Volume No. 33 Issue No. 17
TRIBUNE THE mcgill pX
Published by the Tribune Publication Society
CURIOSITY DELIVERS
DOES proximity yield progress? the qi and innovation districts P9
windsor no match for redmen mcgill prevails in front of home crowd p 17
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Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Equity policy could face revision following “Farnan-gate” backlash Councillors express concern regarding lack of transparency, ability to revise recommendations
Recommendations from the SSMU Equity Commissioner must be approved at Council meetings. (Alexandra Allaire / McGill Tribune) Jessica Fu News Editor The Students’ Society of McGill University’s (SSMU) Equity Policy will undergo review in the upcoming weeks, following concerns regarding the processing of a complaint against Vice-President Internal Brian Farnan filed in October last year. The issue arose after councillors raised concerns regarding the stages of the policy that led to Farnan’s Jan. 27 public apology in response to allegations of racial insensitivity. The apology has received widespread attention, much of it critical. “The reaction on social media has been overwhelmingly negative, anyone who suggests otherwise is in denial,” said Arts representative Benjamin Reedijk. On Oct. 17, Farnan sent out a weekly SSMU listerv that included a link to a .gif file of United States President Barack Obama kicking down a door, originally a clip that was manipulated and aired by The Tonight Show. “There was a complaint issued; [and] the process was followed— the public process as equity complaints are done,” Farnan said.
According to the equity policy, a submitted complaint can undergo either an informal resolution or a formal resolution, which Farnan explained as the cause of the threemonth delay between the submission of the complaint and his apology. “When you add the informal, the formal, getting both sides to respond—each side has X amount of days—it just starts to add up,” Farnan said. “The goal is to solve it in an informal process. If it’s gone to a formal process, usually one can deduce that the informal process was not sufficient.” Under the formal process, the complaint in question was forwarded to a SSMU equity officer, who made a recommendation upon investigation of the complaint. “Depending on the nature and severity of the harassment, the remedies for policy violations may include, but are not limited to: letter(s) of apology, suspension of the respondent from their position within the SSMU, and […] dismissal of the respondent from their position within the SSMU,” the policy reads. The recommendation was then brought to the confidential session of SSMU’s Dec. 5 Legislative Council meeting, where, according
to the policy, it required two-thirds opposition to be overturned. Equity recommendations at this point cannot be revised. According to Reedijk, an issue with this process is its reliance on the equity commissioner’s judgment. “I question the power given to the equity commissioner,” Reedijk said. “[Farnan’s] case demonstrates that there are issues with the decision-making that occurs.” Due to the policy’s confidentiality clauses, discussion of the issue is held in Council’s confidential session. Some councillors, however, have expressed concern with this stage, saying it lacks transparency. “I’ve personally had people […] come up to me and say, ‘Why was this decision made; can you justify it?’” Science representative Devin Bissky-Dziadyk said. “The only thing I can say is [that] the equity policy was followed; we did what we were supposed to do, [and] everything was very, very official.” Arts representative Kareem Ibrahim stressed the importance of protecting anonymity in this situation. “A lot of the information would probably change the views of a lot of the people who are so quick to
judge the situation and be critical of the decisions that were made,” he said. “[But] a lot of that information is confidential due to the nature of the process in order to protect those who have filed the complaints.” However, clubs and services representative Elie Lubendo said the current system should be changed. “The only thing that should be confidential is the identity of the [complainants],” he said. “Anything beyond that we should be allowed to say.” Bissky-Dziadyk said deciding what could breach confidentiality would take longer than drawing an absolute line. “SSMU has an obligation to be as open as possible; if that means a bit of extra work on our part, we should go through with it, as much as possible should be made public,” he said. An overhaul of the policy had already been planned since the beginning of the academic year, according to SSMU Vice-President University Affairs Joey Shea, and will coincide with these recent concerns as a topic for upcoming Council sessions. “At the beginning of September, we hired three researchers to do three equity research projects that
were comparing SSMU’s equity policy with other universities’ equity policies, and those just finished,” Shea said. “It’ll be a consultative process, because there are a lot of people with a lot of different ideas about what’s wrong with it now.” Bissky-Dziadyk emphasized the importance of creating institutional changes, such as the ability to revise equity recommendations to Council in the future. “There needs to be a more dynamic process—that’s the reality of the world, a lot of decisions need a bit of back and forth,” he said. “We need to recognize that, as a group of students, [the policy] is just as malleable as any others.” Changes to the equity policy are passed as motions at Council. Ibrahim said that despite negative response to the apology, the conversation is an important one to have. “In reality, SSMU has gotten a lot of backlash […] from this complaint,” Ibrahim said. “I don’t think that there’s really a problem with how things have gone. It obviously could have gone a bit smoother, but I think it’s essential that the conversation that we’re having does happen.”
—Additional reporting Abraham Moussako
by
NEWS
student government
GA to vote on student academic rights, early access to course info Other motions include freedom of dress in SSMU Building, importance of sustainability, and SSMU stance on trade agreements monic Orchestra (PPO), an engineering student group. Members of the group wear lab coats that sometimes displays drawings that are considered On Feb. 5, the Students’ Society of offensive by students. The lab coats McGill University (SSMU) will be are currently banned from the SSMU hosting its Winter semester General building. Assembly (GA). Five motions are “There was an equity complaint scheduled for voting by all SSMU last year against the PPO Coats; they members. The GA needs 100 peo- just have [inappropriate] things drawn ple present to reach quorum and pass on them,” Shea said. “There’s a combinding resolutions. plaint saying they’re racist and sexist. So the decision of last year’s exec was Motion Regarding the Guarantee to ban them.” of Freedom of Dress in the SSMU The motion also seeks to remove Building all current bans on any student groups’ This motion seeks to remove choice of dress, including the ban on limitations on dress within the SSMU the PPO. Building and its facilities, limited only by instances where another student’s Motion Regarding Inclusion of Acaright to safe space is infringed upon, demic Assessment Rights on Course as determined by the Equity Policy. Outlines “We learned that there [is] no This motion seeks to ensure that place in the SSMU bylaws that guar- all professors and faculties adhere to anteed freedom of dress,” Morgan the University Student Assessment Grobin, a U2 Engineering student Policy, which has been occasionally who started the petition for this mo- ignored according to some students. tion, said. “Having the opportunity Some of the rights within the to express oneself through choice of Academic Assessment Policy include clothing is an extremely important part the right to submit work in English or of individual development.” French, and the inability for any final According to Joey Shea, SSMU exam to account for more than 75 per Vice-President University Affairs, the cent of a course grade. motion is a response to a previous In order to enforce the policy, the incident involving lab coats worn by motion urges the university to make members of the Plumbers’ Philhar- these rights more accessible to stuSam Pinto News Editor
dents. “The SSMU support[s] the inclusion of an abbreviated outline of student academic rights [...] of the University Student Assessment Policy on course outlines,” the motion reads. Although academic matters are typically dealt with at McGill’s Senate, Shea said she wanted the motion to go through the GA because of the broader basis for student consultation. “I think the power coming from a GA motion will sort of propel [the motion] and really give us that much more legitimacy in terms of lobbying McGill,” Shea said. Motion Regarding Sustainability at the SSMU In Fall 2013, the SSMU removed its mandated Sustainability Coordinator position, which previously oversaw sustainability projects for the society. Instead, Council established an ad-hoc committee on Sustainability. This GA motion attempts to ensure that a mandate be presented by the Executive to the SSMU’s legislative Council on the future of sustainability by the end of Winter 2014. According to Shea, a mover of the motion, since the ad-hoc committee has yet to show signs of progress, the motion is intended to reinforce the significance of sustainability at SSMU.
“Not a lot of people ended up showing up at those committee meetings, so this [is] just to further solidify the need for sustainability at SSMU,” Shea said. Motion Regarding the Timely Distribution of Course Information In an effort to allow students to properly plan out their semester prior to registering for a class, this motion advocates that online material, such as course syllabi, are available to students prior to the first day of classes either by a university-wide academic policy or by professors. “Students not currently registered in a class have no consistent way to access this information, as they cannot view online course material for a course they have not yet registered for,” the motion reads. According to Shea, who developed this motion within the Senate caucus, the SSMU Office of University Affairs will have to negotiate with the McGill administration to see these changes made. Shea said she hopes to see required readings and textbooks, evaluation dates, and course descriptions online before the semester begins. Shea wants to pass this motion within the GA in order to emphasize it’s gravity. “There will be a lot of debate [and] visioning within the subcommit-
tee of senate caucus, how we’re actually going to implement this,” Shea explained. “Are we going to ask for syllabi to be available one week in advance, before add-drop, two weeks in advance? [.…] Those details are still left to be sorted out.” Motion Regarding the TPP and CETA This motion aims to address two trade agreements currently under negotiation by the Canadian government: the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and a Canadian-European Union free trade agreement (CETA). According to the motion, the trade agreements will allow for increased patents for medications, which could potentially increase the cost of drugs in Canada. “The health and/or financial security of students would be negatively affected by an increase in drug costs due to direct increase to the inability of healthcare plans to cover new drugs to cost, or to increased insurance premiums,” the motion reads. The motion, initiated by Medicine representative David Benrimoh, asks SSMU to take a formal stance against the trade agreements. If passed, the SSMU will write a letter to the federal government to express their disapproval of the provisions and lack of public consultation.
Curiosity delivers. |
NEWS
| Tuesday, February 4, 2014
campus
New management concentrations developed by two students
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Minors in global strategy and social business seek to give students a new perspective on global markets
tive to more specialized subjects,” he said “Our new major allows students to go more in depth and Starting in Fall 2014, students encourages them to combine founin the Faculty of Management will dational topics in strategy with imbe able to major in Strategic Man- portant social challenges.” Additionally, the new major agement. Comprised of two concentrations—Global Strategy and will allow students to take courses Social Business and Enterprise— outside of the faculty to complethe major has been developed as a ment specific interests, such as collaborative project between stu- agriculture, anthropology, economdents, staff, and faculty since Janu- ics, and international development studies. ary 2013. The idea initially started as “Social Business is a type of company that runs just as a normal two separate projects. Two stubusiness—selling a product, earn- dents, Klimczak and former McGill ing revenue—but whose ultimate students Mariana Botero had begun goal is to solve a social problem to develop a Social Business Minor as opposed to maximizing profit, in response to a lack of courses on like many companies aim to do,” social business at McGill “I did a lot of not-for-profit explained Joanna Klimczak, U3 Management, one of the two stu- abroad and volunteer trips [that] dents who started the project. “The gave me much more of a globcompany must still earn an attrac- al mind-set and I noticed how tive profit to sustain itself, though much power businesses had in the profit is not the reason why the world,” Klimczak said. “I noticed company exists [...] creating social McGill wasn’t really teaching social business […. However], there value is why it exists.” Professor Robert David, coor- was a demand from students and a dinator for the strategy and organi- general interest.” Meanwhile, the strategy and zation area of the faculty, explained that the two concentrations would organization area of the faculty— provide an option for students to equivalent to a department within other faculties—had been discusspursue such a line of studies. “Our two concentrations are ing revisions to their concentraexcellent complements to other tions and considered developing a areas of study, precisely because completely new major. David said the decision to they provide a big picture perspecNatalie Wong Contributor
combine the two developments into a single new major was made when he learned of the students’ initiative. David said that further development of the major involved more consultation with professors and students through “[The subcommittee] developed proposals for a new Major in Strategic Management and changes [to] the two concentrations,” David said. “I believe that this was a model of student-faculty cooperation, and that program development should always have strong student involvement.” The developed proposals required approval from the Undergraduate Program Committee, Academic Council, Faculty Council, Academic Policy Committee’s Subcommittee on Courses and Teaching Programs, and finally, the Senate, which gave their approval on October 31, 2013. “Putting new programs on the books takes at least 18 months, and must go through many committees,” David said. “Because our programs include courses from other [faculties], these other faculties had to give their approval. We also had to demonstrate to the university that these programs would be of value to students [....] There were a lot of factors that had to be considered and a lot of questions
Desautels will introduce a new major in the Fall. (Courtney Strouthos / McGill Tribune) that had to be answered.” Enrolment for the program is available for Fall 2014 to students in all years. Reception towards the major has been positive so far, according to David. “I have had many inquiries from students about these programs,” he said. “I think there is a lot of demand and excitement about these programs, as they respond to the needs of students and changes in society.” Chelsea Zelko, U1 Management, said she would consider enrolling in the new major. “I think this new major is a good idea,” she said. “It offers students the opportunity to specialize in something out of the box but still pertaining to management. More importantly […] being familiarized
about the connection between all aspects that are management—social, global, ethics, professionalism, etc.—gives McGill students an advantage against others who will be applying to the same job as them outside of university.” Botero said she hopes students of the program in its first year will spark interest for future students. “This program combines the best of business and the social sector,” Botero said. “Hopefully those driven, adventurous, first movers into the program will have such a great experience that by the following semester we’ll have a spike in student interest. This would be great, as so many jobs are being created in this area, and they can move right into them.”
news analysis
Deregulation of programs results in tuition increases for international students McGill to receive complete jurisdiction over costs of tuition supplements in the 2014-2015 year Chelsey Ju Staff Writer The upcoming school year will mark the first during which tuition will be deregulated in the Faculties of Management, Science, Engineering, and Law for international students. As a result, student in applicable criteria will be charged upwards of $35,000 in tuition for the upcoming 2014-2015 academic year, an increase from the approximate $15,000 charged in the 20072008 year. The costs of all programs at McGill are based on a set fee for Quebec-resident tuition, which is then supplemented by out-ofprovince and international student fees. In regulated programs, such as Arts, all supplemental international tuition fees are directed to the Quebec government, which then redistributes these fees across Quebec universities based on university-student population ratios. For deregulated programs, the provincial government gives Mc-
Gill the jurisdiction to determine the amount of supplemental tuition charged and allows the university to keep the additional money from this tuition. Vice-Principal (Communications and External Relations) Olivier Marcil said the model for deregulated programs of distribution has disadvantaged the university, as McGill has the largest international student population in Quebec. Since regulated fees are redistributed based on overall student population, most of the supplemental fees paid by McGill international students are portioned to other Quebec universities. “This is problematic because it means this money doesn’t go toward our students [for regulated programs], but to the education of students in other Quebec universities,” Marcil said. “McGill does not get to keep that extra tuition.” The decision to deregulate certain university programs was made in 2008 following a compromise by members of the Conference of Rectors and Principals of
Quebec Universities (CREPUQ), who advocated for it on the behalf of its member universities to the provincial government. The decision was followed by a multi-year transition period during which the university gradually retained a greater proportion of the supplemental tuition. “In years one to five, the university will retain an incremental 20 per cent per year of the supplement, so that after five years, 100 per cent of the supplement paid will be retained,” the 2012-2013 Annual Report on the Financial State of the University reads. Since 2008, this deregulation has enabled McGill to charge more than the previously regulated supplemental tuition amounts, which have resulted in the tuition increases that international students in those programs have faced over the past few years. The Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) Secretary-General Jonathan Mooney said that due to deregulation, there is a concern that tuition increases could result
in a skewed student population. “Students’ primary concern is that increased tuition […] reduce[s] accessibility to education,” Mooney said. “Increasing tuition leads to a drop in enrolment for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.” Mooney, along with Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) Vice-President University Affairs Joey Shea, raised the concern through a question at the November 2013 Senate meeting. In response, Provost Anthony Masi said these tuition increases are offset by increased financial aid for students. “Our need assessment parameters consider each student’s tuition costs in their program of study, so international students in de-regulated programs who demonstrate financial need receive the highest offers of aid,” Masi said. According to Marcil, many resources will be available for students requiring financial aid, despite deregulation. “McGill currently allocates
30 per cent of net new tuition revenues directly to McGill’s own internal student aid program,” Marcil said. “At the time of admission, all students, regardless of geographic origin, are invited to apply for entrance financial aid.” Although future plans to deregulate more programs are unknown, according to Marcil, the provincial government is conducting further research on changes to tuition. “There is currently a Chantier—a government-appointed committee created following last year’s summit on higher education—investigating the future of international students’ tuition, including deregulation,” he said. Principal Suzanne Fortier echoed the sentiment in a recent email to the McGill Tribune. “Some decisions from the government are expected towards the end of the year, and we do not yet know if a decision regarding deregulation will be brought forth at that time,” she said.
Curiosity delivers. |
NEWS
| Tuesday, February 4, 2014
profile
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McGill alumnus, province’s youngest mayor, talks politics Antoine Tardif speaks on how McGill prepared him for office, goals for his first term Shrinkhala Dawadi Contributor Recent McGill graduate Antoine Tardif is one of the youngest mayors in the country. Last November, Tardif—a 23-year-old McGill Class of 2013 graduate—was elected as the mayor of Daveluyville, Québec. Daveluyville is a small town located 90 minutes away from Montreal in the Centre-du-Québec region, with a population of approximately 1,000 people. At his election, the former political science and economics double major became the youngest mayor in Quebec, and one of youngest mayors in the country. Tardif grew up in Daveluyville and came to McGill to
pursue his bachelor’s degree. He cites his experience at McGill as one of the reasons for his involvement in politics. “I had a lot of Québécois politics classes,” Tardif said. “We had a guest speaker come in, who was the Directeur General des Elections du Quebec, and he told us that people who were studying political science [...] should get involved in the next [round of municipal] elections that were coming up in November 2013. I had this in the back of my mind, that there was going to be a wind of change considering that there’s a lot of corruption, and voters are going to be happy to see new faces.” As one of Canada’s youngest mayors, Tardif sees his election as part of a growing anti-corruption
movement within Quebec society. “[I came] in at 23 years old, coming right out of school, and being aware of the corruption that’s been going on and wanting to change things,” he said. “I haven’t experienced anything close to corruption [as mayor], so that’s good. I think this is a movement that is going around.” According to Tardif, the transition from student to mayor has been smooth. He credits McGill’s rigorous academic expectations with giving him the stamina required to work as mayor. “I can say that having studied at McGill for four years, [I’ve] learned how to be organized,” Tardif said. “At McGill, it’s all the best students. If you want to pull some good grades you definitely have to put a lot of
work into your studies and be really organized. Since I came to office, I work from 8-5 and I have meetings at night. Doing a lot of hours doesn’t scare me. I know that if I want to be successful, I’ll need to put a lot of time into it.” As mayor, Tardif is focusing on creating jobs within Daveluyville, aiming to retain the city’s youth. “In small towns like mine, it’s been seen over the last decade or so that the young people go away for their studies and they don’t come back,” he said. “If we want the youth and students to be interested in staying here, then they have to have the right conditions and they have to have jobs.” For example, over the next four years, the town will be looking to at-
tract industries to its recently developed industrial park, a development project in collaboration with a neighbouring city. “We’re working very hard with the city of Victoriaville on an industrial park that’s on the side of highway 20,” he said. “It’s been [built] now, and there can be around 15 companies that can set up there. In the next two or three years, we’re going to be working very hard to attract companies to our industrial park.” Tardif shared some words of wisdom for students aspiring to go into politics. “[Don’t] be scared and jump right into it,” he said. “Believe in yourself. If you have that flame in you that tells you to go, you should go.”
city
Holiday Inn to be transformed into privately-owned student residence $65 million development project aims to meet increased demand for student housing, open Fall 2014 Eman Jeddy Staff Writer Plans to convert the Holiday Inn hotel on Sherbrooke Street into a private student residence were announced last week. Campus Crest Communities Inc., a student housing developer; and Beaumont Partners SA, a real estate investment company, acquired the hotel located at 420 Sherbrooke on Jan. 15th. The joint venture partnership plans to convert the building into student housing by Fall 2014. According to a report by Business Week, the acquisition is worth approximately $65 million, and gives Beaumont Partners SA 65 per cent ownership of the venture and Campus Crest 35 per cent. In addition to the acquisition, the two companies secured financing for renovations through a loan deal with the Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of America, and Raymond James. According to the report, leasing is set to begin in Fall 2014. While Beaumont Partners SA manages the acquisition of real estate, Campus Crest will serve as a property manager for the residents and provide a staff that includes a general manager, leasing manager, and courtesy officer for security purposes for the building. Ted Rollins, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Campus Crest Communities Inc., said the new residence would provide a high-end housing option unlike currently available student housing. “Once completed, the property will include a broad array of high-end apartments and expects to attract undergraduate and graduate students by offering an upscale housing alternative with modern, attractively furnished
POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE
Hotel to become private residence. (Courtney Strouthos / McGill Tribune)
rooms and a range of amenities,” Rollins said. “The property will also offer residents an engaging lifestyle program with an array of fun, diverse activities and events.” The cost of rent for the new residence has not yet been announced. McGill’s undergraduate enrollment rose from 24,025 in 2008 to 26,725 in 2013. As McGill continues to experience a gradual increase in student population, the residence may provide an alternative private accommodation for incoming students. Harris Waqar, a U3 Arts student living at Varcity515—another similarlydesigned, privately-owned student residence located on Ste. Catherine St.— was not offered a space in a McGill residence during his first year. He said private residences could provide advantages in light of the increased demand for McGill residence space. “McGill doesn’t have enough residences to accommodate all their students; they weren’t able to accommodate me,” Waqar said. ‘From that perspective, it can be pretty intimidating and confusing when you come here [to
Montreal] for the first time and have to look for an apartment and all that [....] So all these places like Varcity515 will be in a sense a secondary choice or a backup option.’’ The acquisition may also alleviate the pressure on the university’s Student Housing and Hospitality Services (SHHS) unit, which opened a new hotel residence, La Citadelle in Fall 2013 to accommodate increasing demand for student housing. The new building was formally a Courtyard Marriott hotel located next to the Holiday Inn, as it’s newest residence to accommodate the increasing demand for student housing in Fall 2013. Although SHHS signed a lease agreement with Varcity515 this year due to overbooking of incoming students, Interim Director of Residences Janice Johnson, said there are no current plans to sign such an agreement with the newly acquired residence. “We are certainly aware of the Campus Crest/Beaumont developments, as well as other similar projects, and are monitoring them closely,’’ Johnson said.
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opinion editorial
The Tribune’s SSMU Winter GA endorsements Tomorrow, Wednesday Feb. 5, marks the Winter General Assembly (GA) of the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU). The GA is one of the few places in which students are able to debate, discuss, and directly communicate with their student government in a forum. This week’s event presents us with several resolutions that have the potential to impact student life. The guarantee of freedom of dress in the SSMU Building: Yes, with reservations
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This motion seeks to prevent the infringement of the right to “freedom of dress” in the SSMU Building and at SSMU events, and also seeks to overturn any standing blanket bans on student dress. The motion reportedly stems from an equity complaint concerning the signature lab coats of the Plumbers’ Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO), a student group in the Faculty of Engineering. The lab coats, which have various—and often crude— drawings and writings on them, were considered offensive by some students. An equity complaint was filed last year and the coats are currently banned from the SSMU Building. The Tribune supports the resolution’s principle of freedom of expression, but stands by the vision laid out by the SSMU Equity Policy. The reversal of blanket bans such as this may lead to numerous caseby-case rulings to the same ends; although inefficient, this process is crucial in justly implementing the Equity Policy.
Have your say
Inclusion of Academic Assessment Rights on Course Outlines: Yes
This motion is in reference to several provisions in McGill’s University Student Assessment Policy that regulate the scheduling and weighing of exams. The first of the two provisions in question prohibits final exams from counting for more than 75 per cent of a course grade unless students are given an alternative option. The second mandates that if there are exams that count for more than 50 per cent of a class mark, one of those exams has to be offered in the final exam period. In an attempt to improve compliance with these rules, the resolution seeks to have SSMU support the mandatory addition of the two provisions, as well as other academic rights, on both course syllabi and in the student handbook. Although there are questions as to how this will be implemented, and whether the administration and professors will be willing to add more content to syllabi, the Tribune supports this resolution. Aside from logistical issues of how this mandate may be put into practice, the increased visibility — and compliance with— academic rights is a goal SSMU should be working towards.
This motion would compel SSMU to lobby for the distribution of course syllabi as soon before the start of classes in the term as possible, on the grounds that the current system exposes students to scheduling and financial strains due to an inability to prepare before the start of classes. While the Tribune supports the intent of this resolution, the standard should be something more specific than “as early and as accurately as possible.” Presuming such a resolution is to be taken to McGill administration in lobbying for these changes, a clearer expectation of punctuality could form a better negotiating position. Motion Regarding Sustainability at the SSMU: Abstain
With the elimination of the Sustainability Coordinator position late last year, SSMU also created an ad-hoc committee on sustainability. With no clear progress from the committee to this point, this motion sets a timeline by which recommendations are to be made to the student body. Throughout the various changes to SSMU’s sustainability framework over the past semester, very little has been accomplished. The elimination of the coordinator position represents a drastic shift in SSMU’s approach to sustainability; the implications of this shift have yet to be seen. While we believe that sustainability should be a priority
Have your say
Have your say
Timely Distribution of Course Information: Yes, with reservations
for SSMU, we advocate an abstention for two reasons. First, a GA motion should not be necessary to force a committee into action. Second, an abstention would reflect a dissatisfaction with SSMU’s lack of transparency in handling this matter, and a desire to see greater communication going forward. Regarding the TPP and CETA: Abstain
This motion, would seek to have the SSMU officially take a stance against provisions of two trade agreements with the European Union; the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), and the Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement (CETA). The two trade agreements contain provisions on pharmaceutical patents that have caused controversy due to predictions of cost increases. While this is a very important issue that students should take the time to consider, there are two major problems with this specific resolution. First, the issue in question is not only external to SSMU but lacks a sufficient nexus to university students, let alone McGill students, to warrant a stance on SSMUs part. Furthermore, these trade agreements are very detailed proposals with complex public policy implications that require more time and nuance than part of a GA can provide. Therefore, the Tribune supports an abstention on this resolution.
Haveyour your say your say Have your Have your say say Have say Have Have yourHave say Haveyour your say say Have your say Have your say Have your say Have your say Have your say say Have your say Have your say HaveHave your say Have your Have say HaveHave your sayyouryour Have your say your s say Have your say Havesay your say Have your Have say your say Have Have your s Have your your say youryour saysay your sayHaveHave Have your sayHave Have your sa Have your say Have your say HaveHave your sayyour sayHave your say Have yourHave say your say Have your say Have your Have your Have your say your say Havesay your say Have Have yoursay say Have your say Have your say Send your CV, cover letter, and three Have Have your say Have youryour say say samples to editor@mcgilltribune.com Have your say Have yoursay say Haveyour your say say by Feb 11 Have Have your
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Commentary Information sharing merits transparency
Helin Azizoglu
Columnist
On Jun. 30, Canadian border officials plan to enact an extended data-sharing program with the United States in which more information from travellers at the U.S.-Canada border will be recorded and shared with other federal departments. These measures, which will serve as an expansion of the current “Entry-Exit Initiative,” will use the information-sharing procedures already in place for third-country nationals and permanent residents, and apply them to travelling citizens. The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) confirmed the implementation
of the program, which will be used to track abuses of various benefit programs and potential security threats. These measures raise new questions about privacy rights and the extent of federal power in these zones. Both countries’ constitutions contain fundamental privacy clauses, which detail the right of the individual to be free from unwarranted search or seizure. The 4th Amendment of the American Bill of Rights and Section 8 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms are not entirely straightforward in applicability, however, and have unique implications at the border. In the U.S., a “border search exception” allows officers to conduct non-invasive searches without a warrant or probable cause, as McGill student Pascal Abidor learned in 2011 when his belongings were searched after border officials asked him about his Islamic Studies program and his travels to the Middle East. Citizens and
tourists alike have a reduced reasonable expectation of privacy at the border, and, alarmingly, officials are not required to err on the side of caution. What differentiates this issue from other privacy concerns, however, is the fact that the Entry-Exit Initiative involves the use of information obtained at the border in other government agencies. The CBSA has declined to share which federal officials specifically will receive the information, but commented that the practices will follow stringent policies narrowly curtailed to security purposes. Nevertheless, in an area as contentious as border security, the public deserves more transparency on this issue. This can be better observed by noting the potential consequences of the expanded program. On the one hand, it could be used to generate more effective security measures and track potential terrorist activities abroad. The
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CBSA has emphasized that this will be the primary purpose of the program, stating that “access to information will be limited to designated users with an operational requirement”. According to a CBSA briefing note, “information could be disclosed to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) to support law enforcement and national security operations. This is of particular interest given the recent media attention on Canadians travelling abroad to engage in terrorist activities.” The initiative could also be used to track those who may be skimping on social benefit programs by spending long periods of time outside of Canada and thus failing to meet eligibility criteria. While these are both important causes to address, the measure is also susceptible to potential abuse. Because so many taxation, health services, and
citizenship laws are based on residency, some advocates are worried that government officials could use personal information to shape policymaking and legislative initiatives, which would certainly be an exploitation of power. Because of the far-reaching nature of this program, Canadians deserve to have more explicit information about its implications. This includes knowing exactly what information will be shared with government officials, which departments will have access to the information, how long the data will be kept, and whether personal information will be used for policy purposes beyond straightforward border security. If these details are elucidated, the program has potential to enormously improve national security and make both Canada and the U.S. safer places to live. Until then, however, border officials have some work to do.
and general vitriol. Never have I seen a concerted effort on the part of any student organization to actively bring together and involve students with the university, or even general social or academic issues. Although many groups will put on an air of openness and inclusivity, it’s as if McGill is one giant mixer where everyone greets each other with a closed fist. Lastly, there is the rampant hypocrisy that characterizes the campus discourse. As a staunch opponent of human oppression, the McGill Daily is nonetheless happy to publish articles brimming with anti-Semitic venom. Look no further than their January 20 feature, “An Eye toward Zion,” which not only sought to legitimate a fringe and thoroughly discredited anti-Zionist Jewish group, but actively perpetuated grossly offensive stereotypes, such as Jews owning the media. The duplicity continues with
SSMU, which for all its posturing as the sole representative of McGill’s undergraduates puts extraordinarily little effort into providing services in French. Not only is the SSMU executive routinely made up of anglophone students, but every GA I’ve been to has lacked an English-French interpreter, has had an entirely English agenda, and has seen questions asked only in English, with no translation offered. Am I happy I went to McGill? Yes, the experiences I’ve had and people I’ve met here don’t exist in North Carolina. Did I get a world class education from a prestigious academic institution? Absolutely; but given this school’s blanket antagonism towards harmony and unity, I can safely say that the degree I receive this June will be my last from McGill. An expanded version of this piece is avalaible online.
Goodbye and good riddance
Daniel Braden
Commentary
When people ask me about my postgraduation plans, I often say that I’m done with school. ‘I’m looking for a job on a midterm campaign,’ I tell them, ‘maybe law school somewhere down the line.’ But what I invariably add is that I’m not so much done with school as I am done with McGill. For the past four years, this university has been at best exasperating, and at worst, downright hostile. Through a mélange of inept bureaucracy and pretentious and hypocritical undergrads, McGill has been a source of immense frustration.
While I don’t hesitate to brag about my school’s academic pedigree, my praise for what will soon become my alma mater is forced. Pressed to elaborate on what I enjoy most about McGill, I often cite examples beyond the campus confines. Montreal is a wonderful city; the French immersion is invaluable; and my friends are among the best people I’ve ever met. However, with the exception of the latter, none of these qualities hold any extensive ties to this school. A stubbornly anglophone faculty and student-body coupled with a general atmosphere of superiority make McGill an island in this town, while the competitive nature of a highly qualified student body makes conferences an act of both preening and self-loathing. What I have found most frustrating is the degree of indifference and exclusivity that permeates most aspects of McGill life. Never one to offer a
helping hand, McGill’s student services are more than happy to let you drown unless you explicitly ask for a lifeline. Whether it’s fulfilling graduation requirements or applying to study abroad, McGill’s administrative offices are never forthcoming in providing students the tools they need to succeed. Rather, they are hidden behind a web of complicated paperwork, and scorn for what many faculty members see as spoiled students ,reliant on handholding. Among students, McGill is lacking in a substantive and hospitable campus culture. Unwilling to coalesce around sports like many universities, McGillians are united only in times of divisiveness. The largest gathering of students I’ve seen was the infamous 2012 Arts General Assembly (GA), which brought together thousands of disgruntled and ideologically motivated students for six excruciating hours of caustic debate
Government settlement weak in UNB strike
Julie Vanderperre
Columnist
Classes at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) resumed yesterday after more than two weeks of faculty strikes. This development, following a long period of deadlock in negotiations, comes as welcome news to many UNB students who were worried about falling behind on their coursework, and frustrated with their wasted tuition. The bigger problem with the handling of this situation, however, is the half-baked, government-
brokered settlement that ended the strike. Professors at UNB, whose salary averages lag behind those of professors in many other Canadian universities, were seeking a 20 per cent increase in pay over the next four years. The university believed this sum to be unworkable within the limits of their budget. The strike that ensued left over 10,000 students with cancelled classes, and resulted in widespread dissatisfaction among the student body, with some students even taking to the streets in protest. Nevertheless, both parties remained in a deadlock. On day 15 of the strike, the government demanded that both sides resume bargaining talks, and appointed a third-party mediator to advance negotiations. The teachers’ union stood opposed to government intervention,
maintaining that government involvement would interfere with their right to collective bargaining. According to a CBC article, the union believed that, “A third-party resolution would get us all back to class, but would interfere with our members’ legal rights, could have negative long-term effects, and would not resolve underlying problems.” Fast-forward two days, and the mediated negotiations have already resulted in an agreement. The settlement accorded the faculty a 2.5 per cent increase each year for two years. This amount is significantly less than their original demands and lower, still, than the proposed 9.5 per cent increase that the university had put on the table before the mediated negotiations began. The government’s intervention in the strike clearly expedited the bargaining
process, and students will now be able to resume classes without further delays. However, the agreement that was reached with the help of the mediator seems more like a quick fix, and less like a real solution that will truly satisfy both parties. If the issue re-surfaces, we must then wonder if the government’s intervention was the right thing to do. A panel discussion on the legalization of students’ right to strike held at Concordia University last week revolved around a similar question. When, if ever, is government regulation of university strikes favorable? Panelists generally agreed that engaging the government as a means of legitimizing or mediating strikes limits the power of the labour movement. While legalizing student strikes might seem like a useful way to legitimize the practice, the formalization of such a
right will also result in its restriction. The same explanation may be applied to the mediation of the UNB faculty strikes. The involvement of a third party mediator likely required both sides to make concessions that they otherwise wouldn’t have if left to bargain freely. Collective bargaining is a key tool that union members use to exercise their influence. Government involvement, even if only to mediate discussions, undermines the give and take relationship between union members and employers. Although the process of collective bargaining is often frustrating and characterized by periods of deadlock, it’s the only means for union members to have their requests met. The mediated negotiations allowed classes to resume, but if the professors’ underlying dissatisfaction remains, this artificial peace will prove to be no solution at all.
Student living student
Ameya pendse U2 Poli SCi (photo courtesy of North American Model United Nations Assembly)
Whether he’s running one of the biggest student groups on campus or starting up his own company, Ameya Pendse is involved in a variety of endeavours that play to his skills in entrepreneurship, organization, and public relations. Pendse is currently the VicePresident Internal for the International Relations Students’ Association of McGill (IRSAM), a student group with over 200 members that hosts a variety of events related to international relations. This includes the prestigious McGill Model United Nations (McMUN) Conference, where Pendse served this year as a crisis director and ran one of 26 committees. Pendse says he was encouraged to become more involved in university life after serving as President of Royal Victoria Hall’s Residence Council in his first year. “I came out of second year and had a gap in my life,” he says. “I was lucky enough to make it onto IRSAM, and really lucky to become VP Internal after only being on IRSAM for one year.” As a board member, Pendse has expanded the McGill International Review, a journal that publishes work on subjects in international relations. Previously the journal was only published once
by Hailey MacKinnon
a year in print, but under Pendse’s term it has become an online platform. The switch means content is plentiful and up-to-date. One of Pendse’s favourite parts of IRSAM is the opportunity to meet the other participants and coordinators. “You get to meet a lot of cool people—members of IRSAM [come from] about 15 or 16 or countries,” he says. “Board [members] become really good friends and you get to know secretariats of each model UN conference, McMUN, and [the Secondary School UN Symposium].” In a couple of weeks, Pendse will even have the opportunity to meet the consulate general of Pakistan when she comes to McGill to speak about the role of women in Pakistan. In addition to IRSAM, Pendse is the co-founder of a company called Carte M Card—a student discount card that allows students to get up to 15 per cent off at select restaurants and pubs in Montreal. He recalls how he and his business partner, U3 marketing student Ben Koring, became serious about the idea one day while the two were having lunch. “We were talking about it and decided, let’s just do it,” Pendse
says. According to Pendse, starting the company wasn’t easy. “I missed a lot of class and just spent a lot of time going [around] to businesses, talking to [owners] and offering contracts,” Pendse says. Carte M Card can be used at 70 different businesses, including popular destinations among McGill students such as Peel Pub, MVP, and Smart Burger. The card costs $10 and is valid for the entire year. Although Carte M Card was only launched two weeks ago, Pendse says it’s off to a good start. The company already has fifteen sales reps, and they may even be looking to expand into the US. “[Carte M Card] already broke even, which is very hard for a startup [company] in its first few months of existence,” he said. Pendse hopes to take what he has learned—both on and off campus—as he pursues a degree in either law or business after graduation. “[Starting a business] was a lot of work but it’s a completely different experience from learning in a classroom,” he says. “[I’m] really interested in business; [starting the company] showed me what it’s like to work in the real world.”
McGill Tribune: If you could only eat at one restaurant for the rest of your life, where would you eat? Ameya Pendse: Hands-down Red Lobster; those biscuits are amazing. MT: What’s your favourite Internet pastime? AP: Facebook wins, but I’m starting to use Buzzfeed more and more everyday. MT: If you could host any awards show, which would it be? AP: The Oscars, just because it’s the Oscars. I just want to say, “And the Academy Award goes to…” in a British accent. MT: What celebrity, dead or alive, would you most like to meet? AP: I wish I had the chance to meet James Gandolfini, a.k.a. Tony Soprano. Best. Show. Ever. MT: Do you have any hidden talents? AP: Yes. That is all. MT: What is one thing no one could pay you enough to do? AP: Work for Tim Horton’s or Krispy Kreme. Dunkin’ Donuts forever.
nominate a student of the week! Email us at studentliving@ mcgilltribune.com
Odds N’ Ends
The ins and outs of the McGill residence system Ellen Cools Contributor Often glorified in movies, living in residence is generally considered a rite of passage for all college students. The idea behind residence systems, however, is to provide a supportive micro-environment within a larger campus to aid in the drastic transition upon entering university. At McGill, not only do the different types of residences cater to students’ needs and personalities, but hall directors and floor fellows also work hard to make the yearlong experience unforgettable. “It’s a cool environment where you get all of the college experience at once: the studying, the partying, the no sleeping […] and everyone’s in the same situation,” U0 Music student Céleste Pagniello said.
McGill’s residence system is already well-developed to meet the needs of students according to Janice Johnson, Managing Director of Residences and Student Housing. “There are some schools in Quebec that do a lot of programming, have floor fellows, and hall councils that do some of the stuff that we do, but we do it on a pretty significant scale,” she said. Currently, each residence has one director, except for MORE housing, which has one hall director for the group of houses. Each building is also home to floor fellows—non first-year students who plan activities and, perhaps most critically, are there for students in times of crisis. Several changes to this system have been planned for Fall 2014. The modified system will have full-time hall directors who are employed by Student Housing
Hospitality Services, and who will be responsible for several halls. There will also be faculty members or other administration that live in halls with students. This decision has been met with criticism from some members of the residence community concerning the accessibility of the hall directors and a lack of consultation in implementing these changes. Despite the uncertainy surrounding how this system will function at McGill, full-time hall directors are common at other academic institutions across Canada and the United States. For example, Queen’s University has a Manager of Residence Life, an Assistant Manager, and live-in full-time professional Residence Life Coordinators who are responsible for groups of buildings. Their floor-fellow counterparts, called “dons,” are also up-
per-year students—even graduate students—who support new students in the transition to university life. These dons and staff live in the residences, in a similar manner to the proposed McGill system. Similarly, the residence system at the University of Chicago focuses on providing support to their students in residence. Their system includes Resident Assistants (RAs), who are third- or fourth-year students; Resident Heads, who are advanced graduate students or administrative staff; and Resident Masters, senior university faculty members who are there to provide a large, connected support system. One of the main differences between McGill and other universities is that McGill guarantees residence only for a student’s first year of studies. For example, not only does the University of Chi-
(presbyteriancollege.ca)
cago guarantee housing for all four years of undergraduate school, it also requires that all first-year students live in residences. However, Pagniello said she supports McGill’s decision to guarantee residence to only firstyear students. “It’s a good experience for a year, but I think it’s going to be good to move out and really live on our own,” Pagniello said. At the end of the day, university residences are all about providing the support students need to make a smooth transition from living in a residence to living in an apartment. “[Residence] allows students to become independent and develop new strengths in a new familytype support system,” first-year Education student Jasmine Segal said. “I feel like I’m more prepared for living on my own next year.”
Curiosity delivers. | Campus Life
STUDENT LIVING
| Tuesday, February 4, 2014
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A celebration of art and friendship
Restaurant Reviews
Montreal event offers dining for less
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Wienstein & Gavino’s
Wienstein and Gavino’s (W&G) lies in the midst of the bars and clubs lining Crescent Street. Although it’s inconspicuous from the exterior, stepping inside the restaurant is like travelling into the heart of Italy. Rustic decor, including brick walls and wooden tables, gives this upscale restaurant a personal, European feel. The service at W&G never fails to impress, and wait times for tables are rare. Within a matter of minutes one is seated and indulging on bread with what is arguably the best pesto in town. As part of Le Chop, W&G offers a three-course menu for $23. Their discount menu offers a choice between three appetizers, six entrees, and two deserts, with a vegetarian—but unfortunately no vegan—option for each. Appetizers include classic meatballs, a fennel salad, and calamari. The calamari is soft, with just the right amount of crunchy batter, and is served with two types of Diablo sauces and lemon. With the main courses ranging from fresh cod to pizzas topped with Italian sausage, roasted red peppers, and oven roasted Roma tomatoes, the menu encompasses a variety of fresh spins on Italian classics. Sticking with a seafood theme, the linguini al gamberi fra diavola, is absolutely delicious. This pasta, with shrimp, tomatoes, chili peppers, and a garlic white wine sauce, is bursting with flavour. The Capri Cake, a chocolate almond dessert, is a sublime way to top off a meal. It’s basically Nutella in cake form; the dish is served with a side of Nutella and hazelnuts—every chocolate lover’s dream. Including tax and tip the meal comes to $30.42—a little more than an average student meal out, but worth every 1434 rue Crescent penny. Since every course is practically a meal in itself, (514) 288-2231 the portions are more than ample, and are sure to result Hours of Operation: in a food-induced coma. Sun to Wed: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. With a couple of weeks of Le Chop left, W&G is (kitchen) & 3 a.m. (bar) worth trying out. It’s the perfect place to take your parThurs to Sat: 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. ents the next time they are in town, or to reward yourself (kitchen) & 3 a.m. (bar) after finishing lengthy papers and midterms. For those on a tighter budget, W&G also offers a selection of entrees for $10 after 10 p.m. (until 1 a.m.).
-Anina Ratjen
m
that Best Buddies hopes to foster. “[Art] is something anyone can do and you can express yourself in your own way,” Best Buddies Co-Director Micah Flavin said. “With my buddy, we’ll sit down and draw, or just write. It’s something that really has this therapeutic effect [….] It’s a nice event because it has all sorts of threads coming in together and you can see the different styles of art. ” The event has come a long way since 2012, with the number of pieces in the auction doubling since last year. There were other additions to the event this year as well; to keep the crowd entertained, two craft tables were situated in the middle of the room. Music also accompanied the after-
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Among the artists was Alivia Dlugopiat, a long-time buddy who has regularly participated in art classes at the Young Men’s-Young Women’s Hebrew Association (YM-YWHA) Jewish Community Centre. Dlugopiat expressed that she was proud to show her work at the auction, and was eager to have those attending bid on her creative piece, titled “Pop Art.” Jason Goldsmith was another donor for the auction. Goldsmith paints designs inspired by his son Ellis’ drawings onto framed pieces of glass. Goldsmith started the Big Blue Hug project, which took off when he discovered that he was best able to communicate with Ellis, who has autism, through drawings. Beyond being a family business, the project serves as a means of educating others on using ‘picture talking’ to aid communication. The staggering diversity of art— from cartoons and greeting cards to oil-painted landscapes and more abstract pieces—embodied the inclusion
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As art made its way into the hands of proud new owners, members of the McGill community dropped cash for a worthy cause at McGill Students for Best Buddies’ third-annual art auction on Jan. 25. Best Buddies is an international non-profit organization that promotes the inclusiveness of communities to people with intellectual disabilities. They are partnered with the Miriam Home, a Quebec organization with goals that align with Best Buddies and which provides rehabilitation services to children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Students involved with Best Buddies build one-to-one friendships with adults in the community with intellectual disabilities. “[The Best Buddies program] makes the connection between two groups that wouldn’t otherwise necessarily meet,” Kirsty Coulter, co-director
of McGill students for Best Buddies, said. “Students and the population of adults with intellectual disabilities are really separated […. The program] gives you an idea of the challenges facing the population that you wouldn’t necessarily think of, and also [gives you] a friend.” The auction, which took place in the SSMU Ballroom, is Best Buddies’ largest fundraiser, raising approximately $1,400 this year. The proceeds funnel directly back to the organization and help fund other events for the buddies. “We wanted to do a fundraiser, but we wanted to do something to promote inclusion in the community,” Coulter said. While most events are tailored for the buddies, the auction is one of the program’s few events that are open to the public. The artwork up for auction was either created or donated by students, buddies, or other members of the Montreal community, including several pieces from students’ grandparents’ collections.
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Marlee Vinegar Student Living Editor
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Best Buddies shows off community artwork at third annual art auction fundraiser
noon event, including performances by a quartet of McGill music students and the glee club from the Gold Centre, an organization funded by the Miriam home. “[The art auction] has grown exponentially the past two years, so it’s really exciting to see what it’s turned into,” Coulter said. “It’s a good display of work done by us, done by our buddies, and our community members.”
The only thing better than a delicious dinner out is dishing out less money for the same meal. For that, there’s Le Chop—an event that has hit Montreal’s restaurants for its second year, where restaurants owned by Tom Nacos Group offer fixed price multi-course menus at reduced prices, ranging from $19 to $27 a person. With the exception of the Valentine’s Day weekend–when you’ll have to look elsewhere for a destination to take your sweetheart–the event runs from Jan. 6 until Feb. 28. Here’s a sneak-peak of what to expect from the chopped-cost cuisine. For more information see http://tomnacosgroup.com/lechopmtl/
Newtown Restaurant
Located in the heart of downtown Montreal on the popular Crescent Street, Newtown Restaurant has gained acclaim partly due to its famous owner, ex-Formula One driver Jacque Villeneuve. The restaurant’s sleek and trendy style attracts many young costumers looking for a posh atmosphere. Newtown has three different areas, each with its own unique personality. The lounge and balcony are more focused on drinks, while the restaurant serves up classics done well, such as my personal favourite, Le Newtown Burger. Le Newton Burger is a riff on the Big Mac from McDonalds, where the chef has managed to elevate a fast-food favourite. The massive Angus beef burger arrives at the table topped with oozing sharp cheddar cheese, bacon, crisp lettuce, 1476 rue Crescent and the Newtown’s very own special sauce. (514) 285-6555 Although Le Newtown Burger isn’t included on Hours of Operation: the special menu for the Le Chop event, students on Mon to Wed: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. a tight budget can still enjoy quality food for signifiThurs to Fri: 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. cantly less money. For a measly $19, you can indulge in Sat: 2 p.m. to 3 a.m. one starter, one main course, and one dessert. While the calibre of the cuisine is the same, the options are somewhat limited. There are two choices for each course. For a starter, you can choose either a tossed salad with a shallot vinaigrette, or lentil soup topped with grilled chorizo. Following the starters, options for the main course include a rich veal blanquette served atop wild rice, or oven-baked cod topped with an onion compote. For a sweet finish, you can treat yourself to crêpes Suzette, which are crêpes flambéed in orange juice; or a classic banana split. Overall, Newtown offers a crowd-pleasing atmosphere and serves as a reminder as to why classic dishes are classics. Although the restricted choices pale in comparison to the regular menu, if you’re looking for a cheaper option, the Le Chop menu is the way len ew tow to go. n.com -Alycia Noë
While the Quartier de l’innovation (QI) has generated considerable interest since its announcement in January 2012, the concept of the innovation district is far from new. From Silicon Valley to 22@Barcelona, cities and governments today are investing billions of dollars in urban redevelopment projects that bring people and businesses together into one physical location. What many don’t realize is that fostering innovation through physical proximity is not a new concept to Montreal. In 1998, the Quebec government launched a development project in an old industrial area just across the highway from the QI’s location in Griffintown. Called the Cité du multimédia, the venture was initially proposed as a way to facilitate collaboration in Montreal’s growing multimedia sector. However, it has since faced criticism for turning the district into a mere extension of the downtown’s corporate offices. So where exactly did this demand for innovation districts come from? And why do some fail, while others succeed?
While creating better solutions and products has been a recurring industrial goal throughout history, the foundation of physical districts to do so is a much more recent phenomenon. According to Richard Shearmur, a professor from McGill’s School of Urban Planning, a policy emphasis on “innovation” has evolved over the last 30 years, after developing countries began producing large-scale, cheap goods for western markets in the ‘70s. “How do you unblock saturated markets to get western people to carry on consuming? By innovating, by finding new things for them to spend their money on,” Shearmur said. “If you emphasize actually trying to produce better products than developing countries, that’s a way of maintaining your [economic] position.” In the ‘80s, sociologists began to observe that some of the most successful industrial areas throughout history were locations that facilitated collaboration between many small, specialized companies. “[For example], a lot of gun makers were in a district in [19th century] Birmingham,” Shearmur said. “You had the barrel manufacturers, the firing-pin manufacturers— they were all different companies but they came together to make guns. And their guns were particularly good because there was a lot of knowledge and a lot of specialization.” This same concept has since expanded beyond manufacturers to encompass all types of innovation and entrepreneurship—from technology and science to cultural and urban development. “The idea is if you have a group of economic agents who are grouped together geographically, and provided that there is a culture of openness and exchange, these geographic districts will lead to innovative solutions because there’s a lot of information exchange [and] a lot of collaboration between people,” Shearmur said. Continued on next page...
MaRS DISCOVERY DISTRICT (Toronto) 22@BARCELONA
SILICON VALLEY
THE OPEN INNOVATION HUB (Tokyo)
BOSTON INNOVATION QUARTER
BAGMANE TECH PARK (Bangalore)
for
BUENOS AIRES TECHNOLOGY DISTRICT
These are a few of the many innovation districts around the world.
The QI follows this concept of developing a geographical space that encourages innovation, using an area in Southwest Montreal that includes Griffintown, Pointe Saint-Charles, Saint-Henri, and Petite Bourgogne. Launched in May 2013, the QI is led by both McGill and L’École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS), an engineering school located in the area. “If you look at different universities in the U.S. or even in Europe, you see that
[they] are engaging more and more with their communities,” McGill QI Project Director Isabelle Péan said. “For McGill, the objective is really to develop a hub—a living lab—where students can get specific experience [and] develop specific projects.” The initial stage of the QI was funded in 2012 by several stakeholders: the government of Quebec, the Economic Development Agency of Canada, and the City of Montreal contributed $350,000 each, while ÉTS and McGill contributed $370,000 each. According to Péan, once this money has been used, the QI will be driven by a non-profit organization that will find funding for its projects, and which will be overseen b y
The Cité du multimédia building (flickr).
STELLENBOSCH INNOVATION DISTRICT (Cape Town)
the QI’s Board of Directors. “We want the QI to be led by the community, by people involved with the project,” she said. Part of this community involvement will come from students, according to Justin Leung, U1 Arts student and member of both the McGill QI Student Working Group and the McGill QI Steering Committee. “There are incubators, entrepreneurial hubs, [and] startup houses all over the world, and they’re all trying to recruit the best students,” he said. “We’re trying to build a project with McGill [from] the start, and then provide those resources to the students who need help or need the support.” Less than one year after the project’s official launch, there has not been a substantial amount of change in the district. However, that may not be surprising
given the nature of the project, according to McGill Director of Internal Communications Doug Sweet. “MaRS [Discovery District in Toronto] has been around since the beginning of the 2000s and it has taken them a decade to get bigger, draw more funding, and produce more projects,” Sweet said. “[The QI is] like a garden being cultivated right now, and more seeds will be planted. [Nothing] has grown up yet because it’s too early.”
Though the QI is a relatively new project, it is not the first urban redevelopment venture in Montreal to aim to foster innovation and collaboration. The Cité du multimédia from 1998 aimed to create a central location for the city’s multimedia sector to create jobs and revitalize the
Faubourg des Récollets district. The project involved demolishing some of the old industrial buildings in the neighbourhood and constructing new office buildings, which were rented out with salary subsidies for newly created jobs. However, 15 years later, the Cité du multimédia has faced criticism for failing to realize the goal that the project initially promoted. Due to factors such as expensive rent and conditions on leases, the anticipated small multimedia companies and startups never moved into the space, which was instead filled by larger companies. Shearmur called the Cité du multimédia project an “abuse of branding.” “[The government] used this branding to get the community on board [and] to get people to accept that they were going to knock down old buildings [and] kick out artists, because [they were] going to have this creative industry in place,” he said. “The Cité du multimédia basically turned out to be an empty slogan
redeveloping a neighbourhood.” According to Péan, the QI is different from the Cité de multimédia due to the diversity of its stakeholders. “The idea to bring people from the multimedia sector in one place with tax credits is not so bad,” she said. “But the problem is that if you do nothing to bring different kinds of partners (i.e. not only industry, but academics and people from the community) and try to connect people, no interesting interactions and collaborations will happen.” However, Claire Poitras, director of the Urbanisation Culture Société Research Centre of the National Institute for Scientific Research, said the problem of branding persists in modern urban redevelopment projects like the QI. “If you want to attract people to a specific place nowadays, you have to […] brand an area with a specific identity because people are going to move to a place that has special features, that is a distinctive place,” she said. “You have to sell the area as you would be selling a product.” Instead of branding urban areas, Poitras said public decision makers should encourage ways for people to learn more about the urban history of areas—for
example, through heritage tours. Otherwise, a brand could lead to harmful consequences, such as gentrification. “We saw that in SoHo [New York] about 30 to 40 years ago,” she said. “Artists were attracted to it because it was cheap. Once they were there, other people wanted to be there as well, [but] gentrification occurred and the artists had to leave.” Although other urban redevelopment projects have been criticized for gentrification, Sweet said the QI’s emphasis on urban planning sets the program apart. “Urban planning is not part of MaRS at all; they’re not there to develop the neighbourhood— they’re there to develop business,” he said. “[The QI is about] trying to improve and help people stay [where they are], and not get forced out by gentrification as has happened in other neighbourhoods.” For example, one QI project is to create a “laboratory of urban culture” in St. Joseph Church. Instead of allowing the land to be demolished and developed with condominiums, this project aims to repurpose the historic building as a space to preserve and encourage the artistic and cultural communities. However, former McGill student senator Matthew Crawford, who voiced concerns about gentrification when the QI was announced in 2012, said he still believes the project will have negative effects on affordable
housing in the area. “Neither McGill nor the City of Montreal has demonstrated that it will move forward with this project with the necessary level of planning to make the project socially sustainable,” he said. “There are those who laud gentrification for its ability to rejuvenate neighbourhoods, [but] if the poor are simply swept away to
The Cité du multimédia basically turned out to be an empty slogan for redeveloping a neighbourhood. the outskirts, then the process is not truly a rejuvenation, but an attempt to hide the problem.” According to Poitras, the QI’s impact on the community will depend on how its various stakeholders interact. “If there’s a good conversation between these types of actors, it should be fine,” she said. “They have to be sensitive to certain social demands they might have from community groups of the area. Some people might not want things to change that much.”
Although innovation districts like Silicon Valley have received considerable attention for their successes, the technological advances of the last decade have led some sceptics to question their relevance. “All of the observers up to the 1990s were functioning in an era where, if you were going to collaborate closely with people, you did probably need to be quite close to them because telephone
important; [...] crucial interactions are still face-to-face,” she said. “[With] two major universities engaged in developing concrete projects in technological, social and cultural innovation with their students and professors, it really becomes an attractive space. We need a critical mass for people to interact.”
Less than a year after its launch, the QI is still in the early phases of development. Despite the uncertainty of the changing way innovation occurs, Péan said the QI could help redefine the innovation district and its place in the city. “At the QI, we want to develop entrepreneurship of course […] but we are also here to help non-profit organizations, to bring our students within those non-profit organizations, [and] to create links between the community and the university,” she said. One way of fostering these links is through student engagement. According to Leung, the most important way
outcomes in the next few years.”
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calls were expensive,” Shearmur said. The proliferation of the Internet, however, has changed the way businesses communicate. “It’s far more straightforward and easy now for collaborations to occur which have nothing to do with geography,” he said. “So this fact that you actually need to be close together geographically to have these meaningful collaborations to lead to innovation—is that an idea [that] is decreasingly relevant today?” However, Péan emphasized the continued importance of physical proximity in innovation districts such as the QI. “Physical proximity is really
for the QI to move forward is for students to contribute to discussions that aim to create more opportunities for involvement in the QI by joining groups such as the Student Working Group. “At the moment, there aren’t internships being provided to students, [but] that’s a long-term goal,” Leung said. “We want to get the ball rolling; we want students to know what the project is, [and] we want more and more students who are passionate about the project to join us.” However, others have expressed dissatisfaction with the way students will be able to engage in the district. “Structurally, the QI involves applied learning facilities in close proximity to corporate partners,” Crawford said. “By placing ‘resources’ and ‘products’ closer to their ‘buyers,’ McGill emulates the structure of an industry, rather than an institution of education. In doing so, they serve private interests before the public needs of the city.” Because the Internet now facilitates so much communication, Shearmur said the QI could be more effective if it serves less as an innovation district, and more as a way of showcasing innovative urban planning and social practices. “These are lines that are quite different from the traditional view of the innovation district as a group of firms, companies, actors, who, through their social connections, are leading to innovation,” he said. “We’ve got to be careful that the Quartier de l’innovation is looking forward and not looking back at these ideas.” As the district develops, Péan said only time will tell what will come from the QI. “We really want to increase collaborations and partnerships with local partners in order to create opportunities for enriching our students experience and be engaged as a university,” Péan said. “The project is new, but I’m confident that we will have concrete
Science & technology TECHNOLOGY
Mapping out the path to entrepreneurship
Science & Policy Exchange Monthly Networking Event aims to foster more Quebec student interest in start-up companies Christine Tam Contributor You have a great idea for a revolutionary app that will make a huge difference in how we view the current technological industry. The problem is that you don’t have the money, contacts, or know-how to transform this idea into a marketable, profitable product. What do you do now? The Science & Policy Exchange Monthly Networking Event held at Thomson House on Jan. 27 attempted to answer that question. Titled “The State of Entrepreneurship in Canada,” the event focused on the process of starting a company or business venture as a student, and the many resources available to help you accomplish this. It was organized by the non-profit organization Science & Policy Exchange (SPE), which consists of a team of volunteer graduate students and postdoctoral fellows whose aim is to bridge the gap between science and policy in Quebec and the rest of Canada. “This is the first in a series of networking events that we will be holding in 2014 to facilitate cross-sector engagement between government, industry, academia, and the public,” said Fanny Dupuy, President of SPE. “These forums represent a great opportunity for graduate student professional development, which is often severely under-emphasized in their training curriculum.” The night started with a talk by Charles Morand, an investment professional at BDC Venture Capital. The venture capital arm of the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) is a government-owned financial services corporation that specializes in early-stage technology investments. In exchange for funding, BDC acquires a portion of equity in the companies it invests in. “Venture capitalists are basically private equity investors in that they own shares in privately held companies; but what differentiates them from other investors is that they take a primarily technology-based risk,” Morand explained. And a high risk it is—the company invests potentially millions of dollars in struggling, inexperienced start-ups that could very easily fail and bring everyone involved down with them. For that reason, companies like BDC will only invest in extraordinary ideas that have a high potential for success. “Venture capitalists will look for something that’s disruptive, or at least radical, meaning that the technology you bring into market has the potential to fundamentally transform and improve the way things are done,” Morand said. While Morand’s venture investors cater to more established start-ups with
fully formed ideas and teams, the second speaker of the night Helge Seetzen often works with as little as raw intellectual property or a single technology alone, with no marketable product in mind. Seetzen is the CEO and co-founder of TandemLaunch Technologies, a technology-transfer company that specifically helps university inventors transform their project or idea into innovative products and companies. Seetzen presented some eyeopening statistics. Despite boasting one of the largest investments in applied academic research in Canada, Quebec’s return on that capital based on the number and worth of successful companies produced is amongst the lowest in the country. Quebec university students are also steering clear from the entrepreneurship path. “Quebec universities have the lowest [‘Yes’] response rate [in Canada] on surveys to the question of ‘Would you like to build a business?’” Seetzen said. He added that this result may partially be due to the inefficiency of the innovation process at universities. Seetzen explained that the process of convincing your professor that your idea merits more than just a publication, gathering enough money from administration to file a patent, and finding the prospects to license or buy the patent is likely to go the usual snail’s pace of academia. This is where Seetzen and his team step in. TandemLaunch seeks to tighten that feedback loop—they amalgamate the necessary funds, contacts, and corporate partnerships to jump-start your idea into a viable company in a matter of months when it would have taken at least two to three years otherwise. McGill alumnus Alexander Danco, who graduated in 2011 with a B.Sc in physiology and received his M.Sc in neuroscience in 2013, and his back pain-tracking app “Backtrack” is one such tech sapling that is in the process of being nurtured and raised by TandemLaunch into a fully grown, stand-alone company. “I started thinking about back pain […] when I was in grad studies here in the neuroscience program at McGill,” Danco said. “When I was approaching graduation […] the thought was, okay, once all this is published, have we actually cured anyone’s back pain? The answer was basically no, unfortunately.” So Danco went through TandemLaunch’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence program to develop Backtrack, a wearable patch on your back that collects and correlates data on movement and pain in order to better treat the chronic ailment. Though still in its infancy, Backtrack is gaining momentum in the physiotherapy world, and you may be seeing this clever device on store
Speakers provided students with insights into building start-up companies. (Brian Hsu / SPE) ship, Seetzen recommended learning something about as much as possible, including finance, sales, business development, and people management, since all of these skills will be extremely useful in the long run. “A start-up that understands how that technology translates into a business context and how it makes money
shelves in the very near future. The take-home message from the three presentations of the night was overwhelmingly urgent: university students need to start innovating and building companies, since our generation is the driver of future wealth creation. Offering tips and advice to students looking to get into entrepreneur-
and how those processes work, will always [overcome] a start-up that just has a good technology,” Seetzen said. Full disclosure: Christine Tam is a blogger for SPE and a general member of the organizing committee.
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Curiosity delivers. |
science & technology
| Tuesday, February 4, 2014
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Profile
The music of the immune system
Joaquin Madrenas finds inspiration in his research, family, and students Maral Saghaei Contributor Sitting in on an interview with Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology Joaquin Madrenas, it’s easy to be mesmerized by his knowledge, charisma, and aptitude to take on life. “I feel fortunate; I enjoy everything!” said Madrenas. “[Aside from science, I try to engage in various activities] with my friends and family in an attempt to make sure my life is a continuum.” One of these activities— music—has shaped both the lectures he gives at McGill and, in June 2012, inspired a Ted Talk about the impact of infectious diseases. In his teaching, Madrenas relates the crescendos and decrescendo, as well as other musical elements of symphonies with the different phases of disease. Throughout his career, Madrenas has made influential contributions to science through his publications in many top journals. However, his experiences transcend that in research. Madrenas holds a medical degree from the University of Barcelona and is currently an active professor at McGill.
“I think I [always saw myself conducting research], but my primary vocation has always been medicine,” Madrenas said. “I consider myself a physician that had the opportunity to be confronted with patients’ needs, which [I could] tackle through research. I [hope that at the end of my career] I can say that I have contributed to improving the quality of life of my patients.” Although he doesn’t practice clinical medicine anymore, Madrenas works very closely with human health through research. “In the lab, we have two lines of research,” he explained. “Both have in common the discovery of novel ways to regulate immunity. We are looking at how microbes learn to live in humans without causing disease and finding out what mechanisms they use in doing so. Those mechanisms could be [useful in] developing templates for new treatments. [We are also looking] to find out how biological membranes are put together to facilitate communication between the [outer and inner] world of the cell.” Despite his own research accomplishments, Madrenas now finds gratification from others working in his laboratory. He
The lab focuses its research on regulating immunity. (Cassandra Rogers / McGill Tribune) emphasizes the importance, as a professor and scientist, to change other people’s lives. “Moments of discovery are tremendously gratifying [and when they come] from one of my students or trainees, they are even more so,” he said. “Seeing your trainee succeed and become successful on his or her own is tremendously rewarding.” As for what inspires him, Madrenas is a man of values and simple pleasures. “My family and my wife in particular [are a] constant source of joy and intellectual challenge. My environment is [also a] source of inspiration,” Madrenas said. He insists that this includes his colleagues and staff at McGill and beyond.
“Figuring out how the things we witness [occur] is also inspirational. I have found it practical to be inspired every day by very little things…. At the end of the day, success is anything that allows you to get a sense of happiness,” Madrenas said. “[It is] an internal sense of happiness, which includes peace, respect and fulfillment. I think happiness is a state of mind, [which] you work on […] One can be very happy while being bored, [just as] one can be happy being challenged,” he said. “At the end of the day, I am a happy person.” Full disclosure: Maral Saghaei spent summer 2013 working in Madrenas’ laboratory.
McGill Tribune: What do you look for in students who are applying to work in a laboratory? Joaquin Madrenas: [It’s] a combination of qualities that projects a positive profile for recruitment, [which] include enthusiasm, drive, intellectual brilliance and past track record of achievement [….] I am always looking for brilliant students or trainees to come to my lab to work in our team, so the need to see a fit in [that framework] is also very important. MT: What is your biggest fear? JM: Losing the energy to tackle life, becoming disenchanted with everything I see, and losing my ability to be primed by what surrounds me. MT: What are you reading right now? JM: I am reading three books: a biography of Johannes Sebastian Bach, the novel 14, and a book I currently read on the bus on leadership styles.
worldsoflearning.blogspot.ca
SCIENCE
Memory-making in action: researchers film brain activity Recently published paper tags mRNA to track process of memory formation Abhishek Gupta Contributor This January, scientists at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University captured on screen the process of the brain making memories. Using mice to perform their experiments, researchers added fluorescent tags to mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) molecules that helped them track these molecules as the brain underwent the active process of creating memories. mRNA carries copies of instructional materials for the formation of proteins from the cell’s DNA.
“It’s noteworthy that we were able to develop this mouse without having to use an artificial gene or other interventions that might have disrupted neurons and called our findings into question,” said Robert Singer, author of the two papers published in the journal Science, to Science News at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. This development is crucial because neurons are inherently sensitive and can be damaged easily if the experiments are not performed carefully. The mRNA molecules that the researchers tracked help control the direction of another
class of molecules called betaactin proteins that are essential for making memories. By ‘tagging’ the mRNA molecules, the researchers were able to observe the movement of these proteins in real-time inside a functioning brain to look deeper into how the brain works and stores memories. “Having a long, attenuated structure means that neurons face a logistical problem,” Singer said. “Their beta-actin mRNA molecules must travel throughout the cell, but neurons [also] need to control their mRNA so that it makes beta-actin protein only in certain regions at the base of dendritic spines.”
The first paper out of the two focused on the work conducted by Hye Yoon Park, who is a PhD instructor at the Albert Einstein College and Singer’s former student. It explains how the researchers developed the mouse model and how the stimulation of the neurons in the hippocampus—the part of the brain responsible for making memories— shed light on the travel paths of the beta-actin proteins to their destinations. The second paper showed that stimulating the neurons caused beta-actin protein to accumulate precisely in the location needed to form memories.
Researchers watched as flourescent beta-actin mRNA molecules formed in the nuclei of neurons—the control centre of these cells—and travelled within dendrites—projections of the neurons. “This observation that neurons selectively activate protein synthesis and then shut it off fits perfectly with how we think memories are made,” Singer said. The results from this study open a window into the intricate inner workings of the brain and spark a further interest in this field that may accelerate our understanding of the human brain.
arts & entertainment
No Foreign Lands finds a home in Montreal Tara Davis Contributor Even with the advent of film, photography, and digital imagery, painting remains a vital and powerful art form, a fact I was reminded of when I visited Peter Doig’s exhibition No Foreign Lands at Montreal’s Musée des beaux-arts last weekend. Doig’s art immediately recalls the legendary Canadian Group of Seven, but his influences also include great pioneers of Modernism such as Edvard Munch, Paul Gauguin, Henri Matisse, and Pierre Bonnard. Moving about the hardwood floors of the museum, I immediately noticed the scale of Doig’s paintings, and how his use of rich, bright colour stood out with warmth against the vast white walls; his paintings appear as if they were meant for display in a grandiose museum setting. Author David Byrne writes how musicians and artists, “work backwards, either consciously or unconsciously, creating work that fits the venue available.” Byrne essentially thinks the space, the platform, and the software makes
the art. This is exemplified in Doig’s work, as a tangible joie de vivre leaps from his smaller studio film posters, while larger displays remove any sense of reality. Doig propels the viewer to enter a dreamlike, theatrical scene like the ones depicted in Grande Riviere (2002) and Gasthofsur Muldentalsperre (2002). Doig’s series of paintings of oil on paper, recognizable for stylistic simplicity, are intentionally displayed close together in a corner of the gallery. One feels a childlike spark from each of these paintings, which evolved organically as posters for weekly repertory cinema showings run by Doig and Che Lovelace, a Trinidadian artist. Doig makes a poster for nearly every one of the screenings, shown from his studio in the Caribbean Contemporary Arts cultural center located in a former rum distillery in Trinidad. Doig was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1959 but moved to Trinidad with his parents when he was a child. Another move led Doig to grow into adulthood in Montreal. He attended art school in London and painted during the days throughout his twenties by
working odd jobs in nightclubs. He has remarked on remaining independent of the trends of his peers when contemporary artists feared sharing gallery space. “I never understood what was so conceptual about Conceptual Art anyway—all painting, pretty much, is conceptual,” says Doig in his book, which shares the same name as his current exhibit. “I mean every painting is an idea. Every painting is a result of process.” To Doig, conceptual art just removes the “pleasures” of looking. Since his success, he has returned permanently to Trinidad and also works and teaches in both London and New York. “There are no foreign lands. It is the traveller only who is foreign.” These words from Robert Louis Stevenson are visible upon arrival to the exhibit, and carry the viewer through the scenes of Doig’s present life in Trinidad, while also weaving the memory of his Canadian home. This is exemplified through Doig’s work, 100 Years Ago (2001), where a man, seemingly adrift in a canoe in the ocean, reveals a backdrop of Carrera, the prison island off the coast of Trinidad. The subject looks to the viewer, as if asking
ART
Peter Doig pours his joy and journey onto canvas
Doig alongside his artwork. (i.telegraph.co.uk) whether a painter can free himself from pictorial memory in his apprehension of the real. Doig begun this work in Europe and finished shortly after his arrival in Port of Spain, Trinidad. His working method draws on an ever increasing archival collection of personal photographs, as the book describes. “I use photography simply as a way of imaging memory,” he writes. “The photograph acts as a starting point. It is in the actual act of making a painting that invention takes over.” Doig is noted for how he constantly reprocesses and transforms original
images in painting sketches into a mythical, spiritual abstraction of reality. His process is visible throughout the exhibition, even as he admits, an “artist is only ever capable of painting one painting, again and again, in a single lifetime.” Painting, in effect, is an artist’s own life, and through this exhibit you have the chance to glimpse into the vision of Doig’s own experience. No Foreign Lands runs until May 4 at Musee des beaux-arts de Montreal (1380 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest). Tickets are $10.44 plus taxes and fees.
Barely two years since formation, Kodaline goes global Hilary Storm Contributor The name Kodaline is enough to stop most people for a second or two as they ponder the possible meaning of this neologism that is pronounced “code – ah – line,” but the word actually represents two distinct things. In the World of Warcraft, it’s the name of the computer game’s “Night Elf Restoration Druid”; in the real world, Kodaline is the madeup title of Steve Garrigan, Mark Prendergas, Vinny May, and Jason Boland’s Irish rock band—which they arrived at independently before hearing of its gaming significance. Kodaline is signed to RCA records and has been spreading their bizarre name and sentimental sound to all corners of Europe since they founded in late 2011—although they’re still in the new-kids-on-the-block role as far as North America is concerned. This small group of down to earth musicians started off locally in Dublin, but with the major success of their debut album In a Perfect World (2013) and the popularity of their “All I Want” music video, Kodaline is now taking off for a world tour that will make stops in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, United States,
Ireland, United Kingdom and Australia over the next few months. Lately, waiting for their big musical adventure to begin, the group has been working on developing the sound for their new album while hiding out in rural Ireland. Luckily, I was able to catch an interview with founding member Steve Garrigan during this busy time, in advance of their Montreal shows on Feb. 9 and 10. After a day of listening to their album on repeat, I gathered that Kodaline has a very raw, emotional, and empathetic trend to their music. Songs such as “All I Want” and “The Answer” provide a platform for inner reflection and release, as the group uses guitar crescendos and deep percussions with inflections of traditional Irish choruses to map the course of an emotion’s journey through time. “We really focus on the muses of daily life and struggles,” explains Garrigan. “If one of us is going through a break-up, we write about it; if one of us is having a good day, we write about it. We want people to feel the same emotion we are experiencing in the words and notes of our songs.” Though Kodaline is working to ensure that their music always retains
Music
Despite the lack of quality Irish tea on the road, Kodaline embarks on a world tour that brings them to Montreal next week
Kodaline embarks on its world tour. (www.independent.co.uk/) its honest vulnerability, it doesn’t mean they can’t experiment. Garrigan remarks that the band will be trying new things on their next album such as changing their instrumentals to create a more “diverse vibe.” “Our goal is [to be appreciated from ages] eight to 80, we think everyone can benefit from our songs,” says Garrigan. While many young musicians who start to make it in the music industry go full-throttle into all the glitz and glam of the fast-paced scene, this small group of Dubliners—whose growing list of accolades includes selling out their hometown’s O2 amphitheatre, Ireland’s largest venue—have retained their wholesome roots. With other young stars facing DUI charges and other misde-
meanours, these young 20-somethings are setting an example of the more stable behavior new social figures should mimic. When asked about any pre-performance rituals or pick-me-ups, Garrigan responded, “We just sit around drinking Irish tea.” Although I have personally never tried this Gaelic beverage, all members of Kodaline are fanatics and remark that the “lack of properly prepared Irish tea” is their least favourite thing about being on tour. But this small detail is lost as soon as the band gets on stage and begins their performance— the impetus behind their hard work and travel. “Our favorite part of being on tour is the chance [...] to play live every night,” says Garrigan. “Our live shows
are our strength, and we love the chance we have to connect to audiences all over the world.” Needless to say, not only because of their sexy Irish accents and charming sense of humour, but because of their integrity as musicians and sentimentallypacked songs, Kodaline has an appeal to music audiences everywhere who wish to get back to the untainted, communitydriven movement of music known by honest self-expression. Kodaline plays on Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. at La Salla Rosa (4848 St. Laurent). Tickets are $20.93 including fees. They also play on Feb. 10 at 8 p.m. at Corona Theatre (2490 Notre-Dame W). Tickets are $28.15 including fees.
arts & entertainment
15
Oscar shorts Curiosity delivers. |
Live action Morgan Alexander Contributor
| Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Animated Mira Sharma Contributor
For most Academy Awards viewers, the two short film categories represent a void in the ceremony that lacks the familiarity of the other televised fields. To help you avoid the otherwise inevitable unpreparedness, the Tribune compiled cheat sheets that will provide all the knowledge you need to fill out an informed ballot—or you can just see the films yourself. They’ll be screening at Cinema du Parc (3575 Parc) until Feb. 6. Screenings take place at 1:45 and 8:15 p.m. Student tickets are $8.50. As attested to by famed directors, producers, and actors, the short film is a highly underappreciated art in the world of cinema; short films allow for a purely cinematic experience that forces the viewer to see, hear, and feel in rapid succession. The five live-action short films nominated for the 2014 Academy Awards ranged from funny to suspenseful; politically-charged sermons to thought-provoking cliff-hangers; but all of them remain unified in their ability to utilize poignant dialogue and meaningful camerawork to display a message far beyond the half-hour time frame. Anders Walter’s Helium tells the story of a young dying boy, Alfred (Pelle Falk Krusbaek), who is given hope through the stories of a hospital janitor, Enzo (Casper Crump), about the world of Helium, “where sick kids go to get their strength back.” Of all the nominated films, Helium is the most visually striking as it displays in vibrant, fast-moving colors the imaginations of a young-boy. Where Helium falls flat was in its failure to develop the storyline of Enzo, whose fairy tale drives the plot. Despite this oversight, Helium ’s strong dialogue makes for an emotionally stirring piece that’s well balanced in humour, seriousness, and childlike wonder. The Voorman Problem , a UK film from Mark Gill, tells the tale of a psychiatric doctor’s (Martin Freeman) encounter with a prisoner (Tom Hollander) who claims to be God. Overall, this is the most interesting of the five films, somewhat like a psychological thriller without any jump-scares. It’s designed to leave you mouth-agape, wondering what just happened. What I liked most about The Voorman Problem was that it kept me wanting more, as if it was a sneak preview to a new reality TV show. However, in comparison to the other nominated features, it lacks an emotional link. Avant Que De Tout Perdre (Just Before Losing Everything) tells the story of a young wife, Miriam (Léa Drucker) who escapes with her two children from her abusive husband. Director Xavier Legrand’s film stands out as a result of its suspenseful nature, depicted atypi-
cally through images rather than music. The set-up of the movie has the plot unravel slowly, showing a frantic woman who is revealed through context clues to in fact be a victim of spousal abuse. This film leaves you on the edge of your seat up until the last moment; and while its fast-paced camera work keeps viewers on their toes, it allows some thematic concepts to get muddled and be left unfinished. Selma Vilhunen’s subtitled Finnish film Pitääkö mun kaikki hoitaa? (Do I Have To Take Care Of Everything) tells the story of a family rushing to make it on time to a wedding. This film is the shortest of those nominated, clocking in at seven minutes, and is also the funniest, making good use of visual and situational humour. While it’s a welcome relief to watch in regards to some of the heavier films featured alongside it, this short film fails to rank with its competitors in terms of visual dynamism and thought-provoking story lines. Despite this, it’s still a heart-warming film with a happy, carefree message of love and acceptance. My pick for the Academy Award goes to Esteban Crespo’s Aquel No Era Yo , the tale of a young boy (Mariano Nguema) and his experience as a child soldier in Africa. Aside from being an emotional rollercoaster and a cinematic attack on the senses, this film provides a noholds-barred look into the world of a child soldier. This film is produced in collaboration with multiple projects that aim to help children around the world live safer, healthier, happier lives. By providing a raw, unedited look into the world of a child soldier, this film makes a powerful and lasting statement.
A children’s bedtime story, a phantasmagorical dream, and everything in between make up this year’s animation shorts Oscar nominee pool. Disney delivers Lauren MacMullan’s Get a Horse , featuring Mickey Mouse (using the archived voice of Walt Disney) and the gang—Minnie, Peg-Leg Pete, Horace Horsecollar, and Clarabelle Cow—in an oddly self-reflective narrative about the evolution of animation. Stylized in their two-dimensional 1928-esque black-and-white renderings, Mickey Mouse and his friends engage in a raucous, simplistic comedy. The film takes an unexpected turn when Mickey is thrown out of ‘the screen,’ landing in the theater’s venue and converted into a colored three-dimensional cartoon. The gang constantly crosses between the 2D and 3D worlds, and even goes so far as ‘rewinding’ and ‘fast-forwarding’ segments of their ‘film’ by using the screen as a vintage flip book. Mr. Hublot , a French short from Laurent Witz and Alexandre Espigare, tells a heart-warming story of a peculiar obsessive-compulsive man, outfitted in mechanical parts, living alone and adopting a robotic dog from the streets that turns his ordered environment upside down. Set in a steampunk-esque environment, the man comes to cherish his adopted pet and learns to make room in his ‘tin’ heart and ordered living space. Using stop-motion and computer animation, Witz and his team produce a visually intricate feast for the eyes. Yet more compelling is the story of this man and his dog filled with belonging, friendship, and love. You can’t help but root for the tiny robotic puppy we first encounter on the streets. A Japanese contender, Possessions , directed by Shuhei Morita, is the oddball of the bunch. (imageshack.us)
An 18th century traveling ‘fix-it’ merchant takes shelter from a storm in an abandoned hut filled with discarded possessions that are fittingly ‘possessed.’ The items come to life and break out in song-and-dance in creepy fashion; it makes for some puzzling questions as to Morita’s vision regarding the plot. Though the conclusion leaves more questions than answers, the colours in the animation are vibrant and distinct. Max Lang and Jan Lachauer bring together the stellar voice talents of Simon Pegg, Gillian Anderson, and Sally Hawkins in Room on the Broom . This children’s bedtime story is distinguished by its simple, bright colours and animation, along with the poetic rhyming narration. Though overly extensive in length, the film does possess the makings of a perfect children’s tale through its delightful humor and morally-sound happily-ever-after ending. American director Daniel Sousa, along with composer Dan Golden, brings us Feral . Out of all the nominees, this one is the hardest to define. This poetic film tells a story about a wild boy living in the wilderness among wolves who is taken by a hunter to live among a human society. With stark colours and absent dialogue, it’s a visual essay examining the brutalities of nature and human society for an innocent boy, left to navigate both worlds on his own. The entirely hand-drawn animation depicts an expressionistic, surreal reality with its muted sound and metaphorical imagery. Accused of having a vague, inclusive ending, the narrative is poignant and effective in its examination of the binary realities of light and dark; wild nature and civilization; and child and man. Though it would be thrilling to see Mr. Hublot take the win for Best Animated Short, it would be surprising if the poetically beautiful Feral does not bring the Academy Award home. But in Oscar tradition, Get a Horse , may surprise audiences and take the golden statuette home for its self-reflective examination of the art of animation.
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Tuesday, February 4, 2014 |
arts & entertainment
ALBUM REVIEWS Hospitality-Troubles Dum Dum Girls- Too true Sub pop
The Dum Dum Girls’ new album Too True was meant to be the band’s official transition into the world of highlabel girl group Rock ‘n’ Roll fame. However, it clearly flows from the same vein as their previous work, making for an ethereal-sounding album that directly harkens back to girl group greats of the ’60s and post-punk beats of the ’80s. While it may not have been the transformative album the group was hoping for, Too True still holds its own in today’s pop-rock genre. Sleek guitar riffs meld smoothly with lead singer Dee Dee Penny’s eerily calm vocals and poetic lyrics. The standout track of the album is “Rimbaud Eyes,” directly inspired by French poet Arthur Rimbaud, which displays the bands signature fast beat tracks on metaphor-laden lyrics with a gloomy overcast. The beauty of the album is Penny’s ability to address somber lyrical themes like heartache, betrayal, and death in a calm, steady manner. The near-title track “Too True To Be Good” expresses this concept perfectly as Dee Dee breathlessly moans “I’ve tried to remind myself it’s gonna be fine/[…]/ it’s hard to outrun/ the devil from behind” over a sugar-sweet drum beat. The album contains a form of micro-variety—while the same narcotic fuzz and Dee Dee’s eerie vocal inflections link each song, clear distinctions form from track to track. For instance, a new wave momentum drives “Little Minx” while “Under These Hands” contains a folk-rock foundation. Heavily influenced by past sounds while still maintaining a fresh punk vibe, Too True is just daring enough to reel you in and mesmerizing enough to keep you listening. — Morgan Alexander
Gramatik-The Age of Reason lowtemp
Among today’s monotonous, often regurgitated world of electronic music, it is difficult to find something genuinely fresh. Despite this, Gramatik has harnessed the ability to supply interesting, novel sounds in the realm of electronic music. His most recent effort, The Age of Reason, is no exception. Trading slower, swung electro jazz pieces for grime, grunge, and a plethora of distortion, Gramatik offers up a heavy-hitting banger of an album. Relentless blues and hard rock improvisations are shoved through your consciousness, washed down with all the glitches, wobs, and drill bit noise of a dubstep album. The album demonstrates Gramatik’s skill as a truly inspired producer, but the endless guitar riff motif becomes tired as the album drags on. That being said, The Age of Reason does not fail to deliver with a surprise when it needs to—just as you thought there was no hope. One song in it becomes clear that Gramatik is turning up. The Billy Squire-esque glam-dripping banger “Torture” sets the tone for the front end of the album and has you head banging as if you were front row at a Sabbath show. Next, the aptly named “Bluestep” delivers an amalgam of improvised blues riffs and high BPM (beats per minute)-drenched dubstep grime. Stepping into more melodic domain, “Pardon my French” refreshingly delivers a funky hook that sends ethereal grooves through your spine, unconsciously making you squirm in your seat. Despite all the BPMs and grit at the front end of the album, songs like “We Used to Dream” and “Just Jammin’ NYC” allow for a quick breather and a chance to bask in the brilliantly swung electro jazz styles more reminiscent of Gramatik’s earlier work. On album standout “Get a Grip,” Gramatik recruits vocalist Gibbz for a bass-slapped Disclosure-does-electro-funk track that has you tapping your foot and singing along in an instant. As a whole, The Age of Reason is slightly tired in its monotonous use of droning electro rock, but makes up for this through truly brilliant, catchy productions that prove Gramatik is a leading innovator in the electro scene. — Cristian Hertzer
| Curiosity delivers.
Merge
There’s something to be said about female vocalists and indie pop, a match so perfect and compatible, that it can usually intrigue the ear no matter how respectable the music really is. Luckily in the case of Amber Papini, lead vocalist of Hospitality, her stylings are both intriguing and respectable. On their sophomore album, Troubles, Papini and her crew explore emotional complexities and haunting landscapes while moving through decades of pop influence. This time, Hospitality opts for complexity and seriousness when compared with their self-titled debut, which was lauded for its catchy toe-tapping indie-pop sunshine. Haunting yet catchy riffs weave effortlessly through the tracks, naturally complimenting Papini’s prowess. Troubles is a wistful amalgam of varied inspirations. “It’s Not Serious” adopts a Norah Jones-esque jazz-pop feel, while syncopated pop gem “I Miss Your Bones” reminisces the early workings of Canadian indie heroes Tegan & Sara. The song absorbs—maybe even too wholeheartedly—’80s new wave pop. Riding a buzzing synth, Papini’s airy vocals, and the chorus signifying claps, “Last Words” evokes a desire to star in a hilariously dream filtered ’80s music video featuring Morrisey’s hair. The track may as well be a cut from The Cure or Joy Division. Oddly following this ’80s-style tune is the mystical storytelling ballad “Sunships,” where Amber Papini croons over a crescendo of acoustic guitar and softly spoken trumpet. Lastly, with album highlight “Sullivan,” Hospitality unites with this codeine-drenched loose jazz jam that encapsulates both pop elements as well as technical musicianship. Although it lacks cohesiveness, Troubles offers an interesting flashback into pop history and never fails to surprise the ear. The album is a definite worthwhile listen and has established Hospitality’s ability to write both young ephemeral pop hits as well as meaningful technical pieces. — Cristian Hertzer
POP Rhetoric
Grammys take the easy route instead Max Bledstein Staff Writer of going Mackleless
Awards shows inevitably feel designed to frustrate fans. The very concept of a group of industry insiderws picking a single album, movie, or TV show as the best from a given year almost guarantees that a large swath of people will be unhappy with their choice. However, certain snubs carry a broader cultural connotation, which makes them feel all the more egregious—and the 2014 Grammy for Best Rap Album belongs in that category. Macklemore’s The Heist—the eventual winner—and prominent challengers Yeezus by Kanye West, and Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d City were all nominated for the award. Each of the albums’ content deals with various social issues, though they all use different rhetorical styles to address them; Macklemore raps from a more detached perspective, while the other emcees address struggles that have been applicable to a certain degree to their own lives. Upon examining songs from each of the albums, it’s evident why Macklemore’s message was more palatable to Grammy voters than West’s or Lamar’s. On Macklemore’s hit single “Same Love,” he explores the homophobia that continues to plague the hip-hop world and society as a whole. Though his decision to raise awareness around these issues is undoubtedly a positive thing, Macklemore comes across as detached from the people he claims to be trying to help. In the song’s opening verse, he explains how he himself is not gay, as if to suggest that him recording the song will lead listeners to be suspicious of his sexual orientation. His lack of empathy limits the capabilities of his advocacy. By contrast, on good kid, Lamar presents the voice of those who actually experience oppression and discrimination. On “Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst,” Lamar writes from the perspectives of three different people who have all grown up in a poor African-American community. “This orphanage we call a ghetto is just a routine,” one of them says. His use of the word “we” situates his song in a totally different context than Macklemore’s. Whereas Macklemore only associates himself with the oppressed when describing how he wants to help them, Lamar expresses the strife
he’s actually been through. Writer Ta-Nehisi Coates praises Lamar’s approach in his New York Times op-ed column “HipHop Speaks to the Guns,” in which he calls good kid “an album that people grappling with policy desperately need to hear,” and praises it for showing “how gun violence extends out beyond the actual guns.” Rather than criticize injustice from a distance, Lamar shows what it feels like to experience it first-hand. West takes the opportunity on Yeezus to speak through the voice of an African-American man who doesn’t have to deal with the horrors Lamar describes, but still faces systemic racism in other ways. On “New Slaves,” West says of his oppressors, “They throwin’ hate at me / Want me to stay at ease.” Once again, unlike Macklemore in “Same Love,” West writes from the point-of-view of someone who has to face injustice rather than someone who chooses to try and combat it. Whereas Macklemore decides to help people whom he deems in need of his assistance, West is the one who has people “throwin’ hate at” him and desire for him “to stay at ease” rather than fight back. In Tessa Brown’s recent essay “Yeezy Rising” in The American Reader, she describes West as “A black man [....]who has refused to stay in his lane.” She also refers to his music to be “calling out that there are lanes,” which she pronounces “an offense punishable by media death.” While Macklemore also acknowledges “that there are lanes,” he doesn’t explain how it feels to be put in one. Clearly, Macklemore’s distanced confrontation of difficult issues played better with Grammy voters than West and Lamar’s accounts of their experiences. Though questionable decisions in awards shows are nothing new, some awards or snubs—such as The Wire never winning an Emmy, or Driving Miss Daisy winning Best Picture over Do the Right Thing— bring with them sad truths about the state of cultural affairs. By granting a Grammy to Macklemore over both Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar, the voters have shown that they’d rather hear about someone condemning discrimination than face the bleak reality of its effects.
SPORTS
Ice Hockey— McGill 6, Windsor 2
Redmen split weekend series with Lancers
Teams combine for 76 penalty minutes in McGill’s dominant performance on Saturday Wyatt Fine-Gagné Staff Writer Back-to-back games can be gruelling tasks in the sport of hockey, but the McGill Redmen managed to look fresh during the second of two home games against the Windsor Lancers this past weekend. The Redmen dropped Friday night’s game 4-3 in the shootout, but managed to rebound for a 6-2 win in a physical affair Saturday night. The two teams combined for 76 penalty minutes Saturday evening over the course of a chippy three periods. The referees handed out three separate 10-minute misconducts—two to the Lancers and one to McGill’s Mathieu Pompei—and 23 minor penalties. McGill’s Patrick Delisle-Houde opened the scoring 3:47 into the first period on a shot from the point that found its way through traffic and into the back of the net. Although it was their only goal of the period, the Redmen were strong right from the start, out-shooting Windsor and controlling even-strength play. This was a key difference between the first and second game, according to McGill Head Coach Kelly Nobes. “You know, [a slow start] was our downfall in the game [on] Fri-
Centre Mathieu Pompei turns on a dime. (Alexandra Allaire / McGill Tribune) day,” Nobes said. “In this league you have to play 60 minutes against the good teams.” Although they have struggled as of late, Windsor remains in fourth place in a tough OUA West Division. They are also the second-most penalized team in the CIS, a possible factor in explaining the game’s rough play. At times it appeared as though players had forgotten about the puck and were simply focused on how best to hit or be hit. The Lancers and Redmen have not traditionally
THIRD MAN IN Aaron Rose Staff Writer In the week before the Super Bowl, the NFL launched its improved Pro Bowl format with teams being drafted by NFL legends, Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice. However, as much as the NFL tries to improve the Pro Bowl, the truth is that most fans see the event as a pitiful exhibition game that players don’t care about. Fans want to see the best players in the world compete at their highest level, and in a sport where injuries are abundant, the reality is that a competitive Pro Bowl is simply a pipe dream. It seems that of the four major North American sports, only the NHL has figured out how to throw an entertaining All-Star weekend. So how can the three other professional leagues improve their uninspired displays? In 2003, Major League
been rivals, but it certainly looked as though they were with emotions running high and scrums breaking out after the numerous whistles. “One of the things that is important in a game like that is to keep your composure,” Nobes said. “We did a good job of it, knowing that if we kept working and being relentless, that we’d get our power-play chances.” Nobes got his wish—20 seconds after forward Cedric McNicoll scored to put McGill up 2-1, left
winger Delisle-Houde netted his second of the game on a power-play to make it 3-1. Delisle-Houde’s three points give him 24 on the year, tying his season total from 2012-13. McGill’s dominant play against the Lancers continued to close out the game—the Redmen’s leading scorer Ryan McKiernan potted his 12th goal of the season to put the home team up 4-1 entering the third period. During the final frame McNicoll netted another goal and left winger Neal Prokop earned his sixth
of the year, ending the game with a final score of 6-2. Rookie goaltender Jacob Gervais-Chouinard was the unsung hero of the night, stopping 30 of 32 shots on his way to a win. Both GervaisChouinard and Windsor goalie Parker Van Buskirk faced significant pressure at times, but Gervais-Chouinard remained solid while Van Buskirk succumbed to the pressure, allowing four goals before being pulled at the end of the second period. Saturday evening’s win brings McGill’s record to 19-5-2, good enough for 40 points and second place with two games left to play in the regular season. “In the playoffs, the farther you go along, the more important it is to play 60 minutes,” Nobes said. “It’s so tight and there’s so much parity among the top teams.” At this point in the season, the playoffs are a guarantee for the Redmen. No matter which team they draw in the post-season, however, the team will need to bring the type of full game effort they showed against Windsor on Saturday if they hope to succeed. McGill’s next game is against UOIT on Feb. 7 at McConnell Arena. at 7:00 p.m.
All-Star wars: the fandom menace
Baseball (MLB) made the AllStar game worth playing for when it decided to award the winning conference home-field advantage in the World Series. While the MLB got that one right, the decision also precluded other creative ideas for improving their All-Star weekend. For example, despite popular demand, Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander did not appear in the 2013 home run derby. Although nobody expected that Verlander would suddenly start launching moonshots, the MLB can rest assured that baseball fans would tune in to see the former CY Young winner take a few swings of the bat. The NBA struggles with almost the exact opposite issue: nobody wants to participate in their supposed marquee event. For years now, the slam-dunk competition has been filled with a handful of no-name players. Fans want to see LeBron James soaring through the air—not
afterthoughts such as former New York Knick James White. There are two easy fixes for this: new NBA commissioner Adam Silver can try to remind these players that they are both athletes and entertainers, or he can incentivize winners by giving a sum of money to the charity of the winner’s choice. You can be assured that James or any other superstar would sign up for the dunk contest if his reputation were on the line. The struggle now is for Silver to create a system that convinces stars to prove their worth against one another in this setting. The dunk contest is just the beginning of the NBA All-Star weekend’s flaws. Most of the other events are painstakingly boring. How about a free throw competition where the only prerequisite is to have previously received the Hack-a-Shaq treatment? Think about the entertainment value of watching DeAndre Jordan, Andre Drum-
mond, and Dwight Howard struggle to make just half their shots. On a more serious note, how about adding a one-on-one tournament? I would certainly want to see LeBron James go head-to-head with Kevin Durant in a first-to-11-points contest. With regards to the specific players playing in the big game: this is a choice that should not be left to uneducated fans. The league needs to let the coaches vote for the All-Stars, as fans are more prone to vote for big names and star power rather than rewarding those who are currently having quality seasons. When Kobe Bryant is named a starter during a season in which he has only played six games, it becomes apparent that the system is flawed. Returning to the NFL, how can a sport where someone gets hit on almost every play have an All-Star game where every player is afraid to get injured? Easy; remove the hitting. Ath-
letes don’t play hard because they don’t want to get injured. However, if you prevent the likelihood of injury, intensity will be ramped up. Turning the Pro Bowl into flag football might fundamentally change the game but it ensures that fans get to see the league’s best players play with some vigour. Another welcome addition would be a return to the skills competition the NFL had featured until 2007. In its first go-around the event had little marketing, but it would be an interesting way to pit the best players in the “No Fun League” against each other in order to make their all-star weekend more, well, fun. While designing these events, the “Big Four” leagues face a precarious balance between intensity and entertainment. With a little creativity and effort, however, they can achieve a product that both fans and players will be proud of.
Curiosity delivers. |
sports
THE WEATHER— The hype surrounding the inclement weather amounted to absolutely nothing as the temperature in the Meadowlands held up at around 10ºC all night with little wind and no snow. With the weather having virtually no effect on the game, some are already saying that cold weather cities could be added to the regular Super Bowl rotation. Roger Goodell is salivating at the thought of tapping into large markets such as Washington and Chicago. So how about Buffalo in 2018?! No one? Cool.
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Around the
ater cooler
Steven Lampert Production Manager
In case you stopped watching after the first play, here’s what you missed in Super Bowl XLVIII…
10 THINGS
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THE GAME— We should have seen it coming. A game that started with a botched Denver snap ended in complete Seattle domination. The Seahawks controlled all three phases of the game on Sunday, defeating the Denver Broncos 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII—the third largest Super Bowl victory margin in NFL history. Despite the anticipation for Denver’s top ranked offence to meet Seattle’s no. 1 ranked defence, the game never lived up to the hype—the Broncos’ prolific attack was shut down from the moment Joe Namath and his thrift shop coat came onto the field. Russell Wilson evaded rushers and converted on some key third downs; the defensive line controlled the line of scrimmage and forced Peyton Manning into some errant throws; and oft-injured Percy Harvin even had an impact, returning the opening second half kick for a touchdown. In other words, the game was never
Curling
close—Seattle looked bigger, faster, and meaner. Macklemore must be so thrilled. THE MVP— Don’t be ashamed. We all predicted this one wrong. Outside linebacker Malcolm Smith—a relatively unknown player outside of Seattle—took home the Super Bowl MVP honours, becoming just the sixth defensive player to win the award. Smith recorded nine tackles, a fumble recovery, and most importantly, returned an interception for a touchdown leading the way for Seattle’s destruction. Some other key notes about Smith: he played for Seattle Head Coach Pete Carroll at USC. He picked off the pass that Richard Sherman tipped to clinch the NFC championship. He was awarded a 2014 Chevy Silverado for winning MVP. Not bad for a former seventh-round pick. Macklemore would be proud. THE HALFTIME SHOW— Bruno Mars was probably the most exciting part of the Super Bowl. He killed it. His performance will likely go down as one of the best Super Bowl halftime spectacles ever. The Red Hot Chili Peppers also showed up without shirts on to play “Give It Away,” which was pretty cool too, except for the part where I could name 40 other Pepper songs that I would rather hear. Just please, no Macklemore next year. Please.
by Elie Waitzer, Staff Writer
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“Winnipeg, get ready to paint the town Burgundy… this is going to end terribly.” Last year, Ron Burgundy sent shockwaves through the curling world after announcing that he would be joining TSN’s coverage of Tim Horton’s Roar of the Rings—Canada’s official curling trials—as a commentator, proving that Curling has reached cult status.
From riverbed rocks and weighted jam-pails, today’s curling stones weigh a standard 42 lbs—equivalent to your average three-year-old—and can cost up to $700 each. Some other curling essentials include flexible pants, fibreglass brooms, and Teflon-soled shoes.
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Canada is currently the top-ranked nation in the sport according to the World Curling Federation, with a total of eight Olympic medals heading into Sochi 2014. A little further down the international rankings, past the Scandinavian powerhouses and the United Kingdom, lies China ranked at number seven worldwide. The sport has exploded in China; its victory over Sweden in the 2009 World Curling Championships marked the first time an Asian team has ever won a
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Curling has unique physical demands. In major events, a team will play up to 35 hours over 14 games. The sweepers may have the most demanding task as they are required to reduce the friction underneath the stone and influence the curl of its trajectory.
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Though Scotland is home to the World Curling Federation, the sport is most popular in Canada, where it was introduced by Scottish immigrants. Established in 1807, the Royal Montreal Curling Club is the oldest sports club still active in North America.
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If you’ve recovered from that sticker shock, most professional competitions require that your stone be fitted with an electronic handle known as the “eye on the hog.” This sensor detects if the thrower’s hand is in contact with the handle as it passes the foul line and costs another $700.
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you didn’t know about...
Curling is widely believed to be one of the oldest team sports. It evolved out of the medieval Scottish pastime of sliding smooth river stones, called “loafies”, on frozen lochs. Early forms of curling were especially popular among weavers, who adapted the rocks they used to weigh down their looms to the game by fixing detachable handles to them.
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| Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Curling debuted at the Olympics as an exhibition sport at the 1924 Chamonix Winter Olympics and became a fully recognized Olympic sport in the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics.
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Above all, good sportsmanship is the most integral part of the game. Even at high levels of competition, players are expected to call their own fouls and it is considered good etiquette to concede the game if you have no chance of winning.
Curling has been referenced to as “chess on ice” for its tactical nature. Curlers can employ three different types of shots: guards, draws, and takeouts. Teams can either choose to go on the offensive and put more stones in play, increasing the excitement and likelihood for defeat. On the contrary, they can choose to play defensively and limit the on-ice interaction. (Christine Tam / McGill Tribune)
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Tuesday, February 4, 2014 |
sports
| Curiosity delivers.
BASKETBALL— McGill 80, Bishop’s 67
Hoop stars sweep Gaiters to move into first in RSEQ Co-captains Dufort and Bibeau lead the way in key wins Osama Haque Staff Writer The no. 8 ranked McGill Redmen (8-2) stormed Love Competition Hall Thursday evening, coasting to a 80-67 win over the Bishop’s Gaiters (6-4). In a battle for first place in the RSEQ division, the Redmen emerged on top; Bishop’s intensity level was nowhere close to McGill’s as the home squad’s stifling man-to-man defence and red-hot offence from beyond the arc were the keys to a decisive victory. The Redmen came out with a bang in the first quarter, setting the tone early with their crisp ball movement and suffocating defence. The home team managed to spread the floor well without forcing any shots. McGill tallied up a 20-4 score midway through the first quarter—which included five threepointers in transition. However, the more impressive feat was keeping Bishop’s to seven points in the quarter and merely 20 points total by the half. Yet the second half was a very different story for both squads. The Redmen came out flat, and the Gaiters retaliated with a run of their own as they made appropriate adjustments on defence. Bishop’s outscored McGill by 12 points in the second half and showed some life, but the Gaiters’ comeback run had come too late in the game. “[Bishop’s] are a very good team,” Head Coach David DeAveiro said. “We happened to shoot the ball extremely well and got up big. You can’t judge them by one half of play. [In] the second half, they kicked our butts. Their coach made a couple of adjustments that were some good ones, and [the team] played with more intensity. They took away some of the things we liked to do, and we didn’t handle it well.”
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Junior point guard Ave Bross makes his way into the lane. (Remi Lu / McGill Tribune) Along with launching McGill into the top spot in the RSEQ, the game also marked the first time Redmen senior guard and co-captain Simon Bibeau has scored 20 points or more in a game since October. Bibeau was key to McGill’s victory, leading all scorers with 21 points—including three threepointers in the first quarter. Rookie guards Dele Ogundokun and Michael Peterkin were also spectacular as they chipped in 17 points apiece in the contest. However, the journey for first place in the RSEQ didn’t stop Thursday evening, as the team played a rematch against Bishop’s at Lennoxville, Quebec on Satur-
day, where the Gaiters had previously been undefeated in season play. “We are going to look at the tape, and [will be watching] the second half [of Thursday’s game,]” DeAveiro said. “We are going to figure out how to beat [Bishop’s] tough defence and learn some lessons [to be] ready to play Saturday.” McGill was more than ready to play in their second contest of the week as they defended their newly acquired first place position with a 55-48 victory over the Gaiters in front of a raucous Carnival crowd. Co-captains Bibeau and Vincent Dufort led the way for the team, with Bibeau recording 15 points
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and Dufort posting a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. “It was a huge thing to win back-to-back against Bishop’s,” Bibeau said. “We know that they’re a tough team. We were in the run for first place. We were able to confirm
Sports briefs
Zikomo Smith, Contributor
Martlet Hockey On Saturday, the no.1 CIS ranked McGill Martlets thoroughly dominated the Concordia Stingers en route to a 5-1 victory, extending their winning streak against their cross-town rivals to 54 straight victories. Fourth-year industrial relations major Katia Clement-Heydra was instrumental in McGill’s first four goals.
Clement-Heydra set up Gabrielle Davidson and Chelsea Saunders for the opening two goals respectively, before adding one of her own and then assisting Leslie Oles on the fourth. Sunday saw no halt in the Martlets’ excellence, as the team breezed past the Ottawa Gee Gees with a score of 5-2. Davidson scored twice, breaking the former RSEQ scoring record of 24 goals
in only 17 games. McGill out-shot the Gee Gees 45-22 and goaltender Andrea Weckmen recorded a 20-save game as the Martlets extended their RSEQ winning streak to 43 games. Now McGill awaits the season results of Ottawa, Concordia, and Carleton to see who they will encounter in the first round of the conference playoffs.
our [first-place position] this weekend.” McGill will look to continue their three-game winning streak against UQAM at 8:00 p.m. on Feb. 2 at Love Competition Hall.
SPORTS basketball— mcgill 66, Bishop’s 43
Martlets end losing skid at two McGill blows out Bishop’s at home; move into first in RSEQ Elie Waitzer Staff Writer 6’1” sophomore Mariam Sylla posted 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for her seventh double-double this season in just 20 minutes to lead McGill to a 66-43 win over lastplace Bishop’s at home on Thursday. Sylla—the reigning CIS Playerof-the-Year—had help conquering the Gaiters as freshman forward Jennifer Silver emerged as a sparkplug with 11 points off the bench. Silver went an impressive five of six from the free throw line as McGill coasted in the final quarter. Coming off a rough stretch in which the squad dropped its first two games of the season, Martlet Head Coach Ryan Thorne said his team was thinking solely about the future. “It’s a different team [than last week],” Thorne explained. “We weren’t concerned and we went after them from the beginning. We knew what our issues were over our last couple of games and worked on them.” The string of strong practices paid off for the Martlets as they led by as many as 29 points and had three players in double-digits. The story of the game was the lights-out perimeter shooting that sent dagger after
dagger into the visitors’ defence. “The plan was to play inside out,” said Sylla. “I tried to keep the ball deep in the paint and then kick it out to them; and when they’re knocking those shots down, [Bishop’s] is going to move out of the post, so we had a nice balance inside and out.” After going a dismal five of 17 from three-point land in the first two quarters, the home team found their stroke, raining threes from all over the floor in the final two frames. Of the Martlets’ 26 attempts from beyond the arc, none was more important than the backbreaker by Marie-Pier Bastrash, a 5’8” shooting guard from Trois-Rivieres, Quebec. With Bishop’s threatening to close the gap on a 9-0 run late in the second quarter, Bastrash stepped up and swished a three from the top of the key to squash any chance of a comeback. Hustling down the floor after her shot, Bastrash picked off an errant pass by Bishop’s backup point guard Catherine Rondeau to set up another three—this time by thirdyear point guard Dianna Ros. Ros, who had been sidelined for the past two games by a leg injury, contributed 16 minutes off the bench. “She’s one of our top ball-han-
Fourth-year guard Roya Assadi drives past the Bishop’s defence. (Alexandra Allaire / McGill Tribune) dlers [and] she understands what I want, so to have her back was big,” Thorne said. “We got an extra shooter [and] an extra playmaker that we’ve been missing.” In their own end, the Martlets played aggressive defence, disrupting the Gaiters’ attack by forcing heavily contested jump shots and shot clock violations on consecutive possessions. “We know they like to penetrate, so we tried to get in the gaps and not let them get there,” Thorne said. The Martlets dominated the boards all night, out-rebounding
Bishop’s 51-39. However, according to Sylla, the key to the game was the Martlets’ ball security. “[The] last few games, we were giving up a lot of turnovers. Tonight, we were able to run our offence and still take care of the ball,” she said. Beyond cutting down on their turnovers, McGill was able to capitalize on sloppy play by the Gaiters, turning 16 steals into 20 quick points. Following their win Thursday evening, McGill faced off against Bishop’s once again on Saturday and cruised to a 71-42 win in Mitchell Gym in Lennoxville. The Martlets
were buoyed by Gabriela Hebert’s 16 points and 7 rebounds as they maintained their position atop the RSEQ. McGill’s next game is against UQAM on Thursday, Feb. 6 in Love Competition Hall at 6:00 p.m., in what will be a decisive match for first place in the conference. A loss for McGill would mean losing their uncontested hold on first place.
Volleyball— McGill 1, MontrEal 3 (25,11, 25-19, 22-25, 25,19)
McGill eliminated at hands of Vert-et-Or Sophomore power-hitter Norfleet comes up big in losing cause Mayaz Alam Sports Editor The goal for the McGill Martlets was straightforward heading into their matchup against the powerhouse no. 3 ranked Montreal Carabins: win the three sets needed to see themselves through to the post-season. Unfortunately, McGill’s Senior Night was not to be the magical send-off for seniors MarieChristine Lapointe, Daphnée-Maude André-Morin, and Genevieve Plante, as McGill lost in four sets (25-11, 25-19, 22-25 25-19). The Carabins jumped out to an early lead in the first game, winning by a lopsided score of 25-11. The pressure was on the Martlets to turn the game around in the second set as they needed to return to their gameplan. “Against Montreal we need to serve very well—hard and precise—to force them to have an average serve receive and not be able to hit as well,” Head Coach Rachèle Beliveau explained. “Our first contacts of the rally serve or serve receive have to be execut-
ed very well in order to give us a chance to score a point.” Throughout the game, the Martlets struggled to pass the ball consistently, with broken plays in all four sets. However, sophomore power-hitter Ashley Norfleet made numerous hits off of broken plays to keep the Martlets in the game at the end of the second set. In addition to Norfleet, Plante showed veteran poise and leadership by scoring key points in the same set. The squad was aided by a string of unforced errors by the Carabins, which was ultimately not enough to make a difference. A primary factor in the difficulty the Martlets’ defence had in setting up easy sets was the strength of the Carabins hitters. Any time the home squad began to mount a rally, the thundering strike of the Carabins’ Marie-Sophie Nadeau or Vicky Savard halted McGill in its tracks. The Carabins’ size was an undoubted advantage “We also have to hit high and off the hands to score [against their height,]” Beliveau said. “We need to pass very well to permit us to use three hitters and
create [favourable] one-on-one situations.” One of the McGill squad’s defining characteristics was its grittiness. Whatever the Carabins threw at them, the Martlets refused to wilt under the pressure. It was a squad that played until the final whistle, giving multiple efforts on a consistent basis. This resilience proved to be the catalyst behind their third set victory. Lapointe and middle Marie-Pier Durivage combined for the clinching point on a monster block that was met with applause. Norfleet led the squad with 15 points while Lapointe added nine along with a team-high 17 digs. André-Morin also had 17 digs in what was possibly the last home game of her career. The fifthyear senior still has one year of eligibility left, but has already left a legacy that any future libero will be hard-pressed to match. André-Morin was a two-time RSEQ Libero-of-the-Year, and also garnered CIS Libero-of-the-Year honours during the Martlets’ bronze medal winning campaign in the 2011-2012 season. Following the loss against Mon-
Ashley Norfleet spikes over. (Laurie-Anne Benoit / McGill Tribune) treal, McGill’s need was still one with only one game remaining—a winnertake-all matchup against Sherbrooke for a chance to enter the post-season. With their season on the line, the Martlets won the first set at Sherbrooke’s Pavillon Univestrie before dropping three consecutive sets. With their season forced to a premature end, all the team can do now is begin preparing for next
year. All three graduating seniors have a remaining year of eligibility, but it will require a team effort for the program to make it back to the CIS championships. “Our girls are very good workers.,” Beliveau said. “They train hard and are very much dedicated to the program. I have confidence that everyone will put the effort we need to improve over the off-season and our team will be ready.”