The McGill
Published by the Students'Society of McGill University
Volume 26 Issue 14 • December 5,2006
www.mcgilltribune.com
Students make the difference Youth play big role in Liberal convention D a v id B ly e a n d E liz a b e t h P er le
McGill admin meddles in SnoAP
Security Services insists on maintaining presence K en S un For years, SnoAP has provided cheap beer and a respite from the cold as stud.ents attempt to forget about heading back to class after the holidays. But the adminis tration's increasing concerns regarding oncampus alcohol consumption have resulted in a new requirement that McGill security be present for the winter event that was once staffed solely by SSMU Security. After last January's SnoAP wrapped up, McGill Security Services announced that they would be taking responsibility for the security and safety of future events. This
decision has left coordinators confused and slightly frustrated, as they feel that SSMU Se curity is adequate and effective. "McGill Security didn't really make it clear to us their reasons for taking over SnoAR"said SSMU Vice President Communi cations and Events Gill Prendergast, who is overseeing the organization of the event. "I haven't heard of any lax security or problems with the service provided by the SSMU." Pierre Barbarie, assistant manager of McGill Security Services, which is respon sible, for all aspects of security on campus outside of the Shatner Building, made the decision to put campus security in charge
of the event. "We have accommodated SSMU Se curity over the last few years, but McGill Security should handle any and all events throughout the year," Barbarie said. "McGill Security taking over [SnoAP] had nothing to do with [the SSMU Security] being inad equate. Our mandate is to ensure the safety and security on campus, which obviously includes any event that takes place here. We have a mandate to protect and safeguard everyone on campus." Jacob Itzkowitz, co-director for SnoAP,
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Aspiring politicos, leadership hopefuls, lifetime Liber als and young members of the party from all over Canada invaded Montreal last week for the Liberal Leadership Con vention and made their voices heard at one of the most wide-open races in party history. McGill students were out in full force at the Palais des Congrès and some were work ing in the upper levels of campaigns to bring the important youth vote to their candidate. "Under no uncertain terms, a leadership candidate cannot win if they don't have the support of the youth," ex plained Denise Brunsdon, U3 Political Science arid Econom ics and director of the Youth, Women and Blogs campaign for Stéphane Dion. Brunsdon began working on the Dion campaign more than six months ago, and Friday saw her hard work put to good use as Dion, who wènt in to the weekend as the un derdog, began to emerge as a serious threat. Fellow student Gosia Radaczynska, U3 Political Science and International Development Services, was elected as a delegate, representing Liberal McGill. Radaczynska volun teered for the Michael Ignatieff campaign last weekend, where she described the team as one of the most youthoriented in the party. "The majority of the students involved are Political Sci ence majors," she said. "Most of the people in his key staff are also under 30," she added. "It's great to finally see young people getting the experience they need to move forward in politics." McGill students were well-represented at the confer ence: at least a few dozen participated in Dion and Ignatieff's respective campaigns, according to Brunsdon and Radaczynska. With approximately one-third of the delegates under 25, young voters held significant power at this convention. The increased youth involvement can be attributed to a growing grassroots initiative within the Liberal Party, some thing that has generally been more prevalent within the Conservative Party and its predecessors. For the first time, an official "blogging" room was set up at the convention. One of the bloggers present, 19-year- old Miranda Hussey, insisted this was an important way through which young people could affect media coverage. "[Blogs are] becoming a really great medium through which to share, communicate and organize.," Brunsdon agreed. "And not just through blogs: m eetu p .co m , instanta-
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presents December Exam Coffee Breaks! f M cGCome illenjoy complimentary snacks and refreshments at the following locations: Alumni Association
December 4th: Macdonald Campus- Macdonald-Stewart Foyer: 11am—2pm December 5th: McLennan Lobby: 10:30am—-12:30pm & 3:30pm—5:30pm December 6th: Chancellor Day Hall Atrium: 10:30am— 12:30pm Education Building Lobby: 12:30pm—2:30pm December 7th: Bronfman Lobby: 10:30am— 12:30pm
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ill A lu m
n i A s s o c ia t io n
w is h e s y o u
December 8th: McLennan Lobby: 10:30am— 12:30pm December 11th: McConnell Lobby: 11:00am— 1:00pm McLennan Lobby: 3:30pm—5:30pm December 12th: Strathcona Music Lobby: 10:30am— 12:30pm December 13th: McLennan Lobby: 10:00am— 1:00pm g o o d
lu c k
o n y o u r e x a m s !