The McGill Tribune Vol. 22 Issue 21

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P u b lis h e d b y t h e S tu d e n ts ' S o c ie ty o f M c G ill U n iv e r s ity s in c e 1 9 8 1

T u e s d a y , F e b ru a r y 1 8 , 2 0 0 3 M a la is e m e d ia

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James Grohsgal

NATHAN LEBI0DA

McGill’s Kaley Kelling performs her technical solo at the McGill Synchronized Swimming Watershow, held at the Currie pool on Saturday night.

C a n a d a w ill n o t f o llo w a h a s t y US Mark Sward Minister o f Foreign Affairs Bill Graham said Friday that Canada’s foreign policy will continue to be independent o f American policies, especially regarding a potential war in Iraq.

The minister spoke at length to Liberal McGill about Canada’s possible role in a US-led war in

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Iraq. Canada wants Iraq to comply with the United Nations, but does not want war, he said.

“Colin Powell is well aware o f this. ... In a democracy, if you are going to war, you must persuade your people,” said Graham. “We are the Americans’ closest ally, but we can only be o f use if our policy is considered.”

After Graham spoke, UN

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“T h e d em on was on his podium surrounded by books o f old, and he bellow ed that I should prostrate m yself before h im .”

“Up until a few years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to tell an Ashanti from Saraswati.”

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C hief Weapons Inspector Hans Blix reported that his team found no weapons o f mass destruction in Iraq, but that Iraq was not in full compliance with UN resolutions.

Canadian government leaders say that Iraq is running out o f time, but hope that the US will not be too hasty to start a war in the Middle East.

“There is time... for Iraq to bring itself into conformity with [UN Resolution] 1441, but any time that is there is extremely short, and that will be for the Security Council to determine,” Graham said after Blix gave his report.

In the House o f Commons, Deputy Prime Minister John Manley refused to comment on the report because he wanted to exam­ ine it.

“We prefer to know what the facts are before we state our posi­

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tion,” he said.

Canadian Alliance McGill President David Anber said the Liberals aren’t taking a stance.

“W ith regards to Iraq, they are agreeing with every point o f view out there,” said Anber. “They are taking a position with every possi­ ble action to avoid angering any­ one. Canada [is]...waiting to see what the world is going to do. It is simply going to be a matter o f for­ eign policy after the fact.”

In his speech, Graham said that the UN should be strength­ ened to help resolve international crises, and that Canada received “tremendous affection as a nation throughout the world.” He stressed, however, that Canadians should become more involved in foreign policy.

Audiences in the 21st century can access a greater variety o f pro­ gramming through more channels than ever before, yet most o f what they consume is absolute garbage.

Consider The Bachelorette, A BC ’s Michael Jackson special, TLC s A W edding Story, and most o f CN N ’s daytime programming.

Consider USA Todays coverage of Richard Hatch's Survivor victory.

“As the cost o f channels declines, quality does, too,” said Ken Goldstein, the president of Communications Management Inc., who borrowed from author Harold Innis. “[Companies] reag­ gregate fragments to restore economies o f scale.”

The fragmentation o f media markets caused a decline in adver­ tising revenue, which caused a reduction in production values, which led to worse and worse con­ tent, which led to further fragmen­ tation as viewers sought content tailored to their specific interests.

This may explain why media com­ panies appear desperate to consoli­ date disparate holdings and offer converged content to consumers on what William S. Burroughs called the newspaper spoon.

At the McGill Institute for the Study o f Canada’s annual confer­ ence, W ho Controls Canada's Media?, speakers and panelists implicated young people in the murder o f quality content.

The people making content today believe that most young peo­ ple: a) have little interest in politics b) have attention spans o f goldfish c) enjoy mindless drivel and d) don't mind, or don't notice, the merger o f advertising and reality.

Before returning to the disaf­ fected youth, each panelist spouted his hate list. Domineering owners, Israel Asper in particular, were tar­ geted.

One CanWest executive said

— w ith file s fiom Adam K levinas

&

B O O K S

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2 News

The McGill Tribune, Tuesday, February 18, 2 0 0 3

C la rk s o n : M e d ia m a k e s th e 'C a n a d ia n a u d ie n c e ' Kate Fugler Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson spoke Friday about the quality and diversity o f the infor­ mation that Canadians receive. She addressed her remarks to partici­ pants o f the McGill Institute for the Study o f Canadas annual con­ ference, Who Controls Canada’s Media?

Her speech concentrated on the media’s representations o f a changing Canadian society.

“Our original, so-called multi­ cultural society was built o f immi­ grants from Europe, all o f whom could be expected within a relative­ ly short time— half a generation— to achieve an economic and social status which would be on par with other Canadians.

But, as Carol Goar o f the Toronto Star recently pointed out in an article on an immigration con­

ference in Toronto, our new immi­ grants are different. They come from countries where war, strife, destitution have been the norm.

They come from different religious traditions. Many o f them have been subjected to scenes and actions of horror and terror and have come here to escape. These are the people who need information so badly about how they can truly partici­ pate and become Canadian.”

Clarkson wove personal refer­ ences about her experience as an immigrant in Canada into her speech, explaining how important it is for Canadian media to be com­ prehensible sources o f information for citizens.

“All information media must play their part in helping that process to happen. I don’t mean that they project good news stories only or teach citizenship lessons subliminally. But I think that, by

Arts Undergraduate Society of McGill University

excellent journalism, people learn things by osmosis. And, as every­ body is watching hours and hours o f T V a day, that particular medi­ um has a special obligation to these newcomers and their children.”

Clarkson said that subtle things influence immigrants.

“Even such a small thing as the weather report can have a deep effect on newcomers. I have noticed a growing tendency within the last 25 years o f calling snow ‘bad weather’, when in fact it is normal weather for Canada. This may seem like a tiny detail, but why should we deny our climate in this way? Why should we pass on that kind o f valuation o f it to peo­ ple who are coming here from countries where the average tem­ perature is 40 degrees?”

Clarkson asked that the media practice responsible journalism for the sake o f new Canadians.

“It is they to whom you in the world o f media and information

In t e r n a t io n a l 'D e v e lo p in g '

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VALEDICTORIAN T h e A U S is n o w a c c e p tin g a p p lic a tio n s fo r V a le d ic t o r ia n f o r th e J u n e 2 0 0 3 g r a d u a tin g c la s s in th e F a c u lty o f A r ts .

A p p lic a tio n fo r m s a v a ila b le a t w w w .a u s m c g ill.c o m o r a t th e A U S o f f i c e s in th e b a s e m e n t o f th e L e a c o c k b u ild in g .

Contact Rahim Surani, VP Academic, at

ausaca@po-box.mcgill.ea for more information D ea d lin e fo r A p p lica tio n s: M a rch 19th , 2 0 0 3 at 5 .0 0 p m

Arts Undergraduate Society of McGill University

A. V S A W A 2003 • A w ard g iven to a te a ch e r w h o has g o n e a b o v e an d b e y o n d th e “call o f d u ty ” e .g . d e m o n s tra te d su p p o rt fo r stu d e n t rig h ts and/or A U S in itia tiv e s d u rin g th e 2 0 0 2 - 2 0 0 3 A c a d e m ic year.

• I t is N O T a te a c h in g A w ard .

• A n y U n d e rg ra d u a te stu d e n t e n ro lle d in a t least o n e F a c u lty o f A rts class in th e 2 0 0 2 - 2 0 0 3 A c a d e m ic y ear is elig ib le to s u b m it a n o m in a tio n .

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D EADLINE: M ARCH 14T H , 2 0 0 3 A T 5.00pm

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(including constant bus transit), but also augmented the population of the communities and put more pres­ sure on the natural resources of the area (forests, water and birds). Since the road borders the San Lorenzo Protected Area, the potential for l o a n a -C irca environmental damage is that much greater.

The third instalment o f the The Panamanian centre for Tribune s bi-weekly Panama column. research and social action is a non­ governmental organization founded The village o f Achiote is situat­ in 1977 that specializes on local, sus­ ed in the province o f Colon, on the tainable development in the rural Caribbean side of Panama. The pop­ communities o f Panama. Since ulation is about 450 people, mostly 1999, it has been active in Achiote coffee growers and cattle ranchers. and its neighbouring villages, pro­ The community is settled sparsely moting environmentally-friendly along a road, making for difficult agricultural practices. Its most communication and even less com­ recent project, Making Achiote a munity activism to solve pressing Bird-Friendly and Birder-Friendly problems such as water provision, Community, promotes shadetrash pick-up and marketing of the grown, organic coffee, as well as an increasingly devalued coffee crop. ecotourism infrastructure that will Despite the fact that Achiote is attract birdwatchers into the com­ characterized by much the same munity and bring the achiotenos problems as any rural community in monetary incentives for keeping Central America, Achiote has a their forests intact. treasure that sets it apart from the It all sounds so expediently sim­ others: a wide diversity of birds. The ple when put down on paper! Shade14,000 hectares around the commu­ grown, organic coffee sells for much nity are the habitat for 354 species more than the regular kind on inter­ of birds, 43 of which are neotropical national markets and it also main­ migratory birds. Panama’s unique tains a close-to-perfect habitat for position as a land bridge between the birds. The tourists will come continents, as well as the mainte­ pouring in due to the highly diverse nance of much of the tropical forests bird population and the natural on the less-accessible Atlantic side of beauty of the area (not to mention the isthmus, are some of the vari­ the great people!) and everybody ables that converge to bequeath such goes home happy. What could possi­ diversity to the region. Achiote is bly be deterring the people of also located in the buffer zone o f the Achiote from embarking on such a San Lorenzo Protected Area, which progressive, not to mention prof­ represents 12,000 hectares o f pris­ itable, development project? tine forest and coastal ecosystems on My classmate Farrah and I trav­ the west bank of the Panama Canal. el four hours every Thursday morn­ Five years ago, a road was built ing from Panama City to Achiote, to connect the capital o f the switching buses in Colon. We spend province, Colon, with the rest of the the day in Achiote, and leave on the communities from Costa Abajo, Friday midday bus. Our internship including Achiote. This road not in the community consists o f activi­ only brought more integration with ties that will support and comple­ the urban sector and its services ment the centre, CEASPA’s project;

In tfie ‘Tidd

where the freedom should be oper­ ating. This is where that freedom can give keys to worlds for other people.”

must be responsible, if you truly believe in freedom o f thought.

They are the people who are your audience and they are the people whom you must affect. And this is

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we are planning workshops on organic agriculture, natural resources, trash disposal and eco­ tourism. We are also starting a bi­ weekly leaflet that will keep people up-to-date on the different activities happening in the community, such as group meetings, movie nights and workshops. Most importantly, we are trying to confront the most daunting problem to face CEASPA for the past four years: the lack ol community spirit.

Achiote is a village of migrants, mostly coming from the interior of the country. There is no cultural or ethnic identity to speak of, or at least none as strong as we’ve seen in the land of the Kuna, and there is no trust in the community. The people of Achiote consider putting time and money into a communal project too risky; they believe that only the wealthy will benefit in the end.

The most difficult concept for eager development workers to inter­ nalize is that one never starts with a blank slate. Power dynamics both the community and national politi­ cal level have already been played out; only a fortunate few will receive licenses for organic coffee produc­ tion, and even fewer will be able to sell directly to national and interna­ tional distributors, who will only buy at a prohibitive discount. The rest must still put food on the table, and since vegetable gardens are too labour-intensive to be maintained, farmers will need more cash to buy basic commodities. Faced with such insurmountable hurdles, who is going to take such a risk just to pro­ tect the birds?

Grass-roots development has its merits, but without a national and international commitment towards raising the standards of living of these farmers, it seems as though the project is barely treading water.

The McGill Tribune, Tuesday, February 18, 2003

CASA Director Arbuckle implica resigns as SSMU considers drop Jennifer Jett

Unlike CFS, CASA lobbies exclusively at the federal level and The Canadian Alliance of pursues its goals through contact Student Associations was criticized with policy-makers.

“CASA is the only student for its ineffectiveness and narrow group in Canada that can get the mandate on Thursday night, as kind of access that we do,” Ontario CASA staffers gave their annual presentation to Students’ Society Regional Director Brett Bergie said.

Council. The suspension of Liam At CASA conferences, student rep­ Arbuckle, CASA’s national director, resentatives from individual univer­ was the focus of many councillors’ sities are able to meet with federal questions, but the three CASA rep­ officials.

“That’s where CASA’s strength resentatives refused to comment on lies—both in having the access to the nature of the allegations against politicians and decision-makers, him.

On Friday, Arbuckle resigned but also facilitating the access for after an investigation by the CASA the student organizations them­ Board of Directors found he had selves,” SSMU President Martin disclosed confidential information Doe said.

In response to CASA’s lobby­ to a candidate during the process to ing efforts, the federal government select a national director. Tyler granted $200-million to Canadian MacLeod, chair of CASA’s Board of Directors, will serve as interim universities this year to cover the director until a new national direc­ indirect costs of academic research, tor is elected in March and assumes of which McGill received $ 14.8million. office.

“We don’t just do these things SSMU is a founding member of the federal student lobbying and not get results,” Bergie said.

SSMU executives have become group, which was created in 1995 as an alternative to the Canadian dissatisfied, however, with some Federation of Students. Council­ aspects of the organization. Last lors may recommend that SSMU year, the SSMU and the University become an associate member of Alberta Student Union submit­ because of CASA’s conservative ted a list of recommendations in a approach and unresponsiveness to document entitled Fighting for an Effective CASA: The Winds Are SSMU’s requests for change.

The presentation to Council Changing Again. Suggestions inclu­ coincided with the release of the ded organizing an external review of Community and Government CASA, broadening the mandate to Committee’s report comparing include issues outside post-second­ ary education, and encouraging CASA and CFS. membership mobilization.

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in scandal, g full membership

Unlike CASA, CFS lobbies on narrow mandate that deserve atten• » a range of issues at both the federal tion. and provincial levels and has organ­ He added that CASA should ized student protests. use the media more effectively to “There are certain circum­ stances when you want to bring an issue to public light, make sure the students know about it, and posi­ tion the issue so that the govern­ ment and the population at large knows that this is going to be a pri­ ority,” said SSMU Vice-President Community and Government Nick Vikander.

Bergie, who considers demon­ strations to be a “last resort,” said CASA does mobilize members through actions such as letter-writ­ ing campaigns. “[Demonstrating] is something that is completely up to the mem­ bership,” he said, noting that the majority of members have not shown interest in protests.

Some of SSMU’s recommen­ CASA.CA dations have been adopted into pol­ Form er CA SA ND Liam Arbuckle icy, Bergie said, including a $15,000 external review. rouse public support.

“It’s an investment in CASA,” The Community and Bergie said. “We do recognize that, Government Committee recom­ from time to time, it is necessary to mended that SSMU remain in have professional organizations take CASA but assume an associate posi­ a look at us.” tion rather than full membership.

Doe said CASA is unable to “I think the recommendations define itself other than as the are a sensible compromise, not antithesis of the CFS. moving too fast,” said Vikander.

“They focus very clearly on Associate members still receive post-secondary education within most of the benefits of member­ the federal jurisdiction and that’s a ship, he said, and reduced fees narrow mandate,” Doe said. “It would save SSMU about $13,000. completely neglects the fact that “We’re not giving up on the certain issues fall outside that very organization by any means,”

Vikander said. “The committee felt that there was definitely value in keeping a formal link next year.”

Doe said SSMU representa­ tives should not be influenced by the University of Alberta’s December withdrawal from CASA. “We have to make our own decision for our own reasons,” he said.

SSMU should remain a full member while executives wait to see if their concerns are addressed, Doe said.

“Having been at CASA point­ ing out what I see as [its] weakness­ es, I certainly have been frustrated,” he said. “However, what I do think is presumptuous is for us to go from last year where [former SSMU Vice-President Community and Government] Danielle Lanteigne was the chair of the Board of Directors of CASA to this year leav­ ing CASA. It means that in any one year, because something goes wrong, ‘Let’s quit and give up com­ pletely on the organization,’ which I think is irresponsible,” said Doe. Vikander said SSMU should use this opportunity to decide which approach to federal politics is more desirable.

“In terms of long-term satisfac­ tion, it’s important that the lobby­ ing vision of the SSMU coincide with that of the organization,” he said.

Councillors will vote on the recommendations at the March 6 meeting.

A U S c o n s titu tio n a l c h a n g e A r t s U n d e r g r a d u a te S o c ie ty o f M c G ill U n iv e rs ity

p ro p o sa l sp a rk s d e b a te Kim D’Souza Arts Undergraduate Society President Rachel Telch has moved to hold a referendum to ratify revisions to the AUS constitution, which would “remove any existing ambi­ guities” during the AUS election period. In an emergency AUS Council meeting today, some coun­ cillors plan to object to amendments regarding what the AUS should do when quorum is not achieved.

Telch pointed out that there is ambiguity concerning what to do in situations where a fee-renewal refer­ endum does not achieve quorum.

Under Telch’s leadership, the AUS violated its constitution to continue collecting the Arts Student Employment Fund, which failed last year because not enough stu­ dents voted. Telch explained that “what the amendment essentially does is enshrine the process we used this year, allowing us to tacitly renew the fee for one more year, but the question must be put forward again in the next election period. If quorum is not met again or if it’s defeated, the fee will no longer be collected. ... It allows for a one year cushion, but it’s only a one year cushion,” she emphasized.

However, AUS Representative

to the Students’ Society Council Seth Offenbach said, “The point of quorum is that you need a certain number of people to make a deci­ sion, but this is saying that we don’t need anyone to make a decision.

What if a new fee is proposed? The way the current proposal is worded, it insinuates that a new fee could pass without quorum.

“AUS doesn’t have a history of not receiving quorum,” Offenbach contended. “Last year was an aberra­ tion. ... The election period coin­ cided with Passover, so there were a lot of people who went home and...

ASEF was not advertised—had we advertised, some students who are employed by the program would have voted. ... But if we’re keeping [by-law] 16.5-1 as it is, you might as well eliminate quorum from the constitution.”

As an alternative, Offenbach proposed an amendment whereby, “if a referendum question does not meet quorum requirements it fails,” but the question may be brought to referendum again in the next possi­ ble election period, in October. He contends that, although this would involve a “cost of about $1,500, at least AUS would be following gen­ erally acceptable procedure.”

See AUS CO NSTITUTION, page 5

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SP E A K E R : DEAN CARMAN M IL L E R D A T E : M A R C H 5th, 2003 P L A C E : A R T S 160 T IM E : 3 .0 0 -5 .0 0 p m The Dean will speak about the Faculty o f Arts and his vision for the future. A question/answer period will follow.

Light refreshments will be served. Come learn more about the Faculty and have your questions answered at this event that is not to be missed. Please contact VP Academic Rahim Surani at atisaca@po~box.m cgill.ca for more information._____________________________________________

4 News

The McGill Tribune, Tuesday, February 18, 2003

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Kate Rhodes The Students’ Society Judicial Board will hear Rodrigo DeCastro’s petition to access the SSMU Executive’s credit card bills.

DeCastro alleges that VicePresident Operations Kathleen Morrison violated SSMU by-laws by purchasing beer with students’ money. SSMU has seven working days from February 14 to file a rebuttal.

Morrison bought four pitch­ ers of beer for about $38 from Gert’s Pub at approximately 9:15 pm on January 15, Activities Night, for two mini-course coordi­ nators and 12 volunteers.

DeCastro, a candidate for vice-president operations, said he was alarmed when he saw Morrison charging the four pitch­ ers to a SSMU Visa.

“It’s like drinking and driv­ ing— don’t hold an executive cred­ it card if you’re going to drink.”

Morrison said she did not drink the beer that she purchased as a reward for the volunteers, but went back to her office to count mini-course registration money.

She returned to Gert’s several hours later.

The next day, DeCastro filed a request for copies of the credit cards receipts and spoke with SSMU President Martin Doe. DeCastro was denied access because producing all of the receipts was too cumbersome for the accounting staff and individual receipts could be misinterpreted, said Doe. “On one receipt I could explain why each purchase was made in context, where it was bud­ geted and its purchase approved,” said Doe. DeCastro’s two subsequent requests were denied. The

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Dany Horovitz_______________

Executive Committee later met Montrealers took to the streets and concluded that they did not Saturday afternoon to protest a pos­ want their credit card receipts dis- | sible war against Iraq, as part of a closed, so DeCastro asked Student I worldwide Day of Action to dis­ Advocacy’s Fred Fisher to meet suade the US from engaging in a war with Doe on his behalf. that many of the protestors believe is Doe was firm about not unnecessary. releasing all the receipts, but was Despite the frigid weather, willing to release the receipt with 150.000 people marched down Stethe alleged improper charge.

Catherine a day after chief United “We met and agreed upon just Nations arms inspectors Hans Blix the one credit card receipt, as the and Mohamed El Baradei presented information request has a specific their report on Iraq’s weapons of context. I would rather get to the mass destruction to the UN Security underlying issue of disputing Council. funds, not access to credit card “This protest happens to be the receipts,” said Doe. biggest of any kind in the history of DeCastro rejected the com­ the world on a global level,” said promise and filed a petition to the Chris Brown, one of the many Judicial Board on February 10; on organizers for the Montreal protest.

February 14, the board gave leave “There are ten to fifteen million to present the case. people around the world who are SSMU Policy by-law 4.11 going to be protesting.” reads, “food is an effective recogni­ In Toronto, organizers estimat­ tion for services rendered ‘above ed a turnout of at least 25,000, and and beyond the call of duty’” for smaller protests took place nation­ those who engage in “exceptionally j wide. Hundreds of thousands difficult or stressful... labour... marched in cities including London, Berlin, Damascus and Sydney; [for] long hours.”

Morrison said buying the beer 100.000 reportedly marched past the UN building in New York City, for volunteers was legal.

“In my opinion, the work the largest of the over 150 protests done by these volunteers qualified held across the United States.

“The strategy of the United under the policy. We have been rewarding mini-course volunteers States with this war is to control the this way for years. They are told in oil so it can therefore control the advance they will be paid this way, world’s economy,” said Scott and it is budgeted for in the mini Weinstein, a co-organizer. “It’s not about weapons of mass destruction course budget.” in Iraq, it’s about oil.”

The SSMU Corporate Credit Political Science Professor Card Policy allows charges up to $50 without preapproval if expens­ Steven Saideman, who served a onees have been budgeted. Executives year fellowship on the Joint Staff in lose their cards if they violate the the US Department of Defence, said that State Department insiders policy.

DeCastro is concerned there believe that Iraq’s strategic impor­ tance grew after the terrorist attacks may be other improprieties.

“I don’t have a problem of September 2001. rewarding the mini course volun­ teers,” said DeCastro, “but spend­ B o y er R e p o r ing student funds to buy alcohol is a grey, grey area.”

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Laura Saba Research-intensive universities can harness their strengths to improve undergraduate education, but high costs and resistance from faculty members can hinder the implementation of large reforms, according to Dr. Mark Aronoff of the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

Aronoff the deputy provost of the upstate New York university known for medical and scientific research, came to McGill Friday to describe how SUNY-Stony Brook is implementing the Boyer Report, which indicts research-intensive universities for failing to make edu­ cation rewarding for undergradu­ ates.

The Boyer Report is the short title for Reinventing Undergraduate Education: a Blueprint for America’s Research Universities, which was written in 1998 by the Boyer Commission on Educating Undergraduates in the Research University.

Aronoff said that some Boyer Report recommendations worked at Stony Brook and some didn’t.

a g a in s t w a r

“September 11 had the impact of reducing the tolerance for uncer­ tainty.” Saideman said. Although they don’t know Iraq’s capabilities or if Saddam Hussein is tied to A1 Qaeda, “the US must be concerned about the possibilities, because the stakes are significantly higher than they used to be.

“Iraq sits in a key portion of the Middle East—not speaking just of oil, but between and among coun­ tries involved in terrorism. If the US can be positioned in Iraq for the near-term, then it can do a better job of fighting terrorism, so this argument goes.”

Weinstein argued that, because the US provided Saddam with mili­ tary aid and intelligence while the Iraqi military was deploying chemi­ cal and biological weapons against Iranians and Kurds during the 1980s, “it is totally hypocritical for the United States now to be upset.”

Saideman doubts that the anti­ war campaign will deter the US. “This administration is pretty

M a k e

BEZA SEIFE

convinced and has been ignoring much of the opposition. ... I doubt that these protests will influence the US.”

w a r, n o t lo v e !

Students posing as the McGill Sons of Oil Barons staged a mock protest on the Arts Steps Thursday supporting a war on Iraq. They waved signs with messages including: “SUV Owners for War”, “We Rely on Bush’s Intelligence”, “C’Mon, Give War a Chance”, “$crew the poor, the rich want more” and “Sure, Let’s Join a US JENNY GEORGE War. That’s What Friends are For”. Organizers said the event was geared towards making arguments for the war look ridiculous and unfounded.

t r e q u ir e s

c o m m itm e n t

Now research-based learning is the standard, with programs like Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities, which allows students to assist professors with research from freshman year until graduation.

“Every part of the university got involved in this,” said Aronoff.

“Forty per cent of our undergradu­ ates are involved in research at one time or another.”

Students’ Society VicePresident University Affairs Fred Sagel, a strong advocate of the Boyer Report, believes that McGill has had trouble implementing a more interactive undergraduate research-based approach because the University lacks adequate fund­ ing, space, and faculty members.

He sits on a subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Teaching and Learning that is exploring the Boyer Report’s recommendations.

“It’s important to find ways to get students to think about what they are taught rather than just regurgitating it.

“There is always going to be ambivalence, but there are enough students who recognize that their classes are too big, their conferences

are not rewarding and so on,” Sagel said.

Stony Brook now demands that professors excel in both teach­ ing and research.

“Truly bad teachers are no longer promoted or tenured,” Aronoff said. “There has to be evi­ dence of their teaching.”

The Boyer Report also recom­ mended improving the link between communication skills and course work, but according to Aronoff, Stony Brook’s composi­ tion classes, which cost $1-million a year, are insufficient.

“It is still too expensive to do what the Boyer report wants us to do,” he said. Other recommenda­ tions did not work because “there has been a lot of faculty resistance.

It is tremendously difficult and frustrating to change the culture.’

Sagel said that in order to apply the Boyer Report here, McGill must rethink its academic culture.

“A culture change cannot come from only one group. A change is needed across the University,” Sagel explained. “If students question the way the model is working, people will start embracing a new culture.”

The McGill Tribune, Tuesday, February 18, 2003

News 5

N e W s B r le F s Antiwar assembly could impose SSMU action A General Assembly will be held to consider making the Students’ Society take more decisive action against a US-led war in Iraq.

The February 20 General Assembly was announced by Council Speaker Andrew Bryan after he received the requisite 200 undergraduate signatures. Parti­ cipants may pass a motion requir­ ing SSMU to support a general strike that coincides with a Day of Action scheduled for March, but they cannot pass financial legisla­ tion. All SSMU members may vote.

Council rejected a stronglyworded motion in November that condemned American military action against Iraq; they passed a “less divisive” motion supporting dialogue and compromise.

Posters advertising the General Assembly on potential war contain erroneous information.

The General Assembly will take place at 6:00 pm, not 4:00 pm as adver­ tised. Also, the posters have SSMU logos, but the General Assembly is not sponsored by SSMU. —-Jeremy Dietz SSMU passes accreditation and Shatner fee questions SSMU Council unanimously passed an accreditation referendum motion Thursday night.

Undergraduates will decide in March whether to make SSMU

their official representatives to the government of Quebec.

Council chose the seven-year, $11.84 per semester Shatner Building fee referendum over an athletics fee question. Election rules allow only one ancillary fee referen­ dum per semester.

SSMU Athletics Councillor Graeme Thomas implored Council to consider passing the five-year, $10 per semester athletics fee ques­ tion, because the McGill Alumni Association promised to match stu­ dent funding dollar for dollar. The proposed $3-million renovation

were done renovating, but now that we are in stage three, we must fund the renovations. For example, health codes require a women’s washroom near Gert’s.”

He added that clubs would benefit from the addition of a kitchen and the installation of stage and sound equipment in the ball­ room.

Councillors who wanted to pass the athletics question or both motions supported the Shatner fee with the understanding that next year’s Council will consider run­ ning the athletic fee referendum

MARK KUPFERT

Athletics improvement fee will wait at least another sem ester.

project would renovate the men’s locker room and double the size of the fitness centre.

Vice-President Communica­ tions and Events Naeem Datoo favoured the Shatner renovation fee, because Shatner violates build­ ing, health and fire codes.

“The Shatner renovation was designed to happen in three stages,” said Datoo. “We could not bring the building up to code until we

question in the fall. Last year, voters rejected a two-part, $25 per semes­ ter Capital Fee referendum that combined renovations for athletics and Shatner. Datoo’s survey data indicate that voters felt $25 was too expensive; other voters were inter­ ested in funding only one of the two fees.

— Kate Rhodes

Japanese delicacy better pain relief than morphine Heather Haq Lawrence_______ The biopharmaceutical com­ pany International Wex Technology is conducting clinical research on the use of puffer-fish poison to treat heroin addicts and assuage severe pain in cancer patients.

The puffer-fish, or globe-fish, is a spiny, venomous tropical fish that can inflate its body into a spherical form.

The puffer-fish’s poison was first used to treat withdrawal symp­ toms in heroin addicts 12 years ago at Peking University in China.

During the preliminary study, researchers discovered that the poi­ son had pain-killing properties. The toxin has been developed into a drug and patented under the names ofTectin and Tetrodin by IWT. It is currently being tested in Montreal and five other Canadian cities.

“It is going through clinical trial for end-of-life care to help peo­ ple who aren’t getting enough out of traditional medicine,” said IWT spokesman Mark Butler. The drug is also being tested for use that, in combination with psychiatric coun­ selling, will help relieve pain in recovering heroin addicts.

“What makes this drug differ­ ent is that it’s not a narcotic, so it’s not addictive,” Butler said, “yet it is 3,000 times stronger than mor­ phine.”

Dr. Phil Gold, the director of Clinical Research at the McGill

University Health Centre, agreed to advise the research as part of an effort to “attract scientifically and ethically valid studies to the Centre,” he said.

“Thus far, I believe that the data continues to look very promis­ ing,” said Gold. “Pain of all types, and perhaps cancer pain in particu­ lar, remains one of the great banes of medical practice. ... Any safe and effective method of pain con­ trol would be gratefully received.”

Puffer-fish, a delicacy known as fugu in Japan, is prepared by cooks specially trained to remove its toxins, said Rie Shimazake, an exchange student from Japan. It is risky to eat because the poison can be fatal if ingested. “I was surprised to know that my grandmom cooked and ate fugu, but she was alive so I tried it with her ... and it was so delicious,” Shimazake said.

In small doses though, the toxin produces pain-killing effects.

“In simple terms,” Butler said, “the drug stops nerves from sending [pain] signals to the brain.”

The most common side effect is numbness experienced around the mouth, legs or arms.

Researchers are also investigating safety concerns regarding the drug’s effect on respiratory muscles.

Butler explained that the poi­ son comes from fish that are caught and farmed for meat. If the poison were not used for the medical research, it would be discarded.

“We take a waste product, remove its toxicity for further pro­ cessing and neutralize the waste into a safe product,” according to

*The Rumour Mill III* Covering its ass since Issue 19 After another week of “not campaigning,” prospective Students’ Society Executive candidates have been adding signatures to their baskets, and lesser-known, more hesitant candidates, strengthened by delusions of grandeur, are downloading nomination packets. SSMU Equity Commissioner Brianna Hersey has already handed in way more than the required 100 signatures to run for vice-president community and govern­ ment. She is also walking around with a nametag, a stunt some SSMU insiders call “genius.” Saeed Fotuhi can run for president because Elections McGill said his “Speed, Speed, Saeed" posters did not violate by-laws against early campaigning. AUS President Rachel Telch has been busy tying up AUS constitutional loose ends before her presidential race. Daniel Friedlaender of Liberal McGill and the oi-oi-oi-happy-friendship-bloc (but also a member of seven other clubs), has still not decided if he will run against Hersey, but rumours suggest he is leaning towards Senate/Board of Governors representative to Council. Disabled students’ rights advocate John Doyle is also considering running for S/BoG rep, but may throw his hat in for president. Seth Offenbach, in a rather snooty email, assures that he is not running for vice-president operations against Rod DeCastro, but rather for AUS president. DeCastro is balancing his time between campaign preparations and J-boarding SSMU for information access. Presidential candidate Alex Kemeny invited himself to current President Martin Doe’s 23rd birthday part)' Thursday night and was spotted walking down Sherbrooke at 2:00 am. The vice-president communications and events race is heating up, with the potential addition of Political Science Students’ Association President Alan Hamson. Students’ Society Programming Network member (and Snow AP Bonhomme) Denis Lebel has decided to wait until next year. Social Work Councillor and SSMU Committee on University Affairs Chair Rachel Richards may run for vice-president uni­ versity affairs. Also look for former SSMU Francophone Commissioner and last year’s VP C&G candidate Louis-Charles Roy. A U S

c o n s titu tio n

Continued from page 3

Offenbach said that if Council retains the constitutional revision, which he says “almost goes against the very definition of the word quo­ rum,” he will consider forming a ‘No’ committee.

The AUS Constitutional and By-Law Review Committee pro­ posed revisions last year, and approved proposed amendments last week, but the quorum required to make constitutional changes has not been reached. This year’s amendments include some of last year's proposals as well as new changes. The revisions include a

detailed procedure to replace Arts representatives to SSMU or mem­ bers of the AUS Executive in the event of a resignation or impeach­ ment, should Council deem a byelection unnecessary, and a clause that allows the speaker of Council to ignore suspended seats for quorum.

Offenbach pointed out that section 7.3(c) of the AUS constitu­ tion, which requires Arts Representatives to the University Senate to “represent and be bound by the views of Council at Senate,” is also a change, although it was not highlighted in the proposed revi­ sions. He said that he had doubts whether the amendment was consti­ tutional since Council “can’t impeach an Arts Senator.”

SSM U

c #>

GENERAL

COURTESY OF IWT

One set of needles for another

IW T’s website.

Nonetheless, using animals for biomedical research creates an ethi­ cal dilemma, according to the Global Action Network. The ani­ mal protection organization is opposed to killing animals for food or for biomedical research.

“Although animal experimen­ tation is a touchstone of the scien­ tific age,” said Andrew Plumbly, a Montreal GAN affiliate, “its bene­ fits are myth-perpetuated by an immensely profitable medical establishment that includes researchers, medical facilities, drug companies [and] universities.”

For more information, visit www.wextech.ca

ASSEMBLY In a c c o r d a n c e

w ith

A rticle

27

o f th e

SSMU

C o n stitu tio n , all McGill u n d e rg ra d u a te s tu d e n t m e m b e rs o f th e SSMU a r e invited to a tte n d an SSMU G en eral A sse m b ly o n T hursday, F eb ru ary 2 0 , 2 0 0 3 a t 6 :0 0 PM in th e S h a tn e r B allro o m (3 4 8 0

M cT av ish ,

3 rd

f lo o r ).

The

G e n e ra l

A sse m b ly will c o n s id e r th e is s u e o f a s tu d e n t strik e a g a in s t w a r o n Iraq.

For q u e s tio n s , e -m a il s p e a k e r @ s s m u .m c g ill.ca

6 Op/Ed

The McGill Tribune, Tuesday, February 18, 2003

Opi n i o n

Editorial

Letters

E D I T O R I A L “It w as cold, very cold. T he type o f co ld that m ight m ake you question your very s e lf an d existence."

— Toronto M aple L ea fs President Ken Dryden upon being asked to comment on the weather after a w eek­ end’s gam e o f shinny, part o f CBC ’s H ockey Day in Canada

The wartime rhetoric of the Arctic air mass James Empringham_______________________________________ More than ever, or more than in the last few months anyway, the world seems a very bizarre and astonishing place.

Over in the desert, a deranged dictator threatens the prosperity and peace of the Free World. Out on the Pacific Rim, another volatile leader inclined towards the use of force, flails his arms in an attempt to alert the world, or anyone actually listening, that it’s North Korea not Iraq, that has those coveted ‘weapons of mass destruction.’

Of course, that’s the last thing anyone back on the home continent wants to hear. To the south, a relatively new imperial aggressor does his best to convince a motley assortment of old imperial aggressors that, despite a dis­ turbing lack of evidence, scant little relevance and a tide of antiwar sentiment, it really is the guy in the desert and not the nefarious network of 9/11 noto­ riety that poses that so imminent, yet so vague, terrorist threat to the future of world peace.

Meanwhile, North of the 49th parallel, in a peaceful nation distanced from the high stake, high-risk game of modern day international diplomacy, life proceeds somewhat according to plan. Somewhat, that is, apart from the body-numbing, depression-inducing, spirit-killing meteorological phenome­ non known as the Canadian winter on a bad day and the Arctic air mass on a worse day.

As the country endures what has been the coldest winter season in recent memory, the best of wartime rhetoric infiltrates our speech, and not because of any impending confrontation in sub-Saharan climates.

Paranoia? The weatherman is lying to you. Conspiracy? The heating and hydro companies are making a fortune. A feeling of complete helplessness?

Well, you can take a cab to school but you had better be sure you have enough money to get back home By and large, the majority of Canadians remain opposed to the impend­ ing war, increasingly frustrated by the weak policy stance of the domineering Liberal party, and refreshingly reasoned in their consideration of military con­ frontation and its consequences. Yet if the Iraqi conflict has exposed a Canada comparatively at peace with its place in the world, it may be only because of Canadians’ inability to feel little else at present, the least of which being the feeling in their toes.

The darkest (and coldest) cloud, however, is often imbued with a silver lining. Canadians would be infinitely better served if, rather than complain­ ing about the inevitable drop in temperatures, they spent a fraction of that time learning to appreciate the way in which 7 months of winter adheres to the best of our interests.

For one, what need do we have for one of those costly national defence systems? What country of people in their right minds would conquer a coun­ try in which it won’t snow because it’s too cold? Heck, as a country we’ve got oil reserves that no one seems to fuss about, a system of universal health care to which everyone will contribute, and the game of hockey, in which we’ve always been among the best countries in the world.

And to what do we owe Canada’s unique arrangement? The weather, of course, and the colder the better. It’s just way too cold for any average (read normal) person to want to dig oil, benefit from health care, or play pond hockey in this country (read salt-stained wasteland). And it is the Canadians, along with the few real nutsos who somehow chose to live here over some­ where else, who stand to reap the benefits.

So, as Bush leads the United States into code orange terror alert and, across the ocean, as Saddam guides the Iraqis towards the last bullet, Canadians can only watch at home and hope that war can be averted, or at the very least that the cold weather will subside so that we might one day go outside again. t h e M cG IL L T R IB U N E

Ed it o r -I n -C hief Ja m e s E m p rin g h a m

A ssistant Ed it o r - in -C hief

Finder’s fees ain’t bull To whom (naive students) it may concern: Recently there has been a whole lot of hoopla about the “un-ethicalness” of finder’s fees, and it’s true they aren’t ethical, but they are the reality of real estate in the market. It’s simple economics, guys, the demand has gone up and unfortunately so have the finder’s fees. First off, most people only charge them because they are get­ ting charged by someone else, and unfortunately for rez-kids, they have to pay the burden. But please do not delude yourselves, when you pay a summer sublet, which every­ one ends up doing, you are in fact paying a finder’s fee, it’s just not all at once. Finally, I would love to see what happens to you gtlys when you end up moving to a city with a S to p th e P re ss Pants on Fire?

My mother always taught me never to tell a lie. The Bible says, “Do not go about as a talebearer among your people.” Over the years, the Jewish Talmud has given us many lessons as to why one should not spread gossip.

Apparently, certain writers at the McGill Tribune have not fol­ lowed any of these teachings.

In the previous two issues of the Tribune there has been a section entitled “Election ‘03 Rumour Mill” in the News section (I’ll spare you all the ironies of this!). In the first edition of this rumour mill, you mentioned mostly harmless information; who is running and what they might be considering running for. For the most part, there was no harm done; if some­ one is running, he/she wants peo­ ple to know, and if someone isn’t running, then it shouldn’t hurt you

N e w s Editors

Sports Editors \ W k K e rr S a ra h W r ig h t

R a q u e l K ir s c h

featu res Editors

Photo Editors

P r o d u c t io n M anager

N a t a lie F le tc h e r P a n th e a Lee

Je n n y G e o r g e N a th a n L e b io d a

E ntertainm ent Editors

O n lin e Editors

R ic L a m b o S c o tt M e d v in

Jo h n G o s s e t Lyn n e H s u

M ic h a e l E m p rin g h a m

Without doubt, there is no faith In her very interesting feature article “Religion and Morality” (Feb. 11) Natalie Malo-Fletcher quotes Professor Ratna Gosh’s state­ ment that Mother Teresa “had doubts about how God was por­ trayed by the Catholic Church.”

This is not what Mother Teresa said. Like the vast majority of saints throughout Christian history, that much, right?

Last week things changed.

One reason was that there was vir­ tually no truth to any of the rumours you were publishing (a major infraction in and of itself).

The second problem was that your rumour section got quite mali­ cious.

You mentioned here that cer­ tain candidates were joining forces in a “quasi-slate,” even though I have been told by nearly all the “members” that there is no such slate, no such coordination, nor any two of these candidates work­ ing together. I think I speak for all those candidates when I say that it would be interesting to hear where you got all this information.

However, the more troubling part of the article came when you mentioned that both Kathleen Morrison and I were teaming up to begin a “We Hate Rod” campaign.

It is true that both Kathleen and I ran against Rod last year, but time

David Williams Kennedy Smith Professor of Catholic Studies and Professor of English

has changed many things. On a very personal level, it goes against everything I believe in to run a smear campaign. Negative cam­ paigns are terrible things that sim­ ply detract from everything the democratic process stands for. The other problem with this theory is that if I truly “hated” Rod as badly as you claim, then I would stand up for my beliefs and run against him— something I am not doing.

While all this has been said, I think it is important that the stu­ dent population know that the anonymous writer for the Tribune got it wrong in the last article. I DO NOT HATE ROD. In fact, 1 am going to go so far as to say that I support Rodrigo DeCastro should he choose to run for SSMU’s vice president operations.

Seth Offenbach Arts Representative to SSMU Former VP operations candidate

©MattDellinger2002

As leader o f this tribe I, O iie f Shrub, will not stand idly by while we are assaulted by... icky... fish... things!

C o p y Editor K a re n K e lly

Layout Editor T o m o k o S h id a

A dvertising and M a rk e tin g 'M ‘ 'a n a g e r P a ul S la c h r ta

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All the best, Ariane Malawski U2 Poli Sci and Religious Studies

Mother Teresa experienced doubt as to God’s presence in her life. Doubt is to faith as hunger is to food and nourishment.

There is no point to faith with­ out doubt. But trying to turn Mother Teresa into a secular humanist is just not on. She did not “believe(d) in goodness,” she prac­ ticed it. What she believed in, as she said many times, was Jesus Christ as God made man. When asked why she spent her life caring for the most miserable of human beings, she replied, “I don’t do it for them.

I do it for Jesus.”

By Matt Dellinger

is a n e d ito r ia lly a u to n o m o u s n e w sp a p e r p u b lis h e d b y th e S tu d e n ts' S o c ie ty o f M c G ill U n iv e r s ity

Ja m e s G r o h s g a l K a te R h o d e s M a rk S w a rd

real-estate market closer to reality.

Try finding a one-bedroom apart­ ment in my hometown under $2,000, it’s called New York City, and then tell me finder’s fees suck.

Letters m u st in c lu d e a u th o r's n a m e , s ig n a tu re , id e n tific a tio n (e .g . U 2 B io lo g y , S S M U P re s id e n t), te le p h o n e n u m b e r a n d b e ty p e d d o u b le -s p a c e d . Letters m o re th a n 2 0 0 w o rd s , p ie c e s fo r S to p th e Press m o r e th a n 5 0 0 w o rd s , o r su b m iss io n s ju d g e d b y th e E d ito r -in -C h ie f to b e lib e llo u s , sexist, ra cist, h o m o p h o b ic , o r s o le ly p r o m o tio n a l in n a tu re , w i ll n o t b e p u b lis h e d . T h e T r i b u n e w ill m a k e a ll re a s o n a b le effo rts to p r in t s u b m is s io n s p r o v id e d th a t s p a c e is a v a ila b le , a n d reserves th e right to e d it le tte rs fo r le n g th . L etters m a y b e s u b m itte d lo th e T r i b u n e o ffic e , fa x e d to 3 9 8 - 1 7 5 0 , e -m a ile d to tr ib u n e ® s s m u .m c g ill.c a o r s u b m itte d v ia th e T r i b u n e w e b ­ s ite .

C o lu m n s a p p e a r in g u n d e r 'E d ito ria l' h e a d in g a re d e c id e d u p o n b y th e e d ito ria l b o a rd a n d w r it te n b y a m e m b e r o f th e e d ito ria l b o a rd . A ll o th e r o p in io n s a r e s tric t­ ly th o s e o f th e a u th o r a n d d o n o t n e c e s s a rily re fle c t th e o p in io n s o f T h e M c G i l l T r i b u n e , its e d ito rs o r its staff. P l e a s e r e c y c l e t h i s n e w s p a p e r .

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The McGill Tribune, Tuesday, February 18, 2003

Opi n i o n Le

The other night I had a dream.

In it I found myself in a strange land that I will try to describe.

Maybe the land was a collection of strange squawking plants, reptile monsters with bone horns made of bone and general animals cobbled together from my subconscious.

Yes, that’s about right: Purely con­ ceptual creatures inhabited my dream.

To touch a tree in this world was to run your fingers down the body politic, up the branches of government and collect leaves as they fall fell from the fingers of leg­ islators. In the sky, ducks quacked: “My kingdom, my kingdom for a horse,” and when he the horse arrived he clip-clopped through the entire metaphysics of Saint Thomas Aquinas. The cat-ta-ta-tonics mewed cell division and the do-o-oogs barked the Emancipation Proclamation. All together they sang, “Knowledge will set you free”.

Q u é b e ck e r d re a m s

I smiled at the joyful song of these creatures and I realized that I had grown, younger, smaller, more eager... Now off in the distance, I saw a little man crossing the river Lethe in a barge drawn by Charon.

As they drew nearer, I could see that the little man was rather plump, with tiny legs, a slight bump on his back, a large nose and powdered curls.

He disembarked and exclaimed, “Ladies and Gentleman, pray, how do you do? If you all happy, me all happy too. Stop and hear my merry little play; If me make you laugh, me need not make you pay.”

Introducing himself as Voltairic, he grasped my thumb, his hand was too tiny for the rest, and he escorted me through the world of ideas. We arrived in a Greek amphitheatre and, dressed in Patrician Purple, he recited the names of ships in Homers fleet, and the devils in Milton’s Hell with each exceeding the constellations in Heaven. He danced and his hump grew. He taught arguments, dis­ courses and songs to the tune of: “Dance baby diddy. What shall daddy do widdy? Sit on his lap.

o f d u ck s a n d

Give it some pap. Dance baby diddy.”

I thought his song was so insulting, but then Voltairic knew so much and I so’little. He read to me snippets of Plato, Aristotle and the Bard and looked so proud when he did so. He clucked every time and his hump grew every time that he could use ‘self-evident’ in a sen­ tence. Voltairic said, “Physic, Mr. Québecker, Physic for your hurt.” I replied, “Me no like physic; it gives me one headache.” He said, “That’s because you do not take enough of it.”

He then hit me with the force of a thousand volumes of Hegel’s Science o f Logic. It was there and then I realized that I had to think for myself. I had to use my own words to express myself my own thoughts. And so I told him that the earth revolved around the sun.

Voltairic screeched, “Oh you nasty little brute! (He hit me again) I’ll teach you.” I replied, “There should be no king in the republic.”

And then the marble stage transformed itself into a puppeteer’s box and the Voltairic’s hump exploded to cast off the robes, the crown and the decorum. Voltairic

Op/Ed 7

Editorial

m a r io n e tte s

was Punch and he now grotesquely spouted off the words of others.

Punch was alone on the stage facing the sullen grimace of silent chil­ dren.

His hump then sprouts wings and the puppet was transformed into the devil. The demon was on his podium surrounded by books of old, and he bellowed that I should prostrate myself before him. I sim­ ply said, “Imagination with knowl­ edge is a far better thing than knowledge by itself.” I woke up and smiled. I had learned something important in my dream.

An addendum In a previous issue of the Tribune (February 4), Christie Cryer wrote in to point out the sim­ ilarity between a column I’d written and another published in VICE. In response to Ms. Cryer, herself a fel­ low English student, let me say this: I thought irony was dead, but apparently petty sarcasm is not. So, so sorry, but I will not provide you with an apology. Still, I will give you some satisfaction. I admit that I did read VICE Magazine Volume 8 #3 (the one with the Rasta on the cover smoking a spliff) and yes, I

am a longstanding fan of the trashy and always provocative mag. Now if you too are a longstanding fan of this particular brand of gonzo jour­ nalism, you will recall that VICE did not write an essay on fashion­ able terrorists. Rather, they includ­ ed published a series of photo­ graphs of Ulrike Meinhoff & Co. looking particularly badass (Hey! with those sunglasses who wouldn’t) and wrote humourous captions under said photos.

Now if you have taken any anthropology or even English courses, you will have learned that culture is a constructivist process, meaning that every piece of art is the sum total of thousands of previ­ ous works of art. For example, Goethe’s Faust was inspired by Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus, which in turn was influenced by a medieval folk-tale. This is not to say that I rewrote Faust, but it is to say that I was inspired by VICE Volume 8 #3 and subsequently my memory of that piece influenced my final col­ umn. So, Ms. Cryer, congratula­ tions on finding a seemingly “obscure” cultural reference to which you can muse wittily about at cocktail parties.

The collective demise of Man's character Searching through Paragraphes magazine aisle recently, I was aston­ ished to find a myriad of testos­ terone-pumped journals intended for the male consumer: Men’s Health, Maxim, Muscle & Fitness, GQ, FHM. Today’s market is teeming with pub­ lications supplying men with the need-to-know facts concerning per­ sonal hygiene, relationships and sex.

I pose this obvious question to the reading public: since when do men care about that shit?

The sad reality is that, as women become more masculine, men become more... well, more vaginal as they remit their masculine independence. We have mood swings, we gossip—we even dress up for a night at the Peel Pub. The 21st century man hardly measures up to his rugged predecessors like the con­ quering warrior Alexander the Great, the fiery William Wallace and the tough-as-nails Teddy Roosevelt. Alas, man’s resilient ancestors have been reduced to today’s fitness goliath: Richard Simmons.

Having conquered the greater part of the known world, Alexander the Great implemented a policy of regulated autonomy for the occupied territories. Furthermore, he encour­ aged the exchange of ideas and cus­ toms between cultures—Alexander himself incorporated elements of tra­ ditional Persian dress in his attire.

Nevertheless, Alexander’s policies infuriated his Hellenistic soldiers, who felt superior to their Persian subjects; the Hellenists eventually mutinied against their leader.

Alexander resisted their coercion. He thought as an individual, drawing

strength from his personal resolve.

Ultimately, Alexander’s individual­ ism overcame the bullying masses and his guidelines for tolerance won the day.

Sadly, time has eroded our selfassurance. Presently, men feel unloved, unappreciated and unap­ pealing. We have not fought in any wars, we are not handy and our lim­ ited notion of ‘cultivating the envi­ ronment’ entails spreading manure and lawn-mowing. Basically, today’s men are feeling insecure.

However, a survey of man’s con­ duct throughout history reveals that contemporary sensitive condition is a recurring phase. It first emerged in the course of Ancient Egypt. Feeling insecure over their inadequacies, the Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs enslaved a myriad of men, women and chil­ dren to carry out their misguided ambitions. They derived satisfaction from the notion of power; their per­ sonal significance was determined by their capacity to dominate others.

Consequently, they discarded the conception of man as a self-suffi­ cient, self-motivating force. Instead, the Pharaohs erected colossal pyra­ mids to compensate for their indi­ vidual shortcomings. Because they were exceedingly concerned with others’ impression of themselves, the Pharaohs eliminated their ability to act as independent men.

Eventually, men wholly lost his identity as honest, determined, selfreliant individuals. Desperately, they searched for an alternate character, until they found comfort in the essence of women. Having forbade any feminine quality, men began to adopt the same characteristics as their own. On stage, men embraced female character as they assumed female roles. Circumstances deterio­ rated as men incorporated women’s fashion in their style of dress. Heidi

Klum would kill for the opportunity to work the catwalk in Louis XIV’s sexy eveningwear, consisting of a crimped wig, skin-tight pantaloons and powdered cheeks. Men neither looked nor acted like men.

With the destruction of man’s capacity to think as individuals, the zealous masses dictated man’s course of action during the Middle Ages.

Men no longer functioned as private entities—their thoughts and emo­ tions were programmed by the mob.

They were told to scorn selfishness and egotism. Society honoured selfsacrifice and altruism as an individ­ ual’s supreme virtues. However, if a man exists for the sake of others, he ceases to function as an individual— his actions are dictated by the will of others. Europe’s ‘moral’ crusade against the Ottomans resulted from the demise of the personal spirit. No individual questioned why he should murder, pillage and destroy—he merely followed the throng.

Today’s Western democracies were built on man’s right to the pur­ suit of happiness—his personal, self­ ish motive. We have reached a level of prosperity unrivaled in the annals of history; however, not all states experienced this revolution. Across the globe, nations reject the notion of a society constructed on the prin­ ciple of individualism. Their citizens are deprived of their fundamental civil rights: freedom of speech, free­ dom of the press, but most importandy, freedom of thought. The force of the mob commands their actions.

We, on the other hand, have the right to reason and act for ourselves.

Unfortunately, many of us surrender that privilege for an easier, less fulfill­ ing existence. We swallow what the media tells us to accept as the truth; we trust intellectuals’ opinions with­ out formulating our own; we suc­ cumb to the overwhelming force of

today’s mechanical social move­ ments; we forgot what it is to be a man.

Truth be told, I do enjoy perus­ ing the occasional Maxim or Mens Health. After all, what would life be without J.Lo’s salsa-style, heartattack-inducing photo shoots? But what started as amusing publications for obese, acne-prone, socially inept members of the male gender have evolved into a preposterous code of conduct adhered to by all men. They offer advice on how to look great, encouraging shallow, collective behaviour. Keeping fit necessitates a

personal motivation from within; fit­ ness governed by one’s appearance in the eyes of his colleagues can only achieve limited success.

In fear of losing their identity, men race to the newsstands eager to purchase their monthly dose of selfconfidence and character. Next month, rather than refer to the massproduced, pop-media induced advice of glossy periodicals, think as an individual and concentrate on your own personal judgement.

Come on, be a man.

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Features

The McGill Tribune, Tuesday, February 18, 2003

Global nomads: A m ulticultural heritage McGill's multiethnic students share their views on contemporary nomadic life Trevor Craig________________ “So, where are you from?”

On the face of it, it seems like a simple question, but I never know quite how to answer. Tell them I’m Canadian and they’ll assume, understandably, that I grew up in this country, though I spent 13 years abroad and hadn’t been back for more than a week or two at a time. So should I say I’m from Hong Kong, although I’m not Chinese and don’t speak Cantonese?

When I was living in Hong Kong, I had always thought of myself as essentially Canadian. It has been a different story since I came back to live and study at McGill. To my shock and surprise, I found that I wasn’t quite as Canadian as I thought I was. I did not know about the Quiet Revolution or the Group of Seven, not even the difference between poutine and putain. Frankly, I had only a fuzzy concept of Canadiana.

It was a form of culture shock I hadn’t expected.

In today’s globalizing world, more and more youth are being exposed to different cultures, an exposure that is radically shaping their identity. It is a phenomenon that is starting to be taken seriously by academics, such children being granted the name “global nomads” or “third-culture kids” (TCKs) by David C. Pollock, a noted expert

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“A TCK is a person who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside the parents’ culture,” he explains in his book, Third Culture Kids: The Experience o f Growing Up Among Worlds. “The TCK builds relation­ ships to all of the cultures, while not having full ownership in any.”

A TCK may be the son or daughter of diplomats, busi­ nesspersons or military officers, whose jobs require them to move their families to basically any coun­ try. They can also be first-genera­ tion Canadians, born in the coun­ try to immigrant parents. And gen­ erally, they get by fine, even in new cultures. Things get interesting, however, when they return to their original or “passport” countries.

Then they become “hidden immi­ grants”, whom you’d never guess to be foreigners just by looking at them.

“The census cannot deal with TCKs,” says Professor Morton Weinfeld, Chair of Canadian Ethnic Studies at McGill. “The best tool we have... has no way at all of knowing [who a TCK is] pre­ cisely.”

The experience of hidden immigrants in their original coun­ try differs from that of the “obvi­ ous” immigrant. While both are adapting to a new society, the TCK is trying to internalize these new values as part of his or her identity.

The immigrant may have a much

harder time adapting to the society, but usually has a well-grounded sense of identity. Immigrants know perfectly well who they are, where­ as global nomads may not.

Caroline Houng, a U2 International Development Studies student, was born in Ontario and traveled to Taiwan when she was 14 to learn more about her Chinese heritage.

“Initially, I thought ‘these are my cultural roots,’ but I couldn’t speak the language that well, and was treated like a foreigner coming into the country... although I was discovering my Taiwanese roots.”

Not all TCKs have to go through such a struggle. For John Hutchings, a U1 Political Science student who has traveled extensive­ ly, including a stay in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War and in Moscow three days after the mili­ tary coup of 1991, the issue is an easy one.

“My identification as Canadian has always been con­ stant, no matter where I’ve lived, and the Canadian culture is defi­ nitely my home culture,” he affirms. “I especially like the toler­ ance that characterizes Canadian society. In Egypt, for example, state-sanctioned homophobia means that gay people can be sen­ tenced to jail terms on trumped-up charges of public indecency. Here, I feel free to live my life as a gay man without fear of government repres­ sion.”

Globalization has given birth to children who identify with m any cultures.

Third-culture kids at McGill certainly epitomize this new reality, one that is certain to promote pos­ itive international relations.

Third-year Political Science student Romain Hefti lived in Hong Kong for 12 years, but never saw it as more than a place of “con­ venience”.

“Home is where the family is, not necessarily a country,” he shares. “I’ll never feel Hong Kongese. I have a permanent residency, [but] that doesn’t mean anything. It means I get to skip long lines at Immigration. Hong Kong was about convenience, nothing more than that, and I spent 12 freaking years there.

“Even so, it definitely opens up your views,” Hefti adds.

Houng is also quick to list the advantages of her multicultural experiences.

“There are so many,” she exclaims. “I love being half-half.

You get the best of both worlds and such a broader perspective. It

makes you not judge people, because you’re different yourself.”

“My time abroad has given me some degree of understanding,” says Hutchings. “In Germany, for example, everything is very effi­ cient and always on time. Public spaces, most of the time, are pris­ tine, and the manner and language of Germans is imbued with a kind of pervasive orderliness. Egyptians, on the other hand, tend to be pas­ sionate, spontaneous people, and live in a country where traffic lights are ignored and donkey carts fill the streets, along with ubiquitous Lada taxis in what seems like per­ manent disrepair. That said, I love both countries; perhaps they appeal to opposing parts of my own per sonality.”

In a world that is becoming increasingly diverse, firsthand expe­ riences living in other countries means a better understanding of multicultural communities and of one’s own identity.

One shot, two shot, three shot... floor P e e l P u b h a s e v e r y th in g g r o w in g s tu d e n ts n e e d : p o m p o u s b o u n c e r s a n d d u b io u s a s s -g r a b b in g s

would’ve guessed that the extreme­ ly inebriated individual that night would turn out to be our best friend?

Now, you could blame it on the pitcher of sangria, but we have Ashley White________________ a sneaking suspicion that the eight vodka lime shots she ingested ■ It’s approximately 9:05 on before arriving might have been Monday night when we get the the culprit. The sangria pitchers call. You know, the ever-annoying are $ 15-worth of brandy, red wine question: “So, you hittin’ Peeler and fruit juice— nothing more tonight?” And, of course, we than a glorified Shirley Temple.

There we are, sitting at a table respond with a “maybe,” which really means that we’ll be roped littered with sangria, beer and con­ into going. It seems that Monday versation that has gone from intel­ nights and the Montreal institu­ lectual to downright vulgar. There tion that is the Peel Pub have are four guys directly across from become synonymous, especially us shooting us suggestive glances, and every girl knows that the only around campus.

There are a few things that thing worse than a greasy guy is a one can always expect to find at drunk greasy guy. Stories of being Peel: pompous bouncers, suspi­ endlessly groped, grabbed and ciously cheap pitchers and at least prodded by wandering hands at one extremely inebriated individ­ Peel have become somewhat of an ual who gets thrown out by said inevitability, a Peel tradition you pompous bouncers. Oh, but who might say.

Naturally, when the urge to urinate washed over me, I was pet­ rified to make that fateful voyage past the greasy guys’ table to the washrooms. Oh and ladies, just a word to the wise: DO NOT under any circumstances pretend to be a lesbian in order to avert a guy’s advances. This will incite the inevitable, “Damn, can you guys make out while I watch?”

After successfully avoiding dubious ass-grabbings, we thought we were home free. Think again.

The next obstacle? A group of drunk individuals-—mainly sparse­ ly-clad girls, you know the type— had decided to create a dance floor that, in reality, did not exist.

Wriggling through the gyrating crowd proved to be an exercise in patience and restraint from smack­ ing some sense into one particular girl who was grinding on top of a chair. No, honey, Christina Aguilera didn’t look sexy doing it and neither do you. Finally, we

made it to the bathroom, which, as so a bouncer (let’s call him Mr. A. it would turn out, is where the Whole) proceeds to yell— directly remainder of the evening would into my ear, no less— that if we don’t get her out, they will. Seeing take place. But I digress.

So, the night progresses and as neither of us are laden with we’re sitting at the table talking to burly muscles, Mr. A. Whole some of our friends when a girl scooped her into his arms and car­ comes up to us and says, “Hey, ried her up the stairs to safety. your friend’s asking for you... she’s After hailing a cab that would in the bathroom.” We reach the actually allow her to get in, our bathroom to find a group of girls friend was safely in bed whilst sympathetically huddled around swearing off Peel for life.

Now here comes the millionthe middle stall, where our friend is searching for the kind of relief dollar— or $7-pitcher— question: she simply won’t find on the dirty is Peel Pub actually worth your floor. I try to get her to sit up as time? In response, we counter with each girl in the bathroom offers a a question of our own: does it real­ “Don’t worry Hun, we’ve all been ly matter what we say? The truth there” and the oh-so-very-helpful is, just like our sickly friend, we “Sweetie, you shouldn’t have drunk know you’ll go anyway, falling vic­ so much.” Somehow, the dirty, tim to the intoxicating lure of cold floor in the bathroom cheap beer, 9-cent chicken wings becomes the most comforting of and the promise of at least one pillows and you scream to be left poor soul being swept off their feet alone. “Just let me lie here... by Mr. A. Whole himself. please!”

At this point, she won’t move,

The McGill Tribune, Tuesday, February 18, 2003

Features

9

Nightline just a phone call away Laura Rudy Feeling alone, insecure or find­ ing it hard to beat the blues? Simply want to recount that funny episode from last week’s fiat party? Clueless about volunteer opportunities or ways to get involved in clubs and organizations? For a slew of ques­ tions, rants or just a sympathetic ear, McGill Nightline is at your service.

Founded in 1984, the service is funded by the 25-cent per semester charge collected from McGill undergraduates and graduates.

Nightline is a completely confiden­ tial and anonymous service staffed by student volunteers who have been trained by professionals to answer questions regarding a plethora of issues. Volunteers help callers by listening or simply by

answering queries.

“The line is opened seven days a week from 6 pm until 3 am dur­ ing the school year and shuts down from May to August during sum­ mer vacation,” says a Nightline vol­ unteer.

Claire Walsh, U3 Arts, is the VP external in charge of the opera­ tion. She helps with the administra­ tive tasks and recruitment of quali­ fied listeners. The service receives as many as 50 calls a night.

“The heaviest call times are at the beginning of the semester for inquiries about school-related mat­ ters and during final exam period when stress levels run high,” asserts Walsh. “The volunteers are trained with active listening by professional counsellors. They never give advice.

Instead, they assist and reaffirm present options and use paraphras­ ing to reaffirm the caller’s choices

Perspectives on m edia

Continued from page 1

that, no, the journalists’ union was the bogeyman.

Russell Mills, the former pub­ lisher of the Ottawa Citizen, said that the Thomson and Southam newspaper families “never intervened with content. Facts should never be selected based on owners’ opinions.”

The Aspers got a weak defence.

“Owners have every right [to control] the content and ideology [of their papers],” said Gordon Fisher, president of News for CanWest Global Communicatios Corp, which is the Asper family company that owns Global, canada.com, the National Post, and the Southam newspapers, including the Montreal Gazette.

However, Fisher said, “The Asper family is not trying to direct the daily news operations.” The claim that there are no top-down decisions about which stories to run, and which facts to print and omit contradicted Global and Gazette journalists at the conference; also, Arnold Amber, president of Canadian Journalists for Free Expression and executive producer of CBC News’ Inside Media, said that CanWest has placed a gag order on its employees (Fisher denied it).

“We’re in the business of selling content,” said Fisher. “Most interestingly, news became sexy again.”

The news is sexy? That's news to this reporter. Perhaps the rise of the Internet caused a renaissance in journalism, but for every Salon or Suck (RIP), there’s a Drudge Report.

Credible online news still comes mostly from old sources with web­ sites, like CNN or the New York Times.

Some say the internet is the sav­ iour of unfiltered facts, but for Candis Callison, a doctoral student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, “It’s less about content and more about form. ...The inter­ net has merely given us a conduit.”

Indeed, McGill Political Science Professor Elisabeth Gidengil said

we’re uninterested in unsexy stuff.

Most young people who go online for political news also go to tradi­ tional media—that is, the new con­ duit doesn’t inspire new interest.

General disaffection caused the decline, she said.

As media empires swallow news organizations, boardroom executives pump resources into entertainment at the expense of hard news and rationalize the research and produc­ tion of content.

“Southam used to have Ottawa reporters for each paper. One by one, almost all were dropped,” said Francis Fox, the president of Rogers AT&T Wireless and chairman of Rogers Telecommunications. “[E]ach paper maintains its own movie critic. ...The New Yorker has only two movie critics—why does CanWest require 13?”

Television and newspaper news­ rooms pursue the profits of car-chase movies by televising police chases. If it bleeds, it leads.

A minor event’s importance is amplified with “that little bug on the screen that says ‘live’,” said Roger Smith, a correspondent for CTV News. “It’s hard to tell the difference between the ordinary and the mun­ dane... like technology is dictating what is going on the air. TV news is addicted to ‘live’ now.”

While many journalists want to cover the meatier stuff, they must attract fickle readers and viewers in a fragmented marketplace.

“There’s also no point in having no one watching you,” said Peter Mansbridge, chief correspondant for CBC's The National.

The all-news networks grab viewers’ attention with graphics and theme music, but Mansbridge said that sensationalism distorts both per­ ception and reality, which may explain why CNN attracts two times as many Canadian viewers as CBC Newsworld. “‘Showdown Iraq’, ‘Target Iraq’, right from the get-go, it was like

and decisions.”

“The more resources available for students, the better,” asserts Evelyn Rodinos, a McGill counsel­ lor. “I know of a student who used the service and it was helpful to have someone who listened when the counselling centre closed for the evening. That student was not alone in the middle of the night; someone was there.”

“It is rewarding to help the callers with what they need,” says Walsh. “When you get a tough call and feel like the person comes out of it happier and gets things off his or her chest, it is like giving some­ thing back.”

A McGill student who wishes to remain anonymous says she has used the service several times to ask for advice on how to deal with her abusive boyfriend.

“The Nightline volunteers did there was no other option,” he said.

Mansbridge said that wartime journalists must rely on government feeds. A British general during the Boer War said to journalists: “I just want you to know I’ll never lie to you, but don’t assume that means I’m telling the truth.” Mansbridge keeps this quote in his office.

The Bush administration uses disinformation to fight terrorism.

Propaganda and deception, once considered the tools of Nazis and Communists, are now legitimate weapons in the fight against Evil.

Now it’s hard to object to US policies, said Alex Jones, the director of the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University. “[Since September 11], the sense of citizenship bled over too much in the coverage,” he said.

Normally, Americans are more vocal before they go to war, but networks’ patriotism—consider the Stars and Stripes superimposed on the CNN logo—caused a “movement from the secular, where you can argue, to the sacred, where you can't.”

While George W. Bush sells his war, advertisers sell products.

Product placement is still a turnoff according to Ian McLean, the head of Media Experts’ iTV lab; he studies how advertisers can reach viewers with interactive television.

“Product placement is at best clumsy, ineffective, rude and offen­ sive to the viewer,” he said. “At its worst, it’s bad for the brand.”

MacLean seemed to suggest that product placement will be more prevalent when crudeness converges with branding. But the mass-pro­ duced comestibles on Survivor, and conspicuously branded clothing everywhere, don’t appear clumsy to teenagers who are laden with logos.

We like advertisements, MacLean said. During this year’s Super Bowl, users of personal video recorders replayed a Reebok com­ mercial more than Dwight Smith's third-quarter interception, and thou­ sands download Guy Ritchie’s films featuring BMWs. Raja Khana of Snap Media, a company that designs online com­ munities, argued that kids today lack built-in bullshit detectors.

“The lines between fact and fic­ tion, advertising and propaganda—

JENNY GEORGE

M cGill Nightline ca n help with anything, even overcom ing a drinking binge.

not tell me what to do about my boyfriend’s verbal insults, but they listened and referred me to a nearby counselling service,” she recounts.

“I am now seeing a counsellor and finally getting the help I need.”

“Students tend to want to dis­ cuss their issues with someone of their own age before they turn to an

adult or to Mental Health Services.

McGill Nightline offers students the opportunity to relate to others their own age, who can empathize with their situation,” says Rodinos.

for youth nowadays, they can’t tell the difference and that’s scary.

They’re putting their trust in content where there’s no authenticity. ...

They are in charge. The problem is what they are in control of.”

Journalists, academics, politi­ cians and students were looking for the man behind the curtain.

They sought the reason why the

“Newspapers are a public trust carried out by private means,” said Robert Pritchard, the president of TorStar Communications and one of the conference’s unapologetic real­ ists. He said that government inter­ vention was dangerous and unneces­ sary, because readers choose good content and the market corrects the excesses of corporate mergers.

“Control of media must lie with readers,” he said. “You can’t legislate or mandate quality. It is a culture built on trust.”

This reporter stumbled out of the after-conference cocktail party and realized that corporations own the presses, control the airwaves and dominate the internet, but corpora­ tions can’t take away our ability to question what we trust and what we don’t. Too many of us give our trust away to media that often don’t deserve it. There’s no exit from the media matrix, but there is a cure for media malaise: discovering that real­ ity is clearer when seen from many angles. Read everything, but don’t trust anyone.

“N ew sp ap ers p r iv a te

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—Robert Pritchard TorStar Communications President emissaries of content are proliferat­ ing while the seekers of facts are dying out. They considered the con­ flict between responsibilities to com­ munities and obligations to share­ holders. The idealists muttered that the world went awry when money intruded on their sacred profession.

The realists proclaimed that market pressures produce better copy.

A tte n tio n

McGill Nightline can be reached at 398-MAIN, 6 pm to 3 am, 7 days a week.

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10 Features

The McGill Tribune, Tuesday, February 18, 2003

Into the future:

3

years after the Energy Crisis

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In Part Two of this series, RUSSELL SEIDLE DURABLE.GC.CA

analyzes the implications of North America s dependence on, and struggle for, oil levels.

The current generation of politicians is rediscovering the very issues that the reliance on foreign oil created for those in office in 1973. The US National Energy Policy document released in May 2001 highlights several of these concerns.

“Our increased dependence on foreign oil profoundly illustrates our nations failure to establish an effective energy policy,” states the report.

“It is important that we meet these challenges with a comprehen­ sive energy plan that takes a long­ term approach to meeting our ener-

Ford Excursion in 2001 determined that it had an average of only 3.7 miles per US gallon in city driving.

“We’ve taken a huge step back­ wards with the introduction of products like SUVs,” argues U1 Arts student Jim Wolfe. “At some point, the future health of the envi­ ronment has to take precedence over conspicuous consumption and status symbols.”

Here in Canada, fossil fuel industries are expected to grow to such an extent that, by 2020, according to Natural Resources Canada, carbon dioxide emissions from such sources will have increased by 66 per cent from 1997

The current dependence on oil Notwithstanding the post-cri­ sis rhetoric from many observers supporting a reduced reliance on petroleum supplies, whether from home or abroad, today both Canada and the US continue to consume prodigious amounts of fossil fuels.

Gas-guzzling sport utility vehi­ cles, for example, are now one of the largest and fastest-growing seg­ ments of the automobile market. In fact, the trend in recent years seems to be towards even larger and less efficient models. A test drive con­ ducted by Harper’s Magazine on the

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WHY:

Equip future leaders with the conceptual tools and sk ills n ecessary for addressing the complexity of issues associated with the formulation and implementation of strategies compatible with the societal goal of sustainable use of our natural resources, with a focus on water.

F a ll 2 0 0 3 s e m e s te r, S e p te m b e r to D e c e m b e r R e s e a r c h In stitu te , H o teto w n , B a r b a d o s 3 -c r e d it c o u r s e s : ♦ G lo b a liz a t io n : I s s u e s o f C h a n g e =*» s, + W ater R e s o u r c e s , B a r b a d o s •• • » ♦ P la n n in g a n d In fra s tru c tu re P lu s a 6 -c r e d it in te r n s h ip : ♦ S u s t a in a b le D e v e lo p m e n t P la n s I w ith a s tro n g in -th e -fie id , o n -h a n d s a p p ro a c h .

1 7 , 2 9 0 3 to : A d m in is tra tiv e A s s is t a n t (s u s a n .g r e g u s @ m c g ill.c a ) cu ltu ral & B io s y s t e m s E n g in e e r in g , M c G ill U n iv e r s ity

■ (v ia e m a il) b y M s. S D e p a rtm e n t M a c d o n a ld

HOW :

S u b m it a C V , a n u n o ffic ia l t r a n s c r ip t a n d a c o v e r fetter e x p la in in g w h y t h is p ro g ra m i s fo r y o u .

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More jpfo: www.mcgill.ca/mse/field_ study/barbados

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The current dependency on oil threatens natural resources.

gy needs.”

In addition to putting con­ sumers at the mercy of capricious world oil prices (which are made ever more unpredictable by the increasingly volatile situation in the oil-rich Middle East), dependence on this fuel source has obvious con­ sequences for the environment.

Petroleum and other fossil fuels are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, which have been linked to global warming and the depletion of the protective ozone layer.

The impact of continued reliance on traditional oil and gas supplies is an inexorable degrada­ tion of the worldwide environment.

This decline will be hastened by the rapidly growing energy needs of the huge populations in developing countries such as China and India.

Future possibilities Given these problems, what can and should be done by govern­ ment, business and the general public in North America? In the short run, conservation and effi­ ciency are of the utmost impor­ tance.

Conservation involves several small steps that the average person can take with respect to daily activ­ ities, such as installing energy-effi­ cient lighting. Ultimately, however, such actions will only indirectly address the overall problem. We will still be using oil and gas sup­ plies, albeit in a more responsible manner.

“Conserving is only the first step towards truly sustainable ener­ gy use,” concurs U0 Science stu­ dent Tom Wright. “At some point, we have to find a renewable fuel and begin to build products and services around that new energy source.”

Consumers can have a true impact in the medium-term by demanding non- or semi-fossil fuelbased products from manufactur­ ers. Such products will only be accepted though, if they perform at least as well as those items that they are meant to supplant.

Technological advances will there­ fore dictate the pace of develop­ ment and introduction of these new goods.

An important aspect of such new product development is superi­ or performance relative to current offerings. In a paper analyzing the rise and decline of the pesticide DDT, McGill Professor Steve Maguire highlights the importance of this quality for market accept-

“The discovery, entry into markets and rise to dominance of DDT, substituting for a number of incumbent substances in different markets, is a good example of tooldriven substitution,” writes Maguire.

“DDT was adopted and became the dominant design for insect control technology specifical­ ly because of its demonstrated supe­ rior price/performance ratio.”

However, consumer demand can also have a decisive impact on how quickly such innovative prod­ ucts are brought to market. A good example of this idea is the new class of hybrid vehicles now being designed and marketed by major car manufacturers.

Largely in response to calls for a more efficient substitute for cur­ rent vehicles, companies such as Honda and Toyota have introduced automobiles that combine tradi­ tional internal combustion engines with electric motors. These cars use less gas and are more environmen­ tally friendly than previous models.

Towards a new mindset Perhaps more importantly, the recent demands of car buyers have pushed manufacturers into a new mindset, one in which design and construction is based on something other than the standard gasoline­ burning engine. This is consistent with the idea of discontinuous innovation espoused by authors Michael Tushman of Harvard Business School and Philip Anderson of INSEAD. “Innovation streams focus attention away from innovations in isolation, toward patterns of funda­ mentally different innovations as a market unfolds,” argue Tushman and Anderson.

“Opening a new product class... is the most turbulent, whitewater part of the innovation stream. This era of ferment is asso­ ciated with major product variation as producers offer their variants to new markets.”

Continuing with the logic of discontinuous innovations brings us to more long-term possibilities: the development of alternate fuel technologies. The notion that hydrogen-fuel cells, solar power and wind power might one day provide a substantial part of our overall energy needs is no longer as far­ fetched a concept as it might have been even a decade ago.

“Canada must continue to play a predominant role in developing See FUTURE, page 1 1

The McGill Tribune, Tuesday, February 18, 2003

P u t t h a t in

y o u r

us a n t i - m a r i j u a n a

c a m p a ig n

Danny Chodos A boy and a girl are sitting together on a couch, smoking several joints in what seems like a fairly short time span. As the girl eventually starts to pass out, the boy begins to unbutton her blouse while she meekly, almost inaudibly, pleads with him to stop...

I was sitting on my couch, enjoying my breakfast while watch­ ing the 4:00 pm episode of The Simpsons on ABC. As I turned away from the TV, the image of a bong suddenly appeared onscreen.

Curious, I fixed my gaze upon the idiot box once again, only to dis­ cover real idiots. Two teenagers are

p ip e

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h ig h lig h ts p r e s s in g

cial only underscores the practically unacknowledged social problem of gun control in the US. The American conclusion: the pot defi­ nitely caused the kid to shoot his friend, not the presence of a deadly weapon.

The first time I saw one of these ads, I thought I was watching a Saturday Night Live sketch. A favourite is “Dan’s Cartel”: Dan likes to smoke weed. Dan’s dealer sells him weed. Dan’s dealer’s deal­ er’s dealer is involved with a foreign drug cartel that is responsible for the murder of a family of four. The conclusion: there’s no question Dan is fully responsible for the death of those poor folks. This is a very sad story. Unfortunately, it serves only to reinforce the desperate call for legal­ ization; as such, the gov­

APA.ORG

McGill students agree that the rising number of youth smoking up is the least of US problems.

sitting in the den, getting blazed.

After a while, one of the geniuses finds a handgun in a desk drawer, certain it’s not loaded. Surprise! It is. Whoops, the other kid’s dead.

Shucks.

This commercial is one of many in a new American campaign, shown on Canadian stations, which just don’t make sense. It’s time con­ sumers all over North America step back from their television sets and ponder the problems associated with this situation.

First off, many of these com­ mercials are followed-up by a Budweiser ad. Hopefully, the irony’s not lost on anyone. As any­ one who’s ever woken up mutter­ ing, “What happened last night?” can attest, alcohol’s reality-distort­ ing properties far exceed those of its narcotic partner in crime.

The Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth recently declared that minors in the US are 60 times more likely to see alcohol ads than a message discouraging underage drinking or drunk driv­ ing. Maybe the government should shift its focus a little. Having visited the United States twice last month, and having both times successfully purchased beer without being asked for ID, I would say alcohol is read­ ily available for minors.

The only explanation for this advertisement is the unprecedented transfer of government funding over to “defence”. Maybe the hon­ est producers of the commercials didn’t have enough jack left over to create a campaign that makes sense.

Why the hell would anyone leave a loaded handgun in the top drawer of his study? This commer­

s m o k e

it

p r o b le m s

Features 11

Future projections Continued from page 10

dependence on oil is not new, it is particularly timely, especially given the current state of world affairs.

The US government’s brinkman­ ship tactics towards Iraq are, to a great extent, based on the country’s need for the continued flow of Middle East oil to power economic growth.

Increased focus on the devel­ opment of novel energy sources in the Western world is not a panacea for all global conflicts. But a less­ ened reliance on oil by North America could help to disentangle the true causes of, and rationales for, such future aggressions.

Given the markedly severe consequences of war in the modern world, it is in our best interest to ensure that the circumstances pre­ cipitating such wars, of which the need to ensure an ever-flowing sup­ ply of oil sadly seems to be ever more relevant, are mitigated.

green energy sources like hydroelec“[In most cases], the curve ! tricity,” says McGill MBA student continues on with no blip at all,” Patrick Morissette. “Canada should says Nelson. also take the lead on an internaHe elaborates that public serv­ | tional scale as it did lately with ice advertisers lack credibility, part­ Kyoto. After all, we all live on the same planet, and we all breathe the ly because they tend to frame social same air.”

Some countries have already “ [A d s ] p l a y o n t h e taken important steps along the path to alternate energy. Denmark fe a rs o f p a r e n ts w h o , is the world leader in wind-farm i n a ll l i k e l i h o o d , h a v e technology, and the Danish govern­ ment has set a goal that, by the year n e v e r s m o k e d u p .”

2030, approximately 50 per cent of —Matt Thompson that nation’s electricity consump­ U1 Psychology Student*• tion will be met through wind power.

With Canada’s vast expanse of issues as personal problems, ignor­ J both flat prairie land and coastline, ing the larger structures that may be J there seems to be little reason our causing this effect. In other words, country could not harness wind we are shown kids getting high, but energy in a similar manner. left with the-question: what is the Although the idea of reduced role of the family? What about peer groups, and schools? These burn­ ing questions do not seem to be addressed at all.

D ep artm en t o f P sy ch o lo g y So what do fellow McGill students think about this contro­ versial advertisement campaign?

“Over-exaggerated,” says Tara Wood, a U1 Anatomy and A T T E N T IO N : PA ID S T U D Y ! ! !

Cell Biology student. “They should direct their attention to Full-tim e undergraudate students are needed for a more lethal drugs, like ecstacy...

1-hour questionnaire study on social styles by [since] nobody knows how pure it • » IS. which people relate to peers. Must be fluent in “[They] play upon the fears written english. of parents who, in all likelihood, have never smoked up,” says Matt Thompson, a U l Psychology stu­ dent, who thinks the commercials are misleading. “The government’s resources would be better spent on Contact: Anne-M arie, Zuroff Lab, Psychology Department, improving destructive social prob­ McGill University lems, like use of date rape drugs and at 844-8985 or email abissa@ pn-hnx.nu:giN -na violence against women.”

Aside from quadruple-mur­ ders, accidental gun-firings, car crashes, unwanted teenage pregnan­ Call for Submissions cies and high school bathroom arrests, marijuana is known to cause F ire With Water a blissful, euphoric feeling and insa­ tiable hunger. It’s hard to say A multi-media art exhibit whether this campaign has experi­ enced any success as of yet, but if Fire W ith W ater is an exhibit in testament to the history is any indicator, the US strength and courage o f survivors o f sexual assault. It is anti-drug task force would best intended as a forum for expression and hey serve to chill out, grab some munchies and head home.

Location: Arte Vista Gallery. J f72 Ste.-Cathersne St. W., #127 Date: Week of Mar. 17th

$15 remuneration.

ernment could regulate the indus­ try, thus cutting out the need for black-market dealing.

As rumours swirl regarding the very real possibility of the Canadian decriminalization of ‘wacky tabaccy’, one can’t help but shed a tear for those poor Americans who don’t know any better than to trust this foolish poppycock. Imagine a cou­ ple of good ole boys down south, polishin’ their guns an’ drinkin’ their 40s, chasing down a com­ mune of hippies because they cause America’s problems.

McGill Sociology Professor Rod Nelson explains that industry responsibility messages of this sort, historically, have experienced very low success rates.

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Subm issions: We welcom e m ulti-m edia project subm issions fsu c ü us pawlin piyideo, literature, etc.) but regret that perform ance-bàsed works. Flea:

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Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is also associated with genital warts and cervical cancer. McGill Health is investigating a promising, phase-2-tested vaccine to prevent this STD. We are looking for women who meet the following criteria: Ages 16 -2 3 1 -4 sexual partners Normal Pap smear history

statement, and personal contact

ist’s ion (including

em ail address) to: S A C O M S sflB o x Y 0 6 Shatner University Centre 3 4 8 0 rue M cTavish M ontreal, Q C H 3A 1X 9 A TTN : Special Projects Or em ail subm issions and questions to:

Participants will receive excellent gynecological care and compensation($50/visit).

C o n ta ct:

Dr. L u c y G ilb e r t o r A n n a ( 5 1 4 ) 9 3 4 - 1 9 3 4 x 4 4 2 8 9

sp ecia lp ro jects2 0 0 2 2 0 0 3 @ v a h o o .co m

Deadline: Feb. 28, 2003

12 Features

The McGill Tribune, Tuesday, February 18, 2003

The upcoming Gram m ys exemplify that popular music, in whatever form, has always been right in the hearts of most people. Social historians may try to pin down what exactly hits home about the intro to "(i Can't Get No) Satisfaction", and music teachers may dissect a good song for its rhythm and tonality, but these are unim­ portant to the average listener. For the true music lover, the things that remain the same in rock W roll are pre­ cisely what attracts one to it: unpredictability and real, honest-to-God meaning, of the kind that has always been a bit difficult to lay hands on in any area of daily life.

For many, music is a way of anchoring oneself within the upheaval of a normal life. Governments change, peo­ ple change and music changes right along with them. But the interesting aspect of music is that, while it evolves with the rest of the world, sometimes its very novelty can be

Scandal hits the baby boomers’ world as Elvis “the Pelvis” Presley shows up on television screens all over the globe. World War II has

The British Invasion does wonders for international relations.

The music is more guitar-driv­ en than its predecessors. The mes­ sage is becoming deeper. There is less of the concrete and more of the abstract as the decade progresses.

The general theory is that, as minds expand, they can handle more of the abstract, dreamy music that is so closely identified with the 60s.

There’s a flowering of styles within the pop/rock framework and more experimentation with lyrics, drugs and otherwise. To most young people, the government is inatten-

It’s an unusual era, with the OPEC embargo and platform shoes, with little of the passion of the 60s involved in music. Nixon’s gotten

caught in his own net, Watergate is starting to sour a lot of people on government if the Vietnam War has­ n’t already done that, and people are getting bitter towards politics. Loi 101 has been passed, and Pierre Trudeau reigns (some say literally).

It’s the undisputed era of funk.

That failed experiment called disco shoots across the pop culture sky.

Wannabe-young bands like Rolls

Royce have their 15 minutes, and acts like the Bee Gees achieve cult followings. The experts are still try­ ing to figure that one out.

There’s also some residual effects from the 1960s. The Vietnam conflict does not end until mid-decade, and holdovers like the Stones and the Doors continue the guitar-driven, political-heavy style of the previous decade.

An interesting mix of oddity and greatness, the 80s is the era of New Wave. The Buggies, more famous as a trivia question than a band, are truly insightful here. In this decade, video truly does kill the radio star. Come on... does anyone really believe Mick Jagger could achieve the same sort of following if he’d begun his career in the 80s? The emphasis is more on looks than tal­ ent. Some truly awesome bands who have both, like The Police, get their start here and manage to stick

around for quite some time.

After the political turmoil of the 70s, apathy is in full swing.

Issues like apartheid and the Irancontra affair help increase the image of the world as a cold and lonely place. The government is no longer considered a friend, especially by youth. People want upbeat, innova­ tive music to take their mind off world issues. However, light, frothy charity anthems also have their hey­ day—songs like “We are the World” become schlock classics for celebri-

ties to ape years later. New Wave begins to peter out towards the end of the 80s, when world-shakers like the fall of the USSR lead towards a more introspective age. As 1990 hits, no one really knows what the hell’s going on.

Often referred to as “the patchwork decade” because of the thou­ sand and one musical influences heard and appreciated. From the angry, soulful grunge of bands like Nirvana and the Pixies, to the emer­ gence of Tupac Shakur and gangsta rap, the 90s is the decade that can’t seem to make up its mind.

Techno, house and garage beats get more popular, as well as bub­ blegum pop à la Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys. The distinction between "indie" and "mainstream" becomes increasingly defined, and the mainstreamers often get blasted as phiiistines and/or poseurs.

New breakthroughs in technol­ ogy also help to confuse the music lover further. File-sharing services like Napster and Gnutella help to push “indie” or unknown music to the general populace, but they also annoy and alienate many established artists. Metaliica and Dr. Dre being

the most well-known, a lot of artists come out on either side of the digi­ tal controversy, changing music definitively. It’s hard for musicians to appreciate fans when their liveli­ hood is being taken away (as they put it) by file-sharing. This leads to people turning to “indie” music and smaller bands who don’t "have the showbiz ego." But dien, of course, the cycle begins again and indie music, as it attracts more fans, becomes mainstream. Then the crowds go looking fori the next big thing.

Who knows? Some bands will stay, and some will go. The mark of the true artist is an ability to adapt to their environment,, Bands like U2 and the Rolling Stones have stuck around as long as they have because they know how to reinvent

themselves. Okay, everyone makes mistakes— ’’Pop” or “Steel Wheels” anyone—but on the whole, the best musicians tap into the very things that define an era and use it to their advantage.

same.

From World War II to Watergate, CARA CREAGER explores how rock 'n' roll's irrepressible spirit has made itself heard through the decades. Though we live in tur­

vived.

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Some dislike the new music because of its randomness. It doesn’t seem to have a set of rules. If the artist feels like playing guitar, he plays guitar. If he wants a few vocal wails, in they come. That throws more than a few people off. It does­ n’t matter that scat and jazz—which are more freeform—have been pop­ ular for decades: their children like­ ly aren’t listening to that.

Rebellion is the name of the game as the New Left, antiwar and civil rights movements all latch onto rock n’ roll as a vehicle for their message. It’s a turbulent time and rock becomes the “in” thing, culmi­ nating in events like 1969’s Woodstock. Songs like Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth” serve the dual purpose of promoting a message and kicking ass.

Civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. use music, especially spirituals, in their peaceful marches.

The Beatles’ immortal 1964 tour of America brought people together.

comforting, because the important things always stay the

bulent times, the institution that is rock music has sur­

just ended and people are starting to think they’ll have the same way of life forever. Or at least hoping it, with the spectre of a hostile USSR on the horizon. The overwhelming opinion is that a little hip-shaking might possibly compromise their children's virgin eyes. Never mind that some of the dances of the 20s and 30s that they performed them­ selves were more risqué, even by that narrow definition.

SIXTIES S C E N E S

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five to their needs, and the world has stopped caring about peace, as it makes way for money or under­ ground agendas. The justification for rebellion becomes high, and that’s exacdy what young people do.

The “oudandish” music of the times is the flower children’s way of get­ ting their voices heard.

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a r t s . ^ e n t e r t a i n m e n t Transcending the strait-jacket The

C o s i r e v e a ls th e

s a n ity

Claire Peterson You are left in charge of seven asylum patients, including two who are running around, one who is adamantly trying to get your attention, and another who is hunting for a way to engulf the place in flames. What do you do?

This is the situation that faces the hero of Louis Nowra’s Cosi. The play, produced by McGill’s Department of English and directed

by Gail Hanrahan, takes place ' in an Australian asylum during the 1970s and fol­ lows the efforts of a post-graduate director, Lewis, to produce Mozarts opera Cosi Fan Tutte, with a cast composed of patients from the asylum.

Lewis enters the project only for the money, but leaves with much more than he had anticipated. The entire play focuses on the humanity of the asylums patients, as well as their keen, clear understanding of morality.

Ironically, the insane characters of Cosi seem to have a much stronger grasp on reality than their sane counterparts.

The play is simply structured, composed first of scenes with the entire cast, followed by scenes with just Lewis and each individual asylum patient. This setup is helpful for observing how genuine, charming and human aspects of the patients are.

Also of interest is the adulterous relation­ ship between Lewis’s best friend Nick and his girlfriend, Lucy. This affair runs parallel to the opera within the play, Cosi Fan Tutte, which revolves around the fidelity of two women to their boyfriends. The question of Lucy’s fidelity is often brought up by the asy­

o f th e

McGill

Tribune, Tuesday,

February

18,

2003

in s a n e

lum patients and, in the second act, Lewis confronts Lucy and Nick about their rela­ tionship.

For the most part, Jonathan Black por­ trayed Lewis as a sensitive young man, though at times he seemed disconnected from his character. Sarah Crowder and Matt Goldberg succeeded in showing that Lucy and Nick,are nothing but egotistical pleasureseekers, though Crowder also occasionally seemed out of character.

Mainly because of their innocence, the asylum patients all appear to be morally supe­ rior to the play’s sane characters. Each asylum patient shows some naïve passion for an aspect of life. Doug is a pyromaniac who set fire to his mother’s house, yet his monologue describing the event reveals his genuine love for fire. Zac’s enthusiasm for music is inspir­ ing and Roy’s love of the theatre touching.

Cherry’s passion is only for the attentions of Lewis, Ruth can only complete tasks if they come out word-perfect and Julie openly admits her love for drugs. The asylum patients are almost enviable because they seem to know exactly what they love and what they’re living for. The innocent spirit of the patients is in sharp contrast to the tainted morality of Nick and Lucy, anti-Vietnam activists more concerned with themselves and their own pleasure than any war effort.

Eytan Bayme was very convincing as Roy. His nervous habits of rocking back and forth and rubbing his head added to the char­ acter tremendously. Meanwhile, Simon Phillips produced an enthusiastic and prying Doug, the asylum’s resident pyromaniac.

Phillips performed well throughout the entire

Is

show, and Doug’s monologue describing his love for fire was brilliant.

Julie and Lewis can be considered the characters in which the innocence of the asy­ lum patients meets the sanity of the immoral outside world. Julie is technically sane, but her addiction to drugs led her parents to place her in the asylum. Lewis is also sane, but somehow manages to retain his innocent per­ spective of life despite the poor company he keeps, and it is the innocence and sanity in both Julie and Lewis that draw them togeth­ er. Liana Zarankin plays Julie with warmth and tenderness and she shows obvious ability in demonstrating Julie’s kindness.

In Cosi, the play on the innocent moral­ ity of the insane versus the tainted morality of the sane is clever and moving. Perhaps it is the

T h e Q u ie t A m e r ic a n

way that the asylum patients view the world that- allows them to see truth so clearly and, by the end of the show, it is very difficult to think of the asylum patients as insane; indeed, they appear to be more sane than any of the other characters.

An engaging piece, Cosi is humorous, touching, meaningful and thoroughly enjoy­ able. The themes addressed in this piece reach the heart and mind, leaving you wondering, “Just how sane are any of us?”

Cosi will be playing February 19 to 22 at 8 pm at Moyse Hall, Arts Building, 853 Sherbrooke West. For more information con­ tact the ticket office. Telephone: 398-6070.

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Julie Peters

Gods and Generals O PEN S F eb ru ary 2 1 th

First of all, I feel it is important to say that The Quiet American is a very well-made film. It has a lot of things going for it, and a lot of things going on in it.

Based on the book by Graham Greene, the film is set in 1950s Saigon, during the FrenchIndochina War. Michael Caine plays Thomas Fowler, a reporter who is living there with his stun­ ningly beautiful mistress, Phuong, played by Vietnamese actress Do Hai Yen, who learned English specifically for the role. Brendan Fraser plays Alden Pyle, the ‘quiet American’ who comes to Vietnam as a medic and turns out to be a lot more. Alden falls in love with Phuong, a love triangle springs up between the three, and a deep friendship and rivalry based on lies, honesty and a mutual love for Phuong grows between the two men. All the actors in this film are excellent, and the characters com­ plexly expressed.

The story is also so complex that, when it is over, you are not

sure whether you just watched a murder mystery, a war movie or a love story.

The cinematography and the writing stand out spectacularly, as exemplified in the opening scene.

Boats float by gently on a river in Saigon, their lamps rocking in the moonlight, while the fast-paced city races by in the background. Caine’s voice is heard saying, “I don’t remember why I fell in love with Vietnam... the way a woman’s voice can drug you... or perhaps the intensity of it all, the colours, the tastes, even the rain.” In a few prosaic words, he is describing the film itself, it’s lush colours, shapes and full landscapes. Director of photography Chris Doyle worked together with director Phillip Noyce to make this film into the compelling, almost tactile visual masterpiece that it is. Greene’s orig­ inal writing, along with help from screenwriters Christopher Hampton and Robert Schenkkan, infuses the narration and dialogue with poetry, prose and subtle hints at implicit themes within the movie.

Noyce’s comment about the film is that, “the Vietnamese over­ whelmingly embraced the film... it answers important questions for them as well—why did 3,500,000 Vietnamese have to die fighting that war?” He seetns to feel that this movie is an important way for peo­ ple to understand not just what, but why the war happened the way it did.

Despite all these good points, I also feel it is important to say that I found this movie slightly disturb­ ing. From my point of view, this movie was not really about the French-Indochina War, but about Phuong, and the oppression of women in 1950s Vietnam. I realize how cliché that sounds, but it seemed that in this movie the whole war was a metaphor for what was going on with Phuong. While the opening credits are rolling, Phuong’s face is seen smiling gently as the fire and destruction of war explode in the background. Around her, Pyle and Fowler talk to each other using words like “Fire away!” and Pyle’s confession to Fowler

See CAINE, page 16

The McGill Tribune, Tuesday, February 18, 2003

A&E

15

These lips were made for talking Students present funny and poignant take on V a g in a M o n o lo g u e s Amy Gajaria “It’s kind of funny [that there is such a stigma over the word vagi­ na] because we all came out of one, we’ve all been in pretty close contact with one.” Zhaleh Afshar, a U0 Arts student and performer of the monologue / was there in the room, laughed as she neady summed up the concept behind Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologues.

McGill’s performance of the play was moving, funny and emo­ tional. The 12 performers took on the daunting task of speaking solo about their vaginas, and each put forth an individualistic and power­ ful performance.

This was McGill’s second time producing the play as part of the VDay College Initiative, the first done two years ago. Since 1999, colleges and universities across the world have produced the Vagina Monologues in February with the goal of combating violence against women. For McGill’s performance, 90 per cent of proceeds from the performances will go to two or three Montreal-area organizations devoted to just that purpose.

The college productions received an organizer’s kit, press materials and free rights to produce the play as long as it was done to VDay’s specifications. They were also allowed to retain 10 per cent of the profits to cover their costs. “It’s amazing that [V-Day] has hap­

pened. It’s definitely selfless in a way. [Ensler’s] willing to use the drawing power of the name to raise money for these causes; it’s a great gift,” enthused director Sarah Chiddy.

Though the performance took place in Leacock 132 (“It’s not the ideal location but we’ll make it work,” Chiddy commented), it def­ initely did not feel like the average classroom experience. First off, the

black, each with a touch of bright red, they looked beautiful in indi­ vidual ways. Vagina ‘fun facts’ taped to the back of the chair (did you know that having an orgasm reduces menstrual cramps?) wellsuited the feel of the night.

The show featured 10 mono­ logues written by Ensler, based on interviews with women about how they feel about their vaginas, as well as two monologues created through

room was more packed than any class I’ve been in recendy. As per­ former Cat Pieri remarked, “I don’t think Leacock has ever seen this much pussy action.” Simple touch­ es like red blankets thrown across the front concrete steps and soft fabric draped over a couch helped to give an intimate feel to the oth­ erwise cavernous room.

The women, on top of being confident and assured performers, looked incredible. Dressed all in

a workshop process by McGill stu­ dents. The McGill-created pieces were the last monologues to be per­ formed. One of them was created exclusively by men, the other exclu­ sively by women, and both focused on the theme of what our commu­ nity would be like without violence against women.

The workshop, created by female McGill students, was espe­ cially moving. It asked the audience to imagine a world where it would

Black Body a true work of art Julie Peters Six artists come together in one medium to share their expression of racism. Sounds a bit like the hook for a reality show, doesn’t it? Well, in truth, the message behind these artists’ works doesn’t get much more real.

Black Body is a small, yet pow­ erful exhibit going on at the Montreal Arts Interculturels.

Through photography, drawings, installations and other mediums, these artists use the black body to make their statement. As curator Pamela Edmonds said, “These artists are neither shouting nor whisper­ ing. .. they are bearing witness, and opening new possibilities for face-toface encounters.”

Nobody is trying to force any­ thing down anybody’s throat in this exhibit. It is a gende and powerful look at the black body and, in turn, racism from a different perspective.

For example, Rebecca Fisk has an exhibit called Building Blacks, which consists of three small platforms with white blocks, brown blocks and black blocks. Each one had a cap­ tion, saying, “if you’re white, you’re all right,” “if you’re brown, stick around,” and “if you’re black, stay back.” It simply and profoundly cap­ tured the immature and childlike simplicity of racism.

On another side of the room, there is another shelf in the wall with

two pairs of glasses attached to them entitled Visual Reality #1 and #2, by Chrystal Clements. One is spraypainted white, the other black. The viewer is encouraged to put them on and see the world from another per­ spective. The catch, however, is that you really can’t see anything from either pair.

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Black Body artwork in the spotlight.

Possibly the most powerful of these exhibits is the photography of Michael Chambers. Using black models with strong bodies, his (iron­ ically) black and white photography portrays people mostly in positions of imprisonment, with straw across a woman’s eyes, a man’s mouth sewn shut, and other bodies in bondage and darkness.

“I decided to focus on flesh and blood of this symbol and it’s reality, because we can all identify with the body... the black body is still rarely represented outside its ‘otherness’,” says Edmonds. She purposefully brought together black artists who use the body as their medium, because it is something that can get across to everyone.

Buseje Bailey is one artist who decided to use her own body as a type of canvas. A slow video plays behind a black curtain of her face, very close up, scrubbing her body clean in the shower. The piece is accompanied by the following quote: “A black child was approached by a white child who rubbed his dark skin with her fingers and asked, ‘But how do you ever get clean?”’

Black Body is not about raging, or screaming against anything or anyone. The exhibit itself is a quiet one, not crowded, in a small room with hardwood floors, and the only sound is the soothing white noise of the shower from Bailey’s video. The visitors are encouraged to walk up to the pieces, to look closely, sometimes even to touch them. Some pieces hit you immediately with their poetry, but of course, which ones, and how, depends on the viewer. Other pieces are a litde more remote, showing things that aren’t so easy to relate to.

However, even those pieces can somehow make you feel something, even when you are not sure what it is. For example, Chrystal Clement’s

be safe to put our drinks down at a party, a world where we would feel safe walking home after the clubs closed on St-Laurent. It was ironic that the last line, “I am not afraid,” seemed so powerful simply because it was such a hard concept to pic­ ture.

Chiddy was not involved in the men’s monologue, but said that the women’s monologue was creat­ ed after 10 to 12 hours of brain­ storming by five or six women. The women also went around campus interviewing students for their opinions on the issue.

“In a way, this play gives a voice to the voiceless. [The work­ shop process] further personalizes that and gives it a local perspective,” Afshar noted. “It makes it more accessible to people.”

Accessibility is arguably an issue with the production. Colleges in other areas, particularly the southern United States, have had difficulty mounting the produc­ tion. Students documented posters being vandalized, administrative disapproval of the event and, according to the V-Day Edition of the Vagina Monologues, Linda Gray of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education claimed Arizona State University’s production of the Vagina Monologues was part of the reason she submitted a proposal to reduce funding by $ 1.6-million to the uni­ versity’s Women Studies departPush is a depiction of a series of cir­ cles with black paint pushed to one side and the word ‘push’ etched into each one. I did not find out until later that the interpretation has to do with fear of the black body, but I could see the frustration in the piece nevertheless.

The art is beautiful, raw and powerful. Going into this exhibit is like meeting a person in a very inti­ mate way. A discourse is being encouraged here, and we are being shown the aspects of racism through fleshy and other media.

CAROL BURBANK

Thousands of women were raped and abused in Bosnia, as touched upon in one monologue.

ments. Gray later withdrew her pro­ posal.

It made me feel pretty lucky to be at McGill. Queer McGill and the SSMU sponsored the production and none of the women involved in the production could recall having run into any difficulties with either See MONOLOGUES, page 18

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16A&E

The McGill Tribune, Tuesday, February 18, 2003

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Tim Chan I don’t get it. What is it with all these people trying to be some­ body they’re not? Poseurs.

Wannabes. Fakes. Like the time I overheard the girl sitting behind me in class use phrases like, “My sista, that is wack!” and, not even kidding you, “Jigga what?!” only to turn around and find myself starB R E A D S O F IN D IA F I N E I N D IA N C U IS IN E D A IL Y S P E C IA L C O M B O , 8 C H O IC E S

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ing at the whitest girl this side of Hicksville. Turn on any radio or music video station these days and you’ll hear the R&B stylings of Justin “Swapped curls for cornrows” Timberlake and Shawn “I’m ghetto like Vanilla Ice” Desman blazing up the charts. Sure their music’s catchy, but when they’re singing about the “ice around their necks” and “getting shook,” it just sounds... well, wrong.

The only “ice” that Justin saw growing up was from working the drinks at Denny’s. And I’m sure Shawn’s been “shook”— shook and beat-up by the gang he stole his moves from. Shawn’s real last name is Fernandez, but he changed it to Desman, hoping to distinguish himself from the rash of Latino artists out there by giv­ ing his name some street cred.

Now I don’t know what street he got ‘Desman’ from, but it ain’t the Bronx, that’s for sure. And is it just me, or do all aspiring hip hop/R&B artists credit Michael Jackson as their inspiration? Pretty ironic how the white guys are try­ ing to go black, while their American Idol is becoming increas­ ingly white.

Speaking of Wacko Jacko, he’s been getting enough flack from his recent 20/20 special, whose shock value topped even that of R. Kelly’s collection of home movies.

P ut a little Sunshine in y o u r In b o x .

But maybe the public has been too harsh on MJ. I mean, just because he admitted to having two nose jobs, snatching his newborn— pla­ centa still attached— right after birth and sleeping with 13-yearold boys in his bedroom, that does not mean he’s crazy! This totally makes Mariah Carey look normal.

I’ve never really understood the hip hop lingo. The first time I heard J.Lo sing about her “Escalade”, I actually thought she was talking about an escalator.

And last week, when a friend of mine asked me if he could “cop” a ride, I swear I thought I was being arrested. Maybe it’s because I am an unassuming Chinese boy from middle-class Toronto, whose first exposure to popular music was the unfortunate dance beats of Fun Factory and Haddaway. And over the years, my only experience with stereotypically black culture has consisted of watching NBA Inside Stuff on Saturday mornings and the occasional Jamaican beef patty for lunch... except that it was usu­ ally bought from Loblaws.

Up until a few years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to tell an Ashanti from Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of speech, wisdom and learning. So maybe Justin Timberlake and Shawn Desman are hip hop and R&B and I just don’t know any better. Maybe they’re not so phony after all.

Because, in the end, who says R&B singers have to be black any­ way? As Micheal Jackson sang himself, “it don’t matter if you’re black or white” to be a successful R&B star. You just have to love children.

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Amy Garajia It was almost poetic, the way a solo microphone stood on an empty stage, just waiting for some­ one to take it over. Appropriate enough, since the stage would later hold a number of remarkable female spoken word artists for the Women’s Union’s Wednesday night production of She Spins, She Speaks.

Organized by Loren Dobkin, a U3 International Development Studies major, the event featured three female DJs (Kani, Moonshine and Lynne T) and six poets “reclaiming ladies night” at Gert’s. Dobkin was inspired after attending a poetry slam where, out of the many females in attendance, only three took the stage to com­ pete.

“I was tired of people telling me that there aren’t women in music that are good. There are women who are creative and amazing and we don’t hear about them,” Dobkin elaborated.

Despite acoustic problems and background murmurs that couldn’t be helped by the organiz­ ers, it was an excellent night. The small turnout only helped to fuel the intimate nature of the event.

Though the flyer advertised that the event was to start at 8:30 pm, the poets actually took to the stage just after 10. It was worth the wait though, to hear powerful artists like poet Shani Carter.

“There’s an underground cul­ ture of women in hip hop that is very powerful— there are a lot of really strong women, maybe

D Js

because they’ve had to be more vocal,” said Dobkin.

The women took their chance to be heard on the mic. From Carter’s incredible poem about love and “real women”, to Kara Melmed’s hillbilly analogy between Billy Brown the schoolyard bully and George W. Bush, to Sara’s explanation of her “oral fixa­ tion” and meditation on her father, it was a chance for women to speak in a comfortable environ­ ment and have their say.

“I heard things like, ‘Are men allowed to come?’ It’s funny, because people automatically jump to the conclusion that the event is about exclusion,” explained Dobkin when asked about the reaction of students to the event. Poetry-inclined men were allowed, and did attend the event to support a night of talent­ ed DJs and poets, regardless of their gender.

Each woman owned the stage in her own way, whether speaking softly, delivering with confidence or spinning records from behind enclosed glass. “Spoken word chal­ lenges me to think about my potential in the world differently.

These women owned their experi­ ence as women. Watching them, I felt like I could go up there and perform in my own voice and own it,” the organizer commented.

After the last performer left the stage, members of the audi­ ence put away their chairs and grooved to DJ Moonshine’s set.

The light had gone down on the microphone, and it seemed wellused as the shadows of dancers flashed by.

Caine plays role with dignity Continued from page 1 4

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about his love for her happens with explosions and fighting all around them.

Pyle and Fowler agree that they are both madly in love with this woman, but the question is: why?

She is beautiful, but can only say a few words in English, most of which are whatever it is she believes the men want to hear. Pyle and Fowler are not fighting an inner war for Phuong’s love, but for posses­ sion of her.

Fowler can never marry Phuong because he is already mar­ ried and his wife refuses a divorce.

Fowler says he fell in love with Vietnam in the same “way a woman’s voice can drug you”, but his love for Phuong has nothing to do with her voice. He loves her beauty, her innocence and perhaps hearing his own voice telling him what he wants to hear through her.

His hypocrisy is further exemplified when he tells Pyle that, while at one time he was promiscuous, he is now faithful to just one woman. He means Phuong, not his wife of 30 years, just to clarify.

It is not entirely clear to me

MOVIES.COM

Cain e and Frase r m ake war over love in colonial Vietnam .

whether the filmmakers are trying to make a point about a woman’s place in the Vietnamese world, or if it is meant merely as a sidebar, or perhaps not meant as anything at all. On the one hand, it was painfully obvious what sort of posi­ tion the female lead held in the eyes of the men. One example: despite Fowler’s and Pyle’s claims of love, they can never seem to pronounce her name right. After two years, Fowler still introduces her as “Fong.” Pyle says to her, “Fong.

That’s a pretty name.”

She does not correct him, insist on the meaning of her name or rise up against oppression like the Phoenix after which she is named.

Instead she says, “Do you like my hair?” like the shrinking violet she knows these men want her to be.

See this movie, make your judgements and then ask yourself if you, too, think this movie should have been called The Quiet Woman rather of The Quiet American.

The McGill Tribune, Tuesday, February 18, 2003

A&E

17

Feinberg's take on gender transcends gender Kate Rhodes “I couldn’t find myself in history.

No one like me seemed to have ever existed. ” Leslie Feinberg is a transgender union-member, a communist, a Jew, a blue-collar worker, a scholar, and an activist committed to the struggle against labels that fail in their attempt at classification. Leslie is Leslie, Societal language barriers that suppress transgender and queer movements have motivated Feinberg’s search for self-definition.

Greenwich Village in 1969.

“At best, transgender has been treated as comedic. At worst, this form of self-expression has been char­ acterized as antisocial behavior.”

Feinberg, like Feinberg’s language, is always at war.

The history of the transgender movement is a story of the gradual oppression of a people. In later peri­ ods, transpersons were victimized and abused for their very existence, constantly fighting for survival.

Feinberg describes the anger, energy and passion that has committed Feinberg to the movement: a batde to be a transgender person and protect

oppressed labour class and the oppression of transgender people.

“Shackling a vast labouring class meant creating armies, police, courts, and persons to enforce the ownership of private property. However, whips and chains alone couldn’t ensure the rule of the new wealthy elite. A tiny parasitic class can’t live in luxury off the wealth of a vast labouring class without keeping the majority divided and pitted together.”

That is where the necessity for bigotry began.

“I found the origin of trans oppression at this intersection between the overthrow of mother-

gender saints were canonized only because of social pressure. “I believe the clerics tried to co-opt popular images of transgender, but with a twist—so these female-to-male saints were remarkably pious.”

In Feinberg’s book, the Catholic Church is stripped of all function but oppression, a version of history that is difficult for modern-day Christians to stomach.

In the second half of the book, Feinberg’s accounts of the 20th cen­ tury’s queer and transgender move­ ments are detailed and inspiring, including narrations of demonstra­ tions in the 1970s and 1980s.

Feinberg also includes a wellresearched and beautifully arranged photographic archive.

The movement is one of pride and conviction; transgender people fought side-by-side against societal oppression for the right to exist. This book is recommended to those inter­ ested in an untold, humanizing side

of history. Transgender Warriors gives readers the opportunity to learn more about the movement and to grow in their understanding of their oppressed human kin.

Feinberg’s perspective of history is alien to the classrooms of North American society, but as real as the streets for which the movement fights. Readers must remember, how­ ever, that though this is a stirring his­ torical account, it is still an account retold by one person, trustworthy in fact, but abridged and analyzed with personal opinion.

“The importance, for me, is the depth and breadth of evidence underscoring that gender and sex diversity are global in character, and that trans people were once revered, not reviled,” writes Feinberg.

One would only hope that our generation would add such a chapter of acceptance, support and respect for all people, to our story-books.

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Transgender Warriors by Leslie Feinberg. (R) Feinberg signing books at McGill during Equity Week.

Feinberg didn’t fit into a pink bonnet at the nursery at birth, or into the either/or washroom options in restaurants. Feinberg’s life-long com­ mitment has thus been to defend, not define, the transgender movement.

Feinberg offers a uniquely tai­ lored history book in Transgender Warriors: Making Historyfo m Joan o f Arc to Dennis Rodman. “The struggle of trans peoples over the centuries is not his-story or her-story,” writes Feinberg, “It is our-story.” As much a personal autobiographical account as an historical overview, Feinberg nar­ rates events from the start of human history, through Egypt, India, Europe in the Middle Ages, and the colonization of North America, to the present-day hotbed of queer activism in Germany and the United States. Writing in the first person, Feinberg paces the narrative along­ side the historical evolution of the transgender movement, giving the subject a distinctly personal angle.

While most historians use weighted words- to interpret events, in Feinberg’s analysis of history, per­ sonal bias is not distinguished from the facts themselves. The autobio­ graphical narrative that permeates the historical account of transgener can be distracting at times.

The level of empathy provided to the historical figures presented in Transgender Warriors, however, is quite powerful. Feinberg was burned at the stake with Joan of Arc, rode through the streets with the Welsh guerrilla Rebeccas in the 1600s and stood ground at the rioting of the Stonewall Rebellion in New York’s

those who cannot fight for them­ selves.

The roots of evil: Men and private property The book’s opening chapters concentrate on humans in tribal con­ texts, when individuals of both sexes, or those who felt the call to live as a gender other than their birth sex, were revered. Many African tribes, for example, had transgender gods, or transgender persons take part in reli­ gious ceremonies as gifted spiritual leaders. Native American cultures respect transgender people as ‘twospirited’, as expression of personal identity is thought to be sacred.

Feinberg pinpoints the rise of patriarchal power as the beginning of the oppression of transgender people.

Tribes once dominated by matrilineal lines experienced a shift in power when traditional male activities were gradually considered more valuable; the introduction of private property and class systems cemented this change.

“Class divisions were responsible for the growth of laws that placed new boundaries and restrictions across bodies, self-expression, and desire—so as well as fencing off prop­ erty and wealth,” Feinberg writes.

Feinberg believes that wealthy landowners in feudal systems perpet­ uated hatred. Peasants were taught to discriminate against one another, thus preventing them from uniting forces and overthrowing powerful lords.

According to Feinberg, there is a direct connection between an

right and the rise of patriarchal classdivided societies. It is at this very nexus that edicts like Deuteronomy arose. Law, including religious law, codified class relations.”

Feinberg found anti-transgender laws in Judaism, citing passages in Deuteronomy and Leviticus that for­ bid cross-dressing and same-sex sexu­ al desires. Feinberg explained, “I felt trapped between religious laws I did­ n’t want to defend and the hammer of anti-Semitism. [...] As a Jewish, transgender, working-class revolu­ tionary, I can’t stress enough that Judaism was not the root of the oppression of women and the out­ lawing of trans expression and samesex love. The rise of the patriarchal class is to blame.”

Feinberg does, however, believe that, as the interests of the Medieval Catholic Church “were decidedly economic,” the Church is a “power­ ful ally of the ruling'class, [which] played a pivotal role in suppressing [peasant rebellions and maintaining private property].”

Feinberg does not make a dis­ tinction between individual actors within the Church, or people incorrecdy acting in the Catholic Church’s name, and the institution; rather, Feinberg blames the entire Church.

For someone so dedicated to prevent­ ing people from being included in institutionalized, sweeping general­ izations, it is curious that Feinberg blames the entire Christian collective.

The Church is also described as only existing for economic purposes and not for the worship of God. Feinberg also believes that trans-

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The McGill Tribune, Tuesday, February 18, 2003

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T h e S n i t c h e s a d d d ir t y r o c k 'n ' r o ll f u n t o V a l e n t i n e s D a y

Chris Whibbs It wasn’t technically Valentine’s Day, but it sure felt like it to me.

Like many ones before, I had little money in my wallet, was slightly

excited, and had the company of some female friends. Alas, by the end, it was like the end of most Valentine’s Days: I had no money, a bit of a buzz, and my female friends were nowhere to be found.

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Of course, I’d like to say that my sparkling personality and wit never had time to shine through, but really, it might just have been The Snitches. They rocked, they wailed, they kicked my ass and brought some laughs, but there was still something lacking. They have some really good songs, but some COURTESY OF DOMINIC GOYET lacklustre ones too and, unfortu­ The Snitches: laid back and relaxed, all eyes on the cam era. nately, they sometimes fell into the trap of “same-y-ness”, with songs audience. For those who get ridicu­ with a “love letter” to the late, great just kind of flowing into one anoth­ lous music formulae, think of him Joe Strummer and proceeded to er. Don’t get me wrong though, as “Michael Stipe-trapped-in-David blow everyone away with three despite the extraneous circum­ Johansen’s-body-and-struggling-to- Clash covers. There is a danger in stances, I had a great time and the get-out”. Although he was a little attempting covers by heralded concert was worthwhile. It’s just irritating, his focus, voice and drive bands like The Clash: the songs are that The Snitches didn’t have some made up for it. so well-written that they may look of the songs to match their poten­ Unfortunately, in our musical too good compared to the original tial... and potential they have in time, anyone who dares to show up songs the band is trying to attempt. spades. uniformed on stage is automatically Unfortunately, this happened with Their newest album, Star derided as Hives/White Stripes The Snitches, as they showed, given Witness, is out now, and I am wannabes, but I give The Snitches some amazing material, this band tempted to pick it up since, hidden the benefit of the doubt. Their uni­ can really rock. around some ho-hum songs were forms of white shirts and pants and The first cover, “London some real scorchers that tapped into red ties (an ode to V-Day no doubt) Calling”, was like letting some what this band can do. They give a served them well and added a cohe­ rabid dog out its cage... no one classic 70s Clash/Blondie/Stooges sion that gave them some weight. expected anything this powerful feel and energy to their songs, with Now, The Snitches are a local and tight. They didn’t let up, and the requisite two guitars, bass, Montreal band that has done their when the last cover was finished I drums and crazy-looking vocalist, time and has been recently trying to was a little shaken because The and when The Snitches give it their spread their wings in Toronto and Snitches, in a matter of three songs, all, they really give an amazingly have made some headway. Those in gave me one of the best musical dirty rock sound. Yes, feedback, T.O. in late March are recommend­ moments of any concert I’ve been throat-searing vocals, grinding gui­ ed to see them at Canadian Music to, and they weren’t even their own tars, sloppy bass... it was all there Week, for, in that compressed time songs. It just reaffirmed what and ready to kick your ass. period, they will have no time for absolute potential the band has, and The “Iggy Pop” crazy vocalist any of the tomfoolery and so-so I will definitely be keeping tabs on was a particular deligfit to watch, as songs that bogged down this con­ them over the weeks/months/years he frequently walked around like a cert. to come because they will attain rag doll, went on rants and hit him­ The Snitches continued their Clash-like status... hopefully. self in the head or dove into the V-Day theme by ending the concert

Monologues of an open mind Continued from page 1 5

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the student body or administration.

In fact, the women laughed off one incident in which floormates of a cast member wouldn’t refer to the Vagina Monologues by name, call­ ing it instead “that play” or “those monologues.” They all still bought tickets to see the show, though.

“For Queer McGill, liberation for one group of people is liberation for another. Though it’s not direct­ ly a Queer issue, we stand behind issues and causes that celebrate diversity and equality,” explained co-producer Michelle Marsman.

Each person involved seemed to genuinely believe in the power of the play, both as a tool for activism (Marsman’s driving reason for being involved) and a theatrical event.

McGill’s production succeeded because it was empowering without being heavy-handed. Part of the reason Chiddy loves the play is because it “enlightens without preaching.”

“The play isn’t just about peo­ ple who are super-comfortable with their vaginas... they’re not just like, oh, here’s my vagina, let me give you a tour,” Afshar elaborated.

That’s part of the reason the per­ formance was so powerful. Jen Jones delivered an entire mono­ logue referring to her vagina as a “coochi snorcher.” Another, Katherine Cullen, brought the

house down as an elderly New Yorker (complete with an hilarious accent), who referred to her vagina as “down there” and compared it to a cellar.

Charlene Lewis’s voice took over the room as she described the experience of a woman who hated her vagina until a man told her he “T h o u g h

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—Michelle Marsman Vagina Monologues co-producer loved to look at it. “I don’t think it’s something that would be alienating for men... some guys have been so positive about it! It’s not just about the vagina, it’s about the way that women relate to their vagina, their sexuality, experiences that they’ve had... It’s not something that beats you over the head,” said Afshar when trying to explain why men should come and see the perform­ ance.

Though many of the women involved cited the fact that the monologues managed to showcase very diverse aspects of the female experience, tables outside the per­ formance space sought to shed fur­ ther light on women’s issues. The

Trans/Gender Alliance set up a table to draw attention to, as Gretchen Virkler pointed out, the fact that “there are many [people who identify as] women but don’t have vaginas... we also need to remember the forgotten things.

An information sheet handed out by the organization recognized the importance and power of the play, but also asked audience members to “take a second and see how it excludes those of us who are not cohesive enough [in terms of body and identity] to enjoy that empow­ erment with you.”

Though the performance had side-splittingly funny moments, there were also elements that neces­ sarily pushed the boundaries. Kellie Celia showed off the different ways women moan when pleasured, Molly Moreau discussed finding her clitoris, Jackie Mann had the audience chanting “cunt, cunt, cunt” in an effort to reclaim the word, Sarah Dick delivered a breathtaking monologue inspired

by Bosnian women who had been raped during 1993 as “a systematic tactic of war,” and Hillary Kaell energetically explained why her vagina was “pissed off”.

“Part of the job of the Vagina Monologues is to provoke, to push the envelope, to get people to think,” explained Afshar. The great­ est part of the play was how each woman left feeling empowered about an area of their body that hadn’t been openly talked about before.

SCOREBOARD BADMINTON (W & M): February 16 QSSF Tournament #4 at McGill Aaron Creaden won men's singles.

David Sum, third in men's sin­ gles.

Chloe Lennox won women's singles.

Aaron Creaden & Chloe Lennox, second in mixed doubles.

Hong-Ming Shih & Chris Bedic, third in mixed doubles.

Karine Hallec & Laura Caulder, second in women's doubles.

HOCKEY -

MARTLETS 2 , PATRIOTES 1

MARTLETS 1, GEE GEES 0

McGill to host sudden-death round Incredible St-Pierre blanks Ottawa, breaks CIS record with 13th shutout Karen Kelly_________________

BASKETBALL (W): February 14 McGill lost 42-81 at Laval February 15 McGill lost 64-87 at Concordia

BASKETBALL (M): February 14 McGill lost 81-92 at Laval February 15 McGill lost 73-81 at Concordia ALPINE SKIING (M and W): At Mont Gabriel February 14: Men 14th - Fraser McKay 15th - Dave Wilkinson 16th - Chris Owen Women 2nd - Kaylyn Morton 9th - Denise Jaworsky 13th - Emily Boudreau February 15: Men 27th - Chris Owen 28th - Dan Forest 29th - Dave Nagy Women 4th - Kveta Safarik 5th - Jessie Behan 10th - Emily Boudreau TRACK & FIELD (W): February 15 St. Valentine's Invitational at Boston University Dawn Creighton won bronze in the triple jump Nicole Portley qualified for the CIS national championships in the 3,000 m Hannah Moffatt was fifth in the pole vault Ashley Shumate was fifth in the triple jump TRACK & FIELD (M): February 15 Fast Track Invitational at Boston University Daniel Lennox won silver in the 1,000 m T.K. Woo jumped a seasonal-best in the pole vault, 10th Marty Fox was 9th in the 1,000 m

The McGill hockey Martlets entered play this weekend having already clinched top spot in the Quebec Student Sports Federation, a feat accomplished by the Red ‘n’ White for the first time since the Federation was formed in 1971.

The Martlets finished off the regular season over the weekend with two victories, a 2-1 win over l’Université du Québec à TroisRivières on Friday at home, and a 1-0 shutout at Ottawa on Saturday, for a final record of 15-12 in conference play. McGill remains tied for second in the national standings behind the University of Alberta Pandas.

Lucky 13 gives St-Pierre record The win against Ottawa marked a milestone for McGill goaltender Kim St-Pierre, who reg­ istered 17 saves. With her 11th shutout in league play, and 13th overall this season, St-Pierre broke the Canadian Interuniversity Sport record for most shutouts in a single season set by University of Toronto Varsity Blues goalie Alison Houston last year. The 24-year-old Kinesiology student also leads the nation with a 0.47 goals-against average.

The lone goal of the McGillOttawa game was scored by assis­ tant captain and Montreal native Sophie Acheson, who sits fourth in the QSSF scoring race with 23 points.

Fridays game versus UQTR began an hour late due to a bizarre Zamboni delay. The machine was stuck outside in the snow, and only after a tow-truck was unable to pry it free was it eventually jarred loose with the help of a dozen pushing security personnel. The wait regis­ tered little negative effect on the Martlets, however, who took the extra time to eat a pre-game snack in the lobby.

“We have a pretty mature and experienced group, and so they know how to get themselves going,” said head coach Peter Smith. “The delay just gave them a chance to eat more Valentine’s Day candies.”

Katherine Safka of Stoney Creek, Ontario, and Brittany Privée of Pointe-Claire, Quebec,

MICHAEL LIEW

Sophie Acheson splits the defence, a com m on occurence Friday night. Acheson tallied one goal over the weekend.

each tallied a goal in the effort against UQTR, whom the Martlets played only a week earlier on February 9, a game that ended in a 2-2 draw. This weekend’s game also appeared close on the scoreboard, but the Martlets were in control for most of the play, regis­ tering 50 shots on Patriotes goalie Marie-Andrée Joncas. UQTR only had 21 shots on St-Pierre.

“We were shooting the puck at [Joncas] quite a bit,” said Privée of the Martlets’ chances. “But she had an excellent game, so you’ve got to give her credit for that.”

Joncas’ efforts paid off in the second period, when the Patriotes were able to take advantage on the power play.

McGill defenceman Natalie Smith received an interference penalty at 8:26, and UQTR made the Martlets pay. Geneviève Beauchamp took the puck into the corner and centred for defenceman Marylène Prud’Homme-Jetté, poised right in front of St-Pierre, who beat the net-minder stick side at 9:29. It was only the sixth time this season that a puck has slipped past St-Pierre in CIS play.

The Patriotes’ lead was short­ lived, however, as McGill came right back with two quick goals of its own. Acheson looked to be put­ ting on a clinic, as she split the defence skating into the UQTR zone. She took a close shot and Joncas gave up a juicy rebound in front for Safka, who made no mis­ take, putting the puck in five-hole at 12:38. Safka sits third in QSSF scoring, with 28 points.

The goal was followed up by a

great individual effort from Privée on a wrap-around at 14:01 of the period, the eventual game winner.

Suzanne Fujiki received an assist on the play.

Smith remarked that his team was not at all phased by UQTR scoring first.

“I didn’t think that the momentum shifted really at all; we just kept coming at them,” Smith said. “They have a good power play and they scored a nice goal. It didn’t really have any effect on us— we just kept coming right back and Katherine [Safka] ended up getting a real good goal.”

The Martlets were unable to score with the man-advantage, however, throughout the game. In the third, Patriotes Catherine Chevalier took a penalty for highsticking at 8:29 and centre Isabelle Deschenes got one for cross-check­ ing at 10:09. The Red ‘n’ White had a two-man advantage for 20 seconds, but failed to convert, with Joncas staying on top of every shot.

Overall, the Martlets went 0for-5 on the power play, but Smith says he is not worried about his team’s inability to exploit the fiveon-four playing time.

“I think the power play was reflective of the rest of the game,” Smith explained. “We had lots of opportunities; we just didn’t get the puck into the net. I’m not par­ ticularly concerned. We have a lot of offensive power and it will even­ tually materialize.”

“We had a lot of shots and hopefully, next time we play them, more will go in,” Privée said of McGill’s scoring opportunities.

UQTR will get another chance against the Mardets soon, in a sudden-death QSSF semi-final on Friday at McGill. The Martlets hope to extend their unbeaten streak against the Patriotes to 13 games.

“It should be another hardfought game,” said Fujiki of the upcoming match. “I think we have a really good chance. It’s always good playing a team like [UQTR], where we get emotional. We always like playing a team that we can get up for.”

Smith thinks his team is wellprepared for the post-season and doesn’t see them having to change much.

“I think our team has been thinking about the playoffs for awhile, which I think is only nor­ mal,” Smith said. “We need to get some more shots, but I think we have to keep playing the way we have been playing and get focused and relaxed for the game on Friday.”

The sudden-death semi-final puck will drop at McConnell Arena 7:00 pm Friday night.

Hockey players Kim StPierre of Chateauguay, Quebec, and David Burgess of Crystal City, Manitoba, are the McGill University athletes of the week for the period ending February 16.

St-Pierre suited up for the actors of the popular Quebec film Les Boys in a 9-6 exhibition loss against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre.

Burgess finished third in the OUA scoring race with nine goals and 39 points in 23 games.

20 Sports HOCKEY

The McGill Tribune, Tuesday, February 18, 2003

ROAD TRIP

Booze, hockey and school bus makes for a MACHO tour to city of jails, limestone and Hip Michael Liew The M cGill Association o f Canadian Hockey Observers (MACHO) recently organized a trip to Queens University to cheer on the Redmen as they took on the Golden Gaels in a pre-playoff match. The Tribune was in on the action, partak­ ing in the spirit, the boozing and the good times.

3:15 pm Students begin to assemble in front of the Roddick Gates, huddled together in defence against the Saturday afternoon cold. Many are carrying backpacks, brown paper and SAQ bags, presumably filled with drinks for the road—to supple­ ment the alcohol already included in the $20 ticket, which also covered transportation and admission to the game. A yellow school bus waits at the curb.

“We wanted to take two buses but we couldn’t sell that many tick­ ets,” says Sarah Anderson, a HOCKEY

MACHO vice-president. It was decided that only one bus would be taken, which the organization sold out in advance. Two minivans were also rented for the trip.

3:20 pm MACHO Commissioner Alex Ouimet-Storrs arrives with an arse­ nal of beer and hard liquor. “I don’t think they know we’re coming, eh?”

Ouimet-Storrs says of Queen’s fans.

“They may have a faint idea, but they don’t know about the logistics of it all.” He consults with his vicepresidents about tipping the bus driver to allow drinking on the bus.

3:32 pm The voice of the hockey Redmen, Matt Howatt, checks in. “I spent 70 bucks on a McGill flag,” the U 1 Political Science student announces, waving the red and white flag he has tied to a hockey stick. “Don’t bring it, man— they’ll torture it,” Ouimet-Storrs warns.

“No, no,” Howatt assures him with a smile, “I want them to try.”

Ouimet-Storrs negotiates a drinking agreement with the bus driver.

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and MACHO VP Andrew Howard busy concocting beverages for the restless fans. Ouimet-Storrs uses rolled up acetate overheads from his bag as a funnel to mix liquids. That’s an Engineer for you.

Alan Powell, a U3 engineer seated in front of me, discreetly passes a flask back to Ouimet-Storrs, who asks him what he wants.

“Suprise me,” Powell replies with a shrug.

c o l l e g e h o c k e y .”

-—Chris MacDonald Golden Gaels head coach

3:42 pm The fans are settled in and we finally set off. Less than half an hour later, U3 Anatomy-and Cell Biology major Reid Chambers breaks the ice. “We need to get some booze going. I need to settle down— I’m wired.” He looks around to see if anyone sympathizes with him.

Relieved, he spots Ouimet-Storrs

4:36 pm The sharp smell of liquor wafts from Ouimet-Storrs and Howard’s seat. It is feared that the driver, who is already visibly upset, may detect it and become more irate. A window is opened to remedy this. We cross the Ontario border—boos and general slander resound and the drinking goes low-profile.

5:19 pm The bus makes a pitstop at a wayside service centre. Fans find relief and stock up with Wendy’s and Tim Horton’s.

5:42 pm With just over an hour to go, Chambers leads McGill fans in a repertoire of cheers and songs in preparation for the game.

6:25 pm This writer is done.

Approx. 7:30 pm The bus pulls up in front of Jock Hardy Arena. McGill fans file into the barn, waving flags and plac­ ards, and situate themselves centreice. For the next two and a half hours, the Red ‘n White dominate on the ice and in the bleachers.

We make our presence wellknown by being loud and spirited throughout the game, to the point that Queens Student Constables politely ask that we tone it down a bit. The profanity in some... rather all of the cheers, did not go over well with the parents in attendance with small children. As a result, See QUEEN’S on next page

REDMEH 5 , STINGERS 2

Explosive start gives playoff home ice advantage Three goals in first five minutes pace Red 'n' White to victory in penalty-filled affair Redmen head coach Martin Raymond tried to keep his team focused.

The first five minutes of Friday “We had a good start and night’s game between the McGill caught them flat, but they picked up and Concordia men’s hockey teams the game and it became more even,” indicated a lopsided match, as the said Raymond of his team’s quick Redmen scored three times in that start. span. The visiting Redmen coasted The Stingers settled down to a 5-2 victory over the Stingers to defensively, and didn’t allow a goal take the 16th annual Corey Cup, for the remainder of the period. meant to determine university hock­ As the game began to settle into ey supremacy in Montreal. a comfortable pace, the physical play McGill is now 6-6-2 in Corey proliferated. Both teams made fre­ Cup play, while Concordia is 7-7-2, quent stops to the box for the including two games versus UQTR. remainder of the contest. McGill’s The Redmen ended their regu­ Adam Shell roughed it up with lar season Sunday with a 3-2 win Concordia’s Phil Paris, and nearly over the Ottawa Gee-Gees. Sebastien dropped the gloves to go at it during Langlois’ shorthanded goal late in a mêlée in front of the Redmen the third period made the difference, bench midway through the first peri­ as McGill finished with a 16-6-2 od. Both earned 10-minute miscon­ record in Ontario University ducts for their efforts.

Athletics Far East, good for second The teams combined for 121 place in the division. penalty minutes, 73 of those going to Concordia.

Let the slaughter begin The teams took a lesson from McGill’s Grégoire LeBlanc Don Cherry’s Rock 'em Sock 'em began the onslaught versus videos, laying out opposing players Concordia. LeBlanc, on a partial as often as possible. Redmen breakaway, beat goalie Philippe Ozga defenceman Chad Blundy clocked a high on the blocker side less than a Stinger with time running down in minute into the first. Before the first, sending him to the bench Concordia had a chance to recover, in visible discomfort. right winger Joel Bergeron poked in The intensity continued into a loose puck in front of the Stingers’ the second period, with McGill’s net.

Scott Giroux and Concordia’s Derek The Stingers did themselves no Legault earning themselves 10 min­ favours by taking a penalty after utes in the sin-bin.

McGill’s second goal. With a man McGill added to its lead with advantage, McGill’s David Burgess 1:25 remaining in the second, on a ripped in Ken Davis’ low shot, mak­ goal by Paul Theriault. Ozga got a ing the score 3-0. With the fans piece of Theriault’s shot, but not falling silent, Concordia called a enough to keep the puck out. timeout to rally the troops, while

John Bowden

Concordia’s Mathieu Lendick finally broke Vaillancourt’s goose egg at the start of the third on the power play. Minutes later, the Stingers had a golden opportunity to add another one while short-handed. In the play, Vaillancourt came out to the hash marks to play the puck, but tripped and fell, leaving a gaping cage and only Alexandre Page to bail his goalie out, tying up a Concordia forward.

As so often happens after a big defensive play, McGill turned around and scored a goal less than a minute later. Shell’s point shot was turned aside by Ozga, but Theriault was on the doorstop to knock in his second goal of the night.

Concordia’s dirty play contin­ ued, as David Comeau was thrown out for a blatant hit from behind on McGill’s Pagé.

Concordia added a goal with only a few minutes left on a twoman advantage, but this only con­ tributed to the animosity between the teams.

Concordia’s Edin Burazerovic delivered a crosscheck on Bruno Lemire’s neck, sending him to the ice immediately after the face-off.

Lemire retaliated with a slash, and both were sent to the showers.

Raymond was pleased with his team’s performance despite the amount of non-hockey conflicts on the ice.

“I appreciate the guys’ efforts tonight. We knew it could get out of hand because Concordia had noth­ ing to lose,” Raymond said, referring to the Stingers team, which failed to make the playoffs this year.

“We wanted two points,

PATRICK F0K

M ichael Kosiuk cuts into the middle with his head up, the advised method.

because we’re fighting for second place,” Raymond continued. “We want home ice for the playoffs.”

McGill secured home ice advan­ tage in their first-round playoff con­ test versus Ottawa with Sunday’s win. The best-of-three semifinal

series kicks off Wednesday against Ottawa, 7:30 pm at McConnell Arena. Game two is scheduled for Friday, 7 pm in Ottawa. McGill hosts game three, if necessary, Sunday at 7 pm.

The McGill Tribune, Tuesday, February 18, 2003

Sports 21

Q u e e n 's , M c G ill h o c k e y r iv a lr y a liv e a n d Continued from previous page

MACHO organizers modify the lyrics to a PG level and the Redmen fans resume their crooning.

Goaltender Luc Vallaincourt stops 23 shots for a 7-3 win for the Redmen in which each goal was scored by a different player. The Redmen sweep the Peel Pub Three Stars, with captain David Burgess, forward Pierre-Antoine Paquet and winger Paul Theriault receiving the distinctions.

Sentiments from Queens fans with respect to the MACHO appearance are mixed. One older spectator is overheard praising the rowdy ambassadors: “That’s some class you’ve got there.”

Thoughts from behind the Queen’s bench are less complimen­ tary. The Queen’s Journal reports Golden Gaels head coach Chris MacDonald’s disapproval of MACHO’s behaviour, calling it “an embarrassment for the league.”

Approx. 10:00 pm The MACHO group heads to The Brass, a popular pub with the Queen’s crowd in downtown Kingston, to celebrate the win.

BASKETBALL

w e ll

Some have trouble getting past the bouncer as they head in the door of the drinking establishment that played especially fine music.

12:05 am MACHO leaves The Brass, stopping traffic on Princess Street as the group makes its drunken way back to the bus. One intoxicated fan stumbles onto the street into the path of an oncoming Queen’s Security truck. He yells to the vehi­ cle with arms outstretched, “Please don’t run over me!” The rest of us have only enough wits about us to laugh at him.

12:36 am The bus departs after a short grace period for any tardy stragglers.

Nonetheless, the bus is noticebly emptier than when it arrived.

12:45 am Two girls open up a box of chicken wings they have managed to pick up along the way. The sweet aroma fills the bus and I am dying. I would do anything for a bottle of water and food right now. The snow begins to fall in Kingston and the drive back is much slower. The bus

has quieted down significantly— many people are asleep.

2:36 am We stop at the Morrisburg Tim Horton’s. I can finally get my water.

4:30 am After a marathon final leg, the

bus pulls up to the Roddick Gates and the groggy passengers stumble out. We say our goodbyes and head our separate ways.

One thing is for sure: hockey, booze, spirited fans and a yellow school bus make for a road trip not to be forgotten.

MACHO can be reached at macho_ssmu@hotmail.com. Be on the lookout for their major event in March, the Magic Mystery Bus Tour.

MACHO will also be at McConnell Arena this Wednesday night when McGill takes on the GeeGees in Game 1 o f the playoffs.

STINGERS 8 7 , MARTLETS 6 4

Concordia reasserts superiority over McGill Team lacks leadership that it got a week ago in first win of season over the Stingers Andrew Segal

er and an Anne-Marie Jekyll putback. The baskets tied the score at The 2002-03 campaign has 15. However, the Stingers were not been one of disappointment for the about to let the Martlets control the McGill basketball Martlets, and game and, minutes later, back-toSaturday night’s game was a perfect back Stingers three-point shots example. Just one week after a made the score 25-17.

Moore was surprised that the promising win over Concordia, the Stingers, who went 5-for-8 from Martlets suffered a disheartening 87-64 loss to their cross-town rival. behind the arc in the first half, were Forward Sarah Gagné, who led so prolific from outside.

“If you look at the stats from the Martlets with seven rebounds, felt the team was up for the game at the season, you’ll see that Concordia does not shoot the ball the outset.

“Everybody was ready to play. particularly well. I think that what We really wanted to win, and we happened was they got a few off, wanted to prove to them that our and they just got their momentum win wasn’t just a one-time thing,” going at that point,” said Moore.

The coach stated that her team said Gagné. modified its defensive strategy Unfortunately for the Martlets, last week’s triumph over Concordia somewhat to counter Concordia’s still stands as their only conference perimeter play, but the change had victory of the season. Head coach consequences.

“We made the adjustment and Lisen Moore tried to rationalize the got a little bit closer to their shoot­ latest outcome.

“Last week we got a great per­ ers, but it put us at risk away from formance out of Shannon Howard. the basketball. What happened at She stepped up and stated loudly that point in time was we gave up that we were going to win the bas­ some offensive rebounds and driv­ ing lanes,” Moore said, a develop­ ketball game. ment that allowed the Stingers to “I don’t feel that we had anyone on the team do the same thing this score some easy inside baskets.

The Red ‘n’ White struggled week,” Moore said. “This is a young defensively and landed in foul trou­ team that will follow any kind of ble trying to keep up with leadership that presents itself on the basketball court, and that perform­ Concordia’s quick guards and ance leadership of a week ago was strong post players. Two of the most consistent Martlets this season, missing.”

Some of the veteran Martlets Gagné and Kelly-Rae Kenyon, were were steering the team in the right forced to watch the end of the first half from the bench. That coincid­ direction early in the game.

McGill stuck with Concordia ed with an 11-4 Stingers run and a early, responding to a Stingers run 46-31 lead at halftime.

Moore noted that Gagnés and with a Maude Vallières three-point­

Kenyon’s absences were a factor in the loss.

“With Sarah especially, [the foul trouble] took away a ball-han­ dling position and Concordia, with its pressure, started causing some difficulties in taking it up the court,” said Moore, whose team committed 21 turnovers.

The second half was more of the same. A three-pointer by Jekyll brought the Martlets to within 10 at 46-36, but that was as close as McGill would get. Concordia went on a 14-4 streak to put the game out of reach. When all was said and done, the Martlets had suffered their seventh conference loss by a margin of 20 points or more.

Vallières led the team with 19 points.

With only one game remain­ ing, Saturday against Bishop’s, Moore is looking ahead to next sea­ son, and hoping that the players are taking some lessons from this year.

“This season is not one to be forgotten. I think, as a result of this season, next year you’ll see people who made some mistakes this year not make them, because they’ve gained so much experience. When we put all the right pieces back together, you’ll see how much the team has improved.”

Not going to Florida for spring break? There is a contest for free tuition and books (value 2, 8 2 1 .6 0 ) at half-time of the basketball gam es on Saturday. You can’t win if you don’t have a ticket (to the

NATHANLEBI0DA Guard M arie-Pierre Brunet brings the ball up-court in action earlier this year.

22 Sports

The McGill Tribune, Tuesday, February 18, 2003

BASKETBALL

STINGERS 8 1 , REDMEN 73

What is and what never should have been M c G ill m is s e s p la y o ffs d e s p it e g r a n d e a r ly s e a s o n e x p e c t a t io n s

Andrew Segal________________ 6-foot-10-inch Concordia cen­ tre Daniel Laçasse had the ball near the McGill basket, and was looking to add to the Stingers’ 72-63 lead with a little over four minutes remaining. 5-foot-7-inch McGill guard Denburk Reid wasn’t about to let it happen. Reid timed his leap perfecdy and, in a tremendous display of athleticism, cleanly swatted the ball out of Laçasses hand. Reid’s block drew an ovation from all those in attendance, even the Concordia faithfill.

Unfortunately, Reid’s feat was one of only a few highlights in the game for the Redmen, who were unable to feed off the crowd’s response on their way to another frustrating loss by a score of 81-73.

Reid’s rejection, like numerous occurrences in the game, could have turned the momentum in McGill’s favour and sparked a comeback.

Instead, it mirrored the Redmen’s sea­ son—the promise was there, but the results were not. The team that was No. 5 in the nation last season will be watching the Quebec Student Sports Federation playoffs from home.

Head coach Nevio Marzinotto noted that missed opportunities have been the norm this year, both on offence and defence.

“Even though we battled with them, there were seven or eight inci­ dences where we gave up very easy baskets on pretty standard plays, where we fell asleep defensively.

When there are situations that shouldn’t have happened but did,

scored his final points of the period on a long three, reducing Concordia’s lead to 42-37 at the break.

Even though they were eliminat­ ed from the playoffs after the previ­ ous night’s 92-81 loss at Laval, the Redmen weren’t about to give up in this game, despite trailing at the half.

“We talked about competing and fin­ ishing off with a strong performance, whether it was a win or a loss,” explained Marzinotto. “We didn’t want to roll over and die, and we did­ n’t. I think we competed the whole night.”

The Redmen, perhaps inspired

by Marzinotto’s words, showed some fight coming out of the locker room, with another Kirk Reid three-pointer cutting the Concordia lead to 53-47.

Unfortunately, the Stingers’ size and shooting touch—Concordia hit 60 per cent of its field goal attempts in the second half—were just too much for the Redmen. McGill never got closer than seven points the rest of the way.

Marcario was the Redmen’s lead­ ing scorer for the game, notching 22 points. Kirk Reid finished with 17.

Denburk Reid didn’t mince words when summing up the year.

“It’s been a disappointing season.

We were supposed to be a veteran team and, overall, we weren’t,” said Reid.

Reid, who had been unsure about returning next season, said he will be back for 2003-04, and is plan­ ning to take on more of a leadership role to lead the Redmen back to bas­ ketball prominence.

“I kind of sat back this year,

[that’s why] we end up losing,” said Marzinotto.

The Redmen’s woes began early in the game, as Reid was charged with his first foul only six seconds into the game. He picked up his sec­ ond personal foul about four minutes later, and was forced to sit for most of the first half, contributing only six points.

Marzinotto stated that Reid’s foul trouble had a definite impact on the outcome of the game.

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“When he picked up those two quick fouls, and had to sit for a while, and then came back on, he wasn’t able to get back into a rhythm again, and it definitely hurt us,” he said.

Despite playing without Reid’s services, the Redmen stayed close throughout the first half, with guards Domenico Marcario and Kirk Reid each adding 12 points. Kirk Reid, who played the entire first half,

NICOLELEAVER Patrick Kieran (30) goes over Stingers Patrick Perrote and Frederic Gagnon.

thinking that, because we were a vet­ eran team, we would take care of our­ selves, but we still need someone to step up. Next year, I’m going to do it for sure,” Reid said.

LASER VISION CORRECTION E x p e rie n c e O u r su rg e o n s h a v e perform ed m ore than 5 1 ,0 0 0 la s e r v is io n c o r r e c t io n s .

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N ia g a r a F a l l s

Five wrestling CIS qualifiers The McGill wrestling team sent five athletes to the national champi­ onship qualifying meet at the University of New Brunswick this weekend. In two weeks time, McGill will be sending the same five to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport Championships at Brock University.

Hana Askren took home the gold in the 48 kilogram category.

The rest of the McGill competitors finished in second place in their respective weight categories. Melissa Hui at 6 1 kilos, Katherine Baker at 77 kilos, Jed Zarerzki at 6 1 kilos and Avi Yan at 65 kilos.

I^ast year, the wrestling team sent only two athletes to Nationals and finished 13th of 16 teams.

McGill's Steve Young signs with Blue Bombers At 6 feet 4-inches, 250 pounds, Steven Young—a U4 defensive line­ man has signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

This season Young recorded 9.5 quarterback sacks in eight games, the most posted by any Canadian University football player in the 2002 season. An All-Canadian and

The Redmen finish off the cam­ paign by hosting Bishop’s on February 22. The game gets under­ way at 8:00 pm.

MVP at the Montreal Shrine Bow Young completed 28 total tackle: including 13.5 for loss.

Brenden Taman, the vice-pres dent of player personnel for the Blue Bombers, is excited to have acquired Young.

“Steven has a very good opportunity to make our team,” he said.

“He is an excel­ lent athlete that we feel is one of tl top three non-import players aval able at the college level. We are very excited to get him.”

McGill badminton takes home two gold medals Last Sunday in the Lome Webster squash courts at McGill, the badminton team hosted the fourth Quebec Student Sports Federation competition.

Aaron Creaden and Chloe I-ennox finished first in the singles competition and David Sum fin­ ished third.

In doubles matches, Karine Hallec and Laura Caulder finished second and Creaden and Lennox were second, while Hong-Ming Shih and Chris Bedic placed thir The men and women will next compete in the QSSF finals at Sherbrooke, March 15-16.

The McGill Tribune, Tuesday, February 18, 2003

Sports 23

FIN A L STA N D IN G S Men’s Basketball Team Laval Concordia Bishop’s McGill

GP 14 14 14 14

W 12 8 5 3

L 2 6 9 11

PF 1066 1051 896 1024

PA 922 1036 970 1109

PTS 24 16 10 6

Women’s Basketball Team Laval Bishop’s Concordia McGill

GP 14 14 14 14

W 13 9 5 1

L 1 5 9 13

PF 962 842 797 650

PA 65 6 807 891 897

PTS 26 18 10 2

L 3 6 8 13

T 2 2 2 2

GF 132 92 105 84

GA 61 62 77 94

Men’s Hockey Team UQTR McGill Ottawa Concordia

GP 24 24 24 24

W 19 16 15 9

PTS 40 34 30 20

Women’s Hockey Team McGill Concordia . Ottawa UQTR Carleton

GP 20 20 20 20 20

W 17 14 9 6 1

L 1 6 11 13 18

T 2 0 0 1 1

GF 89 111 56 37 37

GA 14 35 66 ■79 142

Men’s Volleyball Team Laval Montreal Sherbrooke McGill

MP 15 15 15 15

MW 15 9 6 0

ML 0 6 9 15

GW 45 31 25 3

GL 9 22 28 45

PTS 30 18 12 0

Women’s Volleyball Team Laval Sherbrooke Montréal McGill

MP 15 15' 15 15

MW 13 11 5 1

ML 2 4 10 14

GW 40 40 24 11

GL 16 18 37 44

PTS 26 22 10 2

PTS 36 28 18 13 3

-

FRENCH/ENGUSH DIVIDE

Multiple languages a non-issue for athletes James Scarfone Throughout Canadas history, the French and the English have fought for priority—a dispute that is unsettled to this day. But does the issue of language ever come up in McGill’s locker-rooms?

We live in what is arguably the most bilingual city in North America and we attend an institu­ tion renowned for its international flavour. McGill embraces both French and English. Educators and administrators have to deal with both.

So how do coaches deal with the barriers that inevitably arise when there is more than one language being spoken in the dressing room?

“I certainly hope [any problems we do have] have nothing to do with that issue,” says Redmen hockey head coach Martin Raymond.

Raymond is confident that his players don’t worry about such mat­

ters because when it comes down to it, this political issue is trivial in the world of sports.

“Team building is a big part of the program,” explains Martlets hockey head coach Peter Smith.

“But there is nothing specific that needs to be done [regarding the lan­ guage differences] because there is nothing there to discuss.”

Despite Smith’s remarks, there is a consensus among athletes and coaches that due to the sensitivity of language on McGill’s sports teams,

the issue should be addressed early in the season to avoid any communica­ tion breakdowns later on.

“It’s weird at first,” admits Redmen hockey defenceman and francophone David Lizotte, about playing sport in two languages. “But you learn to accept it and work to get past any differences.”

English-speaking teammate Adam Shell agrees with Lizotte.

“It’s obvious we’re coming in here knowing we all come from dif­ ferent places,” says Shell. “It’s up to the veterans to make the difference and start building the team early on in the season.”

Learning from the pros The world of professional sports offers us a look into an industry that contains a wide variety of languages, and in which it is an integral part of a team’s success. The Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League are famous for their consis­

tent attention, whether inadvertent or not, to international composition.

The Wings have won three Stanley Cups in six seasons by employing such a philosophy, and this season their roster includes 11 players whose first language is not English.

Baseball and basketball have also evolved into highly popular games outside of the United States.

Yao Ming, the top pick in the most recent National Basketball Association draft, is from China and hardly speaks a word of English.

Another squad, the Dallas Mavericks, have their fair share of language diversity—-five non-anglophone players on a roster that is rel­ atively small.

Athletes and coaches are begin­ ning to feel that a common language is not necessary for building and maintaining team chemistry.

Smith explains that many fran­ cophones come to McGill to improve their English skills, and that he loves the team’s diversity. It helps him practice his French.

Inevitably, however, difficulties in communication can result in mis­ understandings or frustration among team members and coaches alike.

Having two languages on a team can create two social groups within the squad. For a rookie, who is already feeling nervous and out of place, it may be even more difficult to find a niche when entering a locker room overwhelmed by the distinguished group of French and English players.

Natalie Smith of the Martlets hockey team believes this is some­ thing teams at McGill must get used to.

“We have good spirit and there are no outsiders on our team,” says the rookie and bilingual player.

“There can be a little frustration on some girls’ parts because one girl can’t participate in a conversation if the other girls are speaking French, and she only speaks English. But when you’re out on the ice when it matters most, those differences are put aside and you just go out to • » win.

Some coaches will even go as far as to make an effort to bring the two languages together in a more relax­ ing environment prior to the start of the season.

“I try and do something that will make the guys more comfortable around each other before we get set­ tled in,” remarks Raymond. “I like to take them out for paintball or fishing. Those things are initiated by the leaders of the team as well because they know we’re all different and that chemistry is a major factor in winning.”

For most teams, however, lan­ guage has very little effect on team cohesion.

“We certainly do our best to

keep everyone happy,” says McGill basketball Martlets head coach Lisen Moore. “There is no segregation and I would be surprised if there was. We have very good dynamics; the dress­ ing room is always positive and we’re just going out there to work.”

The athletes are here to com­ pete but also to have fun. They are not the whining and greedy sports­ men we see everyday in an increas­ ingly individualized— rather than team-structured— professional sports world.

As for the issue of French and

English separation in the lockerroom goes, coaches and players both agree that there are more pressing concerns that teams must tackle. In fact, the different background of the players could prove beneficial to team chemistry. More than one spo­ ken language and more than one culture can help showcase the amount of character a team possess­ es.

Though the issue of language differences may at times be shaky in the political arena, it couldn’t be bet­ ter in McGill Athletics.

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ACCREDITATION

SHATNER BUILDING

TH E FO LLO W IN G R E FE R E N D U M Q U ESTIO N SH A LL B E P L A C E D

TH E FO LLO W IN G R EFER EN D U M QUESTION SH A LL B E P L A C E D

ON TH E B A L L O T F O R TH E W IN TER ELECTIO N PERIO D ON

ON TH E B A L L O T F O R TH E W IN TER ELEC TIO N PER IO D ON

MARCH 7 (ADVANCED POLLS), 10 ,11,12 ,13,14 ,17, 2003

MARCH 7 (ADVANCED POLLS), 10, 11, 12, 2003

W H E R E A S a similar referendum w a s held in M arch 2 0 0 2 in which 8 6 % of v o ters voted "yes" but failed to re a ch the voting requirem ents of 4 1 8 5 "y es" v o te s by 1 5 4 v o tes,

W H E R E A S the (William S h atn er) University C en tre is a s p a c e that is run by stu d en ts for the benefit of student life on ca m p u s;

W H E R E A S th e SSM U h a s b een serving a s the u n d ergrad u ate stu ­ dent g overn m en t a t McGill for o v er 9 0 y e a rs,

W H E R E A S student grou p s under the SSM U h av e provided input into a renovation proposal that including but not limited to: additional student group office and m eeting room s p a c e , a student kitchen, ballroom and P lay er’s T h eatre im provem ents;

W H E R E A S th ere e x ists a Q u e b e c A ct R esp ectin g the A ccreditation and Financing of S tu d en ts’ A ssociation s,

W H E R E A S the p roposed (William S h atn er) University C en tre reno­

W H E R E A S a v a st majority of u n d ergrad u ate, cam p u s-w id e stu d en ts’ a sso cia tio n s in th e P rovin ce of Q u e b e c a re accred ited ,

W H E R E A S the (William S h atn er) University C en tre is currently not in conformity with the city of Montréal building, hygiene and fire co d e s ;

Do y o u a g r e e th a t th e SSM U s h o u ld b e c o m e a c c r e d ite d a s y o u r le g a lly r e c o g n iz e d u n d e r g r a d u a te s tu d e n t r e p r e s e n ta tiv e b od y, u n d e r th e Q u e b e c A c t R e s p e c tin g th e A c c re d ita tio n a n d F in a n c in g o f S tu d e n t s ’ A s s o c ia tio n s .

Do y o u a g r e e th a t th e S tu d e n ts ’ S o c ie ty o f McGill U n iv e rsity c o l ­ le c t a S h a tn e r B u ild in g R e n o v a tio n F e e o f $ 1 1 .8 4 p e r s e m e s t e r p e r s tu d e n t fo r a s p a n o f 7 y e a r s ?

. Yes □

No □

ATTENDU Q U ’ un référendum similaire en m ars 2 0 0 2 n’a p as atteint les 4 1 8 5 «oui» n é c e s s a ir e s à l’accréditation par 1 5 4 v o te s m an ­ q uants e t c e , m alg rès le fait qu e 8 6 % d e s voteu rs aient voté «oui ».

ATTENDU Q U E l’A EU M a servi d e g ou vern em en t étudiant d e pre­ m ier cy cle depuis plus d e 9 0 an s, ATTENDU Q U E le Q u é b e c a , en vigeur, une loi sur l’A ccréditation et le F in an cem en t d e s A sso ciatio n s étudiantes, ATTENDU Q U E la g ran d e m ajorité d e s a sso cia tio n s étu d ian tes d e s ca m p u s d e prem ier cy cle au Q u é b e c sont a ccré d ité e s, A c c e p t e z - v o u s q u e l’AEUM d e m a n d e s o n a c c r é d ita tio n e n ta n t q u e v o tr e a s s o c i a t i o n é tu d ia n te d e p re m ie r c y c le , s e lo n la loi du Q u é b e c s u r l’A c c r é d ita tio n e t le F in a n c e m e n t d e s A s s o c i a t i o n s é tu d ia n te s .

Oui ____

□

N on ____

□

T h e S tu d en ts’ S o ciety of McGill University (SSM U ) Council h as form ed a “Y E S ” C om m ittee. To form a “NO” C om m ittee, p le a se pick up a “S tudent Initiated R eferendum C om m ittee Kit” from the Elections w eb site. T h e deadline is Friday, M arch 7, 2 0 0 3 a t 9 :5 9 a m .

vations would be sch ed u led to be com pleted by S e p tem b er 2 0 0 3 ;

No

□

□

ATTENDU QUE le Centre Etudiant (Willliam Shatner) est un lieu opéré par les étudiants et étudiantes qui contribue à la vie étudiante du cam ­ pus; ATTENDU QUE d es groupes étudiants de l’AEUM ont transmis leurs suggestions visant une proposition de rénovation qui inclus mais n’est pas restreinte à de l’e s p a c e additionnel aux groupes étudiants pour d es bureaux et d es salles de réunion, une cuisine ainsi que d es améliora­ tions à la salle de bal et au théâtre Player’s; ATTENDU QUE la proposition de rénovation pour le Centre Etudiant (William Shatner) se ra prévu d’être com plétée pour Septem bre 2 0 0 3 ; ATTENDU QUE le Centre Etudiant (William Shatner) n’est présentem ent pas conforme aux co d es du bâtiment, de l’hygiène et des incendies de la ville de Montréal; Ê te s -v o u s d ’a c c o r d p ou r q u e l’A sso cia tio n étu d ian te d e l’u niversité McGill p e rço iv e une co tisa tio n p ou r la R én ovation du Pavillion S h a tn e r d e 1 1 .8 4 $ p a r s e s s io n p ar étu d ian t e t étu d ian te p ou r une d u rée d e 7 a n s ?

OUI Q

NON |

|

The S tu d en ts’ S o ciety of McGill University (SSM U ) Council h as form ed a “Y E S ” C om m ittee. To form a “NO” C om m ittee, p le a se pick up a “Student Initiated R eferendum C om m ittee Kit” from the Elections w eb site. T h e deadline is Friday, M arch 7, 2 0 0 3 at 9 :5 9 a m .

w w w .ssm u.m cgill.ca | elections@ ssm u.m cgill.ca | 5 1 4 .398 .21 09