The McGill Tribune Vol. 29 Issue 22

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MONTREAL FASHION WEEK, PAGES 12 & 13

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TRIBUNE ELECTION ENDORSEMENTS, PAGES 10 & 11

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Published by the Students* Society o f M cGill University________________________ www.mcgilitribune.com

Vol. 29 Issue 22 • 9 March 2010

The Tribune goes to school on SSMU elections and referenda

For the Tribune’s full election coverage see pages 4-7 and 9-11.

JULIA WEBSTER

Changes to Frosh will elim inate daytim e drinking by leaders Administration looks to keep event focussed on first-years MATT ESSERT C ontributor

After several months of discussion be­ tween the Students’ Society, faculty asso­ ciations, and members of the administration, major changes may be in store for Frosh this coming year.

“The university is looking for basic, sys­ tematic changes, but those changes are very big ideologically,” Students’ Society VicePresident Internal Alex Brown said. “As it stands right now, the people who have the best time at Frosh are the Frosh leaders, which is not really the point of Frosh. So, [the adminis­

McGill ATHLETICS & RECREATION

tration is] looking to make it more focussed on the first-year students.”

Brown indicated that the changes would affect how Frosh is approached by coordina­ tors, Frosh leaders, and first-year participants.

“The idea is that the primary activity should never be drinking,” she said. “You can drink while you’re doing something, but the activity shouldn’t be ‘Drinking While Play­ ing Frisbee.’ It should be a Frisbee tournament while the bar is open. A lot of it is trying to make leaders more focussed on the activity, rather than the drinking.”

Most of the upcoming changes will focus on Frosh leaders and their role in the event.

During this year’s Science Frosh, McGill Se­ curity felt that Frosh leaders were too rowdy even closing the beer tent for one of the after­

noons during the three-day event.

“This year, out of all of the problems that we had, a large majority of them were with Frosh leaders,” Brown said.

Among the most noticeable changes to Frosh could be the way Frosh leaders are se­ lected, as well as the decision to forbid Frosh leaders from drinking alcohol during the day­ time activities.

“The university would like to see Frosh leaders sober during the day, so that they’re really focussing on meeting their students and leading their students.” Brown said.

Some of the calls for change have come from the students themselves. Anurag Dhir, the director of Molson Hall residence, was recently brought on by the Student Services Office to evaluate the transition experience of

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first-year students into university.

“I organized focus groups of students in residence to ask them questions like, ‘What did you like about orientation and Frosh? What didn’t you like? How would you like it to be different?” ’ Dhir said. “I wasn’t sure about the kind of response I would get from people, but it was actually very enlightening in terms of the diversity of responses.”

Some students described Frosh as “a re­ alistic introduction to college life” at which the “beach party was fun, especially because it was an all-faculty event.” Other students claimed that “non-drinkers feel out of place,” however, and that “Frosh leaders were some­ times aggressive with students regarding drinking games.”

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NEWS

2 • 9 March 2010

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CAM PUS

Daniel Jutras appointed Dean of the McGill Faculty of Law Emphasizes unique importance o f M cG ill’s bilingual programs MATT ESSERT C ontributor

On February 17, Daniel Jutras was ap­ pointed Dean o f the McGill Faculty o f Law. Jutras had served as the interim dean since July 1, 2009, after working at the Supreme Court o f Canada fo r several years and then the national law firm o f Borden Ladner Gervais. Jutras taught law at McGill as an asso­ ciate professor starting in 1991 before being promoted to fu ll professor in 2001. The Tri­ bune sat down with Mr. Jutras and discussed his new position as dean.

As the new dean, how have your expe­ riences as a M cG ill Law professor helped you, and is there anything you now plan to change?

I don’t think [there is a lot I plan to change]. In recent years, over the past decade, w e’ve moved even further in the effort to pro­ vide instruction in both civil law and common law, integrating the two degrees as much as possible in a comparative exercise. And so I think it’s very helpful to have been here for a while in understanding where that comes from, what the ramifications of the program

are, what the aspirations were, and what re­ mains to be done to realize those aspirations.

So, I would say the fact of having been here is helpful, not necessarily in the sense that it gives me an occasion to change things that I was unhappy with as much as move forward on things that I am really happy with.

As you said, M cG ill offers two degrees in one: the Bachelor o f Laws and the Bache­ lor o f C ivil Laws. How w ill your experience and background researching com parative law factor into your work here as dean?

The faculty has now developed signifi­ cant expertise in teaching in comparative law and I think we also have a very distinguished scholarship here that displays a pluralistic understanding of law: one that is interested in comparison, but not just comparison. It’s a perspective on law that is also interested in the idea that law resides in places other than the state. It does reside in the state—the state is a source of normativity, which is very sig­ nificant—but it also resides in other places, both at the very small local level and at the international level. There are sources of norms and rules and understandings o f governance, which emerge at all of these levels, and the faculty has been very sensitive to those differ­ ent layers. I think we are at the stage now that we probably need to translate what goes on in

University of Ottawa

the classroom a bit more publicly in the schol­ arship that appears internationally in this area.

How do you see the future of the Fac­ ulty o f Law? We have a very well-regarded graduate program at the master’s and doctorate level, and a number of suggestions have been made in recent years to imagine the development of the doctoral program in the direction that high­ lights McGill as a place to train tomorrow’s teachers, and train new professors in becom­ ing academics. The master’s program could also be expanded to include offerings that will be very specialized. We have great strengths here in human rights, in intellectual property, in international arbitration, and in health law, which could yield very effective specialized graduate degrees at the master’s level. At the undergraduate level, the priority this year and for the next few years will be to enhance as much as possible the student experience in the classroom.

W hat do you think about the Canadian law school m arket in general? How does M cG ill fit into that m arket?

The Canadian market of law schools is very interesting. The discussion very often starts with assumptions that are appropriate in the American market: that there are very elabo­

rate mechanisms to rank the faculties, and very clearly delineated tiers and aspirations of each of the schools to move up that ladder. In many ways, the Canadian market is quite different from this. First of all, the discrepancy between the very best schools and the schools that are not doing so well is enormous in the United States, and that’s not the case in Canada. I think the quality of education is uniformly ex­ cellent in the Canadian market.

If we go by the rankings, McGill is doing extremely well and has been for many years.

It’s ranked at, or near the top of, the M aclean’s rankings among common law schools, which is in itself a mistake, because this is not just a common law school—it’s both a common law school and a civil law school. If it were mea­ sured as a civil law school by the standards and criteria that Maclean’s uses, it would be at the very top of the list of schools in Quebec.

In terms of rankings, McGill is doing ex­ ceedingly well. I am very proud of that and I think we should be very proud of that. But I am prouder of the fact that we are actually very different in terms of what we offer. There is a very distinctive character to this school and I think that’s what brings students here, that’s what brings professors here. The distinctive­ ness of the program is what enables us to feel comfortable about our place in the Canadian market.

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CAM PUS

Brown says university looking for accountability from leaders C ontinued from COVER “In the past ten years, Frosh hasn’t changed all that much, but the make-up of the student body at McGill has,” Dhir said. “There are a lot more international students for whom the North American culture is unique. They want to meet other people, and how else can you meet other people outside of the usual pub crawls?”

Jana Luker, executive director of Student Services, insisted that the university has only played a small role in these discussions. The administration is not looking to be “a wet blan­ ket,” but only to help the faculties optimize the Frosh experience.

“We are just trying to help facilitate the

conversations, because it should be studentrun for the students,” Luker said.

“The whole purpose is that it’s a student led thing and the dynamism and creativity happens from the students,” said Dhir. “But we can offer resources and tools like facilitat­ ing conversations or access to training if they need it.”

Brown emphasized, however, that the university is not looking to eliminate Frosh. “[The administration] is very reasonable about it,” she said. “Nobody is trying to spoil the fun or anything like that, but they really do want to see a lot more accountability and responsibility in the Frosh leaders.”

Frosh is notorious for being ju st as wild for leaders as for froshies.

JULIA WEBSTER

CAM PUS

Referendum rundown: what you need to know before voting SEAN WOOD Contributor

Q uestion RE: Bodily Sovereignty This question is a toned-down version of the General Assembly motion concerning discriminatory groups, which sought to amend the Students’ Society constitution to prohibit pro-life clubs from existing.

A “Yes” vote would require SSMU to take action against groups that compromise “bodily sovereignty.” The question does not single out pro-life groups specifically, but the notion of “bodily sovereignty” has often been understood to include the right to choose.

Liam Olson-Mayes, U2 women’s stud­ ies and history, a sponsor of both the GA mo­ tion and the current question, claimed that the question is reasonable enough to be supported

by Choose Life members.

Natalie Fohl, the former president of Choose Life, gave limited support to the mo­ tion.

“The notion of bodily sovereignty does not pose a problem for pro-life groups specifi­ cally,” she said “ [But] we are concerned with the implications that some may use to interpret this clause.”

Q uestion RE: M cGill Tribune indepen­ dence At a Council meeting two years ago, SSMU mandated that the Tribune become an independent newspaper. This referendum question seeks to sever the legal and financial ties between the Tribune and SSMU and re­ place SSMU’s financial support with a threedollar non-opt-outable fee levied to all under­ graduate students. According to Tribune edi­ tors, the future of the newspaper is bleak if the referendum fails, as SSMU is not obligated to continue supporting the newspaper in future years.

Q uestion RE: Policy on M atters Exter­ nal to the Society This question makes it more difficult for a General Assembly to pass motions on “matters external to the Society’s regular activities.” It requires a quorum of 500 students to discuss such matters, two-thirds of whom must vote in favour of beginning discussion on any such

motion. According to SSMU President Ivan Neilson, the question addresses the recent con­ troversies at G As. Q uestion RE: Environm ent Fee If this question passes, it will renew the $1.25 opt-outable SSMU Environment Fee, which expires this semester, until the Winter 2013 semester. The SSMU Environment Fee funds environmental projects within SSMU. “This is entirely governed by students, so we get to work to student priorities and student timelines,” said Maggie Knight, U3 environ­ mental science and member of the question’s “Yes” committee.

Question RE: QPIRG bylaw changes If it is approved, this question would allow the Quebec Public Interest Research Group McGill to make changes to its constitu­ tion and bylaws at an Annual General Meeting.

Right now the group is only allowed to make changes by SSMU referendum. According to

the “Yes” committee, this will streamline the group’s operations.

Q uestion RE: C onstitution Section Three This question would move SSMU com­ mittee mandates to the Society’s bylaws. They are currently in Section Three of the Constitu­ tion. According to Neilson, this would update the SSMU committee structure.

“It’s really out of date, it’s really ineffec­ tive, and it doesn’t allow us to do what w e’d like to do,” he said.

Q uestion RE: Student Life Fund This question would create a new space for SSM U’s unspent money. A “Yes” vote would place funds left over after June 1 to go into a new “Student Life Fund.” The money currently goes into the Capital Expenditures Reserve Fund (CERF), where it is no longer available to student groups.

Q uestion Re: TVM cGill Funding This question proposes a new $0.50 optoutable fee to help fund TVM cGill’s opera­ tions. Executives say that the fee will provide TVMcGill with desperately needed new equip­ ment and raise the group’s profile on campus.

Question RE: WUSC R efugee Scholar­ ship Fund.

Students currently pay 50 cent each term to support two McGill refugee students select­ ed by the World University Service Committee (WUSC). This question asks students to allow the committee to select deserving students from developing countries in years in which there are no qualified refugee students.

Plebiscite RE: Funding the TaCEQ This question is non-binding, and is in­ tended to gauge students’ support for the Round Table of Quebec Students (TaCEQ) in its quest for grants from the provincial govern­ ment.

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dent mandate. One tiling I would like to improve on next year are the committees. I'd like to get a wider section o f students sitting on [them].

W hat is your stance on McGill s Research Policy?

Section 7.24 definitely needs clarification. It just says “in good faith,” so ifs not very specific and it needs to be clarified. It needs to state that if there is research that’s being conducted that is going to be particularly harmful, then M cGill's not going to support that specific research. Then there are Clauses 10 and 11, which w e removed. I think

JOSHUA ABAkI What has Rebecca Dooley done right this year, and what would you do differently?

One o f the things she has done

C a n d i d a t e

was to restrict military research.

The students have only won one concession from the university ad­ ministration when it com es to this policy: the removal o f the anonym­ ity clause, which means that anony­ mous donations can no longer be made to researchers. Overall, the policy, as it stands now, is a step backward.

DAVID UPSITZ

these need to be put back, because these are things that groups like D emilitarize M cGill worked very hard to have inserted into the Research Policy. I think it’s a step backward for M cGill to remove these particular clauses from the policy.

Since coming to M cGill I've been hugely involved in student life here, So when it com es to tuition that’s something I really understand and I think I’d be in a good position to convince the M cGill administration not to increase tuition.

What makes you the best candidate for the position?

W hat is your number-one priority for next year?

I’ve had a wide variety o f experiences, not only in Canada but also in Kenya. In Kenya, I was the equivalent o f student union president o f my high school. However I had to mandate the day-to-day activities o f that particular high school since there was actually no adults,

I want to get M cGill to not just say in words that w e are a studentcentred university, because I think the reality proves otherwise. If the administration wants to claim that w e are a student-centred university then that must be reflected in their policies.

know where their m oney is going.

your number-one priority for next year?

What differentiates you from the other candidates?

My campaign has three pillars, In the tuition category, I’d work towards securing a commitment from the university not to implement a self-funded tuition model for undergraduate education. The second pillar is sustainability, particularly food sustainability on campus. The administration is working towards implementing composting facilities for their residence cafeterias. I want to expand this. The third pillar is improving the undergraduate experience. I’ve focussed on ex­ change programs, transfer credits, independent classes. There’s a lot o f bureaucracy [in these areas]. It would be a shame not to sim plify these processes.

I’m the most experienced candidate. I’ve worked with SSM U closely—I’m the chairman o f the P.xtemal Affairs Committee. I’ve made reports to SSM U, discussed the issues that concern SSM U’s relationship with the Quebec goveminent and with other student groups in Quebec. I’m also a senator. I know how the Senate caucus works. I’ve also worked with [the Arts Undergraduate Society] in the p ast Basically, I’ve got all the bases covered. I’m a diplomatic person, Level-headedness is an important quality in this job.

If elected, what would be

V P EXT ERN'AL

TEDI AN60NI How would you work to make your portfolio more visible to students?

That kind o f goes with the per-

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EPIC JINS AN How effective do you think TaCEQ has been this year?

Included in my platform is tuition stabilization and adequate funding for the university. Obvious­ ly w e want to continue this route, but on top o f that I would also like

to have grants from private sectors o f Montreal.. People may feel un­ comfortable with that, but my opin­ ion is that it is not an illegal way o f getting grants and it w ill lower the tuition, provide more scholarships, and provide more work opportuni­ ties.

How would you work to com­ bat possible tuition increases?

Tuition increase is an inevi­ table thing in this society, not just here in Montreal but across North America. However, unreasonable tuition increases cannot be accept­ able to students. I am against un­ reasonable tuition increases, but at the same time I feel that there has

■SSAAÜ CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS to be som e sort o f increase at some point to compensate for econom ic inflation. That is not much, and the tuition increase being discussed is unreasonable in my opinion. So I am going to be working toward sta­ bilizing tuition increases.

comments in the media regarding Je parle très bien français, the Milton-Park Citizens’ Commitpossible tuition increases? j ’suis francophone d’origine. Je tee, and start doing activities right

MYRIAM 3LAIBI How effective do you think what they need to do is be more TaCEQ has been this year? proactive in leading campaigns, and I think it has not been effec- also m obilizing students, because tive enough. It does represent about 60,000 students is a lot o f people. I 60,000 students, and with big uni- want it to be more effective. versifies like [the University of] Laval and M cGill, there’s much What is your stance on the more we can do. I think right now minister o f education’s recent

I find it very insulting. You can’t exclude students—there is no such thing as a consensus without the particular people who are concem ed by this. M inister Courchesne has no vision, she’s not consulting us, she’s not inviting us to talk with her. It’s something we really need to do in terms o f lobbying with the government, and just tell her, ‘Hey, by the way, w e’re here!’ We’re the ones who go school frill time, or part time, and w e’re the ones who are on campus all the time and know what’s going on.

The vice-president external is traditionally fluent in French, How’s yours?

and w elcom e them to M cGill. In organizing Frosh, I want to seek out as much input as possible, whether it be the amount o f alcohol involved or what specific events are included in the schedule.

T QM FABIAN What makes you the best One o f my strengths is that I like to candidate for the job? cater a lot o f different people's diM ostly, it com es down to my experience. I have organized largescale events, and these events really focused on getting people involved,

verse needs. This is critical to the portfolio o f VP internal because Frosh is a huge event, the main goal o f which is to get people involved

M ARTA 6RDNTMANE What were Alex Brown’s greatest accomplishments this year, and what could she have done differently?

A wonderful accomplishment o f hers this year was Week 101 in Gert’s. Everyone went, and I think

that’s really great because a lot o f tim es Gert’s is forgotten. What I would do differently is the selection o f the Frosh leaders. In all the other faculties it’s such a competition, and I really think [leaders] need to be interviewed thoroughly.

There has been a lot of talk about changes to Frosh this year.

How would you like to see it improved?

pense que c’est vraiment importante quand l ’exécutif de la TaCEQ vient des universités francophone et ne parle pas très bien l’anglais que le VP externe de M cGill soit bilingue.

How effectively has Sebastian Ronderos-Morgan reached out to the M ilton-Park Community?

I think he’s done great work, The Community Action and Relations Endeavour is a very good project Right now it has not been implemented, and maybe that’s something he should have done before. I know what the issues are, and as soon as I enter my function I can already start planning a schedule o f m eetings with SSM U, M cGill, and

might not be that good o f an idea, During the day events the Frosh leaders’ focus should be on helping their group to get to know the city and each other and if they are hampered in their in ability to do so by drinking that is not the optimal situation.

Do you have any ideas for new events next year?

I understand the concern.

Frosh is an important way to help new students get people accustomed to Montreal and M cGill, and the focus o f the event needs to be on the new students, not the frosh leaders. I agree that having frosh leaders drinking heavily during the day

I would love to make Homecoming a lot bigger deal. I have been to homecomings around Canada and in the States and M cGill’s homecoming is not what it could and should be. Homecoming can be a great event that brings people together, and it just doesn't do that

How would yon like to see Frosh ran differently?

What makes yon the best candidate for this position?

I really want to focus on tiie fact that Frosh isn’t all about drinking. I know that’s why people do it, but I feel like w e have to expand Frosh to other groups o f people as w ell.

SSM U Frosh is after three days o f faculty Frosh, and almost everyone is just burnt out after three days o f drinking. I feel like there should be more cultural activities, and I want to give back to the community.

I’m better for this position be­ cause I want to focus on more than just Athletics. That’s what my op­ ponent has really been pushing for.

I know that I don’t have that much SSMU experience, but I think with the event-planning experience I do have, I’d be good for the position.

I think I’d be better because I have fully developed my ideas about Frosh and everything else in the VP internal portfolio.

Do you want Frosh leaders to be able to drink during the day?

Yes, I do. But I think everyone who does Frosh should be servertrained, too.

Do you have any ideas for new events next year?

I think it would be great if we did a coffeehouse-type thing, be­ cause there are so many people at

from the beginning,

What would your numberone priority be for next year?

I think my number-one priority would be m obilizing more students and getting them more informed of the issues that are going on right now, [and] getting students’ input and Council’s input I’ve [already reinstated] the M obilization Comm ittee, and w e’re hosting workshops. Our first workshop is about public finance and the myths and die facts about financing education, and I think those kinds o f workshops are really good.

at M cGill. Similarly, I would want to organize more events that gamer exposure for our athletics teams, like the varsity field day that I organized last year at the end o f Frosh.

One thing to accomplish this upcoming year?

I really want to make Red Thunder a big deal. It is a really im­ portant way o f getting people out to games and increasing school spirit I am really proud o f Red Thunder because it was quite successful without much help from SSMU, and I think that with that help it could becom e a huge group that would re­ ally benefit M cGill,

M cGill with such great talent It would also be great if w e did Fac­ ulty Olympics, because a lot of tim es I feel like faculties don’t re­ ally m ix and they stay in their own buildings.

If you could accomplish one thing next year, what would it be?

Raising attendance at Frosh is my main goal. I think it’s really important that most o f the freshmen who com e to M cGill get that orien­ tation experience.

If you were a mixed drink, what type would you be?

I would be a vodka tonic. Keep it plain and simple.

S 9 M U C A N D ID A T E IN T E R V IE W S

also active with things outside o f her portfolio, which I very much respect Sarah worked on electricity and energy audits, and I think in an age where w e are destroying our own environm ent w e definitely need to be more responsible, and that’s definitely something that I would work towards.

What is your opinion o f how Sarah has handled the whole Choose Life debacle?

Do you have any specific examples for ideas for the multipurpose spaces you mentioned creating during the debates?

I think she has managed to maintain great relationships with Natalie Fohl and Choose Life as a

The Shatner Building is our home, and we can do what w e can within the space o f this building.

o f bringing back the book bazaar, which could be done in the Shatner ballroom. I’m also thinking of another alternative—maybe bringing together something online. So we have to do proper due diligence on what’s the best route to go. But definitely w e want to think about a few options and take a more consultative approach on what w e should do with the new operation.

it’s not running huge deficits, but it’s not there just to make money,

If elected, what will be your number-one priority for next year?

W hat sort of business experience are you bringing to the position?

I definitely would like to look into something about die service for the book drive. We want to try and find a service that w ill cater towards students without com pletely com­ peting against the M cGill Book­ store. A lso, Gert’s: I want to make sure it’s the go-to place for students.

So w e’ll hopefully work out some marketing schemes to make an im­ provem ent

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ANÜSHAV kH A N How do you aim to increase participation in SSMU clubs?

There are a couple o f things I would consider. One is, o f course, clubs involvement, because I think that clubs really make a huge part o f student life. Second, I think also just tackling student apathy. A lso, I would really propose using the

kiosk more, because it’s the first thing you see when entering the building. I really think that as soon as you step into something that rep­ resents student life, it should be vi­ brant and exciting and creative, not dull and drab.

What are the most important

N’l G k C R EW

What is your vision for Gert’s?

W ell, at the moment there’s talk

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Having those spaces would mean that clubs aren’t always as con­ stricted to the physical structure o f the room. A lso, I can make a deci­ sion about a certain room and reno­ vate it a certain way, but two years down the line, if someone says, ‘I don’t think this service is right and w e need to change it,’ that would be very costly.

whole. In her view s, she has been opinionated but has also kept her role as a moderator. As a represen­ tative o f clubs and services, that’s what you have to do. Having an opinion is great and you should have an opinion I think it’s a problem if you don’t have an opinion—but at die same time you are responsible not for one club, but 400 clubs. You have to make sure that their interests are secured and that they feel secure in this building and in this student environment *

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My philosophy on Gert’s is drat I want a place that students can com e together for arts, m usic, and sports, and I want to make sure it’s run by students for students. I also believe it’s a service—not a forprofit place. We want to make sure

I’ve worked in marketing before, so I know how to work with team s, work with people. I’m on the [Management Undergraduate Society] executive, so w e’ve gone through a lot to bring together a community, especially with the first-year committees. We wanted to make it more inclusive for CEGEP students who come into management—especially because, as a CEGEP student, I came in not knowing exactly what I could do to get involved.

One o f the main filings that Sarah has had to do this year has been coordinating the Tribune’s move towards independence. If the Tribune’s referendum ques­ tion were to fail, what would you do as the new VP? I would push for independence.

I would work very closely with people in the Tribune to make their stance and platform even stronger.

If you could be any sort of mixed drink, what would you be?

Gin and tonic, for the sophis­ tication.

the main things they have not done is address basic student services that you would expect to find at a University.

It also only costs pennies per semester to have a 24-hour library service. We are at one o f the top universities in the world, many other universities already have this service. It is very successful and so why w e don’t have it is an extremely good question, especially because it costs virtually nothing. They have not addressed basic things that af­ fect everybody everyday.

If you were a type of cocktail, what would you be?

Wow, that’s a tough on e...sex on the beach?

S S M U C A N D ID A T

IN T E R V IE W S

T R IP VANA How will your past expert« ice influence your approach to the presidential portfolio?

W ell, one o f the things I try to market about m yself is that I have a diverse set o f experiences. I’ve worked for the TYibune for four years. Writing news stories requires that you have an objective, impartial

point o f view when you’re trying to cover something. As a SSM U President it’s really important to stimulate debate, to open up discussion, and to try and encourage others to have flexible mindsets. I’m also the president o f the M cGill Computer Taskforce—it’s a large student-run organization within the [Science

cannot fit five per cent o f your stu­ dent society in the room. There was a great idea to provide an opportunity to debate questions, and to release video and sound clips from that particular debate online. And to have the vote online so students can hear about both the pros and cons o f a particular resolution as w ell as the opportunity to engage in direct democracy.

3LAGH NEWBURAH

How would you address the issues surrounding the General Assembly?

It’s silly for us to pretend that the GA is a democratic forum if you

What would be the main things you push for in the MoA renegotiations?

Some very important things should be fought for in the MoA agreement, such as the right to use the M cGill logo and the name. [Also important are the] continued use o f phone lines, em ails, and website domains, as w ell as ensuring that the Students’ Society is able to operate independently and successfully.

I think it’s an incredibly important institution, and I’m not ready to give up on it y et I also recognize that as the president, I’m not the only person with the answers about what GA reform would look like.

There are so many options for what we could do to make the GA a better system .

SARAH WOOLF How will your past experience with SSMU influence your approach to the presidential portfolio?

One o f the things that the president needs to do is to always have a really strong institutional memory, That doesn't mean you necessarily have to have been previously directly involved in order to president, but I think you have to have strong sense o f SSM U, its history and how

it functions, as w ell as M cGill and how it functions. My experience has been firmly planted in all aspects o f both SSMU and M cGill. I think the relationships I’ve built with the administration, with other councillors, and with people on campus w ill help me to pursue the best interests o f students.

What do you intend to do about General Assemblies?

What would be your main priorities in the Memorandum of Agreement negotiations with McGiU? One o f the biggest things is that the MoA and the lease are tied together. I’d like to see them separate. However, I don’t know if that w ill be possible. I haven’t been in our previous discussions about the MoA with the administration. What I’d like to see is more security from the administration [with respect to the Shatner Building], whether that’s a longer lease or taking over

What do you think you could practically accomplish on the Board of Governors, and how would you work with other members of the board to advance student concerns?

It’s extremely important that w e represent the interests o f our students and as president I w ill certainly represent interests that are important to our students. I’ve indicated in my platform that something I’m interested in doing is increasing accessibility—providing an opportunity for students to be represented fairly and adequately.

high regard by many o f our students which is something that has not been in rem it history. A s president I would be implementing a vision, helping our team be successful. My vision is that we build community together, and w e can do so by em­ powering student athletes. Athletics is something apolitical everyone can rally around and celebrate the M cGill name. Let’s create a student society that w e are proud o f and this is one o f the opportunities in which we could bring people together.

If you were a mixed drink, what would you be?

I would be a Jâger Bomb:

What has SSMU done right something that is both tasty and dethis year and what would you licious and gets you drunk real fast, look to do differently?

I think that SSMU has done a great job at revitalizing Gert’s, making it a student bar that is held in

the utilities. 1 think the administration needs to give up more security so that we feel comfortable putting more money into it so that the building is best functioning-for students,

As the only undergraduate voice on the Board of Governors, how would you work with other members to advance student concerns?

I flunk my experience on Senate has given me a lot o f [expertence working with administrators]. 1 have no problem standing strong on student concerns. But I also know how important it is to be collaborative, to be respectful, to recognize that fundamentally w e both want student life on M cG ill’s campus to be as strong as possible. Sometimes w e just have different ideas about what that means.

What has SSMU done right

this year, and what would you do differently?

This year, the executive has been exceptionally strong. I’m impressed with them on a constant basis. I think Council has been weak this year. I’m still thinking about how I would try to stimulate more discussion and make it more accessible to non-councillors. 1 really think it’s been a strong year for SSM U and I’m looking forward to building o ff o f it

If you were a mixed drink, what type would you be?

I think I would probably be a brown cow, because m ilk’s really good for you. You really could probably have it any time o f day and be just fine,

O p in io n

8 • 9 March 2010

Commentary Bernard Rudny

WHY WE NEED THE TRIB

Let’s talk about accountability. I realize that sounds about as enticing as “let’s shovel horse manure” or “let’s talk about our relation­ ship,” but bear with me.

Right now, a student politician is wasting your money. Or m aybe—if it’s a good day— they’re just saying something stupid on your behalf. Either way, it’s bad news for you.

Sometimes the problem is corruption: last February, an AUS executive “misappro­ priated” a $2,000 gift certificate and threw herself a party in a hotel suite. Other times, the issue is incompetence: last March, the Stu­ dents’ Society spent more than $400 on a lob­ bying trip during which they didn’t meet with a single government representative. (Instead, they spent most of their time with Québec Solidaire’s Amir Khadir—which is the Quebec equivalent of lobbying Ralph Nader.) Perhaps the best-known McGill sinkhole is Haven Books, which SSMU bought against the ad­ vice of its auditors and will cost students about $250,000 by the time it closes in April.

I could cite more examples—Science Frosh’s $20,000 budget shortfall a few years ago springs to m ind—but anybody who hasn’t gotten my point by now is either illiterate or a cultural studies major. (Zing!)

Then again, maybe you don’t care about these scandals. Maybe you’re similarly tired of hearing about pro-death clubs, Icelandic Apartheid Week, or whatever issue is enraging McGill students these days. Maybe you think campus politics are a load of crock.

Fair enough. Just remember that you’re bankrolling student politicians’ shenanigans.

The typical Arts student, for example, will pay roughly $380 in fees to SSMU and the AUS over the course of a four-year degree (plus roughly $425 more in opt-outable fees like the

Commentary Ben Lemieux

WHAT THE TRIBUNE TAUGHT ME Although four years and thousands of dol­ lars was a steep price, I do give McGill credit for teaching me one extremely important les­ son: the most relevant, edifying learning is ac­ complished outside the classroom.

At first I thought that university would be training. Training to become a political analyst or a Byron scholar or a future professor. Train­ ing to one day make a contribution of my own to the intellectual community.

I became none of those. Instead, I learned

s

mcgilltribune.com

sing-along? This is the only movie that rips at my heartstrings—except for Angels in the Outfield when Danny Glover says, “you got an

Ambassador Fund or the Arts Improvement Fund). Given how much of your money is at stake, paying $3 per semester for a campus watchdog—namely, the Tribune—is a bar­ gain.

And this newspaper really is M cGill’s watchdog. Its reporting team may not be Woodward and Bernstein, but most scandals at McGill are uncovered or publicized by the Tribune. That’s not a dig at the competition—I used to write for the Daily and it’s a fine news­ paper. However, it’s Tribune reporters who have usually raked the campus muck.

Student politicians sometimes rival the Nixon administration in terms of cover-ups.

The aforementioned hotel party is an excel­ lent example: to keep the scandal out of the campus press, AUS Council issued a gag order for its own members. SSMU acted similarly in 2008, when it forced an executive to keep quiet about his own resignation. Although the Tribune still broke both of these stories, they don’t say much for the level of transparency in student government.

I realize that not all student politicians are crooks and liars. But some of them undoubt­ edly are, and campus newspapers are the only thing holding their feet to the fire. As a SSMU executive recently told me, “If the Trib doesn’t write about something, it’s as if it never hap­ pened.”

Unlike other Tribune alumni, I’m not going to wax nostalgic. Being a student jour­ nalist drove up my blood pressure, deprived me of sleep, and taught me to describe two cigarettes and a cup of coffee as “lunch.” It was like being a runway model, only with fewer long-term career prospects.

However, if the current independence referendum fails, there w on’t be a McGill Tri­ bune. That may be good news for crooked stu­ dent politicians and the dietary habits of Tri­ bune editors, but it’s bad news for your wallet and your campus. So this election season, be a cynical, self-interested cheapskate—save the Tribune.

You can vote online a t ovs.ssmu.mcgill. ca until March 11. Bernard Rudny is a McGill alumnus, a form er Daily columnist, and a fo r ­ mer Tribune opinion editor.

I‘m in love with popular culture.

Professing my love for the things that ev­ erybody else likes makes me completely unin­ teresting, yet also remarkably controversial.

But then again, love is love. It’s a fickle fancy. There are legitimate gripes with popu­ lar culture, such as it’s intense corporatization and rampant materialism. Or that it distracts the masses from political concerns, reinforces gender and racial stereotypes, and dilutes the quality of music, literature, and film. And the gripes go on and on ...

And on.

But the pop culture’s crappy parts aren’t exclusive to the mainstream: unpopular art can also spread lousy messages. And the good part of pop culture is how it makes people feel.

While obscure cultural artefacts are great for the person who discovers them, pop culture represents not just a piece of media, but a col­ lective experience.

Harry Potter is the single greatest piece of literature ever produced because an entire generation of non-readers waited eagerly for a Hogwarts letter on their 11th birthday. Yes, it was an emotional ride—but it was our roller­ coaster to ride together.

The Beatles and other major pop bands are the greatest musicians. Not because they have the most talent, or are the best looking, or write the best lyrics, but because they cre­ ate ties that bind people together. They make people feel happy and connected to the world around them.

Remember the Titans is the single best movie ever made. Enough said. (But to please my editor: Denzel, a racially divided commu­ nity brought together by their loveable football team, and an A in ’t No Mountain High Enough

to be a musician, a drinking buddy, a haunt­ er of used bookstores, a decent boyfriend, at times an indecent boyfriend, a roommate, a re­ luctant Facebook user, and a lover of the night.

Above all, however, I became a writer.

Writing—journalism in particular—gets into your blood. Gradually, it becomes a defin­ ing, intrinsic characteristic of your being, as involuntary as hemoglobin carrying oxygen to your tissues. From my four-year tenure as contributor, editor, and columnist, one Tribune experience stands out as a firm testament to the unyielding passion of student journalists.

I arrived at Dawson College on Septem­ ber 13,2006, a few minutes after Kimveer Gill opened fire in a cafeteria full of students. The building was still being emptied and dozens of students were running franticly into the streets, many of them still shaken from having seen friends and classmates dropping terrified or bloodied to the cafeteria floor. When Mayor

Gerald Tremblay arrived to make a statement, a group of students who had recently been evacuated set down their water bottles and, with swiftness and incomprehensible zeal, pulled out pen and pad to pull quotations from his speech. They all wrote for The Plant, Daw­ son’s student-run newspaper.

The McGill Tribune’s livelihood and ex­ istence is (once again) threatened. You, the stu­ dents, will cast the deciding vote as to whether this publication will live on with your funding and support, or be reduced to memories and some back issues stockpiled in my room.

As a journalist, it would be unethical for me to describe my bias in this affair as less than absolute. The Tribune was a professor of mine. Under its tutelage, I learned to work, argue, and come to compromise with people whose opinions were radically different from mine. I learned to take it in stride when letterwriters, SSMU councillors, and other assorted

HOW SW EET IT IS TO BE IN LOVE W ITH POP CULTURE

While obscure cultural artefacts are great for the person who discovers them, pop culture represents not just a piece of media, but a collective experience. angel with you right now” and an entire city flaps their wings and believes more than even Nikki Yanofsky. Okay, now enough has been said.)

And the Olympics, for all their faults, are the greatest sporting event. Because on Sunday night—even as VIA Rail’s Internet faltered and the bullies in first class wouldn’t even let the poor economy class plebeians find out the score in the gold medal m en’s hockey gam e—half the country celebrated together and felt proud to be part of something bigger than themselves. Because when Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir were better looking than all of their competition, every Canadian was. Be­ cause even if there are still serious problems that need to be dealt with, far more people are conscious of First Nations and affordable housing issues in Vancouver than before the Olympics. Because the Olympics are like the United Nations without politics—and things without politics aren’t always so terrible. And mostly because we need to accept that some­ times it’s okay for more than some dubiously generalized girls to just want to have fun. (Yes, I just referenced Cyndi Lauper. Deal with it.)

There is more to life than pop culture.

The obscure is often good in its own right.

And obviously not only the mainstream can remind people of wonderful personal experi­ ences. There’s also a certain pride in liking things that other people aren’t aware o f—a sense of cultural ownership and the rough pleasure of going against the grain. I just think it’s silly not to like something because every­ one else thinks its great.

But then again, what do I know? I ’m just a fool in love.

reactionaries decried me as a racist and a mi­ sogynist. I learned that something as common as ink and paper can make you feel invincible.

I learned that truth is integrity, and integrity is truth.

These are lessons that other 19-year-olds want and need to learn. They can be learned by participating in, or sometimes merely by turning to, the opinion section. And, most im­ portantly, these are lessons that belong to all of you.

I am immutably, inexorably blissful that I became a mediocre student and a damn good writer. If I had to do it again, I would do it the same.

You can vote online at ovs.ssmu.mcgill. ca until March 11. Ben Lemieux is a McGill alumnus, a form er Tribune arts and entertain­ ment editor, and a form er Tribune columnist.

YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME— BUT YOU COULD BE.

\

THE TRIBUNE'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS ACCEPTING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2010-11 ACADEMIC YEAR. TO APPLY FOR THE POSITION, PLEASE DROP OFF A COVER LETTER, A CM, AND THREE RELEVANT WRITING OR DESIGN SAMPLES AT THE SSMU OFFICE FRONT DESK (BROWN BUILDING, SUITE 1200) TO THE ATTENTION OF VP CLUBS AND SERVICES SARAH OLLE. THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS MARCH 15 AT 5 P.M. LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

»_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ /

Curiosity Delivers.

9 March 2010 • 9

—---------------- E D IT O R IA L ------—

5®

ëMc Gill ^ tribun e www.mcgUltribune.com

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The Tribune’s 2010 winter referendum endorsements

MANAGING EDITOR A dam Scotti ascotti @ mcgil ltribune .com

NEWS EDITORS Tori C raw ford Theo M eyer new s@ m cgilltribune.com

FEATURES EDITOR Shannon K im ball features@ m cgilltribune.com

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Laura Tindal arts@ m cgilltribune.com

j [

\ j

Eight referenda and a plebiscite question appear on the Students ’ Society winter electoral ballot. After careful deliberation, the Tribune editorial board has endorsed a position on each o f the questions. Our candidate en­ dorsements appear on pages 10 & 11. Even if you choose to ignore our reccommendations, make sure you vote between now and Thurs­ day at ovs.ssmu.mcgill.ca.

Tribune Independence

SPORTS EDITOR K ailan Leung sports@ m cgilltribune.com

PHOTO EDITOR Julia W ebster photo@ m cgilltribune.com

COPY EDITOR C arolyn G régoire

ONLINE EDITOR A lexandr C artasiov online@ m cgilltribune.com

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Nebulous Elections’ McGill bylaws pre­ vent the Tribune from endorsing its own refer­ endum question, but you can read letters from j former editors on pages 8 & 15. A “yes” vote on this question would establish the Tribune as an independent newspaper, while a “no” vote jeopardizes the future of the newspaper you’re holding.

Policies on m atters external to the So­ ciety: YES

Dallas Bentley cpm @ ssm u.m cgill.ca

This is the third consecutive year in which G A reform has been on the referendum ballot.

This year’s question seeks to make it harder to consider motions external to SSM U’s normal activities, requiring a 500-person quorum and a two-thirds majority vote before an external issue can be debated at a GA. This is clearly aimed at preventing motions similar to the “Is­ rael motions” introduced at the last two winter GAs. The Tribune feels that this motion is a step in the right direction. GAs are most use­ ful when they set internal policy, rather than when they attempt to pass symbolic motions on divisive external issues. If w e’re going to keep the GA, let’s use it for setting achievable policy directives. The Tribune is also in favour of the 500-person quorum, which would help prevent fringe groups from passing motions unrepresentative of the general student body.

PUBLISHER C had Ronalds

C O N TR IB U TO R S

Bodily Sovereignty in the SSM U Con­ stitution: NO

M att E ssert, D an ie lle G a n n o n , G ra c e G lo w ic k i, A lex H a m ilto n , M o o k ie K id ec k el, B en L e m ie u x , A dam .

L e v in e, J a n e t M c M u lle n , B rittan y R a p p a p o rt, B ern a rd R u d n y , A d am S ad in sk y , S h aw n S te n h o u s e , H olly S te w a rt, R y an T aylor, R o ss T re lo er, S ean W ood

T R IB U N E O F F IC E S

E D IT O R IA L

ADVERTISING

Shatner U niversity Centre

Brown Student Building

Suite 110, 3480 M cTavish

Suite 1200, 3600 M cTavish

M ontreal, QC H3A 1X9

M ontreal,Q C H3A 1Y2

T: 5 M .398.6789

T: 514.398.6835

necessarily represent those of the Students’ Society or McGill Uni­ versity. Letters to the editor may be sent to letters@mcgilltribune.

contact information. Letters should be kept under 300 words and submitted only to the Tribune. Submissions judged by the Tribune Publication Society to be libellous, sexist, racist, homophobic or sole­ ly 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.

Funding

the

C onstitution Section III: Yes Students’ Society President Ivan Neilson has made restructuring SSMU committees a personal focus throughout the academic year.

In keeping with this practice, this referendum would transfer Section III of the SSMU con­ stitution—which describes the role of the Con­ stitutional Review Committee, the Financial Ethics Research Committee, and the Nominat­ ing Committee—into the bylaws. Since all the duties of all other committees of council are found in the bylaws—which are easier to alter than the constitution—it is unclear why these committees were included in the constitution.

The Tribune, therefore, unanimously urges you to vote yes on this initiative.

TVM cGil’s opt-outable 50-cent fee would allow them to continue to provide re­ sources and training for students interested in media and audio-visual production, acquire more much-needed equipment, and to produce additional content. The Tribune would like to see them continue to make strides in their programming quality and scope. We therefore endorse this fee.

QPIRG Bylaw Changes: YES

Student Life: Yes No matter how you feel about the Que­ bec Public Interest Research Group's policies and politics, a “yes” vote is the only sensible choice on this referendum question. QPIRG is asking that they be able to change their by­ laws at Annual General Meetings, rather than through campus-wide referendum. This is standard practice for not-for-profit organiza­ tions, and eliminates the unfair current system where students who opt-out of QPIRG’s fee can still have a say in the group’s bylaws.

Combatting false parallels Re: “Supressing debate: Ontario’s lan­ guage politics” by Max Silverman (23.10) In his article, Max Silverman relies on two ad hominem arguments instead of criti­ cally analyzing the relevant issues. To me, and clearly the Ontario legislature, Peter Shurm an’s judgment of the event “Israeli Apartheid

lished by the Students' Society of McGill University in collabora­

question:

The Table de Concertation Étudiant du Québec is a lobby group co-founded by SSMU in 2009. While still in its infancy, TaCEQ seems to be preferable to bloated organiza­ tions like La Fédération étudiante universitaire du Québec (FEUQ), of which SSMU used to be a member. The Tribune encourages a “yes” vote so that TaCEQ can lobby to receive the provincial funding it deserves, instead of levy­ ing a student fee to finance its operations.

TVM cGill Funding: YES

Week” was accurate.

The fact that the Ontario Government united in this message condemning IAW does not, by virtue, make it true. Rather, it is an ex­ pression of the belief that comparing Israel—a democratic state—to Apartheid South Africa is a blatant misuse of the word “Apartheid.”

Instead of challenging Shurman’s or similar analysis of the issue (e.g.—Michael Ignatieff’s condemnation of IAW), Max Silverman insinuates that Shurman’s view is inaccurate because he is a “white, Jewish Conservative man.” For a more trustworthy judgment, he claims that we should believe Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s analysis of the Middle East

tion with the Tribune Publication Society. Opinions expressed do not

Plebiscite TaCEQ: YES

This question seeks to renew the $1.25 per semester (opt-outable) SSMU Environment Fee, which expires at the end of this year. The Tribune strongly endorses a “yes” vote for re­ newal, as the funds from this fee go towards a number of student-run green services, includ­ ing the Plate Club, Gorilla Composting, and a number of sustainability conferences and events. It’s also important to note that the new Sustainability Projects Fund—into which stu­ dents pay $7.50 per semester—doesn’t make the Environment Fee redundant. The SSMU Green Fund can prioritize student projects that try to make day-to-day SSMU operations more environmentally friendly, while the SPF focusses on large-scale, campus-wide initia­ tives.

The World University Service Commit­ tee receives 50-cents per semester from under­ graduates to provide financial aid to refugees attending McGill. This referendum, if passed,

The McGill Tribune is an editorially autonomous newspaper pub­

would allow WUSC to provide financial sup­ port to students from developing countries if there are no eligible refugee students. While in an ideal world there would be more eligible refugees attending McGill, it makes no sense for this money to sit unused while there are deserving recipients who could use the assis­ tance.

Environm ent Fee Renewal: YES

While the Tribune is pro-human dignity and bodily sovereignty, we question the need for this change to the preamble. Our reasons for opposing this question are strictly in re­ gards to concerns over vagueness and misin­ terpretation in the future. While changing the preamble of the Constitution in the short term might seem like a good idea, we are concerned that a ‘yes’ vote could restrict pro-life groups from exercising their right to respectful free speech. Is advocating a pro-life position fun­ damentally incompatible with bodily sover­

F: 514.398.7490

com and must include the contributor’s name, program and year and

eignty? If so, then this change would stifle a legitimate viewpoint. SSMU proved that the current model for dealing with pro-life groups works, giving Choose Life the right to form, and then correctly taking away their club sta­ tus when they acted inappropriately—so why try to fix something that isn’t broken?

WUSC Scholarship Fund: YES

Currently, unspent money from student fees intended for clubs and services, or un­ spent surpluses from those clubs or services, is automatically placed in a capital expenditures fund—which can only be used to acquire or upgrade physical assets, such as the Shatner building, furniture, or equipment. Should it pass, this referendum would reallocate money earmarked for clubs and services into a fund that can be accessed in future years to finance student projects. There is no reason that these surpluses should not go toward worthy causes including McGill First Aid Service, Drivesafe, the Sexual Assault Centre of McGill Students’ Society, the Green Fund, and other valued ser­ vices. The Tribune unanimously supports this referendum.

crisis because of his involvement with true Apartheid in South Africa. The point is, how­ ever, that nothing about Shurman or Tutu implies whether or not their arguments about Israel are true. That is a fallacious use of the ad hominem argument. The fact is labeling Israel using the word Apartheid should not become comfortable in our everyday lexicon, lest we forget what real Apartheid means. Cer­ tain words were created to describe unique tragedies in human history and should not be thrown around callously.

— Eli Freedman UO Economics and Finance »

Letters continued on page 15

mcgilltribune .com

10*9 March 2010

SSMU Election Endorsements

After careful consideration, the McGill Tribune Editorial Board proudly presents our fifth annual SSMU election candidate endorsements.

While this year’s ballot includes two acclamations, we still provide our analysis of each candidate’s potential, along with our thoughts on the referendum questions (page 9). We’d like you to keep our endorsements in mind while voting, but ultimately, it’s your decision.

Do some research by reading our candidate interviews on pages 4-7, and cast your ballot online at ovs.ssmu.mcgill.ca by Thursday at 4 p.m.

President

VP University Affairs

□ □ ® □

□ JOSHUA ABAKI □ MATTHEW CRAWFORD m DAVID AVI LIPSITZ

STEFAN LINK ZACH NEWBURGH SARAH WOOLF TRIP YANG

The Tribune’s choice for Students’ So­ ciety president is current Arts Senator Sarah Woolf. Woolf is an articulate and experienced student politician who has been active on SSMU Council for the past two years. She has a firm grasp of the major issues facing SSMU, as well as practical and detailed plans for how she would tackle those issues. .

Woolf understands the presidential port­ folio and should be able to work effectively with the rest of the SSMU executives. She was impressive in the candidates’ debate, and has run a strong campaign centred on fighting tu­ ition hikes, renegotiating SSMU's Memoran­ dum of Agreement with McGill, and improv­ ing student services. The Tribune is confident that she will be a forceful and rational voice for student concerns both within the Society and to the administration.

We are concerned, however, about Woolf’s ability to control her emotions when she becomes passionate about an issue. While approachable and personable in social inter­ actions, Woolf can be brusque and polarizing when she disagrees with fellow student politi­ cians. While we agree that executives should be outspoken, we hope Woolf will employ more diplomacy and tact if she is elected.

The Tribune sees this presidential elec­ tion as a two-horse race, as a minority of the Tribune editorial board supports Zach New­ burgh for president. Newburgh has a wealth of organizational experience as SSMU speaker of council and the president of Hillel Mon­ treal. He displayed a pragmatic knowledge of SSMU politics and procedures in interviews, and would likely work to strengthen the or­ ganization without seeking to unrealistically overhaul SSMU. However, Newburgh leaned heavily on buzzwords during candidate debates and an interview with the Tribune—relying on catchphrases like “building community” instead of substantive policy ideas. His idea for a SSMU café—where executives would sit for an hour per day to meet with students—is unneces­ sary, and his focus on strengthening Greek Life seemed like a strategy to draw votes from fraternities, rather than a legitimate campaign issue.

While Trip Yang and Stefan Link have good intentions and a few good ideas, nei­ ther is qualified to be SSMU president. Both have no experience with the internal workings of SSMU, and w e’re at a loss to explain why they aimed for such a lofty position without first acquiring some basic experience in the day-to-day operations of the Society. In the debates, Link was unaware of the existence of

the McGill chapter of the Quebec Public In­ terest Research Group—a sign that he lacks the necessary knowledge to take charge of an organization with a multi-million dollar oper­ ating budget.

Although Link’s two main campaign issues—24-hour library service and a student run food co-op—are interesting, he displayed a poor grasp of the challenges of implementing either of those services. The library budget and staff are already stretched thin, and studentrun businesses are notoriously expensive and difficult to manage. While Link seems to have picked up much of the rhetoric and important issues in SSMU politics, he lacks the concrete plans needed to accomplish his goals.

Similarly, Yang is right to insist on GA reform—but we don’t think televising G As would do much to increase their democratic nature. Yang has no experience participat­ ing in student politics, which is reflected in misguided campaign ideas such as a massive dodgeball game and “pre-emptive” fundrais­ ers.

However, it’s heartening to see that the presidential portfolio attracted four candidates this year—a trend towards greater participa­ tion that is reflected in contested races for all but two executive positions this year. This year’s executive has done well to encourage potential candidates by making themselves more accessible. We hope next year’s execu­ tive will expand upon their efforts.

The Tribune strongly endorses David Lipsitz for the position of vice-president uni­ versity affairs. While we were impressed with the content of Joshua Abaki’s interview with the Tribune and with his performance at the candidate debates, the editorial board ulti­ mately decided that Lipsitz’s familiarity with the UAportfolio and the tangible, practical na­ ture of his platform goals make him the stron­ ger candidate.

While Abaki’s commitment to transpar­ ency and his readiness to ensure the admin­ istration follows through on funding projects is laudable, the Tribune believes that Lipsitz’s practical views on tuition, study abroad pro­ grams, and library hours are more achievable in the short term.

Lipsitz has been a senator since the be­ ginning of February, and has demonstrated a firm grasp of the issues in his portfolio. He has worked with multiple faculty groups and asso­ ciations, and his work as the chair of SSM U’s External Relations Committee will serve him well in his role as leader of Senate caucus.

The Tribune has been especially im­ pressed by Lipsitz’s ability to learn the ins and outs of university affairs in a relatively short time. In his interview with us and in the candidates’ debate, Lipsitz (who sits on the Tribune board of directors) impressed us with his thoughtful and articulate answers to ques­ tions.

Ig However, the Tribune has reservations about Lipsitz’s ability to make himself heard: he will need to show greater confidence in public speaking if he is to successfully lead SSMU’s Senate caucus. Abaki—for better or for worse—is a forceful presence, and a more commanding speaker than Lipsitz. While w e’re sure Lipsitz will excel with diplomacy, we hope that he can be outspoken when the situation demands an authoritative voice.

Dealing with the administration requires a mix of confidence, flexibility, and patience.

We strongly believe that Lipsitz will be in the best position to develop a strong rapport with university officials and act as an advocate for students’ concerns and interests next year.

VP Finance & Operations H NICHOLAS DREW Though he is an acclaimed candidate, the Tribune is pleased to endorse Nicholas Drew for the position of vice-president finance and operations.

Drew, who was encouraged to run by cur­ rent VP Finance and Operations Jose Diaz, seems ready to build on Diaz’s accomplish­ ments. Diaz revitalized G ert’s this year, get­ ting more people into the bar by serving fries and pizza at night and holding successful events throughout the year. Drew is enthusias­ tic about the contest to redesign G ert’s, which he hopes will draw in more students, and is considering hiring a marketing consultant for the bar.

Last month, Dfaz also made the longoverdue decision to shut down Haven Books, the Students’ Society’s financial sinkhole of a bookstore. Drew, who supported Diaz’s deci­ sion, says he’s interested in starting a book bazaar to replace Haven Books, which could

(ACCLAIMED) be held in the Shatner Building’s ballroom. An online service is another possibility.

Drew will bring both business and po­ litical experience to his portfolio next year.

He served on the Management Undergraduate Society executive this year as its representa­ tive to SSMU. While he hasn’t been active at SSMU Council meetings, Drew sits on both the Clubs and Services and the Operations Committee, which should give him a solid grounding in SSMU politics. H e’s also a bi­ lingual Montrealer, which is always a plus for an executive.

Diaz has done an excellent job on the fi­ nancial side of his portfolio as well this year; his conservative budgeting has left the Stu­ dents’ Society with current surplus of approxi­ mately $80,000. We hope Drew will continue Diaz’s competent management of the portfo­ lio.

Curiosity Delivers.

9 March 2010* 11

VP Internal

VP External

0 TOM FABIAN □ MARTA GRUNTMANE

□ ERIC JINSIAN 0 MYRIAM ZAIDI □ TEDI ANGONl

Tom Fabian has both experience and connections, which is why the Tribune is en­ dorsing him for the position of vice-president internal—with some reservations.

Fabian has extensive experience with Athletics. H e’s been the president of the Var­ sity Council, represented athletics at SSMU Council, and created the surprisingly success­ ful group Red Thunder, which organizes fan support for McGill games. While he will need to expand beyond Athletics as VP internal, maintaining a strong focus on sports is some­ thing that could be beneficial. At the debates, Fabian displayed a willingness to entertain issues beyond athletics and varsity council, and as long as he reaches out to other groups across campus, he will be a competent VP in­ ternal.

Fabian’s participation at Council, how­ ever, has been poor. While he has strong ex­ perience with events and organization, he will need to grow into the political aspects of the role.

And Marta Gruntmane? She planned her prom. * Gruntmane claims to be running for VP internal because she “loves McGill” —but un­ fortunately, that’s not enough to qualify her for the position. She has limited experience with university-level leadership, both in gen­ eral, and with SSMU in particular—her his­ tory as a Douglas Hall house representative and with high-school-level organizations are underwhelming for a VP internal candidate.

Her interest in a sustainable Frosh and increased SSMU executive visibility seems well intentioned but uninformed, as some of her goals have already been implemented and many others are non-specific. Fabian also ex­ pressed interest in a sustainable Frosh, and has some small-scale experience with starting the “slam dunk your junk” initiative for recycling bins after athletics events.

Both candidates also have welcome

ideas about Gert’s: Gruntmane would like to see something similar to Week 101 in the Fall, while Fabian likes the remodeling ideas and would like to see more athletics-centered Gert’s events.

The Tribune has concerns over both can­ didates’ familiarity with the portfolio beyond event planning. Neither seems to understand, for example, the level of involvement of SSMU execs at Frosh—from the planning to the twenty-hour workdays during Frosh week.

Nor do they acknowledge much beyond party planning—the position is VP internal, not VP events.

Additionally, a large part of this position is communication, negotiation, and dealing with complaints. We have reservations about both candidates’ ability to do this, since nei­ ther is particularly articulate, but feel that Fa­ bian is more likely to succeed in this aspect of the role.

In the last two years the SSMU vicepresident external has played a less visible role in student life. But next year, because of the provincial government’s proposed tuition hikes, the external portfolio will likely take centre stage. Fortunately, there’s one candi­ date with the experience to tackle this compli­ cated issue—Myriam Zaidi, who the Tribune strongly endorses for the position of SSMU VP external.

Zaidi is the most qualified VP external candidate. She has extensive experience in the portfolio, having sat on SSMU’s external af­ fairs committee for the last two years and hav­ ing served as an arts representative to SSMU Council since November. She is also a former CEGEP student union president.

Zaidi’s competition for the external posi­ tion is weak. Eric Jinsan, currently the Fresh­ man Undergraduate Science Society presi­ dent, centered his campaign on the promise to institute a student-subsidized undergraduate transit pass—which should be far down the list of priorities for next year’s VP external.

Likewise, Tedi Angoni displayed poor knowl­ edge of the external portfolio in an interview with the Tribune—likely a function of his lack of experience with the Society.

Zaidi, however, campaigned on relevant issues. She promised to combat next year’s proposed tuition increases—saying, during the election debates, that it was an “insult” that students haven’t been consulted on the pro­ posed hikes. Her experience with the last two VP externals, and firm grasp of the minutia of federal and provincial politics, will allow her to start combating tuition hikes the moment she takes office.

Zaidi also pledged to increase the vis­ ibility of the Table de Concertation Étudiante du Québec (TaCEQ)—the student lobbying organization co-founded by SSM U—both onand off-campus. She sharply criticized bloated

student lobbying groups, including la FEUQ and ASSÉ, which scored major points with the Tribune editorial board.

Increasing TaCEQ’s visibility will be a challenge, however. Current VP External Se­ bastian Ronderos-Morgan has helped lay the groundwork for the organization, but there’s a long way to go to make TaCEQ an effec­ tive lobby group. Zaidi wants to pick up where Ronderos-Morgan left off, and the Tribune en­ courages her to do so.

In the candidate debates and on the cam­ paign trail, Zaidi displayed a firm grasp of the portfolio. W hat’s more, she proposed tangible solutions to specific problems. She is bilin­ gual, courteous, affable, and approachable.

Besides that, she understands the ins and outs of student politics. Though increasing Ta­ CEQ’s visibility will be tough, and the provin­ cial government seems dead-set on increasing tuition, the Tribune is certain Zaidi will rise to the occasion. We wish her the best of luck.

VP Clubs & Services 0 ANUSHAY KHAN Although the vice-president clubs and services position is acclaimed, the Tribune strongly endorses Anushay Khan. Thanks to her tenure as SSM U’s interest group coordi­ nator, Khan is likely the most qualified indi­ vidual for the position. She is familiar with the day-to-day workings of SSMU, the organiza­ tion’s policies, and also with the executive and members of many clubs.

Khan’s competence and knowledge of the portfolio are evident in the specific plans she outlined in her platform. Khan will seek to increase club space by creating multipurpose rooms, improve and make greater use of the kiosk in the Shatner lobby, and continue im­ provements to the SSMU website. Not only are these goals specific, they are also achiev­

(ACCLAIMED) able in the coming year.

Although she is not currently a council­ lor and her presence is not required, Khan has been a familiar figure at SSMU Council meet­ ings. Given the lacklustre attendance of many councillors, this is particularly impressive.

In addition, Khan has vowed to take an apolitical stance on issues that should arise in her portfolio. The controversies that have sur­ rounded Choose Life over the past few years are key examples of why it is importance for the VP C&S not to let his or her personal opin­ ions influence their role as a facilitator.

In terms of personal characteristics, Khan is enthusiastic, approachable, and informed, all qualities that will serve her well as VP C&S.

The Tribune wishes all candidates good luck!

The 18th annual Montreal Fashion Week kicked o ff in style . week. The festival was full o f innovative fashion shows, glam tion o f Le Showroom, in which leading designers play host to M FW also continued its campaign to encourage the use o f app in support o f the Quebec Charter for a Healthy and Diverse L Meanwhile, the unspoken rules o f fashion shows did not seem was broken with aplomb by stylish young fashionistas in a vai Canada’s unofficial fashion capital, the atmosphere was celebr siasm o f many o f the young designers was enough to warm th> industry insider.

BY DANIELLE GANNON & BRITTANY F

The Future of Canadian Fashion: Concours TÉLIO 2010

Soïa & Kyo After the high-art style o f the TÉLIO competition, and the glitz and glamour o f Barilà, the Soïa & Kyo show presented an elegant practicality with its m en’s and women’s outerwear collection. Since its debut in 2004, the brand has risen among the ranks o f the fashion outerwear industry, and this collection was no exception. Highlights included down coats with asym­ metrically structured collars, belted pea coats in a variety o f jewel tones, and black wool motorcycle jackets with oversized buttons. Ever mindful of his clientele, designer Ilan Elfassy provided polished ways to combat the Montreal cold. One standout piece was a playful blue plaid mid-length coat with a high-buttoned collar. Despite the warmth o f the room, the bundled-up models bounded down the runway in distressed boyfriend jeans topped with large bow headbands or soft knit berets. The models were also doing some­ thing not often seen at fashion shows: smiling. Continuing with the playful atmosphere, attendees at the show were given gift bags containing heartshaped keychains, Soïa & Kyo bike bells, and a shiny mint-green mouse pad.

For the second time at Montreal Fashion Week, the TÉLIO Design Competition recognized some o f Canada’s best and brightest fashion stu­ dents in a runway show o f their own. The 25 finalists were selected from 20 participating fashion-design schools across Canada. Each finalist showcased one design on the runway in the hope o f receiving one o f five scholarships totalling $10,000. Sponsored by TÉLIO, one o f North America’s leading textile import/export and distribution companies, the Concours TÉLIO of­ fers aspiring Canadian fashion designers a platform to help jumpstart their careers and prepare them for the commercial realities o f the fashion indus­ try.

For the 2010 competition, students were asked to design “a uniquely modem, timeless, and authentic creation that would identify their garment as art-à-porter; the new must-have for women at a high-end retail company.”

The finalists showcased their creations to the raucous applause o f the audi­ ence.

In the end, the first prize o f a $3,500 scholarship was awarded to Andy Hoan Nguyen o f College Lasalle in Montreal. His artfully tailored, broadshouldered black jacket evoked a Mildred Pierce-meets-Lady Gaga aesthet­ ic. Andre Télio, President o f TÉLIO, was impressed by this year’s contend­ ers. “[They] surpassed expectations,” he said.

The o f the Fo hunting a tication w paired wil Dimitri C present ir against kr boots. Bo reminisce made “M; scarves, r old-world truly a fe£

the Marché Bonsecours last )us parties, and the fifth edilyers from around the world. )riately aged, healthy models iy Image, launched in 2009. apply here; the all-black rule y o f berry-coloured tights. In ry, and the breathless enthuearts o f even the most jaded

°P A P O R T

Fashion Week concluded in a cascade o f fringe on Thursday night as Denis Gagnon showcased his highly anticipated new collection. The show opened with a clip from the new documentary film about the designer, Je M ’A ppelle Denis Gagnon. Gagnon’s brilliance was woven through every piece as crochet, mesh, leather, fur, and fringe came together in his thoughtful and artistic designs. There was a Princess Leia/tribal feel to his collection, joining blacks, browns, slate, and midnight blue in his designs.

In an act o f appreciation to his devoted following in this city, Gagnon ran his show twice backto-back; his second show was the only one open to the public during Montreal Fashion Week. As line-ups o f ticket-holders formed outside Marché Bonsecours, the first show concluded with a stand­ ing ovation (a rarity at Montreal Fashion Week). Yes, the dresses were at times revealing, but that’s quite alright on the catwalk— especially if your name is Denis Gagnon.

Barilà’s Fall/Winter 2010 collection reworked the recent pleather leggings trend in a variety of ways, including niching, lacing, and ribbing. It appears that the legging is here to stay, albeit with more attention to design. A standout was a black, busty pleather catsuit which elicited hoots and hol­ lers from a normally quiet audience. In addition to the pleather leggings was a curious faux-leather quilted short that embodied Barilà’s glam-rock aesthetic.

The rock star vibe continued throughout the collection in the form o f fitted blazers, cowl necks, and jumpsuits, returning trends from last year’s collections. As designer Sabrina Barilà explained, the philosophy o f this collection came from staying “true to Barilà’s essence, which encourages us to play with our wardrobe.”

Barilà’s inspiration for the fun-loving spirit o f the collection was drawn mainly from indie rock groups and the video game Rock Band. Models strutted haughtily down the runway to The Hives; one or two carried a set o f drumsticks or had a flying-V guitar slung casually across her back. The show concluded in an explosion o f silver confetti and lively applause as the clearly elated Barilà sisters took the runway.

PHOTOS BY ALICE WALKER

mitri Chris Fall/Winter 2011 collection, aptly titled “Master ounds,” calls itself “the perfect symbiosis between the art o f the art o f tailoring.” The collection exuded patrician sophisl an undeniably modem flair; herringbone hunting caps were sumptuous leather gloves and chunky knit scarves, pointing the s aesthetic firmly towards the future. The richly varied texture te collection continued with tailored wool jackets juxtaposed capes and crisp white shirts worn with patent leather equestrian :ies, sixties-inspired sunglasses, and slick, side-parted hair were o f Tom Ford’s A Single Man. It was the attention to detail that er o f the Foxhounds” truly special— hidden buttons, integrated srsible coats, and an abundance o f knitwear married polished egance with young, urban sophistication in a collection that was for the senses.

St u d e n t l i v i n g MIXIN’ VIXEN

SPOTLIGHT ON CAMPUS

Back to basics: margaritas

Students Supporting Disabilities

Forgo extra flavours to bring out the best o f this classic drink

New M cGill club gains campus­ wide support

SHANNON KIMBALL

a margarita with ice (a sealable coffee mug and a strainer can be substituted for a cocktail shaker) keeps the drink cold without diluting the alcohol.

JANET MCMULLEN C ontributor

Features Editor

Ingredients Canadian-Mexican cuisine is one step below Tex-Mex: anything that’s spicy and can be served with a tortilla is labeled as Mexican food. While I can’t change the food—the best Mexican food ingredients are nearly impos­ sible to find in Montreal—the margaritas are certainly fixable.

Most margaritas are a slushy, watered down mixture of tequila, lime juice concen­ trate, and sugar. Unnecessary ingredients like frozen tropical fruit, lemon-lime soda, and water only further dilute the tequila. Add pro­ tein powder and toss it all in blender, and you have yourself a spiked fruit smoothie. While that might be a good way to end a workout, I like my margaritas to taste like tequila, with a hint of lime juice.

This recipe gets back to the roots of the famous Tijuana drink, without the frills. Sim­ ple syrup replaces grainy sugar, and Cointreau adds an orange undertone that brings out the flavours of the tequila. While lime juice is a necessity, too much will make your throat bum and requires additional sugar, so only add as much as you can handle.

A note on mixing: blending any drink with ice dilutes the flavor because half of the contents of every sip are water. Shaking

MYSTERY VEGETABLE, SERVED TWO WAYS Fennel is my favourite vegetable by all counts, but not one that I see people cooking with very often. However, I use it all the time, and I ’m always pleasantly surprised by the many ways it can be used.

Fennel is a root vegetable that looks like a cross between a white onion and celery, with dill sprouting from the top. In medieval Eu­ rope, fennel was believed to be apotropaic:

I

mcgilltribune.com

ABOUT.COM

While many students are directly or indi­ rectly affected by disabilities, until now, few have felt comfortable enough to talk about it with their peers, fearing discrimination or lack of understanding from others. Students Sup­ porting Disabilities (SSD), a new McGill club, is working to change this.

The mandate of the club is simple: to pro­ vide an open social support network for stu­ dents who have been affected by physical or mental disability in one way or another. While most club members either have a disability or know individuals with disabilities, others are also welcome.

“The club caters to people who want to learn more about disabilities and how to bring about awareness and understanding,” says Molara Awosedo, president of SSD. The group, which is currently working towards becoming an official SSMU club, was initiated at McGill last semester after Awose­ do and co-founder Silvana Lovera discovered that they shared something in common: both have siblings with autism. They found a sup­ port network in each other and wanted to ex­ tend this to the rest of the McGill community.

“Just because of the relief we felt with each other, we thought it would be cool to start a group,” remarks Lovera, executive vicepresident of Students Supporting Disabilities. “[We wanted to] let other people, who prob­ ably don’t know someone who has a sibling or friend with a disability, just [meet others who have had] the same experience growing up,” adds Awosedo.

In keeping with their mandate, a signifi­ cant portion of meetings is devoted to discus­ sion centered on disability. At each meeting, the group focusses on a specific discussion topic, such as how disability has impacted members’ goals or how to cope with being in a different province than affected relatives. “[We had] one meeting where we just stayed for an hour-and-a-half talking and it didn’t feel as if I was being pulled or dragged

people carried fennel bulbs around or ate dishes with fennel to ward off the evil eye.

It’s popular in Italian cuisine, but also goes well with most Mediterranean ingredients.

It’s a key ingredient in absinthe, and its Ital­ ian name, finocchio, has gay connotations in contemporary slang. And to think, so many people pass it in the supermarket without giv­ ing it a second glance.

Fennel is a really unique vegetable be­ cause you can eat it raw or cooked, but it tastes radically different in these two forms.

Raw, fennel tastes distinctly like licorice or anise. Many Italians eat raw fennel after meals to cleanse their palettes. Cooked, this flavour mellows and becomes sweet and mild. Any time you’re roasting or braising winter or root vegetables, consider cooking fennel with po­ tatoes, celery, shallots, or leeks.

A note on cutting up a fennel bulb: dis­ card the green stalks at the top and the out­

ermost layer of the vegetable. Reserve some of the soft green fronds at the top. It’s easiest to next slice the bulb in half. You’ll notice a tough, fibrous core at the base. This is ined­ ible, so remove it and cook with the layers that remain.

I had some friends over for dinner last weekend and decided to focus on fennel: I served it in two dishes, raw and cooked. As an appetizer, I cut two bulbs of fennel and half of a red onion into paper-thin slices (it takes a very sharp knife and a lot of patience), creating long strands. I tossed the slices with olive oil, salt, pepper, and grapefruit juice. I happened to have a blood orange on hand, so I chopped some segments and tossed them in. This salad was aggressive, edgy and filled with bright fla­ vours and delightful crunch. It was outstand­ ing. I garnished the salad with chopped fennel fronds, which looked bright and green on top of the red and white salad.

• •

• • • •

1 shot agave tequila 1/2 shot Cointreau (Grand Marnier can be substituted if you don’t want to splurge, although the flavor will be distinctly dif­ ferent) The juice of 1-2 limes 1/2 cup ice cubes A dash of simple syrup Kosher salt

Directions 1.

2.

3.

To make the simple syrup, mix two parts sugar with one part water and heat until viscous. This can be made in large batch­ es and refrigerated for later use.

Run a lime wedge along the rim of a cocktail glass (do not use water—this dissolves the salt). Pour the salt onto a plate and dip the glass until a thin rim of salt forms.

Pour the ingredients over the ice into a shaker. Shake until condensation appears on the outside, and strain into the saltrimmed glass, ice-filled glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

to a meeting,” says Lovera. “It was kind of a cool way to socialize and get to know peo­ ple.”

The group has also been dedicating much of their time and effort to planning their up­ coming “R” word campaign. Through posters on campus, a website, and word of mouth, SSD hopes to make students aware that using the word “retard” is unacceptable and hurt­ ful, even if comments are not directed toward people with disabilities.

“Words are used mistakenly all the time and within the wrong context,” ex­ plains Awosedo. “We hope to bring forth the knowledge that the words retard and retarded hurt people ... With this, they might catch themselves before using it in their everyday lingo.”

In future years, the co-founders hope to see the group extend further within the McGill and Montreal communities. The co-founders are optimistic about the future of SSD, but note that most of their executive and club

“Because of the relief we felt with each other, we thought it would be cool to start a group.”

—Lovera

members are graduating this year and, if the club is to continue to grow, SSD needs more support from younger students.

SSD members find the experience fulfill­ ing. “You get a network of people who under­ stand something about you that most of your friends don’t,” says Lovera. “It’s not that it’s something bad, it’s not that it’s something that we keep secret, it’s just a different kind of un­ derstanding.”

SSD hopes to spread this sense of under­ standing and acceptance toward people with disabilities in the McGill community.

Students Supporting Disabilities meets Thursdays at 5 p.m. in the SSMU cafeteria. I f you are interested in learning more, please email Molara Awosedo and Silvana Lovera at ssdmcgill@gmail.com.

For the main course, I sautéed chopped fennel and zucchini in olive oil with lots of salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. I tossed the tender vegetables with linguine, and garnished the dish with chopped fennel fronds and basil.

I only used one fennel bulb and one zucchini to serve four people, but I would use two zuc­ chini and two fennel next time. When I served the dish, it seemed boring, so at the last min­ ute, I chopped some walnuts and toasted them briefly in a pan over high heat, and tossed them with the pasta. This was definitely the missing ingredient: the walnuts added crunch and richness.

If you’ve never cooked with fennel be­ fore, give it a chance. And if you have, keep pushing it further and see what you can do with it—it’s truly one of the unsung heroes of the supermarket.

9 March 2010 • 15

Curiosity Delivers.

Letters from the Editors Crystal Chan If you spend a lot of time complaining about McGill for its lack of or poorly run pro­ grams and student life, you would be a hypo­ crite to not vote YES for the Tribune’s inde­ pendence.

Okay, hypocrite’s a bit strong. But the point is, I spent a lot of time complaining about just that over my time at McGill. And the Tribune offered me the university ‘pro­ gram’ I wanted. It was also a social hub for me; w hat’s more, especially during my tenure as A&E editor, I heard countless times about how an event we announced got people out to a McGill theatre show or other event. Now, after 29 years of service (it’s been in print a whopping 17 years longer than the National Post), I hear the Tribune will most likely not be able to offer the quality and variety of re­ porting that students have come to expect if their referendum vote fails. I can't vote any­ more, which is why I urge everyone that can to do so. Even if you can’t feel the direct benefits now, I promise the lack of the paper would be strongly felt. No one wants a monopolized campus press, which is what the reduction or destruction of the Tribune would amount to.

Why else should you voté? I could pass on some of the many thank-yous and words of praise I ’ve heard from readers and friends, or how articles I myself read helped me. But my relationship first and foremost with the Tribune was as an editor for three years, not

just as a reader. So what I can offer is this: the Tribune was the most useful learning experi­ ence I had at McGill. McGill lacks a journal­ ism program, and this is, in essence, it. I’m an employed editor now. I wouldn’t be if it wasn’t for the Tribune.

Isn’t that what a service to students is all about? I had fun times and what I learned was essential. Why think twice before supporting that opportunity for yourself or future stu­ dents? We have more than one theatre group and more than one sports team on campus; ev­ eryone needs options to find their niche. For readers, the Tribune will even become more directly accountable to you if it’s independent.

Think about how much you pay for sports pro­ grams, whether or not you participate. Or for any SSMU or departmental group. The McGill Tribune is a service you’ve always paid for. So now, give yourself a voice: take the initiative to directly support the Tribune. It’ll cost you the equivalent of a Tiki Ming General Tao or Tim Horton’s sandwich combo per year!

—Crystal Chan B.A. ‘09 Managing Editor 2008-09 Copy Editor 2007-08 Arts Editor 2006-07 Montreal

Kavvon Afshari The answer to at least one upcoming referendum question is clear: students should vote in favour of a three-dollar fee to support the McGill Tribune’s independence. I worked as a news editor in 2006-2007 and can attest to the importance of having the Tribune for stu­ dents, editors, contributors, and myself.

The Trib was where I first learned what it means to be a journalist and an editor. Con­ cepts like writing a lead, conducting mean­ ingful interviews, challenging conventional wisdom, and engaging the reader were crys­ tallized while sitting on smelly couches eat­ ing crappy Lebanese food. As I reminisce over the past, I wonder where I would be had the Trib not been a part of my college years. I write this letter from the Foreign Desk in the CBS Newsroom in New York, taking time to procrastinate from my work. The position I consistently emphasized in post-graduation job interviews was my time at the McGill Tri­ bune.

More important than my own experience, the Trib serves a vital function in M cGill’s

marketplace of ideas. Take the current situa­ tion with Haven Books, for example. When the deal with Haven Books was announced in 2 0 0 7 ,1 covered it for this paper and Jesse Rosenfeld covered it for the McGill Daily.

Each article framed the creation of an off-cam­ pus consignment bookstore very differently.

The Daily drove the point of why it would not be run as a collective; I interviewed the Gen­ eral Manager of the University Bookstore who said, “I ’d be interested in how SSMU plans to discount used books and cover its costs.”

Regardless of which coverage McGill students preferred, we were all better served with more information and with more than one newspaper.

Three bucks goes a long way.

—Kay von Afshari B.A. ‘07 News Editor 2006-07 New York City

Tiffany Cho I could take this space to tell you how awesome the Tribune is and how it changed my life. Instead, I’ll channel my McGill (man­ agement) upbringing and tell you this: the $3 investment is worth every penny.

For $3, you get a tangible product every week. That’s more than you can say for the majority of your semi-annual student bill from McGill.

For $3, you can lambast the product in its own pages—straight up, no chaser. That’s cheaper than another campus newspaper.

For $3, you support all your fellow class­ mates and their endeavors. T hat’s what the Tribune is for—covering all aspects of life while on campus.

For $3, you provide yourself and your fellow classmates a chance to learn what aca­ demic courses cannot teach. That’s invaluable

in life beyond the Roddick Gates.

It’s really that simple. Vote yes and keep supporting the Tribune.

By the way, the Tribune is awesome and it did change my life. The experience provided an incredible competitive advantage and sub­ sequent employment, despite never knowing what Monday nights were like for regular stu­ dents. So what I recommend you do is vote yes, get involved, and keep supporting the Tribune.

—Tiffany Choy BCom ‘08 Editor-in-Chief 2007-08 Production Manager 2006-07 Design Editor 2005-06 Calgary

Jennifer Jett For me, university meant long hours in the Tribune office occasionally interrupted by class. Working at the Tribune drove me crazy, but it also kept me sane. It was a place to chan­ nel my energy and a place to meet incredibly talented and passionate people. I wouldn’t want future McGill students to miss out on that experience.

The Tribune engages students in dif­ ferent ways. Some students join the edito­ rial board. Some students contribute regularly, some only once in a while. Others just want something to read during class. Regardless of how you use it, the Tribune is vital to student life at McGill.

For all that it offers, McGill has no jour­ nalism department. Student publications fill that void—and the more publications there are, the more students benefit. If the Tribune were to disappear, students would have less news coverage, fewer outlets for opinion, and

fewer opportunities for writing, photography, and design.

The Tribune also represents institutional memory. Students come and go, but the ad­ ministration largely stays the same. Students are better equipped to advocate for their in­ terests when they know what has worked and failed in the past. Those who write for, edit, or even just read the Tribune pass that knowledge on to the students who come after them.

When it comes to student fees, this one’s a bargain. Please support the student fee for an independent Tribune.

—Jennifer Jett B.A. ‘06 Managing Editor 2006 News Editor 2004-05 Beijing

Lisa Varano I recently had an interview for a journal­ ism job that would involve shift work.

“Do you really think you could write at four in the morning?” the interviewer asked.

I responded quickly.

“I know I can—because I often d id—in university.”

Sometimes, I was editing stories for the news section of the McGill Tribune. Other times, I was writing essays for classes the night before they were due, also because of the Tribune.

The Trib prepared me for my journal­ ism career, and not just by teaching me how to handle sleep deprivation. Even today, seven years after I first walked into the Trib’s office in the Shatner building, I still like to end my interviews by asking: “Do you have anything else to add?”

It’s an effective question that often brings out the best quote. I picked up this tip from Jennifer Jett, with whom I edited the news

section from 2004 to 2005.

And that’s the other thing I got out of the Trib—great, lasting friendships. The Trib truly made my McGill experience special. But the Trib doesn’t just benefit the students who join the paper as writers, editors, and photog­ raphers. Their work benefits the entire McGill student body by providing the news and anal­ ysis that students need to get the most out of the university.

I urge you to support the student fee for an independent Tribune. The Trib has been an essential part of McGill for 29 years and de­ serves to live on. You’ll be investing in today’s student experience and tomorrow’s journal­ ists. I’m proof. That job? I got it.

Thanks, McGill Tribune and its readers.

—Lisa Varano B.A. ‘06 News Editor 2004-05 Toronto

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16 • 9 March 2010

mcgilltribune.com

MUSIC

JUNO nomination proves Canada is Down With Webster Toronto band keep the party alive from Cancun to Calgary ROSS TRELOAR C ontributor

Bom out of a junior high talent show, Down With Webster has grown into a sev­ en-man hip-hop/pop/rock group that’s been signed to a major label (Universal Motown), headlined its own tour, and just last week was nominated for a JUNO Award for Best New Group.

“We all have really high goals ... We want to tour the whole world and do all sorts of other stuff we haven’t done yet,” says bass and keyboard player Tyler Armes. “We haven’t made it yet, but w e’re on the right path right now.”

Down With Webster got their start through word of mouth in Toronto, where they played small venues—including the gym of their former middle school—as if they were big venues: banners, red plastic cups, and even a gong bearing their DWW logo have been a part of their show since the early days. Now they sell out 1,000-person venues in Toronto.

Having just completed the western portion of their first headlining tour, the band has been branching out to cities they’ve never played before. Though they’ve grown accustomed to big stages—opening for the likes of The Roots, Snoop Dogg, and, most recently, Timbaland—they don’t have any qualms about playing smaller venues again.

“It was so cool to go back to venues where there’s 150, 300, 450 kids and have it be a tiny little room with a small stage again,” says Armes.

Maybe the biggest difference is that they’re playing to their own audience, instead of the headlining act’s fans.

“When you’re opening for someone else you have to kind of accept the fact that those people aren’t there to see you,” says Armes.

“When w e’re headlining w e’re used to kids running up on stage and going crazy and we

No more teachers, no more books: Down W ith W ebster remind you o f only the fun parts of high school. have their attention from the second we get out there.”

So what does Webster sound like?

They’ve got horns like a marching band, gui­ tar solos like the late eighties, and party-heavy rap lyrics between catchy pop choruses. Un­ like the majority of hip-hop, you won’t hear a drum machine (unless you count an oftenshirtless, afro-sporting maniac behind the kit named Andrew “Marty” Martino). While some songs lean towards the energetic— “Time To Win” and “Parade Music” —others have a more laid back pop feel—“Rich Girl$” and “Whoa Is Me.” Their latest album, Time To Win Vol. 1, maintains a good balance, and a malleable one at that; the band has played for very different crowds, including the Vans Warped Tour last year.

“One of the coolest things that w e’ve found since we started touring four or five years ago is that because our music is such a mash-up o f different styles, it’s really cool and easy for us to cross over and play for differ­ ent kinds of music fans,” says Armes. “I think

P

AN IN-CREDIBLE END The music at the Winter Olympics was terrible. It was painfully obvious that the majority of televised performances were lip-synched, and that god-awful theme song “I Believe” was so sappy I could’ve poured it on my pancakes. But without a doubt the most disappointing and flat-out embarassing moment of these Olympics for fans of Canadian music was the closing ceremonies.

Let me jog your memory, given that the ceremony was over a week ago: Neil Young started off with the heartfelt “Long May You Run.” It was great, and seemed to be indicative of things to come. Then came Nickelback. Then Avril Lavigne.

Uh oh. I thought Alanis Morissette would steer things back on course only to gaze dumbfoundedly at the TV as Simple Plan

o

p

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and Hedley took the stage. The whole thing ended with the “only-known-in-Quebec” Marie-Mai and k-os, but I was too busy trying to pick my jaw up off the floor to pay attention. Canada may have owned the gold on the podium, but this line-up shouldn't have made it past the qualifiers.

Was that really the best Canada had to offer? Nickelback? Congratulations, one of the most laughed-at bands is now a bea­ con of Canadian music. Avril? Is she even relevent anymore? All of Eastern Europe probably thinks we condone the glorified attempt at pop stars that are Hedley. For a country with a wealth of musical talent, these choices were disappointing, and that’s putting it nicely.

Now, before everyone immediately attacks me for riding my “indie” highhorse, don’t think I don’t understand why these acts were chosen. Hate on them all you will, but Nickelback is one of the big­

generally speaking people can take away some element of what w e’re doing and enjoy it.”

The band has recently returned from filming a special in Cancun for Much Music.

Like the 30-second promo video in which the band members are supposedly waking up from their respective blackouts on the beach, Armes only hinted at what went on while they were in Mexico.

“We did the kind of stuff it might take you years to do and did it all in a week,” says Armes.

The Cancun special will air on March 18, in conjunction with the debut of the music video for their new single “Your M an/’ a nod to sixties and seventies dating game shows.

However, Webster tend to stay in touch with their fans online as well. They’re known for their YouTube videos, including a series of videos of rapper Cam Hunter freestyling (no­ tably at an underwhelmed Waffle House in Atlanta), or Martino tearing through hotels, parks, and city streets banging on whatever he can with drumsticks. The latter perhaps as

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DOWNWITHWEBSTER.COM

an homage to drumming legend Buddy Rich, who pulled the same stunt on The Muppet Show in the eighties and remarked “When I play a theatre, I play the theatre!” For Armes, making this kind of effort to connect with fans is crucial.

“You want to let your fans more or less into your life and let them see who you are as people,” says Armes. “It’s not just about see­ ing your concerts and listening to your CD in your car.”

Known for surprises, like bringing a full drum line on stage for their album release show, what does Webster have in store for Montreal?

“W e're checking out the regulations to see if we can skydive and land in the area right now. [If not] w e’ll have to go with the B plan,” jokes Armes. If the B plan is business as usual for a Down With Webster show, you won’t be disappointed at the lack of daredevilry.

Down With Webster plays at the Just fo r Laughs Theatre on Friday, March 12.

r ic

gest bands in the world and Avril Lavigne has sold plenty of records. Simple Plan and Hedley are pretty big too, at least by Canadian standards. These acts don’t sell millions of records for no reason; people like them, and in an event that’s intended for a worldwide audience it’s understand­ able that decisions were made based on popularity. After all, Nickelback hasn’t sold all 30 million of its records in Canada alone.

But just like student government, choosing popularity isn’t always the best call. Yes, the acts chosen have sold a lot of records, but how many over-30 fans of Simple Plan or Hedley are there? Under25 Alanis fans? No question there are some, but in picking acts that only appeal to certain groups, you neglect a signifi­ cant portion of the audience. While the entertainment strived for mass appeal, it should’ve instead focused on broad ap­

peal. Yes, people will say that there was something for everyone: Avril for the kids, Alanis for the older crowd, and k-os for the hip-hop fans. But why did everything have to be so polarizing? There are plenty of Canadian musicians out there that transcend both generations and borders.

Neil Young had the broadest appeal of the bunch and he opened the show (which is another issue entirely). Where was Rush?

Great Big Sea? Broken Social Scene? Ar­ cade Fire? Not only do these bands have far-reaching appeal, but they’re also actu­ ally respected by almost everyone. I can think of no better reason to be proud.

At the end of the day, you can’t please everyone, but oh Canada, we could’ve done so much better.

—Ryan Taylor A & E Contributor

Curiosity Delivers.

9 March 2010* 17

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\

WANT TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD? START WITH YOUR CAMPUS.

The Tribune is accepting applications for next y e a r’s editorial board, w ho w ill succeed our current crop o f b ril­ liant and incredibly good-looking section editors.

(A nd our studly E ditor-in-C hief.)

F r o n t D e s k R e c e p t io n is t

The available positions are: M anaging E ditor (2), Production M anager, N ew s E ditor (3), O pinion E di­ tor, Features E ditor (2), A rts & E ntertainm ent E ditor (2), Sports E ditor (2), Photo E ditor D esign E ditor (3), C opy Editor, and O nline Editor.

(2),

If you w ould like to apply for any o f the positions, please drop off a cover letter addressed to E ditor-in-C hief Thom as Q uail, a CV, and three relevant w riting sam ples at the Tribune O ffice, Suite 110, in the Shatner B uilding. The deadline for applications is M arch 18 at 5 p.m . Late appli­ cations w ill not be accepted.

If you have any questions, contact editor@ m cgilltribune.com or the relevant section ed i­ tor (their em ail addresses can be found in the m asthead, located on page seven.) G ood luck!

-

F le x ib le ho urs P le a s a n t e n v iro n m e n t M a y be s tre s s fu l a t tim e s U n d e rg ra d u a te s tu d e n ts on ly C o m m e n c in g A u g u s t 2 0 1 0 Contact Barbara-Ann MacDonald Brown Building, Suite 1200 officemanager@ssmu.mcgili.ca A p p lic a tio n D e a d lin e M a rch 12 th, 2 0 1 0 CV & Cover le tter required

V________________________________________________________________ /

'fe r a @e © forcfted] C© < K fflfâls

ANNUAL

GENERAL M E E T IN G

M a r c h 9 -1 5

Thursday April 1st, 2010 at 5pm

Tuesday. Music. Cage The Elephant.

One of the breakout indie bands of the past couple years—alongside Phoenix, Grizzly Bear, and Matt & Kim to name a few—was Cage The Elephant, a fivepiece rock group from Kentucky. Their style is a refreshing break from the electronic effects-laden style of many indie bands today. CTE instead opt for bluesy guitar riffs, as in their Zeppelinesque hit “No Rest For The Wicked.” @ La Tulipe.

Thomson House basement, 3650 Rue McTavish Items to be presented ••• annual reports from the outgoing Board of Directors, Staff members, Rad Frosh Coordinators, School Schmool editorial board, and Summer Stipend recipients ..a review by all of our working groups of what they've accomplished in the last year ..audited financial statements ..and elections!

Wednesday. Music. Muse.

The most powerful trio in the world is looking to fill the stadium this Wednesday at the Bell Centre. Muse is an immensely talented English group which shows no signs of letting up.

They are joined by L.A.’s Silversun Pickups, who are opening the show. @ The Bell Centre.

Thursday. Film. The W hite Stripes: Under Great W hite Northern Lights.

The White Stripes 2007 tour across Canada was no ordinary tour: it was a strange, guerilla-style series of events worthy of documenting, including diverse venues and surprise shows in bowling alleys and city buses. One night only. @ Cinema du Parc.

Elections for the Board of Directors and the Conflict Resolution and Complaints Committee (CRCC)... ..nomination forms for the board of directors and CRCC are available at the QPIRG offices and nust be submitted to the Chief Electoral Officer's mailbox at QPIRG by N O O N , March 26th, 2010 ..only McGill student members are eligible to vote of run for the Board of Directors

.. McGill students and community members can run for the CRCC Snacks and lig h t re freshm ents w ill be se rve d .

Childcare and tra n sla tio n a v a ila b le , notify 4 8 hours in advance.

mcgilltribune.com

18 • 9 March 2010

CAM PUS

The McGill FAC brings Nuit Blanche to the Shatner Building All-night event brings out M cG ill’s artistic side LAURA TINDAL A & E Editor

The McGill Fine Arts Council’s rendi­ tion of the popular all-night art celebration Nuit Blanche will be held on Thursday in the Shatner Building. Now in its third year, the event takes over all four floors of the building from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m., bringing together art­ ists from all disciplines, including musicians, jewellery designers, and poets, for an (almost) all-night party.

Lucy Satzewich, co-commissioner of the Fine Arts Council (FAC), a group that funds the artistic community at McGill, is one of the organizers of Nuit Blanche.

“It’s a way to get all of the art groups on campus together for one big night of fun, showing their work and doing workshops,”

Satzewich says. “It’s also good publicity for the different art groups as well, since we have over 20 performers and five to 10 work­ shops and crafts put on by different clubs and groups.”

Almost every artistic medium will be present at the event, which is based on the all-night arts festival hosted by cities and museums around the world. Montreal's Nuit Blanche was held on February 27, and in­ cluded theatres, galleries, museums, and street performers. McGill’s Nuit Blanche aims for the same diversity, and is a rare chance to cel­ ebrate the fine arts culture at McGill.

“McGill Improv is doing a workshop; there’s a play going on in Player’s by some McGill alumni who are going to do a mask­ making workshop, which should be cool,” says Satzewich. “The Fine Arts Council is running some fun, low-key things as well, like we’re doing cookie decorating and postcard making, and the Fine Arts Club is doing a silkscreening

workshop and other fun communal drawings and stuff like that.”

Friends with Food, who are putting out a cookbook of student submissions, will be holding a recipe-writing workshop along with Tribune food columnist Adam Levine. At the same time, jewellery and crafts by McGill art­ ists will be sold throughout the night.

This isn’t just a craft fair though; FAC is hoping for some Dionysian debauchery, sell­ ing $2 beer all night. To keep the party going, bands will be doing half-hour sets in Gert’s, while McGill’s a cappella groups, including Effusion, Solstice, and dance group Urban Groove, will be doing performances and work­ shops in the ballroom.

Chris Ploss, U3 Biochemistry, who at­ tended FAC’s Nuit Blanche last year, was im­ pressed by the turnout.

“Nuit Blanche was a lot of fun; I’ve rarely seen Gert’s that packed,” Ploss says. “I liked how there was something to do on every

floor.”

Events will all run simultaneously throughout the night, but there will be a de­ tailed schedule online and handed out at the door so attendees can plan to visit each area they’re interested in, whether it’s last year’s films from TVMcGill’s Fokus Film Festival or the laid back atmosphere of The Veg’s poetry readings in the student lounge.

FAC was very happy with last year’s turnout of around 1,000 people, and they ex­ pect similar interest this year.

“I think it’s a good way for especially new students to go to Nuit Blanche and hear about the whole whack of things that campus has to offer,” Satzewich says.

Nuit Blanche runs from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. in the Shatner Building on March 11. For more information visit FAC’s Nuit Blanche Facebook page.

C D REVIEWS

Ellie Goulding: Lights

Ever since listening to her hauntingly beautiful, Imogen Heap-esque cover of Bon Iver’s “Wolves,” I’ve been hooked on Brit­ ish singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding and ea­ gerly anticipating her debut LP, Lights. After her first single “Under the Sheets” became an instant hit on British radio, the London it-girl has garnered a massive wave of hype and been labeled one of this year’s hottest new artists.

Lights— an electro-infused pop album that de­ livers punchy, original pop songs—does not disappoint.

Catchy and infectious, the album’s first track, “Guns and Horses,” is a powerful leadin to the rest of the songs and easily Lights ’ best. With her playful lyrics and driving pop beats with a folksy edge and a shot of electro, Goulding gets the energy level up and keeps it there throughout the album. Another highlight is the club-worthy “Starry Eyed,” a Kylie Minogue-like dance tune that’s screaming for a great remix. On the down side, the next track, “This Love (Will Be Your Downfall),” veers towards saccharine, calling to mind the generically sweet, radio-friendly pop fare of teen girls and soccer moms. Ballad “The Writer” is also underwhelming, as it sounds like it would be more at home on a Kelly Clarkson album than on Lights.

All things considered, Lights is a highly promising debut for the 23-year-old Goulding, but it certainly leaves room for improvement.

Goulding fans, keep an ear out for her musical evolution in years to come.

—Carolyn Grégoire

Rogue Wave: Permalight

Massive Attack: Heligoland

Zeus: Say Us

Rogue Wave’s fourth album represents something of a comeback. With the death of bassist Evan Farrell in 2007 and frontman Zach Rogue recovering from a recent partially paralyzing neck injury, the band’s efforts on Permalight really show them getting through the storm and back to business. On the band’s blog, Rogue promised “a more body-moving album.” Although Permalight is by no means electro, it does have a more upbeat sound to it—the influences are less Death Cab For Cutie and more The Postal Service. At first, the band’s new approach is fresh and dynam­ ic, but by the end, their tact begins to get te­ dious.

Permalight starts off with a couple of great tracks, including “Solitary Gun,” an acoustic guitar number in the grain of previous Rogue Wave hits, and “Good Morning (The Future),” the album’s first synth-heavy single.

The songs then begin to get repetitive, pick­ ing up briefly with “Permalight” and “Right With You” before trailing off again. A strong start and weak finish is typical of most Rogue Wave releases—after a once-over listen, most people will want to skip the majority of the tracks and just listen to their favourites. The album also draws some derision for being too reminiscent of synth-pop sensation Owl City, even though Rogue Wave has been making music for much longer. Still, Permalight can be enjoyable, and there’s a lot to be said for getting back on the horse after a rough fall.

After a seven-year hiatus, Massive At­ tack’s highly anticipated new release Heligo­ land is a letdown, to say the least. With col­ laborations from a variety of musicians such as Tunde Adebimpe of TV on the Radio, Guy Garvey of Elbow, and regular Massive At­ tack contributors Horace Andy and Robert del Naja, fans were looking forward to something special. For those expecting a masterpiece from these long-absent trip-hoppers, however, this will fall far short of expectations.

The rumored creative presence of famed Brit-popper Damon Albarn (of Blur and Gorillaz) on this new album was cause to hope for some exciting results. However, his track “Flat of the Blade” is barely listenable, and for the most part his contributions fail to stand out from the rest of the album, which is not saying much. The songs on Heligoland are practically dirges, flat and depressing, sometimes starting out with promise but inevitably slumping. The strongest tracks on the album, “Girl I Love You” and “Paradise Circus,” are enjoyable but leave something to be desired.

This becomes the general feeling of the album. Whether from lack of conviction or in­ spiration, Massive Attack fails to capture their audience’s interest. Their effort on Heligoland ends up sounding like just another band try­ ing to copy Radiohead. For all but the most dedicated fans, this fifth album will be a sure sign that Massive Attack is beginning to dry up creatively.

Zeus’ debut album Say Us may want to make you skip spring altogether: it’s got sum­ mer written all over it.

Getting their start as Jason Collett’s back­ ing band, the men of Zeus have crafted an album of hooks, harmonies, and good oF fash­ ioned rock. And I mean ol’ fashioned when I say it; almost everything from the guitar tones to the aforementioned harmonies have a strong retro vibe that recall the best of the sixties.

The songs range from heavy head-bangers (“You Gotta’ Teller”) to laid-back simmerers (“I Know”) and everything in between. It’s this variety that keeps the album feeling as fresh as possible, given its classic bend. If one thing is certain, it’s how good these songs will sound blasted from your car stereo on your roadtrip mixtape.

People will no doubt complain that Zeus are living too much in the past, simply re­ heating a meal better served by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, but to do so would be missing the point. This Toronto band does classic rock and they do it well, and as much as these songs may reference rock of old, they aren’t imitations.

What’s most impressive is how the Zeus fingerprint remains indelible amongst the fa­ miliar retro-isms, taking the best sounds of the past and giving them Zeus’ original flavour.

Besides, as a rock band, is there any better time to be revisiting than the sixties and sev­ enties?

—Alex Hamilton

—Alex Hamilton

— Ryan Taylor

9 March 2010* 19

Curiosity Delivers.

FILM

Burton’s 3D visuals can’t save one-dimensional characters Alice in Wonderland focusses on style over storytelling GRACE GLOWICKI Contributor

Considering the combination of Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, and Lewis Carroll, it’s a real shame that Alice in Wonderland falls as flat as it does. The film is not dark enough to be Burton’s, the Mad Hatter is not distinc­ tive enough to be Depp’s, and the story is not clever enough to be Carroll’s. And so, we must regretfully admit that our latest fall down the rabbit hole was not only bland, but a waste of time, money, and talent.

The story is confusing, because while the film is called Alice in Wonderland , it is not based on Carroll’s novel A lice’s Adventures in Wonderland. This particular Alice (Mia Wasikowska) is 10 years older than she was on her first adventure, and this time she tum­ bles into a land called Underland, presented as a similar yet distinct version of Wonderland.

The plot has a loosely developed drive: Alice must slay the dreaded Jabberwocky (named after Carroll’s poem)—a dragon-like creature that looks right out of Harry Potter— but get­ ting to that point feels rushed and choppy. In fact, the audience never has enough time to care about anything or anyone onscreen.

And of course, Alice in Wonderland is in 3D. What is it about this gimmicky tech­ nology that people are so crazy about? What could have been a decent movie feels like a simulator ride at Disneyland—all that was missing were the moving chairs. The dizzying

Helena Bonham C arter’s Queen of Hearts plays the only winning hand in Alice in Wonderland.

shots in Alice are so concerned with looking cool in 3D (think objects popping out at the audience and things in the foreground going in and out of focus) that they take away from what’s actually going on in the scenes, further distancing the audience from the plot and the characters.

Burton is undoubtedly a fantastic direc­ tor who has often delighted audiences with his dark imagination. However, it may be the case that technology is ruining him. Like in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory , he again uses CGI to enhance his character’s features. Though aesthetically interesting,

this technique causes Alice in Wonderland to have an artificial, air-brushed quality, instead of demonstrating Burton’s ability to transform actual spaces and people into strange gothic realities. Edward Scissorhands, Sleepy Hol­ low, and Sweeny Todd are great films because they present a twisted view of reality, rather than a digitally modified one.

Despite the anticipation of Depp’s Mad Hatter, this character also suffered due to the rushed nature of the film. It also took a while to comprehend the many accents he uses, and perhaps his character wasn’t that original: in his first scene he walks across the tea party

ALLMOVIEPHOTO.COM

table, and his movements and gestures reek of Captain Jack Sparrow.

Thank God for Helena Bonham Carter’s dead-on role as the Queen of Hearts. With a big head, white face, and endless bag of sour remarks, she manages to stay captivating throughout the film. A particularly hilarious scene is when she demands entertainment from her prisoners Tweedledee and Twee­ dledum, who she calls her “fat boys.” Often screaming “Off with his head!” followed by blank blinks, she is fabulous and the most Burtonesque thing in the film —by old Burton standards, that is.

S pring E l e c tio n s vote now ! vote now ! vote now !

ONLINE

E le c tio n sm c g ill.c a

MARCH 5 TH TO llT H

VO TE

W IN

ORAT

Polling Stations L eacock Lobby Shatner L obby R edpath L ibrary M c Connell L obby

MARCH 9TH TO llTH 10a m TO 4 pm TR A V E L VOUCHER J

Sp o r t s

20 • 9 March 2010

mcgilltribune.com

REDMEN H O C K E Y - MCGILL 7, UQTR 4

Patriotes pulverized as Redmen complete series sweep of rivals Verreault-Paul leads the way as UQTR crumbles late ADAM SADINSKY Contributor

McGill hockey fans broke out the brooms on Friday night, as the Redmen eliminated a longtime rival—the UQTR Patriotes—by a score of 7-4 to sweep the Ontario University Athletics East Division Final. A standingroom-only crowd was energized from the opening faceoff until the final buzzer, and the celebration continued in the Redmen locker room after the game. The game was the last at McConnell Arena for the home team this season, and the win qualified McGill for the OUA’s Queen’s Cup, as well as the University Cup National Championship later this month in Thunder Bay. “All along I knew that this team was one of the top teams in the country, and although we ranked behind [UQTR] all year, they were scared of our talent and speed,” said Jim Web­ ster, who led his team to a school record for wins in his first season as head coach. “We were just playing hockey the way it should be played. I told them that the National Cham­ pionship should be our goal from the first month. I think they’re starting to think that I’m not crazy. They’re starting to believe. If we put our heads to it I believe we can be na­ tional champions.”

As usual, the shining stars of the game were McGill’s top line of Francis VerreaultPaul, Alexandre Picard-Hooper, and Andrew Wright, who combined for an impressive 12 points. Verreault-Paul, who led the OUA in scoring this year and has brought his high­ flying act into the post-season, notched two goals and three assists, making him McGill’s top scorer on Friday night.

“All year long our line has done a great job,” said Verreault-Paul. “In the playoffs you

HOLLY STEWART

M cGill’s offence was firing on all cylinders, and the Redmen were all smiles as the team powered their way to a Nationals berth.

have to keep it up. We didn’t want to finish here, we want to keep it going to Thunder Bay.” The key to Friday’s game was disci­ pline—a factor which has decided many of the team's games this season. With captain Yan Turcotte suspended for the series after a spear­ ing incident against Carleton in the previous round, the Redmen knew that staying out of the penalty box would be necessary ih order to take down the physical Patriotes.

“We were ready,” said Verreault-Paul.

“We knew that Trois-Rivières would come in here to win. We did a good job on our powerplay tonight and didn’t give them any chanc­ es.”

The McGill power-play was especially good in the deciding game, going 4-5 on the man advantage. The Patriotes, on the other hand, were only 1-4 with the extra man.

McGill got on the board early, when Picard-Hooper snuck in front of the net on the power-play to beat Patriotes goaltender JeanChristophe Blanchard. With the crowd rocking

from the early goal, UQTR sought to silence the fans by scoring twice to take their only lead of the game. Unfazed, the Redmen ex­ ploded for three goals in the last five minutes of the period, and took a 4-2 lead into the first intermission. Picard-Hooper and VerreaultPaul each had a goal and three assists in the first period alone.

“They took the lead, but we never stopped, we never panicked,” said Verreault-Paul.

The Redmen kept their scoring touch in the second frame, tallying twice to take a 6-2 lead and effectively put the game out of reach.

Freshman Sebastien Rioux—who finished with a goal and an assist on the night—scored the series-clinching goal near the nine-minute mark on a slap shot from the point. The pow­ er-play goal would ultimately hold up as the game-winner.

“You think about it every day and you want to score that goal,” said Rioux, who credited the capacity crowd for helping his team defeat their provincial rivals. “When it happens you’re just so happy [and] you want

to live forever on that goal. We all knew that we could beat them as long as we worked hard, but with that kind of crowd you get wings.”

Verreault-Paul would go on to power the puck into an empty UQTR net at the end of the final period to set off the celebration fans and players were waiting for. Redmen goaltender Hubert Morin—whose spot as the start­ ing goalie was up in the air at the start of the season—pumped his fist and pointed to the crowd in gratitude.

“I waited for my chance to step up and take the first spot,” he said. “It was just upreal for us to get that far. The feeling hasn’t sunk in yet. We have a shot in the Queen’s Cup and Nationals, but right now I’m just going to enjoy this game and Monday we’ll get back to work.”

The Redmen will travel to Thunder Bay twice in the next two weeks, first to face the seventh-ranked Lakehead Thunderwolves in the Queen’s Cup on Saturday, and then again for the University Cup National Champion­ ship tournament the following weekend.

TIIIK1) MAN IN NOTHING TO CHEER ABOUT With March Madness upon us, specta­ tors sometimes forget that there will actu­ ally be two sports on display throughout the competition: basketball and cheerleading.

NCAA cheerleaders, unlike their compatri­ ots in the NFL and the NBA, deserve that name. Professional sports “cheerleading” would in reality be more properly referred to as dancing, since these teams’ performances are more akin to what you might see on a Saturday night at a gentleman’s club than what goes on at cheerleading national cham­ pionships.

NFL and NBA cheerleading is to the sport of cheerleading what powderpuff football is to the Superbowl: an oversexed, stereotypically feminine voyeuristic spec­ tacle that completely denigrates a legitimate

sport. It is impossible for anyone familiar with competitive cheerleading to deny its classification as a sport. It combines gym­ nastics, dance, endurance, performance, and pure athleticism. It’s as physically and emotionally demanding as other competitive sports. It’s the activity that sends the highest number of high school and college athletes to the hospital every year.

However, for as long as professional sports cheerleaders continue to be known by that moniker, real cheerleading will never reach its full potential. Although the lat­ ter’s popularity has exploded, professional sport cheerleaders remain the most visible “cheerleaders” on the continent, and thus in­ form the majority of society’s perception of what it is that cheerleaders do. If the extent of your cheerleading knowledge is limited to flashes of half-naked women jumping up and down on the sidelines, it’s understand­ able to be sceptical of its classification as a

sport. However, most of these women would not last five minutes at a competitive cheer­ leading team’s practice, let alone make the team.

That raises another issue. Many of the best cheerleaders, especially at the universi­ ty and college levels, are male. Professional sport cheerleading teams, however, are com­ posed entirely of women. This further stig­ matizes society’s conception of the sport as well as the male athletes who have devoted their lives to it. These men work as hard as the football and basketball players they are there to support, and are in fact often much stronger and more physically fit.

Admittedly, both types of cheerlead­ ing share similarities in terms of physical appearance. However, unlike professional sports cheerleading, competitive cheerlead­ ing makeup and outfits are not about sex.

They're about visibility and functionality.

Just like gymnastics and figure skating,

heavy makeup is necessary in order to be seen by judges and large crowds that are often located far from the athletes. In addi­ tion, cheerleading is a sport in which flexi­ bility is paramount; any outfit that constricts the athletes’ movement would make feats such as a back handspring full twist or a front tuck basket toss impossible to execute correctly.

With an unprecedented surge in popu­ larity, the codification and standardization of its rules and regulations, and the entrench­ ment of an entire subculture, competitive cheerleading has come a long way in the past twenty years. But there’s one thing that’s holding it back from being on par with football, basketball, soccer and hockey. It’s time to stop calling the mockery that de-legitimizes both the sport and its athletes what it is not—cheerleading.

— Tori Crawford

News Editor

Curiosity Delivers.

OLD ^DUBLIN

M ARTLET BASKETBALL

Silver finish

PUB & RESTA U RA N T

M cGill falls in Quebec title game, looks to next season

Invites you to come celebrate pre-St. Patrick's Day weekend at 636 Cathcart

KAILAN LEUNG Sports Editor

With Saturday’s loss to the Laval Rouge et Or in the QSSF championship game, the McGill women’s basketball team concluded a rollercoaster ride of a season. While a 13-15 overall record—McGill went 5-4 in non­ conference play and finished 8-11 in Quebec competition—cannot be considered cause for celebration, the Martlets closed out the season competitively, and appear to have the pieces in place to become a force in the near future.

McGill’s postseason run served as an excellent indicator of the team’s multiple strengths and weaknesses. Last Wednesday, the Martlets scored an impressive 77-59 road win over the second-seeded UQAM Citadins.

The sudden-death victory launched McGill into Saturday’s gold-medal game for the first time in 13 years. But the Martlets simply could not keep up with the bigger, more experienced home team, and the match ended in a 36-58 blowout.

Throughout the season, the Martlets lived and died by the three-point shot. More than a third of McGill’s field goals came from behind the arc, yet the team only connected on 30 per cent of their attempts from long range. In com­ parison, Laval and UQAM—the top two teams in Quebec—connected on a higher percentage of threes over the course of the season despite taking fewer shots. In Wednesday’s semifinal against the Citadins, the Martlets were master­ ful from the perimeter, shooting 45 per cent for the game. Four players reached double figures in scoring, and the team recorded 20 assists —11 more than their season average.

While the Martlets used Wednesday’s game to show just how dangerous they can be when on target, Saturday’s championship match proved the exact opposite. McGill misfired on 17 of their 19 attempts from downtown, and wound up shooting a dismal 18 per cent overall for the game. The Mart­ lets attempted to utilize star forward Anneth Him-Lazarenko in the post, but the talented sophomore’s offensive production was limited inside all game long.

Although McGill couldn’t quite pull off a fairy-tale finish to the regular season, Head Coach Ryan Thome’s team has reason to be optimistic going forward. Freshman guard Marie-Eve Martin exhibited confidence and savvy far beyond her years, and joined HimLazarenko as the only other player to average double-figures in scoring. Fellow rookies He­ lene Bibeau and Françoise Charest were also impressive, and should improve dramatically before the start of next season.

With a go-to player in Him-Lazarenko, a confident shooter in Martin, and a cast of young, solid contributors, look for the Mar­ tlets to take a big step in league play next year. While the veteran leadership of seniors Nathifa Weekes and Stephanie Bergeron will be missed, the future for McGill women’s basketball is bright. A year from now, expect the Martlets to be coming off yet another title game, but this time, with a different result.

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McGill bounced in QUBL semis

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Talented young core ready to break out next season KAILAN LEUNG Sports Editor

If there is one thing the McGill men’s basketball team made clear to spectators and scouts this year, it’s that the Redmen can play with anyone in Quebec. Stacked with young talent, the future of McGill’s men’s basketball program appears to be in good hands, and if Head Coach Craig Norman can figure out a way to get his team to perform with some con­ sistency, the Redmen could be a force to be reckoned with as early as next season. Right now, however, Norman has little else to.do but ponder the future, after his Redmen were bounced out of the first round of the QUBL playoffs on Saturday evening, losing 69-60 to the Laval Rouge et Or. The Redmen outscored their oppo­ nents in the first, third, and fourth quarters, but were demolished in the second stanza as Laval turned up the defensive pressure to hold McGill to eight points. The Redmen shot a dismal 1-11 from three-point territory in the first half, and finished the game at less than a 20 per cent clip. McGill’s veterans failed to provide the offensive punch needed to make it to the gold-medal round, as scoring stalwarts Michael White, Matt Thornhill, and Pawel Herra combined to shoot 9-35 from the field.

Stepping up for the Redmen was Ameri­ can Winn Clark, who ended his impressive rookie campaign on a positive note, scoring 13 points and dishing out three assists. With newly announced Quebec Rookie of the Year Olivier Bouchard inactive for Saturday’s game, junior guard Sebastian Gatti manned the point and finished close to a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds. Despite

Gatti’s contributions, McGill severely missed Bouchard’s speed, shooting, and all-around court-savvy. A highly touted recruit from Col­ lege Montmorency, Bouchard’s impact on the team was immediate—he registered six points, four boards, and seven assists in his first university game, against the NCAA’s St. John’s Red Storm—and he figures to play a major part in the success of the program for years to come. Bouchard finished the year scoring a shade under 10 points per game, to go along with 3.7 assists while shooting 35 per cent from three.

The Redmen struggled during the pre­ season and dropped their first two contests in regular season play before picking up the pace late in the new year. McGill went on a tear to catapult themselves into playoff conten­ tion, winning six of seven from mid-January to February. Thornhill capped an illustrious career at McGill by taking home Player of the Year honours last week, after averaging 18.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, while rank­ ing eighth in the CIS in three point field goal percentage.

Joining Thornhill and Bouchard as yearend award recipients was 6-foot-7 freshman Nic Langley, a Golden, B.C. product who spent time with Canada’s National Elite De­ velopment Academy and joined Bouchard on the all-rookie team.

With their eight regular season wins, the Redmen posted their best conference finish since the 2001-2002 season. Although McGill once again failed to impress in the postseason, the team’s development over the course of the season gives hope to Redmen fans looking forward. Norman has a plethora of talented athletes to work with next year, but still lacks an inside post presence. Nevertheless, the fu­ ture is bright for the Redmen, and McGill fans can expect great things next season.

8

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Michael White will be asked to shoulder the offensive load next year.

HOLLY STEWART

9 March 2010 • 23

Curiosity Delivers.

M ARTLET H O C K E Y - MCGILL 5, MONTREAL 2

McGill dominates Carabins to win fifth straight Quebec crown Top-ranked Martlets primed fo r championship run at Nationals SHAWN STENHOUSE Contributor

The McGill women’s hockey team con­ tinued its domination of CIS competition last week, finishing off the Montreal Carabins on the road after winning the series opener at home on Wednesday. With Friday’s series-clincher, the Martlets celebrated their 84th straight win in CIS play, as well as their fifth consecutive conference championship. But while the out­ come of Friday’s game was obvious from the opening faceoff, the Martlets were forced to work for their points on Wednesday night, as they played their last home game of the year, winning 5-2 at McConnell Arena.

Senior Rebecca Martindale led the way for McGill, netting two markers and tallying a helper on forward Jordanna Peroff’s goal mid­ way through the first period. Despite McGill’s lofty position as the top-ranked team going into Nationals; Head Coach Amey Doyle stressed the importance of keeping her team levelheaded.

“We have to focus on one game at a r

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time,” she said. “We don’t want to get into any bad habits. We want to make sure we’re roll­ ing and paying attention to detail.”

League MVP Cathy Chartrand, who led all Quebec defencemen in points scored, opened the scoring at 12:18 on the power play.

Thirty seconds later, Peroff scored to increase the team’s lead to 2-0, thanks to Martindale’s assist. Peroff would return the favour later in the period after a boarding call against the Carabins’ Marie-Andree Leclerc-Auger put the Martlets on the power play. Montreal’s Vicky Denis finally got her team on the board with 17 seconds left in the period.

After being outshot 21-6, the Carabins came out much stronger in the second frame, dominating the Martlets for the first 10 min­ utes of the period.

“There was a little bit of a lull,” said Doyle. “We lacked a bit of that competitive­ ness. I thought it was important that we took that competitiveness back.”

The game’s shift back into McGill’s favor was marked by an unassisted goal by freshman forward Chelsey Saunders midway through the period. The goal appeared to re-energize the Martlets while simultaneously taking the wind out of the Carabins’ sails. Despite their

impressive start, Montreal failed to register a goal during the period.

The Martlets began to roll in the final pe­ riod, and played a strong defensive game in order to maintain their lead. Martindale ended any hope of a Montreal miracle at 4:42 in the third, again with the help of Peroff. The only other goal in the game would come from Montreal, when the puck took a funny bounce and flew past Martlet goaltender Taylor Salis­ bury’s shoulder.

A major part of McGill’s defensive suc­ cess was their gritty style of play, as players consistently sacrificed their bodies in order to block shots and keep the puck in the offensive zone, something the Carabins weren’t quite as willing to do.

“That’s something that we do really well,” said Doyle. “As long as we get the job done, get the pucks in the net, we’re not look­ ing for the pretty goals. It’s not a huge part of our game, but it is an important one.”

The Martlets rode their airtight defence all the way to a 3-0 shutout to capture the Quebec championship on the road two days later. Again, the Martlets dominated Montreal, registering almost double the amount of shots on goal. Forward Amy Soberano’s goal in the

EVELYNE BEDARD

first period held up as the game-winner, and fellow forward Anne-Sophie Betez scored twice in the third to put the game out of reach.

Salisbury was perfect in the net, stopping all 21 shots the Carabins threw at her.

Now, Doyle and her team will turn their attention to a much larger goal: a third straight national championship banner. For the third game in a row, McGill will face the Carabins, who find themselves at Nationals in the first year of their existence as a team. Compeition tips off at 4 p.m. on Thursday, and the entire tournament will be webcast live by SSN Can­ ada.

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