McGill Tribune Volume No. 35 Issue No. 4

The McGill Tribune T curiosity delivers

TUEsday, SEPTEMBER 29, 2015 Volume No. 35 Issue No. 04

Editorial: The case for a central student hub at m c gill pg. 5

feature: Altering the face of history By jack neal pg. 8 - 9

m c gilltribune.com @m c gilltribune

OFF THE BOARD

NO. 1 ROUGE ET OR OVERPOWER MARTLETs PG. 16

a eulogy for korova Morgan Alexander Managing Editor

Martlets toil against the Rouge Et Or. (Natalie Vineberg / McGill Tribune)

Understanding Quebec’s role in the Syrian refugee crisis Support must come from government and community, Syrian student says Laura Hanrahan News Editor

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n Sept. 9 the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis was declared the worst humanitarian crisis of our time by the Secretary General of the United Nations. Over 11 million Syrians have been displaced as a result of the current civil war. While the majority of refugees have fled to

the Middle East and Europe, Quebec has accepted more than half of the 2,374 Syrian refugees who came to Canada between January 2014 and August 2015.

Appropriate terminology Vice-President Internal of McGill’s Syrian Students Association (SSA) Ghalia Elkerdi ex-

plained the importance of making a distinction between refugees and migrants when discussing these issues.

“I think we should be very careful when we use the terms refugee and migrant because migrant means something different,” she said. “[Migrant] means people [who] applied to an immigration process to get to Europe and else-

where. [These refugees] crawled out of Syria because of the war, and then they had to swim, and they found themselves on European soil and under international law; Because they are refugees, Europe has to take them in. This distinction is not being made in the mainstream media.”

Continued on pg. 2

The news of Korova’s untimely end has shaken lovers of communal asphyxiation, smoke machines, and top 40 hip hop singles across campus. Just two days after a typically successful $ucka Free Monday ( Staight Outta Compton Edition), Korova announced on its Facebook page that it was closing for good, and would celebrate with cheap drinks.

Following the announcement, many jumped to the conclusion that the institution had gone broke, considering it operated on a simple, yet underused, business model: Only break even one day a week. As someone who has gone to Korova on every day of the week, I can assure you that each day it draws in a unique and consistently sweaty crowd of people that consume just as much alcohol as would seem necessary to support a seedy bar/dance floor. Unfortunately, what Korova wasn’t able to support was itself, as its floors literally started caving under the pressure of hundreds of drunk, bouncing club-goers.

Continued on pg. 5

Behind the bench: Just don’t let it be a tie “Three—on—three” OT hockey sweeping the NHL nation genevieve citron Contributor The very last tied game in NHL history was played between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers on April 4, 2004. It was anything but slow. The Hurricanes took an impressive 4-0 lead in the first period before allowing six unanswered goals to start out the

third. Carolina recovered when Eric Staal and Brad Fast­—in their first and last NHL game, respectively—tied up the score. When the regulation clock expired, the official scorer entered 6-6 in the books, and the crowd shuffled out of stands.

Excitement nonwithstanding, the final score of this game would probably be incredibly unsatisfying to today’s NHL fans. Nowadays, it seems that thrilling hockey comes

from sitting on the edge of your seat, waiting for your team to score that winning goal. Hockey fans want to walk away with a win and, of course, bragging rights over their friends who so foolishly chose to support another franchise.

After the 2005 lockout, the NHL removed the tie. Ten years later, the NHL is reconsidering whether drawnout overtimes and shootouts are the best way to trigger excitement. After

a successful trial run in the preseason, NHL overtimes will now go straight to “three-on-three” play this season, leaving behind the old ways of “four-on-four” and hopefully leading to more dramatic finishes.

This new overtime format is perfect for the fans. It gives athletes a greater chance to wow spectators with their skills. With fewer men on the ice, there will be more room for fluid interactions among players.

This will free up ice space for quick puck movement and greater scoring opportunities. The three-on-three regulation will lead to many more electrifying game-winners from the league’s best scorers, as Eric Staal and Joffrey Lupul demonstrated in the pre-season. They both managed to end their games less than a minute into overtime.

Continued on pg. 15

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NEWS Understanding Quebec’s role in the Syrian refugee crisis Support must come from government and community, Syrian student says Laura Hanrahan News Editor Continued from page one

The Québec context Stéphane Plante, press officer for the office of the Immigration Minister, explained Quebec’s current role in the refugee crisis.

“Our government felt that it was the right time to show leadership in the face of the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II,” Plante said.

“We have a moral obligation toward those men, women, [and] children fleeing violence. We have the opportunity to provide them with peace, security, and a future.”

Plante cited the Quebec government’s intention to admit 2,450 more Syrian refugees this year, bringing the total refugees admitted into the province in 2015 up to 3,650. He additionally explained that Quebec has resettled 60 per cent of all Syrian refugees in Canada.

“Quebec has always responded to the call during humanitarian crsis,” he said. “We have already assured the federal government that we will do our part should they decide to admit more refugees.”

Elkerdi, however, says there is skepticism in the Syrian community that the government will keep these promises.

“There was a time [... when the Quebec government] announced they were going to grant 10,000 people refugee status, but the number suddenly became 2,000 [...] and now they’re bringing it back up, so it keeps fluctuating up and down,” Elkerdi said.

“And the Syrian community, they’ve learned not to really trust numbers.”

According to Plante, the nature of aid given to refugees who arrive in Quebec includes services such as health care evaluation and coverage, education, French classes, and employment services. While agreeing with the need for these basic necessities, Elkerdi described the importance of additional community support for the refugees.

“I feel like it’s really all about the community,” she said. “The government has responsibilities towards refugees. They have to protect them, they have to give them basic allowance or whatever they need to sustain themselves, but I always found it’s not the government officials who [are] going to knock at your door on a religious holiday and bring you gifts or sweets. It’s really the community around you.”

McGill’s involvement Elkerdi, who migrated from Syria to Canada in 2010, discussed the obstacles Syrian students can now face when coming to study at McGill.

“When you’re applying, [McGill wants] your official transcripts, but a lot of Syrians lost their official documents and transcripts in the war, Elkerdi said.

“They have proof [of their grades] but it’s not, for example, stamped. There’s also the complication of getting a student visa.

I think that this is a form of injustice in itself. The university has [said] that this person is accepted into [McGill] and they will be allowed to pursue their knowledge here, and [the government is] saying [they

[The Quebec government] announced they were going to grant 10,000 people refugee status, but the number suddenly became 2,000 [....] And the Syrian community, they’ve learned not to really trust numbers. can’t because] they don’t have the visa.”

The SSA has brought the issue to the attention of the McGill administration and hope to help in its resolution.

“We’re trying to work within the administration internally to make it as easy and fluid as possible for students to really pursue their knowledge,” Elkerdi said.

During McGill’s Sept. 24 Senate meeting, Principal Suzanne Fortier addressed McGill’s efforts to aid in the refugee crisis.

“We’re working with our colleagues in government and in other Canadian universities as to what we can do here at McGill to help,” she said. “The provost and vice principal academic are reaching out to [...] have students join our university. [They’re also] using the expertise that we have and the research that can be of assistance to people who will be joining our country.”

The World University Service of Canada (WUSC) Program is a service that helps provide education to refugees by bringing them to Canadian universities.

Since 1987 McGill has accepted 36 students through this program, 10 of whom are currently enrolled at the university.

“McGill has been part of the World University Service of Canada program which is a long-standing non-profit that runs international education programs to bring refugees to Canadian campuses,” Fortier said in last week’s Senate meeting.

SSA’s efforts The SSA has taken on the project of raising money for Syrian refugee schoolchildren in Turkey through bake sales at McGill and Concordia. Elkerdi underscored that the money raised through bake ales did have a substantial impact on the lives of Syrian children.

“One Canadian dollar can actually sponsor one kid’s education for a day,” Elkerdi said. “If we were making $500 a bake sale, we were able to sponsor 500 kids’ education for a day, and this is just by us being social and standing and selling baked goods to people.”

General Director of the Canadian Red Cross, Quebec Division, and McGill alumnus, Michel Léveillé also emphasized the importance of financial contributions.

“We always say with one click you can make a difference,” Léveillé said. “Though our website we accept financial donations and that’s the best way to support the refugee operations.

We do not use those donations for our regular budget.”

The Red Cross has used these funds to supply Syrian refugees in Europe with necessities such as beds and blankets. In terms of what the average student can do to help with the refugee crisis, Elkerdi explained that she believes the most important thing is to exercise the right to vote.

“If you really want to help people reasonably, I would say that we have to challenge the current status quo,” she said. “One of the things that you’ve probably heard about is the travel ban that Prime Minister [Stephen] Harper is trying to impose if he gets elected.

To us, this has very dramatic consequences because a lot of people - even in the McGill community - go back to the refugee camps to volunteer, and they have family to see there.”

Elkerdi also discussed the importance of what the McGill community can offer to Syrian refugees.

“There are golden opportunities that they find here because it is a free environment,” said Elkerdi. “You’re fostering creativity and there’s free speech. I can speak up and say anything against my government without being arrested or shot - that’s a huge step forward. When people like us can meet on campus and discuss ideas, these are all things we don’t have in Syria.”

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Infographic by Hayley Lim

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NEWS

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

MCLIU ratifies first collective agreement 96 per cent of members vote in favour Nick Milum Contributor On Friday, Sept. 18, the Special General Assembly of the McGill Course Lecturers and Instructors Union (MCLIU) met to vote on the proposed version of the union’s first collective agreement. The agreement outlines a number of important points between the employer, McGill, and the MCLIU, including seniority, hiring processes, salary and paid sick leave. The agreement passed with 96 per cent of the vote.

MCLIU President Raad Jassim played a major role in the formation of the agreement and explained the process behind crafting the articles.

“We went to the Minister of Labour and requested a conciliator, and we worked with them for about a year [...]” Jassim said. “Then, we requested an arbitrator and the arbitrator helped with a few more articles. And finally it looked like we were able to do it on our own […] and we were able to actually come up with our collective agreement together.”

The collective agreement outlined a number of administrative points between McGill, and the MCLIU, including seniority, hiring pro-

cesses, salary, and paid sick leave. It also outlined the number of courses a course lecturer is allowed to teach per year.

“We can teach up to seven courses a year [...] so that’s a great achievement for our course lecturers,” Jassim said. “Other universities, such as Concordia, use just two courses per semester as their max. You can go beyond seven at McGill but you will not accrue seniority from those courses.”

The Sept. 18 vote allowed the MCLIU to pass the collective agreement in principle. Now, McGill and the MCLIU must formalize the agreement so that it can be officially signed.

Robert Comeau, the director of labour and employee relations in McGill’s human resources department, has been involved in the ongoing negotiation process.

“What we’re having to do now is to write the official collective agreement, because when we negotiate, a lot of times either the employer or the union will just drop some of the proposals, so the numbering is wrong,” he said. “Second […] we have to come up with a French and English version [….] So we have to finalize those things to be able to officially sign, and then what we have to do is

file it with the labour board to become official.”

The English version of the collective agreement is slated to be finished before the end of this week, which will allow for the official collective agreement to be signed within the coming weeks.

MCLIU Grievance Officer Richard Cooper has been involved in the negotiations process for eight years, and helped to form the union in 2011.

“Through the process of seniority and how seniority will affect the allocation of courses, [the collective agreement provides] a measure of job security that we didn’t have before,” Cooper said.

While the collective agreement will be in place for three years, the union is already thinking ahead to prepare for when negotiations come around again.

“The major issue that we’re going to have to deal with now is that McGill course lecturers are still at the [lower] end of the salary scale in relation to other universities in the province,” Cooper said. “There are always complaints about budget constraints so we’re going to have to work on that.”

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Senate raises concerns over the future of research funding Also discusses undergraduate medical program accreditation process zikoMO Smith Sports Editor Senate held its first meeting of the year and received reports on the medical program’s probationary status, biomedical research funding, and cases of sexual assault and harassment at McGill.

Undergraduate medical program probation Dean of Medicine and VicePrincipal of Health Affairs, Dr. David Eidelman, praised the Faculty of Medicine’s response to the undergraduate program’s probation this past June, which came as a result of its failure to meet 24 standards of accreditation, including violations to student workload policies and failures to monitor curriculums.

“Senate will know that the faculty has been quite transparent [...] and we have published online all of the documents [...] from the accreditation bodies,” Eidelman said. “We quickly established a working chair that meets every two weeks to make sure that we have a response to

every one of the components cited.”

McGill’s undergraduate medical program will submit its plan to address the issues cited by the accreditation bodies by December 2015, and submit new documents of accreditation in November 2016. The accreditation bodies will visit McGill in February 2017 to judge whether McGill has corrected the issues.

Eidelman expressed confidence that McGill’s Faculty of Medicine would maintain their international reputation.

Annual report on the Policy on Harassment, Sexual Harassment, and Discrimination Prohibited by Law Associate Provost (Policies, Procedures and Equity) Angela Campbell stated there were 23 reported cases of harassment in the last academic year, down from the yearly average of 36.

Arts Senator Erin Sobat asked if the decrease in reported cases of harassment resulted from a general lack of knowledge of McGill’s harassment policy. He cited a recent survey

that suggested a rise in sexual assault complaints among McGill students, and expressed concern that students do not understand the reporting procedures.

“I am wondering if the decrease is sufficient to this whole process,” Sobat said, “[or] if [there is] a lack of knowledge of this process [and accessibility] to members of [the McGill] community”.

Campbell, however, warned against speculation. She noted that the decrease in reported cases of harassment could be a result of the policy’s proactive approach towards sexual assault awareness.

“It is not necessarily the case that there is less harassment - the policy [also] is pre-emptive so it aims to prevent harassment,” Campbell said. “There is an increased sensitivity to issues with respect to harassment. I don’t think it is fair to say that a rise in sexual assault complaints would trigger […] a rise in complaints in harassment [in general]; someone who is sexually assaulted would not want a discrimination and harassment [complaint].”

The future of biomedical research in Canada Faculty of Medicine Senators Terrence Hebert and Dan Bernard voiced concerns over the new Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) Foundation funding scheme for biomedical research, piloted in mid-July.

“Though CIHR committed to [...] 450-600 [transitional open operating grants programs] proposals, only 383 grants were ultimately awarded, and each endured a budget cut of almost 30 per cent,” Hebert and Bernard wrote in their question to the Senate. “Unfortunately, these numbers cannot be construed as anomalies.”

McGill Principal Suzanne Fortier disagreed with Herbert and Bernard, arguing that funding had flatlined.

“I, with all due respect, do not agree,” Fortier said. “From all I have seen from the data I don’t believe they have had a steep decline, [rather] they have not had an increase.”

Fortier stated that the Canadian medical sector at large does not have enough funding.

“There is not enough money to support all of the excellence [...] in the health sector,” she said. “We continue to [meet] with various members of government […] so that our message is heard.”

Hebert advocated a proactive response to what he sees as a funding crisis in Canada.

“We have to go at the real problem which is [...] a steep decline [in funding] in the last couple of years,” Hebert said. “How do we transmit that message to a broader audience, [...] what is McGill going to do if we cannot improve that?”

Herbert also expressed concern about the impact on faculty members.

“Young faculty are expected to develop an independent research program, but all the funding seems to be tailored towards […] industry driven and government priority type research,” Herbert stated. “The funding situation should be taken into consideration when evaluating our young faculty.”

Fortier, however, said that she wanted to compile and analyze more data that will inform the discussion on research grants.

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NEWS

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Divest McGill brings Fossil Free week to James Administration Organization camps out, hosts professor talks and rallies Maya Reid News Contributor From Sept. 21 to 25, Divest McGill held Fossil Free Week, a series of workshops, professor talks, and rallies to ask the university administration to divest from oil and gas industries. Divest McGill is an organization whose goal is to urge the university to divest its endowment from fossil fuel and tar sands companies such as Chevron, Suncor, and British Petroleum. Throughout the week, organizers also camped out in front of the James Administration Building to increase campus awareness of the divest movement.

Chloé Laflamme, a U2 biochemistry student and one of the organizers of Fossil Free Week explained some of the steps that have been taken to urge administration leaders to reconsider Divest McGill’s demands.

“We [sent an email to] Kip Cobbett, who is the chair of the Board of Governors, and the interim chair of the Committee to Advise on Matters of Social Responsibility (CAMSR),” Laflamme said. “[Suzanne Fortier, McGill Principal] [...] was [also] CC’d on that email, to let them know about our main demands […] to have them recommend a freeze on fossil fuel investments while they look at their full petition

for divestment.”

Laflamme stated that Fossil Free Week was established to showcase diversity within climate justice activism.

“We’re hoping to cater to a wide variety of people because this issue, in nature, is very intersectional [.] We’re definitely trying to reach out to the community,” she said.

Through a series of professor talks given at Community Square, McGill faculty members and community leaders discussed various reasons for divestment, including the impacts of climate change on indigenous peoples, the economic viability of oil investment, and the physical science behind anthropogenic global warming.

During a Sept. 22 talk entitled “Fossil Fuel and the Anthropocene,” Richard Janda, Professor of Law and Environmental Science, explained moral, ethical, and legal grounds for supporting divestment, and praised the week of activism.

“I am inspired by the students who have been working on the Divest McGill campaign,” he said. “The courage, the dignity that you’ve shown—but also the tenacity to bring ideas forward […] [have] been truly remarkable.”

Victor Frankel, a Biology Ph.D candidate and supporter of divestment, stated why he believed the

university should divest. “[Divestment] would be economically consistent with the university’s mission to fulfill its fiduciary duties to the students and to the community,” Frankel said. “But our focus is not on the economic argument that it makes sense to divest from these toxic assets. What we’re really pushing for is divestment on the moral grounds […] because these companies are responsible for social and environmental injury.”

In addition to on-campus events, Divest McGill members participated in a rally on Thursday, targeting the federal leaders’ French language debate held in Montreal. A contingent of various environmental protection organizations gathered in front of the Radio-Canada Building to protest a lack of climate justice.

One such protester, Divest McGill organizer Julianna Duholke, spoke about the campus-wide support of Fossil Free Week, and what this means for their campaign.

“Our campsite has actually tripled in size […] and we’ve gathered almost a thousand signatures just this week,” she said. “Now it’s really great to be tying this into the federal debate. We are not only holding McGill accountable, but trying to hold our federal leaders accountable, too.”

A participant writes message outside of protest campsite (Cassandra Rogers / McGill Tribune)

Indigenous Awareness Week focuses on Truth and Reconciliation, resisting violence Fifth annual event centered around discussion panels, speakers, workshops Aislinn Kalob News Editor The Social Equity and Diversity Education Office (SEDE), held its fifth annual Indigenous Awareness Week from Sept. 21 to Sept. 25, with events focusing on themes such as truth and reconciliation, sovereignty, and resisting gendered and state violence. The week was hosted in partnership with on-campus indigenous student groups, including the Aboriginal Law Students’ Association (ALSA), the First Peoples’ House, KANATA, and Indigenous Student Alliance.

The first panel event of the week featured Elder Fred Kelly (Kizhebowse Mukwaa), a practitioner of Sacred Law, who cleared misconceptions about the ownership of land in Canada.

“Treaties say that we relinquished, surrendered, and ceded our territory,” Kelly said. “This is impossible [....] the law of the land constitutes you be part of that land. How can you sell yourself, how can you sell your grandmother? You belong to it; you can only agree to share.

That’s what we did.”

Kelly sees a path for the future of Canadian and indigenous legal reconciliation.

“You are going to start to see traditional law [...] and how it must equate with other laws,” Kelly said. “How you’re going to do that is to harmonize the administration of these laws, because Canada’s laws are not for negotiation, and we’re not interested in that.”

Michael Loft, associate professor of Social Work at McGill, spoke to the responsibility of the Canadian government to honour treaties made with indigenous peoples, in his speech “Reflections on Truth and Reconciliation,” on Thursday evening. “[Indigenous people] gave up plenty of land,” he said.

“We made agreements with the Crown [...] to get medicine, to get food [...] because our world was changing, and we knew that.

Modernity was happening and the chiefs knew that [....] Those agreements were eventually forgotten. But we don’t forget them [....] That’s what I expect out of the Canadian state, to honour those treaties.”

Another key aspect of rec-

onciliation, according to Loft, is developing mutual respect between indigenous communities and the Canadian government.

Loft illustrated that there had been respect between 16th Century explorers and indigenous communities.

“If we could get back to how we were doing things in 1534, with Cartier-- we fed his men, we healed them from scurvy,” he said. “Let’s get back to that.

That’s what you call respect. We didn’t have to act like that, but we did.”

In closing, Loft called for an increased cooperation from the Canadian population on indigenous issues.

“You guys aren’t [sic] going away, we’re not going away,” he said. “You have to learn to cooperate, get something solved. We can’t go on the way things are right now.”

Other events held throughout the week included film screenings, creative workshops open to students and faculty, and to conclude, a two-day symposium entitled “Resisting Gendered and State Violence: Indigenous Women’s Activism.”

Dreamcatcher installation hangs in Shatner University Centre stairwell.

(Cassandra Rogers / McGill Tribune) Allan Vicaire, indigenous education advisor at SEDE and main organizer of Indigenous Awareness Week, pointed to the importance of continuing to promote indigenous awareness at McGill.

“We continue to always do educational programming, but sometimes it’s not enough to just educate,” he said. “We need to really push for that inclusive environment by shifting the culture, how we interact with one another.”

SEDE will host their “Safer Spaces: Indigenous Per-

spectives” workshop, on Oct. 19.

It will cover topics such as the colonial history of Canada, and the current relationship between indigenous people and the federal and provincial governments.

“It’s really important that the community really better understands who we are, and how we came to be where we are today,” Vicaire said. “Also, to highlight over the last years the resilience and how we’ve persevered to keep our culture and identity alive.”

Additional reporting by Shrinkhala Dawadi

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Editor-in-Chief Mayaz Alam editor@mcgilltribune.com Business Manager Sam Pinto spinto@mcgilltribune.com Creative Director Hayley Lim hlim@mcgilltribune.com Managing Editors Shrinkhala Dawadi sdawadi@mcgilltribune.com Morgan Alexander malexander@mcgilltribune.com Julie Vanderperre jvanderperre@mcgilltribune.com News Editors Jenna Stanwood, Laura Hanrahan, Aislinn Kalob news@mcgilltribune.com Opinion Editor Julia Dick opinion@mcgilltribune.com Science & Technology Editor Chloe Nevitt scitech@mcgilltribune.com Student Living Editor Hailey MacKinnon studentliving@mcgilltribune.com Features Editor Natalie Wong features@mcgilltribune.com Arts & Entertainment Editors Jack Neal and Christopher Lutes arts@mcgilltribune.com Sports Editors Elie Waitzer and Zikomo Smith sports@mcgilltribune.com Design Editor Cassie Lee design@mcgilltribune.com Photo Editors Natalie Vineberg and Hayley Mortin photo@mcgilltribune.com Web Developer William Burgess webdev@mcgilltribune.com Matt Smith online@mcgilltribune.com Copy Editor Adrien Hu copy@mcgilltribune.com Advertising Executives Mingye Chen and L-A Benoit ads@mcgilltribune.com

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OPINION

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

editorial

The case for a central student hub at McGill Currently, the University’s academic plan for 2012 to 2017 (detailed in Achieving Strategic Academic Priorities 2012 ) focuses on improving McGill’s rankings, its research, and thus its attraction and retention of world class students. But such plans do not reflect McGill’s reality as a physical space for students.

Despite McGill’s downtown location and limited space for expansion, there is ample room to improve preexisting spaces.

Multipurpose and accessible student spaces should not be viewed as separate from McGill’s strategic goals in terms of improving its ranking. Improving spaces will attact a higher calibre of students, influence the engagement of current students, and redefine McGill’s legacy as students become alumni. The definition of an excellent institution must extend beyond its academic ranking to include the institution’s dedication to improving student living.

A well-designed student space must be a long-term goal of the administration and Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU). The Shatner University Centre, despite its purpose, is not perceived as a space for students to convene. The second-floor cafeteria space is poorly organized and not an attractive destination for students, and the furniture of the main floor lounge is outdated. Seasonal affective disorders are common on campus during the winter months, and isolation is increasingly shown to cause

mental health issues, particularly during exam season. There is a clear need for versatile communal spaces that are student-developed and student-oriented.

The majority of existing student spaces are specific to certain groups on campus. Departmental associations have dedicated offices, faculty associations have their own lounges, and even libraries are limited to the students they were designed for. By creating a central hub, all students would have common access to a space for collaborating and participating in the McGill campus community. As these spaces become more exclusive, more must be done to both improve accessibility and create a common space for all students, regardless of field or level of study. McGill and SSMU can follow the example of Ryerson’s new Student Learning Centre, which was designed by students, for students.

Certain areas must also be refurbished to suit the immediate needs of students, and plans must be developed to ensure that spaces can evolve as these needs change. Due to the proliferation of laptop computers, for example, the need for extensive computer labs (such as in the Ferrier computer lab) is not as dire as it was 10 years ago. The time and money spent on creating a space for students will be wasted if they are not used to address student needs. Deciding which spaces to prioritize must be a collaborative process between administrators, associations, and faculties.

Redesigning student spaces need not be a costly endeavour.

Such a project could focus on the creative process and finding cost-effective new ways to use the spaces that we already

“

There is a clear need for a versatile communal space that is studentdeveloped and student-oriented.

have. The process of consultation should involve students throughout, and has already started through initiatives such as the McGill Spaces Project.

SSMU and faculty associations could also foster student engagement by encouraging case com-

petitions for students alongside student consultation, something was done with relative success for The Nest. Opening up the process of redesgin would ensure that students have a major stake in the project.

In the short-term, student societies are in the best position to address the space deficit and may do so through a fee levy, such as the one passed by the Science Undergraduate Society in Winter 2015. This solution is unreliable, as made evident by the difficulty faced by SSMU in ensuring its building fee passed in Fall 2014.

Our student leaders must take steps to lobby McGill to improve student spaces on campus. Ensuring a sustainable and equal improvement of student spaces must be a common goal for all stakeholders.

The creation of a functional and multipurpose student space should not be perceived as dichotomous to improving academic results. Should McGill wish to achieve the same calibre of results as it has historically, it must adapt to a post-secondary standard that emphasizes student living. This must entail the provision of opportunities and spaces that are conducive to student well-being. By continuing to ignore student spaces at the expense of student well-being, McGill will unwittingly perpetuate its image as an enterprise rather than a reputable institution of a quality, well-rounded academic experience.

Publisher Chad Ronalds

Off the board

TPS Board of Directors

Sam Pinto, Mayaz Alam, Maryse Thomas, Nicolas Tuech, Luka Ciklovan, Adrien Hu, Chloe Nevitt, Mingye Chen

A eulogy for Korova

Contributors

Jeff Bridges, Audrey Carlton, Felicia Chang, Cordelia Cho, Genevieve Citron, Wyatt Dougherty, Alizeh Ejaz, Evelyn Goessling, Amin Guidara, Emma Hameau, Amber Hord, Esha Kaul, Uzair Khan, Adrian Knowler, Zach Lanys, Clare Lyle, Nick Milum, Greta Rainbow, Maya Reid, Cassandra Rogers, Wanlin Song, Elli Slavitch, Rachel Summers, Emily Wang, Liz Wilcock, Norman Yallen, Alissa Ziberchteine

Tribune Office Shatner University Centre Suite 110, 3480 McTavish Montreal, QC H3A 0E7 T: 514.398.6789 The McGill Tribune is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the Société de Publication de la Tribune, a student society of McGill University. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of The McGill Tribune and the Société de Publication de la Tribune, and does not necessarily represent the views of McGill University. Letters to the editor may be sent to editor@mcgilltribune.com and must include the contributor’s name, program and year and contact information. Letters should be kept under 300 words and submitted only to the Tribune. Submissions judged by the Tribune Publication Society to be libellous, sexist, racist, homophobic or solely promotional in nature will not be published. The Tribune reserves the right to edit all contributions. Editorials are decided upon and written by the editorial board. All other opinions are strictly those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the McGill Tribune, its editors or its staff. Please recycle this newspaper.

Morgan alexander Managing Editor Continued from page 1 What’s happened to Korova is a travesty, one that certainly could never have been prevented by enforcing safety codes or replacing woods that had been weakened by years of spilled beers. Even worse than the ending of the era is the reaction to

it, particularly by $ucka Free, the independent collective that hosts hip hop events around Montreal, including $ucka Free Mondays.

Like a wolfish ex-lover, $ucka Free bid its adieu to Korova and in the same breath announced that it would be moving its iconic Monday night events to Blizzarts, “precisely one block north of Korova.” The grieving period was short and ruthless.

The problem with the response to the death of Korova is its blatant refusal to acknowledge Korova’s existence as an institution in and of itself, not strictly defined as the host of an outsider’s event. On the Saint Laurent strip, Korova stood apart from the pack as something quintessentially cool without being as

pretentious as Apt. 200 or as unnecessarily ‘urban chic’ as SuWu. It had twice as much character as Muzique and Tokyo have creepy old men, and in terms of pure unadulterated griminess, it had no rival. Korova provided just as much free popcorn as Biftek with drinks at half the price, and allowed for both Ivy league stilettos and Blue Dog tier combat boots without judgement. Sure, it couldn’t match the romantic atmosphere of Big in Japan, but it provided just as many opportunities to get lucky. From the dilapidated photo booth, to the sinks that served more as an ironic reminder of how unclean everything was, every inch of Korova was as hectic and eclectic as the community it served.

There is of course an inherent conflict in reactions to Korova’s legacy. To many, it was a place for first years that quickly lost its charm in the smoky air of hormones and crushed PBR tallboys. To others, it was a weekly tradition that always meant good times, wild stories, and decent hip hop that you could actually dance to. Now that its patrons have taken their final walk down the narrow stairwell that was always easier to navigate wasted, it’s hard to tell if another club can live up to Korova’s cover-free, $ucka Free legacy. Blizzarts will have the same DJs, the same hype, but without the deer heads on the wall and the pleather stools to stick to, it can never provide the same dirty, dingy, and distinctive nights.

6

Opinion C O M M E N T ARY

Norman yallen Contributor September has seen three large week-long campaigns on McGill’s campus. The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) organized Anti-Austerity Week, which advocated against the provincial policy of austerity. The following week, Divest McGill had its own weeklong protest, Fossil Free Week, which coincided with Indigenous Awareness Week. All events sought to engage and mobilize students; however, these efforts were met with the disinterest of

C O M M E N T ARY

amin guidara Contributor Sex education classes are making a partial comeback in Quebec this year. The pilot program is an improvement, as it fills a void that has existed since 2005 (the last year that Quebec had dedicated sexual education classes).However, the Ministry of Education, Recreation and Sports (MERS) does not go far enough with this policy. The program, as it is currently planned, does not follow a strict curriculum and is not precisely designed to be taught by professionals.

The provincial government has designed a two year pilot project which will affect 15 schools and 8,200 students starting this year. Sex education is a matter of public and personal health. If taught properly, it can promote civic competences by teaching students about important issues such as rape, rape culture, and LGBT discrimination. Sex education also teaches students about protecting themselves from STIs, avoiding unwanted teen pregnancy, and seek-

There are too many weeks in a year the vast majority of students and, so far, inaction on the part of administration. In failing to engage students, these initiatives failed in their goals of spreading awareness and provoking change.

The broader problem with student engagement in politicized topics on campus, in the case of week-long awareness campaigns, is evident on social media. A tiny fraction of McGill students were involved in these week-long protest events. McGill has over 39, 000 students, and while it is difficult to say how much participation these weeks have exactly, Facebook events provide some information. Six hundred and sixteen people attended Fossil Free Week on Facebook, and Anti-Austerity Week had five hundred and sixty-two attendees. All students had to do to attend on Facebook was click a button, and less than two per cent of students even bothered to do that.

The transient nature of these protests discourages student participation. It is difficult for students to focus on changing any one topic when every few days a

different issue takes precedence.

By the time students are made aware of the events and issues, the week is over and it is too late

It is difficult for students to focus on changing any one issue when every few days a different issue takes precedence.

to act on that insight. The goal of these events is to get students involved. Students are more likely

Tuesday, September 29, 2015 to be motivated if they feel an issue is of the utmost importance, or when they can personally identify with the objectives of a campaign.

While the student protests of 2012 caused change at the provincial level, there is little to suggest that this month’s activities will follow in those footsteps.

Unless a significant proportion of students are mobilized, the demands of a few can be easily ignored. Without sustained attention throughout the semester, students will either become disengaged from movements altogether or shift their attention depending on the loudest issue on campus. McGill administration is logically unmotivated to make long-term policy changes in response to protests that last only a week.

These weeklong campaigns do not motivate action on the part of students and administrators. Students have many time commitments, from school, to extracurricular activities, to their social lives, and do not have time to engage meaningfully with a

new protest every single week.

Moreover, the time that is spent on these issues may lack substance if the larger student body has been unable to fully educate themselves as to the current topic.

Taking up a new issue every few days is a waste of most students’ time, indicated by the lack of people attending these events. The McGill administration also has issues they have to deal with, from budget cuts to renovations, while attempting to ensure that McGill has a bright and sustainable future. To ensure that the administration hears students messages, student activism must draw a larger proportion of the study body and over a sustained period of time. Small, infrequent protests on a new issue every week can be easily ignored by administration and students alike. Focusing on one issue at a time, like the 2012 student protests, increases the momentum of issues as well as the participation by the student body. With improved focus, the possibility of sparking real change rises.

Taking stock of Quebec’s new sexual education curriculum ing help for psychological troubles linked to sex.

In Ontario, concerns that the curriculum contains inappropriate content has led some parents to keep their children home. Masturbation, for example, goes against some religious beliefs. As a result of the backlash, Ontario is allowing parents to request exemptions on a case-bycase basis. It is probably only a matter of time until similar backlash occurs in Quebec, but MERS must not permit any leniency.

Parents cannot seek to exempt their children from this program simply because their views conflict with an unbiased and professional perspective. Parents who pull their children from sexual education for religious or personal reasons are fighting against a tide that has already changed: Children without vaccines are a risk to public health. If parents try to pull their kids out of sex education classes, the school should have meetings with these parents to discuss the matter and persuade them of the importance of universal, mandatory sex-ed. Whatever their belief system, there is no compromise for the safety and the health of future generations.

The intention of the new curriculum is grounded in social reality and will prepare students for safe, healthy sexual relationships. But more must be done to ensure this progress is productive.

As teenagers will undoubtedly learn about sex with or without a dedicated curriculum, it is better for

(Cordelia Cho / McGill Tribune) them to learn it at school than from a friend who might have an immature and corrupted view of sex and sexuality. Teachers in Quebec do not know exactly what to cover because, according to the Federation of Teachers Unions, there are no “clear pedagogical guidelines,” unlike in Ontario. It is necessary to impose a precise provincial curriculum to make sure that every school teaches the same way and covers the same material to avoid a disparity of education, especially for religious schools, who could be less inclined to follow the curriculum.

Children ought to learn about sex and sexuality in a classroom set-

ting. A way to make sure that disparity does not happen is to have a yearly ministerial exam for all students that does not count towards their report card, a measure that is not being studied by the government. This would ensure that all students go through a standardized and rigorous sexual education program.

Since it is not a separate class, it could be taught by any teacher with a who has only gone through a few hours of training. Therefore, the students who do receive the curriculum in its current form will likely only receive mediocre sex education at the expense of valuable regular subject time. To ensure that the program is

worthwhile, more must be done to standardize a high calibre of teaching practices.

As a result of limited teacher training, students can get teachers who are uncomfortable, indelicate, or close-minded. It is a waste of resources and energy to develop a program with so little resources devoted to teacher training. It would be infinitely better to hire specialized sex educators to teach these classes as they are professionals in the subject to minimize training and adjustment.

Furthermore, a curriculum made by and taught by specialists would make sure that subjects are being taught correctly and at the right age.

7

Science & technology

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Notman House hosts Masters of Code hackathon App developers and tech enthusiasts gather to tackle new-age problems CLARE LYLE Contributor “Develop the greatest digitally connected application [or] solution that will profoundly alter your connected life.” This was the problem presented at the MasterCard Masters of Code hackathon this weekend.

Stretching from Saturday to Sunday afternoon, the challenge attracted roughly 100 developers, designers, and tech enthusiasts to Notman House, Montreal’s hub for techonlogy, where the 24-hour event took place.

Montreal’s own hackathon brought together the members of its tech scene, many of whom were affiliated with McGill, although some participants came from from Ottawa.

All attendees, however, shared a passion for using technology in creative and innovative ways.

“It’s like building LEGO with your friends,” said McGill Civil Engineering alumnus Jean Amiouny.

An all-expenses paid trip to Silicon Valley was on the line for first place. Despite this, the atmosphere remained relaxed and collaborative.

“This is actually a [pretty] mellow place,” explained Matt Wright, a representative of AngelHack, an organization that also runs hackathons. “Last week, we were in Latin America and it was a very excited atmosphere. Here it’s more

‘slow and steady wins the race.’”

The projects that came out of the hackathon ranged from the educational, to the humanitarian, to the simply practical. This included a financial education app for kids, a loyalty platform for small businesses, and a cost-splitting app that took the grand prize.

Peng Liu, a Computer Science student from the University of Ottawa explained that the opportunity to connect with others who are equally as passionate about development is a major draw for participants.

“I think [my] most memorable experience [...] was around 2 to 3 a.m.,” Liu said. “I was talking to another hacker, and we had this twoto-three hour talk about bitcoins.

That’s [something] that will only ever happen at a hackathon; finding yourself up at 2, 3, 4, a.m. talking about bitcoin and cryptocurrencies with some random person.”

These types of connections between developers will often lead to profitable hackathon teams. The winning project, FareShare, came from a group who met at a party close to the day of the hackathon.

“I knew [my teammate,] Harold [Day] from McGill Engineering,” said Andrew Doyle, one of the members of the winning team. “We used to volunteer together with the Engineering Undergraduate Society

(EUS), and so we decided we wanted to do something at the hackathon.

We ended up at a friend’s party, and I started talking to some developers there who are now friends of mine, and we signed up on the spot. And it turns out that I knew one of them from McGill [....] We all came together pretty quickly and haphazardly, but it all worked out.”

T h e i r team’s app epitomizes the collaborative spirit of hackathons, letting friends split costs.

“If you’re going on a ski trip, someone’s buying gas, and someone else is buying food, and someone else is paying for drinks, and everyone owes everyone else money,” Dan Greencorn, one of the team’s developers, explained. “We’re using MasterCard’s API to let everyone record what they buy, and then split the cost after the trip.”

The runners-up also have a McGill background, featuring two

The winning team. From left to right: Harold Day, Dan Greencorn, Andrew Doyle, and Mike Hoffman.

(Clare Lyle / McGill Tribune) current students and two alumni. Their project took a more humanitarian approach to economic transactions.

“Our app translates your regular daily spending into automated donations to charity,” Bogdan Istrate, a McGill alumnus and one of the designers, explained.

These automatic donations make it convenient for users to give back.

“You pick whichever charity you want to donate, then whenever you go spend money anywhere like Starbucks or the grocery store, you set up a percentage that you want to

donate, so if you spend $500 and set the app to 1 per cent, then you also donated $5 to whatever organization you selected from our app,” Xiaolei Liu, another McGill Master’s student and team member, said .

Each member of the second-place team received a $500 MasterCard gift card, while the winning team received an all-expenses-paid trip to San Francisco to participate in the Grand Finale Masters of Code hackathon.

Additional reporting by Wyatt Dougherty

Volkswagen cheats its way on to the roads The world’s biggest automaker implements deception device in cars Uzair Khan Contributor Volkswagen came under fire by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week following allegations of cheating and deceit. In a statement released on Sept. 18, the EPA stated that the German automobile company misled environmental regulators about its car emissions. Special software, colloquially known as the defeat devices, reported incorrect emissions data during testing. Consequently, thousands of underperforming and environmentally unsuitable Volkswagen cars had found their way on to the roads.

The EPA began looking into Volkswagen cars after researchers at West Virginia University, in collaboration with the International Council on Clean Transportation, noticed irregularities in the emission levels of the cars. The numbers researchers observed in their tests did not match the ones provided by Volkswagen. They notified the EPA, which after further investigations, demanded an explanation from the company. Volkswagen subsequently admitted to installing the defeat devices

in their cars—enabling the vehicles to pass standard emissions tests. The EPA consequently issued a notice of violation (NOV) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) to Volkswagen.

“A sophisticated software algorithm on certain Volkswagen vehicles detects when the car is undergoing official emissions testing, and turns full emissions controls on only during the test,” announced the EPA in a press release.

The algorithm is embedded in the software code that runs the engine control computer. It senses whether the vehicle is being tested or not based on inputs such as the position of the steering wheel, vehicle speed, the duration of the engine’s operation, and barometric pressure. When it thinks that the vehicle is undergoing tests, the software sets the emissions’ control to full power. When the car is returned to normal driving conditions, however, the pollution emissions control devices installed in the car stop working.

Disabling these control devices results in the car emitting nitrogen oxides in quantities up to 40 times the permitted standard.

According to Volkswagen, this device could have potentially helped

some 11 million cars unjustly pass environmental regulation tests worldwide.

This scandal may be one of the biggest ever related to the automobile industry. As news broke on Friday, Volkswagen’s stock plummeted by 20 per cent, costing its investors and U.S. Volkswagen CEO Michael Horn is confident that they can recover. (IPhoto courtesy of International Business Times) shareholders billions of dollars. In response, the country’s status as a manufacturing test. There is no technology that can Volkswagen allocated 7 billion dollars powerhouse and a scandal this size is allow diesel cars to compete with the to cover the necessary service measures bound to cause problems. The auto environmental friendliness of electric and other efforts to win back the trust industry accounts for 20 per cent of or hybrid cars. According to the Union of its customers. In addition, the the total German industry revenue and of Concerned Scientists, a non-profit EPA could fine Volkswagen up to employs 775,000 people; however, science advocacy organization, 60 $37,500 for each affected vehicle—a estimating the amount of damage this per cent of Americans now live in regions where electric vehicles (EVs) total of $18 billion in the U.S. alone. scandal will inflict is difficult.

With the emergence of a new produce fewer heat-trapping nitrogen Volkswagen may even be forced to recall or reimburse the owners the full breed of high-quality electric cars oxide emissions per mile than the most from companies like Tesla, old efficient hybrids. If other automakers price of their vehicles.

These events could have a companies like Volkswagen that still follow this trajectory, diesel car significant impact on Germany’s rely on diesel cars for a big proportion manufacturing may soon become a economy. The auto industry is central to of their business will be put to the shadow of what it once was.

Altering the face of history

By Jack Neal

V

alues change over time and so do the institutions that were created for specific purposes over various centuries. As cities expand, they are reorganized and refashioned in manners deemed suitable for the everevolving societies that inhabit them.

Instead of knocking down and rebuilding infrastructure, many cities have repurposed oft-unused buildings for new uses.

While these projects may revitalize disused spaces, they do not always take into account the building’s pre-existing structural elements, thus overriding its historical and architectural significance in order. In fact, over the past two decades, Montreal underwent a transformation that is changing the interior of its historical value: The retrofitting and refurbishment

Photos courtesy of the Wall Street Journal, Guidehabitation.ca, and Jack Neal

of its churches into apartments and public spaces, such as gymnasiums and spas.

There is no shortage of churches within the city; Mark Twain said of Montreal, “This is the first time I was ever in a city where you couldn’t throw a brick without breaking a church window.” Of the 2700plus churches in Montreal, over 400 have closed down for various reasons, and the process is accelerating.

“A church closes every week,” said Denis Boucher, project manager for Héritage Montreal, in an interview with the National Post. “It’s a huge phenomenon.”

According to Boucher, whereas the council’s grants used to be reserved for churches that were used as places of worship, today’s grants are generally used to repurpose Montreal’s closed and often

forgotten churches. With the change in direction, the council can help non-profit organizations, municipalities, and even private owners looking to transform old churches.

The empty structures attract private investors, and a number of the historic buildings were subsequently renovated to provide alternative uses for unique places as there is an increasing demand for residential and commercial space.

These projects are deemed worthy by Héritage Montreal to receive funding, as the organization’s mandate calls on the provincial and federal government to adopt tax incentive measures to increase investment in architectural heritage and its revitalization and enhancement.

Refurbishing existing buildings for new uses is encouraged in the sustainability world, since it allows for a greater integration of evolving needs into the existing urban fabric—something that would otherwise be hard to do with the urban density of Montreal. The concept of revitalization—also known as rehabilitation—allows changing a building’s original purpose for modern uses that redefine the structure’s existence and usefulness to society. Many Montreal churches have undergone such projects to incorporate them into the future layout of the city.

These projects tread a fine line between transforming a church for a new use however, and altering the intrinsic structural and visual aspects of the church.

For example, there are various projects throughout the city that are changing churches into renewed public areas or community hubs that retain the church’s architectural elements. Salon 1861—a project which McGill was in fact part of through the Desautels Faculty of Management—is one example. In that case, l’Eglise St. Joseph, located in Little Burgundy, underwent a substantial architectural rehabilitation to rejuvenate the neighbourhood. The project repurposed the church as a community hub, ultimately continuing the public-based existence, while retaining its interior and exterior architectural elements in order to preserve the qualities that make it distinctly a church.

On the other hand, the rehabilitation of churches into private places or areas that disregard any structural elements like apartments, threaten the building’s integrity. It turns what was once a public space into a privatized area that only allows access for a select number of individuals.

Converting churches into apartments often goes against the nature of the church’s communal purpose.

It is important to realize that the legacy of religion is clearly dwindling—as shown with the aforementioned closures throughout the city; however, churches— especially the historic buildings which most often succumb to these rehabilitation projects—evoke a specific architectural form which is inherently and implicitly unique to its history. Such projects also require a large amount of interior and exterior rework, as the interior is subdivided up, ultimately compartmentalizing the once-soaring ceiling height entirely.

Many church rehabilitation projects take the shell of the church and completely reorganize the interior to make the prescribed apartment units fit. The churchto-condo conversion is tricky to pull off well, ultimately resulting in units with

unwelcoming, windowless rooms towards the building’s interior. In addition, the once-soaring ceilings of church interiors are compartmentalized and divided up, and the sense of grandeur that made the church so special is lost. An example of this is the church-turned-apartment block located at 315 Rue Prince-Arthur Ouest, where the large, soaring interior is compartmentalized and divided into apartments, while the

The best conversions of churches should emulate the original structural intent as a meeting or public space exterior of the building is also altered in order to increase light and ventilation.

Julia Gersovitz, a professor at McGill’s School of Architecture, also expressed concerns with such a concept.

“When you destroy an entire wall to put windows in, does that still make it a church?” she asked. “There is the problem of turning a public building and making it private, [and] there is the question of appropriateness [....] Should the churches be treated as absent real estate or as if they belong to the community? [When a church is built], it becomes a landmark; and when you change the nature of it, you change the way in which the community begins to view it.”

According to Clarence Epstein, a history professor at Concordia who published the book, Montreal: City of Spires, the best conversions of churches should emulate the original structural intent as a meeting or public space. An example is that of Le Saint Jude, a church on Rue Saint Denis that was converted into a luxury spa and fitness facility. The exterior of the building remained fully intact, while the interior also kept the church’s soaring ceilings and large windows in place.

The owner, Tony Attanasio, hopes his center will become an extension of home for its members, and an integral part of the neighbourhood. This is a prime example of a project that aims to rejuvenate the surrounding community by injecting a new sense of appreciation for the church which would have not had the same effect had it been turned into an apartment complex.

The problem of appropriation that Professor Gersovitz recalls extends beyond the rehabilitation of churches. There are other examples of buildings being altered— and ultimately, destroyed—to make room for new uses. For example, the row of grey townhouses opposite McGill’s Maass Chemistry Building on the corner of Rue Sherbrooke and Rue Victoria underwent a rehabilitation project in order to create a 30-storey office building. Now, it is nothing more than Victorian facades that mask the office building for which their existence was eradicated for. This form of rehabilitation was a widely popular method during the ’60s and ’80s in cities throughout North America, as many historic buildings were gutted, leaving only the street-facing

facade remaining. The result is a faceless building, used purely as aesthetic frontage hiding the office block behind.

According to Gersovitz, even projects that do not bear with them as much historic and cultural significance as churches do give rise to various issues.

“You are only keeping the facade; [there is] no sense of the rooms behind it, and no sense of its historical relevance or authenticity,” Gersovitz said.

In contrast, John Ruskin—a leading art critic of the Victorian era, believed that there should be freedom in evolution for architecture.

“The 19th century buildings didn’t belong to a single generation,” he said.

“Not one generation can decide what to do with it.”

In a way, this remains as relevant in the 1800s as it is now. And while it provokes questions of how an evolving society progresses in the urban sense, it brings up an interesting question: Is there a particular method in which it acceptable to change the purpose or existence of a building?

The once-prominent architecturallysignificant buildings are now nothing more than a skeleton of both an era and style that once was There are buildings that were classified by Héritage Montreal as spaces to conserve, and churches are an interesting sector in architectural and historic value.

A church’s exterior frame has historically set its apart from almost anything else built, and continues to evoke this standout image. It differs from the aforementioned Victorian houses on Sherbrooke in that their original residency status give leeway to other potential uses such as shops, or their conversion into apartments as opposed to full houses.

This, of course, doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s just the exterior that remains, with the office block behind appropriating their frontage and aesthetic.

According to Gersovitz however, churches were built to a specific standard and with a particular architectural style in mind, and this traditionalistic value shouldn’t be overlooked.

“The building doesn’t belong to the church, but to the people, and the people who built it,” she said.

In an era of constant need and pressure for progression, it might not be so

easy for that concept to survive. According to Gersovitz, there is a church near the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal that was revitalized into a community centre.

This keeps its architectural elements intact, paying tribute to, and encouraging the communal purpose that churches were actually built for. But if a church is to be revitalized for another purpose, are there certain uses which lend themselves much more to the pre-existing structure of a church? For example, transforming a church into a restaurant or music venue allows for the church’s main structural elements—chiefly the soaring height of the interior and the large, stain glass windows to remain intact, and the new use respects these qualities. Rehabilitating a church into a more public-oriented space also maintains the sense of community that the institutions were built to foster.

Gersovitz reflected on a project which she oversaw a number of years ago—the transformation of a church into a bar— and acknowledged that there were certain elements of the project proposal that really went against the historic value of the church. For example, the transformation of a church into a gym has absolutely no relation to the building in which it is built. Often, this is done for cost-effective reasons; renovating the interior of a building can be much cheaper than tearing it down and rebuilding. However, rehabilitating churches into a public-oriented space that relates to the pre-existing structure without changing too many of its elements is a more adaptive option.

Churches represent specific values and purposes, and while the closing of 400-plus churches across Montreal is reflective of an increasingly secular society, it doesn’t diminish the architectural and historical value of churches—an important lesson to remember during the current height of rehabilitation. Restructuring interiors and exteriors is a permanent change to the essence of the building, and whilst it might be seen as crucial today for the sake of sustainability and urbanization, there are dangers to be aware of.

For instance, many of the Victorian buildings that were knocked down in the ’60s and ’80s were done so in the name of progress and modernity—that was, until people realized that progress did not mean knocking down the past and rebuilding it in the uniform aesthetic that was so popular at the time. Today, people look back at the transformed buildings such as the townhouses on Sherbrooke, and while their historical existence is somewhat still present, it is so only as a shell. The once-prominent architecturally-significant buildings are now nothing more than a skeleton of both an era and style that once was.

There is a large difference between rehabilitating a building into something that either respects, reflects, or continues its previous legacy, and appropriating its pre-existing structure in favour of knocking it down to rebuild. The transformation of churches should only be done with projects that aim to retain what the physical ‘church’ structure represents.

Regardless of religion, churches reflect a specific cultural, historical, and architectural significance. Like the aforementioned Victorian townhouses, with the transformation of churches into apartments or other privatized spaces, churches’ significance are at risk of being erased.

10

Science & technology

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Twentieth edition of Soup and Science educates and entertains McGill professors offer information in the form of mini-lectures WANLIN SONG Contributor For an entire week, five to six McGill professors took the stage in Redpath Museum for the 20th edition of Soup and Science. The professors, who were experts in fields varying from physics to geography, offered brief, three to five minute presentations on their work. Created by the Office of Undergraduate Research in 2005, Soup and Science has helped create a platform for students to meet professors and get acquainted with their research.

“We want to connect our students to professors,” said Victor Chisholm, who has been organizing Soup and Science since 2006. “There [are] always interested professors to share research [and] do research with students.”

While presenting ideas in such a short time can sometimes be challenging for speakers—their research is usually highly complex— ultimately, this is not the purpose of Soup and Science.

“Our goal is not to make students understand everything [...] in the presentations,” Chisholm explained.

“[But] to expose students to the broad selection of research in science.”

On Wednesday, Bastien Castagner, assistant professor in The Department of Pharmacology, presented his work on finding a treatment for Clostridium difficile infection. This bacteria causes inflammation and irritation of the intestines and colon, a condition known as colitis. Instead of targeting the infection for treatment, Castagner has been searching for ways to neutralize the poisonous toxins released as byproducts by the bacteria. Because it is the toxins that are responsible for the negative symptoms of the bacteria, if those are neutralized, then the bacteria presents no risk. Humans rely on a complex system of flora and fauna to digest food and finding treatments that circumnavigate the use of antibiotics is very important, explained Castagner.

On Thursday, Anna Weinberg, psychology assistant professor spoke about the correlation between childhood experiences and anxiety or depression experienced in adulthood.

By exploring similarities between mental disorders in terms of onset and vulnerabilities, she’s hoping to tackle the classic ‘nurture versus nature’

Psychology assistant professor Lauren Human questions the role of the individual. (Hayley Mortin / McGill Tribune) debate.

Students were also offered wisdom on acquiring a research position.

Dentistry professor Svetlana Komarova emphasized the importance of being persistent when applying to a lab. Even those with a lot of experience and interest may

find themselves waiting a couple of months. However, those who persisted, usually succeeded.

Geography Professor Graham MacDonald, who attended Soup and Science 10 years ago as an undergraduate student, returned on Friday to speak. When responding to

how it felt to participate—now as a presenter—he was happy to see how Soup and Science has grown.

“It’s really different […] but a lot of fun,” he said.

Soup and Science welcomes more aspiring audiences to its next edition in January.

Drug price hike causes global outrage Role of pharmacies, patients, and professionals in developing new medicine ESha kaul Contributor Martin Shkreli, CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals, was harshly criticized last week after raising the cost of one of the company’s drugs, Daraprim, from $13.40 USD to $750 USD—an increase of 5,000 per cent.

Manufactured exclusively by Turing, this price hike has reignited the debate on the ethics of charging patients for medicine.

Daraprim is used to fight against toxoplasmosis, an infection caused by the parasite Toxoplasma Gondii.

It can cause various symptoms like body aches, headaches, fever, and fatigue. The drug is mainly prescribed in the treatment and care of immunocompromised individuals.

This includes young children, HIV positive patients, pregnant women, and those undergoing chemotherapy. For HIV positive patients in the U.S., the average annual cost of care is about $25,200— nearly 40 per cent higher than it was 20 years ago.

The reason behind Daraprim’s newly increased price can be explained by investigating the drug development process. Most drugs are developed in phases. In the U.S., the first step towards releasing a drug is a three to four yearlong pre-clinical phase. If successful, it is followed by an application to the

Federal Drug Administration (FDA) as an Investigational New Drug (IND).

The next steps are clinical phases 1, 2, and 3, after which the FDA chooses to approve the drug or not. Following approval, the manufacturer files a New Drug Application (NDA) with the FDA. If accepted, the FDA may also ask the manufacturer to conduct additional post-marketing studies.

The entire procedure takes eight to 12 years.

Dr. Joseph Schwarcz, director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society spoke about the finances of creating a new drug.

“When you’re looking at the cost of a drug, you’re not just looking at what it really costs to produce that drug, which is usually very little, but what you have to pay for the years of research to not only get that drug but the others [as well], which never made it to market.”

Since developing a drug takes such a long amount of time, it also requires a lot of funds. According to a new study by the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, developing a new prescription drug is estimated to cost $2.6 billion USD. Top tier pharmaceutical companies will employ over 1,500 scientists and spend over $1 million each day, on discovering new biological targets and creating new therapeutics— chemicals, proteins, or vaccines—in

hopes of moving into clinical testing.

Schwarcz continued to explain the difference between the types of drugs pharmaceutical companies make.

“Some drugs are absolute blockbusters [that is, they] generate profit,” he said. “But there are [also] orphan drugs, which can cost as much to develop but don’t have the chance to make money because there Martin Shkreli was harshly criticized last week for raising the price of Daraprim. (express.co.uk) aren’t enough patients to take that drug” According to a study done by most of their profits to fund research on insurance coverage would not completely absorb the increased Forbes, pharmaceutical companies newer drugs.

“They are not philanthropic costs of the drug. had a 42 per cent profit margin in Schwarcz said.

“A raise to that extent is 2013. A profit margin shows what enterprises,” percentage of sales are left over after “Pharmaceutical companies need absolutely ridiculous,” Schwarcz all expenses are paid by the business. to have a chance to make money, explained. “[Shkreli] argues that For example, if a company has a 20 because if they don’t then there’s not it’s insurance coverage anyway.

[But] so many people don’t have per cent profit margin, it’ll get $0.20 going to be any research.”

In an interview with Bloomberg insurance coverage [in the U.S.].” for every dollar of revenue earned.

Financing the pharmaceutical In that year, Pfizer, Hoffmann-La TV, Shkreli justified increasing the industry remains a complicated issue.

Roche, AbbVie, GlaxoSmithKline, price of Daraprim.

“It is a question of how the and Eli Lilly—five of the largest “We needed to turn a profit on pharmaceutical companies in the this drug,” he said. “The companies drugs are paid for,” Schwarcz said. world—all had a profit margin of 20 before us were [basically] giving it “And to make sure that someone who [doesn’t] have the means to pay per cent or more. away.”

Nevertheless, Schwarcz Schwarcz disagreed with can have access to the same drug. It’s highlighted that pharmaceuticals use Shkreli’s reasoning, stating that government responsibility.”

11

Arts & Entertainment

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

PREFORMANCE REVIEW Beyond street Dance New show gives a bold take on modern dance Greta Rainbow Contributor An amber glow cut through the darkness, illuminating only part of the stage between floor and ceiling.

Music began to thunder, and hands suddenly shot up, puncturing the glow, writhing on their own for a few moments before their bodies joined.

This is not contemporary dance; this is dance in a contemporary world.

PHASE 1 and MYOCARDITIS are two urban contemporary dance groups who have derived their moves from ‘60s and ‘70s urban subcultures in the U.S. that do not require an audience sitting in the dark to empower and invigorate the individual dancer. Rather, viewers are fortunate enough to be privy to the emotion and expression found in the vibrating, rhythmic bodies, turning the role of the spectator on its head.

“The party is the foundation,” PHASE 1 choreographer and dancer Martine Bruneau says of “waacking,” a style of dance characterized by

jerking limb movements that began in the LGBT community and the club scene. When dancing at a party, there is no narrative or metaphor, nor a forced adherence to a formal style.

The motive is to impress and to enjoy.

“There is no wrong or right in freestyle,” explained a MYOCARDITIS dancer. “But I always say there’s ugly and attractive.”

PHASE 1 effectively brought this to a performance space in the 21st century. As dancers focus on their propelling arms and snapping legs, responding to the smallest intricacies of the music, the audience gets to experience the sense of peeking through the curtain and glimpsing their chaotic and throbbing joy.

On the tile floors of the lobby, girls in cigarette pants mimicked the dancers of PHASE 1—knees bending and ankles twisting across black and white hexagons. A man slid his tennis shoes across the tile, jumping up to the first step of the marble staircase to make room for friends who swayed, sauntered, and crumped

MYOCARDITIS Dancers strike a pose (Photo courtesty of Nathalie Duhaime / tangente.qc.ca) their way over. His arms swung out, nearly hitting a potted palm and the woman sitting beside it, who was doing a dance of her own. Another girl jutted out one hip and threw her shoulders back, miming the feeling they evoked.

It is natural to compare this to the tight hair buns and cracked pointe shoes of the ballet world, and the exclusivity that comes with it.

MYOCARDITIS choreographer and dancer Handy “Monstapop” Yacinthe emphasized that “street dance is still intelligent.”

Yacinthe is considered a leader in the development of Montreal’s current “popping” community.

Popping is a technique that originated in northern California in the ‘70s as a physical response to soul and funk music. During the dance, muscles alternate between loosening and tensing, creating a jerk-like effect that transforms the dancers into something at once human and mechanical. On stage, lighting, length, and miseen-scène all contributed to the performance, but the overall attitude of the performance stressed that street dance should never be considered a lesser form. Street dance is raw—it’s a talent that receives constant cheers from the audience when dancers hit the floor at the same time as the bass, and twist so gracefully it seems like

they’re all tendon and no bone.

Today there is a prevalence of conceptual art and a desperation to create something authentic. It is possible to interpret PHASE 1 and MYOCARDITIS as modern dance productions, but this would be a misunderstanding. Yacinthe is a popper, a locker, and a freestyler who says he, “cannot have influence from something I do not know.”

This “something” is the study of contemporary dance. This is not an ode to an era, or even an avant-garde modern production. This is a style seen on the streets, on the competitive battle-stages, and for the audience as a performance.

MUSEUM REVIEW When a sketch comes to life A walk through the UQAM Centre of Design’s latest exhibit

A sketch from Arthur Erickson’s Simon Frasier University project. (centredesign.smugmug.com)

Evelyn Goessling Contributor Since the middle of the 20th century, Arthur Erickson’s buildings have modified Canada’s physical, cultural, and architectural landscape. Université du Quebec a Montréal’s (UQAM) Centre du Design is currently bringing his work to light in Lignes topographiques / Sight Lines, a showcase of previously unseen sketches that would eventually become some of his most well-known projects.

Erickson, born in Vancouver in 1924, studied architecture before travelling to Montreal to attend McGill’s School of Architecture. There, he conceived of and eventually built many seminal

buildings that would change the faces of cities across Canada.

The exhibition space at the Centre du Design is a humble room, but the tall ceilings and modern concrete floor create a sense of spaciousness that aligns beautifully with the grace of Erickson’s sketches. Part One of the exhibit features sketches of eight private and commercial endeavours across Canada.

Some of these projects were never realized, but those that were constructed are accompanied by a photo series taken by photographer and McGill architecture professor, Ricardo L Castro. Particularly striking are the sketches for Simon Fraser University, where the darker tones and dramatic depth of field bring the

image to life.

Each of the eight projects have three to four sketches displayed. The drawings—which in some cases are torn, folded, or stained—look almost like discovered objects instead of architectural plans. Rather than give the content an unprofessional air, however, the roughness of some of the sketches offers a more immediate connection to Erickson’s creative process. While some are drawn painstakingly with ruler and thin graphite, others are in a style similar to blind contour. Either way, it’s easy to imagine these sketches as treasures just waiting to be discovered amongst piles of architectural ephemera.

The sketches appear to be more a

relic of art than a study in structural engineering. They serve as a reminder of the artistic nature of architecture in general. By placing the photos side by side with the sketch, the curators remind the viewer that the manipulation of line, space, shape, and shadow is often applied to the building as it is in the drawing.

It can be difficult to appreciate the grandeur of architecture through 2D sketches. The exhibit attempts to create a sense of scale by filling one blank wall with projected colour photos of the projects, which is a refreshing change from the many grayscale sketches. Without the accompanying photography the exhibit would be somewhat dry and hard to digest; the photos are a refreshing reminder of the architecture’s real world significance.

The second part of the exhibit displays sketches that were done while Erickson was a student at McGill in the late ‘40s. These sketches are showcased flat on a long table, allowing for a more intimate examination of the drawings.

This collection also includes reproduc-

tions from McGill’s Canadian Architecture Collection and the University of Calgary’s Canadian Architectural Archives. The reproductions flesh out the exhibition overall but don’t compare to the intimacy of the original sketches.

There is architecture everywhere, but it’s easy to overlook the detail and care that goes into planning a building. In fact, the product of an architectural project goes on to be more than a building— it’s an important cultural and historical marker that will remain for generations to see and experience. In this way architecture may be the most influential field of art, engineering, and design. Exhibitions like this do a great service to the field and to the public by highlighting the importance and beauty of architecture, including the sketches that launch these projects into reality.

Arthur Erickson: Ligne topographiques / Sight Lines will be on display at the Université du Quebec a Montréal’s (UQAM) Centre du Design (1440 Sanguinet) until Oct. 18. Admission is free)

12

Arts & Entertainment

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

1.

Hidden venues of Montreal

2.

Looking at some of the best spots you’ve never heard of 3.

by Amber Hord

4.

1. Le Cagibi

5490 Saint Laurent

Located in the Mile End, Le Cagibi is a coffeehouse and vegetarian restaurant by day and a bar and concert venue by night. Shows are held in the back room where listeners can settle into a cozy armchair with a drink and, depending on the night, enjoy a multitude of genres from folk and acoustic to experimental acts. The events are usually free or by donation, and when the show is over, guests can head around the corner for some late night munchies at St-Viateur bagel; the perfect end to a perfect night!

2. La Sala Rossa

4848 Saint Laurent

La Sala Rossa is much more than amazing sangria. Above the delicious Spanish restaurant is a classic concert venue featuring velvet curtains, chandeliers, and a bar in the rear for those in the mood to chill out and have a drink. La Sala Rossa hosts anything from jazz to indie rock, but the shows can range all the way to a burlesque performance or a breakdance competition. This venue caters to all interests, so no matter who attends, La Sala Rossa will have the perfect event. Cover varies from free to $30 depending on the artist, but the Thursday night flamenco show is always free.

3. Casa Del Popolo

4873 Saint Laurent

Venture into Casa Del Popolo, through a small, dark hallway, and suddenly a room full of concert posters, live music, and good vibes emerge. After checking out the band, one can head to the terrace to relax and have a drink. Casa Del Popolo hosts a variety of artists from electronic to indie.

Mondays and Tuesdays are always free, and cover for the rest of the week is either pay-what-youcan or between $5 to $25. Monthly events including a spoken word night and a Comix Jam— where artists come together to create impromptu graphic art—allowing patrons to both experience or create art on any given night.

4. Le P’tit Ba r

3541 Saint Denis

Le P’tit Bar is one of the smallest and most charming venues in Montreal. Those searching for the authentic Quebecois experience need look no further. Most of the bands are local and so is the crowd. The venue only holds about 30 people, making it a great place for a date or a night out with a few friends. There are shows every day of the week and they are typically pay-what-you-can.

W()MB

Photos courtesy of : (3524aylmerstreet.com), (newadnetwork.com), (casadelpopolo.com), (weekendblitz.com)

2029 Saint Laurent

W()MB is a new space run by a collective of seven Montreal musicians and artists. The entertainment ranges from experimental music acts and movie projection nights, to drone installations and art shows. The appearance of the space changes based on the act, so there is always a fresh feel. Cover varies depending on the artist and type of event, and events range from the standard two-hour show to all night long.

13

Student Living Stuffed roast acorn squash Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Taking advantage of Montreal’s fall produce

Ingredients

By Liz Willcock Fall has finally reached Montreal, and while this means Instagram feeds will be filled to the brim with pictures of leaves and pumpkin spice lattes, it also means this is the best time of year to reap Mother Nature’s produce.

Fruits and vegetables that have been growing all summer are being pulled from the ground, and the markets are now filled with local kale, pumpkin, cauliflower, zucchini and apples, to name a few. In fact, local produce is so easily accessible near McGill campus, that there’s really no reason to not be filling a basket with seasonal goods. From the McGill Farmers Market every Thursday, to one of Montreal’s food box schemes such as Lufa Farms, Saintropol Roulant, or the Good Food Box, getting fruits and vegetables that are in season is easy as ever.

Although the typical McGill undergraduate has no problem writing a five-page paper at the last minute, when confronted with an acorn squash they succumb to complete and utter confusion. Thankfully, the Tribune has deconstructed the mystery behind one of fall’s greatest gourds.

Although some may think that an acorn squash is just a shrivelled up pumpkin, they are actually filled with immune system boosting vitamins, and are incredibly easy to bake. What’s more, this recipe is easily adaptable, and can be made with whatever kitchen staple one has on hand— just slip it into the oven and wait for the house to be filled with the smell of real pumpkin spice.

This recipe does not have traditional measurements, so feel free to give and take according to whatever looks interesting at the market, or perhaps more realistically whatever needs to be cleared out of the back of the fridge.

1 winter squash (1 squash serves 2) 3 cups of filling (see below)

Instructions Preheat the oven to 400 °F/205 °C. Slice the squash in half from stem to root and scoop out the seeds.

Place the squash face up on a baking tray and drizzle with olive oil and salt.

1

Roast for about 35 to 50 minutes or until your squash is tender in the middle and browned around the edges. Flip face down before removing to slightly char the outside.

2 (May Lim / McGill Tribune)

Filling:

1/2 cup—sausage, chicken, or tempeh and baked tofu for any vegetarians.

2 cups vegetables —onions, mushrooms, zucchini, greens, or anything that can be found at the market 1/2 cup cooked grains and/or nuts—examples include barley, quinoa, millet, farro, rice, walnuts, almonds, or pecans 1 to 3 teaspoons herbs or spices such as paprika, cumin, coriander, and cayenne

Topping:

1/2 to 1 cup shredded cheese such as goat cheese or Parmesan

While the squash is roasting, prepare the filling.

This is a great place to combine leftovers from other meals (like cooked chicken, quinoa or roasted vegetables). Sauté onions for three minutes with spices, add vegetables and protein, and cook until tender. Taste and adjust the spices, salt, and pepper based on personal preference.

3

Pull the squash out of the oven and flip the cooked squash halves so they form bowls. Divide the filling between the halves, and cover with a sprinkling of cheese.

4 5

Place these back in the oven until they are hot and the cheese has melted. Serve and enjoy!

(Recipe adapted from the kitchn)

Navigating healthy Four food choices to stay nourished and alert rachel summers Contributor Navigating through the limited food options on and around campus in the hopes of finding something nutritious and budget-friendly can be tough. Here are some tips to make your search a little easier.

Students spend a significant portion of their day on campus running between classes, studying in the library, or just hanging out with friends. Consequently, it can be difficult to find food options that leave one feeling healthy, energetic and satiated. While there is plenty of pizza across the road on Rue Sherbrooke, and sandwiches at Premier Moisson, Subway, La Prep, and Vinh’s, these carbohydrate-heavy (albeit delicious) options may leave the body craving something more nutritious to stay running longer and healthier.

Organic Campus

Conveniently located on the first floor of the Students’ Society of McGill (SSMU) Building, the Organic Campus booth has the perfect fix for a quick bite that will help sustain one through grueling,

information-packed lectures. Open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., one can find injera—an Ethiopian staple— consisting of lentils, potatoes, dried tomatoes, dried peppers, herbs, and sea salt wrapped in a fermented flat bread. It is vegan, organic, and the ingredients are sourced from a local Quebec farm. The wrap is high in protein and only costs $2, which means students and their wallets will be full for longer.

Midnight Kitchen Midnight Kitchen is a service that prepares and serves hot vegan lunches every day on the third (sometimes fourth) floor of the SSMU Building. Since student fees finance the service, Midnight Kitchen is available to all students at no additional cost, but donations are welcome. The service is run with sustainability in mind, so it is essential to bring Tupperware and cutlery from home to partake in this amazing lunch. The meal usually consists of a hot soup or stew, a starch, salad, and dessert, which are always nourishing, filling and tasty.

Service begins at 12:30 p.m. and continues until 1 p.m., but the line gets long quickly so students should

arrive early. It’s a great place not only to grab lunch, but also catch up on readings while waiting, or chatting with friends in line.

The Nest On the second floor of SSMU, The Nest is a great option for grabbing a healthy lunch on campus. The student-run café’s menu has been revamped since last year, and now includes a greater variety to satisfy the hungry student. There are still sandwiches and burritos, but there are also salads, steamed veggies, and healthy stir-fries if you’re looking for something on the lighter side. For $5.75, a great option to keep full for the afternoon is the baked potato with veggie chili that comes with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of cheese and chives.

The Nest is a great way to support student-run initiatives while taking care of your body at the same time.

Freshii For students who have time to venture just outside of campus, Freshii, located just south of Parc and Milton, has an extensive menu with many healthy options. There is a set menu of rice and quinoa bowls,

Baked potato from The Nest (Rachel Summers / McGill Tribune) salads, and wraps, or students can customize each of these and select their favourite toppings. Everything on the menu ranges from $7 to $10 and the serving sizes are generous. To get the most health

value, choose the dressing carefully and opt for balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, or teriyaki.

14

Student Living

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Life beyond the McGill bubble audrey carlton Contributor Attending university in the heart of downtown Montreal is a luxury McGill students commonly take for granted.

Often it becomes far too easy to become chained to campus and trapped in the “McGill bubble.” In an effort to combat this pitfall, the Tribune compiled a list of some of the best things to do in four of the most eclectic neighbourhoods surrounding downtown.

Plateau Mont-Royal East of campus on Avenue des Pins emerges the Plateau Mont-Royal, more commonly known as “the Plateau.” The homey brownstone flats that are characteristic of this calm neighborhood give it a suburban feel that attracts a lot of McGill students. In keeping with the calmer vibe of the Plateau, the area is spotted with little parks, the most notable of which is Parc La Fontaine, which stretches from Rue Sherbrooke to Rue Rachel, and contains an ideal combination of walking paths, grassy spots for picnicking, and a pond. An eastbound bike ride along the two-way bike lanes of Rue Rachel will land you at the park, but not without passing other Plateau hot spots such as La Banquise. This is one of the most famous poutine restaurants in Montréal, where, 24 hours a day, restaurant-goers can custom order poutine with a vast selection of vegetable and meat toppings, and even vegan sauce and vegan cheese curds. Schwartz’s Deli, on Boulevard Saint-Laurent and Rue Napoléon, is one of the oldest delis in Canada, and thus attracts tourists from across the country for its famous smoked meat. For non-food related

activities, simply walking around the Plateau can provide entertainment and peruse the wide variety of street art that covers its walls, alleyways and shops.

The Mile End Offering a similar calm, artsy vibe to that of the Plateau, the Mile End is most notably a hub for young hipsters. Though its borders are somewhat debatable, in general terms the Mile End is located just north of the Plateau.

In keeping with the hipster vibe of the Mile End, this neighborhood is home to a lot of cafés and coffee shops.

Among them is Chez Boris, a café that specializes in handmade Russian doughnuts, made-to-order on the spot.

Le Depanneur, located on Avenue de l’Esplanade and Rue Bernard Ouest is another well-known café in the Mile End, known for its grilled cheeses and for hosting live music from local artists at all hours of the day to accompany patrons’ meals. For students familiar with the McGill Ghetto and seeking a home away from home, the other Lola Rosa is on Avenue du Parc, featuring not only more space for sitting, but a more expansive menu. Among other vegetarian-friendly restaurants in the Mile End is Aux Vivres, a vegan restaurant located on rue Saint-Laurent and Rue Villenueve Ouest with an extensive menu of vegan dishes that use meat and dairy substitutes in popular dishes that vegans would not otherwise be able to eat.

The Mile End is also the perfect place to find a wood-fired Montréal bagel, as it is home to both St. Viateur Bagel and Fairmount Bagel—arguably the two best bagel shops in Montreal.

St. Henri

Damas

Thanjai Restaurant

Located in the corner of Avenue Van Horne and Avenue Bloomfield sits this authentic Syrian eatery. The beautiful lantern-lit restaurant features charming Middle-Eastern décor and a delectable choice of food. Damas’ distinctive interior, including an open kitchen and dim lighting, contributes to its relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. The sophisticated and unusual blend of spices in Damas’ food adds to the unique appeal of the restaurant.

It is most famously known for its “Five service tasting menu to share,” which consists of a blend of different meats and spices. Furthermore, Damas’ simple dishes, such as hummus and falafel, ooze with flavour.

The restaurant is on the costly side, with prices ranging from $7 to $23 for appetizers, and $26 to $65 for main courses. However, the quality of food and service make it worth every penny. Considered as one of the top Middle-Eastern restaurants in Montreal, Damas knows how to make sure its customers leave with their appetites satisfied.

Thanjai Restaurant, located on Avenue Van Horne and Avenue Victoria, is an informal eatery that wins the race when it comes to authentic South Indian food.

The rich cuisine and informal atmosphere of the restaurant make it a relaxed and tasty place to eat. Thanjai is most well known for its incredible dosas—crepes made from fermented rice and lentils. It specializes in over 50 different types of dosas, with masala dosa topping the list as the most popular choice. Furthermore, with prices ranging from $11 to $30, Thanjai offers generous portions for a relatively low cost. Thanjai is the spot to fulfill your masala and spice cravings with exceptional quality food.

Due to Solin Hall, the St. Henri neighbourhood garners a fair amount of attention from McGill students.

Originally a largely working class centre of industry, St. Henri has undergone recent development and is often described as an ‘up-and-coming’ neighbourhood as more trendy restaurants, shops and living complexes migrate to the area.

St. Henri is home to Atwater Market, one of the city’s largest and most popular outdoor markets. Located along Avenue Atwater, the market provides local vendors with space to sell plants, fresh vegetables, meats, cheeses, and other fresh foods on a daily basis, yearround. The market is also located conveniently near the Lachine Canal, an offshoot of the Saint-Laurent river that stretches 14.5 kilometers from the Old Port of Montréal to Lac Saint-Louis.

The most notable street for social life in St. Henri is Rue Notre-Dame, along which one can find restaurants like Tuck Shop, a popular bistro with a combination of French and Italian food that sits on almost every internet list of top Montreal restaurants. Another standout restaurant is Green Spot, a ‘greasy spoon’ diner located on Rue Notre Dame and Avenue Greene. It has been open in St. Henri for a long time, and is thus another local favourite, serving a wide array of breakfast dishes, fried and cozy place to eat. The restaurant is dimly lit and the decor authentic; there is a map of Afghanistan as well as traditional clothing hung on the brick walls.

The food is extremely rich in flavour, and comes with large portion sizes.

Exploring Montreal’s international cuisine

By A

lizeh Ejaz

Khyber Pass Located on Avenue Duluth East and Rue Berri, Khyber Pass is a wellknown Afghan restaurant in Montreal.

Its wooden exterior, as well as indoor standing heaters, makes it a unique

Khyber Pass is most famous for their mouth-watering and delicious meats, such as its Mourg Kabab and Chopan Kabab. Additionally, the restaurant’s BYO-bottle option is a fun way for cus-

Trapped in the McGill bubble. (Felicia Chang / McGill Tribune) foods, and poutine.

Located east of downtown, the Gay Village—commonly shortened to “The Village”—is a hub for Montreal’s LGBT community. The Gay Village is not only where Montreal’s Pride Festival takes place every year, but it is also home to the pedestrianonly section of Rue Sainte-Catherine that is strung with hanging pink ball ornaments for the duration of June to September.

Some of Montreal’s best nightlife thrives in the Gay Village. Olympia nightclub, a three-floor venue that is home to many of McGill’s Frosh events, is located in the Village along Rue Sainte-Catherine. Sky and Unity are two other popular gay clubs in the Village, both with multiple floors

and outdoor patios, offering not just extra space but a multitude of ambiances for varied clubbing needs and desires.

While there is a vast selection of activities to do at night in the Gay Village, it’s equally difficult to get bored during the day. It is home to some of Montréal’s best coffee shops, like Porquois Pas Espresso Bar, known for their house blend almond milk used in most of their drinks. Also located in The Village is Le Milieu, a smaller café and art co-op run entirely by volunteers.

Here, the art supplies for sale are all donated upcycled materials, and are sold on a name-your-price basis. The co-op also holds craft, art, and cooking workshops run by co-op volunteers, and offers comfortable space for locals to sit and enjoy knitting and craft in addition to a light coffee.

tomers to save money and enjoy their preferred drinks.

Nil Bleu

The Gay Village

Ceviches Nestled among the quieter streets of the Plateau Mont-Royal is a quaint little Caribbean and Latin American restaurant called Ceviches. This familyrun restaurant hosts a very hospitable ambience—its staff are known to be extremely welcoming and attentive, and the owner of the restaurant, Luis, is always present and conversing with his customers. The restaurant has some of the best ceviche in town, with the option to build it yourself by picking your own choice of seafood and sauces.

Additionally, Ceviches has a wide variety of dishes to choose from, fish, chicken or cheese empanadas, to cassava fries and chorizo sandwiches.

Their items have large portion servings and are priced from $11 to $30, making it an affordable place to eat with family and friends.

Nil Bleu restaurant, on Avenue des Pins East and Saint-Denis, is an authentic Ethiopian restaurant. The restaurant provides a vegetarian-friendly menu, and includes gluten-free options as well.

Nil Bleu has a modern décor, full of East African inspired paintings and music. A staple at Nil Bleu is injera—a flatbread made from a grain called teff—which is high in protein, amino acids and fiber, and makes up two thirds of the diet in Ethiopia. The restaurant’s highlight is its tasting menu for two, which provides several delicious appetizers and a variety of delectable main dishes to try, such as appetizers of caramelized vegetables with Ethiopian spices, and main course like Yebeg Key Watt, which is lamb in berbere sauce. Nil Bleu also serves other African dishes apart from Ethiopian, on their table d’hôte menu. This menu serves up dishes such as Senegalese yassa-grilled chicken with lemon, mustard and African herbs sauce, and tilapia with red peppers, ginger and coconut-based sauce, hailing from Ivory Coast. Nil Bleu is the perfect restaurant to go to if you’re in the mood to explore

15

Sports

Tuesday, September 29, 2015 Behind the Bench

Just don’t let it be a tie “Three—on—three” OT hockey sweeping the NHL nation genevieve citron Contributor Continued from page one This fast-paced OT will also remedy the problem of excessive shootouts in the NHL; since 2005, shootouts have decided an average of 13.5 per cent of games per season. No fan wants to see their team crush every play, only to be taken down by an arbitrary breakaway. Ending a game in a shootout is like walking into a Tim Horton’s, only to find out they’ve started serving Burger King. It’s just not what you came for.

Redmen goaltender Jacob Gervais-Chouinard was very positive about the new OT rules and sees a place for it in the CIS.

“I think that three-on-three OTs would definitely be an improvement, as it would make games more exciting for fans,” GervaisChouinard said. “I think there is huge potential for better attendance at games in our league and this could be a good place to start working on it.”

Gervais-Chouinard went on to say that the overtime changes would also play to the strengths of his teammates.

“In practices, I really like three-on-three scrimmages,” Gervais-Chouinard explained.

“My teammates would [also]

Blackhawks’ centre Brandon Pirri fires in a shootout. (Photo courtesy of Jon Daniel / Getty Images) love three on three. They are skilled and understand the game well. Plus, they love to have fun and be creative on the ice, so I think they would appreciate the gameplay a lot.”

Three-on-three overtime hockey brings the NHL into

a new age of competition.

Perhaps it can do the same for university hockey.

Imagine watching the Redmen in threeon-three overtime at the CIS championship game: The McGill faithful are on edge as Chouinard keeps the game alive with

outstanding one-on-one saves.

Then, passing with artistry and shooting aggressively, McGill hits the back of the net to win the cup. That would be a breathtaking spectator experience, a truly satisfying conclusion to the season.

Shooting the breeze

(nypost.com)

Rising sophomore quarterbacks in the NFL Blake Bortles

Teddy Bridgewater

Derek Carr

Johnny Manziel

By Zach Lanys

By Elie Waitzer

By Jeff Bridges

By Zikomo Smith

Blake Bortles was not the name Jacksonville fans were hoping to hear from commissioner Roger Goodells’ mouth during the 2014 draft. But Bortles flashed his immense potential in his first year in the league and ended Jags fan’s previous yearning for Cleveland-bound Johnny Manziel. Last season, Bortles led all quarterbacks in the league with an average of 7.5 yards per carry, proving he’s a threat not only in the air, but also on the ground.

At 6’5” and 232 pounds, Bortles has the prototypical size for a starting quarterback and consistently draws comparisons to two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger. While he does have room to improve, Bortles has the talent and athleticism needed to excel at the professional level. If his offensive line can protect him and his skill position players continue to grow alongside him, Blake Bortles and the Jags should be making waves in the AFC in the coming years.

Bridgewater was the third quarterback to come off the board in 2014, taken after Bortles and Manziel. He was a pleasant surprise early in the season, but it wasn’t until Week 14 against the New York Jets that Vikings fans got a taste of what he was capable of. Pinned up against his own end zone, Bridgewater completed an 87-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jarius Wright to win the game. It would be the second longest pass thrown all season, and Bridgewater would end his rookie campaign with the thirdmost game winning drives in the NFL. His 64.4 pass completion percentage was good for 11th in the league, putting him above Tom Brady, Andy Dalton, and Andrew Luck. Aside from Mike Wallace, Bridgewater’s receiving options are pretty thin this season, but through two games he has recorded a 74 per cent completion rate. With Bridgewater quickly maturing into one of the league’s most accurate passers, star Adrian Peterson may finally have a partner in crime that can help him get the Super Bowl ring he deserves.

The Raiders are an NFL team on the rise, and in Dereck Carr they may just have the best young quarterback to boot. Backed by a quality offensive coordinator in Bill Musgrave, and armed with a stud wide receiver in the making in Amari Cooper, Carr is more than capable of leading the NFL’s laughing stock franchise back to relevance. The 24-year-old from Fresno State has a strong, accurate arm and good mobility in the pocket—he passed for 3,270 yards and 21 touchdowns in a chaotic rookie season in Oakland. Carr has also shown the advanced ability to read play coverages, and as a result has only 12 of his passes picked off last year.

With expectations rising for 2015, the Sophomore quarterback went a long way in silencing his critics with a dynamite performance last week versus the Baltimore Ravens. Carr completed 65 per cent of his passes, throwing for 351 yards, three touchdowns, and only one interception. The catchphrase of the late and legendary Raiders’ coach, general manager and owner Al Davis was, “Just win, baby!” With Carr behind centre, fans in Oakland should expect to see many wins to come in the near future.

Johnny Manziel can straight out ball. His draft profile on the NFL’s website described him as “a once-in-a-generation, run-around, ad-lib, sandlot-style quarterback who consistently won games [for Texas A&M].”

Manziel is perfect for the Cleveland Browns: He is a playmaker on a team with little offensive talent. His game-changing abilities were on display for the Browns against the Tennessee Titans in Week Two; The Heisman Trophy winner hit receiver Travis Benjamin for two touchdowns of 60 and 50 yards, respectively. Manziel’s elusiveness and gun-slinging attitude makes him a potential fan favourite in terms of drama, but his well-documented immaturity shouldn’t spill over into his Sophomore year. Manziel went to alcohol rehab, coaches are praising his new work ethic, and he has space to develop his game as Josh McCown’s backup.

Given time, Johnny Football will live up to his moniker and be the most exciting quarterback in the league.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Minnesota Vikings

Oakland Raiders

Cleveland Browns

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Sports S o cc e r

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Tuesday, September 29, 2015

laval

No. 1 ranked Rouge et Or overpower Martlets Senior striker Rebecca Green notches second goal of the season for McGill ADrian KNowler Contributor Laval Rouge Et Or (5-0-1) overpowered the McGill Martlets (32-1) 3-1 on Friday night at Molson Stadium. The Martlets struggled to execute offensively in this tough matchup and fell to fourth place in the RSEQ. “This game is always such a difficult one,” junior goalkeeper Cassandra Fafalios said. “They’re the best team, technically, that we play every year.”

The 2015 CIS rankings confirm Fafalios’ statement. Laval won last year’s National Championship and have maintained their No. 1 ranking, beginning the season undefeated.

From the starting whistle, Laval dominated possession. Without the steady presence of veteran sweeper Zoe Fasoulakis—who was sitting due to a concussion—the Martlets’ defence was spread thin. After a quick attack down the wing towards the byline, Laval sent a cross into the box, which was deflected by a McGill defender. The ball trickled out and was smashed in on the rebound by Laval’s Cynthia Turcotte, her first

goal of the season, which put Laval up 1-0.

The Martlets got off to a slow start, allowing Laval to control the ball in the midfield and pressure the McGill zone early on. From the sideline, Head Coach Jose-Luis Valdes urged his players to press Laval’s back line to force a mistake and win possession.

The hosts responded with a greater sense of urgency and soon equalized.

In the sixth minute, fifth-year forward and captain Rebecca Green scored an unassisted equalizer, blowing by the left side of the Laval defence before slotting it away.

The Rouge Et Or came back with an explosive counterattack, narrowly missing on a myriad of scoring opportunities. McGill relied heavily on Fafalios to keep the scores level going into the break.

In the second half, the Rouge et Or proved to be too much for McGill.

Striker Lea Chastenay-Joseph scored in the 51st and 64th minute to put the game out of reach. McGill’s only good chance came in the 62nd minute when Sophomore science student Audrey-Ann Coughlan, hit the crossbar with a free kick, narrowly missing a chance to tie up

Martlets jostle for position against the Rouge Et Or. (Natalie Vineberg / McGill Tribune) the match.

Valdes was pleased with his players despite the outcome.

“Right to the last second, everybody on the field was going all out,” he said. “That’s the type of energy I’m very happy with.”

Fafalios was was superb once again on Sunday against Montreal (3-0-3), making 13 saves to salvage a 0-0 tie and maintain McGill’s second place position in the division.

Moment of the game Green’s goal evened the score early, which rallied a strong defensive performance from the team for the rest of the half. Inspired play kept Laval from breaking through until the second half.

Sound bites “They had six players with me at the World University Games this

summer. We only have one. That gives you an idea of the talent pool that they have.” Head Coach JoseLuis Valdes on Laval’s talent.

Quick hitters Fafalios recorded 10 saves in the match, the most by a McGill keeper this season. None was more impressive than her leaping stop in the second half to keep a shot out of the top left corner.

T a l k i n g w i t h r e d m e n h o c k e y a ss i st a n t c o a c h d a v ID u r q u h a r t

By Emily Wang

Coach Dave Urquhart talks to his players on the bench. (Natalie Vineberg / McGill Tribune) The McGill Redmen hockey team is currently six games into the pre-season, and have gone 2-4 against some tough competition. Last year, the Redmen finished at the top of the OUA East and nearly made it all the way to Nationals.

Many of the players from that team have graduated, including the team’s leading scorer and OUA East MVP, Cedric McNicoll.

The team will look a lot different this year with 10 new players joining.

The freshman class includes players

from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Ontario Hockey League, as well as transfer students from other CIS schools. The young team is still adjusting to the league and playing with new faces, Redmen Assistant Coach DavId Urquhart explained after the team’s trip to the Maritimes two weekends ago.

“We still have a lot to learn [about] systems and structure in terms of the way we play,” Urquhart said. “A lot of guys got to play in new situations,

which is good for them, and we played against two of the top teams in Canada.”

The Redmen lost the two games they played by wide margins, dropping the first game 3-6 and the second 1-7.

“The trip wasn’t designed to be easy for us,” Urquhart continued. “We were on the bus for 24 hours this weekend.

We wanted the guys to face some adversity early in the season and to set the bar, see where they need to be, see what type of talent we’re going to face at Nationals. So, I think we achieved that.”

It’s wrong to read too much into these pre-season box scores. Exhibition games are often more about process and learning rather than results.

Although the Redmen have lost a lot of players up front, much of the their defence is returning, as are netminders Jacob Gervais-Chouinard and Karel St-Laurent. The pair were by far the best goaltending tandem in CIS last season; their combined regular season save percentage was .935 per cent, 10 percentage points better than the next best school. In addition, Urquhart believes that the blueline has a good mix of size, skill, and experience, making it one of the team’s biggest strengths.

“We’re strong on the back end,” Urquhart claimed. “We have some big guys [...] but we also have some high end skill on the back end as well.”

To some extent, every CIS team has to deal with a large amount of roster turnover every year due to graduation.

For McGill, this situation is exacerbated by the fact that most players coming from Quebec only play three years before graduating. Still, it’s tough to lose players of McNicoll’s calibre and maintain a productive offence. Adding players like Liam Heelis, the former captain of the Acadia Axemen, should help, but whether they can replace the offence they’ve lost is the biggest question heading into the season.

For the freshmen, jumping into a different league with an unfamiliar team comes with a steep learning curve. Nonetheless, Urquhart believes that the players are adjusting well and picking up the systems quickly.

“They’re sharp,” Urquhart said.

“These guys are all quick studies, they’re really good to work with.”

The Redmen aren’t just quick learners on the ice. The players on this team are also academically successful, something that Urquhart is proud of.

“Last year we had 13 academic All-Canadians—that’s guys with a GPA of over 3.7,” he explained.

“They’re also successful in the classroom. That’s one of our main focuses. The two go hand in hand.

Being a successful student athlete means you do well in school and on the ice as well.”

Urquhart stressed the high level of hockey the team plays.

“We’d just like to see everybody come out to watch,” Urquhart said.

“You’re not going to see higher quality hockey [in Montreal] outside of the Canadiens. We’ve got guys who have all played major junior and it’s the next level. They’re great hockey players and they’re great students, too.”

The Redmen home opener is on October 16 against Laurentian.