McGill Tribune Vol. 34 Issue 12

EDITORIAL

Tuesday, November 18, 2014 Volume No. 34 Issue No. 12

‘Selective memory’ a selective understanding of Remembrance Day pg. 6

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six characters p. 14

Night at the museum McCord presents monthly After Hours special TIFFANY LE Staff Writer

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(Remi Lu / McGill Tribune)

Play Review: Six Characters in Search of an Author

Sexual assault charges withdrawn in case against three former Redmen football players

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JESSICA FU Managing Editor

n Nov. 17, the Crown prosecutor in the sexual assault case against three former McGill University Redmen football players withdrew its charges.

According to Richard Shadley, the lawyer representing the players, the prosecution decided to drop the charges following a reassessment of the evidence.

“The Crown made a request

after re-examining and re-evaluating the case, including all the evidence that they’d received, to withdraw the charges,” he said.

The former players were arrested back in April 2012 on charges of sexual assault and forcible confinement of a Concordia student. The three then-students continued to play on the Redmen team, following their arrest. The case was brought to light again in November 2013, through a story published by the Montreal Gazette. Certain students and orga-

nizations on campus, such as the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU), condemned the university for its inaction regarding the case, and McGill later hired a Harm Reduction Coordinator and announced that it would be considering developing a sexual assault policy, which is now currently in development.

Shadley said that his players were relieved by the decision made today.

“After spending a certain amount of time being tried of this se-

rious criminal offence, to be told by the Crown that they are asking the court to drop the case, [the players’] response was one of relief, happiness,” he said.

A press statement released by Schurman, Longo & Grenier, the firm of Isabel Schurman, who represented Ian Sheriff, claimed that the players had maintained their innocence throughout the trial.

Continued on pg. 4

he McCord Museum hosted another monthly recurring After Hours evening this past Thursday themed around the famous smoked meat delicatessen Ben’s De Luxe Delicatessen.

Presented by National Bank of Canada, cocktails and sandwiches collided with classic R&B, soul, and Motown ‘45s’ for a perfectly retro night celebrating one of Montreal’s legendary institutions. From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., guests socialized with a variety of people from different industries, and connected through their shared appreciation for Montreal’s history.

After Hours is part of several initiatives created by the Young McCord Council aimed at mobilizing Montrealers to protect and promote Montreal arts and culture through philanthropy and volunteerism. Other events include Culture Nights and the Sugar Ball, an annual fundraising party. “[We’re] proud to support the Young McCord Council, which, through entertaining initiatives such as After Hours, reinforces the importance of cultural patronage among young professionals,” explained Véronique Lettre, senior manager of brand and community involvement at National Bank.

Continued on pg. 8

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Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Fortier sits down with campus media, discusses bilateral agreement McGill to “tighten belts” regarding austerity cuts SHRINKHALA DAWADI News Editor

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n Wednesday, Nov. 12, Principal Suzanne Fortier sat down with members of the McGill media to talk about issues concerning the McGill community, including the ongoing talks on Quebec’s bilateral agreement with France regarding tuition and the financial troubles McGill is facing resulting from provincial austerity measures.

Bilateral agreement between France and Quebec

Earlier this year, the provincial government announced that it would be reviewing the terms of the 1978 bilateral agreement to possibly increase the rates paid by French citizens to that of non-Quebecois Canadian residents.

According to the bilateral agreement between Quebec and France, French citizens are allowed to pay the same rates of tuition as Quebec residents.

An article in the Montreal Gazette estimated that the current rate of tuition for French citizens is costing Quebec about $50 million per year.

According to Fortier, any increases to tuition for French citizens would be accompanied with an expansion of McGill’s bursary program, which gives need-based financial aid through grants to students. All students—international and Canadian— will be able to apply for the bursaries.

“I personally think that indeed, the agreement has to be revisited,” Fortier said. “We need to make sure that we continue building our bursary program [....] We’re a university where

we try to bring together people who are very smart and interested in being a very diverse community, and so the only way we can do that is by having a strong bursary program that will [also] apply to French students.”

Fortier continued to explain that new partnerships between McGill and French institutions that Quebec students could take advantage of were also being explored by McGill.

“There is not enough interest [for] Quebec students to go [to] France and [to] the universities participating in such exchange programs, because the more prestigious universities are not in the framework of this exchange,” Fortier stated. “We can explore those new partnerships—it would be interesting.”

Austerity measures

In September, the provincial government announced that $172 million would be cut from their 2014-2015 budget for the university

Principal Fortier spoke on current bilateral agreement talks between France and Quebec. (L-A Benoit / McGill Tribune) sector. Consequently, McGill could accumulate a deficit of up to $34 million in a worst-case scenario for the 2014 fiscal year. Fortier spoke to the impact these cuts would have on McGill students as recently funds for services such as the Arts Internship Office (AIO) and 24-hour library access have been partially shifted from McGill to students in the form of embedded fees.

“I am not scared that [we will] become a university for the rich [...]

because we have implanted politics in order to ensure that this does not happen,” Fortier said in addressing a concern that McGill would be increasingly financially inaccessible as a result of these increased fees.

“We do not look at the financial situation of our students when we offer a place at McGill. We have a bursary program, that in my opinion, [is] the best bursary program per student in Canada.”

According to Fortier, the provin-

cial government’s cuts are a harsh but necessary measure.

“I am not, as a citizen, opposed to [the Quebec government’s] goal of reaching a balanced budget,” she said. “I think it’s important for the long term. I believe [that] the more we live outside of what we can afford in the long term, the more we’ll create an unstable situation for this province. I understand that it’s not an easy reality. It’s not something we like to see—cuts after cuts.”

Harm Reduction 101 workshop discusses models and strategies for building stronger communities Stresses importance of self-determination, awareness of racial and class biases

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CORRINA VALI Contributor

he Indigenous Women and Two-Spirit Harm Reduction Coalition (IW2SHRC) hosted a two-hour workshop on Sunday, Nov. 16 as part of the Mental Health Awareness Week. Titled “Harm Reduction 101”, the interactive workshop discussed essential harm reduction practices, especially regarding drug use and HIV/AIDS among the indigenous community.

Lindsay Nixon, U3 Honours Women’s Studies student at Concordia University and moderator at the workshop, described the history of the harm reduction approach and how it has changed over the years.

“The term originated from HIV/AIDS activism and drug use in the late 1980s in New York,” she said. “But our understanding of the term has expanded beyond

drug use and safer sex to include everything from literacy and labour conditions to student life and interpersonal relations.”

Molly Swain, U4 Honours Women’s Studies McGill student and moderator, emphasized the urgent need to raise awareness about harm reduction practices, especially in indigenous communities.

“New cases of HIV/AIDS are increasing the most rapidly in Canada among Indigenous people,” she pointed out. “The lack of prompt response to [this] is, among other reasons, caused by the stereotyping of indigenous peoples as an inherently dysfunctional group.”

Nixon further explained that the crux of the harm reduction ideology is the importance of people’s autonomy and selfdetermination.

“Harm reduction practices that focus on drug use don’t focus on the prevention of the drug use

itself, but on reducing the harm in the lives of the people who continue to use drugs,” Swain said. “Harm reduction practitioners acknowledge that people are the experts of their own lives and are best able to determine what they really need.”

Criticizing prohibition, Swain said that initiatives and policies that are meant to reduce and prevent actual drug use do not work.

“People continue to use drugs despite the risk of penalization,” she said. “Thus, these preventive and reductive policies serve to further stigmatize and marginalize drug users which isolates them and affects their ability to access mainstream health care and social services.”

Swain further discussed the importance of understanding the causes of harm in order to implement effective harm reduction interventions.

“Some factors that make

drug users especially vulnerable are racism, colonialism, sexism, criminalization, and capitalism,” she said. “For example, a low-income person of colour who uses drugs may not seek medical treatment because he may be criminalized for it, whereas an uppermiddle class caucasian McGill student who may have used a little too much can most likely get treatment at the emergency room without being penalized for it.”

The organization arranges workshops and educational initiatives in addition to providing harm reduction resources, referrals, and materials to indigenous people in Montreal and beyond, according to Swain.

“Harm reduction is a whole plethora of different practices and strategies that people use to cope with all kinds of problems in their lives,” Swain said.

Nixon elaborated on the organization’s mandate.

“We believe in facilitating

harm reduction practices for Indigenous peoples in Montreal,” Nixon said. “We run under the premise that colonization is harmful, so decolonization is imperative for the survival and well being of Indigenous communities.”

According to Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) VP University Affairs Claire Stewart-Kanigan, Mental Health Awareness Week was a success.

“Attendance was consistent at our over 20 events, partnerships across campus were strong, and students were very supportive of the week’s theme,” she said. “We set out to focus the week around key elements of our broader plan for approaching mental health on campus—crosscampus partnerships, peer-based support, self-care, intersectionality, and institutional accountability—and I believe the final outcome reflected this.”

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

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AMUSE and MUNACA undergo political merger to combat erosion of permanent positions Members of both unions to vote on merger by early next year

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CECE ZHANG News Editor

he Association of McGill University Support Employees (AMUSE), a union representing over 1,300 non-academic employees, is currently undergoing the process of a political merger with the McGill University Non-Academic Certified Association (MUNACA).

AMUSE was originally formed as a union in 2010 for employees in casual non-academic positions, such as floor fellows, as opposed to those in permanent ones. MUNACA, accredited in 1994, is the union for the permanent non-academic workers employed by McGill, in-

cluding clerical, technician, and library assistant positions. Both unions are part of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC). a parent organization.

President of AMUSE Amber Gross explained that the merger would benefit both AMUSE and MUNACA members by providing a stronger bargaining power against the replacement of permanent positions with casual ones.

“What’s happening at McGill right now [is that] permanent positions are MUNACA positions,” Gross said. “When someone retires or leaves, they aren’t being replaced by someone permanent, [but] by two or three casuals. So permanent jobs at McGill are eroding and turn-

ing into casuals, which are lower pay, lower benefits, lower job security. The purpose of this is to protect the level of employment security and benefits at McGill by fighting back against this erosion.”

The political merger will only take place if both unions’ members approve the decision to proceed with it in their respective general assemblies (GA). According to Gross, AMUSE is set to hold its Special GA in January, while MUNACA will have its GA in December.

“We will spend the winter drafting final bylaws [and] final budget,” Gross said. “Then we’ll have a foundation for a GA in the spring, where everyone from both unions will come elect new

officers, approve a budget. At that point, we’ll officially be one merged union.”

Members will not see any fee increase resulting from the merger, according to an information sheet jointly provided by AMUSE and MUNACA to their members. The newly merged union structure would have the GA as the highest decision-making body, with a Union Council replacing the current structures of the Board of Representatives for AMUSE and Councils within MUNACA. Evan Luc, a U3 Arts and Science student, expressed positive opinions about the merger.

“I work as a floor fellow and this is contract work with no opportunity of a permanent position,” Luc said. “However, from my

angle, this allows the casual and permanent workers that work similar positions to be able to stand in solidarity with one another and coordinate better working conditions in their posts.”

Luc also praised AMUSE’s efforts on providing information to its members.

“I think AMUSE is really great with outreach,” he said.

“Members were offered the chance to attend merger proposal information sessions—one was even at Mac Campus [....] There is also extensive documentation on their website regarding the timeline of events and the benefits of this merger. The amount of information relayed by AMUSE regarding this merger has been impressive and really well stated.”

Open forum invited student feedback on drafted sexual assault policy Policy focused on proactive actions for prevention

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LAUREN WILDGOOSE Staff Writer

he Sexual Assault Policy Working Group held an open forum on the creation of McGill’s first university-wide sexual assault policy on Thursday, Nov. 13.

The student working group consists of members from the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU), the Union for Gender Empowerment (UGE), the Sexual Assault Centre of the McGill Students’ Society (SACOMSS), and the Quebec Public Interest Research Group at McGill (QPIRG).

A sexual assault policy proposal was drafted by the student working group after the November 2013 Media Relations Office (MRO) mass email regarding sexual assault within the McGill community. Endorsed by signing parties that include the SSMU Council, SSMU Equity, SSMU Executive, SACOMSS, UGE, QPIRG McGill, the Feminist Collective of McGill Law (FCML), and Women and the Criminal Law (WCL), the proposal was presented to the dean of students in March 2014.

Kai O’Doherty, a UGE member, presented at the open forum.

She highlighted the history of the policy and explained the importance of the Deputy Provost’s November 2014 MRO, which concerned the then-ongoing case against three MGill athletes and brought the case to the attention of students.

“When [the] case [regarding three McGill football players sexually assaulting a Concordia student] came to light, it really demonstrated McGill’s inadequate response to sexual assault cases on campus,” O’Doherty said. “[This raised] big-

ger questions on how McGill deals with sexual assault, [including] trying to discuss these issues and consent, and giving resources for survivors.”

According to SSMU VP University Affairs Claire Stewart-Kanigan, and Megan Baiocco, U3 Arts student and member of the UGE, the policy will be structured around four main pillars that are survivor oriented—a proactive approach, an approach that recognizes diversity of experiences related to sexual assault, and a university-wide commitment.

“When we were first creating this policy, we wanted to make sure that it embodied a core set of ideas that we would not give up when

Students gave feedback on drafted sexual assault policy last Thursday. (Noah Sutton / McGill Tribune) negotiating [...] or consulting with people,” Baiocco said. “We want to make sure that we keep these four ideas in our policy because they are [...] important in the ways that we think about sexual assault and the ways that we feel the university should deal with sexual assault.”

Stewart-Kanigan explained how the proactive pillar impacts the structure of the policy.

“As we saw from the incident with the football players last year [...] a reactionary approach to sexual assault [...] is not adequate,” Stewart-Kanigan said. “What we want is long-term commitment [...] consistent campaigns, [and] consistent resources dedicated to combating the

tolerance of sexual assault on our campus. So a big part of this policy is making sure that it is strongly proactive as opposed to reactive.”

Thursday’s meeting was the first time that a draft of the policy was shared with the wider McGill community. Now available online to the general public at sexualassaultpolicyatmcgill.com, the advocates of the policy hope to receive student feedback in order to improve on the policy draft.

Daniel Snyder, L3 law senator, attended the event and explained that he thought that students were ready for a Sexual Assault Policy to be implemented on campus.

“I would like to see continued

discussion [and] hopefully people can contribute to voicing their opinion,” Snyder said. “I’ve had numerous conversations with fellow law students and all with positive reaction that people are really interested in this […] I believe that people are already involved, and now that the policy is out, they’ll be able to read it over and give their reactions.”

Presenters at the event stated that an online forum to collect student responses will soon be available on the sexual assault policy website and that anyone interested in becoming a volunteer or learning more can email sapp.mcgill@gmail.com.

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Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Inconsistencies with BdA alcohol permits amongst reasons for resignation of AUS VP Social Council discusses restructuring of now vacant portfolio, Arts Internship Office Fee ELIE WAITZER Sports Editor

VP Social resignation and BdA improprieties

During last Wednesday’s Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) Council meeting, the AUS discussed the replacement process for Kyle Rouhani, who recently resigned as VP Social.

According to a statement by Rouhani on his Facebook page, he decided to resign “for reasons of extreme personal, academic, and emotional duress met during the role.”

According to AUS President Ava Liu, issues involving alcohol permits for Bar des Arts (BdA) also factored into Rouhani’s resignation.

“There were improprieties [with the BdA liquor permit] which were symptoms, the VP Social says, of his inability to fulfill his portfolio due to [...] duress,” she said.

She declined to elaborate further “out of respect for the VP Social.”

Liu further stated that BdA’s operation would not be affected by the resignation.

“BdA is run by a team under the VP Social portfolio [....]

They’re very competent and they’re working very hard,” Liu said. “The liquor permit has been processed by the VP Internal of the AUS, so she will be taking over that role [....] Permits are secured for the rest of the semester and for next semester too [....]

There are no repercussions going forward.”

Rouhani is the third AUS executive to resign this year, following the replacement of the VP Finance, Kateryn Kim by Li Xue and the VP Internal, Leila Alfaro

by Roma Nadeem.

Replacement process and portfolio discussion

Liu outlined two options moving forward, a by-election or an appointment. Council members expressed concern that, under the appointment system, only current members of AUS standing committees can be considered. A straw poll revealed, however, that most councillors were also opposed to a by-election as the process would take a long time.

“It’s too late to hold [a byelection] without running into exam period, and if we go into next semester, we won’t have someone in the role until midFebruary,” Liu said. “Therefore, I

don’t think [a by-election is] feasible.”

After further discussion, the council reached a solution that addressed the councillors’ concerns.

“I will send out a callout to AUS for people who are interested in running for the position to fill out the Event Planning and Implementation Committee (EPIC) application form […] and from there we will hold an appointment next session,” Liu said.

Liu explained that EPIC already consisted of most of the candidates who were to run for the vacant portfolio, and any interested candidates currently not on one of the AUS’ committees could make themselves eligible for appointment by applying for one of the many empty seats on EPIC. With the replacement process decided, discussion moved onto the portfolio itself. Members of the council and the audience called into question the portfolio’s structure, citing the stress associated with transitioning from frosh into the school year.

“I think that the new VP Social should not have the responsibilities outlined in the portfolio for the rest of the year and should instead focus on restructuring the portfolio,” Christine Koppenaal, U1 Psychology, said. “I think that there’s an inherent problem with the portfolio as demonstrated by the fact that this is not the first VP Social to resign in the last few years. The […] portfolio is just too overwhelming for one person to handle.”

Arts Internship Office (AIO) Fee

Xue met with the Financial Management Committee (FMC) to discuss the structure of the proposed $2.25 per credit fee to reform advising and career services. The FMC recommended that the financing be modelled after similar faculty-specific services such as the Desautels Career Service (DCS) and the Engineering Career Centre (ECC). However, there was disagreement over the fairness of imposing $1.5 million of the endowment fund on Arts students over the next five years.

“There was a split on whether or not the endowment model was the recommendation, because [it seems] like a certain pack of students [will be paying] for future students to access these services,” Xue said.

Xue offered several solutions to this issue, including extending the endowment period

over a greater number of years in order to spread out the costs. VP Academic Erin Sobat proposed to set aside time in the next council meeting for a town hall to discuss the fee structure.

SNAX sandwich freeze

Sobat met with Deputy Provost Ollivier Dyens to discuss the recent order from the university to discontinue sandwich sales at SNAX, a snack and beverage stand run by the AUS. Following years of selling sandwiches, the administration recently ordered SNAX to stop its sales, claiming that they had only discovered the violation of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) this year.

According to Sobat, Dyens was against renegotiating SNAX’s MoA with the university, and mentioned that he was concerned that allowing concessions to SNAX would open the door for other student organizations to violate their MoAs.

“I pointed out that this is not a pattern of opening doors; this is a pattern of closing them,” Sobat said, in reference to the closure of the popular student-run Architecture Café by the administration in 2010.

“Moving forward, our goal is to set up a meeting with the Provost and a representative from [McGill Food and Dining Services] to find a solution,” Sobat said.

Xue said she met with SNAX Manager Hasan Nizami, who was optimistic about the establishment’s survival despite being unable to sell sandwiches.

“They are introducing new options,” Xue said. “For example, kosher food [...] and Indian [meals] such as butter chicken [...] because [they are] finding that a lot of the sandwich customers aren’t coming back.

Sexual assault charges against former Redmen football players dropped JESSICA FU Managing Editor

(Continued from page 1) “Mr. Sheriff, Mr. Carriere, and Mr. Tremblay have maintained their innocence in this matter from day one,” the press statement reads. “Although presumed innocent, they have suffered grave prejudice, personally and professionally, because of this nightmare which has been ongoing since 2012. They are relieved that they have been discharged by the Court, and are anxious to get on with their lives.”

The Crown attorney could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.

What’s Happening at McGill November - December 2014

Senate meetings Senate meetings feature discussion and decision-making regarding university academic policies. Members of the university are welcome to sit in and observe the Senate, which is comprised of students, professors, administration, and non-academic staff, and discuss an array of pertinent topics, including policy changes and financial obstacles.

Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 2:30 P.M. in Leacock 232 Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 2:30 P.M. in Leacock 232

Safer Spaces, Consent and Sexual Assault – Raising Awareness Led by Bianca Tetrault, the Liaison Officer (Harm Reduction), a position created by the deputy provost (student living and learning) following outcry over McGill’s lack of a universitywide sexual assault policy earlier this year, this Safer Spaces workshop will feature discussion about sexual assault and its consequences in both a personal and McGill context.

Monday, Nov. 24, at 9:00 A.M. in the McLennan-Redpath Library Room MS-74

Disability Studies in Relation to Gender and Sexuality Hosted by the Institute for Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies (IGSF) and the Office of Students with Disabilities, this event will discuss the intersection of disability studies and the study of gender and sexuality, led by Professor Dan Goodley of the University of Sheffield.

Thursday, Nov. 20 at 12:00 P.M. in the McLennan-Redpath Library MS-74

Board of Governors (BOG) meetings The BOG is the governing body that conducts all long-term decision making and planning for McGill’s future. While some portions of the meetings are held in closed discussion, attendees are welcome to observe the open session, where updates to the university’s state of affairs and future direction are presented and discussed.

Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 4 P.M. in the James Administration Building

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Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Demilitarize McGill’s Town hall on libraries: Rethinking McLennan Remembrance Day protest for the 21st century causes controversy on campus Redpath Hall not likely to become reading room, Rally deemed disrespectful by some, constructive by others SHRINKHALA DAWADI News Editor

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n Tuesday, Nov.11, Demilitarize McGill hosted a rally protesting McGill University’s Remembrance Day ceremonies. The assembly protested on the steps of the Redpath Museum across McGill’s Remembrance Day ceremonies, which were being held on Lower Field.

According to a statement issued by Demilitarize McGill, the aim of the rally was to raise awareness for the consequences of the Canadian military’s involvement in wars, both past and present.

“This morning’s action centred on sharing facts about Canada’s role in warfare that tend to go unmentioned each Nov.11,” the statement reads. “Remembrance Day [...] is an exercise in selective memory, organized to enforce the forgetting of any element of war that conflicts with the story the Canadian state wants to tell about itself.”

According to Mona Luxion, a member of Demilitarize McGill, the organization’s opposition is due to a demand for accountability.

“It is not remembrance itself that we object to [...] but the creation of idealized myths about the purpose and effects of Canada’s wars,” Luxion said. “If Remembrance Day is to be a true remembrance of the cost of war, we must be able to hold the facts of imperialism, war profiteering, sexual assault, civilian death, and torture in our minds at the same time as we think of the Canadian soldiers who have died. Without that perspective, Remembrance Day ceremonies [dresses] up the brutality, horror, and profound inequality of Canada’s modernday and historic wars.”

The rally has sparked controversial remarks on social media outlets.

In an open letter to Demilitarize McGill that was published on Facebook, Ben Reedijk, former McGill student and SSMU Councillor explained that the Remembrance Day protest had changed Demilitarize McGill’s public image for the worse.

“In the eyes of the public [... it is] no longer the group that objects to for-profit weapons development in public institutions,” Reedijk wrote. “Instead, [it is]

the group that is willing to disrespect seniors and other veterans who risked and gave their lives for their country [....] This group demonstrated a remarkable degree of callousness, selfishness and immaturity.”

President of Conservative McGill McKenzie Kibler, U3 Arts, stressed the importance of remembering all the lives lost in past wars.

“During World War I, 363 McGillians died, and 289 died fighting in World War II,” Kibler said. “Death and the consequences of war are serious things. Remembrance Day is about the loss of all life for all those involved, which includes the victims of war. It is not a statement of civilmilitary relations [but] about remembering that it happened.”

A student source who wished to remain anonymous echoed these views.

“I’m not against students protesting issues they deem important,” he said. “However, Remembrance Day is a day of respect for troops. A day many Canadians [...] use to remember fallen family members and friends who had died in service for their country is not the right time to protest military-related research at McGill.”

Christopher Antila, a research assistant in music research, stated that while he supported soldiers doing what they believed in, he also thought that the public should critically examine the message of Remembrance Day. “[Remembrance Day] is related to only a small portion of the actual realities of war, and war is a very complicated thing that we can’t really understand,” Antila said. “I don’t think it’s disrespectful to examine what happens [....] If one of the things we value is supposedly democracy [...then] that requires [...] a discussion of policies.”

During the rally, a member of the Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) approached the protesters, but did not disperse them. According to members of the university administration, McGill was not involved with the SPVM’s interaction with the Demilitarize McGill rally.

organ to remain

Town Hall on libraries reimagines future for McGill libraries. (Jack Neal / McGill Tribune)

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PHILIPPE DUMAIS Staff Writer

tudents, faculty, and staff were invited to a Town Hall meeting last Tuesday to discuss their priorities for the future of the McLennan Library. Architects from architectural firms Shepley Bulfinch and EKM, who worked previously on Cybertheque and the Redpath Terrace, were also present.

Janette Blackburn from Shepley Bulfinch highlighted the latest trends in library conceptions. According to Blackburn, collections have become increasingly complex.

“Many libraries [...] were conceived in an area where a library had three distinct pieces: How to find space for staff to do their work, how to create space for people to read and use collections, and how to house the collections themselves,” Blackburn said. “In the 21st century [...] there is no single model of what a modern library should be as it changes through the wide range of activities it encompasses.”

According to Dean of Libraries Colleen Cook, the project is still in its preliminary stages.

“The university has contracted with architectural firms to do a feasibility study,” Cook explained in her introductory remarks. “Shepley Bulfinch has a deep experience working at universities and particularly imagining libraries at the sort of places that are our peers—MIT, John Hopkins, [and] Duke.

They have a very deep experience in not only renovating heritage sites in large big cities, but all sorts of reimagining of library spaces.”

Redpath Hall Organ

The planned repurposing of the Redpath Hall was also discussed at the Town Hall. “[The feasibility study will] explore the repatriation of the iconic Redpath Hall as a dedicated reading room befitting a major academic library; a space which will serve as the Library’s centrepiece while also functioning as an event and exhibit room,” the library master plan and preliminary documents read.

Students and faculty members attended the meeting to ask for clarifications regarding the impact of the library master plan on the future of Redpath Hall and the French classical pipe organ that the Hall currently houses. Robert Doucet, stage manager for Redpath Hall, argued that the library master plan’s statement that the hall is under-used was inaccurate.

Doucet stated that Redpath Hall is heavily used for book fairs, rehearsals, recordings, and various ceremonies.

“We are all very concerned about the perspective of this space being change dacoustically or being taken away,” added Martha de Francisco, professor of sound recording.

The library master plan was consequently revised through a message from Cook published on the library’s website on Nov. 11.

“[It] is clear that the iconic and cherished Redpath Hall is a preeminent venue for performance and study,” Cook said in the message. “It is also a very important event space to the McGill community. For the Library, Redpath Hall is part of our history [....] The above statement is misleading because it refers to a dedicated reading room. At this point, we want to confirm that it cannot, and will not, be a dedicated reading room. It serves numerous uses now and will in the future, and options will be explored with different university constituencies to best serve all of the community’s needs.”

She continued to state that the original wording would be modified to no longer include the phrase regarding reading rooms, but to explore Redpath Hall to serve as a multipurpose space.

The architects explained that the complexity of moving the organ and adapting the room makes any change very unlikely. They added that many modern libraries include performance spaces and this inclusion brings positive experiences to users.

“You can’t have a reading room in a space that is acoustically designed for organ performances because it would be too resonant,” Blackburn said. “The two acoustics are at odds with each other [.…] It was never in my mind to have the space literally shared.”

Libraries and Heritage

Peter McNally, professor at the School of Information Studies and director of the History of McGill Project, spoke extensively at the meeting on the significance of the library complex. He also stressed the importance of including the existing design elements into the project.

“This wing of the Redpath building is considered to be one of the outstanding examples of post World War II modernism,” McNally said. “I would suggest [taking] these historical and aesthetic elements into consideration and [considering] these buildings as historical objects.”

Audience members voiced skepticism as to the likelihood of the library project to move forward, given the recent budgetary cuts to universities announced by the Quebec government.

“We have heard a lot of things on budget reductions,” Joel Peters, U3 Music and Arts student said. “How is it feasible to begin a new project extremely ambitious [given this]?”

According to Cook, projects of this magnitude are financed differently than daily operations and the project will still be moving forward.

“I think it is a duty of leadership for an institution to, even when financial times are difficult, continue to look towards the future, and to have plans and aspirations in place so that when they are possible, they can be moved forward,” Blackburn added. “Otherwise, you can’t keep a place relevant and vibrant.”

Opinion

6 editorial

Tuesday, November 18, 2014 THE Mcgill

‘Selective memory’ a selective understanding of Remembrance Day only the military itself, but acts as an instrument of legitimating the inherently illegitimate projection of power across the world by Canada and the west as a whole.

In the group’s words, “Calls for ‘respect’ and ‘tastefulness’ are a tool for the suppression of dissent at a moment when the enforcement of Canadian patriotism requires the appearance of

straw man. There is a fundamental difference between the commemoration of the sacrifice of an individual or a group a soldiers and a blanket justification of the policy and intervention decisions that contributed to their deaths. While there is a ‘political’ message in Remembrance Day ceremonies—to the extent that any event that touches upon the military and historical memory is political--the mes-

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To view a holiday that is explicitly designed to remember and memorialize the fallen—the most direct embodiment of the toll military conflict takes on people, countries, and civilians—as a pure glorification of warfare is, at best, a straw man.

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One week ago today, during the annual Remembrance Day ceremony on McGill’s campus, Demilitarize McGill, a group opposed to military research at the university, staged a silent protest. They held signs noting various facts that shed an unflattering light on the Canadian military and recent military operations—an attempt to disrupt what they saw as the narrative of “selective memory” implied by the ceremony.

The protest stirred pointed controversy and many angered responses on social media. This episode has echoed other debates about Remembrance Day, such as the perennial back and forth over the white poppy campaign—regarded as an appeal for peace by its supporters and disrespectful by detractors—and even previous protests by Demilitarize at the McGill ceremonies. However, the reaction triggered by this week’s events, which reached past current McGill students to alumni, was particularly fierce.

While there is reasonable disagreement about what the message of Remembrance Day is and whether the protest was in ‘good taste,’ there was a profound degree of incivility on both sides of the ensuing debate, as well as a seeming disregard for the right of the protesters to gather in that space.

The meaning of Remembrance Day is and has been hotly debated for years; a major element of Demilitarize’s rationale for protesting at the McGill ceremony this year—as well as at previous ceremonies—was the idea that the day functions as a glorification of not

consensus,” its statement regarding the protest reads. “McGill’s Remembrance Day ceremony is in no way respectful to the people killed, injured, and terrorized by the violence of the Canadian state.

The parading of troops on campus and military choppers overhead leave no room for respect for anyone targeted by Canadian military force.”

This understanding of Remembrance Day, however, is arguably its own practice in ‘selective memory.’

To view a holiday that is explicitly designed to remember and memorialize the fallen—the most direct embodiment of the toll military conflict takes on people, countries, and civilians—as a pure glorification of warfare is, at best, a

sage is cautionary. The very idea of the ceremony, through the enforced solemnity and silence, is to underscore the gravity of war.

With all that said, much of the backlash that has emerged in the wake of the protest was profoundly disrespectful to both the constitutionally protected rights of the protesters and the legitimate points they were bringing to the table, such as their questioning of military policy making. A major thread in the criticisms of the Demilitarize McGill protesters was that they constituted some sort of blasphemous shame or disgrace to the university, or that they were making a mockery of those who had fought for their freedoms. As it were,

the right to make controversial, perhaps unpopular, and potentially uncomfortable arguments in the public sphere is the raison d’être of free speech protections. This idea that using these rights to engage in a protest that some may find distasteful is a negative use of such liberties should be dismissed immediately, and the idea that they should be ‘punished’ or ‘disciplined,’ as some students have claimed on social media, further so. To the extent that the protesters met the basic standards of decorum at the ceremony—they were silent and simply holding signs—they had a right to be there. Again, there is a real debate as to whether their presence was in ‘good taste,’ but not to the question of whether it should be sanctioned.

Controversies over Remembrance Day and the message it may convey are a dime a dozen. However, as students look back at these protests, they would do well to take some time to remember what we are actually angry about. This idea that veterans, war, and the dead of conflict exist in some sort of ‘sacred’ apolitical ground beyond reproach or questioning is one that leads down a dangerous road of blind glorification of the military. In our quest to pay respects to those who have died in the name of this country—if not always in conflicts with the sharpest of moral clarity—we must also remember to not lose sight of the freedoms we value, including the right to question and challenge the decisions of the government.

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The worst part of the recent overrums—a disclaimer put at the beginning scary topics that may make the lesser of a post to let readers know of potential minded among us uncomfortable. Take use of the trigger warnings, however, is care of yourself, and shield your poor, the new stigma, it has given to people harmful topics that will be discussed.

While the overall goal of the trig- crazy eyes from the following sentences. with mental illnesses. While in the past When the mentally ill use trig- those of us with mental illness felt osger warning is positive—warning those who may be uncomfortable with cer- ger warnings to excess, however, the tracized from the greater community tain topics that will be discussed—it entire tone of what they are attempting as a result of being ‘different,’ this new has been bastardized by those of us to discuss changes. Suddenly, a dichot- movement has infantilized anyone struggling with mental illness. with mental This infantilization creates a illness to false perception that we are all hide away severely emotionally unstable from our There is nothing more condescendand can be ‘triggered’ into havproblems in ing and paternalistic than when someing a breakdown at the slighta cloak of one who does not have a mental illness est mention of trauma. victimhood. starts a story with a ‘thoughtful’ list of Calling out ‘triggers’ is That is not trigger warnings as a way to extoll their not the same as addressing to say that superior empathy towards the them. If we truly want to end it is only mentally ill community. the stigma and improve the those of us livelihoods of people with with mental mental illness, society needs illness who are misusing trigger warnings. There is omy emerges of ‘us’ against ‘them,’ the to reduce the paternalism and begin nothing more condescending and pater- warning boldly identifying the writer as encouraging treatment and self-help. nalistic than when someone who does someone who is mentally ill and refuses No more victimhood, no more hiding not have a mental illness starts a story to be hidden. While open acknowledge- behind labels, and no more shying from with a ‘thoughtful’ list of trigger warn- ment of mental illness is not necessar- our fears—mental illness is serious, but ings as a way to extoll their superior ily a bad thing, a steadfast refusal to be it should not, and will not, keep those of empathy towards the mentally ill com- known by anything other than one’s ill- us who suffer from it from living to the munity. To me, they almost always give ness is a form of self-imprisonment, and fullest of our potential, uninhibited by off the same message: Trigger warning, one that will only hinder the progress of able-minded ignorance and triggering Facebook posts. this article contains traces of potentially someone with mental illness.

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Mental Health Awareness Week, which concluded this past Sunday, provided a week’s worth of lectures and programs designed to spread awareness about mental health options on campus, as well as to help the community at large learn how to support loved ones who suffer with mental illness. The movement focused on eliminating the stigma that surrounds mental health. It is a movement that is, at its core, created with the purpose of helping people. But with many movements stems a blanket agenda for ‘fixing’ people, and wherever there emerges a one-size-fits-all bandage, there too emerge people who can’t be healed by it. One instrument of helping people like me who suffer from severe mental illness, is the trigger warning (TW) in various online fo-

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7

Opinion

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

COMMENTARY

A lesson in Remembrance

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Ryan Mitton Contributor On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, McGill University marked the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War through its Remembrance Day ceremony.

However, the ceremonial moment of silence was a little less quiet as the actions of Demilitarize McGill protesters provided a different kind of noise. Standing on the steps of the Redpath Museum, these protestors hid their faces with posters that listed statistics about civilian casualties,

clear that protest organizers did not treat Remembrance Day with the gravity that so many of us do.

Demilitarize McGill’s actions were ill-received: Its Facebook page was littered with denunciations and verbal abuse.

It is questionable how this Protesting Remembrance Day is organization an attempt to politicize an event expected to where we set aside our partisan successfully beliefs and remember all those spread its who fought and suffered at the message by hands of war. protesting our grandparents, comothers in war, we hope that his- munity members, and the many tory will not repeat itself at our others who suffered or gave their lives for Demilitarize McGill’s hands.

Remembrance on Nov. 11 right to engage in that very proinvokes memories of pain, sacri- test. Perhaps it was done out of preference for the radical, fice, and suffering–not glory.

It seems odd that this group anti-establishment option. Howwould protest an event promot- ever, doing so at the expense of ing peace. It is now even more spreading one’s message only ed everyone. This includes the poor, the marginalized, and the disadvantaged who Demilitarize McGill claims are done such a disservice by these ceremonies.

By remembering the suffering of

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defence industry profits, and sexual assault in the military. I write not to dispute these facts, but instead the manner of their use. This protest was entirely permissible, but nonetheless, deplorable. I will defend Demilitarize McGill’s right to protest that day’s Remembrance Day ceremonies just as much as I can expect them to defend my right to say that their actions were disrespectful, dishonorable, and disgusting.

Protesting Remembrance Day is an attempt to politicize an event where we set aside our partisan beliefs and remember all those who fought and suffered at the hands of war. The words, “lest we forget” serve not only to mark the solemnity of the occasion but also, to warn us of the horrors of war that impact-

seems self-indulgent in the idea of identifying as a radical.

Demilitarize McGill easily could have chosen any of the days leading up to or after Remembrance Day to promote its message and to prevent the erasure of marginalized persons and the glorification of war on this day (though I dispute that these claims are true). Instead, they chose to disrespectfully entrench themselves against this ceremony for want of an institution–or better yet, a straw man– that they could use to indulge in their radical tastes. The reactions to Demilitarize McGill’s protest should serve as a wake-up call to the realization that they are attempting to promote peace only through conflict and controversy. For members of Demilitarize McGill, deep soul-searching is required if this group is to have any future in campus political life.

Canada’s responsibility towards refugee claimants

The federal government grudgingly restored health-care rights for refugee claimants this week after a court ruling reversing a Conservative overhaul of the system in 2012 that severely restricted the access of asylum seekers to health care. Immigration Minister Chris Alexander stresses that the government will continue to appeal the Supreme Court in order to deny access to health care for asylum seekers once again.

Under the 2012 cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program, refugees could only access care for urgent or emergency situations. Furthermore, refugees classified as arriving from designated countries of origin (DCO)—countries deemed ‘safe’ by Canada—were only granted care if they posed a threat to public health.

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Julie Vanderperre Columnist

Considering that Canada accept- care provisions mean that many deIronically, Mexico—one of the most common countries from which refu- ed approximately 37 per cent of refu- nied refugees will have received health gees come to Canada—is on the DCO gee applicants in 2013, this decision care while awaiting the processing of list. Under such restrictive regulations, means that the Canadian government their applications, not providing health many refugee claimants in need of care will naturally be providing access to care for any claimants means that the were denied access under the cuts insti- health care to would-be refugees who 37 per cent of refugees who are actuwill later be denied asylum and de- ally granted asylum would have been tuted in 2012. denied access to It is important to basic care until note that this decision they obtained only applies to refugee official refugee claimants, people who status. Even if are in Canada while Even if a refugee’s asylum request a refugee’s asytheir refugee claim is was denied, this does not mean that lum request was being processed, but they were unworthy of basic access to denied, this does who have not yet been health care in the interim period while not mean that granted asylum. While their application was being processed. they were unit may seem that this worthy of basic represents a small group access to health of people who are only care in the interin Canada for a negligible amount of time before their ap- ported. However, it should not matter im period while their application was plications are processed, in reality, this whether one is eventually granted asy- being processed.

Opponents of the program have decision would affect a large number lum or not; all asylum seekers who turn of people. In 2013, over 10,000 peo- to Canada in times of need should be also stated that the provision of health ple came to Canada to make refugee treated as legitimate cases deserving of services would encourage fraudulent claims, which can take several years to our money and care. Those who oppose refugee claims by people who just process. Regardless of whether or not the decision argue that the distribution want the benefit of Canadian health refugee claimants are granted asylum of health care to refugee claimants care for several months, but who are in the end, Canada’s government still constitutes a misallocation of taxpayer not legitimate refugees. These argubears a moral responsibility to provide money to claimants who most likely ments lack logic and trivialize the care for all asylum seekers while their will not even be granted asylum in many difficulties that refugees must Canada. While it is true that the health endure simply to arrive in Canada and claims are being processed.

seek asylum. The journeys that they make, application process, and difficult living conditions in Canada, are all significant hurdles that would likely deter any person from seeking refugee status simply to capitalize on Canada’s health care system.

The current discussion surrounding granting health care to refugee claimants has grouped asylum seekers into two camps—those who are ‘legitimate’ refugees and will have their applications accepted, and refugees whose asylum requests will be denied. The opponents of health care for all asylum seekers are all too willing to deny access to health care to the latter camp—refugee claimants whose applications will inevitably be denied.

However, such an approach is misguided and ignores Canada’s moral obligations.

There can be no distinction between ‘legitimate’ and ‘illegitimate’ claimants mainly because it is impossible to distinguish between the two during the processing period. More importantly, though, Canada has a responsibility to protect all asylum seekers during this limbo period when they have n other form of protection from a government.

Have your say. Write for opinion.

Email opinion@mcgilltribune.com or come to meetings at 6:00PM on Mondays in SSMU 110

8

Student Living

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Night at the museum

McCord presents monthly After Hours special Tiffany Le Staff Writer

(Continued from page 1) The cocktail party was held on the ground floor of the museum. The modern interior was accordingly decorated by candycoloured lighting designs, while black and white photographs of Bens throughout the years were projected onto the walls.

Plush red chairs were arranged throughout the room, similar to the original ones inside the corner deli. A small bar also served beers, wines, and cocktails.

DJ New Breed Nick, who performs at the Mess Around evenings at Divan Orange, entertained the crowd with an upbeat mix of classics of the era.

“There’s food, drinks, and ’50s retro music—of course I would come,” said Patrick Lapiere, a previous attendee of After Hours and young marketing director.

Montreal’s smoked meat reputation has been based on many locations around the city, including Bens’ family-run business and Schwartz’s on SaintLaurent. Locals and celebrities alike have enjoyed Bens for nearly a century before it closed.

Café Bistro, a restaurant located inside the McCord, partnered with the Bens company to recreate their famed sandwich for the event. They set up a bar where modest-sized portions of the wondrously stuffed sandwich were available for purchase, along with lox and Lox and bagelsNew York cheesecake.

“We’ve been collaborating together since the start of summer for the exhibition Bens, The Legendary Deli,” said Café Bistro chef Julien Leblanc Traiteur.

“We copied exactly what Bens

does with their meat—even their original mustard radish recipe.”

All the current exhibitions of the museum were open to attendees of the event, and guests were encouraged to drift from the lively atmosphere for a while to explore upstairs. There were three levels, each of which housed a unique perspective on Montreal. The museum is fully dedicated to incorporating every facet of Montreal’s history, from First Nations culture to contemporary landmarks like Bens.

Although the deli has now been closed for eight years, its spirit is still quite alive among the Montreal community. “[Bens had] my father’s favourite smoked meat, but for me, it was the cherry cokes,” Lapiere said. “It was really an indelible institution in Montreal, a landmark that was known for its atmosphere.”

The cocktail party costs $15, but tickets can be ordered online for $11. If attendees choose to become members of the museum, the admission is reimbursed on the evening they attend. By becoming a new member, patrons also get discounts at the McCord boutique.

The McCord Museum is an accessible way for students’ involvement within the city to find activities outside of McGill. On certain nights, they also host free Tea Series with renowned presenters on topics such as psychology, photography, costumes, and more.

“After Hours is a great social event for young people,” Olga Markina, real estate broker, said. “It’s an innovative, strategic, and creative idea to get people interested in history.”

Want to write a restaurant review?

Email studentliving@mcgilltribune.com

Universel on Peel St. (tripadvisor.com)

Montreal brunch delights Tasty and affordable restaurants to explore in the city Mayaz Alam Managing Editor

L’Evidence

It’s easy to walk past L’Evidence when strolling along Saint- Denis—the burnt orange sign is unassuming compared to the bright lights of other restaurants on the bustling street.

However, doing so would be a mistake as the food is delectable, the coffee bottomless, and the service polite and welcoming. Brunch is also served from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends, offering a convenient option for early risers and late strollers alike.

The star of the menu is undoubtedly the variety of eggs benedict options. Both eggs are perfectly poached, and the hollandaise has a smooth consistency and doesn’t overwhelm the subtler flavours of the toppings. Also, savoury diner-style options are paired with fresh fruits, creating a wholesome and filling meal. L’Evidence is affordable, has an option for every type of brunch-goer, and provides a balanced meal to start the day.

Le Sparrow

Nestled in the Mile End, Le Sparrow’s design and aesthetic elements embody the neighbourhood’s charm. There are only eight options on the menu, but they range from hearty steak and eggs to mouthwatering buckwheat pancakes topped with an array of sugary goodies such as candied walnuts. Additionally, Le Sparrow has an assortment of cocktails, including mimosas and Bloody Caesars that will put a jolt in anybody’s morning.

This isn’t the place to go for classic brunch fare; rather, the restaurant chooses to push the envelope with an eclectic mix influenced by Quebecois favourites and Mediterranean delights.

Le Sparrow is simple in its offerings, but highly complex with its flavour patterns; sometimes this sort of simplicity can offer its own brand of beauty.

Bagels Etc.

Walking into Bagels Etc. feels like taking a time machine back to the ’80s—conveniently the period when the diner was opened. Vintage artwork and decorations rest upon exposed brick walls, giving the restaurant a distinctly Plateau feel. The real attraction of Bagels Etc., however, is the food. At first glance, the portions can seem overwhelming and slightly off-putting; although most of their offerings are bright, echoing the vibe of the decor, they are usually piled onto the plate without giving thought to plating. After one bite, this hardly matters. The food is undeniably excellent; the pancakes are moist and fluffy, the potatoes are wholesome and delectable, and the variety of meat dishes are spiced uniquely such that every dish is its own adventure. The eponymous bagels are crisp and have a sweet undertone, offering a counterbalance to their saltier options. Bagels Etc. is well worth the short trek into the Plateau.

Universel

Although some may know Universel as a bar, on weekends both the interior and terrace operate at near full-capacity for brunch. The decor is sleek and modern, and the ambience is equally appropriate for a brunch date or a larger gathering among friends. Food-wise, portions are filling and aesthetically pleasing—a combination that many restaurants try to achieve yet very few succeed at. Universel’s primary attraction is its expansive menu that can satisfy those with a sweet tooth and savoury cravings alike—waffles, pancakes, and french toast are as commonly ordered, and as well executed, as the eggs benedict and omelettes. Universel’s their side dishes and beverages complement the main dish and enhance the complex flavour palettes; their orange juice is freshly squeezed, their coffee is an excellent pick-me-up, and their home fries are well seasoned. As a trendier option, Universel succeeds in offering an upscale feel without breaking the bank.

9

Student Living

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Student of the Week

By Laura Plamondon

Brittany Davis U3 Arts (L-A Benoit / McGill Tribune)

There are very few full-time students who are also committed to solving large-scale problems such as human trafficking. Currently finishing her last year as an undergraduate majoring in English literature and minoring in French literature, Brittany Davis hopes to continue on with a career in law. Her goal is to become a human rights lawyer, focusing on issues such as human trafficking, while working alongside non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Human trafficking is a worldwide, multi-billion industry, and Davis is committed to spreading awareness. Davis became passionate about human trafficking because of the influence of friends who were part of an anti-human trafficking track force encouraged her to join ‘Montréal Love146 Taskforce’ (Love146).

“Love146 tries to provide solutions to human trafficking through the empowerment of love, and helping victims of human trafficking,” Davis said. “[Love146] also encourages prevention as well, giving full resources in order to avoid such situations, and especially giving more resources to police. Finally, [our organization works to] understand the causes [of] human trafficking […] and make sure there is a reinforcement of laws and a creation of further laws to prevent human trafficking around the world.”

One of Davis’ main aims is to spread awareness on the reality of human trafficking throughout McGill’s campus, and eliminate myths linked to slavery—debunking the myths through facts, such as the actual number of enslaved people present in Canada.

“You don’t hear of as many human trafficking cases in Canada, but it doesn’t mean they don’t exist and are not a reality,” Davis said.

She recalls a few resonant issues within cases of human trafficking that particularly stuck with her.

“One big issue that we find is that once victims are freed and saved from their situation of slavery, there isn’t enough after-care provided for them,” Davis said.

“Dealing with the trauma once the situation has been re-

solved is excruciatingly difficult, and a lack of help can lead to terrible consequences, such as suicide.”

The complexity of human trafficking makes the issue incredibly difficult to deal with. Some prostitution cases are evidence of the blurred definition human trafficking can have.

“Indeed, some girls will go into prostitution ‘willingly,’ but then will find themselves forced to stay in it by their pimps [due to] drugs and other incentives,” Davis said. “When this happens, the cases are seen as human-trafficking cases.”

Another issue that has recently sparked Davis’ interest is the feminist movement that procured a lot of buzz in the media recently. Davis said that she appreciates the publicity that celebrities like Emma Watson and Sheryl Sandberg have spurred for the feminism movement. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s ‘We Should All Be Feminists’ essay was particularly inspiring to Davis.

Davis’ enthusiasm for this topic encouraged her to start writing for FIERCE Magazine, a feminist and women’s online magazine started by a friend from McMaster University. Davis is the director of interviews, and her next feature for the upcoming issue coming out Dec. 19, will focus on gender binaries. She was able to meet the transgender, Montreal based comedian, Tranna Wintour, as well as Andrew Bailey, known for his monologue on male rape. Finally, she has written a piece on ‘IAmElemental,’ a business that creates solely female action figures, hoping to encourage a positive re-interpretation of the traditional female action figures.

Davis credits her time at McGill to shaping her identity and determination to create change for the betterment of the world.

“McGill has helped me [to have] an open mind thanks to all the classes I’ve taken [and] the conversations I [had]with my peers,” said Davis. “It’s been an awesome environment to grow in and I will take what I learnt here with me in the future.”

McGill Tribune: Best place on earth?

Brittany Davis: Vancouver Island, right next to Tofino, because it is beautiful. You are surrounded by rainforest and can see the Rocky Mountains.

MT: Favourite type of food?

BD: All types of meat, but especially ribs and wild boar.

MT: Which celebrity would you like to meet?

BD: Leicester B Preston.

MT: What TV series would you like to be featured in?

BD: Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

MT: Do you have a hidden talent?

BD: I took vocal lessons for six years.

nominate a student of the week!

Email us at

studentliving@ mcgilltribune.com

Campus Spotlight: McGill Student Street Dancers Breaking a sweat to inspire creativity on campus AIDAN CARROLL Contributor With such a diverse student body that attracts students from around the world, McGill has a wealth of sub-culture and nuance represented by the amazing diversity of clubs, organizations, and communities present. Being a small student community at a large academic institution can make it hard to stand out.

The McGill Student Street Dancers (MSSD) formed in 2011 with three original members.

Today, it has a network of over 400 people around the city and continues to grow yearly—both in membership and in recognition from a bourgeoning Montreal breaking scene.

On Oct. 22, MSSD’s most experienced dancers participated in the Red Bull Flying Bach professional dance workshop with the world-renowned German dance crew, Flying Steps. Flying

Steps has an innovative and exciting take on the art of breaking exhibited in their performance of Red Bull Flying Bach, which combines the driving force of Johann Sebastian Bach’s legendary classical repertoire with an equally stunning array of acrobatic and technically precise street and contemporary dance.

A meeting with the team behind Red Bull Flying Bach at the workshop was a chance for the MSSD members to improve their dance skills and showcase their talent, and it also allowed them to demonstrate the astounding camaraderie that seems to flourish among breakers.

McGill student Henry Wang has been around the block when it comes to MSSD and breaking.

He called the workshop with the Flying Steps a sign of recognition for the street dancing community at McGill, and pointed to breaking as a practice that gives

him a level of control over his body and the freedom of expression to counteract those twists and turns in life that no one can see coming.

“Breaking gives you a level of control over your body that not everyone has—it really [allows] you [to] show your personality,” said Wang.

Branden Cha, the president of MSSD, insisted that he was not the president of a club—he was the president of a community, a supportive role for a diverse array of dancers both beginner and experienced. “[The MSSD’s] philosophy is simple—we get better together,” Cha said. “From veterans to beginners, we all help each other become greater than what we think we can be, and become greater than our circumstances.”

A common denominator to MSSD’s members was that breaking was not just an activ-

ity but also a form of identity—a place where those who want to practice and get better flourish and where everyone is accepted.

Breaker Luca “LazyLegz” Patuelli, a Concordia graduate who was present at the Flying Steps workshop and has also faced MSSD in dance battles, is a prime example of this inclusivity and empowerment within breaking. In fact, Patuelli’s foundation, Ill-Abilities, embodies the breaking community of MSSD. Patuelli’s foundation utilizes motivational entertainment programs, integrated dancing workshops, and theatrical performances to help those with disabilities gain access to and flourish in the world of dance. It also helps them learn all the valuable lessons that MSSD members say help them through their daily lives.

“I went to Concordia and I have to say, McGill always had

more spirit. There was a battle on our territory and more McGill students showed up. We still won, but it was close,” said Patuelli.

Letting go and having fun is not always constructive when it comes to life at university, but clubs like the MSSD are evidence that there are endless opportunities to become a part of something truly powerful and motivating. Cha sees these opportunities evolving for the improvement of the McGill street dance community.

“We always bring something new to the table, or at least levelup our game every year,” he said.

MSSD exemplifies what it means to be a dedicated and motivated student, through its continuous striving for greater achievements, a community of inclusivity, and acceptance and passion for art.

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LADIES SING THE BLUES Hyper-sexualization in the music industry W

Morgan Alexander

the gender stereotypes [that] we attribute to either gender,” ith Kim Kardashian’s recent front page buttLaFrance said. spread on Paper Magazine and Nikki Minaj’s In fact, there is the assumption that what happens to “Anaconda” music video fuelling more “How women in the music industry is just a microcosmic display to twerk” YouTube videos than ever before, it seems that of what happens in society as a whole. The mainstreaming we have finally reached an era of women in control of the of pornography has undoubtedly changed what it means to mainstream media. Yet despite the increased coverage of be conventionally sexy, and for many, there is an expectawomen in the music industry, there has been a proportional tion that those in positions of fame should act as representaincrease in the sexualization of female artists, and a growtives to the nth degree of these arbitrary societal expectaing dichotomy between the treatment of white artists and tions of beauty. artists of colour. Statistics show that from 1997 to 2007, Alanis Morissette wrote a piece for Fashion Spot in female artists produced 41.4 per cent of chart-topping hits, compared to 54.1 per cent from male artists. However, only early December 2013 claiming that since the end of the 20th 34.3 per cent of radio airplay was dedicated to female artcentury, sex has become a tool for women to embody power ists. Considering that sales rankings for female artists are and manipulate men. just barely below their male counterparts, it begs the ques“There's this erroneous message that women's power tion as to why male artists are receiving double the radio lies singularly in our sexuality,” Morissette wrote. “It would airplay. Furthermore, not only are these trends present withbe easy then to think, falsely, that the main aspect of our in mainstream media, but they are also prevalent in the local power is our sexuality and the ornamental aspect of our Montreal music scene as well. physicality [… but] it's a sad state of affairs when we rely According to Marc LaFrance, assistant professor of solely on this one-dimensionalized aspect of ourselves. And sociology at Concordia University, women are expected to it feels extreme. And it feels incomplete, and it's unfortudisplay forms of femininity as they relate to beauty and atnate that this is what we rely on—our aesthetic.” titude.

According to LaFrance, it is undeniable that the music “The differences between representations of women industry has fallen into an overly sexualized aesthetic. and men in the media mirror broader differences in terms of “Social scientists from across the disciplines have

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“You'd shown very clearly that one’s viability as a have thought female pop star now is much more tied to that I didn't a performance and [its] sexiness than ever have a chance before,” LaFrance said. of getting a deal Much controversy has risen over as a woman over what is and is not acceptable behaviour 40—my own for female artists while on stage. Miley manager at the Cyrus is the easiest target for this discustime warned me sion; her 2013 VMA performance with about that,” Fahl Robin Thicke inspired a media frenzy and said. “But after Octoan open letter from Sinead O’Connor, in ber Project broke up, which the Irish singer-songwriter scolded I got not one, but two Cyrus. deals with highly re“Nothing but harm will come in the spected labels, and I was long run from allowing yourself to be exwell into my 40s when ploited, and it is absolutely not in any way that happened. I just dean empowerment of yourself or any other cided that I wasn't going to young women, for you to send across the let gender or age restrict my message that you are to be valued (even by dreams.” you) more for your sexual appeal than your However, for singers in obvious talent,” O’Connor wrote. the pop and hip hop world, age O’Connor, who claimed she was and appearance have proven to speaking from a place of motherly love make or break careers, and conwith her letter, stands in the camp of those sumers are only supporting the who believe that outlandish sexiness is inperpetuation of the female hyper herently demeaning. LaFrance elaborated sexualized aesthetic. Iggy Azalea that women are pressured to incorporate commented in an interview with sex into their music and performances.

Hot 97 FM that she was no longer “Many [female] artists […] have gone willing to crowd surf at her shows on record saying you can’t really make it because fans consistently sexually asnow without doing the hyper-sexy thing,” saulted her when she did. she said. “It’s a new form of regulation of “They think I'm real slutty, like the female body.”

‘Oh, she got a song called 'Pussy,' I know Indeed, the female aesthetic remains what she wants,” Azalea said. “‘She wants a crucial factor in determining viability. As these two fingers.’ Why would I want a former McGill student and present pop senstranger to ever finger me? Buying my sation Grimes said in a recent Tumblr post, album for $12 doesn't mean you get to fin“I don’t want to be infantilized because I ger me when I come to your city.” refuse to be sexualized [….] I’m tired of The abuse and misrepresentation is inbeing referred to as ‘cute,’ as a ‘waif’ [...] tensified for artists of colour. LaFrance deeven when the author, fan, friend, family scribed black artists as being “ghettoized” member [...] is being positive.” into the genres of hip hop and R&B. With Similarly, in an interview with The the recent corporatization of hip hop, the Guardian, Adele called out the double stangenre lost its image of being a source for dards of the music industry when it came to social commentary and became a genre for the female body. club beats and the ‘rich hood’ lifestyle. Lily “You're either too fat or too skinny; long Allen and Miley Cyrus have both come even if you're a perfectly healthy size ,they been under fire for using black women as “props” still find something to [complain] about,” noted in music videos. she said. for its Nicki Minaj, who is strongly associatYet the notion that over-sexualization fashion ed with this genre of music, has constantly is an avoidable presence in music culture scene— been forced to address rumours of sexual is wholly untrue. Many famous stars have it is misencounters with other rappers, and has been broken through ‘the barrier of sexiness’— guided to widely fetishized for possessing the “ideal the three most famous being Lorde, Adele, claim that black figure” across social media. Accordand Taylor Swift. Swift’s newest album the chaling to LaFrance, black women are far more 1989 is the only album to go platinum in lenges faced heavily sexualized than their white coun2014 and has avoided the pornographic by men in terparts, in addition to having to emphasize sexiness common to her pop genre. this aspect are their visual aesthetics over talent far more Interesting to note, however, is the way perfectly equivthan their black male counterparts. Power the dialogue about women and the way they alent to those couple Beyoncé and Jay-Z is a clear example are represented has changed across musifaced by women. of this, as Beyoncé, despite being marketed cal genres. As LaFrance explained, a large The music indusas the embodiment of a strong female archepart of the rhetoric of sex appeal is mainly try’s insistence on type, is constantly being analyzed for her applied to women who have or are looking natural aesthetic perappearance and stage presence, whereas her to achieve a particular level of commercial fection and childish husband Jay-Z has gained recognition for his success in mainstream music, something independence among talent as a rapper, irrespective of his overall often represented by billboard rankings and mainstream artists appearance. net worth. forces them to walk an Is there a problem with the way the Mary Fahl, a folk singer and McGill impossible tightrope tomusic industry treats women? alumnus, echoed this perspective, but added wards fame. And because “There’s not a problem with sex, per that there are those who choose to separate the perception of women se,” LaFrace said. “The problem is when themselves from this approach. in the celebrity sphere is those forms or performance become the only “Sex sells [...] right?” she said. “I nothing more than a magniavenue […] when being really sexy becomes think there are women in this industry who fied perception of everyday a necessity.” choose to buy into being sexual objects, and women, consumers should be LaFrance notes, however, that the treatthose people are pretty easy to spot. But encouraged to support different ment of women by the music industry is part there are just as many who don't.” kinds of cultural production in of a larger cultural phenomenon of diminWhile Fahl stated that she did experia broader attempt towards social ishing the value of a woman by inherently ence gender bias in the sense that her male equality that allows sex and sexulinking her viability to her physical appearcounterparts tended to be taken more serialization to be an option—not the ance. Though men do face issues of aesthetic ously, she claimed that in her career—as a only choice. prejudice relating to their weight or fashion part of the band October Project—the bigchoices—particularly in Montreal, which has gest obstacle was her own insecurities.

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Science & Technology Mission accomplished: Philae touches down

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

European Space Agency lands first probe on comet Clare Lyle Staff Writer At 16:03 GMT on Nov. 12, 2014, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Rosetta mission’s Philae lander touched down on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Its arrival marked the end of a decade-long journey that spanned 6.4 billion kilometres, and the first successful landing of a spacecraft on a comet.

The Rosetta mission, named after the Rosetta Stone, is expected to explain some of the mysteries shrouding the birth of our solar system by taking an unprecedentedly close look at a comet.

Comets offer a wealth of information about what our planetary neighbourhood looked like billions of years ago. Unlike planets, where chemical reactions alter their composition over time, comets have remained relatively unchanged for billions of years.

Scientists believe that the data Philae collects will reveal the age, chemical composition, and history of comets in our solar system. Additionally, this data could indicate how much of Earth’s water came from collisions with comets, and even what effect comets had on the development of life.

“Rosetta is trying to answer the

very big questions about the history of our Solar System,” explained Matt Taylor, a Rosetta project scientist, in an ESA press release. “What were the conditions like at its infancy, and how did it evolve? What role did comets play in this evolution? How do comets work?”

The probe has already provided scientists with some insight into the makeup of the comet—even before its landing. An instrument called ROSINA (Rosetta orbiter sensor for ion and neutral analysis) analyzed the compounds present in the comet’s coma—a halo of evaporated gases that are released when the comet orbits near the sun.

Most of the data that scientists are eagerly awaiting, however, will be produced by the Philae lander on the comet’s surface. A variety of detectors will measure the mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties of the surface of the comet.

Descending and touching down on the comet was a rocky affair. A comet is a relatively small object, so there is very little gravitational force to prevent an incoming object, like a probe, from bouncing and flying off into space. Philae’s landing harpoons­— which were designed to hold the probe to the comet’s surface—failed, and after an initial impact, the craft bounced off of the rocky landscape and travelled

at 38 cm/s for almost two hours until it landed about a kilometre from its initial landing site.

Philae then bounced a second time, although it landed again within seven minutes. Its final landing spot was much shadier than the one intended—bad news for the lander’s solar powered batteries.

Though the lander was able to start collecting data, limited power supply meant that its operational time frame was significantly shorter than scientists had anticipated. Philae’s battery died soon after sending the last of its data back to Earth, although scientists hope that it may be revived when the comet’s orbit brings it closer to the sun.

Despite these setbacks, the general outlook on the comet landing is a positive one. The results produced by Philae will have an immense impact on what we know about not just the contents of our solar system, but how it came to exist as we know it.

“It’s been an extremely long and hard journey to reach today’s once-ina-lifetime event, but it was absolutely worthwhile,” said Fred Jansen, ESA Rosetta mission manager. “We look forward to the continued success of the great scientific endeavour that is the Rosetta mission as it promises to revolutionize our understanding of comets.”

The probe’s path to the comet involved four gravity assists – three from earth and one from mars Named after Rosetta Stone because scientists hope it will help to decode mysteries about history The probe was launched in March 2004

Surface temperature of comet: -70 degrees

Length of one “day” on comet: 12.4 hours SD2 (sample and distribution device) drills into surface to collect samples for further analysis COSAC (cometary sampling and composition) detects and identifies complex organic molecules PTOLEMY: evolved gas analyzer to find isotopic ratios of light elements ÇIVA imaging instrument that analyzes composition, texture and reflectivity of surface Infographic by Domitille Biehlmann / McGill Tribune

BUGS hosts Research Awareness Day Lunch with professors enlightens students on research opportunities Chloe Nevitt Science & Technology Editor On Saturday, Nov. 15, the gap between student and professor narrowed. A variety of biochemical experts gathered on the sixth floor of McIntyre Medical Building to explain their research. Areas of interest were widespread, and included topics such as tumour genetics, eye development, and macromolecular machinery. The students were first invited to listen to brief presentations given by the professors, and then to share lunch with them.

“The goal of RAD [Research Awareness Day] is to expose students to the research that occurs in the biochemistry department and to give them an opportunity to meet professors and discuss [their] research,” explained Larischa DeWet, VP Internal for Biochemistry Undergraduate Society (BUGS).

DeWet helped organize RAD alongside biochemistry professor Jason Young, who explained how undergraduate students could get involved in research. He highlighted that past experience wasn’t necessary; instead, things like commitment, dedication, and interest are what professors will look for.

“I had a student apply to my lab who had never worked in research before,” Young explained.

“But he had worked for a pharmacy for something like nine years, and would go every Friday [even] during exams. So when he applied, I called the pharmacy, and they told me he was reliable [and] consistent [.…] He now has a PhD.” During the presentation, the professors gave advice for students applying for lab positions.

“When emailing professors, show interest specifically in what they’re doing,” stated professor Maxime Bouchard, one of the researchers presenting at the event.

“We get hundreds of applications from around the world, so make sure you know exactly why you want to work in my lab.”

The different lab positions available to students—showcased

by RAD—are extensive. For example, professor Martin Schmeing uses x-ray crystallography to determine the structures of various large macromolecular machines. He chose this route because of the satisfaction from getting instant results.

“You run the experiment, and bam! The results are right in front of you,” Schmeing explained. “Now

Students interact with professors at RAD. (Photo courtesy of Philippe Hwang) you have to analyze them, you have to ask questions, you start to interpret what you have.”

The event gave students the opportunity to figure out what type of research they want to pursue. The professor’s presentations demonstrated the huge spectrum available when going into research.

“Students don’t often get to hear about the amazing work that the members of their department

are [doing],” explained Alexandr Magder, U2 representative from BUGS. “It’s an amazing experience because it allows students to see the real-world applications of the […] knowledge they [get] from their classes.”

RAD bridged the frequent gap between the student and the professors. It’s a unique event that provides a less intimidating venue for discussion.

“[The] event [helps] demystify what scientific research is all about,” Bouchard explained. “The small group discussions at lunch provide a unique opportunity to understand what scientific research really is.”

Diving into the unknown world of scientific research can be overwhelming. RAD helps connect professors with students to make that much easier.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

13

Science & Technology

Tracking back problems with Backtrack McGill graduates develop medical app Jenny Shen Editor-in-Chief In the worldwide race to find the next must-use mobile app, “there’s an app for that” is one of the most common refrains heard today. Backtrack is the scientific foray into the mobile app world for McGill graduates Alex Danco and Alex Daskalav. The app, which is in its developing stages as it seeks $50,000 through Kickstarter, aims to help users visualize their back movement and track that progress through the app.

The system uses a sensor shaped like a two-pronged stick roughly the size of a hand, which the user can secure onto his or her back using a disposable adhesive patch. Backtrack uses inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors to detect position and shape; the information is then sent to the user’s phone via Bluetooth. The app then lets the user track movement and range on a 360-degree map, both of which can be tracked on a daily basis.

According to Dr. Ladan Mahabadi, a collaborator on Backtrack, the purpose of the app is to give patients with back problems an accessible way to recover.

“The idea was that when you go to your physiotherapist, it’s very short-term […] and the expectation [is] that you would actually maintain doing the exercises [at home,]” she said. “Back pain is one of those things where recovery and improvement happens over a long period of time […] so patients [can]

Remi Lu Managing Editor

Long-term marijuana use on the brain

A study published in The Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences last week has found that chronic—defined as three times per day over 10 years—marijuana users have a lower IQ score and smaller gray matter volume in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) region of the brain compared to non-users.

However, the results also showed that marijuana users had higher functional and structural neural connectivity in the OFC. The study sampled from 48 chronic users and 62 non-users who were adjusted for gender, age, ethnicity, tobacco, and alcohol use; the study also excluded participants with histories or symptoms of

get discouraged. [Danco and Daskalav] figured out that the best way to remedy this would be to show the patient how much they’re recovering over time [….] We’re focusing on telling you [the exact] variation on your range of movement, the complexity of your movement, and the dexterity of your movement.”

The Kickstarter also offers Hacktrack, an open API device, which is a tool used to build software that can be used by developers who want to track changes in shape by other companies that may want to target other parts of the body.

“We built a shape sensor and we showed it to a lot of people,” Daskalov said. “But when we saw that people were excited about that as a novel sensor, we figured we should offer it to others to see what other applications [it may have.]”

Mahabadi noted that Backtrack is different from other apps in its focus and the features it offers. “[The aim is] to redefine recovery as a personal achievement of milestones,” Mahabadi said. “I’m not comparing my movement to yours, but I want to know how my movement today compares to days before. Mission learning is this tool that looks at the data collective for a particular individual […] and quantifies your recovery for you over various periods of time.”

According to Backtrack’s Kickstarter, the initial stages of development involved many broken prototypes due to cracked electrical connections, which caused the team to subsequently change the circuits and device design in order to avoid

those issues.

However, Backtrack is still undergoing adjustments before it will be ready for shipping and distribution. The team is currently working on the sensor’s size, contouring, and application methods as it seeks universality in the sensor’s wear and use. The goal is to make the sensor as thin and unobtrusive as possible.

Daskalov added that the team is currently working on presenting the product to universities and clinics, rather than individual customers to see direct effects on patients.

“The device is not something we intend to sell directly to con-

sumers,” Daskalov said. “We already started a number of partnerships with various universities, like Concordia [….] We will start working with various physiotherapy clinics to see how we can actually apply this to patients and see their improvement.”

Mahabadi also stated that back pain is a prevalent and cumbersome problem that many people face, which was why the team sought to tackle the issue.

“It’s both the sheer number of people that suffer from back pain, and the false hypothesis that back pain is so big and so unquantifiable, that attacking the problem is almost

impossible,” she said. “The burden of improvement is on the patient, and the reason a lot of people don’t improve is because they stop the exercises that would help them.”

According to Mahabadi, the Backtrack team hopes to see the product not only used for back rehabilitation, but also in other medical applications.

“I’m hoping that we can get other collaborators involved,” Mahabadi said. “What would be fantastic would be to get these in neurodegenerative applications [like for] ALS or Parkinson’s. I believe that our techniques can actually detect those critical episodes.”

neurological disorders, brain injuries, or psychosis.

The OFC is a region in the brain that is involved in emotion and reward in decision-making— frequently known as the reward centre of the brain. Consequently, the results of the study show that the region of the brain involved in motivation based on a reward system shrink with longterm marijuana use, particularly for those who start at a young age.

Led by Francesca M. Filbey and her team out of the Center for BrainHealth at the University of Texas, the study showed that the brains of chronic users compensated for any shrinkage in the OFC by increasing connectivity between different areas of the brain, and increasing the structural integrity of tissues in the brain.

“[The results suggest] that there is definitely a more complicated pattern that the brain seems to be able to compensate for any kind of loss in order to keep that network maintained,” said Filbey in an interview with The Washington Post .

However, the study showed that this growth in connectivity and integrity continued for six to eight years, at which point the increased connectivity started to decline.

Although the study showed that the chronic marijuana users had lower IQ scores, the authors of the study clarified that these results had no correlation with a decrease in OFC volume.

“We did not find that the causal variable (i.e., marijuana use) was significantly correlated with the mediator variable [i.e., OFC gray matter volume] and

outcome variable (i.e., IQ),” the study states.

sults in tumours. The study— published by lead author Katherine A. Scott from the University of London—showed that a dosage of 2 milligrams each of pure THC and CBD per kilogram of body weight resulted in statistically significant reductions in tumour volumes (p < 0.01) when combined with irradiation cancer treatment.

The study involved an in vitro stage, as well as an orthotopic murine—rat and mice— model for glioma. However, the bulk of the study took place in vitro , which means that the experiment was primarily conducted in a Petri dish setting.

Although the results of cannabinoids on high-grade glioma are promising, it is important to remember that in vitro tests do not necessarily translate to real effects in humans.

Backtrack’s team is changing the app game. (Photo courtesy of Backtrack)

Cannabinoids may shrink brain tumours

Cannabinoids, the active chemical compounds in cannabis, have been shown to induce tumour cell death by modifying faulty signalling pathways, according to a study released in Nature Reviews Cancer earlier this year. A new study published in Molecular Cancer Therapeutics has shown that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)—two of the primary cannabinoids in cannabis—may be able to treat high-grade glioma, an aggressive brain cancer.

As with all cancers, highgrade glioma involves the rapid and uncontrollable growth of cancer cells, which usually re-

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Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Play Review: Six Characters in Search of an Author Chris Lutes Staff Writer Most theatrical productions that work well are not trying to reinvent the wheel. As long as the writing is solid, a play will generally be successful if it just sticks to the script with few extra flourishes. This isn’t really an option with Luigi Pirandello’s Six Characters in Search of an Author. Derided as absurdist and nonsensical when it premiered in Italy in 1921, the play requires the vision of a director and crew who are willing to take risks in order to make it a vibrant piece of theatre, rather than a dry exercise in recursion. Though this production is certainly propelled by bold choices, it often falls victim to ideas that aren’t fully fleshed out, and is brought down by flaws in the play itself that can’t be avoided.

Six Characters takes place on a stage where a group of actors are rehearsing a play. We see petty dramas and rivalries unfold between the actors as the Director (Malachy Cleary) and crew get ready to rehearse—and then the impossible happens. Six fictional characters materialize out of nowhere, interrupt the proceedings, and insist that their story be told. At first the Director waves it off as nonsense, but then decides to indulge them. Idea becomes character and character becomes audience as they begin to mount a new play. What follows is a

series of conversations and monologues about agency, reality, and the nature of illusion.

All of that could come off as a dry exercise in meta-theatre—it’s a testament to the playwright that it never devolves into a completely academic exercise. The characters, while not “real,” have very believable and tragic pasts to explore, and these events culminate in a very satisfying conclusion. However, the pacing can drag, with the play often becoming a series of long-winded monologues that repeat previous plot points and ideas ad nauseum, deflating the dramatic tension. There are also a few bizarre additions to the text in the form of interjections from the supporting cast, but unfortunately, these attempts at humour fall completely flat.

Beyond the titular Six Characters and the Director, none of the actors get much of a chance to distinguish themselves, though they all excel with the material given to them. The more prominent characters are given much more to work with, and therefore have more chances to come up short.

Mostly, these performances are good, with the actors attempting and mostly succeeding at breathing life into the text. Too often, though, performances devolve into characters yelling at each other instead of simply acting. The two leads, Father (Nicholas Lepage) and Director, are especially guilty of this—though Father brings a manic

physicality to the role that makes these flaws much more forgivable. The clear standout of the cast is Oskar Flemer as the Son, who almost completely avoids the rampant escalation of the rest of the cast, bringing a nuanced anger to the role, characterized by a quietness that is much more frightening than screaming.

The production itself is uneven, equal parts inspired and misguided. The costuming and set design were quite strong for a McGill production—the Six Characters are elevated to an almost otherworldly eeriness through their pristine formalwear contrasted against

Six characters in search of a plot line. (Remi Lu / McGill Tribune) the ornate masks and blue lipstick that “Money” when a character mentions they wear at all times. It’s a decision the fact that they received money for that could come off as monumentally something.

Though the play is admirable silly, but it works. The sets are simple—just a door, a desk, and four for its ambition, and contains many giant canvas panels (used brilliantly to elements worth the price of admission, create shadows of the characters)—yet it never reaches the level of quality manage to eke out a deeper level of that it needs to make it a consistently meaning from the text. The soundtrack, engrossing production. on the other hand, is completely Six Characters in Search of an overwrought and poorly coordinated— none of the songs sound cohesive with Author runs from Wednesday, Nov. each other, nor with the play itself. One 19 to Saturday, Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. at particularly tone-deaf moment involves Players’ Theatre (3480 McTavish). playing the intro to Pink Floyd’s Student tickets are $6.

But first, let me renew Selfie

Reports of the ABC show’s death are correct, but the justification is greatly exaggerated Jenny Shen Editor-in-Chief When ABC rolled out the promo for its new comedy Selife, loosely based off the premise of My Fair Lady, millennials everywhere bemoaned its use of tired accusations that their generation was addicted to their phones, their Instagrams, and their hashtagged—you guessed it—selfies. For this reason, few were surprised when ABC announced the show’s cancellation last week— but for those who watched all seven episodes, the growth and promise Selfie eventually displayed over its short season could very well make the network regret its decision.

The pilot, which barely stretched past the offerings of the two-minute promo video, was disappointing to say the least, and focused entirely too much on being the hip, modern show that revealed just how dependent people in their mid-twenties are on their online popularity. Equally unsettling for many viewers was the show’s predisposition toward a “man fixes up the woman” trope which, admittedly, was a given based on the show’s inspiration. Eliza Dooley, plainly named after My Fair Lady’s Eliza Doolittle, proves from the onset to be a lost cause, and Henry Higgs (inspired by My Fair Lady’s Henry Higgins) seems to be too

stoic to be capable of human emotions.

Both characters ultimately fall flat in the pilot, leaving much to be desired in Selfie’s attempts to act as some kind of social commentary about social media.

However, there were snippets from the pilot and subsequent episodes that proved that Selfie’s writers had more than just lukewarm jokes about Siri up their sleeves. Karen Gillan’s Eliza is undoubtedly irritating, primarily due to her egotism and her seemingly vapid obsession with the number of followers she has on all social media platforms combined (300,000, according to the most recent episode). John Cho’s portrayal of Henry is both endearing and indicative of his versatility as an actor—particularly for those who are more accustomed to his nutty role in the Harold and Kumar franchise. When he takes a Buzzfeed quiz to see which Game of Thrones character he most resembles—Sansa Stark, much to his approval—and when he accidentally tags himself in a photo of his breastfeeding ex, Selfie proves its ability to be more than just a worn-out lament about “kids these days.” The show’s comedic strong points lie not just in the characters’ line delivery but also in the outrageous use of physical comedy—everything from having Eliza and Charmonique dance in a giant room filled with wigs to covering Henry’s crotch with a giant emoji

as he jumps, naked, into a lake full of leeches.

Not only did the show continue to develop its comedic chops, but the character growth beyond the seemingly one-dimensionality in the pilot is promising.

When Henry awkwardly admits, “I have grown accustomed to your face,” it is not only a nod to My Fair Lady, but is also delivered so deadpan and convincingly by Cho that it was difficult not to recognize the chemistry that Cho and Gillan have on John Cho and Karen Gillan star as the unlikely couple in now cancelled Selfie. (ew.com) camera—unconventional as it may be. By episode three, the show see an underrepresented minority on- with others, but intelligently explores no longer seems to boast a plot based screen as a romantic lead without any its downsides: Eliza takes it too far on a man fixing up a woman—instead, gross stereotyping in the character is and ignores her real-life interactions, it shows just how much the two char- long overdue, and the way Selfie makes whereas Henry’s disapproval of social acters can learn from one another, and Eliza and Henry’s relationship realis- media does not necessarily make his that both characters have faults that go tic and interesting without tokenizing life meaningful or “special” in any way. far beyond the negative effects of social Cho’s racial background is mature and, The show’s missteps, unfortunately, media. The casting of the two charac- sadly, unprecedented. have come not from poor comedic timters was pleasantly unexpected—the The biggest critique that circled ing or bad writing, but from ineffecproducers were looking for an actor Selfie’s pilot was that the show was tive marketing on ABC’s part. Without who was British and gentlemanly, à la trying too hard prove that social media watching the show, it would be imposMy Fair Lady, for Henry. Instead, the will be the demise of society, when in sible to know just how many followers show casted an Asian actor in Cho—a reality, the more recent episodes have Selfie deserves, and the show’s early move that was both refreshing and un- proven the opposite. It has shown that demise—just as it was becoming truly common in Hollywood and on TV. To social media is a great way to connect funny and charming—is just #unfair.

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Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Cereal killer: Why Usher’s promotion is wrecking his image max berger Arts & Entertainment Editor Besides attracting local attention for walking around the Plateau wearing a raccoon hat before kicking off his current tour in Montreal, Usher has made headlines recently for following in the footsteps of generations of toy manufacturers and announcing that his latest single will be exclusively distributed as a cereal box prize. The song, “Clueless,” won’t appear on his upcoming album UR , and, for at least the foreseeable future, the only way to legally own it will be to purchase a speciallymarked box of Honey Nut Cheerios from Walmart and then download it using a digital code.

Usher is just one of many artists to entertain unconventional promotional techniques in a market where music sales have diminished greatly. He’s certainly not the first to receive corporate sponsorship prior to a release—but by inextricably tying the sale of his single to two non-musical organizations, he’s only damaging his own artistic image and opening the door for companies to negatively impact the music industry.

When I use the phrase “damaging his own artistic image,” I don’t mean to say that Usher is some kind of a sellout for agreeing to promote his music in partnership with Walmart and General Mills. He’ll be heavily compensated for his efforts and even if he has an estimated net worth of $110 million already, Usher has every right to try to increase that number.

The issue with Usher’s decision, however, is that he’s

Usher grooves with Buzz Bee as part of his new promotion. (multivu.com) not just using the companies as a platform on which to promote his song—or even giving consumers the option to let a company profit while supporting his work—his song essentially is one of the companies’ products. Fans who want to download “Clueless” are now obligated to make a trip to Walmart and leave with a box of Honey Nut Cheerios. As with any promotion, it’ll be a welcome offer for some and a complete annoyance for others; but unlike a regular promotion, there’s only one distributor for Usher’s song. It’s a disservice to fans to ask them to purchase something they may not want in order for them to own a copy of an artist’s work. Even if “Clueless” were to be Usher’s best song to date,

the terms of its release will still stand as something capable of alienating fans—not to mention making it tougher for many to take him seriously as an artist.

Because album sales are no longer the robust revenue source they once were for musicians, the lure of corporate sponsorship is tempting, and corporations stand to gain the most by offering promotions to artists like Usher that fuse together commodities from a purchase standpoint. It remains to be seen whether or not this type of deal will actually begin to frequently affect the music industry, but it’s already clear that the biggest and wealthiest artists aren’t immune from going for it. Even Jay-Z—Hova himself—

agreed to a promotion for 2013’s Magna Carta Holy Grail that allowed Samsung to distribute one million copies of the album three days early to fans who had bought certain products of theirs and paid him $5 million.

Of course, the album was made available to other retailers after those three days, but it’s an example of the power that even fleeting exclusivity can bring.

The irony in the Usher discussion is that in spite of the exclusivity that Walmart and General Mills have with the Honey Nut Cheerios promotion, anyone who wants to can realistically find “Clueless” on the internet and listen to a free stream—I certainly did. Still, for those who have nobler ideals

when it comes to supporting their favourite artists, there’s no reason they should have to also support a company they haven’t directly chosen to endorse. Or, perhaps if a financially secure artist insists on tying the sales of their music to an unaffiliated third party, they can learn from Taylor Swift, who is donating the proceeds from her recent single “Welcome to New York” to New York City public schools. Maybe Usher’s real motivation in all of this is taking responsibility to ensure that his fans understand the value of a proper breakfast, but in the almost-certain likelihood that that isn’t the case, he should get a clue and find a new way to promote his single.

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Email photo@mcgilltribune.com or come to SSMU Room 110 on Wednesdays at 6:00PM

16

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Shoegazey gems: Diamonds on the soles of your shoes

ALBUM REVIEWS Damien Rice - My Favourite Faded Fantasy

Elie Waitzer Sports Editor

40 Days

Artist: Slowdive Album: Souvlaki Released: May 17, 1993 Maybe Brian Eno’s production has something to do with it, but this song is almost too joyful to be classified as shoegaze. Verging on dream pop, the track opens with loud and pulsing synthesizers, while a quick tempo will have you nodding along with lyrics you can’t quite make out. As the chorus builds up, the words are completely drowned out by a wobbling synth melody. The perfect song to make you forget the final you just flunked.

Sometimes

Artist: My Bloody Valentine Album: Loveless Released: November 4, 1991

There’s a thread of tiredness that weaves through Damien Rice’s latest album and ties its eight tracks together. What My Favorite Faded Fantasy provides in consis-

Cherry Coloured Funk Artist: Cocteau Twins Album: Heaven or Las Vegas Released: September 17, 1990

The Cocteau Twins played an integral role in the development of the shoegaze genre, and the dreamy guitar on this track has influenced countless artists, from Slowdive to Lush. More recently, The Weeknd sampled it to exquisite effect on “The Knowing,” distilling a haunting one-string melody from the song’s hypnotic fuzz. Vocally, lead singer Elizabeth Frazer switches back and forth between a quiet monotone and a beautiful, lilting whine, eventually merging the two to create a catchy harmony that carries the song.

Following the success of their Grammy-winning album Wasting Light (2011), the Foo Fighters’ eighth studio endeavour, Sonic Highways , attempts to trump its predecessor by extending its recording process to eight iconic studios across the U.S. More akin to a concept

Nick Jonas - Nick Jonas

Vapour Trails

Artist: Ride Album: Nowhere Released: October 15, 1990 This song walks the fine line between being sappy and lovely. Mark Gardener’s lyrics, echoey and melancholy under layers of effects, describe a love as fleeting as a vapour trail in the sky— here one day and gone the next. The song starts off with a faint distorted guitar jangle before the drums hit like a ton of bricks, and the volume is cranked up to appropriate shoegaze levels, completely blanketing the vocals. Technically brilliant, the bass drum is the most musical aspect of this track, driving relentlessly until the outro, where it abruptly gives way to fading orchestral strings.

tency, it loses in its unoriginality: Each song is nearly identical to the others. T he themes and the way Rice sings about them—“I love this girl, she doesn’t love me, it hurts, oh well”—is too much of a mirror to his previous efforts in 9 and O. However, the album does have its highlights. “My Favourite Faded Fantasy,” the record’s opener, is a strong song. Detailed arrangement of the harmony accompanies Rice’s delicate vocals, “You could be my favourite taste/ To touch my tongue/ I know someone who could serve me love/ But it wouldn’t fill me up.”

“The Greatest Bastard,” despite featuring the signature weariness expected, is a strong track that begins with Rice’s breathless murmuring over simple chords,

Foo Fighters- Sonic Highways

No shoegaze list could be complete without a track from My Bloody Valentine’s masterpiece, Loveless. You may remember this nostalgic ballad from the soundtrack of Lost in Translation (2003), playing in the background as Scarlett Johansson observes the Tokyo night through a taxicab window. Buried beneath Kevin Shields’ trademark amplified open-string noise, a melodic keyboard hook rises steadily in pitch throughout the song, finally cresting above the static blare like a deep-sea fish coming up for air.

Nick Jonas’ new self-titled album is a steady step into maturity for the young artist. Still attempting to shake off the ‘boy band’ image he spent years perfecting with his brothers, he has moved into the world of ’80s-era R&B, and interestingly dedicated his PR campaign towards the LGBTQ com-

Warner

and grows as layers of soaring harmony are added, eventually reaching a cathartic crescendo.

Unfortunately, the rest of the album feels like swimming in warm water until your fingers are pruned and your hair is dry from the salt that he’s cried over whatever new girl has left him.

Given the album’s titular nod to Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, its seemingly minimal contribution by producer Rick Rubin, and its overall boring subdued moodiness, all I wanted was to turn Rice off and listen to “Runaway” instead.

—- Jessica Fu

RCA Records

album, each of the eight tracks captures the spirit of their respective cities of recording, infusing both the lyrics and the music of the album with various historical and cultural references. As each track was released “One by One” on the album’s companion HBO television series under the same name, the hype train was ready for boarding—but it never left.

The first three tracks on the album encapsulate the best sounds of the band in recent memory: “Something From Nothing” is a brilliant opener, capturing that sweet union between tear-jerking softness and head-banging heaviness explored in Echoes, Silence, Patience, and Grace (2007), while “Feast and the Famine” and “Congregation” tap into Wasting Light ’s hard rock sounds with their breakdowns and throat-wrenching screams.

Unfortunately, the remainder of the album sloughs down into mediocrity as the band begins to explore various new genres and sounds due to what seems to be a forced adaptation to each city, resulting in lackluster tracks. This is most prominent in “What Did I Do?” where the result is a cheesy, stadium rock ballad that is begging, not only for the audience’s lighters, but the question: Can this really be the Foo Fighters?

While Sonic Highways offers an interesting concept on paper, it ultimately fails precisely due to its concept. In order to properly comprehend the lyrics and musical styles of the record, it seems one must ‘tune in’ to HBO and find out.

— - Luka ciklovan

Island records munity.

While Nick Jonas is undeniably more grown-up than any of his other work—and certainly shows a musical talent that had been handily stifled during his time in the Jonas Brothers—Jonas still has a lot of cleaning up to do if he wants to be taken seriously as an artist. The track “Wilderness” is a clichéd look into an on-again, off-again relationship. “Jealous,” meanwhile, has received a lot of praise for being the strongest on the track, yet Jonas’ voices sounds shaky throughout and his acclaimed falsetto fails to reach the heights it does on “Avalanche.”

The real standout on the album, though, is “Numb,” which combines a bass-heavy club beat with a strong hook to provide the emotional backbone of the album while also showing the strongest production value.

Angel Haze adds a strong dimension to the track, providing subtle hip-hop backing

without losing the overall jazz electronic feel.

Considering Jonas’ long history in the music industry, but rather recent fling as a solo artist, the ultimately poor production value of this album is its true downfall.

While Jonas may not have Justin Timberlake-level chops, he’s clearly working towards a mastery in the field of young, white, male R&B pop male singers, as best represented in “Take Over.” If Jonas really wants to gain legitimacy in the music field, he needs to continue defining himself as something other than adorable Camp Rock (2008) heartbreaker, and find a producer who will get that tone across in a sophisticated manner.

-Morgan Alexander

17 Sports Behind the Bench: The art of commentary

Tuesday, November 18, 2014 zikomo smith Staff Writer

Good sports commentary is hard to come by nowadays. On occasion we hear balanced, interesting analysis, but most of the time it feels like we’re being drowned in a sea of ads, stats, and clichés.

Being a good commentator boils down to three prerequisites. The first is to know your role. Are you a radio broadcaster or a television analyst?

Radio broadcasters have to describe the match in totality. They have to make their listeners feel as if they were at the game.

I grew up on the BBC radio’s cricket commentary. The broadcasters fired my imagination. They made me feel every shock, twist, and turn. I could visualize the unexpected through their leaping tones. They filled lulls in the play with fascinating insights into the history and politics of the game.

The greatest commentator in BBC history was John Arlott. Wisden Cricketers’ Almanac—known as the “Bible of Cricket”—describes him as a poet at heart.

“He could describe a piece of play without fuss or over-elaboration, being always conscious of its rhythm and mindful of its background,” the Almanac reads.

As such, he gave the listener’s imagination free rein to interpret his description of the play. Dripping with

irony, he once described a piece of play where South African cricketer Tufty Mann bowled out his counterpart George Mann as “a case of Mann’s inhumanity to Mann.”

Television commentators, on the other hand, should speak less. According to Richie Benaud, a legendary commentator in the game of cricket, the key is to “never insult the viewer by telling them what they can already see.” Vin Scully, one of the greatest baseball announcers, waits for the sporting scene to unfold and then draws attention to the defining points of that play.

Scully is concise and measured.

He once described the artistry of Atlanta Braves’ pitcher Tom Glavine as such: “He’s like a tailor; a little off here, a little off there and you’re done, take a seat.”

Anyone who had just turned on the TV would immediately know the significance of the play. There was no unnecessary description of the pitch itself. The spectator could therefore easily adjust to the contest and be able to watch with a greater understanding.

The second rule to good commentary is to avoid clichés. Soccer commentators are known for their original turns of phrases. In 1981, Norwegian commentator Bjorge Lillelien responded to Norway’s unlikely 2-1 victory over England with a deliciously original hyperbole: “Lord Nelson! Lord Beaverbrook!

Sir Winston Churchill! Sir Anthony

John Arlott calls a match. (Haywood Magee / Getty Images) Eden! Clement Attlee! Henry Cooper!

Lady Diana! Maggie Thatcher–can you hear me, Maggie Thatcher! Your boys took one hell of a beating! Your boys took one hell of a beating!”

He captured how satisfying it is to beat the English at the game they invented, but he also tapped into the mindless hysteria and joy that football generates, because no cliché could capture the unlikeliness of that moment.

Finally, commentators should have an appealing voice. The peerless Benaud still narrates my cricketing memories, while baby boomers fondly recall Phil Rizzuto’s distinctive New Jersey accent and his timeless catch-

phrase, “Holy cow!”

Boxing commentator Harry Carpenter was known for his unflappable delivery. When a riot broke out after the heated Marvin Hagler-Alan Minter fight in 1980, Carpenter weathered beer cans and bottles to condemn the bout as “a shame and disgrace to British boxing.” His understated style gave his analysis more credibility—you could trust Carpenter to call huge events like the Rumble in the Jungle in 1974.

Ideally, networks such as CBC, Fox, and TSN will try to hire commentators who meet the above criteria. That way, no one has to hear Trent Dilfer say, “You cannot lose games in the NFL and

still win” ever again. Ever.

Top five sinful commentating clichés 1. “You can’t script it better than this!”­ —said despite the fact that one definitely can.

2. “You hate to see that.”—said as cue for producer to show replay of gruesome injury.

3. “He just wanted it more.”—said in post-game recap about the star play on whichever team won.

4. “He’s got great [sport] IQ.”—said when praising LeBron James.

5. “This is a great team on paper.”— said about a team that has yet to regular season game.

Synchronized swimming

McGill Synchro triumphant at home in weekend invitational Team gears up for Easterns in January, Nationals in February Elie Waitzer Sports Editor After waiting patiently for the other 10 teams to perform their routines, the McGill University White team froze into a tableau at the edge of the water, listened to the roar from the packed bleachers, and dove into the Memorial Pool. One, two, then three Martlets submerged gracefully, and fanned out into a pyramid formation to the driving beat and animal cries of A Tribe Called Red’s “Electric Pow Wow Drum.”

The routine was a tightly synchronized show of technical flips, upsidedown pirouettes, and splashing legs.

As the McGill Red team members cheered their fellow teammates on from the sidelines, the judges announced the overall score, 68.66—good enough to edge the impressive University of Ottawa Garnet team for first place in the team competition.

Though the McGill Invitational Synchronized Swimming meet does not count towards national rankings, it is an important opportunity for teams to take their temperatures going forward. For the Martlets, it’s an exciting chance to show off their prowess in front of their home crowd.

“It’s really helpful to see what the other teams are teams are putting

together,” said Lindsay Duncan, coach of the victorious White team. “It’s also a great motivator for us because our season is quite long before we have our first competition that really counts, so this is nice just to have something to look forward to in the fall semester.”

The McGill squad dominated every event, and if they were still thinking about their heartbreaking loss to the Queen’s Gaels at the 2012 Canadian University Synchronized Swim League (CUSSL) Championship, it didn’t show.

The upset snapped a near-historic streak of eight consecutive titles for the team, but the Martlets have rebounded stronger than ever, reclaiming the Geraldine Dubrule Trophy in 2013 and reasserting themselves atop the Canadian synchronized swimming standings.

After the meet, Duncan said she was pleased with sophomore swimmer Stacy Lee, whose Lion King-themed solo routine received a sparkling 67.00 from the judges, but reserved her highest praise for the McGill White team.

“They had a lot of energy,” Duncan said. “I feel like one thing that stood out was that they really swam well together as a team. You [can] tell that they’re having fun doing it, and that makes a big difference in how you feel when you’re watching it.”

Despite the strong showing, Dun-

can made it clear that the team still had a lot to improve on before Nationals in February.

“Our big tricks weren’t quite their best today—that’s one thing we want to make sure we can really nail by the time the other competitions come,” Duncan said. “We’re [also] only swimming half our routines right now, so when it comes to the next competitions, endurance is going to be a factor.”

While McGill blew the rest of the competition out of the water, the visiting teams managed to dazzle with in-

The McGill White team pulls off a flip. (Lauren Benson-Armer / McGill Tribune) Queen’s University Yellow team, who failed to execute an ambitious flip to the drop of Dillon Francis and DJ Snake’s trap remix of Lil Jon’s “Get Low”.

The McGill synchronized swimming team will face its first real test of the season on Jan. 25 at Queen’s before heading to Nationals in February.

When asked if the team was expecting to defend its title at Nationals, Duncan replied humbly.

“We’re hoping so, very much, and this meet today […] shows us that we’ll definitely be in the running.”

ventive costumes and on-point music selections. University of Ottawa stole the show on the fashion front, with its swimsuit designs ranging from printed tuxedo to tasteful ’80s aerobics aesthetic. Musically, the competition featured a healthy dose of ’90s jams, symphonic arrangements, and EDM bangers.

While the heavy electronic sounds of LMFAO’s “Shots” worked surprisingly well for John Abbott College’s A team, who featured synchronized selfies in its routine to the delight of the crowd, a similar choice backfired on the

18

Sports

Tuesday, November 18, 2014 The Cowboys’ DeMarco Murray has rushed for over 100 yards in all but one game this season, and is on a pace to eclipse 2,000 yards by the end of the year. However, there are some who believe that Dallas is overworking its star running back, risking his future health and performance in the effort to win. This week, we examine the two sides of this argument—in Murray’s case and in the broader sporting context. Should professional teams sit their star players in order to preserve them for a potential playoff push at the expense of present success?

(espn.com)

POINT/COUNTERPOINT As an athlete’s performance improves, it stands to reason that his or her workload will often simultaneously increase. Pitchers will log more innings if they can be effective, goaltenders will start more often if they can make saves, and running backs will get more touches if they can help their team score points. All too often, however, scenarios pop up during which teams enjoy too much of a good thing too early in a season. Players get overworked and end up injured or exhausted late in the season, and they become unable to perform down the stretch or in the playoffs. To combat this problem, teams often opt to reduce the amount of time a player is used so that they can remain effective in the long run. This is what the Cowboys should do in the case of star running back DeMarco Murray.

This strategy is an effective one if employed properly. It should be made clear, however, that it is not possible for every team to do this. In order for it to work, a team’s roster needs to have enough depth and skill so that it can still win games, even when a star is on the sidelines.

As the San Antonio Spurs’ star players have grown older, Head Coach Gregg Popovich has opted to limit their minutes during the regular season, keeping them fresh for when the playoffs come around.

Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili all play far less than they did in their heyday, but the Spurs have remained a staple in the late rounds of the playoffs.

The ability to use star players somewhat sparingly is a large part of why depth is so important in sports. In hockey, having a competent backup goalie means that the starter does not need to play 60 to 70 games in the regular season. While there are freaks of nature who are capable of doing this—Jonathan Quick for example—most get worn down as the minutes pile up. Marc-Andre Fleury, for example, has become notoriously bad in the playoffs, but that may be related to the intensity of his regular season workload. The Penguins have not had a solid backup in quite some time, forcing Fleury to start 60-plus games in each full season since Pittsburgh last won the cup in 2008-2009. Even the legendary Martin Brodeur, who carried his New Jersey Devils teams to multiple Stanley Cups, eventually needed more rest during the regular season in order to be valuable during the playoffs.

One of the most famous iterations of this debate centred on Stephen Strasburg, a young pitcher for the Washington Nationals. Coming off of Tommy John surgery, Strasburg was shut down in the midst of the Nationals’ 2012 playoff run in order to protect him from further injury. The Nationals lost in the opening round, and many were quick to point to the decision to sit Strasburg as a reason for the team’s fate. Despite the disappointing finish, it was still the right call in the long run. Washington had a deep rotation at the time, and two years later, Strasburg is coming off of a 200-inning campaign in which the Nationals reached the playoffs.

While the Cowboys would be unwise to sit Murray altogether, Dallas should drastically reduce the amount of action he’s getting. Comparable running backs with similar stat lines in the past have historically regressed significantly in the second part of the season as they begin to get worn down. The Cowboys have a strong offensive line, competent backups, and a potent passing attack—all of which suggest that the offence would not be crippled with Murray seeing fewer touches. Giving him a chance to recover will not only help the Cowboys later this season, but will help ensure that Murray can be a force in Dallas’ backfield beyond this year.

The Dallas Cowboys must keep on playing DeMarco Murray. Sports franchises should never sit their star players in meaningful situations, and injury avoidance is not a smart reason to sit a star.

Teams need their best players in games with playoff implications. Murray has been essential for the Cowboys, and he is on track to break franchise records. He is also the best rusher in the league in terms of picking up crucial first downs and in rushing efficiency statistics, as measured by Defence-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA). The Cowboys have an excellent record at 7-3, but with six games to play, a playoff spot is not guaranteed. Dallas needs Murray to continue to carry the team in order to avoid disappointing a disgruntled fan base that hasn’t tasted the playoffs in four years.

Apart from a top seed in the final game of an NBA season, most teams will have something to play for. It could be home field advantage; it could be for an individual scoring record; it could be to install a specific strategy. Teams have immediate objectives to meet and need their stars in order to meet them.

Some may counter that San Antonio Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich’s willingness to bench starters was in order to keep his star players fresh and healthy down the stretch. They will argue that resting the stars earlier in the season helped the Spurs win the NBA Championship. But in the Spurs’ case, Popovich was right in benching his starters because he was trying to implement a specific style of play. Against the Heat in last year’s regular season, Popovich wanted to give his bench confidence and also build chemistry in his alternate lineups through increased playtime. He had a strategic objective that went beyond protecting the health of his starting five.

As long as a team’s strategy is based around a star player, that player is needed in the game. Popovich’s strategy gave him the flexibility to pick multiple players.

The Cowboys do not have a strategy that would allow them to sub in another running back for Murray and still be able to see the same levels of success.

Also, resting a player for a game is not going to preserve him in the long run.

In the NBA, a star will play around 36 minutes a game. Over an 82-game season, 36 minutes of extra rest will have a minimal effect on protecting from wear and tear.

Similarly, in the NFL, injuries are very common and happen throughout the entire season. Resting a player for one game does not remove the high risk of playing such a violent sport.

Teams should also play their stars out of respect for the fans. People worldwide dispense their cash on game tickets, television licenses, and merchandise. Fans coming out to games want to see the best players play. Think about the widespread frustration when Popovich benched his starters against the Heat. Administrations need to put the best sporting product on the field. That means putting the best players on the field.

Murray has accepted his workload and will do whatever the Dallas coaching staff asks of him. The Cowboys should keep giving him the rushing responsibility he deserves.

—Wyatt Fine Gagné

—Zikomo Smith

t r a St vs.

Sit

Editors’ pick : SIT

In the long run, it doesn’t make sense to jeopardize the health of your franchise player for personal statistics and regular season wins.

Even if your team has plenty of star power, overworking your superstar can ruin trade value and give your team a bad reputation.

19

Sports

Tuesday, November 18, 2014 Hockey — martlets 6, Ravens 2

Martlets fly past Ravens McGill moves into first place in the RSEQ Nick Jasinski Contributor The No. 2 ranked Martlets (5-1-0) proved to be the stronger of two birds Friday night at McConnell Arena, defeating the Carleton Ravens (1-6-0) 6-2 in a performance that was even more commanding than the score line suggested. McGill outshot the Ravens 47-9 and improved to a lifetime 79-1-1 record against Carleton, winning each of the last 16 encounters.

The Martlets looked strong right from the start, denying the Ravens any real possession of the puck or open space to work with.

The team showed impressive positioning and teamwork, pushing the Ravens into damage control mode throughout the first period.

McGill managed 15 shots in the period while not giving the Ravens even a single effort on goal.

Given the scale of the Martlets’ dominance, the score at the end of the first period was lacking, with just a single goal for the home team. A holding penalty by the Ravens midway through

the first period set the stage for a rather chaotic goal a minute later, with a swarm of players from both teams in the crease, allowing fourth-year defenceman Kelsie Moffatt to smash in the puck.

However, the Martlets seemed to lose some momentum in the final minutes, making careless passes and failing to convert a few scoring chances.

McGill came out roaring in the second period, taking just over a minute to score the first of four goals in the frame. A beautiful pass from Moffatt from midrink between two Raven defenders set up forward Leslie Oles for a strong shot into the upper left corner of the net. Both teams stepped up their play in the period, and the Ravens saw more possession, pushing the puck into the McGill zone. The Martlets were able to convert more of their scoring chances, including a Katia Clement-Heydra goal off a Gabrielle Davidson pass on a two-woman advantage, with Clement-Heydra returning the favour a minute-and-a-half later, assisting Davidson’s power play

tally.

With the exception of a goal by Carleton nine minutes in, the second period was all McGill. The Martlets kept the Ravens flustered and spread out on offence and defence with overlapping runs, effective use of the wings, and good communication. McGill’s misdirection was so successful that, more than once, it prompted two Carleton players to skate into each other in confusion.

McGill continued to apply consistent pressure in the final period. Carleton struggled to contain the barrage of shots by the Martlets, but as the period wore on, the game finally turned more competitive, with the Ravens

Logan Murray fires a shot on net. (Remi Lu / McGill Tribune) looking eager to finally lodge a reply to the embarrassment of the first two periods. The Ravens managed to assert themselves on offence a few times in the period, but mostly squandered what few chances they had with sloppy play, converting only once.

“We did a lot of good things in the game. I liked our work in the offensive zone, but I still didn’t think that we played the full 60 minutes,” Head Coach

Peter Smith said. “We also had a lot of turnovers and missed passes in the first part of the game [that] I didn’t care for.”

With the win, McGill moves into first place in the RSEQ standings, just ahead of the No. 1 ranked Montréal Carabins (42). The Martlets have a chance to build on their lead in the standings this week as they travel to face Carabins at their home rink, Arena CEPSUM, Nov. 21.

Know your McGill Athlete

Deanna Foster martlet rugby - Winger junior, ARTS (Photo courtesy of Derek Drummond)

“Their winger came across and hit me pretty hard,” Deanna Foster, star winger on the Martlet rugby squad and an All-Canada talent said. “My foot was planted and my knee just went out at a weird angle. I just heard a pop.”

Foster—now a junior—missed the entire 2014 season with a torn ACL suffered while playing for the U-20 Canadian National team. Over the course of her university career, she has been invited to play with the national team on multiple occasions, making the reserve squad for the FISU (Fédération Internationale du Sport Universitaire) team that won bronze in Russia following her rookie year, and playing with the FISU 7’s team that won a gold medal in Brazil this past summer. Wearing the red-and-white was an indescribable experience that Foster says she will cherish forever.

“For me, it was super exciting [because] so much hard work had paid off,” Foster said. “Stepping on the field was a different experience. That’s sort of when it clicked, while hearing the national anthem, just how big of a deal it was.”

Foster is not the only rugby player in her family— her father and two older siblings all played the sport and nudged her in its direction. She fell in love with rugby, however, because of its inclusivity.

“There’s a spot [on a rugby team] for any kind of girl,” Foster explained. “It brings together so many kinds of athletes.”

It’s odd to envision Foster in anything but rugby attire during the Fall, but during her rookie season, she considered not joining the squad due to Martlet rugby’s unique logistical situation and the time commitment that comes along with it—nearly all games and practices are held on McGill’s Macdonald Campus, about 45 minutes away from the downtown core.

“I almost actually didn’t play in my first year, but the girls that I met and the coaching made it all worth it,” Foster said. “I would’ve missed the game too much had I not

played.”

The commitment to the Martlet rugby squad paid dividends during her sophomore year. McGill, which had lost five consecutive RSEQ semifinals prior to last year, broke the curse and went on to capture a conference championship and fourth place at the CIS National Championships during a dream season.

Although she has tasted success both at McGill and for Canada, Foster explained that the experiences differ significantly.

“At the university level, I see these girls four times a week, and we’re hanging out in our off time,” Foster said.

“There’s a connection that we have that is hard to replicate in such a short time with the Canada girls. At the national level [...] it’s sort of a more professional feel.”

Rather than being a fixture on the field, Foster has been a constant in the weight room and the physiotherapist’s office as she rehabilitates following her first major injury. Despite this, the mental challenge has rivaled the physical challenge that Foster faces on the long road to recovery.

“For me, it was more the mental aspect that was difficult because when you’re an athlete, it’s such an integral part of your identity,” Foster explained. “It’s not that people would look at me differently, it’s just because [...] it makes you reconsider that without this, who am I?” For Foster, who one day aspires to make a trip back to the CIS tournament and make the Tokyo 2020 Olympic squad, this injury is merely another stepping stone to future success.

“I use [my injury] as motivation to work as hard as I can,” Foster said. “I won’t settle for not getting back to the level that I was at. I worked so hard to get there, and I still want to go further and wear that Canadian jersey again [....]

If I don’t make it there, at least I can say that I worked as hard as I could.”

By Mayaz Alam McGill Tribune (MT): What TV shows have you been watching lately?

Deanna Foster (DF): My roommates and I have recently resurfaced The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air any time we have free time.

MT: First slow dance song?

DF: Aerosmith. I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing. I had it dedicated to me by a guy I didn’t really like so I ran to the bathroom and hid, but then I came out and we danced for the last 30 seconds.

MT: Gatorade or Powerade?

DF: Neither. I only drink it when coaches force me to.

MT: Favourite warm-up song?

DF: I have to say Kanye West, Power.

MT: What’s your worst habit?

DF: Taking way too long to get ready. Switching my outfit three or four times before I leave.

20

Sports

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

MARTLET BASKETBALL Points scored without a try by junior centre Emeric Durand de Bousingen in McGill’s 21-17 win over Bishop’s in the men’s rugby RSEQ Conference semifinal on Saturday night.

Three-point field goal percentage on the season for Redmen basketball sharpshooter Thomas Lacy. The junior shooting guard from Jericho, Vermont, has hit 16 from beyond the arc over eight games.

Advantage in shots held by the Martlet hockey team in the first period as they dismantled the Carleton Ravens 6-2 on Friday.

Athletes of the Week

Despite its light schedule, McGill had a big week, beating UQÀM 60-48 Thursday in what was a rematch of last year’s RSEQ Final. The Martlet’s RSEQ record is now 2-0 and the team sits fourth in the nationwide CIS rankings. Third-year forward Mariam Sylla had a huge game, posting a double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds on just 11 shots. She also added an assist and a steal. Point guard Dianna Ros was uncharacteristically sloppy, committing five turnovers; but Ros was effective nonetheless, positing six points, six assists, and five rebounds. Although the Martlets won by double digits, the team was inconsistent, shooting poorly from both beyond the arc and at the free throw line. McGill also turned the ball over 24 times, but out-rebounded the Citadins 52-28 and managed to hold UQÀM to a paltry 31.7 shooting percentage. The Martlets get to work out any kinks during a nine-day break prior to their next game Nov. 22.

REDMEN HOCKEY

Mariam Sylla Basketball—Forward Junior, Science

Emeric Durand de Bousingen Rugby—Centre Junior, Management

Sylla was dominant once again, tallying 20 points and 13 rebounds in a victory over rivals UQÀM. The junior forward who hails from Conakry, Guinea has been a terror in the paint all season long, averaging 12.8 points and 10 rebounds per game. This is the third consecutive year that she has been a force for the Martlets; Sylla was the CIS Rookie-of-the-Year in her first year and a CIS All-Canadian last year. Sylla isn’t resting on her laurels, however, as she has been experimenting with a three-point shot that should make her unguardable—and the Martlets a force to be reckoned with on the national stage.

Durand de Bousingen, a native of Paris, France, was efficient for the Redmen in their thrilling victory over the Bishop’s Gaiters, tallying eight points off of a conversion and two penalty goals. He led the squad on the evening and was instrumental in mounting the early lead. Durand de Bousingen was an integral part of the balanced Redmen attack and was the squad’s third-highest scorer despite playing in only six out of eight matches.

Look for the Management junior to have a big game in McGill’s quest for a ninth straight RSEQ championship.

(Photos courtesy of McGill Athletics)

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With two road wins this past weekend, McGill pushed its record to 9-3-0, extending an impressive run in which the Redmen have won seven of its eight games. Friday night’s win against the Windsor Lancers came on the back of starting goalie Jacob Gervais-Chouinard, who turned in an impressive performance, stopping 31 of 32 shots he faced. Winger Patrick Deslise-Houde netted the game-winner–his fourth goal of the season–early in the third period, and the Redmen managed to fend off a strong Lancers’ push late in the game to hold on for the win.

The Redmen dominated Saturday’s contest against Lakehead, winning 5-1, and outshooting the Thunderwolves 43-26. Left winger Neil Prokop led the way with a goal and an assist on his way to being named the game’s first star. The weekend trip to Ontario marked the final road trip of 2014 as the squad will close out the semester with four games at home.

REdMEN RUGBY

The Redmen once again find themselves one step away from taking home the RSEQ Championship after defeating the Bishop’s Gaiters 21-17 in a nailbiter on Saturday night. Through the first half, McGill led 14-3, and it looked as though the eight-time defending champions would stroll into the finals without a fight. However, trailing 21-3 late in the game, the Gaiters scored 14 unanswered points on two quick tries to narrow the gap to four with 10 minutes left. The Redmen squad’s experience and pedigree won out in the end, as McGill buckled down defensively, and held out just long enough to escape with the victory. McGill will go for its ninth consecutive title against Concordia in what will be a rematch of last year’s RSEQ Conference Final on Sunday, Nov. 23.