The McGill Tribune Vol. 28 Issue 4

MCGILL'S OLYMPIC BRONZE f i MEDALIST, PAGE 21

T h e M c G ill

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V o lu m e 28 Issue 4 • S e p te m b e r 2 3 ,2 0 0 8

w w w .m c g illtrib u n e .c o m

International fees Redmen fail to satisfy fans deregulated B ish o p 's d o m in a t e s d e s p ite

H ik e t o

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a f f e c t six d is c ip lin e s C hristie Lee

International students in six academic departments across the provnce may face tuition fee hikes following the Quebec government's decision :o deregulate International Student Fees. As of September n , international students in engineering, management, pure sciences, mathematics, comauter science, and law will be affected.

Since Quebec's defreeze of tuition fees in 2007, the provincial govern­ ment has been trying to shift the financial burden for funding education from the public treasury to universities. Now the shift is targeting interna­ tional students.

Devin Alfaro, the Students' Society's vice-president external, expects deregulation to have an effect on the administration's enrollment tactics, increasing available spots in more lucrative departments.

"Because of the possibility of the differential increase in [international] tuition fees across disciplines, universities would aim to provide more en­ rollment incentives to faculties that can bring in more revenue, such as the Faculty of Engineering," Alfaro said.

The McGill administration has yet to decide on the extent of the tuition increase for international students.

However Morton Mendelson, Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learn­ ing), pointed to McGill's financial aid program as a way of ensuring that in­ ternational students do not pick up an unfair share of the tuition increase.

"The University is committed to allocating 30 per cent of net increases in tuition to financial aid, which applies here," Mendelson told theTribune in an email. "International students are eligible for financial aid at McGill."

The possible increase in international tuition has reignited the campus debate on the extent government should fund education. One argument A n enthusiastic McGill fan cheers on the Redm en at Friday night's loss to Bishop's.

See PROTESTS on page 3

New Life Sciences Com plex opens to acclaim In te g r a te d

b u ild in g s e m p h a s iz e

Andrew S eo Some of the world's leading scientists in biomedical reearch gathered in Montreal on Thursday to mark the opening )f McGill's $73-million Life Sciences Complex—the largest contruction project in McGill's history. The Francesco Bellini Life iciences Building and the Rosalind and Morris Goodman Can:er Centre are the final additions to the complex, which also ncludes the existing McIntyre Medical Sciences and Stewart biological Sciences Buildings.

Scientists from Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute

c r o ss-d isc ip lin a r y a p p r o a c h

of Technology were on hand to present research findings. No­ table speakers included Dr. Phillip Sharp, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine in 1993 for his dis­ covery of gene-splicing, as well as Dr. Alain Beaudet, president of the Canadian Institute of Health Research.

Dr. Tony Pawson, distinguished investigator at Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital, opened the event with a lecture aptly titled "Back to the Future"—a look at how specific protein in­ teractions can be used to cure deadly diseases such as cancer.

"Without innovative developments such as the Bellini building, we wouldn't be able to reveal new biological mecha­

nisms, expand research, and turn black-box myths into real sci­ ence-based cures," Pawson said.

In total, the complex comprises 340,000 square feet of research space and will focus on five key areas of research: de­ velopmental biology, cancer, chemical biology, cell informa­ tion systems, and complex traits. It is unique, however, in its commitment to encourage interaction between the various scientific and medical disciplines.

See NEW BUILDINGS on page 2

MOLSON STADIUM M cGill

Soccer S e p t. 2 4 1 8 :3 0 (M a r tle ts ) B is h o p ’s vs. M c G ill Soccer S e p t. 2 6 1 8 :0 0 (M a r tle ts ) 2 0 h 0 0 (R e d m e n ) L a v a l vs. M c G ill

ATHLETICS&RECREATION

H a lftim e Skills c o m p e t it io n : p r i z e s t o b e w o n

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SPO RTS SH OP Special of the week: New McGill Cap $10

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New buildings received public funding R e se a r c h e r s, fa c u lty

p r e s e n t a t S c ie n c e

S y m p o s iu m

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Continued from COVER

Ahilya Sawh, a second year Biochemistry graduate stu­ dent, noted significant improvements with this approach.

"Previously, we had medical oncology and molecular on­ cology housed in separate buildings, but now we can have a steady collaboration between the two-in-one integrated lo­ cation," Sawh said.

The cross-disciplinary approach is also expected to bet­ ter streamline the drug development process as researchers begin to collaborate on a much broader level.

The complex also includes the latest equipment in bio­ medical technology. During a tour of the facility, McGill pro­ fessor Dr. Albert Berghuis and his team of graduate students demonstrated the ease with which specific atoms in proteins can be modelled via computer algorithms. Such models, ac­ cording to Dr. Berghuis, prove useful when observing various drug interactions in studies of antibiotic drug resistance.

The opening of the complex also attracted curiosity from other disciplines. Hélène Brisebois and her team at SDK and Associates, the firm responsible for the project's engineering feats, were eager to observe the finished product.

"Building on the side of a mountain is always challeng­ ing," Brisebois joked. "We had to cut through a giant piece of rock to get a good foundation going."

The final result, however, seems to have yielded a posi­ tive response. The two modern, glass-covered structures stand in fair contrast to its Brutalist-inspired neighbours.

Though the majority of funding was provided by the provincial and federal government, key benefactors, includ­ ing Francesco Bellini, and Rosalind and Morris Goodman, were also present at Thursday's ceremony. ■

JASONWILLEM Th e new Bellini Building connects to the older M cIntyre Medical Building

CAM PUS

McGill Students for Obama get out the vote R e g io n a l

F ield

D i r e c t o r W ill F r ip p s p e a k s t o

T heo M eyer McGill Students for Obama, recently noticed for their "Yes We Canada" signs at activities night, held an organizational meeting in New Chancellor Day Hall to register American stu­ dents at McGill as voters in the upcoming presidential elec­ tion. Will Fripp, the Regional Field Director for Eastern Canada of the unaffiliated organization Americans Abroad for Obama, was the guest speaker.

s t u d e n t g r o u p

Barack Obama is the Democratic Party's presidential nom­ inee and is running against Republican nominee John McCain in the November 4 election.

Fripp, a citizen of both Canada and the United States, lives in Toronto, where he registers other American citizens to vote.

"A lot of Americans [in Canada] don't know that they can vote," Fripp said.

According to Fripp, the Obama campaign estimates there may be as many as one million American citizens liv­ ing in Canada. Finding them poses a problem, however, as there is no available register in­ dicating where these Americans live. Fripp has successfully reg­ istered Americans in Toronto by setting up a table in City Hall and other public places.

Of the 35,000 Americans who live in Quebec, 2,000 of them are students at McGill, making it the largest single concentration of American citizens in Canada.

KevinGrumberg,a third year Law student, started McGill Students for Obama last year to organize for the Demo­ cratic primaries in the US. A Canadian citizen, Grumberg decided to start the group after serving as an intern for the Obama campaign GRAPHICBYNIKI HYDE the previous summer.

"It was the best

Yes W e C A N A D A

summer of my life, one of the best experiences of my life Grumberg said. "Once I got a taste of the Kool-Aid, I just stud with it."

Grumberg took advantage of Montreal's proximity to the American border by organizing trips to the nearby states o New Hampshire and Vermont during the primary campaign He estimates that the group took a dozen trips last year anc is planning more for this year. He hopes to make trips ever} other weekend to the battleground states of Pennsylvania anc New Hampshire.

McGill student Jeffrey Bishku-Aykul, Ui Arts, was one o the students who accompanied Grumberg last year and plan: to do so again this fall.

"I actually came from Obama's neighbourhood, so I wa: pretty passionate about the fact he was running for president; Bishku-Aykul said.

According to Grumberg, student interest this year ha: been much higher than last.

"Last year at activities night we got about no names, this year we got 225," Grumberg said. "It's a lot easier raising sup­ port for Obama in the general election than it was in the pri­ mary campaign, just because of the clear dichotomy between [Obama and McCain]."

While McGill Students for Obama was the only group of its kind on campus last year, Grumberg now faces some com­ petition from McCain supporters.

"There were International Republicans at activities night two tables over from us,"Grumberg said.

Because the main goal of both groups is to register American citizens to vote, the two groups may actually work together in the next two months.

"They might be even helping us out, but in terms of build­ ing a movement on campus I think they're a little bit [behind]," Grumberg said.

The McGill International Republicans could not be reached for comment.

Both Grumberg and Fripp expressed excitement as the general election draws closer.

"The nice thing about working with Barack Obama this time around is the feeling that we're working towards some­ thing," Fripp said. ■

23.09.08 - The McGill Tribune • 3

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CAM PUS

m pus

Event to tackle food crisis

Protests to come

P o u n d , C lark c h a ir t h r e e - d a y

FEU Q d e m a n d s tu ition

N ancy P ham Drawing from a pool of pre-eminent academics •om the United Nations and the World Bank, McGill's ilobal Food Security Conference kicks off on Wedneslay. Held over three days, this groundbreaking event as been organized by the Faculty of Agricultural and nvironmental Sciences and has an impressive list of inernational participants.

The conference will address the ramifications that kyrocketing food prices have on the developed and leveloping world. The symposium will act as a forum i/here experts will discuss strategies to improve the tate of the international economy.

"This conference is basically for us to take focus on that's happened in the agricultural markets,” said Dr. tnwar Naseem of the Department of Natural Resource ciences. "This gathering of international agencies is a esponsive action to the issue."

A postdoctoral fellow at the International Food ’olicy Research Institute, Naseem is scheduled to speak æxt week on his areas of interest: agricultural developnent and the economics of innovation.

"The demand for food in major developing counries such as India and China has risen significantly," laseem said. "As the population of middle-class inhabtants expands, so has the demand for food and other ommodities. Populations that have once relied on >asic crops such as wheat and rice are now changing heir diets to consist of more livestock products such as neat and eggs."

McGill political science professor Philip Oxhorn, the Director of the Centre for Developing-Area Studies, will iddress the opportunities and dangers of the current lituation at the conference, as well as the impact global warming may have on food.

c o n f e r e n c e

"While food security affects both rural and urban populations, the impact is likely to be worse in urban areas because people must rely on markets or assis­ tance for food," Oxhorn said. "But if rural farmers receive sufficient assistance to increase their own production, this can raise rural standards of living while addressing urban problems of food insecurity."

Co-chaired by former Prime Minister Joe Clark and McGill University Chancellor Richard Pound, the event hopes to stimulate discussions and frame long-term so­ lutions to counter high prices and declining supply.

"Before the rise of this event, nobody paid any at­ tention to the area of agriculture," Naseem said. "How­ ever, it is now recognized that more investments need to be made towards increasing productivity in this sec­ tor."

Attendees will have an opportunity to listen to dis­ cussions about affected areas, solutions to the problem, and success stories from countries that have innovated.

Representative international organizations include the UN's Food and Agricultural Organization, the Interna­ tional Federation of Agricultural Produces, the World Food Program, and the World Bank. The Canadian Fed­ eration of Agricultural Producers, Canadian Food Grains Bank, and the Canadian Red Cross will also attend.

"We have great optimism towards this event," said Sarah Hawkins from the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute at the University of Calgary. "We have helped to pro­ mote the event because we know that the topic is of interest to many of the academics in our network."

There will be a free public lecture held at Salon Cartier on Mansfield Street on Wednesday, September 24. The conference itself will take place on Thursday and Friday at New Residence Hall. Tickets cost $125 for the public and $50 for students. ■

repeal

Continued from COVER

is that students should bear the brunt of these costs because they directly benefit from the education they receive. Alfaro sees things differently, how­ ever.

"Education has always been a public and social good. It's the society which ultimately reaps the benefit of having an educated workforce," Alfaro said.

While several European countries provide free education from the pri­ mary to tertiary level, North American universities seem to be going in the opposite direction with respect to tuition fees. David Paradis, president of the Quebec Federation of University Students (FEUQ), finds this troubling.

"If this trend [to increase tuition] continues, it's likely that more and more children from families on the lower side of the economic strata wouldn't be able to attend universities and thus, widening the literacy gap between higherincome and lower income families," he said.

Paradis is also worried that the complete deregulation of internation­ al student fees would affect Quebec's English-language universities the most.

"McGill and Concordia take in more international students than any other French universities, so naturally they would be the ones to suffer the bigger blow," Paradis said.

The tuition hike, Paradis added, would have a larger impact on urban universities as they often have a larger pool of resources dedicated to re­ cruiting international students.

Paradis said that FEUQ will cooperate with international student groups from different universities to campaign against the provincial government's deregulation directive.

"There are 20,000 students out there who will not agree to this. It has to be stopped," Paradis said.

FEUQ will hold a press conference this week demanding an immediate repeal of the deregulation.

In addition, SSMU is considering creating a petition available to inter­ national students and attending a rally in Quebec City on October 17. ■ — Additional reporting by James Gilman

A T O U R oG R A D U A TE STUDIES

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Kinesiology, public health, anim al health, fun dam ental sciences, applied sciences, vision sciences, nursing, pharm aceutical sciences and more.

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Conferences on:

Information booths

Graduate Studies at UdeM Drug discovery

Meetings with researchers

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Public health of the future A re yo u in te re ste d in g ra d u a te stu d ie s in th e fie ld o f h e a lth ?

C o m e d isc o ve r th e a rra y o f g ra d u a te h e a lth stu d ie s a n d in te rd is c ip lin a ry o p p o rtu n itie s o ffe re d a t th e U n iv e rsité de M o n tré a l, th e o n ly C a n a d ia n u n iv e rs ity o ffe rin g th e fu ll ra n g e o f d isc ip lin e s in h e a lth sciences.

W W W .F E S P .U M O N T R E A L .C A

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4 • News • 23.09.08

The McGill Tribur

CAM PUS

Deafness researchers at McGill make breakthrough O stry a n d

N a sir u s e j a w

in v e s tig a te t h e

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T rip Yang With the help of five middle-aged deaf subjects, McGill neuroscientists David Ostry and Sazzad Nasir have made a remarkable breakthrough in understand­ ing the idiosyncrasies of speech. By measuring par­ ticipants'jaw movements while reading words from a computer screen, Ostry and Nasir discovered that hu­ mans can associate specific words and sounds with jaw movements. They concluded that speech production is dependent on somatosensory inputs, and not solely hearing, providing currently deaf individuals with hope for the future.

Ostry and Nasir's research subjects were inspired deaf adults who lost their hearing later in life but maintain intelligible speech patterns. Indeed, because hearing inputs were rendered moot, Ostry and Nasir hypothesized that there had to be other signals reach­ ing the brain allowing the deaf individuals to judge pro­ nunciation.

"We wondered how deaf adults, who lost their hear­ ing as adults, could produce understandable speech for many years," said Ostry. "Eventually their pronunciation deteriorates, but the whole time they are using an input that is not hearing based."

The researchers connected a robot to the deaf sub­ jects' frontal teeth, which moved the jaw slightly for­ ward and recorded how much the subject responded back. The subjects were then asked to pronounce simi­ lar sounding words from a computer screen— "saw" "say""sass" and "sane". According to Ostry, the robotic pull resulted in a jaw deformation that was not signifi­ cant enough to affect speech, with participants often leaving the lab with no awareness that their jaws had been nudged.

"We wanted to see whether deaf participants could adapt to the sudden speech deformation without audi­ tory input. The deformation was very small, in the or­ ders of millimeters. So while it would not affect speech pronunciation, the subtle change in the jaw motion was able to prompt a corrective response."

Unconsciously, the deaf subjects had adapted to

JOURNALISM IS A SEXY CAREER. WRITING NEWS FOR THE MCGILL TRIBUNE IS YOUR FIRST STEP TOWARD THE GLOBE AND M A IL

m o v e m e n t s to h e a r

produce the jaw and muscle movements necessary for precise words. Because the deaf subjects had their cochlear implants turned off, any form of feedback was somatosensory and not auditory. In a comparison with a control group of hearing adults of the same age both groups learned to straighten pronunciation errors at the same speed.

"What we learned was that speech learning was substantially dependent on somatosensory input. On their own, somatosensory signals to the brain are ca­ pable [of] guiding speech motor control,"Ostry said.

While the theory of somatosensory input has been around for years, McGill physiology associate professor Dr. Maurice Chacron believes Ostry and Nasir's work has provided the most compelling evidence supporting the theory so far.

"The case for somatosensory input has been sus­ pected for a while, but this is the most concrete, di­ rect proof that somatosensory signals are required for speech production. We use subtle jaw movements to associate specific words and consonants,"Chacron said.

While the practical implications of Ostry and Nasir's work have yet to be developed, Ostry remains hopeful for deaf individuals.

"We're optimistic that our discovery may one day translate to increased therapeutic treatment for deaf patients. There is an emphasis in the speech commu­ nity on auditory therapies, such as hearing aids and co­ chlear implants. With a better understanding of speech production, hopefully more therapeutic treatments will be conceptualized as another option," he said.

Chacron is similarly optimistic for the potential of this discovery. Though he cautions there is no real sub­ stitute for auditory input— deaf individuals speak less coherently over time— Chacron agrees that the discov­ ery will have beneficial implications.

"Whatthis finding may imply isthat adults who lost hearing may be able to retain intelligible speech a little longer. Therapeutic treatments can be developed, not to fully compensate for deafness, but to act as a boost for those individuals." ■

NEWS MEETINGS ARE HELD EVERY TUESDAY AT 5:30 IN SHATNER 110.

BAKED GOODS OR OREOS ARE SOMETIMES PROVIDED.

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Apparently, death and disease crack up Canada's federal farm minister. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz apologized last Wednes­ day for making jokes about the recent listeriosis deaths. When in­ formed about a recent listeriosis death in Prince Edward Island, Ritz quipped, "Please tell me it's Wayne Easter." Easter, a PEI native, is a Liberal farm spokesman. Ritz was also quoted as saying "This is like a death by a thousand cuts. Or should I say cold cuts."

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For a list of participating programs and to register visit:

GRAD.UW0.CA/SH0WCASE2008 Western MATT PARK McGill students shaved their heads to help raise m on e y for cancer research.

23.09.08 • News • 5

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D U C A T IO N

/Waterloo unveils new dorm 'elo C ity in sp ir e d

b y G o o g le

Ian Brown Few places can replicate the atmosphere of a typifirst-year university residence. Whether rememred with nostalgia or chagrin, living in residence is Jecidedly unique experience. The University of Waloo's newly refurbished Minota Hagey Residence, wever, makes the classic rez experience seem a bit isolete.

The residence, dubbed Velocity, is the brainchild University of Waterloo alumnus and current staffer an Van Koughnett, who is seeking to create an "inbator" within the residence that caters to underaduate students with exceptional technological and trepreneurial potential. Van Koughnett attributes uch of his inspiration for the residence to revolutiony companies like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook— of which were products of collaboration in college >rmitories.

"The genesis of [Facebook and Google's] success »s when they were just a student living in a dorm mewhere,"Van Koughnett said.

While the residence looks like a smaller version of cGill's Gardner, Molson, and McConnell Flails, the inrior couldn't be more different. The 70 students who e there have access to plasma screens, an LCD wall, )s with video-conferencing provided by Microsoft, creased internet bandwidth, a wireless lab for tinkerg with smartphones donated by Rogers, all-access i-Fi, and, of course, the Nintendo Wii-Playstation 3>ox trio.

The idea, according to Van Koughnett, is that if jmerous tech-savvy students are pooled together id provided with the means and motivation, the resi­

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dence will be a centre for innovation.

"What really makes this place extra special is the passion for that particular venture idea that each per­ son has and wants to develop," Velocity resident Peter Kao said.

Potential Velocity residents must go through a multi-stage screening process, including an interview, to gain acceptance to the residence. Once accepted, however, residents are aided by an extensive system of groups and mentors. Each resident is placed in a project group according to his or her own interests, and has a corresponding mentor from that industry to offer guidance and strategies for implementing the group's product.

"The real secret to Velocity isthat we live as ateam and are constantly bouncing ideas back and forth and putting our products to the test every day," fellow Ve­ locity resident Kevin Shahbazi said.

In addition, students are granted access to work­ shops and conferences given by leading experts from companies such as Google, Apple Canada, and local Waterloo firm Research-in-Motion, which produces the popular BlackBerry.

Students are given the chance to present their work, which they have full legal rights over, to industry partners and prospective investors at a convention at the end of their time in Velocity.

While living in Velocity may seem overwhelming, Velocity student Rajesh Kumar is optimistic.

"I'd say there's a healthy mix of both excitement and anxiety all over the residence, but primarily excite­ ment, mostly because we feel like we're finally ready to "invent the future," Kumar said. ■

SSMU executives challenge legitim acy of new om budsperson

The appointment of Linda Jacobs Starkey at the end of August as McGill's interim ombudsperson has Students' Society executives worried about what they perceive to be a conflict of interest.

For the past few years, Dr. Norman Miller has been the ombudsperson, a position defined as a disinterested third party who can help students re­ solve conflict outside the official channels. Due to a change in job descrip­ tion last December, he was replaced by Starkey on September 1.

Starkey is simultaneously acting as the associate dean of students and the interim posting. Vice-President University Affairs Nadya Wilkinson ex­ pressed concern with this dual role.

"Legitimacy should be the strongest asset in the ombudsperson's port­ folio,"Wilkinson said.

According to SSMU, a career adminstrator should be the last person appointed as ombudsperson. Although Starkey may know how to skirt the administrative red tape gracefully, Wilkinson maintains that is not enough.

"I understand that one of the reasons they [the administration] chose to do this was the fact that we were getting close to the school year and they really wanted to fill the position with somebody who they knew, knew the administration,"Wilkinson said.

SSMU was not consulted during the appointing proceedings. Further­ more, there is a joint Senate and Board of Governors committee whose role is to appoint an ombudsperson—the VP University Affairs sits on this com­ mittee.

"The terms of reference were changed in December, and we have yet to have a meeting for the selection of a new ombudsperson," Wilkinson said.

The administration has said, however, the committee will meet before the end of the semester to discuss potential candidates.

"I'm just worried that what if we have one meeting from December to December?That sends such a bad message,"Wilkinson said.

Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) Morton Mendelson main­ tained having an administrator as an ombudsperson would not be all that bad.

"I don't think that having been an administrator automatically disquali­ fies someone from being the Ombudsperson for Students," said Mendelson in an email to theTribune."Indeed, experience as an administrator may pro­ vide insights to how the University works and how administrative decisions are made— insights that can benefit students who are being helped by the ombudsperson."

— Thomas Quail

AM PU S

3reen Fee put to use S M U

g iv e s

$ 1 0 ,0 0 0

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J ames G ilman The Students'Society legislative council approved $10,000 funding for the purchase of a new composter by indepensnt student group Gorilla Composting at council's first meetg of the year last Thursday.

The funding, which was passed by the Executive Commit:e on May 23, will come out of the 2007-2008 Environment je also known as the Green Fee. "Basically we had this money, we got a proposal from Golla Composting, and we decided that this is such an incredile project to have one of our student groups involved in," said 5MU President KayTurner."So we decided that we wanted to ive part of the money that was left in the Green Fee to [Gorilla om posting]."

The composter, if purchased, would be the largest on the land of Montreal.

The Environment Fee, a $1.25 charge per student per selester that students may opt out of, is, according to its de:ription online, "used to fund projects and student jobs to nprove the environmental impact of the Student Society's ctivities and operations and to support on campus environlental projects run by student groups."

"It's just such an exciting concept that we could be inolved in the largest composter on the island of Montreal,"said urner. "It's the kind of project that's exactly what the Green ee is designed for."

After Gorilla Composting finalized its proposal, the Exective Committee, which is comprised of the six SSMU execuves, agreed to provide the funding, as long as the money is sed for what it is proposed for. Otherwise it must be returned 3 SSMU. The Executive Committee takes on the duties of the igislative council over the summer when council and other ommittees do not meet.

According to David Gray-Donald, a coordinator of Gorilla omposting, the project will cost an estimated $100,000 over he first two years. The composter itself will cost $30,000, with ransport, labour, and other costs making up the remaining 70,000.

"We are applying for funding from other sources, includig government, using the $10,000 from SSMU as a starting

point," Gray-Donald said. "After [the first two years], the hope is to fund the ongoing processing through savings on garbage disposal costs.

In this way the aim is to have the op­ eration be integrated into the McGill administrative process. That part is a topic of ongoing discussion."

The composter that Gorilla Composting is proposing to buy is a large steel cylinder—about the size of a large dumpster— rotated by a motor. By avoiding anaerobic reactions, the composter should be odourless, according to Gray-Don­ ald. The machine will be able to pro­ cess any organic waste, not simply raw fruits and vegetables, like many composting systems.

A similar machine was recently installed at Concordia University's Loyola Campus, with small scale testing conducted over the summer.

According to Louise Hénault-Ethier, Sustainable Concordia’s R4 Envi­ ronmental Coordinator (R4 is a Sus­ tainable Concordia initiative which stands for rethink, reduce, reuse, recycle) the Loyola project is meant to provide a return on Concordia's investment within five years.

"It's been up and running since June, and everything so far is going great," Flénault-Ethier said "We're trying to take it gradually, and in­ tegrate one more collection point at a time, and over a five year period we'll achieve our target of diverting 100 tonnes of organic waste per year."

A location for the McGill composter has not yet been set, and finding space for it on the downtown campus—as close as possible to where compostable waste is produced, to re-

I

GORILLA.MCGILL.CA duce transport pollution and costs— may prove difficult.

Several locations are being considered, but space on campus is a sensitive issue.

"We need to wait for responses from some funding sourc­ es before we can buy anything, but hopefully we can sort things out and have this installed sometime [during] this aca­ demic year," Gray-Donald said. ■

6 • News • 23.09.08

The McGill Tribu COMPILED BY MATT CHESSER, THOMAS QUAIL, AND BERNARD RUE

CA M PU S

S S M U L e g is la t iv e C o u n c il To c o m m e m o r a t e th e first S tu d e n ts ' S o c ie ty C o u n c il m e e t i n g o f t h e y e a r , th e T rib u n e p r e s e n t s a c u r s o r y g u id e to h e lp th e a v e r a g e s t u d e n t u n d e r s ta r th e in n e r w o r k in g s o f M c G ill’s h ig h e s t l e v e l o f s t u d e n t g o v e r n a n c e . T e c h n ic a lly , C o u n c il d o e s n ' t h a v e a s e a t i n g p la n , b u t, j u s t lik e a h ig h s c h o o l c a f e te r i i t te n d s to s e lf - o r g a n iz e : b y c liq u e , o r w ith c o o l k id s o n o n e s id e a n d m a n a g e m e n t c o u n c illo r s e t al. o n th e o th e r . O c c a s io n a lly it s p lits d o w n id e o lo g ic lin e s — w ith s t u d e n t s o n th e le f t o f th e p o litic a l s p e c tr u m a c r o s s fr o m s t u d e n t s o n th e fa r le f t o f th e p o litic a l s p e c tr u m o n th e o th e r . B e lo w is a b a s d ia g r a m o f e a c h i m p o r t a n t fig u r e o r g r o u p o n C o u n cil, a n e x p la n a tio n o f w h y y o u s h o u ld c a r e a b o u t S S M U C o u n c il, a n d s o m e b a s ic in f o r m a tio n yc s h o u ld k n o w t o im p r e s s a S S M U -sh ie.

General Manager— Pauline Gervais Gervais is a full-time staff member hired by SSMU who is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the corporation. She spends most of her time at Council on Facebook.

Speaker— Jordan Owens

sus Reps

Senators

The speaker must act as a disinterested third party and is responsible for the continuity and fluidity of council debate. An expert in Robert's rules and points of order, the Speaker rarely gets invited to parties.

Three science representatives sit on council. In the past, the science caucus met before council to decide how they would vote on motions. There is one ^eP seat that needs to be filled, They're conducting genetic research to clone Max Silverman and place him on all future SSMU Councils.

The University Senate is the highest evel academic governance at McGill. The sen; caucus— comprised of 12 student senate the VP University Affairs, and the SSMU Pre dent—sends three representatives to coun They accomplish as little as U.S. senators wit out the benefits of bribes and kickbacks.

Management The president of MUS and a representative sit on the council. In years past, the president often didn't show up to meetings. But don't worry, disciplinary action was taken. The president's absences were recorded and then reported—to the MUS president.

Clubs and Services Reps

AUS Reps

Three arts representatives Three clubs and services and the AUS VP External sit representatives sit on on council. Contrary to the council. They represent science caucus, AUS reps the interests of the always- are free to vote however powerful McGill Bridge they see fit. They are often Club lobby at Council. described as disciples of the Cult of Kelford.

The Rest There is one representative from each of the following faculties: architecture, dentistry, education, engineering, law medicine, music, nursing, physical and occupational therapy, and social work. Athletics also has one representative on Council. They typically sit opposite the "cool k-ds" but console themselves with the knowledge that, unlike the AUS representatives, they will have jobs after graduation {Well, except for the music rep.)

The gallery (the press) As defenders of student interests and representatives of the fifth estate, reporters from theTribune, the Daily and occasionally Le Délit are often the only ones capable of enduring the Council marathon. They spend most of their time cracking jokes and sending each other text messages. Occasionally other brave souls show up to Council, but they typically don't last beyond the question period.

PHOTOS BY ADAMSCOTTI

'ww.mcgilltribune.com

23.09.08 • News • 7

SSMU Council: W h y should I care?

SSMU Council isn't perfect. It's usually tedious, innecessarily divisive, and is often used as a platform for ouncillors and members of the executive to espouse their lersonal opinions. Since few people outside of the SSMU iubble actually care about Council, it is only when major issues naterialize (for example, the debate over holding blood drives i the Shatner building) that councillors are held responsible or their actions. Also, because there are no real consequences or councillors who skip meetings, attendance is frequently ub-par, with representatives from the smaller faculties rarely ttending and the Management Undergraduate Society isually opting not to fill their second seat on Council (which is upposed to be held by the MUS President). In short, like any epresentative democracy, it has its problems.

That being said, Council is the best form of democracy rtcGill has. The McGill Board of Governors is accountable to no >ne, and is largely composed of corporate executives (there

are currently 24 members of the BoG, only two of which are students with the ability to vote on Board matters). Senate can be an effective check on the administration, but too much influence is wielded by a diverse group of professors and administrators who have been known to talk down to student representatives. At the very least, SSMU Council is completely student-run, and usually has at least a couple of independent voices that properly represent students on campus. Plus, any serious body that can be forced to sing "Rocket Man" in the style of William Shatner can't be all that bad (try bringing that proposal to the BoG and see what response you get).

Council met for the first time this year last Thursday, and spent time approving decisions made by the Executive Committee over the summer. Among the executive summer projects were: a new SSMU website designed by a Vancouver firm that should be launching sometime in the next month; an overhaul of the clubs and services bylaws along with a new

version of S S M U F o r D u m m ie s to help clubs better understand the tangled web of SSMU policies; and mobilization for a fight against the deregulation of international tuition and the arbitrary new guidelines for campus events imposed by the university (that technically prevent all night events such as the Holocaust Memorial or any on-campus protest). In the upcoming month, Council will debate an expansion of the SSMU Daycare, set bylaws for the new ancillary fee system that requires the university to get student approval for fee levies, and discuss a tentative five-year plan to make SSMU more environmentally conscious.

One voice can have a disproportionate effect on Council unless more students get involved. If you're interested in campus issues, talk to the councillor who represents your faculty or club/service. Technically, their mandate is to bring your concerns to Council and represent your voice. Hold them accountable. ■

resident— Kay Tu rn e r

he presidential portfolio covers two domains: internal and external, iternally, the president assists the vice-presidents with their portfolios nd provides the Council with a cohesive vision. Externally, the presilent is a student ambassador ensuring student representation at the ■oard of Governors and Senate. The president also wears the pants on ouncil. (Or the thong, in Jake Itzkowitz's case.)

IP External— D evin Alfaro

The VP External serves as SSMU's representative to the world outside he McGill bubble, this consists of running political and lobbying cam aaiqns mandated by the Council. The VP External is aiso responsible or fostering relations with community associations around the McGill tampus. He spends most of his time apologizing for your drunken estapades in the ghetto. /P internal— -Julia Webster

A/ith a reputation as the "party" portfolio, the VP Internal spearheads :ampus-wide activities like Frosh and SnoAP. The notion, however, :hat the VP Internal does nothing is far from true, in addition to her nore light-hearted duties, the VP Internal acts as a liaison between he faculty associations and SSMU. She also floods your inbox with :hose obnoxious ListServ emails.

A S SO R T E D N O N S E N S E

Robert's Rules of Order Originally created in 1893 as a manual of parliamentary procedure, Robert's Rules of Order are just as pretentious and outdated as they sound. They do, however, prevent SSMU Council from deteriorating into a free-for-all, and allow the Speaker of Council to rule with an iron fist— which is always amusing. The Tribune was going to explain Robert's Rules, but then we realized we actually want people to read this spread. Here are the bare-bones basics; try to stay awake: • In order to be debated, a motion must be proposed by a councillor and then seconded by a second member of Council.

• Each councillor has the right to speak on a motion before any councillor has spoken twice or before any member of the gallery has debated the issue.

• Councillors may cede their time to any member of the gallery.

• Points of privilege (when a councillor interjects to clarify information involving them that is not accurate) and points of order (when a councillor points out that another member is not following Robert's Rules) are awesome because they encourage councillors to be jerks in the most polite way possible.

The Tribune has a copy of Robert's Rule of Order that it would be happy to lend to any interested readers. Trust us, a working knowledge of Robert's Rules is a great way to pick up SSMU-shies at a party.

VP Finance and O perations— Tobias Silverstein

The VP FOPS is SSMU's very own book-keeper. However, amid the myriad facts and figures of the portfolio lie the financial sinkholes of Haven Books and Gert's. On the bright side, in the "real” world Sil­ verstein will command triple the salary of the liberal arts majors that seem to dominate the executive.

I/P U n ive rsity Affairs— N adya W ilkinson

The environmental advocate Nadya Wilkinson is your representative :o the administration. By virtue of her seat on Senate, and her close oroximity to senior administrators, she wields a considerable amount of political clout. The VP UA portfolio makes the most headway to­ wards improving student life on campus. She also is the only Council member who gets to address Morton Mendelson as'Morty."

Rocket Man At last year's fall General Assembly, Students Organized Against Protest passed motions requiring SSMU Council to "show its devotion to William Shatner by having SSMU Council recite 'Rocket Man' by Elton John set to music, Shatner-style"and to require SSMU Council to refer to common campus buildings by StarTrek-inspired names (e.g.-Burnside Hall becomes "The Cube").

Democracy is awesome. The Tribune is disappointed that this year's Council has chosen to ignore last year's GA mandate. We patiently await a public apology (please councillors, three-hour meetings desperately need some levity). Until then, Google the phrase "SSMU Rocket Man" to find last year's performance immortalized on YouTube. Kudos to Hanchu Chen for his vocoder keyboard performance and to then-Vice-President Internal Kay Turner for being the only member of Council to capture the true essence of Shatner with her hand gestures.

VP Clubs and Services— Sam antha Cook

The VP Clubs and Services portfolio is much too big for any one person to handle. With over 250 clubs and services to notarize, document, and supervise, theTribune is worried about Sam Cook's blood pressure.

An overview of SSMU committees Com m ittee process

The majority of Council's work is done through commit­ tees. With a variety of committees to choose from, council­ lors can get involved in just about any aspect of student life.

The Tribune highlights a few committees that perennially accomplish the most.

The Environm ent Com mittee

As a sub-committee of the Presidential Affairs Commit­ tee, the Environment Committee is responsible for promot­ ing sustainability and environmental culture on campus.

Chaired by the environment commissioner, look for the En­ vironment Committee to vault into the limelight nearer Oc­ tober 16 with the public launch of the Green Audit, followed

by a drum circle and a rousing rendition of "Kumbaya."

External Affairs Com m ittee

With no external support from groups like CFS or FEUQ this year. Council will be leaning heavily on this committee.

Acting as an advisory board to the VP External, the External Affairs Committee is responsible for researching and man­ dating SSMU's “foreign policy". They recently leaked intelli­ gence about Concordia having WMDs. Operations Com mittee

With two years left on the Haven Books lease and "that damn bar downstairs" look for the Operations Committee to help Silverstein on the advertising side. Chaired by the

VP FOPS, the Ops committee bears some of the portfolio's burden, and because they're mostly management students, they're the best dressed committee on Council.

Executive Com m ittee

The Executive Committee— comprised ofthe president, five vice-presidents, and the general manager— governs SSMU, in a manner consistent with Council, between Council meetings. Over the summer, the Executive Committee takes full ownership of all Council committees and proceedings.

In addition, the Executive Committee wields considerable influence in council debate. They originally met in the Lev Bukhman Room, but had to move to the much larger Shat­ ner Ballroom in order to accommodate their egos.

O

p in io n C O U N T HER FEET

N O T AJSI&FHÊH S T U D E N T POLITICIAN

A s p irite d criticism o f life a t M cG ill

H a rp e r's h o lid a y cards

RJ K elford

R iva G old

RJKELFORD@GMAIL.COM

YOURCOLUMNISHURTFUL@GMAIL.COM

T

his weekend will be a gong show. I'm talking about the must-attend party of the year where riotous mobs of stu­ dents swarm the streets, holler at innocent bystanders, and wave those giant foam fin­ gers in the face of authority.That's right folks, it's Queen's Homecoming Weekend! Expect burning cars and three nights of debauchery and bad decisions. My only question is: "Why do we have to go to goat-fucking Kingston for a decent homecoming party?"

The annual exodus to this Ontario back­ water shows more than our affinity for dirty bush parties. Symptomatic of McGill's ane­ mic school spirit, homecoming is just anoth­ er example of a much larger problem. Many of us have school spirit. We might even say we love McGill. But at the end of the day, our secret affinity for the red and white remains hidden.

Sometimes it comes out— like when two busloads of students drive down to the McGill-Queen's hockey game. Everyone on the bus (except the driver) is drinking, scream­ ing, cheering, chanting, merrymaking, and saying all the nastiest things we can about Queen's. We wear face paint, design elabo­ rate signage, and don our red and white apparel. And that's just the bus ride. McGill students maintain this level of enthusiasm on the road for three hours each way, and for the 90-minute game. When we arrive, we don't sit down or shut up. The Gaels' arena has a hard time keeping up—even though they outnumber us eight to one. We cheer, we chant, and we dominate their arena. It's a sight to behold.

The problem is that once we're back in Montreal, we take off our crazy hats and put away our funny signs. The McGill apparel stays in our dressers, and we act as if the trip was a fleeting love affair, with only a few tagged photos to remember it by.

School spirit is fun. It helps develop relationships on campus, builds a better learning environment, and lets us celebrate this university. School spirit even helps with

networking and employability, as there's no better way to meet alumni than at McGill events.

Both the Students' Society and the ad­ ministration could do a lot to improve Mc­ Gill's school spirit— but school spirit is left largely up to SSMU. They need to work with the administration to develop homecom­ ing events geared towards current students, and not just alumni. It's too late for any major changes to this year's program, but we can set the wheels in motion for 2009.

Instead of a luncheon that most students can't afford, why not have a free concert on campus? That would make homecoming a celebration for the entire McGill community.

SSMU should also start selling McGill swag at Haven Books. I won't stop mentioning this because it makes too much sense. If the Mc­ Gill Bookstore can't come up with anything more stylish than fleece jackets with the Mc­ Gill logo, SSMU should take over.

SSMU also needs to add a McGill theme to more events and activities. How about a red and white theme night at SnoAP? Frosh was an incredible time for everyone who participated, and showed how to build school spirit and successfully partner with McGill Athletics.

The onus is also on you, the McGill student, to step up. Demand more school spirit on campus. Go on the bus trips. Get a crazy red and white hat. Go to sports games and support our athletes. Use face paint.

It's okay to be proud of our school and our sports teams. Get your friends together and throw a party on homecoming weekend.

The insanity that is coming to Kingston this weekend, while wholly excessive, is entirely student-driven.

So, go to Kingston this weekend and see what it's like. You'll come back thirsting for some of that excitement on our campus.

(Without the flaming cars, of course.) I'm doing what I can to help. There's a party at my place homecoming weekend, and the theme is red and white. ■

S

o I'm totally a Jew.This shouldn't come as a shock, given my name and my constant references to the Hebrew School days of my youth.

I'm also lucky enough to live in a country where I don't feel compelled to hide my reli­ gious identity. I walk around wearing a shirt that reads "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Gefilte Fish," and my latke recipe can make even the most secure Jewish grandparents feel utterly inadequate. I think my experience is a reason­ ably typical one here in Montreal.

That being said, I am really creeped out by the Rosh Hashanah cards my family receives in the mail from Stephen Harper.

For the second year in a row, Stephen, Laureen, Benjamin, and Rachel Harper have made a point of wishing Jews in key ridings a "New Year filled with peace, health, happiness, and posterity." On the other side of the card, there's a portrait of the Harpers beside apples dipped in honey. Below that you'll find the Hebrew phrase"I’ShanahTovah U'Metuka," which trans­ lates roughly to, "Have a good and sweet new year."

I'd like to know how Harper knows the names and addresses of Canada's Jews. Con­ servative officials have said that the list wasn't compiled from government records, and Harp­ er denies using synagogue lists. Many Jews have also reported receiving the cards despite having no formal affiliation with Judaism. This leaves Harper with two potential sources for his list, both of which are pretty sketchy.

The first is that he has Conservative "sym­ pathizers" and "informants" within the commu­ nity who provide information about who they think might be Jewish. Although it's perfectly legal, anyone can see why this would be par­ ticularly disturbing to Jews.

The other, more likely, source is the "yourlast-name-sounds-Jewish" approach: Harper's staff systematically goes through a list of Cana­ dians and identifies the last names that sound promising. This is not only creepy, but also leads to many awkward moments for the poor Catholic Shneiderbergs, who receive mistaken

Rosh Hashanah cards when they just want observe their sacraments in peace.

More importantly, there's a broader issue stake here. Harper doesn't just send these care out to Jews at Rosh Hashanah. He also sen< out Christmas cards and Chinese New Ye cards, which are equally unacceptable. Mask* behind these seemingly innocent greetir cards is a deliberate amalgamation of politic and religious identities. Harper isn't reachir out for broad-based political support— h< engaging in political pandering based on re gious affiliation. That is not okay.

I can hear the cynics already: "So wha this has been done for thousands of years." ( maybe: "It's even worse in America, so let's ju: look down on them smugly while drinking be ter beer."

I'm not going to pretend that what Harpe is doing here is unique. But I do think linkin political strategies to religious identity is pro! lematic, and should be actively opposed.

Suppose, for the sake of a thoroughly C; nadian example, that I'm a duck. Now suppos that we are democratically electing a new hea of the pond. I have an identity as a duck, bi I also share the pond with many other votin creatures, such as fish. If the aquatic candidat wanted to, they could speak and relate to me i quacking, and relate to the fish through som form of bubble-making gestures compreher sible only to fish. But this leaves us without common political discourse, or an identit grounded in shared, pond-related interests, also completely ignores the frog populatior This sounds like a stagnant pond to me.

My column has a word limit, so unfortL nately I'm going to have to end with this sha low pond analogy. But I hope you see my poin Harper's cards aren't innocent or inclusive, an> they're certainly not conducive to a commo political discourse.

If you're unconvinced by my politics qualms and still think Harper's cards were good idea, consider this: election day is also th first day of Sukkot, so observant Jews won't b voting anyway. ■

F O O T IN M O U T H

Eric d isp els a fe w m y th s a b o u t g eeks E ric W eiss ERIC.WEISS@MAIL.MCGILL.CA

'm a geek.

I play Magic: the Gathering. I love Star Wars. I read comic books. I have a weekly Dungeons and Dragons play group.

And as a bona fide geek, I would like to act as an ambassador for my community and dispel a few myths about geeks.

Myth one: geeks are antisocial. Most geeks I know are very sociable. Dungeons and Dragons is best enjoyed with at least four people. When my friends and I play, we order pizza, crack jokes, make fun of each other, and do the things that any group of friends does. The only difference is that we do it in the con­ text of wizards and warlords, which happens to be a shared in­ terest of ours. Similarly, Magic requires two people for a game.

At larger tournaments, it's incredibly easy to meet new people and make new friends. Every time I shuffle up my deck against a new opponent, I know that we already have one thing in common.

Myth two: geeks are cliquish. Geeks live normal lives and often go unnoticed in everyday life. The average geek has an average job and a significant other, and is not readily identifi­ able based on their appearance. We eat at the same restaurants, take the same classes, and go to the same sporting events as everyone else. We enjoy conversing and interacting with other,

frequently non-geeky, people. In fact, there's probably a geek somewhere reading this newspaper, just like you.

Myth three: geeks are childish. The geeks of 40 years ago have grown up and are still geeks today. Adults with respect­ able careers and families flock to Magic tournaments and keep the comic book industry in business. The games we play are intellectually challenging, and today's comic books have ma­ ture literary and philosophical themes. The Dark Knight is not unique in its use of superheroes to address difficult ideas. Just as Mario has evolved into Grand Theft Auto, all things geeky have matured in the last half century.

Myth four: geeks are dangerous. This is the most ridiculous myth. Geeks tend to be intelligent people and are quite ca­ pable of differentiating fantasy from reality. In the same way that Harry Potter is not an avenue into witchcraft, fighting de­ mons in Dungeons and Dragons is not a gateway to Satanism.

As well-adjusted social butterflies (see myths two and three), geeks are not good candidates for destructive or anti-social behavior.

Although these myths are clearly false, some people are unwilling to look beyond the dice and accept that geeks are not freaks. People are often surprised to learn that I am a geek. I

play and follow several sports, and I spend my Saturdays in bar with coeds and beer (and my Sundays hung over). But to somi people, geeks are still the weird kids at the back of the cafeteri; with strange clothing, worn-out copies of Lord of the Rings, anc Captain Kirk on speed dial. I once had a roommate who helc this view. My interest in geeky things lowered her opinion o me. She tried to make me ashamed for daring to read Uncanny X-Men in public, as if it presented a threat to decent society un less kept private.

I don't understand why I should be ashamed of anythinç that makes me happy and fills my life with rich characters, sto ries, images, and ideas. My geekiness is an important part o' who I am and what I do, and to deny it would be to deny e major part of my personality—something I refuse to do. There'; no harm in being yourself.

That, in a roundabout way, brings me to the real point o this column. Everyone should have the ability and the freedorr to publicly express their own personality and identity withoui fear of persecution or intolerance. Your racial, religious, sexual recreational, or other identity doesn't make you dangerous. A; a society, we should embrace this diversity.

So I'll say it loud: I'm a geek and I'm proud. ■

i/ww.mcgilltribune.com

23.09.08 - The McGill Tribune • 9

T r ib u n e www.mcgilltribune.com

E d i t o r - in - C h ie f

Matt Chesser

EDITORIALS

Tuition hypocrisy

editor@mcgilltribune.com M a n a g i n g E d it o r s

Crystal Chan Thomas Quail seniored@imcgilltribune.com P r o d u c t io n M a n a g e r

Samantha Chang production@mcgilltribune.com N e w s E d it o r s

James Gilman Theo Meyer news@mcgilltribune.com O p in i o n E d it o r

Bernard Rudny opinion@mcgilltribune.com F e a t u r e s E d it o r s

Meghna Marjadi Carolyn Yates features@mcgilltribune.com A r t s & E n t e r t a i n m e n t E d it o r s

Carolyn Grégoire Laura Tindal arts@mcgilkribune.com S p o r t s E d it o r

Jacob Kanter sports@mcgilltribune.com P h o t o E d it o r s

Niki Hyde Adam Scotti photo@mcgilltribune.com O n l i n e E d it o r

Kaylea Howarth online@mcgilltribune.com D e s ig n E d it o r s

Femi Kassim Janet McMullen design@mcgilltribune.com C o p y E d it o r

VincciTsui A d v e r t is i n g M a n a g e r

Matt Ward cpm@ssmu.mcgill.ca P u b lis h e r

M

cGill University wants your money— as much of it as possible— and the Quebec government is taking steps to make sure they get it.

After lifting the tuition freeze on Quebec student fees last year, the provincial government has taken gradual steps to shift the fiscal responsi­ bility for universities from the public to the private domain. The latest step in this policy shift came earlier this month, when Minister of Education Mi­ chelle Courchesne announced that tuition fees for international students in six disciplines would be completely deregulated, giving universities the freedom to determine how much international students will pay. While the Tribune opposes complete deregulation of tuition, it does recognize that a Canadian education is still an affordable alternative when compared to international fees in countries like Britain (where international tuition can cost anywhere from $8,000 to $35,000 per year) or the United States.

What we don't understand is the current exemption policy for French citizens, which lets them pay Quebec tuition rates. Quebec has not been a French territory since 1763. Currently, a student from a country halfway around the world pays lower tuition than one from Hawkesbury, Ontario (which sits on the other side of a two mile bridge that straddles the border with Quebec), irrespective of their fluency in French. The Quebec tuition rate is also available to some students from more than 40 other coun­ tires— including Algeria, Burkina Faso, Luxembourg, and Vietnam— under a similar policy. These are just some of the many mysteries of Quebec's bi­ zarre post-colonial relationship with France. These policies make even less sense when applied to Anglophone universities like McGill, where French students don't enjoy the language advantage that they would at a Franco­ phone institution.

The Tribune understands that low tuition rates help attract Frenchspeakers, who contribute to a vibrant and distinctive Francophone culture in Quebec. But to remove the limits on international tuition, which is already almost 15 times higher than Quebec tuition, while continuing to subsidize the education of French citizens is simply unfair. It's brazenly hypocritical to claim that international tuition in Quebec is underpriced, while simultane­ ously claiming that discounted tuition rates are necessary to attract French citizens.

It's time to stop the freeloading. At the very least French citizens should be charged Canadian tuition rates. This would reserve the discounted Que­ bec tuition rate for those who actually deserve it: Quebecers. ■

r

C O R R E C T IO N S

>

In last week's article, "Campus political groups prepare for elec­ tion," NDP McGill Co-President Aleana Young was quoted making a reference to Thomas Mulcair's Outremount by-election win. In fact, she was referring to the cancelled by-election in Westmount— VilleMarie.

Also, in the article "Chancellor Pound praises Beijing Olympics," McGill Chancellor Richard Pound was incorrectly described as a competitor in the 1972 Munich Olympics. Pound competed in the ^ 1960 Rome Olympics. j

M cG ill is tra p p e d in o m b u d s p e rs o n lim b o

I

f all goes well during your time at McGill, you'll never have to deal with the university's ombudsperson. The ombudsperson acts as a third party when students can't resolve a grievance with the administration. They investigate the issue, mediate between both parties, and cut through the red tape. If the regular channels fail, the ombudsperson is your best bet for addressing a grievance.

Why does this matter? Because McGill is in ombudsperson limbo. As of September 1, the interim ombudsperson is Linda Jacobs Starkey. While Starkey is qualified and well-respected, she is also the current associate dean of students. This creates a potential conflict of interest, and calls the ombudsperson's objectivity into question.

The ombudsperson is appointed on the recommendation of a joint Senate and Board of Governors committee, where the administration and students share input. Unfortunately this committee has been unable to meet since last December. When the term of Dr. Norman Miller, the previous ombudsperson, ran out at the end of August, a replacement had not been selected.The administration appointed Jacobs Starkey to the position in the interim.

This wasn't malicious on the administration's part. Without an ombud­ sperson, students would have nowhere to turn in difficult situations. Last year's Students'Society Vice President University Affairs Adrian Angus, and current VP University Affairs Nadya Wilkinson, were both concerned about this possibility. It's good that students haven't been left in the lurch.

That being said, an ombudsperson trades on their reputation for neu­ trality. Because of her role as an associate dean, and her long history with the administration, it's hard for students to believe that Jacobs Starkey is a disinterested party. The Tribune is in no way questioning her qualifications or performance. Our concern is that if students see the ombudsperson as "just another dean," they won't take full advantage of the office. And what happens when students can't trust their last resort?

The administration recognizes this perceived conflict of interest. In an email to the Tribune, Deputy Provost (Student Life and Learning) Morton Mendelson said that "proposed revisions to the policy governing the om­ budsperson for students, which will likely be brought to Senate this aca­ demic year, explicitly state that the ombudsperson should not hold another formal role in the University, except that of professor."The Tribune supports these changes. But Mendelson also said the he doesn't "think that having been an administrator automatically disqualifies someone from being the ombudsperson for students." We beg to differ. Ideally, the ombudsperson should be drawn from outside the McGill administration to emphasize their independence. At the very least, they shouldn't be serving simultaneously as an ombudsperson and an administrator.

The solution to the current problem lies in Jacobs Starkey's title: in te rim ombudsperson. Four weeks is an acceptable interim. Four months is not.

The Tribune would like to see a new ombudsperson appointed before the end of the current semester. We urge the committee responsible to meet as soon as possible, and we urge the administration to expedite the appoint­ ment process. After all, cutting through red tape is what the ombudsperson is all about. ■

O F F THE BO A RD

Miss Manners takes a ride on the metro

Chad Ronalds

C o n t r ib u t o r s

lan Brown, Kyle Carpenter, Laura Daniels, Huge Galdones, Steven Hoffer, Christie Lee, Matt Park, Nancy Pham, Emma Quail, Andrew Seo, Renée Sutton, Michael Tau, Alice Walker, Madeleine Werker, Jason Willems, Trip Yang.

T r ib u n e O ff ic e s

Editorial

Shatner University Centre Suite no, 3480 McTavish Montreal, QC H3 A 1X9 T: 514398.6789 E: info@mcgilltribune.com Advertising

Brown Student Building Suite 1200,3600 McTavish Montreal, QC H3 A 1Y2 T: 514.398.6806 F: 514398.7490

C rystal C han here in Montreal do we rub shoulders the entrance. Observe elevator etiquette and let with life outside McGill more often than the people inside exit first. on public transportation? The metro Know that shopping bags from the under­ system is usually a source of pride for Montreal's ground mall, although you may love their con­ inhabitants, but all decorum seems to vanish tents more than any real human, don't count underground. Call me Victorian, but I think aslife, your friend. They certainly don't deserve an­ as every game, should have rules of conduct. other seat. The same goes for that winter jacket There is a dire need for some handbook, like that dying to take off after coming in from the you're of Miss Manners, to address these problems. I thirty-below weather. It leaves salt, grey slush, want to defend plain old-fashioned decency and utter misery for the seat's next occupant. and spare you my woeful public transportation If you're considerate enough to leave an empty experiences. So here's my list of rules for Mon­ seat, don't make it a challenge for others to sit treal commuters. If you haven't thought of these there. Miss Manners frowns down on those who before, then you need some serious moral assis­ obstinately sit in the aisle seat. And never read tance before you enter the sanctified ground of over your neighbour's shoulder. Once, while I a metro station. was doing the crossword, a neighbour rudely If you've been on the metro during rush decided to copy my answers on a restaurant hour, you'll know that bodily cleanliness is of ut­ napkin. No breeding at all. most importance. Forget excuses like "I haven't A few more words concerning seats: remem­ had time to shower during finals." You should ber what your mother said and offer yours to the dress (and smell) to impress. After all, riding the elderly or disabled. And the pregnant. I've seen a metro means you're on stage for other riders. pregnant woman's water break on the bus. If she At least preserve a presentable exterior— and had been forced to stand, the outcome would no spitting. While we're considering animal be­ have been chaos. haviour, the next time a stampede forms at the Cell phone use and public conversation metro doors, don't narrow your eyes and race for are also popular violations of metro manners. It

W

helps that reception is nil on the metro, but these rules still apply to the bus. This rule isn't as iron clad as the others, however, because of public transportation's role as a people-watcher's para­ dise. We all love a good story— and don't tell me you've never turned down your headphones to eavesdrop inconspicuously. We all know how to pick interesting eavesdropping subjects: avoid teenagers and polo-shirt wearers, and tune into over-tanned vacationers or those washing down an aspirin with their coffee while detailing last night's embarrassments. Unfortunately, the peo­ ple who gossip the loudest rarely have interest­ ing stories. So be a good exhibitionist: if you're going to speak loudly on the metro, make sure your conversation is worthy of eavesdropping.

Montreal's metro system was renovated two years ago. The old lighting was replaced by a system designed to simulate sunlight.The goal was to restore just a little happiness to the metro rider's day by combatting Seasonal Affective Dis­ order in the winter. Montreal may be the first city whose inhabitants can soak up more rays under­ ground than above, but riding the metro could still be more pleasant. As Miss Manners would say, polite people are happy people. ■

rhe McGill Tribune is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the Students'Society of McGill University in collaboration with the Tribune Publication Society. Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the students'Society or McGill University. Letters to the editor may be sent to letters@mcgilltribune.com and must include the contributor's name, program and year and contact information. Letters should be kept under 300 words and sub­ mitted only to the Tribune. Submissions judged by the Tribune Publication Society to be libellous, sexist, racist, homophobic or solely promotional in nature will not be published. The Tribune reserves the right to edit all contributions.

Editorials are decided upon and written by the editorial board. All other opinions are strictly those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the McGill Tribune, its editors or its staff. Please recycle this newspaper.

The McGill Tribune

10 • Opinion- 23.09.08

V O X PO PU L I

Letter to the editor Twilight fans hate Zoe Daniels OMG. You probably read the book with the intent of criticizing it.

Edward is NOT ABUSIVE!!! He's solely protective and loves Bella. Don't you think if you went without love for 100 years that you would be a little overprotective for the one you love???

Gosh. T w ilig h t is the best series ever and don't you ever write a stupid ar­ ticle like this AGAIN. You should be fired because a crappy article like this is NOT going to make you or your edi­ tor money. All it gets you is hate let­ ters. Hope you enjoy that.

—Sam Boa

FO R 5 7 O T H E R SEM I­ LITERATE C O M M E N T S A B O U T Z O E DA NIELS A N D TW ILIG H T, VISIT M C G ILL TR IB U N E.C O M .

O R Y O U C O U L D SE N D A C O H ER EN T , ARTICULATE, A N D IN SIG H TFU L LETTER T O LETTERS@ M C G ILL TR IB U N E.C O M .

T H A T W O U L D BE NICE.

C an a d a's b a llo t is d is a p p o in tin g J ake H

eller

JAKE.HELLER@MAIL.MCGILL.CA

F

or the next month, our so-called leaders will parade around the country selling themselves and their ideas to Canadi­ ans. They will pose for photos, fervently be­ rate their opponents, and propose policy for the next governmental term. Yet in this elec­ tion, like many before it, the images and ide­ als being sold to us have been anything but consistent with reality. In this election, it is clear the once revered institution of demo­ cratic politics has mutated into a two-faced exhibition of opportunism.

Take Prime Minster Harper, for example.

Elected in 2006 on a platform of accountabil­ ity and transparency, he was neither account­ able nor transparent during his tenure, releas­ ing only selected information to the media and getting tangled in numerous back-room scandals.This time around, Harper has built his campaign around two other pillars: first, that he is the best leader amongst the candidates; and second, that Stéphane Dion is the worst.

He is running a campaign that completely skirts the issues, but that presents himself as a caring, piano-playing father. If voters realized that Harper's Conservatives have presided over the longest series of consecutive quar­ terly declines in productivity since 1990, that they have kept us in Afghanistan to see the loss of 100 Canadian lives, and that they have no real environmental policy, they wouldn't stand a chance. Instead, Harper is glad to rely on the Conservative's economic reputation, a dedication to withdrawal by 2011 somehow balanced by a belief that those 100 lives were not lost in vain, and fear mongering over a commitment to protecting the planet. So while you wouldn't catch Harper dead with a beer in his hand for fear of spilling some onto

his "personable" sweater-vest, his attempt to strategically soften his image is an intelligent one. Now Canadians' attention to incompe­ tence and unfriendliness has fallen onto Dion, whose party exemplifies such duplicity.

Indeed, it seemed as though the first criticisms I heard from Dion of the Harper government only came once the election was called. Dion was the official head of the oppo­ sition for almost two years, but seemed only to officially oppose Harper when he had to— when the keys to 24 Sussex Drive were tossed into the pot. Where were he and his Liber­ als in the House of Commons? Where were they when they had a chance to stand up for what they now claim to believe in? Where were they when Harper extended the Afghan mission? Where were they when Harper pro­ nounced Kyoto dead? And where were they when Harper bullied the Senate into passing a bill on crime? Oh, that's right: walking out of Parliament. If they don't want to stay in their seats, so be it.

They missed 43 confidence votes, but now say that we cannot confide in Stephen Harper. It's about time that Liberal MPs began voting not in the interest of their careers but in the interests of the people who elected them.

Yes, they claimed that they didn't want to force an election when Canadians didn't want one, but I would have much preferred to have had an election called on a sincere vote of confidence than to have the govern­ ing party call an election at a time of strate­ gic strength. Of course, there w as legislation passed to oppose that kind of strategic ma­ noeuvring—which brings me to Jack Layton and the NDP.

At one time content to be mentionec merely as an afterthought, Mr. Layton now seems to think that he can be Prime Minister First of all, no Prime Minister other than Rob­ ert Borden has ever worn a moustache—anc Borden was elected in 1911. Secondly, why is it only now, with a weak Liberal party anc an overriding disdain for Harper-conserva­ tism, that Mr. Layton has chosen to make a run at the Prime Minister's Office? If he truly wanted to become Prime Minister, he shoulc have taken more proactive stances in previ ous elections. Now his strategy can be seen as nothing more than a blatant attempt to maximize NDP seats by presenting the party as a legitimate threat. It doesn't help that his speeches continue to turn dire and striking social situations into hollow political rhetoric Lastly, the other parties: while the Greens have at least branched out (forgive the pun) their platform to become more than a one issue party, the one seat that they m a y win (forgive me again) in this election will have come as a direct result of insider political fi­ nagling, not the will of the people. And Gilles Duceppe's play to get Quebec's status as a nation entrenched into the Constitution? (A Constitution that Quebec doesn't even rec­ ognize, mind you.) If that's not a ploy to steal back Conservative votes in Quebec then Bob Rae must be a Liberal. Such a move should have made separatists livid.

So do I know who I'm going to vote for come October 14? No. All I know is that there is far too much politicking going on in poli­ tics, and it's about time that politicians stood for something other than re-election. ■ Ja k e H e lle r is a U 2 h is to ry s tu d e n t.

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FE A T U R E S L a c k o f s tu d e n t kn a c a m p u s

C arolyn Yates

ALLPHOTOSBYNIKI HYDE

McGill Security Services runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.They offer an es­ cort service to anyone who does not feel comfortable walking across campus alone at night, run the STOP program to prevent laptop thefts, and patrol the campus along a route known as "the pipe," using a round-witness system that registers which areas they pass at what times.

They are also responsible for the safety and security of over 40,000 people, no easy task in a location as large as McGill. Managing day-to-day incidents, a network of security technology, and maintaining large-scale emergency pre­ paredness requires a skilled team and the cooperation of students— many of whom barely realize security exists.

"I don't know anything about McGill security procedures,"says Nadia Sayed, U2 accounting."! get the occasional email from them, like when Dawson hap­ pened, but that's all I've ever heard about them."

The daily grind The most common incidents on campus are minor. According to the 20052006 Security Services Annual Report (the most recent report conducted), unsecured areas are a frequent problem and average 346.67 a week. Criminal incidents, which include theft, breaking and entering, harassment, assault, li­ quor law violation, indecent exposure, and arson, among others, average 13.67 a week.

To help prevent incidents, McGill Security Services relies on two primary technologies: the Lenel access cards installed at 95 per cent of buildings' ex­ terior access points, and CCTV cameras, of which there are over 500. Together, they comprise a network of access control and continuous monitoring which stretches over the entire campus.

"We're comfortable with the access control that we have. It's not too many campuses that have 95 per cent of the perimeter doors covered with card ac­ cess," says Pierre Barbarie, associate director of McGill Security. "Cameras are a

se<

deterrent.They're not an answer to all, but they are a tool. ... Obviously, w like a crime-free campus, but thankfully 9 9 .9 per cent of our incidents are crirr against property, not crimes against persons."

Reaching the masses While dealing with smaller incidents is important, emergency prepare ness is essential.

"It's a very key thing that we are ready in the eventuality that [a large-sc. emergency] happens," says Claude Lahaie, associate director of Emerger Measures and Fire Prevention at McGill.

One aspect of emergency preparedness is a mass notification system. IV Gill does not currently have dedicated technology: For now, Security Servie has converted classroom phones, which answer on speakerphone withe being picked up, giving them a means of broadcasting a message. Flowev this solution is not ideal, as there are limits to the number of people who c be reached.

A new communications system to be built into a yet-to-be-installed f alarm network is in development. It will replace the phones as a means broadcasting emergency messages within the next few years.

"These things are going to take time," says Lahaie. "We're not taking fi years, though. The best-case scenario would be 2009" Other potential means of mass notification, seen at institutions such as t University of Windsor and the University of Victoria, include email and text mr saging, but both have drawbacks. With mass email, messages are longer t cause of extra content such as subject headings, and with mass texting, ther a risk that phone companies will see the messages as spam and block the Whether or not students actually pick up the message is also a problem.

"Text messaging is fine, but students are sitting in the classroom; if th phones are off and they don't answer them, they don't look at them, they never going to get that message," says Lahaie.

Knowing what to do and when to do it

Notification is nothing without the ability to take action. Students, facul and staff need to know what to do so that security and the police can be < fective. Being aware of procedures and measures already in place is one of tl most important aspects of security; but many students remain uninformed.

"I'm not really familiar with [emergency] procedures, to be perfectly ho est," says Kristen Hammond, U3 art history. "I know what to do if there's a fire, b I don't know about a bombing."

According to Security Services, this unawareness across the population a problem.

"The issue is, let's do it well the first time, let's make sure that we reach many people as we can. Let's make sure that we've got everything in plac that everybody's been trained, the community knows what to do— that's ve important, because it starts with the community,"says Lahaie.

To that end, Security Services is in the midst of launching a campaign raise awareness about emergency procedures. They have developed par phlets, guidebooks, and posters which explain what to do for a variety events— evacuations, emergencies, fire, suspicious packages, hazardous spil hostile intruders, or bomb threats.

"I've started giving presentations on hostile intruders and now I'm lookir

23.09.08-The McGill Tribune • 13

'ww.mcgilltribune.com

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ar a way to offer them to all students," says Barbarie. "Everything's out there, nough— it's all on our website; procedures are on our website ... training is |oming."

Regardless of student response, getting emergency services into McGill vould be a priority. For more serious incidents, McGill Security would establish i command centre and assist police operations to the best of their ability.

"Their response time is really quick when we need them," says Barbarie. ([Police] Station 20 is further down from us, but they have a lot of vehicles here, pecause you can't get more smack downtown than McGill."

Station 20 Commander Gino Dube echoes that sentiment.

"We have a good relationship between Station 20 and the [McGill] security," he says. "If something happens, security calls 9-1-1—that's the first thing.... If they nave information, if someone told security,'he's got a bomb,'for sure security is going to call m e ... I'm going to advise my police officers to go to the university pnd do the work that we have to do."

End game While all this seems like a strong strategy, many students don't know about Security, or don't think it's enough.

"I don't know too much about it. I've never had any experiences with them. | don't know enough about their training or how many personnel they have to gauge [McGill Security],"says Tamsyn Farr, U3 psychology and IDS. More problematic are the limits on McGill Security's power and the re­ straints that fall on agents as citizens.

"If security wants to know about what's going on, if there is an investiga­ tion about something, they get the chance to call me; but there's not more than phat," says Dube. "They don't let more [information] than ny other citizen."

The coming informalon campaign should help lleviate this unawareness, arbarie remains hopeful hat when student training (begins and operates as a e N5 c ;*••; , EMERG telephone ontinual process, the effects Tan emergency will be initi­ téléphone ated. * * * n-URGENCE "Are we ready for a DawIson-like incident? It's unfor­ **I0*CUP9<» tunate, but we can't put a «OUGHT:p»' r r . : bubble around the campus, 0«*NLIGHT: * (even though we'd love to be able to .... What we can do is Ifocus on educating, on train­ ing, on letting people know what to do," says Barbarie. "It's not something it's possible to avoid, but if you're trained, you're increasing your chanc­ es of staying alive." ■

The blue lights in various places around campus make the emergency phones visible.

SSMU security keeps Shatner safe E v en ts, m o n ito r in g , a n d d a y -to -d a y

th e

g r in d C arolyn Y ates

There are two departments of security at McGill: McGill Security Services, which looks after the whole campus, and SSMU Security, which looks after the students, staff, and tenants in the Shatner building. They also provide event security and monitor a series of surveillance cameras on a daily basis.

"They're really helpful in terms of maintaining the area, but other than that I don't deal with them very much," says Stephanie Shum, executive director of Players'Theatre. "They're really good at perimeters. We had an event in the Ballroom and so we had to have security guards, and while they were good at making sure people stayed out if they were too drunk, after one o'clock, there was no leeway for anything. We were cleaning up, but they were really rush­ ing us, and it became an ordeal... It got a little harsh, but I guess it was what needed to be done."

Emergency situations are just as much a concern for SSMU Security as they are for campus security. Working with Pauline Gervais, SSMU general manager, SSMU Security developed an emergency plan for Shatner.

"This plan outlines various situations which could affect the SSMU and its building," says Sealy.

In the event of an emergency, SSMU Security would work with McGill Se­ curity, McGill WalkSafe, and McGill First Aid. "This cooperative effort has been in place for about two to three years now," says Wallace Sealy, security supervisor of SSMU Security. "[We're] commit­ ted to providing a complete safety solution for students."

Sealy feels confident that students appreciate what he does.

"I get the strong feeling that students appreciate what we have been doing for the past four years," says Sealy.“Safety at student events has been improved, due not only to increased safety awareness, but also to a more effective means of communication which we worked hard on establishing ... I think the most important message to get across to students is that SSMU Security is a service provided to and for them." ■

S

L iv in g Get out before the snow falls

t u d e n t

TRAVEL

§ 1*1 i

O u td o o r e x c u r s io n s

in M o n t r e a l

M eghna Marjadi m cgillSTAG E Party

When: Wed. Sept. 24,7-10 p.m.

Where: Players'Theatre (3rd floor Shatner) mcgillSTAGE (campus-wide student theatre group) is excited to bring you their first ever meet and greet— mingle with executives, di­ rectors, and fellow artists and learn about all the different theatres on campus as well as how to get involved.

—

iiiils#r___________ G lobal Food Security Conference

When: Wed. Sept. 24 (free lecture on Mansfield Park); Sept. 25-26 Where: Mansfield Park (Wed. lecture); New Rez (Thurs. and Fri.) The conference will address the ramifica­ tions sky-rocketing food prices have on the developed and developing world, and act as a forum for experts to discuss the state of the international economy.

________________________ V -D a y McGill's Benefit Concert

When:Thurs. Sept. 25,8 p.m.

Where: Le Cagibi, 5490 St. Laurent V-Day McGill will kick off its year with our an­ nual benefit concert featuring amazing local talent. All funds raised will go to local charities that help fight gender-based violence.

A d v e rtis e y o u r e v e n t in c a m p u s c a le n d a r.

S e n d th e n a m e , d a te , lo c a tio n , a n d o th e r in fo to fe a tu re s @ m c g illtrib u n e .c o m .

Right now the sun is shining, school work hasn't quite hit anyone yet, and boots are not required to leave the house.

Soon enough, leaves will be falling, birds will be leaving, and the long grey winter will set in. Before retiring to indoor enjoy­ ments for the year enjoy these natural parks, all reachable by public transit.

spaces for rollerblading, walking, biking, and picnicking. There is even a playground. 20,000 trees grow on the 97 hectare park If you like birds, look for woodpeckers at this park, namely the Downy woodpecker and the Hairy woodpecker.

M etro: Take the green line to Angrignon. Then take the 113 or 110 bus west. Get off at the intersection of des Trinitaires and Jogue.

Price: Free Hours: Sunrise to sunset

Ja rry Park

Just above Mont Royal Park, this is the place to go if you want to do work outdoors, or have been too lazy to get your Internet hooked up. Equipped with Wifi, Jarry Park also offers 10 km of walking trails and sports fields for every sport you can think of, from soccer to cricket.

M etro: Go to Montmorency metro station and take the 193 west from there, getting off at Jarry and de l'Esplanade. Or take the 55 bus up St. Laurent, then get off at Jarry.

Price: Free Hours: Universal access Le 'lle -de -la-visita tio n Nature Park

Though a bit far away, this park offers guided historical train rides ($4 for students), and the Des Moulins outdoor bar and bistro. The Iceland Gull, which migrates through Montreal en-route to the Arctic, has been seen from this park. Rent bin­ oculars to get a real bird-watching experience.

M etro: Go to the Henri-Bourassa Métro station. From there take the 69 bus east to de Lille St. At Gouin Boulevard, turn right.

Price: Free Hours: Universal access A n g rig n o n Park

Described as a classic British park, Angrignon Park offers

Th e Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Gardens is not a public park, but it houses many different plants from all over the world.

Throughout the fall, the gardens exhibit a Chinese lantern festival and pumpkin ball. A truly beautiful display of paper lanterns, the Chinese lantern festival is set to a different theme every year, this year's being 'A thousand and one stars.' Seven hundred traditional lanterns will be accompanied by larger Ian terns that display aspects of Chinese performance arts, such as acrobats, jugglers, and opera singers.Traditional Chinese music will be played at this year's festival.

The lantern festival occurs from Sept. 9 to Oct. 31. Between Oct. 3 and Oct. 31 decorated pumpkins are displayed in the Bo­ tanical Garden greenhouse during 'The Great Pumpkin Ball.'

These are not ordinary jack-o-lanterns and are definitely worth a peek.

Get your money's worth by visiting the gardens when the festival and ball overlap. Be sure to get there early or purchase tickets in advance; the gardens are open until 9 p.m. but after 6 p.m. the ticket line is extremely long and chances are you won't get in.

M etro: Pie-IX Price: $12.00 for students Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. until Oct. 31 ■

LEADERSHIP T R A IN IN G PR O G R AM

Y O U R SPA C E Send pissed off, hilarious, or observant individuals submissions on any topic from Overheard-at-McGill-style eavesdropping to smoking legislation to cat litter. Email features@mcgilltribune.com max. 100 word sub­ missions with your name, email and phone number. Names may be withheld from sub­ mission upon request.

W ANNA WRITE FOR FEATURES? EMAIL FEATURES@MCGILLTRIBUNE.COM TO GET STARTED.

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Feel like a member of CSIS Laura Daniels The FlashlightDVR by Swann Security combines a heavy-duty flashlight with photo and video re­ cording for night or day use. It fea­ tures weather-resistant aluminum construction, 128MB of built-in memory, and support for mini-SD cards of up to 2GB. It can be used at three levels of brightness and infrared sensors provide night vi­ sion for the camera up to four me­ tres (13 ft) away.

Suggested uses include dis­ creet security, camping, fishing, and unexpected James Bond mo­ ments. ■

Rx for Teams & Team Leaders T u e s d a y , S e p te m b e r 2 3 , 5 : 3 0 - 7 : 3 0 pm H avin g d ifficu lty within yo ur te am ? This w orksho p w ill help you b e tte r und erstand a n d d ia g n o se te am d yn am ic c h a lle n g e s, an d p ro vid e useful tools an d la n g u a g e on reso lving te a m -b a s e d conflicts.

Budgeting, Sponsorhip & Fundraising - Earning and Managing the Big Bucks Thursday, October 2 ,5:30-7:30pm W o n d e rin g w h e re you can go to get funding on cam pus?

O f f cam pus? Find out w h e re the big bucks a r e and how to g e t them b e fo re other p e o p le do!

R e g is tra tio n fo r w o r k s h o p s : In p erso n, one w e e k in a d v a n c e , on a first-com e, first-se rv e d b a sis, in the F irst-Y e a r

SWANNSECURITY Th e Swann Security Flashlight includes everything you need for a James Bond m o m e n t— clandestine recording, dram atic bright light, and a shiny exterior.

O ffic e .

For m ore info, d ro p by the F irs t- Y e a r O ffic e in the B ro w n B u ild in g , S u ite 2 1 0 0 , or c a ll 5 1 4 - 3 9 8 - 6 9 1 3

23.09.08 • The McGill Tribune • 15

M IN D F U N K

C A SH A N D CAREERS

Building good credit The art of doing nothing

T e st s c o r e s tn a t m a tte r

p o s t-g r a d

F emi kassim Even though many students are convinced they will never need a car, house, or any other large ticket item that may fuel the corporate machine, very unscientific polling suggests the time between graduation and panicking about credit is about five minutes. If you've read a newspaper in, say, the past year and a half, you probably know that the days of American mortgage brokers giving loans to anyone with a pulse are history. So be prepared!

M e d ita tio n , p art o n e

o f t w o

M eghna M arjadi Every health magazine you see is keen to recite the benefits of meditation, which range from decreased risk of heart disease to increased happiness. Mediation is used in the treat­ ment of depression, anxiety, and even cancer. Practicing meditation seems to have endless benefits, and even changes the way the brain works. What can 20 minutes a day do for you?

Siesta o r serenity?

.

W hat is a credit score?

Your FICO (named after the Fair Isaac Corporation) score is a numerical interpretation of your credit worthiness. Since current income is often not an appropriate barometer, it is supposed to be a tool for lenders to evaluate potential borrowers'abilities to pay back loans in the future. Whether you are granted a loan, a mortgage, or a car lease often depends on this score. It ranges from 300 (worst) to 900 (best.)

You can check your score via one of the three credit reporting services in Canada: Equi­ fax, TransUnion, and the North Credit Bureau. Equifax is the most popular. They have a rea­ sonably priced service, called ScorePower, which provides your credit report including your FICO score for $23.95, and you can access the report for 30 days. Equifax also offers a yearround monitoring service that will alert you to any sudden changes in your credit score or other potential problems such as suspected identity theft.

After a night out and an early morning, it seems the best thing to do at around two in the afternoon is take a nap. But napping may not be the best choice. In a University of Kentucky study from 2003, subjects who meditated for 40 minutes before completing a task were better able to concentrate than subjects who used the time to sleep.

Meditation not only improves concentration more effectively than power naps, it can also help insomniacs get quality shut eye. Sleeplessness is often caused by stress, and meditation aids in reducing stress by forcing participants to move their focus away from everyday tribula­ tions and towards their immediate surroundings. A clear mind often leads to less tossing and turning.

Benefits of reducing stress are countless, and include decreased blood pressure, increased brain power, a sense of well-being, and more. Patients with depression and anxiety are often directed to meditation as a supplement to their treatment plans.

H o w do I im p ro ve m y score?

To the left, to the left

While not having to rely on credit at all throughout your college years may sound like the best way to demonstrate your ability to support your own expenses, it's almost impos­ sible, and not even ideal. Most scoring models require several months of a credit history to generate a score. Getting approved is just as difficult with no credit score as it is with a 300, if not worse. Luckily for students, you will probably have plenty of chances to build a history.

Here are some tips: Pay y o u r bills on tim e: This might significantly determine your credit score. However, paying your telecommunications giant of choice a few days late won't crush you.

G e t a credit card: Most banks offer student cards with extremely low rates and no year­ ly fee. You will have a fairly low limit as well— perfect for the froshie who may be tempted to make one too many SAQ runs when they realize they have "free" money. Make a few pur­ chases on it, and pay down the full balance each month. It should be a stand in for your debit card or cash, not an additional source of spending.

D o n 't get any m ore credit cards: Recent applications for new credit are taken into ac­ count in your FICO score.

Post gra dua tion, d o n 't forget yo u r student loans: While the low interest rates on government sponsored loans may be tempting enough to ignore, this will likely be the lon­ gest term debt repayment you will have on your record until you secure a mortgage.*

The effect of meditation on the left cerebral cortex is key to stress reduction. A study done

by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn of the University of Massachusetts Medical School investigates how meditation deters stress. According to the study, whose subjects were stressed-out employ­ ees, meditators use their brains differently than non-meditators. Subjects were broken into two groups, one of which participated in meditation lessons for eight weeks while the other was left alone. Following the eight weeks of meditation, Kabat-Zinn found the meditators dis­ played increased stimulation in their left frontal lobe, rather than the right. They were happier and less stressed. As an aside, the amygdala, involved in emotions such as fear, was less active in meditators than non-meditators.

Shifting brain activity to the left frontal lobe my also be linked to increased resistance to common sicknesses, like the flu. A study done by Kabat-Zinn and Dr. Richard J. Davidson of the University of Wisconsin in 2003 shows that certain forms of meditation may also strengthen the immune system. In the study, flu shots were given to subjects who did not meditate and to subjects who followed daily meditation. The latter produced more antibodies, and therefore had stronger immune systems. Increased production of antibodies was credited to increased left-brain function.* I f y o u w a n t to try to w o rk s o m e c h a n tin g a n d m in d fu l b re a th in g in to y o u r lifestyle, ch eck o u t P a r t II o f this c o lu m n n e x t w ee k.

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Montréal Wednesday 24 September

Q u e e n s ,A m e r i c a n U n iv e r s ity o f P a r is - AU P, C o n c o r d ia , S h e r b r o o k e 17h - 20h 1201 Boulevard Rene-Levesque W. Finance Accounting M anagem ent Economics (FAME) | Science Technology Engineering Mathem atics (STEM) International Affairs | Communications | A dm inistration | Law | Bio Sciences | Education | Psychology | Languages

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A r ts & E n t e r t a in m e n t All tomorrow's parties: Warhol fever hits Montreal P a rties, p o p

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s y n c t o g e t h e r

in t r i b u t e s t o

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cu ltu ra l

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C arolyn G régoire

around them. It's really a part of this experi­ ence," explains King.

The undisputed "King of Pop Art" Andy Warhol summed up his philoso­ phy on music and the notion of celeb­ rity when he famously stated, "To tell the truth, I don't really like music— I like the people who make it." Now the man who produced Velvet Under­ ground albums in his factory studio and coined the phrase "15 minutes of fame" is taking the Montreal art scene by storm.

Andy Warhol's 1968 Silver Factory inspired Velvet Underground guitar­ ist and singer-songwriter Lou Reed to write:"New York City is the place where they said, 'Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side'""Walk on the Wild Side'"s lyrics express the-glamorous, drug-in­ duced factory lifestyle and the indi­ viduals—both art-scene insiders and "Warhol Superstars"— who worked and played in the factory, creating art, music, films, and of course, parties.

Forty years later, New York City comes to Montreal with Factory Proj­ ect, a fusion of the artistic atmosphere of 20th century pop art and contem­ porary Canadian art. The interactive multimedia production is housed in a Mile End loft that's been infiltrated by local artists to recreate the ambience of Andy Warhol's fac­ tory with a modern and decidedly Montreal twist.

"We're recreating the spirit of the factory in the 60s, but it's really contemporary... We're reflecting on what it was and what it means to us today as artists. That's the underly­ ing springboard for creation," says David King, curator of Fac­ tory Project and artistic director of Out Productions, a Quebec queer theatre company. Out Productions collaborated with Studio 303 and a slew of up-and-coming Canadian artists to make the project possible.

Located at Eastern Bloc on Clark and Jean-Talon, the industrial-chic factory features live performances, a full bar, and an interactive maze of installations which encourages audi­ ence members to become a part of the art.

"Eastern Bloc was really ideal for us as a space," says King.

"It sets the framework to do whatever you want. It's a play zone, and that's so much what the factory was ... The audi­ ence isjust as much a part of this as the artist."

Factory Project pays tribute not only to one of the most iconic figures of the 20th century, but also to the artists, bohe­

mians, intellectuals, and celebrities who inspired his creations and took part in the glamour and decadence of the factory lifestyle.

"It's really focussed on the collaborators that Andy Warhol worked with and how those people inspired us, as opposed to Warhol, because they were really the essence of the move­ ment," says King. "That's the spirit that we're trying to evoke with this production."

Just as Warhol's factory in the 60s acted simultaneously as an art studio, party space, film studio, and practice space for the Velvet Underground, the new exhibition at Eastern Bloc captures the same interdisciplinary approach to artistic creation. Like the original factory, the collective energy of the artists creates a place where art and life not only coexist, but are intrinsically intertwined.

"I hope that the audience will be able to interact with these new creations and offer feedback to the artist as they grow and develop these, because they're never finished, and the factory was never finished. It was a place where you could drop by, interact, party, meet people, do art. ... I'm hoping the audience will see that element of freedom, the creation

The new factory also recreates the feeling of overstimulation that Warhol championed. While different stereos si­ multaneously playing Bach and rock 'n' roll were a staple of the Silver Factory, au­ dience members at Factory Project play Grand Theft Auto projected onto a giant screen while.the upbeat rhythm of Modest Mouse drifts over the bar.

Diehard Warhol fans may be disap­ pointed, as the production is more of a lounge for artists than a tribute to Warhol himself. But with its full-service bar and Rockstar Station, the Factory is ideal as an artsy hangout, a place to absorb the creative ambience while mingling with up-and-coming artists and members of the Montreal art crowd. Plastic-wrapped furniture scattered across the loft makes a perfect place to sit and talk art either dur­ ing the two hours of installations and per­ formances or at the factory after-parties.

To learn about the artist and view his works, Warhol aficionados will be better served to check out "Warhol Live," a new exhibit at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts which explores for the first time the role of music and dance in both Warhol's most iconic and lesser-known works. The exhibit features some 640 of Warhol's creations, from paintings and album covers to installations and films. The exhibition rooms are or­ chestrated around four major themes: Tuning In, Sound and Vi­ sion, Producer, and Fame.

Like Factory Project, Warhol Live also takes a multidisci­ plinary approach, creating a synthesis of visual and auditory pleasure. Music from different eras of Warhol's life, from the show tunes of his childhood to the disco beats of Studio 54, guides visitors through the exhibit.

While the Silver Factory was infamous for its colourful art crowd and legendary parties, Warhol himself was famed for pioneering pop art and remolding social definitions of the art­ ist. In true Warhol style, go to Factory Project for the party and Warhol Live for the art. ■ F a c to r y Pro je ct is o p e n select e ve n in g s u n til S e p t. 27 a t E a s t­ e rn B loc a n d W a rh o l Liv e w ill b e e x h ib ite d a t th e M o n tr e a l Mu­ s eu m o f F in e A rts fro m S e p t. 2 8 to J a n . 18.

P O P RHETORIC

I pledge allegiance to the Dude R enée S utton

A

t any given point some asshole might decide to pee on your rug, but what can you do? The absurdities in life are unavoidable. My best advice is to pop in a T h e B ig Le b o w s k i DVD and take it easy. For those who have yet to see this movie, shame on you; put the paper down immediately and run to the nearest video store. I urge the rest of you to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of this Coen Brothers masterpiece, no doubt one of the best films of our times. I hope that many of you will join me in my salute to a glorious decade of T h e B ig Le b o w s k i.

It took a few years before anyone began to reveal them­ selves as Lebowski fanatics, but these confessions pioneered a serious chain reaction, as lovers of the Dude emerged from all over. I remember my first shared Le b o w s k i experience. I simply said, "That's fucking interesting man, that's fucking interesting," and for once, somebody knew what I was quot­ ing. That's how the inevitable eruption begins: the recogni­ tion of a random line from the film. Over the years, Le b o w s k i has accumulated a die-hard cult following and various fes­

tivals and conventions have spread throughout America.

In no time the members have multiplied from hundreds to thousands, some claiming to want their ashes placed in a Folgers jar after death. Le b o w s k i fans are dedicated to a de­ gree that puts any Trekkie to shame. While I may get killed for this remark, I say fuck the Trekkies. There is now only one worthy cult, a cult in which we worship his Dudeness, or el Duderino if you're into the whole multilingual thing.

Of course we can't forget the Dude's best friend Walter, whose violent behavior and aggressive reactions keep the plot in motion. He is said to represent the ultimate Neocon, whose character helps in outlining some of the subtle politi­ cal undertones in the plot. Taking place under the reign of Bush Sr. during the Gulf War, the story portrays incredible parallels to our current situation. Walter andthe Dude find themselves in an environment that israndom, incomprehen­ sible, but at the same time all-too familiar. Though certainly enigmatic, the Dude is ultimately a man we relate to, and at times it seems like we're right there with him. He is truly

doing his best, and really, how can we question the heroism in that? We can't help but root for the man who rejects soci­ etal conventions while maintaining such a pacifistic attitude towards life. This is a man who tolerates his friend's Vietnam rants, who helps his lady-friend conceive, who gives his last few dollars to a bunch of nihilists, and who still finds time to practice for a bowling tournament. Despite such a marvel­ ously twisted plot, Le b o w s k i reminds us all that life goes on, man, and sometimes we just have to forget about it. In the end the Dude just wanted his rug back, because it really tied the room together.

Before you all become consumed in student neuroses, you should take one evening off, call up a buddy and say: "Fuck it dude, let's go bowling." Make yourselves a White Russian, maybe do a J, kick back in your favorite pair of jelly sandals, and watch T h e B ig Le b o w s k i from start to finish. Let us pay our respects to the man whom we've relied on for a decade to take'er easy for all of us. We know that the Dude lives on, and I take comfort in that.*

23.09.08 • The McGill Tribune • 17

www.mcgilltribune.com

M U SIC

Grace Potter casts a spell with her folk w izardry N e w

a l b u m

T h is

is

S o m

e w h e r e

s o o n

p l a y i n g

e v e r y w h e r e

S teven H offer Whether she's belting out lyrics in a small club or sending sweet chords up the side of a mountain on a clear festival af­ ternoon, Grace Potter will make you turn your head and listen.

With their high-powered blues rock anthems, Potter and her band The Nocturnals have risen in status from house band to highly sought after act on stages as large as Bonnaroo and the Newport Folk Festival.

Despite the close proximity of Quebec to her hometown of Burlington, Vermont, Potter and the Nocturnals have sel­ dom performed in Montreal, aside from a 2006 set at Osheaga and a 2007 opening slot for Gov't Mule.

"It's been pretty rare to get up and actually pull off a show in Montreal, so I'm pretty excited," says Potter, who is enthu­ siastic about performing in cities outside of the regular U.S. touring circuit.

Along with an uncanny ability to command the attention of her audience, Potter brings to the table a boundless knowl­ edge of the rock legends that have preceded her.This is made apparent in the title of her latest album This is Somewhere, a reference to Neil Young's Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, and in her bluesy, old-rock sound.

While Grace certainly commands the spotlight, she is quick to give overwhelming due credit to her band. The Noc­ turnals, featuring guitarist Scott Tournet, drummer Matt Burr,

COULD BE G O O D

B3 electric organ.

"The band actually suggested it. They said 'You know Grace, you've got this loud voice and you've got this little sound that's becoming your sound. Why don't you play a loud­ er keyboard, your piano just tinkles along.' And they surprised me on my birthday and got me a Hammond B3."

Potter and company have never looked back, perfecting the soul stirring melodies and uplifting ballads that now char­ acterize their live performances.

As for the highs and lows of a full touring schedule, over four years together the band has experienced a continually growing sense of gazing up at the top of the music scene, which keeps Potter and the Nocturnals grounded and hum­ bled, even amongst the glitz of the music industry.

"There is a sense of an imminent success that we have not had yet. We all have to carpool up to Burlington and can't pay for a dog sitter so the dogs come on the road, but there is a sense that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and the amount of energy and support that we get from our fans, and new fans, and people who don't even know us and are just interested and ready to make those connections, it really fuels us ... it's very rewarding when it does pay off."B

and bass guitarist Bryan Dondero, have been with Potter since the project began in 2004 and are largely responsible for one of the most notable aspects of Potter's sound, the Hammond

GRACEPOTTER.COM G ra c e P o tte r a n d th e N o c tu rn a ls w ill b e p e rfo rm in g a t C a fé C a m p u s o n S e p t. 28.

Grace Potter tells it on a m ountain.

TECHNICAL & COMMERCIAL GRADUATES W h atever new technology the future holds, w e 'll need plenty of energy to po w er it.

A t Shell w e 're w orkin g on all sorts of id e as to meet the gro w ing dem and. A nd w e need am bitious graduates to help us tackle the ch alleng e, jo in a co m p any that values diversity, and gives you training, support and c a re e r cho ices to develop your potential. Surround yourself with some o f our most accom plished problem solvers.

A nd together w e can help build a responsible energ y future. Think further.

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Shell is an equal opportunity employer.

Tuesday: Music. M ogw ai. Metropolis. Post­ rock pioneers from Glasglow bring their lyricfree alt-rock sound to Montreal. You'll want to sing along anyway. The synth-friendly Fuck But­ tons open.

Wednesday: Film. M o n t y P y t h o n 's T h e Cinema du Parc. Monty Py­ thon's final full-length movie. A classic series of skits that is guaranteed to contain something to offend everybody. Includes the children's singalong "Every Sperm is Sacred."

M e a n in g o f L ife .

Thursday: Performance. Blue M an Group.

Bell Centre. Not a group for depressed men, as the name may lead you to believe. Go see mute, bald men painted blue play crazy instruments.

Chuckle at the fact that they recently blue them­ selves.

Friday: Art. W arhol Live. Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Rock out to The Velvet Underground and the disco beats of Studio 54 as you explore the role of music and visual art collaborate in an exhibition of the Pop Art King's legendary and lesser-known works.

Saturday: Music. Jo hn Allaire. St. Ambroise Centre. Rootsy Canadian rocker who has recently opened for the Black Crowes comes to Montreal to play his acoustic blues with Bill Toms, guitarist for Bruce Springsteen. If you want to see how the pros play good music, check this show out.

Sunday: Music. Piknic Electronique. Parc Jean-Drapeau. It's your last chance to catch this Sunday-afternoon Montreal ritual of an outdoor dance party featuring the city's best electronic and house music. Bring beer and celebrate the

The McGill Tribune

18 • Arts & Entertainment • 23.09.08

OPERA

Gunfights and bar brawls at the Montreal Opera P u c c in i's t a le

o f t h e

w ild

Emma Q uail La Fanciulla del West ("Girl of the Golden West"), set in 19th century California, is unquestionably Puccini's Western master­ piece. Differing stylistically from Puccini's other operas such as La Bohème and Madame Butterfly, La Fanciulla is chock-full of American influence: fanfares, gunshots, and snares. La Fanciul­ la is comprised of three acts and is based on the play by David Belasco. It's the tale of Minnie the barmaid who is searching for true love. She falls for the dreamy bandit Dick Johnson, but is sought after by the Sheriff Jack Ranee. The steamy love tri­ angle portrays social ideals of love and hope in the old west.

The opera was received enthusiastically at its premiere at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1910. Due to stylistic dif­ ferences such as the happy ending and the villain as a tenor, La Fanciulla never gained as much mainstream popularity as Puccini's other mature operas, but was nonetheless widely ap­ preciated.

The Montreal Opera starts off its 2008-2009 season with La Fanciulla del West under the stage and set direction of AmericanThaddeus Strassberger.The three sets are beautifully made and succeed in transporting the audience straight back to the gold rush. The combination of well-executed sets and Aaron Black's amazing lighting creates a rustic atmosphere full of reds and oranges which perfectly embodies the California setting.

Keri-Lynn Wilson conducts The Metropolitan Orchestra of Greater Montreal and the Montreal Opera Chorus. She pro­ cures a vivacious energy and lyrical sound from the orchestra

w e s t

k ic k s o f f 2 0 0 8 - 2 0 0 9

s e a s o n

while still obtaining a clear and well-defined articulation that is maintained throughout the three acts.

L a F a n c iu lla features more dialogue than Puccini's traditional operas and most of it takes place in the first act. Maybe due to the abun­ dance of dialogue, the opera does not start off with much momentum or flow. The first act is not particularly well-balanced because the male chorus seems to overpower the or­ chestra. Soprano Irina Rindzuner plays the character of Minnie. In the first act, Rindzuner is quite harsh and doesn't seem to fit her role.

Although it has a rocky start, the opera picks up after the first act with some very beautiful moments between Minnie and tenor Julian Gavin in the role of Dick Johnson. Jack Ranee, the sheriff, is played by Luis Ledesma, who acts and sings the part expertly throughout the performance. The opera ends on a strong note, with a beautiful balance between or­ chestra and chorus.

Definitely worth a look, L a Fa n c iu lla is a great introductory production for those unfamiliar with opera. Accessible and enter­ taining, Puccini's American love story does well in the hands of the Montreal Opera.* La Fanciulla del West p la y s S e p t. 2 4 ,2 7 ,2 9 , a n d O c t. 2 a t Place des A rts .

W A N T T O BE TH E NEXT GR EA T RO CK JO U R N A L IST ?

W RITE FO R A&E. M EETIN G S EVERY M O N D A Y A T 5 :3 0 AT G ERT'S

Love in the tim e of saloons.

ALICEWALKER

FILM

FO N C T IO N

Disharm ony in Ste. Harmonie A n o t h e r h o r r o r f i l m in a c o r n f i e l d Carolyn Yates

CAM PAG NE ANNUELLE DE RECRUTEM ENT UNIVERSITAIRE - A U TO M N E 2 0 0 8 U n e carriè re à la m esure d e vos a m b itio n s !

Vous terminez vos études universitaires d'ici août 2 0 0 9 ? Vous êtes titulaire d'un diplôme d'études universitaires et vous étudiez toujours à temps plein ? Vous cherchez un emploi stimulant en lien avec votre domaine d'études et vous voulez relever des défis ? Ne manquez pas la campagne de recrutement universitaire de la fonction publique québécoise qui se déroule du 1 5 septembre au 1 0 octobre 2 0 0 8 .

En plus d'offrir des emplois intéressants, le gouvernem ent du Québec propose des conditions de travail concurrentielles, un am énagement souple du temps de travail et des activités de formation.

Un emploi dans la fonction publique, c'est aussi la possibilité de travailler dans différents secteurs, dans différents ministères et organismes ou même dans différentes régions du Québec !

Venez rencontrer l'équipe de Recrutement étudiant Québec :

25 septem bre 2008

Centre Mont-Royal, d e l O h à l â h Journée carrière - M anagement Career Fair 2008 Pour plus de détails, consultez le site Internet

[www.recrutementquebec.gouv.qc.ca] ou renseignez-vous auprès du service de placement de votre établissement.

On vous attend... à bientôt !

Combining sweeping cornfields with blood and mystery, The Descendant cleverly combines culture with suspense in a way that is both disturbing and thought-provoking. Although not very well put together, it engages the au­ dience as it slowly reveals a shocking family secret set within Quebec's own little-known dark history.

One year after the death of his mother, James Duke (Tadhg MacMahon) returns to the town and family his mother had abandoned, in search of both her final resting place and answers to a mysterious family history. In Ste. Har­ monie he stays at his estranged grandparents'dilapidated farmhouse, where he begins to uncover a plethora of disturbing photos, bones, and a symbolically-significant patchwork quilt—all the while contending with the locals, who demonstrate their favourable opinion of outsiders by timing their corpo­ ral punishment to recitations of Emily Dickinson's"! felt a funeral in my brain."

What he finds allows him to finally put generations of ghosts and grievances to rest.

The first feature film from Montreal director Philippe Spurrell, The De­ scendant was in development for five years and received only minimal fund­ ing—something which unfortunately reveals itself in the film's composition.

The film opens with contrived dialogue, awkward sound quality, as well as a forced and rather trite premise, but only improves from there. Spurrell finally hits his stride about 30 wince-filled minutes in, after which The Descendant loses the sound and shots of Yet Another Low-Budget Film and starts actu­ ally going somewhere. Sound which began as forced and low-quality begins to incorporate background noise and springs from mediocre to big-screenworthy.

The most entertaining aspects of The Descendant are those which are likely unintentional. Dramatic shots of cornfields, slack-jawed sulking locals, and the town Woman of Questionable Virtue all seem to be signals of rural divide. The crazy-man-with-the-axe motif also makes an appearance, in the form of James's grandfather.

The Descendant is, without a doubt, a low-budget film. However, it has several redeeming qualities, including an ending that is both interesting and horrifying enough to warrant a watch. If old-school gramophones, ghosts, and dramatic shots of corn are your thing, be sure to check it o ut.* The Descendant is p la y in g a t C in e m a d u Pa rc S e p t. 2 6 to O c t. 2.

23.09.08 • The McGill Tribune • 19

www.mcgilltribune.com

Reviews

THEATRE

Ian Kelly. S p e a k Y o u r M in d . Montreal native Ian Kelly's second album, S p e a k Y o u r M in d , is a warm blend of folk, rock, and pop that will keep your finger on the repeat button.

The first single and standout track is "Wiser Man," a catchy song that employs a range of instruments from acoustic guitar to vio­ lin. This trend is not restricted to one song, however. Kelly incorporates a multitude of uncommon instruments throughout the album, including his own electronic effects. Another notable track is "La Terre," which changes pace from a quiet ballad into an intricate and upbeat song that could have easily been from Coldplay's X & Y . Kelly's songs have a subtle complexity to them, which gives them an edge over many of the folk and acoustic songs heard today. If you think that Jack Johnson is for middle-aged women and romantic comedies, then Ian Kelly is the best alternative for you.

— Kyle C a rp e n te r

Bison B.C. Q u ie t E a r th . Vancouver's Bison

B.C. are set to release their second album (but their first under the name Bison B.C.) entitled Q u ie t E a r th on September 30.

Skatepunk fans may remember Bison's guitarist James Farwell from the band S.T.R.E.E.T.S. (Skateboarding Totally Rules Everything Else Totally Sucks), though he has shifted his focus to what is now an undeniably a metal album. Q u ie t E a r th contains a variety of songs ranging from slow and boring to fast and repetitious. While songs like "Medication" stand out for being a re­ freshing mix of classic and contemporary metal, others like the Black Sabbath-wannabe"Wendingo Pt.T'simply do not make the grade.The album tries to be everything at once, which results in an overcrowded feeling characterizing some of its songs. Unfortunately, metal fans may be let down by this lacklustre compilation of overachieving but underwhelming tracks. After hearing this album, you'll likely want the Earth to be quiet again.

More deception and drama than D

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Dangerous Liaisons aims t o shock, but seethrough costumes can only do so much M

a d e l e in e w erker

The cast of D a n g e ro u s Lia is o n s performed on Sat­ urday night to a packed house at the Leanor and Alvin Segal Theatre. The play, written by Christopher Hamp­ ton, is an adaptation of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos's clas­ sic 18th century novel, Les Lia iso n s D a n g e re u s e s .

The classic story of love and deceit has been adapt­ ed many times, and now it is the acclaimed Siberian di­ rector Alexandre Marine's turn to share his vision with the city of Montreal. The cast of 16, consisting mostly of Montrealers, does an incredible job of bringing to life the scandalous story and showing how timeless its themes of passion and betrayal really are.

— Kyle C a rp e n te r

N igh t Flowers. N ig h t Flo w e rs. This To­

ronto-based girl-boy-girl band likens itself to "Fraggle Rock meets Nirvana," but that might be overcomplicating the case. Their five-track EP is a surprisingly heavy rock record, employing grungy choruses and power chords aplenty. It is a fairly polished affair, drawing comparisons to The Breed­ ers and Bettie Serveert but utilizing a more conventional approach; Elastica and The Cranberries may be closer frames of reference.

N ig h t Flo w e r's most successful song is the deliciously brood­ ing "Fortune Cookie," which rolls along in a wonderfully dreamy haze and makes use of some wonderful synths to achieve a vague shoegazer vibe. It picks up steam near the end, although the slower mo­ ments are a tad more palatable. "Ground Zero"shares this hazy mood but is less consistent. Sadly, the rest of the EP doesn't match these more promising moments. Six-minute "Knock on Wood" is long and tinny, riding a mediocre, repetitious climax to death."Pep Rally,"mean­ while, sounds like it's been ripped straight off of a late-nineties teen drama soundtrack—that being said, its execution is passable if un­ spectacular, and it boasts an evocative, dark vibe.

As it stands, Night Flowers is a decent rock band that seems a bit at odds with today's music scene. There is a certain charm here, but potential buyers should approach with caution.

r

Brett Christopher, who received a Masques and a Mecca award for his previous role in the solo play / A m M y O w n W ife, dazzles as the scheming, seductive Vicom­ te de Valmont. He slithers along the floor, looks under the skirts of the ensemble maids as they change the set, and seems made for his velvet maroon bathrobe. His former lover and fellow plotter La Marquise de Merteuil is played by Catherine de Sève in her first English role on stage. The rest of the cast is also quite strong, namely Jake Epstein, of D e g ra s s i: N e x t G e n e ra tio n fame, in the role of Le Chevalier Danceny.

The set, costumes, and music add a level of richness to the production. A wall of French doors and screens contributes beautifully to the creation of the fantastical world. The screens, depending on the lighting, reflect the actors both behind and in front, as well as the audience, bringing onlookers into the show. Composer Dmitri Ma­ rine uses the music to create tension when it is needed, while also contributing to the luxurious ambience. The costumes suit their characters in design and colour, and La Marquise ends the play in a rather risqué black slip slit all the way up her left leg.

The play, intended to shock, is an unconventional choice for the Segal Theatre. The reaction of the sea­ son ticket holders after the show made this evident.

The sensual choreography and seductive translucent costumes try hard to surprise the audience. It is dif­ ficult in this day and age, however, to jolt anyone with sex; these days the audience has seen it all. ■ Dangerous Liaisons p la ys a t th e L e a n o r a n d A lv in S e g a l T h e a tre u n til S e p t. 28 .

RANDYCOLE

Chick in a box.

To m o rro w 's Professionals A p p ly Today

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A u . Verbs. Au's Verbs is in some ways like

a Pink Floyd album. Like D a r k Sid e o f the is an experience that is less a collection of songs and more a musical adventure. Experimental and yet melodic, Au's music trades the progressive rock of Floyd for a more current experimental psych-folk approach, à la Animal Collec­ tive. Verbs has peaks and valleys, intense moments and calmer lulls but never do they become so awash in their avant-garde-ism that they lose sight of the listener. While it may take a few listens to sink in, Verbs ultimately emerges as unquestionably memorable.

The record starts with a shapeless call to arms, combining rolling piano and a rhythmic cymbal clish-clashing with foreboding vocals. It provides a serviceable foreword to the gloriously busy "Are Animals," which boasts campfire calibre vocal hi-jinks and a wonder­ ful wiggling bass line. The journey continues throughout the album, ranging from the carnivalesque "RR vs. D" to the beautifully sombre horns, woodwinds, and piano of "All Myself," the record's crystalline masterpiece.

The album finishes with "Sleep," which contrasts with its pre­ decessors as an eerily quiet piece of outsider pop. Although initially unsettling, it ends the record on a warm if weary note, chiming the finish with a bit of trebly guitar folk. Mmm.

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FO O TB A LL— B IS H O P 'S 4 5 , R ED M EN 21

Stadium half full, but win column still em pty G a iters

R B L e e s t e a l s s p o t l i g h t i n f i r s t "Fill t h e J acob Kanter

McGill's "Fill the Stadium" game was touted around cam­ pus as a "Greater Montreal Football Celebration." But as the moon rose over Molson Stadium on Friday night, Bishop's Uni­ versity turned the inaugural event into a celebration of greater Sherbrooke football.

The Gaiters ran all over the Redmen on Friday night in a battle between two winless programs, cruising to a 45-21 vic­ tory. McGill now sits in last place in the QUFL at 0-3.

A not-quite-full stadium

Despite McGill's best promotional efforts, Molson Sta­ dium was not close to being completely full. 6,218 people at­ tended the game—less than a third of the stadium's capacity of 20,202. But the crowd was McGill's largest in nearly 46 years, and the fifth-largest in the program's history. The east side of the stadium was almost completely filled with raucous McGill students. Considering the fact that the current incarnation of the Redmen has not won a game in two years, the event must be considered a modest success.

"It's really nice to see that kind of enthusiasm," said Mc­ Gill Head Coach Sonny Wolfe. "I know the players certainly ap­ preciated it. It might not have been reflected in the results on the field, but they were really pleased to see the kind of crowd support that we had tonight. I know a lot of people worked re­ ally hard to create this event, and it's too bad we weren't able to play more like we did last week and make it a more enjoy­ able game for everyone."

The game featured an elaborate halftime show that in­ cluded several cheerleading teams from the Montreal area along with those from McGill and Bishop's. The McGill team used the game to practice for the provincial championships, to be held on November 22nd, as well as the national cheer­ leading championships, to be held in Toronto on November 28th and 29th.

plays because of that."

Particularly in the first half, it seemed as if the Redmen were com­ pletely unable to stop Lee. After galloping for a 51 yard touchdown one minute into the second quarter, the Gaiters' run­ ning back had already piled up 169 yards.

"We tried to run some different stunts and fill gaps and things like that," said Wolfe. "We tried to move around a bit, and on occasion it worked. But if Lee had a crease, he was gone a long way. He ran through some tackles. He ran around us, over us, and through us. You have to give a lot of credit to a great athlete. He just made our lives really tough tonight."

S ta d iu m "

ADAMSCOTTI M any Redm en were called up on to tackle the Gaiters on Friday night. Few succeeded.

The Redmen trailed before their defence stepped onto the field for the first time. McGill's first posses­ sion lasted only three plays, and Bishop's RB Steven Turner re­ turned rookie Sebastian Saunders's punt 65 yards for a touch­ down. Lee scored on first-half runs of 10, 51, and three yards as the Gaiters amassed a 35-7 halftime lead that proved insur­ mountable.

More success through the air

A gam e for the ages

The game would have been considerably more enjoyable for the Redmen and their fans if not for Bishop's RB Jamall Lee. The Gaiters'starting tailback turned in one of the greatest per­ formances in CIS history, rushing for 391 yards and four touch­ downs on 35 carries. Lee came within five yards of breaking the CIS record for most rushing yards in a game, set by Calgary's Chris Lewis in 1994.

"I worked hard all week in practice," said Lee. "The offen­ sive line did a great job, and the receivers did a great job block­ ing for the long runs. But the key was the defence. They played amazingly and they got us the ball back. We were able to make

TH IR D M A N IN

D

espite their many differences, Canadians and Americans share a common position when it comes to their intolerance for certain televised sports. For instance, I know several Americans and Ca­ nadians who would call themselves "sports fans," but do not know a single thing about professional golf. It's a shame, but I understand. (The same is true for NASCAR, but that's not even close to being a shame.) Staring at a bunch of rich white guys and one rich black guy hit­ ting balls around a course that lies on a plot of land that could have otherwise served society's actual needs can be painfully frustrating for the average couch potato.

Without understanding the intricacies and mechanics of the game, there really is no point in following or casu­ ally watching the PGA tour. The same can't be said of any other major sport.

However, every two years, the one exception to that rule comes around. The Ryder Cup features 28 matches in various formats between players who combine to form two teams: USA and Europe. It's an all-star game that actually matters to everyone involved. The excite­ ment and entertainment that emanate from Ryder Cup matches should attract even the most casual of sports fans. In fact, let's widen the scope even more— it should attract the most casual fans of the human drama. But as

g a m e

McGill QB Matt Connell once again did his best to keep his team in the game, completing 39 of 58 passes for 334 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. Connell's performance further solidified his place in the Quebec University Football League record books. His third touchdown was the 58th of his career, which tied Laval's Mathieu Bertrand for the Quebec record for career passing touchdowns. Connell also extended his single-game QUFL record of 38 completions by one.

"I'd trade all of these records in to be in the playoffs,"Con­ nell said. "That's all I want to do in my final season. I want to be part of something that turned this program around. The records are a great little cherry on top, but I want to win. It's

One wild Ryde soon as people see polo shirts, short grass, and flagpoles, they change the channel. They have no idea what they're missing.

The Ryder Cup makes for gripping TV for several reasons. There's always controversy swirling around the home side's ability to alter the course to cater to its strengths, the captains' picks for who makes the team, and who is partnered with whom. Controversy invariably leads to the opposing players despising each other, even if they are friends for the other 361 days of the year. Their hatred is never publically stated, but always just below the surface, waiting to explode.

Englishman Ian Poulter's eyes almost burned a hole through my television when he sank a putt on the 18th hole to win a point for Europe late on Saturday afternoon.

He reveled in beating America on a higher level than the Maple Leafs or Canadiens do when they beat each other.

The Leafs and Habs hate each other, but the Ryder Cup golfers are representing their countries or continents, not arbitrary clubs. Poulter had the hopes and prayers of an entire continent behind that putt, not those of a mere city. And based on the British media's lambasting of European captain Nick Faldo's questionable decisions, Europe takes its Ryder Cup seriously.

At the other end of the emotional spectrum, the

all about winning."

Despite McGill's continued floundering in the QUFL wa­ ters, Connell was able to glean some positives from his team's 11th consecutive conference defeat.

"We did a great job coming out in the second half, putting up a fight and not rolling over like we usually did in the past. I think we've got a great core of guys. We have so much poten­ tial. We have tough games for the rest of the season, but I think we're going to play hard."

Considering that all four of their remaining conference games feature nationally-ranked opponents, the Redmen may be in for their second straight winless conference season. That stretch begins next Saturday afternoon when the Redmen visit the University of Montreal Carabins at 1 p.m. But Wolfe will keep trying to build upon what little success his team has garnered this year.

"You could see the toughness and conviction that these kids have," Wolfe said. "They're mentally tough, and they played really well when it was easy to lie down and quit. This team has character. We'll use that as a stepping stone to keep going this season." ■

J acob Kanter Ryder Cup also features golf's most brazen celebrations.

During other tournaments, a golfer can only awkwardly high-five his caddie. At the Ryder Cup, they all awkwardly high-five each other while jumping around together.

They dance with a club between their legs, as American Boo Weekley did on Sunday.

The crowds also contribute to the glory of the Ryder Cup, with hundreds of people engaging in fierce battles between "U-S-A! U-S-A!"and "Olé, olé olé olé."The golfers break their usual blank stares and get into it. Golf may be the gentleman's sport, but everyone lets their guard down at the Ryder Cup. Lastly, these multimillionaires—the Americans are selected to the team based on how much money they've won in the past two seasons— are not playing for money.

They're playing for their countries' honour, or for their own honour, as was the case with American Kenny Perry, who felt that at the age of 48, a Ryder Cup would define his career. He got his wish, as the USA reclaimed the Cup from Europe with a 16 Vi-11 Vi victory on Sunday.

For these reasons. I'll take the Ryder Cup over the Super Bowl, March Madness, the Stanley Cup Final or the World Series. The best players in their respective sport, along with guaranteed drama, patriot fever, and uninten­ tional comedy? No contest. ■

23.09.08-Sports-21

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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW — T O M HALL

Making waves in the Beijing flatwater M cG ill s t u d e n t

H all r e c a lls h is s u m m e r O l y m p i c

e x p e r ie n c e

J acob K anter Olympic medalists can spend their time imme­ diately after the games in a number of ways. Michael Phelps awkwardly hosted Saturday Night Live. Nastia Liukin attended New York City's Fashion Week with Maria Sharapova. Tom Hall decided to do something a little different.

"I got away for a bit to relax,"the Canadian canoe­ ist said. "I rented a cabin and kind of disappeared."

The unassuming 26-year-old McGill student from Pointe-Claire completed a whirlwind summer on August 22, finishing third at the Beijing Olympics in the men's C-i 1000—the 1000 metre individual canoe race. Hall became the first male McGill student to earn a medal at the Olympic summer games since swimmer Robert Kasting won bronze at Munich in 1972.

Over the phone, Hall relayed his stories in a warm, personal manner. His smile was audible as he recalled his memories from this past summer.

"I'm not a complicated person," Hall said when asked how his experience changed him. "I don't put on too many airs. I've always tried to be very sincere.

I hope that comes across."

From dream to reality

Hall's Olympic dream began as a teenager at the Pointe-Claire Canoe Club. He won the C-i 1000 in the 1999 Junior World Championships in Zagreb, Croatia.

Until this summer, he was the second-ranked Cana­ dian in the C-i 1000, behind Burlington, Ont.'s Mark Oldershaw.

"When I was young, [competing in the Olympics] was obviously always a dream of mine," Hall recalled.

"Everyone is into that. That's what people want. It MONTREALEXPRESS probably wasn't a reality until this year, though."

Hail's grit and determ ination, as well as his confidence and know ledge of his opponents, saw him throu gh to Beijing.

Hall finished second to Oldershaw in the C-i 1000 at the Olympic Team Selection Trials in Lake La­ nier, Georgia on May 5, making his road to the Olym­ point.

I'll save it for the semis.'I talked with my coach and we decided pics considerably tougher. He would have to win a "When you get to the last 300 metres, you just let it all continental Olympic qualifier in Montreal less than two weeks that I needed to use the semifinal to build confidence. I had beaten everyone in my semifinal at least once before, if not hang out and go for it," said Hall of the end of the C-1 1000. later, and then finish ahead of Oldershaw in two out of the "You think, 'Wow, this hurts.' It starts hurting by the 500 mark, numerous times. So I went into the semifinal confident and three World Cup events in order to qualify for the Canadian and eventually you're in agony. From then on it's just a mental really focussed on myself, and making sure that I was going team. to race according to my race plan.

I wanted to relax a bit and game of who can push their bodies the furthest, and who can Though Hall had to compete in an extra race in Montreal, have fun with it, because I knew I wouldn't be able to do that hang on the longest." he finished just ahead of Oldershaw in the first World Cup race Hall was in fourth place, behind Uzbekistan's Vadim Menin Szeged, Hungary, on June 5. The next race was the deci­ in the final."

That confidence led to a win in his semifinal and a spot kov, with about 100 metres left. But Hall had similarly trailed sive one, with Hall winning in Duisburg, Germany on June 18. in the final. Two days later, Hall prepared to compete in the Menkov in Duisburg before overtaking him at the finish.That Hall is one of only two Canadians to ever win at the Duisburg biggest race of his life. memory served him well in Beijing.

World Cup Regatta.

"I'm not someone who gets terribly nervous before races," "I knew, probably with 200 metres left, that I was going "That's when I knew I made the Olympic team," said Hall to get [Menkov]," remembered Hall. "I felt great, and I could Hall said.

"I don't tend to panic.

I was cracking jokes with my of his win in Duisburg. "[Oldershaw and I] finished right next to each other in all of our races, which I think is pretty funny. coach. Up until the time came to leave the dock, I was having a feel that I was catching him quickly. There was one moment, Oldershaw is really strong ... I knew I had the ability to get him good time. And then out there [on the water], I focussed more with about 75 metres left, where we were almost matching in this race... but I never really believed that I was ever going and got more in the zone. I knew exactly what my race plan each other stroke for stroke. That was one moment of panic to beat him. So this year I committed early on with my coach was. I had a good idea of what kind of race the other competi­ where I thought, 'Whoa, he's fighting, he might hang on.' But he ended up fading."

Mike [Craemer, a McGill graduate], and we focussed and went tors were planning on having."

The C-1 1000 final came immediately after the kayak­ Hall finished with a time of 3 :53 -6 5 3 , half a second ahead our own way ... I did a lot of training on my own, and it paid ers' K-11000, which featured Canadian flag bearer Adam van of Menkov and 9/10 of a second behind Spain's David Cal, who off I guess."

Koeverden. He finished a disappointing eighth, though he took silver. Hungary's Attila Vajda won gold.

"It was just a whirlwind," Hall said of his experience after would win silver in the K-i 500 the next day. CBC's commenta­ The road to the final Though Hall knew he made the team on June 18, the real­ tors speculated on how Hall's knowledge of van Koeverden's the race. "Immediately after it ended, I was whisked away and result would affect his performance, but Hall actually didn't I had to do interviews and all sorts of stuff. I basically had 10 ity of the situation didn't fully settle in until much later. hear of van Koeverden's result until after his own race. minutes to myself from the time I got to the dock to start the "I didn't really realize I was an Olympian until I touched "I was excited and nervous," Hall said of the time just be­ race until 1:30 a.m. that night. I barely had time to eat. It was a down in Beijing two months later," Hall said. "It's been a pretty surreal experience for me. We lived outside the Olympic village, fore the race. "But all in a positive way. I wasn't terrified. It's lot of fun, but it was very tiring." but I spent one night at the village. It's incredible. It's massive. either you do it or you don't—that's kind of how I look at it.

Full circle You're walking around wide-eyed and star struck. You're run­ And I had trained to do it, so I felt like I could turn it on when After returning from Beijing, Hall spent one night in I really had to. ning into guys like Yao Ming and Usain Bolt. I probably would "It is easy to lose focus sometimes during the race. But in Montreal before flying to Halifax to compete in the Canadian have found it distracting there, so I was pretty lucky that I was the end it's a fine line between going crazy and making sure Sprint Canoe Championships. Fittingly, Hall won the C-11000 outside the village—that made it a lot easier for me."

Hall had to compete in one of three C-i 1000 heats, with you're paddling well technically. You have to be efficient over final 1/10 of a second ahead of Oldershaw. The duo finished first and second, just as they had in Duisburg at the beginning the winner of each advancing to the final automatically. Hall that distance.

"I have to work a lot on fitness and lung capacity and VO2 of the summer. finished fourth out of seven in his heat, six and a half seconds Since his Olympic performance, Hall's modesty and hu­ [the maximum amount of oxygen the body can use at full ex­ behind the winner. mility have outshone the medal that he can now place on his "I finished pretty far back in my heat, but I knew I was ertion]. The other guys are a lot more powerful than I am, and going to make the semifinal no problem," Hall said. "That they can afford to slow down and speed up. They have a lot mantel.

"A lot of people want to talk to me, and it's funny because wasn't a concern ... I had raced against all of those guys be­ more pure speed than I do ... Usually they'll all be ahead of me for the first three quarters of the race, and then at the end I still don't see why," Hall said. "I get it, but I find it really funny. fore, and I knew what I could do and how fast I was compared Everyone that I've talked to in the paddling community is to them. But the heat was a bad race for me. I lined up and I when they start to fade, I'm still going the same speed, or even so excited and sincere with their congratulations. I'm really was nervous. The guys next to me really burned me off the picking it up." floored by it." line. They got into my head a little bit. But about halfway Echoes of Duisburg Having been floored by Hall's performances throughout through, I knew I was in good shape so I just shut it down. I the summer, it only makes sense that the paddling commu­ The final unfolded almost exactly as Hall had envisioned decided, 'I'm not going to waste any more energy on this race. it. He was seventh after 250 metres and fifth at the halfway nity would reciprocate at summer's end. ■

The McGill Tribum

22 • Sports • 23.09.08

L A C R O SSE— R ED M EN 9 , T O R O N T O 3

H O CK EY — M ARTLETS 5, YORK 1

The importance of halftime readjustments R e d m e n

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M att C hesser McGill Redmen Lacrosse Head Coach Tim Mur­ doch must give one hell of a halftime speech.

The Redmen scored nine unanswered goals in the second half to erase a three-goal deficit and de­ feat the Toronto Varsity Blues 9-3 at Forbes Field on Sunday afternoon. McGill improved to 2-1 in league play with the win, while Toronto (1-3) lost their third straight conference game.

"That was a strange game," said Murdoch. "We played horribly in the first half and then looked like a championship team in the second half. It's not often you see two teams switch roles like that half­ way through the game."

Both players and coaches speculated that Mc­ Gill spent the first half dwelling on Saturday after­ noon's heartbreaking 9-8 overtime loss to the Trent Excalibur.The Redmen looked sluggish throughout the first two quarters, registering only one qual­ ity scoring chance as Toronto jumped out to a 3-0 lead.

"I know that, personally, I was pretty bummed after that loss [on Saturday]," said McGill attackman Nick Moreau."lt took me a while to get in the game.

Coach [Murdoch] took me off the field for a while in the first half, and that kind of pissed me off enough to get me fired up for the second half. As a team, though, we came out expecting to beat Toronto pretty easily. But obviously that didn't happen, so we had to adjust at halftime."

Moreau, last year's Canadian University Field La­ crosse Association Outstanding Attackman, started

b e a t V a rsity B lu e s McGill's second-half onslaught by sending a pretty cross-crease pass to attackman Matt Jankowski, who buried the ball over the left shoulder of To­ ronto goaltender Joncarlo Bairos. Jankowski, who transferred to McGill from Florida State University, where he earned All-SEC honours in 2007, led all scorers with two goals and three assists. Moreau notched one goal and a pair of helpers.

"We had a lot of guys who played well in the second half," said Murdoch. "But it was the defence and our goalie, Guy Fox, who really stepped up for us. It's not often you can hold a team to three goals in this league."

Ben McBeth scored two goals for the Redmen, while Andrew Edell, Arthur Phillips, Sean Simeson, and Donner Carr—who somehow managed to sneak the ball over Bairos's right shoulder while sur­ rounded by three Varsity Blues players— rounded out the scoring for McGill.

The Redmen travel to Lennoxville, QC on Thurs­ day to play the Bishop's Gaiters.The perennial pow­ erhouse Gaiters have struggled so far this season, posting a 1-3 record that includes an embarrassing 12-3 preseason loss to McGill, after placing second at the national championship tournament last year.

"We always get up for a game against Bishop's, because they've been so strong as a team for so long," said Murdoch. "I think that if our defence can continue to be consistent and if our offence can work on their shot selection then we can do some really good things this year. We have, potentially, the most explosive offence in Canada, so if they get into a groove then we'll be more than fine." ■

HUGEGALD )NEE Soph om ore Forw ard Alessandra Lin d-K e nny netted the ga m e -w in n e r anc freshm an forw ard M a rie-A ndrée Leclerc-Auger added an insurance market as the McGill Martlets blanked W indsor 2-0 in wom en's hockey at M cConnel Arena, Saturday.

Th e result extended McGill's w in streak to 20 consecutive games, dating back to a 2-1 shootout loss to A lberta on Dec. 30, 2007.

Fifth-year goaltender KalieTow nsend m ade a triu m p h a n t return to the ice lineup after a one -ye a r hiatus. She recorded 14 saves for the shutout as the defending national cham pion Martlets im proved to 2-0 in preseason play. McGill openec its cham pionship defence w ith a 5-1 w in over York University on Friday night.

McGill was w ith o u t the services of G K Charline Labonte, F A n n -S o p h ie Bettez, and defenders Catherine W ard and Cathy Chartrand, each of w h o m were in Calgary attending a national team evaluation cam p. Head Coach Peter Smith was also at the cam p, serving as an assistant w ith the national team .

—Earl Zukerman SEE T H O S E HOCK EY PLAYERS U P TH ERE? THEY N E ED CO V ER A G E. SPO R T S@ M C G IL L T R IB U N E .C O M

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23.09.08 • Sports • 23

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all

Golf

compiled by J acob K anter

ON DECK Soccer—Laval Rouge et Or at McGill Martlets; Friday, 6 p.m. at Molson Stadium; Laval Rouge et Or at McGill Redmen; Friday, 8 p.m. at Molson Stadium Though neither McGill team has lost at home this season, both the Redmen and Martlets will have their hands full on Friday night as they host the Laval Rouge et Or. A win for either team would do wonders for its league standing. Laval's women's team, ranked eighth in the country, is coming off a 3-0 thrashing of the UQAM Citadins, while the Martlets will have to regroup after a last-minute 3-2 loss to Sherbrooke.

The Redmen will face the fourth-ranked team in the country after the Martlets'game is completed. The Rouge et Or have not been dom­ inant of late, falling to the Montreal Carabins last week and beating the UQAM Citadins by only one goal, 1-0. The Redmen beat the same Carabins 2-0 at home two weeks ago. A win for the Redmen would vault them into first place in the QSSF standings, barring the outcome of Montreal's game against Concordia, which will be played at CEPSUM stadium at 8:30 p.m. the same day.

Baseball—John Abbott Islanders at McGill Redbirds; Thursday, 730 p.m. at Trudeau Park, 6975 Mackle Road in Cote-St-Luc Halfway through the conference season, the Redbirds have emerged as one of the top teams in the Canadian Intercollegiate Base­ ball Association's Northern Division. Manager Ernie D'Alessandro's versatile squad is led by freshman Adam Gordon, who pitches and plays centre field. Gordon is batting .346 and slugging .500. First year utility man Michael Kolodny has an on-base percentage of .647 in 17 plate appearances.

The Redbirds beat the Islanders 4-1 last Thursday, but the Island­ ers remain a half-game ahead of McGill in the CIBA Northern stand­ ings with a record of 8-3, while the Redbirds are in third at 6-2. McGill trails the first-place Lafleche Dragons by only one game with eight to play. The Redbirds are tuning up for the national championship, which they are hosting from October vth-igth.

FIN A LLY!

Victoria Kayser became the first Martlet ever to capture an individual title at an intercollegiate golf tourna­ ment on Sunday. The 19-year-old man­ agement sophomore, a native of Ger­ many, won the Omnium Rouge et Or tournament hosted by Laval University at Golf de la Faune in Quebec City in a three-way sudden-death playoff after 36 holes.

Kayser finished the two-day tour­ nament with a score of 159, along with Jani Fortin and Anick Groulx, both members of the Montreal Carabins.

"She drove the fairway, chipped onto the green and two-putted," said Bob Dubeau, the former long-time di­ rector of athletics at McGill who now serves as head coach of the golf team.

"Victoria was cool as a cucumber and gave us our first individual tournament title ... in probably four decades, per­ haps longer."

Aidan Brownlie was the top Red­ man in the men's individual competi­ tion, shooting a 156 to finish 15th out of 73. Laval's Mathieu Belanger finished first with a 143.

McGill will compete in the Univer­ sity Provincial Championship hosted

by UQAM from October 3 to October 5 at the Montreal Golf Club.

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The McGill women's soccer pro­ gram is beating the teams it should be beating, but the Martlets have yet to break out this season. They lost their national ranking this past week as they split two games. On Thursday, the Martlets beat Concordia at Molson Sta­ dium 1-0. Senior Forward Magalie Kolker scored the lone tally after 65 minutes of play. Shimone Slomowitz and AnneCatherine Huot split the clean sheet.

But on Sunday, the Martlets were unable to keep their momentum. Lead­ ing Sherbrooke 2-1 with only three min­ utes remaining, the Martlets' normally steady defence collapsed, giving up two goals to the Vert et Or, who es­ caped with a 3-2 win.

This momentary lapse in concen­ tration was the only thing stopping McGill from vaulting over Sherbrooke in the standings. The Vert et Or are now in third place in the QSSF with 10 points, and the Martlets are right behind them with six. First place University of Mon­ treal is now the first-ranked team in the nation, and Laval, in second place in the QSSF standings, is ranked eighth.

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The Redmen soccer team contin­ ued their trend of tying on the road and winning at home this week. On Thursday, McGill beat the visiting Con­ cordia Stingers 5-2. Forward Nicolas Martin-Pompl came off the bench at the 30-minute mark to score two goals, with his first goal 34 minutes into the game giving the Redmen the lead for good. They led 2-1 at halftime and never looked back.

The Redmen followed up their home win with a 1-1 decision on the road at Sherbrooke University. Senior Forward James Scholefield scored the lone goal for the Redmen who main­ tained theirone point lead overthe Vert et Or in the standings. The undefeated Redmen sit in third place at 2-0-2 be­ hind first-place Laval and second-place University of Montreal. The Rouge et Or and Carabins and ranked fourth and fifth in the country, respectively.

— W ith files fro m E a rl Z u k e rm a n

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