detected the signal and there was no pattern, only a single pulse, most astronomers credit terrestrial interference—a satellite or other source a bit closer to home. This sort of thing has happened before: The Soviet Union almost cracked the “Aliens!” champagne too, before realizing that a detected signal was actually coming

SciTech has the answers.

(April Barrett / McGill Tribune)

Digging into different diets Challenging portrayals of veganism Areni Nicoghosian My transition into a vegan diet has been anything but easy. The skeptical remarks that I received from some of my family members made me second guess my decision. The thought that I was making things harder for other people who had to accommodate my new diet created a small fragment of doubt in my mind. I started to wonder if my reason for transitioning was justified.

I decided to become vegan because of my love for animals. Growing up, I had all kinds of pets: Gerbils, canaries, fish, turtles, dogs, and a lovebird—my mom calls our house a zoo. It was only a matter of time before I decided that I couldn’t handle the idea of animals being slaughtered by the truckloads—just to feed us.

Vegans in the media Because of my ethical motivation for becoming vegan, I do not make exceptions—such as eating meat for special occasions—which makes things inconvenient for my family. Consequently, the stereotype of vegans being difficult often comes into discussion.

The idea that vegans are demanding or difficult is often reinforced by how they are portrayed in the media. For instance, many vegan or vegetarian characters in television and movies follow the stereotype of being stubborn and dogmatic about their choices.

One of the most well-known depictions of this tendency occurs in The Simpsons episode, “Lisa the Vegetarian.” In this episode, after choosing to become a vegetarian, Lisa sabotages her family’s barbecue because she is against eating meat.

The preconceived bias that vegans are condescending about their lifestyle choices and aggressively try to change other people’s diets to fit their views is also perpetuated heavily in social media. There are countless videos on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram of comedians poking fun at vegans and criticizing them based on certain prejudices. These videos, although often sarcastic, portray vegans as judgmental and self-righteous.

Some people like to avoid the label vegan, because of the negative connota-

tions surrounding the word. For example, Shunan Zhao Gao, a U3 International Development Studies student, who has been a vegan for four years, prefers instead to describe her lifestyle with the term plant-based diet.

“When people ask you, ‘Why are you vegan?’ I don’t like to use this label,” said Zhao Gao. “Well, I mean, it is quite complicated to say I don’t eat meat, seafood, eggs, and dairy. So, you just use the label vegan, right? But then there is a negative connotation to it. I don’t like to label myself this way [...] so, [I] just use the word plant-based.”

Zhao Gao believes that judgmental vegans are the exception rather than the rule, and so she tends to avoid heated arguments about veganism.

“Some vegans like to judge people,” Zhao Gao said. “While others are like, ‘You can eat whatever you want, it’s none of your business if I eat vegetables or not, or whether I eat meat or not.”

Jessica Cangul, a U2 Film Studies student at Concordia who has been practicing veganism for a few years because of animal rights concerns, believes that the stigma surrounding the term is the consequence of a loud minority of vegans.

“I feel like [some] vegans in the media give regular, everyday vegans a bad [reputation] because they generally do not encourage meat eaters [instead of] showing them vegan alternatives and their benefits,” Cangul explained. “Instead they attack them and call them out on their values. [....] Ergo, meat-eaters see all vegans as being one. Meanwhile, there [are] a multitude of different types of vegans.”

Personal Perspective Since the start of my transition, I thankfully have not experienced any particularly negative reaction from others. My friends, most of whom are vegan, were very supportive. My mom also changed her diet with me, making things easier at home. However, some family members didn’t agree with my choices, calling me ‘weird’ and ‘difficult,’ although they didn’t directly tell me not to be a vegan.

“I just don’t usually agree with ‘hardline’ ways of thinking,” my brother said.

“Why not eat vegan 99 per cent of the time, but once in a while enjoy a hamburger at a BBQ or a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs?”

Making exceptions is easier said than done, especially when the decision to become a vegan is rooted in ethical beliefs. Regardless, he doesn’t view veganism in an entirely negative light, as he considers it as a potentially beneficial diet.

“I think it can be a healthy lifestyle if you can replace everything you stopped eating with good alternatives,” he said.

On the other hand, my father doesn’t fully agree with veganism because he believes that meat and animal byproducts are essential for a healthy and balanced diet.

“I completely agree that cruelty for animals should not be part of the consumption process,” he said. “I view [veganism] positively, but I do not agree with it a hundred per cent. There are compromises that can present proper solutions to the way the consumption cycle functions.”

Although they didn’t necessarily agree with them, my family ultimately respected my choices. I initially thought that my brother and father didn’t approve of my choices because they had preconceived biases about vegans.

After talking to them, however, I realized that this wasn’t the case; I actually stereotyped them as skeptical meat eaters instead of understanding their true reasons for not agreeing with the lifestyle.

The stereotype that all vegans are judgmental does not explain the whole truth about the plethora of types of vegans in the world.

At the same time—despite what vegans sometimes presume—not all meat-eaters blindly criticize vegans.

In fact, some meat eaters, like Sananne Wartabetian, a U3 Translation major at McGill, actually commends vegans for their dedication.

“I completely understand why they’re doing what they’re doing!” Wartabetian said.

“I think it’s not easy to have that kind of lifestyle, but that it must be rewarding for them.”

Having never experienced the stereotypical judgmental vegans, Wartebetian believes that the few overbearing vegans determine some people’s views on veganism.

“I think that some vegans can get annoying with their discourse on the importance of their eating habits,” she said. “And [these people] can become a little preachy, so people are generally annoyed when they hear about veganism.”

Challenging stereotypes One way to avoid preconceived notions about vegans is to gain a better understanding of their motivations. In addition to health-related and ethical reasons, environmental considerations may also be a factor in a person’s decision to become vegan. This was the case for Victoria Lecker, a U3 International Development Studies student at McGill.

“I already knew that [consuming meat and dairy] was bad for the environment, for [both] the animals and us,” said Lecker. “But it was hard to [switch] when living with my parents. In 2013, I started out eating vegetarian for lunch because it was easier. Eventually, I stopped eating meat for supper. By 2016, I tried to be as vegan as possible.”

Lecker believes that everyone will ultimately have to become vegan to protect the environment.

“I think that [with] the state of the world, [and] everything that is going on, cultures have to change and adapt in order to ensure that our world is okay,” she explained. “Eventually we all have to change—we won’t have

a choice.”

This belief is grounded in data which suggests that the meat production industry has a significantly negative toll on the environment due to its high production of green-house gases, overuse of antibiotics on livestock, and intensive usage of land and water resources.

According to a 2010 report by the International Resource Panel, hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme, people will need to adopt a more plant-based diet in order to lower the detrimental impact of producing meat and animal byproducts. The report states, “a substantial reduction of impacts would only be possible with a substantial worldwide diet change, away from animal products.”

Additionally, according to Global Footprint Network, humans are using resources at an unsustainable rate. Using United Nations scenarios, the Network speculated that if we do not change our environmental practices, we would need two planets by 2030 to sustain ourselves.

Needless to say, not every vegan believes that their diet should be universal, nor are they all environmentally-focused.

Health benefits of veganism Zhao Gao grew up on a vegetarian diet, making her transition to veganism a relatively easy one. Her choice for adopting a vegan diet was because of its health benefits.

“I went to the big library, the one at Berri-UQÀM, and I took a book [….] it was a health book, called The China Study,” she said. “The arguments in [it] were pretty convincing. After reading the book, I slowly started getting into it.”

The China Study by T. Colin Campbell and his son Thomas M. Campbell examined the correlation between chronic illnesses and consumption of meat versus plant-based diets.

The study showed that those who ate a vegan diet had a reduced rate of chronic illnesses.

Although there is not enough data to conclude that a vegan diet is overall healthier than a traditional omnivorous diet, there are many other studies which present evidence for different health benefits of adopting a plantbased diet. For example, it has been found that vegans generally have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels than meat eaters, which puts them at a lesser risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Despite this, concerns and doubts about the nutritional viability of plant-based diets are discussions that vegans and vegetarians are often unwillingly swept into. Some people believe that if one doesn’t eat meat and dairy, one is missing out on important nutritional elements.

“The reactions I got were supportive, but critical at the same time,” explained Cangul.

“People felt like veganism was too extreme and that the better diet was vegetarianism.

They thought that I would be lacking nutrients and missing out on milk, and cheese, and egg because they enjoyed it and assumed that I would be restricting myself from what they take pleasure in.”

There is evidence which suggests that vegans are generally more susceptible to deficiencies in vitamin B12, iron, and zinc. It is also a common concern among non-vegans that there are not enough plant-based sources of protein.

Thus, there are some studies that recommend against a strictly vegan lifestyle. However, as long as vegans understand exactly what nutrients they need, there are countless plant-based alternatives for meat.

The growing popularity of vegan options Sometimes, the decision to avoid plant-

“

The stereotype that all

vegans are judgmental does

not explain the whole truth about the plethora of types of vegans in the world. At the same time—despite what vegans sometimes presume—not all meat eaters blindly criticize vegans.

based diets is grounded in the desire to preserve tradition. Cangul, who comes from a Mediterranean and Middle Eastern background, could not change her diet at a younger age due to her culture’s heavily meat-based diet.

“My parents never considered cooking vegetarian or vegan alternatives,” she said. “There was a traditional way of cooking things, and it was always with meat. For example, my mom would have never made vegan burgers; burgers were made with meat.”

Nowadays, vegetarian and vegan alternatives are gaining popularity, even among meat eaters. A growing number of restaurants include veggie or even vegan burgers in their menu, using mushrooms, mixtures of grains, beans, and various vegetables in place of meat.

For students who are transitioning to veganism, it is important that dining services have options to fit different diets.

“I find it really progressive that [Concordia University] is making an effort in introducing the vegan diet to all students,” said Cangul. “It promotes dialogue and encourages students to seek plant-based options with their diet. If there is a vegan option, it doesn’t prevent the meat eater from eating it; however, when the tables are turned, the same cannot be said for vegans, and [reduces] their importance as fellow students.”

While there are some vegan options at McGill, they are spread out in various locations throughout campus, making it challeng-

”

ing for everyone to access.

“I’m kind of happy with what we have, but maybe [they should] put some of the [Royal Victoria College Dining Hall] food in more locations,” said Lecker, who found a lot of vegan alternatives there.

Most commuting students bring their own food from home rather than buying it on campus.

“I always bring my food because I don’t want to spend my money on that and also because I don’t really have the time to go out to eat,” said Zhao Gao. “And vegan food is usually expensive.”

Ultimately, despite some of the hurdles I experienced during my transition, it has been a rewarding journey. Because I have fortunately been surrounded with understanding people who encourage me to be myself, I am able to maintain a diet that has had a positive effect on my life. As a result, I have been able to find a diet that suits my individual preferences. Everyone has their own reasons for the dietary choices that they make, whether it is deciding to eat animal products or to avoid them. Whatever people decide to eat, they should be able to do so free of judgment.

10

Science & technology

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

McGill labs find new ways to target resistant bacteria “Molecular Mousetrap” found to fight resistant superbugs Paul-Enguerrand Fady Contributor In 1945, Alexander Fleming, made famous for his discovery of penicillin, warned that excessive antibiotic use would likely result in bacteria developing resistance.

The term is often in the headlines, but what exactly is antibiotic resistance? It is generally defined as microorganisms developing the ability to somehow prevent the intended effects of the antibiotic.

That somehow is a key area of research that spans almost all STEM disciplines.

McGill Biochemistry Professor Albert Berghuis and his lab are working to find interdisciplinary solutions against antibiotic resistance.

“We are really at the interface of physics and biology, we want to know what is actually happening in a superbug in extreme detail,” Berghuis said.

Indeed, in a recent paper published in Structure, Berghuis’ lab demonstrated their attention to such detail.

The rigorous study proposes the mechanism and shape— or conformation—of a protein which causes resistance. Usually, bacteria respond to an antibiotic threat—that is, the presence of antibiotics in their surroundings— by producing proteins to inactivate the drugs. As those proteins are only needed when the bacteria are under threat, their production depends upon the presence of that threat.

“I grew up in the Cold War, and I remember that the US spent a lot to maintain [....] defence and early warning systems,” Berghuis said. “In the same way, bacteria must expend a lot of energy and resources to maintain defence systems against antibiotics.”

However, the protein studied

by Berghuis’ lab works rather differently: it acts as a sort of ‘molecular mousetrap,’ storing energy for use when it is required.

When present, antibiotics bind to the protein and change its shape causing the mousetrap to ‘spring.’ As a result of the protein’s conformation change, chemical groups are positioned closer to the antibiotic, allowing the protein to deactivate the antibiotic. This mechanism provides newfound insight into how bacteria develop resistance, opening a new pathway for drug development that would muzzle the mechanism’s ability to resist antibiotic treatments.

Despite the recent breakthrough, the overall outlook with regard to antibiotic resistance

is bleak. Reports from the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and articles in various media outlets—most recently The Economist—have suggested that we have entered a post-antibiotic era, in which antibiotics have been rendered ineffective.

Nevertheless, Associate Microbiology Professor Samantha Gruenheid noted that these reports could actually be a positive sign.

“Awareness of antibiotic resistance has increased in the past few years [....] and there are some excellent scientists working on the problem,” Gruenheid said. “Work like that of Professor Berghuis here at McGill opens up new ways to interfere with antibiotic resistance.”

Last year, as Dr. Gruenheid pointed out, an international team conducted experiments on soil microbes that led to the discovery of “a whole new class antibiotic– the first in 30 years.”

In addition, Dr. Gruenheid launched a McGill chapter of a program started at Yale University known as the Small World Initiative (SWI). The program seeks to provide students with an opportunity for real, hands-on microbiological research while also working to fight against antimicrobial resistance.

“The SWI is aiming to actually find new candidates to replenish the antibiotic pipeline,” Dr. Gruenheid said. “Over twothirds of antibiotics originate from soil microbes, and by having all the SWI students searching for novel antibiotic producing microbes within the soil in their own environments, the SWI is combining the power of crowdsourcing with the approach of looking in a wide variety of geographic locations for antibiotic producers.”

“SWI is currently in United States, Belize, Canada, Iraq, Ireland, Jordan, Malaysia, Nigeria, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom,” Dr. Gruenheid added, “which increases the chances of discovering something novel.”

Microbiology graduate student Tyler Cannon, now in Dr. Grueinheid’s lab, helped coordinate the effort to set up the SWI at McGill as an undergraduate.

He was subsequently recognised by the Canadian Society of Microbiologists for his work, and is currently following up on promising strains found by U1 students in the Microbiology and Immunology program at McGill.

“I was really shocked when we started getting positive hits,”

Undergraduate members in Samantha Grenheid’s microbiology laboratory course studying strains of nautrally-occuring resistant microbes. (Photo Courtesy of McGill Reporter) Cannon said. “In fact, about 15 per cent of all the isolated [bacterial strains] I tested were positive for antibiotics—a number I couldn’t believe.”

Cannon and Dr. Gruenheid’s lab have since reached out to various academics and professionals to further investigate those promising strains found at McGill.

“This summer [….] we started collaborating with a new [Principal Investigator] in Laval who’s willing to do full genome sequencing for us, but we’re still waiting for results,” Cannon said. “[And] although it’s still preliminary, [.…] there were actually two samples that showed promise for being novel.”

Although the issue of antimicrobial resistance is finally receiving attention and new solutions are being investigated, it may be too little too late. None of the professors interviewed were willing to say that they were optimistic about the future of research in the field.

“I could be both optimistic or pessimistic [….] I don’t know which to start with,” said Professor Berghuis.

Dr. Gruenheid agreed that while advancements have been made, the overall outlook on antibiotic resistance is bleak.

“On a good day, I like to think I am cautiously optimistic,” Dr. Gruenheid said. “On the other hand, bacteria now exist that are resistant to every antibiotic, including the so-called ‘drugs of last resort.’”

This statement rings truer now than ever before: A recentlypublished paper in the European Respiratory Society details

the treatment of a patient with XDR-TB—extensively-drugresistant tuberculosis—which took 38 months to treat as well as an individualized treatment plan involving more than six antibiotics. The case was notable as two ‘last resort’ antibiotics had to be used in conjunction for the first time ever.

The lack of new antibiotics was a common concern for both professors.

“The pharmaceutical industry is waiting more and more on academia to do the basic research and then picking it up,” Berghuis said.

“The current pipeline for antibiotic development is almost dry. Drug development all the way to the clinic is long and very expensive,” said Dr. Gruenheid.

With basic research funding low and little appeal for pharmaceutical companies to develop drugs which are taken in short bursts, as opposed to drugs for chronic diseases, there are few resources left to combat antibiotic resistance. Amid all the reports by public health agencies, physicians, researchers, and politicians, the future of antimicrobial research is still uncertain.

Student Living

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

11

What we talk about when we talk about sex The comics of the Guys We Fucked podcast speak on sex positivity and resisting rape culture Audrey Carleton Student Living Editor The number eight spot on the iTunes comedy podcast charts is not the only achievement of Krystyna Hutchinson and Corinne Fisher of Guys We Fucked: The Anti-Slut Shaming Podcast (GWF). The duo also achieved the highest number of ticket sales for both of their live podcast recordings at 2016’s Just For Laughs comedy festival in Montreal. Greeting long lines of avid listeners, Hutchinson and Fisher, also known as the comedic duo Sorry About Last Night, talked relationships, sexual boundaries and preferences, and past sexual experiences with fellow comics Ms. Pat and Big Jay Oakerson at each of their respective recordings.

Through GWF, Hutchinson and Fisher aim to challenge the limits placed on sexuality by interviewing fellow comics, professionals in the world of sex and sexual health, and, yes, guys they’ve slept with. Leaving no topic in the realm of sex unexplored, the duo record candid and humourous conversations in what began as an attempt to address slut-shaming and liberate women in their sexual endeavours.

“The podcast started as very much what the title would imply,” Fisher explained. “Us interviewing guys we fucked, learning about ourselves through people who we have shared intimate experiences with, and trying

to knock down the stigma of the promiscuous woman.”

Since its foundation in 2013, GWF has garnered a following of over half a million subscribers on Soundcloud, inspiring their growing audience to explore and discuss their sexuality more openly with friends and partners.

“I love how the podcast is growing and morphing into something so much larger than we ever could have predicted,” Hutchinson said. “I was shocked, at first, by the positive impact GWF has had on women and men, but now that we’ve been doing the show for over two years, I see the lack of honest and impactful conversations around sexuality.”

Every GWF podcast episode opens with Hutchinson and Fisher recalling their past weeks to one another, in what sounds like two good friends chatting over coffee. Before cutting to their interview with the week’s guest, Hutchinson and Fisher respond to several listeners’ emails, often giving advice in matters of sex and relationships. By openly discussing sex and sexuality with their guests, their listeners, and each other, Hutchinson and Fisher break down the stigma associated with sex and sexual freedom.

While Hutchinson and Fisher cover a broad range of topics relating to sexuality in the podcast, one theme that comes up frequently on GWF is sexual assault. The comedy duo views

discussion of sexual assault as an important first step in addressing rape culture and stigma that survivors of sexual assault face. Hutchinson revealed how commonly listeners ran into problems due to a lack of educational resources on these topics.

“How do you know you were raped if you don’t know what rape is?

We’ve received several emails [from listeners] with the subject line, ‘Was I Raped?’ That breaks my fucking heart,” she said.

Hutchinson and Fisher’s weekly question-and-answer sessions have also helped bring attention to institutions in cases of sexual assault. After reading one listener’s story of her sexual assault by an Airbnb host in August 2016, Airbnb then banned the perpetrator from hosting. Additionally, by sharing a listener from Edmonton’s story of sexual harassment on the ice as the only girl on an all-male hockey team in June 2016, the duo called attention to Hockey Alberta’s lack of a formal sexual harassment policy and lack of action to protect the survivor.

As is the case with Hockey Alberta, many university campuses across North America also lack a formal sexual assault policy. McGill is no different, with some of the most recent news being the failure of McGill administration to adopt the Sexual Assault Policy Working Group’s proposed policy on sexual assault. To Hutchinson and

Corinne Fisher and Krystyna Hutchinson talk sex positivity at Just For Laughs 2016. (ravishly.com) Fisher, institutional neglect of sexual assault cases on university campuses plays a large role in perpetuating rape culture among student bodies.

“Administrators play a huge part in a student’s chances of being sexually assaulted,” Hutchinson said. “They prioritize their reputation over justice.

If colleges are not properly punishing students who have been found guilty of sexual harassment, what kind of message does that send?”

While also sending a message of acceptance toward sexual assault, failing to implement an institutional sexual assault policy places members of any institutional body in danger.

“Society doesn’t really have a responsibility to keep us safe,” Fisher said, “a school or a hockey league,

however, do. And this is the difference.

For organizations and institutions to continue to be successful, they must keep the people who make up the organizations and institutions safe, otherwise they will ultimately crumble.”

While the pro-survivor, sexpositive messages of GWF are particularly relevant on North American campuses, their audience and impact reaches far beyond. Inspiring listeners to speak openly about sex and sexual assault, Hutchinson and Fisher chip away at rape culture one episode at a time.

How to make the most of Activities Night

Six tips on getting involved from SSMU VP Student Life Elaine Patterson

Albert Park Features Editor Whether you are a first-year looking to find your place in the McGill community or a fourthyear student hoping to become more involved on campus and pad your resume before graduation, Activities Night is a great place to start your search for the perfect extracurricular. With this year’s Activities Night expanded to three days, students have more opportunities to discover and join campus groups. The following is a run-down of tips from Elaine Patterson, Vice President (VP) Student Life at the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) about how to get the most out of Activities Night.

1. Approach club recruitment tables with a good attitude Though it can be daunting to approach a club’s table, there’s no better way to make a good first impression than with a positive attitude and a friendly smile. The representatives at the table will appreciate your enthusiasm, which will move your conversation along

more smoothly.

“From my own experience, I can say that a lot of the times when I am tabling, I don’t want to feel like I am trying to accost people to bring them to the table,” Patterson said.

“I want to let them feel comfortable enough to approach my table by themselves to learn more.”

2. Don’t be afraid to ask “What club is this?”

You should never worry about seeming unprepared or naive when going up to a table. You are at Activities Night to learn; there’s no shame in not knowing what a group does before you approach their table, and club representatives are there to help you.

“There are so many groups with different names and acronyms, there is no way that everyone is going to remember all of it,” Patterson said.

“I think club executives realize that themselves, so they are always happy to explain what they are and what they do!”

3. Ask student representatives about their group’s level(s) of involvement It is important to be prudent about the number of groups you

can get involved with based on your other commitments, academic or otherwise. While it’s important to respect your schedule and limitations, there are ways to get involved in multiple clubs at a level that works for you. You should avoid walking away from an opportunity you are interested in before finding out exactly what the time commitment is like.

“Time commitment is something that prevents a lot of people from joining the groups they want [to],” Patterson explained.

“But in reality, there are many groups that hold an event every once a week or once a month [….] So you can figure out how to get involved with only an hour or two of your time every week.”

4. Don’t worry about signing up for too many things Contrary to popular belief, you are not signing away your soul by writing down your email on a club’s sign-up sheet. The primary way to stay updated about opportunities is to receive club emails, and the representatives will be happy that you showed interest. There will be time after Activities Night to reorganize your commitments and

to unsubscribe from mailing lists.

“Speaking from personal experience, I think it i s absolutely okay to sign-up for as many groups and listservs as you want,” Patterson said. “And then from there, once you figure out which groups you want to get involved in, you can unsubscribe from the ones you are no longer interested in. That’s how you can organize everything after your initial binge sign-up.”

5. Leave your major/minor at the door Avoid the misconception that you should only join groups that are related to your field of study. In fact, it’s a good idea to get involved in new clubs to explore hobbies and passions beyond your studies in order to take a break from the mental drain of academic life.

“I think a lot of what getting involved is, especially at McGill, is about finding an outlet from your academics,” Patterson claims. “I know, for example, many of the students in the Symphonic Band Club are science students. I think that’s the best part about SSMU, it offers opportunities to people without being restricted by their

majors.”

6. Take a notepad While taking notes is the last thing any McGill student wants to do after a long day of lectures, Activities Night is worth pulling out your notebook and pen. You will want to keep a record of what you are learning in order to make sure that all the information you hear about each club does not go out the other ear. It’s also useful to mark down the names of any groups that you were interested in, but didn’t have time to sign-up for.

“Write down which listservs you joined, names of different groups that caught your attention, and anything in between,” Patterson said. “It will be easy for you to go back and look at that after Activities Night.”

Activities Night is an integral part of the McGill experience, so remember to walk into it with an open mind, you might be surprised by where it will take you.

Student Living

12

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Which elective should I take at McGill?

Fill out your 2016-2017 schedule with the Tribune’s suggestions is not a walk in the park for those lacking any background in computer programming; however, in this day and age it is never a bad thing to seek a greater understanding of coding. Just be prepared to practice at it most days, as you would when learning any language.

Julia Dick Editor-in-Chief Over the course of the postsecondary experience, there are countless opportunities to branch out from your field of study.

Electives can challenge students to see their degree in a new light, gain a more holistic perspective of what is available for study at McGill, bump up your GPA, and ultimately have a more well-rounded university experience.

Whether you’re trying to fine tune your schedule, or have just realized that you need one more elective this coming year, the Tribune has you covered. Ditch the long lines at advising, and turn to the Tribune’s hand-picked suggestions for electives for the 2016-2017 school year before add-drop period ends!

Study the secrets of the galaxy For those who aren’t quite ready to say goodbye to high school physics and science, either of the following courses will satisfy your curiosity.

Neither course is open to students in a physics program, which means that new learners can feel comfortable in the classroom, free of any pressure from physics whizzes.

Fall 2016: Space, Time, and Matter (PHYS 180)

For keen listeners Fall 2016 & Winter 2017: Popular Music Since 1945 (MUAR 392) Music lovers, rejoice. Consider this a superior alternative to the Art of Listening (MUAR 211) at a slightly higher level. Not only does MUAR 392 cover everything from jazz to pop, it also goes into the institutions behind the music.

Electives are a great way to broaden your education. (Alexandra Allaire / McGill Tribune) the Tribune’s other suggestions.

PHYS 180 takes the math out of physics—to the extent that this is possible—and introduces students to the concepts behind some of the greatest theories in the field, including Newtonian mechanics and Einstein’s theories of relativity.

Winter 2017: World of Chemistry: Food (CHEM 181)

Winter 2017: Milky Way Inside and Out (PHYS 183) PHYS 183, an introductory astronomy course, covers everything from black holes to supernovae. A bit of background in the sciences wouldn’t go amiss in this class, but even without, you’ll be stargazing like the pros in no time; however, if you aren’t interested in astronomy, it might be best to look into one of

A classic elective at McGill, CHEM 181 is one of the Faculty of Science’s most popular courses.

Students will learn about their own diets and nutritional intake, as well as about how food research is portrayed in the media. If you’d rather avoid denser chemistry courses and have a penchant for memorization, this class will be right up your alley.

For the foodies who can’t be sated

For the tech savvy Fall 2016 & Winter 2017: Foundations of Programming (COMP 202) If you’ve taken a stab at CodeAcademy--or just finished binge-watching /Mr. Robot/--and want to know more about the logic behind coding, delve into the world of computer programming in COMP 202. This is the go-to computer science course for non-computer science students, as it provides an introduction to Java coding before easing you into some of the more complex concepts.

Bear in mind that this course

For the discerning viewer Winter 2017: Media and Feminism Studies (COMS 310) Although COMS 310 requires either permission from the instructor or completion of prerequisites, you will not regret making the extra effort to take this course. Through this class, students are introduced to feminist and queer theory as it pertains to media studies while encouraged to hold a critical lens to the media.

If this course interests you, hop on it quickly or set up a notification for when a seat becomes available— this class is a popular one, and spots fill up quickly.

Ask Ainsley: What should I expect coming into first year at McGill?

Ainsley gives advice on the ups-and-downs of your first semester Continued from page 1.

If you’re in science or engineering, you may be taking some required courses in first year that cover a lot of material you’ve already learned in high school. Your grade may also be curved, which, depending on your grade and your teacher, could either benefit you or not.

In Arts, however, you are given a bit more flexibility in your first year courses and program requirements later on, and as such, you may end up taking classes with upperclassmen who have more experience writing university-level papers, so your marks may end up being closer to the average than you’re used to.

One good thing about first year is that it’s a great time to dip your toe in the water of many different subjects in order to figure out your interests. It’s

not uncommon for students to change their major numerous times before deciding what they want to do with their degree.

Use first year to try out different classes that you may consider majoring or minoring in later on at McGill.

In terms of course registration, you should try to make the most of add-drop period, which occurs during the first two weeks of classes each semester (from Sept. 2 to 20 in Fall 2016; from Jan. 4 to 17 in Winter 2017). Use this time to sit in on classes you are considering taking to get a feel for their subject matter, workload, and rigor. If you don’t think you’ll like a class, drop it and pick up something else. Also, if you want to take a class, but are worried it will be challenging to get a good mark, consider taking it pass/ fail. You’re allowed to take one elective a year this way and it

won’t affect your GPA. Part of the challenge of first year is adjusting to the change in environment and lifestyle, which can impact your academic performance. Especially for those moving into residence, which is a distracting environment at best, it can feel next to impossible to balance your academic and social lives while also potentially working, taking part in extra-curricular activities, and generally adjusting to your new surroundings.

Your first year should be dedicated to figuring things out. It’s exciting, it’s stressful, but ultimately, the experiences you have will shape you as a student and person, and help you discover what you’re interested in, what study patterns work for you, and maybe even give you insight on what you want to do later on in life. The important thing is to try your best, and to

stay on top of your schoolwork as much as possible. If the stress is too much for you, don’t be afraid to email your professor or drop into their office hours and explain the situation. Professors want you to do well, and many are very understanding, especially when it comes to mental health.

So play hard, study harder, and

don’t be scared to ask for help.

If there’s one thing I learned in first year, it’s that I’m not the only one who has no idea what they’re doing.

All the best, Ainsley

Have a question for Ainsley? Submit a question anonymously at mcgilltribune.com/ask-ainsley.

If you are seeking help for academic concerns, visit your faculty’s advising office.

If you are seeking help to ease the transition into first year, visit McGill Counselling and Mental Health Services at mcgill.ca/counselling/counselling-service.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

14

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

A Look into the New Faces at the 2016 Just For Laughs Festival Up-and-coming sketch comedy artists take over the comedy scene Audrey Carleton Student Living Editor “These are the future of Saturday Night Live, and television, and movies,” Hannah Crichton, Just For Laughs (JFL) Programming Consultant, said as she introduced the New Faces: Characters show at Montreal’s 34th Annual JFL comedy festival.

Comedic all-stars like Hannibal Burress, Amy Schumer, and Kevin Hart were all once featured in JFL’s New Faces, setting a high bar for this year’s cast. With their seven-minute

NATALIE PALAMIDES

LILY SULLIVAN

Lily Sullivan draws inspiration from her work in improv comedy. (ellurideinside.com) If her witty characters featured on her YouTube channel or her work with BuzzFeed were to be any indication, Lily Sullivan was bound to amuse in her performance with the New Faces: Characters cast at this year’s JFL. The L.A. sketch comic, who got her start in Chicago, delighted the audience with her set, which was primarily an assortment of ridiculous twists on everyday characters.

Sullivan combines the relatability of spot-on impressions with the shock value of last minute twists to the scenarios she develops onstage. Her portrayal of Francesca, an assertive Portuguese restaurant owner seeking a social media representative to combat online complaints of hair found in the food, was a particular standout.

Sullivan kept the audience laughing with a series of punchy lines in a hilarious accent, only to reveal at the end of the sketch that Francesca has been running a hair salon out of her restaurant’s kitchen the whole time. Sullivan’s comedic power lies in her ability to develop a character’s story while building up to a climactic twist at the end of a sketch.

Sullivan attributes her ability to develop witty characters and storylines in part to her training in improv theater. After performing in the improv group at Bates College for all four years of university, Sullivan moved to Chicago to perform with The Second City—the starting ground for greats such as Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Through her training, Sullivan developed the ability to derive scripted sets from once-improvised characters that landed well in improv shows.

“A lot of the way that Second City works is you’ll improvise a scene, and then if it goes well you re-improvise it and re-improvise it until you have it scripted,” Sullivan explained. “If I have a good improv scene in a show, I’ll try and take something from that [for a sketch character].”

sets of hilarious improv-style character sketches, this year’s New Faces did not disappoint.

After winding down from their two successful shows at JFL, two New Faces cast members–Lily Sullivan and Natalie Palamides—each spoke with The McGill Tribune to discuss the sources of their comedic brand and the lessons they’ve learned about being rising stars in show business.

After conquering the endless demands of improv theatre in Chicago, Sullivan moved to L.A., where she has recently been transitioning from performing in live shows to auditioning for film and television. One of the biggest challenges in doing so has been getting acclimated to performing for one or two casting directors, instead of audiences of hundreds.

“Right now, I feel like in L.A. I’m learning how to audition for TV and for movies, and that’s a whole other skill that [...] I didn’t do in Chicago very much,” Sullivan said. “I did a lot of live shows, and I did a lot of improv auditions, so now I’m learning how to audition in front of some TV producer or TV casting director, and that’s a whole other ball game. You’re just with one person alone in a room.”

Meanwhile, Sullivan continues to write and create characters. Post-JFL, Sullivan plans to write a show that takes place in a restaurant, using various sketches she’s already written and performed. Like any writer, Sullivan is no stranger to the pain that goes into the creative process, but she recognizes the necessity of taking risks in order to grow and develop.

“I think a lot of people are scared to create things because they’re scared of what people will say, or if it’s good or not,” Sullivan said. “I think the truth is [your work is] just going to be bad for a long time, so just do it anyway, and then, you know, over time it’ll get better [...] If you have good taste in something, the reason that your work is frustrating you is because you have good taste.”

While many writers—comedic or otherwise—are prone to never being satisfied with their own work, Sullivan left her audience contented in her performance at JFL. Having mastered the art of the slow build, Sullivan’s set was relatable, witty, and deeply amusing.

Natalie Palamides aims to shock her audience. (celebrityimages.org) Taking a break from her busy schedule performing at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade (UCB) theatre in Hollywood and voicing Buttercup in The Powerpuff Girls reboot, Natalie Palamides came to Montreal to perform seven minutes of eccentric caricatures in the New Faces: Characters cast.

Palamides set the tone for her unconventional set the minute the lights came on to an empty stage. After inching and grunting her way across the floor in a sleeping bag from the corner of the small Mainline Theatre stage, she carried out her portrayal of a British worm who had just made its way above ground for the first time.

After killing the worm with overexposure to the sun, Palamides seamlessly transformed into her second character, a demonic orphan looking to be adopted by an audience member, despite occasional blackouts in which she screams profanities in a hauntingly deep voice. Palamides’ characters are imaginative and wild, leaving her JFL audience simultaneously bewildered and entertained.

For Palamides, coming up with a perfect sketch character is a matter of practicing it onstage repeatedly and adjusting according to audience feedback.

“I definitely love coming up with oddball characters, and I like doing things that are kind of out of left field,” Palamides said. “The first time I put a character up, it’s heavily improvised, and I’ll just try and discover new things as I go [...] If I have a character that really clicks with the audience after the first time I try it, I’ll continue to develop it, and I just do that by putting it up at more shows over and over again.”

Beyond its utility in helping her develop sketch characters, Palamides’ audience plays an integral role in keeping her on her toes. In her orphan sketch, for example, Palamides attempts to convince a front row audience member to adopt her by signing an adoption certificate, only to shock them right as pen is put to paper by transforming into demon mode, screaming profanities, and lifting her petticoat to reveal a fake bloody penis.

Being open to various types of reactions from the audience provides an element of surprise that makes every performance more exciting for Palamides.

“There’s always some fun moments whenever you interact with the audience, because you kind of don’t know what’s going to happen,” Palamides said. “It can get so rigid, doing the same characters over and over again, the same script, so it’s fun to throw in a curveball, even for myself.”

After her successful run at this year’s JFL, Palamides has returned to L.A. to continue to write and perform at UCB. Despite not knowing what her comedic future holds, and cognizant of the painful reality of being Palamides remains optimistic about continuing to do what she loves.

“Every day is a challenge, but you just gotta keep going,” Palamides said.

“Constantly in Hollywood, you’re getting knocked down. [...] It is challenging, but I see it more as just I’m doing what I love to do, and it’s fun, and it’s exciting to get to create new things, and I love it.”

To see more of Palamides’ work visit her website: www.nataliepalamides.com

13

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

St. Lucia on fame, touring, and the beauty of pop music Selin Altuntur Arts & Entertainment Editor If you are drawn to synth-pop beats, reminiscent of 80s music, your ears would have perked up as St. Lucia kicked off their set at Osheaga. In the sweltering afternoon heat, frontman Jean-Phillip Grobler emerged on Osheaga’s Green Stage, situated at the end of a large dusty field overlooking downtown Montreal, wearing a loosely buttoned shirt and bright turquoise slacks. “It’s really hard to be up here in pants,” he quipped to the sweaty audience.

What followed was an hour-long performance of energetic synth-pop and R&B-inspired music that fans of New Order and The Petshop Boys would enjoy. But these aren’t the only influences that are salient in Grobler’s work. After his performance, he made it clear that his upbringing in South Africa has significantly influenced his music as well.

“I’ve never had a negative connotation towards pop music, since the apartheid government would ban a lot of subversive music,” he said. “A lot of what we got was the most harmless pop from all over the world. I never grew up with this feeling that pop was

a bad thing, or that if you have a pop song you’re selling out. We have a lot of pop songs, and I just think if you have this great pop song that makes you feel something then that’s a beautiful thing.”

Grobler mentioned some of the popular South African bands he grew up with, such as Just Jinger and Springbok Nude Girls. While those artists haven’t emerged into the international mainstream, some recent South African bands have—Die Antwoord, for one—thanks to increasingly globalized platforms.

“I think that’s the really interesting thing about African music,” Grobler said. “Before the internet, it was such an insular thing. Now, one guy, John Wizards, has been recording with Mumford & Sons, so I feel like music coming out of South Africa is a lot hipper now.”

St. Lucia is another prime example of the increasing presence of South African artists onto the international stage. Since debuting their act five years ago, Grobler and his band have toured North America and Europe multiple times, appearing in major cities and festivals alongside legendary acts such as Radiohead, whom Grobler cites as a major musical influence. Despite these experiences, St. Lucia is still getting

Jean-Phillip Grobler of St. Lucia at Osheaga 2016. (Selin Altuntur / McGill Tribune) childhood, he experienced touring used to their newfound success.

“It’s really, really surreal, internationally from a very young age.

“I read these articles from people especially growing up in South Africa and watching the international music about how touring takes this huge toll scene happen and admiring it and on your life […] I know I’m fortunate wanting to be a part of it. It’s really that I get to tour with my wife, who incredible and I have to pinch myself. plays keyboard in the band, but I can’t The fact that I can make music and identify with that attitude because we make a living out of that, it’s incredible. really enjoy traveling to places. We And I’m making music that I want to make an effort to explore the place and make, I’m not being told to make it— try the food and and go on a hike or find a cool area.” it’s my own thing.”

This dedication to enjoying all Grobler has a strong background in music and performance. Having sides of touring developed early on attended a choir school during during Grobler’s academic career. “It

comes from me being in that choir, from touring when we didn’t have televisions in the bus or wifi or cell phones, and you just have to stare out of the window and create something.”

When asked what advice he would give to music students struggling to find a personal sound in a university context, Grobler emphasized the importance of being happy with your own work instead of attempting to live up to standards set by others. For students, it can be difficult not to draw comparisons with their peers; however, Grobler argues it is essential to go at your own pace and recognize personal successes.

“It’s easy to be really intimidated by people around you because their work is more popular or easy to stomach. We’re doing really well as a band but we started around the same time as Haim and Chvrches and they’re way bigger than we are now,” said Grobler. “It’s very easy for us to be like ‘oh why are we not as big as Haim?

What are we doing wrong?’ but we’re not doing anything wrong—we love what we do.”

While St. Lucia’s steady rise to international acclaim is still underway, Grobler made it clear that authenticity and creativity are ultimately more important than fame.

ALBUM REVIEW

BLONDE FRANK OCEAN Blonde is wonderfully accessible and deceptively simple. “This is life and mortality,” Frank Ocean sings on “Pink + White,” the album’s third track. There are a lot of truisms hidden in Blonde but those five words cover the essential tone of the album. “Summer’s not as long as it used to be, every day counts like crazy,” Ocean sings on “Skyline To,” an ambling anthem to long days quickly becoming shorter.

Blonde is long and languid. It doesn’t rush, yet there is emotional urgency in each note. Ocean’s poetic phrases and layered instrumentation offer the listener an ambient reflection on the nature of life, loss, and personal growth.

Some of this is hard to hear, yet at the same time, entirely captivating. Yung Lean’s chorus on “Self Control” is a soft request to a former lover: “Keep a place for me. I’ll sleep between y’all, it’s nothing.” Then there’s “Be Yourself,” a funny and heartrending voicemail from the mother of a childhood friend of Ocean’s, telling the listener to “stop trying to be somebody else. [....] Be yourself and know that that’s good enough.” Each song is intimate and endearing, simultaneously drawing the listeners into themselves and into Ocean’s world.

Long sections of the album go by without a hint of drums. The gentle rhythms of keyboard, bass, guitar, birds chirping, and the grainy recordings of kids in a skatepark carry the listener seamlessly from one song to the next. It’s easy to lose the distinction between each song as hooks come in and fade, carry over to the next track, and reappear later on the album through some subconscious memory of the same sound.

Two songs stand out as ‘singles,’ although none were released from the album. “Nights” and “White Ferrari” feel like the Ocean that we know from Channel Orange; the master of deeply cool and catchy tracks. But still, these songs are entirely different from their Channel Orange kin.

“Nights” has three distinct overtures strung together in the

PLACES TO LISTEN TO BLONDE Some Suggestions.

1 2 3 Ocean’s new album is an emotional experience. (pitchfork.com) span of five minutes. “White Ferrari” has a trance-like slow and heavy build, which resolves into Ocean’s singular voice accompanied by acoustic guitar. The sometimes-abrupt transitions demonstrate Ocean’s incredible musicianship, and mirror the transience of his thoughts.

The last song—“Futura Free”—has a distorted structure similar to “Nights.” The song ends with a recording of local street noise and soft voices. “What’s your name?” the interviewer asks his friends. “What do you do? What’s your first memory? What’s the most amazing thing you’ve ever witnessed?” Ocean ends the album with a humble home recording, reiterating that line on “Pink + White:” This is life and mortality. Everyday conversations, small victories, and memories of heartbreak create the mosaic of growing up. In its totality, Blonde is an expression of the beauty and pain of these moments and an exercise in nostalgia.

— Evelyn Goessling

Arts & Entertainment Editor

4 5 6

Walking home alone after leaving a disappointing and ultimately boring house party. This music makes me feel good if slightly melancholic, like I’m still cool even though that party was not.

With your good friends at a beach/park/lake. Ideal tunes to listen to with your friends—you don’t have a lot to say to each other today but are in a warm summer slump. Maybe you all smoked a joint 30 minutes ago and it’s time for a nap. Frank’s gentle and ambient melodies mix well with the nearby sounds of picnics, Frisbee, and slack lining.

When you’re driving with your crush and you want to impress them with some chill vibes while you can still talk and learn more about each other and probably make out later. Sexy and cool break up albums are ideal for bringing people together.

Drinking while cooking dinner. Again, this makes a solitary yet fun activity feel more special. It gives it a hint of casual style.

Biking across town. Each song blends into the next so your cycling flow through traffic won’t be interrupted. Catchy beats mixed throughout will get you pumped and up that hill, though.

When you’re sad or you’re happy, lonely, or with loved ones.

Blonde is melancholy but it’s about life: Life that keeps going, people that keep moving and doing things and going on with their days. What did you do today? Did you listen to Frank Ocean?

15

Sports

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

NFL 2016 season preview

T h e M c G i ll T r i b u n e g e t s y o u s e t f o r t h e f o o t b a ll s e a s o n

N ORTH

1. Green Bay Packers

2. Minnesota Vikings

NFC The Packers are looking to bounce back after an underwhelming 2015-16 campaign. With receiver Jordy Nelson back from a seasonending ACL surgery and a leaner Eddie Lacy in the backfield, Green Bay’s offence should return to top form. As long as quarterback Aaron Rodgers is at the helm, the Packers should be serious Super Bowl contenders in 2017.

1. Carolina Panthers

The 2015-16 season looked bright for the Vikings, who surpassed expectations last year. Unfortunately, a gruesome knee injury to their blossoming young quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has all but ended any playoff hopes. Even with the addition of quarterback Sam Bradford, Minnesota will rely heavily on running back Adrian Peterson. Expect 2. Tampa Bay Bucaneers their first season in U.S. Bank Stadium to be a disappointment.

Rookie Head Coach Ben McAdoo will lead an improved Giants team, with receiver Victor Cruz returning to give quarterback Eli Manning another explosive pass catcher. The defence looks better than last year with the addition of defensive end Olivier Vernon. Look for New York to improve from last season and make it out of a weak division.

On paper, the Redskins have the best team in this dysfunctional division; nonetheless, they face the ninth hardest schedule in the NFL. Cornerback Josh Norman performed poorly in the pre-season, raising questions about how much he can improve Washington’s defence.

With solid receiving options, Kirk Cousins could be an effective quarterback. However, the Redskins should underperform this season, 2. Washington Redskins likely relinquishing the top spot in the division to the Giants.

N ORTH

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

2. Cincinnati Bengals

New England Patriots

2. New York Jets

Last season’s NFC champions blew away the division, only losing one game the entire season. Although that season ended in a heartbreaking Super Bowl loss to the Denver Broncos, there’s plenty for Panthers’ fans to be excited about this season. Quarterback Cam Newton will have his top offensive weapon Kelvin Benjamin back, after the wide receiver missed last season due to injuries.

The Panthers should easily capture top spot in the division.

The playoffs might be an unattainable goal for the Buccaneers this season, but at the very least, with former first overall pick Jameis Winston under centre, they should finish with a winning record. The offensive-focused, Head Coach Dirk Koetter was brought in last season as offensive coordinator to help nurture Winston and other young players in his unit, presaging bigger and better things for this team in just a few years time.

Quarterback Carson Palmer is coming off a career year, and with a horde of stud wide receivers, Arizona’s offence should be just as explosive. The team has high expectations for sophomore running back David Johnson, and with one of the league’s deepest defences, the Cardinals are poised as Super Bowl contenders in 2017.

1. Arizona Cardinals

2. Seattle Seahawks

AFC Even without star running back Le’Veon Bell at the start of the season, the Steelers boast one of the league’s most lethal offences.

With a young defensive core, the Steelers look fast and furious, and are expected to spend plenty of time in their opponent’s backfield. If quarterback Ben Roethlisberger can stay healthy, look for the Steelers to be in the mix for Super Bowl 51.

After choking again in last years’ playoffs, the Bengals look to prove that they can make it to the divisional round after four consecutive first round eliminations. Cincinnati has a strong two-man punch at running back, but they lack a number two receiver behind A.J. Green.

However, the Bengals strong defence should be good enough to lift Cincinnati to another wildcard spot.

1. Houston Texans

2. Jacksonville Jaguars

With quarterback Russell Wilson at the helm, anything is possible for Seattle. The team said goodbye to their beast running back Marshawn Lynch this season, but Thomas Rawls looks poised to take over and produce big numbers in Seahawks colours. They once again boast one of the league’s strongest defences and will be serious Super Bowl contenders, but a weak offensive line will be Seattle’s Achilles heel.

south With J.J. Watt continuing to anchor the defence, the Texans expect to be at the top of a weak division. The quarterback carousel should end this year with Brock Osweiler winning the starting job. However, Houston may struggle, given the major improvements by Jacksonville and Indianapolis. They should compete for a division title, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they have an outstanding squad.

Jacksonville has their best team in years with Blake Bortles at quarterback and Allen Robinson catching passes. The defence is solid, marking a significant improvement from last year. Cornerback Prince Amukamara and safety Tashaun Gipson will bring much needed experience to a very strong secondary.

The Jaguars could reach their first postseason since 2007, and Head Coach Gus Bradley could finally get just reward for his efforts over the past four years.

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1. New York Giants

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Even if the season starts flat with second-year quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo under centre, Patriots fans should be pumped for Tom Brady’s week five return from his Deflategate suspention. While New England’s defence is hoping veteran defensive end Chris Long can make up for the loss of Chandler Jones, the offence looks to have a lethal tight-end combo with the addition of Martellus Bennett to flank Rob Gronkowski. It’s safe to say the Patriots are a lock for another division title.

The New York Jets had a surprisingly successful 2015-16 season, but choked at the end of the year to miss the playoffs. The addition of veteran running back Matt Forte, coupled with wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, make up a talented offensive core to go alongside quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. The defence remains intact and is expected to show improvement, making a wildcard spot very possible.

1. Oakland Raiders

For the first time in 14 years, the Raiders could be playing football in January.

Oakland is the only team in the AFC West that should improve on their 2015-16 record. They had a fantastic off-season, making key additions that will certainly augment their young core. Quarterback Derek Carr and receiver Amari Cooper make a dangerous offensive duo, while the additions of cornerback Sean Smith and linebacker Bruce Irvin bolster the defence.

The Chief’s oft-injured star running back Jamaal Charles will not be ready for week one and the offence will struggle until his return. The defence, though expect to be stolid, will not be as strong as last year. With Marcus Peters taking over the number one cornerback position after the Chiefs lost Sean Smith in a trade and Justin Houston to a knee injury, Kansas City should regress in 2016-17.

2. Kansas City Chiefs

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Sports

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Staying sharp in the off-season Canadian and British athletes contemplate their summer training Nicole Spadotto Contributor

Taking time away from your favourite sport has positive effects. (Elli Slavitch / McGill Tribune) It’s 2 p.m. on a Tuesday in Sept. and Emily Davies, assistant-captain of the McGill Martlet hockey team, is pulling up to McConnell Arena on her bicycle for a pre-practice leg workout. Half a world away and six hours behind, Kaitlyn Salter, captain of the women’s lacrosse team at University of St. Andrews in Scotland, is partaking in an early morning skills session. Both

are elite athletes, yet both trained very differently over the summer to prepare for their respective seasons.

“I receive my [summer] training programs from a hockeyspecific gym,” Davies said. “I often train there if I’m in the area on weekends.”

Davies is also an active member of an off-season hockey league, which she believes is integral to keeping her hockeyspecific skills sharp when Martlet hockey isn’t in session.

Salter, conversely, adopts a training regimen that allows her to stay healthy and take time off from lacrosse-specific training during the summer. Her sports training is independently organized–she works out at the gym in the building where she works, plays tennis with friends and adheres to a healthy diet.

“The training I do in the summer is very cardio- and strengthtailored,” Salter explained. “It helps me with my game, in the sense that I can run across the entire field for the 60-minute game time period

[… but] the other half of lacrosse training is maintaining good stick skills. This is something that I think my summer training schedule lacks in, as I leave my stick at my flat in the UK during the summer.”

The different attitudes towards summer training could reflect a cultural difference between North America and the United Kingdom.

It’s no secret that college sports in the United States are taken quite seriously–a phenomenon that has diffused into Canadian values as well. With college sports often televised in North America–the CIS women’s hockey finals airs live on Sportsnet 360–pressure to perform is often heightened for athletes.

Salter, however, believes the difference in training is based not on country, but rather on popularity.

She notes that American, Canadian, and British players on her team all play with “nothing short of intensity” when representing St. Andrews. However, lacrosse is not as popular a sport in the UK as it is in the US, where college

teams practice five times a week in addition to fitness sessions every morning.

“That is definitely a level of intensity that we just don’t have at St. Andrews, as lacrosse isn’t a popular enough sport,” Salter clarified. “But, we do have this level of intensity with our men’s rugby team. This is probably due […] to the fact that in the UK, rugby is a very popular sport.”

Though both Davies and Salter have reached the pinnacle of achievement at their sports– winning league titles and assuming leadership roles on their teams – each has a different personal philosophy regarding summer training.

Davies maintains, “if an individual is seriously committed to a sport, they should just focus on training for that sport.”

However, according to Salter, “in the summer there should be a fine balance of doing what will keep you in shape for your sport, but also what you enjoy doing.”

Davies believes that hockeyspecific training gives her an edge heading into the season: She has developed her strong stamina through summer training and her strength through weight training.

This has helped refine her game during her summer ice sessions.

Salter, too, feels ready for camp. Though she acknowledges that her stick skills can still improve, her intense running schedule has put her in a prime position to excel at her “least favourite fitness drill– hill sprints.

Ultimately, the different training philosophies to which athletes ascribe are personal choices, built on preparing for the year ahead, both in mind and body. Davies, perhaps, encapsulated this idea best with her ideology. “[Setting] yourself up for success [...] when the season starts is the most important thing,” Davies said. “If an athlete is prepared physically and mentally for the year, then they’ve done their job.”

In conversation with McGill Olympian Joseph Polossifakis The 2014 McGill graduate competed for Canada in fencing at the 2016 Rio Olympics Arman Bery Contributor Continued from page 1.

Between 2014 and 2015, he missed a year of competition due to a concussion. Throughout his career, he’s endured numerous back injuries and torn ligaments in both his ankle and his meniscus.

“Perseverance is number one thing for any olympic athlete,” Polossifakis explained. “It’s funny because everyone, any athlete you speak to at the Olympics, has a story that is terrible.

Everyone who gets there is very humble and humbled to get there.”

Polossifakis relished the Olympic experience, even though he was knocked out in the round of 32 by Aliaksandr Buikevich of Belarus. He loved the energy of living in the Olympic village, as well as the chance to brush shoulders with the world’s best athletes. Team Canada had a particularly tight knit group throughout the Games.

“I went to see some diving, synchro swimming, went to watch tennis, and saw some wrestling. It was especially fun when you get to watch a fellow Canadian competing and get to cheer them on,” Polossifakis said.

“I was able to go to the 100M men’s final for track and field, as well as the 4x100M relay. It was amazing to able to watch Andre DeGrasse and see him do so well. It was also cool because there was definitely mingling with everyone regardless of popularity, I was able to

talk to De Grasse for a bit and get to take a picture.”

Polossifakis explained that athletes were relatively insulated from the controversies surrounding the Rio Games. Most of the participants were cooped up in the Olympic village, away from the fairly damning media coverage at the start of the games.

“Us athletes were practically in a bubble in the Olympic village so we weren’t exposed to a lot of the harsher realities in Brazil,” Polosifakis said.

“Zika was a bit overblown–I didn’t hear of anybody getting it. In terms of political crises, there were a couple of rallies at Copacabana. The venues were, for the most part, ready. [...] The only issues that really arose were little logistic things [....] Overall, the games from that standpoint ended up being higher than the fairly low expectations.”

Polossifakis’ life-long affair with fencing started in high school in the sabre discipline. He was the only one of his group of 25 co-fencers to advance to the Olympic level. He was very single minded in his pursuit of fencing’s highest honours, and that led to a good– though somewhat truncated–experience at McGill.

“A couple of years after [the London Olympics], I slowed down and did school full-time and got time to complete my Bachelor of Commerce in five years,” Polossifakis said. “I was happy to get to class sometimes, since I’d be gone three weeks at a time, due to competition or training camp.”

This allowed Polossifakis to get fully involved in life in the Desautels

Faculty of Management. It also allowed him to make friends within his program.

“When I didn’t qualify for London and chose to do school fulltime, I decided to get more involved in things like the JDC case competition through Desautels, and ended up doing case competitions and a thing called Case League,” Polossifakis explained.

“Doing the JDCC allowed me to meet a lot of new people, which was great.

It was especially nice for me because I had to make a lot of new friends since a lot of them were graduating and I had to complete my degree in five years, due to the time I missed doing competitions and training.”

Like most Desautels students, Polossifakis had the option of going to Super Sandwich for lunch.

Unfortunately, he had to resist the temptation and opt for healthier options.

“It was hard because I was always running in-between places, a lot of my friends would go across to Super Sandwiches for lunch,” Polossifakis explained.

“I tried my best to get salads or have sandwiches prepared.

Unfortunately, there aren’t many healthy options around campus. I even thought of opening a healthy food store at one point.”

Nonetheless, Polossifakis found a way and often went to Subway to get salad and chicken for lunch.

He believes in the value of fencing for young people. In his own words, “the sport allows you to learn a lot through tough situations; sabre makes

Team Canada fencer and McGill graduate Joseph Polossifakis poses with triple medal winning sprinter Andre De Grasse (Photo courtesy of Joseph Polossifakis) you deal with wins and losses every day.” However, he believes that many other countries have better grassroots fencing programs in place than Canada.

“The sport is very well-funded in a lot of countries: South Korea is very good, Russia has an extremely good system, along with Italy. It’s quite a cutthroat sport, since there are 215 people in a usual competition and only 32 people in [the] olympics,” Polossifakis explained. He believes that Fencing Canada needs to target a younger age group and get them interested in the sport. “[In Canada] fencing really lacks a lot of presence in elementary and high schools, so kids are not exposed to it young enough,” he explained. “There are not enough programs in place in Canada. Kids get interested when seeing

it but don’t know where to go to do it.

Some people are starting to do it, but we need more coaches to get trained and do it. We need to maybe introduce it into curriculum and after-school programs, especially in Quebec.”

Polossifakis will continue with the sport, hopefully until the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. He has caught the Olympic buzz and wants to experience it again.

“I absolutely want to go [to Tokyo],” he explained. “It looked amazing from what they showed us during the closing ceremonies. I plan on continuing fencing, while also starting to work this year to get my back-up plan going since I obviously can’t be a fencer forever. [But] I was so happy to be at the olympics, and I want to try as hard as possible to get that feeling again.”