McGill Tribune Vol. 31 Issue 14

Tribune The McGill

Published by the Tribune Publication Society Volume No. 31 Issue No. 14

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Jutras report findings Zach Paikin Editorial How to save money Gadgets of 2012 Igloofest Martlets hockey

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a mcgill grad on capitol hill? pages 10-11

Redmen defeat Bishop’s for first victory Admin invalidates fall

referendum results

By Carolina Millán Ronchetti News Editor

Aleksandar Mitrovic battles a Bishop’s defender inside the paint. (Sam Reynolds / McGill Tribune)

Campus organizations QPIRG McGill and CKUT Radio face an uncertain future following the McGill administration’s announcement that it will not accept the results of the fall referendum.

Last November, the fall referendum featured two questions on whether QPIRG and CKUT should exist and if their student fees should cease to be opt-outable via the Minerva online system and instead be refundable directly though each organization. Each organization’s question received a majority “yes” vote, with 72.3 per cent and 65.6 per cent for CKUT and QPIRG respectively. Voter turnout was 24.7 per cent of the undergraduate student body, up 9.5 per cent from the previous year.

“The referendum results were unclear. By including several issues in the same question, the student body was not able to unequivocally indicate support for CKUT or QPIRG,” Morton Mendelson, Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning), wrote in an email to the Tribune.

Kira Page, member of the QPIRG Board of Directors and McGill alumni, questioned the administration’s motives.

“They’ve offered a bunch of reasons and usually come back to

the unclarity [sic] of the question but I think most of it is coming from a real unwillingness to let student groups control their own finances,” she said. “We sort of expected this sort of response from the administration … just because of the way the administration has been dealing with these organizations and has generally responded to our frustrations as opt-outable groups.”

Because the referenda are run

by Elections SSMU, a student-run organization, the administration does not have established guidelines on how referendum questions should be worded. However, Mendelson said that the administration encourages consultation to ensure the clarity of results.

“I learned about the QPIRG and CKUT referendum questions after they were published. Although I indicated to the two organizations that the questions were problematic, it was apparently too late for them to be changed or withdrawn,” he said. “It is a shame that we weren’t consulted about the questions before they were proposed.”

The administration is advising QPIRG and CKUT to enter the winter referendum and to separate the two clauses of their fall referendum question into two questions. If they do not pose two questions, there remains the possibility that McGill administration will not renegotiate See “RESULTS” on page 3

AUS discloses theft of $12,000 during Orientation Week

Frosh registration money is taken from safe in AUS office; semester-long investigation inconclusive

By Carolina Millán Ronchetti News Editor On Nov. 30, executives from the Arts Undergraduate Society (AUS) reported to the AUS Council the theft of approximately $12,000 of Orientation Week funds.

The theft was discovered Sept.

1 by AUS VP Finance Marlene Benavides, who realized that an envelope with $12,000 in cash from Orientation Week registrations was missing.

According to Benavides, once she discovered the theft she alerted AUS President Jade Calver. Calver called McGill Security, who

advised Calver to call the police.

McGill Security subsequently conducted an investigation.

AUS VP Finance Marlene Benavides said that the decision to withhold the information of the theft from the rest of the AUS council and from arts students was advised by the investigator of the theft.

“Once it was clear that the investigation was inconclusive, we released the information to our students immediately,” she said.

Despite the theft, the AUS budget was not affected because the $12,000 that was stolen was part of the profit produced by Orientation Week, and would have been allocat-

ed towards the VP Events’ portfolio.

Orientation Week produced a profit of approximately $6,000 in addition to the stolen $12,000.

AUS insurance policy requires that executives don’t keep over $40,000 in the office, Benavides said. However, AUS executives See “AUS” on page 4

News News in brief MUNACA strike ends The McGill University NonAcademic Certified Association (MUNACA) voted to accept a collective agreement with the McGill administration on Dec. 5. The union members had been on strike since Sept. 1, 2011 and had been without a labour contract since November 2010.

The five-year collective agreement was approved by 71.5 per cent of MUNACA members.

“The members read the agreement and were able to debate the main issues. Following a four-hour debate, they agreed to give the agreement their support,” Kevin Whittaker, president of MUNACA, said in a press release. “We are truly proud of the mobilization work by members since the start of the strike.

Their motivation and determination were key to resolving this conflict.”

The agreement included a five year contract ending in November 2015, the gradual implementation of a salary scale by 2015, salary increases of between 8.6 per cent and 16 per cent during this period, and decision-making rights on the Pension and Benefits Committee.

“Being able to negotiate a five-year agreement instead of a

three-year contract allowed us the necessary flexibility to both satisfy the Government of Quebec’s salary policy over the next three years, and meet many of the union’s demands,” Vice-Principal (Finance and Administration) Michael Di Grappa wrote in an email to students. “We are glad we were able to accomplish what we set out to do: negotiate a collective agreement that is fair, realistic, and sustainable in the context of the University’s financial situation.”

The strike left McGill University missing approximately half of its non-academic staff and as such, many university services were affected.

As the Winter 2012 semester begins, the McGill’s Strike Info for Students webpage reads, “While the strike is now over, many departments are facing backlogs and returning staff members need to get up to speed. Therefore, it will take some time for regular service levels to resume.”

–Kyla Mandel and Carolina Millán Ronchetti

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Investigation into the events of Nov. 10 released

Dean of Law Daniel Jutras makes public his investigation into the presence of riot police on campus

By Anand Bery News Editor Dean of Law Daniel Jutras’ report on the events of Nov. 10 was made public on Dec. 15. The 60page investigation, originally commissioned by Principal Heather Munroe-Blum in the days following the incident, sought to establish a record for what transpired that evening, and determine what led to the presence of riot police on McGill’s campus.

Over the course of the investigation, Jutras received over 150 written factual accounts and took as testimony over 45 hours of interviews from primary actors in the event. Some, but not all, of the 14 individuals who attempted to occupy the James Administration Building came forward and spoke with Jutras.

Among other recommendations, the report called for a revision of how McGill Security Services operates in situations of demonstrations and protests, and for clear guidelines stipulating how university authorities determine who has the power to call for police assistance.

The portfolio of University Safety (and Security Services) falls under the jurisdiction of Jim Nicell, VP University Services.

“I think that Dean Jutras’ report is an excellent account of the events of Nov. 10,” Nicell told the Tribune via email. “It is consistent with my own personal experience in

the square on that evening. Also, in terms of the recommendations that Dean Jutras made, I think that they are very sound and I certainly welcome them.”

In the weeks following Jutras’ appointment by Munroe-Blum to carry out the investigation, many on campus were apprehensive about having a member of McGill’s faculty carry out the investigation due to the potential bias. A group of students undertook their own investigation in parallel to Jutras’, calling themselves the Independent Student Inquiry.

In his report, Jutras acknowledged the work of the Independent Student Inquiry. Over the course of his own research, Jutras took account of the submissions and interviews that the student investigation had posted online.

Jutras’ report could not compel testimony or assign blame to individuals.

“The report was really limited by its terms of reference, which especially shows in its recommendations, (which some members of our team think could go more deeply into the issues involved),” Chris Bangs, a member of the Independent Student Inquiry, said via email.

“We think one very important and frustrating thing he did not mention in his report is that many students felt uncomfortable speaking with him and planned to boycott his investigation,” he said. “Some stu-

dents only felt comfortable making their testimonies public after his investigation has finished.”

Maggie Knight, President of SSMU, shared her views on the report with the Tribune. SSMU reacted quickly in providing support to students in the aftermath of the riot police presence.

“The recommendations for greater communication are helpful, specifically in laying out key areas where communication must be improved,” she said. “However, I don’t know that the human impact on many students and other members of the McGill community was sufficiently conveyed ... it doesn’t thoroughly address the level of damage done to the McGill community.”

Knight felt that the report could have better addressed the administration’s follow-up response to hurt, pepper-sprayed, and disturbed students, including bystanders caught up in the dispersion of the crowd by the police.

“Dean Jutras’ report says only that ‘the University should assess its own response to the events of Nov. 10 in terms of providing counselling and care to faculty, staff, and students in the days that followed,’” Knight said. “This does not provide guidance as to who should undertake such an assessment by what methodology, nor does it speak to what core values are at stake—namely, compassion for any member of our community who has been hurt.”

Results threaten QPIRG, CKUT continued from COVER the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), which would include the lease of the buildings and the student fee agreement. The MoA is a document that governs each group’s relationship with the administration.

Both MoAs will expire in June 2012.

“If we don’t get to negotiate our lease we’re afraid of getting kicked out,” an Myriam Zaidi, undergraduate representative on CKUT’s Board of Directors, said. “We have a studio, it’s very hard for us to leave our space.”

At the time of press, neither QPIRG nor CKUT released a decision on whether they will run again in the winter referendum.

“We’re going to try to use the student support we already have … as much as possible to pressure the administration into accepting what students have very clearly said they want,” Page said. “We don’t see [running two questions] as a very good option. We believe that our existence is intricately tied to having control over our finances.”

Following a discussion with SSMU Council during Confidential Session last Thursday, SSMU President Maggie Knight sent Mendelson a letter on behalf of the SSMU on Jan. 13, expressing “[concern] that a democratic decision by the student body—and, by extension, SSMU’s democratic processes in general— are being declared invalid.”

“All matters regarding the [MoA] between McGill and CKUT/ QPIRG are external to SSMU,” Knight told the Tribune. “However, as the organization responsible for conducting the referenda required by the university as a prerequisite for the renewal of their MoAs, we have a certain responsibility to insist that students’ votes are respected.”

Fall referenda challenged at Judicial Board The administration’s announcement came soon after two students filed a notice of appeal with the Judicial Board of the SSMU challenging the results of the QPIRG referendum question. The co-petitioners, Zach

Newburgh, former SSMU President, and Brendan Steven, member of Conservative McGill, initiated the process on Nov. 11.

“We question the constitutionality of the question that was posed to students in the referendum. Specifically, we call attention to the fact that the SSMU constitution requires that referendum questions deal with one issue and only one issue,” Steven said.

Additionally, the students have challenged whether election by-laws were adhered to, including whether the Chief Elections Officer of Elections SSMU adhered to her responsibilities. Steven could not provide examples of violations, as documents related to the case are not yet public.

Steven said the appeal was completely unrelated to the administration’s decision not to accept the questions, noting that they filed the appeal before McGill’s decision.

The schedule of the public hearing will be released on Jan. 18.

Jutras sees his report as merely the first step on the way to further discussion among groups on campus, namely the administration, students, and the community.

“I think the next step for the university is for people to read the report carefully, and to come up with their own sense of the events and to participate in the conversation that focuses on moving forward,” Jutras told the Tribune. “I think it’s fair to say that the factual account really is an effort to come up with facts and everybody here in the university setting will understand that there is some subjective perception, but I made as much of an effort as possible to come up with an objective statement of facts ... reconciling

different perspectives of what took place.”

“The factual account ... forms a shared basis—I hope—for further deliberations. The recommendations are mine—I have to be conscious of the fact that there may be a wide range of different recommendations coming from all constituencies within the university that flow from the facts. If the community doesn’t think [my recommendations] aren’t the ones that need to be followed to learn from the events of Nov. 10, then the conversation should take place. We should really be talking about what we make of these facts and ... now is the time to hear different voices.”

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McGill debater wins top prize

Joe McGrade named best university speaker worldwide

By Jimmy Lou Contributor McGill student Joe McGrade was named top public speaker at the annual World Universities Debating Championship held in Manila, Philippines this year. In addition to that honour, he and his debating partner Emma O’Rourke-Friel ranked as the top Canadian team out of roughly 390 teams from over 40 nations.

McGrade, U2 economics, is part of a long history of competitive success in the McGill Debating Union, which has been in existence since 1927. Many members have gone on to become champions of prestigious tournaments, including both the Canadian National and the North American debating championships. The group has also featured prominent figures such as Leonard Cohen.

“I was really surprised by how well I did,” McGrade said of his performance.

The public speaking section of the competition allows debaters to take a respite from the intense debating. Participants are required to make a five minute speech that entertains, endears, or inspires an audience of debaters. This performance is then judged by a panel based on a set of criteria, which vary from tour-

nament to tournament.

To become the top speaker from among 60 other competitors, McGrade humorously distinguished between "First-World Problems" and "Third-World Problems" and joked about some observations he made while walking around the impoverished neighbourhoods of Manila and inside the hotel where the debaters stayed. He was surprised at the poverty-stricken situation in the city, and put into perspective the relatively insignificant complaints that were made by some debaters.

“Basically, the conclusion is that we’re all brats,” McGrade said as he recounted his story.

The selection process for debating in “Worlds,” as the tournament is affectionately called by debaters, is determined by the competition organizers. Once McGill received slots for three teams, a committee of McGill debaters chose who to send after several debate rounds and an examinationof past performance.

McGrade and O’Rourke-Friel initially did not make the team representing McGill and were able to go because one of the chosen teams dropped out.

Although he has debated since the seventh grade, switching between British Parliamentary style and Model United Nations style, the “Worlds” style demands an extreme-

ly high level of debating skills that often thwart success for even the most skilful debaters. What made it even more outstanding is that McGrade has only had two years of experience in collegial debating.

In British Parliamentary debating, debaters are assigned one of four speaking positions and are given a topic. They are expected to defend their side, fulfil their roles, engage with opponents’ arguments, all with 15 minutes of preparation.

Superb note-taking skill and eloquence are also very important, especially at the top level.

What seems to have edged McGrade toward success in this tournament was his confidence and his chemistry with his partner, O’Rourke-Friel, U3 history. As an economics major, his analysis of many economic topics in debating are often profound, but the more political subjects tend to elude him.

Fortunately, in this partnership, O’Rourke-Friel was often able to complement McGrade and elaborate on points that he raised, a factor which he feels contributed greatly to their success.

"You really have to believe in what you’re saying," McGrade said. "But there are things that I am weaker at, [and] I’m very happy that Emma is always there to fill in these gaps."

AUS funds stolen continued from COVER have a personal policy not to keep over $10,000 in cash in the office.

“While this is never a problem during the year, Orientation Week is a time in which large amounts of cash are collected and deposited,” Benavides said. “It being the first day of school resulted in my inability to perform a deposit that day.”

Although the results of the investigation were inconclusive, film footage reviewed by McGill Security shows only students going in and out of the Arts Lounge, where the AUS office is located. A plausible hypothesis from AUS executives is that when an executive stepped briefly out of the office and into the Arts Lounge, leaving the safe unlocked, a student took the money and left.

Michelle Reddick, President of the History Student Association, was present during the Council session in which the announcement was made, and described the feeling in the room as one of disbelief, but that council members were patient and respectful as Benavides explained the situation.

“When something like this happens and you know that a student took it and that precautions were taken and still the worst case scenario happened, you’re just like ah, this [is unfortunate], but there’s nothing we can do,” Reddick said.

Some members of the council

remain optimistic about the events that will follow.

“I believe that the steps that the AUS has taken and the manner in which they presented information was appropriate,” Justin Fletcher, AUS representative for the East Asian Studies Student Association, said. “I just hope that the mechanisms put in place to ensure that this doesn’t happen again come into fruition.”

To prevent other incidents from happening, AUS is now stricter in its policy regarding the number of nonexecutive individuals allowed in the office to reduce traffic in and out, Benavides said. AUS also changed the alarm code of the office, is in the process of purchasing a new safe, and has instituted a policy of keeping the safe locked at all times, regardless of whether the President or VP Finance are in the office.

“I would strongly suggest that they get a camera pointed at the safe,” Reddick said. “They said they hadn’t done that in the past because it’s a personal office … but they would never review that footage unless there’s an incident. It would be a safety net.”

“Best case scenario, the person who took it anonymously returns it.

That would be awesome. Then we could return the money back to arts students, and run some really cool events, or buy new resources,” Reddick said.

exclusive INTERVIEW

Young Liberal Zach Paikin’s campaign experience McGill student discusses his run for Policy Chair and the future of the Liberal Party of Canada McGill student Zach Paikin (U3 Middle East studies) ran for National Policy Chair of the Liberal Party of Canada. He was defeated

by Maryanne Kampouris in the vote last weekend. The Tribune caught up with Paikin last week before the convention to discuss his vision for the future of the Liberal Party, his work with campus media, and how he feels about the recent surge in young people involved in Canadian politics.

How can the Liberal Party better appeal to Canadians? What needs to change?

There are so many things that need to change, but number one is we need a generational shift. And it's a must. Number two—we've got to create the most open political party in Canadian history. I'd like to see that reflected in natural steps to either open up our policy process or our membership. If it empowers the liberal—and I mean small liberal—grassroots of our party, then it's a good thing, and that's what we

should be basing our decisions on.

What do you think both the recent election of the NDP Four, as well as the two other policy chair candidates under 25, say about youth involvement in Canadian politics?

I'm always glad to see young people get involved in Canadian politics, although I should state that there's a big difference between people like [both] Braeden Caley and myself, who are young Liberals and have been campaigning from coast to coast and know the issues and have been meeting with grassroots liberals, versus people who didn’t even step foot in their ridings over the course of their entire campaign and got caught up in a big wave ... If you know the issues, if you’re passionate about it, if you really run a hard campaign, then you deserve to be elected. ... You’re supposed to know the issues that are plaguing your constituents, [and] ... representing your constituents in Ottawa. [These MPs] are now sent to

Ottawa, and I don’t think many of them are necessarily qualified to be Members of Parliament.

Surely many of the new young NDP MPs put considerable effort into campaigning.

If you’re talking about the McGill Four—not in their ridings—no.

They might have campaigned for Thomas Mulcair, but not in their own ridings. We have a system deliberately, because in our country we are a vast, diverse country, we determined we need a political system that enables local representation.

That’s the entire idea. It’s not some national list like the NDP wants.

Based on the results of the last election, do you think Canadians maybe feel now that federal politics aren’t territorial? That the leader of the party is now the driving factor?

I think what there has been unfortunately, and tragically, is a centralization of power as this has been the case over several consecutive

administrations, Liberal and Conservative alike. But it has extended and accelerated massively under the Harper government—the centralization of power in the Prime Minister’s Office.

I’m a little bit concerned as to how far that centralization has gone.

I hope that there are ways—and I think the Liberal party will be able to provide ways—to stop that and change that. We’re now in a situation where one man who’s simply one member of Parliament out of the 308 [members], has the power to unilaterally shut down the people’s parliament. Set the country back a lot, shut down the Senate, shut down the House of Commons, shut down the foundation of democracy if he’s facing a confidence motion he’s afraid he might lose. That’s really scary.

Tell me about your column in the Prince Arthur Herald, which some classify as a “small-c conservative” newspaper.

There are many card-carrying

Liberal party members who wrote for the Herald, even a few cardcarrying NDP members who were part of the Herald. You can call the Herald a small-c conservative newspaper because of its editorial stance, but it doesn’t censor its columnists. There needs to be a forum on campus for members of all political stripes to express themselves and engage in civil discourse and dialogue ... I’m also not very encouraged by the fact that there has been this rise of inappropriate behaviour and physical intimidation from the radical left, and I’m glad there’s a newspaper out there like the Herald that anyone can write for and not be afraid to express their opinion. Civil discourse and dialogue are pillars of liberal society; it’s not a conservative thing alone.

This interview has been condensed and edited. The views in this interview represent the opinions of the subject and not necessarily those of the McGill Tribune.

—Compiled by Anand Bery

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As SSMU Council reconvenes, Nov. 10 still top priority Meeting focuses heavily on the results of the Jutras investigation; no talk of Shatner lease negotiations

By Kyle Ng Contributor The release of Dean Jutras’ report on the events of Nov. 10 was the main focus of the SSMU Legislative Council last Thursday. While slow initially, discussion branched off into varied opinions of the report itself and how SSMU should move forward.

Several councilors and executives said that while they felt that the report was somewhat helpful, it was also rather vague and did not provide explicit direction for further action. However, there was also a general consensus that this was a fair expectation given the Dean’s role, and would have even been inappropriate if he had proposed otherwise.

“When I first read [it], I read the recommendations and I thought they were pretty fluffy,” Law Councilor Ian Clarke said during Council.

“But upon further review I thought it would have been inappropriate for the Dean […] to make a unilateral recommendation.”

One notable objection to the

report, brought forward by SSMU VP University Affairs Emily Clare, was the lack of a student-focused perspective, given that the primary victims were students, as well as the missing testimony of Professor Greg Mikkelson, who was pepper sprayed.

“The report was commendable but it seemed to put the experience of students at the same level of everyone else,” Clare said. “I felt that the primary victims of Nov. 10th were students and I thought that that was underwritten. There [also] seemed to be a lack of the human aspect, the human kind of pain of Nov. 10.”

The discussion then turned to what students should do in light of this report. Talks of dialogue surfaced all evening: councilors called for more dialogue with the administration, more dialogue about security, and more dialogue at the upcoming Senate meeting this Wednesday.

Later, SSMU VP External Joël Pedneault suggested the possibility that SSMU take McGill to court.

Currently, SSMU is collecting testi-

monials of students affected during the events of Nov. 10 to discern if such a course of action would be appropriate.

“The intention is to see whether there is any possibility of launching individual or class action lawsuits against the university in order to obtain redress before a court of law,” Pedneault later explained in an email to the Tribune.

Pedneault said that although discussions may be fruitful, going to court may end up being the necessary course of action, given past precedents and past discussions with the administration.

“A potential benefit of a lawsuit would be to demonstrate without the shadow of doubt that certain things can in fact happen even in a place like McGill University,” Pedneault wrote. “For example, McGill’s Security Services acted in a brutal manner towards students, but many people in the community are hesitant to accept this fact. Proving this fact in a public, official forum would help prevent this type of behaviour on the part of the university in the

Four McGill discoveries among Quebec Science magazine’s top 10 of 2011 developed a blood test which could potentially diagnose Alzheimer’s disease in the near future. This blood test would allow for earlier detection and treatment of the disease.

Orthopedic surgeons Paul Martineau and Edward Harvey from the faculty of medicine and the McGill University Health Centre collaborated with Louis-Philippe Lefebvre of the National Research Council of Canada to patent a new screw to treat broken bones. This screw, made from titanium foam, would replace the current stainless steel screws used for bone injury, thus allowing patients to heal faster.

Finally, from the department of Earth and planetary sciences and the faculty of science, Alfonso Mucci and his collaborators performed an in-depth evaluation of the St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf. They evaluated the acidification levels of the bottom waters beginning from the 1930s up to today. In doing so, they established the vulnerability of the St. Lawrence waters and the impact on the local marine environment.

Stone spoke on the importance of awards like this, which bring current scientific discoveries to the attention of Quebecers.

and further discussion with SEDE will be a good process and will set a strong precedent for future funding allocations from the Charity Committee,” Knight said.

The one notable omission from the agenda was the renegotiation of the Shatner lease. In November, Council voted against accepting the administration’s current lease proposal for the Shatner building.

“The lease was discussed in the confidential portion of our meeting,” Knight later told the Tribune. “We provided the deputy provost with a lengthy memorandum in December outlining our concerns about the current lease proposal and suggesting ways to move forward, and, at Professor Mendelson’s recommendation, met again with Vilma Campbell, McGill’s negotiator, on Tuesday [Jan. 10]. Our lease committee will be meeting again this weekend and we have another meeting next Tuesday. Unfortunately I have no major progress to report at this time, but negotiations are continuing.”

LEADERSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM

News in brief Four discoveries by McGill University researchers placed in the top 10 discoveries by Quebec researchers in 2011, ranked by Quebec Science Magazine in its February 2012 issue.

The discoveries span a range of research fields from earth sciences to medicine. Assistant professor Laura Stone and her team from the faculty of dentistry conducted research at the Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain. Their research focused on the relationship between patients with chronic back pain and the corresponding regions in the brain which are subject to premature aging as a result of the pain.

“Up until [now] people thought that maybe the cells were all dying,” Stone explained. However, her research revealed that after undergoing surgery for back pain, a subset of patients had dramatic improvements, and consequently the changes in the brain were reversed. Moreover, the degree to which the aging was reversed often corresponded to the decrease in pain achieved by the surgery.

From the Faculty of Medicine, Director and Chief Scientific Officer of the Research Institute, Vassilios Papadopoulos and his team

future.”

Later that evening, Education Councilor Kady Paterson inquired about the nature of SSMU’s own security policy.

“In the event that something happens in SSMU, we should have a plan,” Paterson said.

In a follow-up meeting with the Tribune, SSMU President Maggie Knight explained that although SSMU has a general emergency plan, there is no specific plan regarding a potential occupation. The details of this plan were not disclosed because of security reasons.

Other events of note at Council included the report of the Community Engagement Committee to fund a Social Equity and Diversity Education (SEDE) program for two internship positions with $5,000 drawn from funds provided by the new fifty cent student fee. The Council voted to send the Community Engagement Committee back for further examination and provide details, especially within the hiring process.

“I think a more thorough examination of the proposal through CEC

“I think it’s a great honour to have been selected,” Stone said. “I think it’s great that the magazine does this because it raises awareness. There’s really good science happening in Quebec and the fact that they do this just really makes people aware of that and builds public support for research.”

As the public ultimately funds this scientific research, Stone feels that public support and awareness is crucial. “It’s important ... that there’s ways to communicate back to the public some of the progress that’s being made.”

She added that, for McGill, these results demonstrate their strong research program across many different fields.

Other schools with discoveries listed in the top 10 include École Polytechnique, Université de Montreal, Université du Quebec in AbitiTémiscamingue, and Laval University. Readers can vote on Quebec Science’s website for the year’s number one discovery.

–Kyla Mandel

Leadership Skills Development Workshops If you are a student involved in campus activities as an executive, organizer or event planner, you qualify for the Leadership Training Program’s FREE Skills Development Workshops.

Develop and build your leadership skills. Attend a minimum of five workshops throughout the 2011/12 academic year and receive a certificate of completion.

This January, check out...

Conflict Resolution Tuesday, January 17th, 17:30-19:30 Conflict happens in all organizations but do you know how to handle it? Learn how to navigate difficult situations without making them worse - or ignoring them when they should be addressed.

Stay Active Without Burning Out: Time & Life Management for Student Leaders Wednesday, January 25th, 17:30-19:30 This workshop will provide suggestions on how to better manage time in order to minimize stress and maximize performance. Topics will include prioritizing, procrastination, scheduling and the challenges of balancing both academic and personal responsibilities.

Registration is available here: www.mcgill.ca/firstyear/ leadertraining/workshops.

For more info, drop by the First-Year Office in the Brown Building, Suite 2100, or call 514-398-6913

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Writers’ workshop.

SSMU launches new Marketplace website

Site aims to compete with existing classifieds as an alternative place to post ads

By Erica Friesen Contributor To coincide with the opening of a new year and school semester, SSMU has launched the SSMU Marketplace—an online resource designed to provide students with a new venue for the transaction of goods and services, including textbooks, furniture, tutoring services, and housing.

SSMU VP Finance and Operations Shyam Patel was the driving force behind the site’s launch.

“Our hope is that this forum will become a place where students can buy and sell items, in addition to having the ability to provide the SSMU with feedback so we can continue to revamp according to the needs of our students,” Patel said.

As a resource for student transactions, the Marketplace follows previous SSMU services that sold books on consignment, such as Haven Books—closed in 2010 because of its large financial losses —and the short-lived SSMU Book Bazaar.

“Haven Books was not financially viable and the Book Bazaar was a daunting service to maintain from a managerial standpoint,” Patel said. “The Marketplace, however, is an online space rather than a physical location. This forum, I believe, is robust both in terms of financial stability and management.”

By moving online, SSMU Marketplace faces competition for users from established international classifieds resources like Craigslist, as well as those already directed towards McGill users like McGill Classifieds, a free service offered by the administration. Despite this, Patel thinks there is room for SSMU Marketplace.

“Craigslist is not tailored to the McGill community and the McGill Classifieds is not as user-friendly,” Patel explained. “With a fresh, professional look, the Marketplace is easier to use and navigate through.”

Many students agree with the value of bringing SSMU services to the Internet, but some are confused about the need for an additional classifieds website.

“You have to make it different [from McGill Classifieds] in some way,” Christy Frost, U1 English, said. “Otherwise it’s just making the whole process less efficient because people have to check two sites now.”

Student users of SSMU Marketplace have had mixed reactions to the service.

“I think this is a good opportunity for the McGill community to have a more modern interface and interactive community in which to post classified ads,” Justin Fletcher, U2 East Asian studies, said. “[But] I believe that the sign-up process and the need for approval will make it a more cumbersome option vis-à-vis McGill Classifieds.”

In the end, however, Fletcher says his decision to use the service was based on his need to find a buyer for his textbook.

“I am not using SSMU Marketplace in lieu of McGill Classifieds; rather, I am using it in tandem to ensure that my book is sold as quickly as possible,” he said.

SSMU is not yet able to track the number of page views the Mar-

ketplace receives, but other statistics indicate its use among the student population. According to Patel, 147 books were posted from Jan. 5 to Jan. 12, and the website included 214 advertisements in total. More than 100 students have signed up for the Marketplace.

In comparison, nearly 3,400 advertisements for textbooks alone were posted on McGill Classifieds over the same period of time. However, many students are still unaware of the Marketplace’s existence.

“I would definitely check it out,” Samantha Baribeault, a U1 engineering student, said. “But to be useful it definitely has to be better advertised so people will post books and know it is a reliable source.”

Patel remains hopeful for the future of the Marketplace.

“We are positive that with more promotion, this number will increase over the months and will substantially grow over the years, especially if we market the service in a manner that is consistent and effective,” he said.

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Editorial

Tribune The McGill

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Editor-in-Chief Shannon Kimball editor@mcgilltribune.com Managing Editors Kyla Mandel kmandel@mcgilltribune.com Ryan Taylor rtaylor@mcgilltribune.com Production Manager Iain Macdonald imacdonald@mcgilltribune.com News Editors Anand Bery and Carolina Millán Ronchetti news@mcgilltribune.com Opinion Editor Richard Martyn-Hemphill opinion@mcgilltribune.com Arts & Entertainment Editor Nick Petrillo arts@mcgilltribune.com Sports Editor Steven Lampert and Christopher Nardi sports@mcgilltribune.com Photo Editor Sam Reynolds photo@mcgilltribune.com Senior Design Editor Kathleen Jolly kjolly@mcgilltribune.com Design Editor Susanne Wang design@mcgilltribune.com Online Editor Victor Temprano online@mcgilltribune.com Copy Editor Marri Lynn Knadle Advertising Manager Corina Sferdenschi cpm@ssmu.mcgill.ca Publisher Chad Ronalds

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James Gilman (Chair): chair@mcgilltribune.com Johanu Botha, Kathleen Jolly, Shannon Kimball, Iain Macdonald, Alex Middleton, Zach Newburgh

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The McGill Tribune is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the Société de Publication de la Tribune, a student society of McGill University. The content of this publica-

Admin was right to refuse the referenda The administration has decided not to recognise the mandates of two recent student referenda, conducted last fall by elections-SSMU concerning McGill’s branch of the Quebec Public Interest Research Group (QPIRG), and CKUT, McGill’s student radio station. The result may be that the referenda are revised and repeated later this semester.

The referenda called for a funding renewal, and a change to both organization’s opt-out systems. Instead of the current online opt-out system available on Minerva, the referenda sought to reinstate the pre-2007 system where people wishing to opt out could only do so in person at the organizations’ offices. Defending its decision to ignore these student mandates in an email to the Tribune, the administration cited “a lack of clarity” due to QPIRG and CKUT “including several issues in one question,” on the referenda ballots.

The administration will not be

popular among many students for this decision, especially coming at a time when tensions between the student body and the administration are still strained from the events of Nov. 10. However, we believe the administration’s decision was understandable. When the questions were being put to McGill students back in November, the Tribune voiced a similar complaint, arguing that the referenda were “merging two issues that ought to remain separate,” warning that “even with a strong student mandate, there is no guarantee that the McGill administration will act on QPIRG and CKUT’s requests.” Even Kira Page, a member of QPIRG’s board of directors, in an interview with the Tribune, stated that QPIRG “expected this sort of response from the administration.”

We chose to argue from this stance because we felt that both referendum questions dealt with not only the very survival of each organ-

isation, but also the nature of their funding. These are mutually exclusive issues. Even with the fractionally smaller intake provided by the online opt-out system QPIRG still has a projected intake of $157, 000 this academic year (cited from Oct. 31). The Tribune does not believe that kind of money is an insufficient yearly sum for an organisation like QPIRG to survive on. The question of survival and the question of opt out systems are therefore separate issues. By conflating them, both organisations broke the rules of the SSMU constitution, which states in article 25.2 that “Each referendum question shall deal with one, and only one, issue.” As they did not, the results— however high the turnout—do not represent a legitimate mandate.

It should be pointed out the administration’s decision is not necessarily bad news for QPIRG and CKUT. The offline opt-out system they proposed would have been im-

practical and did not allow students to maintain their anonymity when opting out. If either organisation still wants to take their opt-out system off Minerva, they should pose a question which asks for just that, not entwine it with questions about survival. If negotiations are not possible between QPIRG and the administration to ensure the funding part of the referendum can still go through, and if another set of referenda are required later on in the semester to sort out the issue, the Tribune recommends both organisations deal directly with the issue of funding. The Tribune believes that both CKUT and QPIRG deserve funding; they each provide valuable services to the McGill community as a whole. If a question is posed clearly, with a resounding and unambiguous mandate, it will not be possible for the administration to ignore.

Jutras report must be the start, not the end It would be all too easy to ignore the events of Nov. 10 at the start of a new semester. Dean Jutras’ report on the events of Nov. 10 was released to the general public on Dec. 15, just in time for most students to want to forget about the entire semester entirely.

Given the fact that the relationship between the students and the administration is lacking in trust after the events of last semester, the McGill administration ideally should have assigned a third party to conduct a parallel comprehensive investigation. It is equally unfortunate that those conducting the independent student inquiry (released Dec. 1) didn’t have access to relevant security video footage. However, we were pleasantly surprised by Jutras’s in-depth investigation, which consisted of dozens of interviews and thoughtful (albeit vague) recommendations for the administration and McGill Security. Despite his position within the university, Jutras

presented an unbiased account of the events. It should be noted that Jutras’s report and the independent student inquiry reached similar conclusions regarding the order of events. The he-said-she-said debate may continue in some circles, but we view this report and the independent student inquiry and their recommendations to be solid launching points for further discussion on the university’s reform.

This dialogue must consider the following: McGill’s priority must be to ensure the physical protection of its students and staff, as well as the protection of the right to peaceful assembly and protest.

The university must create a clear framework for dealing with similar incidents in the future.

The protocol should include calling the police as a final resort, only when it is clear that McGill Security cannot contain a situation that threatens the wellbeing of students, its staff, or a the destruction of university

property. Trespassing by students desiring to occupy rooms should not, in the majority of cases, call for any police involvement. Often the best security response is one of tolerance and patience—a policy of administrators granting an audience to grievance and a means of assuring no student or security guard is harmed in any confrontations. The Montreal police have shown practically no interest in responding to the events of Nov. 10, and their track record suggests that they could act in a comparable manner if given similar circumstances, so it’s particularly important that McGill Security and students develop a better working relationship.

Many students cited a lack of transparency and consultation on the part of the administration as a reason for their discontent.

This was particularly striking when no emergency email was sent to students to warn them of impending police involvement on campus—something the university was more than capable of doing in

a few minutes. A student wishing to make his way back from the library deserves to be warned that he could face a cavalcade of riot police en route. Any further discussion and decisionmaking regarding this event, and concerning the creation of guidelines for future approaches to similar situations, must therefore involve more student inclusion.

Emergency responses must to be sent out to give due warning to students wishing to avoid fogs of tear gas.

The comprehensive research of the Jutras report means we can now move past the speculation surrounding the specific events of Nov. 10 and debate the meaning of events with more clarity at the Senate this Wednesday, which, in a fitting spirit of transparency, is being streamed live online. The Jutras report must be the beginning, not the end, of a purposeful dialogue set on improving how the university responds in times of crisis.

tion is the sole responsibility of The McGill Tribune and the Société de Publication de la Tribune. and does not necessarily represent the views of McGill University. Letters to the editor may be sent to opinion@mcgilltribune.com and must include the contributor’s name, program and year and contact information. Letters should be kept under 300 words and submit-

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Student Living environment

The Maldives struggle for survival Tropical islands disappear in the face of rising sea levels

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mate change responses.

It’s difficult for countries like the Maldives to remain optimistic given the circumstances. In a speech given this past September at the London School of Economics, president Nasheed said that “Both developing countries and developed countries have the responsibility [to fight climate change].”

“I understand that we are suffering now ... because of the West and all that development,” he said, “but even if they all go to sleep tonight and we go to bed as usual and we go to business as usual, and the developed countries don’t do anything for the rest of our lives, we are still going to die.”

Not shying away from strong assertions, he criticised the current negotiation process, stating, “I don’t think we have the time to nicely go on talking about the issues endlessly and I am told that science suggests that we have a window of about seven years and if we are unable to bring a drastic change in these seven years we will soon meet a tipping point from which it will be very, very difficult to pull back.”

“This is 2011, the science is very, very certain and you can’t be so silly and stupid, countries and leaders have to realize that this is happening.”

W

With the recent dump of snow and freezing temperatures, global warming is probably the last thing on the minds of most Montrealers.

While global warming may sound favourable when it’s -21 degrees celcius outside, for some it’s a daily threat. Each year the Maldives loses three of its inhabited islands to rising sea levels.

With an average altitude of 1.5 metres above sea level, the Maldives compose the world’s lowest laying country. Located in the Indian Ocean, just off the southern tip of India, it spans 90,000 square kilometres, and it’s made up of some 200 inhabited islands. Other islands are used for tourism, agriculture, or other livelihood purposes. Fourteen of the inhabited islands have already disappeared under the ocean.

The Maldivian capital, Malé, has already taken precautions against the rise in sea level. A three metre high sea wall was constructed to keep the ocean out, costing the country tens of millions of dollars.

Using the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s most dramatic climate change forecast, it’s predicted that if the sea rises by 59 centimetres in the next century, the Maldives will be rendered virtually uninhabitable.

Out of neccessity, the country has now come up with contingency plans.

A popular surfing destination, the Maldives has a $600 million tourism industry. It’s saving some of this money to allow it the option of buying land in another country, which will enable citizens to relocate if their homes and islands are in jeopardy. Places under consideration include India, Sri Lanka, and Australia. However, no official talks have occurred yet and Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed said that this is a last resort. Other suggested plans include floating islands and desalination.

In order to raise awareness of the issue, President Nasheed attended and walked the red carpet at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival for the premiere of the documentary, The Island President.

The documentary details his struggles as president to save his country from literally disappearing under the ocean. President Nasheed has also pledged to make the Maldives completely carbon neutral by 2020.

While the fate of the Maldives lies largely out of his hands, he is working hard to do his part for his country. Yet, with the recent difficulties in negotiations between the world’s leading countries in Durban, South Africa this past November, it is hard to predict the future of cli-

M

By Kyla Mandel Managing Editor

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Odds and ends

Penny-pinching tips to make your money last until April A how-to guide on saving money in the post-holiday season

By Marri Knadle Copy Editor In high school, they teach that keeping a balanced budget is simple arithmetic: paycheque in, expenses out. Always leave a little margin between the two to save for a rainy day, and live within your means.

What a romantic concept.

Most budget FAQs and resources out there aren’t designed for students. Beyond the privileged and lucky few, a student typically faces an unpredictable monthly income that seldom allows for rainy-day savings. We also face big bottom lines, and many surprise moneysinks that pop up when a bill goes unpaid in the forgetful exam season.

These circumstances require creative penny-squeezing strategies, especially in the months following the expensive holiday season.

Tip 1: Go cash only. Carrying a plastic card around minimizes the impact of spending, and encourages a “what I don’t know can’t hurt me” attitude about small expenses that quickly build up. Seeing your money leave your hand will curb expenses and ensure that you keep tabs on yourself.

Tip 2: Assess your accumulating little expenses. Do you buy your java out every morning? Calculate how much you spend per month on coffee and other little things, and see if the investment in a French press and bulk-bought beans (or equivalent) won’t pay for itself in a short period of time. A travel mug will save you pennies and save the environment, too. (Travel mugs are also the only coffee containers allowed in most campus libraries.) Other expenses like breakfasts on the run and snacking and dining out also have

a tendency to vaporize rent and bill money pools.

Tip 3: Look for opportunity.

If your part-time job isn’t paying enough, consider your skills and see if you can’t pick up a part-part-time job as a freelancer. If you have mad editing skills, possess expert knowledge in an unusual field, or you’re a coding whiz, there may be an opportunity to earn supplementary income without leaving the comfort of your desk. Search for industry job boards online, and keep a running list of companies, big and small, that might benefit from your services.

Tip 4: Have an emergency exit. If you suspect that one month you might come up really short, it will put you at ease to have a plan in advance. Whether this is asking a relative to electronically transfer you what you need to cover your base expenses, borrowing in cash

from a friend, or dipping into a longprotected pool of savings, know what the bank delays will be, and plan in advance before the bill is due. Keep a list of resources, including McGill’s in-course financial aid program, so you know where to turn when the going gets really rough.

Tip 5: Explore new hobbies.

Being on a tight budget doesn’t mean sitting at home alone while your friends go clubbing. Montreal has a ton of free and cheap things to do, even when it’s cold enough to literally freeze your nose off. A quick trip to Google will provide plenty of suggestions, and so will keeping tabs on your campus papers and bulletin boards.

Tip 6: Sell off superfluous things. Have a video game, book, or piece of clothing that’s in good shape that you never use any more?

Consider selling it on Craigslist or

The Student Living/Features section needs an editor.

E-mail editor@mcgilltribune.com for more information.

through a bulletin-board notice. This will give you some pocket money to take the edge off.

Tip 7: Keep a change jar. Turn out your purse and pockets at the end of every day, and when the jar is full, saunter down to a bank or change machine. In the meantime, that jar of change can be emergency bus fare or a beer money piggybank.

Keeping all your change in one spot will make it easy to keep track of and save.

And finally, go easy on yourself. Remember that many famous people have had periods of bankruptcy and poverty, both in and out of university. Realize that missing a bill or two here and there, while not ideal, isn’t the end of the world.

Keep a level head and celebrate your successes.

From Montreal

to Washington A McGill grad runs for Congress Compiled by Shannon Kimball

S

ince Ilya Sheyman graduated from McGill in 2006, he’s returned to his home state to run for Congress as a Democrat in Illinois’s 10th district. The district, which encompasses the northern suburbs of Chicago, elected Republican Robert Dold in

2010. An immigrant from the former Soviet Union, the 25-year-old Sheyman just meets the minimum age requirement to run for Congressional office. Below, in an exclusive interview with the Tribune, Sheyman discusses unemployment, small-scale fundraising, and studying American history from abroad.

What motivated you to become involved in politics?

While at McGill I studied history and political science, and when I came back home to Illinois I started right away working at improving the quality of public schools in my home area. So I started organizing in education and spent the last year and a half in healthcare and just realized that my experience in this district, working on the priorities of residents here was exactly what I thought Congress was lacking.

You support several progressive ideals, but could you name a few that are most important to you?

I think the biggest challenge we have right now is that unemployment is through the roof. In my district alone, it’s between eight per cent and 19 per cent unemployment, so in some areas, literally one in five people are unemployed. So I think the biggest change we

should make in Washington is to stop focusing on what we can cut and start focusing on putting people back to work. That means that we have to pass the federal jobs bill, we need to invest in good paying jobs, building roads, rebuilding schools and hospitals, and really building a clean energy economy so that we can bring manufacturing back as well. That’s very different from what’s going on in Congress right now, where they’re focused on cutting core social programs.

to cross that hurdle and slowly turn the district Democratic after 30 years.

What has been your approach to fundraising in this economy?

I think the challenge you face when you start out and you don’t have a lot of friends who make millions of dollars is we had to go out and raise money five, 10, 20 dollars at a time. So our campaign has eleven thousand individual donors—that’s

How would you describe your district’s political orientation?

“The biggest change

The last four of the six elections were decided by just a couple of percentage points. That’s a reflection of the fact that this is a pretty well-educated, pretty independent-minded district that really votes for the candidate and not the party. They want to elect the person who really gets what’s going on and who’s trying to improve people’s lives in the district. So our job is

in Washington is

Image sources: triblocal.com, chicagomag.com, flickr.com/people/ilyasheyman

we should make to stop focusing on what we can cut and start focusing on putting people back to work.”

one of the largest donor efforts of any campaign in the country—and we built it at house parties, where we get together at someone’s home every weekend. Twenty to thirty people show up; they ask questions, they find out what issues are on my mind and they share their concerns and they chip in a few dollars.

And we collect money over the Internet, where people are contributing just a couple dollars at a time, but altogether it adds up. And I think that model of fundraising ends up with a lot of people invested in the campaign. If they contribute just a few dollars, they’re also willing to knock on doors and make phone calls and do whatever else it will take for us to win.

Did your time at McGill influence your decision to go into politics?

I majored in political science and U.S. history. When I was there I got a background in ... [w]hat [it] was going to take to serve in Congress. I mostly studied U.S. foreign relations, so I really got a handle on what a lot of that looks like and the policy-making that happens in Washington.

While I was there, I spent time interning for a campaign in Vermont for Congressman Peter Welch, so I got to see firsthand what an election looks like, what it takes to run for office and have a lot of the conversations with voters that I’m hav-

“Leonard Moore painted this picture of U.S. history as being one of progress; it was uneven, but other time, the U.S. kept improving and perfecting itsself.”

ing now. And while doing that I realized that I really enjoyed listening to voters and figuring out what their priorities are. But it was never part of the plan to run for office until this past year.

So it was more of a continuing of following my passion of U.S. history and figuring out how policy is made.

Did Canada’s relatively liberal political environment influence your own politics?

I think it was useful to get a sense of what the political system was like in Quebec and seeing the healthcare system firsthand.

However, I think most of my politics were shaped growing up in the 10th district. The reality is that I was at McGill for two and a half years before I graduated. I loved the experience and I got a great education, but I think most of my politically formative years came from moving to the States as Jewish refugee, growing up in the Chicagoland area and seeing how families can succeed through hard work and the support of our community here.

Who was your favourite McGill professor?

I loved Leonard Moore, who taught U.S. history. I think I took five or six of his classes. He painted this picture of U.S. history as being one of progress; it was uneven, but over time, the U.S. kept improving and perfecting itself, internally and externally.

At a time when George W. Bush had just been elected for his second term and there was a lot of frustration, anger, and criticism, he just did a great job of putting it into context and showing how the U.S. does move forward and improve because a lot of people put work into making it better.

What’s your favourite thing to do in Montreal?

Going up to Mont Royal on Sundays.

This interview has been condensed and edited.

12 X vs. Y

Curiosity Delivers. www.mcgilltribune.com

winter in Quebec

The pros and cons of

By Shannon Kimball Editor in Chief

Montreal is finally exhibiting signs of winter. On Thursday morning, just as the sun was starting to rise, I saw a glimmer of white on my window pane and jumped out of bed, only to whack my head on a bookshelf. Once I’d confirmed the presence of freshly fallen snow (and more than flurries) I squealed like that Hawaiian guy on my floor in first year when he saw his first snow. I was equally disappointed to listen to students grumbling about winter on my way to class. To be sure, my heater was hardly a match for this weekend’s bitter temperatures, but winter brings a multitude of pros and cons, all of which must be considered before you ask yourself why you don’t live in Zanzibar.

PROS CONS - If the weather gets cold enough, maybe leggings won’t pass as pants anymore.

- Winter gives you a chance to see what designers have done to make winter boots ever so slightly attractive.

- The frigid temperatures keep your beer cold.

- Gives you an excuse to try to make the world’s biggest snowball instead of going to class.

- Seeing people cross country ski to campus makes trudging through the snow bearable.

- Watching the Montreal snow removal is especially fun after playing winter themed drinking games

- No one likes to wear a coat.

And a hat. And a scarf. And gloves.

And another hat, because it’s just that cold.

- The endless array of winter themed lattes means I have to wait an extra five minutes while in line at a coffee shop. I do not want a peppermint-gingerbread-eggnogmocha-latte-with-extra-snowflakesprinkles-on-top, thank you very much. But the eight people in front of me at Second Cup do.

- Uggs are the ugliest boots known to man. And they aren’t even winter boots.

- Winter makes you hate your friends who are on exchange, taking scuba classes for credit in Indonesia - Sidewalk plows are efficient killing machines in disguise.

- The cold and snow stall construction so often that campus will never be construction-free.

odds and ends

Five helpful hints to prepare for your semester abroad One student’s experiences in Paris, France bring lessons for all

By Elisa Muyl Contributor Moving to Canada from the United States, though probably the easiest “international” transition anyone could ever make, was surprisingly difficult for me. Moving to Paris from Canada, on the other hand, has been very easy and natural.

This may be because I am no longer 17, or that I’ve been to Paris before, or that my whole family lives in the vicinity. However, it’s probably due to superior preparation and forward-thinking.

For those of you thinking about going on exchange who wish to be prepared, I have compiled a checklist to help with your experiences.

1: Having plenty of family or friends in your host country is always useful. This has helped me enormously, from opening a bank account to finding a place to live.

Having literally a dozen cousins living, working, or studying in the same city as you is a definite advantage in easing the transition.

2: Have low expectations. The

first thing to know about doing an exchange is that McGill won’t offer much assistance. Sure, it’s an accredited institution, which is critical when being accepted into other schools’ exchange programs, and someone will eventually send your transcript after numerous emails from your host institution requesting it to complete your application, but the rest is up to you. This includes finding somewhere to live. If you are going somewhere expensive, crowded, and popular—let’s call it “Paris”—finding an apartment will be exponentially more difficult than it was in Montreal.

3: Plan way ahead of time. Different countries have very different laws and modes of operation. If you thought McGill’s bureaucracy was bad, think again. The French government can take on any administration in a red tape battle any day of the week—except on Sunday, when the entire country is closed. Case in point: you need a French bank account to be able to rent an apartment, and you need an apartment in order to open a French bank account. Approach old North American fallbacks

like Craigslist with caution—getting a head start is essential, but knowing your options and what is realistic is equally important. Paris is very old, and square meterage is considerably more expensive there. Any ads promising a furnished apartment in a cool area for under 1000 Euros per month is a scam. Not sure how to spot one? Obvious tip-offs include strangely-worded responses to your requests for more information, and anyone with a back-story (typically along the lines of: “my wife is at present in UK, she will mail you keys, first you must send cheque”).

4: French people are not that nice. Beware of Paris syndrome, a condition common among various foreigners. These tourists have such a hard time reconciling Amelie’s Paris with the grey, dog-turd ridden, sour-faced and mean capital that they require psychological help. Be prepared.

5: Nor are French people that mean. Just stop walking around with your map wide open in front of your face, don’t ask for change for 100 Euros, and at least attempt to speak with Parisians in French. In short, be

Studying abroad can be challenging, but rewarding. (panoramio.com) culturally sensitive and people will meet you halfway.

Moving to another country is difficult at the outset, but it only requires an open mind, some preparation, and self-awareness. Granted, there are a few surprises that will

be difficult to get over; for instance, a baguette is a perfectly acceptable meal, and that French people really do wear berets non-ironically.

Science & Technology Gizmos and GAdgets

Twenty-twelve gadget watch Trends and toys to watch out for in the coming year Whether it’s finally meeting a New Year’s resolution, or a potential new season of Arrested Development, 2012 has something in store for everyone. Many look forward to the new technology released in the coming year. Here are some predictions for what to look out for in 2012.

Phones

The smartphone market has become highly segmented in the past few years, with Apple’s iPhone, RIM’s Blackberry, and Google’s Android phones sharing the majority of the market.

Look for these three to continue battling for control of this trillion dollar industry.

Apple has been mum about an iPhone 5 or iPhone 4SS coming any time soon, but that doesn’t mean we can’t expect it in 2012.

Despite some ups and downs for RIM in 2011, the company has diversified their strategy. They now sell a variety of Blackberrys, some of which have touchscreen capability. Additionally, the Playbook was released to target the tablet market, but I’ve yet to see one in the real world.

Android had a strong 2011 with the release of Android 4.0, “Ice Cream Sandwich.” The new operating system was a huge step forward for Google, and focused largely on improving the user interface. Google has been pushing app makers to focus on user experience as well. In 2012, expect all the major phone manufacturers to release at least one Ice Cream Sandwich phone. Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus was the first, and while it’s a bit pricey, it looks like Android is heading in the right direction.

The television industry isn’t usually associated with innovation.

However, TV manufacturers continue to release bigger and bigger

Televisions

high-definition TVs. The game changer on the way is 3D TV, but don’t expect that market to surge this year. For regular TVs, the LED market remains fairly expensive, but LCD TVs continue to drop in price, with 45-inch TVs now under $500, and 60-inch TVs under $1000.

desktop computers. Microsoft will also be releasing a new version of Windows, Windows 8, in the fall of this year.

Thin will still be in for laptops this year, as manufacturers target the MacBook Air market. Intel devised the term “ultrabook” last year to refer to thin, lightweight, long-lasting laptops, and the processor manufacturer is releasing a line of processors aimed at the devices later this year. There are Twenty-twelve might be the year of already half a dozen or so ultrabooks the tablet, but desktop and laptop comput- on the market and these computers ers aren’t going away any time soon. As will only get thinner and faster. hardware continues to improve exponentially, faster computers will hit the market.

In 2012, we may start to see touchscreen

Computers

The tablet market is exploding. Apple released the first iPad only two years ago, and they will be releasing the newest version in March. According to rumours and speculation, the iPad 3 will sport a quad core processor, a high-definition screen, and be compatible with the new LTE network for high-speed mobile Internet access.

Apple isn’t the only player in the tablet game anymore. At the low end of the price spectrum, Amazon recently released the Kindle Fire. Costing only $200, this seven inch tablet runs a customized version of Android. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab comes in a variety of sizes, at a variety of price points. There are dozens of other Android tablets on the market, and on their way. Look out for those running the newest version of Android, Ice Cream Sandwich. In 2012, we should see faster hardware and a wider variety of options as the tablet market continues to surge.

Tablets –Iain Macdonald

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A&E OUT AND ABOUT

Baby, it’s really cold outside A fourth-year student reflects on her first experience at Igloofest

By Rebecca Feigelsohn Contributor Entering the final semester of fourth year is a bittersweet feeling.

Four magical years of hard work and occasionally excessive partying are coming to a close, and you are confronted with the feeling that you haven’t accomplished anything you had meant to do when you first came to this frosty city a few years ago. What ever happened to that ambitious bucket list you made in rez?

Luckily Igloofest, one of the most anticipated events of the winter season, kicked off last week, and you are reminded again why you came to Montreal: to explore one of the most exhilarating cities in the country.

As an Igloofest newbie, a great deal of build-up and excitement led to the night’s festivities. I was promised ice sculptures galore, told of wild dance parties, and warned about frozen toes. Arriving at the venue, which was located in the Old-Port at Jacques-Cartier Pier, was a surprisingly tame and speedy experience, unlike many lines for Montreal clubs. The outdoor venue was transformed into a winter wonderland, enhanced by the recent snowfall and glowing lights. I was reminded of the retro party scene from Hot Tub Time Machine and nostalgic for ‘90s Night, as many Igloofest participants were clad in neon ski apparel and goggles (I had missed this

Thousands of people bundle up for an evening of music and dance in Montreal’s Old Port. (cametgreg.fr) memo). It was also refreshing to see girls dressed modestly in full piece snowsuits, as opposed to the skimpy dresses and undone coats that are usually donned in line for Tokyo.

Though Friday the 13th is notoriously known as an unlucky day for the superstitious, I decided to take a chance and give Igloofest a try on this eve. I was not disappointed, but rather blown away by the sheer number and diversity of people

gathered in minus fifteen degree weather. People aged 18 to 50 were gyrating to the music and mingling by the ice-bars and fire pits, which were located far enough from one another so as to not melt away the icy structures. Although I am not a music maven by any degree, I must note that DJ Tiefschwarz, a brother duo from Stuttgart, Germany, turned up the heat with their edgy electrohouse sound that attracted both

music aficionados and those who are otherwise impartial.

The only disappointment I felt was that, contrary to its name, there were no actual igloos anywhere to be found. Despite this, my word of advice is to not hibernate this January and sulk in your post-Christmasbreak-blues. Go to Igloofest, dress warmly, get some hot pads, and buy a cool Igloofest toque. My night at Igloofest was one to remember, and

at a time when graduate school applications and plans for the future are invading my brain, sacrificing my GPA for an evening of fun was worthwhile. There’s no other city where nights like this exist.

Igloofest runs Thursday through Saturday this weekend and next weekend from 6:30pm to midnight at Jacques-Cartier Pier.

Pop Rhetoric Putting the ‘class’ in classical Given standard music etiquette today, classical music is quite peculiar. Most, if not all people, view music as a natural experience, akin to dance. It causes us to move, jig, and even flail about. At a classical music concert, those would be the last things you would want to do to avoid the judgmental glares of everyone around you. Rather, you are ordered to sit still and absorb the music in utter silence. Even a cough could earn you death stares from the nearest well-dressed connoisseur.

This behavior screams pretentiousness. Why all the fuss? How can one possibly enjoy music this way?

Historically, classical music, at least outside the church, was a rau-

cous affair. People walked around, socialized, cheered, and drank to their heart’s content. Indeed, the only way 18th-century composer George Frideric Handel could silence the crowds during his operas was to hire the biggest opera stars of the day. Even then, it was rare that the audience would lend their ears to the overtures or choruses.

Many of the symphonies that Beethoven composed nearly 100 years later, like his third and fifth, open with loud, sometimes thematically irrelevant material to tell the crowds to listen. It was not until the Wagnerian age of hero worship after the 1850s that classical music began to transform itself to the institutions we see today.

How should we treat classical music? As Handel’s audiences did, or Wagner’s? Before you scream (or cautiously whisper) one way or the other, I want to throw another heavy question your way. Why does music

have etiquette? Does it facilitate something more important? I think it does, and this is why I believe, with reservation, many classical music norms should be preserved, and others should be tossed.

It’s clear why one would go to a classical music concert: to listen.

While a dubstep concert at Igloofest may serve a more social function (to say the least), classical music concerts can hardly be called “social” events. They exist for the music and, secondly, the musicians. Audiences attend to listen to timeless pieces and great musicians. Any etiquette that would detract from this purpose would, therefore, be poor etiquette.

What does that mean? Well, talking during the piece would not be great. Dancing would distract even from the most dance-like Brahmsian dance. Even screaming or cheering during a particularly virtuosic passage to support a soloist would be a crime. Sexual objectifi-

cation should, ideally, be kept out of the symphony hall as well.

That said, I must address the features of the classical music world that give it an extra elitist flavour.

Though dressing up is a way of showing respect, in classical music it has become excessive and has deteriorated into a fashion show.

It no longer serves—perhaps never served—as a function for the music itself. It has become a contest akin to Monty Python’s Upper-Class Twit of the Year, but not nearly as funny.

It’s enjoyable to play dress up, but as I watch others compliment and scoff at clothing over cocktails during intermission, I can’t help but feel, despite my sincere passion for classical music, completely out of place.

This condescending attitude extends to other parts of the concert as well. As many first-timers unpleasantly discover amidst the harsh shushing, one is not supposed to clap between movements. Some

may argue that clapping interrupts the piece, even if the movements are broken up by musicians adjusting their stands and audience members coughing.

That is rubbish. If anything, the rude shushing is inappropriate.

More importantly however, enthusiasm for the music when it does not disturb it serves to honour the music and the musicians more than the silent, passive experience.

So, am I condoning the Handelmodel? Not completely. A Wagnerian one? In some respects. Classical music has tremendous cultural value, as do many other musical genres. However, classical music must stand out as one that exists to serve its own music alone, and not its high-class practitioners.

–Akiva Toren

15

Tuesday, January 17, 2011

film

Carnage doesn’t translate to the silver screen Play adaptation lacks subtlety and a consistent script

By Chris Liu Contributor There are films that I want to like so, so very much, and Carnage is one of them. The fact that all the right ingredients—a Tony-winning play, a famed auteur, A-list talent— resulted in a mediocre exercise in uncontrolled social degeneration proves that cinema cannot be explained via reductionism. Some things simply look better in theory than in practice.

Directed by Roman Polanski and based on Yasmina Reza’s play God of Carnage, the film revolves around two couples: the Cowans (Christoph Waltz, Kate Winslet), whose son has hit the son of the Longstreets (Jodie Foster, John C. Reilly) with a stick, knocking out two of his teeth. The “action” takes place entirely in the Longstreet’s bourgeois luxury high-rise. The view is prettier than the conversation; the meeting, initiated in the spirit of civilized rapprochement, foreseeably devolves to quips and snips, then full-out verbal warfare.

These people wear Prada, dis-

cuss African art, smoke Cubans, and there is an undeniable sense of pleasure in watching the upper-middle class airs dissolve into something bestial and chaotic. Yet, therein also lies the problem: while such a script would be captivating in a theatrical setting, under the proximity of the camera such villainy demands subterfuge, and Polanski failed in reining back the performances of his actors. Waltz, best known as the sociopathic Nazi Hans Landa in 2009’s Inglourious Basterds, exhibits all the disdain from that role without the discipline, and at moments looks ready to sink fangs in Foster’s neck. For her part, Foster’s overly emotional surface liberal finds that awkward territory of being pathetic without being sympathetic.

Perhaps the one who came closest to a refined performance was Winslet—though, as the subordinated wife, she got off easy.

The screenplay, which was adapted from the script by both Polanski and Reza, was sharp at times and stilted at others; it’s unclear whether that’s a result of translating from the original French, or of

Director Roman Polanski’s latest film boasts an impressive and acclaimed cast. (hdfreewallpaper.info) translating from stage to screen.

Certainly, the characterizations did not benefit from the more obtuse exchanges. Once social convention has been stripped away (with aged whisky as the catalyst), the film moves into philosophical ground in the third act, yet for all the submersion in the darkness of human nature, the closing shot suggests an insidious pointlessness to the exercise.

The one saving grace is the cinematography. Pawel Edelman, who

also worked on Oscar winners The Pianist and The New Tenants, makes the film look great, with immaculate frames that also provide the film’s only forays into subtlety.

It should shock no one that people sometimes marry the wrong person, that some don’t truly hold the values that they appear to endorse, that the upper-middle class is frequently caricatured as irritatingly shallow. Is this all that the playwright has to articulate? Then

I realized that Ms. Reza’s reach exceeded beyond mere storytelling; that, by eliciting the endorsement of the viewer through their laughter and pleasure, she wishes to make the viewer complicit in the characters’ despicability, and is turning a critical eye on our own thin veneer of convention. We’re all gods of carnage, and we ought to celebrate it. You can make of that how you will.

Film

Freud and Jung: a meeting of the minds Director Cronenberg proves that A Dangerous Method is a successful one

By Alex Knoll Contributor Whether you’ve taken PSYC100 or not, you have heard of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. Modern psychology has grown into such a broad field that it’s easy to overlook how it all started: with verbalized thought and a couch. Director David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method is the epic retelling of the birth of psychoanalysis, as told through the fascinating relationship between the great Freud (Viggo Mortensen), his protégé Jung (Michael Fassbender), and patient Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley), arguably the most important character of the story, providing a link between the two men.

The opening scene introduces Spielrein, a chillingly hysterical young Russian woman, which gives the audience a glimpse of the phenomenal performance that Knightly delivers throughout the film. Spielrein goes to Jung with the hope of being cured. Jung decides she would be a good candidate to test his psychoanalysis, a new method recently developed by Freud, who was merely a celebrity to Jung at the time.

The strictly conversational sessions

between Jung and his patient prove have a major effect on Spielrein. Despite being mentally disturbed, she shows great improvement thanks to the wonders of Jung’s method, and he begins to notice she is highly intelligent and inquisitive, not to mention beautiful. Spielrein readily accepts Jung’s offer to help with his research, and they become colleagues.

And so the story unfolds.

During the time Jung and Speilrein become closer as colleagues, Jung finally arranges to meet Freud.

Their encounters are long and conversations dense, and the two begin to clash over their ideas and conclusions as they learn from and feed off of each other’s expertise. Jung becomes apprehensive of Freud’s fixation with sexuality, his belief that all mental imbalance is rooted in sexual frustration, and the overwhelming way his innovative hypotheses influence his theory. Although Jung is opposed to some of the ideals behind Freud’s philosophy, he becomes sexually involved with Spielrein. The rest of the film chronicles a journey through the years whereby the relationships of these three historically important people become entangled and complicated.

Jung (Michael Fassbender) and Spielrein (Keira Knightley) become more than colleagues. (screeninvasion.com) The actors boast strong performances and their portrayals are convincing. Mortensen takes on Freud with such veracity that it seems difficult to imagine him any different in real life. He maintains an air of calm confidence and authority, while being constantly surrounded by a cloud of smoke. Knightly delivers an incredibly compelling performance which does not seem forced, a difficult task to achieve in playing such a manic character. Finally, Fassbender elegantly takes on the brilliant yet perturbed Jung whose

character changes quite drastically between beginning and end.

While slightly unsettling, it’s grounding to know that these prominent people faced similar social problems as we have, and that this helped to pave the way for the development of psychology. It’s quite ironic to realize that the issues these historic figures had to face are rooted in psychology. In addition to his tangled love story with Spielrein and his combative relationship with Freud, Jung suffered his own mental breakdown at age 40. What we

can take from the story is that these struggles are human and it is this adversity that helps us define ourselves. The film also says something through Spielrein, in that the character who began as a heavily disturbed mental patient ended up contributing some of the most important intellectual ideas in the development of Freud and Jung’s collective theories.

That’s something to think about the next time you’re sitting on a therapist’s couch.

16

Curiosity Delivers. www.mcgilltribune.com

Album Reviews

The Trib’s January Playlist January doldrums got you down? Take a look some of the Tribune A&E contributors’ favorite winter pickme-ups.

Guided By Voices: Let’s Go Eat the Factory The original Guided By Voices lineup has at last reunited for the first time in 15 years, and with the release of Let’s Go Eat The Factory comes the return of their iconic lo-fi, garage band sound.

Starting with the electrifying opener “Laundry and Lasers,” it’s clear that lead singer Robert Pollard’s adulation for rock’s glory days hasn’t waned. For a weathered 50-something, his faux British accent and screwball lyrics still impose an intimidating presence. And though only half of the album’s 21 unfocused tracks reach two minutes in length, Factory is a surprisingly enjoyable experience. Many songs sound as if they were fleshed out in a single session, forgoing any refinement in studio. A few of these snippets, like “How I Met My Mother,” build on some perfectly adequate guitar and bass hooks, but the band’s spontaneous recording style prevents these promising songs from reaching their full potential.

The amount of patience you might have for this type of frivolous rock depends on your tolerance for lowfidelity recording. Squeaky 4-track tapes, suppressed drum tracks, and unpolished guitar riffs haven’t been used this thoroughly since 1994’s Bee Thousand.

Thanks to digital music, sifting through the clutter of a Guided By Voices release has never been easier.

This latest collection is hit-or-miss, but the gems within it are worth the search.

—Nick Petrillo

John K. Samson: Provincial John K. Samson has penned some impressive lyrics as the frontman for beloved folk-rockers the Weakerthans, but none may better capture the heart of his music than the simple refrain of “I hate Winnipeg.” It’s the half-joking lyrical crux of 2003’s “One Great City!” a song about Samson’s love-hate relationship with his home town, a city he often laments, but one he never leaves. Provincial, his first fulllength solo release, is essentially that song applied to all of Manitoba.

His provincial pride is obvious through the numerous wellresearched references to its history, places, and people. Its first tuberculosis sanatorium pops up in both the pop punk of “When I Write My Master’s Thesis,” and again in the poignant “Letters in Icelandic from the Ninette San,” which also nods at Manitoba’s Icelandic heritage, while “Petition” tells the story of hockey player Reggie “The Riverton Rifle” Leach. Others like “Heart of the Continent”—the musical sequel to “One Great City!”—and “Grace General” shine a light on its bleaker aspects.

Strip away the specifics and most of these songs could be set anywhere. “Cruise Night” is as much about the Winnipeg tradition as the adolescent quest to be “cool.”

Likewise, the lonely protagonist of “Stop Error” and the heartbroken teacher of “The Last And” can be found from Victoria to St. John’s.

By the end of the album, Samson’s point is clear: there’s a little Manitoba in all of us.

—Ryan Taylor

Azealia Banks feat. Lazy Jay: “212”

Cannonball Adderley: “Somethin’ Else”

Off-kilter delivery and confident lyrics make Azealia Banks rap’s most exciting star to watch this year. Take a seat, Nicki Minaj.

Upbeat back-and-forth between Miles Davis on trumpet and Adderley on alto sax.

Split Enz: “I See Red”

Iron Butterfly: “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”

Because after all, what victim of a breakup hasn’t felt like ‘molten toothpaste?’

A heavy acid-inspired jam made legendary by its seventeen minute length and its irresistible bass guitar.

The Temper Trap: “Soldier On”

Fleet Foxes: “Grown Ocean”

Dougy Mandagi’s comforting and warm vocals will help you brave the harsh winter.

Need some movitation to take on the world? Look no further than these propulsive drums, guitars, and sunny vocal harmonies.

Foster the People: “Call It What You Want”

Laura Marling: “Goodbye England”

Their psychedelic indie sound will hopefully overcome their ‘one-hit wonder’ label.

Winter references and all, this song always warms the heart, no matter how many degrees it is below zero.

Could Be Good

JANUARY 17-24 Rae Spoon

Andrew Johnston

2001: A Space Odyssey

Casa del Popolo, 4873 St. Laurent

Divan Orange, 4234 St. Laurent

Cinema du Parc, 3575 Parc Avenue

Thursday, Jan. 19, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 18, 9:30 p.m.

Until Thursday, Jan. 19, 8:45 p.m.

Polaris Prize-nominated musician Rae Spoon returns for this hometown album release show for his latest album, I Can’t Keep All of Our Secrets.

Member of the indie-pop group the Gentleman’s Club, Andrew Johnston blends indie-rock and folk music to create layered jams with strong vocals. Hear him play songs from his most recent release, The Wake of the Wonder Years.

Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 scifi masterpiece returns to the big screen in 35 mm for one week only.

It was a breakthrough of visual effects upon release and it’s amazing how well they still hold up 40 years later.

www.mcgilltribune.com

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catch up on the latest music?

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Sports Hockey — Martlets 4, Concordia 0 (FRi.), Martlets 5, Montreal 0 (Sat.)

Labonté dominant as Martlets prevail in back-to-back wins McGill shuts out both Concordia and Montreal to earn 11th and 12th straight victories

By Christopher Nardi Sports Editor This weekend was a difficult one for the Martlets hockey team, as they faced two top teams in the RSEQ on back-to-back nights, the Montreal Carabins and the Concordia Stingers. Ranked second and third in the RSEQ respectively, both teams were set on breaking McGill’s 10-game winning streak with the hope of shortening the point gap between them and the first-placed Martlets.

Yet neither were successful at stopping the freight train that is Martlets hockey, as McGill netminder Charline Labonté registered her fourth and fifth shutouts in 11 starts and backstopped her team to their eleventh and twelfth consecutive wins.

The first period of Friday’s game against Concordia proved to be fatal for the Stingers, as two of their three minor penalties of the period led to powerplay goals by Katia Clement-Heydra. The Stingers seemed intent on playing a rough, physical game with the hope of intimidating McGill, but their poor discipline ended up stinging them right back. “When the other team wants to get undisciplined, we do our best to move the puck quickly and protect ourselves, and then when they get penalties we want to

McGill registered four powerplay goals, propelling them to a perfect weekend. (Karla Stasiak / McGill Tribune) go on the powerplay and do some damage,” explained Head Coach Peter Smith. “The girls are going to stand up for themselves, but they’re also going to play smart.”

The second period featured five minor penalties, with four going to Concordia, who finished the game with no less than 10 infractions.

Once again, McGill made their opponents pay for their indiscipline when another powerplay goal by Ann-Sophie Bettez, who registered

four points (1G, 3A) on the night.

The third period was simply a formality for the two teams as McGill’s Melodie Daoust scored her fifth goal of the season, driving the final nail into Concordia’s coffin. By the end of the game, the Martlets had gone three for nine on the powerplay thanks to 10 minor penalties assessed to Concordia. Despite the win, the head coach still saw some minor adjustments to be made. “I’m not sure that we quite dictated the

tempo that we would have liked to have during that game. They have a tendency to slow us down a little bit.

But we still created a lot of scoring chances during that game.”

Saturday’s matchup against Université de Montréal was a slightly more daunting task, as the Carabins are the only team who managed to eke out a stunning 3-2 win on the Martlets on October 29th, ending their 107-game win streak. Though McGill destroyed the team 10-1 in

their following meeting, one could still sense that there was frustration on the Martlets bench towards their cross-town rivals.

The first period featured a total of five minor penalties, with three of them going to the Carabins. Proving that success can carry over games, Bettez opened up scoring with a powerplay tally one second before the end of the first. The second period saw McGill put 15 shots on Carabins goalie Rachel Ouellette while only allowing three on Labonté.

Melodie Daoust had the lone goal of the period, with the only assist going to Bettez.

The game quickly got out of hand for Montreal in the third period when Daoust scored twice to complete her hat trick and Bettez added another tally to finish the game 5-0.

Clement-Heydra had three assists and Labonté made 12 easy saves for the shutout, improving her season to 10-1-0 in the process. “I liked that game, I thought that the tempo of that game was the tempo that we want to play at. I thought that in many ways, that was one of our better games this year,” Smith declared.

“Coaches always talk about playing a full 60 minutes and I thought that in that game, we did.” With 24 points on the season, McGill now has a firm grip on first place in the RSEQ with a seven point lead over second-ranked Montreal.

Third Man in Cunneyworth-less to Francophones I once lived in a city where French and English people poked fun at each other regularly, with an exception occurring during a Habs game, where these two cultural groups were able to put their differences aside for 60 minutes of hockey. The Montreal Canadiens used to make the city proud, mainly because they were so successful.

But then, on a cold December day in the dead of winter, we fired our perfectly bilingual, but boring and robotic head coach, and replaced him with another boring and robotic one who only speaks English. Suddenly, going to hockey games was a much less peaceful affair among the two groups. The feeling in the arena was as though new Head Coach Randy Cunneyworth was the devil coming to tell many that 2012 would

be the end of the world after all.

McGill University is predominantly anglophone. As a result, the general campus consensus is that hiring an anglophone head coach is not such a travesty, even though most of the French Canadian media portrays it as one. The principle argument among Cunneyworth supporters is that winning hockey games should come before speaking to the media.

Being an anglophone Canadiens fan, I understand the argument and believe that a coach should be judged on merit alone. Unfortunately, the team’s record of three wins and seven losses under the new unilingual coach has done little to dampen the outcries from French Canadians.

At this rate, even if Cunneyworth learned more French and managed to deliver Quebec their long-desired sovereign nation, he would still be fired at the end of the season. Yet there are protests outside the Bell Centre calling for the immediate dismissal of Coach Cun-

neyworth and owner Geoff Molson.

If we are to be mad at Geoff Molson for anything, it should not be for hiring an English-speaking coach. The reason we should be mad at him is for buying wholesale beer from himself and then selling it to fans for $10 a cup.

This upcoming week will mark the one-month anniversary since Randy Cunneyworth took over behind the bench. I spent most of that month believing that an anglophone coach could survive in Montreal as long as the Canadiens had a winning record. Over the last couple days, however, I have completely changed my mind. Quebec is like no other place in North America and the Montreal Canadiens are like no other sports franchise. Even the New York Yankees and Boston Celtics cannot claim to be a cultural institution like the Canadiens are.

A rich tradition of winning with homegrown Quebecois talent did a lot to establish the cultural signifi-

cance of the franchise. Two Richard’s, Béliveau, Lafleur, Geoffrion, Plante, Bouchard, Cournoyer… need I continue? Throughout a period where French-Canadian stars led the Canadiens to the Stanley Cup every year, hockey became religion in Quebec, and the Forum became the church. Though it is not an official qualification for the papacy, the Pope is expected to speak Italian so that he can properly address the public in Rome. The same can now be said for the head coach of the Montreal Canadiens.

Some have suggested that the eventual return of the Quebec Nordiques could lessen the importance of the language issue in Montreal.

In fact, this would have the opposite effect. If the Montreal Canadiens do not cater to their French-Canadian fans, they will lose them to the Quebec franchise. If the Canadiens became the “English” team and the Nordiques became the “French” team, Montreal would cease to be

the most powerful franchise in the province, as roughly 80 per cent of the population would jump ship and become fans of the “French” team.

If that were to ever happen, the Habs could effectively become a smallmarket club and would not be able to compete with the larger payrolls in the league.

A loyal fan base is essential to any winning franchise. In order to foster and maintain that loyalty, the Montreal Canadiens will need to continue catering to the language demands of the majority of its fans.

Reputable members of the French media have conceded that if the Habs won the Stanley Cup with an English coach, language would be a non-issue. With the way things are going this year, however, that will not be the case.

– Trevor Drummond

18 Around the

Curiosity Delivers. www.mcgilltribune.com

W

ater cooler

out a dramatic victory over the New Orleans Saints, and the Baltimore Ravens, who took down the upstart Houston Texans.

In case you were suntanning in the Caribbean or playing in the snow at home, here’s what you’ve missed over the break in the world of sports ...

TENNIS — The Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year, starts this week. On the men’s side, Novak Djokovic is the obvious favourite. He is the defending champion and is coming off a dominating year, having won both Wimbledon and the US Open. Challenging him will be Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, both looking to reassume the top ranking, and Andy Murray, who under new coach Ivan Lendl, is looking to win his first Grand Slam.

Watch out for Jo Wilfred Tsonga, who has been playing great tennis and Canada’s own Milos Raonic who has already beaten two top 10 players this year and is improving.

In the women’s tournament, topranked Caroline Wozniacki is still vying for her first Grand Slam but the field is wide open with many capable challengers, notably Victoria Azarenka and Li Na.

FOOTBALL — It’s America’s favourite time of year. The NFL Playoffs started with wild-card matchups last weekend. The only standout game was Denver vs. Pittsburgh, or Tebow vs. Pittsburgh. Divine intervention? Maybe, but Broncos quarterback and cultural icon Tim Tebow played his best game as a pro, as Denver took down the Steelers on the first play of overtime.

HOCKEY — The hockey world has been busy this week, most of it having to do with the hometown Habs. Mike Cammalleri released incendiary remarks about his team, saying that they were all “playing like losers.” The following day he was shipped to Calgary in exchange for currently suspended Rene Bourque in what was the first ever in-game NHL trade. Else-

Unfortunately, Tebow Time was short-lived as Tom Brady and the New England Patriots defeated the Broncos in the divisional round. The Green Bay Packers’ 15-1 regular season record was put to waste as the New York Giants entered Lambeau and ruined the Cheeseheads’ chance to repeat as champions. Other winners on divisional weekend included the San Fransisco 49ers, who eked

where, the Penguins finally snapped their six-game losing streak with a win against the slumping Panthers, while the Rangers and the Bruins finally lost a game. In trade rumour news, it’s reported that Leafs GM Brian Burke is attempting to acquire Ryan Sutter from Nashville, but if negotiations fail, he’ll be exploring a possible Luke Schenn for James VanRiemsdyk swap.

BASKETBALL — The NBA season is off to a fast start. A really, really fast start. Due to the shortened season, teams are playing almost nightly, with certain teams having back-to-back-to-back games. The villains in South Beach (Miami) opened the season with five straight wins, garnering a giant ‘ugh’ from every basketball fan outside of Miami. While the Heat look poised to return the finals, there are a couple of teams who could challenge them.

The Bulls, led by last year’s MVP Derrick Rose, have started strong and are out for revenge, and out west, the Oklahoma City Thunder and their young gunners are rolling through the Western Conference with an 11-2 record, despite reports about a conflict between their two premier superstars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

Unfortunately, Canada’s lone team has assumed tank mode lately, even though they’ve already exceeded expectations by winning a game.

SCOREBOARD (Scores since Jan. 9) REDMEN BASKETBALL Won 70-67 vs. Bishop’s MARTLET BASKETBALL Won 65-61 vs. Bishop’s REDMEN HOCKEY Won 5-0 @ RMC Lost 4-3 @ Toronto MARTLET HOCKEY Won 4-0 @ Concordia Won 5-0 vs. Montreal MARTLET VOLLEYBALL Lost 3-2 @ Laval Won 3-0 vs. Sherbrooke REDMEN TRACK and FIELD (Sherbrooke Invitational) Finished 3rd of 5 MARTLET TRACK and FIELD (Sherbrooke Invitational) Finished 2nd of 5 MARTLET SYNCHRO Won 3 of 5 events @ Eastern Canadian Championships

Basketball — Redmen 70, Bishop’s 67

Redmen respond after sluggish start Langley finishes with 18 points, leads McGill to fourth win

By Josh Zigler Contributor Last Thursday, the McGill Redmen and Bishop’s Gaiters’ basketball teams took to the court at Love Competition Hall in an important divisional matchup. Bishop’s University entered winless, with a 0-5 record so far this season, while McGill came into the game at 3-3, fighting to create some separation from UQAM and Laval in the competitive Quebec division.

McGill entered the game favoured to win and did so just barely, notching their fourth win of the season in a thrilling 70-67 victory.

Despite the successful outcome, the Redmen were unable to dictate the flow of the game, allowing the Gaiters to take control at several junctures. However, McGill’s periodic sloppy play and Bishop’s inspired attempt to collect their first win of the season made for an exciting showdown that provided entertainment for the crowd at Love Competition Hall.

The matchup got off to a fast-

paced start and the raw athleticism of both teams was apparent. Bishop’s controlled the tempo from the start, displaying an emotional effort, while the Redmen had a sluggish beginning. However, near the conclusion of the first quarter, Nicholas Langley of the McGill Redmen delivered an emphatic slam-dunk that tipped the score in McGill’s favour and his teammates responded by increasing the pace. Strong play in the second quarter from Nicholas Langley, Karim Sy-Morissette, and Vincent Dufort led McGill to a 38-31 halftime lead, despite a potent offensive performance from Gaiters forward Tim Hunter, who finished with a game-high 19 points.

In contrast with the first half, the second half consisted of hard-nosed defence and fewer high-octane offensive plays in transition. The animosity between the two teams was obvious, with tempers boiling over as players were extremely physical on defence. This worked in McGill’s favour until the end of the third quarter when Bishop’s went on a run, scoring nine straight points, leaving

the Gaiters with a one point lead at the conclusion of the third quarter.

Head coach Dave DeAveiro motivated his players during the quarter break. “It was all about strategy and getting back to our style of basketball. To deny the opposition the paint, communicate better, and to trust one another on defence,” freshman point guard Ave Bross said.

The Redmen responded to their coach and their play intensified in the fourth with McGill managing to hold the lead for the majority of the quarter. The game came down to the final possession for the Gaiters in which they had an opportunity to tie the game, down by three points with nine seconds left. However, McGill’s defence was unrelenting and shut the door on Bishop’s late flurry, giving the hometown fans something to cheer about as the clock ran out.

Starting guard Vincent Dufort was pleased with the Redmen veterans’ ability to keep their team in the game. “Even though we were not at our best, [Nicholas] Langley and

Sy-Morissette drives to the basket. (Sam Reynolds / McGill Tribune) [Winn] Clark really picked up the slack for the rest of the guys and that is what is great about our team. We are a young group with some veterans who really lead by example. I think that dynamic has lead to our success this year.”

The Redmen now head into their busiest stretch of the season,

playing eight games in one month.

Considering their recent strong play, the team has high hopes heading into the last part of a season that has had its ups and downs. They will need to bring their best effort in their next game on Jan. 21 against the undefeated and ninth-ranked Concordia Stingers.

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Tuesday, January 17, 2011

The Tribune’s

Sports 2012 Predictions 1

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The Bruins and the Canucks meet once again in an epic finals showdown. Though no one remembers the final score, everyone will remember the final injury tally: seven concussions, four lower-body injuries, six-and-a-half upper-body injuried (half credited to Lapierre because he still may be faking it), two broken stanchions, 13 bitten fingers, and one mysterious rat bite (credited to Brad Marchand), all diagnosed by Dr. Recchi.

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Tim Tebow LeBron loses his starting leads the Miami job in training camp Heat to the finals, only Novak Djokovwhen the league refuses to to meet the upstart Oklaic’s tennis career will Usain Bolt deschedule every single one homa City Thunder, who be brought back to earth, feats Michael Phelps The Toronto of the Broncos’ games on cruise through the Western but his ego will be slow to in the first ever amphibMaple Leafs eke Sunday, the only day the follow. Federer will win his ian race at the 2012 London out a playoff spot for the Conference bracket. The Heat Lord has time to help last Grand Slam. One of the Olympics. Fortunately for first time in the post-lockout take the title, and LeBron Tebow out. dedicates it to all the Williams sisters will retire to Phelps, he collects three more period. Toronto fans riot in haters. focus on her acting/fashgold medals in swimming the streets after they get ion/nail technician events to add to his colswept in the first round career. lection. by the Boston BruTiger Woods, ins. after falling off the map, wins his first After major tournament since winning the Basketball — Martlets 65, Bishop’s 61 making some quesSuper Bowl, Tom Brady tionable personal announces that Gisele is choices. pregnant again and is expecting another boy. Anticipating greatness and wanting to keep Peyton After a valiant The veteran backcourt, led happy, Colts owner Jim Irsay effort by host nation PoAfter missing the playBy Steven Lampert Sports Editor by fifth-year Natalie Larocque and uses his first overall pick in land, in which they make the offs, Canadiens GM Pierre junior Marie-Eve Martin, also hit 2012 to draft the unborn quarterfinals, Europe’s top soccer Gauthier goes on a fire sale, future star quartercountries take over, as defending trades all of his players, and fires When a team starts meshing, some huge outside shots in the third back. champion Spain is pitted in a rehis anglophone Head Coach Randy results will follow. The McGill frame, taking McGill to a 44-42 admatch of the Euro 2008 final against Cunneyworth in order to create the Martlets basketball team is put- vantage heading into the final quarGermany. Germany prevails and first “all-French team.” His logic? ting truth behind this formula, as ter. “Once [Him-Lazarenko] started Mario Balotelli becomes the At least they speak French and the women have won two straight getting touches, [Martin] hit some next player to watch in the they can’t be worse than RSEQ conference games to open big shots, Larocque hit some big soccer world.

Scott Gomez. the New Year. On Thursday night at shots … and that’s what we expect Love Competition Hall, the Martlets from them,” Thorne said.

The Martlets withstood a run downed the Bishop’s Gaiters by a score of 65-61 to improve to 4-3 on by the Gaiters in the fourth, and controlled the paint while playing the season.

McGill started out of the gate solid perimeter defence to preserve strong, led by third-year guard Fran- their lead and claim the win. Thorne coise Charest, who was effective all was pleased with his team’s perfornight and finished the game with a mance, and credits their recent sucteam-high 18 points. However, the cess to a variety of factors.

“I think we’re starting to underMartlets’ offence sputtered in the second quarter and the team looked stand each other better, understand stagnant on the perimeter. The Gai- what each rookie brings. I think ters entered the first half break with we’re getting into a better rotation in terms of substitutions … specifically a 31-23 lead.

Head Coach Ryan Thorne noted changes in our starting line with his team’s second quarter struggles, Larocque coming off the bench even specifically emphasizing their in- though she can start on this team,” ability to get the ball inside to their Thorne said. “She’s giving up a bit senior forward Anneth Him-Laz- of her [playing time] just to better arenko. “We had a size advantage the rotations and give us a scoring but weren’t utilizing that as we were punch off the bench. That’s a huge playing too much on the perimeter sacrifice and shows her character.”

One rookie that stood out was and weren’t going inside to Anneth, [who] was frustrated because she freshman point guard Dianna Ros, thought she was getting held, so she who led the offence and contributed left the paint a lot and that played with 13 points on 6-11 shooting.

With the win, the Martlets now into their hands,” Thorne said.

McGill entered the second half have eight points in the RSEQ, placwith some adjustments to get Him- ing them second behind the ConcorLazarenko open in the paint and dia Stingers who remain undefeated run the offence from an inside-out on the season, while Bishop’s left approach. This was effective as the the building with a 2-4 record. McMartlets quickly took control of the Gill looks to continue their success game, outscoring Bishop’s 21-11 in and team development on the road the third quarter. “We made some in an important game against the adjustments in the second half, went aforementioned Stingers on Jan. 21. to [some sets] that would get her They return home to play UQAM on more space on the inside and that’s the 26th. when the game turned,” Thorne explained.

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Two straight in 2012 Second-half adjustments prove vital