The McGill Tribune Vol. 36 Issue 11

SPORTS “McGill Redmen basketball overcome Laval Rouge et Or despite poor shooting” pg. 16

FEATURE “Life outside lectures: The value of technical jobs and internships” pg. 08-09

The McGill Tribune

EDITORIAL: FALL 2016 SSMU REFERENDUM ENDORSEMENTS pg. 05

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2016

VOL. 36 ISSUE 11

PUBLISHED BY THE SPT, A STUDENT SOCIETY OF MCGILL UNIVERSITY

McGILLTRIBUNE.COM

Future funk and retro rhythm Toronto producer Harrison releases new album, Checkpoint Titanium Evelyn Goessling

Arts & Entertainment Editor

Eva-B has become a staple site in the Montreal thrifting scene and it has undergone many transformations to get to its current place. (Hannah Taylor / The McGill Tribune)

SSMU Fall GA fails to meet quorum

Motions regarding cost-free birth control coverage and global access to medicines to go to online ratification Holly Cabrera Staff Writer On Nov. 7, the Fall 2016 Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) General Assembly (GA) was unable to meet a quorum of 100 voting members. Due to a

turnout of fewer than 40 students, no motions were voted on. Attendees were instead invited to participate in a consultative forum.

In the event that quorum is not met during the GA, all motions go to online ratification. The ratification period is open to all

SSMU members and will close on Nov. 18 at 5 p.m. Polling booths will also be open from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. in both Schulich and McLennan libraries.

Topics discussed included motions to support cost-free birth control coverage, global access

to medicine, and nominating an auditor for the 2017 fiscal year.

Upcoming SSMU executive projects and the tabling of the Motion Regarding Support for the Kahtihon’tia:kwenio (Women Titleholders of the Land) were also addressed.

PG. 03

How light therapy can help fight the winter blues Understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder Charlotte Hings Contributor Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a mood disorder provoked by reduced daylight hours during autumn and winter. SAD is considered a seasonal type of depression characterized by

irritability, oversleeping, increased tiredness, changes in appetite, and reduced motivation to participate in social activities. Countries closest to the equator report almost no incidences of SAD, whereas extreme northern and southern countries have high incidences. This is mainly due to the

fluctuations in daylight hours as the seasons change, disrupting a person’s circadian rhythm—or internal clock— which controls a person’s physiological response to light and darkness.

Approximately two per cent of people in Canada and one per cent of people in the U.S. experience SAD

pg. 11 - 13

every year. Women are four times more likely than men to experience SAD due to the disorder’s association with female hormones. Individuals who have been previously diagnosed with depression, or those who have a family history of depression, are at an even higher risk for SAD.

PG. 13

Toronto producer Harrison— real name Harrison Robinson—is bringing a fresh sound to clubs across Canada.

Harrison’s music exudes optimism while addressing some of the subtle difficulties of the experience of youth, from relationships to clubbing. His SoundCloud bio says, “Maybe it’s not so bad.” One of his singles, “It’s Okay, I Promise,” features a monologue from Clairmont the Second about a failed relationship that finishes with “I will find another, knowing you can’t handle it.” These adages are secondary, though, to a unique and compelling album that showcases an eclectic mix of funk, pop, and R&B. Checkpoint Titanium is the 21-year-old artist’s first full-length album, after several years spent developing his sound with various beatmakers and collaborators on SoundCloud. With this project, Harrison said that he wanted to move forward to making more fullydeveloped, original songs.

“When I started SoundCloud it was really just beatmaking, sample loops, and shit, not anything much more serious than that,” he said. “I wanted to make full pieces.”

Two songs, “So Far from Home” and “Vertigo” make a notable departure from beats to full-fledged pop songs. “[‘Vertigo’ is] more like a pop song,” Harrison said. “a l l i e [a Toronto singer and producer] wrote the lyrics, and I spent a lot of time on the instrumental, having it open for an artist to sing on. So, it’s fun making a song knowing someone’s gonna sing on it.”

PG. 11

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

2 news

Chabad at McGill event faces protest

Tensions rise over replica of the West Bank Barrier Ozanay Bozkaya Contributor On Nov. 8, Chabad at McGill, the local branch of Chabad International, hosted an event on Lower Field that soon attracted protesters, including members and supporters of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign. Chabad International is a not-forprofit educational outreach organization that aims to create a “home-away-from-home”.

The McGill BDS Action Network at McGill

lobbies to prevent university investment of Israeli companies that profit from the occupation of Palestine, as well as for Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) to take a firm stance condemning Israeli actions. As part of the event, which was called Artists 4 Israel, Chabad McGill erected a section of wall on which participants could paint murals.

According to Eva Chorna, a U1 Science student and member of Chabad’s student board, the event was intended to promote positive messages.

BDS supporters organize on Lower Field to protest a Chabad at McGill event on Nov.8. (L-A Benoit / The McGill Tribune)

“Basically, what we tried doing with this event [was] we brought a group of artists [who] came to spray paint a mural on which we were promoting a really peaceful and inclusive message for coexistence,” Chorna said.

According to Chorna, the event was designed to bring together people of different backgrounds and political views through a common medium–art. The event was not related to Israeli-Palestinian relations.

“It’s just related to the idea that […] Israel comes to campus with its arms wide open, with the desire to have a conversation about peace, with the desire to engage with students in a meaningful dialogue, in a meaningful conversation,” Chorna said.

Protesters felt that the wall on which the murals were painted inappropriately resembled the West Bank Barrier Wall, an obstruction built by Israeli forces in 2002 to separate Palestine and Israel. According to Laura Khoury, U3 Engineering and a BDS supporter who was present at the protest, the event made many students uncomfortable because of its likeness to the West Bank Barrier.

“It is [...] frustrating that they used a form of appropriation [such] as the Wall, which for a lot of people is [...] triggering because many Palestinians need to go through multiple checkpoints on this wall to even go to school,” Khoury said.

Julie Skarha, U3 Arts and Science, a protester who is an organizing member of McGill BDS Action Network, indicated that she

found the symbolism of the wall a matter of concern.

“The graffiti canvas normalized the occupation by appropriating forms [of] Palestinian resistance in the West Bank against the Apartheid Wall, [which] restricts the mobility, access to medical resources, and water supplies of Palestinians in the West Bank,” Skarha said.

According to Chorna, once the protesters stood in front of the murals, she and other participants invited them to partake in spraypainting the mural and were firmly rejected by the pro-Palestinian.

“These guys decided that instead of contributing [...] and maybe even tagging their own message [...] to not interact with us, refused to speak to us, [stood] in front of our mural, [and blocked] the view of other students from this amazing, artistic work, and [created] tensions,” said Chorna.

According to Khoury, the event sent an uncomfortable message to Palestinian students on campus.

“Forgetting the political sphere in which we [live] and in which the continuous colonization of Palestine actually exists and promoting Israel as a country [and] culture of peace beyond the political spectrum is not in any way fair [...],” said Khoury. “It does not portray the actual situation on the ground and for us Palestinians that [walk] by on this campus, we feel very uncomfortable to see the appropriation of Palestinian resistance.”

Sherbrooke and McTavish construction affects professors and businesses Construction causes decrease in sales for local businesses Calvin Trottier-Chi Staff Writer Ongoing construction on McTavish and Sherbrooke Streets has been causing trouble for students and professors alike.

McGill staff and students have come up with strategies to cope with the obstructions, such as Anthropology Sessional Lecturer Karen McAllister, who created a map when students had difficulty locating her office.

“Getting to lectures was an issue sometimes, especially when they first started the construction,” McAllister said.

“You just recognize that, okay, it’s going to take a bit longer, and that’s fine.”

Local businesses have not been as adaptable to restrictions of movement.

Restaurants in particular have been adversely affected by the construction and claim to have generally been uninformed about the process. Pizza Navona Manager Kamalpreet Singh felt that the construction significantly reduced sales, although he pointed out that losses were somewhat offset by the construction workers themselves going for lunch.

“I think, because of the construction, not many people like to pass on this side, they either like to go through Maisonneuve or Sainte-Catherine,” Singh said. “There are a lot of other factors that dropped our sales [.…] But I can say it has affected us, and it has affected our

[sales] by 30 per cent along with a number of other factors.”

Singh also expressed displeasure with the dust that the construction stirs up.

“In summer, we were unable to open our doors. We don’t have any air conditioner, but as soon as we opened these doors, dust would come flying in and sit on the tables and pizzas,” Singh said.

Pannizza Manager Erik Boulet was frustrated with the lack of communication from the City of Montreal. His recent in-

vestment into an outside patio was made obsolete with very little prior notice.

“The city allowed me to put a patio right in front and a year and a half later they chopped the sidewalk off,” Boulet said. “A couple months before they started doing the construction they came up and said, ‘yep, this is what we’re doing; you have to take down your patio.’”

Boulet expressed frustration over the loss of sales since the construction started.

“We’ve had a decrease in sales of 10

Construction around campus has caused losses for nearby businesses. (Alejandra Morales / The McGill Tribune)

to 11 per cent,” Boulet said. “It’s probably going to get a little bit worse when they start doing the sidewalks too and I don’t even know if I will be able to have access to my commerce.”

The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU), however, has unexpectedly benefited from the tearing up of McTavish Street. SSMU VP Finance Niall Carolan empathized with students, but was pleased that his earlier prediction that construction would limit foot traffic and, as a result, food sales in SSMU turned out to be incorrect.

“While I empathize that it is an added hassle, having students re-routed through our building on the first and second floors has helped spread awareness and boost sales for our student-run operations,” Carolan said. “We are thankful [construction] has not posed any major or long-term inconveniences to our general activities.”

Furthermore, Carolan expects that the finished project will bring more potential customers to SSMU. “I am very excited for the completion of the construction project, being the last point at the top of the walkway before the mountain should provide a great opportunity,” Carolan said. “As long as we are able to adapt our operations to be able to capitalize on the increased foot traffic, I am confident this project will benefit SSMU operations.”

news 3

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Portion of Frank Dawson Adams Auditorium ceiling collapses

SSMU Fall GA fails to meet quorum

Motions regarding cost-free birth control coverage and global access to medicines to go to online ratification

Incident indicative of greater building infrastructure problems Julia Metraux Staff Writer On Nov. 3, the ceiling of the auditorium in the Frank Dawson Adams Building leaked water and partially collapsed during a RELG 252: Hinduism and Buddhism lecture. No injuries were reported.

According to Associate Director of Preventative Maintenance Claude Lahaie, the leak was a result of human error.

“Because the building is very old, we have to [perform] maintenance on it,” Lahaie sad. “We took an electrical cable out of the floor, which left a hole.

The incident was a human error, not something that could have been prevented.”

Lahaie stated that the process of restoring the ceiling is still in progress.

“The leak was caused by water coming from the floor above,” Lahaie said. “Someone took a floor opening for a floor drain, thus leaking clean water on the ceiling below. The cleaning work and drying was completed some days ago. The missing ceiling tiles will be replaced shortly. Proper safety equipment is required to lift the personnel up the 30 feet to do the work.”

Professor Lara Braitstein, who teaches RELG 252, said the worst part of the experience was the risk that students would be harmed in the incident.

“The leak was a small leak at first, and it took ten minutes for the ceiling to collapse,” Braitstein said. “I first asked the students sitting there to move, but then it was clear that it was getting worse. I asked them to evacuate to the back, but they wanted to come to the front to take photos and videos. [The students] evacuated, and [the TAs and I] stayed behind to make sure the students were okay.”

Braitstein said she hopes that if this happens during other classes, professors will put their students’ safety first. She was also concerned by the lack of a prompt response from Building Services over the issue.

“After 10 to 15 minutes, Building Services still hadn’t come, and I had called Building Services right after I saw the ceiling start to leak,” Braitstein said.

Hannah McKillop, U3 Religious Studies, witnessed the collapse and was shocked by the situation but appreciated Braitstein’s concern for her students.

“The TA brought over a garbage bin to catch the water and then it began to pour,” McKillop said. “People were taking Snapchats, and we were so confused.

Basically, it was just a little stream of water, then it was as if it was raining, it was unbelievable. Finally, [Professor Braitstein] suggested we leave, saying though this was pretty funny, it was also dangerous.

Later she sent out an email with resources to mental health services on campus. I think she handled the situation beautifully.”

McKillop said that this incident is a reflection of McGill’s poor infrastructure and that McGill needs to improve the safety of its buildings.

“It’s a shame that events like this are needed as a wake-up call, but I hope [that...] future improvements can be made,” McKillop said. “A healthy learning environment requires many things, and one of those is safe and secure buildings.”

Holly Cabrera Staff Writer

SSMU VP Student Life Elaine Patterson spoke at the Fall GA on Nov. 7. (L-A Benoit / The McGill Tribune)

Continued from page 1.

SSMU President Ben Ger stated that there is a clear challenge to getting students to attend the GA that extends beyond the amount of promotion. According to Ger, SSMU is consulting with the McGill administration in order to implement academic amnesty during the GA. “People don’t see the GA maybe as the tool that it is and there are a lot of different reasons for why that happens,” Ger said. “In my opinion, one of the biggest problems is upper-level recognition by the university itself of the importance of student decision-making and the role that [the GA] plays. Not just in the McGill context, but in the Quebec context as a whole.”

Despite the fact that quorum was not met, Ger said that the GA is still an important decision-making body that more students should take advantage of. Ger encourages students to get in touch with SSMU executives if they need help turning an idea into action.

“The GA is an unbelievable opportunity to mobilize and move a multi-million dollar organization that is at your fingertips, it’s there to serve you,” Ger said. “When people talk about the usefulness of a student society and the ability of what it can do here, it’s pretty vast.”

Motion Regarding SSMU Support for Cost-Free Birth Control Coverage Presented by the McGill Students for the New Democratic Party (NDP McGill), the motion seeks for SSMU to support cost-free access to prescription birth control for all students.

Currently, up to 100 per cent of prescription costs, including birth control, are covered for Quebec students under the SSMU health insurance plan. Out-of-province students, however, are only covered for up to 80 per cent under the same plan.

Policy Director of NDP McGill Julian Bonello-Stauch, U1 Arts, said that increasing coverage of prescription medication to 100 per cent for out-of-province students would have a large positive impact.

“This would affect approximately half of the [approximately] 7,000 students who are [undergraduates] from Canada, but [are from] outside of Quebec,” Bonello-Stauch said. “We feel that because birth control is the most effective form of contraceptive, we should increase access to this [….] We also want to clarify that while birth control is for female consumption, it is for the benefit of any individual in a relationship where pregnancy may result.”

Motion Regarding Global Access to Medicines Policy This motion, moved by the Universities Allied for Essential Medicine (UAEM) McGill, aims for SSMU to endorse the implementation of a humanitarian licensing framework for health-related technology. If this motion is adopted, individuals in developing countries could purchase essential medication invented in McGill laboratories at generic-level prices.

President of UAEM Sonia Larbi-Aissa, U3 Arts, said that universities can have a voice in making medication more affordable in developing countries.

“The motion talks specifically of the HIV/AIDS drug [stavudine] that was invented by Yale University in the 90s,” Larbi-Aissa said. “Yale was able to ask the companies that ended up buying that patent to decrease the price, which made it more accessible in South Africa and saved thousands of lives.”

Opposition to the Motion Regarding Support for the Kahtihon’tia:kwenio (Women Titleholders of the Land) The Motion Regarding Support for the Kahtihon’tia:kwenio asked that SSMU support a notice of seizure issued in Sept. 2015 to McGill University by indigenous activist Kahentinetha Horn and indigenous students who claimed to represent the Kahnawake Mohawk nation.

McGill Indigenous Affairs Commissioner Christian Quequish explained that the group did not consult members of the Mohawk community of Kahnawake before putting forward the motion on their behalf at the 2015 Winter GA. The movers, who acted independently, sought for SSMU to support indigenous activities through publicity, education, material and financial means.

Quequish clarified the reasoning behind the opposition to the motion and contextualized its removal from the agenda.

“This motion was brought to the Winter GA despite the former Indigenous Affairs Commissioner [Leslie Anne St. Amour] asking the movers not to pursue this motion without consulting more indigenous stakeholders,” Quequish said.

In the light of the movers’ disregard for the community’s viewpoint, Quequish appealed for students to respect indigenous individuals in their decisions to make public statements.

“Non-indigenous students need to realize that indigenous issues are complex and our perspectives are diverse and nuanced,” Quequish said. “When you interact with one indigenous person and no others, it becomes an issue of misrepresentation and tokenization. As students, we should hold ourselves to higher a standard with respect to engaging with indigenous individuals and communities and respect their decisions when they choose not to speak with us.”

4 news

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

McGill Board of Governors and Senate discuss sustainability in annual joint meeting World Economic Forum participants present research Astha Agarwal Contributor On Nov. 10, the McGill Board of Governors (BoG) and Senate held their annual joint meeting to discuss challenges pertaining to the university’s direction and mission in the upcoming year. The discussion was focused on McGill’s sustainability plans and initiatives.

Past joint Board-Senate meeting topics include strengthening mental health at McGill (2013) and McGill’s engagement with the external community (2014) . Sustainability was also the focus of the 2007 Board-Senate meeting.

The meeting began with a table display of a few of McGill’s current sustainability initiatives, including the Barbados Field Study Semester and projects funded by the Sustainability Projects Fund, such as the Education Community Living Environment (ECOLE) and Plate Club.

Principal Suzanne Fortier recognized the significance of sustainability efforts from McGill students and faculty in keeping with the university’s mission and Vision 2020 Sustainability Strategy. Vision 2020 aims to estab-

lish McGill as a global leader in sustainability through its efforts in five areas: Research, education, connectivity, operations, and governance and administration.

Fortier stated that she believes it is important to include sustainability in all three components of the university’s mission: Teaching, learning, and service to society.

“It is very important that […] in a variety of fields [...] we are able to learn about sustainability, teach about sustainability, and also to empower our students to [be sustainable] in their activities, not only while they’re at McGill, but after they leave our university,” Fortier said.

Dean of Science Bruce Lennox addressed the unique challenges of sustainability research, which, unlike other sciences, often lacks a clear end goal or solution.

“We got a man on the moon, and he came back,” Lennox said. “The human genome project, in a small number of years, through basic science development, accomplished [its goal].

But sustainability [...] also involves problems [...] that don’t have endpoints that are as readily definable as putting someone on the moon.

It’s about the integration of science into our society.”

Three McGill professors–Graham MacDonald, Andy Gonzalez, and Elena Bennett, from the Geography, Biology, and Natural Resource Sciences departments, respectively–presented their sustainability research at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Tianjin, China in June. MacDonald, Gonzalez, and Bennett presented this research again at the joint meeting on Thursday.

Bennett, an associate professor in the McGill School of Environment, has been researching sustainability success stories in communities around the world in order to learn how their success can be emulated globally.

“By collecting examples of these success stories, which we call ‘bright spots’ or ‘seeds of a good anthropocene,’ by understanding what makes them successful, we can help build better human-environment relationships that stay within planetary boundaries,” Bennett said. “We see our bright spots as pockets of a better future that’s already in place today.”

Attendees were asked to discuss what they

consider to be the top opportunities to advance McGill’s sustainability objectives in teaching, research, and operations. They were divided into three groups to focus on immediate, medium-term, and long-term objectives.

Immediate term objectives identified by attendees included curtailing water use by installing more automated water bottle filling stations and implementing a feedback system for people to report areas of wasteful water use.

Proposed medium-term objectives include reducing barriers to introducing new courses and sustainability initiatives at the university, improved communication and accessibility between the Macdonald and Downtown campuses, and mandatory sustainability courses.

Long-term objectives include setting a target date for McGill to become carbon-neutral and achieve energy efficiency, as well as investing to address the sustainability issues presented by the old age of many university buildings.

There is currently no plan for if, how, and when these initiatives will be implemented. The topic of the next join BOG-Senate meeting has yet to be announced.

McGill Faculty of Engineering unveils new equity program Initiative aims to create a safe space for discussion of equity issues Gabriel Rincon Contributor On Nov. 1, McGill’s Faculty of Engineering unveiled the Engineering Equity Ambassador Program. Faculty support staff and professors can volunteer to receive training to become an equity ambassador and serve as a resource for anyone in the engineering community that needs a safe space to discuss equity issues. The program’s intention is to address the Faculty’s commitment to dealing with the equity issues facing underrepresented groups in engineering .

The program was developed by the Faculty of Engineering in collaboration with the Social Equity and Diversity Education (SEDE) Office. Ambassadors will meet confidentially with anyone in engineering facing an equity issue and direct them to the appropriate resources.

Currently, there are five ambassadors– two professors and three faculty staff–who have volunteered for the program and have gone through equity and active listening training with SEDE. However, as Associate Dean Fabrice Labeau explained, the goal of the ambassadors is not only to act in an advising capacity, but also to provide feedback to the Engineering Equity Committee.

“Part of the role of the ambassadors is to report back every year [to the Engineering Equity Committee] on what they’ve heard […] in an anonymous fashion, [and inform future faculty policy],” Labeau said. “If there is a systemic problem in our community, we want to know about it and we can do something about it.”

According to Tynan Jarrett, a SEDE Equity Education advisor who helped develop the project, the ambassador program is a product of student demand for more action on equity. “[The ambassadors] emerged as one piece of various equity related projects that have been

The Engineering Equity Ambassador Program currently has five ambassadors. (Winnie Lin / The McGill Tribune) going on in the Faculty of Engineering,” Jarrett said. “Basically, there’s been a lot of student energy in organizing [initiatives] around equity within the faculty over the last three to four years.”

Disproportionate representation of men in engineering compared to women has been well publicized. According to McGill Enrolment, this year the Faculty of Engineering student body is 28.5 per cent female, the greatest gender disparity among all McGill faculties.However, Jarrett says the scope of the ambassador program is more than just gender equality. “[The program is] intended to address equity in the broadest sense, so gender, of course, […] but also the experiences of indigenous students, experiences of [the] LGBTQ population within

the faculty, and certain [minorities] that are very underrepresented in the faculty, ” Jarrett said.

According to Jarrett, certain demographics’ negative experiences in engineering are due to social discrimination.

“It’s not a faculty-specific problem, it’s a society-specific problem, and we know that bias exists across the board both within and outside of McGill […],” Jarrett said. “So, yes, there’s bias, so, yes, there’s discrimination.”

However, according to Labeau, the disparity in representation of certain demographics in engineering–such as the smaller proportion of women and minorities in the faculty–is not necessarily a symptom of a disparity of treatment, but of systemic barriers for certain marginalized groups.

“I don’t think there is any study out there

that will conclude that [there is a disparity of treatment leading to a disparity of outcomes] definitively, but there are a lot of studies that will show that there’s systemic barriers,” said Labeau. “[And] I think our job is to try […] and remove these systemic barriers.”

Susanne Baumann-Moroy, a Human Resources advisor and equity ambassador in the Faculty of Engineering maintains that, fundamentally, the goal of the program is to increase discussion and identify fundamental issues.

“Through the discussion, you sometimes better define the problem [...],” Baumann-Moroy said. “It’s often that you label a problem […] as harassment or a racial [issue, but] sometimes it’s an administrative or academic inequity that has nothing to do with [either].”

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

OPINION 5

e d ito r i a l Editor-in-Chief Julia Dick editor@mcgilltribune.com Creative Director Natalie Vineberg nvineberg@mcgilltribune.com Managing Editors April Barrett abarrett@mcgilltribune.com Nicholas Jasinski njasinski@mcgilltribune.com News Editors 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

Fall 2016 SSMU Referendum Endorsements Free Menstrual Hygiene Products Fee and Health and Hygiene Products Fund: “Yes” As The Tribune has previously argued, the Free Menstrual Hygiene Products Fee would provide significant benefits to all McGill students. By helping to promote equal access to education, the motion effectively benefits all members of the McGill community, as it fosters a university environment where everyone is fully engaged in their learning.

It would alleviate the financial cost, as well as the stress that is associated with procuring menstrual products. A previous draft of this motion elaborated on the advocacy potential of the policy; this should not be forgotten. This motion would help reduce the stigma surrounding menstruation, and may push other universities or institutions, as well as the McGill administration, to adopt similar policies. The policy implicitly acknowledges the role of menstruation as a historical and modern barrier to women’s education. SSMU should seek to clarify where the products will be provided across campus.

off the board

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

TPS Board of Directors

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

Staff Writers

Christopher Li, Margaux Delalex, Morgan Davis, Julia Metraux, Arman Bery, Nicole Spadotto, Joe Khammar, Alexandra Harvey, Lauren Benson-Armer, Eric NobleMarks, Ariella Garmaise, Jackie Houston, Calvin Trottier-Chi, Cherry Ng, Holly Cabrera, Ava Zwolinski, Andy Wang, Izze Siemann, Justine Touchon, Ceci Steyn, Alissa Zilber, Cordelia Cho, Madeline Kinney

Contributors

Astha Agarwal, Charlotte Hings, Demaris Oxman, Gabriel Rincon, Grace Hébert, Hannah Taylor, Jennifer Lockerby, Marie Labrosse, Ozanay Bozkaya, Paige Mysliviec, Rebecca Zhuang, Sophie Brzozowski Wasif Husain

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.

Evelyn Goessling Arts & Entertainement Editor I when I was sixteen, I worked as a cashier at a local bakery on Saturday and Sunday mornings, the two busiest days of the week. I would often leave work with $40 USD or more— just about half a shift’s wage— shoved in my pocket, mostly wrinkled dollar bills that were stuffed into the tip jar. I liked my daily bonus, but hardly a day went by without some tip jar incident that made my skin crawl, from simple awkwardness to borderline harassment.

Tipping is an antiquated system that perpetuates inequality and inconsistency across the service industry. The current tipping system in North America is

Creation of a Musicians’ Collective Fee: “Yes” The Musicians’ Collective provides students, especially those who play music but are not within the Faculty of Music, with essential resources.

Through services like educational workshops, practice room booking, performance opportunities, and instrument and equipment rental, the Musicians’ Collective allows any McGill student to connect to a music community. Furthermore, the costs of owning an instrument and any additional equipment can be very expensive; the Collective’s resources help to alleviate these costs. Voting for the creation of this fee supports and enriches the arts community at McGill. This 10 cent fee is opt-outable, which means that students who do not use the Collective’s services do not have to pay for them. As the Musicians’ Collective is a SSMU student service, we are concerned about the precedent that the creation of this fee could set. The creation of this fee indicates that students could be asked to pay for services in the future that should come out of the SSMU budget.

Midnight Kitchen Fee Renewal: “Yes” Midnight Kitchen is a non-profit, volunteer-run collective that provides

free, vegan lunch and breakfast meals on campus. In terms of its accessibility, diet-sensitivity, and sustainability, it provides an important service to members of the McGill community.

Additionally, 78 per cent of its funding depends on student fees. The fee renewal includes a 10 cent increase from the current fee of $3.25, which is justified given Midnight Kitchen’s growth in popularity and expanding services. Given the cost of meals and limited dietary options at other food vendors on campus, a free or by-donation meal service for a fee of $3.35 per semester is invaluable to many. In promoting healthy, diet-sensitive food options—catering especially to vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free students—Midnight Kitchen fosters food accessibility and healthy eating, both of which are essential to education. Furthermore, Midnight Kitchen promotes sustainable food practices by composting, using ingredients received by donation, and requiring patrons to bring their own reusable dishes.

Midnight Kitchen Discretionary Projects: “Yes” Midnight Kitchen was founded as a free food service with a political anti-oppression mandate to op-

pose processes of profit-driven food corporatization and privatization that hinder food accessibility and sustainability. It deserves the right to operate on these terms and pursue causes in line with its mandate. Although the separation of this question into two parts allows students to support the continued existence of Midnight Kitchen as a food service without supporting its political purposes and discretionary projects, students should not endorse one without the other. Midnight Kitchen provides a service that students benefit from; if they choose to make use of it, they must recognize its mandate and its right to pursue it. The portioning off of this 10 per cent of its fee budget will not significantly diminish Midnight Kitchen’s ability to serve meals.

That being said, the language of this question is vague. There is no definition of what this funding entails, who will receive it, and whether it is in the form of money, food, or other support. The motion should have included more details regarding its mandate as well as examples of how this 10 per cent has been and would be used. Over the remainder of the campaign period, Midnight Kitchen should clarify how it will use this 10 per cent of its student fee budget.

Tipping should be phased out a band-aid for much more complex issues of job security, wage inequality, and discrimination.

Instead of relying on tipping, restaurants should impose a flat service fee, or incorporate the hospitality charge into food prices for the benefit of both their workers and their customers.

One of the primary arguments against tipping is that it leads to wage inequality between the kitchen and the serving staff.

In October 2015, New York restaurateur Danny Meyer announced that he would eliminate tipping in his businesses, largely to address this wage gap: By banning tipping, Meyer expected to see the hourly wage for kitchen staff rise from $11.75 to $15.25 by distributing a fixed hospitality charge evenly between wait and kitchen staff.

Sharing the tipping wealth not only stabilizes wages, but, in the long-run, attracts more talented and professional chefs.

Chefs don’t necessarily get into the business for the money, despite the indispensable service they provide. Low and sometimes inconsistent wages often creates a lack of job security or commitment. Instituting shared hospitality charges makes it easier to make

a career and a livelihood out of being a chef.

Tipping destabilizes waiters’ incomes. Employers, not customers, should pay their employees’ full wages directly. Laws vary between provinces and states, but in the U.S. and Canada it’s common that restaurants pay servers below minimum wage under the assumption that their tips make the difference. However, slow nights or uncharitable customers means that this isn’t always the case, and it’s hard to hold employers accountable for such variations on a shift-by-shift basis. Phasing out tipping would eliminate wage uncertainty as well as curb illegal labour practices.

In theory, tipping encourages high quality service, and promotes a reciprocal relationship between service staff and customer. But, the service that tipping supposedly pays for—qualities such as friendliness and attentiveness— should be considered as integral to servers’ living wages, not conditional on the almost extra-legal monetary interaction directly between customer and server.

Tipping is supposed to maintain a symbiotic relationship between waiter and customer, but this relationship can easily turn

parasitic. Banning tipping would eliminate the discriminatory and sometimes uncomfortable expectations that come with customer interactions. In the meritocratic tip system, servers are subjected to the preferential whims of their customers, be it based on race, gender, or age. A 2008 Cornell University study found that consumers discriminated against black servers by tipping them less than their white counterparts. Another study by Cambridge University in 2015 found that the tip interaction between female waiters and customers can be sexualized, and that tipping promotes a relationship of unequal power that leaves female servers vulnerable to gendered discrimination and harassment. By banning tipping, restaurants would mediate the unequal relationship between server and customer, which can result in discrimination based on identity.

Tipping, like relying on phone booths or leaving voicemails, is an outmoded practice. In doing away with tipping, restaurants and other service businesses would be demonstrating good faith and respect towards their workers as well as their customers.

6 OPINION

C o m m e nt a r y

Alexandra Harvey Columnist On the morning of Nov. 8, I awoke with an overwhelming sense of pride and excitement over the possibility—in my head, it was almost a certainty—of a woman in the White House. After 44 male presidents, an incredibly qualified woman was about to claim the 45th spot and change the trajectory of women’s rights in an unprecedented way. It felt as if American voters were breaking boundaries. Now, all I see are broken hearts.

The election of Donald Trump exposed a world I didn’t believe existed. Residing in my safe-haven at McGill—a liberal university

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

When hate trumps hope: Thoughts on the election of Donald Trump in Montreal, Canada—has made it easy to maintain this perspective. By electing Trump, Americans decided that it is no longer okay to be different. Different, in this case, is anyone who doesn’t identify as a white, heterosexual male. While society may shudder with fear of this nightmarish reality, this realization is crucial to promoting a future where people can learn to understand and love one another. Facing and coming to terms with Trump’s world elicits the question, what now?

Trump’s world is one where women are deemed less worthy than men to occupy positions of power. It is a world in which women are told that they don’t have fundamental rights to their own bodies, a world where sexual assault survivors are shamed and silenced, and a world where grabbing a woman “by the pussy” is just “locker room banter.” The most frightening feature of all of this is that 53 per cent of white women voted to not only condone, but actively participate in this world.

Trump’s world is also one where minorities are denied personal freedoms. Trump actively

condemned the Black Lives Matter movement and has a long history of marginalizing black people, for example, through housing discrimination. Mike Pence—now Vice President-elect—staunchly spoke out against the legalization of gay marriage and advocates for horrific gay conversion therapy. Trump blatantly insulted Latino-Americans and Americans of Muslim faith, using racist rhetoric to question their civil liberties. The Klu Klux Klan, a white supremacist group, endorsed Trump as a presidential candidate.

I sympathize with the millions of Americans—Republicans and Democrats alike—who, as of Nov. 8, are essentially second-class citizens in their own country.

While Canada may seem far, far away from this nightmare, we can all feel the reverberations.

Many did not predict that America would hit such a shocking low— especially not the media. The raw exposure of this terrifying world—one where Donald Trump is the President of the United States—shatters our innocence and naiveté. Clearly, many of us are out of touch with the world we live in.

“

By electing Trump, Americans decided that it is no longer okay to be different.

”

As Canadians, we can feel comfort knowing that the leader of our country does not denounce our differences or openly question our personal freedoms. However, with this comfort must come the acknowledgement that we, too, have a long way to go—especially in terms of adequate representation in politics. It is crucial to open our eyes and ears to the differences around us. Change will come with the capacity to accept what makes us unique, and to hear disillusionment before it is too late.

It is easy to envision society as continuously moving forward:

Barriers get broken, stereotypes are dismantled, people become more open-minded and tolerant, and, as a result, the world is a better place. In 2008, Barack Obama became the first black president, inspiring millions with his message of hope. Obama had broken the “last racial barrier” in American politics. Yet, this election demonstrated that progress is nonlinear, and—even more frighteningly—that the progress Americans thought they had achieved was no more than a façade.

Those of us who stand with her mourn the opportunity to elect the first female president. We also mourn the election of Trump and the subsequent validation of his hate rhetoric. But, going forward, we must work to alter the systemic social norms, standards, and interactions that permit such blatant racism, sexism, and discrimination. With disturbing revelations, however, comes the potential for tangible change. Hate will not win when love and compassion continue to fight back. We can use this message to show the millions of Americans who feel unsafe as a result of this election that they still belong.

L a u g h in g M a tt e r s The official guide to becoming a McGill gym bro tain that the McGill gym community must avoid such a bro-pocalypse.

Worry not, potential and novice gymgoers. I present to any aspiring bros a polished guide to working out in gym

compound movements, especially the ultra-masculine bench press. If you happen to be spotting your fellow bro, support him by counting his reps as loudly as possible, and shout

the McGill population will surely shrivel into—heaven forbid—negative gains.

The next step in solidifying bro status is to occupy as much space as

Jennifer Lockerby Contributor I am compelled to thank all of the McGill gym bros who have approached me over the past four years for teaching me how to work out.

Your generosity consists of stopping me mid-set to critique my form, asking me which of my boyfriends taught me how to lift weights, suggesting that I use the bar meant for girls, and telling me that another exercise would be more effective. Apparently, being a female in the gym permanently renders me clueless as to lifting weights, despite having done so for years.

I have noticed that although there is a standard way to conduct oneself in the gym as a male, there is a glaring lack of standardized procedure for newcomer gym bros. For example, a first-year attending the gym for the first time might actually respect others’ space while working out, and wait to use equipment. As a lowly female that dares to enter— and use—the weight section, I main-

A McGill gym bro demonstrates proper form, technique, and physical prowess. (Ceci Steyn / The McGill Tribune) bro fashion and flexing masculinity!

As any alpha male should, McGill’s gym bros must set an example to all beta gym-goers. Incoming gym gals will not know how to work out if no one tells them how to. Endeavour to grunt as loudly as you can—yell, if necessary—during any and all

any motivational quotes that come to mind. Always be mindful that if you do not make your presence known to every single person in the fitness centre, the gym pedestrians will continue with their routine of useless exercises. Without seeing a shining example of real, unfettered strength,

possible in the weights section. Place your water bottle—presumably filled with quadruple-strength explosive pre-workout mix—and towel on separate box steps. Otherwise, why are you at the gym? Let others know you need as much space as possible to properly activate your muscles. If

someone dares to ask for such a crucial piece of equipment as your water bottle platform, make sure you do at least two more impeccable sets of deadlifts before acknowledging their presence. If they have not already cowered away, move your precious bottle of pre-workout to the floor, accompanied with a loud sigh to signify your displeasure of acquiescing to their unreasonable demands.

Above all, make sure to observe any lowly gym-goers closely while they work out. When you witness improper form, ineffectual exercises, or the gains-destroyer—also known as cardio—provide your unsolicited, but much needed, advice. Never mind their goals or their physique, you are the authority on all physical activity. Disrupt such a display of embarrassment and lead them to the right path, even if that path is to the exit turnstile. If you see a female in your lifting territory, simultaneously correct her form and tell her to lift heavier weights if she wants booty gains. Then, do numerous pull-ups in front of her between sets to reassert your strength and wisdom. Bonus points to if you manage to interrupt her mid-set!

Upon consistent and rigorous devotion to the aforementioned principles, you will eventually flourish into the McGill gym bro you always dreamed of becoming. Go forth and bestow this gift of knowledge on everyone else. And by that, I mean tell them their form sucks.

STUDENT LIVING 7

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

A WALK THROUGH

eva-b A look into one of Montreal’s most popular vintage stores

Janine Xu Contributor While walking down the glittery, busy StLaurent, it’s easy to pass by a store like Eva-B. The storefront is boarded up and covered by graffiti and stickers, looking more like an abandoned building than a vintage store. Yet beyond this front lies one of the most popular vintage haunts in Montreal. Eva-B is a go-to thrift store that attracts everyone, from local hipsters to visiting celebrities alike.

Eva-B is organized by three sections dispersed between two levels—on the first is a consignment vintage store and a coffee shop, and on the second is a used goods floor—all while offering an alternative, vibrant underground community with the goal of preserving an era of Montreal history. Founded in 1987 by Gabriel Croteau, the shop has undergone many transformations over the years. According to Manager Catherine Coghlin, who has been at Croteau’s side for the last nine years, the original Eva-B was nothing like what it is today—in fact, vintage clothing was never meant to be its main focus at all.

“Originally, [Croteau] rented out the space [beside the current store], and [it] started out as a bookstore,” Coghlin said. “It was him and a friend of his, and they only sold second hand books [….] As time progressed, he was like, ‘Oh, can I buy the building?’ And when that happened, he had so much [extra] room […] so he started selling his girlfriend’s [mother’s] clothes, and that worked well.”

To some, selling old family clothing may be unconventional, but Coghlin says her boss has always been quirky. From digging through the garbage to hoarding junk throughout the years,

it’s no wonder that Croteau has shaped Eva-B to be a haven for fans of the old, the forgotten, and the abandoned. “[The store’s] been through all kinds of stuff,” Coghlin said. “We’ve done second-hand [clothing], new [clothing], tailored clothes [….]

We’ve [also] done theatre stuff, we’ve had a theatre room [.…] And now we’re back to books and clothes.”

Though Eva-B may have a large and eclectic selection of both vintage and cheap, modern clothing, the real charm is in the aesthetic and atmosphere it provides for shoppers. There is a small café located by the entrance, where the store sells delicious sandwiches, snacks, and drinks for relatively cheap prices. On the first floor, customers may recline on comfortable couches and enjoy a meal, or even sit outside in the courtyard to get away from the hustle and bustle of the store.

The café side of Eva-B was created on a whim, as well. “[Croteau] would just make food for himself, and clients would be like, ‘Oh, that smells good!’ And gradually […] it just kind of happened,” Coghlin said.

All of this—the huge selections, cheap prices, and warm atmosphere—has contributed to Eva-B’s continued success. Compared with many other thrift shops or fripperies in Montreal, Eva-B differs in its position as a half-way between high-end vintage and Value Village-style stores.

Additionally, both Croteau and Coghlin have always maintained excellent relationships with customers in an effort to create a sense of community. Though the store doesn’t maintain any active social media pages, Coghlin notes that shoppers are keen to share Eva-B’s unique aesthetic on sites such as Instagram or Facebook.

“People hashtag Eva-B a lot. It’s funny, actually, you can see the [changes] throughout the years. If you go all the way down [the Eva-B tag on Instagram], you […] see what [the store] was like, our history, just on Instagram,” said Coghlin.

Indeed, Eva-B strives to fulfill a look that attracts young creative people. The music, playing overhead as customers browse, is hand-picked by the employees of the store, and features artists such as The Smiths and The Talking Heads.

Walking around the store feels disorienting— there are cassettes, typewriters, and books that seemed to have come out of the last century.

Even the boarded-up door—although rather dubious-looking—manages to perfectly encapsulate Eva-B’s grunge style. The entrance signs are tucked away, as though to preserve the clandestine nature of the store.

“Not many people notice that we actually exist, because all of the front of our store is completely boarded-up,” Coghlin said. “Being on St-Laurent at three in the morning, you get a lot of drunk people […] and people would break the windows, and we didn’t have enough money to [repair] them. We [tried] to patch it up with little pieces of wood until eventually we had to patch up the whole front because we kept getting bottles of beer thrown, [and drunk] people breaking in.”

Coghlin doesn’t remember when graffiti started showing up on the walls, but she notes that it could have been from fans of the store, or simply young people attempting to vandalize

Eva-B has become a staple site in the Montreal thrifting scene and it has undergone many transformations to get to its current place. (Hannah Taylor / The McGill Tribune) property. Whatever the case, it’s certainly worked in Eva-B’s favour, especially in maintaining an underground image.

As for the mysterious name, Coghlin makes a tenuous connection to Eva Braun, but says she doesn’t really know either.

“I’ve asked [Croteau], ‘Where is Eva-B from?’ and his answer to that is, ‘I don’t remember.’ Now he is a bit old, but I don’t really believe that,” said Coghlin, with a laugh.

Life outside lectures The value of technical jobs and internships

1 microsoft

By Clare Lyle

3 FACEBOOK Under the shadow of exams, assignments, and endless lectures, the pressure of academic life can turn the McGill bubble opaque. Although we call ourselves McGill students, there are four months of the year during which most of us are not studying at McGill University.

Many students use their respite from classes and exams to undertake professional opportunities. Student employment in Quebec is among the highest of all the provinces in Canada. According to the Institut de la statistique du Quebec, during the summer of 2015, over half of the students in Quebec between the ages of 15 to 24 were employed. Summer internships can also lead to employment opportunities after graduation. For example, according to a Seattle Times article, at Microsoft, 85 per cent of interns receive full-time offers at the end of their internships.

Students can find employment in a myriad of different places, and some opportunities may even take them to other countries. Michael Ho, U4 Software Engineering, has used his summer breaks to intern at a number of major software companies in the United States, including Microsoft, Apple, and Facebook. He described his internships as invaluable learning experiences.

“Writing code for an assignment is so different from writing code which will scale on hundreds of servers and affect millions of customers,” he said. “I learned a lot about software engineering practices, the entire process of planning, designing, implementing, and testing code, which eventually goes into production to millions of people. Being a software engineer doesn’t only require technical skills, but also tremendous social skills, as communication is key when you have a project in which hundreds or even thousands of engineers contribute together.”

Ho emphasized the benefits of interning with multiple different companies over the course of several summers. In his mind, beyond just being enjoyable experiences, these internships gave him an idea of what he wanted to do after graduation.

“Every company is different in terms of culture, engineering practices, goals, and much more,” he said. “An internship allows you to discover a new place, dig into its internal secrets, learn from different perspectives, [and] all of this without permanently settling for a company.

Working at Microsoft with 22 years of legacy code was pretty special, while working in Apple’s absolute secrecy is absolutely astonishing. Having multiple internships gave me so [many] insights on what’s really out there in the industry. This allowed me to better decide where I really want to go and gauge the right fit for a permanent position

upon graduation. Nonetheless, it also gave me a very nice network to start my career with.”

As Ho explains, internships and short-term employment are an integral step for students to set their foot into the working world, allowing them to experience the work environment and develop a professional network. McGill, as well as many student associations and clubs on campus, offers a number of opportunities for students seeking technical internships to interact with companies that are looking to hire. For example, the Fall and Winter Tech Fairs, as well as sponsor booths at events like code.jam(), RoboHacks, and McHacks, bring company recruiters to campus. In addition, there are a number of interview and resume-writing workshops hosted by the Faculty of Engineering and the Computer Science Undergraduate Society each year. In addition to opportunities presented by McGill and its community, events like the Montreal Startup Bus in the Fall and competitions on websites like HackerRank can also help students looking for summer work to gain exposure to companies who might be interested in hiring them.

There are also more general organizations and services that aim to help students from all academic background to discover various long-term and short-term work options. Career Planning Services (CAPs), offers career advising services to McGill students, among many other resources to help them find employment. AIESEC McGill connects students with international internship opportunities in various fields, such as teaching and business.

While there are countless external job opportunities, some students prefer to stick closer to their academic roots during the summer. Research jobs are opportunities for students considering grad school to test the waters before committing to a research degree. Gaining research experience can also help set an applicant apart from the masses when it comes to grad school admissions.

Miles Cranmer, U2 Honours Physics, spent his first summer after enrolling at McGill working on “parallelizing a pulsar search algorithm over a supercomputer, with a particular focus on GPU-acceleration.” This means that he worked on developing software which can detect a rare type of star. This experience sparked an interest in developing software for astrophysics, which then

2 APPLE

led him to get in touch with radio astronomer Lincoln Greenhill, who is a Senior Research Fellow at the Department of Astronomy at Harvard.

This correspondence eventually led him to a summer research position at the HarvardSmithsonian Center.

“I found out about a cool project that one of his other post-docs had started, a software called ‘Bifrost,’ named after the Norse mythological bridge,” wrote Cranmer in an email to The McGill Tribune. “This software is aimed more generally: To be a framework for radio telescope software.

I thought this sounded like a fun project. It involves things I am interested in, and is extensible to many other projects. It is also of a bigger scope.

Multiple radio telescopes can use Bifrost.”

Students interested in participating in research at McGill can visit their faculty’s research page on the McGill website, or email their professors to inquire about any projects they might be working on. CAPs also has an extensive list of research job opportunities available both in and out of McGill. Once a student has found a profes-

4 MCGILL

5 HARVARD

6 Tasajera Tides

sor and a research project, there are several ways to receive funding for summer research at McGill, such as Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s Undergraduate Student Research Awards, McGill’s Science Undergraduate Research Award initiative, and funding from individual labs.

Once a student has found a job prospect that resonates with them, there remains the challenge of standing out to the employers and ultimately getting hired—oftentimes through stiff competition. Understanding how to prepare an effective CV, cover letter and showcasing strong interview skills are all key requirements to getting hired. When asked for advice on how to prepare for technical interviews, “Practice, practice, and practice!” was Ho’s recommendation.

“ I read CTCI [Cracking the Coding Interview], solved lots of problems on leetcode.com [.…] But really, nothing prepares you more than actual technical interviews, the pressure to find a solution, code it nicely while continuously explaining your thought processes, all of this [in] under 45 [minutes]. It takes a lot of practice to master,” Ho said. “On top of that, you need to learn to bond with your interviewer and display your passion for software engineering over the phone. I failed interviews with the first nine companies I interviewed at, some of them rejected me after the fourth round. The tenth company, Yahoo, gave me my first internship offer!”

Like Ho, Madeleine Pawlowski, who graduated from McGill Arts in 2015, emphasized the value of preparation when it comes to interviewing for a position. She believes that diligence and thoroughness were key factors behind how she was able to secure her position as an intern at the World Health Organization during the summer of her third year.

“There is no such thing as being too prepared,” she said. “You can write out all the questions that might be asked of you on sticky notes and brainstorm good answers ahead of time. Make sure you are preparing for questions that are specific to the job you are up for and spend a good amount of time reflecting on how your past experiences can contribute to this new position.”

Pawlowski also spoke about the importance of going out of one’s comfort zone.

One of the most valuable opportunities pre-

sented by the summer months, according to her, is the chance to branch out of one’s academic focus and explore careers that one may not have considered before.

“Your summers in university are a wonderful way to try new things, whether that be in the non-profit field, in the corporate sector, public policy, or an entirely different field altogether,” she said. “Talk to parents friends or professors about ideas for summer work. Never discount an opportunity, you never know what you might learn!”

As Pawlowski suggested, flexibility and willingness to explore is an important quality for succeeding in the professional world. Kirk Wright, U2 Honours Economics, spent his last summer working on a community development project in El Salvador.

Alongside Daniel Teodoro, a Salvadoran graduate student and founder of Tasajera Tides, a community development collective, Wright worked towards the implementation of community indicators in rural El Salvador.

“We [...] co-founded Tasajera Tides, a community indicator system for Tasajera, El Salvador and spent the summer on the ground working with the community to establish the system,” he said. “We combined existing quantitative data with traditional storytelling to provide a simple, comprehensive hub for community information.”

After obtaining an internship, an equally challenging task can be getting the most value out of the experience. There are two sides to this: First, learning as much as possible from the experience; and second, being able to contribute in a meaningful way to the organization and community in which the internship occurs. Ho believes that displaying proactiveness and integrity is most important in meeting these goals.

“Don’t be afraid to ask questions,” recommended Ho. “You want to learn the most out of [your internship] and start making impact as soon as possible. In terms of impact, there’s only one question to ask yourself: ‘What can I do to help my team?’ Oftentimes, there are a lot of small tasks you can do even if you’re not asked to, which your teammates would really appreciate.”

The impact a project has can often extend beyond the employer to affect the broader community. According to Wright, meaningful work entails listening to the community one is trying working in and educating oneself about their needs.

“It is important to keep a strong sense of perspective when working in a community that is not your own,” said Wright. “Regardless of your intentions, you have more capacity to do harm than to do good. To ensure that you’re contributing in a positive way, you have to do more listening than acting and appreciate your role within the project as well as the larger community.”

The community affected by an internship can extend beyond a single town. Ho recollected a favourite memory from his internship at Apple: Introducing machine learning to Siri. On top of the knowledge he gained over four months working on the project, he cited the satisfaction he felt in knowing that his work would impact so many people worldwide.

“In a team of three software engineers only, we built the frontend to Siri’s new natural language processing system,” he said. “I’ve learned so much over the course of four months, working with world-class engineers, data scientists, linguists, translators and artificial intelligence specialists. We built an interface for developers to integrate Siri into their apps and train Siri to understand new intents [....] The project [...] affected more than 100 million Apple users. It feels great to know that the code you wrote [can have an impact on] millions of people around the world!”

10 STUDENT LIVING

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

TEDxMontreal Women conference calls women to action Speakers discuss religious tolerance and female comradery

Audrey Carleton Student L:iving Editor On Saturday, Oct 29., hundreds of people gathered in Salle Mercure for the annual TEDxMontreal Women conference—one of many TEDx Women conferences across the world. Over the course of the day, 16 speakers gave powerful talks related to the theme, “It’s about time.”

The conference theme for the independentlyrun TEDx event was derived from the wider TEDWomen conference topic this year. Though broad, the assertive subject gave speakers room to touch on issues of health, human rights, technology, and social justice, all while calling women to action. For Emily Hamilton-Leavitt, director of Food Logistics for TEDxMontreal Women, the theme challenges women to take ownership of their accomplishments.

“It’s about time we showcase what we’re good at and not minimize our accomplishments [...] women have a tendency to not necessarily own what they do,” Hamilton-Leavitt said. “They’re not necessarily going out there and showing it to the world, and we wanted people to really see how women can do these incredible things.”

Speakers at the event spoke on topics ranging from female sexual pleasure to the importance of finding moments of stillness in otherwise busy and chaotic days. The range of talks helped ensure that every attendee could find a subject they were interested in. However, one speaker, Juss Kaur, spread a powerful message on religious tolerance that she hoped all attendees could engage with.

16 speakers gave talks on a range of topics relating to the theme, “It’s about time.” (Audrey Carleton / The McGill Tribune) As a Sikh liaison in the McGill Office of Religious and Spiritual Life (MORSL), religious acceptance is an important topic for Kaur. In her talk, she addressed religion-based hate crimes and western phobia of those wearing head coverings.

“There is this turbanphobia that’s going along, and, as a Sikh woman, I’m very concerned about that,” Kaur said. “Since 9/11 basically, some people generalize and they say that all turban wearing individuals are terrorists, and so I wanted to bring across this message that this is not so [...] we have to understand that everyone is not the same. You can’t take a brush and paint everything the same.”

Kaur shared her vision of oneness, calling on audience members to search for common ground with those with whom they have superficial differences.

“My message is that it is our responsibility to learn to counter all our fears,” Kaur said. “Fears come from hatred and not being able to understand other people, to understand that below all these surface differences we are all the same.”

In addition to the diversity of topics at the conference, there was a range of variety in speakers’ ages and backgrounds. The youngest speaker at the conference, for example, was Emma Hason, 16-year-old high school student and poet.

Instead of a talk, Hason performed a slam poem about the pressures placed on teenage girls to excel academically and socially. The topic of Hason’s talk was rooted in her personal experiences as a young woman.

“I always sort of felt that there was this pressure on girls my age and I’d see that a lot at school,” Hason said. “I was really noticing that a lot of people felt like they had to act a certain way just because that’s what society told them to do.”

Hason’s ultimate goal with her poem was to mobilize other young women in her community to support one another, rather than perpetuate unrealistically high standards placed on teenage girls with attitudes of individualism.

“A lot of times, girls have a habit of turning on each other and thinking that it’s each for her own,” Hason said. “If we stick together, we can

maybe make it through everything, and we don’t have to always give in to what other people say we need to be like, we don’t have to be afraid to be ourselves because there’s always going to be other girls who are going to stick up for us and have our backs.”

Whether a talk’s purpose is to build community among viewers, to call people to action, or to raise awareness on an issue or invention, the TED platform serves an important role in disemminating ideas. Because many audience members at TED conferences attend with the expectation to learn, each idea shared has a resounding impact upon the listeners. This was certainly true at TEDxMontreal Women.

“I think [TED is] a very important venue for sharing knowledge,” Kaur said. “The people who were there were very open-minded and ready to receive the message. I think that’s amazing, and of course from here, these are the type of people who can bring change, [attendees are] open-minded, with attitudes that say, ‘Yes, there is possibility of looking at something with a different attitude.”

Winter is Coming: Heating tips for first-time renters How students can keep heat in without breaking the bank Emma Carr Contributor As temperatures fall, energy bills are on the rise for Montreal residents. Heating costs amount to approximately 54 per cent of the average customer’s total energy usage and new renters can often suffer from sticker shock upon receiving their first winter bill. The McGill Tribune spoke to Geneviève Chouinard, press officer from Hydro-Quebec, on how first-time renters can cut heating bills this winter.

1. Eliminate drafts A sure-fire way tenants can reduce their current heating bill is to get rid of all drafts in the apartment. A draft is a current of cold air coming from the outside.

If you are unsure if there is a draft in your apartment or where drafts may be coming from, check the interior walls of the apartment.

“Twenty-five per cent of heat loss comes from draft leaks,” Chouinard said. “If you place your hand close to the window or doors, you can feel if there is

a draft.”

If there is a draft coming through the windows, this problem can be easily fixed by covering windows with ordinary plastic wrap from your local grocery store. To insulate your windows, cover the window from top to bottom with the plastic wrap and secure each end with tape.

Once the half of the window is covered, press your hand against the window so that the plastic clings to the glass of the window.

Then repeat the process for the lower half of the window. This will create a better seal on the windows and close up any gaps that let cold air inside. If there is a draft coming from a door, tenants may want to consider asking their landlord to replace the weatherstripping, which seals off openings around doors from outside elements.

2. LOWER the thermostat This tip may seem obvious, however, many students may be surprised to learn how big a difference even the most gradual changes can make on your total

heating expenses.

“If you lower your thermostat by one degree Celsius, you can save up to $40 a year,” Chouinard said.

For additional savings, Chouinard suggests renters lower their thermostat by two or three degrees Celsius. However, everyone has different habits and preferences, so find a temperature that works for all of the renters living in the apartment. A good rule of thumb is to set your thermostat around 20 degrees Celsius during the winter and increase the temperature to your comfort.

If tenants are looking to save money, but feel a bit chilly after lowering their thermostats, they might want to try keeping warm in other ways. Try wearing a warm hat around the apartment, as uncovered heads can lose up to 50 per cent of body heat. Wearing extra layers and drinking hot beverages may help as well.

3. DON’T WASTE HEAT ON UNUSED SPACE Try to prioritize the rooms that need to be heated in the

apartment, such as bedrooms or the living room. Conversely, turn down the thermostats in low priority rooms, such as laundry rooms, storage areas, and the kitchen.The money saved can be better used making the rooms you spend the most time in comfortable.

“If you have an unoccupied room, close the door and set the temperature for 17 degrees Celsius,” Chouinard said.

Another good habit is to lower the thermostat whenever the apartment is unoccupied.

When tenants are not home, they should lower their thermostat by 2 or 3 degrees Celsius. This can save another $50-$75 on their annual electric bill.

4. Let Nature do Its Work Sunlight is a natural source of heat and, best of all, it’s free. Chouinard recommends that students take advantage of sunlight to cut their annual electric bill.

“Open your blinds or curtains during the day, and close them at night to keep the heat inside,”

Chouinard said.

Incorporating this habit into your daily routine maximizes the heat that comes into the apartment during the day and minimizes the heat lost during the night.

Additionally, renters may want to consider replacing thin curtains with a thicker set. Thicker curtains will create a more effective barrier between the apartment and the outside air during the evening.

5. DON’T BLOCK THE HEAT SOURCE

Make sure that the area in front of heat sources is cleared to maximize the flow of air.

“It is very important to keep all furniture away from the heat source. If not, the apartment will not heat properly,” Chouinard said.

For maximum heating efficiency, walk through the apartment to make sure that there is nothing blocking your heating system. This will save tenants from having to crank up the thermostat to keep their apartment warm.

If all else fails, remember that summer is only 31 weeks away.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 11

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Future funk and retro rhythm

Toronto producer Harrison releases new album, Checkpoint Titanium

Harrison performed on Oct. 29 at Theatre Berri. (Noah Sutton / The McGill Tribune)

Evelyn Goessling Arts & Entertainement Editor Continued from page 1.

In 10 succinct tracks, Harrison showcases his diversity as a producer and songwriter with uptempo and synth-heavy

dance numbers—“Checkpoint Titanium” and “Right Hook”—to funk-based ballads—“It’s Okay, I Promise” and “So Far from Home”.

“So, the point is, you can stay here in fear, forever, as yourself, […] Or we can go everywhere, by love, together,”

Harrison orates on “You and I.” “I’m going there anyways [...].” This assertion alludes to underlying sonic themes of spontaneity, experimentation, and exuberance.

Harrison emphasizes the importance of having a good time with his music. A good show, he

said, happens when everyone is enjoying themselves.

“I like the open-mindedness of Montreal, and when people go out to dance, they go out to dance,” he said. “It’s a bunch of students, and people just want to go have fun.”

It’s hard not to dance when

listening to Harrison—heavy funk and R&B influences combined with uptempo synth beats make for an infectious and exciting sound. Creative sonic and tempo variation sets these tracks apart from the monotony of other techno/house SoundCloud artists.

While his music alone is enough to ensure a good time, Harrison’s stage presence truly emphasizes his sense of fun.

Opening for Cashmere Cat to a small but growing crowd on the Saturday before Halloween, his charismatic stage banter and lively performance amplifies the spirit of his set.

Harrison’s good vibes extend beyond his music. His cover art is bubbly with pink and blue hues, often with playful illustrations or lettering. His website has an addictive Super Mariostyle video game featuring a skateboarding avatar of Harrison, dodging bullets and collecting coins while chasing his escaped dog, Aika.

Checkpoint Titanium poises Harrison as a producing talent to watch out for. His songs strip away all dancing inhibitions and conceits with the perfect sound for a night out.

Listen to Checkpoint Titanium at soundcloud.com/harrison_music

An Iliad: A story of war and grief Demaris Oxman Contributor How can one make a modernday audience hang on every word of a three-thousand-year-old story? An Iliad, a one-man show directed by the McGill Classics department’s Lynn Kozak and produced by Chocolate Moose Theatre, proves that remakes of classic texts can be executed in both a skillful and entertaining way.

The play takes the form of a story told by one man, the Poet, who is played by Martin Law, co-founder of Chocolate Moose. This man’s identity and origin, however, are secondary to the story he has to share. It’s a familiar tale: The story of how the Greek warrior Achilles slayed the Trojan warrior Hector. But the Poet’s monologue is not a simple retelling of the classic tale. Although he appears to the audience as a modern-day man, he was there during the war, where he saw and felt its horrors. Through his monologue, the audience sees and feels this turmoil as well.

The story is interwoven with references to today’s world.

After three thousand years,

the memories of the conflict’s tragedies are still fresh in his mind; he sees them repeated throughout time in the wars humans continue to fight. The ubiquitousness of war is a theme in the production and one of the reasons the Iliad still resonates with audiences.

Though Homer’s story is most remembered as gorey and graphic descriptions of battle, An Iliad shows that there is much more to the narrative than this.

“It’s a story about grief, rage, emotions related to death,” said Law. Throughout the production the Poet takes the audience inside the minds of the characters: Battlecrazed warriors, angry gods, and grief-stricken loved ones. He tells a story of honourable men on both sides, clashing against each other for deeply personal reasons.

The Poet makes the audience understand the motivations of the characters.

“Being able to break the fourth wall is fantastic,” said Law. “There’s more storytelling when I can look at someone right in the eye and say, ‘You, yes, you, sitting there, this is what I’m telling you,’ in a way that almost gives you an acting partner,

someone to feed off of.”

Law offered his own insight into why people everywhere relate to An Iliad. He discussed grief in the Bible and in the classical tradition.

“In the Biblical tradition, it’s dealt with, but there’s an answer for all of death, and it’s the will of God,” he said. “For the Greeks, the will of Zeus, the will of many gods, capricious gods, is much closer to some of the real things that people feel.”

In his role as The Poet, Law attempts to tell this classic story of intense grief as naturally as possible in order to make it resonate with modern audiences.

“As an actor, the easiest thing Lynn [Kozak] did for me was just to say, ‘Look, put it in your own voice,’” Law said. “That was the best way just to make all the text sort of pop.”

The audience is compelled to get angry with Achilles at the loss of his dear friend and to weep with Hector’s wife at the news of his death. An Iliad is an acutely emotional experience, filled with grief and rage, love and suffering.

Through the Poet’s monologue, the epic poem becomes universal to human experience.

An Illiad is a timeless story of triumph and grief. (Justine Touchon / The McGill Tribune)

12 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Book Review: 3 or 4 Years an Indian Sophie Brzozowski Contributor The introductory blurb on the back of 3 or 4 Years an Indian describes author Cindy Styles as being “a new author born by obligation.” Of all Styles’ titles—musician, healer, McGill alumna—the only one that she has ever been denied was the one she is owed: Membership to the Qalipu Mi’kmaq tribe, a small band of landless indigenous Canadians that, thanks to the 2014 parlimentary bill C-25, has very strict membership requirements.

Styles’ story begins in 2011, when Harper’s government formally acknowledged the indigenous Newfoundland nation and promised its members all the health and economic benefits they were entitled to. As the news began to circulate, members from near and far came forward, and before long more than 100,000 individuals had claimed legitimate ties to the tribe—almost four times the original estimate of enrollment. It was then that the government began to amend its original plan. Membership contracts were revised and rules were changed. Despite their status as a “landless tribe,” those members who were living outside of Newfoundland were faced with the strenuous and demeaning task of proving their

authenticity to the government by providing everything from affidavits to family photos. Styles, who is of Mi’kmaq heritage and entitled to membership in the indigenous nation, was inspired to write her story when her identity was challenged.

3 or 4 Years an Indian is a quick read. Of its 130 pages, almost half the book is comprised of photos, letters, and lists, tucked away in addendums, to which Styles often refers. Interrupting her own narrative, she asks readers to flip back and forth, creating a “maze-like trickery to mirror the task presented [to me] by the Canadian government.”

“I’m a Music major, right?”

Styles joked in an interview. “The book has ABA formatting, with a variety of imagined codetta’s in the form of addendums. Creative non-fiction.”

This format successfully reflected the confusion and miscommunication that characterized the process of Qalipu Mi’kmaq membership.

Hers is not a linear story. Styles insists that it began generations ago, with the family and traditions that she was born into, and the colonialism that threatened them. The first of the addendums contains the letter she and many others received from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, detailing the steps they must take in order to complete the process

of “Self and Group Identification.”

What follows is the letter she wrote in response to the Enrolment Committee, in which she recounts childhood anecdotes, family histories and personal accomplishments to prove her genuine ties to her own people.

Near the middle, the book abruptly segues into a brief interlude about addiction and substance abuse.

The chapters preach the dangers of alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes, and Kraft Dinner, along with a slew of street drugs that Styles hopes readers haven’t tried. Her favourable view of sobriety, although eloquent and earnest, is one we’ve heard before, not to mention that it appears without much explanation as to how it relates to the rest of the story.

Although this transition is blunt, Styles’ additional message here is effective. Speaking candidly about substance abuse and IndigenousCanadian relations moves the reader away from the media’s portrayal of addiction and hopelessness within Indigenous reservations.

“It’s not that it’s inaccurate or misrepresented, it’s more about overall optics,” Styles explained. “We both know I could follow a few of Canada’s finest sons and daughters around any campus, frat, or sorority house on any given weekend, and come up with some pretty unattractive footage. I see

Cindy Styles’ book explores indigenous identity with humour. (cbncompass.ca) substance abuse in many cultures. So, since I am of the healthiest body and mind, I thought I’d offer advice to the other cultures. How dare I? I did.”

The entire story is delivered with this kind of wit and shrewdness. 3 or 4 Years an Indian is an meaningful narrative that entertains while it

educates. Told in a unique format with a confident voice, the book sheds light on the injustices still present in Canada.

At once charming and blunt, funny and solemn, 3 or 4 Years an Indian is an atypical work of non-fiction that puts personal experience at the forefront of a historic phenomenon.

Montreal Improv’s Dreamtime brings your wildest dreams to the stage Albert Park Features Editor There is something dreamlike about improvisational theatre. Dreams and improv both instill a feeling of surreal unpredictability, an atmosphere of colourful chaos, and a sense of blurry boundlessness. They keep you on your toes and pull you into a distinctly unique experience while breaking down the walls between reality and imagination. Dreamtime, which was organized and performed by students of Montreal Improv, masterfully took advantage of these similarities to create a performance based on people’s dreams.

The venue, Montreal Improv, is a relatively small theatre on St-Laurent. The theatre room can only be described as clandestine, with its neat rows of folding chairs and nearly nonexistent lighting. This dim, minimalist setting exudes a feeling of privacy and intimacy, which implores audiences to forget about the outside world and fully engage with the performance.

The show’s opener, Frank Mythic—a duo comprised of Andrew Assaf and Dimitri Kyres— performed an improv set based on the word “metro.” Starting with the premise of a man looking for his lost brother in a subway station with the help of a police officer, the story quickly unfolded into an epically amusing mock mystery.

The act was not flawless; they broke character and let out a few chuckles in the dramatic sequences, yet, their

blunders were largely drowned out by the laughter erupting from the audience.

Frank Mythic was followed by Genghis, a group composed of Kate Bradley, Paige Cooper, Al Lafrance,

Dreamtime requested that audience members contribute interesting ideas from dreams they’ve had to serve as a springboard for the improvised act.

Before the performance, one audience member shared her dream about a visit

of a man with a strange fascination with his girlfriend’s feet, based off of the mention of feet in the dream. The most unique aspect of the show was that the different subplots would play out almost coincidentally, with two

Dreamtime takes audience participation to a subconscious level. (Noah Sutton / The McGill Tribune) Paul Piro, and Stefan Spec. The group opted to perform a series of shorter skits based on a random assortment of props. While their performances were somewhat difficult to follow, their style of humour—bold and wacky—often hit the right note with the audience.

Afterwards, showrunners Isobel Cully and Helena Vassiliou took to the stage to introduce Dreamtime and its team, made up of themselves, Jason Grimmer, James McGee, Jaymie Métivier, and Mariana Vial.

As with each of their performances,

from a faceless ex-boyfriend.

To the tune of the 1958 classic “Mr Sandman,” Dreamtime came onstage, with their act proving to be an unpredictable hilarity. Instead of recreating the described dream scenefor-scene, the performers presented a collection of different stories based on different features of it and the feelings it aroused. The main plot was about the faceless man, portrayed by Cully.

However, there were many other skits, with one particularly memorable story based on McGee’s portrayal

different stories at times performed at once.

After the show, Cully elaborated on the team’s use of disorganized transitions.

“Instead of trying to make the ideas [focused on] dreams, making the format and the transitions more like dreams was the intention.” Cully said.

“It’s kind of like how [different parts of] dreams just melt into one another.”

Every performer played multiple roles, each with distinct personalities and backgrounds, yet there was a

unique sense of personal style that they were able to inject into their characters.

McGee stood out the most in this aspect—every one of his characters would make the audience break out in awkward laughter, but for different reasons. “[What I like the most about improv] is that you can be someone else while being 100 per cent yourself,” said Cully. “In improv, you can use your own experiences to do something completely different from what you would do in real life.”

Despite the wide range of scenarios and forms of humour showcased by the performers, everything ultimately came together to create an experience which successfully captured the feeling of a dream. Although the show intentionally demanded incohesiveness and chaos, it was clear that the team was working as a singular body—they were never thrown off by each other’s eccentricities. Vassiliou explained that this teamwork is why she enjoys improv.

“Improv is an art form where you can’t ever get too comfortable.” she said. “It’s a practice in teamwork and communication.”

The Dreamtime team is looking forward to hosting more shows at Montreal Improv. Vassiliou encourages McGill students to attend future performances.

“Keep your ears to the ground for more improv shows,” she said. “And remember your dreams so you can come share them!”

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

science & technology 13

How light therapy can help fight the winter blues Understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder Charlotte Hings Contributor Continued from page 1.

The underlying causes of SAD are undefined, but it is likely that the reduction in daylight hours causes shifts in hormone and chemical levels in the brain. The two main hormones responsible for SAD are serotonin—responsible for mood—and melatonin— responsible for inducing sleep.

Some people are more sensitive than others to this reduction in daylight hours and will produce more melatonin and less serotonin during the autumn and winter months. These chemical shifts disrupt the circadian rhythm, worsen moods, and decrease energy.

As with many other forms of depression, exercise and frequent trips outdoors can help prevent or relieve SAD symptoms.

The most common treatment for SAD is light therapy, which consists of daily exposure to a light box that mimics outdoor light, leading to increases in serotonin levels in the brain that will help lift moods and relieve other symptoms. It is best to start light therapy early in the fall, before symptoms appear or they become to get too intense and interfere with school work and other daily activities.

Purchasing a light box may be a huge expense for many students, as they typically cost upwards of $250 each. However, they have been shown to help alleviate depression symptoms during those stressful and long winter months, and could be considered a wise investment in one’s well-being rather than only a burden on the bank account. Alternatively, cognitive behaviour therapy and antidepressants can be used to treat more severe cases of

SAD. These resources are also available through McGill’s Mental Health Services.

If you are unsure if you have SAD, trying light therapy has not been shown to cause any harm.

There are some new and useful resources at McGill for students to rent a light box to try at home before buying one. “Happy Lights” is a wellness program that was started by Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) last year, through which students can rent a light box for a few weeks. The rental provides a sufficient period of time to test the effectiveness of light therapy to alleviate SAD symptoms. In addition to SSMU’s “Happy Lights,” there are other light therapy lamps available on campus offered by McGill Mental Health Services, the McGill Office of Religious and Spiritual Life (MORSL), and Macdonald Campus Student Services.

Depression symptoms brought on by the shorter daylight hours is called Seasonal Affective Disorder. (Coralie Delettre / The McGill Tribune)

Where to look for life on Mars Study on ancient rocks and sulphate isotopes on Earth give clues for finding life on Mars

New research on Earth tells us the Martian landscape may not be as lifeless as it seems. (Daria Kiseleva / The McGill Tribune)

Izze Siemann Staff Writer Thanks to a study published in the October issue of Nature Communications, ecosystems are now known to be capable of surviving in the ancient rocks of the Earth’s crust.

Two members of McGill’s Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences—Boswell Wing and Thi Hao Bui—assisted colleagues from the University of Alberta and the University of Toronto to publish this groundbreaking discovery.

The researchers extracted

water from a non-active portion of a mine outside of Timmins, Ontario. The high concentration of sulphur and the variety of sulphate isotopes within the extracted water were deemed worthy of investigation. Isotopes are versions of the same element, but with a different number of neutrons within their nuclei and different radioactive charges.

Measuring the sulphate isotopes proved a tricky and involved process.

Bui, a postdoctoral research graduate in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at McGill, outlined the process.

“For every litre of water extracted from the mine, about one milligram of isotope exists,” Bui said. “In the wet lab, research assistants work to locate this one milligram of isotope within the litre of water, which takes a lot of time and energy.”

A machine built by members of McGill’s research staff detects the difference in weight between these isotopes because the variation in the number of nuclei affects their weight.

These measurements led the team to its unexpected conclusion: Microbial organisms must be acquiring their energy

from the repeated recycling of ancient sulphur.

“We didn’t actually identify any microorganisms in those subsurface waters,” Wing, former Associate Professor of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at McGill, explained.

“But what we identified was evidence of their activity.”

By measuring sulphate isotopes dissolved in water, scientists concluded that microbial organisms could thrive in fracture waters found between the cracks of ancient rocks. Microorganisms can take in organic carbon—like sugars— from their atmosphere and can then use sulphate to oxidize it. The combination of suphate and organic carbons allows microorganisms to maintain metabolic activity over two kilometres below the surface of the Earth.

“When [the organisms] do that, they have a very slight preference for the sulphate that contains sulphur 32, relative to the heavier isotopes of sulphur, like sulphur 33 and sulphur 34,” Wing said.

Lead author Long Li, assistant professor at the University of Alberta’s Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, explained that these isotopes provide a renewable energy source for the microorganisms.

“Sulphate [...] is actually produced in place by reaction between the water and rock,” Li explained to the McGill Newsroom. “What this means is that the reaction will occur naturally and can persist for as long as the water and rock are in contact, potentially billions of years.”

Not only do the sulphate isotopes highlight how diverse the habitable portions of Earth are, but also that there is a possibility that similar life forms exist on Mars.

While this prediction may also be true for other planets, similarities between early Earth and early Mars make our neighbouring planet a particularly convincing candidate for once having sustained life.

Evidence of historical shorelines and indicative chemicals affirms that there were once large bodies of water on Mars. Furthermore, Mars is largely made of the same type of rocks as Earth.

Wing explains that the surface of Mars is dry, cold, and has little protection from UV radiation. However, living deep in the crust of Mars, off only hydrogen and sulphate in a fluid-filled pocket, could allow for growth and a habitable environment.

The novel discovery could help guide further Martian explorations. To look for life on Mars, look within its crust.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

14 science & technology

From spiders to pseudoscorpions

The impact of climate change on Arctic biodiversity

Natural Resources Associate Professor Christopher Buddle discusses spider and insect diversity in the Canadian Arctic. (Lauren Benson-Armer / The McGill Tribune) unusually high rate. The parasitic relationship begins when the wasp latches on to the spinneret of a female spider and lays its eggs in the egg sac of the host. The wasp eggs hatch and subsequently devour the spider.

A particularly memorable arachnid encounter occurred when Buddle and two research

spider diversity and taxonomy.

The Arctic species exhibit an impressive degree of plasticity and adaptability in order to thrive in challenging conditions.

In 2012, Buddle and his graduate students found that more than half of the female wolf spider population were parasitized by wasps in the Yukon—an

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“Most spiders are small. I don’t know if that’s a comfort to you or not,” Dean of Students and Department of Natural Resources Associate Professor Christopher Buddle said to the audience on Nov. 10 at Cutting Edge Lectures in Science, hosted by the Redpath Museum.

As an arachnologist studying the biodiversity of spiders and insects in Arctic systems, Buddle is no stranger to the hostile environments of the North. Much of his research addresses the critical situation concerning climate change that has been becoming an increasingly significant factor in Arctic habitats.

“We know that the Arctic

is changing,” Buddle said. “It’s very alarming, because the rate of which things like climate change happen in the North is very, very rapid.”

The far northern environments, which Buddle refers to as “the fragile Arctic,” most severely feel the effects of changing climates. Through his fieldwork in the arctic, Buddle hopes to understand the consequences of climate change on the northern ecosystems and to benchmark the state of its biodiversity.

During one of his northern expeditions, Buddle and his research team collected approximately 30,000 spiders, consisting of 14 families and 306 different species. The Arctic is home to a wide array of

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associates accidentally stumbled upon a new species of pseudoscorpion under rocks in the Yukon. Coincidentally, pseudoscorpions—a close relative of scorpions and spiders—were also discovered by complete chance in the 1980s.

“That’s not how we think of science working, by accident, but I think it works by accident more often than not,” Buddle said.

Upon further investigation into these mysterious species, researchers found that pseudoscorpions can survive without breathing for 17 days in deoxygenated water—a discovery that was later reported on by the BBC. Buddle discussed the importance of species identification in order to track and understand the real and profound effects that occur as a result of climate change.

“We need to tell the stories of species. They have a story to tell, we just don’t know the stories,” Buddle said.

Natural history, as described

by Buddle, is usually presented as dead relics in dusty museums.

Instead, it ought to be considered as a foundational piece of how humans perceive nature and how field observations are a valuable component of the scientific method. Unfortunately, the number of courses and textbooks on natural history have been decreasing over time.

Nonetheless, many passionate professors at McGill are working to integrate natural history back into classes.

“Always be open to working [with] people. They know a hell lot more than you do,” Buddle said. “Collaboration is key, and I think almost most importantly, [is] curiosity, wonder, and passion […] let’s make sure that keeps happening.”

SPORTS 15

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

10 things: U ps e ts

(cover32.com)

By Wasif Husain Contributor

111

The New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII in 2007.

New England entered the game undefeated and as heavy favourites. The game, which featured the “helmet catch” by David Tyree, ended with the Giants taking a 17-14 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish as they handed Patriots their first loss of the season.

Alexander Kerelin, nicknamed the “Russian Bear,” was considered the greatest GrecoRoman wrestler in modern time. In the 2000 Sydney Olympics, he went into the final after going 13 years undefeated in international competition, but lost to a low-ranked American named Rulon Gardner. He retired from the sport in the same year after the upset.

Do you believe in miracles? The U.S. men’s hockey team defeating the feared Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympics on American soil was one of the biggest upsets of all time. With a team full of nobodies, they took Lake Placid by storm, and stopped the Soviet machine in its tracks.

In 1919, the racehorse, Man o’War, had been undefeated coming into the Sanford Memorial. The streak ended when he lost to 100-1 longshot horse, who was appropriately named Upset. It was the only blemish in Man o’War’s illustrious 21 race career.

2

In 1985, the No. 8 seeded Villanova Wildcats upset the Patrick Ewing-led No. 1 seeded Georgetown Hoyas, who had been looking to repeat as National Champions.

Villanova shot an astonishing 78.6 per cent for the game to shock the reigning champs 66-64.

3

Buster Douglas knocking out Mike Tyson in 1990 will go down as one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. At 42-1 odds, Douglas knocked out Tyson with one punch and took his heavyweight title. The biggest, baddest man in boxing had lost his aura of invincibility.

4

The U.S. men’s soccer team’s 1-0 defeat of England at the 1950 World Cup became known as the “Miracle on Grass.” At the time, England was considered the “King of Football” while the Americans had lost their last seven matches by a combined score of 45-2.

5

6 7

At Wrestlemania 22, Rey Mysterio defeated reigning world heavyweight champion Kurt Angle and villain Randy Orton in an entertaining triple-threat match. He pulled out all the stops to win and capitalize on his previous famed victory at the Royal Rumble earlier that year, which earned Mysterio his shot at the heavyweight title.

8

At the 2011 Cricket World Cup, Ireland bettered their famous victory against Pakistan in 2007 by defeating their oldest rivals: England. Chasing an imposing 327, the Irish were aided by the fastest century in World Cup history—courtesy of Kevin O’Brien—to come up with the biggest chase ever in the tournament.

9

The 2016 English Premier League (EPL) season has gone down as one of the most astonishing finishes in soccer history. Leicester City won the EPL after being almost relegated the year before. With 5000-1 odds to start the year, they outplayed Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Tottenham to win the league.

10

It’s time for the Packers to say goodbye to Head Coach Mike McCarthy Stubbornness stifles Green Bay’s struggling offence Joe Khammar Staff Writer Green Bay Packers’ Head Coach Mike McCarthy is in a precarious situation in his 11th season on the sidelines. The Packers sit at 4-5 and media and fans are questionning McCarthy’s future as coach. There is no question McCarthy was a godsend for the Packers in 2006 to make the transition from the Brett Favre to the Aaron Rodgers era. However, even great coaches don’t last forever.

McCarthy compiled a 10860-1 record from 2006 to 2016, an impressive record only surpassed in the same span by Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots.

While it is undeniably hard to fire a coach that successful, it needs to be done. McCarthy relies on an antiquated system of offence and refuses to change. The West Coast offence he employs is extremely basic in its passing concepts. It uses short, quick, timed routes—similar to legendary coach Bill Walsh’s offence from the 80s.

The McCarthy West Coast scheme was extremely successful in his early years because of its reliance on the quarterback. With

all-star quarterback Aaron Rodgers at the helm, the offence worked effectively and carried the team to a Super Bowl victory in 2010.

Unfortunately, the modern NFL defence has adjusted to McCarthy’s tactics. NFL teams are not calling basic coverages as often as in the 80s or mid-2000s. Instead, defensive coaches employ complex coverage schemes designed to confuse offences.

Despite defensive innovation, McCarthy refuses to adapt, continuing to rely on his quarterback to understand intricate defensive systems.

Rodgers masked the issues with Green Bay’s offence with near flawless performances, supported by his excellent supporting cast week after week. Rodgers’ preparation, strong arm, and pinpoint accuracy kept the team afloat for years. He also was lucky enough to be surrounded by one of the best receiving cores in the league during his Super Bowl run and subsequent record-breaking 2011 season. However, five years later, Rodgers’ receiving core is a collection of late-round draft picks, a recovering Jordy Nelson, and a constantly ailing Randall Cobb.

Unlike other teams, the Packers’ offence cannot simply be

Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. (rrstar.com) fixed by hiring a new offensive coordinator. McCarthy remains in charge of the offence and stubbornly believes in his system despite the team’s continued struggles. If he does not innovate, he must go.

The next coach of the Packers needs to be someone who isn’t afraid to change their offensive scheme. Coaches like the Atlanta Falcons’ Offensive Coordinator

Kyle Shanahan and the Denver Broncos’ Head Coach Gary Kubiak have both made their careers by creating unique schemes tailored specifically for their personnel.

On a team that doesn’t use free agency like the Packers, the ability to properly use the personnel on the roster is paramount.

With the struggles of 2015 and 2016, the Packers can no longer turn

a blind eye to the failings of Head Coach Mike McCarthy. While he was successful in the past, it does nothing to change the reality that his lack of innovation and stubbornness to change are handicapping the Packers’ organization. In order to salvage the remainder of Aaron Rodgers’ career, the Packers need to make a change and hire a coach who can turn the offence around.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

16 sports

McGill Redmen basketball overcome Laval Rouge et Or despite poor shooting

Bench logs crucial minutes in season opener for Redmen B a s k e tb a l l

mcgill

62-61

LA V AL

Forward Mike Peterkin sizes up a defender on the three-point line. (Ava Zwolinski / The McGill Tribune)

Joe Khammar Staff Writer Despite shooting only 35 per cent from the field in their season opener, the McGill Redmen (1-0-0) rallied in the fourth quarter to beat the Laval Rouge et Or (0-1-0) 62-61 on Nov. 10 at Love Competition Hall.

“We missed a lot of shots, open 3’s,” Head Coach David DeAveiro said. “I don’t remember the last time we shot the ball like that.”

The Redmen’s anemic offence allowed Laval to jump out to an early 11-0 lead in the first frame. While McGill played solid defence–holding Laval to 4 of 23 shooting from the field–the visitors

dominated the early portion of the game.

DeAveiro turned to his bench to inject some energy back into the game.

“We got young guys off the bench that are making big shots,” DeAveiro said.

“We had Daniel [Pieper] playing well for us today, Greg Trahan played well today [.…] Our bench did a really good job.”

Players coming off the bench provided a spark for McGill in the second quarter. They began connecting on their field goals and the team played with a newfound intensity. Laval’s foul trouble hindered their efforts on offence and defence. The Redmen managed to come within one point of the Rouge et Or at the end of the first half.

McGill flagged again in the early moments of the third quarter, however, and Laval jumped out ahead. Coach DeAveiro once again turned to his young bench. “[Our] second half [adjustments are] where we wanted to be [from the start],” DeAveiro said. “We wanted to move the ball more from side to side [and] share it.

We wanted to attack after swinging it a few times and we got some baskets.”

McGill was still down by one point at the end of the third quarter, but Laval’s lead lasted less than a minute in the fourth as McGill went on a 6-0 run to start the

final frame. Fourth-year forward Francois Bourque sealed the game by making a pair of free throws to put McGill up by four and retrieved a loose ball with 30 seconds left to prevent Laval from closing the gap in the final moments.

“I knew at that point the game was over,” Bourque said. “They couldn’t close the game or take the pressure and they turned the ball over.”

McGill’s next match is at UQÀM on Nov. 17 at 8:00 p.m. where the Redmen are expected to pick up a second win before returning home for Pots and Pans night against their crosstown-rival the Concordia Stingers on Nov. 24.

Stat Corner McGill has won three of the last six games against Laval by two points or less.

Quotable “Shots we just normally make we missed. Sometimes that’s basketball. You make shots, you miss shots.” - Redmen Coach David DeAveiro on the team’s offensive struggles.

Moment of the Game Francois Bourque retrieved a loose ball with 34 seconds left to ensure a McGill victory over Laval.

McGill and Hogwarts have more in common than you might think McGill’s two Quidditch teams are more than just flightless brooms Nicole Spadotto Staff Writer McGill often draws comparisons to Hogwarts because of its high towers, majestic archways, and strong academic culture. However, the comparison runs much deeper than aesthetics and academia. McGill fields not one, but two Quidditch teams, both of which competed in the Eastern Championships in Mississauga, Ontario from Nov. 11-13.

In Quidditch, players are divided into four positions: Three chasers, two beaters, a seeker, and a keeper, each of whom run around the field with a flightless broom between their legs. Additionally, one person dresses as the snitch in a gold morphsuit with a tennis ball attached to their back.

The team that catches the snitch is awarded 30 points and immediately ends the game. Chasers try to throw the quaffle—a slightly deflated volleyball—into three hoops to score 10 points, while the keepers try to prevent goals. Beaters throw dodgeballs at chasers and seekers, who, if hit, must exit the play and touch their own hoops before re-entering the game.

The McGill Quidditch Club was created in 2008, becoming the first muggle Quidditch team in Canada and the only co-ed team at McGill.

The sport has grown significantly

since coming to McGill and competition to get on the team has increased along with the popularity of the sport. A second team, Canada’s Finest Quidditch Club, followed in 2012 due to high student interest in the sport.

“McGill has been known to have large scale tryouts for Quidditch,” Lina Du, U3 Engineering and Beater for the McGill Quidditch team, said.

“In the past four years, we have had over one hundred new players and veterans show up to tryouts [for…] only forty-eight positions.”

Indeed, tryouts are becoming increasingly competitive due to the rising prevalence of North American Quidditch as a whole. Both McGill Quidditch teams travel across North America, playing in places ranging from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to Vancouver, British Columbia.

“A lot of people think Quidditch is just a game for nerds,” Du explained. “But Quidditch is actually very competitive and it is becoming a more established sport.”

As Quidditch grows in popularity, students are joining not only for a love of Harry Potter, but also to stay in shape, represent McGill, and compete across North America. Competitors include American and Canadian university teams, recreational teams, and CEGEP teams, making the sport a medium that brings people together

Quidditch has become increasing;ly popular and competitive at McGill since 2008. (Alissa Zilber / The McGill Tribune) across borders and communities.

Quidditch and the McGill program have gained increased recognition on a global scale.

“A few of our players even went to Germany to compete in the World Cup,” Du said.

The co-ed nature of the sport fosters the community element even further. Most varsity and club sports

that exist at McGill are delineated based on gender, but in Quidditch, all are welcome to try out and play. For Du, this aspect is a huge draw to the sport.

“One of the best things about Quidditch is that everyone can play and compete, ” Du said.

The competitive nature of the game and the community element

are sure to make the sport even more popular over time. With Canadian schools like the University of Guelph, Western University, and University of British Columbia also fielding competitive teams, perhaps one day the sport will gain varsity status across North America, allowing the game to transcend fiction to become a bona fide varsity sport.