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M cG I L L Tuesday, Fe b ru ary 5, 2 0 0 2 Issue 19
Published by the S t u d e n ts ’ Society o f McGill Un iversity since 1 9 8 1
O p era M c G i l l 's T h e R a k e's P r o g r e s s
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gem Jean M ath ew s Who would have thought that after those three-and-a-half hours of opera viewing, I would have come out laughing? But I did, as did most o f the audience that walked out o f Pollack Hall this past Saturday, the ominous words “For idle hands and hearts and minds the Devil finds a work to do, work, dear Sir, fair Madam, for you and you,” tickling the collective ear. Igor Stravinsky’s first attempt at writing an English language opera and his first partnership with W. H. Auden (who wrote the libretto), The R akes Progress is a wonderfully witty comedy and Opera McGill could What do the Devil, Adonis, and the Mother Goose have in common? They’re all not have chosen a more appropriate opera to fight the apathy and depres sion o f these winter months. What first catches the inquisi tive eye that casts a glance onto the stage is the symmetrical, geometrical, and yet dreadfully twisted setting— the Trulove residence, coloured in a they could give a presentation on John S cia scia pleasing but slightly eerie ink. Truly their own behalf," said Lanteigne. a visionary was set designer Michael "This was meant to allow them [La E. Downs for this interpretation o f Top representatives from the Stravinsky’s music and the all-per FEUQ] to describe the larger picture largest and most influential student vading theme o f the opera, a paradox o f their actions outside o f their inter lobby group in Quebec were at last o f emotions, an inseperable mixture action with the SSM U ." week's council meeting o f the o f the light-hearted and that deep The F E U Q executives expressed Students' Society of M cGill and dark seriousness. their collective intent to see McGill University (SSM U ) to discuss This is epitomized best in the University rejoin the ranks o f the final lines, wherein the comedic McGill’s possible re-entry into the lobby group it departed from ten menagerie o f main characters drop organization’s membership. years ago. their wigs and beards and in the | SSM U Vice-President of process, their characters, and the j Community and Government Affairs Thereandbackagain? complex relationships and interac Danielle Lanteigne invited La tions that were much the subject o f Fédération des Étudiantes Univer the past three hours— and instead Various concerns were raised sitaires du Québec (La FEU Q ) to seem to confess that what the viewers during the course o f La F E U Q ’s onepresent the SSM U with their goals were watching was actually not an hour presentation at the SSM U and ambitions for student lobbying opera but a radically entertaining council meeting. representation at the provincial gov Bible-study on the ten command F E U Q representatives were ments, ernment level. asked if the lobby organization still "I was asked by council to invite maintains the pro-separatist mandate La F E U Q to our meeting so that Please see RAKE, page 12
characters in The R akes Progress
La FEUQinvites McGill to re-enter membership
Major provincial lobby group vows to defend student interests
T h e c lo s e s t
IR IS H
P U B
that originally influenced McGill's decision to leave the Federation in 1992. F E U Q President Andrée MayerPériard replied that the organization repealed its separatist mandate last May, and denounced claims that proseparatist members o f the lobby organization would exert their per sonal ideological preferences on F E U Q policy direction. “It is definitely not a part o f our group’s mandate,” affirmed MayerPériard. Another main concern voiced by SSM U councilors involved the cost o f joining La FE U Q . The SSM U would have to pay $2.50 per semester per student for membership in the organization. “I f SSM U were to rejoin us, the
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first new employee we would hire would be a translator for our official documents. Other fund allocations would then be decided at our next budget meeting,” explained MayerPériard. In spite o f the cost o f member ship, she placed emphasis on the benefits that McGill would enjoy as a member o f the Federation. "La F E U Q would ensure that McGill has a voice in provincial affairs, and would benefit from our research and lobbying power," said Mayer-Periard, who underscored the importance o f research as a prime lobbying tool. She mentioned how former provincial Education Minister Claude Ryan raised tuition rates in
Please see LA FEUQ, page 2
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